Lotus 2, cont'd

Thanks, for your patience & interest. Apologies for the delay. So, let's get on with it!

1. House Of Fire - Modhera
A second track from this Pennsylvania band, this one an instrumental setting the tone for what's to come. (For further info' see previous post.)

2. Seer Songs - Silence Kills
A collaborative effort between Nick & Franco, the guys behind Sparkling Fountains Of Magical Reality & Dreamweapon; began through their mutual admiration for the Brian Jonestown Massacre and made real through sharing back-and-forth e-mails adding layers of instrumentation. Check 'em out at: http://www.myspace.com/sparklingfountainsofmagicalreality or http://www.myspace.com/dreamweapon

3. Chef Menteur - Paysans de la Mer
New Orleans-based musicians bring the goods on this track from their '05 LP We Await Silent Tristero's Empire. Reviewers elsewhere have compared them to Kinski or Acid Mother's Temple. Not bad company to keep, imho. Check their website: http://www.chefmenteur.org/
or http://www.backporchrevolution.com/artist.php?id=2

4. Eulogy Inn - Dandy In Space
A one-man DIY project of D. Roberto who says he began through inspiration from Nick Saloman of the Bevis Frond. Also an artist who does posters, etc., for bands. See: http://www.myspace.com/eulogyinn

5. Church Of Betty - Flowers Pushing Up
From their infinitely entertaining Tripping With Wanda CD released in '02. Mastermind Chris Rael adds sitar to great effect! If psych-pop is your thing, CoB is your band. Of the track Chris says: "It's about the constant renewal of New York City. We pave over everything, but life always grows back." Check them out at: http://www.churchofbetty.com/ or http://www.fangrecords.com

6. Kelley Stoltz - Where You're Going
One-man wunderkind! This, from his The Sun Comes Through ep on Sub Pop, allows more than a glimpse at the talent-and promise, Kelley has. He's gonna' be huge! Splendid has this to say of the track:
"If Bob Dylan and Robert Pollard ever team up, they might make songs like the breezy, slouchy "Where You're Going", in which sixties rock flourishes (the shaker rhythm; the acoustic guitar/electric guitar/piano melody that pushes the tune along) are rendered with typical nineties lo-fi economy. Entire measures are held together with one or two notes, and there's plenty of legroom between the chords. Hell, when Stoltz doubles up the vocal line for extra emphasis, it actually sounds like he's showing off, albeit in a good way. After multiple listens, you'll realize that the entire song hinges on a simple two-chord trade-off -- reminding us that all the sound-layers in the world won't matter if you can't nail down a few notes that make people want to sing/sway along. Stoltz nails it in two." (George Zahora, 10/27/05)
See: http://www.subpop.com/scripts/main/bands_page.php?id=448

7. Deleted Waveform Gatherings - Ramshackle Paranoia Stomp
Good friend and amazingly talented Øyvind Holm, (also of the Dipsomaniacs), comes through with another winning lineup to showcase his brand of psych-pop & roll. This Beatles-Kinks barrelhouse music hall "stomper" will set toes tapping and other body parts moving in multiple directions! A band showing how much fun can be had. Say "Hi!" at: http://www.myspace.com/deletedwaveformgatherings

8. Golden Ball - il Gigante
Philly's Pholk-a-delic psych'-poppin' hard-to-pin-down five-piece tell a strange tale:
"the song's about the emotional aftermath of one of those events that ruthlessly and permanently removes you from what was previously your life, leaving you watching your identity slowly dissolving in the face of the void - which is pretty bad trip sort of stuff - on the other hand it was one of the first songs i recorded for the first record, and i had quite a lot of fun making it" Indeed. http://goldenballmusic.com/index.htm

9. The Brian Jacket Letdown - A Light Array
From the UK-and beyond, the BJL create a moody, atmospheric piece of psychedelia that sticks like glue post-hearing. From their Hooves ep. Check 'em at: http://www.myspace.com/brianjacketletdown and http://www.genepoolrecords.com/genepool.html

10. Bipolaroid - King Of Cabbages
New Orleans gets richer! If the title of the track doesn't give it away the band does, stating the track is "subconsciously derived" from Chad & Jeremy's psych-tinged 1967 LP. Listen to it and you might be transported back to the Summer of Love, too. A great review of their Transparent Make-believe LP here: http://www.fakejazz.com/reviews/2004/bipolaroid.shtml
and the band's MS page: http://www.myspace.com/bipolaroidmusic (say "Hey Ben!")

11. Strange Flowers - Roger Talks To The Young Emily
From the home of the Leaning Tower -Pisa, Italy, comes a track from this long-standing and much-respected psychedelic band. Veterans of the scene and active since 1987, they're just finishing a European Tour as support of the mighty Fuzztones. Like the Bipolaroid track above the title gives away much for those who know. Check 'em at: http://www.strangeflowers.net/Index.htm

12. Serpentina Satelite - Pasamayo
Lima, Peru shows us the worldwide phenomenon of psychedelia hasn't passed them by. (In fact, Peru has a long-standing place of respect in the psych' community and in this house.) A sprawling 11-minute epic of sweeping grandeur. No other way to put it. Take a trip with the Satelite! See a bit of this track live at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrLivMBsnhA and more at: http://www.serpentinasatelite.com/ Tell Renato "Brilliant!"

13. The Lucky Bishops - Witches
Mmmm good! Not as prolific as we'd like 'round these parts but every LP by these UK psychsters is worth the wait. (And the coin.) From their latest LP Unexpect The Expected, out on Tony Dale's great Camera Obscura label. ( http://www.cameraobscura.com.au/obscura.htm ) Website here: http://www.theluckybishops.com/ Thanks Alan! More, please!