Contemporary Beats Leave Temporary Marks

Parisian garage rockers Beat Mark are back with Contemporary Is Temporary (out through Azbin Records). It is a fun ride, starting from the hard-edged fuzz that imbues the addictive 'Acid Faces' through to the loud garage psych growl of 'Teenage Fever' and the rock roar of the title track. It's been a half decade since their Howls Of Joy record, and while the band certainly haven't been idle, it's great to hear such a febrile, punchy effort come out. The entwining, echoed vocals that spiral over the contemplative jangled drawl of closer 'Together' is so warm and inviting, you will wish that Beat Mark wrote your daily theme tunes. I would love to have them as my house band on the strength of this - contemporary may be temporary, but the Beat Mark aesthetic is everlasting. Grab Contemporary Is Temporary here.

Howlin' Banana Raises Maddie's Kaviar Special To The Skies...

A French label called Howlin Banana, pushing garage rock? Well, I've heard of weirder things. The record crew have some great releases there, and Ill trawl through them over the next few weeks. The two I've been digging though have been from Parisian garage pop slackers Volage and Loose Rennes natives Kaviar Special.

Volage have crammed a lot of vibrating old-school tunes into one small release with their Maddie 10" EP. Favourite track: 'Many Hopes'. But the psychedelic flower pop with a grungey edge of 'Im A Fool' and 'Heart Healing (Take 1)' is a lot of fun, whilst 'Bob Is Alive' is tub thumping from the darkest recesses of a cartoonish Hell, with Volage stripped of graces, airs and souls as they play the support slot for the Cramps. Love this, even if it proves a little schizophrenic. But that's what EPs are for. Bring on the album.

Kaviar Special are up to that stage, bringing out their self-titled LP (also on Azbin Records), and it's some raucous, stupid garage rock fun. I really enjoy this kind of music when out on the booze, and these guys could easily fuel my night. It's pretty straight up in its offerings - songs don't tend to stick out as much, so when one does (like 'Ptit Cul') it feels like it's something probably less special than you think. That sounds like a diss, and it isn't meant to be - these is consistent breakneck fare that is young, dumb and full of...poison cake? The LP is sold out as far as I can tell, which is very unfortunate for most - but I have one, so that's all that matters...

Video Vacuum - Per Purpose, Father John Misty, Lyonnais, Strange Hands

Damn if it hasn't been a batshit crazy week! I even missed posting on a Monday, that nigh on never happens. Well, after the sell out show Sonic Masala put on at The Waiting Room on Friday night (happy snaps on their way), it's no wonder. But I'm desperate to put my nose back to the millstone, so here are some vids to take your mind of the fact that it's Neck Yourself Tuesday, hmmm?

Per Purpose have been not so quietly killing all and sundry in Brisbane over the past couple of years. Here is a DIY video for their 'Warburton' track which I really enjoy. For some reason Per Purpose remind me a bit of The Drones on this one - certainly not a bad thing, although I'm not sure that was what they were working towards. Nevertheless, it's a killer track.



Last week I posted about Father John Misty, and even showed the excellent video for 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings' featuring the excellent Aubrey Plaza. Here is the third single from Fear Fun called 'This Is Sally Hatchet' - and it is even crazier in content than 'Hollywood Forever...' was! Love this drugged visionary. It's incredibly slick, and has me celebrating violence - win win?



Now I haven't mentioned Lyonnais before, but the Atlanta band's psych/drone meanderings are some excellent meditations on the existentialism of space...or something. It's great regardless, and this montage of natural desert landscapes and societies is a perfect complement to their music. I really rate this band, and so should you.



Finally we have the criminally underrated French garage band Strange Hands. Check out their debut album Dead Flowers - it's amazing technicoloured splattered vinyl, a great record, and can be gleaned from Azbin Records here.

Take Pride In These Animal Trophies

Man, I'm blissing out on these scuzzy jams! Animal Trophies is a garage punk trio from Lyon, France. Somewhat renowned for their batshit crazy (and awesome) cover art, the band are just as colourful with their music, as they four songs on latest EP Malediction (on Azbin Records) attests. You can grab the hard copy here. In fact, check out the Azbin store - they have some cool releases and the physical vinyl is done with care and flair, brilliant stuff.

Animal Trophies - Caelan
Animal Trophies - Stay Around