BAM!....the Essence of Siltbreeze

2007 has been a banner year for Philadelphia's Siltbreeze Records and will continue to be up until year's end, but if you want a taste of their most truly classic release of the year put down your energy drinks and go find xNOBBQx's new record. Imagine the Harry Pussy catalog played by "a couple of flailing monkeys, constipated on McDonald's", dubbed to cassette as cheaply and quickly as possible and you've got "ex no barbeque ex". Are they vegan? Are their parents related? Do they not have color copiers down under? These are the only questions I have after playing Sunshine of Your Love, because it's about as nuanced as a couple of wasps in a ziplock bag.

But really, this is the sort of album that should have all the old lo-fi heads frothing like a pack of hungry dingos and the newbies as confused as your mother at a Dead C show. You can't help but think this is what the voices in Tom Lax's head sound like: a new language of primitive psycho-babble spoken in guitar and drum stabs, greasy Australian philosophy shouted into the corner of an abandoned warehouse. I was certain the album consisted of two side-long tracks but apparently there are fourteen in total. Fourteen variations of a single idea, pressed into a slab of tofu and shoved into a black and white sleeve. Watch for yourself:



Your best bet is to visit http://fusetronsound.com. Less than 500 copies available.

We're Sorry, Portland

First I just want to say that the only sport I will write about here is the NBA. Don't ask me why, it's just feels right. Seems like a perfect diversion to weird underground music for some reason.

I nearly shed a tear today when I learned that Greg Oden will miss all of next season after surgery on his right knee earlier today. Seriously, terrible news. Our good buddy Greg has come across some bad luck (again) for being such a sweet, wholesomely good dude. I was really looking forward to watching him dominate his rookie year and take America and the world by storm with his gentle-giant charm and wide-eyed personality.
I am positive that not only Oden but the Blazers and the city of Portland will bounce back from this disastrous news. But for now, speaking for the city of Columbus, OH I'd like to say...we're sorry, Portland. Get well soon Greg.

The Midwest in Black and White

A few thoughts on a couple of singles that were brand spanking new when I began writing this damn post...but by now are most likely sold out.

First, the new Pink Reason single on Trick Knee Productions. I don't know whether he's pulling from a decade-old treasure-filled archive or writing this stuff on the spot, but it doesn't really matter: Kevin DeBroux has a perfect record, something even Bart Starr couldn't manage! What else can I say, the kid is on fire. How he became this year's underground "it boy" is a story better told elsewhere, primarily over at Blastitude, but what it all really boils down to is him following up one of the greatest singles in a while with one of the greatest out-folk/psych records in a long long while. Nothing from '07 stands out more than the epic, ravaged angst contained on Cleaning the Mirror.
By a Thread contains three tracks that rival any of the other gems in his growing discography. I guess you could call this one his most "rock" or traditional statement to date. The title track is a perfect A-side. Spatial, melodic and disorienting, it's another take on post-Joy Division basement blues this time with the help of guitarist Shaun Failure (who accompanied DeBroux on his first major tour of '07 to excellent results). "The Devil Always Wins" is a live favorite usually played at the end of his sets as a spiritual clap-chant, here done a capella. I've always thought this was some sort of old blues cover but after a long internet search I've found it is an original. Very classic. "Down on Me" is another big winner, a post-grunge downer (surprise!) with more excellent work by Failure and an excellent big stupid drum machine holding it all together. The whole single is a stunner. Also, the sleeve of my copy smells funny.

On top of all that talent Mr. Debroux has become quite the taste-maker in these parts, using his weeks on the road to recruit fellow basement dwellers. Sometimes he'll just tell you about the bands, other times bring them on tour for a few dates. By now you've probably been hearing about the youthful death tornado that is TV Ghost and the wreckage they've left in Columbus and surrounding cities this late-Summer. The all-underage (one's, like, fourteen) foursome from Lafayette, IN have a new 7" on die Stasi (out of Findlay, OH of all places) and its another big Midwestern winner. Now that I've seen them a few times I can tell that the single is not perfectly representative of what TV Ghost can bring (and will bring...they've already done a batch of recordings at the Times New Viking studio w/ Matt "Whitey" Horseshit behind the knobs) but both songs are keepers just the same.
"Atomic Rain" is a nice Cramps-ish romp with a great little mush mouthed melody. The recording could be a little better for this style of song but everything is pushed to the max so it shouldn't matter. "Bird Flu" is more in their main artery, an off-kilter rhythm beneath sort-of darkwave keys and spiky guitar, and more mush-mouth.
When you see them live you'll think they've invented this sound, as they play about half their set with the template and it works wonders, at least on the crowds I've seen them seduce. Keep an out for these kids, as they like to tour and they're getting better by the month.

It's not for another two weeks, but....

The Booty Shoppe flyer for this show is too good to wait. Beautiful:


Will the Silver Apples live up to the expectations? Are there expectations? All I know is Deathly Fighter are the hottest band in Columbus right now. And that I'm probably the only one who feels that way.

Saaaiiiiling, Takes Me Away

Alright. So it looks like an advance copy of the new Wooden Shjips LP has leaked and already I'm hearing whispers of "disappointment". To that I say no way, José. Not having any of that. Expectations have been on the rise, for sure, after their instant classic, ultra-limited 10 and 7 inchers, both of which a year ago they could barely give away but now are fetching insane eBay heights. The San Fransisco quartet have quickly cemented themselves as a psychedelic taut-groove standard. Much like their home city's medicinal marijuana, their sound is potent and impeccably consistent if not a bit predictable. Still, you find yourself coming back every week.
The new, eponymous titled album on Holy Mountain takes no great leaps forward but does offer a recorded fidelity perfect for these five songs. Every sound - absolutely unhinged guitar leads reminiscent of Les Rallizes Denudes' Mizutani Takashi, locked locked locked rhythm that can boogie and motorik with the best, those Rev/Manzarek keys and a more prominent use of their echoed vocals (there are a number of places where they remind of those mainline moments Columbus' own El Jesus de Magico trigger) - is pristinely present, all perfectly placed in the mix. I imagine the gripes you'll hear about this brief record will be pertaining to just that; maybe the band left a little behind in composition to focus on that sound, and it may sound a tad too clean for some ears.
But damn, once the vinyl gets spinning on those tables there shouldn't be any complaints, especially when the solos are flying, which is for about half of the album's 33.3 minutes. It's an approachable half-hour that pinches more than punches but still gets you when you least expect it. Hum on.
Along with this full-length (out September 10th), the Shjips have two more 7"s due out before year's end, one a co-release they'll do with HM and another on Sub Pop.

There Ain't No Train to Stockholm...

I wrote a little tribute to Lee Hazlewood today over at Donewaiting. Go read it here if you like. Also, watch him perform "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and a watch Nancy do "Boots" as well.

Columbus Summer Fun Times, Part 1

Alright, let's get straight to the point here: I've been out for quite a while and have missed out on writing about some really great stuff that's been happening in Columbus in these summer months so I'll try and take the next few posts to catch up. Then maybe a few thoughts about all the random sounds I've been filling my mind up with.
But first and foremost, I must mention what should be...no, scratch that....what will be the greatest debut show in a looooong time here in Columbus, and that is the unleashing of The Moon and Badtimes at Ruby's this Friday night. Surely to be shortened to "The Mab", this five-piece is the newest brainchild of Sir Dustin White and his "dream drummer" Travis Kline, who've carried over the look and feel of their short-lived Freedom project into something much more focused and awesome. REALLY AWESOME. I've only really heard three of the working tracks and it was enough for me to christen them Best New Band Ever. If you know Mr. Dusty you sort of know what you'll be getting: essentially all the good parts of 70's rock, from straight-up boogie to euro-prog to white-noise jams to drone. Think Crimson, Les Rallizes, Cactus, Captain Beyond, Ash Ra, etc., with plenty of stoner vibes, some vocoder and mellotron, Kraut-rhythms, and on and on. All that good shit. They like the good stuff. But one of the greatest things about this new project is that Dusty will be singing most parts, and from the sound of what I've heard he should have been singing in ALL of his bands. Now that I think about it he did sing a little in Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, correct?
The Moon and Badtimes are filled out by newcomer to the scene, the youngster Mike Leach on guitar, who, by the sound of it should quickly become one of Columbus finest, as well as Bob Silver (Brainbow) on bass and little Jason W. (also formerly of BTDATDBS) on keys. Unfortunately there are no songs on their myspace, as the band hope to present a clean debut to this weekend's on-lookers and listeners free of any previous opinions or expectations. But let me tell you it will be well worth your time. It may be historical. Dusty will probably kill me for hyping this up so much, but I guarantee you it will be awesome.
The 'Mab will be last at Ruby's, Friday, August 3rd, along with the Makebelieves, the Malabar Brothers, Necropolis, Greenlawn Abbey and Cotton Jackson, as part of the Lost Weekend Records Summer Blowout.