Music For Your Weekend

Blind Owl Wilson - Blind Owl Wilson

This interesting figure from American music of the 1960s has one of the most noticeable voices of that era. Most recognizably a singer for the LA-based blues rock group, Canned Heat, Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson gained accolades for his harmonica playing from other musicians of the era including living blues legends such as John Lee Hooker. 

This release by Mississippi Records compiles his most famous tracks from Canned Heat as well as lesser known tracks. Blind Owl's high register voice may most closely resemble that of crossroads blues guitarist Robert Johnson. Some who knew him suspected Wilson might have been autistic, though no formal diagnosis was given prior to his early death at the age of 27. 

OPSEC - Affordable Death

This is hardcore punk I can sink my teeth into. I can only judge punk bands by the quality of the singer's voice. I can recognize good musicianship but if the singer's voice isn't awesome, I will not be a repeat listener... just like Gang Starr made clear in 1994 when Guru said "If your voice ain't dope then you need to chill".

Signed to NYC's Label of Goods, OPSEC brings the aggression and voice that makes me want to keep this EP easy access when driving my beat up shit box around Newark. The singer's voice is similar to that of the Canadian hardcore punk band S.H.I.T., or maybe even the singer of The Peechees. If you need to work out some angst this weekend, may this be the soundtrack for your efforts.

Mamalarky - Pocket Fantasy

Brilliant and wonderful things often emerge from terrible occurrences... it's just the way things happen. It doesn't make those terrible things worth it by any means... it just speaks to the resilience and persistence of the human spirit.

Take Covid, for example. If Covid had never happened, Mamalarky's sophomore release Pocket Fantasy may never have been happened. They were already a band, playing around Austin and making waves. But then the pandemic happened and the band retreated to Atlanta to live in an old house and record what you have here: an inspired and inventive rock record with catchy songs that eschew pop conventions. It's experimental in song structure but recognizable in essence. Not sure what compares.

on4ward - In Rainbow Roads

Sometimes you need a conversation piece that not only piques one's interest but also pulls you in for the whole ride. Some individual out there in the world, going by on4ward, took Radiohead's 2007 In Rainbows and decided it needed to be redone through an Nintendo64 sound bank, "mostly sounds from Super Mario 64" as noted on the artists bandcamp page. 

It's interesting and this homage is one of detail and love. The hipster in me wishes slightly it was done in 8-bit sounds instead, but probably only because I never owned a Nintendo 64 so the sounds don't muster the nostalgia that one who DID own an N64 might get from this. Either way, it's pretty incredible and I look forward to what on4ward does next.

Novampb - Too Cool For Words (2015)

Another new artists to Spacerockmountain sent in by a returning label. This time it is the Recife, Brazil-based label, Transtorninho Records. You know, the dudes that released Lindberg Hotel, Amandinho and 151515. So you gotta bet this'll be good too.

Novampb is an electronic artist from the Brazilian coastal city of Maceió. The songs he makes are lo-fi IDM or glitch, composed with an excellent sense of dramatic timing. They come of as incredibly cinematic works on the base and then through a deft use of sampling spoken word audio he's added a feeling of disembodied otherworldliness. I'm told he's putted these clips from youtube, and sounds like a kindred soul spending too many hours listening to sounds pour out of a computer. It takes me back to when I first became familiar with lo-fi electronic music from the artists like Ocelote Rojo, Turning Torso and LAY BAC. Of course all of these have their own flavors and while it can be hard to put Novampb's style into words your ears won't have any issue identifying its unique charms. I recommend giving all of Too Cool For Words for word a listen and don't stop before the end, as the final two tracks are my favorites.

To be had here:
Novampb - Too Cool For Words

Barometric - Patterns in Static (2014)

I learnt of this album from the guys in Locals Only, as he helped put that album together under what I believe is his real name, Justin Ford. Hope I recalled that correctly, my brain has been remembering things about as well as a damp sponge can put out a house fire. However, using the moniker of Barometric he's an electronic musician that's making some rather far out tunes. Like a good deal of electronic musicians that aren't targeting the club scene, sub-genres are not anything to worry about very much and the albums kinda shifts through various styles with features of IDM, glitch and plunderphonics but does have a core tone of psychedelic exploration and transcendent release.

As with any good new song created from reclaimed sound it has a degree of whimsical remembrance in it even if you've never heard any of it before, like a memory is bubbling to the surface for the first time in years. Its all about the framing I suppose, and Barometric is a masterful craftsman with these sounds. A wonderful way to have broken what has been too long of a drought of delightfully done electronic music in my listening routine and I highly recommend it to you all.

To be had here:
Barometric - Patterns in Static

Casino Verus Japan - Casino Versus Japan (1998)

The first album released by the electronic / ambient musician Erik Kowalski, or Casino Versus Japan in 1998 which has become notoriously to find hard copies of. While I see his later works as more electronic music with ambient influences (similar to BoC) this 4-section album is far more ambient and minimal in nature, and for me, is much more emotionally evocative. This, and the rest of Kowalskis' discography is an often overlooked existence of songs that any fan of atmospheric or ambient music should get excited about. I really clicked with this album the second or third time I really listened to it, and it continues to be a huge influence on the way I approach loop-based, vignetted or ambient timbres.

DOWNLOAD: Casino Versus Japan - S/T Part 1
DOWNLOAD: Casino Versus Japan - S/T Part 2

Xinlisupreme

Hailing from Kumamoto, Japan, Xinlisupreme is a provoking blend of noise rock with IDM electronics. In the course of an album the mood will shift immensely and as seemingly what genre it should be called does as well. From electro ditties to harsh noise screeching to drum and bass rumblings. The almost fully instrumental tracks (sometimes there are faint sounds somewhat like voices) are mesmerizing, especially if played loud enough to drown out anything else. Also of note is the band's willingness to share their music, the latest release to date is available for free download on their own website in mp3 form. Feel free to grab it from there if you'd like. I am also sharing two previous releases, the debut album and the very excellent Murder License EP. I'm keeping this post brief as I have to call windows and fight with them for a new activation key (I shouldn't need to steal what I own). Anyhow, enjoy this stuff, it is truly amazing.

To be had here:



Tomorrow Never Comes (2002) [224 VBR kbps]








Murder License (2002) [256 VBR kbps]







Neinfuturer (2005) [192 kbps]
also available on their site

Pivot - Make Me Love You (2005)

How about them apples, folks. One hundredth post already and it hardly seems like we've gotten the ball rolling. Business first, I've read the request and I will try to meet them in a timely matter. This is for the other Death by Chocolate album, a re-upload of Stimmung, and the like. I don't have the other album by The Seconds yet I'm working on finding it. In other news, danger dog and I have been trying to recruit our online friends to author us some posts and share what they feel are some great album to sweeten the pot. Thus far none of followed through, but why stop trying now? As for the most recent lull, my PC is still broken despite the attempts to get it repaired and as I store my music on an external drive and have no real home it isn't easy to upload anything. Plus, I've been teaching myself how to make my own mead; a most glorious use of time in my opinion.

I thought about making this 100th post a biggie with a lot of shit on it, but I got frustrated at my really slow intertubing speeds, so you're getting what I felt was enough. However, do not despair for I do believe this is a most admirable album that fortunately for me was listened to enjoyed, forgotten about and then re-discovered. Make Me Love You is laudable debut album by Pivot, an Australian band that wavers on the boundary of post-rock and IDM. Completely without vocals, and they're not missed for a moment amongst the stunningly done instrumental sounds. Personally I feel the weakest part of this album is that it goes by far too quickly leaving me to either repeat it or search desperately for something similar. It might be the name the does it or perhaps the that it is the lengthiest, but I adore the track "Pivot Voltron" (who doesn't like Voltron?). The guitars seem almost funky when laid over the chimes and steady drums. I sincerely hope you care to hear this album as much as I do and please keep making requests, we're trying to fulfil them.

To be had here (192 kbps):
Pivot - Make Me Love You

Nikakoi - Goodair + Minimissing (2004)

Nikakoi is the named used by Nika Machaidze for his musical work. However, Mr. Machaidze is not only an electronic musician, but a film director to boot. In addition, he's done soundtracks for other director's films. Nikakoi is a member of the Goslab group in his native Georgia, an association of artists belonging to different medias that describes itself as a "phantom" in function. As both a director and musician, his music as a quality of a soundtrack even if not composed explicitly for a movie. IDM is usually cinematic to my ear though, yet this is increased by the visuals my mind makes of the Caucasus Mountains when I hear his songs. The mood is rather upbeat for what I expected upon first reading about Nikakoi, but that is certainly not a bad thing. Surprisingly fresh, I don't think he can be underestimated.

To be had here (224 VBR kbps):
Nikakoi - Goodair + Minimissing

O.Lamm

A fresh mutli-album post of electronic songs. O.Lamm is from France, and the 'O' is for Olivier, his first name. He makes from interesting electronic music that feels like a logical merger of French and Japanese influences. For sure there is 8-bit to be heard, and much spastic jumping of rhythm and tone. His music possesses the ability to be creepy, entertaining, cheerful, and thundering. He's got much much work out there than I'm sharing here, but these are three of his full-length albums that don't consist of mostly remixes. They provide a good gagde for the type of stuff he's making and I'm making you find more if you want it, I don't get paid for this shit anyhow (nobody does, which I love; buy vinyl). The earliest of them, Snow Party, is much more of a glitch album than the later works, yet very well produced. Hello Spiral is much more ambitious of an attempt with more vocalizations and different sounds utilized. And last, but not least, is Monolith, which has some of my favorite tracks of his including "The Macguffin," "Aerialist" and "Return of the Night Goat." Plus it has many more featured guests working with O.Lamm creating some great songs. Do enjoy, and check out the rest of the stuff from Audio Dregs, it's a prime label.

To be had here:




Snow Party (2002) @ 192 kbps










Hello Spiral (2004) @ 192 VBR kbps











Monolith (2006) @ 224 VBR kbps