review: new bunch of psychedelic music

I have probably been listening longer to psychedelic music as to post-punk, industrial, elektro and that kind of stuff. Really since a long time psychedelic tunes have been filling the air in my living spaces. There are moments the records stay where they are, but there is always a time to get into this type of music again. Recently my interest has been attracted again both in the records that are in my collection already for a long time as well in new releases. Here a few recent releases I guess you should know about...

The record I am playing mostly right now is the album 'Powers Of Audition' by Jonas Reinhardt. This is truly a mindblowing piece of music. It has the spirit of the 1960's for sure but who cares as long as it is done good. And... this album is very good. You are taken away on waves on music... at times light and playful and at other moments more dark and haunting and from more ambient kind of pieces to psychedelic rock tunes.

Also very 1960's but with touches of 1970's is the new Wermut album 'Ether'. This new album might come as a surprise to some people familiar with this band. I guess most people know their minimal elektro tunes. Still this new album is very much Wermut if you have followed the bands releases and contributions to compilations. On 'Ether' you hear... well some Klaus Schulze to start with... that is for sure. The pulsating synth waves floating around are Kosmische Scene inspired without a doubt. But still... there is also a lot of Wermut in it... when it comes to the dark mood for example or the adding of post-industrial touches and of course the singing. I think this album with its four long tracks is great and a record which shows again this band is not to be pinned down on one or two or whatever genre and style.

Much darker and going into some sort of dark ambient style is the Attestupa record 'Begraven Mot Norr' on the great Release The Bats label. Picth black, very hauting and probably too experimental for most die hard acid heads but I am in love with this dark trip.

Not as much a black mass as the Attestupa but still dark is the Street Drinkers side of their split album with Skeppet. It has the same experimental note as the Attestupa so if are not sure if you can handle this music without ending up with a bad trip only play the Skeppet part of this release. That one is also my favorite but for other reasons. Skeppet brings together psychedelic pop without being pop, and in a trippy daydream sort of way, and some excellent lo-fi electronics. The two long tracks are just superb and a great soundtrack to doze off on a nice summer day. Together with the Jonas Reinhardt this music has been spinning a lot here...

To come down to Earth again there is the very nice new Woods album "At Echo Lake". If you listen to this and the previous Woods album you might think this was recorded in the 1960's. Psychedelic folk and acid rock are the game of Woods. It is done in this Greenwich Village sort of tradition but also with a typical West-Coast touch well ik just makes me happy all the time. It is charming and lovely and true authenthic hipster stuff.

The Wermut, the Attestupa and the Skeppet/Street Drinkers split are for sale at my webshop... for Jonas Reinhardt and Woods just ask your specialized local recordshop... they should have these or will be able to order them as they are distributed very well.

Have a happy trip...

New radio show at Intergalactic FM - Radio Resistencia

Listen to our (Stg. Art De SuR) monthly radio show at Intergalactic FM: every first wednesday of the month on IFM1 at 22.00 hour CET. Always 1 live set and 2 live dj sets... Listen here...

Every month 2 hours of music/fun/education... whatever you want!

Starting this wednesday 1 September: live Sololust (NL, elektro), dj Alacidus (NL, dark electronics), dj M. (this time a new wave classix set)...

Turn on, tune in, drop out!

Videoclip for upcoming Kim Ki O debut vinyl (Enfant18)

At the end of August the official debut by Kim Ki O from Istanbul will be released on Enfant Terrible.

The two girls were already present on the "Radio Resistencia" compilation from last year.

Here is the videoclip for the track 'Herkes Evine' from the upcoming record. More information soon...

review: Lushus - Barefoot

This record is out since May but I think it is still hot enough to say something about. Also the music is really summertime stuff so why not?!

Dutch band Lushus has its roots in punk. They also have already a status in the punk scene through live concerts and releases on Tocado Records. This new album is released on the Dutch record label Katzwijm and shows a very mature band.

If you would expect any ordinary punks sounds you are wrongly informed. Lushus stands for playful and adventurous music. Opening track "Plastic" displays straight away what this bands is all about: arty punk music with playful elements popping in out all the time. You will hear some exotic drums and some weird Neue Deutsche Welle influences. Maybe a bit Palais Schaumburg in the case of this track.

But the band takes you along from some soothing and relaxing moments to energetic burst of noise. And yes there is the Dutch punk heritage of bands like The Ex and De Kift kicking in at times.

Even though politics are not preached here there is an obvious link with activism even if it would be only by using some piece of Wolf Biermann as an intro to a song.

With this album Lushus should be able to reach some more indie pop minded audiences as well... the music has the quality to do this. I wish they succeed with this as for sure this is one of the most interesting guitar orientated bands from The Netherlands. Even though they use more bass guitars as actual guitars... well... let's just say they are among the top indie bands of the country.

You can get a copy of this LP from the Enfant Terrible webshop and please go see the band live...

review: Sololust - The Spark

Only from time to time there is a release that really hits you... really makes you excited about what you hear. This EP by Sololust (who is also a member of Dutch elektro/new rave outfit Lesbian Mouseclicks) is for sure one of those releases for me.

The funny thing is that I did not know this musician for some time even though his world and my world are connected (both musically as when it comes to the network of musicians and labels as our hometowns). Only since late last year we got into contact and I discovered his music. Very soon after that I checked some online tunes and asked him to participate on the new compilation (Enfant17: Kamp Holland).

After he played me some more tracks and we did a live show I truly heard the potential of this gifted musician. Then some time later he told me he had a EP out... and when I heard these tracks I was suprised again by the genius of it.

Sololust plays (on this EP) dark and slow elektro... basically as it should sound. It gives me the same exciting feeling I had when I first discovered Invasion Planete/Le Syndicat Electronique. His music is different from that but has the same authentic feeling for me.

Opening track 'Space To Expand' is a bit spacey and a deep elektro track. 'Black Teeth' has an excellent pumping beat and bassline thing going on. Something classic elektro in a way but the way it is done doesn't make it feel like you heard it before. Maybe because of the nice bells ringing in the background...

Absolute highlight on this EP is 'The Spark'. This should be a hit... very dark and moody elektro/disco excellent for club play deep in the night with a few people who really are out of here... Amazing track.

There is probably only one thing I do not like about this EP... it is a shitty cheap cd-r in an edition of 50 copies. Shame on the label as this quality music deserves a quality product to reach some more people. But... don't worry... Sololust is working on some tracks and this will get a proper release on vinyl by Enfant Terrible/Wharf Records...

For now I have some of the cd-r's for only a few euro's in my webshop...

event: 19 June Disko Resistencia mini festival with 6 live acts (NL)

*When? -->Saturday 19 June starting at 21.00
*What? --> Disko Resistencia / Stg. Art De SuR Foundation party
(+ release party Lesbian Mouseclicks debut EP on Wharf Records + release party Enfant Terrible compilation ‘Kamp Holland’)
*Who live?
-->Rude66 (elektro/Bunker&Creme Org.)
-->Lesbian Mouseclicks (elektro/Wharf Recs)
-->Hunter Complex (synthpop/Narrominded Recs)
-->Logosamphia (retardcore/Enfant Terrible Recs)
-->Milligram Retreat (neo wave/Enfant Terrible Recs)
-->Peter Quistgard (toy muzak/Toztizok Zoundz)

*Who Dj’s?
-->M.& Alacidus
-->MH & HD

*Where? --> DB’s CAB-Rondom 100 (Cartesiusweg), Utrecht, Holland
Damage: 7 euro (incl. a small surprise)
Wharf Records
Enfant Terrible

review: Hunter Complex - Hunter Complex

I am a big fan of Dutch popmusic and especially of new Dutch artists that are capable to produce some interesting and daring tunes in the fields of electronic music and experimental popmusic. Not because I am nationalistic or anything but partly as a reaction against the indifference of many Dutch people for their own history and culture. It is important to support local culture as simply it makes life nicer and better in the little world you live in.

Hunter Complex is the relatively new project by the Narrominded label boss. Narrominded have been working on promoting and putting out good new (Dutch) music since 2000. First with cd-r releases and later on vinyl and cd. The sounds range from elektro to experimental electronics and also some guitar stuff is in their catalogue.

Synthpop is the word when it comes to Hunter Complex. I must admit I did not get it when I first played this record. But it really grew on me with each play. Still I think the record would have been stronger when it would be trimmed from twelve to nine tracks or something. But in general this debut album is a masterpiece of contemporary synthpop.

The word pop should be written here in capitals. The production is quite thick in a Pet Shop Boys sort of way. Perfectly fitting the clear electronic beats and warm synthesizer melodies. What really makes this music so outstanding is that you hear classic 1980's synthpop elements but still all sounds very fresh. The arrangements and rhythms are all but 1980's I think. Also quite some unexpected elements pop up from time to time, like suprising hooks and twists in the song structure or a guitar part being added for a moment.

One of the highlights is 'Moonset' with its steady beat and typical claps but also adding to that some almost ambient like synth lines and strings. Also 'Exit' is really good with its loungy and laidback feeling and spacious synth lines.

If you are into classic synthpop and into some light summer tunes check out this release for sure. And for the well informed... this is probably more Anna Logue records stuff as Enfant Terrible material. But still... watch out for a new excellent track by Hunter Complex coming soon on the new Enfant Terrible compilation!