Garbanotas Bosistas - Above Us (2015)

I'm a geography nerd if you can imagine such a thing exists. Anyone who spends an inordinate time studying any map placed before them would know what I mean. There is an allure to filling in all the unknown parts with increasing detail. Imagining the explorers and cartographers that lead the way for what would become the extremely mixed 'blessing' of European hegemony across Earth. Just like shooting an enemy in video game to access the next level, you know it mightn't have been any good to explore that area for all the casualties, but it's a thrilling proposition in the abstract nonetheless. Though my ancestors doubtless engaged in this actual geographic expansion, the closest thing I get is it is filling in my knowledge of a far flung musical scene I had little opportunity to be exposed to.

The Baltic States are largely a musical mystery to me.  While we've written up Lithuanian bands before, it's far from a common occurrence. My recollection can only summon memories of the metal band Spirale and Amazing Larry's second Scenes of a City post on the capital city, Vilnius. This left me very curious and eager when I saw that the Lithuanian band, Garbanotas Bosistas, had sent us an album to hear.

Now that I've made such a deal in my meandering typing above about this band being from the Baltic States, there's little reason anyone listening to it would necessarily assume this. Excepting, of course, a familiarity with the Lithuanian language, which some of the songs are sung in. Better yet, they switch between languages in the same song, creating a profoundly worldly strangeness. At they're core Garbanotas Bosistas are a neo-psychedelic outfit with the noticeable influence of prog and krautrock. The songs are unique and very different from what I'd expected going in, even different from what I'd thought I'd hear from psychedelic rock in general but still befitting the term.

To be had here:
Garbanotas Bosistas - Above Us

Scenes of a City, Vol. 10: Zagreb, Croatia

Often I find myself hyper-focused on a particular place. Not one I have ever been to nor will get to any time soon judging by my near constant lack of funds. However, this doesn't hold me back from taking as much of the culture of that locale I can manage from here. Croatia has been this place as of late, particularly their capital and largest city, Zagreb. Suppose it started as these usually do with for me when I began reading a novel written by a Croatian writer, Miroslav Krleža's On The Edge of Reason. Not that the book is especially Croatian in outlook so much as my mind works geographically thus leaving me reading steadily of the history of the Balkan country. Building this my momentum, I went out and bought bottles of dry white wine made of welschriesling grapes grown in Croatia. Finally, if one is reading Croatian literature and drinking Croatian wine, perhaps it is a good time to dig deeper into Croatian music as well.

I do have a tiny bit of familiarity with Croatia's musical output just from submissions to the blog, including some absolutely stellar albums from East-Ra, Pridjevi, Lizards Exist and from the great Zagreb-based indie label, Doomtown Records, the punk outfit Modern Delusions. None of these should be ignored and what I'm aiming for with this look at Zagreb is to inflate that list with even more notable Croatian musicians and bands.

To be had here:

Peak XV - La Première Ascension (2015)

Peak XV is a kindred soul describing who's himself as an "armchair explorer," which if that's not what I'm doing here what am I doing at all? La Première Ascension is an electronic ambient album, done in a sort of modern classical style. Nearly completely instrumental, it is a fantastic album to hear repeatedly while multitasking, allowing it to fade in and out of your senses, always being pleasantly surprised by whole beautiful is whenever you take a moment to pay attention. That said, my first listen was without distraction and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

Denis Katanec Okanagan LTD - Sve moje Laurie (2014)

Americana music sung in Croatian? Sold, immediately to yours truly. Denis Katanec Okanagan LTD plays alt folk, like we often hear coming from North America and does it exceedingly well, but unlike many European artists that make their way onto this blog he singing in his native tongue. No judgment, seriously, good tunes be good tunes in any language. That said, I did find hearing the Croatian compelling, especially in how he quickly spits it out at the being of "Listopad." The main point is that this is a throughly enjoyable EP regardless what you feel, or lack in feeling, about Croatian singing or Croatia overall.

Jastreb - Mother Europe (2013)

Naturally in the globalized world we now all get to inhabit there's little meaning to geographic styles of music, at least in cosmopolitan cities of which I'd include Zagreb. In the light a krautrock band with clear Eastern influence woven in putting out an album in Croatia's capital with a photo of a Alpine mountain as the album art makes sense, at least a bit of sense. Mother Europe makes a nod to all the internationalism that is inherent in being European and did not stop at its borders when it came to informing the style of the album. Pretty goddamn cool shit.

Beat Gates - Elements EP (2014)

A short EP of beats music, as if the name of the outfit didn't give that away straight off. Unrelated to Croatia per se, I have been getting increasingly into beats music, so I am quite pleased to find a good beats artist that crossed sectioned with the country I'd been obsessing about. The songs are a little loopy and ethereal a nicely aloof way and have science fiction spoken word bits laid within. All in all makes for a pretty trippy and interesting few minutes of listening.

Bebè Na Volè - Time of Great Depression (2015)

Here's something I really didn't expect to find looking into Zagreb, music that sounds like early Black Keys and delightfully a touch more gloomy than the Black Keys ever were. Yet there's more to Bebè Na Volè, for it doesn't retain bluesy tone for long, delving into stripped down folk by the fourth track, "Wait For You." At this point becoming similar to Denis Katanec Okanagan LTD but sung in English and weirder by several degrees. The songs become more acoustic yet what is maintained is the frequently nihilistic lyrics. Then it's back towards the electrified blues upon the eleventh track. Like a nice folk sandwich with bluesy bread. A motherfucking fantastic album all around.

Scenes of a City, Vol. 9: Montréal, QC

Since relocating to the Pacific Northwest over 10 years ago, I've gotten soft about winter. The shortest days of the year are mild here, albeit a bit soggy. During the rare snowfall, even if it only amounts to an inch, I join fellow Portlanders as we collectively throw our hands up in the air and shout, "Fuck it ...can't drive!" And the city immediately shuts down (except for bars, of course).

That said, if I were mysteriously handed an opportunity to live anywhere tomorrow, I would likely choose cold and snowy Montreal. This is for a number of reasons. First off, I love maple syrup. I put that shit on eggs and pizza. Hell, I love eating food in general, and Montreal has the highest number of restaurants per capita in all of Canada, and is second only to New York City in all of North America. I've always said, if I were mysteriously handed an opportunity to be buried by a food, I'd want that food to be poutine.

Aside from going out to eat, I love going to shows, and Montreal seems to have no shortage of great rock bands at the moment. Some Montreal bands, recently covered here on Spacerockmountain, have ended up being my favorite things to listen to. These include Each Other, Jesuslesfilles, Small Teeth, and even though they're from Ottawa I'll throw in Grime Kings. It's an impressive roster and proves to me that Montreal is currently undergoing some indie-garage-psych rock renaissance... so let's dive in and see who else is in the mix.

Dories - Stripped
The breed of guitar-based indie rock that Dories master is not uncommon to other Canadian bands, I've found, particularly in Montreal and, perhaps, Calgary. Listeners might notice two, almost
meandering, guitar lines picking single notes over bass lines. The effect is almost wind chime-esque. And while overall songs are consonant, they are peppered with bits of disharmony. Dories play sophisticated and humble indie rock songs that eschew easy classification but do bring to my mind guitar-strong indie bands of the 90's like Polvo. "Small Circles" and "Caspar" are highlights.


Telstar Drugs - Weather Underground
Telstar Drugs are another band who employ the two guitar plucking single note aesthetic. Originally from Calgary, they seem to carry with them thicker, emotive sound akin to on of the best bands of the past decade, Women, who were also from Calgary. Telstar Drugs entire catalogue is fantastic and worthy of download, and I believe it's all free. This, their most recent release, is two of their strongest songs. Probably the one band from this whole lot that I will keep the keenest of eyes upon.


Future States - EP
A 5 piece with members from both Montreal and Ottawa, Future States harken more to the past states of indie rock, with songs reminiscent of other eastern Canadian bands from that recently bygone era, like Broken Social Scene and The Unicorns. 10 years ago, that's what I loved to listen to, so I immediately felt a kinship with this 5 song offering. Very melodic stuff, with excellent vocal harmonies to boot. While it's representative of that icy and beautiful Canadian indie pop, there are also sips of a sunny and effervescent Californian daydream; a brief departure from your winter.

Un Blonde - Habit Anything
Un Blonde is the solo work of Jean-Sebastien Audet. His music is lo-fi, experimental pop. These songs were actually recorded during breaks from recording his more proper full length called "Tenet". He writes in the notes for this EP that they are "frames of immediate expression", which I like, having been a songwriter in a previous life and remembering how some of the most interesting things happen when you relax expectations, relinquish control, and piss against the wind. Not that this is free jazz... free pop, maybe. From what I can tell he's well respected in the community, and getting some good gigs. Always nice to hear an artist playing music.


EDIT: I didn't do my homework! Turns out that Dories, Telstar Drugs, and Un Blonde are all connected and on the same label, called Egg Paper Factory.

Full Crumb - Maelstrom Protocol (2014)

Full Crumb are from the United Kingdom, not sure where exactly, as I wasn't told. Yet through an unknown series of events is being issued on cassette and digitally by the Athens, GA-based label Fall Break Records. However, after listening to Full Crumb's output, I can understand why they'd be eager to release it.

Maelstrom Protocol is a particularly tricky albums to describe. It really is the sort of thing that is best experienced without too much preface and pondered about by the listener for days afterwards during the likely sessions of re-listening. Truly a whole range of genres are applicable to the Maelstrom Protocol, being in near equal measure krautrock, British new wave, psychedelic, experimental pop and shitgaze. Perhaps the only caught-all term that works is art rock, but as we all know that doesn't tell you much about the songs really sounds. Let's put it this way, there's something of Orange Juice or the Fire Engines sort of Scottish late-80s thing, strange audio clips serving as intros, dreamy pop numbers, and an overall feeling perverted reverence throughout. Go on, have a listen.

To be had here:
Full Crumb - Maelstrom Protocol

Uma Totoro - Energía Solar Para Tortugas Gigantes (2014)

Getting the international submissions is one of the best parts of writing up this blog, as I get to hear all sorts of musicians that I would have missed out on completely in the days before easy email communication and hyperlinks. Giving up some of my freedom to choose what I'd like to hear at any particular moment is balanced by my curiosity. However, the what I am listening to because I wanna share at some point doesn't always line up with the sort of tunes I'm in the mood for. As you may imagine I am not ready to just jump into post-rock, garage rock, avant-garde art pop at any time. Yet sometimes things line up excellently, giving me just the sort of sound I was hoping for, sometimes one that I'm liking better than what I would have heard otherwise. The chill instrumental songs of Uma Totoro were exactly what I desired to hear on this rainy, autumn morning to enjoy with coffee and a Japanese novel.

Uma Totoro are from Buenos Aires, and in what might be a weird coincidence is one of teh two submissions from the Argentine capital I received in the same day, the other being the garage rockers Kill West from the last Grab Bag. Just found that neat, for musically they're very distinct from one another. Energía Solar Para Tortugas Gigantes as I earlier mentioned is instrumental, though there are spoken word audio clips used sparingly. The appeal of this album lies in the intriguing balance of various influential styles into a seamless genre-bending experience. Undoubtedly the noisy, bass-heavy electronic dance music influence is most immediately apparent in the first few tracks, yet as one continues to listen there's subtle shifts toward krauty post-rock. The songs are solid, and that bass is a fine thing. A good instrumental album is always I thing I could use more of in my life, so I think I might even good check out the early albums by Uma Totoro.

To be had here:
Uma Totoro - Energía Solar Para Tortugas Gigantes

Steve Palmer - Unblinking Sun (2014)

Steve Palmer is from Minneapolis, MN and plays psychedelic folk that bears heavy influence from both krautrock and the American Primitive of John Fahey. Unblinking Sun is a hard-to-predict album because eccentric influences, and that unpredictably is truly an asset. Parts of it are undoubtedly pulled straight from the guitar picking tradition that Fahey inspired, of which I can never get my fill, and like Fahey himself Palmer wasn't afraid to get experimental with it. It has the trappings sound collage with touch ambient noises and spoken word that provide the far out psychedelic folk with a theatricality. Nonetheless, it really is Palmer's amazing skill with the guitar the makes this album anything at all, and boy howdy can he play.

Normally I would not share a link to an incompletely streamable album, but it is my bad that I failed to share this in the window where it was fully listenable and also(I got a link for the full streaming for those of you interested in hearing it all before purchase), these are our buddies over at Dying For Bad Music putting the album out. I defer to their wisdom and will tell you that you'll have to believe me that the second half of this album is as good as the first.

To be had here:
Steve Palmer - Unblinking Sun

EP Grab Bag vol. 71

So Detroit has been getting hit by some really wild thunderstorms lately. These have brought rains and winds to a degree I can't really recall in my lifetime in Michigan, not that I'm terribly old. But, I mean, my roommate lost his car in a flood of a Detroit suburb and the most recent storm knocked out my power for the last 36 hours or so. This is why I haven't been able to keep up my breakneck pace of music reviewing. You're gonna have to trust I'm not getting old, for real guys.

To be had here:

Local Onlys - Half Birthday EP (2014)

The second Local Onlys EP of the year, after the Mt. Wister EP that I wrote up back in vol. 65. The Philly-based guys have kept up the garage rock sound with a very distinctive vocal delivery from the singer that I'm totally behind. As far as garage rock goes, they're of the sort that has one foot in jangle pop, which is to say the songs are incredibly catchy and appealing. Basically it has all the things I loved about the prior EP and I am glad to see they've got more songs they're putting out as I'm quickly become a fanboy for Local Onlys.

 The Gateless Gate - Myrrh (2014)

Krautrock is something I wish I had more chances to write up. That's right, I am goading your musicians to send me more Krautrock, and it is all thanks to The Gateles Gate. This Toronto band has reminded me how much I love some mildly creepy, very trippy, German-inspired songs. Other than being an oxymoron, Myrrh is four tracks of psychedelic, near ambient at times, kraut-ish experimental music. That's gotta be enough musical descriptors for anyone, so I'll finish by saying the EP is fucking top notch.


Spoonty - Meditation Machine (2014)

This EP surprised me more than any other in the batch in how much I found myself really digging it. It's an electronic beats/instrumental hip-hop release, something I can't say I am always down with, yet Sydney's Spoonty has proven I do like it despite my shitty preconceived notions. Of course, not having any singing made the experience all the more palatable for me, as people know I'm usually a downer on vocals. Spoonty did it right with just some really fine compositions, and they get more elaborate as the EP goes on.

Bill Times A Billion - Bridges and Borders (2014)

Way back in vol. 29 of this feature I shared another EP by the Massachusetts two-piece Bill Times a Billion. Finally, after a delay since early last year, they're sharing a bit of new material and I mean just a bit. Two tracks, both quite short. However, these brief songs do show remarkable potential should they release something more substantial. So if you got like 2 minutes to spare maybe you can check this out.

DrAlienSmith - Under Songs (2014)

An EP out of Perth, Australia this time. Under Songs is some heavy instrumental post-rock. DrAlienSmith (nice name by the way) makes a very epic soundscape that runs from sludgy stoner rock to light, ambient-esque shoegaze stuff. These are songs that are literally designed to go underneath something, be in a video or just in the background while you putter around the house doing chores -as I took it in. Makes everything feel like the stakes have been upped considerably, and I imagine that is what the goal was.

FoneZ - Adhesivo De Contacto Espacial (2014)

Musical globetrotting afoot, yesterday a band from Spain and today one from Argentina. FoneZ are from the city of Córdoba in the center of the Argentine Republic, a country already on my mind as I just enjoyed reading the Invention of Morel by Argentine writer, Adolfo Bioy Casares. Now what I didn't know going into that novella was how much the plot elements would incorporate science fiction, and I had no clue as to how this spacey and pop-like this album would be. A musical parallel to the pleasant literary surprise I'd gotten.

Adhesivo De Contacto Espacial is hard to label with a genre because of how well the songs seem to hang between more recognizable styles like Krautrock, indie pop, noise pop and shoegaze. The mood of the music seems happier and upbeat and all the keyboarding makes me think of cheerful indie pop like Bishop Allen or, if this doesn't lose everyone, Hemstad. The Swedish band that seemingly disappeared but I liked in 2006, you guys recall that, right? I fear you'll have to take my word for it. Anyhow, this is a good release despite my inability to describe it very well, but I think they were going for something outside the box yet catchy and they certainly achieved that goal. It is mostly an instrumental album so I do encourage you to throw some headphones on and listen to this next time you wanna read a story of the fantastique. Free download via bandcamp, released by Lo-Fi Records.

To be had here:
FoneZ - Adhesivo De Contacto Espacial

Lazy Aftershow - Lazy Aftershow 12" (2013)

I work at bookstore in Detroit, as some of you may know already, but it really isn't all the important for the specifics of my job. Just know that I work retail so I see the public. Most of the time I keep my work stuff and this music blog well separated but I found the coincidence interesting enough to share. I was ringing out a series of customers and eventually got to young man and we chatted for a minute about why our store is closed on Sundays, which is because anyone who has ever been in downtown Detroit on a Sunday knows, it is fucking devoid of people. Anyhow, he expressed longing for his home city of Thessaloniki, Greece that crossed half the world from in his life. Feeling sorry and touched by his homesickness I told him I had a band from Thessaloniki awaiting a write-up this music blog and gave him the URL. So Greek dude, this is the Lazy Aftershow, straight from your hometown and a remarkable export of Greek music.

As I have implied, I very much enjoyed this album. It is an instrumental group that plays something between psychedelic and krautrock. The tracks are lengthier ones that allows for the evolution of sounds that is so integral to both these genres, and does provide the album with a post-rock sort of building quality. Tracks like "So We Joke About Death" and "No Mountain No Hope" have some heavier parts that make me recall that fantastic Austrian musician, Kanoi. Yet other songs like "Slap Happy Sun" are more upbeat and trippy with the use of organ. A competently done album that hits all the spots I want, and not in a routine manner. They also put of an EP last year that is still available for free called Siesta Moments. Totally check it out if you you've liked all the other Greek tunes I've been writing up, or should just wanna zone out to some psychedelia.

To be had here:
Lazy Aftershow -  Lazy Aftershow 12"

Circassian - Hantse Guashe (2014)

What's this, more Greek music? Yeah, I wasn't lying when I said we've got a lot of in coming in lately, so here's another notable submission I ran across trying to thin the herd. When I read the name of this band and saw that they had tagged it "anatolian rock" I got excited thinking about stories by Mikhail Lermontov and my favorite Turkish band, Les Mogol. While I don't think conjuring those up will mean shit to most of you it gave me a chance to plug two things I greatly enjoyed. In a more genuine effort to summarize this band I will begin with saying they an Athens-based neo-psychedelic rock group, and in that much akin to the Moofs I recently posted about. However, the music has what the band itself refers to as "pseduocultured influences" worked in. So while bearing many of the attributes one could expect from the psychedelic sound, they did an excellent job at incorporating some elements of Asian and African music resulting a more unique tone to the album that gets rather close to krautrock at times. These guys have seemingly embraced their geographic heritage as a crossroad for cultures on the edge of Europe and the results are subtle and not overblown showiness, but a contained and self-aware reflection of that position. What I mean by that is that if I nor the band explained those influence you might have listened to it and just found it to be a fine release. If these Greeks keep impressing me so consistently I might just have to go there someday and check the place out.

To be had here:
Circassian - Hantse Guashe

EP Grab Bag vol. 17

Sorry about taking so damned long, but I finally got the time to plow through all these EPs. 

To be had here:

Stolen Girls - The Girls Can't Help It! (2012)

A new band with the previously featured Greg Cee on the roster. Much like the solo work of Greg Cee, this band plays loud and howling garage punk. At risk of saying so about too band submitted bands, they remind me of the early Ty Segall bands like Party Fowl and Epsilons. But I just as easily might say Tyvek or Nohopekids. Hope they realize how happy I am to get some garage sent in, been hankering it all the more since some conversations with people that are less than fans of the genre.

Sun Eater - Sun Eater (2012)

Won't lie that I completely forgot what this band said they were playing between downloading their EP and playing it for the first time. The pleasure I got when I heard some real smoothly done yet heavy post-rock was amazing. Instantly I recalled how much I enjoyed music like this done by Kinski, Lebanon and Maserati.  Guitar, bass and drums blending together yet all distinctly separate to form of psychedelic experience that with a feel beer inside of you can make transcendental.

The Sea Life - The Sea Life EP (2012)

Adorable, that's literally the best word I could summon for the rock these cats are laying down. It is sentimental but not sappy, that's something I can dig. Most obviously they're a very well produced rock group.  And holy shit did this band drive me insane for whole night trying to remember who the fuck they were making me think of. To be honest to was likely some amalgamation of memories so I might never find it, but if one of you figure out something remarkably close let me know.

Dive Signal - Don't Die Just Yet (2012)

This is shaping up to be one of the most diverse of Grab Bags yet with another very different sort of band appearing. Although I only recently posted their full-lungth album, 10,000 Tropics, Dive Signal has released an EP. While firmly ambient like the album, this has got some jazzy aspects. The first track has got some sweet as bass line running through it and later swore I heard free jazz horns! Quite astounding how when your game is subtly that the smallest introduction of new elements can be fantastic.

Violet Age - Prescriptions EP (2011)

Perhaps boldly they've tagged their EP as "drug pop" but I'll entertain the concept of being purposefully trippy. After all I just cited it as something I enjoyed earlier in the Grab Bag. There's a wall-of-sound-like quality to this group that pushes them toward shoegaze, alternatively one could say its somewhat krautrock. Pretty solid EP (best played loudly) that's got me intrigued.

The Soul Dervish - Addiction EP (2003)

You may notice that this EP isn't really a recently release nor widely known. In fact I got it so long along just randomly dicking around on the internet that I can't recall what brought me to even listen to it. What I can say is that it's oddness has been terribly endearing. Straightaway this EP is fucking bizarre. Weird drumbeats built into a lo-fi, instrumental rock song. Thereafter things just get stranger as the dude sing/spoke words it up with a muddled, breathy voice. This is too the tropical drums mind you. It is like staring into a surrealist painting for hearing it. Won't lie, don't think this was an official release, likely i just took all the myspace tracks available at the time and tagged it this way.

Furies - Donde se Fabrican las Ciudades (2010)

The younger days of the blog I posted what was a relatively obscure space rock EP by an Argentine band called the Baseball Furies. I'll admit the initial draw was their name that referenced one of my favorite films, but I posted it because their sound was fantastic. However, I do think the name was already taken by a New England punk band and perhaps other factors I'm not privy to, they're merely Furies now. The album appeals to me for many of the same reason as I enjoyed the EP. It is a dreamy yet holds interest well. The echoing Spanish lyrics, rhythmic percussion, tuneful keys and especially the space-aged guitar parts come together to make a very otherworldly soundtrack. I listened to the whole thing twice over at my job and would've more save for fear of customer complains of hearing the same thing all day. This is on bandcamp, but not a free release. Naturally you can stream the entirety though. If you're in the mood for something near-ambient, mildly krauty, and quite space rock you should give this a try.

To be had here:
Furies - Donde se Fabrican las Ciudades

German Oak - German Oak (1972)

German Oak is an album with an odd tale behind it. German Oak was an instrumental krautrock band that went to an air raid shelter in Düsseldorf to record. The band went over like a lead balloon at the time and nearly all of the LPs produced remained unsold and went into a band member's basement for over a decade. Therefore, unlike their contemporaries, such as Faust and Can, they didn't enjoy any success of the initial enthusiasm for krautrock. Despite this lack of support early on the band was discovered and embraced in later decades as genuine krautrock from the period was sought out by fans and collectors. German Oak didn't have lyrics obviously, but I can't help but wonder if the song titles had some part in people not gravitating toward it in the beginning, as the seem to mostly reference Nazi Germany and the Second World War. How offensive it can be in a song without words I question though, but in any case the band didn't rise out of the ashes as a novelty. They are legitimately quite good at making music and really made a fabulously cohesive album. Feels like a precursor to acts like Eternal Tapestry and Voice Of The Seven Thunders as well as a neat to compare to other krautrock bands.

Also I didn't mean to, but I did seem to do this a year after Edo at Know Your Conjurer did. Getting harder to find something he hasn't from the 70s or 60s though, he is good.

To be had here:
German Oak - German Oak [192 kbps]

Eternal Tapestry - The Invisible Landspace (2009) & Palace of the Night Skies (2009)

If you haven't caught on by now I'll be explicit. My musical tastes ebb and flow between various styles and I grab up a bunch of shit from one genre or place like a bandit on a raid and post it up fast than I could make bail. This is the long way around of explaining that I am posting more instrumental, kraut-infused, psychedelic rock. Eternal Tapestry is a Portland, Oregon band that makes tunes along the lines of several recently shared groups like Voice of the Seven Thunders and People of the North, but on the epic and spacey side. Perhaps being so poetic with the names is a liberty they choose to take for the lack of lyrics in their songs. I've been spending perhaps too much time at home as the family members that I dwell with have been out of town, thus reading comics and playing computer games has been top priority. These instrumental bands have been the most excellent of accompaniment for these activities, as well as in my far too frequent drive times. Eternal Tapestry is not mind blowing, but certainly damned listenable.

To be had here:





The Invisible Landscape [224 VBR kbps]












Palace of the Night Skies [224 VBR kbps]

Voice Of The Seven Thunders - Voice Of The Seven Thunders (2010)

Voice Of The Seven Thunders is a similarly named but technically separate project of Rick Tomlinson, who's other band is called Voice Of The Seven Woods. Like much other recently posted albums, this is an instrumental project that is heavily influenced by krautrock. As long as I'm stuck inside due to the resurgence of Michigan's harsh ass winter I have been pleased to have some of these epic jams to hear. Voice Of The Seven Thunders is very much along the same lines as People of the North from a few days back, but seems to have more of a eastern feel to it, almost reminds me of Les Mogol or Bröselmaschine at the mellower parts. The versatility of the album is one of the stronger aspects, as it goes between heavy, slightly drone, psychedelia and lighthearted acoustic tracks. Pretty solid all around.

To be had here:
Voice Of The Seven Thunders - Voice Of The Seven Thunders [320 kbps]

People of the North - Deep Tissue (2010)

People of the North is more or less a side project, if not an alternate version of, Onedia, the spectacular Brooklyn-based experimental band that we should all know and enjoy. Kid Millions and Bobby Matador have adopted this other moniker for a very krautrock-esque psychedelic album Deep Tissue. Damned minimal and eerie as all get out, this shit is pretty swell. If I had to place it I'd put it somewhere between Faust and Suicide and Onedia's usual outlandishness. It does feel rather elongated and otherworldly, so you gotta be down for relaxing and having a good listen to make the most of it. After really getting into all that Peaking Lights and Parts & Labor again as of late this is a fine compliment, so if we were about that jazz grab this up as well.

To be had here:
People of the North - Deep Tissue

Horrid Red - Empty Lungs (2010)

Horrid Red is something else. Pretty sure I saw them on a blog somewhere or another, but I just got to listening to them over the last week. Like the band that it sprouted from, Teenage Panzerkorps, Horrid Red makes dark, eerie post-punk with singing comprised of rather haunting German. While Teenage Panzerkorps is intense, big and loud this is a more subtle and focused version. Brooding and echoic the music makes the German seem otherworldly, but there is more to Empty Lungs than the spookiness and foreignness. It is a remarkably well blended new wave and kaurtrock elements that makes for a real nostalgic feel to the album. I am unsure what would motivate one to make such sounds as these, but I am sure glad someone did. Finally, it is worth noting that both Horrid Red and Teenage Panzerkorps releases are available on bandcamp for the damned fine price of five dollars, even for full-length releases.

To be had here:
Horrid Red - Empty Lungs [256 VBR kbps]

Actual Water - Double Negatives (2008)

I've only been living in Toronto since the beginning of last November and only have had the opportunity to make it out to a handful of local shows, so there are still a bunch of specific bands I'm fiending to see. I mostly stay in my apartment listening to or recording music and making enough vegetable stirfry to fell an ox. One band in particular I've been really digging is Actual Water, a ?-piece garage punk band that takes a sexy amount of influence from the propulsive motorik-laden psychrock bands of 1970s Germany and post-punk bands from the same era like the Fall, Swell Maps, etc... but yeah, this album fucking rocks. The further you get into it, the more you see how far their influences actually reach. The instrumental / ambient break right in the middle comes as a welcome and unexpected surprise. Makes me think of Cryptograms-era Deerhunter.

DOWNLOAD: Actual Water - Double Negatives

Giant Brain - Plume (2007)

I won't pretend to know much about the Giant Brain. Credit must be given to NPR's All Songs Considered for bringing this group into my realm of knowing. I know they're Detroit boys and have some considerable talent, but outside of my usual, I hesitate to use the word 'scene' yet I suppose it is the best I can conjure. I dug up what I could and found they cite influence from the krautrock greats Can, Neu!, Amon Düul, and Faust in addition to good old My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth. Thus they've created a satisfying mixture of electronic and rock music; all of it completely instrumental. Plume is a five track release, but I'd refrain from calling it an EP as it times in at 48 minutes and change. Not coming off overly heavy for my tastes is something remarkable for a band I've seen labeled as stoner rock, which is not a label I choose to use ever. "Ausgesetzt" was the song NPR played that got me interested enough to go after them, because truth be told just the fact of being a Detroit band doesn't hold much sway, we've got a lot of music. "Die Festzeit" has a distinctively dreamy feeling to it while "Looper" and "Krauter" are long enough to have many transitioning moods (oh, how I fancy lengthy tracks). For fans of krautrock and great instrumental music alike I recommend this strongly.

To be had here (192 VBR kbps):
Giant Brain - Plume