Send Medicine - “Mermaids on the Verandah” (2018) review

Send Medicine - Mermaids on the Verandah (Honey House Records, 2018)

https://sendmedicine.bandcamp.com/album/mermaids-on-the-verandah

With the opening track “Corduroy” from Mermaids on the Verandah rocking me back, I was awash in a super intoxicating piece of psychedelic British pop music that held my attention as little else has over the last couple of months, so I was anxiously waiting as the rest of the album played out, hoping for more of this bright refined sound.

Los Lobos @ The Libbey Bowl, Ojai, CA., June 22

On a lovely post-Summer Solstice Friday night in Ojai, CA., Los Lobos took the Libbey Bowl stage to celebratory cheers from an admiring audience which had packed the house -- and let it rip with a breathtaking cover of Little Walter’s blues standard “Up the Line.” The band followed up with a stellar rendition of the hard rockin’ “Shakin’ Shakin’ Shakes”(from its 1987 album, By the Light of the Moon); after which vocalist/left-handed guitarist (and Jimi Hendrix acolyte) Cesar Rosas took a pause to thank everybody for showing up and commented that although the band had played in neighboring Ventura before, it had never played in Ojai and that it was a beautiful place. The crowd hooted back its approval!

Sailor - “The Albums 1974-78” (2018) review

Sailor - The Albums 1974-78 (7TS, 2018)

Formed in 1973 by Norwegian-born multi-instrumentalist/vocalist/songwriter Georg Kajanus, the original configuration of Sailor comprised Kajanus and three Brits, guitarist/vocalist Henry Marsh, bassist Phil Pickett and drummer Grant Serpell. The two guitar, bass and drum configuration was short lived however. When Kajanus came to the others with something he was in the midst of creating, a kind of musical revue, “Sailor’s Night On The Town” which included harmoniums, mandolins, glockenspiels, hand-bass drums and tack pianos, the members agreed that having coming from the 1960s when in their minds there were many bands all basically doing the same thing, Kajanus’ tune was something totally unique, and indeed was the sound they had been looking for. Thus began the musical adventures of an incredibly original and interesting pop band, which released a total of five albums and a whopping fourteen singles on the Epic label between 1974 and 1978. The fruits of Sailor’s efforts during this period have been compiled by Cherry Red Records and released on the five disc, fifty nine track box set issued on their 7t’s imprint and reviewed here.

Harlan Jay Ellison 1934-2018

“The Beast That Shouted Love”

He was vast, he contained multitudes.

He hated being called a science-fiction writer even though he was acknowledged as one of the great ones by the likes of Asimov, Bradbury and Silverberg and unquestionably did as much as anyone to advance the field and promote new writers (I discovered his ”Dangerous Visions” anthologies as a 12-year-old, and few books have opened my eyes and mind as much).

Sam Gopal - “Escalator” (1969) review

Sam Gopal - Escalator (Morgan Bluetown, 1969/2017 reissue)

It has been fifty years since the formation of UK psychedelic rockers Sam Gopal, a quartet who took their name from their tabla player and percussionist. The band recorded a lone album “Escalator” recorded in October and November 1968, engineered by Barry Ainsworth and Andy Jones and produced by Trevor Walters at De-Lane Lea and Morgan Studios. It was released in March 1969 on the tiny British label, Stable Records. The album’s eleven tracks are joined by both sides of a promo single, and feature lead vocals as well as lead and rhythm guitar by a young, Ian Willis, who would go on to join British psychedelic legend’s Hawkwind in 1971, before becoming a founding member and front man, lead vocalist and bassist of heavy metal giants Motorhead under his birth name of Ian Kilmister, although being much better known by his nickname “Lemmy.” The band consisted of Gopal and Lemmy, jointed by Roger D’Ella on lead, acoustic and rhythm guitars and Phil Duke on bass guitar. 

Cheval Sombre - “Had Enough Blues” / “Hitch a Ride” (2018) review

Cheval Sombre - “Had Enough Blues” / “Hitch a Ride” (Fat Elvis Records, 2018)

Drifting back from his nocturnal wanderings, Cheval Sombre has floated in with a very limited edition single from his shimmering side of the great beyond, a blissful and emotional set of songs that play out nicely against the backdrop of a fading orange setting sun.

Sun Voyager - “Seismic Vibes” (2018) review

Sun Voyager - Seismic Vibes (2018)

https://sun-voyager.bandcamp.com/album/seismic-vibes

Sun Voyager, a psychedelic fuzz band from the great state of New York, has an album out called Seismic Vibes. The 8 songs that make up this album are some of the best psych tunes that I have heard since Ruby the Hatchet unleashed Interplanetary Space Child upon us. These songs are catchy, fuzz laden, awesomeness, and I will give you some info on the best tracks in this review. 

Raw Thrills - “Anne” premiere

Zak Mering has recorded music under the Raw Thrills moniker for past 7 years or so, ever since he relocated to Brooklyn in 2009. He also runs GunkTVRecords. A record label meant to shine light on the many different projects and releases Zak has created, curated or been involved in. He also has collaborated with his younger sister, Natalie, whom is the critically acclaimed artist “Weyes Blood” who is on Sub Pop at the moment. He was in the infamous duo “Greatest Hits” with Tyler Thacker and did many projects with Sam Mehran under aliases “The Sweethearts, Mak Zering, 2 X Love, Green Crack & more”. He has, and continues to collaborate with a variety of talented and different musicians for many of the past years and many years to come.

Curvs - “Bamboo Town” premiere

Norwegian synth-rockers CURVS show their fantastic ability to create eerie yet compelling music with their debut album ‘Hauntropics’ out now via Fysisk Format. Inspired by stays in the tropics and the inclination to corrupt musical genres, ‘Hauntropics’ was born out of homemade compressors, rare pre amps and echo valves coupled with old drum machines, odd strings and analogue synths from Japan.

Earthless interview with Mario Rubalcaba

“Music is such blessing, I’m so grateful that I’ve had it with me for most of my life”

Interview with Mario Rubalcaba of Earthless about their latest release Black Heaven, being on tour and record collecting.

Dean Wareham Vs. Cheval Sombre (2018) review

Dean Wareham Vs. Cheval Sombre (Gotta Groove, 2018)

If there’s one thing you can count of from Dean Wareham, yet alone with Cheval Sombre standing by his side, it’s that these two wayward musical travelers of both time and space are going to deliver unto you something very special, unexpected and predictably perfect as summer winds down, replaced by fall with a cool nip in the air.

Chimera - “Holy Grail” (2017) review

Chimera - Holy Grail (Morgan Blue Town, 2017)

If not for the veto of George Harrison, Chimera, the female duo of guitarist/vocalist/composer Lisa Bankoff and vocalist Francesca Garnett, would have been signed by Apple Records. Despite this unfortunate event, Chimera attracted the attention of Pink Floyd drummer, Nick Mason, who took over as their manager and arranged a contract with Monty Babson’s Morgan Bluetown label, a side project of the Morgan Music Studio, which was in the late 1960’s one of the UK’s top studios with Led Zeppelin’s second album, Free’s debut LP “Tons Of Sobs” and Jethro Tull’s “Stand Up” being but three of the classic albums recorded there.

L’Eclair - “Sisi La Fami” premiere

L’Eclair are prepared to make people dance!

After a year working on these new songs and perfecting their Swiss Groove™ on any stage they could, L’Eclair took their guitars and shitty old synths to Jasper Geluk’s Tone Boutique studio in Haarlem, Netherlands, where he’s laid down the smooth sounds of the Allah Las, Jacco Gardner and Eerie Wanda. “Polymood” is an expansion on L’Eclair’s quest to channel and honor their Afro-Disco, Kosmische, and early House 70s influences.

Czech Up! Vol 2: We’d Be Happy (2018) review

Various Artists – Czech Up! Vol 2: We’d Be Happy (CD on Vampi Soul/2018)

This second volume of soul, funk, beat and psych from Czechoslovakia is bursting with more phenomenal tracks form behind the Iron Curtain that were originally released on the incredible Supraphon and Panton labels between 1968-1979.

Greenbeard Interview

Greenbeard are a three-piece desert/stoner band formed in Austin, Texas in 2014. Their powerful live shows and relentless touring have led them to play more than a handful of large scale festivals as well as opening for many heavy hitters in the doom/desert/stoner/psych scene including Pentagram, Conan, Acid King, Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, and Dead Meadow… Just to name a few. Between playing tons of local shows in Austin and extensively touring the US, Greenbeard have managed to record and release two full length albums and an EP. They are currently on tour still in support of their latest record – Lödarödböl (pronounced load-a-road-bowl). Just before they went back out on tour, I met up with Chance Parker (guitar & vocals) and Buddy Hachar (drums) to discuss the past 4 years of the band, their touring habits, and their progress on the upcoming album.

The Blues Goes On - “The Blues Goes On” (1971) review

The Blues Goes On - The Blues Goes On (Gear Fab Records, 1971/2018 reissue) 

Originally released on the German based Ken label in 1971, The Blues Goes On is an exploitation album involving musicians from the Live Experience Band. Like most projects of this kind, the album was pressed in miniscule quantities and quickly disappeared down the drainpipe. Now available in digital form, The Blues Goes On is bound to win favor with those who cherish such enigmatic endeavors.

Ross Beattie presents It’s Psychedelic Baby podcast #28 (July)

A brand new podcast hosted by Ross Beattie (The Night Tripper)

Wicked Lady- I’m A Freak

Ultimate Spinach- Mind Flowers

Arzachel- Azathoth

The Well- Drug From The Banks

Ulrika Spacek- Lady Godiva’s Operation

The Association- Wantin’ Ain’t Gettin’

Thee Oh Sees- Plastic Plant

Orangutan- Magic Playground 

Neil Young & Crazy Horse- Psychedelic Pill

Spiritualized- I’m Your Man

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard- Work This Time

Sir Robin & The Longbowmen- Tramboliko

Kaleidoscope- Keep Your Mind Open

Gary Higgins- I Can’t Sleep At Night

The Building - “Reconciliation” (2018) review

The Building - Reconciliation (2018)
https://thebuilding.bandcamp.com/album/reconciliation

Anthony LaMarca, late of Dean & Britta and now with War On Drugs has never strayed from from his personal sonically textured band The Building. Anthony has always been a very inwardly driven artist, with his music melting your soul, laced with songs that come across like some gentle ghost come for an unexpected evening’s visit, effortlessly playing with your heart strings. Yet when all is said and done, his considered emancipated attitude and visions allow you to put yourself back together, all while looking over your shoulder, feeling slightly frail, nearly embarrassingly so, at something that recently occupied your listening space and is now a mere memory … growing ever more distant and out of focus.

The Third Sound - “Half Alive” premiere

Berlin’s The Third Sound are back with a new album All Tomorrow’s Shadows and new video “Half Alive” following the great single “Photographs” which featured Anton Newcombe on lead vocal. Brian Jonestown Massacre guitarist Hákon Aðalsteinsson who front’s The Third Sound said about “Half Alive”...

Petyr interview with Riley Hawk

Petyr is a San Diego psychedelic hard rock band fronted by pro skater Riley Hawk. Steeped in equal parts hard rock and skateboarding, the band draws influence from the likes of Japanese psychedelic masters Flower Travellin’ Band, the hardness of Black Sabbath and the vibe of hometown scene godfathers Earthless. They released two albums so far both on Outer Battery Records.

Magic & Naked - “Dark Room” premiere

Formed in 2013, the four tortured souls of Magic & Naked were seeking for a meaning to their lives. The band began touring in Switzerland, Europe and the USA in 2015 and released their first eponymous album on Casbah Records, a loving and celestial ode to pop recorded by The Pussywarmers.

Joe James Boyle - “Daze” premiere

JJB’s music sounds like an outsider who’s decided to finally let all hell break loose, or enjoy things for a while before he does so. Backed up by Istanbul born jazz drummer Deniz Terlan, his vocal style pays a little homage to fellow Londoners Jagger and Bowie, while his sound is clearly quite unabashedly that of a 90s kid, heavily awash with guitars that scream, or moan The Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and Nirvana, all of which combine into a unique performance. His last real show was at the infamous 8mm Bar back in January and was somewhat of a sold out circus of noise and strange dark poetry; more of the same is hoped for this time round…

Eric Frisch - “Water into Gold” (2018) review

Eric Frisch - Water into Gold (Self-released, 2018)

The Toronto-born singer/songwriter Eric Frisch just put out Water into Gold, a small release of three folk pop tunes. Now based in New York City, Frisch is well passed his first or second release. His sound relies heavily on tender vocal harmonies, calming high-hats, and simple finger-picking. Think James Taylor, but in 2018.

Novagolde - “Novagolde” (2018) review

Novagolde - Novagolde (Self-released, 2018)

https://novagolde.bandcamp.com/

Novagolde just debuted their self-titled EP, a sweetly concise collection of psychedelic rock. Self-described as hailing from the “4th Dimension” (as well as Madison, Wisconsin) the four-member group has entered the indie scene with a lot to live up to. It’s one thing to claim a seat at the roundtable of psychedelia. It’s quite another to claim interdimensional status.

The Yardbirds interview with Jim McCarty

Jim McCarty is the renowned drummer from The Yardbirds who is respected worldwide for his innovative drumming style which he introduced into music in the ‘60s on hits such as “For Your Love”, “Heart Full Of Soul”, “Evil Heated You”, “Shapes of Things” and “Over Under Sideways Down” – all of which were UK Top 10 hits.

When The Yardbirds broke up in the late ‘60s Jim formed a number of successful bands over the next 25 years including Renaissance, Shoot, Box Of Frogs, Stairway and Illusion before reforming The Yardbirds in the ‘90s, whom he still tours with today.

“Walking In The Wild Land” is Jim’s third solo album released by Angel Air and features his songs and vocals in wonderful psychedelic/folk rock style.

Pink Floyd’s Best Kept Secret: ‘A Saucerful Of Secrets’ 50 Years On

This week fifty years ago, a semi-famous English group with the strange name of ‘Pink Floyd’ released their second LP: ‘A Saucerful Of Secrets’. The release was met with little fanfare at the time, with some critics greeting it with ill-concealed contempt. Rolling Stone magazine, describing it as “rather mediocre”, judged Roger Waters to be “an uninteresting writer, vocalist and bass player”, with the album’s “instrumental work… shoddy and routine”. In a rather barbed concession, the critic claims that “’Corporal Clegg’ at least has the virtue of brevity, as well as not sounding like it was written in a drugged stupor”. 

The Callas With Lee Ranaldo - “Acid Books” premiere

The Callas with Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo

The Callas is the tip of an artistic squad producing music, artworks, films, magazines, events, art shows, initiated by the brothers Lakis & Aris Ionas.

Buffalo Springfield - “What’s That Sound?” (2018) review

Buffalo Springfield - What’s That Sound? (2018)

More than 52 years since the release of its debut s/t LP and nearly 50 years after the release of their last album, Rhino Records, has compiled the complete albums collection of Buffalo Springfield in “What’s That Sound?” a five CD or five LP box set. The set includes the band’s first two albums “Buffalo Springfield” (December, 1966) and “Buffalo Springfield Again” (November, 1967) in both mono and stereo mixes, while their farewell release, the aptly titled “Last Time Around” (July, 1968) is present only in stereo, as it was never released in mono.

The Vibrators - “The Albums 1979-85” (2018) review

The Vibrators - The Albums 1979-85 (Cherry Red Records, 2018)

As a follow up to 2017’s “The Epic Years 1976-1978” four disc box set, Cherry Red Records, UK, presents a continuation of British punk rocker,band, The Vibrators’ catalog, with “The Albums 1979-85” another four disc set. This second installment contains three albums released by the group as well as demos recorded for an unreleased third album and single sides and demos recorded by two short lived versions of the band between 1979 and 1981.