-valis Pick of the Week

Hail Voyagers! New week, new Pick: from virtually everywhere on the planet, The Brian Jonestown Massacre! Their latest, released approx. eight weeks ago, entitled Mini Album Thingy Wingy, is out on A Recordings Ltd.

For a summation of the contents I've turned to good friend and long-time BJM freak, SR-71, a/k/a The Blackbird. A trusted ear and mind, always. Here's what he came back with for this post:
" Of all the many varied rabbit holes we've followed Anton Newcombe down musically, who would have ever guessed that sobriety and fatherhood would end up being one of the most fruitful and satisfying? Many of the BJM faithful looked at Revelation as a return to form, and with Newcombe's subsequent collaboration with Tess Parks, I Declare Nothing, and now this all killer no filler mini album, it looks like the enigmatic mastermind has, like his idol Bowie, found a truly creative nest in Berlin. And, yes, brief though it may be, the album manages to make time for an excellent cover of the 13th Floor Elevators' Dust featuring The Black Angels' Alex Maas on electric jug. From start to finish, this is one thingy wingy that is essential listening for all psychedelic ears. "

Forever and ever amen...





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You can listen to the archived stream here; or, hear it this Friday, on The Dead Man's Turn Me On, Dead Man show on Live365, where it's heard every Friday at noon eastern time, as well as Dogs Got A Bone out of Edinburgh, Scotland, from 10pm to midnight, Mondays, U.K. time, (adjust accordingly,) on Belter Radio.

-valis Pick of the Week

Hail Voyagers! Welcome to the New Year, and our first Pick of the Week: from Athens, Georgia: French Exit! Their new album, Jerk Store, is out via Cloud Records.

Led by AJ Griffin, (of Circulatory System/Olivia Tremor Control, as well as one-off [?] Laminated Cat,)French Exit also includes Steve Hendriksen, Evan Amburn, and Derek Almstead. Given AJ's CV you wouldn't be too far wrong in thinking you know what you're getting going into this listening experience. Fair enough. I'm here to tell you, despite all you think you know, you'll come out of the experience wanting to hit repeat and do it all over again. And again. Whilst Beatlesque is strewn throughout the various reviews -and they're not wrong, for me AJ funnels it all through a Sean O'Hagan-like The High Llamas filter, (circa Cold & Bouncy,) via The Idle Race. Perhaps upon reflection it's the overarching playfulness of the music on offer here in this debut which leads me to the prior references. Like The High Llamas there's the unexpected squiggles and bleeps which come in at the perfect time and are never overused to the detriment of the song. Vocally is where I'm reminded of Jeff Lynne's Idle Race. I'll post a couple of tracks as examples and you can judge for yourself. Me, I recommend. Highly.





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You can listen to the archived stream here; or, hear it this Friday, on The Dead Man's Turn Me On, Dead Man show on Live365, where it's heard every Friday at noon eastern time, as well as Dogs Got A Bone out of Edinburgh, Scotland, from 10pm to midnight, Mondays, U.K. time, (adjust accordingly,) on Belter Radio.

-valis Pick of the Week

Hail Voyagers! Our Pick this week, from Los Angeles, The Flower Machine! Their new album, Tangerines and Opium Trees, is available via Bandcamp, and -on blue vinyl, through Analog Record Shop.

Peter Quinnell (vocals, bass guitar, mellotron), Brian Webster (guitar, keyboards), Lori Black (tambourine, vocals), and Jim Moreland (drums), once again show their penchant for recreating a bygone era and just as smartly update it. It's perpetual '67. Odessey and Oracle, Forever Changes, and a bit of Beatlesque whimsy and humor. Brilliantly done, too. An aural time machine. You'll want to take this trip, believe me. Highly recommend.





((( Record Release Show, tonight, at Silverlake Lounge!!! Wednesday, Nov. 18th! )))

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You can listen to the archived stream here; or, hear it this Friday, on The Dead Man's Turn Me On, Dead Man show on Live365, where it's heard every Friday at noon eastern time, as well as Dogs Got A Bone out of Edinburgh, Scotland, from 10pm to midnight, Mondays, U.K. time, (adjust accordingly,) on Belter Radio.

-valis Pick of the Week

Hail Voyagers! Our Pick this week calls Goiania, Brasil, home: Boogarins! They've just released their second album, Manual, out on Other Music!

As stated on the Other Music page for the album: " Manual has the same dual meanings in Portuguese and English: “to work with your hands” and “an instruction book.” With the full title being Manual, ou guia livre de dissolução dos sonhos(Manual, or free guide to the dissolution of dreams), the album should more so be viewed as a sort of diary or dream journal. "

Quite simply, I found the album endlessly fascinating. There's really no one else on this huge orb making music like Boogarins. Perhaps it's because they eschew singing in English in favor of their native tongue, Portuguese. While they're certainly not alone in that -Dungen rapidly comes to mind, it's in the overall feel of the music on offer, a melting pot of cross-cultural signifiers as a means to achieve the reason for being. The message is the music. Period. We who don't speak Portuguese aren't weighed down by the lyrics; we can ascertain merits of each track and the album as a whole solely on the feeling created while doing so. Me, I'll take it. Again and again.





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You can listen to the archived stream here; or, hear it this Friday, on The Dead Man's Turn Me On, Dead Man show on Live365, where it's heard every Friday at noon eastern time, as well as Dogs Got A Bone out of Edinburgh, Scotland, from 10pm to midnight, Mondays, U.K. time, (adjust accordingly,) on Belter Radio.

-valis Pick of the Week

Hail Voyagers! What a Pick we have this week: from dedicated fellow blogger, Nathan Ford of The Active Listener, based in New Zealand! An all-around go-to site for both new and classic psychedelia, his "Sampler" volumes of current practitioners is up to Volume 36! What we celebrate and recognize today however is his curation of the Nuggets 2 Revisited compilation! Available for as little as zero at the site's Bandcamp page.

(* Art by Alan Davidson of the Kitchen Cynics )

Based on the 2001 Rhino compilation, originally titled Nuggets, Vol. 2: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire & Beyond,( a sequel to the highly successful Nuggets compilation lovingly assembled by Lenny Kaye back in 1972, and expanded in 1998.) What we have here is a whopping 29 bands covering 29 different tracks from the 109 from the Box Set. Amazing. I'm an unabashed lover of cover versions; I get to hear an interpretation which either extends or bends the original into something wholly other, breathing new life into it. Here we have a take on Fire's "Father's Name Was Dad," by Telafonica, which goes for a subdued approach and yet still satisfies -or should, those of us who've heard the original 100+ times; The Blue Giant Zeta Puppies take on the Marc Bolan-led John's Children's "Desdemona," rips through it with a roaring outta' the gate unlike the original, full thrust! Suffice to say: there's something for everyone here! Highest recommend, and massive rounds of applause to Nathan and the bands participating!!!



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You can listen to the archived stream here; or, hear it this Friday, on The Dead Man's Turn Me On, Dead Man show on Live365, where it's heard every Friday at noon eastern time, as well as Dogs Got A Bone out of Edinburgh, Scotland, from 10pm to midnight, Mondays, U.K. time, (adjust accordingly,) on Belter Radio.

-valis Pick of the Week

Hail Voyagers! Et, bon Mercredi! Our Pick this week comes from Rennes, France: Baston! Their new release, an EP entitled Gesture, is out on Howlin Banana Records.

At seven track, six originals plus a cover of The Beach Boys "Honda," it's a tidy entry point into the band's own take on multiple genres and the bands they're clearly indebted to and in love with. Some reviewers have pointed out a Stone Roses sound, whilst others liken their sound to the surf-laden shoegazers, of which we know many. My personal favorite is the nearly seven minute long "Gefahr," which recalls Echo & the Bunnymen to these ears. Regardless of who you may hear in the sounds it's certainly an EP which satisfies on multiple levels for the roughly 24 minutes running time. Deserves your ears in my opinion.





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You can listen to the archived stream here; or, hear it this Friday, on The Dead Man's Turn Me On, Dead Man show on Live365, where it's heard every Friday at noon eastern time, as well as Dogs Got A Bone out of Edinburgh, Scotland, from 10pm to midnight, Mondays, U.K. time, (adjust accordingly,) on Belter Radio.

-valis Pick of the Week

Hail Voyagers! Back again, from a brief hiatus to recharge, regroup, and reassess. Our Pick this week has their HQ in Bozeman, Montana: Donovan's Brain! Their new album, Heirloom Varieities, is out via Career Records.

The collective's ninth album features a stellar -and all-star, cast for this effort. Joining mainstays Ron Sanchez and Deniz Tek are drummer Ric Parnell (Atomic Rooster/Spinal Tap,)bassist Tom Stevens, (Long Ryders,)guitarist Matt Piucci,(!), (Rain Parade,)vocals, 6 & 12-string guitar, etc. by Bobby Sutliff, (The Windbreakers, etc.,)guitar and vocals Scott Sutherland,and Kris Wilkinson-Hughes on background vocals and harmony. Wow.
Comprised of 14 tracks, there's not a duffer in the bunch! How could there be with that kind of talent?! In truth it's an embarrassment of riches on offer. Side 2 especially so. My favorites: "Wedding Bell Ring," "Lightning Life," "Light In Your Window," and the epic closer "Sailing Off The Edge." Information on the tracks and credits are found here.



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You can listen to the archived stream here; or, hear it this Friday, on The Dead Man's Turn Me On, Dead Man show on Live365, where it's heard every Friday at noon eastern time, as well as Dogs Got A Bone out of Edinburgh, Scotland, from 10pm to midnight, Mondays, U.K. time, (adjust accordingly,) on Belter Radio.