SPOTLIGHT 428
22/11/2013 11:37
the Spot Light #428
d.d. Monday, November 25th, 2013
NEW RELEASES
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS
ACROSS TUNDRAS - ELECTRIC RELICS (LP/S.R.) Operating at the crossroads of past and present, Across Tundras deliver a cool LP with traces of dusty desert rock, psych and doom. A dark and brooding affair! Pressed on 180-gram vinyl (500 copies) and presented in a gatefold sleeve.
BITE THE BULLET - BITE THE BULLET (LP/BILOCATION) Pure, unadulterated, bluesy rock music with the heart in the right place and the fuzz box wide open. This Copenhagen-based duo features ex-members of Highway Child! Their ten-track debut-LP is released (in limited editions) on black and coloured vinyl.
MASSICOT - MASSICOT (LP/RED WIG) Noisey, hypnotic and repetitive sounds, reminding of NYC's no wave bands, acts like Lilliput and Kleenex, and old Dutch punk (like The Ex in their early days or The Nixe). This s/t LP by an interesting Swiss unit is a split release between the band, Mon Cul De Paris and Red Wig.
DICK VOODOO - FIRST LP (LP/BORN BAD) A powerful electro-punk assault from France which reminds of the first album by Suicide. Vinyl only release.
GREAT KHAN - RISE OF THE KHAN (LP/BILOCATION) Combining southern rock influences from the '70s -in the tradition of ZZ Top- with modern fuzz sounds and Mexican trumpets, the music on this record reminds of western movies a la 'Django' or 'For A Fist Full Of Dollars'. This release offers, for the very first time on vinyl, the band's complete 2012 output, including hits such as 'Eye For An Eye' and 'Papa Was An Alligator'. Side B features four rare bonus tracks from a 2007 session. On (limited) black and coloured vinyl, 'Rise Of The Khan' delivers 40 minutes of pure listening pleasure!
JESSICA93 - WHO CARES (LP-CD/MUSIC FEAR SATAN) The debut album by a one-man band from Paris, mixing the worlds of '80s cold wave and '90s shoegaze, with appealing results. Six tracks for those who enjoy the Cure, Ride and everything in between.
OISEAUX-TEMPETE - OISEAUX-TEMPETE (2LP/SUB ROSA) Pressed on red/black marbled vinyl and including a download card. The debut album from this Parisian trio retraces, in a sonic odyssey, the qualms and queries of a sickly and dysfunctional Western society. File under experimental, stoner, post-rock, ambient, free music.
OCTOBER EQUUS - PERMAFROST (CD/OCTOBERXART) After their experience as the septet that recorded 'Saturnal' (released in 2011 by AltrOck Records), the band now returns to its roots. Created as a quartet, 'Permafrost' features eight new instrumental tunes, akin' to rock, but without compromising the complex and unpredictable style which is the band's trademark
OCTOBER EQUUS QUARTET - ISLA PURGATORIO (CD/CLAMSHELL) This time the compositions are conveniently dark and complex, but there is a bigger tendency to avant-jazz-rock improvisation than the case with October Equus (see above). Echoes of New York's downtown '80s scene (think Zorn, Curlew, Dr. Nerve, or even Zeuhl) are obvious as well.
ANGEL ONTALVA - MUNDO FLOTANTE (CD/OCTOBERXART) This is an intriguing and diverse disc. Less chamber rock tinged than before, the compositions here merge improvisational avant-jazz with influences from African, Arabian and oriental music. The result is a colourful and adventurous tapestry of sound.
OMEGA - ORATORIUM (CD/MOIRAS) A CD of re-recorded hits from these legendary Hungarian prog/sympho maestros. Features 16 tracks.
LOVERS - WELCOME HOME (7"/RED WIG) The project of Portland-based indie/underground artist Carolyn Berk. Three appealing tracks on seven inch vinyl!
60’s & 70’s & 80’s (RE-)RELEASES AND ARTISTS + OTHER OLDIES
LIVERPOOL ECHO - LIVERPOOL ECHO (LP/SING SING) Reissue on vinyl of a remarkable album from 1973. Recorded by a UK band featuring former members of Mandrake Paddle Steamer, the 'Liverpool Echo' LP basically was an attempt to revive the glory days of Mersey beat. The recordings sound authentic and remind of early Beatles and Hollies. At the time of its release, the days of prog, hardrock and glam, only few people showed interest in this 'highly unfashionable' release. But now, some 40 years later, what remains is a splendid set of energetic and timeless beat, mod and powerpop tunes.
SOLARIS - LIVE CHRONICLES (LP/MOIRAS) Spanning the period 1980-2006, this LP offers live recordings from this famous Hungarian progressive rock band. With some of the tracks recorded in the USA and Mexico, this is the band's first vinyl release in 23 years!
TOROK ADAM - ELROHANT IDO (CD/MOIRAS) As the leader of '70s jazz-rock and prog unit Mini, Torok Adam became a popular figure in the Hungarian music scene. This CD contains recent recordings, including new versions of several classic tracks from Mini. Edition of 500 compact discs, presented in a digipack.
VARIOUS - ST. ALBERT'S DREAM (LP/LYSERGIC SOUND) A new (limited) LP-edition of this highly regarded, totally fuzzed out garage-psych compilation. Get out the acid and take a mind blowing trip with late '60s-early '70s bands s.a. Greylock Mansion, Murphy's Law, Sleepy Hollow, Weasel, Oracle, Mechanical Switch, Butter, Frozen Sun, Brand X and Wheatridge.
BRETT SMILEY - VA VA VA VOOM/SPACE ACE (7"/SING SING) This single, originally released in 1974 on England's Anchor label, stands as one of the best glam rock 45's of the era. It's now reissued for the first time in its original, very hard to find picture sleeve.
LOST KIDS - COLA FREAKS (7"/SING SING) One of the first and most prolific Danish punk groups, Lost Kids, formed in 1978 in Aarhus. They recorded four singles and two LP's in a style heavily influenced by UK punk. The second single 'Cola Freaks' marks their finest moment. Think of band members wearing monster make-up, blistering guitar solos and Rezillos-style male/female vocals! A truly unique and highly sought after piece of Danish punk rock history, now back in print.
EXPECTED RELEASES
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS
LA GARUA - PANZA DE BURRO THUNDER BLUE (LP/WORLD IN SOUND) Blues based heavy rock with serious psych influences from Peru! La Garua was formed in Lima in 2010 by Marcos Coifman (Reino Ermitao), Chino Burga (La Ira De Dios) and Alonso Guerrero on drums. The many fans of these gentlemen will not be disappointed! On black and coloured vinyl.
POSTURES - POSTURES (LP/WORLD IN SOUND) The debut full length by this new Swedish band sounds like an ambitious and successful tribute to late '60s-early '70s heroes s.a. Pink Floyd, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Yes and Can. On black and coloured vinyl.
LIVING ROOM - ACID COMES (LP/WORLD IN SOUND) This basically is the vinyl version (black and coloured) of a previously unreleased album by German '90s band Living Room. The music combines late '60s inspired garage, acid-folk and psych flavours with flashes of Krautrock. A wonderful album. Includes a nice poster!
SUNS OF THYME - FORTUNE, SHELTER LOVE AND CURE (LP/ELECTRIC MAGIC) A contemporary psych masterpiece, pure as a rough diamond and full of outright emotion. Recommended to fans of Black Angels, Tame Impala and The Verve. Again, available on (limited editions) black and coloured vinyl.
PETER BUCK - I AM BACK TO BLOW YOUR MIND ONCE AGAIN (LP/MISSISSIPPI) Peter Buck of R.E.M., Baseball Project, Minus Five and a million other projects-fame is back with a new set of rock and roll. This time around we have everything from garage rock to psychedelic soundscapes to pretty ballads.
ELEVATORS TO THE GRATEFUL SKY - CLOUD EYE (CD/TRANSUBSTANS) Combining '70s heavy rock riffing with psychedelic flights, doom metal dirges and a whole palette of other influences, this CD by a band from Sicily is recommended to fans of f.i. Sleep, Dozer, Karma To Burn, Kyuss...
MOON COVEN - AMANITA KINGDOM (CD-EP/TRANSUBSTANS) Here's the debut-EP by a Swedish band that may very well leave its mark on modern stoner history! Five tracks, ranging from sludgy to droned out, and from hypnotic to spaced out.
DEAD MAN - DEAD MAN (LP/CRUSHER) New editions of the highly regarded debut album by Dead Man, this time pressed on gold coloured, crystal clear and old fashioned black vinyl!
SHIVAS NAT - HARD TO BREATHE (LP/KOZMIK ARTIFACT) Authentically sounding, mind-blowing psychedelic garage/blues-rock from a unit featuring ex-members of Highway Child and Fuzz Manta! Soon available on 180-gram black and coloured vinyl, in limited quantities.
SHANE FAUBERT - LINE IN THE SAND (LP/BAMBALAM) In the '80s Shane Faubert was the creative force of the popular American garage-pop band The Cheapskates, who released several records on Music Maniac. Now, after a 15-year silence, Faubert returns with a tasteful solo-album, featuring songs that are much more in a folk-rock style than we're used of the man.
BEAT-MAN - BEAT-MAN'S WORLD (6X7" BOX/SQUOODGE) Now here's a real treat for any true Beat-Man follower, lover, or fan. This box set includes six singles offering tunes that Beat-Man recorded with his many bands/projects, including Orchester Beat-Man & The Wild Alien, Lightning Beat-Man, Skelleton Surfers, Screaming Chet, The Monsters, The Church Of Herpes, The Coronets, Reverend Beat-Man and Die Zorros. Welcome to 'Beat-Man's World'!
ACID MOTHERS GURU GURU GONG - PINK LADY LEMONADE (7"/BAMBALAM) Acid Mothers Guru Guru Gong are Daevid Allen (Gong), Makoto Kawabata (Acid Mothers Temple), Mani Neumeier (Guru Guru) and Guy Segers (ex-Univers Zero). This is a very limited 7-inch with an unusual format cover (8"x12") and an album cover poster (fold out), with insert and photo (cut or uncut). 'Pink Lady Lemonade' is the classic Acid Mothers Temple song, but this version is sung by Daevid Allen on Side A and there's an instrumental piece on Side B.
60’s & 70’s & 80’s (RE-)RELEASES AND ARTISTS + OTHER OLDIES
MYSTIC SIVA - MYSTIC SIVA (LP-CD/WORLD IN SOUND) A new and very special issue of this highly popular killer US underground psych-album from 1970. It's a well kept secret that the original release really wasn't what it was meant to be, since it included overdubbed guitar parts on a few songs. This new edition (on LP and CD) however presents the original recordings, sounding exactly the way the band prefered them. Pressed on marbled orange vinyl and including a poster! Edition of 500.
PHANTASIA - PHANTASIA (LP/WORLD IN SOUND) A new vinyl edition of this genuine treasure from the early '70s US underground. Originally only 25 copies of this 1971 debut album were pressed, so back in the day the band didn't exactly hit the big time. World In Sound fortunately set the record straight some years ago, and now a next generation of (potential) fans gets the opportunity to purchase one of the era's most beautiful and unique albums. The music is a mesmerizing mixture of melodic mellow psych rock and intensely emotional acid-folk, with plenty of trippy parts. Comes with great artwork, liner notes and full colour pix.
MISSUS BEASTLY - MISSUS BEASTLY (2ND ALBUM) (LP/GARDEN OF DELIGHTS) The first ever vinyl-reissue of their second album (from '74 and, like the debut, self-titled), recorded with a new line-up. This issue comes with sound from the master tapes and a bonus live track from 1975. Musically we're speaking high quality instrumental jazz rock from Germany. Edition of 1.000 hand numbered copies.
MISSUS BEASTLY - BREMEN 1974 (LP/GARDEN OF DELIGHTS) A noteworthy set of rare live material, recorded at a gig that took place in 1974, shortly after the release of their second LP. Three long tracks of instrumental jazz-rock which you won't find on their studio albums. Includes a large 8-page insert. Edition of 1.000 hand numbered copies.
PSYCHIC TV - HACIENDA (CD/COLD SPRING) and PSYCHIC TV - LIVE AT THEE MARQUEE (CD/COLD SPRING) and PSYCHIC TV - THEE FABULOUS FEAST OV FLOWERING LIGHT (CD/COLD SPRING) Three releases of rare live recordings, all dating from the mid '80s. Limited editions and totally essential for the die-hard fans.
NEWS
MISSISSIPPI RECORDS have announced a number of new (re-)releases which include two popular titles from the mighty DEAD MOON, 'Crack In The System' and 'Trash And Burn'. You may also expect a great vinyl compilation of Indian music, taken from old 78rpm records ('100 Moons: Hindustani Vocal Art 1930-1955') and no less than four double-LP volumes of the awesome 'Anthology Of American Folk Music' series.
Fans of experimental sounds and other ground breaking music may look forward to the upcoming titles from DESIRE RECORDS. Their plans include 12-inches from IKE YARD ('Remix EP #3') and JBLA ('Belleville' EP), reissues on both LP and CD of two LIVE SKULL titles ('Cloud One' and the 'Pusherman EP'), and the LP 'Mind Slaughter' by Russia's ZEX MODEL, which will appeal to fans of a.o. Skinny Puppy, The Klinik and Ganzheit.
CITADEL is another label that's showing a notable concentration of activity these days. Their latest releases include CD's from THE HARD-ONS ('Love Is A Battle Field', on double-CD), early Aussie punk rockers THE END ('Was The Beginning', also a two-disc set), Stewart Cunningham's LEADFINGER ('No Room At The Inn'), MICK MEDEW ('The Mesmerisers'), fuzz-psychsters PSYCHOTIC TURNBUCKLES ('Destroy Dull City', a 2CD) and Perth-based rock'n'rollers VOLCANICS ('Get A Move'). Smelly punkaholics and greasy garage-rockers won't need to get bored during the Christmas holidays.
SELECTED PRESS QUOTES
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS
HERE & NOW - LIVE IN LONDON (CD/FOUR ZERO) reviewed by Ian Fraser for Terrascope (excerpt) Hopefully one day we'll see a full on reunion of the old guard, but until then this will suffice, thank you very much. reviewed by Carry Munter for Carry's New Underground Music (translated excerpt) Recommended listening for fans of reggae and space rock!
BEVIS FROND - WHITE NUMBERS (3LP-2CD/WORONZOW) reviewed by Jeff Penczak for Shindig (excerpt) ...an incredible journey through some of the finest rock music recorded today.
OVO - ABISSO (LP-CD/SUPERNATURAL CAT) reviewed by Patrick Bruneel for Gonzo Circus (translated excerpt) ....Ovo still manage to renew themselves in a creative way, and, despite their minimal approach, always succeed to surprise.
MOVEMENTS - LIKE ELEPHANTS 1 (LP-CD/CRUSHER) reviewed by Christopher Budd for Shindig (excerpt) ...for a garage band exploring psychedelia, this is a curiously pleasant and poppy affair.
BRIMSTONE DAYS - THE HEALER (LP/TRANSUBSTANS) reviewed by Patrick Erregat for Rock Tribune (translated excerpt) ...thanks to its intensity and flexibility, this CD is above par.
60’s & 70’s & 80’s (RE-)RELEASES AND ARTISTS + OTHER OLDIES
CENTURY EXPANDED - CONCERTO FOR WAH WAH (CD/GEAR FAB-LP/WAH WAH) reviewed by Gerald van Waes for Psyche van het Folk (excerpt) ...a great and partly psychedelic record.
LIVE
SIENA ROOT (HEADSPIN, TRANSUBSTANS, NASONI) November 29: Brussels, B (Magasin 4)
FRED & TOODY 'DEAD MOON/PIERCED ARROWS' COLE (TOMBSTONE) December 12: Haarlem, NL (Patronaat) / December 13: Den Bosch, NL (W2) / December 14: Den Haag, NL ('t Paard) / December 15: Goes, NL ('t Beest) / December 18: Groningen, NL (Vera)
JUKE JOINT PIMPS (VOODOO RHYTHM) December 15: Liège/Luik, B (Lou's Bar)
ELÄKELÄISET (NORDIC NOTES) April 8: Haarlem, NL (Patronaat)
SULA BASSANA (SULATRON) April 11: Tilburg, NL (013/Roadburn Festival)
PAPIR & ELECTRIC MOON (SULATRON) April 13: Tilburg, NL (013/Roadburn Festival)
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Previous editions:
13/03/2024 09:08 SPOTLIGHT 10
06/03/2024 10:32 SPOTLIGHT 9
27/02/2024 07:31 SPOTLIGHT 8
19/02/2024 16:36 SPOTLIGHT 7
13/02/2024 08:19 SPOTLIGHT 6
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29/01/2024 17:52 SPOTLIGHT 4
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19/12/2023 08:48 SPOTLIGHT 50
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28/11/2023 08:07 SPOTLIGHT 47
20/11/2023 17:59 SPOTLIGHT 46
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31/10/2023 08:17 SPOTLIGHT 43
24/10/2023 08:10 SPOTLIGHT 42
17/10/2023 08:51 SPOTLIGHT 41