Where Are They Now? - Little Dreamers Revisited #2

Here we are with the second instalment of acts that rocked hard in Sonic Masala's past, and are here to show 2012 what for.


Ancient River really put the 70s back into their psych rock, and the Florida band are back to show their frenetic work ethic shows no signs of keeping them at bay. Let It Live is their fourth release in a month, as they alternate between studio time and home recordings, and the constant jamming is paying serious dividends. Let It Live fucking rocks hard. I liked Ancient River, but based on this, there is no reason why the likes of the Black Angels should sit on top of the heap forever. Im very impressed...

Ancient River - What Goes Round
Ancient River - As The World Burns


I blogged about New Zealand band Two Cartoons' single 'Better Coast' some time ago, then promptly forgot about them (that isn't a diss, it's hard to keep track when so many bands throw things your way). Then a few days ago the band showed off their baby - debut EP Jelly Tip Lips. It contains re-recorded versions of 'Better Coast' and 'Scientific Life' plus three new songs, one of which is below. Its a fun slice of guitar pop with some great guitar and chiming harmonies, unrelenting sugar rush! You can grab it here.

Two Cartoons - Broken Bones


Fresno, California band The Quiet Americans are basically Luke Giffen and drummer Eli Reyes. The aim - to combine classic songwriting with insane fuzz and Neanderthal thump. The Quiet Americans combine bright melodies and animal like drums with fuzzed out guitar squall. Their Medicine EP was pretty tasty, I reckon you'd agree. Now the duo have recently expanded their live lineup to include Simon Smeds on bass, and Steve Loveless on organ, and have played some cool shows including opening slots for A Place to Bury Strangers, The Fresh and Onlys, Royal Baths, and Light Pollution. Im expecting more from these guys as they ramp it up in 2012.

The Quiet Americans - Selia


And finally we have Fay Wrays. This is linked once more to The Quiet Americans as drummer Eli Reyes resides in both. Their first new track for a whil has been unearthed. 'Cars' offers that indie guitar shtick that was rife in the 90s, yet infused with Mogwai-level distortion spikes, creating an awkwardly raucous take on the college radio smash hit. It becomes a mutant beast, exactly what the band was hoping for. Big fan of this turn of events, hope more heavy mutations are on their way guys! Tied fave track of the week (alongside yesterday's Inca Gold track...)

Fay Wrays - Cars

Hits From The Box #26 - Mazel Tov!

Im in the foetal position. Close mate's wedding. At a winery. Good times. My liver packed its bags and left a while ago, leaving me with just a broken soul and these six bands to form this week's Hits From The Box. Fin.


Delaware’s The Sky Drops have done their dues, carving out a sweet menagerie of garage, psychedelics, and shoegaze for a few years now. Their latest EP Moving Mountains could be their gamebreaker. There's a lot of noise and swagger, but through evoking shoegaze yet having that Black Angels harmonies and psych sleaze with a little of the Sloan side of production and pop sensibilities, The Sky Drops dodge the generics and show that they have enough juice under the bonnet to make it past the finish line and more.

The Sky Drops - Explain It To Me


New Christchurch, NZ band Psych Tigers is actually the solo project of 16 year old Samuel Perry. Lil smartarse...NO! I kid, I kid! This is great stuff. Their debut EP comes out on the 16th of July. Perry's band also features Steven Marr from fellow Christchurch band Ipswich, who we raved about here. This is the single. From this, I cant wait another week - give us the good stuff now! Or you can go on your merry teenage ways, kiddo...

Psych Tigers - Crystal Methods


Dovie Beams Love Child is a guitar instrumental project from duo Juan Torregoza and Lito Vales, whose second album DBLC2 (released 2009) really impressed me. Essentially a guitar collage, it is the textual interlay of the tracking that impresses, especially on the longer, more grandiose tracks, punctuated by sudden noise outbursts that startle and help to create a subtle tension throughout. 'Himala' in particular reminded me of something that could be featured in a brutal existential Western film score, something John Hillcoat would direct from a Nick Cave script that has been adapted from a Cormac McCarthy novella. Lovely stuff. You can buy their album from Cactus Killer Records here.

Dovie Beam Love Child - Pasimula


The second band in this week's HFTB to feature from New Zealand, Two Cartoons is a sunny guitar inspired romp based in Dunedin. Consisting of These Dancing Wolves bassist / singer Isaac McFarlane and Aucklander Bradley Craig, Two Cartoons strive to make fun and reckless music with the least amount of complication necessary. Based in Dunedin, their debut double-single Better Coast/Scientific Life is the perfect precursor to the impending EP launch in October.

Two Cartoons - Better Coast
Two Cartoons - Scientific Life


Holiday Shores are a Florida-based quintet who are just preparing to release their album New Masses for Squaw Peak (September 13 through Two Syllable Records). You can hear from the first single from the record, that baffles in its juxtaposition of using tropical beats and woozy production, yet infusing it with some sassy 70s soul and a smidge of psychedelia. In fact, it reminds me of My Morning Jacket in the verses, then Phoenix via Kenny Loggins in the chorus. Weird, but decidedly wonderful.

Holiday Shores - Spells


Jumping over to Africa to finish us off today, Dimension Machine is an Egyptian electronic music duo from Cairo currently exploring the styles of electro-zar (zar is the east/north African trance/possession cult with its own musical tradition, similar to vodoun) and psych-phunk. This is all rather confusing, but their music is decidedly something else - Temple is an EP that delivers some eclectic programmed grooves that don't always float my boat, but are doing something incredibly enjoyable, decadently enjoyable - like enjoying TRON, I guess.

Arpegasus by DIMENSION MACHINE

Happy Sunday! (Now, where is that hair of the dog?)