sotomayor
sotomayor
23 dec 17

DeRank™: 1,69

Today we dive into the heart of experimental musical experiences that have been expressions of genuine countercultural movements on our continent. In particular, the lettrist movement. What more could you ask for from a record that is part of the #zot showcase, after all.

Thank you @[ALFAMA].

Fille Qui Mousse - Trixie Stapleton 291 - Se Taire Pour Une Femme Trop Belle (1973)

Recorded in 1971, 'Trixie Stapleton 291 - Se Taire Pour Une Femme Trop Belle' (originally released by the French label Futura, but subject to various reissues over the last twenty to twenty-five years) can be considered the culmination of an experience that began in the post-war period in Paris, France, by this collective called Fille Qui Mousse, an expression of the counterculture of the French capital and a continuation of the avant-garde of the lettrist movement founded by Isidore Isou. Since the movement was born with the intent to renounce the use of words, employing poetic, sound, onomatopoeia, and musicality of speech, we find all these elements in this record as well. Indeed, tracks like 'Transcription', 'Transplantation', 'Fraicheur Et Amalgame', and 'Quatriéme épisode' can be seen as brief experiments in this regard. However, even 'Esplanade', despite its extended duration of eight minutes, is based on the same mechanisms, particularly experiments related to the use of voice. Other pieces, like 'Cantate Disperate', an instrumental track based on a vigorous bassline, 'Antinomique', which evokes Middle Eastern sounds, and 'L'eau était vital', a long psychedelic composition straddling progressive impulses and a certain tropicalism, can be defined as more conventional episodes. A record that has been very influential in France and considered a benchmark by many groups, starting from the experience of Nurse with Wound led by Steve Stapleton.

Fille Qui Mousse ‎- Se Taire Pour Une Femme Trop Belle
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
23 dec 17

DeRank™: 0,00

I'm still drawing from Drone Rock Records for today's suggestion for the #zot2016 review.

Psychic Lemon - Psychic Lemon (Drone Rock Records)

Released in March 2016, 'Psychic Lemon' (Drone Rock Records) is the debut self-titled LP from this London band (Andrew Briston, Andrew Hibberd, George Horler, Martin Law), which boasts recording its albums in a small studio near where Syd Barrett once lived. Clearly inspired by Goat and Amon Duul, the band's sound can rather be defined as a kind of reinterpretation of progressive rock reimagined today in a modernist key, with influences harking back to post-punk and noise rock. Recorded in 2015 with special guest Dan Ellis on flute, the feeling that emerges from listening to this album is one of certain perplexity. It is frankly difficult to keep up with what is a continuous sequence of shifts in tempo in a way that feels forced and doesn't facilitate the enjoyment of the work in any way. A series of unfortunate choices makes this first attempt a partial failure. They seem to have a new album scheduled for release in 2018. We'll see.

Psychic Lemon - Death Cult Blues
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
22 dec 17

DeRank™: 0,00

Let’s dive deep into the most cutting-edge experimentalism with the daily proposal for the #buzz showcase featuring an incredible album and musical reality that I discovered thanks to @[ALFAMA].

ZS - XE (2015)

Zs is an experimental and avant-garde music project founded in 2000 by saxophonist Sam Hillmer. The current lineup consists of a trio with the addition of the great guitarist Patrick Higgins and drummer Greg Fox (Liturgy, Guardian Alien, Man Forever). This lineup's technical proficiency is at least as high as their inventiveness and drive to innovate. Recorded at Future-Past Studios in Hudson, New York, 'Xe' was released in 2015 by Northern Spy Records. The album consists of three minor compositions that blend minimalism with what can be considered the avant-garde of musicians like Arto Lindsay and John Lurie, and the entire no-wave movement. The music has a sound that can be seen as a true cultural and post-modern manifesto, expressing chaos and dissent in an expressionist manner. After all, the album is influenced by the works of visual artist Tauba Auerbach (who created the cover art for the album), who found in this group's compositions the same cultural basis as her figurative works. The album concludes with the title track, 'Xe', which lasts twenty minutes and forms the heart of the album—a seemingly chaotic structural construction that is actually elastic, where everything moves in an organized disorder and continually wavers on the edge of a razor before returning to its place. This is an unmissable album if you enjoy the most avant-garde musical productions, and it's a chance to encounter three of the most interesting musicians in the contemporary USA scene.

Zs - Xe (Full Album)
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
22 dec 17

DeRank™: 0,00

The #zot2016 review returns, now approaching its end (scheduled for 31/12/2016), with an absolutely experimental proposal that, while probably 'daunting', is certainly very interesting.

Zofff - Kozfest MMXVI (2016)

Zofff (Chris Anderson, Bic Hayes, Al Strachan, Damo Waters, Richard Gorbutt) is a psychedelic music group from the south of England, self-defined as a temporal experiment occurring in the present but whose seeds have been sown in the future. Despite appearances, there is no reference to what has been the ultimate goalkeeper in the history of football. Through space-time, they present this publication (absolutely experimental) released on this very interesting brand new label from Brighton, UK, called Drone Rock Records (the same one for which the Stupid Cosmonauts have published, just to give context). The album, released in December 2016, is practically a live recording of an improvised session during Kozfest on July 29, 2016, recorded with the collaboration of Dave Lowe and Pete Wibrew. It is certainly not an 'easy' release, not so much for the sounds, but because it is essentially one long session lasting about 45 minutes. However, the sounds are very interesting. Clearly psychedelic in inspiration and based on the typical kraut-rock motorik 4/4, various moments of greater intensity emerge within the 45 minutes, leading to an experimentalism that incorporates post-punk experiments mixed with no-wave abstraction and moments reminiscent of the usual Tangerine Dream for both the space-dimensional approach and the use of synths and guitars. It’s very intriguing, but to truly define the depth of this group, it is indeed necessary to refer them to a studio album.

All members of ZOFFF are ZOFFF

No single member of ZOFFF is ZOFFF ZOFFF is ZOFFF is ZOFFF is ZOFFF IS

ZOFFF

ZOFFF is The FORM and the FLOW

KOZFEST MMXVI | ZOFFF
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
21 dec 17

DeRank™: 3,00

For the #buzz review today, I present to you a super classic. Thanks again to @[ALFAMA] for the tip.

The Lovin' Spoonful - Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful (1966)

The Lovin' Spoonful: surely in this case we are not talking about a niche or lesser-known band. On the contrary, the formation led by John B. Sebastian is part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and achieved a certain level of success in the 1960s, before the group disbanded, which, clearly, over the years has had a series of reunions that continue to this day. Notable among the founding members is guitarist Zal Yanovsky, who came from the group The Mugwumps, the same group as Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty, who later formed the Mamas & Papas. It’s also worth mentioning that of the historic band, only Steve Boone and Joe Butler remain today. Jerry Yester, who joined the band in 1990 with his brother Jim Yester, was recently arrested for possession of child pornography material. In short, there are quite a few stories to tell. 'Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful' was released in 1966 at the band's peak. All the songs are written by John Sebastian. The band's sound nods to the Grateful Dead, but the Lovin' Spoonful has a clearly more pop approach reminiscent of the Mamas & Papas, The Turtles, The Association…). The album mostly consists of ballads like 'Lovin' You', 'Bes' Friends', 'Darlin' Companion', 'Henry Thomas' and there’s also a touch of psychedelia, as in 'Rain On The Roof' or 'Coconut Grove'. There are also more rock songs that hark back to the sound of The Doors, like 'Darlin' Companion', 'Full Measure', or Neil Young ('4 Eyes'), culminating in the hit 'Summer in The City'. Overall a record where all the songs are practically irresistible. Not an easy feat.

The Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In The City (1966)
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
20 dec 17

DeRank™: 0,00

Check out a new chapter of the #buzz review and an album that, suggested by the usual @[ALFAMA], will take you straight to a timeless dimension.

COURTYARD MUSIC GROUP - JUST OUR WAY OF SAYING HELLO (1975)

Clearly a cult object, this album by the Courtyard Music Group, a psychedelic rock band from the hills of Galloway in southwestern Scotland, was originally pressed in only 100 copies. The album is titled 'Just Our Way of Saying Hello' (1975) and was re-released in 2015. Essentially an album with baroque sounds and references to the Canterbury scene, it features medieval atmospheres with the use of winds, organs, and bells that create real vignettes ('Maggi's Tune', 'Bridges', 'Goodbye', 'Pebonella'...). However, the album mainly contains what can be considered true psychedelic folk ballads such as 'Song For Claire,' the ambitious 'Jame-Gypsy Cream (The Magician),' 'The Seasons'; the bluesy 'Alki Blues,' and more experimental tracks like '2074,' 'The Bonny Labouring Boy,' and 'Ante Glock Shoppe.' It's definitely a very unique album that can only be appreciated in its singularity, with atmospheres that inevitably recall 'The Wicker Man' by Robin Hardy (1973) and the soundtrack by Paul Giovanni and Gary Carpenter, a film set in Scotland, specifically in the Hebrides islands off the western coast.

Courtyard Music Group - The Seasons
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
19 dec 17

DeRank™: 1,76

The #buzz review presents an episode that may be less experimental than others, but a record that, as always suggested by our @[ALFAMA], is definitely effective. We look again to Northern Europe, this time to Denmark.

Blue Sun - Blue Sun '73 (1973)

Another group from Northern Europe, and more specifically this time from Denmark. They are Blue Sun, a band active mainly in the early seventies, and whose iconic record is undoubtedly this eponymous album from 1973 (reissued in 1992). The progressive rock imprint is evident in the sound of this group, which then branches out into various genres, and in its more experimental jazz expressions, it is not far from the kraut-rock of Can (e.g., the title track 'Blue Sun', 'Bladene Falder'). But the most typical aspect concerns songs of true rock and roll in the style of Eric Burdon and the Animals, evoking American rhythm and blues like 'Son Af Solen', 'Ivalo Og Liza', not to mention the instrumentals 'Tareperseren', 'Efterar', 'Solhverv'. A record with triumphant tones; had they been American or English, we would consider them classics of rhythm and blues and major bands of the genre, but their geographical origin makes us think more of a blend of genres that elsewhere, in Germany, translated into more acid expressions (not to mention Sweden), while in this case, the sounds are generally 'warm' and characterized by that typical 'blues', however more institutional. But effective.

Blue Sun - Blue Sun 1973
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
18 dec 17

DeRank™: 0,00

Another Made In Chile album for the #zot2016 showcase, featuring a record with sounds different from those of Chicos de Nazca, yet from a group that hails from the same scene.

Demonauta - Tierra del fuego (BYM).

Inspired by stoner rock and heavy-psych sounds, but also influenced by a more mainstream alternative rock component with hints of metal, here is 'Tierra del Fuego', the latest album from the Chilean band Demonauta, based in Santiago de Chile and still orbiting BYM Records. In 'Tierra del Fuego', you'll find more typically stoner moments like 'Into The Darkness', 'Sahara Trip', 'Astro II', and the eight-minute 'Psiconauta', alternating with tracks like 'Del Vendaval' and the mesmerizingly hypnotic 'Cosmos', which is entirely built on a powerful bass line; and the more institutional and melodic 'Venas de la Tierra' (the weakest moment of the album). Clearly recommended if you enjoy stoner psych and doom sounds. Otherwise, feel free to move along. The cover art is stunning.

Demonauta - Psiconauta
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
18 dec 17

DeRank™: 2,46

Mr. @[G], I was wondering: why on Deb have you never opted for the adoption of those magical 'buttons' for sharing individual reviews on various social media like FB, Twitter, Google+, etc., as most blogs or websites dedicated to the magical world of music do?
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
18 dec 17

DeRank™: 0,85

Here we are with a new episode for the #buzz review, with our usual DJ @alfama suggesting the records, and I’ll play them for you in rotation. This morning we present a beautifully sunny album that can warm you up in this cold winter weather.

Octopus Syng - Reverberating Garden No. 7 (2014)

'Reverberating Garden No. 7' (Mega Dodo) is a true dive into the past and the sixties, a tribute to the psychedelia of the early Pink Floyd, conceived by Octopus Syng, which hides the mind and inventiveness of Jaaire Patari. The album is filled with typical suggestions of the visionary mind of Syd Barrett, both in terms of songwriting and the use of instruments, particularly the repeated sound of the electric organ and synths, which faithfully recreate those atmospheres in an album where most of the tracks are songs and ballads of pop and experimental psychedelia ('Very Strange Trip', 'Reflections Of Time'). Here and there, you can catch references to other bands of the era, such as in 'Mirror Of Our Memories', which winks at the Doors, and songs of elegant and simple beauty yet simultaneously sophisticated like 'Diamonds And Emeralds', 'It's Not A Coincidence'... An album loaded with mystery and curiosity that must definitely be rediscovered.

Octopus Syng - Cuckoo Clock Mystery (Official music video)
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
16 dec 17

DeRank™: 11,20  RadioDelirio

@[Pinhead] now we want the five questions for @[algol]!
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
16 dec 17

DeRank™: 4,76

The #zot2016 review presents another album that I missed last year, 2016, but this time unconsciously because I find it hard to keep up with this band’s releases (they even put out an album in 2017 that I haven't listened to yet, which means I might have to do a similar review next year).

Chicos de Nazca - Living Lightime (BYM).

My favorite Chilean band, now firmly based in Berlin (Germany), confirms it is particularly prolific with an average of one LP a year. "Living Lightime" was released in December 2016 and is practically already the penultimate album from Chicos de Nazca (who released another LP in May 2017). The band consists of leader Francisco KB Cabala (La Hell Gang), Carlos Cabala, Nes, and Pablo Thiermann, all representing BYM Records (the same label as Follakzoid, just to be clear). Recorded at Funkhaus Studios in Berlin by Pablo Thiermann himself, the album contains eight songs that mostly repeat the same (convincing) formula of psychedelic rock, echoing the sound that the BJM might have had during the latter part of the nineties. The structures are mostly simple and effective, this time built on 1970s rock’n’roll riffs with some nods to Neil Young, eventually losing themselves in very simple yet impactful guitar solos. Noteworthy is the eight-minute "Rising Motion," constructed similarly to the other tracks but obviously distinguished by having a much longer 'tail.' The limitation of this band, which is incredibly easy to listen to, likely lies in a certain repetitiveness of the compositions both structurally and in terms of the nature and quality of the sounds. Consequently, they seem to lose momentum album after album. Nonetheless, recommended. 3/5

Chicos de Nazca - Breaking All Her Time
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
16 dec 17

DeRank™: 0,00

The review 'Buzzin' Sound' or #buzz presents you this Saturday a truly special album by a certainly renowned and internationally recognized author. Thanks once again to @[ALFAMA] for guiding us through these new sound dimensions.

David Shea - Rituals (2014).

In the same days that Brian Eno is recording an album in collaboration with young pianist Tom Rogerson ('Finding Shore', Dead Oceans), I literally accompany you in listening to the album of this composer and pianist, a student of Morton Feldman and a long-time collaborator of John Zorn. The album is titled 'Rituals' (Room40) and was released in September 2014. Composed and recorded in Melbourne over five years during his stay in Australia, the album embarks on a genuine journey through traditional ritual music, focusing on ancient religious rites such as those of Buddhist and Taoist worship. The compositions, based on a certain minimalism, aim to practically immerse the author within sound experiences according to concepts expressed in the field of kinematics combined with sound, suggesting that it is the waves generated by different types of sounds that define the geometries of movement and the motion of bodies. A work of minimal neoclassical music with strongly evocative traits that, with style and elegance, holds a certain expressive power that draws the listener into a state of contemplation and meditative peace.

David Shea - Ritual 32
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
15 dec 17

DeRank™: 3,27

The #zot2016 review today presents a compilation that nonetheless represents a publication of high qualitative level, recommended for those wanting to get closer to an artist I consider fundamental, albeit often overlooked.

John Foxx - 21st Century: A Man, A Woman And A City (Metamatic Records)

John Foxx is one of my favorite artists. Consequently, I can't help but appreciate this publication, '21st Century: A Man, A Woman And A City', released last year on Metamatic Music. Essentially, it is a greatest hits collection regarding John Foxx's releases from 2000 to 2015. It includes recordings that not only cover different albums but also various projects and collaborations over the years. It ranges from works alongside Louis Gordon to those with Benge (John Foxx and The Maths), which clearly encompass most of the tracks, as well as stand-alone pieces featuring collaborations with Matthew Dear, Jori Hulkonnen, Robin Guthrie, and Gazelle Twin. There are also a couple of remixes from OMD and Adult. Inevitably, we encounter everything that showcases John Foxx's productions. From the more ambient and evocative moments typical of his works in the style of the 'Cathedral Oceans' series and also his latest album with Benge, to the more distinctly wave sounds akin to that fundamental album 'Metamatic'. There are echoes of 'Hiroshima Mon Amour', sacrilegious and dramatic interpretations, lots of high-quality minimal electronics, and analog synthesizer instrumentation. However, the highlight is probably the concluding track, 'Talk (Are You Listening To Me?)', the historic first collaboration between John Foxx and The Maths with his alter ego Gary Numan. If all this doesn't merit five stars, then what does?

John Foxx and the Maths featuring Gary Numan - Talk (Are You Listening to Me?)
 
sotomayor
sotomayor
14 dec 17

DeRank™: 3,00

The showcase 'Buzzin' Sound' aka #buzz, where I practically stand at the console and play the records suggested by my buddy @[ALFAMA], here proves to have a heart and presents you with another beautiful record.

Violet Woods - Violet Woods (2014)

Some have described their sound as what the Byrds might have sounded like if remixed by Wooden Shjips. However, in my opinion, this definition doesn't entirely fit this band from Cambridge, UK, and particularly their eponymous album 'Violet Woods' released in December 2014. Here, there is a total lack of that heavy-psych and obsessive component typical of Ripley Johnson's sound, in favor of a refined taste that at times is even delicate, reminiscent of a certain psychedelia from the sixties, which at times recalls the early Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett ('Over The Ground', 'Take Your Time'...) or Robyn Hitchcock and passages of neo-psychedelia that have more pop sounds (for example, think of Real Estate). The sound is perfectly convincing, with a strong rhythm section that never strays from its duty, while the typically vintage organ sound and the melody of the guitars, combined with the vocals, create evocative atmospheres and at times a melancholy ('Here', 'Driftwood Royalty'...) that inevitably takes you back to those fleeting moments when you believed you possessed love, before it slipped away through your fingers like the vision of fields of violets from the glass of a window. Only the color remains imprinted in your memory, and you never forget it. That mysterious and elusive color, here it is, it's the sound of this record, electric violet that makes your heart beat.

Violet Woods - "Here" (official video)
 
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