Producer Butchy Fuego 's San Gabriel project spawned "Can't Work," which is maddeningly repetitive and also strangely captivating, is a single from his new EP, VOLFE .  The EP will be out in May.  The remix, though, created by Eye of Boredoms fame, acts as an intersection for electro-beat convergence and relentlessly positioned pulsations, which is working to either mock club music or intellectualize it like Free Jazz.  Not an easy 4 minutes and 41 seconds to sit through, but it's what you expect from a Boredoms-related project, Fuego himself a touring member of the very seminal and highly revered noise collective. All info comes courtesy of Terrorbird Media. SAN GABRIEL's frantic debut VOLFE set for late May, new track "Can't Work" up now with remix from EYE (of Boredoms) new solo project from producer/percussionist Butchy Fuego (Pit Er Pat, Boredoms, MIA) takes a more experimental approach on tropical beats. LISTEN: Can't Work +...

I had the opportunity to write somewhat of a “classics” review for Boston’s I Heart Noise music blog, which is run by Ilya Sitnikov . I reviewed Helmet ’s debut full-length album, Strap It On , which was originally intended to be used for an Amphetamine Reptile feature series. It’s now being treated as a guest review. Helmet fan? Give it a look and then do some searching around I Heart Noise: It’s a very comprehensive blog and it features some excellent bands, releases and music. Ilya does an excellent job. Helmet Strap It On Originally released: 1990 Re-released: 11.91 via Interscope   I Heart Noise review.   Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

It was announced maybe last week that psych rock solo artist, Ty Segall , would be releasing a new album with his touring band as Ty Segall Band in June via In The Red.  Its name is Slaughterhouse .  A new single for the album was just made available online, "Wave Goodbye," which I've listened to two or three times today.  There's a ratty t-shirt feel to the song that I truly appreciate, not to mention the jamming outro.  I'll be on the lookout for this one when it comes out, especially since it looks like they'll be covering "Diddy Wah Diddy" by Captain Beefheart . All information below is courtesy of Force Field PR. Ty Segall Band shares first single, "Wave Goodbye," from new album Slaughterhouse out June 26 on In The Red MP3: "Wave Goodbye" - http://soundcloud.com/forcefieldpr/ty-segall-band-wave-goodbye   In The Red is over the moon and happy as a pig in shit to announce the debut release by the Ty Segall Band. Th...

In January, Young God Records put out a handmade version of We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head , which is a live double-LP from Swans .  Despite its varying degrees of expense, up to $600 if I remember correctly, all 1,000 copies sold out within 24 hours .  For those of us, (as I myself had neither the money nor the knowledge that sale had commenced), that missed out, a general release of the album is planned for May 1st. All info has been provided by Howlin' Wuelf Media. The band's 2010 release, My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky , was reviewed for No Ripcord and my pick for best album of the year . SWANS  -  We Rose From your Bed With The Sun In Our Head (2XDigipackCD) Release Date: May 1, 2012 Available in limited quantities in stores and primarily through http://www.younggodrecords.com and live Swans concerts. TRACK LISTING: disc one: 1. intro/no words no thoughts 2. jim 3. beautiful child 4. the apostate 5. yr property 6. s...

Long In The Tooth Philadelphia, PA 4.21.12 This year, I had to overcome a lot of cynicism. As 2011's Record Store Day proved to be a mad rush of E-Bay opportunism thanks to the simultaneous wonder and woe of the RSD Exclusives, I decided this year that I would go to another store, Long In The Tooth, located at 20th and Sansom in Center City.  The store being opened at 12, it was a good idea to get there early, flashing back of course to the line I had to stand in last year and the ensuing wrestling match that followed once the doors were opened. My brother and I arrived at the store at 10:50.  No line.  No shouting or incidental noise.  No pushing and shoving.  All we saw was a paper sign on the door, with an amusing magic marker drawing of a Jesus fish with sad eyes and a big ANTI slash cut across it diagonally.  The sign read, "NO PHISH — We will open today @ 10:30."  "Fuck," I thought, "We're late." Last year, I and some frie...

4/20: Do I really need to explain why Cypress Hill 's "I Wanna Get High" is getting a spotlight today? If you're going to celebrate, don't get behind the wheel.  That's as socially responsible as I'm going to get, so absorb.  Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Exray's, the electronic-based indie pop duo comprised of Jon Bernson and Michael Falsetto-Mapp, is a dreamy, gaze-oriented outfit, crafting the sort of music that rides on a pulse and orbits any headspace with minimal friction. "Ancient Thing," the new single from their upcoming LP, Trust A Robot, isn't necessarily the sort of song you'd want to advertise your album. It's low on energy, ponderous and slow, noir-based storytelling with barely a melody to latch onto. Still, I thought Exray's last album had some interesting moments and I definitely listened to it more than once.  The band was spotlighted in 2010.  Trust A Robot will be out June 26th via Howells Transmitter . All links and info come courtesy of Terrorbird Media. Exray's Announce New Album Trust a Robot for June 26th Release on Howells Transmitter; Dystopian Visions Meet Lo-Fi Electronic Pop on New LP First Single "Ancient Thing" Available for Free Download & Str...

The Mars Volta Noctourniquet Warner Bros./Sargent House/Rodríguez-López Productions Released: 3.26.12         No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Grass Is Green Ronson Exploding In Sound Records Released: 3.1.12 I've been listening to Ronson , the third album from Boston post-punk/post-hardcore band, Grass Is Green , on and off since its release.  Many times I've sat listening to it and attempted to perfectly distill my reasons for liking it, which hasn't been easy.  Speaking objectively, Grass Is Green could serve as the functioning successor to Disc 2 of Dischord Records' 20 Years of Dischord compilation, their own sound the perfect culmination of many of the bands featured on that disc, namely Fugazi , Faraquet , Branch Manager , Smart Went Crazy , Jawbox and Lungfish .  Ronson captures many of the elements that shaped and informed early pre-Alternative 90s America, the sort of off-kilter rock sounds that epitomized the shift from hardcore to indie rock.  The combined efforts of guitarist/vocalist Andy Chervenak , guitarist Devin McKnight , bassist Michael Thomas and drummer Jesse Weiss , despite...

Sam Chown , half of the experimentalist duo known as Zorch , is putting out a solo album called Discipline/Communication under the name, Shmu .  Steely Dan would be proud of Chown's new single, "House Of Stares." All info and links come courtesy of Us/Them. Zorch multi-instrumentalist Shmu posts first track from solo debut via Consequence of Sound Click image above to watch video   Sam Chown, drummer/singer/multi-instrumentalist in Austin's hyper-kinetic duo Zorch premieres the first song from his forthcoming solo debut under the moniker Shmu today. The track, " House of Stares " is available at Consequence of Sound to stream/download HERE . "House of Stares" showcases a much more subdued and dare we say "pop" side of the musician's talents seldom heard in Zorch. Throughout, Shmu's album Discipline/Communication is a melodic exploration into combinations of pop, shoegaze, glitch, psych and experimental rock into a c...

So, here's the problem with Yuck: As has been the case since their debut LP, Yuck is as throwback as a throwback can be. Their new single, "Chew," earned itself an interesting amount of "sounds familiar" comments on Soundcloud and, listening to the track, it's a remarkable lift.  Granted, similarities and derivations are inescapable, many bands either tapping their influences closely, acting with homage-like flattery or utilizing their peers as a precipice from which to begin their own thing.  While "Chew" sounds like it's resultant from multiple spins of Egg Hunt 's two-song 7," Nothing Is Shocking by Jane's Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins ' Siamese Dream , Yuck loves them some early 90s alternative and the band replicates it well.  But, the eternal question begs: Are we moving forward or thriving on nostalgia?  Yuck's debut was reviewed at No Ripcord . Link to the song was courtesy of Force Field PR. YUCK LINKS ...

Issue #19 of Kicking Against The Pricks is up and features interviews with The Pop Group 's Mark Stewart and Mount Eerie , live reviews of The Mountain Goats and Earth and album reviews for The Futureheads , Lee Ranaldo , The Shins , Nite Jewel , Lotus Plaza and Magic Castles . My contribution was a review of the new remix album from Grinderman , Grinderman 2 RMX . Grinderman Grinderman 2 RMX Mute Released: 3.26.12   Kicking Against The Pricks review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Found this via Stereogum . Neneh Cherry & The Thing covering Suicide 's "Dream Baby Dream."  This is excellent.  Knowing Suicide as the stripped down, keyboard-powered duo they were, hearing them interpreted by a jazz and vocal ensemble really does add some dimension to their work.  Their album, The Cherry Thing , will be out June 18th on Smalltown Supersound and the more I read about it, the more I want to hear it . While Neneh Cherry is most closely associated with her hit "Buffalo Stance," she had an interesting period early in her career when she fronted Rip, Rig + Panic , one of the many groups born out of the  The Pop Group 's dissolution. Oh, and apparently jazz great Don Cherry was her stepfather. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Two new songs from A Place To Bury Strangers and Ceremony are being issued on a split 7" series for Less Artist More Condos , proceeds for which are being donated to a charity on behalf of the late Ariel Panero , co-owner of the record label, Famous Class.  The series will span a planned six releases this year.  Links, songs and info are provided by Terrorbird Media. <p><a href="http://famousclass.bandcamp.com/track/a-place-to-bury-strangers-burning-plastic">A Place To Bury Strangers-Burning Plastic by LAMC #1</a></p> <p><a href="http://famousclass.bandcamp.com/track/ceremony-send-me-your-dreams">Ceremony- Send Me Your Dreams by LAMC #1</a></p> A Place To Bury Strangers and Ceremony release the first LAMC 7" today on Famous Class The Brookl...

ALARIC / ATRIARCH split LP 20 Buck Spin Released: 5.15.12 A new inclusion to my ever-expanding wishlist, the Alaric / Atriarch split LP, which will be out in the middle of May, is a fascinatingly dark and dimensionally charged rock album, each band complimenting the other with its own distinct and strange understanding of how to translate its influences. Alaric, in particular, is damn near post-punk, the band’s delivery allegiant to the likes of Joy Division or Bauhaus, if you could imagine either band being interpreted by Saint Vitus or even Flipper. Atriarch, their guitar solos cold and remarkably isolated or distant, carry an air of foreboding doom, their sound comprised of shrieking black metal and steady drones. The song selections are perfect for this type of release, demonstrative of what each band has to offer while unified in the effort’s presentation. Read up on the release and check out the videos, which have been provided by Earsplit PR.  Live dates p...

The video for "Punch Struck," a single from First Person Shootr ( Fred Warmsley ), seems to capitalize a bit on imagery based on The Ring , its central figure hiding behind her hair at points, her surroundings an isolated and monochromatic treed forest or barren mountainside.  The song itself is ghostly and gaze-inducing, simplistic but engrossing.  The song is featured on the album, Mobility For Gods , which was released at the end of February. All info comes courtesy of Force Field PR. First Person Shootr "Punch-Struck" from TERROREYES.TV on Vimeo . First Person Shootr premieres music video for "Punch Struck" VIDEO: "Punch Struck" (Dir. by Terroreyes.tv ) - http://vimeo.com/38237209   Still from the "Punch Struck" video Musical inspiration comes from odd places: A lost love, a tragic event, or perhaps a hurdle you have finally leaped over. For Fred Warmsley, the man behind First Person Shootr, inspiration ...

Ufomammut Oro: Opus Primum Neurot Recordings Released: 4.17.12 Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

For Issue #6 of Kicking Against The Pricks, I penned a review of Scott Crary 's no wave documentary, Kill Your Idols .  The article was picked for MusicFilmWeb's Music Documentary Monday feature. Kill Your Idols Directed by Scott Crary Released: 2004   MusicFilmWeb review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

U.S. Christmas ' (USX) first album, Bad Heart Bull , is being reissued on vinyl by Play The Assassin at a very limited quantity of 250 with proceeds going to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe/Pine Ridge Reservation.  Collectors will appreciate that the vinyl itself will be available in three different variations, which are detailed below.  All info has been lovingly provided by the good people at Earsplit PR. The band's 2011 single-song release, The Valley Path , was reviewed at Stereokiller . U.S. CHRISTMAS To Reissue Debut On Vinyl Via Play The Assassin New Jersey-based indie imprint Play The Assassin will issue Bad Heart Bull , the debut release from Appalachian doom folksters, U.S. CHRISTMAS on May 8, 2012. Originally self-released by the band on CDR in 2004, the vinyl will be limited to 250 copies and issued in three different configurations -- ultra clear with black splatter; bone white with blue swirl, and swamp green with yellow h...

So, as if Al Cisneros didn't have enough going on with Sleep 's Dopesmoker reissue , Letters From A Tapehead favorites, Om , will be releasing a new album, Advaitic Songs , in July via Drag City .  A promotional teaser video has posted. I'm going to listen to "At Giza" a million times now.  This news came via Tiny Mix Tapes , who seem to think that Grails drummer Emil Amos is a member of Sleep.  Does anyone know if Amos is filling in on drums for any tour dates, or is this just an error?  Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Simply put, I fully support denim jackets in rock music. All info comes courtesy of Life or Death PR & Management. BASS DRUM OF DEATH ANNOUNCES TOUR BASS DRUM OF DEATH TO RELEASE 7" ON 3|4 (3qtr) SPLIT 7" WITH DZ DEATHRAYS COMING SOON Bass Drum of Death is a two piece band from Mississippi composed of John Barrett on guitar and vocals and Colin Sneed on drums. Together they make blown-out, blazing songs. Their debut LP was released last spring on Fat Possum Records. John wrote and recorded the whole record himself using drums, a guitar, a USB microphone, and a computer before teaching Sneed to play drums for the live show and beyond. The songs are about drugs, religious girls, panic attacks, mild to severe depression, Elvis appearing in your dreams and giving you advice, gravity bongs, and the devil living inside your brain. Now, with Spring kicking into full gear, Bass Drum of Death is gearing up to release a 7" as well as a split 7" with DZ Deathrays ...

As the camera scans the sidewalk, a used condom comes into view.  After that, there are episodic dealings with drug use and prostitution delivered with the expected amount of visual grit and dramatic tone.  "Window in the Wall," new single from K-Holes , fits perfectly. All info comes courtesy of Hardly Art.  Some of this may be repeated from my last entry regarding K-Holes, which introduced their first single ("Rats") from the upcoming album Dismania .  SPIN PREMIERES BEAUTIFUL, DISTURBING NEW VIDEO FOR K-HOLES' "WINDOW IN THE WALL" VIDEO - " Window in the Wall " [dir. Sebastian Mlynarsky] MP3 - " Rats " With little over a month to go until the May Day release of their sophomore LP Dismania , K-Holes (New York's best live band™) have unveiled a new video for Side A closer "Window in the Wall." From its first, striking shot of a used condom withering on the pavement in the morning sun, this bleak-but-gorge...

The experimental, No Wave inspired Liars have a new album coming out called, WIXIW , which will be on the virtual and physical shelves in June via Mute Records .  Their new single, "No. 1 Against The Rush," is available through their Facebook page, but I've had no luck getting the track to play.  There is, though, a teaser trailer for the new album, which I will be reviewing for No Ripcord once a promo is made available. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

News of Sleep 's Dopesmoker reissue has had me salivating since word crossed my inbox not too long ago. The album's new artwork has been released. What do you think? Typographically speaking, I'm not too impressed. I like the illustration, though I'm not sure if it's as compelling as the music. This isn't the most memorable image, certainly not to the iconic extent of something like Holy Mountain . 2003: 2012: All info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. SLEEP: Dopesmoker Deluxe Reissue Cover Art Revealed As previously announced, Southern Lord Recordings will release a deluxe reissue of one the most essential albums of modern times - Dopesmoker from stoner metal icons, SLEEP. This reissue is entirely remastered from the original smoke-encrusted Ampex reels, and features an unreleased live recording of one their greatest live performances -- “Holy Mountain” from San Francisco’s I-Beam in 1994 -- as well as a brand new artwork by long time SLEEP artist Arik Rop...