Sinoptik - 16​/​58 (2014)

Here again is an prime example of me losing track of a submitted album that was totally undeserving of being overlooked. I hoped my organization would've improved a little by now, but I'm still the same sloppy fool. Hope in one hand, shit in the other and see which fills up sooner, right? Yet, as they say, better late than never.

Now on the bandcamp page it has Chicago is the location of this band, but in the nice email I was sent about them it claims they're actually from Ukraine. The songs, sung in English with a bemusing accent mind you, are a sort of fusion of hard/garage rock with stoner/psychedelic rock. Many guitar flourishes on 16​/​58, crashing symbols and far-out noodling not to be left out either. A little bombast never hurt anyone, I mean progressive rock was a goddamn worldwide phenomenon after all. I genuinely enjoy this type of fast-paced rock and roll. The song "Alex Is Her Name" has become my wake up jam as of late. It's catchy as fuck, deserves to be in an action movie. Similarly I can't shake the tune of "Gold On The Ceiling" from my head. It usually requires a second after finishing the album through. Really there's not a song on the album that isn't exciting and a fine illustration of Western music diffusing around the world and be take on with excellence by musicians elsewhere.

Also, be sure to read the delightful text on the bottom of the bandcamp page, it is one of the better album descriptions I've seen on there, even if it seem less than fully accurate.

To be had here:
Sinoptik - 16​/​58

бичкрафт - маскот (2014)

Lord knows I don't know what the name of this band is, but they make some pretty awesome noise rock. As the Ukraine splits apart, they could probably learn a lesson from this band. As the disjointed drums and fuzz pull the listener in varying directions, a solid, formidable bass line holds each element in check. The noise is given center stage, but not allowed to overall its brethren in rhythm. Checks and balances, if you will. It's what all noise should engage in.

Someone get these kids on a next plane to San Francisco. Something tells me they put on a transcendent show.

Get it here:
бичкрафт - маскот (2014)

EP Grab Bag vol. 70

Here's what's coming in through the email submissions. A diverse group of EPs that range from post-hardcore to nu disco, so I hope you're feeling as erratic as I am.

To be had here:

Sex Snobs - Ugly (2014)

Punk rock from Oklahoma City. Sex Snobs play on the more hardcore side of things, and talk a good deal about God being dead in a nihilistic fashion. The three short songs are this EP are high energy and got me off my fucking ass this morning and ready to write up this and a slew more of amazing albums. That's a good sign for punk rock, instigating action. Nothing like good, heavy punk guitar and thundering drums to get me into a mood for doing shit, good for me or not.


Phooey! - Upright Animals and Their Ridiculous Tricks (2014)

Our Ukrainian friends in Phooey! have made another EP to follow on the heels on Hello, Doubt early this year. Like that release, this one is made up of brief, strange tracks of bedroom pop, art rock and 'baroque punk' blending together. Full of falsetto and remarkably amusing guitar riffs the EP just blazes by and requires repeated listening. Seems like they're been little rest on the musical front for Phooey! as theirs a long covers album that came out in May as well to check out.

Tape Eater - Bleeders (2014)

Hope you're in the mood for something even more hardcore. Tape Eater is on the far edge of hardcore, with the hollered lyrical delivery and intense power cords in the guitar work. This New Bedford, Mass band really know now to bring it, yet they can ease up when necessary to craft a good tune and slip into trippy, math rock moments to do so. It has been sometime since I've sat down and listened to post-hardcore but these guys make me question why I haven't, also maybe sitting down isn't the best way to take it in...

Lucian - Rekla EP (2014)

Lucian is a New York musician that does many righteous electronic remixes. These are five tracks he's put together to show off what he's up to, which is makes some very exciting tunes that covers a lot of territory of electronicia. Knowledge of the ins and outs of electronic subgenres is beyond me, but he's tagging the stuff Nu Disco and Tropical House amongst other things. All seems fucking awesome to me, as I don't need to know what to call it to like it.



The Go Rounds - Purple Mountain Travesty (2014)

This group is from Kalamazoo and put out by the Double Phelix label/studio run by the guys behind Lasso. Like Lasso this is incorporation a Western sound, though more subtle in the Go Rounds. Instead the music is more vocally bend, with a clearly talented singer taking the lead on for the majority of the tracks. Not to downplay the musical prowess of this group at all, mind you, as they make some very beautiful and nearly symphonic sounding tunes.

EP Grab Bag vol. 55

Last time I poached from the top of the submission pile in an a fit of laziness (excuse my oxymoronic phrase). These I dug a bit deeper into so my apologies to the musicians for the tardiness but better late than never as they say.

To be had here:

White Owl - Death to White Owl EP (2014)

Coming from Bristol, UK is the lo-fi garage rock band White Owl. I am aware of at least one member of this band having been in the previously written-up, now defunct group, the Moles. It's slow, humming sort of garage sung with a hypnotic British accent that gives it a romantic quality to my decidedly American ears. It gets quite psychedelic, especially the guitar playing, yet they've also a healthy amount of punk. These four lovely tracks left me wishing they already had a full-length for me to hear. Also get their prior EP, Death to the Blind Owl.

Phooey! - Hello, Doubt (2014)

Straight out of the international headlines and to your ears come the youth of Ukraine, this time with a six track EP. Phooey! reminds me of The Floral Prints from the last Grab Bag with their skirting screamo at times. However, the real shining songs on this EP are the latter ones as they become more bizarrely psych-pop (who would have guessed I preferred that, eh?). They most certainly got me pondering on what direction they'll go from here.

 Geyser - Geyser (2014)

Post-punk/garage rock from, well I am not sure (hopefully they tell me). This EP caught my attention immediately and held it firm. Four excellently crafted rock songs that I am sure I'll be playing frequently in the days to come. It is heavy guitar and unintelligible singing that one could liken to Oblivions, the Hiss or even those defunct but not forgotten South African wonders the Revelators. I loved every second of the EP and positively demand more from this group.

Kudzu - Fliesch Parade (2014)

Remember this awesome album by the Gorlons that we shared with you all here and on the podcast? Well, it just so happens the keyboardist and bassist of that outfit play in another band called Kudzu. This is there EP from January this year, and it is four solid psychedelic tracks. While all the songs are short and ridiculously easy to re-listen to over and over, I love the very short "Same Wife" and it has served as a tiny anthem for me lately. Not sure why, never had a wife at all.



Feefawfum - Feefawfum (2013)

Quite late of to the game on this one, but it got lost in the shuffle. However, I decided to post it now anyway because it is pretty bizarre and that sort of shit as been really tickling my fancy lately. Feefawfum are from Montreal and they play experimental music in the vein of Captain Beefhart and the Minutemen, and they also cite prog influence such as King Crimson. Trust me it is weird, like totally weird, but it is cool and jazzy all the same and I had little trouble getting into it.

Zapaska - KONTUR (2014)

Zapaska is a Ukrainian duo from the capital city of Kiev. Their music is both beautiful and mysterious, drawing on elements of rock, 90's club, Ukrainian folk, and hip hop -- all under the umbrella of electronic pop. A veritable smorgasbord of genres, which I'm a huge fan of because it keeps the ears stimulated and I get to use the word "smorgasbord".  Speaking of Swedish things, Zapaska's music reminds me a little of Swedish bands like Whale and The Knife, in the female/male vocals of the former and the occasional, strangely processed vocals of the latter. Some really great beats are present on KONTUR, the group's third release, and with the melodic guitar work and decidedly lo-fi production value, the output of English producer Bibio also comes to mind.

There's an overarching melancholy to Zapaska's music. Not depressing, but almost a fun melancholy -- like a Ukrainian version of the Portuguese "saudade".  And while I'm not sure what the songs are about, in an interview, member Pavel Nechitailo spoke to the emotion of the Ukrainian people and Zapaska's music, "It's as if there are special pylons everywhere, giving off radio waves that herd people together with misery... and since I'm a native son of these lands, I sing sad songs."

Well, shit.

I find this album has been a great companion to rainy Portland afternoons, and I look forward to playing it during my upcoming DJ night. You're all invited, by the way.

18 tracks:

Zapaska - KONTUR (2014)

Ummagma - Live and Let Die (2013)

This sat in the submission box for awhile, and having just now listened to it, I am sad to say I didn't spin this little EP earlier. Heavy shoegaze sounds permeate from this Canadian-Ukrainian duo as they turn their reverb pedals to 7 and blow out the small fender stacks they have likely assembled. The music isn't walking far from the well worn path pioneered by the likes of My Bloody Valentine, but I have nothing against borrowing from the best. Based on their press release, the group has garnered some significant acclaim in Australia, and when are those kangaroo-riders ever wrong?


Keep it coming kids. Just hook the people up with a download next time.

Stream it here:
Ummagma - Live and Let Die (2013)