Pelagic Records will be releasing a suitably expansive box set in tribute to dark electronics maestro, Lustmord (a.k.a. Brian Williams). The set is called The Other , an encompassing title that includes Lustmord's 2008 LP [O T H E R] , two remix albums, and  The Others [Lustmord Deconstructed] , which is a 3-LP set of Lustmord covers carried out by an impressive roster of artists: Ulver, Enslaved, Godflesh, Zola Jesus, Steve Von Till, Ihsahn, Jaye Jayle, Jo Quail, Spotlights, and Mono to name a few. For the past day or so, I've wallowed in the darkness of Bohren & Der Club Of Gore's rendition of "Plateau", originally featured on Lustmord's 2009 LP, Beyond .  Not the most uplifting thing to be sonically enveloped by on a winter's day morning, but the chill is appropriate. Bohren & Der Club Of Gore essentially convert Lustmord's dense and Vantablack -level aural cavern into an uncomfortably dark and ominous lounge, incorporating their signature m...

Diagnos : "Walking Down" (via mutante-inc./ Control Freak Kitten /Soundcloud) Melvins : "What's Wrong With You" (via Speakeasy PR/ Ipecac Recordings /YouTube) Dead Rider : "Ramble on Rose ( Grateful Dead cover)" (via mutante-inc./ Drag City /Bandcamp) Crew Licks by Dead Rider Beneath : "Ephemeris" (via Earsplit PR/ Unique Leader /Bandcamp Ephemeris by Beneath Blood And Glass : "Punk Shadows" (via Simone Records /YouTube) Tobacco : "Got Wet in the Bomb Shelter" (via Force Field PR/ Rad Cult /Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Tom Waits : "The Soul of a Man ( Blind Willie Johnson cover)" (via Big Mouth Publicity/Soundcloud) Graves at Sea : "Dead Eyes" (via Earsplit PR/ Decibel Magazine /Soundcloud) Hooded Fang : "" (via Force Field PR/ The FADER /Soundcloud) Some Gifts : "All Washed Up" (via The Deli Magazine /Soundcloud) Orouni : "The Peanut Specialist" (via Orouni /Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Can Can Heads Can Can Heads is Ruining the Classics (self-released) Released: 2.14.15 Can Can Heads is a Finnish noise rock band that recently decided to take recognizable hit songs and reinterpret them in a manner less style conscious and reverentially accurate than sloppily aggro and fit to mock in the spirit of fun.  Targeted for inspiration are Survivor , Michael Jackson , Van Halen and The MC5 , the songs retitled for humor's sake, ("Peel It" for instance instead of "Beat It.") Released digitally on Valentine's Day, Can Can Heads is Ruining the Classics is available to purchase through Bandcamp along with one of the best album summations I've ever read: "Planning this 'release' took as long as it took to record them. Recorded in mono with one track tape recorder PA-Pak 07/02/2015." Can Can Heads is Ruining the Classics by Can Can Heads Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

The Body and Thou  covered "Terrible Lie," one of the best inclusions in the Nine Inch Nails milestone release, Pretty Hate Machine .  The electrified tension Trent Reznor was able to conjure back in 1989 has undergone an horrific, blood-chilling and brutal treatment with this rendition, which is featured in the groups' newest collaboration, You, Whom I Have Always Hated .  The album will be out later this month.   You can listen to "Terrible Lie" here: "Terrible Lie" (I was unable to get the embed code to work.) All info and links were provided by Thrill Jockey Records. The Body & Thou cover Terrible Lie (Nine Inch Nails) Taken from new collaboration release "You, Whom I Have Always Hated" out 26th January "Thou's Bryan Funck issues searing verses, while The Body's Chip King shrieks the "terrible lie" hook, until righteously dumb-as-hell breakdowns slam this industrial sad-bastard fest int...

About a month ago, I started receiving PR about Holy Sons , which is a solo project from the multi-instrumental talent Emil Amos of Grails and Om .  Amos will be releasing The Fact Facer in late September via Thrill Jockey Records and, while I haven't heard actual tracks from the album just yet, interesting pseudo-covers of punk tracks emerged that I thought were worth checking out.  Also included is "More Therapy," which is a Holy Sons original.  All info, links and sounds come courtesy of Thrill Jockey Records. Hear Holy Sons bonus tracks featuring covers of hardcore legends Black Flag, Circle Jerks and Slapshot Brand new Holy Sons album 'The Fact Facer' on 22nd September Holy Sons is Emil Amos, a musician whose chameleonic tendencies and technical versatility has lead to him becoming an in demand multi-instrumentalist as a founding member of Grails and Lilacs & Champagne , as well as a member of Om . The Fact Facer , his Thrill Joc...

Stereogum premiered a cover of the Urinals ' "I'm A Bug," performed by the excellently charged and wildly distorted rock trio, METZ .  As with everything this band has committed to tape, the muddy distortion is prominent, the drums are exceedingly lo-fi and the energy is dialed up.  Apparently a follow-up to the band's self-titled debut is in the works, so we'll be on the lookout.  In the meantime, check out the track below and read up on some tour dates.  METZ will be playing traveling companions to Cloud Nothings for a few dates. A link to the video and touring info was provided by Sub Pop. Listen to METZ cover of the Urinals “I’m A Bug” (Stereogum premiere) Updated 2014 Summer & Fall tour dates The ever-mighty METZ have dropped a blistering cover of “I’m A Bug,” originally recorded by Southern California punk band the Urinals. Stereogum , who premiered the track had this to say, “I’m A Bug” is one many fine minimalist outbursts by late-...

Drew Daniel of Matmos has had a side project known as The Soft Pink Truth for a number of years now, making electronic and house albums and reinterpreting outsider genres like punk and hardcore through the flamboyant, electronic gaze of synth pop.  For his latest endeavor, Why Do The Heathen Rage? , Daniel has seen fit to create electronic covers of Black Metal songs.  His album will be out mid-June and boasts assistance from performers like Antony Hegarty ( Antony and the Johnsons ), Jenn Wasner ( Wye Oak ) and Terrance Hannum ( Locrian ).  While I'm not completely sure I'm board with this idea, mostly because the notion of an album full of synth pop black metal covers seems more of a novelty than any lasting statement, more kitsch than comment, what versions of Daniel's output I've heard have at least been interesting as opposed to amusing.  You get the sense the guy is a fan and that through his medium, while it will likely be taken as schtick by some, he's ...

Toronto buzz grinders Odonis Odonis released a cover of the famous Johnny Cash tune, "Ring of Fire."  If you're at all familiar with the levels of noise that the members of Odonis Odonis normally explore, you may think that they dial it down to suitably honor the Man in Black .  Such is not the case as they attempt to inject the song with all the discordance they can generate.  You can give it a listen below. The link was provided by Force Field PR. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Post-post-post-punk band, Disappears , contributed a cover of Kraftwerk 's universally loved "Trans Europa Express" for a split 7" being put out by the label, Sonic Cathedral.  I'm posting it because I really dig the cover.  Give it a listen here: Info on the split release and links to some songs off the latest album from Disappears, Era , (released by Kranky in August), can be found below and were generously provided by Rarely Unable. DISAPPEARS UPCOMING TOUR IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM ERA ; PLUS KRAFTWERK COVER ON NEW SPLIT 7" Disappears could well be one of the most prolific bands on the planet, certainly their frequent output of albums, 12" records and 7" singles would back up this theory. Following the release of their fourth annual report, Era (released on Kranky in August), Disappears are setting their sights for the UK with three shows confirmed amidst a broader European run.  Era sees the band further refining their love of d...

Because the Melvins never seem to run out of excuses to release more material, a covers album featuring an admirable list of collaborators will be coming out in April called Everybody Loves Sausages .  Both the Lite and Big Business line-ups of the Melvins are featured and guests include Jello Biafra ( Dead Kennedys ), Scott Kelly ( Neurosis ) and Mark Arm ( Mudhoney ). All info has been provided by Rarely Unable. GUESTS INCLUDE MARK ARM, JELLO BIAFRA, JG THIRLWELL AND SCOTT KELLY The Melvins return with a 13-track covers album titled Everybody Loves Sausages which is set for an Apr. 29 release in UK/EU via Ipecac Recordings . "This record will give people a peak into the kind of things that influence us musically," explains Buzz Osborne . "We REALLY like all of these songs along with the bands who actually wrote this stuff because first and foremost we are HUGE music fans." In a decidedly Melvins approach to a covers album, the band not only s...

This video is missing Black Friday footage from Walmart. "Fight Right" is the new single from Rabbits ' recently released album, Bite Rites . The band also apparently covered Minor Threat and Black Flag for a Record Store Day curated flexi single called, Flexihead.  Renditions of "Straight Edge" and "Wasted," perfectly contradictory, were featured.  Flexihead by RABBITS Info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. RABBITS Ruins Your Day With New Video, Drops “Straight Edge/Wasted” Flexi  Portland's caecothrophic collective RABBITS have excreted their very first hare-raising video to help ruin your day, constructed for the rampant skronking riffage of “Fight Right,” the second track off from their recently birthed Bites Rites LP. The cinematic mayhem was completed by Wes Johnson of Good to Die Productions -- the film team responsible for labelmates Deadkill ’s "Oh God Help You" video -- utilizing early live footage shot by the f...

Bright Little Field Treatment Bound: A Ukulele Tribute To The Replacements  Bar-None Records Released: 9.18.12 A band called Bright Little Field put out an album of Replacements covers using the ukulele as the primary instrument of conveyance, Treatment Bound: A Ukulele Tribute To The Replacements .  It's difficult to really grade something like this because, through Bright Little Field's reinterpretation of a selection of Paul Westerberg 's much-revered catalogue, what you get is only confirmation of the music's quality, the mere presence of amplification proven inadequate without good songwriting to make it worth something.  An obvious conclusion considering the source material. Bright Little Field is Jonathan Bright and Tim Littlefield , hence the clever band name, and they do a respectable job with the music.  "We're Comin' Out" and "I Will Dare," two of my favorite songs from Let It Be , are played with necessary gusto and ...

I received an email a couple weeks ago from Colin Pate of the Philadelphia dream pop band, Ladies Auxiliary .  He sent me this video clip of their version of the Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion II hit, "Don't Cry," which the band converted into a synth pop lounge ballad.  Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Mike Patton/Luciano Berio Laborintus II Ipecac Recordings Released: 7.3.12 In 2010, along with the Brussels based Ictus Ensemble and the choral chamber choir, Nederlands Kamerkoor , Mike Patton acted as narrator for a live performance of Italian composer Luciano Berio ’s 1965 musical piece, Laborintus II . The performance was held at the Holland Festival, which also premiered Berio’s performance of Laborintus II for Dutch audiences in 1972. As further tribute, Patton has released the Ictus Ensemble/Nederlands Kamerkoor performance as a live album through Ipecac Recordings . Based on a poem by Edoardo Sanguineti , Berio’s own version renamed as the writing’s sequel, (which was also meant to acknowledge the 700th anniversary of Danté ’s birth), Labortinus II is delivered in three parts, which are apparently three separate voices. The majority of the piece is in Italian, (with maybe a sentence or two uttered in English), so I’m incapable of deciphering the narrative a...

In an effort to bolster AIDS awareness and prevention, the (Red) organization is working with Red Hot on a campaign for "an AIDS free generation by 2015."  Out of this campaign, (Red) Hot + FELA has emerged, along with this cover of Kuti's "Lady," performed by tUnE-yArDs , Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson , Angelique Kidjo and Akua Naru .  All info is provided by Life or Death PR & Management. (RED) MUSIC PUSHES FOR AN AIDS FREE GENERATION BY 2015 FELA KUTI'S "LADY" REMADE BY TUNE-YARDS, QUESTLOVE, ANGELIQUE KIDJO, AND AKUA NARU PITCHFORK PREMIERES "LADY" FROM FORTHCOMING (RED) HOT + FELA ON KNITTING FACTORY RECORDS + BEHIND-THE-SCENES ON OKAYAFRICA MONDAY MP3: "Lady" - http://soundcloud.com/knittingfactoryrecords/tune-yards-angelique-kidjo   (RED)Music is a centerpiece of the inaugural (RED) RUSH TO ZERO campaign (June 1-10) to raise funding and awareness to help deliver an AIDS Free Generation by 2015...

I haven't heard I Predict A Graceful Expulsion , the newly released new album from Cold Specks .  However, I was very impressed with a version of Swans ' "Reeling The Liars In" she'd recorded for a Record Store Day exclusive, Dancing Coins EP.  Perfect voice for this kind of song, just a haunting and world-weary tone.  Excellent cover; please give it a listen. Via New Music United . This is a video for her single, "Blank Maps." Links were provided by Mute Records. NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR NEW YORK, MONTREAL, TORONTO AND LOS ANGELES NEW VIDEO FOR “WINTER SOLSTICE” FROM THE HOXTON HALL SERIES  KEXP’S #1 MOST PLAYED SONG OF THE WEEK IS "BLANK MAPS" Debut album, I Predict A Graceful Expulsion out May 22nd “ Haunting doom-laden soul” -Vogue “When she begins singing, you understand the fuss…” -Pitchfork "I can tell you without a doubt that Al Spx is going to be a superstar before year’s end." -YVYNYL “...

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

St. Vincent , whose new album Strange Mercy is out and available, performed The Pop Group 's "She Is Beyond Good and Evil" on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon .  It sounds great.  I have to say, between this and her cover of Big Black 's "Kerosene," she picks some esoteric material to emulate. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

The Director’s Cut was released in 2001, ex- Faith No More and Mr. Bungle madman Mike Patton ’s free metal abstraction Fantômas enjoying metallic reign and reconsideration over a wonderful selection of horror/sci-fi/classic film scores. This was the band’s second album following the jaunty noise freaks of Fantômas (Amenza al Mundo) (1999), which was then succeeded by the surgical epic Delìrium Cordìa (2004) and a metal-infused interpretation of cartoon scores called Suspended Animation (2005), (dork moment), and The Director’s Cut stands as the band’s best piece of work. Granted this seems a slight at the band seeing as the material performed isn’t theirs, but the lengths at which Patton connects the Fantômas dynamic to composers like Henry Mancini , Bernard Herrmann , Jerry Goldsmith and Ennio Morricone shows a staggering appreciation and knowledge of this music. Instead of creating a novelty album whose appeal wears away with every snicker-inducing listen, Fantômas creat...