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

Where Are They Now? - Little Dreamers Revisited #1

About a month ago I brought to your attention some bands that I first discovered through the emails and had spoken about on the Hits From The Box and through other channels. Well, some more of these bands have lined up a big 2012, and these three in particular have stellar releases to give you.

Phone Home is the NYC duo that I compared to local act PVT back in 2010. Its been 18 lonely months without so much as a text, but now we have their Songs For Real Life Games EP to welcome us back into their sultry folds. The four track EP is great instrumental pop - I'm in love with the Vallarelli bros! Get behind this - it's great!




Next up is Inca Gold. The London quartet - featuring members Ezequiel Claverie, Ben Chatwin (AKA the Talvihorros guy), Alex Lewis and Chris Howarth - released their third EP, Inca Gold III, on 20th February 2012. They said it was a trilogy - they didn't disappoint. Self-recorded, mixed and produced, the EP is evidence of their endeavours to present a bold and unique take on dream-like psychedelia. It's been a truly epic evolution, and the exception to the rule that the third part of a triptych is invariably the worst. This EP is jaw-dropping in its sonic production. One of the best tracks of this year thus far is below. I can't wait to hear a full length - conceptual and all...

Inca Gold - Atom


Julien Magot is from France. He may be more familiar to you as Appalache. His last release, Appalache Goes America 2.0 was pretty special, and yet he is still being influenced by his travels. After trekking from the Jordanian dunes to Nashville's melting blacktop, Magot hunkered down in his apartment and hammered out Fue, his first full length under the Appalache moniker. There is a great deal of disorientation and escapism involved with the aural drones at work here that informs us of his headspace over these journeys, and makes them (to us at least) otherworldly. There is some Barn Owl in these meanderings, something which I love. I have to say, Fue is BY FAR the best thing Appalache has put to tape. It gives me Everest-sized goosebumps. Great stuff.

Appalache - R55R
Appalache - Dimension Of Truth

Come back tomorrow where Ill have four more for you!

Talvihorros Stuck Between The Gamma And The Beta

Ben Chatwin keeps himself busy.

Not only is his band Inca Gold on the home run of their triptych of EPs set for this year, he has been sculpting some amazing soundscapes under his own guise Talvihorros. The new album is Descent Into Delta, and will be out in the next month. This is a track off it, 'Gamma-Beta', and it is the usual outstanding composition.

Talvihorros: Gamma/Beta by hibernate

Second Quest In Search For Dreamy Inca Gold

Inca Gold (Talvihorros' Ben Chatwin's side project of sorts) have released the second of their triptych of EPs - titled Inca Gold II - through Color + Vision, and it follows the drone-pop template the initial release showcased. The synths are effusive and silkier than in the first account, as is the soaring guitar as in first track 'In Hiding'. The slight 10CC tinges of 'League' are amazing, and above it all truly soar here. The drumming here is incessantly syncopated genius - this is the sound of a band that are gelling. I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I am - and I enjoyed the first instalment.

You can download Inca Gold II for free from their Bandcamp.

Inca Gold - In Hiding
Inca Gold - League

Chatwin And The Panda Delivers Inca Gold

I have loved London's Talvihorros (AKA Ben Chatwin) and his guitar compositions since hearing 'The Blue Cathedral' early last year, courtesy of the cool Bad Panda collective. Since then Ive kept in semi-regular contact with him to check up on how he has progressed. Seems quite a lot - whilst he may never complete his experiments with the physicalities of the guitar, he will still keep carving out stellar results such as this. It was released on the UK label Rural Colours' subscription only list - but now you can have at it below!

Chatwin also plays in a band, Inca Gold, who Ive also been made aware of due to Bad Panda, and who released their first EP on Monday. They delve in dream pop - a semi-accurate quote pegging them as "groove infused Liquid Liquid moments meets Morricone-esque atmospherics with hints of psychedelia." Well, anyway, they have a triptych of EPs in store this year, and are already in the studio recording the sequel to Inca Gold.

Talvihorros - Solo Guitar Improvisation II

Inca Gold -Its Happening Again
Inca Gold - Hypnotize