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.


Chef Menteur Official Site

Chef Menteur Bandcamp

Sunrise Ocean Bender

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

Two New Radio Shows for May

The New Atom Heart Mutha Radio Show Goes out live on May 14th at 9pm as Part of the BigJaf.net RockShow, as always there will be an encore Broadcast on Grip of Delusion Radio the following day 10am EST/ 4pm CET 3pm UK, more details to follow.

Until then, you can hear Aprils AHM show on the Mixcloud player below.

   

Im also pleased to announce that there will a brand New Atom Heart Mutha/Thee Psychedelicatessen Joint broadcast, 'Transmissions from the Psychedelic Basement 4', will be another brilliant 3 hours of brain melting Psychedelia, we'll be announcing the date soon.

Album Review...Jakob Skøtt - All the Colours of the Dust

Causa Sui's drummer Jakob Skøtt's on a mission to go,"all in' on the third installment of his "drums versus synthesizers" vision; 'All the Colours of the Dust' is the follow up to 2014's 'Taurus Rising' and is further proof that Skøtt is without doubt one of the greatest drummers on the planet right now.

'ATCOTD' opens with noise, random squelches, blips and synths, drums and cymbals,  seemingly banging with no sense of rhythm; Then the drumbeat, that features for most of the 12 minutes of 'Age of Isotopes,' kicks off and suddenly, nothing appears irregular at all; the track plays on relentlessly, before reaching calm, just before it ends. 'Face Peradam' showcases some real skill again, in terms of keeping a heavy flow of beats, whilst maintaining harmony with the synths; this theme carries on the follow on track 'The Variable'.
'Iron Nebula' is hard rocking and has a lot in common with the last proper Flaming Lips record 'The Terror'; it bursts with motor like power and then energetic drum explositions as it draws to its conclusion.
The final track is the magnificent 'All the Colours'; a mammoth piece, that smashes it's way through its 7 minutes demonstrating an original style, with shades of Can and Bitches Brew.
It's a difficult record to pin down; there are elements of freak Jazz and space funk. The album is  heavy and rocking, but the use of the electronic instrumentation takes it somewhere outside of what you may expect.  In fact, the synths here compliment the drums perfectly, offering a relentless 40 minutes that doesn't let up until its final note.
I'm not sure who won the battle of drums Vs synths this time; there's some really incredible  percussive work going on, along with some meaty beats and rhythms. There's also some interesting synths too, not all is as chaotic as it first appears, there is a definite coherence that flows through the albums 5 tracks.  In terms of a winner, I think it's fair to say that it's the listener.
The album is available from El Paraiso Records on the link below.

El Paraiso Records

Album Review...Cary Grace - Tygerland

Cary Grace is an American multi instrumentalist who has called England home for the last 10 years. She runs Wessex Analogue; manufacturing Wiard brand boutique modular synthesisers. Tygerland is her 9th album. 

The album opens to the sounds of  synths and patterns; 'Tygerland' is the sound of a musician warming up, preparing you to settle down before the opening riff of 'Cyanide' kicks in.  The song offers a pleasing nod to mid 70s era Neil Young, with blistering solo's and 70s rock chord progressions leading the way. 'Orange Sky' is a more electronic/trippy affair, percussive and immersive, in contrast to 'Cyanide'.  It is made all the captivating, once more, by Grace's vocal delivery.
'War child' is another piece evocative of 70's rock with a more bluesy vocal; it's runs at 9 minutes and is easily one of the albums highlights. 'Limelight' offers another change of pace, bluesy and glowing warmly throughout; it leads nicely into the opening of 'Razorwire'.
'Razorwire' has a summer like inflection; it flows beautifully, and again, benefits from a different vocal tone from Grace over its 8 minute journey. 'Into the Indigo' is a mellow, thoughtful piece and quite minimalistic, compared a lot of the other tracks on the album.
The album ends with the experimental 'Windsong'. A mammoth 20 minutes in length, it's intro builds slowly before the spoken word poetic delivery of the lyrics tell its story; the pay off comes in just past the 12 minute mark; heavy drumming and guitars fight over the complex electronic noises.

Tygerland's strengths lie in the crafting and layering of the tracks, as well as Grace's alluring vocal.  The songs themselves are eclectic in style, yet follow in a cohesive manner: the myriad of different synth styles and sounds employed here elevate the songs to offer a more varied listening experience. It's a record you'll find yourself going back to often.

Official Website

Cary Grace on Facebook

Buy Tygerland Here.

Album Review...Gorilla Vs Grifter - Split LP

Birmingham's Hevisike Records have just released the next in their split LP series; following the success of  2015's Mos Generator // Stubb, comes another monster in the form of Gorilla Vs Grifter.

Gorilla are first up; a heavy rock n roll three piece, with a sound as dirty and heavy as the band they draw the most obvious of their influences from: Motörhead. This comparison is clearly apparent on opening track 'Both Barrels'.
'Slay Rider' is straight out stoner rock with great solos throughout; the bass is bouncy with a slow groove; excellent stuff.
'Grind Yer Down' is another heavy number with great guitars and the line "don't let the bastards grind you down"; a sentiment often embraced  by the late, great Lemmy.
'Three Squealer' finishes off the first side, and whilst reminiscent of Sabbath, it still has the hard rock boogie that the rest of the tracks deliver.
Grifter are a great band to compliment side A of the LP. They are another heavy power trio that know how to make a riff fuelled groove, as demonstrated on the first track 'Falling Asleep'. 'Paige Turner' manages to achieve the impressive task of naming an array of top shelf magazines whilst keeping your focus on the fantastic 70s sounding heavy rock. 'Hi Waisted' follows suit with its retro riff age and heavy tone, adding a little extra harmonica to give it that dirty blues edge. Album closer 'Me Love' is a weighty number with a driving groove that almost demands you bounce your head in time with the mammoth sound.



There isn't a dull note on Gorilla Vs Grifter; the split serves as an introduction to two really interesting stoner rock outfits that offer much more than you might expect.  Filthy riffs, grooves and brilliantly heavy rock n roll; in short, it's Ace !
The album has been released on limited edition Gold vinyl (a Hevisike exclusive,100 copies pressed ) as well as a yellow and blue marbled version, the excellent cover artwork is by Dutch Artist Maarten Donders.

Buy Gorilla Vs Grifter at Hevisike Records

Gorilla on Facebook

Grifter on Facebook

 


Gorilla                                                             Grifter

Album Review...Nicklas Sørensen - Solo

'Solo' is the debut LP from Papir Guitarist Nicklas Sorensen. It's a different kind of vibe to what you may be expecting, but that's not to say there isn't something familiar going on. Whilst the album is titled 'Solo', it features bandmates Christian Becher Clausen and Christoffer Brøchmann, as well as Causa Sui guitarist Jonas Munk.

Opening track 'Solo 1' is a sterling piece of Krautrock; the driving drum patterns and background synths compliment the guitar work perfectly, but don't smother the sound. The guitars are very much at the forefront of the track and it works extremely well. 'Solo 2' is a more mellow affair; the guitars wash over the beat, tribal but slower paced with shimmering cymbals. It is really rather beautiful and almost certainly designed to be heard through a good set of headphones. 'Solo 3' is more synth and loop oriented; the simplistic and sporadic guitar lets the track unfold, which it does wonderfully. 'Solo 4' is much more ambient in tone with its background synth sounds, but it's the lead guitar that shows real emotive skill as the song effortlessly plays out. 'Solo 5' is a rythmic number that progresses to something a little heavier at its Centre before mellowing again. The Final Track 'Solo 6' is an epic 12 minutes in length and delivers something incredibly atmospheric; it takes its time to grow and as with the rest of the LP, it's an immersive experience that holds your interest for the full duration.

There's a myriad of different layers and textures to discover.  The guitar is used to different effects  that really do generate the otherworldly esoteric sounds that are promised. The guitar remains the lead instrument, but interplays nicely with the music that surrounds it.

As I've mentioned already, this album is designed to be listened to; it demands concentration; and it's perfect for listening to through headphones  in order to immerse you into the experience. Highly recommended stuff.

Buy Niklas Sørensen - Solo HERE

El Paraiso Records Website

Album Review...Khan Tengri - Aeons

Khan Tengri is the latest project from  The Gateless Gate's Allister Thompson, its a psychedelic space rock album that he describes as a "rebranding" of his work.

The LP opens with a sonic interpretation of the classic HP Lovecraft story 'At the Mountain of Madness" broken into 5 parts. This atmospheric piece captures the horror story as a fearful trip, taking in spooky chants, pounding drums and some impressive guitar work, before drawing its conclusion in a textured cinematic fashion.
'Kalpas' is a mellow affair, led by guitar and spiritual chanting; it flows beautifully. 'Dualistic Stomp' is a heavier number and shows a different side to the record, as does the strange 'The Holocene Extinction'; both tracks have more pounding rock feel, the latter has a brilliant monstrous growl of a vocal that seems list extinct species and suggest that we as Homo Sapiens are next.
Throughout the record, there are many moments  that show the music has been heavily influenced by Pink Floyd, taking different elements of their vast career.  'Maitreya Has Come, And all is Renewed' could so easily be a David Gilmour solo track; it really is fantastic stuff. The Album closes with 'Silurian', an ambient cinematic piece that runs for 12 minutes which captivates and immerses you, as you listen on.
Aeons is a really cool listen; it works well as a space rock album but it also shines in its more ambient  parts. There's some striking guitar work and much to enjoy on an album that is equal parts chilling and dazzling.



I'd also recommend having a listen to some of Allister's early works under his Gateless Gate moniker; there's some really interesting things to discover.  A link to the band camp page can be found below; click on and listen.

Khan Tengri - Aeons on Bandcamp

Khan Tengri/The Gateless Gate on Facebook

Album Review...Love Machine - Circles

Love Machine release the highly anticipated follow up to 'A Present to the Galaxy' soon. 'Circles' see the German five piece continue their successful journey into the infinity of space, the human soul, and beyond.

There are plenty of bands from over the decades that have shown their love and respect of psychedelic pop music; each of them striving to bring a fresh or different take on the sounds of days gone by. What strikes you immediately, when listening to Love Machine, is the distinctive vocal style of Marcel Rösche. The songs themselves are rooted somewhere between The Doors and early 70's rock, but it's his notably theatrical delivery and tone that draw attention.
'Circles' is a concept piece about gravity, rotation and time, in which Love Machine face the eternal genesis and demise in galactical and interhuman terms.  'Sun Paradox' combines sounds of the West Coast and 'Love Street'. The track has warm feel and in a cool way to open the album.
'Maze' follows next and incorporates elements of early Santana; especially towards the end as the guitars kick in.  In contrast, 'Rotation of Earth and Love' begins as a confident pop-rock trip and evolves into something more spaced out, before leading out with a wonderful guitar solo. There's more 70s influenced rock on the title track. The moment the guitars tease that 'Love her Madly' is around the corner, there's suddenly an elongated guitar solo reminiscent of Steely Dans 'Reelin' in the Years'.
'Gravity' is more psychedelic spacerock with a cosmic synth centre,  leading into the epic 11 minute long 'In Search of Time'; a track that embraces all the of influences that have ran throughout  the album. This track melds them in to one mammoth sprawling jam; fantastic stuff!



Circles is highly recommended; the band are clearly influenced by The Doors, Zappa, Hawkwind, Floyd and Fela Kuti; they wear it well, but still offer something different and interesting.

Circles is released on April 22nd, click on the links below to purchase it on vinyl or cd.

Love Machine Official Website

Tonzonen Records

Album Review... Causa Sui - Return to Sky

My introduction to Danish band Causa Sui came in the form of 2013's 'Euporie Tide'; an amazing instrumental psychedelic rock album, rich with ideas and sounds. An album that demands to be played loud!

Over the last couple of years, I've been able to delve deeper into their hugely impressive back catalogue and uncover even more gems. I was  happy to discover a new Lp being released for 2016.
'Return to sky' doesn't feel so much as a follow up to 'Euporie Tide' but more of a progression. The album starts with 'Dust Meridian', Jakob Skøtt's drums lead the way over the bass lines groove. At the halfway mark, the sixties tinted keyboards move into something far heavier until a wall of noise gives way to more mellow tones from the guitars.  The second track 'The Source' is riff driven and one of the best slabs of HeavyPsych I've heard so far this year. 'Mondo Buzzo' follows in a more measured way until it it begins to become full, heavy and fuzzy. The track becomes much more of a stoner rock monster and then following the Causa Sui way, the track finally mellows.
'Dawn passage has a psych-jazz feel that transforms into something more cosmic.  The title track closes the album; like the previous tracks 'Return to Sky'; it starts from one style and moves to something far heavier.  By the time we're 3 minutes in, the track is a pounding monster and without warning becomes a dreamy haze of synths, guitars and drum crashes. It's probably worth noting that just like the  previous releases, its almost unfair to break the album into parts because its strength lies in way it works as one whole piece.


'Return to Sky' is an impressive addition to a brilliant catalogue of tripped out Psychedelic rock. Akin to the albums before; this one manages to be unique and individual whilst remaining distinctly a Causa Sui album. if you're unfamiliar with the band; this really is an excellent starting point.

Buy Return to Sky Here.

Causa Sui on Facebook

El Paraiso Records

Album Review...The Movements - Like Elephants 1 and 2

Great sounds from Sweden.
The Movements are from  Gothenburg and are recognised for making music that "fully exploit the dynamics of the Psych rock and pop spectrum."  Both parts were recorded mostly around the same time, however, 1 was originally released with a gap,  enabling the band time to finish Part 2.

The album opens on a high; 'The Death of John Hall D.Y', is a perfect piece of psychedelic pop music that evokes everything from The Byrds, Neil Young and The Zombies. This is followed by the energetic 7 minute long 'Boogin'; a driving piece of 70s style rock. Further on tracks like  'Two Tongues' and 'All the Lost' are bursting with sixties psych pop sounds; the latter complete with authentic organ tones underpinning the song.  'Ingenting Kommer Ur Ingenting' builds over the rhythms into a sonic wall of noise and is a definite highlight of Part 1. 'The Great Deciviever' is an enjoyable slice of beat pop again making great use of the organ sounds and guitars.
Part 2 continues with similar styles and aesthetics as the album before but offers some variations, especially on tracks like the piano led 'Ice cold' and the rhythmic drone of 'Give it To Me'. There are splashes of The Rolling Stones 'Paint it Black' on 'Yesterday, Now and Forever and there's more of the West Coast in the brilliant 'Winter's Calling'.
Whether or not the album should be treated as one package now they are available that way, or 2 separate albums doesn't really matter, both stand up on the their own two feet but also work well as one whole.


What stands out is how the music, whilst heavily loaded with influences, manages to have an original feel of its own. You can also tell that the band themselves must be a powerful force live and this double package leaves you wanting to see them.
Like Elephants 1 and 2 is currently available as a double vinyl package on Sunrise Ocean Bender and well worth spending time with.
The Movements Official Webpage

Buy Like Elephants Here

Sunrise Ocean Bender Website

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Album Review...Sounds of New Soma - Moebius Tunnel

Neo- Krautrock duo Sounds of New Soma return after 2014's 'Beyond the Acid Dream' with a new album  'Moebius Tunnel, and a style that expands upon their debut albums "sound cosmos".

The album starts beautifully with 'Lysergdelfin, at first an ambient piece, the music developes adding synthesised layers and allows itself to grow as the guitar strokes becomes more and more revealed. 'Kosmonautenglück' is a swirling ambient drone complete with lasers and space age synths. Next comes 'Subraumverzerrung', a cool track and the first to have tempo added by drums, hushed vocals accompany the rhythm and synths , it's a captivating journey, sounds fantastic through headphones too !  Speech/Apfel is much more of a cosmic drone than previous tracks featuring more of their layered synthesised tones, the guitars that are hidden within add to the track. 'Morgengebet is a stunning 11 minute long psychedelic foray into Space featuring programmed drum patterns and more intriguing guitar work. The album closes with 'Neuland', it's another otherworldly electronic ambient track with palpitating synths, without doubt an apt conclusion to a very pleasing album.

There's a more disciplined approach to Moebius Tunnel than its predecessor and it really pays off. As a whole, Moebius Tunnel is a trip, incredibly atmospheric yet structured whilst never meandering, its going to be interesting to see how Sounds of New Soma evolve their music in the years to come.
The album has just been released on Tonzonen on Cd and a limited run of 250 blue 180g vinyl, There is also a very special edition of 50 that includes poster and other treasures, more details are available by clicking the Tonzonen Records link below.
It's also worth noting the distinctive album cover which comes courtesy of artist Mark Reiser who in the past has worked with Nik Turner and Hawkwind.
Interesting stuff.

Sounds of New Soma Bandcamp

Tonzonen Records

Album Review...Constantine - Day of Light

A change of pace for Atom Heart Mutha from the usual sonic sounds of the impenetrable walls of feedback. 'Day of Light' is the new album from Constantine Hastalis, a talented singer songwriter from Chicago.

'(Into The Land) That Time Forgot' opens the album with pastoral folk brushes, moved along by psychedelic surges over an acoustic guitar.  'The Trip (Parts I and II)' is a delight, 8 minutes of West Coast magic; the organ sound that underpins the track, alongside the guitars and flute, make for a totally immersive expansion of the mind.
'Egyptian days' has a heavy Eastern Psych feel to it, percussively guided and complimented by the sitar; its a mellow trip that rolls along with charm.  Elsewhere, the flute led 'Voyage of the Crystal Bird' displays fantastic vocal harmony with Jennifer Williams. Once again, 'Forest Path' offers a rustic folk form, whilst maintaining a psychedelic feel. 'Rania is a heavier number, steady paced drums and distorted guitar strokes give it an early 70s psych rock quality that builds up to a noisy, crashing finale. The album closes with the the title track 'Day of Light'  another harmonic folk number reminiscent of  The Hangmans Beautiful Daughter era Incredible String Band.

Fans of folk music; be it traditional, acid or otherwise will find much to enjoy here; as will anyone with an ear for west coast psych pop. The album balances both approaches and delivers a different kind of album. One of the records strengths lies within the interesting vocal harmonies between Constantine and Jennifer Williams, which make for a really engaging listen.



Day of Light on Band camp

Listen to the Atom Heart Mutha RadioShow Broadcast April 2016 anytime

Aprils Atom Heart Mutha Radioshow is now available to hear anytime.  This show was originally broadcast April 9th on BigJaf.nets Rockshow and on April 10th on American station Grip of delusion.

Featured bands include Mugstar, White Manna and Space Invaders

Atom Heart Mutha also has its own Facebook page HERE , please feel free to like and share.

Until the next show, Enjoy !

Album Review... JuJu - JuJu 2016

JuJu is the latest project by Gioele Valenti (Lay Llamas, Herself).  It is the story of an on going exodus from Africa that, more often than not, ends in tragedies at sea. The story encompasses a mix of rhythmic psychedelia, ancient myths and Mediterranean neo-paganism.
Driven by a monster bass line, the album starts with the hypnotic 'Samael'. Ghostly vocals and unexpected drum breaks within the song follow an unpredictable path; A great way to open the album.
'We Spit on yer grave' is a total change of pace and style; it has strong sonic reverb and a drum pattern reminiscent of The Jesus and Mary Chain.
'Stars and Sea' starts with  an acoustic guitar and haunting chants. This track beats along then suddenly bursts into something with much more groove and and fantastic drum work.
'Dance with the Fish' is a synthetic drone with hidden piano sounds and atmospheric texture that add to the mysteries maritime theme of the album itself.  'Sunrise Ocean' is another bass driven track with enigmatic chants over a measured drumbeat. 'Lost' is a marvelous piece of psychedelia building over a piano and synths to its conclusion and repeated vocal "Where do we go from here now that you've lost your soul?".
To conclude, 'Bring 'em War'  offers a  great mantra over a fuzzy guitar lick filled with radio frequencies and weird squelching electo sounds hidden in the background.
The album itself is a wonderful listen, crafted with care and skill; there isn't a noise or sound that's out of place. The subject matter, whilst perhaps melancholy in tone, is uplifted by the music it's married to. The influences within are varied but, without a doubt, this a highly spiritual psychedelic album.  JuJu is one of the most essential records of the year so far.


The album is released in early May and there are a limited amount of orange crush coloured vinyl available from Sunrise Ocean Bender.  Preorder one now on the links below.

JuJu on Sunrise Ocean Bender

Sunrise Ocean Bender Bandcamp