Fuzz Club Records Records Sampler up on Soundcloud

Fuzz Club Records have a cool sampler up on Soundcloud right now, click on the player and check out some cool tracks by Dead Skeletons, Tau, Dead Rabbits, Radar Men From The Moon, Sonic Jesus and much more, if you like what you hear check out the bands on bandcamp and show some support.

Fuzz Club Records

Fuzz Club Records on Facebook

Fuzz Club Records on Bandcamp

The next Atom Heart Mutha RadioShow goes out live July 9th

The next AHM RadioShow goes out on July 9th at 9pm uk time, you'll be able to listen to it live online as it goes out.
The details will be announced soon, but until then, enjoy the show from July 2015 (back when the show was called HeavyPsych)

Tracklist...

Birth of Joy - Smile
Gonga - Tungsten Gold
Kadaver - Doomsday Machine
The Heads - Don't Know Yet
Can - Mother Sky
The Oscillation - Future Echo
Hookworms - Away/Towards
Lumerians - Laser Barn
United States of America - The Garden of Earthly Delights
Ecstatic Vision - Astral Plane
Boobs of Doom - Church and Tears

Album Review...Solo Organ - Atom Heart and Beyond the Infinite

Something at little more unusual coming from Douglas Katelus, a film maker from San Francisco.  Aside from films, Doug produces music; usually heavy free form Jazz.  This project was born from an idea to do something, a little more insular, personal.

'Atom Heart and Beyond the Infinite'  was developed using a long piece of music familiar to many and played live against a visual from Stanley Kubrick's 2001 (after the Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite segment). Knowing the source material, it's easy to see that this, as a concept, would work.

Track one 'Atom Heart Mother' is an interpretation of  Pink Floyds epic 1972 'Atom Heart Mother Suite' played through entirely on Hammond Organ.  Whilst slightly shorter in length to the original, the track plays the various parts of suite without any backing. What a wonderful, clever piece this is. Whilst on the surface, a cover version of an already sprawling and epic suite, by a band constantly evolving through experimentation; the track is played out and reinterpreted, by using almost minimalistic drones, yet remaining faithful to this much loved work.  This new translation offers a different side, in a unusually almost cinematic manner. In effect, Douglas has made the isolation of the other instruments, used by Pink Floyd, to expose another dynamic, or edge to the music.

The second side 'And the World Weeps/Beyond/AXIS' is an 18 minute long experimental Psychedelic Jazz piece, taking in slow drones and dramatic free form bursts; it's a cosmic track, sonically driven by other worldly organ sounds. It works nicely as a whole piece, whilst you follow the atmospheric Journey; it also compliments the A side nicely.

Whilst I'm influenced in some small manner (for obvious reasons) as to whether or not I enjoyed the LP; I can see that its appeal may well lie in how well you know or love the original Atom Heart Mother Suite.  I'm also aware that the sound of the Hammond organ itself has some adjuration and the second side of the album will most likely be an enjoyable prospect for those people.
I can only imagine, at the moment, how a live playback with Kubrick's visuals would be; but as an artistic statement.  It's definitely an intriguing one, that the adventurous listener should seek out.
The album is available to stream on bandcamp or can be purchased on limited edition blue vinyl.  It's  a beautiful, thoughtfully presented and packaged record (the colour is the same as a past blue release of Atom Heart Mother by Floyd themselves).  Grab one before they sell out.

Solo Organ on Bandcamp

Buy Solo Organ from Aquarius records

Douglas Katelus Official Site

Album Review....Landing - Third Sight

El Paraiso's run of exceptional releases in 2016 continue.  This month 'Third Sight' by Landing was  released as part of the labels Impetus series. The band, from Conecticut, have been around for a couple of decades; the musicians style has (much like this LP) never stood still. In fact, their back catalogue, shows an evolution in genres and techniques; never staying and taking root and never really settling down.
'Delusion Sound' quietly loops its way over a background of drone, building its way to a drumbeat, echoey vocals and understated guitars.  The whispery harmonies intrigue and tranquilize as the song slowly gravitates towards its conclusion.
'Third Sight' gently pulsates at first over a single note, as the background landscapes become more visible and almost unsteady in tones. 'Facing South' is very short compared to the other tracks and retains the Eno-like feel that the album often visits.
The album closes with the beautiful 'Morning Sun'.  Almost all of the song is a hazy instrumental; there's a brief charming vocal two thirds of the way in, before giving way to more shaky ambience.
Each of the 4 tracks within, evolve organically, and take shape without ever feeling forced or rushed. The album itself is a trip; a mellow and cloudy state of mind.

What Landing have achieved can easily be defined as intelligent soundscapes, encompassed in hushed tones.  There's a beauty within the dreamlike melodies that elevates the multi facets of the music. EL Paraiso have excelled themselves once more by releasing a record that reaches further into the listeners consciousness and stays there long after listening; relax and float downstream; it's worth it.



Landing Official Site

El Paraiso Records

Landing Bandcamp

Buy Third Sight on Ltd edition Green Vinyl

Album Review... No Man's Valley - Time Travel

I'll say it again; It's cool to get invited to hear music from bands you're not familiar with; and No Man's Valley are new to me.
A quick search shows that the Dutch band have 2 previously released EP's; 'Mirror's Image' and 'And Four Other Songs'.  The band are now releasing their first full length record, recorded at Sputnik Studios, Belgium.
Opening to steady, pace setting hand claps; 'The Man Who Would be King' is a chant; a short introduction to that leads to 'Kill the Bees' a cool rock number with bluesy psych feel.
'Sinking the Lifeboat' is a nice, blissed out tune that moves along fluently onto the wonderful 'Love or Axe Murder'; a sinister track that builds brilliantly (and currently my favourite on the album) with Jasper Hesselink's almost charming Nick Cavesque vocal. 'Man Who Walked Backwards' is more blues rock again and the title track is an addictive, bouncy piece; one of those great songs you'll remember from the first time you hear it.  The album closes with 'Goon' which oddly brings to mind a gravel free voiced Tom Waits.
By the time you've finished listening to this LP, you'll realize the band couldn't have named their debut anything else. There's a whole heap of influences in the mix; there's a little of The Doors in there, particular in some of the keyboard licks, there are also some nods to Pink Floyd and Iggy Pop's 'The Passenger'. Its good stuff and it shows a happy adoration for music from decades gone by. Listening is a lot like stepping back and time traveling; it's an enjoyable debut by a band that benefit from a tight sound and  an interesting vocalist.  This band will, hopefully, find a wide audience and be a round for a while.


No Man's Valley Official Website

No Man's Valley Facebook

No Man's Valley Bandcamp

Preorder/Purchase Time Travel on Vinyl/CD/Download

Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records Summer Sampler now on Bandcamp

Brooklyn Label Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records have put together a cool summer sampler on Bandcamp. The album features 11 tracks by The Myrrors, Kikagaku Moyo, Eerie Wanda, Elkhorn and Heaters.
Its up for free on download or pay what you like, however should you pay $5 or more you get entered into a prize draw to win either a nice looking' 'Heads'  Tee designed by Nik Rayne from The Myrrors. Also up for prizes are test pressings of 'Entranced Earth' by The Myrrors and 'Baptistina' by Heaters.


You can check out the samplers Bandcamp page HERE , You can also buy physical releases from the Beyond Beyond is Beyond store HERE

Get on it !

Listen Back to Atom Heart Mutha - June 2016 Anytime.

Junes show is now available to hear anytime on the Mixcloud page or on the player below.
This months show featured a wealth of brand new tracks from albums out at the time of broadcast by West,Space & Love, Cult of Dom Keller, Slow Season, The Myrrors, No Mans Valley, Melody Fields, Psychic Ills and Farflung.  The tracks from Out of the Earth and Birth of Joy are both off recent releases too.

Big thanks as always to the bands and labels involved, if you like what you hear please support the artists, there's a post on my Facebook page linked to this blog post, all the links and tags will be live.

Big thanks to my Bro Matt Rider for the use of his Cacti Pic !

Thanks again for listening and supporting...im always looking for new music to review, play and hopefully use in some of the upcoming live shows, contact me if you want to send me your Lps/Cds/Mp3s.

Until next time...

Album Review...Out of the Earth - Out of the Earth

Out of the Earth are 3 piece from Greece and are relatively new, having formed only a couple of years ago.  Guitarist/vocalist Thanos sounds a hell of a lot like Chris Cornell; I mention it now because its the first thing EVERYONE notices!

Out of the Earth play fuzzed up tracks in a very cool stoner rock way. There's a synergy between the 3 musicians here, immediately apparent from the opening track 'Need'; a really smart riff driven druganaut, boasting an awesome solo. The title track is heavy and gravelly; and again a number that has nods to 'Badmotorfinger' especially in structure and style.
'All Mine' is a dirty blues stomper, whist 'Crave' displays outstanding bass work by Stelios. In fact, all of the musicianship on this LP is tight throughout and there's some exceptional drumming to be heard; especially on standout track 'My Way'.

There's much to like about Out of the Earth.  This cool debut, given that the band formed mid 2014 and put this record out a year later ,  shows promise for the years to come.  I'm sure this band are going to get bigger and better and I'm looking forward to seeing what they do next. Lovers of heavy stoner grooves are gonna get a kick out of this;  essential listening.

Smash records have just put the album out on reissue on cd and Ltd edition vinyl, they're selling fast so don't hang around!

Out of the Earth Bandcamp

Buy Out of the Earth on CD/LP from Smash Records

The Atom Heart Mutha RadioShow - June 2016

Atom Heart Mutha's June show goes out live online on Saturday 11th at 9pm UK time as part of the BigJaf.net RockShow.  Tune in and listen to brand new tracks from brand new albums by Slow Season, Farflung, The Cult of Dom Keller, The Myrrors and much more besides.

As always the Mixlr player below will go live at 8pm for Dylan the Wolf's Altrock Anthems show, AHM is next,t and following at 10pm there's a brilliant show featuring new and unsigned metal from Tony Gaskin, all you need to do is click play, easy!!

If you missed Mays show theres link to the mixcloud player to listen back to anytime, there's a playlist photo underneath, its 60 minutes of cool shit, get on it!wwwbigjafnet is on Mixlr

Doomed & Stoned - That Seventies Compilation... Listen to the full album now On BandCamp

Doomed & Stoned have put together a cool compilation of rad 70's rock featuring new/unsigned/commited to small label bands. This 26 track monster represents a growing scene of artists with a style and vibe deeply rooted in a decade where rock began to evolve and take on the world.  Amongst the wealth of awesome music are tracks by Demon Head, Buddy Hemlock, Green King, Dunbarrow and Swamp Moth. Click on the player below or the direct link to the bandcamp page and show some support for brand new music by brand new bands.

That Seventies Compilation on Bandcamp

Cat On The Howling Moon Records

Check out a whole heap of links for Scottish label Cat On The Howling Moon, boasting a cool and ever-growing roster of Psychedelic Wild-Men and Femme Fatales this a label worth keeping an eye on.
You can click on the links to names of each artist to have your brain transported to a myriad of different plains. Enjoy !
Al Hotchkiss is currently fronting Glasgow based Filth Spector, this is his solo stuff whilst the band take a short break. Mademoiselle Marquee and Yogo Yolk are 2 different characters of the same Mind, guitar and synth/pianos and all sorts of other weird and wonderful stuff. Monographic are a German based four piece specialising in post-punk and Neo-psych and beyond, their self titled debut is about to get a release on ltd edition white vinyl. Get on it !

Cat On The Howling Moon Records Bandcamp

Cat On The Howling Moon Records Facebook

Listen to Dogs Got a Bone Compilation #5 for free on Bandcamp

Scottish Record label 'Dogs Got a Bone' have put out a really cool compilation out for Free/Paywhatulike on Bandcamp.
The album contains recent tracks played on the labels own radio show and 2 brand new cuts from Frantic Chant and Epsilon One.  Have a listen and if you like what you hear please support the artists and buy their music ! The featured artists are:
Dozen Draft, The Red plastic Buddha, Ghost Dance Collective, The Twistettes, Rise of the Echo Drone, Errant Boy, The Doormats, Shards, The Girobabies, The Rhemedies, Epilson One, Frantic chant and Sun Mahshene.

The album contains a nice mix of Indie Psych Psychedelic rock and Shoegaze, get on it !

Listen to DGAB#5 now HERE !

DGAB Radio Show on Facebook

Album Review...The Myrrors - Entranced Earth

Currently based in Tuscon,  Arizona, The Myrrors have returned. Following the doped out haze of  2025's 'Arena Negra' the band have managed to deliver one of the most confident and sonically pleasing trips of recent times.
Immediately noticeable are the wealth of instruments utilised throughout the album; from traditional drums and guitars, to tablas, harmonium and alto sax; they're all present.
The mournful shimmering of  'Mountain Mourning' opens the record and leads into trance like  psychedelia of 'Liberty is in the Streets'; it's rhythmic drum patterns light the way towards the next stop. 'No clear Light' is a meditative mantra; Eastern influences and flutes all combine into one wonderfully blissed out whole.  The title track itself 'Entranced Earth' is further proof of the care and attention that has gone into developing such a full and rich sound.  Whilst it's easy to be taken on the journey by the mesmerizing mix of motoric drums and psychedelic swirling music; there is so much more going on that will be enjoyed with every future listen. Elsewhere is the slow paced kaleidoscopic 'Invitation Mantra' and album closer 'Surem Dervish'; a more groove laden track that steers it's way to albums finish.
The band have clearly set out to Make a mark and should deservedly flourish having recorded a much tighter and focused record than previous releases, without changing their identity.
This is where 'Entranced Earth' succeeds the most; it's hypnotic charm lies in the crafting of the songs; each one a spiritual mantra of sorts.  With every track comes a brand new soundscape and a lavish listening experience, and once more with this release we are rewarded with another strong contender for one of the most interesting albums of the year.


The Mirrors Bandcamp

Buy Entranced Earth from Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records

Album Review...The Cult of Dom Keller - Goodbye to the Light

  

Its hard to believe its been 3 years since Nottingham's The Cult of Dom Keller's 2013's Self Titled LP was released.  The band have toured Europe and supported the likes of Wooden Shjips, as well as playing the Austin Psych Fest. Last Year also saw the band contribute to the HeavyPsych compilation 'A Stoned Out Salute to Led Zeppelin with their brilliant version of 'Dazed and Confused'.

'Goodbye to the Light' finds the band in good form. 'Hole in the Whole' opens the album as a pulsating drone that builds up to a wall of feedback and noise; its end is abrupt, giving way to a pulsating note. 'Broken Arm of God' is fuzzy and grimy and seems to have an almost eerie, yet anthemic, chorus.
Elsewhere 'Ravens & Rockets' offers up driving, rhythmic drums and gloomy, sinister, harmonising vocals on a track reminiscent of Bowie's 'Scary Monsters'.
The record doesn't shy away from being experimental, for example, on songs such as 'Waltz of the Morgellons' and the sonically weird 'Tunnel in the Clouds', offering some small respite from the deep intensity the rest of the album serves up. As Psychedelia goes this is pretty dark stuff; its far more gothic in tone than their last release and draws on many influences.  'Astrum Argenteum' plays like later era Depeche Mode; the percussive styles of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound and Bauhaus. There is also a deeper intensity to the music recorded here, particularly on tracks like the Joy Divisionesque 'Exterminating Angels'.

Goodbye to the light truly is an excellent record.  It succeeds in drawing you in and will reward you with multiple listens. There are a wealth of different textures in the mix, all of them welcome and adding something to the bands already established sounds.  This album is another great example of a piece of work that should be played as a whole. The Cult of Dom Keller have managed to create the same kind of shadowy atmospheres within the grooves of the records as they do when witnessed live. Right now, they're touring the UK, don't miss them.


Buy Goodbye To The Light from Fuzz Club

The Cult of Dom Keller Facebook

The Cult of Dom Keller Bandcamp

Atom Heart Mutha - Transmissions from the Psychedelic Basement 4 is now available to hear anytime.

Atom Heart Mutha's section from Transmissions from the Psychedelic Basement 4 is now available to hear on the AHM Mixcloud page.
Originally broadcast on May 28th this is part of a 3 hour Joint show with the Thee Psychedelicatessen DJs, if you'd like to hear the full 3 hour version of the show, click the link HERE
The Tracklist is included in the picture to the right, Enjoy!

Transmissions From the Psychedelic Basement 4 Goes out live this Saturday

Transmissions From the Psychedelic Basement 4 goes out live 8pm GMT on Saturday May 28th.  This radio show is part of an ongoing series of joint broadcasts with Atom Heart Mutha and the Thee Psychedelicatessen DJ's.

Tune in by clicking on the link below when the show goes live, you can expect a mix of cool Psych classics, brand new sounds and a weird blend of Spaced Out Trippy Jams.

If you're unfamiliar with the Thee Psychedelicatessen, you can check out their blog Here,  you can also follow them on Facebook Here.


8.00pm Thee Psychedelicatessen DJ's
9.30pm Atom Heart Mutha

Don't forget, Turn On, Tune In and Psych Out...8pm GMT !

wwwbigjafnet is on Mixlr

Album Review...Warhorses - Flap your Useless Wings

So, once again, I've had the opportunity to hear something that passed me by the first time around. This time its Warhorses; a heavy, hypnotic rock outfit from Detroit. This album's been around since 2009 and the band have a reputation for intense, engaging live shows.

After the short intro of 'Nothing Left to Burn' comes the alluring whisper of 'Terminal Station' a cool, slow burner that beats itself into a swaggering wall of guitars and drums. The sounds change to noisy and sonically charged on 'The Death Toll is Expected to Rise' a track that has all the hallmarks of something you know will take on a bigger life of its own played live.
Next, we get the excellent 'Dead Undone' a song that starts off reminiscent of Pavement's 'Motion Suggests' and then grows into a loud, wailing monster, complete with horns; its easily one of the albums best tracks. There are flourishes of psych on 'Bury Your Dead' the drum patterns beat with military style and precision over a country/psych guitar. '0' is a really heavy stoner number; it drones and pounds its way slowly over its weighty 12 minutes; a stark contrast to the punchy popping of the 2 minuter 'Neverland'. Therein lies the appeal of the LP; the styles are similar enough to maintain the albums tone, but not quite enough to pigeonhole a genre.  What you do get is sometimes dark and brooding, often hypnotic but always heavy.
'Flap your Useless' wings is another great example of an album that works better as a whole piece; it's a great late night kind of an album.  The atmosphere the band have managed to create lends itself well to being played loud.  Very loud.



Check out the Warhorses bandcamp page;  you can also stream the really cool EP  'Song of the Month', thats also worth checking out. There's a link for the track 'Crawl' at the end of this review.

Warhorses on Bandcamp

Warhorses on Facebook

Warhorses ReverbNation

Album Review...Psychic Ills - Inner Journey Out.

Psychic Ills are back!
The eagerly anticipated follow up to the New York duo's 2013 album 'One Track Mind' gets a release on Sacred Bones Records on June 3rd.
The albums conception, as always, started with Tres Warren's demos and Elizabeth Hart adding her parts within the studio sessions. What is different this time around, is rather than use overdubs, the album features touring keyboard player Brent Cordero and a series of guest artists.

What's also notably different from 'One Track Mind' is the tone of the songs.  There is far less fuzz, within the production, and a much more warmer sound; notable at first on 'Another change'.  Cordero's keyboard style proves to be a winner; especially with the gospel backing vocal.  This is easily one of my favorite songs of the year, so far.  It's here, where you begin to note, an often recurring comparison to Spiritualized, especially from around the 'Lazer Guided Melodies' and 'Ladies and Gentlemen We're floating in Space' period.

'I Dont Mind' is a duet with Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval; the two vocalists compliment each other beautifully over the country Psych sounds, once more benefitting from the underlying keyboards.  Elsewhere 'Coca-Cola Blues' evokes the spirit of early seventies Neil Young, as it opens with the sound of harmonica and the feel of a track from 'Harvest'.  The pedal steel guitar enhances the track and elevates it to a whole other level of hazy beauty. ''No Worry' has an eerie string arrangement over the echoing guitars,which gives the album a different dimension and 'Rah Wah Wah' is a shimmering blissed out trip played out over 9 minutes.

There are definitely moments on the record that compare to that of Jason Pierces earlier Spiritualized albums; whether that is through direct influence or the way the songs here have been crafted and pieced together, by using similar themes with gospel vocals, horns and strings.  Either way, it doesn't matter; they both make brilliant music that will continue be enjoyed beyond the decades to come.

The band now, more than ever, deserve wider recognition and attention. Inner Journey Out is a career best in a run of already excellent LPs. There are plenty of standalone tracks here, but this record is something that plays best as a whole; loudly and, with or without, the influence of your favourite poison.  The more you listen, the more the you discover what is going on.  As a progression, from 'One Track Mind', the band music has reaped obvious benefits from taking a different approach to recording this time around.

Psychic Ills have delivered something special.

Psychic Ills Official Site

Psychic Ills Facebook

Buy Inner Journey Out from Sacred Bones Records,

Album Review...Knall - Alien Funk

More cool stuff from Tonzonen Records.  Knall release their third album 'Alien Funk' this month, on limited clear or  black vinyl. Amazingly, this is a live album recorded at the 'Monsters of Krautrock' festival in Würzburg Germany.  I say amazingly because you wouldn't know it was live unless you were told!
From the very start, the album bursts with energy; opening track 'Prologue' is a fast paced, motoric, drum driven rocker.  The cosmic guitar solo that accompanies it takes the whole thing to another level.
The aptly named title track 'Alien Funk' has a clever little groove of its own and keeps the pace going. 'Gravity' slows things down temporarily; it's a spaced out trip that slowly builds things back up to a weighty conclusion.
'Eightballs'' is a little more experimental and feels improvisational; it's probably the only moment on the record where you feel the band are riffing off ideas, not that it matters, it's still a cool jam coming in at just over 17 minutes long.
'Epilogue' closes the album in the same vein as it opened, great drum patterns and otherworldly guitar sounds; a great blending of Spacerock and krautrock.
Its hard not be impressed by this record, the production and quality of the recording itself is nothing short of astounding; there's almost no audible crowd sounds as the songs move from one to the next. The set itself is brilliant too, but when you also factor in that the set itself was a jam; a free flow of ideas, from before the band took to the stage, played as one whole piece. It's nothing short of amazing. That's what Knall do better than many of their contemporaries; even on the bands previous two studio albums, all tracks are recorded in a single take; everything is completely improvised and unique and therefore totally unrepeatable. How's that for awesome?


Knall on Facebook

Knall on Bandcamp

Buy Alien Funk on 180g Vinyl from Tonzonen Records

Listen to Atom Heart Mutha - May 2016 Anytime

The Atom Heart Mutha RadioShow May 2016 is now available to hear anytime. This months show was originally broadcast as part of the BigJaf.net RockShow and again on American Radio Station Grip of Delusion.

Click on the player and hear great tracks by Knall, Jakob Skøtt, May Blitz, The Spacelords as well as Sweet Crystal track of the latest RidingEasy Records Compilation 'Brown Acid - The Second Trip.'

Atom Heart Mutha also has a Facebook page now, follow us Here

Don't Forget to tune in on the 28th of this month for another Transmissions from the Psychedelic Basement with the fantastic TheePsychedelicatessen DJs, and if you need a fix of past shows, there's plenty to listen to on the Mixcloud page Here

Album Review...Mythic Sunship - Ouroboros

Once again, there's more cool stuff  coming from El Paraiso Records. This time around, it's a four piece from Copenhagen.
Mythic Sunship take their name from a mingling of album names by John Coltrane and Sun Ra; what they offer is that same sense of cosmic exploration.

The albums opener 'Ophidian Rising' is straight up HeavyPsych; no build ups or mystical sounds, just heavy bass and drums and a cool weighty riff.  'Year of the Serpent' is another heavy piece, but this time evolves slowly over a rolling pattern of guitar and minimal bass brushes; it's a steady pounder; beat driven and a great use of feedback and crashing symbols as it evolves over the sonic sounds of the guitars.
Side 2 is the massive 21 minute long track 'Leviathan', a demonstration of skill and flair. From the wall of feedback comes urgent tapping beats launching the song and then driving it towards the halfway point and then a brief pause; what follows is a massive heavy slice of PsychRock, and just when it feels like the tracks wrapping up, comes another brilliant brain melting freakout. So whilst we are led to believe that the band are cosmic explorers and follow freeform ways of delivering their sounds; there's no denying the band are at their core tight and focused, 'Ouroboros' will keep your attention throughout.

El Paraiso are having a great year so far, 'Ouroboros' is another essential  release from a label that's already put out killer records from Causa Sui, Jakob Skøtt and Nicklas Sorensen. Mythic Sunship have just released a heavy duty record that holds its own in a year that seems to be delivering brilliant music every week.  Seek this out; it's worth it.



Mythic Sunship Facebook

El Paraiso Records

New Atom Heart Mutha Show this Weekend

There's a brand new Atom Heart Mutha RadioShow going out live online on Saturday night at 9pm Uk time.  The player below will activate at 8pm at the start of the BigJaf.net RockShow, I'm on after Dylan the Wolf's Altrock Anthems Show. You'll also be able to catch the encore play on American Radio Station Grip of Delusion on Sunday 10am EST 4pm CET 3pm UK.  You can expect to hear great tracks by Zone Six, Mondo Drag and Plant Tribe. Theres also music off New Releases by Knall, Jakob Skøtt as well as something from the latest Brown acid Compilation. Tune in, its gonna be worth it.


Check back soon, New reviews are coming up this weekend for the latest Psychic Ills, Knall and Mythic Sunship albums.
wwwbigjafnet is on Mixlr

Album Review... Kikagaku Moyo - House in the Tall Grass

2016 sees new Music from Japan's 幾何学模様 Kikagaku Moyo; a band with an excellent live reputation. They tour the UK this month, in support of their brand new LP, 'House in the Tall Grass'.

'Mammatus Clouds' and the 'Forest of the Lost Children' EP were both extremely well received, back in 2014, and expectations for the new LP are high. I can say with confidence, that I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with this record.

'Green Sugar' shimmers, as it opens for nearly a minute,  suddenly becoming a beautiful sixties infused piece of psychedelic pop. Moving along, at a casual pace, the music is dreamy and warm. 'Kogarashi' follows theme, lush vocals and vibrant rhythms elevate this track to a beguiling level.  'Old Snow,White Sun' sounds distant and yearning, as does the slow tribal beat of 'Melted Crystal'.  The songs feel more insular than previous tracks and yet retain an engaging tone. 'Silver Owl' is a killer 10 minute long psychedelic slow jam that builds up to an irresistible dynamic guitar solo of monumental proportions.

Standout track 'Trad' plays like early 70s Pink Floyd, elevated by it beautiful harmonies before evolving into a krautrock jam and electric guitar freak out; mind blowing stuff! 'Cardigan Song' closes the album in charming style, incredibly simple in approach the song has an alluring vocal over gorgeous guitar picking, not unlike Nick Drake; it's a perfect way to close the record.


HITTG is a more focused piece of work than previous releases, yet just as innovative, the melodies and harmonies are infectious and appealing, the vocals add depth to an album made with care.
Highly recommended.

Kikagaku Moyo Bandcamp

Kikagaku Moyo on Facebook

Guruguru Brain Bandcamp

Album Review...Chef Menteur - III

Sunrise Ocean Bender have had an incredible run of late. If you haven't already heard the New JuJu LP or Sons of the Void album; you need to rectify that now: seriously, do it! If you follow the blog you'll know I've happily been mining (thanks Kevin, its the right word) the labels back catalogue. Evening Fires and The Movements provided me with some of the best music I've heard this year;  as I'd missed them the first time around.

In 2015, S.O.B. put out 'III'; a limited edition 3 CD set by New Orleans Chef Mentor, featuring the  re release of 'East of the Sun & West of the Moon', It's companion album, 'North of Tomorrow & South of Yesterday' and a new disc 'Force Majeure'. This new disc has been lovingly remastered from a very rare, limited edition cassette, which has long since sold out.
'Narconaught' kicks things off;  it's a fantastic welding together of heavy pounding and sonic weirdness.  The band describe themselves as playing an intoxicating brew of Space and Psych Rock, Drone, Komische and Ambient; I'd argue they offer far more than that. There are moments such as halfway through 'Farfisa Duo Raga' where through the organ drones and an acoustic guitar strums in, elevating the track into something much more captivating.  Another treat is the unexpected noise blast 7 minutes in on 'Oxen of the Sun'. These moments show you how well the songs have been tightly crafted.
There's a wonderful 20 minute long track 'Ganymede' that serves an ambient interlude, without outstying its welcome, leading into one of my favorites  'The Long Strand (Part2)'.  This psychedelic jam is complemented by its driving beat. As companion pieces go, the second disc more than proves that the band continued to be rich with ideas.  The bass work on 'Surface Tension' at the forefront of the track is dark and groovy; as soon as the drums smash in, you find your brain fully immerses in a cosmic meltdown; you know you're in for another good trip.
The Third Disc offers more Psychedelic Fayre such as 'Ribbons from Lake Kwashiorkor' and 'Terpsichore' as well peculiar interludes, such as plinky glitches of 'Where Wings take Dream' and the brilliantly named 'Don't invite a Centaur to Your Wedding'.

What I like most about III, is the fact that it's all packaged together so nicely; there's so much variety within.  It's heavy; it's Psychedelic; it drones and it's trippy.  III also sounds like one whole piece and not a set of separately released works. There's so many fascinating strands to catch, you'll finding yourselves wanting to hear it over and over again; it really is fantastic stuff.


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Album Review...Various - Another Splash of Colour, New Psychedelia in Britain 1980 -1985

Cherry Red Records have released 'Another Splash of Colour' an expansion of the original EMI  release from 1982. This 3 CD set captures the Nu Psych Scene, largely centred around London club nights, like 'The Groovy Cellar' over its 64 tracks.
The first disc is largely made up of the original '82 compilation and there's some great tracks. 'Dancing in my Mind' by The High Tide is a groovy pop song that has the elements of psych from days gone by, but a sound that's definetly identifiable as an Indie pop track from the early eighties.
The same can be said for Miles Over Matters 'Something's Happening Here' and Kimberley Rew's 'Stomping all over the world'. Whilst the further 2 discs have plenty of recognisable psychedelic pop contained within; there are also some interesting tracks from Mod revival bands (The Onlookers, The Vandells, The Jetset), of which eventually evolved their sounds into something far more psychedelic.  Amazingly, many of the songs have heavy nods to The Jam (the unreleased track 'The Haze by The Dream Factory and 'Pass Myself'  by The Third Eye).
Elsewhere, we have great songs by more well known and established artists, Julian Cope ('Sunspots') and the excellent Nirvana' by The Icicle Works, as well as a previously unissued demo by Doctor and the Medics (Barbara Can't Dance).
Other unreleased tracks of note include gems from Direct Hits, Future Daze and the Magic Mushroom Band; as well as the fantastic 'only the Stones Remain' by The Soft Boys.

The Eighties seem to be an easy target, probably because of the flamboyance that came with the rise of the New Romantics, which seem to have stuck in the minds of general public.  It wasn't helped that the same fashion crimes were being repeated towards the end of the decade by the L.A . Hair Metal bands.  What we were left with in between, (in some opinions) the only decent band around in the Eighties was The Smiths, this compilation certainly goes some way to disproving that idea!

There's a broader appeal for this release; you can pinpoint the distinct sets of influences over the 3 discs to the indie rock sounds that were to follow in the years to come; in particular the dawn of Creation Records (The Revolving Paint Dream, The Jasmine Minks, Biff Bang Pow!), Shoegaze and the rise in popularity of psychedelic music in more recent times. ASOC does an exceptional job of introducing another perspective to the history of Psych and serves as a reminder for those that knew about the underground scene, that rarely gets spoken of, with the same sense of nostalgia that the original days of psychedelia does. It's a history lesson anyone keen to expand their mind musically should take seriously, especially in the wonderful deluxe clamshell packaging, which features a hefty booklet, with a 9000 word sleeve note by ex NME journalist Neil Taylor.  Essential stuff.

Buy Another Splash of Colour x3 cd from Cherry Red Records HERE