I was elated to find out that Guerilla Toss will be releasing a new LP this September called Twisted Crystal . Last year's GT Ultra spent many days and nights at constant rotation in the confines of my car's CD player.  GT Ultra made my top 5 favorite records for 2017 .   You can find GT Ultra   here  via Guerilla Toss' Bandcamp for preview or purchase. I recommend the purchase option.     "Meteorological," the lead single from Twisted Crystal , continues the band's foray into funk and electronic dance modes, moving from the noisier output of prior releases (i.e.,  Eraser Stargazer ) to more accessible, albeit characteristically odd, territory, a modern homage to the mutant disco and synth pop that flourished beneath the post-punk umbrella in the early 80s. The video premiered at Stereogum , but you can check it out below. Twisted Crystal is releasing September 14th via DFA Records . All info, links, music, and tour dates co...

For my first proper review of 2018, I focused on In A Poem Unlimited , the latest album by U.S. Girls .  You can check it out at No Ripcord .  The album is currently available at 4AD .  I can't recommend this one enough.  U.S. Girls In A Poem Unlimited 4AD Released: 2.16.18 Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Earthen Sea An Act of Love kranky Released: 2.17.17 Earthen Sea ’s An Act of Love was conceived as a meditation on a quiet night in a city. The solo tag of Jacob Long , former bassist for the jarring D.C. band Black Eyes and the ritualistic dance punk band Mi Ami , Earthen Sea constructs atmospheric pulse-scapes which, at times, pose ethereally charged sounds and soft and distant textures against club beats. This is especially true of “About That Time,” its pensive disposition layered and slowly realized next to the beat that pushes everything forward. While contemplative in mood, there is a calm and a bliss to this work, its introductory track, “The Present Mist,” offering entry into Long’s perspective, which seems more concerned with the faraway gaze as opposed to the granular exploration. Romance is exchanged for grit and there’s so much air here despite sounding so full. Long’s attempts at conveying what he calls, “the concept and reality of being out in the city at ...

Sia This Is Acting Inertia/Monkey Puzzle/RCA Released: 1.29.16 * This was not the case, but a writer at Stereogum felt the same way, which was sort of validating to discover. ** So, while Rihanna gets no love for the most part, Isabella did enjoy her voice work in the movie, Home . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Producer and On-U Sound owner Adrian Sherwood is releasing the second installment of his Sherwood at the Controls series.  Sherwood at the Controls Vol. 2: 1985-1990 features tracks from Mark Stewart (The Pop Group) , Lee "Scratch" Perry , Ministry , and KMFDM to name a few, and will be out June 24th.  The first volume , which encapsulates selected material from 1979 till 1984, was released April of 2015.  In light of Prince 's recent and very unfortunate passing, a cover of his song "Girls & Boys" by the group Pankow , which is coincidentally featured on the compilation, is available online.  You can check out the track below: Here is a video trailer advertising the compilation: You can read more about the release below. All info, links, and tracks were provided by Julian T. Schoen . Pankow covers Prince "Girls & Boys", off Sherwood At The Controls Vol. 2: 1985-1990 on On-U Sound June 24 Stream Pankow " Girls & Bo...

I'm finally on board with something Neutral Milk Hotel related . Dietrich & Barnes is the work of John Dieterich ( Deerhoof ) and Jeremy Barnes (the aforementioned Neutral Milk Hotel and A Hawk & a Hacksaw ).  A new single from the duo's upcoming LP, The Coral Casino, was just issued today called "Out and About." It's a jovial experiment, a combination of Samba-inspired rhythms met with a hyper melody and repetition akin to a group like Can . Listen below: The Coral Casino is scheduled to release via LM Duplication on May 6th.  The track and info were provided by Kinsman and Meng. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

The Crotals : "Never Sorry" (via Viral Propaganda PR/Tenacity Music/YouTube) Eternal Tapestry : "Mountain Primorose" (via Thrill Jockey Records/YouTube) Doldrums : "Loops" (via Sub Pop/ FACT Magazine /Soundcloud) The Helio Sequence : "Stoic Resemblance" (via Sub Pop/YouTube) James K : " (via Julian T. Schoen/ The Muse /Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

tētēma is a new project from Mike Patton and composer Anthony Pateras . Ipecac Recordings will be issuing the duo's new album, Geocidal , which will be out December 9th and a sample of what the album will offer has been revealed.  "Tenz" has the feel of ritualized dance and trance modes revealing shades of On The Corner era Miles Davis and even some rhythmic patterns that sound akin to Cibo Matto 's Viva! La Woman (I'm thinking of its opening track, "Apple").  Pushing the trance comparison a bit, the track also contains what could be considered "drop" sections, few second length pauses followed by heavy blankets of sound, not to mention Patton's heightened vocal.  Check out the track and read some info on Geocidal , all of which has been provided by Speakeasy PR. tētēma STREAM "TENZ" FROM DEBUT ALBUM, GEOCIDAL   NEW DUO FROM ANTHONY PATERAS AND MIKE PATTON San Francisco, Oct. 30, 2014 – tētēma, a new duo featuring Aus...

Hot Nerds : "The Brubeck Counting Institute" (via Us-Them Group/ Three.One.G. /Soundcloud) Le Butcherettes : "Demon Stuck In Your Eye" (via Rarely Unable/ Ipecac Recordings /YouTube) Giant Claw : "Dark Web 003" (via Julian T. Schoen/ NPR /YouTube) Katie Rush : "Dangerous Luv (feat. Samantha Urbani )" (via Dark Matter Media/ Gorilla Vs. Bear /Soundcloud) Oozing Wound : "Going Through the Motions Til I Die" (via Thrill Jockey Records/ Metal Hammer /YouTube) Annihilated : "Eradication Profits" (via Earsplit PR/ Metal Assault /Soundcloud) Ty Segall : "The Singer" (via Mutante/ The Guardian /YouTube) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

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 ...

Equals : "Autotelic" (via Us-Them Group/ Brooklyn Vegan /YouTube Mr. Flash : "Number 1 (feat. Cities Aviv , Action Bronson & Oh No )" (via Julian Schoen/ Complex /Soundcloud) Beta Frontiers : "So Cold (feat. Carmen Elle )" (via Force Field PR/ Gorilla Vs. Bear /Soundcloud Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Boris : "Quicksilver" (via Sargent House/ Pitchfork /Soundcloud) TOBACCO : "Streaker (w/ Notrabel )" (via Force Field PR/ Noisey /Soundcloud) Helms Alee : "Punchy Stabby" (via Sargent House/ Pitchfork /Soundcloud) Warpaint: "Disco//Very" & "Keep It Healthy" (via YouTube) Geronimo! : "Mr. President" (via Exploding In Sound Records/Soundcloud) Geronimo! : "Mr. President" (via Exploding in Sound Records/Soundcloud) Cloak of Altering : "Chaos Magician of the Abyss" (via Earsplit PR/Crucial Blast/ American Aftermath /Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

So, I'm still in need of a copy of Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything from Thee Silver Mt. Zion , but I'm hoping to remedy that very soon.  In the meantime, Constellation Records is issuing a new EP of remixes of SMZ material called Hang On To Each Other .  So far, the very dance-friendly "Birds Toss Precious Flowers" is all that's surfaced.  You can sample that track below and then check out the released information brought to you courtesy of Rarely Unable.  NEW RELEASE: THEE SILVER MT ZION MEMORIAL ORCHESTRA, HANG ON TO EACH OTHER EP Constellation are an unstoppable force, as today they announce the last of their new releases for Spring 2014, and what a way to round up with the announcement of Hang On To Each Other , a vinyl and digital-only EP of “remixes” from Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra. Following their acclaimed Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything released in January, SMZ dusted off an old chestnut from their 20...

Yesterday felt like the first sunny day to grace my small corner of the world in weeks.  So, my mood greatly improved by warm air and the radiating glow of sorely missed sunshine, I took a drive over to Siren Records and dropped a hefty sum on the following: Siren Records Doylestown, PA Sun Ra and His Solar-Myth Arkestra The Solar-Myth Approach Vol. 1 & 2 BYG Actuel Originally released: 1972 Reissued: 2014(?) Continuing with my Sun Ra streak, I found both volumes of The Solar-Myth Approach , which had been originally released in 1972 by the French label, BYG Actuel.  I'd intended on leaving the store with at least one Sun Ra album, following the planned raid on all those El Saturn reissues I'd discussed per my last visit to Siren.  Unfortunately, their inventory had been picked over pretty well, but these two albums caught my eye and it seemed foolish to buy an incomplete set.  I haven't listened to them yet, but they're 180gram pressings, nice gat...

Hey, everyone.  We're talking labels today.  In 2012, I reviewed the Fatherland EP by Mr. Dream and Weird Wild World by Sleepies , both of which were released by the Godmode label.  Specializing in post-punk and some of the more avant variations of R&B and EDM I've heard, Godmode, which is owned and run by former Pitchfork editor and current Mr. Dream drummer Nick Sylvester and Capitol Records A&R rep Talya Elitzer , recently released a new cassette compilation called, Common Interests Were Not Enough To Keep Us Together. Featuring new music from the label (plus a couple new tracks from Mr. Dream and Sleepies which were a plus for me), the comp provides a varied selection of sounds that range from club ( Shamir ) to vocal ( Soft Lit ) to experimental ( Yvette ), which ultimately affirms Godmode's place as a home for both very inviting to likely alienating performers. You can check out the comp here: Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Mogwai : "Remurdered" (via Sub Pop) Vaadat Charigim : "Odisea" (via Force Field PR/ Pitchfork ) Tara Jane O'Neil : "Wordless in Woods" (via Rarely Unable) Philip Perkins : "The Onion" (via Body Double Ltd.) Vex Ruffin : "Prime of My Life" (via Force Field PR/ KCRW ) Be Forest : "Captured Heart" (via Force Field PR/ Impose Magazine ) Girls Names : "The New Life (David Holmes remix)" (via Force Field PR/ Self-Titled ) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

The Coathangers : "Adderall" (via Enabler PR/ NOISEY ) Tim Hecker : "Black Refraction" (via Rarely Unable) Nonagon : "The Pfister" (via Controlled Burn Records)   Post-Ape : "Limbs in the Dark" (via Sure Shot PR) Cleanteeth : " Sexual Mustache " (via Earsplit PR/ eMusic ) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Tessela : "Nancy's Pantry" (via Pitchfork ) Far-Out Fangtooth : "Bow Your Head" (via Ad Hoc ) The Obits : "Spun Out" (via Village Voice ) K. Raydio & Psymun : "Jupiter" (via Okayplayer ) Upset : "Oxfords & Wingtips" (via Pitchfork) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Electro-pop trio, Moderat , has released its new album, II . "Bad Kingdom" is the first (and I think only) single from the album and it has a pop-melodic hook and soulful vocal strong enough to grab my attention. Check out the single and peruse the information below, which is courtesy of Mute. MODERAT – II OUT NOW Berlin based electronic music trio, Moderat have just released their meticulous and dynamic sophomore LP, II via Mute. Comprised of Sascha Ring ( Apparat ), Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary ( Modeselektor ), Moderat represent the very best in innovative electronic music infused with infectious and poppy vocals. IIhas dialed in the aesthetics of Modeselektor’s throbbing bass and tricky beats while maintaining the delicate vocals we’ve come to love and expect from Apparat. II is the most diverse and complex piece of work released by Moderat to date - confidently and capriciously capturing a broad range of the emotional spectrum. You can watch the ...

Boyfrndz: "Moving Parts" (via Terroreyes.TV ) Dead in the Dirt: "The Blaring Eye" (via Lambgoat ) https://soundcloud.com/earsplit/dead-in-the-dirt-the-blaring TV Ghost: "Elevator" (via Pitchfork /Enabler PR) Joanna Gruesome: "Secret Surprise" (via Brooklyn Vegan ) Morcheeba: "Gimme Your Love" (via PIAS America/VEVO) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead