Psychedelic guitar-based free jazz, Sarin Smoke is the work of guitarists Tom Carter and Pete Swanson .  Carter, who will remain on treatment since being irrevocably stricken with Pneumonia, will be the recipient of any funds generated by the band's upcoming new album, Vent , which will be released September 17th.   All info comes courtesy of Rarely Unable. On September 17th, MIE in partnership with Rarely Unable PR will unleash the latest LP by Sarin Smoke, entitled Vent . In anticipation of the release the label are giving away one track, 'Upsound', for your listening pleasure. You can download from soundcloud via this link: http://soundcloud.com/miemusic/sarin-smoke-upsound-mie After performing at a concert in Oakland in 2010 and feeling proud of their musical output, Tom and Pete decided to collaborate with one another again. The resulting record amalgamates Tom's recent self-oscillating, power starved shredding psychedelia, with Pete's...

Myself a fan of A Fucking Elephant and the brand of oddly conceived prog metal that they craft, I'm happy to hear that another 7" of new material is in the works.  Their last 7," which was a split effort with El Drugstore , was discussed last year .  I wound up picking up a copy on CD not too long ago  and another split they'd released with Arbogast on 7" vinyl .  I consider the band fascinatingly abrasive.  Info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. A FUCKING ELEPHANT: New Jersey’s Progbending Deviant Duo Enter Studio New Jersey’s atypical progressive experimanglers A FUCKING ELEPHANT – who have been assaulting basements and forcing acoustic trauma since 2007 -- will barricade themselves in the studio with engineer Colin Marston ( Krallice , Dysrhythmia , Behold… The Arctopus ) this weekend to lay down two new tracks. The material being recorded is for a 7” the duo – drummer Greg Meisenberg and guitarist Matt Keys -- will be releasing in January, in conjuncti...

If you've been reading Letters From A Tapehead long enough, you know that Sic Alps has been a point of coverage since before this band had any albums available on Amazon.  So, I can't but feel some pride in the fact that even Pitchfork has deemed the band worthy of notice, even if, in the words of Light from Repo Man , "I was into these dudes before anybody. "  Seriously, I believe Sic Alps canceled out the legitimacy of the garage rock revival, simply because they were the most genuinely damaged band to revel in the genre's lack of fidelity, but not for the purposes of sounding vintage.  There was no gag or novelty to what this band did, and it's not as if they can be accused of riding Jack White 's jock when so very few people even knew who they were.  But, they persisted and now Sic Alps seems to be enjoying some notoriety, which makes me very happy. Anyway, this was my attempt at being self-congratulatory.  This rarely happens, so savor the momen...

So, this is an Iggy Pop bobblehead.   This is available at Aggronautix . It's staring at you and it wants to kill you. Raw power. Image courtesy of Aggronautix Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Into The Horrors ?  Then you might dig TOY , who are conversant in all things traditionally indie rock and/or post-punk.  There are psychedelic and garage elements here as well.  Their overt allegiance to mid-80s Jesus and Mary Chain reverb-laden mud rock and Echo & The Bunnymen croon could lead one to cite the soundtrack from Some Kind of Wonderful as the band's chief influence.  Decent songs with decent videos. All info comes courtesy of Cooperative Music. TOY unveil video for "Lose My Way" s/t record due 9/11 on Heavenly Recordings / Cooperative Music WATCH: "Lose My Way"   LISTEN: "Dead & Gone"   WATCH: "Motoring" "They punch all the right cult-rock buttons, merging garage-rock violence, post-punk drama, krautrock's motorik rush and effects-pedal psychedelia into a blitzing racket." – The Guardian TOY have revealed the video for third single "Lose My Way." It's the second TOY ...

The cover art for Honor Found In Decay , the upcoming new album from Neurosis , has been revealed.  Thoughts?  While I feel this imagery evokes enough about Neurosis in terms of aesthetics, I do like the illustrated covers of their past albums more.  This seems like an idea that's been hatched but not necessarily nurtured into anything substantial or brought completely to fruition, which I hope doesn't speak to the music.  Otherwise, I'm excited for this one.  All info below comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. NEUROSIS Unveil Artwork And Track Listing For Tenth Album, Honor Found In Decay Anticipation for Honor Found In Decay , the tenth studio album by NEUROSIS, is starting to intensify, as we count down the days until its North American release date on October 30th. Like an eclipse, a brand new NEUROSIS album is not a frequent occurrence and when it comes around, every last moment must be savored. For this momentous event, all the forces are aligned. NEUR...

This is very angelic.  Very pretty.  And, right now, very much available to sample online. All info is courtesy of Earsplit PR. ASSEMBLY OF LIGHT: Hear Choir’s Haunting Album At Cvlt Nation Debut Full-Length Out This Week On At A Loss Recordings The maiden studio recordings from ASSEMBLY OF LIGHT see release this week via At A Loss Recordings, boasting six ethereal hymns from the twenty-some member female secular choir. Recorded at Machines With Magnets in their hometown of Providence, Rhode Island, the self-titled album features contributions from members of The Body , Braveyoung , Work/Death , Daughters , and more, creating some of the most unique songcraft in recent memory. As Assembly Of Light is officially available this week, the folks at Cvlt Nation are hosting a stream of the entire album, RIGHT HERE . The album is now available for order directly from At A Loss on CD HERE and Digital Download HERE . ASSEMBLY OF LIGHT just returned from an intense Wes...

A few months ago, I began to collect quotes from independent record labels and artists who are involved in the reemergence of cassette tapes in the digital marketplace.  It resulted in a two-part article for No Ripcord .  You can find the articles below. Part 1 Part 2 Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

"Oh Loneliness" is a new single from Bambi Lee Savage , noted Bad Seeds , U2 and Einstürzende Neubauten collaborator.  She is releasing a new solo album that's produced by Bad Seed Mick Harvey called Darkness Overshadowed .  The song is a tad contemporary, but there is a subtle country twang and midnight mystery to its tone that I find engaging.  Lee Savage has a lot of character in her vocal, so this is like "sing" noir, and Harvey provides much of the album's instrumentation, so I'm doubtless the music is stellar.  All info comes courtesy of Us/Them Group. Oh Loneliness by Bambi Lee Savage Bad Seeds, Daniel Lanois collaborator Bambi Lee Savage announces new album produced by Mick Harvey Bambi Lee Savage announces the forthcoming release of her third solo album, Darkness Overshadowed . The album is produced by Mick Harvey (Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey ), who also plays most of the backing instrumentation. Check out the sultry Twin Peaks -esque...

Sleepies Weird Wild World Godmode/16oh Released: 8.21.12 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

New track by Lightning Bolt , "King Candy."  It's nice and manic. The band is releasing a new EP called Oblivion Hunter , which will be out September 25th via Load.  All info and tour dates provided by Force Field PR. Hear a track from Lightning Bolt's new EP, tour launches in DC tonight STREAM: "King Candy" - https://soundcloud.com/load-records/lightning-bolt-king-candy   Lightning Bolt Since forming in 1994, Lightning Bolt has taken a zig zag path to recording, playing and touring. Following in this pattern is the release of Oblivion Hunter , a collection of the band's epic recording sessions over the last few years. Oblivion Hunter is a real cool time - loose, hard and loopy. From the get-go the sound is amped-up and free with an ear on the railroad tracks to the big sounds of industry and clamor. Bass sounds jump out of the speaker cones that conjure up ears in alien propulsion systems, nights in faraway wind tunnels, and brutal...

Asva & Philippe Petit Empires Should Burn... Small Doses/Basses Frequencies Released: 7.16.12 Sunn O))) 's White 1 album begins with "My Wall," a 25-minute soundscape narrated by Julian Cope .  His poem is flamboyantly articulated as charred and faraway sonic shards of guitar effects haunt and gasp, close to melodic chords pierce the mire like wind chimes.  It was the first piece of music I thought of when I began listening to "And Empires Will Burn," the opening track from Empires Should Burn… , a collaborative effort from Asva and Philippe Petit . The rotating static of a spent LP and the swelling whirr of unknown means accentuate Edward Ka-Spel (from The Legendary Pink Dots ) as he relates, "Just how many days and nights have passed now?  There are no clocks in this room."  A cycle of winding notes that sound like a broken harpsichord advances, (evidently the sound of a cymbalum, which compares to a dulcimer), a rather eerie 23 minute...

Because Pussy Riot was bound to get some notice here. Vivian Girls have decided to kick it charity style and aid in contributing to the defense fund of dissident Pussy Riot members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova , Maria Alekhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich , all of whom are serving two years for hooliganism. The band's 2011 release, Share The Joy , was reviewed at Kicking Against The Pricks . Vivian Girls All info comes courtesy of Force Field PR. Vivian Girls playing Pussy Riot benefit show in LA Vivian Girls will be playing a benefit show for Pussy Riot at The Smell in LA on 8/27. All proceeds will go towards the Pussy Riot Legal Defense Fund. Joining Vivian Girls for the show will be Pangea , Haim and Kremlin Head (members of No Age & Mika Miko playing punk covers). Tickets will be $10 and will go on sale Thursday here. More details can be found on the flyer below. VIVIAN GIRLS LINKS: Official Site - http://www.freewebs.com/viviangirls/   Facebook - ...

Sigur Rós meets Sunn O))) ?  Ambient noise and ethereal folk music. Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and artist Jozef Van Wissem are releasing an album called The Mystery Of Heaven via Sacred Bones.  "Ths Sun of the Natural World is Pure Fire" is its first single.  All info comes courtesy of Life or Death PR & Management. JOZEF VAN WISSEM & JIM JARMUSCH ANNOUNCE THE MYSTERY OF HEAVEN DUE NOVEMBER 13TH ON SACRED BONES WATCH THE EPIC MUSIC VIDEO FOR "THE SUN OF THE NATURAL WORLD IS PURE FIRE" AT PITCHFORK SELECT TOUR DATES TBA Acclaimed avant-garde artist, Jozef Van Wissem and American auteur Jim Jarmusch are pleased to announce their 2nd LP, The Mystery Of Heaven , due November 13th on Sacred Bones. The album will feature a special guest and will build off their previous work, continuing to explore life after death. A couple select tour dates are in the works and will be announced later. Today, Pitchfork premiered a long-form music video for "Th...

Bong 's self-titled 2009 release, which had a limited run of 500 copies in its initial pressing, is being reissued on CD and digital media via Ritual Productions.  Check out the info below, which comes to you courtesy of Rarely Unable.  And then, check out the almost 30 minute live rendition of "Wizards Of Krull."  Hot on the heels of the acclaimed new album Mana Yood Sushai and following a ton of positive feedback from recent live shows, Bong are resurrecting some of their back-catalogue via their spiritual home, Ritual Productions . Their debut 2009 self-titled album was originally released on vinyl, limited to 500 copies and with just two edited album tracks, 'Wizards Of Krull' and 'The Starlit Grotto'. This October, Ritual will be releasing the album for the first time ever on CD and digitally, including the full versions of these tracks and one unreleased bonus track entitled 'Asleep'. This revitalised collection will remind people of B...

Here's a nicely warped, psychedelic video for High On Fire 's new single, "Fertile Green," which, if you haven't guessed, has something to do with weed.  As you can imagine, the video does, too.  It's a tad unsuitable for the cubicle, (particularly because of the naked woman carved out of stone with a nice patch of "fertile green" in its pubic region and the two globular masses staring walleyed at the sky above...  striking), so sit it out for your 9 to 5.  "Fertile Green" is one of the best songs featured in High On Fire's De Vermis Mysteriis , which I couldn't recommend more.  Great riffs, great speed, lots of energy.  It's one of my favorite releases of 2012 for sure. Found through Noisey . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Bird By Snow, its moniker and vision the work of musician Fletcher Tucker , will be releasing a new album called Offering, which will be out September 15th on Gnome Life Records .  I was particularly fond of Tucker's 2010 album, Common Wealth , which was reviewed at No Ripcord .  New songs from the album have been made available: "Grace" and "Before Names."  Give them a listen and then see all info below, which was provided by Terrorbird Media. Big Sur's Bird By Snow returns with majestic new LP Offering , out on Gnome Life Records (Daniel Higgs, Wildbirds & Peacedrums) this September Fletcher Tucker, recent producer to Daniel Higgs and Little Wings , flies solo with an album of intricate arrangements, shamanistic drones, elusive alternate world "quiet storm", mytho-poetic imagery, and masterclass songwriting restraint. Out September 15th. LISTEN: Grace LISTEN: Before Names "[Tucker's] voice paired with tip-toeing guit...

Speedy Ortiz Sports EP Exploding In Sound Records Released: 6.5.12 The Northampton, MA based Speedy Ortiz is a 90s allegiant rock quartet based in the guitar rock and Alterna-pop'dom of the era.  Appealing to the once flannel-clad set now subsisting on nostalgia, Speedy Ortiz, whose members include singer/guitarist Sadie Dupuis , guitarist Matt Robidoux , bassist Darl Ferm and drummer Mike Falcone , have released Sports , a five-song EP synthesizing the more hook-savvy aspects of The Pixies or The Breeders and some of the distorted power pop and anti-melody of Sebadoh.  Dupuis, holding her own amongst 90s female rockstar alumni like Liz Phair , Juliana Hatfield , Tanya Donelly and Kim Deal , delivers pretty and unpolished testimony, her verses dealt in winningly profane and suggestive modes of conveyance.  The music itself makes one miss the days of early 90s episodes of 120 Minutes , Speedy Ortiz convincing enough to have themselves made an appearance or tw...

I do love it when word arrives that a new album from The Soft Moon (a.k.a., Luis Vasquez ) is slated to release.  The new album, Zeros , will be released October 30th, appropriately on the eve of Halloween.  A new song from the album is available to investigate, "Die Life."  Info, tour dates and links ourtesy of Life or Death PR & Management. THE SOFT MOON ANNOUNCE NEW LP ZEROS DUE OCT 30TH FROM CAPTURED TRACKS HEAR NEW TRACK "DIE LIFE" VIA PITCHFORK The Soft Moon photo by Julie Bonato The Soft Moon was never intended for the public's ears, but you found it, were drawn in by its danger, and insisted that others hear. Oakland's Luis Vasquez began the project in order to better know his own self. He'd holed up in his apartment and let the tape roll, allowing gut and memory guide him. Those twin sherpas, however, led him to a place of darkness, claustrophobia and dread: a musical wasteland moving to a Motorik tic, its edges made jagged in...

I found this video for "Weep" by Alaric .  This song appears on the Alaric/Atriarch split LP, which is easily one of my favorite releases of 2012.  The album surfaced mid-May via 20 Buck Spin . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

It was revealed today that Neurosis will be releasing a new album later this Fall called, Honor Found In Decay .  Details are, unfortunately, limited.  Over the last couple weeks, though, the band released these "Electrical Transmission" teaser videos that may or may not provide hints as to how the album will sound. All info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. Neurosis' 2010 reissue of their 1993 release, Enemy of the Sun , was reviewed here . Neurosis' 2011 reissues of 1992's Souls At Zero and 2000's Sovereign EP were reviewed here . NEUROSIS: Title Of Eleventh Full-Length From Musical Pioneers Revealed It is said that great art has the power to take us outside of ourselves and bring us closer to ourselves simultaneously. Few bands have accomplished this rare feat on a more profound and consistent basis than NEUROSIS. For nearly three decades, their music has touched the hearts and minds of young men and women seeking contact with something beyo...

Swans We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head Young God Records Released: 5.8.12 (Proper release; Limited handmade edition released 2.2.12) Severity.  Self-indulgence.  Instinctual art.  Primitive and emotional clarity manifest in perpetual, compositional, fascinating ruts.  For an audience.  All for an audience. The jogging clangor, a shower of bells and piano notes, percussive ringing tapped in rapid succession...  It's almost as if Michael Gira , head of the No Wave, Industrial legends-turned-high art collective Swans , sought to weed out the non-believers.  The frequency heightens, the music turning to screeching shrieks which then settles a tad just before "No Words/No Thoughts" is beaten into the foreheads of every man and woman in attendance.  Track 1 is over 23 minutes long, the first 13 minutes an introduction to the show as described above.  The applause seem polite, as if the crowd had been shocked into clapping. ...

  Zappa meets Ruins ?    The Brooklyn based Zs is releasing a four-disc retrospective called, Score — The Complete Sextet Works: 2002-2007 , in correlation with their ten year anniversary.  The band now functions as a trio, so I imagine this box set is not only a retrospective, but a requiem for Zs as they once were.  Yes, I realize I'm probably injecting a dose of romance where it doesn't belong, but I can't imagine that one wouldn't approach their tenth anniversary doing ANYTHING without a tinge of reflection, especially when this anniversary means something new approaches.  All info comes to you courtesy of Northern Spy Records. Zs Celebrates 10 Years As A Band, Debuts New Line-Up 8/29, Releases Retrospective Box Set 9/11 The new Zs line-up (Patrick Higgins, Sam Hillmer, Greg Fox) This September 2012 New York City band Zs celebrates 10 years of being a band with the release of SCORE - The complete sextet works from 2002-2007 . Zs has ...

Ascent is the new Six Organs of Admittance album that will be out August 21st via Drag City and Mr. Six Organ himself, Ben Chasny, plugs in and hits up the astral turf for the below tracks, "One Thousand Birds" and "Waswasa." "Waswasa"  All info comes courtesy of Rarely Unable. Asleep on the Floodplain , the 2011 release from Six Organs of Admittance, was reviewed at No Ripcord . In anticipation of the imminent release of Ascent , the brand new Six Organs Of Admittance album, Drag City unleash another audible treat in the form of a giveaway track taken from the record, 'One Thousand Birds'. Download, listen to and share using this link - http://soundcloud.com/drag-city/six-organs-of-admittance-one .   We love everything Six Organs has ever launched at us, and Ascent , coming out in less than two weeks, is no different - in fact, it's nothing short of our new favorite. The thing though about Six Organs is that we don't alw...

Dinosaur Jr. 's upcoming new album, I Bet On Sky , can now be pre-ordered in an interesting array of "bundles."  You can check below for bundle description and links for pre-order, watch the stupid Portlandia interview and then find out if Dino will be touring in your neck of the woods.  All info comes courtesy of Jagjaguwar. Dinosaur Jr.'s I Bet On Sky is Now Up for Pre-Order Watch New J Mascis Interview with Fred Armisen One of Portland's top feminist bookstore professionals, Candace of Women & Women First, spoke with J Mascis about the upcoming record, I Bet On Sky . Watch their illuminating interview above. I Bet On Sky is now available for pre-order!   Click here to see all the available pre-order options, including a deluxe bundle. Deluxe I Bet On Sky Bundles include: 1. LP version of I Bet On Sky in gorgeous gatefold litho-wrapped jacket 2. CD version of I Bet On Sky in six-panel wallet 3. Limited-edition 7" featuring...