Slackers - не буду этого помнить (2016)

I am gonna make a stab at posting again. Had the worst insomnia as of late, for over a month really. Making my mind feel like swiss cheese and all I have been able to keep up on is work, and not without feeling like a forgetful dope even then. Almost seems like a different era that I sat down so often to hear knew music. Something I'd like to do again.

So here is a treat, a Russian garage rock band. Assuming from the tags on the bandcamp page these are some young dudes in Moscow making lo-fi songs, perhaps partially out of necessity but also I'd wager they are fans of many awesome garage rockers we all enjoy. In fact this is made explicit when they cover Mr. Airplane Man's "Don't Know Why," something they share with the Brazilian band Hierofante Púrpura (it is very neat to hear the two versions back-to-back, and the Slackers translated it to Russian to boot). The songs are not too heavy, being a bit more garage pop or even college rock sort of fuzzy, weird tunes. Yet most fundamentally they are really great to hear, well composed and the Russian lyrics are smoother and more pleasant that I can say for most any other albums I've posted in that language or collect for myself. Perhaps I imagined this, but the second half of songs seemed more psychedelic as well.

не буду этого помнить, meaning "won't remember it" has been released by Dopefish Family. This is not the first album by the Slackers and is only of dozens the label as put out. I urge you to look more into them each.

To be had here:
Slackers - не буду этого помнить 

EP Grab Bag vol. 110

I actually wrote this about months ago and left it 90% finished and forgot to post it. So here are some belated EPs.

To be had here:

Shortbus 1999 - Motorcycle Boy Reigns EP (2016)

A new EP from the Russia lo-fi dream/garage pop band Shortbus 1999, who've had a couple of previous EPs featured on Spacerockmountain. Being acquainted with their earlier songs, I was excited to hear this fresh batch. These five high-energy tracks did not disappoint and brought all the fuzzy, fast rock that I recall fondly from the earlier work. The thing I noticed that changed the most are the more prominent vocals, with two different singers appearing and both singing loudly in Russian, which is pretty dope.

Lloyd Braun - New Age Hooey (2016)

A band from the westside of my home state, more exactly they reside in our second largest city, Grand Rapids. They play grungy garage rock that clearly betrays their roots as growing up in the Midwest in the 90s. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever, just that especially in the vocals you may notice the emotional delivery that has been so popular here for ever so long. Reminds me of many of the better concerts I've attended around the state, though notably better musicianship than much of them. I can easily get behind what these guys are up to.

Unholy Sights - Esoteric Domine (2016)

Fuzzy, lo-fi garage rock with a healthy touch of horror punk vibes thrown in. The Unholy Sights are from Annapolis, Maryland and are a new band, not even a year into it yet. They seems very much like some dudes I would get along with a chat about Gories and Mummies tunes with. Their songs dip a bit more heavy than those artists though, but never for very long, as the fuzzy guitars and bashing cymbals are still the nice garagey core of this EP.

Pulco - Solid Geometry EP (2016)

A new EP from a colorful home recording artist from Bangor, Wales. This must be the fourth time I've written up a release from Pulco, and they never strike me as being terribly similar except in being unusual creations of experimentation exacted upon pop music. However, this EP might be the eeriest of them to date, as it has a dark, futuristic and surreal mood. They lyrics get creepy, but in a fascinating way opposed to unsettling. He keeps surprising me, but I guess I should expect that by now.

Moon Loves Honey - Apart (2016)

So long as we're considering dreamy music, let's look at a Danish band who has made so beautifully fleshed out dream pop songs. The songs are very well structured and incorporate a range of instrumentation and stylized vocals to create softy emotional songs. Spacey, dreamy but still shocking quick and upbeat. A very interesting and engaging EP of pop tunes.

EP Grab Bag vol. 98

Another truly international Grab Bag this week, pilgrims. From across Europe to Australia and of course some from these United States. Runs a range in genres as well, look at all the fucking tags I had to throw on this one, and I still feel that doesn't quite cover it.

To be had here:

Shortbus 1999 - Olga EP 2015

A Russian musician making wonderfully loud, lo-fi punk in his bedroom, at least I'm assuming this is largely a solo effort. It's all sung in Russian, which only adds to the considerable punk feeling of the thumping drum machine and fuzzy guitar. I adore this type of self-produced rock and found this EP a great example. This isn't the first effort by Shortbus 1999 either, nor the first appearance on Spacerockmountain. Elvis wrote up the self-titled release last year.



Daddy Issues - Double Loser EP (2015)

Actually stumbled on to this through twitter and couldn't be more happy to have across it. A four song EP by an all-girl garage rock/dreamy indie pop outfit hailing from Greensboro, NC. I'm completely on board, and the songs are every inch as good as I'd hoped for. Definitely a must listen and most especially for anyone that like the Pretty Greens from the last Grab Bag or any of the bands I referenced in that post. They've got a touch of surf in that guitar that's amazing, check out "So Hard" to hear what I am talking about.

Prisons - EP (2015)

Third Grab Bag in a row to feature a band from Sweden. More Scandinavians the better, I say, they can make a song. In particular for Prisons, they can make a heavy, distorted post-metal song. This shit is pretty dark and strangely alluring. The guitars are droney enough to lean a psychedelic tinge to the tracks of the EP. Finally, it has the trademark screaming vocals of metal. Something that as younger man I didn't get, but I've since come to appreciate the stark brutality it expresses.

Sounds Like Winter - Demos (2015)

Australians making new wave music. Sounds Like Winter saw that Killwave, a Chicago new wave band that bears a likeness, was posted about and wanted to get in on that. I can see how they'd assume I'd be into their music and indeed I am quite into it. More on upbeat and dancey end of snyth-heavy post-punk, but still has that gothy sing that faintly mimics the Scottish accent of many great 80s new wave bands. Seven tracks, so settle in and enjoy yourself.

Comfort Food - Dr. Faizan's Feel​-​Good Brain Pills (2013)

Now this band is from Chicago. Comfort Food makes sounds hard to categorize but I'll take a stab at it: experimental progressive jazz-funk. The key to know there is a beat, and it's funky, upon which all of the rest of the this EP formed around. The songs are way more compelling than this description might lead you to believe. The songs feel irreverent and lighthearted, yet they can't be discounted as poorly conceived. Quite the opposite, they're damned entertaining.


VidaGuerrilla - Blues pa cabras ácratas (2015)

Here we have a demo EP from Spain's VidaGuerrilla has put out. It seems to me they're still producing full-length albums at the same time and in fact it looks like they've got pretty damned new one up on bandcamp, but for whatever reason they sent me this. Guess what, I loved it. It is fuzzy, fairly slow-paced garage rock with exceptional bluesy sound compared to what I'd heard from them prior. Lo-fi bliss at its simplistic best. I just know that our boy Elvis Dracula is gonna dig this whenever he get it in his eardrums.

EP Grab Bag vol. 89

As it so happens from time to time the submissions to the blog will fall into an rough category for a period. It's been garage rock, ambient and even noise before. While this time it was a vague theme, but one that I believe has a rather clear through line. Each of these EPs are experimental music, though as different varieties. All weird and all psychedelic in their own way.

To be had here:

▲҈҉   - ▲҈҉   (2015)

This weird wing-ding symbol is something Canadian Sean Travis Ramsay, has titled both this project and EP. He's been on the blog before, under the moniker of Slight Birching. It bears similarity to his album Cultural Envelope, insomuch that it's experimental folk with a decidedly lo-fi, bedroom ambiance. Strikes one as the sort of thing a man tinkers and plays with in lonesome evenings, and regardless of that being the actually case for Mr. Ramsay, he's done a wonderful job at painting a sonic picture of beautifully anxious confusion. Not to be missed, especially not by fans of Cultural Envelope.

Theme Witch - You Are Wrong EP (2014)

Jumping to Portland, Oregon for some more lo-fi experimentation, yet in a vastly different direction. Theme Witch is a hazy, washed out pop act that sounds most like a wildly distorted tape of 80s jangley post-punk reminiscent of the Smiths and Joy Division. Like someone took these bands are a core and layered on warped keys, beats and guitar parts while leaving the original singing somewhat faded and echoey beneath. It's trippy shit, and I found it incredibly catchy too.

Energy 2000 - Mercury​-​Atlas 6 (2014)

In keeping with the experimental trend of this Grab Bag we've got another EP that falls neatly into that catagory and of yet another sort. Richmond, VA's Energy 2000 could be called NASA-wave, as it is psychedelic space rock, bordering on chillwave, overdubbed with crackly dialogue between astronauts and ground control. The songs are more than just far out, pun completely intended, as they're very well crafted. The guitars are twangy, with notes bending around all over the place forming a mesmerizing tapestry. Does something wonderful after a couple of beer following a hard day's work.

Injection for me - Birth/Coma (2014)

Of course we can't have all this experimental music and not have any post-rock. Injection for me is a band I haven't any information on really, but if the links they sent me are to be trusted they may very well be from Russia. However, that doesn't make a difference in the world of spacey instrumental post-rock, for it is all about the music. These two tracks have ambient vocals, like Engery 2000, but a fashion that reveals their post-rock roots. It's very possible fro them to have been influenced by post-rock groups like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, This Will Destroy You and Caspian.

Elvis Dracula's Winter Turntable - Part 1

Having a few days off has allocated ample time to really dig into some recent purchases that have been sitting next to my stereo. Here are my thoughts with links to the tunes.

Floating Flower - 1st and 2nd (1998/2014)
One of the many records that fits into the Acid Mothers Temple orbit. First released in the late 90s on a few cdrs, the band's releases are getting a proper reissue this year. Unlike many of the other AMT projects, Kawabata Makoto takes the back seat to these psychedelic folksters that have spent more than their fair share of time in India. Those "eastern" influences due give this release a different feel form some of the heavier psychedelic rock AMT is known for. I am surprised I never heard this stuff, but now that it is being made available again, it is worth a listen for any fan of trippy folk or psychedelia.

Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind (1983)
A truly indispensable metal act, but one I didn't really grasp until recently. When I was a younger lad, I had many friends into this band. They would adorn their denim jackets with images of the band's mascot and talk endlessly about how no band could touch Maiden's 80s output. Although they were often dogged by conservative groups for promoting all kinds of satanic nonsense, I found the band's songs to be on the silly side. Punk rock with its political defiance and the overt Satanism of some metal acts in the 90s seemed more "real" to my youthful soul. Years later, I got into Prog rock in a big/bad way, and went back to Maiden with refined ears. What I found was a highly competent, theatrical hard-rock act that put together great songs, even if their sound appeared dated by current metal-heads. In many ways, this helped the band reach epic status by the late 2000s, as they continued to refine their original sound without pandering to tastes of the time. Iron Maiden is still rocking hard today, and have released a number of fine records in the last few years. This specific record is probably the best introduction to the band, but any of their 80s records are well worth your time.

Ada Yakusheva - The Best Songs 1979-1985 (1995)
Thanks to the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, I have acquired some odd/rare Russian cassette tapes on the cheap. I have been playing through them a bit each day, and this artist has been the standout find thus far. From what I can gather, she was a bit of hit in Russia in the 70s and 80s, singing sweat and soft folk-songs in her naive language with guitar in hand. I don't know much about Russian folk music, but I imagine her stylings were influenced by many artists crafting minimalist folk tunes in France during the 50s and 60s. Very beautiful music that even your grandmother may enjoy.

Unfortunately, she died a few years back. Since she is generally unknown here in the West, the chances of having her music reissued is quite low, but at least it can be heard digitally.

Shortbus 1999 - ST (2014)

It is hotter than the devil's ass and sweatier to boot here in California. When it gets this unbearable and the beach is out of reach, I dream of cooler locals. Sipping ice-cold drinks in full wool suits as the snow slowly falls on my face...what a dream!

Shortbus 1999 is a fun power-pop group from good old Russia, and I can't imagine a place that gets cooler temps than that. Lots of snotty jams pushed along with big power chords and loud amplifiers. All the while the band sings in their native tongue, something we are always supportive of around these parts.

Get it for free here:
Shortbus 1999 - ST (2014)

Henri Claudel - Technology (2014)

You have got to love how open and appropriating the music community is today. When I first started going to metal/punk shows in the 90s, bands were forced to play with relatively similar acts. Rarely would you get any cross-pollination between music communities. Perhaps it is the remix culture that exists today (and discussed in a previous episode of our podcast) that is responsible for this desire to fuse and borrow from just about every sound on the planet.

I don't know what "Cold Wave" is, but this Scottish band is apparently that. All I know is that it is awesome retro-inspired synth pop that clearly borrows from the past and yet still sounds vibrant and fresh. The awesome Russian label Singapore Sling Tapes has put this out on cassette, which fits this style well. Sure everything is better on cassette, but I could totally see Marty McFly blasting this from his Delorean on one of his time traveling trips. Well my friend, he fucked up the past as a result, and now we have this relic of our possible dystopian future. Highly recommended.

Get it here:
Henri Claudel - Technology (2014)

Pussy Riot - 4 songs

Maybe you've all heard by now, but there's a riot grrrl/punk band from Russia who were arrested this past winter for performing an anti-Putin song at Russia's main cathedral in Moscow. Three members are still in prison and face up to several years in prison if convicted (they are being charged with "hooliganism", which sounds like something old people accuse young people of practicing.) Many protests in Russia are ongoing for the band. One Russian artist went so far as to sew his own mouth shut in protest of their incarceration.

Even Amnesty International has called for the release of the women, calling them "prisoners of conscience".

Not to get too political on what is purely a music blog, but the whole thing is fucked up and Russia is being run by crooks, clowns, and sadists ... not unlike many countries including my own ...but at least I could write a song called "Every Politician Is A Fucknut" and not serve years in prison for it. 

That's all I'll say about that.

Anyway, it's surprising that there's hardly anyone posting the recordings of this band. The four songs below are super lo-fi and in Russian so I'm completely in the dark as to what they are saying... so maybe that's why. Despite my ignorance, though, I was able to pick out words that sounded like "protest" "Putin" and, yes, even "vodka". The songs are more similar to Minor Threat in sound than Bikini Kill, but either way, it's frustration and anger that ties Pussy Riot into the same class as both those bands. 

I hope that the protests in support of Pussy Riot continue to grow until shit hits the Russian fan. If nothing else, what's happening is a testament to the power of music.

Want to get involved? Write a letter to Vladimir Putin yourself.

Or just give these whippersnappers a listen.

Pussy Riot - 4 songs

The Karovas Milkshake - EP (2010)

Interesting to note how this retro thing has seeped from it's music and fashion stronghold and into the roots of something resembling a movement. Urban gardening, homebirths, naturopathic medicine, the resurgence of vinyl ... 30 somethings with handlebar mustaches wearing suspenders and fedoras and shit... Even smartphone apps that make pictures look like they've been weathered by decades of sunlight...

It's as if we can only embrace progress by balancing it with antiquity.

This most recent garage revival seems symptomatic of this greater turn of the head towards the past. Mexico has a scene, several European countries (especially France) have great garage scenes. I don't know why I was so surprised to hear of a garage band from Russia.

The Karovas Milkshake are from the city of Ekaterinberg in Russia which, from my brief scan of the city's wikipedia entry, is between the size of Phoenix and San Diego, has a monument of Michael (Mikhail?) Jackson, and is a hotbed for Russian rock bands. When a friend first played The Karovas for me, he insisted they were actually from the 1960's. While this didn't turn out to be true, I can see how a passive glance at any picture of them and listening to this ep could be deceiving. They have the sound down, they have the look down. The production of the record, even, sounds authentically 60's. It's really quite remarkable and their songs are catchy as hell. Shades of The Kinks, The Sonics, and The Velvet Underground are all present.

4 songs. Don't let this one get away ...Luckily, my links are still working(for now), though I agree with Antarktikos that an alternative will eventually have to be found.

The Karovas Milkshake - EP