"Life got us confused? Where are we going?"  Speaking from personal line of sight, I find myself continually enamored with and challenged by the work of Camae Ayewa (Moor Mother). Following 2021's entrancing Black Encyclopedia of Air ,  Jazz Codes , Ayewa's 2nd LP for Anti-, has been announced with the lead single and video, "WOODY SHAW".  Following sprays of sonorous howls and a lovely red herring R&B set-up, "WOODY SHAW" takes a pause before shifting into a turbulent free jazz backdrop, a cyclical stand-up bass riff anchoring the otherwise discordant sax, drums, and vibraphone.  "Woody Shaw elevator outta town!" Ayewa speaks, "Life got us going up and down. Who's coming? Who's coming for our ratios?"  The video premiered on June 8th. Jazz Codes can be pre-ordered at ANTI- . Official release date is July 1st. All info and links were provided by Stereo Sanctity.  “It’s poetry that drives this album. The stories o...

Good evening, The three-day weekend has ended, promises of a four-day stretch of hellscape await. But, not yet. I've compiled some singles and videos to check out, so give a look, hit up some links, and maybe buy some records. Enjoy your week and thanks for reading.  ______________________________________________________________________ Chelsea Wolfe & Emma Ruth Rundle:  "Anhedonia" (via Rarely Unable / Sargent House) Bandcamp —  https://chelseawolfe.bandcamp.com/track/anhedonia-feat-emma-ruth-rundle Website —  https://chelseawolfe.net Via Rarely Unable: Chelsea Wolfe has shared new video for her latest single, “ Anhedonia ” which features vocals and guitar by labelmate Emma Ruth Rundle. Wolfe joined efforts with stop motion editor and video producer Cressa Beer for a moving creation that reflects grief and loneliness, yet brings hope that with time and support, healing is possible. Cressa explains, “The core idea of the video came from an artist and mutu...

Evil Sword Olivia Neutron-John Guerilla Toss Johnny Brenda's 10.27.18 The wildly eccentric Guerilla Toss took full advantage of the Halloween season for Saturday night's gig at Johnny Brenda's, letting the naturally dark and playful setting that the holiday typically provides enhance the band's artful and cartoonish nuances. Attendees dressed up for the occasion, inspiring a costume contest (Mother Nature won and then promptly fellated the trophy). Punk disco was the scene, the evening's collection of costumed and plainclothes fans caught in the groove and dazzled by the vivid lights and the abstract visuals that gleamed overhead. Think of The Exploding Plastic Inevitable had it been set to post-punk/mutant disco.  Guerilla Toss is currently touring to promote Twisted Crystal , their latest LP which is currently available at DFA Records . I reviewed the album for No Ripcord . Once again, bad iPhone pics of the event to look through. Somebody ...

Ben Parrish of Kill Rock Stars made the following statement: Gritty should join Taiwan Housing Project ✌️ — benjamin parrish (@mrbenparrish) October 19, 2018 I followed up: If you haven't picked up Veblen Death Mask by Taiwan Housing Project , I recommend you remedy that as quickly as possible. I reviewed the album in 2017. You can find that review here . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Public Image Ltd. Union Transfer 10.16.18 Acting on an unexpected offer to attend Public Image Ltd. 's Philly stop on their current The Public Image is Rotten tour, I wound up with a writing assignment for Phawker. The show review is linked below along with some shitty iPhone photos I managed to take. The professional shot was taken by  Josh Pelta-Heller . One observation that I didn't include in the show review: Following PiL's performance of "Black Swan," John Lydon shot two of the most confident and spectacular snot rockets from his nostrils that I've ever seen. I was simultaneously impressed and disgusted. It was kind of amazing. Phawker: Public Image Ltd. at Union Transfer, 10.16 Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

All Souls The Jesus Lizard Union Transfer 9.8.18 Following my interview with David Yow , I was able to attend the Philly stop of  The Jesus Lizard 's current run of shows at Union Transfer. I want to state for the record that David Yow is 58 years old and I hope to possess an iota of the energy he burned through during that gig by the time I'm his age. I also never want to see a younger band or performer visibly worn out after a much less physically demanding show. The Jesus Lizard played three encores that were three to five songs apiece after an hour or more of constant crowd engagement, (i.e. body surfing, stage diving, being yanked), while pounding us all with decibel after decibel. The theater of it all was a sight to behold and I'm fortunate I had the opportunity to witness it. This show review was also written for Philadelphia's The Key . Please check out the live photos by Josh Pelta-Heller , because my iPhone shots are nowhere near as good. The Key:...

EZTV Ex Hex Boot & Saddle, 9.10.18. Mary Timony continues to rule. I was happy to have the opportunity to watch her play. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

So, I had the opportunity to interview The Jesus Lizard 's legendary vocalist, David Yow . As it worked out, I had to take the call in my office at my day job, hoping that no sudden work-related emergencies would interrupt our conversation. Luckily, that didn't happen. This is my first article for Philadelphia's The Key , which is the editorial arm of 88.5 WXPN . Enjoy. photo by: Joshua Black Wilkins The Key  interview w/ David Yow Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Easy Action Dinosaur Jr. Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA 9.29.17 Photo by Josh Pelta-Heller Phawker  live show coverage Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Taiwan Housing Project Veblen Death Mask Kill Rock Stars Released: 5.7.17 I’ll admit that I was bombarded by an internalized slew of questions, all of which I had no answer for, that seemed to transpire all at once while I was listening to Taiwan Housing Project ’s Veblen Death Mask . My brain, which was responding interestingly to much of what I was hearing, started off with, “What happened to the Butthole Surfers ?” And it wasn’t asked as “Where did they go? Are they still alive?” It was more of a “ponder the void they’ve left and pity the generation now celebrating the 10 years since so-and-so bestowed upon us that forgettable soft rock/crying folk record that did little more than encourage beard growth: why are we content to have celebrated indie rock’s demise?” We live in a strange time. And this isn’t an opportunity to inject political commentary and/or punditry into a record review, but instead offer a light assessment of what our current landscape looks like: ...

Body Spray M Ax Noi Mach Pissed Jeans Boot & Saddle Philadelphia, PA 3.10.17 Photo by Josh Pelta-Heller Phawker live show coverage Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Cassette Store Day is probably unnecessary.  I won't pretend there's any real need to promote cassettes in the download era, even if the format's cool factor has heightened over the last five or more years.  I'm one who still enjoys listening to certain albums via tape deck, aware that, for indie circles, (and not "indie" as genre, but indie as independent), cassettes provide artists and labels the means to retain the purity of the physical format cheaply.  Plus, there's always the potential to create something that looks cool. I met up with my friend, Chris, Saturday morning outside of Repo Records, a rather dreary day on still-sleepy South Street.  Repo was the only spot in Philadelphia, (or Pennsylvania for that matter), participating in the aforementioned Cassette Store Day, which is another event prompting labels to kick out special releases and encouraging stores to stock them for the sake of increased foot traffic and earnings potential. Rad...

Band Aparte : "Cherry Chapstick" (via Force Field PR/ Noisey /Manifesto Records/Soundcloud) Girl Tears : "Sedated" (via Omnian Music Group / Sinderlyn /Soundcloud) Kishi Bashi : "Say Yeah" (via Joyful Noise Recordings /Soundcloud) Douglas Dare : "Doublethink" (via Erased Tapes / Stereogum /Soundcloud) Fire to the Stars : "Wholesale Slaughter" (via Fire to the Stars/Soundcloud) Miss Lava : "Another Beast is Born" (via Earsplit PR/YouTube) Purling Hiss : "Fever" (via mutante-inc./ Drag City /Soundcloud) Perpacity : "9725" (via Shameless Promotion/Bandcamp) Arise by Perpacity The Well : "Black Eyed Gods" (via Us-Them Group/ RidingEasy Records /Soundcloud) The Julie Ruin : "Mr. So and So" (via Hardly Art/ Paper Magazine /YouTube)   Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Kill Alters Blank Spell Deerhoof Union Transfer , 6.25.16 Isabella , a.k.a., Daughter of a Tapehead , attended her very first concert on Saturday.  She wrote the following: P.S. — I would personally like to thank the very accommodating people at Union Transfer.  When we arrived Saturday, my daughter was treated almost like royalty.  She was given a reserved seat very close to the stage so she had no issue with obstructed views, the venue manager stopped by to greet her and ask if there was anything we needed, and the patrons were incredibly sweet to her.  As a first concert experience, Isabella's couldn't have been better. I would also like to thank Deerhoof , who took the time to sign Isabella's ticket stub and chat with her a bit at the end of the show.  With us, you have a family of fans for life.   Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

We're ready for our first concert! Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Napalm Death The Melvins Melt-Banana Underground Arts Philadelphia, PA 4.13.16 Photo by Dan Long   Phawker live show coverage Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Cetus "Bowhead" single Dullest Records Released: 4.10.16 Following last year's excellent album, The Remnant Mass , the loud 'n' local metallurgists Cetus have released a new single, "Bowhead." Exciting and nuanced, I'll let the track speak for itself. Listen below: Bowhead Single by Cetus The Remnant Mass is available for purchase digitally or on CD at Dullest Records .  If you like the single, I urge you to pick up a copy of the album. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

So Pitted Bully METZ First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 1.12.16 Philadelphia's first snow of the season interestingly coincided with the evening's METZ gig at the First Unitarian Church Tuesday night, some chilling wind and flakes whipping viciously through the handful of cold individuals huddled outside the basement's stairway. Some concertgoers had voluntarily arrived without coats, anticipating the eventual warmth that would ensue once the amps were plugged in and the inevitable movement of the all-ages crowd began emitting heat, so their endurance was certainly put to the test. We filed into the venue once the doors were opened. Everyone found their spots on the floor and began ceremonially cracking open cans of PBR. The hall went black save for the backlit glow of blue light that cut silhouettes of the members of So Pitted , an abstract punk trio whose direct sonic assaults somehow aligned with their moments of noise-laden oddity. Watching So Pitted, I...

Thee Oh Sees/Purling Hiss gig, 9.12   Thee Oh Sees "Help" In The Red Released: 4.28.09   Purling Hiss Weirdon Drag City Released: 9.23.14 Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of seeing Purling Hiss and Thee Oh Sees perform at the Underground Arts in Philadelphia.  While the experience of seeing both bands perform for a very rowdy and obnoxious crowd of intoxicated rock fans was enough to top off an excellent Saturday evening, the opportunity to add a couple releases to my library was an added bonus.  So, thickening my collection of Thee Oh Sees releases by one, I grabbed a copy of the 2009 LP, Help .  I also picked up Weirdon by Purling Hiss, which I reviewed for No Ripcord in 2014.  You can find that review here . Locrian/Sannhet gig, 9.11 Locrian & Mamiffer Bless Them That Curse You SIGE Released: 2.21.12 Locrian , whom I've waxed on and on about pretty consistently over the years, were the opener for the post...

Kohoutek Curious Aroma  MIE Releases: 11.6.15 I was listening to Kohoutek 's Curious Aroma this morning, a mostly free form improvisational piece consisting of two lengthy tracks.  Each track, (dubbed "Part I" and "Part II"), sound based in some personal, meditative journey that (to me) convey realization as opposed to discovery, awareness vs. epiphany.  There's no sudden "eureka;" no predictable or pandering utilization of pay off.  Instead, you're allowed to get lost in its wandering make-up until its overall size becomes known, which is a very gradual process.  "Part I," for instance, reminds me somewhat of "He Loved Him Madly" by Miles Davis , itself a thirty-something minute meditation on the life of Duke Ellington , a free moving establishment of expanse through lost tones and sounds that culminate into a soft rhythmic outro.  By contrast, Kohoutek keeps it loose, opting instead to introduce a buzzing thread fr...