STRATOSPHERING

I, too, am moving on...

2011-04-27T17:23:00.003-04:00

I have been desiring to do something a little more streamlined to fit my personal tastes as opposed to posting such things on a free-for-all of music genres for a while now. Since Patrick decided to get going, I figured I may as well do so, too.

I have started a wordpress titled hellcrown that I hope to make my new home for sharing music. I just made my first post, so it is a bit bare, but stick with me here. If you enjoyed my hardcore/metal/punk posts, you should have every desire to move on to hellcrown to see what I have been getting hyped on and I would love to hear from you. Also, if you are an artist and want me to check out some of your music, please send an email to hellcrownmusic@gmail.com. I would love to continue receiving things.

Thanks dudes,

Dillon

Formal Letter of Resignation

2011-04-07T14:30:00.003-04:00

I've decided to move on. Nothing personal, readers. I've been thinking about this for a while. Thanks for sticking with us this whole time. Thanks for being patient. Thanks to all the friends I made. Thanks to Tara for letting me stay at her place and pretend it was mine. It was awesome for a while, but now I need to move out.

In the future, you might find me at Urgent Conjecture, or Means Fair.

Please familiarize yourselves with these better blogs, if you haven't already:

Glowing Raw
Dayvan Zombear
The Radiant Now
Somatose
Rand0m Sh1t
Uaxuctum

W H O K I L L

2011-03-24T19:00:00.004-04:00

Last.fm // Buy it!

Tune-Yards, that's W H O. lol but srsly tho this album K I L L s. I'm not joking, and I hadn't noticed the album title contains that word. I expect reviews might include combinations and variations of ideas like "improves upon its predecessor in so many ways, too many ways to even try to explain," "but mostly recording/production/depth, which were the only qualities needing improvement anyway," and "commanding vocal presence that confidently supports her eccentric style, with accessible confidence," among words like "risky," "fresh," "triumphant," "best," "album," and "woman."

P.S. I have no comment regarding my two-month absence. Furthermore, I have one comment: Tumblr.

Joyce Manor

2011-03-15T12:48:00.003-04:00

Joyce Manor

Joyce Manor is a pop-punk band from Torrance, California. This is their self-titled release. Very tight and cohesive with a Cap'n Jazz-saturated sound coming through at some points.

Merch

Sleeping Bag

2011-03-05T13:01:00.014-05:00

Bandcamp

From Bloomington, Indiana, Sleeping Bag presents a 1990s alternative rock sound reminiscent of acts like The Pixies, Built To Spill and Weezer. Dave Segedy, who is the main songwriter, takes drums and vocal duties live, while David Woodruff and Lewis Rogers fill in on guitar and bass. Their sound relies on tight, catchy, and simplistic melodies paired with Segedy's fun, relatable lyrics delivered in a soft and reserved manner. Sleeping Bag is set to play alongside the likes of Ty Segall, Beach Fossils, and The War on Drugs during this year's WIUX Culture Shock, an annual free festival of sorts that happens in the spring. Culture Shock is put on by WIUX, the college radio station here at Indiana University. Click the bandcamp link above for streams of a few tracks that will eventually be made available through a full length. I also encourage you to try to catch any of the number of shows they have been playing lately.

last.fm

Bracewar

2011-02-21T11:52:00.002-05:00

Juggernaut

Solid powerviolence released on 1917 Records. Groovin'. In your face. You'll be chanting before you know it. Fans of Ceremony, Punch, and Trash Talk will not be let down.

Millions of Dead Cops

2011-02-21T01:14:00.006-05:00

MDC - Multi-Death Corporations

Released in 1983 by Crass Records. An EP consisting of four angry fucking tracks. Classic hardcore with a social message that was laid out in full with the literature inserted in the vinyl. One of the best things to come out of Texas. Kurt Cobain was arrested with this band's tape in his pocket. Interested now? Huh? Fuck you. Nothing that came out recently is better than these four tracks.

Mike Adams At His Honest Weight - Oscillate Wisely (1/25/11)

2011-01-20T16:41:00.015-05:00

BUY IT

I had the great pleasure of attending the release show for Oscillate Wisely, an album fully written and recorded by Bloomington, IN artist and musical figure Mike Adams. Oscillate brings to the listener a dreamy collection of groovy, slow pop tracks with heartfelt lyrics and a sense of sincerity that is becoming far too absent in music. It is being released by local label Flannelgraph (whom also released the OF 7" by Osteoferocious) in conjunction with St. Ives Records.

Check out the video for the single taken from the album, a track called "I'm Not Worried":

Woodsman - Mystery Tape

2011-01-12T14:04:00.009-05:00

Mystery Tape

Last.fm // Discogs

Stream and/or download all their albums and/or buy the tangible editions via Bandcamp. Check out two tracks from their upcoming Rare Forms LP while you're there. Absent from that archive is their beko_34 single, available from Beko DSL.

Zs - New Slaves

2011-01-04T15:01:00.009-05:00

Last.fm // Discogs

TMT Review

ZS from TERROREYES.TV on Vimeo.

Stagnant Pools

2010-11-26T11:44:00.004-05:00

Stagnant Pools is a two-piece shoegaze/post-punk band from Bloomington, Indiana. The duo consists of brothers Douglass and Brian Enas. Brian and Douglass create a wall of sound that is both grooving and aethereal. Brian's reserved vocals emanate just below the level of noise that is created by the combination of fuzzed-out guitar and on-point drum beats in such a way that they sometime register as a very in-place hum that adds to the overall sound. I highly suggest downloading their album they have made freely available through their bandcamp website. I also highly suggest coming out to one of their many shows they put on in the Bloomington, IN area. You will not regret it.

"Real Lies" Free Download

Sean McCann

2010-11-01T12:01:00.000-04:00

Handcrafted drones and noisy discussions between folk instruments during holiday dinners at Sean McCann's secluded cabin in the wilderness.

Last.fm // Discogs

Phylum Sigh (2009, DNT Records)

Open Resolve (2010, Stunned Records)

Chances Are Staying (2010, DNT Records)

Pissed Jeans - Your Life Is Worth Pissed Jeans (2010)

2010-10-30T12:43:00.008-04:00

YOUR LIFE IS WORTH PISSED JEANS

Finally, something new from a band that has consistently delivered solid recordings since their forming. They claim that this release is in no way connected with any recording of a new full-length. However, I am going to disregard that and hope for something before the year is through. These two songs are fairly solid. "The L Word" is my favorite of the two. If you are unfamiliar with this band, think of My War-era Black Flag, but apathetic and middle-aged.

Sub Pop

MIX 4

2010-10-25T13:44:00.003-04:00

STR SPH MIX VOL. 4
(photo by Lauren Treece)

This painstakingly handcrafted collection of tracks veers wildly through all sorts of landscapes and environments with distinct tones and palettes, dulls creeping away, vivids jolting forward. Sounds like damp tunnels spilling echoes into roars and then rumbles; machetes cutting through jungles as an expedition makes its way to the top of the mountain; city streets congested by lingering whims, because there is never enough time to ask a stranger whose style you admire whether or not they'd want to get coffee later.

#. Artist - Song (Album, Label) // (+links to download/stream/buy where applicable+)
1. Tera Melos - Frozen Zoo (Patagonian Rats, Sargent House)
2. Gala Drop - RAUZE (12" EP, Golf Channel Recordings)
3. Change Leopardon - Airport at Dawn (Gaiden, Critical Stoic)
4. Sean McCann - County Heirlooms (Chances Are Staying, DNT Records)
5. High Wolf - Diego (Ascension, Not Not Fun)
6. Monster Rally - Shangri La (EP, Self-Released)
7. Star Slinger - May I Walk With You? (Single, Self-released)
8. Balam Acab - Big Boy (See Birds EP, Tri Angle)
9. Teams - Airworks (We Have A Room With Everything, Self-released)
10. Woodsman - I Can't Move (??, ??)
11. Persona La Ave - WILLCAVE (Single, AMDISCS)
12. Twin Sister - Lady Daydream (Change Leopardon Remix)
13. Big Spider's Back - Perfect Machine (USF Remix) (Turns EP, Circle Into Square)

2010-10-18T01:19:00.005-04:00

BLACK FLAG - MY WAR (1984)

I decided to post an old album. Sorry. I have listened to this album three times today. I listen to this more than I listen to Damaged. I love this album. I want you to love this album. Best enjoyed angry and in the winter. Make sure you are cold, too.

High Wolf

2010-10-11T20:23:00.001-04:00

High Wolf's fractal psychedelics evoke the infinite geometry that can be perceived anywhere in the natural world, if you look close enough. Traverse the path into the forest. It is damp from a recent shower. Drops of water rest on a leaf, magnifying its skin. You observe the distinct pattern of its venation. You imagine sucrose pumping like blood, tucked under the microscopic layers of what can be seen. Or is the blood below also visible? Or haven't you seen it before, where your own inner arm bends? It is true that the same basic elements compose organic compounds which act as fuel for both lives. You suddenly notice you have been leaning gradually closer to the leaf, and you feel an inexplicable compulsion to lick away its beaded coat. The urge quickly subsides, almost as if the plant has commanded it. You realize you are already connected to this creature, and its energy, as it senses your proximity, amplifies the bond. The particles that give you shape are rearranged in the plant -- and, indeed, in all things -- to trigger unique dynamic structures. The leaf is a symbol of the natural world that surrounds you. It is a pattern repeating, but it is also alive, its adaptations infinitesimal, undetectable.

Myspace // Last.fm // Discogs

High Wolf (2009, Winged Sun)

Incapulco (2009, Winged Sun)

Ascension (2010, Not Not Fun) -nml-

Violens

2010-09-23T01:18:00.005-04:00

Amoral, V

I have a new band crush. Their name is Violens and they're 4 New Yorkers from Miami. I would describe them myself, but their last.fm info does the job perfectly already:

"Their music imagines a place where The Zombies & The Byrds meet Wire & The Violent Femmes, and Crass meets Angelo Badalamenti & Prefab Sprout."

So much genre melding going on with Amoral - from poppy to psychy to some fast shoegazing on Another Strike Restrained and a little post-rocking on Generational Loss - I'm melting I'm melting! Also, I think there's a didgeridoo playing for a few seconds at the beginning of "Could You Stand To Know." They're so cool (I assume... not like we're close personal friends) and such a great change of pace from all the shit I've been listening to lately.

That's right. Officially dropped off the chillwave and ditched my chillboard, at least for the time being. One second my friend and I were driving around and he was telling me how much he loves Tame Impala, and the next second their music was blasting and I just had this thought:

This shit is kinda boring/repetitive and I've had enough!!!(?)

An inexplicable sorrowful rage filled my body. I asked him to change the music, and when he didn't I seriously considered cashing his face via my fist, but then I remembered that I weigh about 100 lbs, so instead I went home and listened to Violens.

Hope you liked hearing my life story and hope you like their music!

Prince Rama

2010-09-20T16:56:00.005-04:00

After listening to this I experienced 4 flashbacks, 3 visits from a goat demigod, and I can now read sanskrit. Prince Rama make psychedelic music. Really great psychedelic music. Get out your ceremonial chillums and get prepared for a ride. This is their third full-length and their first released on Animal Collective's Paw Tracks.

Shadow Temple (2010)

Official Website

STR SPH MIX VOL. 3

2010-09-19T14:15:00.000-04:00

STR SPH MIX VOL. 3

Here's a mix I put together months ago (all of the tracks were added to my iTunes library between 4/7 and 5/29). Sorry it took me so long to post. My reason is equal parts exhaustion and disillusionment. I won't bother you with details. Above is an artwork suggestion (paper collage by Are Bokkelmost), and below is a tracklisting suggestion.

#. Artist - Song (Release; Label)

1. Eric Copeland - Fun Dink Death (Doo Doo Run 7"; PPM)
2. Pregnant - Alone (Regional Music; Life's Blood)
3. Vacation Dad - ihopeyourfavoritecoloriseverywhere (Vacation Dad's Soundcloud)
4. Foxes In Fiction - Flashing Lights Have Ended Now (Swung From The Branches; Moodgadget)
5. Lush Cola - Lush (Lush Cola; Patient Sounds)
6. Chrome Wings - Dream Club (Time Patterns; Stunned Records)
7. Connan Mockasin - Faking Jazz Together (Please Turn Me Into The Snat; Phantasy Sound)
8. Royal Hideouts - Kid Brother (Gaucho) (Pine Sharks EP)
9. Cool World - Heavy Pets (Gaydream Nation; DŒS ARE)
10. Dignan Porch - We Sat On The Hill (Tendrils; Captured Tracks)
11. Blithe Field - Ghost Riding The Whip (Beautiful Wave '74)
12. Kites Sail High - Always (Alone/Secrets; Life's Blood)

Medusa

2010-09-19T13:27:00.002-04:00

"Medusa harnesses the power of Slayer's most evil riffs and filter, twist, and abuse them via the record collector, nerdworthy triptych of Melvins, Lightning Bolt, and The Jesus Lizard. At times they are surprisingly melodic, other moments sound like they're trying to separate your arms from their sockets in order to use them as battle re-enactment swords, and sometimes they're trying to do both...there is definitely no fucking around." - Outburn
Medusa is a Bloomington favorite of mine. Their debut EP, En Raga Sul, is a very impressive work that leaves you feeling like you just fought a war and don't know who won.

En Raga Sul

Official Site

Punch - Push Pull (2010)

2010-09-17T13:27:00.004-04:00

Push Pull (2010)

Just as their debut release did, this album covers multiple corners of the hardcore spectrum. The vocals are as shrill as you would expect them to be, and the musicianship just as tight and fun as you would hope from this California powerhouse.

Buy It

Last.fm

Mimicking Birds

2010-09-13T14:54:00.001-04:00

Mimicking Birds

genre: folk, singer-songwriter

Mimicking Birds began as the solo bedroom recordings of Oregon native Nate Lacy and eventually expanded to include close personal friends Aaron Hanson (drum) and Tim Skellenger (guitar). The music itself is very minimalist with simple rhythms and sparse arrangements, but what really sets it apart is Lacy's delicate vocal delivery.

I have a natural bias against most singer-songwriters. In my experience, they tend to lean on power chords, sing in cliches, and have massive egos. This is not the case with Lacy. You can hear a certain hesitancy and shyness in his voice as he fingerpicks through cyclical melodies. He's not a rockstar, he's just charming and talented. Plus, his voice reminds me of a less whiny hybrid of Okay and Electric President's vocalists (don't kill me for picking that adjective, I love both those bands).

Although most reviewers seem to favor the song "Loops," my personal favorites are "Burning Star," which is easily the most confident and structured song on the album, and "Cabin Fever."

P.S. sorry for getting this to you so late :c

Myspace // Last.fm

Buy it!

Beast : Beast (2008)

2010-08-27T21:29:00.004-04:00

Beast

At some point, I downloaded a song from this album called "Devil" and then proceeded to never actually listen to it.

Fortunately for all of us, today Devil came up on my shuffle. I was floored. I immediately looked up the rest of the album and was similarly impressed. Combining elements of dark cabaret, trip-hop, and funk, Beast melds the electronic and the acoustic to create a unique musical experience that is equal parts Grace Jones and Anticon darling, topping the entire affair with alluring French-Canadian accents.

Myspace

Cloud Nothings

2010-08-15T18:25:00.003-04:00

Turn On

Don't be fooled by the minimalist album art, there is a lot of scuzzy-hot goodness going on in this album. I could (and have) listen(ed) to "Hey Cool Kid" all the livelong day.

What are the lyrics??? What are they SAY-ing?? No one knows! But it sounds super rad, so who really cares anyway, right?

2010-08-02T23:12:00.003-04:00

DEAD NUNS MIDWEST HARDCORE

Tough shit resides here.

Fidel Catastrophe

2010-07-21T15:31:00.005-04:00

And The Bleak Shall Inherit The Earth

Fidel Catastrophe is headed by the Original bassist of the Pomegranates (they're on their 3rd bassist right now), who is clearly a force to be reckoned with. They've been plugging their music via Band Camp, a site for unsigned bands that I'm growing more and more enamored of, though I'm surprised that anticon hasn't swiped these guys yet. They put me in mind of a poppy, concise version of Thee More Shallows combined with a less nasally and less rap-prone Yoni Wolf.

They also only have 3 songs available for download right now, and I've had them on repeat all day. I'm in band-love, guys. Deep, deep band-love. As far as I can tell, they're pressing vinyl right now, so there aren't any tracks on what.cd or waffles.fm. I want an album! The suspense is killing me!

Oneohtrix Point Never - Returnal

2010-07-03T18:53:00.002-04:00

Oneohtrix Point Never - Returnal (2010)

More awesome music from this dude. This new one is really cool, it starts out on this kinda noisy track with lots of random bits kinda thrown in their, reminds me of some of his stuff from KGB man. The rest of the stuff on their is what you would mostly expect to hear on an Oneohtrix record I suppose, but that can't really be a bad thing. Definitely a good listen for the summer too, enjoy!

Here We Go Magic - Pigeons

2010-06-26T13:10:00.005-04:00

Pigeons

Myspace // Last.fm

Octaves - Greener Pastures

2010-06-22T13:25:00.004-04:00

Octaves - Greener Pastures

I stumbled upon these guys the other day and was instantly charmed by their list of influences, which included such greats as pg. 99. Their music didn't fail to deliver. Though obviously influenced by such bands as Dillinger, La Dispute, and The Chariot, Octaves still has their own sound, and it's a fantastic sound devoid of pussy singing and tacky sweeps.

From what I can tell, Octaves seems to be yet another tragically unrecognized band. I can see no reason that they don't have more than 304 listeners on last.fm.

Myspace // Last.fm

Thee Oh Sees - Warm Slime

2010-06-18T17:42:00.003-04:00

Thee Oh Sees - Warm Slime (2010)

I waited too long to listen to this one and now i can't stop playing it, I think I just kept forgetting to check it out once I heard it released. So, in case you missed it, forgot about it like me, or have never even heard of this band before and are checking them out for the first time please enjoy this link I bring to you! Get it while it's hot! Great in time for summer too! I cruise around to this cd all day long. For those who have never heard before also check out the other post on this blog made about Thee Oh Sees.

Ceremony - Rohnert Park

2010-06-04T16:22:00.005-04:00

Rohnert Park

Rohnert Park is different from any other Ceremony record you have. This is a good different. Parts of this album remind me of Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and even Fucked Up.

Bridge Nine

Window View

2010-05-20T23:22:00.007-04:00

I couldn't have dreamed a more appropriate companion for the best song on Beach Fossil's forthcoming full-length than this vintage home video footage. It's got a late 70's Woody Allen-style romantic melancholy quality that makes your stomach and your heart seem a little further away from one another. Get the LP from Captured Tracks on May 25.

Beach Fossils // Window View from Wooden Lens on Vimeo.

Myspace // Last.fm

We Got A Box Of White Tape Snakes

2010-05-18T12:09:00.002-04:00

New music video from Farms explores concept of interdimensional travel and rhythmic montage continuity editing principles

Myspace // Last.fm

Green Bricks

2010-05-15T12:37:00.000-04:00

The Seven Fields of Aphelion

2010-05-03T22:45:00.003-04:00

The Seven Fields of Aphelion - Periphery (2010)

This album is awesome and maybe not as well known as other BMSR side projects so I figured I'd post this to kind of make up for the last post I made that got taken down :'( Sorry about that everyone. This is more mellow and ambient/experimental than the stuff done by BMSR and Tobacco, in fact it hardly even sounds like anything by them at all but I think thats pretty cool. As far as I know this is her first solo release, hope to see more from her in the future.

Loscil

2010-05-03T22:19:00.002-04:00

Loscil - Endless Falls (2010)

new Loscil yooooooooo. I don't know how opinionated some of you folks out there are but I think I can say that this is probably some of his best stuff. This guy doesn't really seem to have any bad albums or anything but this new stuff really seems to kick it so you should definitely check it out. This ones got all sorts of instrumentation and sounds along with synthesizer drones and echoey minimal beats to chill out to. And don't be afraid to turn up the bass a little if you got a nice pair of headphones or some good speakers ;)

Emeralds

2010-04-29T23:03:00.004-04:00

Emeralds - Does It Look Like I'm Here? (2010)

A band that never seems to fail no matter what title they want to give themselves. The new Emeralds album, their 3rd LP, appears somewhat different upon first look. It has 12 amazing tracks, most of which are around minutes in length. This one is a total mindfuck and perhaps their most wide-spread range and use of sounds. The last track is kinda messed up right now but it's the only rip out there that I know of, I'll try and get a better one ASAP.

Active Child

2010-04-27T16:56:00.006-04:00

Some Sawngs

This band is a one-man show, and that man is named Pat Grossi.

The music he makes is pretty excellent - soaring vocals offset by ethereal synth and honeyed harp melodies. Unfortunately, no leaks yet... he has an EP out, but it's only two songs. However! I have painstakingly tracked down the tracks (PUN) from his upcoming album.

And so I say unto you, blog followers, visitors, and trollers: hype this shit. hype it hard, and hype it successfully.

Tobacco

2010-04-25T13:28:00.003-04:00

Tobacco - Maniac Meat (2010)

Tobacco - Allegheny White Fish Tapes (2009)

Ahhhhhhh, finally :) been waiting a little while for this one to leak. i think it actually just leaked yesterday which is funny because I just went to a Tobacco show last night and it kicked ass. New stuff sounded really good live, very similar to the sound of fucked up friends upon first listens. Also, I included a link to this release that i just found out about recently. It's like old recordings and demos and stuff compiled onto one album so check it out if your interested

Vacation Dad

2010-04-23T21:41:00.002-04:00

VDLIVEIMPROVSHIT

Vacation Dad made a Soundcloud page and uploaded a 20-minute excerpt of a live improvised set. I asked him if I could split it up into separate tracks. He said yes. You can download it from the link above. Or download the whole thing in one track here. It's pretty killer either way.

There's also a sweet new song on his Soundcloud page called "ihopeyrfavoritecoloriseverywhere." He wrote it "for a girl" who is "the best." It reminds me of a melted fun-size candy bar and when you're done eating it you bite the wrapper and scrape the rest of the chocolate off with your teeth but your fingers get sticky anyway.

Myspace // Last.fm

2nd Mix

2010-04-23T18:57:00.002-04:00

STR SPH MIX VOL. 2
(photo by Brenna)

(click for tracklisting)

Started pulling together this volume a little over a week ago, when I was in an unexpected noise-rock nostalgia phase for a few days. It continued to take shape when that phase had evolved into a math-rock craving for another few days. So I guess I consider early math and noise rock bands to be the primary inspiration for this mix (a "central theme", maybe), even though it eventually expanded to include a somewhat wider array of tunes. Including a few from bands I just started listening to as a result of their connections to the establishment of those subgenres, and a few tracks from bands that represent how this kind of music has been shaped over time by the direct and indirect influence of those early bands. And a few bands who might be unrelated or whose placement here might be for personal reasons. It's debatable. Whatever. Enjoy.

-

2010-04-14T01:06:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone. Just wanted to give you a heads up: I'm not going to be posting very much (if at all) over the next few weeks, while I attempt to salvage my academic standing. This blog has been exceptionally productive lately, so maybe take this opportunity to catch up on all those excellent bands we've posted that you may have missed? Give it some thought, okay?

On that note, there's a few points I want to address:

∞ We'd like to thank all the artists who have thought so highly of us to submit their music over the past few months. Without you, very little of this is possible. Not to mention that some of my favorite albums of late have been submissions that I never would have heard otherwise. Please, keep it up! We love hearing from you.

∞ As of last week, we accept mp3 submissions. Check the CONTACT page for more details. This is an experiment, for now.

∞ In an attempt to address complaints about corrupted tracks on Mediafire, albums I'm uploading personally will be on Megaupload from now on. Links (Mediafire and otherwise) provided by artists will be used when they're available. If you think waiting on Megaupload is annoying and you have Firefox, Skipscreen might help.

Thanks for reading. See you around.

Lush Cola

2010-04-12T02:31:00.001-04:00

Lush Cola

Didn't know about Weed Diamond until a few days ago, so I was pleasantly surprised when Patient Sounds (same label that put out the M. Pyres and Smelly Magic cassettes last year) sent this little beauty over. Lush Cola is an old project of Weed Diamond's Tim Perry. The sparse, minimal arrangements often lean on his calm ghost harmonies and drum machine beats, occasionally joined by a guitar or bass that sounds like it's being played in the basement with the door ajar. Perfect music for driving at night down a road surrounded by forest but close enough to the city for you to be able to see a faint glow through the brush. Watch a cool video on Get Off The Coast, put together by Jheri Evans himself, and preorder the cassette from Patient Sounds below.

Myspace // Last.fm
Buy it!

Megabats

2010-04-12T00:23:00.000-04:00

in/out

Spaced-out psych/drone made by two dudes utilizing one Korg DS-10 each. Imagine taking an elevator to the ∞th floor and when you exit you're in the blindingly dark expanse of a huge cave chamber (why is it up so high?) and it's so disorienting and you can't see the top and you think to yourself, "I've never seen the stars so bright before." Get it if you dig Oneohtrix Point Never, Caboladies, Fuck Buttons, Endless Endless Endless, etc. Stream it (I recommend "Battleground Sky") and buy it HERE from Debacle Records.

Myspace // Last.fm
Buy it!

1st Mix!

2010-04-09T21:33:00.001-04:00

STR SPH MIX VOL. 1
(photo by S. Faitell)

This is a big deal for me -- the first mix I've created for Stratosphering, and the first that I've ever compiled for "public consumption." A lot of thought went into this; I've been tweaking it consistently throughout the past three weeks. I'm just glad to finally be able to share it with you. And if it ends up being a "success" (or even if it doesn't), I'll probably be making more mixes in the future.

The idea to make this mix happened to coincide with my discovery of Awesome Tapes From Africa, so a few tracks from that blog are here. I'm also indebted to the recommendations of All, Everyone, United, Collected Animals, and several good friends.

Read on for the tracklisting, including the last-minute addition of "Window View," that corrupted track from my Beach Fossils link (and, incidentally, my current favorite song on the album). I've also tried to make things easier for you by including (mostly other people's) download links to full albums, where applicable/possible. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the mix.

#. "Song" - Artist (Album)
1. "Cruiser" - Edibles (Super Space/Mind Peace)
2. "Ka Na Wu" - Snr Eddie Donkor (Eye Banker)
3. "Send Me Dub" - King Tubby (Explosive Dub)
4. "Trapez" - Black To Comm (Alphabet 1968)
5. "Come On Let's Go" - Broadcast (The Noise Made By People)
6. "Reaching" - Boas (Boas)
7. "Spring Break" - Atlas Sound (Another Bedroom EP)
8. "Highlight" - Growing (Pumps!)
9. "Latin Lover" - Mi Ami (Steal Your Face)
10. "That's Not Me" - Junk Culture (West Coast)
11. "You're My Excuse To Travel" - Baths (Cerulean)
12. "Splitted" - Illteeno
13. "West" - Endless Endless Endless (Things I Saw)
14. "The Bublight" - Joe Meek & The Blue Men (I Hear A New World)
15. "Winter Is Here" - Dirty Projectors (The Glad Fact)
16. "Moussa" - Sourakata Koite (Sourakata Koite)
17. "Transparent Popsicle" - Orchard Thief (Melt Day)
18. "Window View" - Beach Fossils (Beach Fossils)

Box Elders

2010-04-08T17:37:00.006-04:00

Box Elders is currently on tour with Black Lips. I had the extreme pleasure of seeing them both play last night in St. Louis. Box Elders' psychedelic garage rock was an awesome precursor to Black Lips' anarchic set. They have a fairly interesting setup. Their drummer plays standing, and doubles as an organist for the band. The other two came out both sporting double-necked guitars, one a bass/six string combination and the other a 6 string/12 string. This will make you want to shake your rump and get grimy.

Alice and Friends (320 kbps)

Myspace//Last.fm

Have A Nice Life

2010-04-08T16:50:00.004-04:00

Time of Land

UM HOLY SHIT

THANK GOD

...no, just kidding. dont thank god. thank me.

Parallel Pyres

2010-04-08T16:49:00.000-04:00

Parallel Pyres

Distorted drums and organ, sometimes looped and layered, with the occasional garbled vocal echo. Those are pretty much the only sounds heard on this self-titled release, but it's the kind of basic structure that can easily amount to more than the sum of its parts. Here, that means subverting pop and new wave in a way that's just as catchy as anything Wet Hair and Vacation Dad have done. Could totally be a cassette on Not Not Fun. Visit All, Everyone, United to watch a few music videos he made.

Myspace // Last.fm

Kites Sail High (EP 2)

2010-04-08T13:36:00.006-04:00

Secrets :: megaupload // mediafire

No excuse not to get this if you dig Teebs, RxRy, dreaming on beaches, hallucinating underwater, or playing Super Nintendo (perhaps specifically Donkey Kong Country) in a secluded cabin miles away from anyone. Start out with his first EP, if you haven't yet. The progression from there to here is evident -- I don't know if it's just me, but I get the sense that he's more comfortable now, taking interesting tonal detours and rhythmic risks on tracks like "Miracle" and "Dancing Sprinklers".

The new EP's closer, "Always," which evokes a cross between "Since I Left You" and a relaxed version of Teengirl Fantasy's "Love Don't Live Here," is streaming on his myspace now. Both EPs will be released on a split 12" by the dreamboats that comprise LIFE'S BLOOD in May, and I'm totally picking it up.

Myspace // Last.fm

Change Leopardon

2010-04-08T02:42:00.000-04:00

Imperfect Bushes/Coral Empyrean

One of my best friends (you might remember him) just happens to be a pretty talented songwriter. This is his first release under a new moniker. On these two songs, he kinda eschews categorization -- they vaguely recall his earlier electronic shoegaze, but they also sound way more like eastern-influenced psychedelic drone. If that wasn't good enough, he somehow finds room to incorporate vocal hooks that fall somewhere between Washed Out and Raccoo-oo-oon.

I've heard the demos for his upcoming EP (one of them is on his myspace), and it doesn't feel like an overstatement to say that if these songs don't do it for you, you might be in for a surprise when you hear some of his other stuff. Stay tuned.

Myspace // Last.fm

Beach Fossils

2010-04-05T02:51:00.009-04:00

SELF-TITLED FULL LENGTH

Click here for track 8, "Window View," if it's corrupted in the link above.

This is almost too good to be true -- at long last, the full-length debut of a band that I think about name-dropping roughly every three posts to describe another band has arrived. The album I haven't been able to stop anticipating since the first notes of "Daydream" licked my ears like a tide coming in and a foam seems to rise right out of where the sand meets the water and then you squint up and see orange and purple smudges just above the horizon and you remember sorbet Push-Up Pops with the Flintstones on the package and then you remember light refracting and how comforting the science behind sunsets is.

Wait, where was I? Oh yeah. One of the most deservedly buzzed-about bands last year, whose only other release to date is a 7" and whose hazy surf-pop gems have been slowly trickling one-by-one out of rifts between HTML codes since last summer, finally has something more substantial for hungry listeners to prematurely nibble on -- or swallow whole. This thing doesn't even have a release date, official artwork or a tracklisting yet (EDIT: nevermind, I numbered the tracks and posted a new link), but that doesn't matter -- like any other album this good, the music speaks for itself.

Thanks to the angels at Late For School for somehow getting their hands on this.

Myspace // Last.fm
Buy it!

Gauntlet Hair

2010-04-04T16:35:00.007-04:00

(link contains all three songs from their myspace)

I'm too in love not to post this. If you haven't heard this band via GvB or P4K yet, you're in for a surprise. Listen to the track "I Was Thinking..." via everyone's fav bilingual blog or on their myspace (link below). When I posted it on my tumblr earlier, I described it as "a snowball made of sunlight and wrapped in glass, floating in a hall of reverb. It probably also has a Cadbury Creme center, for all I know."

The story so far is that they apparently played Todd P's MtyMx festival and blew a lot of people away. They sound like a cross between Japandroids and Band Of Horses. No one knows much about them, except they're two dudes from Colorado and they're apparently writing their debut right now.

Myspace // Last.fm

Melt Day

2010-04-04T14:42:00.003-04:00

This is that split between Glass Buds (a.k.a. Pawlic) and Orchard Thief. It's as awesome as you could have imagined. Glass Buds' side calls to mind an ambient bizarro version of Kickball, and Orchard Thief's contribution is like Beach Fossils and Atlas Sound in a slow-motion light cycle race. The whole thing is streaming on their respective myspaces.

Orchard Thief :: Myspace // Last.fm
Glass Buds :: Myspace // Last.fm

Edibles

2010-04-04T04:43:00.004-04:00

Super Space/Mind Peace

This is a cassette that was released on Not Not Fun. This means you should download it. I'm pretty sure it sold out in a matter of days. This means it is awesome. It sounds like Ducktails but better, or Sun Araw in small doses. Swamp guitar slithers and crescent moon bass grooves cradle the carved-out flesh of a mango peel.

Myspace // Last.fm

FDVCE

2010-04-04T03:48:00.005-04:00

Every Machine On

FDVCE is short for First Dog To Visit The Center Of The Earth -- so, you can certainly understand his preference for the acronym. Would you just look at the album cover for a second? And try to imagine that it sounds like that. Or like an oreo milkshake spiked with LSD and hooked up to electrodes. Or a cross between recent Black Dice and Dan Deacon before Bromst, but with a darker sense of humor. Listen to "Gator 5" and "Inner Dudsmind" on his myspace if you need more convincing. All of his other albums are free downloads on that page and his last.fm. If you like this, I recommend Colossus Archosaur, for starters.

Myspace // Last.fm

Many Mansions

2010-04-03T17:44:00.002-04:00

I have no links for you in this post but it's a good thing, i promise. I found this dude a few months ago and got into him really easy, I come back every couple weeks and his stuff is still awesome. On top of all that i was lookin around on his last.fm page and you can download a bunch of his stuff for free, which means he's a cool guy. this stuff is kinda like tropical african jams with some ambient drones and really cool vocal harmonies.

Make sure to grab his latest full length release:

Return to Source

Another full length release, it's more acoustic guitar stuff and it sounds like it would be his earlier release of the two:

HOLYMOUNTAINLIFEADVENTURECLUB

some more stuff:

The Dream is Changing

Compilation 2 - New Weird American

Spirit Songs EP

Beyond Realms of Ecstatic Revelation

more Caboladies

2010-04-03T17:25:00.002-04:00

Well it looks like someone already beat me to uploading the new Caboladies, so instead i'm just gonna post some more Caboladies that I uploaded to mediafire a while ago, i posted these links on CA with intentions to someday put them up here as well

it's worth upgrading your collection:

Atomic Weekender (2009)

Body Tides (2007)

Constellation Deformity (2009)

Optopio

Psychic Birthmark (2008)

Split w/ Oneohtrix Point Never (2009)

Waterslide Mines (2008)

I really love these dudes, one of my favorites of the genre. I think it used to be a 3-piece but now it's just down to 2 dudes. Doesn't seem like they tour much but if they ever come around I have a feeling they'd be great to see live. If anyone's interested I could post both of the dudes solo works as well, I have a few albums here and there.

Caboladies

2010-03-31T04:45:00.005-04:00

Earth Canal (2008)

Crowded Out Memory (2009)

Kind Glaze (2010)

RIYL: Black Dice around 2003, Emeralds, Dolphins Into The Future, Oneohtrix Point Never

Myspace // Last.fm

Fourth Realm

2010-03-31T02:52:00.002-04:00

Patterns Of Visions

Comes across as kind of like a version of Kites Sail High or RxRy where the beat never drops. Wait a second, is my long-term memory really too far gone to recall the name of any similar ambient artist? What was I talking about?

Myspace // Last.fm

Potions

2010-03-31T01:15:00.000-04:00

Roam

Well, okay. I feel weird posting this, because it is a personal project, but I "might as well." This is an album that I recorded. I'm going to quote my myspace blog post about it: "All tracks are improvised clean guitar with delay. No overdubs. Phrases are meant to build upon one another to create self-sustaining organic structures that ascend aurally like glass ladders into swollen cloud eyes."

Someone on last.fm said it reminded them of Don Caballero's What Burns Never Returns. I have no choice but to take that as a compliment.

Myspace // Last.fm <-- preview the album here

Good Luck - 2010 Demo

2010-03-30T09:40:00.003-04:00

When I saw this video of them playing "Novel Figure" on their myspace a while back I vowed to never listen to it again until I could hear it in produced form. Thankfully, that time has finally come. This is a solid four song demo that includes a pretty sweet cover of Prince's "When You Were Mine", which I had heard them play live previously. This should get you dudes pumped for their next full-length.

Good Luck - 2010 Demo (320k)

red sparowes

2010-03-25T17:30:00.002-04:00

The Fear is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer

ok so yes, red sparowes can't spell. and yes, their album title does strike me as kindof lame. but don't worry, these guys can create some truly brutal, backbreaking walls of sound. it always weirds me out that the only people i see at their shows are filthy, long-haired, pimply metal-types.

why is this? can anyone explain? they sound nothing like slayer, i swear!

i guess i "understand" why they're not more popular... kids would rather suffer through shitty, my-american-heart-esque singing while waiting for some cliche, 15-second breakdown than listen to the builds and swells of a song that actually requires technical skill.

whew sorry that came out so bitter. might have something to do with being woken up by my friends listening to iwrestledabearonce at 5am. almost took my own life. anyway, at least listen to the last track. it's breathtaking.

Myspace // Last.fm

Orchard Thief

2010-03-25T11:31:00.003-04:00

Work

So I found out one day last week that Vacation Dad is touring the east coast this summer with Farms, Bad Tanya, and Orchard Thief. I think it's clear from what I'm posting right now that I'm really glad I looked up that last one. This album is darker than you'd expect of something that is the perfect thing to listen to on a summer day that's hot enough for your back to get stuck to your t-shirt but breezy enough to toss your hair into knots. Think of a minimal version of Real Estate, but moodier, like Crystal Stilts; and then take out the lo-fi fuzz, leaving just reverb and delay and open space; then strip the drum kit down to a few floor toms, a snare, and the occasional shaker, to keep the beats tribal. Add in a pinch of early Appleseed Cast and Sharks Keep Moving, and you're getting kinda close, but you still haven't listened yet. And you must.

You'd be missing out if you didn't also get the two songs No Conclusion posted a few days ago. They're gonna be on an upcoming split with Pawlic (performing under the name Glass Buds), and they're both really killer.

Myspace // Last.fm

Hooray!

2010-03-24T01:06:00.004-04:00

Mixtape Memories

Swell stripped-down solo shoegaze. Reminds me of Atlas Sound, but the more songwriter-y stuff. And not as emotionally draining. Carefree, but still kinda heartbreaking. There's intimate lo-fi noise-pop hooks and a definite Underwater Peoples Records feel. Way better than the generic exclamation of his namesake may imply.

You can download another couple of EPs on his myspace, while you're at it.

Myspace // Last.fm

RUN

2010-03-24T00:48:00.010-04:00

Demo (2010)

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, everyone. Been busy as hell nearing the last quarter of school. I know it isn't much, but here is a killer two song demo. Run is from London. They released this demo earlier in the year and it definitely gets me pumped to hear more from them. The first track opens with a gritty wall of feedback and slow, stomping drums. The rest of the track is solid, including a pretty memorable gallop that finishes it off. The second is a slower piece and is definitely the weaker of the tracks, but that isn't to say it doesn't deliver something to remember. You can download it from their myspace as well, but I have laid it out here for your convenience.

Myspace

Boas

2010-03-23T23:14:00.001-04:00

Boas

Sometimes, an album this good will come outta nowhere, just like that. I can't tell you how surprised I am by the attention to detail and the rhythmic intricacy Tyler Newbold puts into his tunes here. I'm thinking of Atlas Sound, Xiu Xiu, Aphex Twin (or anything on Warp Records, for that matter), and Toro Y Moi rolled into one. It's kinda blowing my mind. Don't take my word for it, though -- you can listen to the whole thing and download it for free at bandcamp if you click the artwork above.

Myspace // Last.fm

Kites Sail High

2010-03-22T02:11:00.007-04:00

Alone

can't stop listening 2 this
riyl: teebs, rxry, flylo

Myspace // Last.fm
Buy it!

Pawlic

2010-03-16T10:49:00.007-04:00

Kicking Foot

[listen now! description later. riyl: panda bear, vacation dad]

Myspace // Last.fm

Internet radio 2nite, y'all

2010-03-15T22:35:00.001-04:00

I'll be a guest on my good buddy Hillary Anderson's radio show tonight. I'll be speaking a few words in the English language and playing a few songs that are audible to the human ear. It starts at 8PM and you should CLICK HERE around that time if you want to tune in and hear wonderful things.

UPDATE: Well, that was fun! Download the whole thing here.

It's a little under an hour. The playlist is like this:

WHY? - January Twenty Something
Woods - Down This Road
Pill Wonder - Gone to the Market (guest dj track)
Beach Fossils - Daydream
Arrah and the Ferns - Apple for Evan
Cap'n Jazz - No Use for an Opinion
Anisette - Tuesday Night Turtles (guest dj track)
Fredrik - Alina's Place
Twin Sister - Lady Daydream
Eric Copeland - Fun Dink Death (guest dj track)
M83 - Teen Angst

And there's all kinds of awkward banter in between. Enjoy.

oOoOO

2010-03-14T13:00:00.002-04:00

No Summr

Dark, glitchy, goOoOOd. Kind of like a grimey M83, sometimes, othertimes like a spookier version of Burial. Often neither. + Gaga "PCKRFCRMX" remix.

I suggest you also listen to the song "Hearts," not on this EP but streaming on myspace.

Myspace // Taken from the site, instructions for purchase:

6 song CD-R released on D I S A R O. Hand made sleeves. 100 Copies. $8 U.S./ $10 Everywhere Else [shipping included]. Send us a message on myspace (or deathtofalsefolkmetal@gmail.com) and we'll give u the email address for paypal.

DAUGHTERS

2010-03-09T16:41:00.002-05:00

DAUGHTERS

Myspace // Last.fm
BUY IT!

I'm baffled -- a band whose last effort was my favorite album the year I graduated high school releasing an album four years later that still manages to fracture my skull with a jackhammer? Color me brain-damaged. (On second thought, I am still in college...)

If you loved Hell Songs, you'll love this record. Pummels just as hard and convulses just as violently. A few BPM are lost, but what you may miss in speed is definitely made up for in density. I'm bummed that they've broken up just as this is being released, but Daughters has never been a stable band, in personality or in composition -- they were more the talented and proficient do-whatever-the-fuck-we-want type. So maybe it's fitting for them to end before they lose that edge. Pretty sure Daughters will be remembered as one of those bands that was the best contemporary they had in a genre with few decent contemporaries to be had. Cheers, pricks.

A Weather

2010-03-07T21:31:00.003-05:00

Everyday Balloons

i've been waiting so long for this.

sweet and dreamy. sounds like laying in your bed on a pile of pillows wide awake on a rainy day.

Myspace // Last.fm

Pill Wonder

2010-03-06T17:18:00.006-05:00

Jungle/Surf

Myspace // Last.fm
Buy it!

Perfect tropical lo-fi noise-pop. This 8-song EP is criminally short at only 18 minutes, but accomplishes enough in that time to compel you to listen repeatedly. Reminds me of No Age but more chill, or the Ruby Suns but more playful, or Islands but more noisy and good in general. This is poised to be the soundtrack to anyone's early summer.

Endless Endless Endless

2010-03-06T16:22:00.006-05:00

Things I Saw

Website // Last.fm

Another beautiful limited edition release from this "post-noise" duo. Don't make me try and convince you again, okay? This short mini-album is somewhat more fluid than Black Talisman. Vocal snippets and short squiggles of guitar and synth chords float around like gummy bears inside a jell-o gelatin of thick fuzzy atmosphere.

Pink Houses

2010-03-03T00:39:00.003-05:00

Pink Houses (2010)

Pink Houses are a punk band from Bloomington, Indiana. This is their debut full length. I first witnessed them in a dank, dark basement one Saturday night in Bloomington, which I can honestly say is the best way to experience what they bring to the table. Ryan Woods (of Defiance, Ohio notoriety) plays a distorted bass that provides the framework for David McGrath's frantic drums and Jared Estridge's dirty guitar work. The whole album flows very well and will have you jumping around and destroying things before you realize what happened. Highlights on the album are definitely the opener, "A Shame", and "Again At The End", which is reminiscent of Black Sabbath and shows that there is more here than some textbook punk rock. If you dig what you hear, buy it! These dudes deserve it.

Myspace

Kisses

2010-02-26T13:41:00.004-05:00

The Heart of the Nightlife (2010)

Hi. Most of the reason I don't post anymore is because I don't really care about writing about albums, these days. Sorry. But some user of a certain torrent site has done it for me this time:

"It's like if Alan Palomo laid down a track and got Jens to sing over it."

So we're already defining new bands in terms of Neon Indian? Oh. Alright.

I really just want this to actually be Jens Lekman's secret attempt to ride the beach/surf/chill wave wave.

Myspace

Spiritual Bankruptcy

2010-02-25T20:42:00.004-05:00

Myspace // Last.fm

Ridiculous thrash-punk EP from Bygones, which, if you recall, is composed of Zach Hill and Nick Reinhart, two of my favorite musicians who collaborated to create one of my favorite albums of last year. Stream it from the link above, and then buy it at the same place for only three dollars. Or find it for free elsewhere.

Farms/Panda Teeth

2010-02-25T16:30:00.011-05:00

Farms/Panda Teeth Split

Download it from Farms' website if the link above doesn't work.
While you're there, get their first EP, it's killer as well.

Farms: Myspace // Last.fm
Panda Teeth: Myspace // Last.fm

A split where neither band overshadows the other is hard to come by. This album fits the bill, due in part to the consistent atmosphere and energy over the course of the four songs that both bands contribute. Vacation Dad's main band, Farms, sounds like Animal Collective's live show circa Feels, but with some math-rock elements thrown in (I'm hesitant to attribute a phrase like "Battles-esque precision", but the influence is definitely there). Panda Teeth is in a noisy electronic realm of tribal rhythms and epic 8-bit synths. Kinda sounds like Street Horrrsing or Broken Ear Record. I'm pretty sure both bands are coming out with new full-lengths this year (check out their myspaces for tracks that'll be on them). If this split is an indication, they won't have any trouble getting your attention.

Obligatory

2010-02-23T12:43:00.008-05:00

Have One On Me (VBR)

Beauty. This describes both Joanna Newsom and her music. This 3xLP is the most accessible thing she has ever done, but that should in no way make you think she has lost her edge. Just check out that fucking regal album cover.

Drag City

Sigh & Explode

2010-02-23T08:43:00.003-05:00

These Seem Like Tarantulas

Hey, sorry about the lack of posting, school/babes/shows distracting me.

But hey, I owe you music.

Here you go, fresh out of Scandinavia.

The guy on throats reminds me of a cross between mid-at.the.drive.in Cedric Bixler and Jordan Blilie (actually, they used to play with the Blood Brothers), but don't worry, this is no rip-off act.

Oh, and don't be put off by the screamo tag. I think non-screamo fans could potentially fall very hard for this album if they'd give themselves a chance.

Infinite Body

2010-02-20T16:42:00.000-05:00

Carve Out The Face Of My God

Beautiful ambient record from a good man named Kyle. This is his best yet, and it's the loudest dream you'll ever have. There's lots of cellophane shimmering and light refracting through clouds and ink bleeding through graph paper.

Myspace // Last.fm
Buy it!

Horsepital

2010-02-13T16:37:00.005-05:00

All Stills

If that link doesn't work, try this one.

Horsepital (now known as Gem Jones) reminds me of a stop-motion animated adaptation of The Little Prince that I watched with my 3rd grade class in the library and it scared the shit out of me. This cassette is not that creepy, but it does recall the image of a clay doll catapulted through space and all the planets have faces and some of them might be smiling. And then the clay doll lands on a swamp planet that smells like Jolly Ranchers and joins the slimy fluorescent natives for a game of ping-pong.

You'll dig this if you like Ducktails, Wet Hair, Emeralds, Big Spider's Back.

Myspace // Last.fm

Outer Space

2010-02-12T19:26:00.002-05:00

Outer Space - Sea of Vapors (2008)

If you haven't listened to emeralds yet, then your already really far behind. But in case you have, check out this side project featuring John Elliott playing synthesizer. It's much more minimal and arranged with more electronic soundscapes than an emeralds or lilypad release. This one also features Ralph Haussmann on synthesizer/electronics and Delina R. on vocals. Their other stuff is really cool too, check em out when you get a chance

Sky Limousine

2010-02-12T19:18:00.002-05:00

Sky Limousine - Out of the Blue (2009)

Got this one towards the end of 09. pretty short, but really good. go ahead and add this to your really short collection of sky limousine's music cuz i haven't seen much of this dude's stuff around. and i gotta admit, i think i'm a bigger fan of futuresport (one of his other side projects) but this ones still pretty cool. hope to see more of this name showing up in 2010. ambient textures and melodies floating in and out of your ear. ENJOY!

Nonhorse

2010-02-12T18:48:00.002-05:00

Nonhorse - Peace Ninja (2008)

Nonhorse - Pink Light (2008)

Got these maybe over a year ago now, and the reason I'm posting all these tapes so late is because I just recently got an auxiliary cable to record them to digital copies. This is the solo project of G. Lucas Crane who is probably better known to most people as one of the members of a band called Woods. I was with a couple friends at a show at the silent barn and we walked into his room and said whats up and bought these tapes from him. Really cool guy and really interesting live performances. The tapes are filled with lots of ambient/noise/drone sounds. Enjoy!

Vacation Dad

2010-02-07T21:45:00.005-05:00

Vacation Dad EP

Post-noise side project from the drummer of Farms, a band I just fell in love with even though I still haven't found anything besides the songs on their myspace.

This EP is rife with jagged guitars colliding delays and looping into sunrise mirrors and fuzzy jumbles of jungle feathers tickling your bare feet but actually you are in a suburban backyard playing in the sand that spilled out of your sandbox and maybe five years later you're on your back looking at some vast blue expanse and your little brother pours a handful of it in your eye and it stings but you were supposed to be watching him anyway. Those clouds were totally distracting.

My point is, pay attention to this. It floats in an as-yet-undefined space between High Wolf and Ecstatic Sunshine and Peaking Lights and Julian Lynch and you'll love it, I know you will.

Myspace // Last.fm

Paul Baribeau Tape

2010-02-07T19:39:00.000-05:00

Here's a short six-song demo that was released/leaked sometime in the past year. I have no idea when. If you know when this surfaced and if it was ever actually released as a tape, tell me in the comments. Otherwise, enjoy these new-ish songs from one of my favorite acoustic dudes.

Myspace // Last.fm

Emeralds & Dilloway

2010-02-07T17:12:00.002-05:00

Under Pressure

Explanation unnecessary. Well, I guess a brief description couldn't hurt: This collaboration is not a cover of "Under Pressure".

Silver Bullets

2010-02-07T16:59:00.005-05:00

Silver Bullets - Free Radical

Cassette released on Stunned Records last year. Discovered by dude from Super Minerals while visiting his family in Sicily. Sounds like Sun Araw, Vibes, Predator Vision, etc.

Last.fm

Clara Clara - AA

2010-02-06T21:22:00.004-05:00

Clara Clara - AA (2007)

This is a band that I listened to a lot a few years ago although I only had a few songs. I waited for them to release an album and I guess I forgot about that after a little while. I checked up on them recently and purchased their full length from 2007. It's a really fun 3 piece of some peeps from france. Sounds kinda like a mix between kickball and lightning bolt. lots of cool bass riffs and catchy drummings with keyboards and sometimes some shouted vocals. One of my biggest regrets is missing them when they played with kickball a few years ago :'(
ENJOY!

Integrity - To Die For

2010-02-02T20:52:00.007-05:00

To Die For

Integrity are from Cleveland, Ohio. Their music is a crossover of metal and hardcore punk, much like Baltimore's Pulling Teeth, whom they heavily influenced. They have been around since 1989. However, this release on Deathwish was out in 2003. Swing those fucking fists.

Deathwish

Kona Triangle

2010-01-30T21:00:00.005-05:00

Sing A New Sapling Into Existence

Fans of Flying Lotus, Teebs, etc. will absolutely love this. It's got those glitchy electronic beats and blissed-out samples, but on a few tracks (including closer "Mauna Loa") the beat slips away and you're floating through pitch-shifted synth-warbling oblivion. It's a collaboration between Lone and Keaver & Brause, both of whom I still haven't tracked down any releases from, having been too busy with this one (also not helping: Lone's terrible album art).

Myspace // Last.fm
Buy it!

Mean Jeans

2010-01-29T17:05:00.004-05:00

These dudes are awesome. Just look at those motherfuckers. These are the dudes in your neighborhood that blared punk music while smoking cigarettes and drinking malt liquor instead of going to school. Get your fucking mean jeans on and start pogoing.

Are You Serious?

Myspace

Cast Spells - Bright Works and Baton (EP)

2010-01-29T12:06:00.003-05:00

Cast Spells is the solo project of Dave Davison of Maps & Atlases. He played at a local venue last night. He was extremely fun to watch. He told some really hilarious stories and his songs were beautiful and fun. The man also has quite a wonderful beard. You would be doing yourself a disservice by not listening to this release.

Bright Works and Baton (EP)

Friends

2010-01-25T22:55:00.003-05:00

Cloud - Elephant Era (2010)

Firefly - Above And Beyond (2009)

Glass Frog & Sonoak - Watkins Glen Split (2010)

The first album I posted is one of my close friends, Tyler, who I also play with in a band, but this is his solo project and he just finished his first full length album. He plays keyboard and drums and sings, usually at the same time ;) nice beats that make everybody bounce!

The next one I posted is his cousin, Dillon, who actually wrote and recorded most these songs a while ago but then recently changed the names and order and added some new ones and re-released the album with a new name. It's pretty ambient, some psychedelic noise type stuff. I'm really into it, check it out if you like that kinda stuff.

The last one I posted is something another one of my closest friends, Greg (who also plays in the band with us), has been working on for a little while. He's been writing these songs over the past year or two almost I wanna say and just recorded them over the winter break while he was home from school. He recorded 6 songs total for the split and then I recorded 3 songs that I kinda wrote recently, I've been working on this side project a little bit and this is the first stuff I've actually recorded for it. His stuff is acoustic guitar and singing mostly, fun songs and slower songs, but good songs all around. And then my songs are weaved in between his as these kinda noisey ambient breaks.

Enjoy!

"Local Cover Band"

2010-01-25T13:14:00.002-05:00

Cap'n Jazz reunion @ Empty Bottle 1/22/10 from jessica hopper on Vimeo.

Yep, this is it, folks.

They played a 15 minute set under the moniker "Local Cover Band" at The Empty Bottle. Want a bootleg of the set? Look no further.

The Knife does science

2010-01-23T19:12:00.003-05:00

Alright guys. Get ready for your minds to be completely blown:

As some of you may already know, The Knife and Mt. Sims were commissioned over a year ago by some Danes to write an opera about Charles Darwin.

About a week ago, it seemed like a couple versions of the soundtrack/album were surfacing, but these were all bunk (not surprising since their studio version isn't slated to arrive until March). Talk about disappointment. However, I have an 11-minute taste tester for you guys.

I love The Knife dearly and sincerely, but i've also seen a lot of operas, so I was a little skeptical about how this beast would turn out. However, I feel pretty confident saying... this is rad.

A Coloring of Pidgeons

Osteoferocious

2010-01-20T11:41:00.004-05:00

Switching between Upland, Indiana and Bloomington, Indiana, Osteoferocious are a dynamic duo that play a psyched-out blend of punk rock. There is a sense of camaraderie that is present in their music, a sort of small-town group of friends feel. They are releasing this 7" on a label called Flannelgraph, stationed in Bloomington. Quite simply, they are fucking fun. If you are in Bloomington on January 28th, come to the Bishop for their release show. They are playing with Cast Spells and Prayer Breakfast.

OF 7"

Blog

Feral Children

2010-01-20T11:17:00.004-05:00

Feral Children are a Seattle-based band that incorporates woodland folk rock sounds with synthesizer-drunk backdrops. Their newest record, Brand New Blood, was produced by Scott Colburn, who also produced Feels by Animal Collective. After discovering them I decided to do some research and people are throwing around some pretty intense comparisons. One person on last.fm wrote "Take old-school Modest Mouse vocals, add in some Wolf Parade and Animal Collective for good measure, and you have Feral Children." While I don't totally agree with that statement, I don't totally disagree, either. I'll let you be the judge. I am particularly fond of "Second To The Last Frontier" over "Brand New Blood" so far. Thus, I would suggest starting at the beginning.

Second To The Last Frontier (2008)

Brand New Blood (2010)

Myspace
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Panda Bear Live @ HAU2 1/15/10

2010-01-17T15:01:00.002-05:00

I haven't listened to this yet but Collected Animals is informing me that it's about 90% brand new material. How exciting! The tracklisting is pretty much entirely untitled with the exception of Daily Routine and a track he played at ATP (go here for that bootleg) that people are calling "Surfer's Hymn". Also notable: he plays guitar on quite a few of these. So, wow. Yeah. Endless praise is owed to Raminton for recording this, and to Collected Animals user jonisaok for splitting it.