Daily Doses: Nash Smith & Ganges “California” From The Nash Smith & Ganges EP (2011)

“I don’t know why you’d want to live here”

~ Ben Gibbard

I have to admit, although I love my fair city/state, I’ve always enjoyed hearing people slam it in verse. Maybe it’s just because I understand that, as a New Yorker friend of mine said recently, Los Angeles is a city of secrets… and as we all know from 4th grade, “Secrets don’t make friends”. 

“California”, the closing track from the trio’s new EP starts innocently enough with a couple bottles of red wine. But, by the end of the track vocalist Rob Keangy goes from quietly narrating, to angrily exploding through a crawling, swampy blend of country-esque noise as keyboardist/vocalist Melissa Smith and drummer Mark Arciaga churn up a storm behind him that’s big enough to wipe across the west coast and sweep it clean.

Now, normally we Californians prefer to see people wait ‘till at least their sophomore release before they call for us all to be killed in some sort of apocalyptic tidal wave.

But, to be fair, Hollywood could use a good cleanse. 

Nash Smith & Ganges just released their debut cassette on Chicago label, Pretty All Right, and will be touring starting in March.

Download Nash Smith & Ganges “California”

Order The Nash Smith & Ganges EP On Cassette (First-Run Limited Edition Of 100)

Daily Doses: Sumsun “Non-Menthol Dub” From Sample Based Life (2010)

I hadn’t checked into my soundcloud account for a bit, so I’d missed a flurry of activity including this beautiful bit of “Cosmic Dub” chaos from Florida’s Sumsun. 

Building up subtle beats underneath an expanding sonic layer, “Non-Menthol Dub” really nails what bands like Sumsun and Hear Hums do so well. They blend sounds together until they become their own complete world, then break them back down into nothing.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Sumsun also recently released their first cassette on one of my favorite tape labels, Leaving Records, entitled Samo Milagro, and you should absolutely grab a copy.

Download Sumsun’s “Non-Menthol Dub”

Daily Doses: Old Smile “Mirrors” From Hawkins Bridge (2010)

Old Smile, the one man ambient psych project of Philadelphia’s Tom Herman Jr. (Who in his spare time is the co-leader of Philidelphia’s Arches) just released Hawkins Bridge as one of two inaugural releases of Philly cassette label Treetop Sorbet.

Blurring the lines between ambient, psych, and rock. the five songs on Hawkins Bridge dodge between those various musical sub-genre’s with careless, gleeful abandon.

In “Mirrors” the second track on the E.P., those items all come prominently together. Opening by disguising itself as an ambient track with some delayed guitar and repeated samples, “Mirrors” quickly erupts into something altogether different. Colored with funk (thanks to a fantastic travelling bass line, and brushed drums), while drowning in focused psychedelic charm, the track screams about all four corners until it lands right back where it started, and sighs to a rest.

Which is a pretty good description of the album as a whole. If you like this track, this album is a must grab.

Download Old Smile’s “Mirrors”

Download Old Smile’s Hawkins Bridge For Free From Treetop Sorbet As Well As Order The Limited Edition Cassette

Daily Doses: Mutual Benefit “Piano Experiments In An Abandoned Hospital” From Spider Heaven (2010)

I think every blogger probably has something they look for that moves them from casual listener to sharing participant. Personally, I like imagery. Toss me a track that’s evocative enough to make me start running pictures and concepts through my head, and it’ll be on here within a day or so.

Jordan from Mutual Benefit does a great job at exactly that. His songs are haunted dusky gems that dip into your head and drag up half forgotten images and age spotted videos that burn up upon watching. On Spider Heaven (his second release under the “Mutual Benefits” moniker) he’s released a self described “Pretty crazy” collection of tunes that span from a hospital, to a desert island and everywhere in between. 

Album opener “Piano Experiments In an Abandoned Hospital”  sounds exactly as the title would imply. A hollow, internal romp through an abandoned playground of broken beds and broken windows. Based on piano parts that race about helter skelter and ring down the hallways, and for just a second bring the whole place back to life.

Spider Heaven is being released as the A side of a limited run cassette that has the recently mentioned Drifting EP as the B side. Be sure to go to the link below to snag yourself a copy of that monster.

Download Mutual Benefit’s “Piano Experiments In An Abandoned Hospital”

Order Mutual Benefits Spider Heaven and Driting E.P From The Mutual Benefit Bandcamp

Daily Doses: Ghost Animal “Golden Boy” From A Ceremony 7”

I’ve known Michael from Ghost Animal for a while, but it took a recent conversation with him about his recording technics to appreciate the depths of his depravity.

I just assume that most “Lo-Fi” artists just slam their axe an inch from the some halfway decent uni-directional instrumental mic, and peak the crap out it, then just toss a couple filters on that sucker and BAM, ride out into the sunset. Mr. Avishay on the other hand just records directly into his Mac’s computer microphone, and this just happens to be what he ends up with.

To make this a little clearer to those not particularly savvy with recording techniques, that’s like painting with rocks.

But you can’t argue with results! And what he ends up with are odes to the pop apocalypse, destruction ala carte, beautiful stabs and shots thrown wildly into the darkest night.

However recently there been another figure entered into the mix. And when you combine that rawest of aesthetics with with the mastering skills of Lance of Pandit, you end up with a somewhat refined Ghost Animal. A scholarly cannibal if you will.

“Golden Boy” The first track I heard from his soon to be released 7” EP is a perfect example of that, all of the power with a little less of the unbridled noise. It’s a killer combo I can’t wait to hear more of! But since the 7” won’t be out for a few more months, I recommend grabbing his recently released cassette through the link below.

And by “recommend” I mean “insist”.

Download Ghost Animal’s Golden Boy

Buy Ghost Animal’s Summer Time In Heaven Through Summer Time In Hell

Track Premiere: Star Slinger and Pandit - “Self Love” From Collaborations (Note: NSFW)

Really that note should read “TSFW” as Too Sexy For Work is far more appropriate, but regardless, make sure you have your headphones on for this one unless you have the kind of workplace where you could walk in naked and no one would bat an eye.

I think pretty much everyone that’s following this blog has heard of these two artists at this point. Starslinger has been wowing me since around the time I posted about the track “Mornin’” from his debut release, Vol. 1, since that release he’s accumulated 4-5 forkcast mentions and soon will have a p4k rising feature under his belt as well. 

Pandit, meanwhile, was a more recent mention, but will be deservedly releasing his debut album via Lefse in January. This album will not only be sure to be amazing, but will put him in the auspicious company of artists like How To Dress Well, Houses, and Woodsman.

Together they create a track so packed with beats, samples, hooks, and sultry melody that it’ll make pretty much anyone… Well you’ll see.

Hey, if you’re going to make a track to close out a tape. Make sure it ends with a bang.

Along that line, putting this up is also an excuse to add a “Thanks so much” to everyone that has bought, and blogged about this release. Collaborations has sold about 40% of it’s stock in the first day due entirely to support from all of you.

For those that haven’t ordered yet, I’ve also added the options for shipping to Canada and International on there. So if you’re a U.K or Canadian resident, please feel free to join the fun.

There won’t be any re-prints on this one boys and girls. So if you want to hold a part of history, grab this now. As you can see from the resume of the two artists featured here, the artists on this tape are going nowhere but up.

Download Star Slinger and Pandit “Self Love”

Order Collaborations from WeGet.By

Edit:

The following blogs really went the extra mile in showing their support for this. So I think a little thank you is in order in the form of links.

First and Foremost Nathaniel, from ThinkorSmile who went so far beyond working with me on this, I’ll never be able to crawl out of his debt.

Also:

Visitation Rites
No Modest Bear
Life: Aquatic
Smoke Don’t Smoke
Boy Attractions
Transient Nodes
Good Pop Bad Pop
Unholy Rhythm
No Fear Of Pop
See The Leaves
You Know You Owe Me
Flamgirlant
Double Denim Records
Neon Musical Insight 
Their Bated Breath

As well as

Mark from YVYNYL, Jimmy from Head Underwater, 15on15 and so many more blog writers who showed their support by buying the release.

Having a community of bloggers like this makes me proud to be among you.

And, as always, the artists involved with this who dedicated your time, and tracks to supporting this vision. A heartfelt “Thank You” from me, Cam and Dave.

If I forgot you, it’s because this was off the top of my head, feel free to remind me!

Daily Doses: Coma Cinema “Business As Usual” From Blue Suicide (2010)

It’s been a bit dead lately, but fortunately that allows me to catch up on some great songs that I let slip through the cracks.

Coma Cinema, the one man project of Mat Cothran, creates beautifully intimate bedroom pop that sounds as if everything he makes drained right out of his soul, and into his music. “Business As Usual” the first release from his upcoming release, Blue Suicide, is no exception. Dragging it’s claws across the sea, and pulling you along with it.

Earlier this year Mat released the absolutely stunning Stoned Alone both as a free digital release, and with plans with a tape release. However, problems with his label (Arcade Sound Ltd) resulted in the analog release never coming to fruition. Which is a shame, as it’s one of my favorite releases of the year.

Fortunately, this new release will be coming out through Wonder Beard Records, which is two for two in actually delivering the tapes they promise. So keep an eye out for it!

Download Coma Cinema’s “Business As Usual”

Download Coma Cinema’s First Two Releases For Free From ComaCinema.org

(Via)

Daily Doses: Birthdays & Cough Cool “Future Body” (2010)

I love collaborations!

I’ve loved them since I was a kid, obsessed with the old pre-teen mystery novels like The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew (Yeah, yeah I know Nancy Drew’s for girls, but I needed something to read after I read all The Hardy Boys!) . Then I found out there were novels where Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys would team up! Pairing off together, to create a super team of unstoppable sleuthery. Could you ask for more?

Well, if you could, it would be this track. Boston’s Birthdays and Pennsylvania’s Cough Cool found time during a recent tour together to create their own perfect team, slamming together the perfect amount of chaos and blending together their unique voices into something neither of them would have created on their own, and that’s all the more beautiful because of that.

Download Birthdays And Cough Cool’s Future Body

Order Birthday’s Limited Ed. Cassette Release Hawaiian Punch Wave from Impose

Daily Doses: Hooray! “Bedroom Adventures” From Bedroom Adventures (2010)

Tapes are on the rise! CD’s fail! Sony Records executives call the digital “experiment” a failure and try to blow up the internet!

Well, okay, maybe not. However Hooray! (The one man bedroom pop project of Ben Wagner), has released his first tape via Wonder Beard Records, and it looks to be a killer.

Bedroom Adventures is the second song on the album, following the appropriately titled “Welcome!” and is a perfect watery gem. A stream of bubbling beats, drifting vocals and synths that tugs you right in and for 4 minutes carries you along with it.

Not a care in the world.

Order Hooray!’s Bedroom Adventures From Wonder Beard Records (limited edition of 100) 

(Via)

Daily Doses: Holy Strays “Faint Beams Ceremony” From Hyperion (2010)

“This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.”

~ Excerpt from The Hollow Man by T.S Elliott

A recognition of ones own mortality is a difficult thing. On the one hand, it ups your self preservation instincts significantly. But in exchange, it introduces a constant and palpable sense of fear into your life. 

It’s not a trade you want to make.

This track is 8 minutes of dissonance and building decay. It’s a steadily growing sense of foreboding, crushed in the grip of anxiety. It’s the certainty that in the event of an apocalypse, you will not make it out alive.

Some of you might get lost in that, and for you this track ends quickly. Stopped and shivered away from. Back to the summer daze.

But for those that make it through to the inevitable end, you can see it. Buried in the turmoil, drenched in doubt, and struggling against the rot… There’s that spark. That sense of righteous fury that can’t be extinguished.

Because even in the dead of winter, there’s the hint of spring.

Order Holy Stray’s Hyperion From Not Not Fun Records (Limited Edition of 100)

Download Holy Strays Faint Beams Ceremony And an Additional Exclusive Track From No Fear Of Pop

(Via)