SULTAN BATHERY - FIREWORX

 So, this little release is a bit over a year old and we all know that if it is older than six months and younger than 20 years then it is no longer relevant. But that isn't going  to stop anyone from sharing it with you. Sultan Bathery is a groovy little three piece from Italy. These three gents seem to be making some splashes here and  there with interviews here and there and blog shout outs here and there and some facebook fans here and there and today we listen to the band's first EP, Fireworx - released in October of 2012. They have  since been touring throughout Europe and a quick  overview of the facebook doesn't say anything about  any US shows, but if you find something out that I  didn't bother taking the time to read (let's face it, google is for information and this blog is for  music) then please throw it in the comments.

The EP starts with the title track - a little ditty with beefy guitar tone, simple and effective drums, and the oooo and ahhh sort of vocal dissonance that so many of you listeners out there have grown to love since its popular re-emergence in the early 2000s. It is a great opener that will get your attention. The second track, 'River raw', does not stray far from the jangle and dance in the first track - the entire fucking EP follows suit. Fireworx dips its toes in a lot of seemingly 1950s inspired sort of western rock and roll on the berge of psychedelic breakthrough. And for the sake of not getting all meta with this and that - these are some good psychedelic garage tunes that are all under 2:30. Who can get enough of those short punch-you-in-the-mouth-songs?

You can snag the 7'' from Slovenly for 5.25 (I donated more than that - I just thought I would let you all know that because I take philanthropy lessons from Bono). Only con to ordering from Slovenly would be the occasional e-mail that I choose not to read and then have to take time to delete. Listen. Buy. Enjoy.

sultanbathery@gmail.com
sultanbathery.bandcamp.com/
facebook.com/sultanbathery
slovenly.bandcamp.com/

UH BONES - S/T

Although not the freshest piece in their arsenal, let's take a listen to the self-titled four track release by Uh Bones. This little goodie came out a bit over a year after their debut on facebook in 2011 (which, as you know, marks the birth of a band - that and the earliest release date on bandcamp). This three piece is currently rocking in the Chicago area and working on an LP to be released in the near future - duh. We might as well dive right on in with track number one, 'Amess'; if you carry any garage or psychedelic (god forbid psychedelic-garage) sensibilities you will immediately see the credibility of this band's sound. The song is an instant winner with repetitive high-mid guitar riffs and a low pulse'd bass line. The songs continue to follow suit with tight grooves wrapped around lazy and genuine vocals. If you are looking for something that takes root in yesterday (maybe today's yesterday or maybe 50-years-ago's yesterday) while still playing a part in our post-music era then look no further - it's right here. Even though we may not see Uh Bones putting out chart-topping-billboard-success-singles, the band knows what it is doing, how it wants to do it, and they sound great doing it.

I'll also put up this video the band has of a newer song of theirs - 'Drink to Sleep.' As the title suggests, the song is a bit dreamy and will get you in the mood to take off your socks, pour a drink, grab a woman, and dance on the kitchen floor smoking a filterless cigarette and waiting for the baby-making to happen.

The band is good, so if you like that 60s influenced blues-born garage noise then take a listen and maybe spend four bucks for four songs.






uh.bones@gmail.com
uhbones.com
uhbones.bandcamp.com

GHOST WAVE - AGES

Ghost Wave, a four piece from Auckland, put out their debut full length - 'Ages' - in August of this year and you'd be lying to say it wasn't good. Depending on how hip you are you may or may not have heard of this one from the likes of Pitchfork and Vice - if you didn't then that is OK; you are not alone. Anyhow, these New Zealand musicians have been together for a few years and put together a self-titled EP (that you can find on their bandcamp) and this LP of ten easy tracks driven by a psychedelia that can identify through the decades of its history. One particularly drawing element is the large pull from rock and roll from about twenty years ago - the biting alt grunge and post-punk vibes that sit inside the first notes of the album to the last. But it would be insulting to try to pin the sound to a certain feeling from a certain era as Ghost Wave is mixing their sound with many different bits and pieces of rock and roll. For me, the points of interest lay within tracks one, two, four, and six (maybe eight, too).....shit, just listen to the entire album and you'll find out what works and where. It's heady, it's punchy, it's droning, and it definitely has a fuzzy face.

Also, check out this little video if you want to know what they look like when they play 'Here She Comes' and then you should go ahead and buy it if you want. Go.

GhostWavy@gmail.com
http://ghostwave.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/ghostwave

THE DANDELION - STRANGE CASE OF THE DANDELION

It's been too long since the last post and after a little facelift to the site and some time on the web I stumbled upon The Dandelion. The Dandelion, which may be the work of an individual musician, just released  'Strange Case of The Dandelion' a couple months ago. So right off the bat I think we can all see where this could be going - flower floating rhythms and fuzz'd vibes. To be honest, the intro to the opening track nearly had me going 'NEXT' (I'm not a fan of flute though I feel how a flute could add to make a rounded psychedelic sound) but I am glad I didn't. A few measures in when the song gets going it creates a layered nostalgia with simple bass and fuzz guitar lines on top of the unplugged sounds of acoustic guitar and flute. The songs moves on to live up to it's bandcamp tag 'paisley,' with hypnotic rhythms and ghostly vocals that fit together as timeless psychedelic puzzle pieces.

After paying more attention, turns out this six track bandcamp release is only a sample of a larger thirteen track album. I thought The Dandelion presented itself well through those six songs and there is no way one could go wrong with playing this album the next time a whole bunch of his/her quarter life hip kids came over to smoke cigarettes, snap phone photos (maybe one person will be cool enough to bring out a 35mm camera), drink, and do drugs. So, for five dollars and a few days patience, you could be prepared for that night - probably even before next weekend. Add 'Strange Case of The Dandelion' to your albums or at least dissect it for a mixtape.





followthedandelion@gmail.com
http://thedandelion.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dandelion

BAD INDIANS - ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE LP

Welcome back. it has been a year, but we are not dead around here. To get things going, let's give a listen to BAD INDIANS. This is the third time BAD INDIANS has seen these pages and if your band consistently released good music then you would be here three times, too.

This four-piece from Michigan are putting out a new LP, yes vinyl, titled Are on the Other Side. It's just in time for your last purchase before 'The End of the World.' There are probably a dozen bands looking to cash in on this fantastic release date, but let's ignore them - right now they do not matter. This gang just shared a stage with Moon Duo two months ago. They must be doing something right.

BAD INDIANS are sticking around. Consistency is key key key to keeping fans - to being any sort of artist. Find what you do and do it well. Chiming in on yester-year's grooving sound, BAD INDIANS have found what they do and they are doing it well. Although the full release is not available for listening, the band put up a four song cock-tease. Probably at the request of CQ Records - it seems as though they hold the digital and maybe physical rights to this album. Oh, forgot to mention they are releasing on CQ Records - a nice little independent label in Austin, Texas. In this sneak peek of the upcoming psych garage album we start with Love and a Shovel. It's a familiar sound if you are familiar with BAD INDIANS. The drums are simple and sweet, the vocals a perfect amount whining treble and shake, the guitar tone as shaking and surfing as the vocals - also with nicely placed slick finger licks.  The song is pretty short so there is no fucking around. It's all the meat with the fat trimmed off. Wherever this song is on the album, it will surely fit as a solid 60s influenced (up to interpretation) rock and roll jam. To be completely honest, and that is in the job description (someone pay me), the second song on the preview doesn't get my gears greased. It seems a bit out of place in the four songs - it's a grunge-pop tune with prominent keys. It is also a short one and fortunate for some listeners. This song seems to say 'hi' instead of 'hey.' (Personal taste gets thrown in from time to time.) The third song, Darkside, is a gem without a doubt. It's a slow down ballad sort of beauty. During a live set we could see this in the middle or towards the end when the band's energy banks have been deposited on fans' faces in previous songs. The recorded version as a prediction, is a bit more enthusiastic, attentive, and full than one could imagine the sweat drenched live version is. And then the fourth track puts a nice little cap on things as it is an amalgamation of songs one and two, making it a nice round, maybe oval, preview of a nice janky record you can add to your collection three weeks from now.

Who knows how much of pre-album or album sales actually goes to BAD INDIANS but BUY THE RECORD and fork over a couple greenbacks for the 'name your price' preview. You're supporting someone who's working hard.

PS Word through the grapevine is that DIE POP is developing a new look. Check back later. It's sure to be a breath of fresh air for 2013.

 


BAADINDIANS@gmail.com
http://www.cqrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BAD-INDIANS/142006495812733

THE SPYRALS - SUNFLOWER MICROPHONE 7''

The Spyrals are a talented garage/psych three piece from San Fransisco, California. As of tomorrow, November the 22nd, you will all be able to purchase their latest 7'' - Sunflower Microphone. The first track, also the title track, captures a great spirit of psychedelia and transports the audience to a trip on a desert wasteland, searching for any sign of life while kaleidoscope visions of the sky cause confusion and wonderment. It's damn easy to find yourself rolling your shoulders and hips to this surf influenced tune. The song is a great treat, and if you like it then please check out Night Beats or Bad Indians. The second song on this newly released 7'' is titled Long Road Out - it's damn easy to find yourself rolling your shoulders and hips to this five minute twangy and punchy story. Some may find it a bit jammy , though after a quick puff puff pass and the extended guitar lead turns into a small journey on a river made of goldfish, all reflecting the rays of the sun. If 60s inspired rock/psychedelic with a twist of surfin' blues is your thing, spend a mere six bucks and get this 7''. The first 100 copies are on yellow vinyl. Open your ears!

thespyrals@gmail.com

http://thespyrals.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Spyrals/34763810277

http://thespyrals.bandcamp.com



BAD INDIANS - SOUNDS FROM THE BIG ROOM

In a time where smoking herb and riding the a-train are as regular as a cup of coffee BAND INDIANS is quintessential. Unfortunately, now a cup of coffee is as regular as a cup of coffee. BAD INDIANS, the four piece garage/psych/noise band from Michigan (Yes, it seems as though American Natives and the state of Michigan seem to be a popular theme here. I guess Michigan knows how to rock and roll; we might take that as an ...insult? Nah, it just means Michigan is cooler than you are), are a busy little band and have put out a handful of releases in the last five years. Like most bands, their earlier releases seem to tower in creativity and  raw genuine psychedelia, though of course, any muso would tell you that. The first release found on the web, LIVE FROM THE BURIAL MOUND (2009), is a spectacular force of noise and garage energy that was recorded on a cassette 4track in a basement, it creates a fantastic blend of the best (and only) qualities of drone, the nonchalance of underground rock and roll, all in a clever little Native theme. SOUNDS FROM THE BIG ROOM, the band's most recent release--literally 7 days ago--continues to build upon the their throwback tribute to a day when rock and roll was on top of the world. Though the BAD INDIANS have graduated to a more polished approach to their recording, it does not take from their art. In fact, SOUNDS FROM THE BIG ROOM creates the feeling of accidentally walking into a hazed-out room at a party circa 1960s when you were looking for the bathroom, but then decided to stay because the kids in that room are far too intimidating to leave, yet not intimidating enough to force you out. So you stay, burn a few, and plan a cross-continental motorcycle trip with your new friends and learn the harmonica. Check out the discography, WHEN you want this music in your possession buying physical copies of any release is as simple as shooting them a friendly e.mail, otherwise spend a few less sheckles and get the mp3s available on bandcamp.

 

BAADINDIANS@gmail.com

http://badindians.bandcamp.com

http://www.myspace.com/badindians