new: Trail Magic "Don't Grow Up"

Yooooth
I'd always known Trail Magic as little gifts left to hikers, by other hikers, as a way of enlightening the path. Granola, pints of Whiskey, roaches, just a couple things to make somebody elses day a little better. In the city we call them ground scores, or street scores. The deluge of sounds from Trail Magic, who you may recognize from the Butter X Face Chum Onah: A Michael Jackson Tribute comp, are, ostensibly, similar. Bits of pre-recorded, digital fuck and synthetic tweak gaze surrender to a natural force, sort of like when cows can't help but lay down when a storm starts rolling in...but different. Animal Collective, in all their varied bits, are an obvious reference point, and that's not a bad thing, as Trail Magic successfully tap as many genre's as AnCo (hip hop, sample 8-bit, acoustic psych, folk, fuzz pop, etc), yet never fall into the trappings of a single sound. To be honest, I'm not too sure what to make of Yooooth as a whole, but, on the strength of the new EP and "Childhood Foreverand," I'm excited to hear what Trail Magic conjures up next.

Trail Magic- Don't Grow Up

mix: Oneohtrix Point Never

"Zones Without People"
Recently came across this short mix Oneohtrix Point Never, who may have the hardest name to remember/spell, did for Rare Frequency a few months back. As is usually the case with the hyper dimensional composer, the mix seamlessly moves like a mystic space explorer's vehicle through inter-gallactic nothingness, slowly progressing towards its final destination, a place where time is infinite. It's a bit new age-y, at times, but then again, all true synthesizer music, cosmic in its form, could be tagged as yoga music. What's most stellar about the nearly 11 minute mix is how OPN's progression is so organic, it's hard to pin point exactly where the movement is coming from. Minimalist, yet deep and dense at the same time, the live set is the cosmic embodiment of lone space travel. You see the stars, the Milky Way and the sun, but all you can hear are the sounds of your own thoughts in the back of your head and the infinite hum of space.

Oneohpoint Trix Never will release two records this month, the Russian Mind LP on No Fun and the Rifts double CD also on No Fun.

Oneohpoint Trix Never- Live on Rare Frequency July 23rd, 2009

video: Alex Bleeker & Mountain Man

"Old Blue Jeans"

A rainy Saturday afternoon can be tough, especially after 4 days of non-stop showcases, free booze and incessant running around. Around 5 pm or so, I was beat. Everyone was beat. Sick of music. Sick of bars. Sick of bad sound guys. Then Alex Bleeker rolled into the Lovin' Cup. There were about 25-30 acquaintances, friends, admirers waiting for him to arrive with Mountain Man. When he crossed the threshold of the tavern, the place exploded in applause. Physically taken back, shocked even, Bleeker laughed and did the Kool Aid Man walk out the door, before returning a few seconds later to grace our weary heads with an acoustic, unamplified set accompanied by Alex and Molly from Mountain Man, and whomever else felt compelled to sing along. Serious coffee shop vibes. One of the most magical moments from this year's CMJ. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for news announcing a similar event in the near future.

new: Boneless

"Breathless"
A week ago I hadn't heard of Boneless. However, this morning I awoke to an email from the artist, a glowing post on Friendship Bracelet, and a mornings worth of blissed out chill-ish so warm and gooey I've forgotten all about the giant bump/gash on my forehead. An Uncontrollable Urge called it "sweet acid magic," while Ian at FB.US likened it to being lost at sea, the magical part, not the scary "hungry sharks are surrounding me" part. I'd agree with both, while also noting that "Better," my personal favorite of the Boneless cuts (so far), reminds me of the duality of getting stoned for the first time in the backyard with friends. Stuff warbles, ya can't stop coughing, tree's sway a bit differently, you wanna laugh but your also feeling really introspective, a car cruises by and it feels like fate. And then it's over, and fades, sort of like a dream that your trying to remember, but can't seem to put into words. It's in that mystique that Boneless shines, as "Better" literally just made me forget what I've been doing this morning.

Listen to it here, then use whatever you kids use these days to rip song tunes from MySpace.

video: Mountain Man, Air Waves

"Bright Baby Eyes of the Chickadee"

Saw LAKE, Karl Blau and Alex Bleeker and the Freaks get seriously down at Ash's Place last night. Got home late, passed out hard. Woke up, still dreaming, with these in my in box. A "music video" for Mountain Man's undeniable "Animal Tracks," which appears to be shot while the ladies were recording (re-recording) the song for future release. Rumor has it that we'll be seeing more than just a 7" in the not-so-distant future, which is very good news. Also, Ray C sent over the latest installment in his CMJ series, this one featuring Air Waves, who, despite playing after Mountain Man to a room not nearly full enough, managed to make me feel pretty darn warm and cozy, despite the monsoon in Brooklyn last Saturday night. Really looking forward to both Mountain Man and Air Waves future releases on Underwater Peoples.

video: Real Estate "Basement"

"Watching the Sea Birds"

One of my favorite new Real Estate songs, if not my favorite, "Basement" will appear on the forthcoming Mexican Summer 12-inch, due out sometime before the end of the year. As is usually the case with video shot by Mr. Ray Concepcion, I'll let the visuals speak for themselves, as words will do no justice.

mix: Run DMT "Bong Voyage"

"Spirit Molecule"
I mentioned the psychedelic freak show that is Run DMT a few weeks back, but that was before he/she/it sent me this mix, which is also available for download on their MySpace. Bong Voyage. What a term. The mix, which recalls the short form samples often employed by Dilla, floats like a hot air balloon, while, somehow, simultaneously drowning itself in its own twistedness. "Money" is a good example. Chilled out guitar loop, and a bit of spoken word antics high-jacked from the Home Shopping Network. It's the sort of nonchalant, everyday shit that freaks you out. Same with "Baby," a cooler of a subway sax sample, abruptly interrupted by some midi house bass that sounds more a kin to a Mtn. Dew commercial than a vaporizer session. All this and still half the tracks, if expanded beyond a glimpse of themselves, could be tagged as "new age," "spirit psych," or tests from a molecular gastronomy class. 15 songs, 20 minutes. For fans of Dilla, Julianna Barwick, Julian Lynch and Hyphy.

Download Run DMT's Bong Voyage.
Also, peep all the goo over at Run DMT's muxtape.

video: Mountain Man at Monkeytown

"Amen"

I was pretty psyched when Mountain Man told me they could fill in for Ducktails at the Bobka Monkeytown show last Tuesday. Even better knowing that our friend Ray Concepcion would be on hand to document the proceedings. In retrospect, it was even more magical than I could have imagined. Never thought I would've woken up at noon the next day, foggy, still in shock as to the dream I witnessed the night before at the magical den that is Monkeytown. Enough words already though, Mountain Man at Monekeytown, by Ray Concepcion. Might have been the best show of CMJ (Editorial bias).

video: Pill Wonder at the Delancy- CMJ

"And They Look You In The Eye"

One of the most enjoyable parts about CMJ is getting to hear some of your favorite acts from far away for the first time. While Pill Wonder were in town for the UP Late SUMMR Showcase in August, it was only Dana and Will who arrived, fleshing out the live band with former Olympia, WA resident Martin Courtenay and UP mainstay's Ari Stern and Mike Mimoun. That night, drunk as hell, I asked Dana and Will to come back for CMJ, despite not having a show lined up. A week or so later, I emailed Dana with a few specifics, some dates, a venue, etc. He later informed me that the entire Pill Wonder collective, all seven Pacific Northwest raggamuffins, would make the cross country flight to grace us with their shambolic, tribe of good kids from small town vibes. This c. axel capture from the Delancey show on Friday night finds Pill Wonder playing "Gone to Market," a tune not too out of step with the homespun, ragged jubilance often associated with the Elephant 6 collective. It's a feel good tune, with glockenspiel, a whole bunch of synchronized "oohs" and some surfy riffs that'll sure to brighten this dreadfully rainy day. Make sure to check the Chocolate Bobka Takes on CMJ channel on Vimeo for hot shots from Ray Concepcion, Pixelwhorse and le Bobka. (Elise has a pretty dope Frat Dad vid in their, also from the Delancey. Four words- Doritos: Late Night Taco.)

video: Real Estate "Black Lake" at CMJ

"Swimming Beneath the Power Lines"

Last week was hectic, hence no real posting. Either way, another great, chaotic week at CMJ, even though I did my best to keep it rather low key. Such is the vibe in this c. axel capture of Real Estate Friday night at the Chocolate Bobka/twosyllable/Underwater Peoples Showcase at the Delancey. A host of issues had bands running a late and Real Estate didn't go on 'til roughly 2:45 am, an hour after when they were supposed to finish. Every one was exhausted. Yet, by the time they took the stage, a sense of calm engulfed the room, as there was no fooling who everyone was there to see. Of course, after returning from a short tour with Japandroids and playing an additional two weeks worth of shows during CMJ, Real Estate were on fire, playing cuts from their soon to be released self titled debut on Woodsist (pick it up at a show), as well as more obscure cuts like "Atlantic City" and new bomb "Basement." Big ups to Ettienne, Bleeker, Marty and Matt for going on wicked late and still killing it. Quite the end to a pretty darn good, rainy night.

video: Holiday Shores "Edge of Our Lives"

"There is No One Like You"

Possibly the last evidence of a Bobka show before tomorrow nights throw down at Monkeytown, this jawn from the Cameo Gallery show in late August finds Holiday Shores coexisting with the last airs of Summer. Fitting for the Floridians, who will be back in NYC this week for CMJ and are playing the big Bobka show Friday at the Delancey. Make sure to catch them, as early as tomorrow at the Pop Tarts show, as they are definitely not to be missed. I also hear they have a tour-only cassette with them on this run, which features a choice Arthur Russell cover. My guess is its super limited, so pick it up if you get a chance.

Holiday Shores at CMJ
10.20 New York, NY @ Cake Shop (Poptarts Suck Toasted Day Party) @
10.22  Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium (Myopenbar Party) $
10.23  Brooklyn, NY @ Trash Bar (Breakthru Radio Day Party)
10.23  New York, NY @ The Delancey (twosyllable records/Underwater Peoples CMJ Showcase) #
10.24  Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (AAM Day Party)

@ w/Surfer Blood, Small Black
$ w/Javelin
# w/ Real Estate, New Villager, Inlets, Frat Dad, Pill Wonder

new: Alex Bleeker & the Freaks "Never Goin Back"

"Never Going Back To My Old School"
Looking back on school days can be a major bummer. Steely Dan summed it up pretty nicely in "My Old School," but nonetheless, memories of collegiate days spent getting wasted and mulling over "life" makes up a large part of the end of adolescence. There is a finite line drawn in the sand, as if, once one dons the ole cap and gown, nothing, no matter how hard you try, will ever be as easy as before. It's one small step for man, and one, er, a giant leap into reality. No more meal plans, no more waking up at 2pm, no more summer vacation, winter vacation, spring break, etc. It's a bummer, yet, at the same time, a total relief, as a new world, one with infinite possibility, waits just outside the campus bubble. Alex Bleeker knows this feeling well. He's nostalgic for his collegiate days, but knows they are numbered. One can't live in the past, and as much as one would like memorialize the days of yore, its more fitting to be a bit sad about their fleeting ways. "Never Goin Back" finds Bleeker reminiscing, wandering, wondering what life has next in store. It's a logical response from a still recent graduate, one Benjamin Braddock would likely jam out too.

"Never Goin Back" is the B-side to the soon-to-be-released 7-inch on Group Tightener. Bleeker will be playing the hella good Group Tightener CMJ Showcase Wednesday night at Monster Island. Best Coast, Fluffy Lumbers, Coasting, Ducktails, HIGHLIFE. I'll be there. Stop by. Say hi.

Alex Bleeker & the Freaks- Never Goin Back

CMJ: Underwater Peoples Afternoon Delight

"Skyrockets in Flight"

As CMJ nears I think its important to hint you to another choice showcase. Yes, yes, we're brosefs with the Underwater Peoples crew and love posting their "sick jams" as "mp3s" and all, but what really matters is "feeling" the music maan. Said music can be felt, and will feel you (it might get uncomfortable, beware!), next Saturday afternoon, October 24th 2009, at the Cameo Gallery in Williamsburg. Like the Late Summr Showcase, Afternoon Delight will highlight nearly every single Underwater Peoples affiliate, from Fluffy Lumbers to Air Waves to Liam the Younger to a full-on Pill Wonder 7-member experience. Best of all, its during the day, so be prepared to suck down at least your body weight in Bloody Mary's and bagels. All info above.

CMJ: Mountain Man filling in for Ducktails

"Starring at the Wild White Heron"
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Ducktails won't be able to play the Chocolate Bobka/Underwater Peoples/Olde English Spelling Bee show next week at Monkeytown. Sucks, but the sun shines brightest after a storm. In this case, the sun is Mountain Man. Yes, those lovely young ladies from Vermont that I've been gushing over for months. To be honest, this changes the dynamic of the show, but personally, I think its for the better, as there is no better preface to dreams than the enchanting songs of Mountain Man.

Make your reservation here, while you still can.

Mountain Man- Animal Tracks
Mountain Man- Dog Song

video: Julian Lynch "Seed"

"Orange You Glad"

Seeds are the essence of life. Without them, both literally and figuratively, growth would be impossible. Seeds are sown. Seeds grow, sprout, blossom and bloom. Before long, they roam. They settle. Plant themselves in the fine Earth, and begin the cycle once again. It is infinite. Without it, Earth would look like a more desolate Moon. Julian Lynch knows this. As does visual artist Amy Ruhl, who produced the metamorphic clip (above) for "Seed," a trip back in time that is way more akin to the Earth sprouting Garden of Eden/Dinosaurs visual than the Run-DMT jam I described as such the other day. Either way, if this is what Earth looked like when it was developing, than I'm definitely hoping for an apocalypse (I've got fall out shelter booked), if and only if for the chance to see the world bloom again.

Buy Orange You Glad here.

video: Julianna Barwick

"Sunlight, Heaven"

Despite the fact that he never actually made it to what we now know as the mainland United States of America, this video of Julianna Barwick performing at Littlefield wouldn't exist if it weren't for Christopher Columbo. Enjoy, then reflect on the history of this great land.

new: Semya & Run DMT

"Tupper"

Baltimore's always churning out weirdo sample based stuff, but it seems like a new crop of psych explorers are really stepping out from the crowd. Talked about Happy Family a few months back, and now his compadres Semya and Run DMT are making serious moves in candy flipping realm. Loopy and cosmic, rhythmic and glitchy, Semya mixes Peruvian pan flute grooves with dripping BMSR synths and extra driving drumbeats that Dan Snaith would probably dig on. "It's the Sun" is so freaky, Tim & Eric should make a video for it consisting entirely of Apocalypse Now footage. Should also note that the backlooped, freak glitch going on in "Ninja Smoke" is a tweakers dream/nightmare, depending on the night.


Run DMT, as their name suggests, is seriously blissed out. We're talking venturing thousands of years back in time at the creation of the Earth and chilling with Dinosaurs in the Garden of Eden type shit. I think you can hear water being birthed at one point in "Ramona." Run DMT's first "influence" on MySpace is "weed." "good_folks" is some of the most hypnotic hymnal shit I've ever heard, literally the choir at the first caveman church service. Highly recommend indulging in Run DMT's The Life Erotic muxtape before heading out to explore the weekend. Semya's as well.

CMJ: Official Show at The Delancey

"Fall Straight Back"
We like having fun. We like having fun with our friends. We like to throw parties. When we throw parties, we have our friends band's play. Sometimes there are DJs. And even FREE booze. We will do this during CMJ. It will be fun. It's on a Friday night. TGIF. Partying/Playing with us will be the dudes from Underwater Peoples and twosyllable records. We got the bliss punk of Eternal Summers, the earthy ballads of Inlets, the Jungle/Surf styling of Washington states Pill Wonder, the woozy good times of Holiday Shores, the frenetic sugar high of Frat Dad, the rhythmic pounce of NewVillager, the what-the-fucking-fuck-are-these-dudes-really-in-plushy-bear-suits of Claymation Velociraptor, and Real Estate (you've probably heard about them). Show details below. Get there early, as we expect a line, especially for the FREE West Virginia Peach Moonshine we've been given by the West Virginia Coal Mining Collective. (Love Corporate Sponsors!)

Delancey Lounge 168 Delancey St at Clinton St) New York, NY

Doors 7:30pm

8:00-8:25 - Eternal Summers
8:40-9:10 - Inlets
9:25-9:55 - Pill Wonder
10:10-10:40 - Holiday Shores
10:55-11:25 - Frat Dad
11:40-12:10 - NewVillager
12:25-12:55 - Claymation Velociraptor
1:10-1:40 - Real Estate

DJS: BELL, Pumpkin Patch, Drew H

mp3: Mountain Man "Honey Bee"

"Let Us Sing A Song To Thee"
It's been a little while since I've written about Mountain Man, but don't think that we've forgotten about them. Hardly. If anything, I'm living with Mountain Man. Or at least trying to. I could only hope to breathe the air these ladies seem to breathe. It's the most refreshing, honest to God air there is. No additives or preservatives, just natural goodness. While "Animal Tracks" is a remarkable, its really just a gateway drug to the songs of these young women, which have been sent down by the sun and harvested in little Green Mountain groves near Bennington, VT. "Honey Bee," an A Capella track available on the group's BandCamp page, is the lullaby I wish my mother had sung to me when I was a child, shielding my dreams from monstrous invaders. If she had, maybe I'd be a better sleeper. And then there's "Dog Song," a more structured affair, which would make even Karen Dalton, a hardened drunk in her day, weep with joy. I'm sad Karen passed before hearing these tunes, maybe they could've saved her from herself. Or maybe, just maybe, she sent them down from a happier place.

The ladies from Mountain Man will be coming to Brooklyn during CMJ. More details on that in a bit. They'll also be back for a VERY SPECIAL Chocolate Bobka Presents show in December. I wouldn't use all caps if I didn't mean it. Seriously.

Mountain Man- Honey Bee
Mountain Man- Dog Song

comp: LatinAmeriCarpet

"Marcha A La Turca"

Sublime Frequencies comps are the best way to take a cheap vacation. No matter where you are, time and place fall by the wayside, as you slip into whatever culture the SF guys curate or record. Bali, Thailand, Syria, Algeria, wherever they go, you go. Recently I've been vibing on the label's Latinamericarpet: Exploring the Vinyl Warp of Latin American Psychedelia Vol 1. The exceptional compilation, even by Sublime Frequencies standards, proves an apt intro to the smoldering sounds of South America, covering traditional Latin folk, '60s/'70s weirdo radio pop, and blistering tropically infused psych rock. For whatever reason, the tracks that really hit me are all Argentine, which makes sense as more than half of the record, culled from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Isle de Pascua (Easter Island), were birthed in Argentina. The blistering garage psych of "Pequeno Salvaje" by Reno, Los Travieso's "Cuando Sea Grande," a teenage Os Mutantes rip off (in a good way), and vinyl warped infant folk-pop of "Tecnicas De Concentracion Y Relajacion Yoga/ Don Din Don" each show Argentine culture fusing with Western aesthetics and feature the growing influence of psychedelia. A must for fans of obscure psych, tropicalia and the like.

Reno- Pequeno Salvaje
Los Travieso- Cuando Sea Grande
Los 4 Planetos- Dos Guitarras

mp3: Julian Lynch "New Untitled Jam"

"I Don't Believe"

A wash in synthesized movements, "New Untitled Jam," which Julian Lynch sent over last night, is deeply rooted in seasonal transition. It's the October sky running across the prairie, fields of corn and wheat swaying in the wind as trucks fly past on solemn grey highways. Surely the Wisconsin air is a bit crisper than here in Brooklyn, and you can feel it in the new jam, which is reminiscent of Orange You Glad standout "The Flood." While Julian's hypnotic synthesizers are at the forefront, lurking in the background, subtly providing the foundation for metamorphosis, are the slightly muted, yet incredibly warm drums. Not sure how he mic'd them, but something about them, possibly how unassuming and unobtrussive they are, really makes the droning synthesizers seep even deeper into your psyche.

Julian Lynch- New Untitled Jam

new: Still Light Lything

"Hour of the Wolf"

Its October 1st and ominous skies are already rolling in. Appropriately, so are new tracks from Still Light, a UK/US band that crafts exceedingly dreamy acoustic psych crafted for dark mornings where getting out from under the covers is the last thing one wants to think of. Blurring the line between ambient folk, celestial drone and a land where Delia Derbyshire is still recording the world, Lything, the groups latest release on Apollolaan Recordings (limited to 50!), is a wondrous departure from reality. It drifts by like clouds bound for some other town, but not without leaving an impression. Sort of like this. Recorded by Lucy Hague, Sand Snowman and Kirill Nikolai, Lything is best suited for low impact home life, which makes sense as the record was cut in "Kirill's closet/bedroom/living room in Boulder, CO, Lucy Hague's pad in Edinburgh, Scotland and Sand's home studio in London." Blanket vibes for sure. Take a look at the gorgeous hand made art here. For those of you still lamenting the lose of summer, this should help ease the pain.

Still Light- Footprints in the Garden
Still Light- A Remedy

video: Wavves at Santos Party House

"The Thing In The Back Of My Brain"

Last Thursday, our boy Ray Concepcion and I headed down to Lafayette St to catch Alex Bleeker & the Freaks, Ganglians and Wavves at Mr. Andrew WK's pad. It was an interesting evening. Lots of kids, speakers, liquor, and, surprisingly, no fights! Ray, who was all over the place that night, covering nook and cranny of Santos, before heading back uptown, captured Wavves blistering set in a short three part mini-movie. Check it below, or head to Ray's Vimeo page to watch that shiz in HD. As you'll notice, it was basically "The Zach Hill Show." No surprise there.

video: Ganglians "Unknown Song"

"Take A Walk In The Park"

Another choice c. axel capture from Ganglians set at the Market Hotel. Not sure what this one is called, think it might be new, either way, it features more killer axe work. Ganglians have a new 7" out on Capture Tracks, a thousand copies, but I heard that its already sold out, most likely to distributors only. Pick that up, "Blood on the Sand" is killer.

video: Ganglians "Never Mind"

"Call Me, Call Me, Call Me"

Hours before the now infamously retarded Wavves vs. Black Lips brawl, vibes were real strong. Beach Fossils opened the night at Market with another stellar set, one that included a first time played song they'd just practiced that afternoon. (Again, no vocal tremolo. Maybe it's gone forever?) Then Ganglians arrived. Prior to their set I talked furry trolls, DMT and "The Void" with lead Ganglian Ryan Grubbs. Soon after that the band launched into a set wrought with the fruits of cave living. As many have noted, the band did not dabble in Monster Head Room territory (much to the dismay of some), however, what they lacked in ethereal jangle, they made up for with tweak ragers, bombastic chants and a epic guitar onslaught. As you can see above, Ganglians have one of the best guitar players around, a dude not afraid to shred. Nice to see in "indie rock."

comp: Brasil Could Be Your Life

Wild Animal Kingdom, Indeed

Wild Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite upstart labels and they've been churning out a lot of choice material over the past few months. Recent releases include Pill Wonder's Jungle/Surf, which would definitely prove an apt score for this vid of dudes surfing the Amazon, and the first installment of the must purchase WAKR Monthly Mix-Tape Club. The latest WAKR issue finds the Olympia-based dudes mining the fruits of South America. Brasil Could Be Your Life was curated by Lilian De Munno, a friend of the WAK who resides in Brasil, so yeah, her take on the music of Sao Paolo and Rio is probably more authentic than yours. The new mix is simply described by the following: "Q: How endearing is it to hear Portuguese speakers sing about t-shirts and love in English? A: Very." Truth. An early standout has to be "e o sol brilhou sobre o verde" by Supercordas, a psych act from Sao Paulo whose upfront use of theremin and tape loops recalls Elephant 6 and Smile-outtakes, as well as tropicalia. Bearhug's "A Storm, A Night Out (edit)" is another doozy, fusing lo-fi pitterpat drum beats with skill saw melodies. It's defiantly lo-fi and charming. Highly recommended, especially if you aren't sick of fuzzy vocals.

Supercordas- e o sol brilhou sobre o verde
Bearhug- A Storm, A Night Out (edit)

CMJ: 10/20 Bobka, OESB & UP are Straight Chillin'

"House of Mirrors"
(Big ups to Mimoun of Family Portrait/UP for Poster Art)
The first time I went to Monkeytown I knew I'd have to throw an event there. And now the time has come. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my extreme pleasure to unveil the first of a few Chocolate Bobka CMJ shows. If you've ever been to Monkeytown (peep rad pic here), you know one thing is up; straight chilling. Therefore, it felt pretty logical to call up my favorite super chillerz and see if they would come down to cool out, play some tunes and trip out to some tweaker visuals. And that's exactly what we'll do on Tuesday October 20th 2009. I'll be honest in noting that I basically curated this lineup for myself. Just bands that I want to see while 'laxing out on some of the most comfortable couches in New York, while visual masterminds Richard Law, Alice Cohen and Todd Ledford space my face on the four massive, wall sized projection screens. A little run down of the evening.

Chocolate Bobka, Olde English Spelling Bee & Underwater Peoples are Straight Chilling.
Fluffy Lumbers (rare solo set)
Family Portrait ("Western drone set")
Alice Cohen (solo)
Julian Lynch live via Satellite broadcast on 4 Walls
Ducktails
Africa Germany Germany ETC (Live NYC premiere)

Stoked? Me too! If you've ever been to Monkeytown, then you probably know the drill. Besides the inevitable straight chilling, the venue also offers some of the choicest food in NYC, just take a peep at their Fall Menu. (Different types of Sliders: Elk curry chimichurri, Ostrich bbq’d garlic relish, Venison juniper shallot jam & Wild Board Apple Chutney--are you freaking serious?!) The show will cost a measly $7, and as with all Monkeytown shows, there is a $10 minimum, which means you have to have at least 2 beers. If you don't plan on having at least two drinks, well, this probably isn't your type of show. In order to gain access to the show, which is unofficial CMJ (aka no badges), one will have to make reservations with Monkeytown. (Do so here.) This event will sell out fast, so I encourage you to get on this asap. Peep below for some choice media from participating artists.

PS. Bring medical edibles.

Fluffy Lumbers- Cruisers
Ducktails- Parasailing

Family Portrait w/ Julian Lynch "Super Cool"

Alice Cohen "Black Pepper"

Julian Lynch "Garden 2" (Directed by Richard Law)

bootleg: Lotus Plaza 9/22/09

"Red Oak Way"
I never really thought Lotus Plaza would play any shows, so it was quite a pleasant surprise to see this pop up on the Deerhunter/Atlas Sound/Lotus Plaza blog this morning. "Direct from the mixing desk courtesy of Nathan Brown & Robby Kee," two dudes behind Tree Creature, this set finds Lockett Pundt's beginning with a hazy warble of synthetic mist, before exploding into a sonic barrage about ten minutes in. Of course, the barrage gives way to some blippy, ambient pops and skips. Not as wrapped in ten layers of gauze as you might expect, the bootleg finds Pundt channeling friend Noah Lennox's realm of sampled percussive rhythms and bouncing, looped vocals.

Download Lotus Plaza 9/22/09.

new: Girls "Life in San Francisco"

"La La La La La"
(photo by sandy kim)
Girls Album just arrived on my door step, along with the new "Lust for Life" b/w "Life in San Francisco" 7-inch and, of course, a Girls poster. This is how records are supposed to be packaged. (Big ups True Panther.) At first spin, the record sounds absolutely gorgeous. Really dense and warm, which is no surprise considering Album was "committed to an analogue recording tape via a mess of cables run into a single channel r.n.p. preamplifier into a distresser generally set up at 6:1 ratio with 6db of gain reduction followed by a soundworkshops spring reverb." A note inside the record goes on to read "We have no chairs in the studio and usually the tracking and mixing process is done sitting cross legged on the floor or lying on our stomachs. On most occassions the progressive metal band which practices at un-godly volumes next door also makes it's way into the following recordings. Sleeps is generally a luxury..."

After spinning the B-side of the "Lust for Life," "Life in San Francisco," a non-album track that finds the band indulging in a playful ode to their hometown, I was baffled to find the tune on LaLa. Peep it below, then have fun trying to get it out of your head for the next two weeks.

Life In San Francisco - Girls

video: Yo La Tengo 'Take Away Show'

"Because We're On Our Way"

The first Yo La Tengo record I ever bought was Fakebook. In retrospect, I probably meant to get I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One, but I figured, ya know, that their records would sound pretty similar. Boy was I wrong. A really mellow, acoustic covers album is what I had purchased, when all I really wanted was the surreal pop fuzz of "Sugar Cube" and the droning rhythmic bass of "Moby Octopad." While it wasn't what I thought I wanted, it turned out to be one of the greatest purchases ever, exposing me to the stripped down Yo La and proving them to be refined, sophisticated, pop masters. Of course, their cover of the Troggs "Girl Like You," featured in Part 1 of this Take Away Show, doesn't appear on Fakebook, rather its garage rock sister Fuckbook, however, it would fit perfectly alongside "The Summer," "Yellow Sarong" and "Here Comes My Baby." Part 1 of Vincent Moon's Take Away Show with YLT also features And then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out fav "Our Way to Fall," one of the most romantic in the Yo La catalog. Part 2, consisting of a stripped down version of "Sugar Cube" and Popular Songs single "Periodically Double or Triple" is also worth a gander.

Yo La Tengo Part 2: "Sugar Cube" & "Periodically Double or Triple."

wknd: Spanish Prisoners, Zeroes, Big Troubles

"Sick Dayz"
(Big Troubles at Market Hotel)
Lots of stuff going on this wknd, including the opening of Lombardy St, a new Todd P venue in Greenpoint (f yeah!), which launches with a show by True Panther synthetic tweakers Lemonade. In other North Brooklyn DIY news, Spanish Prisoners will play their 7" release show tonight at Shea Stadium, with My Teenage Stride, I'm Turning Into, and Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk. Spanish Prisoners, who have played shows with Daniel Johnston, but sound more like a celestial pop band, have been nice enough to send along a copy of Los Angeles Guitar Dream, their new 7" , to give away. Send name and address to {mcgregor [at] me.com} with the title "Spanish Prisoners" to enter. If ya don't win, you can pick up the limited edition vinyl at InSound. Spanish Prisoners also play Saturday night at Don Hill's in Manhattan.

Also on Saturday night, Rachel from PopJew is hosting a Rosh Hashanah rager at the Silent Barn with Bobka favorites Big Troubles, Dream Diary, and the Kezners. Big Troubles have been crushing it, so I highly recommend heading out to the Barn. Apples & honey, like whoa.

Sunday is the closing party of Abbey Braden's PunkPhoto 5th Anniversary Show at Littlefield. Aside from viewing Abbey's photos, which, apparently, she'll be giving away, Montreal band Zeroes will make their US debut. Zeroes, which contains members of Land of Talk, Kill the Lights, Silver Starling and Young Galaxy, produce a heady, four on the floor based blend of dark, electro-rock, for lack of a better term. Think a more ethereal Rapture rolling deep in a K-hole, which should go nice in dark confines of Littlefield. Peep "Mudslinger" below, and click here to pick up the new EP.

Zeroes- Mudslinger
Spanish Prisoner- Los Angeles Guitar Dream
Big Troubles- Sick Days

video: Family Portrait "On the Floor"

"There's My Baby"

As we continue to mine the fruits of the Chocolate Bobka Presents show at Cameo a few weeks back, we come to the lads of Family Portrait, a rather dapper group of young gentlemen who know a thing or two about Elvis, kung-fu movies and bowling. This version of "On The Floor" almost never was. After a behemoth first time played jam, possibly dubbed "Babies" or "Western Drone," the band kindly thanked the crowd and began to pack up. The audience, all sorts of riled up and bewildered, would have none of this. Not one bit. And so, after a minute or so of "One more," a few "Family Portrait" chants and a call for "On the Floor," Mimoun put his cymbals back on, Brody plugged back in and Sawyer warmed the leg kicks back up. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you, "On the Floor."

ep: Woodsman Humdrum

"Supernal Radionics"

Since news that Mexican Summer would be releasing a Woodsman 12" later in the year, the Denver based astral explorers have received some pretty choice attention. Granted, "Sunglass," the first cut to emerge from the upcoming 12", is a lucid jam in all the right places. Digging on "Sunglass" I decided to delve into Woodsman's catalog, and have been raging the Humdrum EP, released last year on Fire Talk as CD-R. Containing five songs and coming in at over 44 minutes, Humdrum is the interstellar, exploratory psych that guides comets into orbit and subsequently to their death. It's, like, the vibration of life, duude. A point of reference is surely Woods, sans lyrical song structure, like when Woods let it all out, giving the mist life and setting embers ablaze. If your looking for some far-out vibes to help usher in the new moon, Woodsman have got you covered.

Buy Woodsman's Humdrum EP here.

Woodsman- Makokata Cave (from Humdrum EP)
Woodsman- Sunglass (from the forthcoming Collages) (via MBV)

new: Frat Dad 7"

"Just a Freak of Nature"

What happens when two kids bash out music in their parents basements while eating Cool Ranch Dorito's and ripping on all the douchey tool bags in their classes? Frat Dad. As Underwater People's Chinese Diplomat Sawyer Carter Jacobs notes, "Frat Dad is like going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, then landing in a Middle School Cafeteria... on Mexican Pizza Day." I couldn't agree more. It's all the pent up, retarded angst slow cooked and marinated for years in suburban middle schools and high schools across America. Add a kilo of sugar and a dash of nicotine and you get the latest revival in pissed off, sloppy, distorto teen, fuck you punk. It's not the stoney, drift away chiller vibes Underwater People's are known for releasing, rather a welcomed kick in the ass for all you punters hung up on chillwave blah blah.

Pre-order the "Greg the Nerd" b/w "Freak in Nature" 7-inch here.

Frat Dad- Freak in Nature

video: Girls "Summertime"

"Soak Up The Sunshine With You"

With both Labor Day and ATP officially in the rear view mirror, it's safe to say that summer is over. While NYC temperature's might have you in disbelief, believe me, it's over. Unfortunately for us, one of the season's most encapsulating albums, Girls Album, wasn't released in time to soundtrack many an excursion to Rockaway Beach. However, this Fader video of "Summertime," my favorite song on Album, is similar to Beach House's "Used to Be," in that it forces one to reminisce on good times spent with good people. "Grow out my hair, go anywhere, sleep in all day, afternoon, Summertime, soak up the sunshine with you." Summer, you will be missed.

polaroid: All Tomorrow's Parties New York 2009

"what costume shall the poor girl wear"
Panda Bear.

Caribou Vibration Ensemble playing ping-pong.


Ed Rodriguez of Deerhoof outside P4K room.

The Low Lows.

Deerhunter setting up.


Leopard Darth Vader dude.

The Sammy Davis Jr. Wing at the Raleigh.

Playground.

Post- Animal Collective hotel lobby dance party.

Kutsher's check-in.

Saturday sunset.

WFMU guys playing tonal piano.

polaroid: The Flaming Lips at ATPNY

"A Spoonful Weighs A Ton"

Haven't slept since returning from ATP, nor did I really sleep at Kutshers, but none of that really matters. What does matter is that, as expected, the Flaming Lips curated All Tomorrow's Parties was epic. From the Caribou Vibration Ensemble to Deerhoof, Oneida, Boris, the Boredomes, the list goes on and on, Sunday could not have been a better. That said, enjoy these 'roids from the Flaming Lips closing set, while I catch up on my zzzz's.

video: Real Estate "Fake Blues"

"I Don't Want to Live at Home"

While I was fortunate enough to head to Kutsher's this past weekend for ATPNY, more on that later, there was certainly no lack of choice shows in the city. Between the Grouper/Julianna Barwick/Tim Hecker Wordless Music Series at the Miller Theatre Friday, Big Troubles/Zola Jesus/Desolation Wilderness/Real Estate gig Saturday at Silent Barn and the secret D'Angelo show last night, it's safe to say that even if you didn't get to ATP, you could have easily taken in a weekend of extremely beautiful music. That said, I wasn't too surprised to received a text from c.axel post-Animal Collective Saturday night that read, "This is the best 'Fake Blues' ever." Skeptical, at best, though optimisitic as Axel has seen his fair share of Real Estate gigs, this video finds Real Estate capturing the essence of seasonal change; the different manifestations, the morphing and evolving, the light and dark. It's all here. While much is often noted about Real Estate and the beach, and yeah it's certainly a touch point, I can't help thinking about the long winter afternoon's I spent with tunes like "Suburban Beverage" and "Fake Blues," both of which are as dreamy, mellow and perfect for autumn, as they were summer, as they were spring and winter before. It's not summer music people, it's life music.

video: Sore Eros at Cameo Gallery

"Second Chants"

Ringing out like a psychedelic surf prom band on bad acid, Sore Eros set at the Chocolate Bobka Presents show at Cameo was a total trip. Ecstatic walls of luminescent sound took over the room, as the wiggling chandelier danced the night away to the tune of air conditioning and Sore Eros narcotic blend of unclassifiable ether music. Of course, Mad Scientist Ray Concepcion was there to capture all the glory on beautiful Panasonic DVX100b.

vinyl: Juliana Barwick Florine

"Away"

No secret that we at Chocolate Bobka love the ethereal movements of Julianna Barwick's voice. The fluttering, angelic wisps and whirls of her looped and dubbed voice have had us floating on cloud 10 since we first came across her atmospheric siren songs a while back. Her recently released Florine, an EP that finds Barwick channeling the spirit of Sanguine while taking her craft to new heights, is an astonishing, albeit short, record full of warmth and love and wonderlust and all the other wide-eyed feelings one experiences while starring at the clouds. Released digitally and on CD, I've been dreaming of the day when Barwick's sound would hit wax and I could hold it in my arms and give it a big bear hug. Without a label, Julianna has taken matters into her own hands, starting a KickStarter fundraising campaign to fund a white vinyl issue of Florine.

hello, everybody. i'm julianna barwick and i make music in brooklyn. i would love to put the florine EP out on vinyl and it would certainly help out if i could get some friends in on it, since i self-release all of my music.
the plan is to do a very limited run of 200 exclusive, numbered, (and hand-signed, if you want!) EPs on white vinyl. white vinyl! i'm pretty psyched about that part.
anyway, it would be fun to do this together. i'm very excited to team up with the awesome guys at kickstarter to try and make this happen.
thanks a lot for reading!
julianna

So far only 20 people have donated, and there is more than $2,000 that needs to be raised in order for the world to see this project come to fruition. Think about it this way, a $20 donation by a hundred people would basically fund the super limited, white vinyl. There is only a little more than a month left to donate, so please get on it, if only so you can see my face fill with fat kid smile upon receiving my copy.

interview: Ghostface Killah

"The Legendary Ghostdini Might be Dead? Never"
When Ghostface speaks, the world listens. And so is the case everytime shuffle sends up this classic interview with Tony Starks conducted somewhere around 2004. To be honest, I can't really remember the context or origin of the interview, though I believe it was with a Dutch or Swedish music publication. (If anyone knows its origins, let me know.) Ghost, whose new album is about to drop, really opens up in this interview and drops some serious gems. And while it may be the first thing he says in this 20+ minute audio interview, I'm pretty sure my favorite bit of Ghost wit is : "The sky don't even look the same no more. It used to be bluer. The grass was greener. You felt the warmth back in the days, now everything's cold and its cloudy, it don't feel right. But people are so caught up in the world that we don't know."

This interview is worth a download and listen if only to hear Tony Starks recount the time he was with the legendary Stylistics and they got in a shoot out. Seriously. Ghostface's new "for mature audiences only" video below.

Ghostface Killah Interview

WARNING: NSFW (but really awesome, in a "This is Hardcore" kinda way)

Ghostface "Stapleton Sex" video trailer from Miss Info on Vimeo.

video: Beach Fossils "Vacation" from Bobka Show

"Nothing to Worry for"

The Chocolate Bobka show last Saturday night was easily one of the best nights of the Summer. Stacked with a cohesive lineup of up-and-comers, Cameo Gallery felt like, well, the place to be. Beach Fossils closed out the night with their meandering surf psych bashing through the room. Marred by technical difficulties, and the fact they don't really have that many songs, after finishing an extremely short set that included "Daydream," "Lazy Day," "Vacation" and a few others, the band launched right back into the same set. That's right, two sets from Beach Fossils in the same night. While they were practically identical, the second hash through the band's catalog was, for whatever reason, a lot more fun. Possibly because the crowd wouldn't let them stop. Dustin repeated said "We don't have any more songs" to which the crowd responded "We don't care, keep playing." And so, they did. My guess this is the second version of "Vacation," which had the room in a pogo-sway you'd think only Gigit or Dick Dale could inspire. More videos from the Cameo Gallery show by Ray Concepcion in the coming days.

bobkast #29: A Sunflower Earth

"Some People Chew Gum for Fun"
(hand drawn cover art by cuti ballve)
The humidity is fading like a bad tattoo. The days don't seem to drag all that long. And all of the sudden I keep finding myself reaching for a cardigan. That's right kids, summer is slowly sinking into fall. Fortunately for all you sun seekers, summer ain't going away overnight. Instead, its a prolonged transition, with nights hitting wooly lows and days scorching Umbro highs. It's a bit bi-polar, but in the end it makes sense. One season gives way to another and so on, and so forth. This mix is meant for those days that run the gamut; chilly morning breezes sweep through apartments until giving way to swampy lunch breaks that melt your PB&J making the whole wheat a bit too soggy for premium enjoyment. By nightfall things have calmed down. The wind picks up a little and all of the sudden your reaching for the wool blanket, the one your grandma knit you when you were born. It's a good feeling, ya know, seasons, change, evolving, etc. Of course, if ya don't like it, you can always move to San Diego. They say it's lovely there, but I don't buy it.

I should also note that this is the first Bobkast that will be available in a very limited quantity on cassette tape. Yep, cassette tape, that obsolete medium that the kids can't seem to get enough of. The tape, of which only one will be produced for each Bobkast, comes with handmade art and will be produced and packaged with loving hands at home. To acquire said tape, pictured here, email me your favorite wild flower at mcgregor{AT}me{DOT}com. Contest will be open for one week starting....now.

Bobkast #29: A Sunflower Earth
1. Takeshi Terauchi & the Bunnys- Tsukuba-San
2. Paralyze Humanity Sequence- Hammock
3. Pill Wonder- What We Know
4. Henry Pedro- Midnight Sun
5. Sunnybrook- Big Waving Hands (demo)
6. jj- Are You Still in Vallda?
7. Pure Ecstasy- You're In It Now
8. Alex Bleeker & the Freaks- Prisoner
9. Mountain Man- Animal Tracks
10. The Fresh & Onlys- Arm's Advice
11. Jana Wenderen- Drifts
12. Atlas Sound- Walk the Thin Line (Fleetwood Mac Cover) [over "Drifts"]
13. Taken By Trees- Watch the Waves (Memory Cassette remix)
14. Nancy Sinatra- Sundown Sundown
15. The Olivia Tremor Control- "Various bits " (McG's OTC sound collage)
16. Grateful Dead- New Potato Caboose
17. Julian Lynch- Waiting Music
18. Desolation Wilderness- Boardwalk Theme
19. Galaxie 500- Here She Comes Now
20. Woods- Rain On Radio
21. Liam the Younger- Beneath the Weeping Willow Tree
22. Ganglians- To June
23. White Antelope- Silver Dagger (traditional)
24. Marissa Nadler- Cortez the Killer (Neil Young cover)
25. Kurt Vile- Nicotine Blues (Live on WFMU)

Download Bobkast #29: A Sunflower Earth (direct download)

video: Holiday Shores "Bradley Bear" "Dens"

"Before This Night"

It goes without saying that Holiday Shores is a bit, um, "beachy," but on an overcast August afternoon in Greenpoint, the spray of ocean mist isn't as apt a comparison as say an empty, sun scorched industrial avenue near the Newtown Creek. The water is a stones throw away, but it couldn't be further mentally. The sun is nice, but the dirty streets, well, not so much. Nevertheless, the effervescent four piece used the afternoon to their advantage, mellowing out tunes from Columbus'd the Whim with a touch of sweet tea and a new pair of Blu-blockers. At least, that's what it looks like. Appropriately, that's what it felt like too. A bunch of good for nothing, twenty somethings sitting around a living room, while a bunch of other good for nothing youngsters strummed some guitars. The premise is quite simple, but the vibe, and trust me things were "vibing," could not be more complex, as if Holiday Shores cut out all the pretense, leaving the audience with just the good stuff. Enjoy the good stuff for breakfast.