mix: Underwater Peoples Winter Review

"Sun to the Moon"
A quarter pound of green beans, six candy canes and enough beers consumed for my parents to reconsider "creating" me, I came home last night, the eve of the birth of the little baby Jesus, to find the Underwater Peoples Winter Review nestled in my cozy inbox. It was drapped in swaddling clothes...whatever the fuck those are.

In the spirit of giving, it is my pleasure to share this with you, fine citizens of the world, this wonderful compilation. Download it, upload it to your iPizzles, burn a CD, dub a tape, or, if your really cool, copy that shit to 8-track, you'll be the only kid in America with an 8-track of, well, anything worth listening to. Enough of the bullshit, though, as there was lots of hard work put into this hand crafted Christmas gift for you. The UP crew, who is, like, hella International right now, doesn't care if the economy left you delivering papers, they just want you to enjoy whats left of 2009, to roll into the next decade with the momentum of a freight train powered by a vat of Red Bull and an Intervention's worth of crystal meth. Ok, maybe not the meth part, but the full force, straight on til morning vibe is still relevant. Like Sawyer said, 2010 is all about Love. And friends. Think about that while you aurally devour the Winter Review. Also think about how goddamn adorable the infant version of Michael Mimoun was (thats him on the gracing the album art). Goddamn that kid was/is a cutie pie. Hope Santa was good to you. Peace be with you.

Underwater Peoples Winter Review
1. Julian Lynch - Es's
2. Pill Wonder - Restless
3. Ducktails - Apple Walk
4. Fluffy Lumbers - Adoration
5. Big Troubles - Former Selves
6. Andrew Cedermark - Ad Infinitum
7. Frat Dad - Totally Afraid
8. Dana Jewell - My T-Train Girl
9. Air Waves - Sweetness
10. Family Portrait - Killer Statements
11. Alex Bleeker - These Days
12. Mountain Man - Dog Song
13. Real Estate - Orchard
14. Rainbow Bridge - Rain Nair
15. Liam the Younger - Please See

Download Underwater Peoples Winter Review (direct download)

UPDATE: Underwater Peoples Sawyer Live from Vietnam:

video: Mountain Man at the Church

"Lay Your Head"

Ray Concepcion capturing Mountain Man at the Chocolate Bobka Church show two weeks ago. Amazing.

live: Kurt Vile DNA Fest 4/28/09

"He's Alright"
2009 was a big year for Kurt Vile. While shredding out with the Violators seems to be his prerogative these days, lately I've been returning to a live set captured by guys at Fan Death Records this past April at the label's annual DNA Fest in Washington DC. The Fan Death guys, who know a thing or two about Kurt Vile, said "as far as live recordings go, this is the holy grail..(so far...)." After four months of listening to this set over and over, I can wholeheartedly agree. It's a must own, and finds Kurt playing solo acoustic versions of soon-to-be-classics from Constant Hitmaker, God is Saying This to You and Childish Prodigy. In twenty years, your going to lie and tell your kids you were at this show.

Kurt Vile Live at DNA Fest 4/28/09 Velvet Lounge, Washington DC

mix: Happy Family/Run DMT Amanda Huggankiss

"Loogie"
Bogged down by a debilitating head cold, radioactive loogies jumping from out my throat, my head space is more than a bit congested. Sort of like when your flying and the pressure makes your ears pop, and then hep-C yellow goo starts flowing from your nasal cavity. It's nasty. Last night, hunkering down with There Will Be Blood, b-more buds and sound collagists Happy Family and Run DMT sent over a new mix they've been collaborating on. Less stoner QVC samples, more guitar droners eventually leading to chopped and screwed pulses and rhythmic spurts of fluttering songs played a million miles away. Going really well with a diet of bee pollen, tea, vitamin-C and the good herb. Sort of like Big Troubles "Sick Days", this one's got NyQuil in its veins.

Happy Family & Run DMT: Amanda Huggankiss Mix

mix: Run DMT "Get Ripped or Die Trying"

"One"

Run DMT's sublime frequencies, zonk'd found sounds and celestial drones are becoming quite the staple over here. While much of his previous work, especially Bong Voyage, summons cable TV ghosts of yore, his latest, sent over late last night, dwells in half-conscious zones, a sort of pre-, post- amble into the R.E.M. state. The first half of Get Ripped or Die Trying is the sort of cosmic lullaby crafted to hypnotize future cult members into a weary dream state. Once entranced, Run DMT let's loose, rewinding the tape and tapping into the tribal dreamcatcher world, and, all of the sudden, things aren't quite the same. Yes, your still sleeping, but you've gotten out of bed, sleepwalking, in search of the paranormal beings who dwell in realms and spats of disguised consciousness. One second your in Africa in the midst of a holy celebration, the next, a murky bayou searching for the ghost orchid, or, maybe your volcano luging somewhere in Hawaii. It's a twenty minute trek through the subconscious, to places one can only travel to while drifting through their own mind.

Run DMT Get Ripped or Die Trying mix

mp3: Rambutan Broken Infinity

"Returning to the Entrance"

Mining Rose Quartz excellent tape list yesterday, I was reminded of the superior output this year from Stunned Records, Portland's finest purveyors of limited release ambient psychedelia. It would literally be impossible for me to give you a thorough run down of the Stunned catalog (they released 48 albums this year alone, and most of them sell out instantly), save to say that everything is really heavvvy, in a cosmic way. One of my favorite's is Rambutan's Broken Infinity, a five track droner record chronicling the psychic metamorphosis one undertakes in the dream state. Stunned notes, "It’s relieving to find compositions willing to breathe like this, balancing dark and dominant outer forces with the levity of an inner infinite impulse, broken as it may temporarily be." Double truth, Ruth. Any doubts, Foxy Digitalis gave it 10/10, so, yeah, Google that shit asap.

Rambutan- Cloudy Vision

live: Alex Bleeker & Mountain Man "Oh Boy"

"Dreaming Of You"

First off, I want to thank everyone who came out to the Church on Friday for what was an extremely memorable evening, to say the least. From No Demons Here to Mountain Man, it really could not have been a better night. While highlights seem to be endless (the entire Liam the Younger set was out of this world), but Alex Bleeker covering the Girls song "Oh, Boy" with Molly from Mountain Man stands on a particularly high peak, gazing at the people below, contemplating existence, reality. The pain and frustration ingrained in the Christopher Owns song is shed on by Bleeker and Molly, however, rather than dwelling in its sadness, the two seem to lift it up by the shoulders, as if to say, "You will be OK. We will be OK." A tear-jerker/goose-bumper/feel-gooder if ever was.

Alex Bleeker & Mountain Man- Oh, Boy (Girls cover)

old: Iasos- Jeweled Space

"The Valley of Enchimed Peace"

With so much happening in the Peace Age realm right now, its only fitting to look back into the annals of history in order to understand how cosmic ethereal music, branded "new age," for better or worse, had an impact on musics of today. Surely one can hear the celestial chiming of Steve Hillage's Rainbow Dome Music, the beaming rainbow vibes of the early Popol Vuh records and the drifting mid-eastern droning psych of Ash Ra Temple coming through on James Ferraro's Clear, some of the Ducktails material, and Luke Perry, each of whom have taken from, and added to their inter-gallactic forefathers sound. While Luke Perry's alien frequencies often dwell in a more club druggy realm, the dude gives props to Iasos on his MySpace, giving one of the inventors of ethereal vibe music a nod in his top friends list. Often credited as the father of New Age, Iasos's music was described by the psych department at Plymouth State "as being closest to the music heard by people who have had near death experiences." While that migh be frightening, it's actually the opposite. Pure rainbow vibes, crystal beams and crystalline waterfalls, Iasos's Jewelled Space tape was recently featured on Crystal Vibrations, and is exactly what you think a website named Cyrstal Vibrations would post. Enchanting, lush & ultra-ribbed for your listening pleasure, Jewelled Space is the sort of dream catcher chill out that epitomized new age, and subsequently made it cliche. Well worth a listen for anyone dabbling in the spirit realm.

Download this seemingly obscure and long forgotten tape at Crystal Vibrations.

Post-SXSW Festival in Monterrey Mexico?

"ToddPNYC"

Yesterday some interesting pictures of an abandoned drive-in movie theater turned up on Facebook. BK DIY scene leader Todd P posted them. Later I came to learn that the pictures are of the potential grounds for a post-SXSW festival in the Mexican city of Monterrey, roughly four hours south of Austin. Rumor has it 200 bands (Correction: more like 40-80 bands) will be playing the three day festival, which will reportedly kick off the Saturday March 20th, and will overlap with SXSW for a couple days. If the lineup is anything like Todd's SXSW shows of the past, his legendary beach BBQs, or CMJ shows under the Bridge, 80 bands over three days is probably an accurate, maybe even conservative, take on the amount of music that could be blasted from the base of the Sierra Madre's one late weekend in March. Fingers crossed. See ya in Mexico.

mp3: Noveller "Rainbows"

"Tunnels"

Charcoal waves rolling across the the decrepit North Brooklyn Industrial Zone are too glacial to be real, to visible not to be. Uneasy, at best, anxiety confounds, or, rather, frightens. Noveller's Red Rainbow, recently released on No Fun Productions, dwells in this sort of submerged heaven, where fractals of light engulf entire regions, blanketing the spirit realm in a foreboding slate mist reminiscent of the sky over Mt St Helens. A sort of lethal snow, or mystical asbestos. I haven't seen The Road yet, and while Warren Ellis and Nick Cave's score is probably fantastic, I sort of wish Noveller had been given the task, as "Rainbows" and "Brilliant Colors," both from Red Rainbows, could aptly soundtrack the impending doom of the apocalypse and life thereafter.

Noveller- Rainbows

video: Grippers Nother Onesers

"Costco Zones"

Deep inside the freak labs at Olde English Spelling Bee some serious Frankenstonian tweaker shit is going down. Besides expanding its web presence/digital footprint to its new blog/site, the higher ups at the perpetually zonked label are also set to issue another set of killer records this week, specifically a limited edition vinyl reissue of Grippers Nother Onesers (At Slimer Beach), which you may recognize as Lamborghini Crystal's 1992 Cool Runnings Holiday, which you may attribute to a certain dude who releases about 15 albums a year. Dedicated to Richard Ramirez, the vibe on Grippers is transmitted via a possessed transistor radio hell bent on scoring premium laced Sherm and hitting the town in search of the best Ice Cream-Pizza combo deal around, or as Lamborghini Crystal puts it, "I wanted the record to have the feeling of when you find a half empty bottle of anti-psychotics and just see the name of the owner and you wonder where that person is now." Tweak on.

live: Pure Ecstasy

"Pressure Drop, Yeah Pressure Baby"

Been jamming hard on Pure Ecstasy for a few months now and couldn't be happier to report that Nate Grace's psychedelic machine will be headed north to play a weekend's worth of shows in Brooklyn January 29th & 30th. The first is a straight up stunna shades show at Bruar Falls with B-More typnotist Run-DMT and an assortment of special guests (stay tuned). The next night Pure Ecstasy will play a small loft show (details to come) with Twin Sister, who've been churning out some of the most zen arcade scores I've heard in a while. Pure Ecstasy's maiden voyage to the Big Apple comes a few weeks after the bands first west coast tour, so expect them to be in tip top, or shall I say, super loose shape.

As many of you know, Pure Ecstasy's released a few things this year; a self-released super limited 7-inch (50 copies, art above), the self-released SEVN DAZE tape and the Future Nostalgia tape on Leftist Nautical Antiques. Still reeling in it, the band has three upcoming releases, including a new 7-inch on Light Loge, a tape on Bum Tapes, and another 7-inch on Acephale. Probably the most productive stoner band I've ever encountered, and that's saying a lot. In addition, a couple weeks ago Pure Ecstasy "phoned in" a live performance for, um, Phoning It In, in which they play a large portion of their recorded output over a phone. Inherently lo-fi, the session actually sounds pretty damn good and makes me extremely excited to be presenting their Brooklyn debut next month. Stick around for more info in the coming week.

Pure Ecstasy- Phoning It In Session (Live)

Best of: Loved in 2009

"War Is Over, If You Want It"

Everyones coming out with their end of the year/end of the decade top whatevers, and while they're always interesting, and often insightful as to things I may have overlooked, I like to do things a little different around here. For one thing, I have a really hard time ranking albums, to me, its sort of silly to say that one thing is "better" than another, mostly because, well, its all completely subjective. Instead, I'd rather give out deserved praise to everybody, noting exactly what they're best at, ya know, personalize it a little, sort of like we did last year.

Artist(s) of the Year:
Ridgewood Crew
(Ducktails, Alex Bleeker & the Freaks, Julian Lynch, Real Estate)
Last year it was Bradford Cox who consistently blew us away with a boatload of quality releases and live shows, the year before James Murphy. This year it'd be hard to deny that anyone put out more killer shit than these kids. Mondanile's solo output alone (two Ducktails LPs, Parasails, Predator Vision and a bunch of singles, splits, etc) would've been enough to put him at the top of the list. Throw in an exceptional string of Real Estate releases (three killer 7-inches, two EPs, and one of the best full length albums of the year), the out-of-nowhere release of the year (Alex Bleeker and the Freaks), Julian Lynch's absolutely stellar Born 2 Run tape (may have been 2008 but 2009 to me), Orange You Glad LP on OESB/Future Sounds, as well as his Michael Jackson/Cindy Lauper covers, and it's really hard to deny that anybody had a bigger impact on independent music this year than these guys from North Jersey. Of course, anybody whose been reading this website for the past year probably already knows this. As far as I'm concerned, these are all essential releases from 2009.

Favorite Album (to Blaze OG Kush to):
Ganglians- Monster Head Room

Great Record That Couldn't Possibly Live Up to My Inflated Expectations:
Girls-Album

Best Album to Dream To/With:
Julianna Barwick- Florine EP

Best Avant-Pop That Even Your Lil Bro in College Digs:
Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavillion

I'd Break Up W/ Someone Over & Over Again to Fully Understand This Record:
Marissa Nadler- Little Hells

The Real "Soundtrack to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea":
Dolphins into the Future- ...On Sea-Faring Isolation

Sounds Like Its Being Played Directly In Front of You:
Alex Bleeker & the Freaks- s/t

Most Surprised NPR Didn't Blow Up/Ruin:
Alela Diane- To Be Still

Best Pop Record by Ivy League Kids Co-Opting African Music:
Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca

Record That I Really Wish More People Would Hear:
Sharon Van Etten- Because I was in Love

Great EPs Uncaptured by Full-Length:
Kurt Vile- God is Saying This to You
Kurt Vile & the Violators- Hunchback EP

Best Singles:
Crystal Stilts- "Love is A Wave" b/w "Sugar Baby"

Best Tape:
Pure Ecstasy- Future Nostalgia

Best World Comp:
Siamese Soul: Thai Pop Spectacular Vol.2 (Sublime Frequencies)

Best Collection of (Almost) Entirely New (to me) Tunes:
Underwater Peoples Summer Comp

Best Live Act You Won't Hear If You're Too Busy Chatting:
Mountain Man

Best Show of the Year:
Beach Fossils/Real Estate/Girls/Kurt Vile at Monster Island

Best Big Show:
Animal Collective 1/20/09 MPP Release Show at Grand Ballroom

Best One Time Only:
Caribou Vibration Ensemble at ATPNY

Most Overused Word of the Year (Myself included):
Chill (and variations of)

Worst/Most Cliche Music Terms/Genres of 2009 (Myself included):
Glo-fi, Chillwave, Beach music

Radical Old Stuff I Discovered this Year:
Popol Vuh Soundtracks for Werner Herzog (Herz Aus Glas & Coeur De Verre)
'Auhea 'oe e Sanoe: Field Recordings of Hawaii
Ain't Gonna Rain No More: Blue and Pre-Bues from Piedmont, North Carolina

R.I.P. (You'll Be Missed):
Pocahaunted (original lineup)
Silver Jews

Poised for Big Things in 2010:
Big Troubles
Fluffy Lumbers
Mountain Man
Run DMT
Pure Ecstasy

old: A to Austr Musics from Holyground

"Judy"

Released in a limited batch of 99 in 1970, A to Austr's one-off masterwork Musics from Holyground takes the psych-pop aesthetic to an entirely new level. A behemoth (and fun) journey through psychedelia, Musics from Holyground touches on everything from psych-pop and eastern influenced folk to pub ready saxophone jams and vaudevillian break downs, with a ton of other sounds I have no business describing thrown in the mix. The Penguin Guide to Rare Records calls A to Austr's only record "the most sacred UK LP there is," which sort of makes sense considering only 99 folks in the world have an original copy, and it wasn't given the reissue treatment until 1989. Apparently the initial goal was "to write about King Arthur who lies sleeping with his knights of the Round Table until England needs him." This was news to me, as the record in no way, shape or form feels like a treaty on Renaissance knights, rather an exploration of an entire genre, gleaming back and forth from the nuanced psych pop of "Birds" to "Hawaiian War Chant" (which sounds exactly like its title suggests) to "It's Alright", which is basically the Incredible String Band-Love-Zombies collaboration I've been dreaming about for years. I could go on and on about this record, but it wouldn't do any good, mostly because its impossible to describe. Even after listening to it about twenty five times over the past six months, I still have trouble wrapping my head around it, as if its not supposed to be chewed on, merely experienced, over and over again, sort of like life (and psychedelic experiences in general). If this spiked your interest, even just a little bit, I highly recommend heading over to Holy Ground's website and peeping their extremely thorough and insightful history of the recording session, the album itself, and its little known legacy.

A to Austr- Bird
A to Austr- It's Alright

video: Oneohtrix Point Never "Time Decanted"

"Actual Air"

Wafting digital sound waves in the dark are Oneohtrix Point Never's specialty. OPN reigns over the sci-fi fantasy realm of dark places and dark planets, crafting the sort of digitized mechanical hum I'd expect to hear coming from the control room on a spaceship docked just east of Neptune. Appropriately, the video, directed by Olde English Spelling Bee mastermind, and renowned man of mystery, Todd Ledford, compliments the song so much that together the two feel more like the pre-roll credits for a Blade Runner prequel than a music video, which I'm pretty sure is exactly what OPN (and Todd) were going for. "Time Decanted" can be found on the Russian Mind LP on No Fun Productions, as well as the Rifts 2xCD on No Fun Productions, where it's titled "Actual Air."

video: Marissa Nadler "Dying Breed"

"Summer of Love is Over"

By now its apparent how much I love the songs of Marissa Nadler. Little Hells, her latest record on Kemado, seems criminally overlooked this year, despite great reviews, extensive touring and a masterful step forward in both her songwriting and production. Sort of makes me wonder, What if P4K had bundled that 8.1 with a BNM? Either way, like most of Nadler's output, its a daunting affair, one that resonates strongly with grey skies and dead leaves. There aren't too many records this year that I'd say are must owns, but this is one of them. Grab her entire back catalog, if you can, it's well worth it.

Anyway, a few weekends ago, on a cold dreary night in Brooklyn, Ray Concepcion headed down to the haunting Union Hall to capture Nadler in all her haunting beauty. The audio from this intimate set is extraordinary, as Concepcion bottles the essence of the Union Hall basement, filled with flora and fauna, taxidermy, and the piercing eyes of Grandmothers long since gone, through soft focus and a peephole perspective, sort of the visual equivalent of the way Willa Cather paints her novella A Lost Lady.

bobkast #30: Northbound Trains

"Cold Hard Times"

There is one leaf left on the mighty Oak outside my window. Winds are humming up the East River, cutting through Greenpoint with Exacto knife precision. The sun goes down at 4:30 pm. Sick of the varying weather, we head North to a more serene destination, where the sun will melt into the horizon at 4:08 pm, the breeze out of the East will be from the Northern reaches of the Atlantic Ocean, and while conditions aren't exactly permitting, they seem more fitting than in the city, where the vital signs of season change are shrouded in concrete capes, keeping natural form at bay. The train ride to northern New England is approximately 8-9 hours from NY Penn Station. This mix will only last you through Westchester, maybe Southern Connecticut, if your lucky, either way, it'll put you in the right state of mind for Winter exploration and the enjoyment of the forthcoming season.

Bobkast #30: Northbound Train
1. The Feelies- Forces at Work
2. The Clean- Flowers
3. Lee Hazelwood- Cold Hard Times
4. Woods- Death Rattles (Daytrotter Session)
5. Warpaint- Billie Holiday
6. Taken By Trees- Cedar Trees
7. Animal Collective- Sleeper Factory (live)
8. Linda Perhacs- Porcelain Over Cast Iron Wedding
9. Shop Assistants- Somewhere in China
10. Woodsman- Sunglass.
11. Julian Lynch- Nen Vole
12. Popol Vuh- der ruf
13. Galaxie 500- Cold Night
14. Twin Sister- All My Trials
15. Dink Roberts- Old Blue
16. Sibylle Baier- I Lost Something In The Hills
17. Mountain Man- Sewee Sewee

Download Bobkast #30: Northbound Trains (PC: Right Click + Save As|Mac: Option+Click)

mp3: Yes Please

"I Smelled Your Smell on My Fingertips"
Molly from Mountain Man sent me a few tracks from San Francisco's Yes Please a couple days ago and they couldn't be more appropriate given the nature of tomorrows Holiday. Playful, earnest and introspective, Yes Please is the (former?) folk project of Lily from Grass Widow. While her more current act dwells in poppy girl group melodies and jangle fuzz, Yes Please is more akin to the trinkets that adorn window sills around the globe; glimpses of times spent with friends, ex-lovers, and books, the sort of intrinsically good stuff that can, for lack of a better term, turn that frown upside down. While certain songs invoke the sylvan wordplay of Joanna Newsome, Yes Please is most certainly a bedroom project, which finds Lily experimenting with anything she can get her hands on; loop pedals, toy guitars, the sounds passing by on the street. Her looping is majestic, invoking the spirit world much in the way Julianna Barwick does, though within a more traditional folk structure. Fans of Merrill Garbus, you will like this.

The tracks I were sent were unlabeled and I haven't been able to track down their titles, mostly due to the fact that Yes Please's early EPs on Bicycle Records seem to be long out of print. My guess is this track, in particular, is from the Oh La La EP, or possibly the Purple EP. In all honesty, it doesn't matter what its from, because its just plain good.

Yes Please- Track 02

show: Mountain Man, Bleeker, Liam the Younger

"Sewee Sewee"
Going to be a special evening. Bring blankets, yoga mats to sit on. Baked goods will be sold on the premises. BYOB. Click here to see a large scale, beautiful rendering of the work, done by Mike Mahon.

video: Julian Lynch at Monkeytown

"Droner"

Breaking down the walls of retransmission, it was a must to beam Julian Lynch into Monkeytown during CMJ. Fortunately, the needed technologies are embedded in laptop machines we carry in over-the-shoulder bags and so, presenting Julian Lynch live from the his bedroom floor in Madison, Wisconsin wasn't that big a deal, technically speaking. It was, if anything, essential, a must, and even more so in retrospect, as Julian's cosmic raga pixelated the air in the room until all we could see were molecules and molecules made up of molecules. This is what I imagine lucid dreaming to be.

live: Ray Davies (and a 32 person choir)

"I'm not frightened by this world believe me"

Ray Davies played the first of 2 shows at NYC's Town Hall last night. This show was one of 3 US shows featuring a choir performing tracks from The Kinks Choral Collection.

The first set was mostly acoustic renditions of Kinks classics. The second set featured the Dessoff Chamber Choir, who not having performed any of this material before, did a splendid job. The crowd was mostly older, but what they lacked in youth they made up in devotion. While many argue Ray Davies live is nothing more than Ray singing Kinks karaoke, the choral arrangements offered his fans a new (and mostly effective) spin on Kinks classics. Likewise with the acoustic numbers. Ray's knack for storytelling was evident, and it's easy to see how his Storyteller disc inspired the VH1 series. Highlights included "A Long Way From Home" (dedicated to his brother Dave), a haunting "See My Friends" (which Ray explained was written on a beach in India when he was taking too much "lemonade"), "Picture Book", "Do You Remember Walter?" and "Days".

Ray Davies
Town Hall
New York City
11-19-09

SET 1:
(Ray and guitarist Bill Shandley, accoustic)
I Need You
I'm Not Like Everybody Else
Apeman
In A Moment
Dedicated Follower of Fashion
Hymn For A New Age
A Long Way From Home*
Autumn Almanac
Sunny Afternoon

(w/ full band)
Vietnam Cowboys
After The Fall
Till The End of the Day
Where Have All The Good Times Gone

SET 2:
(w/ full band & 32 person Dessoff Chamber Choir)
Shangri-La
Victoria
Workingman's Cafe
See My Friends
You Really Got Me
Village Green
Picture Book
Big Sky
Do You Remember Walter?
Johnny Thunder
Village Green Preservation Society
Celluloid Heroes
Waterloo Sunset
Days
All Day And All Of The Night

Encore:
(w/ full band)
Low Budget

* w/ Karin Forsman on vocals, Bill Shandley on guitar, and on accordion

The Kinks Choral Collection - Shangri-La

EDIT: In the midst of a massive hangover, I mistyped "Sunny Afternoon" as "In the Summertime". Thanks davidp for noticing. Before starting the song, Ray explained how he locked himself in his room for weeks while his band toured without him. Bright sunlight would pour into his room but he couldn't muster the strength to go outside. Instead he wrote "Sunny Afternoon".

mp3: Kevin Greenspon "Softened"

"Sundowner Lane"

As November drifts away, the days get shorter, the nights longer and the streets more barren every night. It's funny how once the temperature chills out, and the sun starts going to bed after the early bird buffet, everyone retreats to home base preferring the comforts of the couch to the park or the roof or some quaint garden. My guess is that Kevin Greenspon, ambient auteur, is a couch dweller, however, rather than plant himself in front of the boob tube with a few seasons worth of M*A*S*H*, Greenspon sits lotus position on his bed, peering out the window on the shadowy streets below. There is probably a tree in his backyard that rustles against his window when the wind picks up. Often its howl billows through, as if a ghost crept out of the radiator. It's at once warm and comforting, yet, bleak and atmospheric, sort of like Christina's World. Either way, its ripe for days like today. Thanks to the folks at Rose Quartz for the heads up.

Greenspon will release Bracing on CD-R in a DVD package on Family Time (same label as Norse Horse) shortly, with a cassette tape on Obeast Tapes, as well. Be sure to check out Family Time's releases, as they've got some great packaging.

Kevin Greenspon- Softened

mp3: Ducktails "McGuire in the Ocean"

"Future Sounds"

Yesterday Todd from OESB sent over this exclusive Ducktails outtake from the Landscapes sessions. This one takes a particular detour from the Departmentstore Santa's cover GvB posted, and a lot of the Ducktails catalog, and finds Mondanile channeling minimal techno, mechanical krautrock riddims and a sort of ambient wash that'll clear your sinuses, sort of like a neti pot. Oh, yeah, and its called "McGuire in the Ocean," which sounds about right to me. Thinking about heading to Mantoloking tomorrow, anybody wanna join?

Buy Landscapes, and all other OESB releases, here.

Ducktails- McGuire in the Ocean

art: Alex Bleeker & the Freaks LP

"Hold The Presses, Stop the Show"

Eleven days before it hits shelves, we feel like a proud mama in getting to introduce to you the cover of Alex Bleeker & the Freaks self-titled debut. Since Sawyer introduced the band via YouTube Vid Chat/Bald Eagles soaring over the vast American landscape, I've fallen head over heels for the Freaks, so much so that I may or may not have held up a lighter while swaying during "Common Sense" the last time I saw them. The first long player in the Underwater Peoples catalog, the Freaks record contains some of the most unabashedly blessed rock n roll I've heard in a long time, recalling a time when meandering solo's were as wistful as a strong wind blowing hard as you speed across I-80 towards the unknown. It's unwavering in its timelessness, and yes, will, at times, remind you of the archival Neil Young releases. While much of the record is based around Alex Bleeker's solemn, road weary songwriting, a welcomed move away from all the idiosyncratic indie stuff, it wouldn't be the Freaks without Julian Lynch's surreal shredding, which will drive even the most apathetic of listeners into an absurdly O-faced air guitar solo. Example, "Dead On," which, yes, hits its stride just as GD did in '77. This 1:06 selection is probably an excerpt from a "Fire on the Mountain" jam, and, well, that's alright with us.

Alex Bleeker & the Freaks- Dead On

Contest: First person to name all of the Freaks on the cover will gain free entrance to the Mountain Man, Alex Bleeker, Liam the Younger, No Demons Here show at the Church of the Messiah on December 11th. Do so in the comment section.

live: Candy Claws "Catamaran" (acoustic)

"Animals"

For various reasons (stage fright, lack of funds, schizophrenia) some bands don't tour. Candy Claws, the Ft. Collins, Colorado collective, fall into that category, but I think it's because some of them are working on completing their studies, which is hard to knock, cause you know, you gots to be smart to dominate the game. (OK, I've officially been watching The Wire way too much.) While Candy Claws usually dabble in the sort of bedroom tomfuckery that can be extremely difficult to translate live, this live tour video finds the group stripping down, bringing a whispy, acoustic dream vibe to the transformative "Catamaran." Truth is, Candy Claws are in the midst of a virtual tour. In their own words:

This tour shall happen online, in the form of videos posted to music blogs of different cities and towns across the entire planet. The first ten dates will feature live footage of acoustic versions of each song on the album. The last ten dates will debut brand new music videos for each song.

The band was nice enough to "fly" cross country in the middle of the night, losing sleep in the time zones, to play at Bobka Headquarters in Greenpoint, BK this morning. In all honesty, the acoustic version of "Catamaran" is exactly what I wanted to wake up to this morning. All the coy, LSD-25 saccharine sheen one could ask for on a cold, windy Thursday morning. Double exposure never felt so good at 9am. Candy Claws virtual tour continues tomorrow in Boston, when they "play" OnAFriday.com.

video: Big Troubles "Freudian Slips"

"Oh No"

Young fuzz devotees and Geocities enthusiasts Big Troubles have only played a handful of shows since their inception in late July, yet they've managed to damage the ear canal's of at least two dozen attendees, which, I guess, is sort of the point. These guys don't know the definition of "too loud," and if the sound guy at Cameo Gallery had known this he probably wouldn't have said "the guitars are still too loud." Everyone in the room could've agreed, but instead, they laughed it off, popped in ear plugs and let Alex Craig and Ian Drennen, backed by Luka Usmani and Sam Franklin, speed up our inevitable deafness. No saxophone solos or doo-wop vocal arrangements here, just delectable melodies ensconced in enough distortion to blow all the wax out your ears.

live: Mountain Man, Alex Bleeker, Liam the Younger

"Who Walked the Dog"

A month from today Chocolate Bobka will host another show in our concert series, and this one, in all honesty, may be the best yet. On Friday December 11th, Mountain Man, Alex Bleeker (accompanied by the Mountain Man singers), Liam the Younger and Luka (No Demons Here) will descend upon the majestic Lutheran Church of the Messiah in sleepy Greenpoint, Brooklyn for a night of quiet, unamplified ballads and hymns. It's a real pleasure to host this show in the amazing Church, which has previously been host to performances by Mt. Eerie, Marissa Nadler, Calvin Johnson, and Kria Brekkan, among others. The intimate venue, along with a heaping of blankets, should make the Church basement feel more like a coffee house, or house show, which, in my opinion, is the only way to absorb real, honest to god Folk music. Details will trickle out in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled. Also, if anyone is interested in volunteering at the show, shoot me an email at mcgregor [at] me.com. See ya in a month.

new: Andrew Cedermark/ Family Portrait Split

"Hard Livin'"

News about the "in the works for a while" split between Andrew Cedermark and Family Portrait broke today and the disc is currently available for pre-sale. Like the 3-D imagery suggests, there is a certain duality to the release; the "down-and-out but will rise again nature" of Cedermark's work, and the chilling in the ether vibe Family Portrait owns. The obvious talk will be of "Mega Secrets" and "Hard Livin,'" two standouts from the Underwater Peoples Summer Showcase comp. But, for me, the real nugget here is "Super Cool," a kaleidoscopic travel diary of an instrumental, as easily indigestible as the drug for which its named, and as digestible as a PB&J with the crust cut off. The glue? Mr. Julian Lynch, whose clarinet is like a snake charmer wrapping your mind around some really interstellar shit, and making it seem, well, totally normal. And such is the wonder of "Super Cool," an instrumental oddball as capable of soundtracking a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, as it is a Sunday morning, reading the paper with Mom and Dad on the porch.

Listen to the studio version here. Live version above.

news: Bobka joins Tunnelvision Collective

"Oh Snap"

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