Tag: bandcamp

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August 2021 Bandcamp Friday suggestions: ZENKA, Information Society, Harmony Woods, The Robotic Hands of God & more

Information Society ODDfellows

Once again, Bandcamp Friday is upon us. It’s a good time to snag anything you’ve had your eye on from Bandcamp, and if you haven’t had your eye on anything? Well, I have suggestions!

Each single or album has a rating, using a modified Robert Christgau scale. Also check out my earlier recommendations from March.

ODDfellows by Information Society ★★★

New this week, ODDfellows has everything I love about Information Society’s early albums without sounding dated or repetitive. Haven’t had time for repeated listens but this is already in the queue for regular rotation. My sole complaint at the moment is that they only seem to be releasing this digitally. I really want this on physical media with the rest of my InfoSoc collection… even if I don’t actually pull the CDs out very often. (Sadly, I no longer have the Information Society cassette I played again and again and again and again in high school.)

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=1252112541 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Graceful Rage by Harmony Woods ★★

Bought the LP on the strength of the first song alone. “Good Luck Rd.” will hit you like a ton of bricks. Going to be visiting this one again and again. Look for a longer review when I’ve had more time with it, but don’t wait for that – go check it out today.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=662211766 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

“December” by ZENKA ★

This one grabbed me instantly. It’s got a strong beat, hooks you in right away. Party music with a dark underbelly. Love the minor key synth motif that pops up throughout the song and adds just a little menace and tension. Song’s a bit pricey, with a $7 digital download for the single, but it’s damn good.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3069734625 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Structures: Duo Improvisations for Acoustic Guitar & Tabla by Nate Roberts & Doug Scheuerell ★

Pretty much what it says on the tin. If you enjoy tabla and acoustic guitar, you’ll probably dig this. As the description on Bandcamp notes, this isn’t big on dissonance — which is often a hallmark of improv and puts me off a number of recordings that might otherwise be enjoyable. Highly melodic and enjoyable.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3251904893 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Music from a Parallel Dimension by The Robotic Hands of God ★

Not quite as interesting or good as The Hidden Master, but still has its high points and is a fun ride.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=177556498 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

EXCAVATION Unauthorized Cut​-​Up Vol 1 by Bill Laswell★

Shares a name and some tracks with an unofficial release from 2008 on CD-R, EXCAVATION has Laswell tinkering with tracks from JT Money & George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and earlier adventures with Laswell and William S. Burroughs. Not an essential release but fun, nonetheless. “We Wanna See Bootsy” is quite a jam.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3744120894 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

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Bill Laswell & Pete Namlook: Psychonavigation 1-5

Bill Laswell & Pete Namlook's Psychonavigation album I

Bill Laswell‘s discography is intimidating, and I’ve been grappling with it for a few years now. This week I decided to sit down and give the entire five album Psychonavigation series a listen.

It’s a trippy, bass-y journey that won’t work for everybody, but has a fair amount to offer for fans of experimental ambient music that’s heavy on atmosphere and repetition.

Bill Laswell: A vast and varied discography

My first encounter with Laswell was 1994’s Hallucination Engine. I picked it up unheard on the basis of a review that made it seem like something I couldn’t miss. After just one spin on the CD player, I knew I wanted more but finding more was quite a challenge.

This was the pre-Internet era, at least for me. I didn’t have much luck finding additional Material albums or any info about Laswell’s other work. The record stores of St. Louis had nothing I could find under the Material band name, despite Hallucination Engine being the sixth or seventh album under that band name.

For the past few years, though, I’ve had the opportunity to really dig into the treasure trove of Laswell’s discography–which has only grown steadily since the mid-90s. Even if Laswell had stopped recording in 1994 his output would be substantial.

Bill Laswell & Pete Namlook: Psychonavigation 1-5

Case in point, Psychonavigation 1 was also released in 1994. The first in a five album series (so far, anyway), Psychonavigation spans 1994 to 2002. Psychonavigation 5 was released in 2002, and re-released on Bandcamp in 2020.

Each album has its own character, but if you listen to the entire series back-to-back the albums can blend into one another almost seamlessly.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=963838079 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

My first impression, starting with the 38-minute “Psychic and UFO Revelations in the Last Days,” was that it was a trippy, space-y, and bass-y ride. Nothing really changed that impression through the rest of the series.

You have to wade through some filler to get to the good stuff, though. “Angel Tech” on Psychonavigation 1 is a bit blippy and distracting. At more than 10 minutes it’s the shortest track on the album.

“The Fate of Energy” on Psychonavigation 2 has more groove to it and a little more structure. “Infinum” on the same album is the shortest track in the series. Checking in at 1:49 it’s fast-paced and makes me think of church bells, if you piped them through a synthesizer.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3122801163 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=2177091010]

Psychonavigation 3 breaks things up a bit with seven tracks and nothing that exceeds the 20 minute mark. “Telepathy I” reminded me a little bit of the Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis. Ambient synth brings swells and thrums with some background and hard to distinguish vocals. Doesn’t quite have the same menace as the Blade Runner work, though, and is poorer for it.

Theremin whale songs

My notes for “Mind Transference Control” include the phrase “Theremin whale song.” I stand by that. It’s catchy and pleasant, very repetitive. Actually it’s probably not a Theremin, but a similar instrument called a Trautonium, which Namlook is credited with on the 5th album. Unfortunately I don’t have good liner notes to go with the albums so who played what is a bit spotty.

The most Material-like cut in the series is “Mind Over Energy” (track 4). I really enjoy the bass on this one and I’d probably pull this one into playlists.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=473817581 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

I’ve marked down “ENTIB 2060” on Psychonavigation 4 as “harsh and crashy” though I got good vibes off the rest of the album.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=4074179997 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

The final entry in the series has a four-part “Cryosleep” series that’s good background music if you like things in the drone/ambient category. Things move along just enough to keep it interesting. If you want it to be. Put on low it’s good background noise. Wearing headphones or putting it on a bit louder you can get into a groove and appreciate how each track evolves.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2533630147 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Along with the drum programming, Laswell throws in some simulated (I think?) gongs and other spicy noises that keep Psychonavigation 5 from being ponderous and boring. Track 4 (“Cryosleep Part 3 – Holy Man”) has some nice and chunky bass with more vocals and an upbeat, almost frenetic, vibe.

Final thoughts

The Psychonavigation series is a must-have for Laswell completists (and, presumably, Namlook completists as well…) and might appeal to folks who are really into ambient, electronic, dub music. It’s a journey somewhat in the vein of early Pink Floyd without quite so many dynamics or Syd Barrett’s guitar or Nick Mason’s drums to bring it closer to contemporary rock music. But if you dig early Floyd, you’re primed for Psychonavigation.

I’ll probably bring these out from time to time, but doubt they’re going to wind up in heavy rotation. Laswell and Namlook have a few other collaborations I plan to give a full hearing, like the Outland series and The Dark Side of the Moog VII.

Short version: If you already know and like Laswell, give these a shot. If you don’t, start with a more accessible work like Hallucination Engine.

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Saturday singles: Ministry “Good Trouble,” Theon Cross “We Go Again”

Cover for Theon Cross single "We Go Again"

Catching up on new music today and two singles grabbed my attention above the rest, a single from Theon Cross and a cut from Ministry for their upcoming album Moral Hygiene.

Theon Cross: “We Go Again”

Theon Cross is a jazz tuba player, and his 2019 LP Fyah is a must-hear for anybody who wants to push the boundaries with some amazing modern jazz.

“We Go Again,” was just dropped on Bandcamp, Spotify, YouTube and the other usual streaming / digital store suspects. No physical media in sight just yet, but I’m keeping an eye out.

It’s a smooth, not very tuba-forward, piece. Strong recommend, give it a listen or three.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=1276798112 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Ministry: “Good Trouble”

Ministry has always been a political band, but I was not expecting a homage to the late, great Congressman John Lewis from Al Jourgensen. Of all the weirdness the 2020s have thrown at us so far, this is one of the better curve balls.

Ministry isn’t breaking any new sonic ground here, but this is a solid track that I suspect will make longtime Ministry fans happy. The entire tracklist is on Bandcamp for Moral Hygiene with a few enticing-sounding tracks like “We Shall Resist” and “Death Toll.” Looking forward to hearing the whole disc when October comes around.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=1809344520 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Do yourself a favor and check them both out.

 

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Jukebox selections: Earthspace, Kill Shelter + Antipole, Sunny War “Staying Alive” cover & much more

Album cover: Simple Syrup by Sunny War

It’s another Bandcamp Friday! Time to fill up the cart and bring home some great tunes. Looking for a few ideas? Check out some of these albums and artists.

Lagniappe Sessions (EP) by Sunny War

Spotted this one on Cover Me, I think, a few weeks ago. The entire EP is made up of covers, but the one that stands out for me is the 8-minute cover of The Bee Gees’ “Staying Alive” that deconstructs the song and gives it a lot of room to breathe.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=372660277 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=235655820]

Bonus recommendation, her Simple Syrup release that came out last week is beautiful. Really enjoying her voice and guitar playing, it’s sublime. This is the sort of album I can close my eyes and just let wash over me. It’s definitely not background music for working – it deserves full attention.

When the world returns to some semblance of normal I hope I can catch a live show.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3654010975 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Promises by Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra

This is not a collaboration I’d have predicted, or known that I wanted, but sometimes life hands you something really good unexpectedly. So it is with Promises, a joint effort from Floating Points (producer, DJ, musician and Eglo Records co-founder, Pharoah Sanders (legendary jazz saxophonist), and a scrappy little outfit known as the London Symphony Orchestra.

This is a perfect record to bring in Spring, it’s all sonic butterflies and sunshine, light breezes and fluffy clouds dancing overhead. Nature’s stretching after a long Winter nap and getting down to the serious business of reawakening. The record was released just a few days ago, but I don’t think it’s too soon to declare this one a classic.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3149089081 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Machines Reflecting Love (EP) by Earthspace

This short EP from 2020 by Earthspace (aka, Matheus Nogueira from Brazil) is described as “chunky slabs of bass grooves.” It’s short but lots of fun. It doesn’t demand your full attention. It makes for great background work music, but it does reward it if you do choose to close your eyes and just ride its waves.

[bandcamp width=400 height=120 album=4064950087 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

A Haunted Place by Kill Shelter & Antipole

A Haunted Place is new from last week, but its cold wave vibe would be right at home next to The Cure’s Pornography and other 80s cold wave/goth classics. This is the kind of gloom and doom that’s fun to listen in any mood. The lyrics are a bit “black writing on black paper in a dark room” but the music is good enough I don’t mind too much.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=4024825527 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Caravan to the Stars by Dark Matter Halo feat. Bill Laswell

Ethereal, heavy on the low end, great stuff from Dark Matter Halo with Bill Laswell. The title is appropriate, feels like a journey through the void at galactic distances.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2614911790 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Milan 2012 by Material

This one is exclusive to members of the BASSMATTER subscription from Bill Laswell on Bandcamp. It’s a six track jam recorded at Teatro Manzoni, Milan featuring Aiyb Deng, Hamid Drake, Dominic James, Peter Apfelbaum, Steven Bernstein (not that one), and Bernie Worrell.

There’s some truly stunning work from Worrell on the keyboards here. Laswell’s bass is top-notch as always. Gave it a listen the moment the notice landed in my inbox that Laswell had released another BASSMATTER exclusive. The subscription is $22 a month. You’ll get access to all the back catalog exclusives and new stuff released while you’re subscribed.

Did a quick scan of my inbox and there’ve been about 22 releases this year. I wondered when I signed up whether the subscription would be worthwhile or if this would be the dregs of stuff out of the archives… it’s not the dregs. I’ve enjoyed pretty much all the releases that have been issued since I subscribed, particularly the Tabla Beat Science and Method of Defiance stuff.

Tell me what you’re listening to

Enough about my finds this week, what are you listening to? Always looking for new music recommendations. Bonus points if it’s on Bandcamp, but that’s not a requirement.

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Digital crate digging: Searching Spotify by label, genre, year and more

Spotify logoSpotify is a great tool for music discovery, but some of the exploration tools aren’t obvious. If you want to search for something by song title or artist, that sort of thing, no problem. But there are other ways I like to explore new music, like by music label or genre. You can do that too!

The Spotify UI doesn’t expose things like record label, but that’s a really good way to find new music. For example, if you like classical music the Naxos label is famous for it. The Blue Note label is famous for jazz, 4AD is great for indie artists like Bettie Serveert. Point is, if there’s a genre or artist you like, branching out by checking out the other acts on the same label is a good way to find great new music.

Here’s how you do that, in the search box just use label:"blue note" or whatever label you’d like to search through.

Want to narrow the search a bit? You can add the year parameter, like year:1965, so search by label:"blue note" year:1965 and that should turn up everything that Spotify has tagged with that year and record label.

Spotify’s hidden search syntax

Once upon a time, Spotify listed its advanced search syntax on its website. However, the only place (I think) you can find it these days is via the Wayback Machine. According to the old page, Spotify supports these parameters and operators:

  • artist
  • track
  • genre
  • year
  • album
  • label
  • isrc
  • upc
  • OR, AND, NOT and + and –

Search Spotify by genre

You might have already tried searching for genres on Spotify, and searching for “jazz” will turn up some jazz, and also any albums or artists or songs with “jazz” in the name. If you want to search only by genre you can tag on the genre: search modifier and you’ll get results of artists who fit the genre.

Weirdly, Spotify doesn’t return albums using this search modifier, just artists, songs, and Spotify’s “top result” for the genre’s artist. For instance, you search for genre:jazz and you’ll get Miles Davis for top artist. Seems legit. Search for genre:rock and you get Weezer. That’s a little sus. (If anybody from Spotify is reading this, I’m available to help clean up your categorization and taxonomies for a modest fee…)

Spotify search results may vary

Note that the results may not be perfect – And I don’t just mean questionable categorization on Spotify’s part. Searching for 1965 and Blue Note yields (among others) Cornbread by Lee Morgan. According to Spotify’s album info the album is from 1964, and Discogs says it was released in 1967.

There’s also a chance that minor labels are going to have name collisions. There’s more than one TCB Records, for instance, so if you try to locate some 60s jazz from the label by Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra you end up mixing in a lot of more modern stuff (but no Lionel Hampton).

Finally, results vary depending on what Spotify has in its library. Spotify has a lot of amazing stuff, but it’s hit and miss on deeper jazz, indie labels, and that sort of thing.

My guess is that the search parameters and operators are a still-functioning but legacy feature with Spotify that’s not well tended to by its product team. It works, mostly, but it doesn’t seem to be something the company is investing in or trying to put in front of users as a power tool. Pity – because when it works, it is a fun way to sort through the catalog on the service.

However, if you’re trying to find new-to-you music and want to go outside Spotify’s recommendations and generic search features, the additional modifiers can be a great tool. And, remember, artists don’t get rich off Spotify plays – when you find music you really like, think about buying the album direct from the artist or Bandcamp or whatever source is best to give the most money to the artist.

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Bandcamp Friday recommendations: Eliza Rickman, Stickster, Renssy Rios, and much more

Album playing with vibrant colors

It’s Bandcamp Friday! Bandcamp has been waiving revenue share on the 1st Friday of each month to help artists who’ve had their incomes seriously impacted by the pandemic.

Reminder from Bandcamp, “here’s something to keep in mind: on Bandcamp Fridays, an average of 93% of your money reaches the artist/label (after payment processor fees). When you make a purchase on any other day of the month (as 2.5 million of you have since March, buying an additional $145 million worth of music and merch) an average of 82% reaches the artist/label.” So if you happen to be reading this on any other day, don’t hesitate to support folks on Bandcamp then too.

Eliza Rickman covers “Be My Baby”

At the top of my list today, Eliza Rickman’s new single. This is a cover of “Be My Baby” originally by The Ronettes, and will be on her forthcoming covers album. It’s beautiful and respects the original material while she makes it her own.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=1763143220 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

By the way, if you are unfamiliar with the original, listen to Eliza’s cover first and then be sure to check out the original. They’re both fantastic.

If you’re totally new to Eliza’s music, I recommend you start with her 2012 album O, You Sinners which is one of my all-time favorite albums. (Which isn’t to say that I don’t love all her albums, just that Sinners hits me juuuust right.)

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2096306311 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Stickster strikes again

I really love this track by Stickster, a.k.a Paul Frields. Full disclosure, Paul’s a friend and co-worker I’ve known well more than a decade now. But I’m giving this track a big thumbs up independent of that, it’s just a damn good instrumental track that reminds me a touch of Vangelis. (Maybe a little more than a touch.) Definitely put this one in your Bandcamp cart today.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=526198272 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Emma Swift sings Bob Dylan

I have a dirty secret. I’m an avid music fan who really isn’t very into Bob Dylan. I recognize his talent and songwriting genius, but I haven’t really connected with Dylan. However, I’ve really enjoyed covers of his songs – especially Blonde on the Tracks by Emma Swift. Gina Frary Bacon, of WFMU, wrote “An Emma Swift performance can bring you to the edge of tears, because her voice is both heartbreaking and heartbroken all at once. It takes a lot of resilience to be so vulnerable. She brings this strength and beauty to… Blonde on the Tracks.”

Can’t really say it better than that, so I won’t try. Go listen, you’ll believe.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=4061890943 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Modern Americana

Here’s one from The Pomegranate Country Irregulars that has a lot of charm and optimism. It’s filed under “modern Americana” and that sounds like a pretty good description. Some of the music reminds me of mid-period Jayhawks.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2562820348 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Bass and drums with Renssy Rios

Check out this instrumental album from Renssy Rios that features Rios playing 5-string bass and drums. Some really good stuff on this one and it’s a mixture of some fairly tranquil slow journeys and more fast-paced jams that get the blood pumping.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=4049902643 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Bill Laswell

Speaking of bass, there’s so much goodness from Bill Laswell on Bandcamp. If you’re unsure where to begin, I really love one of his latest releases, Against Empire that features Laswell, Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Hancock, Hideo Yamaki, Chad Smith, and several others. Four (long) tracks that defy easy categorization but travel through avant-jazz, rock, dub, ambient and other genres. Don’t miss it.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=4236151357 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Even more bass with Bill Laswell and Jah Wobble

Finally, get double the bass with this album featuring Jah Wobble & Bill Laswell with the Invaders of the Heart and Peter Applebaum and Hideo Yamaki. Amazing album that just keeps giving.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=340709718 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

But wait, there’s more!

I’d also give a hearty recommendation to any of the other albums I’ve written about that are on Bandcamp or any of the albums in my collection. It’s my number one source of new music these days, they have so many fantastic niche and indie artists cranking out amazing work. We truly live in a time of abundance when it comes to finding music.

 

 

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Amyl and the Sniffers, Fraidycat web follower, Mogwai

Fraidycat logo

Let’s shake some of my browser tabs and see what falls out.

Fraidycat web follower / feed reader

Fraidycat logoRSS has been on the decline since Google snuffed Google Reader. Many sites, these days, don’t even support RSS. It’s a problem.

One solution that might fit the bill for many users is Fraidycat. It comes as a standalone app for Linux, macOS, and Windows, as well as extensions for Firefox and Chrome. (I’m currently using the standalone app for the Linux desktop.) The standalone appears to be an Electron app, so I might switch to the Firefox extension.

Fraidycat pros:

  • It handles RSS/Atom feeds, and a number of sites that don’t have proper feeds like Twitter, YouTube. Want to follow a YouTube channel outside YouTube? Fraidycat has got you covered.
  • It allows you to organize feeds by a free-form system of tags (including emojis) and their importance (Real-time, Frequent, Occasional… etc.).
  • Has an import/export system that makes it super-easy to switch from, say, the desktop app to the Firefox extension. Or just export OPML to import into another feed reader, or plain HTML bookmarks.
  • Easy to use, intuitive, open source-ish.

Fraidycat cons:

  • Doesn’t handle things like Twitter lists, Wikipedia pages that you might want to follow. Coughs up an error when you try to follow these.
  • The license is open source-ish. Specifically the Blue Oak Model License which is MIT-ish but not OSI-approved.
  • Earlier this year the next release for Fraidycat was “postponed” so the author could work on another project. Hoping it really is just a temporary postponement and not about to become abandonware.

Amyl and the Sniffers

I snagged this EP by Amyl and the Sniffers on the last Bandcamp Friday. It’s raw, joyous and punk-y. I think I might have been 45 seconds into the first track when I decided “yeah, OK, I’ll listen to this again and again.” Released in 2016, but I’d have believed it if somebody it came out in 1983. Assuming live music returns someday, I’d definitely head out to see them live.

[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3846936675 size=large bgcol=333333 linkcol=2ebd35 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Short, sweet, noisy. Give it a listen, loud.

Mogwai – It’s What I Want To Do, Mum

Song I stumbled on while testing out Fraidycat. Instrumental goodness.

[youtube https://youtu.be/tFUGspVnZFQ]

Gimmie something I wouldn’t usually read…

If you are entirely unlike me and need reading suggestions (vs. having a stack of books taller than you that need reading), then I have a great site for you.

Break the Bubble will give book suggestions that are “bubble breakers” for books you might be unlikely to stumble on, usually. Give it The Hitchhiker’s Guide, A Prayer for Owen Meany, and Post Office by Charles Bukowski and it suggests I might want to read Dread Nation by Justina Ireland or My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland. (Also a “Captain Underpants” title, so there may be a few glitches in terms of age appropriateness.)

That’s it for today’s Link-o-Rama. What else should I be looking at on the Web?

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Ikebe Shakedown delivers cinematic instrumental funk

Ikebe Shakedown band photo

Ikebe Shakedown is another Bandcamp discovery. The band specializes in cinematic soul, an instrumental brand of soul/funk that feels like it should be straight out of a 70s cop or heist movie or a Tarantino soundtrack.

The band does burning jams and introspective cuts that feel like instant classics. If you aren’t moved by their tunes, you might want to consult your doctor.

Continue reading “Ikebe Shakedown delivers cinematic instrumental funk”

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Underground Chamber is a ride deep into the mind of Buckethead

Bucketheadland abstract image

Buckethead Pike #4 album coverBuckethead’s Underground Chamber is the fourth release in his “Pikes” series, and something like his 33rd studio release overall. Underground Chamber is too good to be dismissed, but nowhere near the top of the pile in the expansive Buckethead discography.

Sliced into 10 tracks for digital download, or a single continuous track for CD, the album is tour of some of Buckethead’s favorite tropes. There are metal-ish bits, some funk, and enough tempo changes to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Let’s go underground with Buckethead

Being Buckethead, though, he can’t resist a few wonky bits that keep the album from mainstream accessibility. Well, that and the fact he wears a creepy mask and a bucket on his head.

Buckethead playing live
Buckethead playing live

Sometimes Buckethead’s plonky bits resolve into beautiful riffs and melodies. There’s no question that Buckethead is a rare talent who can coax just about anything out of a guitar that he wants. The jagged edges serve to add texture to what could otherwise be a bland exhibition of proficiency.

Buckethead’s rough edges

But the Pikes are unrefined and sometimes feel unfinished. It’s like looking through a great artist’s sketchbooks at thumbnails that never quite made the canvas. The ideas are there, the talent is there, but after toying with the subject for a bit the page is turned and we don’t see the masterpiece it might have become if it was fully worked.

Like a sketchbook, I like taking out the Pikes from time to time and get a lot of enjoyment out of them. But they’re not the first thing I reach for when I’m looking for music, much of the time.

What could be

It’d be interesting to see what a producer could work out of Underground Chamber with the current album as a starting point. I’d really love to see what Buckethead’s discography would sound like if he had a producer and/or collaborator who could get him to focus on the best bits and discard some of the noodling.

The trade-off is that Buckethead fans have an almost unfiltered access to his work, fully developed and otherwise. Almost every Buckethead album I’ve listened to has high points that make it worth the time to listen from start to finish.

[bandcamp width=400 height=472 album=1506033273 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=63b2cc artwork=small]

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One from the vaults: World Destruction by Time Zone

Needed a bit of adrenaline on top of my caffeine today, pulled this one out of the vaults for a quick boost. “World Destruction” is a single from Time Zone, a collaboration with Afrika Bambaataa, John Lydon, and Bill Laswell.

The track also features frequent Laswell collaborators Aiyb Deng (percussion), Bernie Worrell (synths), and Nicky Skopelitis on guitar. Lydon and Bambaataa share vocals, with Lydon contributing his unique frenetic delivery.

Nothing not to love about this one, it’s got a driving beat and catchy chorus. Lyrics seem just as appropriate today as they did when it was released in 1984. If you’re a Sopranos fan, you might recognize it from the first episode of season four.

The reconstruction is not bad, but IMO doesn’t add enough as a remix to recommend it. The “Mr. Reagan” sample dates the track tremendously.

But the A-side is all goodness. Stick it in and crank it all the way up.

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