Sorry for being so lazy recently. I've been working on a theme for the next blog comp - first it was best of 2012, then Indonesian post-rock, then role-playing soundtracks... but in the end, this new one could only be for the next Austin Psych Fest.
Moving Sidewalks (Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top) ~ Os Mutantes ~
Roky Erickson ~ The Raveonettes ~ OM ~ Silver Apples ~
Kaleidoscope (UK) ~ Tamaryn ~ Suuns ~ Besnard Lakes ~
Indian Jewelry ~ Bass Drum of Death ~ Night Beats ~
No Joy ~ Young Magic ~ Wall of Death ~ Holy Wave ~
Ride into the Sun ~ Hearts in Space
YEAH!!
This ended up as an interesting collection. Previous comps have featured a lot of this year's artists - which you can explore via the brand-new index, or the links in the "Astral Headspace Comps" section to the right. So we have a lot of newcomers & deep cuts. Plus a Flammarion woodcut cover concept!
1. "Rad Times" - Black Bananas
New project from Jennifer of Royal Trux! MP3 from Pitchfork.
2. "Tiny Spiders" - The Soft Moon
Psych Fest semi-regulars return for another round in Austin. MP3 straight outta Stereogum. The Soft Moon also appeared on blog-comp-series Vol. 5.
9. "I Am Blind" - Elephant Stone
Someone told me this dude plays sitar for The Black Angels - and I heard he's from Canadia. Sounds good. MP3 deThe Decibel Tolls. Okay, new album on R.A.S. label too.
10. "Streams of Sorrow" [edit]- Silver Apples with Sonic Boom
Or Spectrum, or that guy from Spacemen 3... (also playing Psych Fest!) From their collaboration EP A Lake of Teardrops (1998).
11. "Good Clues" - Gary War
Don't know much, except that he covers APP for a totem. Also from New Raytheonport (2008), whole album on the Internet Archive.
12. "Golden Truth" - Holy Wave
Another one with a new release on the Psych Fest label. I think they've been added to the expanding Maserati/Soft Moon tour, coming to Houston in... March, I think? Snagged the MP3 from ReverbNation. March 12th at Fitzgerald's!
13. "Burning Mirrors" - Lumerians
Lumerians are veterans of an earlier Psych Fest event, and also appeared on blog-comp-series Vol. 6. This MP3 track comes from Prefix Mag.
14. "Now (revisited)" - The Holydrug Couple
I thought I'd put the Holydruggers on a comp before, but looks like it was just a Chilean-themed Facebook collection post. MP3 from the band Soundcloud - could have also gone with one of the free versions of "Ancient Land" available from their Bandcamp.
15. "Special A" - Ttotals
Just did a Google. Looks like the keywords are "Nashville" and "duo." Would you like to know more? (That was a Starship Troopers film reference!) Got this tune from band's Soundcloud.
16. "Lovefingers" [edit] - Silver Apples
Another sample from the 1968 s/t album!
17. "100" - Vinyl Williams
HA! This guy's stage name made me think he was like a hip-hop DJ or something. Not even... apparently it's a play on his true given name. MP3 from the vinyl soundcloud (which should totally be a thing).
19. "She Owns the Streets" - The Raveonettes
I was going to guess France, but no! Denmark... since 2001? Huh. MP3 from Filter Magazine. "Copenhagen" is a fun word to say, just roll it around in your mouth.
21. "Dia 36" (Os Mutantes cover) - The Trip
Since Os Mutantes (#15, 1969) pre-date free MP3 downloads, I found this Brazilian group/duo covering their fellow Brasileiros from their Soundcloud.
23. "Cremation Ghat II" - OM
Let's see... Om were the rhythm section of the legendary Sleep, and stuck it out when that band split. Later the drummer bailed, and was replaced by Emil Amos (of Grails, Holy Sons). I believe they're still just a duo now. Another from Stereogum MP3.
24. "Anthem" [edit] - Silver Apples with Jimi
From their collaboration back in the late-'60s! I wonder if The Simeon enjoys watching Super Troopers (2001)...
Because of the various issues with online storage (legitimate & otherwise), and the growing number of links to be monitored and updated - I'm setting up this free-standing post as a download & cross-reference index. Somewhat like the earlier Top 10 index and home-brew video index.
In addition to this post, I'll try to keep all the links updated in the "COMPS" section to the right. At this point the format for each comp is: Title linking to the Rapidshare download, and [vol. #] linking to the original post with tracklist & other info.
A couple of other quick notes: These collections all come from either totally legit promotional MP3's offered on the interet for download (see original posts for sources), or with the artists' permission. Also, Rapidshare will delete any files that go 30 days without download activity. If you experience any issues, post over on Facebook, since I usually overlook comments here on the blog itself for too long.
Here's the Astral MP3 Compilation download series... so far.
2009~Astralnauts Are Go!! vol. 1 [Download / Post]
Hey, the bitrates here aren't quite as bad as I'd remembered (just a lot of 128-192). Pretty solid first effort, with several ongoing favorite acts: BTWS, LP4, Boris, Earthless... And probably my favorite cover art. [15 tracks / 2+ hours]
Beyond the Astral Waves... vol. 2 [Download / Post]
Similar line-up as before... with some additional live stuff (Woods & Sebadoh), Psych Fest drone-rock (Black Angels, BJTM, The Asteroid No. 4), and good electronix (Caribou, Fujiya & Miyagi). [19 tracks / ~1¾ hours]
2010~Cleansing the Headspace: vol. 3 [Download / Post]
Quick review of the tracklist would indicate fairly heavy going. This starts out with Isis, Baroness & Nadja (MBV cover), then towards the end there's Krallice, WITTR, Mastodon & Nadja (a-Ha cover). Other stuff too, with expanded weirdo excerpts. [21 tracks / ~2 hours]
If forced to pick only one of these, this just might be the one. Goes all over the place, but manages to include many blog favorites (sometimes multiply), and it keeps moving along (only one true epic). [27 tracks / ~2¼ hours]
2011~Early through Everything... vol. 5 [Download / Post]
I hate to sound self-impressed, but I'm pretty impressed with myself. Looking back at these, I got more quality and/or interesting stuff than I thought. Anyway, #5 is about as electronical as #3 was heavy. [28 tracks / ~2½ hours]
Coming just two weeks after Early, this was kind of a direct sequel. I might have been pushing it, drunk on the flood of free MP3's. My cyberweb detective skills were probably peaking right around the same time bands' freeshare policies were. [30 tracks / 2½+ hours]
2012~Gongs to the Tempel - vol. 7 [Download / Post]
The secret to releasing 3 blog comps in 1 year is to start early! You know this one's great because "I tried to build this one mainly around the 2011 Year End lists." What could be better?? [38 tracks / 3 hours!]
... and following up in February. I think that "also a bunch of random other stuff" might describe this better than "Split amongst the upcoming and previous Austin Psych Fests." But maybe if you squint. Some really good music nevertheless. [46 tracks / ~3¾ hours!!]
This starts off looking like a Best of 2012, veers into a ditch of weirdness, then cruises some pop landscape, before returning home in time for the holidays. Even reined it in to [20 tracks / 1½+ hours].
The Linus Pauling is selling Assault on The Vault of The Ancient Bonglords 3xCD + the titular Druids & Demons module (#3 Archival, 2012) on the internet. Limited Edition of 100, expanded by popular demand from the original 55.
Head on over to ***CD Baby*** as fast as you possibly can!
Rock: Psychedelic
Moods: Featuring Guitar
Metal/Punk: Stoner Metal
Recommended if You Like
Black Sabbath
Monster Magnet
The Butthole Surfers
Here's what I said about it before:
3xCD career retrospective from "probably my favorite active hometown heroes." Some super-fan might quibble (more rarities! less debut!)... To which others might argue, "Shut up, their debut was your #9 album of 1995... Idiot!"
Oh and while I was on Soundcloud, I found this super-recent live recording from Charlie Naked, 12/22/2012 with OlympusMONS: Winter Solstice live. Downloadable as 3 parts (_1_/_2_/_3_)...
Along the lines of the ritual Drone/Ambient scene of Finland and the depressive Black Metal of Iran, we must now add the modern Post-Rock of Indonesia. This post will be part exploration & part map resource, lots of information & links densely packed in - with a minimum of embedded images & videos.
Thanks to Keith Henderson’s list on Aural Innovation's 2012 staff picks, I was lead to the 4 free-download compilations offered by Post Rock Indonesia:
Henderson specifically mentions the bands Little Space Donkey & Under The Big Bright Yellow Sun, so let's start off with them - and then the primary compilation that he listed. And on & on...
"Anumerta" from Dreamer's Manifesto EP (2011)
I found some info about the Jakarta band Little Space Donkey. The primary result was that most of their songs appear on their latest EP Dreamer's Manifesto, "released in Bandcamp on May 2011." (A free download link located on their Tumblr!) Also that the tune "Eleven Brave Warriors on That Field," was included on Volume 2 of the Beyond The Sky comp released by Invasi Record, a netlabel out of Bandung, Indonesia. Free Invasi releases are still available at The Archive.
Their first EP, Collection of Songs That We Will Never Play Live, Ever (2010, on Probablyworse.org) follows Rule #21 of Black Metal to a tee.
So this was the actual (free) compilation album that Henderson listed as one of his tops among 2012. I'm just going straight down the tracklist - links flying everywhere, maybe a video or two for something special. Feel free to listen to the comp, download whatever, and click around!
01. BOW (Burial Of World) – "Welcome"
Hahaha! I honestly didn't intend to start off embedding the first video. I'll try to restrain myself. But the slideshow brings up a point that I wanted to make: the Indonesian archipelago looks beautiful & exotic. So far most everything I've heard from these albums is both much better and much less exotic & distinctly Indonesian than I'd expected. Everyone seems to know the Post-Rock formula(e) and stick to it, to a surprisingly consistent degree. About the only angle I could go with might be that a lot is in the style of Mono, from Japan (whom Burial of World cover), rather than say Tortoise or Maserati - but that feels like a stretch.
Ok, back to BOW - nice tune. They've got a work in progress on Soundcloud, and a 2012 live "Shoki" for free download. Here's a YouTube search for further exploration.
Already we're beyond the borders! (The comps will get less & less Indonesia-centric as we progress...) Based on all the disconnected links from Indian Bands Hub, they've either renamed or broken up. MySpace is still up, though - looks like we might now be dealing with Anuragi instead. Direct download for Angina's Lost in Reverie mini-album (2010). There's at least one more release, but it all just got too confusing.
From Malang, East Java - I think the only MLK samples, and a counter-example of Indonesiatic musical influence. Specifically in the live instrumentation on this jam and on that one. Here's a studio "Small Friend," possibly from their free-download album Jumprit Singit (2011)?
East Jakarta troop - not much out there, but check out Soundcloud with D/L's. Well, someone made a cool video for "Fallen Angel." There are apparently other singles out there... somewhere.
Quite a bit shorter tracklist, so I'm going to continue with that approach for now.
<*Band descriptions from id-postrock translated by Google & me!>
01. Heima - "December"
<*The band that I think is oriented with the icelandic music like Sigur ros... it's that cold-coooooold.....!>
Not Icelandic, no - they're from Jakarta. Couple of relevant YouTube channels to scope, if interested: Heima-001 and Heima-002. There's also Facebook and MySpace. Couple of versions of that one song at Soundcloud. Single-song direct download link here.
02. Suara Hati - "Dream in Mine"
<*Solo, besides famous in its rock music scene.. it also stores the genre the band is post-rock/instrumental and one of them is Suara Hati.>
03. My Violainé Morning - "Color of condensed vapour in the sky"
<*Derived from Bandung armed with shoegazing instrumental music rock.Yupss!!! it's My Violaine Morning! I think successful band released the album "The next episode of the world" which was released by the Japanese label called "Happy Prince" who had released God Is An Astronaut's album.>
04. Stupidzero - "Anomalia dan Keyakinan"
<*This is what I say has been driving the music scene. glitchy Instrumental rock / noise from northern Sumatra to be exact.
>
"Tiga Kali Lebih Tenang" by Stupidzero, from totalfeedback vol 6
"Sumatra." Just two tracks at Soundcloud. Check out a live cover of "Heart-Shaped Box," which is where I think that video footage comes from. I dig this band's vibe, mang... There's also a Facebook.
Stumbled across GRUNGEE JUMPING! #2: Indonesian Raw and Noise Compilations (2012) during my search. It does appear you can both stream & download from Reverbnation - so check that out too!
05. Roommate - "Megumi on fire"
<*The band's music embraced alternative / indie but slightly spiced elements of post-rock...>
06. Musikari - "Hujan Tropis"
<*This hails from outside Samarinda. enlivening the Borneo music scene post-rock / instrumental in my Indonesia. So the band has a good following when they see themselves going consistently...>
07. Strangenoisemaker - "Welcome Home"
<*From jogja with music instrumental / electronic / ambient, Strangenoisemaker is an instrumental / electronic unit in jogja which also helped to enliven the indie scene in sana. though it was a vacuum... but, we must wait for the best works of them :) >
Here we're going well beyond Indonesia, around into the region & the Philippines... I'm thinking "SEA" actually means "South East Asia," although Indonesia has been part of a few thalassocracies, most notably the Srivijaya and Majapahit empires. In which case, things should start speeding up now.
Solitude tracklist:
01. Hon Narongrit - "Raining in Summer" (Thailand)
Are those dudes at Rudyard's? These guys had Valve State Dreams (2002), Ape Kill Ape (2004) and appear on the very recent Mull; Debauch to Kuala Lumpor (component three) comp (2012). Albums maybe here. O yeah, and MySpace. You're probably better off just hitting this YouTube search actually.
I'm a big fan of having your own Bandcamp - it's almost as good as having free downloads. They've also got a YouTube channel, and here's a couple of live videos. Stil not entirely sure what TVsessions is/are, but it's shown up quite a bit. So good for them!
[Edit 1/23: Finally located their Soundcloud with a downloadable live-set, plus two tracks!]
Thought we might have covered this group already, but not so. Another of the Bandcamp singles, with more tracks at Soundcloud (including some other relevant music). You'll probably find more with this YouTube search than without.
I don't know why, but I'm glad there's a Filipino band/artist going by 'time/edit'. They have the official site, the Bandcamp site (w/ free 2011 demo), song "Return," and a bunch of others around YouTube.
Wait, wait, wait. "Between Tranquility and Impending Death" is billed as: Monochrome x Garapata (vs.?). Which is also posted on their FB, and apparently this Garapata [fictional character]... well, "garapata is a tick."
The band's name: Robot. Explore the extensive Soundcloud (with significant D/L's)... Also, Facebook and MySpace still. From FB, "Download our latest EP Between Earth and The Sky (2011): Link"
These guys have a Tumblr! There's a n-y-p EP on Bandcamp, and 1 tune on Soundcloud. I also found "An Untold Introduction" to a mystery Demo (2008). I see they also make music under the name Lemuria sometimes: single's out on their Bandcamp.
Tumblr brings news of another free netlabel comp: Mine All Mine Two Hundred (2011) [D/L @ B/C] from Mine All Mine! Records in Madison, Wisc.
5. 6LA8 - "Our Dog Eat Dog World of Heroic News Reporting" (Karachi, Pakistan)
But like Alexander Tucker, also a bunch of intriguing leads - things I overlooked or maybe totally forgot. (White Hills @ Roadburn 2011 probably deserved to be in the Top 10 Live/Comp/Etc...)
"I am Utopia" by Saturnia, from AlphaOmegaAlpha (2012)
This record was on a couple of lists, and that's some classic cover art. Here's a full-album playlist, starting with the next/2nd song. Pretty sweet - read the Aural Innovations review.
Currently on sale (30% off) at AllThatIsHeavy: 2xCD / 2xLP.
"Lupine" by Farflung, from Black Rainbows split (2012)
Currently on sale (20% off) at AllThatIsHeavy: CD / LP.
Head Music comp (2012) playlist [mostly excerpts]
I really, really, really meant to buy this, but forgot. Gonna try to rectify that real soon - but in the meantime, there's a bunch of samples for almost the whole compilation.
Here we have my 10 favorite things you can (or could) download for full free & legit, from off the internet. Some of them were kind of special or limited offers, but they all fit together in freedom.
Hometown sports pride, as the Thunder made a run all the way to last year's NBA finals. The Flaming Lips (#13 Non-Metal, 2009) retooled their science fight song for the sport.
Genre - Legit Free Live Bootlegs
Official - nyctaper.com/
Location - NYC, NY
Download - Woods: 5/5/2012, 11/3/2012
Purchase - Yes, please support the artists!
I'm a NYCtaper fan - they do such great work. There's a special local relationship with Woods (#7, 2011), but 'only' 2 tapes this year. They also got another couple of shows from Wilco (#12 Non-Metal, 2009) in late-July: at Brewery Ommegang and at Terminal 5.
#5Bang Bang Boogaloo: Beyond Beyond Is Beyond - V/A
"Careful With That Hat" by Citay, from Bang Bang Boogaloo (2012)
"Worried Mind" by Hopewell, from Bang Bang Boogaloo (2012)
"The Lesson" by Conspiracy of Owls, from Bang Bang Boogaloo (2012)
Genre - Various Underground Sounds
Official - East Village Radio
Location - NYC, NY
"I Am Not A Game" by Ty Segall & White Fence, from the AdHoc Launch Mix (2012)
"Song for Ric" by Majical Cloudz & Grimes, from The AdHoc Comp (2012)
"Numb" by Andy Stott, from AdHoc.fm Favorites d/l (2012)
Genre - Internet Compilation
Official - adhoc.fm/
Location - Brooklyn, NYC
The free Launch Mix was a pretty broad 12-song collection, that I don't think lead me anywhere special. And I haven't had a chance to check out the favorite 2012 songs collection yet.
The Kickstarter reward comp, however, was quite rewarding. Here's the whole 48-song tracklist (not much streaming at this point). Since they were mostly exclusives there's not a lot to share. Yeah, you can stream The Caretaker's "end detections," and here's the non-White Rainbow-remixed "Gone" from Young Prisms. Looked again, and all I found was a couple of kinda-similar sounding songs: Twerps' "Jam Song [demo]" and Amen Dunes "Ethio Song." O well, it's a good compilation.
#4 "Assault on The Vault of The Ancient Bonglords" - Linus Pauling Quartet
Hat trick!! Just this year, ye olde LP4 had the #2 Studio releaseAND the #3 Archival releaseAND the #4 freebie! If they make the #1 Live Show, would that be a hat trick AND hitting for the cycle?
Real solid year, Linus.
#3FTK Fall Mix - V/A
Live at Safe//Sound - Woodsman
Live at Zebulon - Woodsman
Live at Daytrotter - Cloudland Canyon + Woodsman
Real nice Woodsman-related label comp, including their studio "All Tangled Up." I always get confused by all the bands named like Night Mangager, Human Resources, etc... Orchard Thief and Jovontaes are more distinctive, and thus less likely to confuse me. I think I got FTK Fall Mix e-mailed for earlier support, so you should shop their Bandcamp for the next one.
Woodsman live at Safe//Sound is a good, short set - including a live version of most recent single, "All Tangled Up" + 3 others. I don't think I've heard the one song from Zebulon anywhere else. And Woodsman joined Cloudland Canyon for their Daytrotter on the classic tune "Krautwerk."
#2 Austin Psych Fest 2012 Mixtape - Al Lover
Austin Psych Fest 2012 Day/Stage mixes - Al Lover
Austin Psych Fest 2013 Mixtape - Al Lover
"In the Sun" by Moon Duo, from APF 2012 Mixtape (2012)
"Jesus" by The Brian Jonestown Massacre, from APF2012 - Day Three, Emo'S Stage (2012)
"Alive" by The Soft Moon, from APF 2013 Mix (2012)
Last year's fest was my #4 Live Show, 2011 (in a very strong year), and this year's was fantastic (stay tuned). The overall mixtape for 2012 is still up, and has some excellent tunes that you should have in your library. The separate day/stage mixes were a pretty good idea, but not as useful as you'd think.
Maserati & Majeure were primarily or in part, respectively, the #7 and #5 Records of 2012... #3 Live Show and #5 Albums(s) of 2011... #1 Record and co-#23 of 2010... and both contributed to #2 set of 2009, etc... Unfortunately, I didn't catch this tour with Maserati's new drummer & new material, and with Majeure opening - but good quality recordings of both sets sure goes a long way. (By the way, the Maserati recording was linked by the band on their Facebook, so I'm counting it as legit.)
