Virginia Wing – Ecstatic Arrow. OK, so the singer may still sound like a dead ringer for Trish Keenan (or occasionally a very English Kim Gordon), and there is a retro futurist vibe (though also a futurist futurist vibe too), but VW prove that they’re more than just Broadcast disciples here. Excellent forward-facing avant pop, there’s even horns on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtR5gZbs8R0
Lunatic Soul – Under The Fragmented Sky. Side project from bloke out of Polish proggers Riverside. That might not be selling it, but this is actually quite nice, and for the most part, commendably restrained. One for fans of Steven Wilson’s more contemplative material: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwQqCEAGr6U
Maurizio Abate – Standing Waters. Italian guitar picker in the tradition of John Fahey. Rather good: https://boringmachines.bandcamp.com/album/maurizio-abate-standing-waters
A Hawk And A Hacksaw – Forest Bathing
The Advisory Circle – Ways Of Seeing
Nest Egg – Nothingness Is Not A Curse
The Left Outsides – All That Remains
Skydive Trio – Sun Sparkle
The Brackish – Firm But Fair
Gonga – s/t. Quickly pulled from the archive before jumping in the car. It is of course flippin’ awesome, a riff-tastic West Country take on early QOTSA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCEaFiYZDLo
The Vinyl Countdown – D
Drowning Pool – Satori. From 1987, when I was listening pretty much exclusively to American bands (err, and Gaye Bykers On Acid), mostly of the post-hardcore persuasion. Drowning Pool however were a bunch of arty neo-psychedelic types from San Francisco (and most definitely not the nu-metal band that came later). This was their sprawling double album debut which I now realise was actually a compilation of tracks they’d released on cassette over the previous few years. Lots of super-deep flanged bass, chorusy guitars and gated drums, it’s like a folk gothic take on the early 4AD sound. One of those albums where the band had clearly created a little world around themselves and were intent on doing their own thing, come what may, which possibly explains why they’ve dwindled into obscurity. But it’s a real treasure trove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTb7iFflQJM
Live:
Tangerine Dream – Union Chapel, Islington. Rather unexpectedly (a mate texted to say he had a spare ticket), I found myself in the lovely surroundings of the Union Chapel to witness TD’s first UK show post-Edgar. Never seen them before, and it was pretty great, if inevitably a little noodly in places. I also felt a little sorry for the violin lady, who stood centre stage the entire (two and a half hour) gig, but didn’t get to do very much… However, they did a cracking version of ‘Stratosfear’, and even better, they played ‘White Eagle’, which I consider to be a perfect piece of electronic music. Great light show too!
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