review: Moon Duo - Escape

This duo from San Francisco really set me off on a trip with their latest EP "Escape". I believe that in the meantime they already released another 7 inch and a split 7 inch... but this 12" EP does it big time for me.

Last year they released two more 12"'s of which one through Sacred Bones... known from Zola Jesus and Factums to name just two other excellent contemporary acts from the USA.

Anyway this new EP has all the elements to please the real freak out there... it has the minimalistic way of doing things like Suicide did, the drums (from a machine / sample) and the guitar are doing their thing in that classic Jesus and Mary Chain way and then all of this is done in a 60's acid rock style. For me this description already sounds like heaven but from vinyl... well... it is like the trip I always wanted...

Blasting loud through my speakers in a slightly lit room... dozing off on these tracks that take about 7 minutes each... I feel like lying in a corner on the floor at one of these acid test Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters pulled off... still I could stand up and dance my head off in the flickering strobelights at any moment soon...

"Escape" is released on the Woodsist label from fellow acid heads Woods. There is also this recent compilation out on Woodsist entitled "Welcome Home: Diggin'The Universe - A Woodsist Compilation". There is another great track from Moon Duo on that one. Next to that you will hear various contemporary interpretations of psychedelic and beat music from a total of thirteen bands. Worth checking out too...

Moon Duo is planning to tour Europe spring 2011 together with Turkish band Kim Ki O. Kim Ki O of course recently releases their debut LP "Dans" on my Enfant Terrible label.

Well... that is it... sorry I am back to my trip now... join me by tuning into Moon Duo here...

review: Puin+Hoop - Door

Maybe you know Dutch experimental band Puin+Hoop from their great track on the "Kamp Holland" compilation. In a way they play "ambient" or "drone" music. But... it is way too easy to classify this band like that. It would do them no justice at all.

The sounds these musicians create and the structures where these sounds are placed in go beyond the easy styles like dark ambient and drone music. That music is often very simple and most of the acts in that field of music sound the same. What sets Puin+Hoop apart from most of these acts is that their music is intelligent and adventurous.

References can be found in the worlds of free-jazz and contemporary classical music. Possibly a suiting way to describe the music by Puin+Hoop is electro-acoustic pop music. Still pop music as it also has a light touch... it is not hard to consume and you do not need to know anything about any theories on music to fully enjoy this music. You can simple sit back and tune in on the trip the musicians have prepared for you.

This album "Door" is released on Dutch label Narrominded, who also release Hunter Complex amongst others. You can get it on cd in a nice handmade cover or as free download.

Saturday 13 November 2010 they present this album with a night of live music and improvisation. Several artists will join Puin+Hoop on stage for some improvisation sessions. Among them Murw and Hunter Complex, for both see also "Kamp Holland". This concert night will take place in Theater Kikker, Utrecht, The Netherlands. See here for all details...

I look forward to hear much more adventurous music from these musicians. In the meantime there is "Door" and there are numerous self released cd-r's to enjoy.