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

DPT-002 ROYAL TALONS/BLIGHTER/BLEACHEDBLONDE TRIPLE SPLIT

So here is the moment some of you have been waiting for - The second DIE POP TAPES release! DPT-002 is a triple split cassette release with Colorado bands Royal Talons, Blighter, and BLEACHEDBLONDE. Royal Talons, featured here a handful of months ago, is a three-piece atmospheric sludge and doom band from Denver and their songs - nearly ten minutes a piece and the entire side A - are heavier than Rosie O'Donnell. They have put together some tunes to burn to, to drive to, and well...to fuck to. Seeing them live is also a great shoegazin' head-bangin' treat. Blighter, the first three tracks of side B, is from Colorado Springs, Colorado and this is their first time featured on DIE POP. A veteran presence in the Springs' scene, Blighter has finally pulled together some cash, popped in a studio, and released some decently recorded versions of a handful of their songs. Their tracks are a bit doomy, a bit sludgy, a bit jammy, a bit stoney, and a bit crusty. If you are down for anything relating to that, then we are sure that you will find Blighter's contribution to this split most excellent. Pulling the last leg of the track is the label's first band to release, BLEACHEDBLONDE. Despite the band's apathetic, loud, and trashy value of their first cassette, BLEACHEDBLONDE's  three tracks on this particular cassette lack a bit of luster. Though the bass lines are thick, the guitar riffs moving, and vocals full of hypnotic and absorbing noise, the drums are pushed back to a nearly inaudible volume and are very rudimentary. BLEACHEDBLONDE and DIE POP also have plans of a X-MAS split release with another Colorado Springs garage troupe, Cat Color - so if these tunes aren't hooking you, then wait for their redemption and new sound coming out in December. For all your true musos out there, if it not for BLEACHEDBLONDE, then get this one for Royal Talons and Blighter. It's a run of 150 and 6 USD; that includes international shipping! Use the bandcamp music player (located amongst these words) or our store to order. And for all you free loaders, did we mention there is a free download? Because there is.

 

[DOWNLOAD]
DIEPOPTAPES@live.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Royal-Talons/208955969117977
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blighter/163226620397135?sk=info

http://www.facebook.com/BLEACHEDBLONDEBAND

(ALL PRE-ORDERS WILL BE SHIPPED THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER)

SON CATS - O'DELL / 1971 7''

The coasts have been pounding out more than stellar rock and roll for years, and will for years to come. And from both our coasts, and so many other places, come SON CATS. A two (sometimes three) piece from nearly every time zone in the US, Alex and Jasmine put all of the 'ooooooo's in groovy. These cats (no pun intended) put out thick rock and roll waves that drown your brain in a hazy maple flavored smoke.  The two tracks on this 7'', O'Dell and 1971, are packed with truck loads of pure energy. Without any post-production sort of static-magic, these two fill up a lot of  dead air with primitive skin-pounds, wailing guitar riffs, and genuine vocals. Combining folk, 60s psychedelic garage, and pure rock and roll - SON CATS piss excellence. Buy their 7'' from For Arbors / For Satellites or from their bandcamp, then check out the neat little animation/music video for O'Dell.

http://www.myspace.com/soncats
http://www.facebook.com/soncats
http://forarborsforsatellites.blogspot.com/

NIGHT BEATS - H BOMB 7''

Saw this band was coming to a city nearby and if you happen to be in Boulder, CO this weekend, you should check out ASTROLAND on Saturday the 26th (Doing anything better on this Saturday night?) and let this band stroke your mind. Night Beats; from the pretentious and caffeinated Seattle, WA, have found a place here in this blog-- at the top of this page even. Scored their 7'' from a nifty little link (as should you, then you should buy the 7'') and though it's only four songs, duh...it's a 7'', it is definitely one to add to the collection.  H Bomb starts off with the title track and it's nearly perfect. To you, the audience who has yet to hear this band, beware; you may instantly have found your new favourite band. The first track displays what the rest of the others have--the perfect elements that you need for a spectacular psychedelic auditory experience: drenched vocals, a dripping reverb'd fuzz lead guitar, and moaning wails of a psychedelic dreamer. The only beef with this 7'', is that the third song They Came in Through the Window is remarkably similar to the title track, but don't hold it against them. This sort of thing is probably because they were looking for four of their best songs to showcase their talent, and two of the songs happen to be similar in song structure and progression, or maybe the the band is a one trick pony...with a pretty damn good trick.








(DOWNLOAD)






thenightbeats@gmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/thenightbeatswilleatyou
http://www.troubleinmindrecs.com/bands/nightbeats.html

SNEAKPEEK - S/T

SNEAKPEEK is yet another mysterious band that seems to have manifested it's music from the thin air. Sooo...you will find this post to be slightly different than others. Considering that this band only puts up single song releases, DPT has taken the liberty of buying half of them, getting the others for free, and compiling them together to create a sort of demo. We'll just S/T it. SNEAKPEEK, a two piece? girl grunge/psych/garage band, out of someplace where the English language is spoken, is new to the whole interweb game and not having a soundcloud, a MySpace, a Facebook, a Reverbnation, or contact info(besides the contact link on the bandcamp) is hindering the band. Though, they could just be sitting back and looking for blogs about them, then revealing their self like it's some sort of magic trick (kinda like paper - Endless Summer...but it wasn't magic). Going back to their first release, WAYTOOMUCH, in December of 2010, you will find that the song is a trashy fuck you song, or a love song--they are both the same. Drowned in an echoing slime, the slow trance beat of the song brings you in for the first solid two or three minutes, then the band moves into a bit of a drone realm and sends the song into extra innings and rails the same progression into your ears over and over again. A month later (at least that's what the bandcamp says) this two piece, like SO MANY other bands, released an additional track on New Years Day...how fucking trendy. This track, WESTERN SKY, shows some production progression in comparison to their first single release, and though we will leave it up to you to decide whether or not the fuzz is paralleled, the chorused gang vocals are a nice touch to the continued droned out tunes. Probably in a decision to bring more of a genuine feeling to the music, SNEAKPEEK put out a third song and recorded it LIVE. MELANCHOLY HEART (LIVE) shortens up a bit, but keeps the same off key dual vocal harmony as seen before and what is seen in the most current release WALK ALL OVER ME (LIVE). This last 2 minutes and 50 seconds gets a little heavier than the other songs and it's apparent that this lady fronted band is in the works of creating some Vivian Girls style rock and roll, and not just because they both happen to be girl bands, but because they are pretty alright music to listen to. Listen in mono if you can, and turn it waaay up!


WALK ALL OVER ME (LIVE)
MELANCHOLY HEART (LIVE)
WESTERN SKY
WAYTOOMUCH

(DOWNLOAD)





http://sneakpeek.bandcamp.com/

DEAD FARMERS - GO HOME

Though this post finds itself nearly a year too late...In a fit of rock and roll rage, Dead Farmers-a three piece band from Australia, throw around crass upbeat tracks that are pieced together with driving psychedelic bass, sustained fuzzed-out guitar riffs, high energy drumming, and dampened gang vocals all layered to magically manifest aviators, sideburns and a 'stache on your face within seconds of hearing it. Dead Farmers put out like, as so many have written,  The Stooges (pre Iggy Pop) but crunchier, faster, and without out the pressures of poster-child-dom and money-hungry studio producers breathing down their neck; plus Dead Farmers sound better.

Apathetic to the idea of music that the Billboard's top charts brainwashes the public with, these groovin' dudes have painstakingly arranged 'Go Home,' 10 tracks of lo-fi art that times in at one song (two songs in their case) short of half an hour of pure arousal and is arguably a perfect set. The album starts with 'Can't Come', a familiar, yet completely foreign four chord progression that occasionally branches off into short bursts of trashy noise guitar that do not represent an inability to climax (as the songs title may suggest) but rather an everlasting feel good desire that aches to be long, rhythmic, and satisfyingly powerful. The pulse of the first 4 songs creates a frantic and polished sound that is distinguished by an emotion that can only be delivered simultaneously with the music; by years of failed attempts at assembling the correct combination of talent and dedication; by misunderstood appreciations for raw and dirty nights of striking out and having the lasting image of layers of stickers belonging to never-will-bees and has-beens, and 30-second permanent marker graffiti tags as your last memory before loosing your guts in the piss stained urinal at the shithole you just played at; by long nights in a small room sweating rivers of blood and sloppy chord transitions. The rest of the album falls in pace with the extraordinary introductory tracks, making 'Go Home' an album that belongs in all our collections. Unfortunately, for a band that has restraining orders against them (for reasons that you'll need to find yourself) their youtube video is not dressed to impress, the boys lack energy!!! Nonetheless, listen.






(DOWNLOAD)

deadfarmers@gmail.com

http://www.myspace.com/deadfarmers
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Farmers/68378207720#!/pages/Dead-Farmers/68378207720?sk=info

VOYAGEURS - NUDE VEGAS

VOYAGEURS; a three piece from Fayetteville, AR, are a current new crush. Having put out a few releases, all for FREE mind you, it's interesting to see the sort of lo-fi treasures this band is continually sharing with the world. Today we dive into their psychedelic space adventure titled NUDE VEGAS. This release starts, as though it seems, in mid song (thanks to a little post production magic) and though brash and crass, it slightly eases its audience into the pounding bass line and the noisy experimental guitar riffs. VOYAGEURS instantly bring a drugged-out psychedelic party to your brain, complete with hallucinations. Track after track; these three gentlemen lash out loud tunes that fit a mood/feeling that can be best described as a dreamy acceptance of the end of the world. Drowned-out in reverb and delicious feedback, this release will make anyone drool. How dangerous is it to create 7 tracks of epic livelihood and death slammed together like some sort of mutant created out of the green ooze from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II.....not very. Take yourself back a handful of decades and enjoy this band's celestial journey through your mind. After taking a look at their latest single-track release (ENVY IS INEVITABLE) and that green youtube video , it is sure that the direction this band is going is more than stellar.

 

http://voyageurs.bandcamp.com
http://www.myspace.com/spacevoyageurs

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

OLD MAN AND GIRL - EMPTY HOUSE EP

Let us dive a bit beeper this time around and get some minimalistic-old timey-garage rock-blues to your ears. Old Man and Girl, probably a two-piece and possibly consisting of a dude and a chick, come from Ohio. Which city? Probably a small underdeveloped rural area, music like this isn't going to leak from a big sophisticated metropolis. OMG (for short...ha) blend some tube driven-spring reverb-ed delta-style blues with easy 4/4 beats that rest inside a nice translucent frame made of sustained vocal delay. Though, 'EMPTY HOUSE EP' (the only thing on the web from OMG and the second 'Empty House EP' to be released by a band in 2011) rings in with an eight minute blues influenced noise jam, the EP is not limited to one fantastic track, the entire thing is garage/psych diamond. Not only is there noise, but it's good noise; really good noise. Reminiscent of late 60s and early 70s 'satan music' (damn Christians), throwback music-connoisseurs will find these 3 recordings easing analog pains deep in their hearts. Cross your fingers for some more developments from this band....like a full length, or a MySpace, or a facebook, or an e.mail address, or something.






http://oldmanandgirl.bandcamp.com/album/empty-house-ep

DIRT EYES

Eyes seem to be a reoccurring theme, but in the interest of not giving a fuck...on to the next band. Sludgy like Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid' and bluesy like a contemporary favourite--The Black Keys--Dirt Eyes (not to be confused with LA's butt-rock enthusiasts Dirty Eyes) are an interesting drum and bass combo out of the glamorous Buffalo, New York. With an extraordinary amount of noise, Jono Benoit; bass and the barely audible screaming vocals; and Jordan Nittoli; the percussion, put out a stellar amount of sound that makes you feel warm, fuzzy, and somewhat.... sexy? Though, Dirt Eyes is not for light hearted easy listening/pop fans...actually, if you are keen on that scene, then I highly suggest their FREE 3track release 'You Are a Kind Magician, Indeed'; then maybe you'll learn to like real music. Dirt Eyes seems to be pretty elusive; one youtube vid and a bandcamp site. So, if you find yourself in the Buffalo area be on the look-out for a show of theirs. Their performance doesn't seem to rate too high on the energy scale (via the youtube video), but if you weren't such a stick in the mud you'd dance your little heart out to these groovin' psych/garage/doom tunes. You are now just a few clicks away from having new music.







http://dirteyes.bandcamp.com/album/you-are-a-kind-magician-indeed