New(ish) stuff:
Aphex Twin – Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt 2. I still haven’t got round to listening to Syro yet, but this EP/mini-album is rather good in a funky Heath Robinson way. At first, I thought it might be another AT wind-up – the premise being what it says on the tin ie. real drums and piano played robotically – but this suggests it’s actually true: http://www.logosfoundation.org/instrum_gwr/snar2.html
Noveller – Fantastic Planet. Think it was a Norman Records review again that piqued my interest here. Instrumental ambient guitar pieces from female New York artist, a lot more interesting and less pointlessly swishy than that description suggests (that wasn’t meant to sound sexist, or even sexy, but, you know…). Nice Slint influence/lift here: https://soundcloud.com/firerecords/noveller-into-the-dunes
Gala Drop – II. As I get older, my ability to misremember/irrationalise stuff increases. I got send this at the end of last year, and after a cursory listen of a few tracks, deleted it. Then earlier this week, I came across it again in a different context, liked it, and re-downloaded it. I just didn’t remember it sounding like this when I first heard it, which mildly freaked me out… Anyway, it’s got a dubby, cosmic, globalbeat vibe to it which is really rather nice, bit like a more dancey version of fellow Portuguese band Paus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33raKPNHAnE
Powder Blue – various tracks. So, this is my real find for this week, particularly because of its utter randomness. Clicked on the Cheap Downloads thread, and then on a link in one of Monganaut’s posts (thanks!) to The Active Listener, a New Zealand psych site… and then on their latest Bandcamp sampler: https://theactivelistener.bandcamp.com/album/the-active-listener-sampler-28 And then clicked on Powder Blue, maybe because I liked the name of their track… Anyway, long preamble… but they are just super, like a dream combo of Rain Parade, Smoke Fairies and MBV. Loving what I’m hearing so far: http://www.powder-blue.ca/music.html
Unfiled Pile:
Suuns – Images Du Futur. Suuns had some nerve playing the Liverpool Psych Fest last year, being as it was in the home town of Clinic, who would’ve been within their rights to give them a bloody good kicking for not only nicking their sound, but seriously improving on it. This is a great album, but their wholesale pilfering of Clinic’s vibe is at times quite something. Brilliant (and not completely Clinic-esque) track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VQeJX86Rb8
Uncle Acid – Mind Control. After being disappointed in this after the awesomeness of Blood Lust, I quite enjoyed revisiting it, even if the production is pretty horrible in places and the last half is still as turgid as hell.
Random access:
Add (N) to X – Avant Hard. I think that over the years, this has become one of my favourite albums.
Tangerine Dream – Phaedra. Found this in a charity shop for a quid fifty, and having got rid of my knackered vinyl copy a long time ago, and in light of the recent sad news, I couldn’t pass it by. My fave of the Virgin 70s albums, I love the way that the technology constantly sounds like it’s about to career out of control on the title track. And is there a better Mellotron track than this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8J2doVjui4
Steve Moore – Pangea Ultima. Recent solo set from Zombi guy, nice if inessential.
Silver Apples – s/t. OK, so I’d somehow never managed to hear this before (alright, I just hadn’t bothered). Oh foolish boy. The vocals tie it to the period, but blimey, some of those oscillator/drum grooves are amazing. Broadcast, Stereolab, Moonshake etc have long since fessed up, but I wonder if Jaki Liebezeit heard this album? It certainly sounds like it.
VA – Island Records Present Dub. Spencer, I hope Island are paying you commission ;-) Nice stuff, though I feel like I’m listening to it in the wrong season/country.
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