Seeing Skip Spence

It looks like the only times I've ever mentioned Alexander "Skip" Spence was talking about covers or comparisons. So today will be his day!

Picture comes from this William Gibson packet. Thanks!

Skip played drums for Jefferson Airplane on their debut album, and then got one of his songs on Surrealistic Pillow (1967) - without even appearing on it.



"Omaha" from Moby Grape (1967)

As many drummers do, Spence decided to be a guitarist... one of three in Moby Grape, a terrific late-'60s SF psych-pop rock band. He only wrote a couple of tunes on their debut, but one was the band's most famous song, "Omaha." His other song was "Indifference."



"Just like Gene Autry: A Foxtrot" from Wow/Grape Jam (1968)

Skip Spence contributed more to their next record. Some of his songs were more rockin', more dramatic, or more country... but none was as weird as "Gene Autry."

As explained on that YouTube:

"Just Like Gene Autry: A Foxtrot" is a 1920's-era sounding dance number complete with a cameo spoken introduction by Arthur Godfrey himself, who also happens to play ukelele and banjo on the number. As if this tune isn't odd enough, the original vinyl on Columbia mastered this one track at 78 rpm rather than the typical 33-1/3 rpm as the rest of the album is pressed at. An announcement precedes the track "reminding everyone to kindly get up and change your turntable to 78, thank you!" after which there is a lock-groove that stops the needle from playing any further until you pick it up and place it on the next track.

During the making of the album, Spence freaked out on acid and apparently chopped down a hotel door of another band member.

"Save me" indeed.



"War in Peace" from Oar (1969)

After Skip got out of the psych ward (not psychedelic), he took his ideas, bought a motorcycle with his record advance, drove down to Nashville, and recorded Oar all by himself. It's a harrowing but incredible minimalist doom-folk album. For some reason, "Little Hands" seems to pull the most attention, but pretty much the whole album's excellent.



"Grey/Afro" from Oar (1969)

The unprecendented final jam. And other than some re-issues and compilations, I kinda thought that's where it ended. But I happened to notice that Skip had actually participated in some later Moby Grape output down the years.



"Chinese Song" from 20 Granite Creek (1971)

So that's a Skip Spence song on a Grape album that Skip actually played on. Looks like he also played on 1978's Live Grape, where they included 1 total Spence tune (and it wasn't "Omaha" either).

It's too bad how things worked out for Skip, but he made some fine music during his burning-bright youth.

Sun and Shade - Woods (#7, 2011)

I'm gonna have to hurry to finish last year's Top 10 before this year's gets posted!

Woods's previous album was #6 of 2010, and they've already put out the next one - pretty good as well. Before the films last month, I had posted the Woods Story So Far history.

I don't think I'll discuss all 12 tracks from Sun and Shade here. Lots of good songs, but I think you'll get the idea without complete overkill.



"Pushing Onlys" from Sun and Shade (2011)

I thought this was the designated 'big hit,' but there's no official video? (Not a Woods specialty to be sure...) Catchy, jangly, sunny folk-rock - well, I like it plenty. They do throw in a twinge of weird, some sonic warble, but not enough to be disturbing... which can be enough.



"Any Other Day" from Sun and Shade (2011)

But the second song gets that video? Kinda odd stylistically though, seems to me.



"Out of the Eye" from Sun and Shade (2011)

Most of the tunes are shorter like those first couple, and then you get a couple of extended jams. Like the kraut-y, Neu!esque "Out of the Eye" (still available on the free APF5 mixtape) - and also an Español-language semi-'title' track: the spaghetti-western sprawl of "Sol y Sombra."



"To Have in the Home" from Sun and Shade (2011)

I'm just throwing out a couple more. I think I picked that one just based on the visual effort from the videographer.

No secret messages!



"Who Do I Think I Am?" from Sun and Shade (2011)

I do like that song especially - with the melody & rhythm & the really nice vibe. But who do I think I am anyway?

Genre - Folky Psych-Pop
Official - woodsist.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/woodsfamilyband
Location - Brooklyn, NYC

Review - Paste Magazine
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Woods

Number Seven... Number Seven...

Well, the new Maserati record finally got here. Haven't had much of a chance to spin it, but that will change on the open road this weekend. The natural habitat of Maserati's high-speed, gear-shiftin'... okay, okay.

I'm not going to post the original preview track "The Eliminator" because: (1) I already did, and (2) you can stream it over at this new Maserati internet mixtape. Deep cuts!



"Abracadabracab" from Maserati VII (2012)

Despite being almost 11 minutes long, that one seems be getting a lotta love over the internets. Maybe it's the Genesis reference? (Another long tune that got a lotta love...)

Maserati have an all new website design. And new tour info - under "Tour." But not coming to Texas at all?



"Earth-Like" from Maserati VII (2012)

A topical song for the times - or as topical as an instrumental track can be. This was the 2nd preview track for this album, pretty hefty for them.

So far, the whole album sounds pretty good. There is one early tune that does kinda sound like disjointed mix-and-match with random Maserati sonic components. (Basically what I'd imagine Maserati sounds like to someone who doesn't dig it.) I think it might have been this one.



The geometric shapes on the cover are glossy and embossy on both the CD and the sweet double-dipped vinyl (clear with color blob). New full-time drummer fits well. You can order it here.

I'll try to post something other than recent or upcoming new releases over the weekend. Wish me luck!!

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?

Trance Syndicate Reunion Fest

Whoa, I can't believe this wasn't my first post back in the music!

I mean a 3-way reunion of Trance Syndicate alumni? That's really big news. Two of these bands were very central to my regional tastes in the late-'80s & early-'90s (the salad days), and the third was peripheral but definitely there. Let's start at the top...

O yeah, also:
Emo's, Austin, 11/24, tickets @ $15!!



"Pleasures of the Flesh" from Born in Blood (1990)

In case you didn't click that historical Trance Syndicate link, that was King Coffey's independent record label. And King Coffey was drummer for Butthole Surfers (#1 of 1988, #2 of 1987, #8 of 1993, #3 Live of 2010, #11 Live of 2011) - and his label was really good. Pain Teens ruled the roost in certain Houston circles during that heyday, taking it to the next level.

Discogs: The Pain Teens were formed in Houston, Texas by Bliss Blood and Scott Ayers in 1985 although it took them two years to get around to gigging and putting out an album. Originally a punk band with metal leanings aligned with Houston's punk scene, they soon mutated into something else altogether -- a chaotic and sinister hybrid of punk, noise, tape loops, found sound, samples, exotic instrumentation, and pure unbridled creepiness.

Pain Teens are also gonna be playing the night before, as part of The Axiom 25th Anniversary parties:
Fitzgerald's, Houston, 11/23, tickets @ $10!!



"Buddha" from Love Poke Here (1990)

I've already waxed poetic about the greatness of Ed Hall (more than just #2, 1993 and #10, 1988)... and they were truly really great.

Wiki: The band emerged from the music scene based in and around the Dong Huong, a Vietnamese restaurant-turned-punk club whose proprietor Phong encouraged and hosted loud, obnoxious bands too raw and/or unknown for established clubs. The Dong scene was documented on a cassette compilation called The Polyp Explodes (see Crust), which ultimately brought Ed Hall to the attention of Boner Records owner Tom Flynn and to the unwanted attention of Jim Adler (The Texas Hammer) when a class action lawsuit was filed for loss of hearing and mental anguish of many of the band's fans.

I went and saw the previous Ed Hall reunion in 2003. It was spectacular! The final line-up went on to later form the mighty Pong (#3 of 2010, #1 of 2005, #1 Live of 2010).



"They'll Love You for It" from Crust (1991)

As mentioned above, Crust was instrumental in documenting the emergence of a new generation (post-BHS) of Austin weirdos. I'd say they leaned more abstract on the rock-weird spectrum, but who's to say anymore?

Regardless, you must admit that "Chlamydia Is Not a Flower" is a great song name!

Another Six Organs Ascend

Okay, what else do we have here? How about...

Six Organs of Admittance (#10, 2009), back together with Comets on Fire. Which means a bit more rockin' out! But still plenty of psych-folk-drone guitar stylings as well.

[Edit 10/16: Oops, forgot to link to this recent SOA live bootleg on NYCtaper. Get it!]



"Waswasa" from Ascent (2012) [download]

Whoa. That's some riffs - like definitely more than usual. If I had to explain it in terms of the cover art, I would say the opening track is kicking up the dust behind bio-suitcase spaceman. Or is that the Earth after this tune has scorched it down?

Of course, the mellow space-outs come too. The restraint shown not to paint Saturn up in there...



"One Thousand Birds" from Ascent (2012)

That one's a self-cover of previous acoustic version from Dark Noontide (2002). I don't go back that far, though.



"Close to the Sky" from Ascent (2012)

Seriously groovey, sez I.

Wait, maybe the cover art is supposed to be from Io, "the innermost of the four Galilean moons of the planet Jupiter."

Goats on the Horizon

Hey, now! It's back to music. And it's Goat!!



"Goatman" from World Music (2012)

Not saying Goat is the only Swedish voodoo-themed psychedelic Afro-Funk band going these days, but that's probably accurate.



"Goathead" from World Music (2012)

Of course, it's new-ish from Rocket Recordings! They who brought us recent Astral favorites Gnod (#3, 2011 and #5, 2010) and Teeth of the Sea (#10, 2010 and #9, 2009).



"Let It Bleed" from World Music (2012)

So you're thinking about buying this now, right? Right?!

Are you in the United States? Answer: Yes.

Answer: No.



"The Sun The Moon" from Goatman 7" (2012)

Oooooooookay...

Goat are a collective who hail from a small and very remote village called Korpolombolo in deepest darkest Sweden. Legend has it that for centuries, the inhabitants of the village of Korpolombolo were dedicated to the worship and practices of Voodoo. This strange and seemingly unlikely activity was apparently introduced into the area after a travelling witch doctor and a handful of her disciples were led to Korpolombolo by following a cipher hidden within their most sacred of ancient scriptures. The reason it led them there is unknown, but their Voodoo influence quickly took hold over the whole village and so they made it their home - there, they were able to practice their craft unnoticed and unbothered for several centuries. This was until their non-Christian ways were discovered by the Church and they were burned out by the crusaders, the survivors cursing the village over their shoulders as they fled. To this day, the now picturesque village of Korpolombolo is still haunted by this Voodoo curse; the power of the curse can be felt throughout the grooves of the Goat records.

"Goatlord" (live in the Temple during the september rituals, 2012)

If you're in England, check this out!

Goat UK tour October! Fisrt EVER shows on these shores! Be quick if you want to see them, its looking increasingly difficult to get a ticket anywhere!

19th Oct - Lexington, London (Sold Out)

20th Oct - Star & Shadow, Newcastle

21st Oct - Supersonic Festival, Birmingham

Here's an interview I haven't read yet.