Kristoff K.Roll and Espitallier, Jean-Michel – “World Is A Blues” – [Mazeto Square]

SlartiBartfast   5/3/2022   A Library, CD

World Is A Blues

“World Is A Blues” is a musical poetic journey into the lives of refugees held in the Calais internment camps put out on Mazeto-Square. This double CD musical journey is guided by Kristoff K. Roll, the French musical duo of Carole Rieussec and J-Kristoff Camps, and poet Jean-Michel Espitallier. The music here ranges between, spoken word, dance, experimental, field recordings, post psyche rock?….As much a work of poetry as it is an experimental performative experience, this beautifully packaged release lives up to the idea behind the emotionally poetic music at it’s core. Featuring multiple guest artists, “World Is A Blues” elegantly coveys the power of the collective human spirit to overcome trauma through creative expression. This release is not to miss. A 100 page poetic musical eulogy that will lead you to a side road to escape the madness, or an avenue to entrer dans la folie…

Alternate African Reality [coll] – [Syrphe Records]

SlartiBartfast   3/29/2022   A Library, CD

Alternative African Reality – [Coll]

African rhythms meet an otherworldly electronic universe on this compilation curated by Cedrik Fermont of Syrphe Records. This double CD collection transcends musical expectations by defining it’s own African experimental and electronic soundscape. Alternative African Reality drifts between afro-techno tracks with beats to keep you awake at night and electronic glitches that haunt your nightly dreams. There is a healthy sprinkling of field recordings, spoken word, and tracks that seem recorded by cell phone on the local corner to add flavor to this musical stew. Highly recommended as an interesting and intriguing double CD that will shock your auditory cortex while providing delicious musical treats for all curious taste buds. 

Panfilov, Misha – “Repetitive Music Vol. 1” – [KJRPP]

SlartiBartfast   3/13/2022   12-inch, A Library

Panfilov, Misha – “Repetitive Music Vol. 1”

Another venture into the musical universe of Misha Panfilov. “Repetitive Music Vol. 1” is a beautiful ambient landscape reminiscent of Brian Eno or Harold Budd’s influential earlier works. Here, Misha creates a tranquil musical soundscape with exceptional attention to the minute details and compositional flow of the organic synthesizer produced ambient sounds of this solo work. All tracks were recorded in Tallin, Vaskjala, and Vaana-Joesuu Estonia during Covid lock down (2020-20212), and are presented here on a clear 11” vinyl release. Repetitive Music Vol1 just might be the calming ambient escape we all need to remind us of the beautify in our introspective moments. – Slarti

Aluviana – “Kee Thara” – [Syrphe]

SlartiBartfast   3/13/2022   A Library, CD

Aluviana – “Kee Thara”

A meditative, string led, experimental journey, “Kee Thara” is the most resent release from Aluviana. Based out of Slovakia, Aluviana brings an eclectic mix of electroacoustic, experimental, and ambient-drone sounds to this ninth release put out on Syrphe Records. Combining stringed acoustic sounds that seem to consist of piano stings plucked from their place and restrung in an otherworldly environments, Aluviana perfectly mixes down an organic stringed guitar and the best of rhythmic electronic atmospheres that produce an amazing soundscape. Truly something found on the radio transmissions reaching the edge of the universe. – Slarti

Estrada Orchestra – “Playground” – [Sulatron Records]

SlartiBartfast   12/13/2021   12-inch, A Library

EASTRADA ORCHESTRA – “Playground”

Tallinn, Estonia’s own ESTRADA ORCHESTRA bings you a set of live improvised music that will capture your consciousness and send it to new aural galaxies. Playground was recorded live at the Ganna and Sophia Playground in Tallinn, Estonia November 2020. An open, almost hallow like sound emanates from the field mics in the Playground’s cavernous void while Misha Panfilov, Volodja Brodsky, et al create an improvised Jazz?, Prog?, Space jam?, Ambient?, Drone?, soundscape? All of this and more.  Let the “Playground” bring the spontaneity back into your day dreams while leaving you to ponder where the remnants or your grey matter might be currently floating around in the musical universe.

Galactapus – “You Better Not Cry” – [Self Released]

SlartiBartfast   12/13/2021   A Library, CD

Galactapus – “You Better Not Cry”

Just in time for those of you who suffer through the box store, holiday, elevator, Santa sludge comes Galactapus to the rescue. While this “X-mas EP” may have tenuous ties to your sugar plum fairy dreams, the psychotic Gingerbread People will haunt you soon enough. This anonymous by choice collective out or Minneapolis brings it with this chaotic anti-x-mass reconstruction. The tracks on the EP will start you off in your childhood dreamland and leave you in a puddled mass of Yule Tide putty wondering why Santa doesn’t love you anymore. Well…You could have been nicer….

Myrrors, The – “Invocaciones: Singles and Strays (2014-2016)” – [Feeding Tube/Cardinal Fuzz]

SlartiBartfast   11/30/2021   12-inch, A Library

A hypnotic, tribal, psychedelic rumination that will hit you head on and leave you clambering for more of this musical tranquilizer. The Myrrors’ “Invocaciones: Singles and Strays” leads you down mystical instrumental rivers yet unexplored. The Tucson, AZ duo of Nik Rayne and Grant Beyschau employ and array of instruments from bouzouki, violin, harmonium, wooden and brass wind instruments to primitive organs, synths, and percussion of all means. The result will leave you wondering how you ended up in the desert at midnight tripping on the cacti while staring at beautiful milky-way lit sky. Jump on the Myrrors Great Canoe and explore a wave of otherworldly outer body experiences as you float down the hallucinated spiked waterways where consciousness flows freely….

Anthroprohh – “OMEGAVILLE” – [Rocket Recordings]

SlartiBartfast   11/27/2021   12-inch, A Library

Anthropropph – “OMEGAVILLE”

This double LP release from Anthropropph explores nearly every cochlea crevice in your unsuspecting eardrum that will leave you huddled in a drooling pool of psychedelic madness. Starting off with side A there is a relentless barrage of fast, up tempo modern post punk sounds to get the juices flowing. 2-3 minute tracks that set the tempo. Survive that aural attack and you will slowly enter a psychedelic musical underworld with sides B-D that will blow the doors off your hobbit hole abode. This is a listener’s paradise. Every track on this double LP gets longer and longer while each side explores musical realms that push the boundaries of a world you thought you knew. May your consciousness end up up in the cosmic journey in and out of Omegaville.

Glands of External Secretion – “Chronic Pussyfooting” -[BUFMS]

SlartiBartfast   11/15/2021   A Library, CD

Glands of External Secretion – “Chronic Pussyfooting”

Stepping off the gang plank of the starship into outer space you realize the sonic Secretions from an External Gland are taking over your fading consciousness. You float helplessly in the vacuum of dark matter as the duo of Barbara Manning on guitar and S. Glass on elect., synth, and tapes send you out on a cosmic journey. You realize oxygen doesn’t matter. The whizzing in your ears are the countless cosmic asteroids transmitting the hypnotic music from distant pulsars. Chronic Pussyfooting emanating from the depths of space providing just enough oxygen for sensitive ears to receive, and don’t worry, the pain in you sciatic nerve will dissipate in due order. Just give it time….and don’t forget the catnip….

75 Dollar Bill – “Little Big Band Live At Tubby’s” – [Grapefruit Records]

SlartiBartfast   11/15/2021   12-inch, A Library

75 Dollar Bill – “Little Big Band Live at Tubby’s”

What an improvisational, jazz/jam/rock-n-roll musical treat. Che Chen and Rick Brown team up with a multi-instrumental ensemble for this live recording at Tubby’s NYC in March of 2020, just before COVID lock down. Masters of blending Moorish guitar sounds in an experimental interpretation that collides with improvisational free jams, this live recording includes many other musicians such as Karen Waltuch on viola, Sue Garner on bass and Cheryl Kingan on alto and baritone sax. This collaboration leads to a meditative, contemplative, and other worldly musical consciousness that recalls the days of The Factory. A live musical happening that will find its way through you to the far reaches of the galaxy and beyond. Enjoy all you space spiders…

Lansdowne, J. – “J. Lansdowne” – [Self Released]

SlartiBartfast   11/9/2021   12-inch, A Library

Lansdowne, J.  – “J. Lansdowne”

“J. Lansdowne” is a solid fantastic debut release of dreamy, psychedelic, stoner rock with a heavy blues backbone. This fuzzed out captivating musical journey is the brain child of Atlanta, GA’s own J. Lansdowne and drummer Ben Bauermeister with a little help from guitarist Arjun Kulharya on track 2. Rich with lyrics that reflect the insanity of the last couple of years and the wonders of unexpected cosmic happenings, these equally fuzzed out vocals will satisfy your itch for that cathartic musical escape. Grab your comfy chair, sit back and enjoy…..

TEKE::TEKE – “Shirushi” – [Kill Rock Stars]

SlartiBartfast   10/5/2021   12-inch, A Library

TEKE::TEKE – “Shirushi”

Japanese garage, surf, psyche-rock from Montreal? Yesss!! This Quebec ensemble will transport you in the way-back machine to the raw sounds of the late 60’s Japanese and Asian psych rock scene to a modern day, transformative, high energy, psychedelic rock-n-roll experience. On their 2021 debut release “Shirushi”, front woman and visual artist Maya Kuroki lays down powerfully energetic vocals, injecting raw emotion into sizzling instrumental energy that includes a traditional Shinobue (bamboo flute), trombone, and ample guitar fuzz to satisfy the fuzziest of ears. Listen and enjoy the journey to the other ghostly side.

TONTO’s Expanding Head Band – “Zero Time” – [Real Gone Music]

SlartiBartfast   10/5/2021   A Library, CD

TONTO’s Expanding Head Band – “Zero Time”

Don your “space oddity” suit with anticipation, strap yourselves into the space capsule, and prepare for liftoff! Originally released in 1971, “Zero Time” will take you on an electronic, psychedelic, ambient trip to the outer rim of the galaxy. TONTO (The Original New Timbral Orchestra) is the first and largest multitimbral polyphonic analog synthesizer in the world built by Malcom Cecil who took a Moog III and kept adding custom modules to TONTO while making sure it was ever expandable. Each note that is played has the tonal quality of a different instrument and Cecil and Robert Margouleff play it to perfection. TONTO’s Expanding Head Band will guide you through a meditative and introspective cosmic journey that at times propels you through moments of psychic challenge and expansion while TONTO provides that galactic trip heard inside your space helmet. 

Moon Duo – “Occult Architecture Vol. 1” – [Sacred Bones Records]

SlartiBartfast   9/14/2021   12-inch, A Library

Moon Duo “Occult Architecture Vol. 1”

Another superb musical trip  released by Portland’s Moon Duo. This 2017 release, “Occult Architecture Vol .1” is the first in a dual psychedelic journey through light and dark.  (Occult Architecture Vol 2 in the cue) This first LP in the series explores the darker side or life and hints at demise, death of the human spirit, and prepares listeners for a rebirth. Fuzz guitar, rhythmic pounding, and head jaunting explorations await. Join Moon Duo on a journey through your mind and through the musical expansion of psychic imagination.

El Banda – “Skutki Uboczne (Side Effects) ” – [Pasazer]

SlartiBartfast   9/14/2021   12-inch, A Library

El Banda “Skutki Uboczne”

Hailing from Warsaw, Poland, El Banda brings it with their unique blend of in you face punk energy with occasional sprinklings of an electronic dream scape. Be prepared to engage and confront your angst as front woman, Anna Zajdel, brings it with an energetic vocal energy that doesn’t hold back on the outrage. Fast, furious, and full of surprises, El Banda is a perfect release for that pent up disappointment in the human condition. This double LP release may cure you of all your mental derangements. 

Anthology of Traditional Guqin Music [coll]

SlartiBartfast   9/14/2021   CD, International

Anthology of Traditional Guqin Music [Coll]

The guqin is a seven stringed Chinese zither aching with notes of tranquility. Played correctly, this beautiful instrument can give rhythms of a thumb scratching on the wound strings, eerie base like notes, and harmonic tones that will transport you to other worlds. I dare say the guqin masters profiled on this 4 CD set represent some of the best guqin players in China that produce a sound equivalent to a slow, slide, blues guitar. Boil your water, prep your Yixing pot with good Oolong, and relax to a good session of Gongcha.

Electric Moon – “Stardust Rituals” – [Sulatron Records]

SlartiBartfast   8/10/2021   12-inch, A Library

Electric Moon – “Stardust Rituals”

Dark, heavy, psychedelic, Krautrock on Electric Moon’s 5th studio release “Stardust Rituals”. Released in 2017, “Stardust Rituals” guides you through a heavy guitar and bass lead journey through the galaxy that will keep your musical soul entranced. Electric Moon delights the senses  laying down swaying, fuzzed out, psychedelic loops with the occasional infusions of e-sitar, Mellotron, and more that lead to musical….trips of your own experience. Strap on your space helmets dear listeners, and enjoy the Stardust.

Papir – “Jams” – [Stickman Records]

SlartiBartfast   8/10/2021   12-inch, A Library

Papir – “Jams”

Strap yourselves in, adjust your space helmets, and enjoy the cosmic space dust that Papir emanates on this double 12” LP. Papir is a psychedelic, space rock trio out of Copenhagen, Denmark that have been spreading their brand of space jams since 2010. Pushing the boundaries of how improvised, psychedelic, space jams are defined, Papir have driven this live, improvised jam session to new cosmic heights. “Jams” was recorded live, in studio during two recording sessions in January of 2020. Find your comfy chair, relax your mind, and let Papir blast you off to new galactic wonders.

Kohoutek – “Jurad” – [Feeding Tube Records]

SlartiBartfast   8/3/2021   12-inch, A Library

Kohoutek – “Jurad”

This 2021 release from Kohoutek will transport you from an ambient, drone, electronic paradise into an electrified psychedelic rock/n/roll jam that will blasts you into space. “Jurad” is the newest release from Kohoutek, a improvisational music collective from the Mid-Atlantic coast formed in 2003. Side A is a 24 min, ambient, electronic, drone warm up with the guitars, bass and drums playing lightly in the background exploring the perfect nooks and crannies of their improvisational sound. Side B……prepare to launch yourself into interstellar psychedelic space with a huge helping of driving guitar, bass, and drums for your dessert. Refreshments recommended before launch time. Alpha Centauri will be approaching on our left in just under a nano-lightyear.  

Seven That Spells – “Death and Resurrection of Krautrock: Omega, The” – [Sulatron Records]

SlartiBartfast   8/3/2021   12-inch, A Library

Seven That Spells “The Death and Resurrection of Krautrock: Omega”

Seven That Spells once again cast their musical magic into the realm of psychedelic, prog, spaced out Krautrock on this 2018 third in a trilogy release “The Death and Resurrection of Krautrock: Omega”. Having formed in 2003 in Zagreb, Croatia, Seven That Spells has had a tremendously talented group of musicians come and go, all with fantastic musical releases. This lineup is no different and they provide a fantastic journey through several musical genres and ages. This line up of Blake Fleming on drums, Jeremy White on bass-vox, Gordan Tomic on guitar-vox, and Niko Potocnjak on guitar-synth will not disappoint, and will keep you coming back for more. Spaced out Krautrock lives on!