Wrestling With Prismatic Inner Gazing

Mickey Mickey Rourke is a busy busy boy. I only just spoke of upcoming album Inner Gazing, and already Im listening to it. Its an interesting piece, as is anything from MMR's oeuvre. It is dedicated to his grandfather who passed away this year, and as such is a 'concept' album about looking into the soul, a meditation, a spiritual journey. It didnt start out this way, but the tracks - their uniform wont to defy uniformity, no rhythm or melody in place, guest vocals from the likes of Cast Spells and regular collaborator Lester Brown on some of them - creates an overall otherworldy sound that does actually allow you to delve into yourself, or to drift away into your own subconsciousness. Or (as MMR readily admits) Inner Gazing might just be the ticket for trippin', or zoning out. Either way, this album is a perfect example of hallucinogenic ethereal ambient jammage.

Mickey Mickey Rourke - Gloomy Guts (ft Cast Spells)
Mickey Mickey Rourke - Purple Pee Pee

And to further the notion that Mickey Mickey Rourke is a seemingly bottomless font of spacey dreamscape viscera, here is a new track from ANOTHER forthcoming album, Magic User, which is said to be a natural flow on from Inner Gazing.

Mickey Mickey Rourke - Magic Man

When Geography Isnt Enough

David Davison has carved a little niche for himself in the math rock community due to his interesting and very entertaining work with 'day job' Maps & Atlases - the EP You and Me and the Mountain was particularly awesome.

However, it is Davidson's other job that is catching attention in 2010. Cast Spells is staggering in that the quieter Davison plays, the more powerful and urgent the songs feel. His EP Bright Works and Batons late last year moved a few heads, but was largely ignored - at everyone's peril. His set list at South By Southwest under the Sargent House label (of Fang Island fame - and as an aside, get on board that, they are fucking awesome!!!) garnered a swirl of attention, and apparently some of it can be seen on Youtube. As it is, here's a track from said album.

Rumour is Maps & Atlases are releasing an album later this year too - keep tuned...

Cast Spells - A Badge