Windhand - Orchard + USA Australia New Zealand tour dates

I can't believe I haven't written about these Psych-Doom merchants before! Very nice found footage compilation by Jordan Vance accompanies one of the highlights from their brilliant 'Soma' album -

Grooves, Tunes and Heaviosity - what more could you ask for...

The album is still available on Relapse Records

Yummy.

Loads of tour dates coming up as well -

Aug 24        Richmond, VA        Strange Matter w/ All Them Witches
Aug 26        Philadelphia PA        Union Transfer w/ Sleep SOLD OUT
Aug 27        Washington DC         Black Cat w/ Disciples of Christ & The Citadel (members of Ilsa)

***All dates with All Them Witches***

Sep 04         Baltimore, MD        The Ottobar
Sep 05         Pittsburgh, PA        31st Pub
Sep 06        Akron, OH        Musica
Sep 07        Columbus, OH         The Basement
Sep 08        Indianapolis, IN        Melody Inn (Windhand Only)
Sep 09        Iowa City, IA        Gabe's
Sep 10        Chicago, IL        Cobra w/ Jex Thoth
Sep 11         Minneapolis, MN    Triple Rock w/ Jex Thoth
Sep 12         Milwaukee, WI        Metal Grill w/ Jex Thoth
Sep 13         Ferndale, MI        Loving Touch
Sep 14         Toronto, ON        Coda
Sep 16         Ottawa, ON        Cafe Dekcuf
Sep 17         Montreal, QC        Petit Campus
Sep 18         Cambridge, MA        Middle East (upstairs) w/ Ilsa
Sep 19         Providence, RI        AS220 w/ Ilsa
Sep 20         Brooklyn, NY        Saint Vitus w/ Elder & Ilsa
Sep 26        Austin, TX        Red 7 (Outdoors) w/ Dead Meadow, Harsh Toke

***Australian Tour w/ Beastwars ***

Oct 02        Brisbane, AU        Crowbar
Oct 03        Sydney, AU        Hermann’s Bar
Oct 04        Melbourne, AU        Yah Yah’s
Oct 05        Melbourne, AU        The Tote

***New Zealand Tour w/ Beastwars***

Oct 08        Christchurch, NZ    Dux Live w/ The Hex Waves
Oct 09        Dunedin, NZ        Chick’s Hotel w/ Space Bats, Attack!
Oct 10        Wellington, NZ        San Fran w/ Mermaidens
Oct 11        Auckland, NZ        King’s Arms w/ Greenfog

Nov 01        Santa Ana, CA        Day of the Shred @ The Observator

Their sound does tend to inspire some great posters

Stop Press - The third pressing includes 300 ltd edition male order only of this green/ orange splatter vinyl (700 more in Bone Colour)

Liverpool International Festival Of Psychedelia 26th - 27th September 2014

Right, this is coming up next month. You'll see that a staggering number of the acts have been played in my shows! Not to be missed if you can get there then...

Oh yeah the entire world of underground Psych descends on Liverpool as well so excellent networking opportunity.

Everything else you need to know + tickets is here-

 http://liverpoolpsychfest.com/info/#section01

XII Boar - Truck Stop Baby

Local heroes XII Boar released this ltd edition 7" back in May signalling their new direction, in which American Road Rock gets rinsed through Brit Greaser R'n'R! It was a helluva gear change but I've only just noticed that there was a bloody vid! So-

They also do some of the damnedest merch extant.

For gentlemen it's 'Shake That Booty'

and for ladies it's 'Nun'

It's all over here- http://xiiboar.bigcartel.com/products

They are recording their debut album as I type, coming off the back of a special guest spot with Crowbar! (Them not me)

Then it'll be back to kickin' butts live-

Rings of Saturn - Senseless Massacre + album & tour deets

Absolutely insane playing from these lunatics, and a 3D video in tow as well (you have to switch it on in 'settings' and have 3D goggles)

The album 'Lugal Ki En' is out mid-October on Unique Leader Records. Stuff the formatting - we'll go large with the artwork

Gigs-

or if you're in Mexico

RINGS OF SATURN Mexico Tour w/ Lack Of Remorse, Victim Of Greed:

11/20/2014 Morfos Bar - Monterrey, MX

11/21/2014 Black Dog - Queretaro, MX

11/22/2014 Salon Bolivar - Mexico City, MX

11/23/2014 Bar Un Mundo Raro - Leon, MX

Honduran - Yawnmower + album & US tour deets

Wow! 

Deone Jennings!

Wow, anyway you may have noticed a band in there as well...Honduran, and their album 'Street Eagles is out on Eolian Empire now

Oh sorry, no that's Deone again...erm...here's the album

and they're touring the US with Drunk Dad so here are the dates and the inevitable formatting disaster-

DRUNK DAD & HONDURAN US Tour:

8/29/2014 Club 21 - Portland, OR w/ Same Sex Dictator

9/04/2014 The Colony - Sacramento, CA

9/05/2014 Hemlock - San Francisco, CA w/ Disastroid

9/06/2014 Oakland Metro - Oakland, CA w/ Godstomper, Sete Star Sept, Gods America

9/07/2014 MDM Studios - Los Angeles, CA w/ Stapled Shut, Actuary, Vulva Esser, Shitbrains, Putasos

9/08/2014 TBA - Flagstaff, AZ

9/09/2014 The Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM w/ Roñoso, Doomed to Exist, My Man Mike

9/10/2014 The Grynde - El Paso, TX w/ Communion of Thieves

9/11/2014 Holy Mountain - Austin, TX w/ The Unmothered, The Dead See

9/12/2014 Vino's Brew Pub - Little Rock, AR

9/13/2014 The East Room - Nashville, TN w/ Sheepshifter, Realeyes, One Beggar Sun

9/14/2014 Ten Pins Tavern - Athens, GA w/ Toxic Ass Implant

9/15/2014 Foxfield Bar and Grill - Columbia, SC

9/16/2014 Gallery 5 - Richmond, VA

9/17/2014 TBA - Baltimore, MD

9/18/2014 Motel Hell - Philadelphia, PA w/ Heavy Medical

9/19/2014 The Gutter - Brooklyn, NY w/ Heavy Medical, Law$Uits

9/20/2014 Obrien's - Boston, MA w/ The Proselyte, Jack Burton vs David Lopan

9/21/2014 Whitney House - Hartford, CT w/ Weald

9/22/2014 Certain Death - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Crappy Funeral

9/23/2014 TBA - Chicago, IL

9/24/2014 Vandals - Kansas City, MO

9/25/2014 TBA - Denver, CO

9/27/2014 TBA - Missoula, MT

9/28/2014 Underground 15 - Spokane, WA

9/29/2014 Rays Golden Lion - Richland, WA w/ The Drip

9/30/2014 The Know - Portland, OR w/ Rabbits

Or go see Buzzard which features some of their music and Detroit!

Numero Group UK tour deets

Anyone who has heard my shows knows that I love really good re-issues and compilations, and that there are certain labels who I absolutely worship in this regard. One of the greats has to be Numero. When they do re-issues you get everything: the records; the original sleeves; and every fact, story, myth, photo, bubblegum card that Numero can unearth about that particular passion. They re-issue not only the music but that feeling you used to get when you bought, not just a record, but an introduction to a new culture, a new way of looking at the world, new art, a set of values, protests, revolution and grooves. And characters! Hundreds and hundreds of characters. With digital stuff we all just become numbers....Anyway let's have some photos -

Hey let's just put out the compilation as all of the 7"ers-

How about a record case as well-

and

Beautiful aren't they? Well the people behind Numero are actually DJs and they're bringing the whole shebang to the UK in September! I'll just post their press release now-

"A decade into our journey to document lost and forgotten music from around the world, we're still figuring out how to convince the country that re-contextualized soul music that there's a decent archival record company out of America. Just like the best UK punk singles only showed up in the import bins, Numero has had a long love affair with the intelligentsia of British Isles record shops. And while the buyers at Piccadilly (Manchester), Rough Trade (London), Sounds of the Universe (London), Probe Records (Liverpool), Monorail (Glasgow), Rise (Bristol), Music Exchange (Nottingham), Honest Jons (London) and Drift (Devon) know us by catalog number, the northern soldiers have been too busy buying dodgy comps of mysterious European origin to notice that we've become the world's finest catalogue label. 

 

In September, all that changes. For ten days, Chicago's Numero Group will send shockwave after shockwave down the spines of UK dancers and record buyers. From Edinburgh to London, Manchester to Dublin, the M1 to the M4, Numero will be hosting a series of dance parties, in store events, films, and even a pop up shop. They will have a full line of LPs, CDs, games, 45s, and all the other miscellaneous debris you've come to love us for.  Not only that, we're even manufacturing a special UK ONLY limited edition compact disc, TINMINE SOUL SUPPLYwhich will be available from 20^th September in the UK’s best independent records shops only.

 

Embrace your inner Yankophile, we won't tell the punters waiting for Wigan to reopen. 

 

20-Sep      UK            Edinburgh                 Studio 24 (from 10.00pm)

21-Sep       UK            Manchester               Electrik Bar (from 8.00pm)

23-Sep      UK            London                      Rough Trade East [6.00pm, In-store event]

24-Sep      UK            London                      Servant Jazz Quarters (from 7.00pm)

25-Sep      IRE           Dublin                        Sugar Club (from 9.00pm)

26-Sep      IRE           Cork                           TBA

28-Sep      UK            London                      Strongroom

     (Numero Pop Up shop: 2.00-8.00pm / Numero to DJ: 8.00- 10.30pm)"

Goat - Hide From The Sun + album + tour deets

Goat's new album 'Commune' is out 22nd September on Rocket Recordings. It's another knockout so be aware that pre-orders have started already and Rocket also have some extremely ltd bundle offers where you can purchase an ultra ltd Gold Vinyl LP that comes with a 7" that contains a non album track plus 'exclusive to the Rocket release' - a remix of 'Hide from the Sun' by psych wizard Al Lover. Also available as part of the bundles are 5 colour print posters and ltd edition tshirts.

http://www.rocketrecordings.com/goatcommune/

and for their legendary live shows -

Goat’s Tour Dates:
Jul. 06 - Belfort, FR - Eurokeennes
Jul. 18 - Suffolk, UK- Latitude Festival
Jul. 20 - Ostrava, CZ - Colours of Ostrava
Aug. 03 - Stockholm, SE - Stockholm Music & Arts
Aug. 23 - Paredes de Coura, PT - Paredes de Coura Festival
Sep. 19 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega
Sep. 20 - Tilburg, NL - Incubate
Sep. 21 - Brussels, BE - Ancienne Belgique
Sep. 23 - Berlin, DE - Postbahnhof
Sep. 24 - Munich, DE- Ampere
Sep. 25 - Paris, FR - Trabendo
Sep. 27 - Liverpool, UK - Liverpool Psych Festival
Sep. 28 - Glasgow, UK - SWG3
Sep. 29 - Newcastle, UK - Northumbria University
Oct. 01- Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
Oct. 02- Bristol, UK - Trinity Centre
Oct. 03 - London, UK – Roundhouse

Below - Bid You Farewell

I don't normally post performance vids but there's something about the lighting in this one (and it's a cracking tune of course)

So that's the new single from their new album 'Across the Dark River' out on Metal Blade Records.

They are playing The Rainbow Complex in Birmingham on 24th August 2014 as well!

The Toby Mearing Radio Show 11th August 2014

Miss Kenichi - Who Are You

Absolutely stunning video - wack it on full screen and get the light low

The music is by Miss Kenichi from forthcoming album 'The Trail' on Sinnbus Records.

The visuals are by the composer and multi media artist Marcus Fjellstrom of kafkagarden.com.

I think we should have a bit more of Mr Fjellstrom. This should appeal to Nurse With Wound fans (full screen remember)-

and this won't appeal to children -

MK Groove Orchestra feat Lisa Mcquade - Juntos + Jamband Sweet Pt 1

This awesome big band put out a 'Live at Studio BPM, Volume 2' in May and I don't seem to have played it in my show! Disgraceful, so -

Ok that's their funky end. Now check out the solos on these!

So, the album is out on Ropeadope Records, and, let's face it, you need it in your lives

and if you live in New York their residency at the Manderley Bar in the McKittrick Hotel recommences in September - you lucky people.

Mareva Galanter - Ukuyéyé

Beautiful French model who made an album; then presented a show about scopitone films; and then made a series of fake scopitones featuring a modernist Stepford, with a knowing sense of humour. Highlights were -

in which the dog got it...

or what about this where no-one likes her?

Great house though.

and a bit of garage here -

OBNOX - Red I + Molecule/How to Rob + releases/ tour dates

There's a fascinating place where garage grease, blown-out ampage, and punker scree crashes into funk termite mounds and hip hop/pedal tech. The wonderful Black Gladiator and Permanent Record labels kinda focused me on the phenomenon, despite it's having been mouldering in my record collection/selection for decades. Lamont Thomas is right on that

that's from his latest platter as OBNOX - 'Louder Space' on 12XU Records.

The 'underground' can bee a shit crop of dick-drop, but Lamont's been around, and helped, and talks a lotta sense -"Good rock'n'roll is like bigfoot, you hear about it but you rarely see it" So see it -

He's got a ton of releases out or on the way: OBNOX - Boogalou Reed album (12XU); BLAXXX - 'for no apparent reason' 12"; OBNOX - 'Know America' album (Ever/ Never Records); OBNOX - 'The juke that sat by the door' 12" (Chunklet Industries); and a massive tour (I've already blogged about OBNOX live chops) "Let's build friends"

Aug. 7-Backdoor 207 S. College St. Bloomington, IND. 47404 (812) 333-3123
Aug. 8- House Show @945 Morris, Indianapolis, IND.
Aug. 9-Mini-Bar 3810 Broadway St. Kansas City, MO. 64117 (816) 326-8281
Aug. 10-Replay Lounge 946 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, KS. 66044 (785)749-7676
Aug. 11- 3 Kings Tavern- 60 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80209 (303)777-7352
Aug. 12-Diabolical Records- 238 S. Edison St. Salt Lake City, UT. 84111 (801) 792-9204
Aug. 13- The Crux- 1022 W. Main Boise, ID. 83706
Aug. 14-TOTAL FEST @ Zacc 235 North 1st St. W, Missoula, MT. 59802 (406) 549-7555 (Set-9:15-9:45)
Aug. 16-The Aquarium 226 Broadway, 2nd Fl, Fargo, ND. (701)235-5913
Aug. 17-7th St. Entry 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis, MINN. 55403 (612) 338-8388
Aug. 18- House Show St. Paul, MINN. (TBA)
Aug. 19-The Vault, Madison, WI
Aug. 20- Trumpet Blossom 310 E. Prentiss St., Iowa City, IA. 52240 (319) 248-0077
Aug. 21- Eronel Cafe 285 Main St., Dubuque, IA.
Aug. 22- Circle-A-Cafe 932 E. Chambers St. Milwaukee, WI. 53212 (414) 562-4101
Aug. 23-Wally World 5301 Belmont Ave. Chicago, ILL. 60641 (773)283-3362
Aug. 24-The Owl 2521 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, ILL. 60647 (773)235-5300
Aug. 25-Spot Tavern 409 S. 4th St. Lafayette, IND. 47901 (765)742-7989
Aug. 26-Ace of Cups 2619 N. High St. Columbus, OH. 43201 (614)262-6001
Aug. 27-Stone Tavern 110 E. Main St. Kent, OH 44240 (330) 677-7320
Aug. 29- Happy Dog 5801 Detroit Ave. Cleveland OH. 44102 (216) 651-9474
Aug. 30-Roche Bar 405 Quay St. Port Huron, MI. 48060 (810)982-7464
Aug. 31- HAMTRAMCK STREET FAIR (details to come)
Sept. 2- Comet 4579 Hamilton Ave. Cincinnati, OH. 45223 (513) 541-8900
*Sept. 3-Nashville (Help)
Sept. 4-Pilot Light- 106 E. Jackson Ave. Knoxville, TN. 37915 (865)524-8188
Sept. 5-HOPSCOTCH FEST @Slims 227 S. Wilmington St. Raleigh, NC. 27601 (919)833-6557
Sept. 6-Worlds Famous 351 N. Hull St. Athens, GA. 30601 (706) 543-4002 (Chunklet Record Release)
Sept. 7- The Earl 488 Flat Shoals Ave. SE., Atlanta, GA 303316 (404)522-3960 (Chunklet Record Release)
Sept. 8-Murphys Bar and Grill 1589 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN. 38104 (901)726-4193
Sept. 10- Howards Club H, 210 N. Main St., Bowling Green, OH. 43402 (419)352-3195
Sept. 13- Beachland Tavern 15711 Waterloo Rd. Cleveland, OH. 44110 (216)383-1124
Sept. 25-Ace of Cups 2619 N. High St. Columbus, OH. 43201 (614)262-6001
Sept. 26-CROPPED OUT FEST@ American Turners Club 3125 River Rd. Louisville, KY. 40207 (502)895-7501
Sept. 27-GONER FEST @Hi-Tone 412 N. Cleveland Ave., Memphis, TN. 38704 (901)278-8663
*Sept. 28-Pussy Palace 1007 W. McKennie Ave Nashville, TN.
*Sept. 29-Dayton, OH (Help)
Sept. 30 Gooskis 3117 Brereton St. Pittsburgh, PA. 15219 (412)681-1658
Oct. 1- Annabells 784 W. Market St. Akron, OH. 44303 (330)535-1112

Malika Tirolien - Sew + album deets

Pure class from an album of the year (it brought to mind Marvin Gaye's choir of angels vocal overdubs AND the second side of  David Crosby's 'If I Could Only Remember My Name' masterpiece!)

I can't begin to tell you how wonderful the album is. Just go get it - on Ropeadope Records

I first came across her tearing up the stage with...Snarky Puppy, of course! Ready?

Have MERCY!

Here she is messing about with some sort of magical box!!

San Francisco - Judex Films 1968 (Dir Anthony Stern)

a 15 minute art house film of San Francisco 1968 which just happens to use an early demo of Pink Floyd jamming Interstellar Overdrive - the trippy film is the star of the show though...

Myrkur

More of a heads-up this one, because I think Relapse may have a big hit on their hands when this is released in September -

Stunning isn't it? and ticks a lot of boxes. There will be 400 copies of 12" vinyl like this (exclusively from Relapse themselves - pre-orders have started so be quick)

Right, how about a full track

Bowl Ethereal - The Last Minute + EP deets

Video Sorcery indeed

Art Metal!

Ltd edition 7" vinyl on Southern Lord Records out now, or digital doodadery here -

Alvvays - Archie, Marry Me + tour deets

I blogged about this lot 1st June so all the deets are there, except we didn't have a video of this...and now we do

Brilliant

and they're on tour, and in London right now!!!

08/05 - London, UK @ Birthdays (Presented by DIY Mag)

08/06 - London, UK @ Rough Trade East

08/09 - Kingston, ON @ Wolfe Island Festival

08/14 - Toronto, ON @ The Horseshoe Tavern

08/16 - Montreal, QC @ La Vitrola

09/19 - Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’ *

09/20 - Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop *

09/21 - Calgary, AB @ The Republik *

09/23 - Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Center *

09/24 - Thunder Bay, ON @ Crocks *

09/27 - Toronto, ON @ The Horseshoe Tavern *

10/20 - Cambridge, UK @ Junction 2 ^

10/21 - Liverpool, UK @ Kazimier ^

10/22 - Dublin, Ireland @ O2 Academy ^

10/24 - Birmingham, UK @ The Institute ^

10/25 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club ^

10/26 - Newcastle, UK @ Riverside ^

10/28 - Brighton, UK @ Komedia ^

10/29 - London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire ^

11/08 - Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade

11/10 - Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle

11/11 - Washington, DC @ DC9

11/12 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter

11/13 - Durham, NC @ The Pinhook

11/14 - Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theater

11/16 - Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree

11/18 - New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa

11/19 - Dallas, TX @ City Tavern

11/21 - Austin, TX @ Red 7

11/23 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar

11/25 - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar

11/29 - San Francisco, CA @ Richshaw Stop

12/01 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge

* w/ Fucked Up

^ w/ Real Estate

Bitchin Bajas - Bueu + album & tour deets

This is like Terry Riley jamming with Dik Mik, Del Dettmar, Tim Blake and Tangerine Dream, in Giza, while the pyramids dance with UFOs!

see, I wasn't exaggerating!

Analog modular synths were used to create this amazing vid by Nick Ciontea.

The Bitchin' Bajas album is out 25th August on Drag City.

 However, there will be a special digital version with vids to all the tracks by Nick available exclusively from the label direct!

There are live dates and, as is customary here they will not format correctly -

8/25@ Magnetic South-Bloomington, IN

8/26 @ Dreamland-Louisville, KY

8/27 @ The Collective at Depot Street-Boone, NC

8/28 @ Transfigurations II Festival- Asheville, NC

10/2 @ Villa Manuela Festival- Madrid, Spain

10/3 @ CAAA-  Guimaraes, Portugal

10/4 @ ZdB- Lisbon, Portugal

10/5 @ Bar Labranza- Bueu, Spain

10/9 @ Le Petit Bain- Paris, France

10/10 @ Water Moulin- Tournai, Belgium

10/12 @ Zuiderpershuis- Antwerp, Belgium

10/14 @ FJT Les Oiseaux- Besancon, France

10/15 @ Klubi - Zurich, Switzerland

10/16 @ Le Bourg- Lausanne, Switzerland

10/19 @ Madame Mim- Valencia, Spain

Sultan Bathery tour deets

Are touring -

and in honour of this momentous occasion let's see this old video of these exotic Italian Freakbeat Swamis! and some clips from brilliant films that kinda carry the same vibes...

Ghostworld

The Hairdresser's Husband

See what I mean? Their self-titled album is out on Slovenly Records and was caned on my Radio Shows -

Music Blues - The Great Depression

"The horror, the horror!"

"It echoed loudly within him, because he was hollow at the core."

It's the bass-player from Harvey Milk considering depression, but sounding rather upbeat about it. Well, hey, that's depression for you. Album out 25th August on Thrill Jockey (on shit brown vinyl in limited quantities of course) -

Nightmare Boyzzz - Problem Child

A fun one from these Huntsville AL power-poppin' punkers -

They have an excellent album out on Slovenly Recordings -

Lot's of rockin' and tons of hooks...so go get it!

http://slovenly.com/store/slovenly-releases/vinyl/nightmare-boyzzz-bad-patterns-lp.html

Vampillia x BiS

All is not what it seems here

incredible isn't it?

Did you notice the yeti?

The ladies were a pop band called BiS who did this -

erm...and this -

Whereas Vampillia do Black-Prog

but then late last year BiS 'disbanded' and then re-appeared like this -

So a pretty good fit with this magnificent track/vid

Vampillia's current album 'Some Nightmares Take You Aurora Rainbow Darkness' is on Candlelight Records. Members of Boredoms and Ruins pass through their ranks and also Merzbow!

Their 'Alchemic Heart' album will shortly be reissued by Temple of Torturous Records in Europe.

I realise that this all made little sense - that tends to happen when writing about the Japanese music but you always get great videos with them....

Departure Kids - Let me standing there + album deets + make you mine

Power Pop from Marseille? No it's really good, and I have no idea what this video is all about either!

They're well named because look how young they are -

and they do a song entitled 'Wanking Too Hard'!

There's a 7" (ha ha) out on Ratpop, and an album out on Howlin Banana Records/ Requiem pour un Twister records.

Just look at them rockin' it up live

Go here for the album -

The Toby Mearing Radio Show 28th July 2014

Cozy - Button By Button album + tour

Ooooooooooooooooooooh the new Cozy album has turned up on HoZac Records! I can't wait for a copy so hear it on Bandcamp - utter genius

If you want to see how brilliant they are I posted footage here Oct 2013...where WERE you!?

Anyway live dates (and note the heavy names who associate with 'em)-

Ultramantis Black - Biomonster DNA + new EP deets

The wrestler Ultramantis Black backed by Pissed Jeans!

The EP is rather eye-catching and good old Relapse Records have done a little trailer so you can see :-)

I do like that sleeve, anyway it's out now!

Mono - Legend: A Journey Through Iceland

Well this is one of the best I have posted. 12 mins of time-lapse filming of Iceland's WoW-ness is worth the price of admission alone! Mono often get mis-described as P*st-R*ck but they have far more in common with Tomita, Far East Family Band, Stomu Yamashita over in Japan, and Vangelis over in Europe. Very accessible music - but clearly Japanese in origin. Epic, soundscape/soundtrack stuff played by a rock band but then with orchestra re-added. When it works it is brilliant - their live shows are legendary as a result. They're just perfect here... 

Henry Jun Wah Lee directed.

The track is from their last album 'For My Parents'

The news is that they have just recorded a new one for Pelagic Records - deets to follow, but I had to post that vid!

Hearts & Souls - Wide Eyed

Back a coupla years ago, when my band Detroit'74 started out, we inadvertently scored our first gig in a London club. Having never played live; soundchecked or anything I was a nervous wreck. Hearts & Souls were also on the bill and were a) brilliant live, and b) really tried to get me through the nightmare! Well they're still going and I'm delighted to say that their new single is a doozy -

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/wide-eyed-single/id840245385

and I have found a gig (although I think they are also to gig with Allusondrugs in August?)

P.S. their drummer Connor is one of the most powerful drummers I've ever heard live - he really doesn't need mic-ing!)

Matthew Young - Recurring Dreams

Here's a lovely little film of an afternoon spent with the 'new age' synth album pioneer!

and his album was reissued yesterday by Drag City Records on all formats (working with Yoga Records who actually filmed that vid) 

 I have the album so expect to hear it in the Show - but heck, just go get it now anyway!

Djs From Mars & David Puentez - Welcome to The Darkside

These two are always fun

Oh, and there is a link in the comment to go and vote for them - so go vote!

Mary Lattimore with Jeff Zeigler - Untitled

This is well worth a look. The music is rather beautiful, but more importantly you can see how the electronics are being used...

Needless to say they are seasoned performers and collaborators, but they have an album coming out 22nd September on Thrill Jockey - 'Slant Of Light'

Sounds like it could be a beauty.

Adrian Rew - Slot Machine Music

It's the 'Slot Machine Music' release that I want to address. I've never been in a casino, but something about Rew's sleeve notes really caught my attention. I'm aware of these monstrously addictive gambling machines, and the politics/methods of control which are also used by the video-gaming and porn industries. Anyway, here are the notes -

"Video gambling addicts, academic researchers, and industry professionals alike describe the trancelike state into which problem gamblers suspend themselves with remarkable consistency: they unanimously call it the machine “zone”, a kind of inner experience during which the rhythmic flow of human-machine collusion borders on mysticism. Time is abolished in the act of contemporary video gambling―simulated slot reels roll, virtual poker decks deal, and all worldly concerns are lost―leaving only the aura of total zone immersion in its wake. Sometimes characterized as the crack cocaine of gambling, the intensity of the machine zone is a symptom of casino ergonomics: oxygen-saturated pleasure air, subtly controlling walkways, mesmerizing lights, and, as captured here, meticulously engineered sonic environments all play a role in evoking the timeless void of the zone.

  Although I was not yet aware of the extent to which casinos tailor their environments for maximum comfort (and, correspondingly, profit), I did know as I crossed the threshold of my first casino floor earlier this year that it would not be my last visit. Hit by a cornucopia of slot machine tones, triggering aleatorically and coalescing into shimmering masses, I was struck by the need to return and record the sounds that so entranced me. It wouldn't prove to be easy―casino security is intense (you can hear me get warned of the consequences of taking photos at the beginning of the disc's second track)―and due to the clandestine nature of the operation, my recording techniques were by no means sophisticated. Equipped with nothing but an Olympus LS-11 recorder's internal microphone stashed in a sweaty coat pocket, I allowed the lure of the zone to guide me through a series of ambling recording sessions over a period of four months, the best of which are included here. 

  I learned a lot about casino sonics in the process: game designers, for example, tune their machines to the key of C in order to optimize harmonic cohesion; one team of designers, the story goes, even spent a month perfecting a single 'ding' sound on one machine. In the interest of preserving the true ambient sounds of the casino these recordings are completely untreated, but lost in the sea of chance I did exert some affirmative control by means of meandering intent and my actual playing of the machines. And by participating in the games myself I got a taste of the financially debilitating consequences that accompany the enchantment of video gambling. The disc in your hands represents my endeavor to bring you the zone experience without the harsh comedown of its unfortunate reality."

Now hang on to your hat because, if this is what it sounds like in casinos, I really need to get into one! and we all need to buy the album (ltd edition of 500 picture discs - pre-ordering now)

http://hansonrecords.bigcartel.com/artist/adrian-rew