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!

Zone Six – “Live Wired 2004” – [Nasoni Records]

SlartiBartfast   6/29/2021   A Library, CD

Psychedelic, spaced out, jams from Zone Six circa 2004’s Live Wired. With ample progressive ear tickles, Live Wired is an exemplary musical specimen of stoner, kraut rock and psychedelia. This line up includes Dave Schmidt on spacebass, Martin Schorn on synth, Julius-K on guitar, and Walt Jahn on drums. Tracks 1-5 recorded live 8, Oct 2004 at Sudhaus Tubingen, and Track 6 at Schlachthof Lahr 16, Oct 2004. Grab your refreshments and enjoy the mindful, musical experience.

Penza Penza -“Beware Penza Penza”- [Funk Night Records]

SlartiBartfast   6/22/2021   12-inch, A Library

High energy, fuzzed out, funky soul that will melt your face off. Penza Penza is a side project of Estonia’s multi-instrumentalist and creator of an ever evolving musical catalogue, Misha Panfilov.  Misha’s Penza Penza collaboration is a celebratory master piece of funky, fuzzed out, psychedelic soul and R/B. A full LP stacked full of 3 minute songs that explore the funky side of life, and expands on that early fuzzy, psychedelic soul. Each track seems to stretch into eternity only to reset your ear to a new tight, funky adventure. Beware of Penza Penza, your speakers and ear drums just might melt away.

BURNPILOT – “Infinitism” – [Pink Tank Records]

SlartiBartfast   6/6/2021   12-inch, A Library

Self described Psychedelic Punk designed to destroy? Since 2005? Where have you been Burnpilot? This is an early 2020 release of the German psyche rock trio Burnpilot out of Bielefeld, Germany. Burnpilot was originally founded in 2005 by brothers Joel and Sidney Jaffe on bass and drums. They soon after recruited Jonas Hehemann on guitar and Burnpilot was the result. This pre-pandemic release provides a perfect musical escape from the everyday doldrums, and an excellent planetary road stop for a psychedelic daydream. 

Obsessions – “Obsessions” – [Static Blooms]

SlartiBartfast   6/6/2021   7-inch, A Library

Loud, in your face, post apocalyptic garage punk from Obsessions. This 7” release out on Static Blooms Records will leave you killing time and escaping the dystopian dream of living through a final solution nightmare. The A side “Killing Time” is an anthem to the age old quest to escape from an absurdly stifling daily existence, The flip side track “Final Solution” is a visceral shout out to surviving the world’s insanity when you feel at ropes end. Drop the needle and punk on!

Froys, The “Seaweed/Under a Tie Dye Sky” – [Static Blooms]

SlartiBartfast   6/6/2021   12-inch, A Library

Garage punk? Stoner, psyche rock from a three piece out of Mexico City? This split 12” LP is a re-release of two earlier EP’s “Under a Tie Dyed Sky” and “Seaweed” and delivers on all cylinders. Oscillating between an in your face, high tempo post punk to more sonic musical trips, The Froys bring it with this fantastically energetic double EP release. It’s a trip filled with a little metal, post punk, and fuzzed out psyche guitars with that perfect amount of surf feel. Combined with powerful lyrics and just the right amount of rage and you find The Froys tapping into their chemistry to produce some of the best channeled craziness a trio can produce. Time to break out the tie-dyes and find the path The Froys have left your senses to follow.

K. Leimer – “Found Objects” – [Palace of Lights]

SlartiBartfast   5/19/2021   A Library, CD

Beautiful ambient sounds emanating from the long career of  Kerry Leimer. As an artist, Leimer, has been around since the late 60’s at the forefront of ambient, experimental sounds, and visual designs. Leimer shares influences with the likes of Brian Eno, Can, Neu!, and Faust, amongst others. Continuing to press the acoustical threshold, “Found Objects” is K. Leimer’s April 2021 release on his label Palace of Lights founded in 1979 with his wife Dorothy Cross. “Found Objects” will send you into a world of ambient sound to contemplate the universe, meditate on life, and reconnect to the cosmic void.

Henrik Rylander – “Fran En Obestamd Plats I Rummet” – [Hoga Nord Rekords]

SlartiBartfast   5/19/2021   12-inch, A Library

This is Hoga Nord Records re-release of Swedish artist Henrik Rylander’s 1998 album “Fran En Obestamd Plats I Rummet”. Filled with electronic glitches and psychedelic melodies, “From an Undecided Place in the Room” will thrill your experimental senses in the most beautiful way that only Swedish experimental psyche can. Floating between an atmosphere of electronic exploration and unabashed psyche rock melodies, Henrik gives a master class in melding experimental electronic glitches with mind bending, melodic, jams. 2-7-4-8-….

Centre El Muusa – “Centre El Muusa” – [Sulatron Records]

SlartiBartfast   4/20/2021   A Library, CD

Hard driving, mesmerizing psychedelic rock and roll out of Estonia? This 2020 release will leave you with a fuzzy frame of mind as you search for that astral plane that contains your carbon based life form. This is Centre El Muusa’s debut album out on Sulatron Records, and is an ear blistering jaunt into some of the best new psyche sounds out of Europe. Originally the brain child of Misha Panfilov and co-founder Volodja Brodsky, the experimental electronic duo vaults into the heavy psychedelic sounds with the addition of Monika Erdman on bass and Aleksei Semenihhin on drums. Sit back in your bubble bath and enjoy the cosmic waves.

Guaxe – “Guaxe” – [Overseas Artist Recordings]

SlartiBartfast   4/20/2021   12-inch, A Library

Brilliant psychedelic rock/folk rock that is utterly unique to the duo behind this debut from Guaxe. The musical brainchild of Dino Almeida of Boogarians’ fame and Pedro Bonifrate from the Supercordas, their collaboration has given rise to a unique sound. Filled with dreamy melodies that take you to another world. Guaxe explores the possibilities and realities of musical expression with this folk acoustic, electric warped out musical release. Guaxe’s 2019 debut LP slips into a delayed and echoed sound scape that celebrates the many musical genres that offer an escape route from the monotony of daily life. 

Blue Circle – [coll] – [Dub Ditch Picnic]

SlartiBartfast   4/20/2021   A Library, CD

Blue Circle is a fantastic collection of late 80’s early 90’s garage punk, post punk, experimental cassette recordings from Austin,TX. The Blue Circle origin begins with the formation of SPASM Cassettes in 1984 after a trio of student/musicians were faced with a final exam challenge to write a paper on a rock band, or start one. Of course, they started one, a band called Elegant Doormats. That decision to forgo the final exam lead to a long history of an underground music scene that traded in cassette rips. What a flurry of underground sounds that followed. The best of that catalogue is brought to us here on this CD collection of cassette delights. Step back in time, and catapult yourself into the now with this re-release of cassette rips from the early 90’s era. For those willing to play for their final exam, no test required just play on. The experience is the point.

CARTHIEFSCHOOL – “CARTHIEFSCHOOL” – [Transduction Records]

SlartiBartfast   4/4/2021   A Library, CD

Post-punk, electric, loud rock and roll, psychedelic fusion from Sapporo Japan. This three piece comprised of Tomoya Murosaki (guitar, voc.), Genki Tsusaka (b.), and Yudai Takasago (dr) have given us a self-titled debut album filled with delicious fusional noise. With Tomoya’s vocals screeching at times, CARTHIEFSCHOOL provide a modern lesson in a melding pot of post punk, psyche, and that certain ingredient Japanese psyche bands always bring to push boundaries and delight unsuspecting ears. CARTHIEFSCHOOL do not hold back on the brashness or energy. This is some great, in your face Japanese rock-n-roll. I hope our ears are delighted by this trio long after this debut release. 

Fontän – “Polar Star EP” – [Höga Nord Rekords]

SlartiBartfast   4/4/2021   12-inch, A Library

“Polar Star” is a delicious mix of rock melodies, electronic dreams, and ever evolving, rhythmic pulsations. Fontän, which is spear headed by the Swedish duo of Jesper Jarold and Johan Melin, provide one of the many musical road maps that blend modern electronica, prog, and traditional psychedelic music into a cocktail of head pleasing proportions. With a history influenced by a bit of Bo Hansson and Träd, Gräs o Stenar, as well as Johan’s Nationaleatern lineage, this 2016 Hoga Höga Rekord’s release is sure to keep your mind wandering while your heart and soul keep to the rhythm.  

A/LPACA – “Make It Better” – [Sulatron Records]

SlartiBartfast   4/4/2021   12-inch, A Library

Hypnotic Krautrock, psychedelic, post punk/new wave dance beats from A/LPACA. Hailing from Montova, Italy, this 2021 release from A/LPACA takes you on a musical journey through an imaginary “beat club”. A place of liberation, fun, and communal congregation. “Make It Better” leads you through that journey into a world of refuge, of reflection, and becomes a musical diversion from the stinging realities of the modern world. A/LPACA began recording this release pre-pandemic and finished recording in July of 2020. They blend heavy beat driven rhythms with just enough electronic and guitar fuzz to keep your mind pleasantly searching for those new musical  horizons.