Trumans Water- Peel Sessions

This was taken from 3 sessions, two from '93 and one from '94.  Unfortunately (or do I mean thankfully?) Trumans Water probably won't be part of the recent "I love everything 90's" trend (20 year pop-culture recycle program needs to be shut down, anyway) because they are probably just as challenging today as they were then (meant as a complement).
Somewhere I saw someone compare them to "early Pavement meets early Boredoms, but not as spazzy."  There's a lot of room to go wrong there, but it's still pretty accurate, but I like these guys better than Pavement or Boredoms.  I do hear post-punk and kraut rock influences, but they're still of their own time.  I would think they would have a lot of appeal to Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 and Sun City Girls fans.  Definitely not a band to play by any rules, thankfully.

http://www.mediafire.com/?47c64aqh5hiuecr

A Pheromoans Sampler

This is the best young/contemporary band out there.  Ramshackle post-punk with a sense of humor greatness.
So here's a collection of songs from various albums and EPs.  The process of making a zip file created the order of the tracks, but it doesn't matter what order their songs are in...they're all really fucking good on their own.  Listen repeatedly for your own good, and most importantly buy their records.  Money spent in support of a band this great and the wonderful folks who run the labels that put these records out is money you should be spending.  How the fuck do you think bands are able to make more records?
These guys have put out a lot of stuff in a handful of years and I sure hope they'll continue...

http://www.mediafire.com/?q7m0e8wsb56aywh

A Film by Zack Distel

**better to watch it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F44SYrPljwA

Basically this is an experimental visualization of an 18 minute piece of experimental music, really cool stuff, reminded me a bit of Bill Morrison's "Decasia."
I recommend watching it on the biggest screen possible, in the dark, loud-ish, etc.  It sounds cheesy, I'm sure, but no matter what you think of them, cliches became cliches because they're the truth.  This is very atmospheric music and film, best to engulf yourself.
Anyway, with this gem, I may try to begin posting more film work, too.  If you have any suggestions, put a link in the comments.

Ack! Ack! Ack! 2012 Record Store Day Comp.

Excellent comp. limited to 50 cassette copies from Middlesbrough, UK's Ack! Ack! Ack! Records.  Featuring out of print or unreleased tracks from The Rebel, Mike Watt, Jad Fair, GW Sok (from The Ex), dustDEVILS,  Yuri Landman Ensemble, Year Of Birds,  Kaleidoscope Death (my band), and many others from punk to lo-fi, garage, avant-garde, psychedelic, etc.
Up until recently I really hadn't heard any contemporary music that did much for me at all, but dammit if there isn't a totally kick ass UK underground scene.  The Pheromoans are a new favorite, and if anyone has more recommendations, please share!  Anyone who wants to share new music like this, your own or a mix tape, please post a link below in the comments.

Tomorrow's Friend- Some Days Yes, Some Days More Than Yes

Maybe it was 2005 when my buddy Erik was going on and on about this band and always playing this CD demo...completely smitten. Over the moon, even. I must admit his enthusiasm rubbed off on a bunch of us...I hope to do the same here.

Lo-fi (4-track) minimal jangle-y loose pop with noise interludes, in short, but let me tell you, these ladies have got some serious chops, good enough to pass love songs through my filters (not an easy task), and there's just some really great songs here, perfectly stripped down. Great soundtrack to Springtime intoxication. Good times!

http://www.mediafire.com/?py7xzzbeiztp02n

Listen for yourself!

Year Of Birds- Wade Reactive

Most of my friends seem frustrated at my complete lack of affection for any new/young bands. Sorry, but most of it doesn't speak to me at all. So imagine my surprise when I put this CD EP on. Quick bursts of lo-fi-post-punk-rawk. I hear influences of The Fall, Country Teasers, The Yummy Fur, and Urinals with plenty of Garage-y energy, AKA right up my weird narrow alley. This was originally released on a split cassette with Girl Sweat (from Leeds) December, 2011. How's that for contemporary music appreciation?!
For fans of The Rebel, you may recognize Year Of Birds (from Middlesbrough, England) from the most recent split LP, (limited to 250 and still available...see link below to get one before they run out and you have to pay overblown e-bay prices) both sides of which are excellent, but I gotta say I like this E.P. best of all, including the Rebel's side (which I've gotta say is a step up from "Five Year Plan"). These 5 rockers (in 7 minutes) draw way more repeated listens than any of the above, at absolutely no fault of any of the above.
So here it is, the first ever winner of the Uuhngreh Schpuggenuh best new band award. Year Of Birds is definitely a band to watch out for.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ka2lze27ql5izyq

http://ackackack.bandcamp.com/

and here's a link to the Girl Sweat side of the tape.  Great lo-fi noisy garage skronk:

http://www.mediafire.com/?0wgzdhsp45hxqr4

Secret Message Machine- Giants Madmen and Ghosts

One of the main things I like most about Secret Message Machine is its balance-it's modestly confident but nothing is overdone, it's lo-fi but surprisingly clear, poppy but not too poppy, sometimes melancholy but not maudlin, etc. etc. like I've written on every SMM review by now.
If any of you have downloaded "Capitalist Bastards Communist Fools" or "Orphanville" from this blog, this one falls right in-between those chronologically and sonically. "Abandoned Children" was made of out-takes from this album, too.
Can't you tell I'm trying to do you a favor?!
See some samples below.
Even though it's good the first time around, I also found that this album really starts to unfold after a few listens. Time invested in any SMM album is time well spent. Download them all and find out for yourself, dammit.

http://www.mediafire.com/?63mam6dxwdes086

Homer and Jethro Strike Back!

Homer and Jethro were basically like a hillbilly version of Weird Al, well, decades before Weird Al. Maybe because it's older it's way cornier plus it's purposely very stupid, much to my delight. Being a southerner who hates the serious and loves corny, stupid, and old things, I can't help but love this stuff.
Don't expect to have your mind blown, but prepare to smack your palm to your forehead at this joyous idiocy. There is absolutely nothing cool about these guys, thankfully.
Just listen all the way through at least once to make sure you still have a sense of humor.

http://www.mediafire.com/?abig15bqr3xlsbh

(click to enlarge)

Michel Legrand- Rendezvous In Paris

I may not like this one as much as "I Love Paris," or a lot of his movie scores (esp. Nouvelle Vague stuff) but it's still really enjoyable. The arrangements are still better than most easy listening/jazz band leaders. His arrangement style is pretty romantic and cinematic, which definitely helps an instrumental album of Parisian tunes.
I like the cut and paste nature of the delightfully cheesy, "Boum," plus it also features a version of the tune from Truffaut's, "Stolen Kisses," that was always getting stuck in my head ("I Wish You Love," see below). At least now I have an instrumental version of the song.
If you're familiar with any of Legrand's 60's output or possibly a fan of French New Wave music meets more stereotypical "French" music, this is definitely worth a listen. Easy going...

http://www.mediafire.com/?2s9ls9a6la6uwed



Original version by Charles Trenet:

The Fall- Live To Air in Melbourne '82

Recorded on same tour as "In A Hole." This one may not be quite equal the high level of manic energy of "In A Hole," and the recording is a bit drier but it's still really fucking good. A great live recording for some similar, some different reasons. I do like that this one includes more stuff that was to be on "Perverted By Language," one up there on my long list of Fall favorites.

1) I Feel Voxish (sounds like it's still being worked out)
2) Hard Life In Country
3) I'm Into CB
4) Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul
5) Solicitor In Studio
6) Tempo House
7) The Classical
8) Marquis Cha Cha
9) Room To Live
10) Hexen Hour/Strife Knot
11) Deer Park
12) Totally Wired
13) Joker Hysterical Face
14) Hip Priest

http://www.mediafire.com/?vhzcaspcumcs6ib

Poodlestick- Reasonable People (Deluxe Edition)

Poodlestick self description:
"Back in 2005, in a two story duplex on Wilson St, Poodlestick came together and recorded their one and only album, "Reasonable People." Although it is the only album released under the poodlestick name it is part of a continuum of experimental / noise recordings made by Erik Chaplinsky (Summer Camp Casanova) and Michael Barrett (Secret Message Machine). The first of those is blank_blank’s find the phantom limb. In some ways, this is the follow up to that release. blank blank went on to record as a five piece band and Erik and Michael continued the experimental recordings as poodlestick and then Mystery Pill with Chuck Chambers (Kaleidoscope Death).
With intense drum beats and synth monoliths, "Reasonable People" has its fair share of melody and rhythm. Sometimes chaotic, sometimes ambient. The recordings were mostly improvised, with some set songs. Later the recordings were further produced through some overdubs, mixing, and blending the songs together so that what you get is basically two pieces of music composed of smaller fragments of songs."

To me, Poodlestick was always a great combination of loose, lo-fi, noisy yet musical, immediate tunes for short attention spans. Maybe why the band was so short lived. Anyway, this is great background music, which to me is a true sign of quality instrumental music.
This Deluxe Edition also includes one recorded piece from their all too brief 2008 reunion and an entire set recorded and broadcast live on college radio (WUAG) in 2005, which is a personal favorite of mine. I may be biased on that one because I had done an uncomfortable solo set just before them, went out to Michael's truck to drink beers and listen to Poodlestick before going back in to join them for a Mystery Pill set. Good times and good tunes.
Very pleasing spontaneous sounds.

http://www.mediafire.com/?r8p8aqv6kbwpk24

The Guitars Unlimited Plus 7- Crazy Rhythm

Another fine album from the Stereo Action series ("the sound your eyes can follow). I could never say that anyone sounds like Esquivel, but stereo mixing-wise, this is similar, groups of sounds drifting between speakers with solo instruments zooming all around. His album "Latin-Esque" was put on by Stereo Action and Crazy Rhythm also utilized two separate groups of musicians recorded in separate studios for maximum stereo separation. They also picked songs to suit this recording and mixing style.
So here we have another wacky collection of pretty corny instrumentals. If the opening track, "Expresso" doesn't win you over, then this may not be the record for you. I do like this record a little more every time I hear it, too. Try through headphones for a weird experience.
Personally, I can't get enough energetic corn music.

http://www.mediafire.com/?31fko6katldfold

Fabienne Jacquinot with the Westminster Symphony Orchestra

D'Indy: Symphony on a French Mountain Air
Saint Saens: Piano Concerto No. 5 in F, Op. 103, "The Egyptian"

This is not an audiophile copy, pretty scratchy, but that doesn't bug me, at least.
I like "Symphony on a French Mountain Air," but I only ever listen to the Saint Saens side, and like most of his work I've heard, this piece is quite beautiful and wonderfully crafted. An early morning favorite, sounds great with the sounds of brewing coffee and frying eggs.

http://www.mediafire.com/?fuurmrrwy6qbydf

Psychic TV- Themes

Part I- Piano and Clarinet
Part II- Tibetan Human Thigh Bones
Part III- Cowbell, Bicycle Wheel, and Vibes
Part IV- New Guinea Headhunter's Pipe, Large and Small Drum
Part V- Piano and String Machine
Part VI- Recording Made at Jonestown, Guyana at the time of the Suicides
Part VII- African Initiation Drum and Animal Tusk Horn
Part VIII- Various Temple Bells, Gongs, Cymbals and Vibes

An album to be used "in...rituals as functional music intended only to aid in the process of making things happen," and also meant to be a practical tool. Makes perfect sense to me. It's easy to picture some tribe or cult having ritual music like this. The functional/practical part seems subjective, to me. Try listening to this while doing anything creative (or even just take a walk) and there's a good chance the music can work its way in, invade your mind and the effect is pretty empowering. Hell, listening to this while walking through an old cemetery on a cold foggy day with an old manual camera and some black and white film was a hell of a lotta fun.
Recommended for Throbbing Gristle fans who may be turned off by how polished Psychic TV studio albums can be.

http://www.mediafire.com/?nbbsv8p5dlz6dl4

Hawaii- The Exotic Sounds of the Surfmen

I've bought a lot of bad Hawaii albums out of dollar bins, but when you find one like this it's all worth it. It's got that mind melting laziness of slow strumming and Hawaiian slide guitar, but these guys listened to Exotica, too. They come across like Budget Exotica (I could kind of tell by how cheaply this record was made that I had a good chance of liking it). Kind of like what Garage Rock was to the Kinks, but these guys were presumably looking up to Martin Denny with part stereotypical Hawaiian tunes, the other part Exotica. An all around great soundtrack for immobility.

http://www.mediafire.com/?raduhft2kkhsgsf

Esquivel- Exploring New Sounds In Stereo (vinyl rip)

Another wonderful collection of wacky greats by the almighty Esquivel. If you like constant changes in instrumentation and sounds flying back and forth between the speakers, I assume you already know Esquivel, but if you don't please enjoy. You don't come across stuff like this often, unfortunately.
Contains the classics "Lazy Bones" and "Whatchamacallit" and plenty of "zoo zoo" lyrics.
Esquivel also never seems to get the respect he deserves as a pianist either. Fucking amazing.

http://www.mediafire.com/?k8kxhu2fyuaw7pv

Holiday In Cuba In Mambo Tempo by The Cuban Orchestra

I love these old Mambo records. They always change the atmosphere of the room, in a matter of seconds, to be more fun, lively, and lighthearted. The Mambo just sweeps my cares aside and I can simply enjoy myself for a while. Big rhythm and slightly off kilter melodies gotta try real hard to go wrong. Ever notice how often Fellini used Mambo in night club scenes and how well it worked?
And this record is probably my favorite that I've heard so far.
Great stuff.

http://www.mediafire.com/?tvn5h14pxk1ak4f

Martin Denny- Quiet Village

It is a bit funny that Martin Denny's 6th album is titled, "Quiet Village," even though that single reached popularity before the first album, which it was also included on. At least they tacked it on to the 12 song album, rather than taking one of those tracks off to replace it. Easy way to sell more records, I guess.
Doesn't matter, though. This record should have been more than good enough to sell itself. Enough jungle calls, catchy tunes, and mind numbing/imagination inducing ambience for anyone. If you're in doubt, listen to "Tune From Rangoon." If you aren't into it, I don't know what to tell you.
See original liner notes below for more gushings.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jc6toj2poodcoe7

Three Albums by Arthur Lyman

Albums: Hawaiian Sunset, Isle of Enchantment, and Taboo (CD copy, my vinyl skips a bit).

I think Arthur Lyman gets a bit overlooked in the world of Exotica, even if he had hits in the Top 10 in the past, Martin Denny and Les Baxter seem to get all the credit, not to say that they don't deserve it.
Lyman was the vibraphone player in Martin Denny's group for the first couple of albums, and in my opinion, Denny's music lost some of its exoticness when Lyman left and took those subdued moody vibes to his new group. There's something more primitive (intended as a compliment) about this group, it was only a 4 piece, but it's more than that. Their approach seems more artistic and slightly less for the tourists (both Denny and Lyman did tons of performing at Hawaiian hotels).
Another thing that gives these records an odd feel is that all Lyman's records were recorded in the Aluminum Dome at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel.
3 dreamily exotic LPs, and at least you downloaders don't have to break the mood to get up and flip the record...

All 3 albums in one file:
http://www.mediafire.com/?wdz9ds4tx2jlat4

Echoes Of Vienna

Side one is a variety of Waltzes you'd hear on many other Vienna albums, but this is a bit more stripped down- just piano, guitar, and bass performed by the Belvedere Trio. Unfortunately the track listing on the record does not correspond to the order of the songs...so no tracklist for side one. Nice stuff.
Side two is an orchestral medley of, you guessed it, waltzes, this time by Viennese Symphonic Orchestra led by Franz Lehar. Good n' woozy.
Both sides are great background music for anything with a nice and easy pace.

http://www.mediafire.com/?x2m9m7yvblp67rt

The Best of Martin Denny

I'm sure all you hipsters and collector nerds turn your noses up at best of comps., but good music is good no matter how it comes. 12 great exotica tunes from 12 albums, plus his biggest hit "Quiet Village" is not on this LP, a nice touch. It still flows like one great record that can still provide a soundtrack to easily help you unwind and forget (attn: hipsters and collectors). No complaints from this grump!

http://www.mediafire.com/?q4yi05m8inueu4x

Esquivel- Latin-esque (vinyl rip)

If Beethoven is considered the main genius in classical music, then Esquivel would be the Beethoven of the 20th Century. Okay most of the songs weren't his own compositions, but his arrangements are completely unpredictable in terms of instrumentation, placement, and often zooming from one speaker to the other. I can't put it into words well, but this is instant good mood music, never fails.
On the record two orchestras were put in two different studios for complete stereo separation with all kinds of overdubs all over the place. There's even a live, 2 studio, piano delay, that sounds infinitely better than any delay pedal ever has.
I almost always prefer mono records, but not Esquivel. So many other groups don't know how to use stereo, hell listen to a lot of 60's pop/rock albums and you can't help but wonder what the hell the engineer was thinking. Esquivel is the master some sort of goofy art form of stereo mixing and arrangement. Too bad musicians these days take everything, especially themselves, so damn seriously, leaving music this fun to the past.
This is a masterpiece of wackiness.

http://www.mediafire.com/?lz3hb3a7necxjpw

Nino Rota- I Clowns

All the tracks on the record blur together, so I just did each side on its own track. This is mostly more circusy versions of songs from "Juliet of the Spirits" and "8 1/2" with Italian and French clown dialogue, a few other tunes, and nicely rounded off with "Ebb Tide," a very fun record.
Yet another in the series of wonderful Nino Rota Fellini scores.
Seems like this made for TV movie is looked over way too much, Fellini fans who only like a few of his films really confuse me.
From the liner notes:
"It is all intricate and tragic and superbly simple-minded. As if to say: the clown is not dead and cannot die, but perhaps the world that cherished the clown is dead, the world of those who saw the clown in themselves. And that- the feeling that most people, so serious now, have forgotten that we are all partly clowns- is sad indeed."

http://www.mediafire.com/?grhmbnrz6pfn8rm

Debussy- La Mer/Iberia

La Mer- Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos
Iberia- The Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy

Two great performances of two great pieces by one great composer on one scratchy record.

http://www.mediafire.com/?9ihed7qmjo55257

Sleepy John Estes: 1929-1940

This copy is a bit rough, surely there's some surface noise from the 78 mastering and then the surface noise from this old LP. Not bad though, no skips or anything.
There's something so lazy about Sleepy John Estes, and I sure love lazy music. Great old blues.
Yet another "if the river was whiskey and I was a duck" song plus other nuggets of wisdom like "life is too short to worry about the one you love."
If Blind Willie Johnson is my favorite in harsh blues, Sleepy John is favorite of the lighter side...too lazy to get all worked up. Yep.

http://www.mediafire.com/?hqk7o0htes48mum