Free Time

Dangling toes in Melbourne and New York, Free Time's Dion Nania has worked in and around some RSTB faves like the Twerps (handling bass on their last tour) and Scott and Charlene's Wedding (lending some lead guitar to their NY incarnation) but now he's struck out with his own voice leading the charge on Free Time. With a South Hemi hangover of gentle jangles and a reigned in touch of bittersweet swooning pop, the eponymous album is certainly a good first foot forward for the band. Landing in the same arms as the Twerps, Free Time has found a home at Underwater Peoples and it’s a pretty spot on fit for their ever shambling and pop-glazed catalog. Nania's got a lackadaisical sway in his vocals and his partly cloudy delivery lends the songs a shadowed quality that feels kinda perfect for the millennial-pocked streets of Brooklyn. Its isolated, inner gazing and just a tad downbeat, in other words, a perfect fit for spring skies and jacket weather romps through unknown streets fulla strangers.

Listen:

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	Winter Bear - Jump In The Fire 7" A new blast of sunshine and fuzz out on HoZac; Winter Bear is the latest noises from Erin Dorbin formerly of Cave Weddings, now tearing through a solid wall of amplified strums, clatter-thunked
drums and enough shake n' shimmy for ten late night dance parties. Both sides of this single frizzle fry with the kind of fun in the sun that's perfect for summer's impending swelter (despite the polar references in their moniker) and now that its on its way, you're forewarned to get this platter on the turntable for all your summer gatherings. The band are playing Blackout Fest in Chicago this weekend, which, if you are not planning to attend, you damn well should get a change of mind. My heart breaks thinking about being too far away from the heart of the Midwest for this thing. Chrome? Dwight Twilley? Seriously they pulled the stops on this one. Get there sucka! Listen: Support the artist, buy it HERE

Chuck Johnson

Another strong voice steps into the spotlight in the arena of American fingerpicked guitar. Though this is far from Johnson's first foray its one of his strongest statements in a long line of works ranging across the acoustic landscape from labels like American Primitive, Tompkins Square, Strange Attractors Audio House and Amish Records. Taking strides from Fahey and Kotke, Chuck Johnson's works on Crows in the Basilica have a rambling fluidity to them and also that sweet hint of ennui that creeps in the corners of both those artists best works. In a way his songs also bring to mind the more homespun likes of Sir Richard Bishop in that Johnson's proficiency is clear but he adds a wide swath of raw emotion that gives the skill a human touch. Sometimes those with the tenacious ability to pick those steel strings in a furious haze have a tendency to leave the subtle shades and colors out of their work. Not so for Johnson though, he has a tender touch and a canny ability to straddle street busker showmanship and conservatory class with the dreamlike qualities of unfettered home improvising. Basilica is a joyful celebration of melancholy, simplicity and the tactile feel of fingers on an instrument.

Listen:


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Unwed Teenage Mothers - "Foever Until You Are Bones" Video

Former Bass Drum of Death-er Colin Sneed takes the piss out of cult imagery in indie videos with the new video for his band Unwed Teenage Mothers. Nothing pairs with sacrificial beer pong like scuzzed and fuzzed garage jams from Oxford, Miss. The song appears on the band's recently released "Forever Until You Are Bones" single on Hiss Lab, limited to 250.

Support the band. Buy it HERE.

Sic Alps

On the heels of one of their finest albums, Sic Alps nail the follow up with a trio of songs that lean towards their poppiest and still hardest hitting sides. The title track, "She's On Top" is all detached swagger and low slung licks, pounding out a hard-knuckled bit of guitar crunch. They slow for a second to cool it off on "Carrie Jean" and then run full steam into closer "Biz Bag" with that same gristled blast of psych-pop fury. Considering the heft and heart of the last record, these are certainly no leftovers, so be they one-off treat or a taste of what's to come - who cares? They're a sweet offering from one of the strong front-runners of rock's gritty underbelly. Sic Alps have always been generous in their short form offerings and this one slots itself in nicely with that Slumberland single from a few years back and their "Battery Townsley" 7" from last year. Recognize that all Alps material is released on a need to have basis.

Listen:
[Stream] Sic Alps - Biz Bag

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The Gooch Palms - "Houston We Have A Problem" Video

The Aussie hits keep a comin' with this video for the standout track "Houston We Have a Problem" from The Gooch Palms' R U 4 Sirius? EP out last year on Anti-Fade. Simple concept, funny execution and a great song. Can't go wrong with that. The Palms have a record on the way, Novo recorded in one day with Nobunny / Elvis Christ guitarist Jason Testasecca. Definitely keep an eye out for that one. Damn fine records coming from the other side of the world these days.

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John Roberts

Three years after the formidable Glass Eights John Roberts returns with another stunner for Dial, this time utilizing his travel mag day job to wrangle a wealth of field recordings from locales far and wide while still making a record that seems like a tiny universe of its own. Though built on bubbling synths, plucking strings and the stuttering of beats perched on stilts, the album also snips subtle and organic bits of Roberts' travelogue; recordings of waves on a beach in Cannes, a parade in Tokyo, synthesizers in Berlin, tourists in Versailles and a cedar soaking tub overflowing in Kyoto are among the pieces that make up the puzzle on Fences. The results are a little less overtly dreamlike than the preceding album, a touch less antiseptic and certainly less inclined towards the dancefloor. Not to imply that there aren't plenty of beats here, but the record skews even heavier into Roberts' composer territory. They feel like soundtracks evoking a more real and tangible space even when the inorganic elements are at their heaviest. The tracks are fraught with tension, emotion and a sense of pacing that sweeps them along in such a way that they wouldn't be out of place behind flickering images on screen. Fences proves that Roberts still has the meticulously crafted magic in his sway that brought him to our attention and he means to keep it that way.

Listen:
[Stream] John Roberts - Shoes

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Tony Molina

Tony Molina, of the oft overlooked themselves band Ovens, cranks out pop nuggets with perfectly formed hooks tossed away like diary scribbles. The whole album's over in fourteen minutes, but in that time there are at least a dozen songs swimming through your skull, and the frustrating part is they're so good you want them to go on for a three minute journey. Maybe bash out a repeat verse or two? Nope, Molina gets in, out and onto the next one before you can even realize how much you loved the sugar coated gem before it. Definitely doing donuts through the parking lot of early Weezer here but popping into Teenage Fanclub and even a little Matthew Sweet territory as well, all worked out with the short attention span pop n' drop of Guided by Voices' more compact moments. Fittingly a cover of Sir Pollard's Men sits in the ranks on this record, and it fits so nice and blows by just as quick as Molina's pop Skittles that its easy to forget its not his own. Plenty of love is sure to come Molina's way, especially if he keeps up this kind of pop rampage in the coming months. You can pick up the LP below; just make sure you don't leave the room too soon after the needle drops.

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Shannon and the Clams

There's just something in the tone of Shannon Shaw's voice that brings the tingles of the first time the soul-crimped shimmy of rock n' roll hit your young ears. Like truck full of Ronnettes 45's careening into a cartload of Buddy Holly, Beatles and Dave Clark Five singles, there's a genuine joy and dangerous sense of rule breaking and world shaking flirting just under the surface of The Clams' output. Its a hair-hoppin' down and dirty sound that feels like it would perfectly soundtrack the best John Waters movies and yet still get the heads nodding on the most stoic prep school letter set. If you've yet to encounter Shaw in her live element, whether with Hunx or holding court as the Clams' guiding light, then you're more than encouraged to see her belt out these gems under the sweltering lights, owning the stage like the reigning queen of garage. Hardly Art make a good move to rope Shannon and The Clams into their ever growing stable. Dreams in the Rat House is a welcome addition of swooning malt shop double straw gazers and dance floor shaking hip twisters. There are plenty revving and reviving the tenets of rock's past glory these days but few are doing it with this much style, this much soul and the kind of commanding spirit that Shaw represents.

Listen:
[MP3] Shannon and the Clams - Rip Van Winkle

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	Merrell Fankhauser & H.M.S. Bounty - Things Following the demise of the short-lived Fapardokly, Merrell Fankhauser and Bill Dodd went on to form HMS Bounty and their second outing shares more than a few similarities with their previous
band, woes and all. Still rooted in Fankhauser's lush melodies and breezy strums, the album is a prime example of West Coast psych of from the period, relying heavily on the 12-string folk-psych perfected by the Byrds and delving further into bluesy territory like the myriad British Invasion counterparts that inspired the band's name. They were noticed by a few more of their peers on the West Coast than Fapardokly had been, opening for Canned Heat and The Paul Butterfield Blues band; and after a run as the house band at The Cove in Pismo beach they were able to wrangle a contract with UNI. The label changed the credit on the record to Merell Fankhauser and HMS Bounty without the band's permission, seeming to want to develop Fankhauser as a solo artist. They also shaved off more than a few of the psychedelic touches and excess from the band's recordings. Both instances raised the ire of the band and pushed tensions that had already existed to the surface. Though, in all honesty some of the reigning in of the psychedelic touches may have led to this album weathering better than some of their more dated sounding contemporaries. The band broke up not too long after the album's release with tensions between Merell and the band at a head and with the band finding they'd lost most of the advance they'd been promised to the producers of Things, a far too common tale in those days. Merrell would go on to form MU with ex-Beefheart guitarist Antenae Jimmy Semmems in the wake of the breakup. Subsequent reissues have got this gem back into the hands of collectors and psych-o-files alike and it’s a pretty great listen even after all these years. Listen: [MP3] H.M.S. Bounty - Things (Goin' Round In My Mind) Support the artist, buy it HERE

Cool Ghouls - "Natural Life" Video

Cool Ghouls' eponymous album hit all the right buttons for spring around here, laying wide open and loose with the kind of breezy pop gems that feel good year after year. The band hits the coast and frolics in the woods with a bear-suited companion, a sojurn that ends in drunken shenanigans and plenty of wide California skies that make me question why the hell I settled on the East Coast. Its a perfect accompaniment to "Natural Life's" low-swung twang and sunshine harmonies. If you haven't picked up this gem of album yet, I'd highly recommend a trip to Empty Cellar for a springtime turntable tuneup.

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Joane Skyler

Joane Skyler's debut tape Orz is a hefty bit of float and buzz that throws her quickly into contention with Cupp Cave and Paco Sala for some of our favorite bits of electronic flotsam on the horizon. Bringing to mind Stellar Om Source and bits of Demdike Stare and Boards of Canada in various flickers of haunted synth and faded collage electronics respectively, the album follows the lead of those that cut paths before her but its skill lies in stitching those paths together into a tapestry that skews several directions without ever sounding scattered. The release eases in with gentle float before seeping down dark gratings to subterranean breaks laced with nightmare echoes, faded vocal transmissions and the buzzing grind of vengeful acidic keys. Beats shift and contort over the course from hard and driving to fractured and glitchy, winding their way between the crackle and hum of drones and crumpled electrics. Endlessly immersive, the album ends far too soon and so its a fine candidate for the repeat button, looping endlessly through tunnels of glycerin sheen that sparkle best through headphones to transform Skyler's world into your own.

Listen:

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE (tape) or HERE (digital)

Bloods - "Back To You" Video

Aussie three-piece Bloods come in strong with another great single, this time cleaning up the production a bit and hitting some real Dum Dum Girls vibes. Looks like this is an indication of some more substantial material on the way. I'm damn interested to hear what these kids cook up for a full length but I'll settle for an EP. The video's a simple, straight on piece that doesn't distract from the greatness of the song, but gives some fun cracks and crackles to the proceedings. Keep an eye on these three and en eye out for their upcoming Golden Fang EP.

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	Teenage Burritos - Strange Mutations 7" Volar Records has whipped together a nice little subscription series that pulls together new tracks by Lenz, Cosmonauts, newcomers Fine Steps plus a standout 7" from Teenage Burritos. The Burritos pull together
members of RSTB faves Plateaus and Christmas Island and the ensuing tracks are a sugar frosted blast of pop that makes no allusions towards refinement, just scrappy swingin' sounds that make the days seem sweeter. The band had a six-shot tape on Burger and the b-side from this single reared its head originally on that release but it’s just as welcomed here. Shades of Black Tambourine, Beat Happening and a whole host of current British DIY come to mind but the band seem to own their breezy sound. There's a record in the works and if it’s as sunshine soaked as this 7" then we're all in for a treat. Pick this one up as part of the limited subscription series before they're long gone. Listen: Support the artist, buy it HERE

Mozes and the Firstborn

The Burger Buds tap into the Dutch garage contingent with a tape release of the finest young pips in the Koninkrijk der Nederlanden. Certainly taking a few nods from their American counterparts in San Francisco, Chicago and Memphis; the eponymous album rolls through classic rock motions with more than a touch of youthful swagger that skirts the line between winking in-jokes and flat out rock wunderkind territory, much like the first Pangea album that popped up on ye Olde Burger Recs a while back. Though the boys here seem to have lucked into a slightly finer level of fidelity than that nugget of pop joy. Gotta say the Dutchmen show promise and, hell, someone has to pick up the Nederbeat yoke from Q65 and Shocking Blue (kidding, kidding I'm sure there have been plenty of greats between then and now). When do those knucklheads in Fullerton sleep? So many tapes, so little time, but this one ought to get you through the weekend when that itch for rattled garage pop with a chewy center strikes.

Listen:

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE (tape) or HERE (digital)

The Hussy - "Rezhand" Video

The Hussy bring a video bursting with boundless energy to the table for hands down our favorite track from their latest LP, Pagan Hiss. Its a flurry of masks and mosh pits and a blast of acoustic punk hooks that slay every time. Pick up their excellent third album from Southpaw.

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Queens

It’s been a while since Scott Mou popped up on my musical radar. Though he's been working under the name for some time, this is the first time Queens has seen a proper release of material. Mou last entered the musical consciousness partnered with Noah Lennox for a few scant releases as the bygone band JANE, who's ambient noise templates and crumpled beats might share a volume knob adjustment with Queens but thematically they're a far cry from the emotional fragility of End Times. Built on a palette of acoustic plucks, hiss, drone and a plaintive vocal that cries out like a child in a snowstorm; the album is a whitewashed island of sound that instantly sucks all other noise out of the room. Its a thunderous hush that brings with it clouded skies and fingers of rain down the windows, with Mou divining starkly beautiful distillations of sadness, isolation and loneliness into the thirty seven frostbitten minutes of End Times. The record never seems quite at ease, carving subtle flutters of tension out of gauzy silences and trembling slightly between guitar plucks and the insistent whirr of tape splashing in the background. These intangible qualities certainly put the album in good company with like-minded releases this year from Liz Harris' Grouper and Lee Noble, and should some cloudy afternoon descend on you, all three would make a perfect soundtrack.

Listen:


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Fuzz - "Fuzz's Fourth Dream" Video

No frills, just Fuzz bein' Fuzz in this new video from the three piece. Laying down some jams at Burgerama and making it look easy. I tell ya every piece of the Fuzz puzzle that falls into place has this looking to be one hell of an album when it hits. Primed to see these guys live when the chance arrives as it looks like a hell of a show.

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James Blackshaw & Lubomyr Melnyk

This is a document of two artists speaking to one another through strings plucked and hammered simultaneously. Blackshaw, long a favorite around here, met Lubomyr Melnyk at a festival in 2008 and the two shared admiration of each others's work and made tentative plans to work together sometime in the future. That promise has finally come to fruition and the results are unflinchingly moving. It seems that James counts Melnyk as something of an influence and with his complex, polyrhytmic textures being something of a trademark; it’s easy to see what lessons he's taken away from the elder composer. The two perfectionists sat down to create something spontaneous by recording a set of improvisations, no more than two takes per recording, and both artists in their raw forms have plenty to say to each other over the course of The Watchers. Melnyk's speed, long documented, is underpinned only by his ability to channel virtuosity into emotion, tension and delicate shading - even in a piece that's so unrehearsed. Blackshaw proves a perfect foil for his style, tipping cascades of his own emotionally charged stringwork down between the eddies of Melnyk's furious notes. The two craft something akin to a sound painting, a final piece that would take multiple encounters to pick apart the brushwork, or rather the stringwork, here and the craft that goes into sounding this effortlessly intricate speaks volumes for both artists.

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	Ketamines - All The Colours of Your Heart 7" Ketamines' last album received a fair amount of play around RSTB's stereo last year, so new material comes with open arms. And though we hadn't heard about the band's Paul Lawton pissing off Canada, it seems they're having a
banner year in 2013. In addition to a new album, You Can't Serve Two Masters, on the way this summer the band's releasing a series of four 7"s across as many labels. The first up is "All The Colours of Your Heart" which leaps out of the gate with a scratchy garage funk that's not been attempted this well since Carter left office. With loping guitar and organg lines and a hell of a hook, this is some prime Ketamines here. The b-side kicks it back to the territory of jangles, and with good results as well. Its a nice first step into the series and certainly reason to be anxious for more to come. This first installment is out on Toronto's own Pleasance Records and limited to 300. Listen: Support the artist, buy it HERE