SlartiBartfast

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.

Saturnia – “Stranded In The Green” – [Sulatron Records]

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

Fantastic, pulsating, smoky, psychedelic music from Lisbon’s own Saturnia. This 2021 12” is Saturnia’s 8th full length release, and a first for Sulatron Records. “Stranded in the Green” is an album that takes you on a psychedelic musical trip between quiet surreal whispers to driving heavy rock rhythms framed by lyrical vocals that guide your mind’s journey. Formed in 1996, Saturnia is the creation of multi instrumentalist Luis Simões from Lisbon Portugal, and was initially intended to be a communal musical collective. Since then Luis has kept the Saturnia spirit alive and well and collaborated with such musicians as Daevid Allen of Gong, Nik Turner of Hawkwind, and Stefan Kolek of Color Haze. Sit back, relax and enjoy this superb musical trip from the outer layers of your consciousness to the inner depth’s of your mind’s eye. 

Vacuum Tree Head – “Rhizomique” – [Pest Colors Music]

SlartiBartfast   3/24/2021   A Library, CD

“Rhizomique” is an experimental trip through a Jazz, Spoken Word, Funk, and Rock fusion explosions. This 2019 release on Pest Colors Music is a tasty musical treat of short, musical explorations into the multitude of melding genres VTH is know for. This release is no different, as those fluid genres are tightly woven into this deliciously tight EP length CD. “Rhizomique” has plenty of musical whims to keep the most curious of listeners entertained. I sense the need to point your future listening attention to VTH’s Nubdug incarnation. 

Sula Bassana – “Shipwrecked” – [Sulatron Records]

SlartiBartfast   3/15/2021   12-inch, A Library

Psychedelic, electronic, krautrock from Germany’s own Dave Schmidt (AKA Sula Bassana). From uptempo, hard diving compositions to more mellow ambient tunes this 2016 solo release “Shipwrecked” is sure to please your ear drums and your mind. Recorded using vintage synthesizers,  organs, drum boxes, and guitar in Sula’s “Amoebeklangraum”, or little sound room as Clemens Mitscher describes it, this Sulatron Records release will keep your head bobbing and your mind throbbing with pleasure as you enjoy some thoroughly out of this world kosmische musik. 

Trumans Water – “Godspeed The Static” – [Drunken Fish]

SlartiBartfast   3/6/2021   12-inch, A Library

Fantastic, raw, energetic, Low-Fi, garage sounds from Trumans Water. Transport yourself to that underground, post-punk, improvisational sound emanating from a warehouse party of the early 90’s. A band appears and begins to test the limits of expression and noise. All distortion on instruments and mic’s at 11. Perfection! “Godspeed the Static” is Trumans Water’s first in a series of limited releases of the Godspeed series. The Godspeed limited releases are all live, in studio, improvisational sessions. “Godspeed the Static” is a noisy, fuzzy, gritty gem of an intro to the Godspeed recording series. From “Sweet Sister Gay” to “California Lies” This is a four track LP sure to let that pent up anxiety disappear into the fuzzy distortion of Trumans Water’s loud, noisy and impressive improvisational escape. 

Goat – “Commune” – [Sub Pop Records]

SlartiBartfast   3/6/2021   12-inch, A Library

Tribal rhythms, fuzz guitar and psychedelic sounds? A band dressed in masks and tribal attire to bring this enchanting psychedelic sound to you? It must be Sweden’s own Goat. “Commune” is Goat’s second studio release out on Sub Pop Records from 2014 and remains a gem nearly a decade later. For those that know Goat, you can bask in the warmth and love of this sophomore release . For those of you who are unfamiliar with this fantastic Swedish psychedelic experience, sit back, relax, and let your noggin get carried away in the hypnotic rhythms and fuzz heavy guitar driven divineness that underlies the enchanting and energetic vocals of the two female lead singers. “Commune” is guaranteed to scratch that psychedelic itch in your ear and transport your mind to another world. 

Mophono’s Halftone Society – “Sinicism Ep, The” – [Bastard Jazz Recordings]

SlartiBartfast   2/15/2021   12-inch, Hip Hop

Delicious beats and saxophone samples galore in this 2010 project from SF producer and DJ Mophono. A perfect mix of great sampling and driving beats, this Mophono project is sure to keep your head glued to the hypnotic pulses and over samples that would make Quantic blush. Released on Bastard Jazz this is the perfect recipe to keep your head bobbing and the rhythm flowing. The flip side to this EP is remixed by “Sinicism” in a wicked beat down of percussive sound that is sure to enhance that bluntish beat in all of you.

Paisiel – “Paisiel” – [Rocket Recordings]

SlartiBartfast   2/15/2021   12-inch, A Library

Dreamy, spaced out, psychedelic saxophone and FX float over driving, trance inducing, rhythmic percussions on this 2019 freshman release from Paisiel. Hailing from Porto, Portugal, the duo of Julius Gabriel (saxophone & fx) and Joao Pais Filipe (percussion) create an atmosphere filled with tabla inspired Afro-Caribbean beats and mind melting melodies of saxophone and fx that is other worldly. The duo met in 2014 while Joao was working in a record store and Julius was a customer. In 2017 they decided to start collaborating and this self titled, release is just the beginning of that partnership. Get your refreshments ready, sit back, and enjoy the stimulating dreaminess pressed onto this luscious translucent blue vinyl.

Dora, Delphine & Cooper, Sophie “Divine Ekstasys” – [Feeding Tube Records]

SlartiBartfast   2/15/2021   12-inch, A Library

Forest Sirens call from a hauntingly, dreamy musical atmosphere of piano, organ, trombone, guitar, and fx. This 2018 Feeding Tube Records release from France’s Delphine Dora and Yorkshire’s Sophie Cooper is sure to satisfy the soundtrack cravings of your near nocturnal state of mind. Brilliantly composed as a two part suite of music, side A takes you from the beginning of a journey filled with ominous underpinnings to a side B that is redemptive and speaks to rebirth. Relax, rest your weary head and let Delphine and Sophie invite you in to their musical dreamscape.

Soft Shoulder “Not The New One” [Gilgongo Records]

SlartiBartfast   2/3/2021   12-inch, A Library

Some great noisy, fuzzy, distorted punk-improve from Tempe, AZ’s own Soft Shoulder. With James Fella at the helm, this 2020 release “Not the New One” out on Gilgonggo Records is a collection of unreleased material recorded between 2015-2019 with various line ups. Sure to appease any and all noisy itches in your ear canal. Ranging from hard driving, rocking punk noise (think The Fall) to noisy improve, “Not the New One” will leave your ear drums ringing as you bathe in the beautiful insanity. 

Speech After The Removal of The Larynx – “Speech After The Removal of The Larynx” – [Fantome Phonographiqiue]

SlartiBartfast   1/31/2021   12-inch, A Library

Speech After the Removal of the Larynx is exactly that, recordings of people learning to speak again after having their larynx removed. Originally recorded in 1964 by speech pathologist Harm A. Drost of the University Hospital, Leiden Netherlands, this re-release of a ’64 Smithsonian Folkways LP is full of linguistic and auditory gems. The original inspiration for these recordings was to document and convey the progress of speech pathology techniques for helping patients of laryngectomy learn to speak again. Speech chronicles the advancements made in the early days of speech pathology to address the physical obstacles for laryngectomy patients to talk again. The recordings cover everything from early, physically crude methods of speech to the development of electronic devices to help people find their voice once again. For those of you lucky enough to have the liner notes, take a minute or two and read about each track and how speech pathologists and patients worked together to develop new speech techniques to give voice to the voiceless. A true auditory gem. Mind that side a only has 7 cut tracks on the vinyl and the jacket lists 8. 

Cloud Seeder – “Sea of Alexander Von Humboldt, The” – [Lather Records]

SlartiBartfast   1/24/2021   A Library, CD

Get lost in the psychedelic twisted sounds of Cloud Seeder’s sophomore release. While less raw than their first self titled release,  “The Sea of Alexander Von Humbolt” will guide you through  guitar driven psychedelia realms you never imagined. Full of random and pertinent sound effects and over dubs, this release will find you searching around the nearest impact crater for your lost Occipital Lobe. As a reminder, don’t forget your refreshments, and crank it up! Fuzz and feedback free to all.

Nels Cline Singers, The – “Share The Wealth” – [Blue Note]

SlartiBartfast   1/24/2021   12-inch, Jazz

This is a trippy, noisy, rocking, and fuzzy fusion/prog/psyche Jazz 2020 release from the sextet of The Nels Cline Singers. No singing here, except for one track with some guttural vocal whispers. This is a musical journey through a wide range of musical styles. Imagine taking a bit of DNA from the Mahavishnu Orch., Charlie Hunter, King Crimson, John Zorn, and a hint of Zappa, mixed it all together, and creating a finely crafted 2LP release on Blue Note. With Nels Cline (gt fx), Scott Amendola (dr), Skerik  (ten. Sax, fx), Trevor Dunn (bass, fx), Brian Marsella (keys, fx), and Cyro Baptista (perc.), “Share the Wealth” is bound to appeal to a wide array of musical tastes and ears. It will keep your mind swirling and your toes tapping.

Fantastic Negrito – “Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?” – [Cooking Vinyl Ltd.]

SlartiBartfast   1/24/2021   12-inch, Hip Hop

Funky, bluesy, original. beats put down by Oakland’s own Fantastic Negrito. As polished as it might seem on the surface, this 2020 release, “Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?”, brings together elements of jazz, blues, funk, rock, and plenty of soul. Not to mention there is ample amounts of emotional energy and hard biting lyrics found through out the tracks on this beautiful translucent green vinyl platter. Full of up beat tempos, hard driving beats, and plenty of heart felt soul, it’s a perfect LP to slip into a multitude of blues and funk sets. Mind the FCC’s

Zelienople – “Hollywood” – [Under The Spire Recordings]

SlartiBartfast   1/23/2021   A Library, CD

This is a two track release of dark, dreamy, ambient landscapes that fluidly flow from one droning dream to another from the Chicago trio of Matt Christensen, Brian Harding, and Mike Weis. Stretching the ever expanding time of creativity, Zelienople offer up two 20+ minute tracks that will lead you to a different musical rabbit hole altogether. Drifting between  a dream filled with anxiety and sombre thought, yet punctuated by sighs of relief. Sit back, relax, and exhale. Slarti says you will need your “Drug Legs” to get you through to your next musical journey. 

Bukowski, Charles – “Solid Citizen” – [Chinaski]

SlartiBartfast   11/29/2020   A Library, CD

Hamburgh Germany…Charles Bukowski…Live…What could be better! Here is a live reading by Bukowski on the international stage. One of his last. The material the Buk presents in this live performance is some of his best. While drumming out the hum drums of the common human being, he fends off constant heckling from the Hamburgh crowd with the ease of a blur VW bug traveling minstrel. Buyer be ware, this is Bukowski. FCC’s fly like ravens in the wickedly cold fall evenings. Many of which fall outside of the actual reading itself and land like a cold hard curse word that makes it for adults only while others are attempting to contemplate the meaning. I highly suggest any and all FCC free readings.

Big Blood – “Do You Wanna Have a Skeleton Dream?” – [Feeding Tube Records]

SlartiBartfast   11/29/2020   12-inch, A Library

This is Big Blood’s 19th entry into the library and it is as worthy of any other. It starts out with a recording of Colleen Kinsella and Caleb Mulkerin’s daughter at the age of about 3 I’d guess with a 9 second introduction to the album. Quinnisa, Colleen and Caleb’s daughter is about 13-15 at the release of the album and sings lead and backup on many of the tracks as well as, plays guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards and other instruments. Quinnisa certainly compliments her parents creativity and talent, transforming this duo into a true family trio. The LP starts out with a very heavy Motown sound and continues into the dreamy landscape Big Blood is know for. One of my favorites is “Insecure Kids” where Quinnisa sings lead and plays lead guitar. Magical. Are we all not secure deep down……