Metallic Alloys

Heeyyy, you got your Black Metal in my Space Rock! Nooo, you got your Drone Psych in my Doom Metal...




Maybe my favorite new band, from Finland: Oranssi Pazuzu. Their third album is out somewhat recently now. Somehow, it's actually cheaper to buy the physical CD.

Here's a band SoundCloud mix including earlier material.




Hey, you got your Disco Funk Metal in my Zeuhl! I would swear I've at least heard of Chrome Hoof, but there are so many similarly named bands. I definitely would not have guessed their musical style(s) correctly.




Dude, you got your complete lack of guitars in my Brutal Death Metal. Geryon is made up of Nick and Lev, the rhythm section of Krallice (#13 Metal of 2009, #21 of 2011), with assistance from Indricothere (#9, 2007).

Krautrocksampler Top 50 Albums

Yeah, I've listened to a few of these records - the alphabetic Top 50 from Julian Cope's genrexploding tome, Krautrocksampler (1995). But not near enough for someone who actually claims to be a fan. (Maybe it's the lack of Agitation Free that agitates me?)

Okay, so I'll link at least one big tune from each... Try to say (or learn) something about each one... And if the full album stream is available, I'll put that one linked from the record title.

1. Amon Düül - Paradieswärts Düül (1970)
They had a single, which was "Eternal Flow." So, Amon Düül was like a hippie arts & music commune happening. But things didn't go so smoothly, leading to a break. Of which the regular version was the lesser.

2. Amon Düül II - Phallus Dei (#13, 1969)
The splitters (II) got the better of it. Amon Düül II let loose and certainly get crazy - all over the place on their debut. I'd just listen to the album from the start (title link), but here's one of the later tunes: "Henriette Krotenschwanz."

3. Amon Düül II - Yeti (1970)
See how there's like a 4-to-1 albums advantage here? Another top-notch record of jammin' out - dig this killer video for "Eye-Shaking King."

4. Amon Düül II - Carnival in Babylon (1972)
Okay, I've never gotten these next two... will have to check them out sometime. I found this 'vid from 1973' (almost at random): "All The Years 'Round."

5. Amon Düül II - Wolf City (1972)
O "Deutsch Nepal" video, you had me at 'animation from Ralph Bakshi.'

6. Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempel (1971)
Side A is "Amboss," the German word for 'anvil.' Whereas, side B is "Traummaschine." Traum means 'dream'... and I leave the rest of the translation to you. Ashra, Tempel. Ash Ra. Guitars, rock, ambient, space, long-form, cosmic drift, into... jams.

7. Ash Ra Tempel - Schwingungen (1972)
So, yeah - the self-titled one is the only Ash Ra that I've got. This is post-Klaus Schulze who left both Tangerine Dream and this band after like one album each. You could do worse than to explore this excerpt from "Suche und Liebe" maybe?

8. Timothy Leary & Ash Ra Tempel - Seven Up (1973)
I don't think Timothy Leary was German... maybe Irish? "Time," the B-side to "Space."

9. Ash Ra Tempel - Join Inn (1973)
I've never seen or heard of this album outside of Cope's list (and it's not the only one). Therefore, I'd bet it's just mind-blowing! Is it? "Jenseits [A]?"

10. Can - Monster Movie (#17, 1969)
Legendary band! I wish I could claim to be more of a fan of their original (American) singer, Malcolm Mooney. But that's not exactly the case. "Yoo Doo Right" though, right? Do you?

11. Can - Soundtracks (1970)
These are tunes from/for films. A bit o' Malcolm, and a bit o' Damo (Suzuki) - their subsequent (Japanese) signer. I'm not gonna look it up, but like someone named "Mother Sky" like 30th best 'guitar rock' song or somesuch. It is real good.

12. Can - Tago Mago (1971)
Entering in the classic period of awesomeness, Can's next few albums would be stellar. I'd love to get my hands on a 7" single of epic jam "Halleluwah." Bonus: some video for "Mushroom!"

13. Can - Ege Bamyasi (#4, 1972)
The krautfunkiest. Here's some real official video for "Vitamin C"... apparently? Not from 1972, I am thinking.

14. Can - Delay 1968 (1981)
I myself have never bothered to get this long-shelved Mooney-era album. One day, I'm sure. One song I do have would be "Uphill" - it's on the Anthology: 25 Years collection (1993).

15. Cluster - Cluster II (1972)
Is there even a Cluster I?? O yeah, with Conny Plank. He's gone by this time, so it's just the awesomely named duo of Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius - and makin' like "Live in der Fabrik." It's e-lec-tron-i-cal!

16. Cluster - Zuckerzeit (1974)
The video description for "Heiße Lippen" says this album was produced by Michael Rother, "their bandmate in Harmonia" and member of Neu! (foreshadowing)... That explains quite a bit actually. For some reason, only opening track "Hollywood" is blocked on YouTube - SoundCloud workaround!

17. Cluster - Sowiesoso (1996)
"Zum wohl" or the title track? On the way more mellow, from Rother's motorik movement towards Eno's ambience.

18. Tony Conrad & Faust - Outside the Dream Syndicate (1972)
Just drone out to the whole gig! Know your Dream Syndicate.

19. The Cosmic Jokers - The Cosmic Jokers (#6, 1973)
The whole album there starts with Side 1: "Galactic Joke." Or you could try Track 2 = Side 2: "Cosmic Joy."

The (possibly/partially true) urban legend was summarized in my Top 10 entry for this one:

Haha! The galactic joke is on you - and the musicians here. Kosmische label-head offered drugs to jam, recorded, ripped, and sold it up! You'd think Ash Ra Tempel and Klaus Schulze would be wiser upfront, but they had to find out by hearing themselves playing in the record stores. Not only that, but there were like four Cosmic Jokers albums mixed up out of these drug-jam-parties! It's a trip.

Their Wiki page might give a more technically accurate description, but basically...

20. The Cosmic Jokers - Galactic Supermarket (1974)
The whole album there starts with Side 1: "Kinder des Alls." Or you could try Side 2, parts 1 & 2: "Galactic Supermarket." These first two are the only TCJ that I've gotten - worth pursuing further, though. Let's find out!

21. The Cosmic Jokers - Planeten Sit-In (1974)
Wait, Harald Großkopf? I guess I never put it together, but he's been on all of these. Also, you can proceed straight to a more jamming middlish freak-out section.

22. The Cosmic Jokers - Sci-Fi Party (1974)
Looking at the tracklist, I think this one collects tunes from other projects - possibly alternative takes or mixes or whatever. Like "Der Herrscher" is probably from Tarot (#49).

23. The Cosmic Jokers - Gilles Zeitschiff (1974)
I'm tellin' you - Julian Cope really digs The Cosmic Jokers. Intended videos have been removed at the last minute.

Adapt!! Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

24. Faust - Faust (1971)
There's no denying Faust is legendary, but... There's something that keeps me from getting on board with them. Some thing(s) pretty significant. I've never been a huge fan of cut-and-paste (unless you're like Teo Macero), and I really don't care for much of the components that Faust actually cutted-and-pasted. The problem might be mine, but there it is.

25. Faust - So Far (1972)
This was supposed to be their Faust Sell Out album. I'm pretty good with the lead-off track, but yeah. Maybe the inscrutability of the debut (and the legend) casts too much shade on the rest? I'm going to listen to this record now - until I need to listen to something else for posting.

26. Faust - The Faust Tapes (1973)
Or maybe I should listen to The Faust Tapes, for possibly the first time? "It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl" isn't halfway over. [It was at this point, I began reconsidering the wisdom of putting all fifty albums in a single post. 'Will this benefit anyone... besides me?' Best to plunge through, so as to avoid an existential crisis of confidence. 'What is blog... for?' J'ai mai aux dents. Lalalalala!!]

27. Faust - Faust IV (1974)
So later on, Faust named one of their songs "Krautrock" - why not? The Flaming Lips included "It's A Bit Of A Pain" on their Late Night Tales comp (#5 Repertoire, 2005).

28. Sergius Golowin - Lord Krishna von Goloka (1973)
What's up with these Swiss non-musician, spoken-word figures of mystical youth culture? Like hippie poetry slam in a language I don't speak, with a better soundtrack. "Die Weiße Alm" is The White Alpine Meadow.

English lyrical translation = Kṛṣṇa Consciousmess Wow.

29. Guru Guru - UFO (1970)
No Hinten (1971), no Kanguru (#9, 1972)? Strange. Guru Guru is somewhat notable for their drummer, Mani, being the singer & bandleader. Yet more jazzy-jammy-trippy rock explorations into outer-space. Finishes up with "Der LSD-Marsch."

30. Harmonia - Musik von Harmonia (1974)
Okay, so - Harmonia is all of Cluster (Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius) plus half of Neu! (Michael Rother). I think maybe it started off just a side-project lark, but turned out really good. Check out the "Watussi" and the "Dino."

31. Harmonia - Deluxe (1975)
Haha, "Gollum." Produced by Connie Plank (original member of Cluster)! Drums by Manu Neumeier (of Guru Guru)! I'm gonna get me this one. Gollum.

32. Kraftwerk - Kraftwerk (1972?)
Not sure which one this is supposed to be - the 1971 self-titled debut, or the 1972 sequel? There's links to both. I'm not saying Cope doesn't believe it, but it's questionable to leave off the entirety of Kraftwerk's more famous & influential later work. His list, though.

33. La Düsseldorf - La Düsseldorf (1976)
The other half of Neu! (Klaus Dinger), plus his brother, plus a '72 Olympian. (Maybe? seems unlikely...) "Time" from another 'Konrad Plank' production.

34. La Düsseldorf - Viva (1978)
What?! La Düsseldorf had some hits? Like Wiki-worthy singles? Best-selling "Rheinita" (#3 in Germany), and the higher-charting "Silver Cloud" (#2)... whoa.

35. Moebius & Plank - Rastakraut Pasta (1980)
Yeah, this is Dieter Moebius of Cluster and Conny Freakin' Plank, but still. I don't think this one's ever making my personal (lesser than Julian Cope's) Krautrock Top 50. Hmmm... post idea. Anyway, maybe I just take issue with the name and year and entire concept of this one: "Feedback 66" and also "News."



36. Neu! - Neu! (#3, 1972)
I love Neu! Who doesn't? Maybe I should have started the list with this one. Maybe I do need to make my own Krautrock Top 50 Albums list. I love making lists! Who doesn't?

So this starts off with "Hallogallo," and that's enough to rank it high in any year. And guess who produced? Yup, Konrad 'Conny' Plank again. When you hear motorik, you should first hear Neu!, and then the other bands that followed them. We don't need no syncopation. "Sonderangebot" cymbal-swirls into your cerebral vortex. If you like what Pink Floyd was doing in 1972, or what The Alps were doing in 2008, you should like "Weissensee." Penultimate track "Im Glück" is drone/ambient ultimate. "Negativland" will destroy you. There's another part at the end ("Lieber Honig"), but I want to talk about how Side 2 comprises a three-part suite called Jahresübersicht [year overview]. There's no mention of that anywhere on my copy, but it's all over the internet. Always something...

O wait, there it is! It's written below Side 1's track list, at the bottom of a different column than its segment tracks' titles. I've never noticed that. Wild.

37. Neu! - Neu! 2 (1973)
So this one. The sequel is somehow simultaneously way overrated and unfairly maligned. Yeah, opener "Für Immer" borders on self-plagiarism of previous opener "Hallogallo." Who's complainin'? And sure, all of Side 2 is basically speed-shifted self-remixes of previous tunes. What I want to know is whether Chrome ever covered "Lila Engel." Also weird stuff about "Super 16" and the legacy from the wuxia Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976).

38. Neu! - Neu! '75 (1975)
So the opening track "Isi" was released as a British single but failed. Somehow it fails to surprise me that this wasn't 1975 UK chart material. I would recommend this one (black field, white letters) after the debut (white field, red letters) but before Neu! 2 (white field, gray letters, pink number). "Hero" is a great rock song - it is not about Batman, though.

39. Popol Vuh - Affenstunde (1970)
Although the original Popol Vuh is a corpus of mytho-historical narratives from the Postclassic Quiché Maya kingdom in Guatemala's western highlands, and the band has a prominent leader in Florian Fricke, the main connection that comes to mind will always be film-maker Werner Herzog. Wikipedia lists six soundtracks for some of his most famous movies, but it seems like more. Anyway, none of their albums listed here have anything to do with Herzog. Just thought I'd mention it.

Wiki also says their debut "can be regarded as one of the earliest space music works, featuring the then new sounds of the Moog synthesizer together with ethnic percussion." Not sure of the relevance, but here's 2004 re-release bonus track "Train through Time."

40. Popol Vuh - In den Gärten Pharaos (1971)
I dig this tripped-out, meditative spillage. The title track is the first side, and the second side is called just "Vuh." Organtastic!

41. Popol Vuh - Hosianna Mantra (1972)
Holy stylistic whiplash! So long electro-organ drones into the Pre-Columbian spirit mind, hello piano-forte exploration of European classical odes to Protestant joy. And here's a video for "Kyrie."

42. Popol Vuh - Einsjäger & Siebenjäger (1974)
Pretty sure this was the first Popol Vuh record I ever owned. Way more into a traditional jamband rock style than anything so far. Really nice, tuneful playing. I thought the title was something like "Earth and Sky," but maybe that came from the artwork - it actually translates literally as "one hunter & seven hunters." Starts off with "Kleiner Krieger / King Minos," ends with the massive title track. For more on later Popol Vuh, check out this old post.

Hey, maybe I will leave this as one single mega-post!

43. Tangerine Dream - Electronic Meditation (1970)
Alright, so the debut album - and the only one to feature Klaus Schulze (Ash Ra's debut) and Conrad Schnitzler (original Cluster line-up), as well as constant TG main-man Edgar Froese. I haven't spent a lot of time with it, but seems like a total late-'60s freak-out. "Ashes to Ashes" swings quite groovy.

44. Tangerine Dream - Alpha Centauri (1971)
Definitely the first Tangerine album I ever bought - probably not where I'd start with them. Like with some of the other bigger acts, I think I prefer the material later in or after Cope's timeframes. And as the title "Alpha Centauri" would indicate, here is where their space music begins.

45. Tangerine Dream - Zeit (1972)
Okay, these next two are definitely getting there. I mean OUT there. I realize this one's a double-album of space-drones, but I highly suggest going through the whole experience.

46. Tangerine Dream - Atem (1973)
Or maybe this one instead/as well... It's not a double, the overall tone is quite different. And to think, it actually / arguably gets better over the next handful of albums!

47. Klaus Schulze - Irrlicht (1972)
Nice video for "1. Satz: "Ebene"." Klaus Schulze has been mentioned before, as being present for the beginning phases of Ash Ra Tempel, Cluster, Tangerine Dream, in addition to facilitating the Cosmic Jokers' sessions. But he mainly worked alone, playing synthesizer music. Because I'd heard the most about Timewind (1975), I think that's his only solo record I've listened to. This was the first...

48. Klaus Schulze - Blackdance (1974)
And this was the third - skipping Cyborg (1973) for some reason. "Ways of Changes" serves as the launchpad. You may also remember Klaus Schulze because he was my first guess when the Maserati merch-tablist told me that Jonas Reinhardt were some German guy.

49. Walter Wegmüller - Tarot (1973)
This is a real fun one - like a loonier Sergius Golowin (#28), backed by mostly The Cosmic Jokers (#19-23). It's mystical spoken-word in Swiss German, over rockin' Krautjams. Almost at random, check out "Der Herrscher" [The Emperor?] - less Tarotish, but more hilarious are the band introductions of "Der Narr" [The Fool]. But go ahead & explore around. Here's some Major Arcana of the Wegmüller deck, which I think came with this original album.

50. Witthüser & Westrupp - Trips und Träume (1971)
And of course we should finish on an album that I know absolutely nothing about, at all. From a quick trip around the web via the search engine machine, I'm going to say: acid-prog-folk. The last song "Nimm doch einen Joint, mein Freund" sounds in line with the first - a bit more jangly, jaunty and music-hall. Maybe not exactly my thing, but can't everything be.

Various releases - Gnod (#8, 2012)

I'd actually say 2012 was kind of a mess for Gnod overall. But it was an interesting year, though maybe the last that I'm fully into... But no tellin' for sure!



"Genocider" from Chaudelande, Vol. 2 (2012)

If you've been following Gnod closely, you've probably heard this old-school tune quite a few times. Maybe even have a few live recordings of it. Volume II eases in spare & slow with "Man on the Wire," switches up to a Buttholesque double-drum tribal segment, then cools out smooth for the drone-disco final third. And the party ends with another live staple "Entrance" (last 10 minutes of silence optional). Most of it's comprised of jammed-out berserkr drones and anguished howls. Typical.

Check out the combined V.1/V.2 CD-edition over at Bandcamp. Also includes a different-version bonus track of...

"5th Sun" from 7" single (2012)

Then there was the ltd-ed ["very"], now-OOP surprise single from Ireland's Trensmat Records. A label worth closely watching... Plus I think I like the trippy b-side version even better!



Innerspace Broadcasts, Vol. 3 by Black Gnod [Gnod + Black Bombain] (2012)

Further, there was a super-ltd-ed [of 160], now-OOP surprise livejam collaboration with Portugal's Black Bombain on Leeds' Cardinal Fuzz. That's the whole CD right there!




Wow. I'm a little surprised to find it, but there's Rocket Recordings' own ltd-ed [of 1,000], now-OOP split-EP with $hit + $hine. Just don't find myself listening to this one all that often.



"Visions of Load" from Chaudelande, Vol. 1 (2011)

O yeah, and there's a 2013 official video for "Visions of Load" off Chaudelande, Vol. 1 (part of #3, 2011). That tune appears on the only live Gnod tape currently downloadable from their SoundCloud.

Genre - Machine Noise-Drone
Official/tumblr - ingnodwetrust.tumblr.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/gnodgnod
Location - Salford, England

Review - Writing About Music blog
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Chaudelande, Vol. 2

Big Year o' Space-Rock

Looking at the Aural Innovation 2012 roll-up, I see some overlap with my own mind. (Linüs! Organs! CAN!)

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)

Some more new Farflung (#5, 1995 & #29, 2010) that I missed! Their portion continues with "Punching Hole In The Twilight" and "No Circuit." The Black Rainbows are from Rome, Italy. Their side consists of "Let It Shine" followed by "The River, The Moon, The White Lake, The Megaelectrofantafuzzspace" - and then another track. Never heard of 'em before.

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.

Also need to follow up on Hidria Spacefolk, Ancestors, Aqua Nebula Oscillator and... Indonesian post-rock comp???

Whoa. Based on the compilation page, this is a free download. [Click to Mediafire.] More free at the full label discography... Thanks, Keith Henderson!

P.S. Sorry if the image is confusing. The ranked Post-Rock Indonesia comp was Hope and Dreams - I just liked the cover of Lat Home, Indonesia! better.

Next Black Tar Prophecies

Grails' new Black Tar Prophecies will be a split with Finland's Pharaoh Overlord - out on 10/30!

First preview track from Grails (#1, 2011) was...



"Chariots" from Black Tar Prophecies, Vol. 5 (2012)

Then more recently, they dropped yet another track sequel...



"Wake Up Drill II" from Black Tar Prophecies, Vol. 5 (2012)

Apparent follow-up to "Belgian Wake-Up Drill" from Black Tar Prophecies, Vol. II (2006, and co-#19 of 2010 with previous BTP's)...

Not sure if you're up on Pharaoh Overlord, as I've mentioned them exactly once. But they're related to the more famous Finnish band Circle.



"Solar Stomp" from Horn (2011)

Do I detect a whiff of Hawkwind?

Pink Side of the Moon

A lil' late on this moon biz, but I had to find the angle.



... via BoingBoing:



"Moonhead" by Pink Floyd (live in studio, 1969)

Per the YouTube poster:

A instrumental piece used for a tv-programme on the evening of the first moonlanding July 20, 1969. The programme was a used by the BBC in between the coverage of the actual moonlanding -and was called 'But what if it's made of green cheese'. The theme was the first verse and the coda, with various actors reading quotes and poetry about the moon over. The rest of the programme was information, discussions and sketches. Later in the show, Moonhead was performed uninterrupted.

Other quotes & links at the BoingBoing post!

SubArachnoid Spacerock

Continuing with this recent series: next up is SubArachnoid Space. No, not the brain cavity... the Portland-via-SF psych-jam band - apparently inactive since last year, but still on Facebook.



The one appearing on the For Lee Jackson in Space comp (2012)! Much like Primordial Undermind, I'd heard of SubArachnoid and once again assumed they were some kind of electronic noise freak-out - rather than the actual jamming guitar psych-ambient project it was. (And I stick by my contention that's what those names evoke for me...)



Good overview with some album reviews ("Approved by the Post-Rock & Psychedelic Prog teams") over at Prog Archives... and a couple of free downloads from the Free Music Archive.



"Karoshi" from Delicated Membrane (1996)

Would seem that that the first few years were made up of semi-formless abstract explorations of the acid-rock jamming variety. Like whole albums made up of what other bands use for inter-song transitions, or extended intro's and coda's.



"Whispers of Momentum" from Either Or (1997)

I could definitely see myself going either way with this. They actually seem good at what they're doing, but it might end up a bit too improvisational. Probably worth a shot for me, though...



"Shut Inside" from Almost Invisible (1997)

This one's a live album of extended, unended jams... but maybe they all are? Seems to be the most popular one yet! If intrigued, follow up with: "Hidden Outside," "Floating Above The Skyline," "Below Any Border" and finally "Calm Fever."

That's almost the whole album. Not sure what "bonus song 9" means since there are only 6 tracks, but there it is.



"Will You Make My House A Carnival?" from Endless Renovation (1998)

Sounds a bit different than before - with the Floydian organ - but maybe I'm letting the new art style influence my hearing. Might also wanna check out "Square Wheels" for more. Just by the number of songs on YouTube, this one might be another fan favorite.



"Indy Maru" from A New and Exact Map (2000)

No-one ever accused SubArachnoid Space of being in a hurry to get anywhere, probably. Maybe I should start any serious exploration in the later phases?



song "D" from These Things Take Time (2000)

Time for another live album - again without interruption. SAS was certainly generous with their releases. Here's song "A".





Not too much anywhere from Also Rising (2003), supposedly their first move from full-on improv to more structure... Also the last album with band founder Mason Jones, owner of the Charnel Music label, releaser of the Walking Timebombs’ self-titled debut?

If that embed doesn't work, stream or download that song from archive.org.



"Ourobouros" from Red Veil (2005)

Approaching closer to the Now, the band continued on & probably relocated to Portland. Opening rocker "Honorable Mention" is available for stream or download at archive.org as well.



"Hunter Seeker" from Eight Bells (2008)

The only album currently up on SubArachnoid Bandcamp. This seems to be the most recent, and possibly last, record. Looks like the music-making has stopped, with just a vestigial internet presence still ongoing.

Spacerock Con 2012

Whoa. Look what I just found at Aural Innovations!!

PROMO!



Might have to check out what Cullman, AL, is all about. But for now, let's stick with the music. I don't think I've heard of a single one of these performers, and we're talking Space Music from the American Deep South. Should be an adventure...



Unus Mundus - raw psychedelic space jams from from Athens, GA. As with many of these groups, it took awhile to track down any leads - and some I never found anything. These guys have the Bandcamp (bio + 2 albums), Facebook (active), Soundcloud (with some free downloads), MySpace, and some Aural Innovations reviews.



"Babblepoint" from Echobeast EP (2005)

Echobeast - Atlantean psych-guitar jams (that's Atlanta, GA, mind). They've got Cosmic Jam Live from Dec 2011, and a homemade video for "Ballroom." First band I know to use The Internet Archive for their vids, but they also have the Echobeast EP (The Movie) available for download. Mainly I've found their MySpace page and a YouTube channel.

Even more recent song as SCR promo: "Venus Ride."



"Kulisse" by Scattered Planets (2003)

Scattered Planets - "Psycho-ambient space rock from another dimension" (Philadelphia). They have an old-school website, an older MySpace page, and a more active Facebook feed. Let's see... a live set playlist, and their own YouTube channel. Yup.

They've had a coupla reviews in Aural Innovations, plus this interview.



The Subliminator at Spacerockcon (2006)

Seems like an interesting dude, from Atlanta too. Got quite a few tracks on his Soundcloud page, including the newest one "Your Monkey Needs Acupuncture" (2012). Label Bandcamp is your best bet for hearing hearing all of Recalibrated (2005) and of Rake (2008).

Likewise reviewed by Aural Innovations.




One Eyed Bishops - very possibly the only band ever to cover both the Velvet Underground and Uriah Heep - at the same show no less! Hailing from Columbus, NJ. Interesting historical official website. The Bishops folks also double up as the Hawkwind cover band Sloterdijk (Dutch name due to Holland origins).


PXL - This?? Maybe not...



"Cluck" from Quadsteak (2011)

The Maple Key - from Cullman, AL itself! This might also be them playing live, but I haven't been able to nail down too many details. Progressive metal, yeah?


Revealation X - Wait. Not the Christian nü-metal-emo band?! I might not be able to pass that up.



"Maafkan Aku" from... 2011?

Jellyfish - Kind doubt it's either the '90s band, or the Visual Kei group above... but maybe? If the Christian gothbangers & Indonesian boy-band are both playing, I will be there.



Nixon for Xmas - Literally no idea... That is, until I found this video while investigating Lysteria (below): "Jamming with Nixon," which is just generally a great name for a song.



"Star Harvesters" from Leaving the Earth Behind (2008)

Vessels of the Divine - they're "an ambient doom metal band from Cullman, Alabama. Our influences..." Then the cached preview text gets cut off!

Title track from "Leaving the Earth Behind" (2009). There's a MySpace page out there; also on Facebook.

Ooooh, you can still download Eternal Resonance (2010) for free. Also, maybe some connection to Slow Southern Steel doc (2012?) - reviewed.



"Burn" from YouTube (2012)

Brother Cloud & The Scarecrow - more doom (folk) from Cullman! I really like that one, I think the most of any bands so far. And with tags like Neurosis, Tribes of Neurot, Steve von Till and Rwake, you can't go wrong. 2 more: "No Souls" and "Dig It on the Hill." (Those together seem like a single, if only conceptually...) We got Facebook and MySpace too.


05 Distant Sunset by Dreamwind

Dreamwind - "electronic ambient band from Birmingham, Alabama." Mellow new-age drift... Stream & download samples from their official site.



"Holy Ground" - Directed & edited by Allen Welty-Green

This guy's name has come up quite a few places I've been looking around. Here's your portal into that strange world.



"Perelendra" by Hart Deer

Hart Deer / Dark Night of the Soul will be performing. After looking around a bit, I'm not sure what to think. I believe... that I might be missing something. I mean... I just don't... Anyway, here's his website.


Oasirubric - electronic-techno from Rocket City FurMeet 2012! (I will spare you the details.)



From this other poster and the con's Facebook, here are some more possible performers:



"Black Death" live at JC Arena, Cullman, AL (02/25/2012)

Lysteria - these metal guys? I have to assume: Cullman! Official website / Facebook / YouTube channel / MySpace...



"Suns of Forlorn" live in... concert? (2012)?

Sad Luck Dame - roots indie from north Alabama. Official / Facebook / YouTube.



Bonejackal - instrumental psychedelic Sabbath-y space classic-rock, it would appear. I'm surprised we haven't seen more local bands with Bandcamp. And of course both Facebook and MySpace. They also have some live videos on YouTube.



"Giger's Locomotive" video (2006)

High Pink Clouds - really pretty cool ambient electronicals outta Louisiana or maybe Jackson, Mississippi. There's another video for a more recent song, "Indigo Noise" (2011). Lots more that I haven't explored on their YouTube channel.

You can read more, stream & download songs over at the official site, and there's always Facebook, and MySpace, aaannd... no Bandcamp, but an Amazon micro-shop!


Viet-Zen - it is a mystery...



Now I just have to verify that it's the famous Indonesian Jellyfish and the apocalyptic Revelation X of St. John of Patmos, make some travel reservations, and get my Space Rock (c)On!

Bandcamp in Deep Space

Sorry to say, but posting's going to be slightly slower over the next couple of weeks. And everything might not always make it to Facebook in a timely manner. But I am trying to set up a plan where I [clear out some malingering drafts] provide fascinating news & mind-blowing insights. Maybe more short-form posts like this...



Now is the time for the Deep Space Bandcamp and stuff.

First there is one Free Song on the Bandcamp:


You know about Deep Space?

Deep Space was created in the wee hours of acid trips and seances within the desert lands of Austin TX.

A few more streaming over on SoundCloud too.



And if you wait long enough, more music will come to you. This draft has apparently been sitting around since before 20 May. "Ocean Tide" is that new, with promises of a "Full EP coming soon..."




Just found some recent live footage, courtesy of the band's own Facebook.



Whoa, whoa, whoa! An earlier FB post also points me to yet another tune on Bandcamp, this time as part of the Austin Psychedelic Light & Sound comp (2012). Apparently there are physical copies at the live events, but I don't see any way to order one.

Hey, that was more than I expected to have!

Big Apple Gigs Done Taped

What's consistently awesome is NYCtaper, that's what!



This White Hills gig looks awesome based on the setlist.
"Let the Right One In"? "Polvere di Stelle"??

I really like Ego Sensation's clear lucite bass.



"Aquarian Time" [live 06/24/2012] by Wooden Shjips, Knitting Factory - Brooklyn, NY

Or how about this Wooden Shjips tape? (Matrix style!) Which includes stuff like "We Ask You to Ride", "Motorbike", some other songs, and an encore cover of a Snapper song!

Download the show recordings at the non-song-title links!

Lost Byron Bay Mix

Let's listen into the cosmic hum...



Or in other words, "Why Don't We See Our Minds At Dawn Anymore?"


Why Don't We See Our Minds At Dawn Anymore by sardonica


The Soundcloud labels say it all: "The lost Byron Bay mix, over 3 hours of astral space music .... enjoy!" Dungen (#5 of 2008), Floyd (all time), Boards (Broads of Canada?), Vangelis, FSOL, etc.


If but to download, perchance to zone out. Astral... space... muuusic!

Abunai! for Space

Things works best when I have a controlling template - or a few. The Top 10 lists, Free Music series, 3 Who Would..., some Facebook collections, and most recently Austin Psych Fest 5.

I'd already promoted this great benefit comp, but now I'm going to dig deeper - starting with band / track #1...



Abunai! submitted "Time of the Funk-Lords (Flash Forward)" to the For Lee Jackson in Space album.



They were active from 1996-2002, and apparently reunite from time to time to bring the psychedelic space rock. I'd never even heard of them, although they were on Camera Obscura. Maybe because... Massachusetts?

Five releases per their official site, and Bandcamp too. Let's take a spin!!



"77 Gaza Strip" from Universal Mind Decoder (1997)

Hey, I like that kinda thing. According to the album cover, that was the 6th release overall from the Camera Obscura label. A quick comparison shows that 4 of the first 6 Obscura albums' artists are on this complilation: Stone Breath, Azusa Plane, Green Pajamas, and Abunai!



"Learning to Ask" from The Mystic River Sound (1999)

Quite different from the space rock of that first tune, but another thing I also like: pretty, not-quite-sunny, but not-too-heavy psych-pop. O, maybe that's because "[i]nstead of taking on the identity of another band, Abunai! take on the identities of a dozen different bands, each with a different style" (per All Music Guide).

I've never seen that movie used for the video... any good?



"Motorcycle Boots" & "Rolling of the Stones" from Round-Wound (2000)

Yeah, that's the jammin' I've learned to expect of Abunai!, over the course of writing this blog post. This album also has the original studio version of their less-hippyish "(Flash Forward)" compilation edition [live 2010].

I'm not sure that instrumental version is actually the original. Also, AMG says that this album was originally packaged in one of those guitar-strings plastic bags, and the cover art does look like the labels that come with those. Niiice...



"Two Brothers" from Two Brothers (2003)

Video description says "[i]nfluences: Spacemen 3, Hawkwind, UK trad folk & 60s folk-rock, Amon Düül II, Fairport Convention, The Byrds, Can, Funkadelic, Syd Barrett, Galaxie 500, good skunk" - hey, those are some of my influences too! Whenever a band name has an exlamation point in it, I always end up subconsciously wanting to add exclamation points to their song names and album titles as well. How about you?

Abunai! offer lots of free MP3's to download! (Seems to be mirrored at Free Music Archive as well...)

Flung Far over Hills of White

Let's see. White Hills (#5, 2010)... and Farflung (#5 of 1995, #29 of 2010)?



Wait, how have I gone without more recent White Hills? How have I not yet written about A Wound in Eternity (2008)? That's weird...



"Fade" by Farflung, from White Hills split-EP (2012)

I think I failt to mention this one before, because it sold out so shockingly quick. So yeah, it's a split-EP with one longsong from each band, on a vinyl edition of 1,000 only. Isn't Farflung groovy? [FB]

I can't find the magickal drone-out "To Find the Secret Door" by White Hills [tumblr] anywhere online, but you can get 3 WFMU live-on-radio sets at Free Music Archive instead. So definitely do that!



Just in case you didn't click some of those links, here are the videos that you missed!!



"Pads of Light" by White Hills, from Frying On This Rock (2012)

More recent White Hills...



"Endless Drifting Wreck" by Farflung

About A Wound in Eternity (2008)... how have I not yet written??