Night Cults Of Reverberation

Saw The Black Angels at The Tivoli a couple months ago. I was only saying at the beginning of the year that the ex-theatre with the stellar sound hadn't been catering to good bands in recent years, then BAM! Dirty Three play there, Godspeed play there, My Bloody Valentine play there, and now the Texan psych giants. It was a typically amazing show, especially the light show, Alex Maas' iconic vocals and Stephanie Bailey's drumming... There is nothing about this band live that doesn't appeal to me.

So why not focus on some of the latest releases to come out of their Reverberation Appreciation Society label. The eponymous debut from Nottingham's The Cult of Dom Keller is one (albeit tiny) reason to heed my fiance's imploring to move to the land of Robin Hood - these languorous psychic jams death-march straight into my soul. From the insistent crawl of 'Swamp Heron', the laced languid spike of 'Eyes', the trance of 'Worlds' which then explodes in fury, the black dirge that is the excellent 'Black Pullet Blues' - it's no wonder they on the Black Angels label - it's like Passover all over again. You can (and really should) buy the album here.

Then there is the incumbent album from Seattle garage dwellers Night Beats, Sonic Bloom. It's been in the making for some time, and whilst I haven't heard it there is 'Outta Mind', a short stomping stab of garage psych that oozes out of the time capsule and demands to have your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle. Impassioned wailing ensues.Night Beats have always been more about the rock side of vintage psych sounds, and Sonic Bloom looks set to build on their template. Can't wait to hear it. They are touring Europe in September/October - don't miss them.

I'm Finally Riding Into The Sun

I'll be honest - I hadn't heard of Adelaide psychers Ride Into The Sun until they had been snapped up for the Austin Psych Fest earlier this year. I feel I have held a good nose for Aussie psych rock, so having missed this one is a bit embarrassing. But c'est la vie - I know them now, and this blurb about their current mini LP is more than enough to make amends before their debut LP proper hits the shelves. It shouldn't be surprising that it sounds incredible - they have had the fortune of working with Black Angels frontman Alex Maas on the tracks, and the affinity between these acts is palpable (especially on 'These Are The Ones That Shoot' and 'Hero').  So good.

You can buy the mini-LP here. Ride Into The Sun will grace Brisbane with its presence in September as part of Big Sound.

Sonic Masala Presents A Double Whammy Of Shows!! EXHIBIT B

The second Sonic Masala show this weekend takes place on Saturday at the Grand Central Hotel, in conjunction with Trainspotters. It marks the triumphant return of local psych lords Dreamtime, fresh from their US jaunt where they ruled Austin Psych Fest, grace the pages of Impose Magazine, and spent all the hard earned. The trio (sometime foursome) just announced they have snagged the highly coveted local support slot for the legendary Bardo Pond when they come to Brisbane in August too which is further cause for celebration. They are supported by the bucolic excellence of sibling androids Multiple Man, and the cantankerous merchants of phosphorous sneers Gazar Strips. It promises to be another killer showcase of burgeoning talent, plus its free entry, and it's right next to the train station. No excuses then. Check out more on the event here.




Multiple Man : Whipping Boy, (Film Clip By #459) from = ) #459 on Vimeo.

Hits From The Box #65 - Get Psyched

This weekend marks the 6th Austin Psych Fest, an event that I've wanted to go to since its inception...six years ago (funny, that). The closest I've come though is seeing Brissie band Dreamtime get on the bill this year. There will be a chance in the near future where I will be partaking in a weekend of excellent psych rock from around the globe, but until then, here are six bands that are on the bill, and for whatever reason I haven't posted about them yet (or for a while).

JJUUJJUU is a duo from LA that love their music long, elongated, a little weird, and very astrally inclined. They have just released their debut LP FRST (through Beyond Beyond Is Beyond - you can grab it here) which is a burnt slab of distorted retina burners. Already the band is gleaning shows with the likes of Cosmonauts and some pretty amazing festivals such as Desert Daze and Psych De Mayo, and are worthy of the high praise.

JJUUJJUU - G 4 A G

Another impressive duo dirge is Nashville's Ttotals, who have just released Spectrums Of Light 7" yesterday through Twin Lakes Records. The squalling echo that emanates on the periphery should be familiar - the tracks were mastered by Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3/Spectrum). These blue desert wanderers delve elbow deep into the dark stuff before launching forth with a crashing fury. Remember when QOTSA where kinda exciting? 'Tricks Of The Trade' holds much of that Rated R magic in its veins, whilst 'Sometimes You Just Are' plays back like a record in reverse, and is just as menacing. Get it here.

Ttotals - Tricks Of The Trade

Continuing on with the unintentional trend of psych duos, most of you will be familiar with the swirling psychedelia of Chile's The Holydrug Couple. They brought out Noctuary a couple months ago through Sacred Bones, and it's a cracker. At its core is a golden hue that emanates out of the speakers and cocoons you, a natural high of the highest supply. Everything feels out of sync, at half-pace, ethereal and enraptured in the paisley underground of 60s psych pop (they even have a song called 'Paisley' for Chrissakes!). Its lustrous, its elegant, above all its excellent. Get it here.

The Holydrug Couple - It's Dawning

Cosa Mesa's favourite junkyard bums The Growlers have just released a new album, Hung At Heart, through Everloving Records. You might remember that one of my favourite songs from the last few years is their 'Graveyard's Full'. And although there hasn't been a song on this album that grabbed me like that one did, it's a solid slice of lo-fi doo-wop skewering, shanties for the disenchanted, ballads for the murderous. I really want to see this band - and if you're in Austin this weekend, you lucky devils, you really should. Dusty Box Social twinkles from Hell. Get Hung At Heart here.

Now I mentioned Brisbane's Dreamtime were in Austin for the APF. Well they aren't the only Aussie reps, as The Black Ryder, The Laurels, and these guys will be blowing all and sundry away. Adelaide's Ride Into The Sun have an added in here - their upcoming album was recorded by none other than Black Angels frontman Alex Maas last year whilst the band toured the Harvest festivals. While we wait for that to drop with sweaty palms, here is the 7" they released to tantalise the third eye.

I bought World Music on Record Store Day for a number of reasons. Firstly, the cover art - of many vibrant colours, with W's and M's cut out of the front - was pretty spectacular. Secondly, it was in 180gm clear vinyl and look delectable. Finally (and most importantly) it's the new album from Swedish psych band Goat. This is hands down one of the best psych records I have heard in years - IN YEARS. Writing only this much is not giving it justice, but trust me, it will be in the reckoning for top honours come year's end. You can get it via Stranded Rekords here.

Goat - Diarabi
Goat - Goatman

And I thought I'd end off with The Black Angels, who themselves have just brought out their latest album Indigo Meadow. Here's the title song from it. I interviewed Alex Maas earlier in the week - more about that to come.

The Black Angels - Indigo Meadow

Happy Saturday!

Entering The Inner Sanctum Of The Cosmic Dead

Just a quick post about this killer psych band from Glasgow called The Cosmic Dead. I knew nowt about them until the other week when local psych alums Dreamtime steered me into their tractor beam. How I missed these guys I'll never know - fucking brutal, evidently excellent. They have a cassette out called Inner Sanctum on Evil Hoodoo which is goddamn excellent - get it here (on pea-green cassette with handmade cotton sleeves - if you are going to invest in cassettes, it needs to be this special).

There's also this download-only album called Orbiting Salvation - you may as well have at it too.

Finally, Dreamtime touched down in the US yesterday to begin their Stateside assault. First show is this one in San Francisco on Friday at Cafe du Nord! Get there, you won't be disappointed!

Dead Angels and Black Meadows As We Wash Into The Sea...

 

This week the announcement of new albums from two of the world's premiere psych rock bands hit the streets, and it would be remiss of me not to shine considerable light on them both - especially as these bands have the tinge of the Apocalypse about them, with their search for the greater realms and all, and seeing as its getting all environmentally apocalyptic here in Brisbane, it is befitting to use these guys as the soundtrack to our demise...

 

Firstly, I have writ large on my love of Texans The Black Angels throughout these "illustrious" pages - the fact that their set at a hail-plagued and frankly underwhelming Harvest Festival this year was a clear highlight that their effect over me is far from diminished. The fact that their guitarist Christian Bland is responsible for one of the best curated festivals on the planet, the Austin Psych Fest, ups the ante. The fact that they accepted SM local faves Dreamtime to join the fray this year is cherry on top. So the announcement of Indigo Meadow, The Black Angels' fourth longplayer, piqued my interest no end. The first taste comes in the form of 'Don't Play With Guns', which is not about the Aurora Colorado Dark Knight shootings, but could very well be.

“Our music has always tried to shed light on issues that may be hard to deal with or confront,” says singer/multi-instrumentalist Alex Maas. “If people think they can ignore the issues they are wrong. Don't play with guns, don't touch a hot stove, don't give your child a poisonous snake, don't turn the cheek when artists are willing to discuss these issues. In ‘Don't Play With Guns’ the antagonist is a female who has the power of persuasion over a man,” he continues. “Substitute the female antagonist with a Nation, substitute the manipulated man with yourself. Heed the warning: Don't Play With Guns.”

 

We mustn't get too carried away - this is a psych band that loooooove getting high - but their notions are spot on here, and the song is true BA black magic.

 

Trek to the West Coast though, and you find a band equally as adept at wielding the dark, chugging death rattle of psychedelic dirge. Los Angeles' Dead Meadow are resurfacing after a break in creative output (2010's The Three Kings was an exhaustive trip, albeit one bristling with darkly rich undercurrents), prepping a double LP to be titled Warble Womb (put out by Xemu Records). This is doubly exciting seeing as it marks the first album to feature returning original member and contributing songwriter Mark Laughlin (drums) since 2001’s Howls From The Hills. The reunited original trio of Laughlin, Jason Simon (guitar/vocals) and Steven Kille (bass) released the following statement on the new material. “The new material will strike many as a return to the heavier side of our first albums. However, it still retains a good deal of the psych-pop element that was more prominent on our Matador Records releases. The way Warble Womb came out, we are viewing it as almost a follow-up to Howls from the Hills.”

Hole. E. Shit. Colour me all kinds of LSD-induced excited. Now as long as I ride this wild weather out...

Dreaming For The Sun

 

It is certainly no secret that I am a massive fan of local psychers Dreamtime. I have waxed lyrical about them on numerous occasions. And whilst the release of their 2nd LP Sun is cause for celebration, I have already prepared a splurge earlier – here is a little from my review of the album for another publication: “Opening with “single” 'Centre Of Mind', a song that could have been found on the cutting-room floor of a Black Angels session (minus the ethereal female backing vocals), Sun lays it on thick and refuses to veer from the chosen path. The droning beauty that is 'Baphomet' benefits from vocalist Zac Anderson’s vocal depth, skittish percussion and squalling guitar augmented by throat music-inspired mantras before the feverish dirge breaks through.”

 

So yeah, Sun is fucking amazing. I go on and on, like I'm wont to do, but you can read the whole thing on the band’s website here. The trio go from strength to strength, and if you don’t believe me, then whose name is that on the bill for next year’s illustrious Austin Psych Fest, sitting pretty at the bottom next to the Holydrug Couple? Hell Yeah! Totally deserved. So if you are in the US next April, go to Austin and see these guys. They will be touring Stateside too – more on that very soon.

 

And you can get Sun here – which, of course, you really really should…

Dreamtime - Baphomet

Stoned And Sexing Up Gympie In The Dreamtime

I'm a little bewildered that I didn't even know this damn incredible video existed until I saw Ongakubaka's post of it. Brisbane's premiere psych band Dreamtime brought out their excellent debut LP last year (which you need - get it here), and the pivotal track was 'Gympie'. This video is slick and tripped out...plus I have never seen this threesome so glammed out! They pushed to be a part of this year's Austin Psych Fest to no avail, but with this brilliant clip and their incumbent sophomore release in the wings, it should be a foregone conclusion.

Black Angels Wake With The Phosgene Sweats

Texan psych rockers The Black Angels are busy busy busy! If touring the world in the wake of 3rd album Phosphene Dream and curating and playing in the 4th Austin Psych Fest this weekend isnt enough, a couple of weeks ago they dropped a limited edition 10”vinyl B-Sides collection titled Phosgene Nightmare on Blue Horizon Records in support of Record Store Day. Only 5000 copies of the record were made available. As it is a sneaky way of adding an epilogue to Phosphene Dream, its more than just a curio or a collectible, as the 6 tracks are pretty damn sweet. Supposedly these songs focus on the more poisonous side to life, yet I think it melds perfectly with everything the Black Angels have done in the past, and augers well for the future (especially the ephemeral swagger of dark swampy 70s stalker 'Ronettes'...)

The Black Angels - Ronettes

Interview - Christian Bland of The Black Angels

Texas psych warriors The Black Angels had a massive 2010 what with the release of their third album Phosphene Dream, the growing popularity of their own Austin Psych Fest, and a unbelievable tour co-headlined by the likeminded Black Mountain.

I spoke to guitarist Christian Bland about the latest album, which showcased a mellower, more melodic nuance to the archetypal Black Angels sound. Such changes have allowed them to stretch themselves sonically. "Sure. I think some of our other influences came thru on this album. With the help of Dave Sardy we crafted shorter songs inspired by The Zombies, Beatles, Animals, etc…British invasion meets Austin psychedelia. Dave was out in LA though, so we flew to him. It was great to leave home and record in a new environment. I think you can hear LA coming through on the album. It would have sounded completely different if we had recorded in Austin."

This change in scenery culminated in a decided shift in tempo, most notably on tracks 'Telephone' and 'Haunting At 1300 McKinley'. Particularly with the former though, Bland says the song pretty much wrote itself. "We wanted to try a song that had an early Beatles feel. I bought a new guitar around the time the song was written, a 12 string 355 Rickenbacker. I think the song must have been stuck in the guitar waiting for someone to get it out."

The name of the album itself, Phosphene Dream, comes from a communal interest in a book they found about the drug DMT (dimethyltryptamine), a naturally occurring psychedelic compound. However Bland is quick to allay thoughts that this is a chemical album. "DMT can show you what it feels like to die and come back to life. That's what the album is about. DMT is known as 'the Spirit Molecule.' It's naturally occurring in all of us."

2010 has been a massive year, ending with touring with friends Black Mountain, whilst also returning to the UK to do their solo headliner shows. "It was great. Black Mountain...they're amazing people and very talented musicians. And I think the UK is slowly warming up to us," Bland says with a wry grin.

But it hasn't all been about playing and recording, with the fourth year of their curated Austin Psych Fest seeing possibly the best line-up ever, including such Sonic Masala favourites as Atlas Sound, Dead Meadow, Crystal Stilts, Sleepy Sun, White Hills, Pontiak, Beaches, Woodsman, Young Prisms, Cloudland Canyon, and Tjutjana. However the origins of the festival were somewhat humble. "In 2008 we had the idea to invite all of our friends bands to town for a weekend of psychedelic music. It's a fun time to hang out with all of our friends and hear the best, most creative music being made today. Each year its grown and grown beyond what I would ever have expected."

Bland was also quick to talk about some of the music that he thought deserved much more attention. "I think Clinic should be the biggest band in the world. They've been a huge influence on us. Another band that should be getting more recognition is The Night Beats from Seattle who will be at Austin Psych Fest 4. I also love (the Australian music scene). I've really gotten into Tame Impala. Another of my favourites is The Dolly Rocker Movement."

Finally, what is Sonic Masala? "It sounds like an Indian dish!"

That it does - the best kind. The Black Angels have just released a video for their single 'Haunting At 1300 McKinley', whilst you can still get tix for the Austin Psych Fest which is held on the final weekend in April.

H-Bomb hits Seattle via Texas

Seattle has been a mecca for grunge worshippers ever since the heady days of the late 80s. It is funny that many music 'gurus' can be so dismissive of the genre - it was integral in injecting a refreshing burst of energy (ok, via angst...) into the rock scene. Besides a good grunge band simply fucking rocks.

Night Beats aren't what you would label as a grunge band per se. Having more in common with psych-blues-rock compatriots The Black Angels than Nirvana, nevertheless the band has set about tearing their new home (they originally hail from Austin Texas) a new whiskey filled arsehole. What they offer that sets them apart is purely distilled psychedelic liquid gold - the foundation of the blues trip fest, cut of all its (admittedly brilliant) trimmings to create a lean mean rocking beast.

Put out by Trouble In Mind in July, their first official EP contains the epitome of concise rock 'H-Bomb', a true showcase of Night Beats. They have just played Austin Psych Fest (what a brilliant festival - The Black Angels, Raveonettes, and Warpaint amongst others). They are big news. And they are shaking down Seattle town once more.

Night Beats - H-Bomb

Night Beats - Rabbit Hole from NIGHT BEATS on Vimeo.