Papagika, Marika – “Further The Flame, The Worse It Burns Me, The” – [Mississippi Records]

victoria west   1/11/2012   12-inch, International

Marika Papagika was born on 1890 on the island of Kos, emigrating to the U.S. in 1915. She recorded about 225 performances between 1918 and 1929. On this album we can hear the Greek folk tunes sung by Marika and only accompanied either by a violin, clarinet or percussion. I can also hear a bit of blues as well. This album is very simple and you can definitely hear the vintage sound of the recordings throughout the album. Included is an extensive liner booklet on what little photos and information there is left of Marika’s life. You will also find descriptions on each song and some translations of certain verses. Very pleasant tunes.

-victoria west*

FAB Trio, The – “History of Jazz In Reverse” – [TUM Records Oy]

victoria west   1/11/2012   CD, Jazz

The late great Billy Bang on violin in this trio accompanied by Joe Fonda on double bass and Barry Altschul on drums. The trio recorded this album on 12/13/2005 In NYC. Half of the album is unrehearsed improvisations, although I would never have guessed, these professionals make it sound very composed. The first track is the only track I would have guessed as being improvised. It begins in sort of a warm up kind of way as if each member of the trio is doing their drills before going on to the actual song. This album is truly enjoyable and wonderful reflection on Billy Bang’s incredible violin skills.??Excellent liner notes on each member, dedications to Billy and photographs inside too.

-victoria west*

Potter, Colin / Mouldycliff, Phil – “Grey Skies On Ashpalt” – [Beta-Lactam Ring Records]

victoria west   1/4/2012   A Library, CD

I can see it all now through the sounds on Grey Skies On Ashpalt. This abstract ambient experimental album delivers the sounds of a microphone capturing the street scenes. You can hear many things from birds, radio tuning sounds, people in a distance talking as if they were in an old fashioned train station, scratching noises, what I would imagine aliens to sound like,??the center of a village with church bells ringing, mechanical motors purring, clanks and hammering and so much more, a speak and spell. All sounds blending together with the backing of electronic type ambient sounds. The album begins quietly and builds throughout. This unique album takes you on an imagination adventure.

-victoria west*

Magnetix – “Drogue Electrique” – [Slovenly]

victoria west   1/4/2012   12-inch, A Library

The French duo is back again with some fast paced abrasive fuzzy 60s sounding electro psychedelic garage rock with bits of surf. All tracks are very dancey & bouncy that makes you move with the beat. Tracks 1 & 4 are sung in French. Tracks 5 & 8 are instrumental and the rest are in English. “Darktide” has a creepy kind of sexy vibe to it. These two make some massive noise. Love it!

-victoria west*

Hungry Gayze – “Roadkill” – [Floridas Dying Records]

victoria west   1/4/2012   7-inch, A Library

This Orlando group brings us another 7inch full of garage rock, hi-fi, punk rock. The first two tracks are poppy and tribal sounding with female vocals. The last track “8th Grade Haircut” features male vocals and is a little slower paced. Swingin keys, riffing guitar, booming drums, and smooth bass are all in this setup for some catchy and make your booty move tunes. Limited to 350 copies.

-victoria west*

Alps – “Dead Scene” – [Past Future Presents]

victoria west   1/4/2012   7-inch, A Library

Australian Chris Hearn is Alps. On this 7inch you will hear very minimal, jangly, garage, noise rock sounds, done mainly with drums, organs and some guitar. Track 1 is very simple with some lo-fi muffled spoken words. Track 2 is more melodic, poppy and upbeat with sounds of handclaps, popcorn popping like sounds and very soft vocals. Its a very sweet track. Track 3 has some very odd percussions that I can’t figure out maybe some pots & pans, kazoo or whistling? Dead Scene was recorded in one day and is limited to 200 copies.

-victoria west*

White Hills – “Measured Energy” – [Trensmat Records]

victoria west   12/7/2011   7-inch, A Library

This release is some experimental stuff from White Hills than their previous releases. This has more of a dark and scary tone. On side A you will hear spacey radio waves, frequency noises, interference, laser swords swishing mid-air and a heavy synth that builds throughout the song. I could not recognize any sounds from instruments like guitar, bass or drums. However it doesn’t mean they aren’t there. = p Also I couldn’t hear any vocals on either side of this 7inch. Side B has some noticeable guitar and synths with lots of echoing. This track reminds me a lot of a fierce storm. Towards the end you hear some drumming in the far far distance.

-victoria west*

Segall, Ty – “Spider” – [Drag City]

victoria west   12/7/2011   7-inch, A Library

More garage rock from the awesome Ty Segall on this three track 7inch. Expect to hear very lo-fi sounds, extreme fuzzy sludginess high pitch screaming. “Spiders” starts of fast and mellows out a bit after about a minute. “Hand Glams” has a great bass and drum line with lots of feedback and more screaming. “Cherry Red” on side B has more of a catchy vibe. It begins with what sounds like a rumbling noise like a very strong wind. “Cherry Red” is not as noisy as Side A tracks but equally as awesome. It is also a cover of the Groundhogs track.

-victoria west*

O Paradis – “Serpiente De Luna, Serpiente De Sol” – [Aorta]

victoria west   11/30/2011   A Library, CD

O Paradis is Demian Recio of Barcelona. Serpiente de Luna, Serpiente de Sol gives us a dark, romantic, melancholic, poetic, experimental folk album with Spanish vocals. Each song reminds me of a scene in a massive, very well produced theatrical performance with some industrial, steampunkish accents. Clinks and clanks, bells and whistles, powerful drumming, soothing keyboard, organ, xylophone, horns and more all provide the loops of sounds to this project. Nietzsche text featured in “Llama”. This album is a beauty to listen to.

-victoria west*

 

Roots of Chicha 2, The [coll] – [Barbes]

victoria west   11/30/2011   CD, International

This is a collection of 16 Peruvian cumbias or chichas as they later became known from 1968-1981. Inside is a fabulous booklet with the history of the transition of how the word chicha came to be. You can also find excellent details on each of the bands featured in this Vol. 2 collection. The entire album is very lively and upbeat with a tropical feel and a bit rock, pop and surf sounds too. Psychedelic guitar, organs, cowbells, maracas, hand drums, drum kit and many more percussions fill the entire album. Some tracks are instrumental only (#1, 6, 8, 10, 12). All tracks a joy to listen to! = )

-victoria west*

Wet Hair – “Radiant Lines” – [Not not Fun Records]

victoria west   11/16/2011   7-inch, A Library

Very lo-fi sounds on this 7″ from Wet Hair. “Radiant Lines” is like a psychedelic circus, heavy organ, very peppy and fun accented with light yells in the far distance background. “Decay” also has a pop feel to it but is a little more mellow and mystical with soft male vocals bringing you into a trance. You can also hear sounds of a Snorks underwater gun and Casio beats in the background too. Included is awesome booklet of full of artwork done by Wet Hair themselves.

-victoria west*

Knife Fight – “Hobbies” – [Aarght! Records]

victoria west   11/16/2011   7-inch, A Library

4 very short track on this 7″ by Knife Fight from New Zealand. “Boredom” starts with feedback and yells. All tracks very lo-fi, fuzzy, gritty and some jangly guitar with a punk/garage feel and a little bit of blues in there too. Side B has lower vocals.

-victoria west*

Estrogen Highs – “For All I Know” – [Southpaw Records]

victoria west   11/16/2011   7-inch, A Library

Limited to 300 copies, this garage punk band brings us 4 tracks. “For All I Know” is a sing able happy and catchy tune and heavy ending. “Subtle Girl” has a beachy kind of feel to it. Side B is definitely a lot mellower. Estrogen Highs do a fabulous job covering “Ever” from Flipper. “Graffiti Pt. III” is my favorite track. It has a moody vibe with soft echoey vocals with acoustic guitar. Wish the song and album was longer though. Love! = )

-victoria west*

Orcutt, Bill – “How The Thing Sings” – [Editions Mego]

victoria west   11/16/2011   12-inch, A Library

Raw experimental improv folk blues from Bill Orcutt, former member of Harry Pussy. Entire album is acoustic guitar only sprinkled with some humming from Bill. The unique style of noise on How The Thing Sings is a nice balance of chaotic jangly harsh guitar and slower quieter melancholy strumming. Entire album was recorded in Bill’s San Francisco living room.

-victoria west*

Kreamy ‘lectric Santa – “Da Bronx Sity Chikn Machine Vol 2” – [Starcrunch]

victoria west   10/26/2011   A Library, CD

Originally released around 1995, Da Bronx Sity Chiken Machine is available again. Listening to this album was my first KLS experience. They are defintely all over the place. The short tracks jump from fast paced punk rock to slowed down sugary pop, all noisy and experimental. Vocals tetter back and forth between Robert Price and Priya Ray. Most tracks are pretty short, so one could definitely play a few tracks continously. The tracks are squeezed together so tightly the whole album feels like one long track to me. Tracks 25 & 26 are of elementary school kids reciting parts from Hamlet. Althought I first thought they were stoners taking bong hits in between words. They giggle and insert their own commentary. It’s pretty entertaining.

-victoria west*

 

Schlammpeitziger – “Collected Simplesongs of My Temporary Past” – [Sonig]

victoria west   10/19/2011   A Library, CD

This release is a compilation of Schlammpeitziger’s (Jo Zimmerman) best works filled with synth and drum machines. Track 6 reminds me most of the small Casio I had as a kid with the preinstalled beats. The last track transports me to the old school Electrical Parade at Disneyland, can’t help but to be happy while listening to Schlammpeitiziger’s upbeat tunes. No real change of emotions here just simple straight up happiness. Instrumental only tracks on this album.

-victoria west*

3eese – “3eese” – [Vanity Case]

victoria west   10/19/2011   A Library, CD

Five spacey electronic like tracks on the S/T 3eese (Threese) release. All tracks are almost a bit droney and dreamy. Synths, laser sounds and wind instruments. There is something that sounds like a car engine or space ship taking off followed by a toy guy that shoots bubbles on track 1. Pleasant! = )

-victoria west*

Puffy Areolas – “Gentemen’s Grip” – [Hozac Records]

victoria west   9/27/2011   7-inch, A Library

I know I say this a lot, but I love these guys!!!! Seriously!!! = ) If you don’t know these guys are from Cleveland, Ohio and they kick ass! 3 short tracks on this EP all loaded with lots of lo-fi fuzz, garage, psych rock sounds and feedback too. Undecipherable lyrcis to me, but it doesn’t matter because they rock out with their cox out!

-victoria west*

Women In Prison – “Strange Waves” – [Hozac Records]

victoria west   9/27/2011   7-inch, A Library

Women in Prison are four dudes based in Austin playing three punk songs for your listening pleasure. Good luck trying to stay seated because these guys start fast and keep you head banging. Feedback bleeding through your ears with lo-fi vocals, piercing guitar, slamming drums and Booger’s bass beating you down to the ground. “Circles & Circles” is my favorite track on this 7″. I love these guys! = ) Play now!

-victoria west*

Clarinets, The – “Keep On Going Like This” – [Skirl]

victoria west   9/21/2011   CD, Jazz

Keep On Going Like This by The Clarinets features only…clarinets, no other instruments nor vocals. This album is completely improvised by a trio of players. All songs are soft and calming and a bit melancholic. “Bristles Burrs Spikes” is the only track with little bursts of squeals. No breaks in between tracks.

-victoria west*