Child Bite Strange Waste EP Housecore Records Released: 11.25.14 Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Rhyton : "California Black Box Vapors" (via Thrill Jockey Records/YouTube) tētēma : "Tenz" (via Speakeasy PR/Ipecac Recordings/ Wondering Sound /YouTube) Unsacred : "Plague" (via Earsplit PR/ CVLT Nation /Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Deerhoof La Isla Bonita Polyvinyl Records Released: 11.4.14 Track review: "Big House Waltz" *Yes, this is the "Matchbook Meets Maniac" 7."  Unfortunately, I don't have a physical copy of La Isla Bonita yet, though I plan on picking one up.  As is usually the case, Deerhoof have delivered a winner. ** Satomi Matsuzaki 's voice has been a subject of complete fascination.  "How does she sing like that, Daddy?  It's awesome!"  My daughter has true voice envy. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Ben Chasny , Mr. Six Organs of Admittance himself, has gone psych-drone for this latest single, a shrieking and inebriated number called "Wax Chance" that's taking the lead for his upcoming new release, Hexadic.  There's a seasick sway to the bass and drum in this track, Chasny barely audible when he decides to coax a few syllables between any available space that isn't overtaken by his six-string dissonance.  I'm intrigued and already looking forward to hearing Hexadic in early 2015.  It's set to release in February via Drag City. Listen to the track here: Links and info were provided by Rarely Unable. SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE REVEAL "WAX CHANCE" FROM UPCOMING ALBUM, HEXADIC ; RELEASED VIA DRAG CITY 16TH FEBRUARY Following the recent announcement regarding Hexadic , the upcoming album by Six Organs Of Admittance, much has been made of the new combinatorial system devised by Ben Chasny which spawned it, even though it hasn't yet

There's a lovely tension to this instrumental from Bee vs. Moth called "Machine Room Reverie," itself the marriage of bowed instrumentation and bass licks that make me think of a suburban grade 23 Skidoo .  The song has a somber (and maybe even indifferent) bent, which is found mostly in its string melody, as it casually strolls through surroundings not completely bereft of grace.  To my ear, the music wants to either cite some beauty in monotony, or poetry in routine, that key melody addressing fleeting periods of warmth while the rhythm remains content to walk in place. Check out the video here: Bee vs. Moth released their album Shelter in Place back in September. (And, yes, it's probably another winner that I missed this year).  You can check out the album via the Soundcloud link below. All info the release was provided by Us/Them Group. Bee vs. Moth share video from new album, announce winter dates    Watch "Machine Room Reverie" vide

mr. Gnome The Heart of a Dark Star El Marko Released: 11.18.14 The Heart of a Dark Star , the title of the newest release from Cleveland-based fantasy rock duo, mr. Gnome , apparently owes its title to Neil Gaiman . The phrase was pulled by singer/guitarist Nicole Barille from the book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane , as a metaphor for the type of journey this album details, that is in her words, “the ultimate journey into the unknown.” Within seconds of the band’s intro track, “Melted Rainbow,” its whirring and delicate propulsion spinning through its cycle as keystrokes dance upon its construct, Barille sings, “Because I can’t explain just where we are right now,” summarizing the album’s starry eyes and excited uncertainty without much by way of fear or caution, a sound as free-floating and willing to discorporate as most children when enraptured by tales of wonder. The work of singer/guitarist Barille and drummer/pianist Sam Meister , mr. Gnome’s visual aesthetic

Found an old sketchbook of mine.  This one holds much of my doodles, self-absorption, pondering and other such brain spew from my last year in high school till well into my sophomore year of college.  The stickers that adorn it reflect much of what I was listening to back then, including bands like NOFX and Rancid whose CDs I've since completely removed from my collection.  There's even a 311 quote scrawled on the outside pages that makes me want to cringe.  Inside is a ticket stub from my first Henry Rollins (autographed) spoken word gig along with a college newspaper article on the show, an assessment of an Oasis gig written on top of a sticker I picked up at the merch table and an illustration inspired by Fugazi 's "Waiting Room." The photo of Frank Zappa was a Xerox from the Weasels Ripped My Flesh CD that I taped to the cover.  On top I wrote the Joe's Garage quote: “Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth

Some more purchases for 2014.  Happy to receive some comments and recommendations for other 2014 releases. Earth Primitive and Deadly Southern Lord Recordings Released: 9.2.14 "You get the sense that, throughout Earth’s Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light: 1 , stories are being spun using the band’s instrumental language and economy of notes, traditional narratives normally told over a backdrop of folk music, blues and country.  Dylan Carlson plays as if exiled in some very distant, unpopulated part of his imagination, a vagabond absorbed in his internal surroundings, uncertain of where the elusive horizon will lead." - No Ripcord, 3.14.11 Between Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light I and II , I found myself both enchanted by and invested in Earth 's instrumental vision, Dylan Carlson 's lengthy, guitar-enriched, country-infused drones a voyage of sorts, dirt-encrusted and vast. For Earth's newest release, Primitive and Deadly , Carlson invite

Because it wasn't enough that Ty Segall released what will likely be one of the best albums of 2014 , a new singles and rarities compilation dubbed $INGLE$ 2 will be released later this November via Drag City.  Normally I like to have appropriate tracks on hand to post alongside announcements like this, but such is not the case this time around.  There is, however, a lot of info on the release which was provided by Mutante, so give it a look if you're interested. TY SEGALL TO RELEASE $INGLE$ 2 NOVEMBER 17TH ON DRAG CITY You thought Manipulator was the money album of the year? Think...AGAIN! 2014 ain’t done yet, and $ingle$ 2 is here. And this time, it’s for the money. Two times! As all of the ears that have heard what Ty Segall’s been putting out for the past five-ish years already know in their tiny l’il ear-brains, our kid’s got any number of places that he’s coming from, and putting them all into his rock and roll music is what he’s all about! $ingle$ 2 sweeps o

Bass Lions : "We Got Guts" (via Bass Lions /Soundcloud) Shabazz Palaces : "Motion Sickness" (via Sub Pop/YouTube) Child Bite : "Ancestral Ooze" (via Earsplit PR/ Decibel Magazine /YouTube) Mourn : "Silver Gold" (via Captured Tracks /Soundcloud) 11Paranoias : "Lost To Smoke" (via Raraly Unable/ Metal Hammer /Soundcloud) Naomi Punk : "Television Man" (via Captured Tracks/YouTube) Grouper : "Holding" (via Rarely Unable/Kranky/Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead