Rat Motel; Mindvac; Dafake; Kevin Daniel Cahill; Vessels to Motherland; Eretia; Boys Age; The Bordellos; Dystopiarch; The Legendary Ten Seconds

A round-up of quality new submissions. I'll be playing some of these on the CNQ hour on KPISS.FM, Saturday at 5pm Eastern, so please feel free to tune in for that! Here we go:

Rat Motel are two brothers, Seth and Clayton Peacock, from Columbus, Ohio, and I've been jazzed about them since last year's The Regal Sum. Their new album The Rat Motel is due out 6/3, and I've been enjoying the singles "Tutankhamen" and "Owe" and playing them on the KPISS show. Both are super-solid alt-rock tracks; if Seth and Clayton had been around in the 90s, they would've been on Sub Pop or Matador and had videos for these in rotation on MTV, I'm certain of it.

While they definitely draw from the 90s alt-rock well, they don't sound like they're apeing anything. The music and the lead singer's voice (I'm not sure which one is the baritone lead singer) are unique while still sounding like something I've always enjoyed. I guess eggheads call that "hauntological," but it's not like the Peacock bros are making mash-ups of Beach Boys, psych and AM radio singles with the singer going "ooo ooo ooo" in the hallway. It's well-produced, mid-fi, loud, buzzy, thoughtful rock'n'roll.

On this Saturday's show I'll be playing a third single, "Shotgun." Here's the first single, "Tutankhamen":

The debut self-titled EP from Charlotte, NC metal/post-hardcore/prog trio Mindvac is out tomorrow on streaming platforms. The single, "Pastime," is an interesting mix of, as mentioned, post-hardcore and technical prog, I like it:

Paris-based experimental composer/sound artist DAFAKE has two new releases out, Les Miniscules and Live aux Instants Chavirés. For fans of "electro-acoustic mininimalism," DAFAKE works with "a range of experimental recording techniques, DIY instruments and unseen sound sources such as feedback loops, corrupted data and electromagnetic fields processed and recomposed through a modular system." It all makes for interesting soundscapes:

False Walls is releasing a CD of London-based artist Kevin Daniel Cahill's new album Impossible Worlds. Per the press release: "Consisting of two long tracks, the album traces a steady progression as it moves through different environments — initially ambient and isolationist in tone, the work ultimately reaches a form of transcendence. Rooted in Kevin’s guitar-playing, though not immediately identifiable as such due to the deployment of tape loops and effects, the album foregrounds feeling and atmosphere, and its duration and gradual development benefits close listening."

Vessels to Motherland is an electro-acoustic duo based out of NYC. Their new electronic single "Process and Product" is great - atmospheric and dark, with a groovy beat:

Speaking of atmospheric and dark, Eretia is from Spain and their new 7 song release Quietud is both atmospheric and dark -- a fan comment on Bandcamp called it a mix of post-hardcore and post-metal. I'm into it:

Boys Age's new album "Ring World" is out on Bandcamp. "The Ninth Melody" is a great single and I'm excited to listen to the rest of the album. I gush about Boys Age, from Japan, all the time:

The Bordellos have an 11 song sampler new on Metal Postcard Records, Star Crossed Radio. I love the Bordellos, y'all know that:

"Pale New World" is the second single by Brooklyn's Dystopiarch. They say all proceeds will go to benefit the people of war-torn Ukraine, which is nice:

Torquay, England's The Legendary Ten Seconds has a new album out, Astounding Songs, an album of English folk rock songs. The Legendary Ten Seconds is solo artist Ian Churchward and friends. I'm really impressed with his output. After Astounding Sounds he's released Mer De Mort, "recorded to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Mortimer History Society," and I'm not sure what that is, but congratulations to ten years of it, and another full length, History Book Part One. Great stuff, absolutely unique rock'n'roll:

Specular-D; Anna's Bones; Pissabed Prophet; Eric Angelo Bessel; Jean Mignon; Salem Trials; The Conspiracy

Naturally at the first of the year I have every intention of posting more often, I think I've said that every year for the past 11 years. But, here we are, more than two weeks since my last post. But, a day before my KPISS.FM show tomorrow (Every Saturday at 5PM Eastern, in fact).

Specular-D is a sample-based electronic musican out of London. His new release on Bandcamp You Do You has a single available, "Don't Overcome Directly." It's a trip, man:

DIY label Antigen Records out of Ipswich has a couple of new rockin' releases out. "Silver Thread" by Anna's Bones is a single from someone who may or may not be named Becky Blenko. Cool song with a cool video:

And then "Spooling," the available single from an upcoming full length by Pissabed Prophet, is the tops as well:

On April 21, Lore City Music will will release the debut solo album from visual artist and musician, Eric Angelo Bessel, called Visitation. Intrumental, atmospheric, very groovy:

Finally, a couple of websites to check out. Pop Thruster is making a running list of the Best 1000 Albums Ever. An ambitious project and I'll keep an eye on it, I love lists.

Metal Postcard Records honcho Sean Hocking has a new site for his Bottom of the Pops show, aptly titled Bottom of the Pops. Sean's the man, if you want to have any hope of staying cool, you need to follow Bottom of the Pops.

Speaking of Metal Postcard Records, a trio of excellent new releases from the best digital label on the planet:

Bandcamp Friday

Watching the "Selling Right Now" stream on the Bandcamp homepage on Bandcamp Friday is a little headspinning. After all this time, people still like to buy music. Good for everybody. Except for people who hate the intersection of art and commerce, I guess.

I'll be on KPISS.FM tomorrow at 5PM Eastern, playing some of the stuff I'm going to pick up on Bandcamp tonight, so do tune in and just listen to KPISS.FM in general. When there's not a DJ I'll use Radio Garden to find a cool station broadcasting out there, and I humbly suggest you do the same. The streaming services have their place -- I'm a big Pandora user, myself. But live radio is where it's at.

Here's some stuff to check out and maybe purchase on Bandcamp Friday or just whenever you have some coin:

The Bordellos' The Sunday Experience was originally released as a one sided 10" vinyl EP on Benevolent Antenna Records, I'm not sure the original release date, but now it's available as a pay what thou wilt download and it's 8:47 of good old fashioned Bordellos bliss:

Memphis three-piece The Wirms have a new full length, Wirms III. Great garage punk:

New punk duo, also from Memphis, Little Baby Tendencies have a full length available that came out late last month called "Bad Things." Sounds right to me, heavy y noisy:

Italy's K. Board & The Skreens (also a duo?) are back with Metal Postcard release Microdoze, and it's a doozey:

Also from Metal Postcard, the epic New No York comp has finally landed. I've been waiting on this for a while, and it does not disappoint -- hit after hit, from tip to tail, from Neon Kittens, Salem Trials, Lucy & The Drillholes, and The Clickbaiters:

I'm a big fan of Shit Present's 2016 EP Misery + Disaster, and after 6 years, they're back with a new single, and it absolutely rips:

Dykeritz submitted this with just the Bandcamp link, no EPK, no hello would love if you listened...I respect the audacity of the simplicity of the submission. The song is a bright, electro-pop single, apparently a remaster from a 2019 release from the New Jersey artist:

UK indie artist Marek Kubala has a new 4 song release called Satellite/Ramjam on Shore Dive Records. The EP is composed of dreamy "Satellite" and the more rocking "Ramjam," plus two extended mixes of "Ramjam." I like it:

DAFAKE is a minimalist, experimental electro-acoustic composer from Paris. Their newest album, Quiet Geometry, will be released on Discreet Archive on March 4. In the meantime, check out dsrpt -- two 16 minute improvisations, based on feedback loops and manipulated electromagnetic field recordings, recorded live in June 2022:

Finally, Tuscon's Class has a new 6 song album out you can order on cassette, called But Who's Reading Me?. I enjoyed their self-titled release from last year, and this sounds equally as good so far:

Vukovar; Psuedo Desnudo; Helena Celle; Tuff Sunshine

Tough to articulate how sad and angry I am. As long as people continue to vote against their own self-interest, mass shootings like what happened in Uvalde will continue. Arming teachers or turning our public schools into supermax prisons isn't the answer -- gun control is. No private citizen needs an assault rifle. And you don't need to be carrying around handguns in the street either, you nut. If you think your "freedom" to own an assault rifle and open carry a pistol is worth a classroom full of innocent lives, then, and I say this in all candor and seriousness: fuck you, you piece of shit dirtbag. Jesus H., what is wrong with you?

Alright. England's Vukovar has a new album called The Body Abdicator due out June 25th, you can pre-order the limited edition CD on their Bandcamp page, and two singles are posted already, and they're great:

Solo artist Psuedo Desnudo has a new full length out on LA's Cudighi Records, you can order a cassette from Cudighi's Bandcamp page. Captain Beefheart meets Television, I dig it:

From Glasgow, electronic artist Helena Celle has a new hour long release on False Walls called Music For Counterflows. You can order the CD from the Bandcamp page -- it's gotten good reviews from the Quietus and Bandcamp Daily, check it out:

Tuff Sunshine is a three piece from NYC, I've featured them before. "Legwork" is their latest single, killer diller:

CNQ Radio is about to go live for a few hours. Gonna play some cool tracks. Tune in here, or click the play button at the top of the embedded player at the top of the blog's desktop version, if you'd like to listen.

Nova Cheq; Nuggiez; Thank; Narcotized Brain Spasms

It's fast approaching CNQ's ten year anniversary, and I'm certain I am the only soul on Earth who gives a shit. And that's fine! The other day I spent an inordinate amount of time messing with my labels on your left side of the screen in the blog's desktop mode, and not 100% pleased with what I did. I was trying to tidy them up. Maybe I'm 90% pleased. Anyway, it's fun to keep a music blog, most of the time! Just a quick dive into new and newish on Bandcamp:

Nova Cheq is electronica from the UK. This Edits Pack Vol 1 was released in April, 2021. Bandcamp page says, "Edits are bootlegs of hip hop/rap songs I love featuring amazing black artists such as: 3 6 Mafia, SL, Childish Gambino, Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert and Ramz."

It says proceeds go to the charity forgottenwomen.org

Man, so weird to think I've been doing these Bandcamp dives for 10 years. It's nice to have a hobby.

From Auckland, New Zealand, Nuggiez has a new 12 track album due out next month called Toil in the Time of Monsters. Two songs are available for listen now, "The Creeps" and "U Against U." Good post-punk.

I love Thank, and they have a 4 track live release called Live @ Little Buildings, which you oughta purchase immediately, so they can put that money towards another album, or whatever they wanna do with their gottdang money:

Barbaric noisecore!

A Quick Trip Through 58 Years of People Makin' Music: The Fall, Gene Clark, Clifton Chenier, Todd Rundgren, Julian Cope, Jean Michael Jarre, BLK JKS, Undeath, Mortuary Drape, Accept, Lil Bastards, and the Pastels

Yesterday I added a few new additions to our record collection. Here's what I picked up, as well as some other stuff I've been listening to (and one thing I haven't listened to yet).

The Fall - Slates 10" re-release from 2016. Originally an EP from 1981. I bought this without realizing -- this 2016 re-release doesn't contain the extra Peel sessions tracks that were added on a follow up re-release in 2021. The 2021 release is readily available and for the same amount I bought this one for. I'm ruined! Anyway, it's a great EP, and the linear notes are a typed letter from from former WFMU music director Brian Turner.

Gene Clark - Collector's Series Early L.A. Sessions. This is a remixed and re-released version of Clark's first album with the Godsin Brothers, remixed five years after it's release by Clark and producer Jim Dickson, and re-released on CBS in 1972. The record didn't sell upon original release, so now that country rock was finding more acceptance via bands like Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and Clark's former band The Byrds, CBS brought Clark in to re-record vocals and remix these songs. Glen Campbell and Leon Russell were on this album, too, along with the Byrd's Clarence White and Van Dyne Parks on keyboard. Anyway I have With the Godsin Brothers so I thought it would be neat to have this as a companion piece. And it does sound different. Also they took out "Elevator Operator" which I thought was a groovy jam but apparently Clark was embarrassed of it.

Clifton Chenier - Bon Ton Roulet! The King of the bayou, Clifton Chenier's 2nd album from 1967, on Arhoolie Records. All of the songs but one were recorded in Houston in '66, except "Ay Ai Ai," recorded in '64. Cool stuff. Zydeco blues. Arhoolie Records started in 1960 and is still around today.

Todd Rundgren's Initiation, from '75, Rundgren's fourth solo album. Rundgren was on an occult kick, so it's got a long proggy jam on the b-side about Theosophical, New-Agey occult stuff. Which, I'm into in theory, but I'm not sure how often I'll be spinning it, which I read on Wikipedia is sorta what Julian Cope said about it:

"When asked if Rundgren had influenced his music, with perceived influences of Initiation on Queen Elizabeth and Rite², Julian Cope responded that he and Thighpaulsandra loved "A Treatise on Cosmic Fire", "but we both bemoaned the fact that it was recorded so long before ambient music had been defined that Todd treated it as an ever-evolving, almost prog-rock piece. We both loved huge elements of that piece but found that we never listened to it. So we tried to build that Todd-like transcendence into our own piece of music [with Queen Elizabeth]."

The first side of Initiation is rockin' tho. Meanwhile, from Discogs:

"(Initiation) is a one of the longest running single disc LPs ever issued (1 hour, 7 minutes and 34 seconds; side B's total time is almost 35½ minutes). However, because of its fragility and reduced dynamic range, the following note was printed on the inner sleeve: "Technical Note: Due to the amount of music on this disc (over one hour), two points must be emphasized. Firstly, if your needle is worn or damaged, it will ruin this disc immediately. Secondly, if the sound does not seem loud enough on your system, try re-recording the music onto tape. By the way, thanks for buying the album" The final suite 'A Treatise On Cosmic Fire' was sped up by half a step to fit the disc with ease, this is why 'Prana' on the 'Real Man' 45RPM 7'' single sounds slower, as that was the speed that was intended to be heard, except all discs and CD reissues play the sped up version used for the original LP. To slow it to the correct speed, using software such as Audacity, reduce the speed by -5 percent."

Here's a 2015 remaster of a track off the first side, the rockin' "The Death of Rock'n'Roll." That's Rick Derringer on bass:

I've also been on a Julian Cope kick. Here's 30 minutes of his ambient project, Queen Elizabeth, mentioned in the Cope quote above:

Continuing with the noodly electronic theme for a moment, I also picked up a copy of Jean Michael Jarre - Equinoxe. From 1978, this is the follow up to Oxygene, which I have, and Jarre's fourth album. I was reading about these two albums under "Critical Reception" on Wikipedia, and apparently critics really didn't like the electronic stuff at the time. I dig it though, and certainly I'm not the only one, so those critics were wrong. Go figure! Here's a video for "Equinoxe 5":

I found a copy of the Secretly Canadian release of BLK JKS Mystery EP with "Lakeside" on it, I dunno if y'all remember that song from 2009? Neat atmospheric, indie/post-alt type of song, very groovy. They're from South Africa. Apparently they had an album out in 2021. They fell off my radar after "Lakeside." The rest of the Mystery EP is as great as "Lakeside" -- spooky, rockin'. There's some pretty wild psych guitar on the track "Mystery."

I had originally went to the record shop to pick up the latest Undeath album, It's Time...To Rise From the Grave, which is killer old school death metal from Rochester, put out by Prosthetic Records. The band really nails it. Here's the video for "Defiled Again." Brutal fun!

But I got home and I had the wrong album -- they gave me Mortuary Drape's latest, Wisdom-Vibration-Repent instead. Mortuary Drape is Italian death metal. I've listened to about half of this now, and it's good - competent, enjoyable:

I took the Mortuary Drape EP back and it turns out someone else who wanted Mortuary Drape got my Undeath album. So instead I picked up a copy of Captain Beefhart and the Magic Band's Strictly Personal, their second album.

This is The Fall doing "Beatle Bones 'N' Smokin' Stones" for a Peel Session in 1996. "Beatle Bones 'N' Smokin' Stones" is from Strictly Personal.

When we were driving to the record shop, the wife and I heard for the first time Accept's "Pandemic," released on Nuclear Blast Records back in 2010. Why wasn't this song playing everywhere the past few years??!?

Though I didn't buy it, we did look up this single when we got home. Wish I would've bought it! Lil Bastards' "Bitch Get A Job," from the halcyon days of 1992. Youtube comments mention this is the earliest work from a producer called Dougie Diamonds -- I'd never heard of him. This 12" put out on Livin' Large Records appears to have been Lil Bastards' only release:

I've also been getting into the Pastels. Here's "Yoga," from 1995's Mobile Safari. There's a video for this, but the only available version I could find was a shitty upload from someone taping MTV2.

Finally, not as poorly recorded but also not exactly hi-fidelity, check out Julian Cope and backing band pretending to do "I Gotta Walk" on Top of the Pops in 1994:

"I know what your father is saying right now...and he's wrong."

Multiple Releases from Metal Postcard Records: The Legless Crabs, Salem Trials, Legless Trials; The Bordellos, Super Hit; plus Occult Character, Bigflower; Dave Wallfraf, UFO Över Lappland, and Japmn

June 3, 2012 was my first CNQ post. Not quite the apocalypse the Mayans didn't really predict, just a hobby I've kept up with for a decade now. Pat myself on the back. I had plans earlier in the year to keep up with the blog better, which is always a first of the year goal anyway, but this time I meant it.

But it turns out I didn't. I've been posting occasionally as the mood strikes me and that's fine, it's a hobby and what has kept me doing it for a decade.

I also thought I'd do a nice hour or so of a Mixcloud show for the CNQ ten year anniversary, and maybe that'll happen, I dunno. If I feel like it. I've been doggin' Shadowrun: Dragonfall (The Director's Cut) on Steam the past two days. Killer top-down RPG from 2014. I've never played it before, but I played Shadowrun Returns a while ago. There's Hong Kong as well, but I can't remember if I played that, so I don't think I did.

I finished Shadowrun Returns (I always wanna say I "beat" a game, but this is more a completed, fun task than something I won by being good at it). Anyway, both games have been well written, but Dragonfall especially so. The text is immersive and presented in a way it feels like you're listening to your Game Master. The mechanics are a blast, building your little character to spec is well done, and Dragonfall has just been a hoot since the opening scene. Few games scratch that table-top itch like these Shadowrun games by Harebrained Schemes do. I looked up to see if there's going to be another one, and didn't see any news of a new game, but the trilogy is porting to Switch in 2022. I also read that the IP is owned by Topps. Go figure.

To kick things off, how about a little shameless self-promotion. I'm working on a dumb little video to go with this dumb little song, which is also my best work to date, in my IMO. You can check out the whole Legless Crabs album, "Always Your Boy," over on Metal Postcard's Bandcamp page. It is overall a solid noise-slop effort, in my humble IMHO.

Also from me, a couple of new Occult Character tracks. Electro-slop, as I do. These are all Pay What Thou Wilt, so shell out some cash, wouldya? How else am I gonna afford the payola to get this crud on the radio?

And if that wasn't enough from me, how about this new Legless Trials, also from Metal Postcard. Son of El Borko from The Legless Crabs and Salem Goz from Salem Trials team up again for two new tracks, "X-Tyrant," and "Has An X Feel." I dunno why we're on about X but we are, for sure. That's ol' Salem himself on vox on "X-Tyrant," and Son of El Borko barking "Has An X Feel." Salem does all the music and pixie dust, hence why these sound, ya know, good:

Speaking of Salem Trials, the unstoppable UK duo have a lot of new stuff out -- they're one of the few bands I know more prolific than me, and their stuff is actually listenable, so I don't know how they do it. From just a couple of days ago, here's two new rockers, "Dynamite Truck Parts 2 & 3" and "FEAR is All I Can Do":

And, from Metal Postcard, a new nine song, 30+ minute digtial release, Vegaland. I haven't listened to Vegaland yet, but Andy and Russ don't do anything shitty:

I have listened to another Metal Postcard recent release, The Bordellos' I Hate Pink Floyd Without Syd Barrett, a compilation of previously released Bordellos tunes that further prove they're the band that matters most:

The Bordellos have also recently released Onion King Tapes vol. 8, another batch from back when the band was called Onion King. I'm not sure the time period that woulda been -- sometime in the last twenty years, Dan Shea of the band isn't that old, and was a teenager when he started singing in it -- and I'm not sure he was a part of Onion King. At any rate, great stuff, the Bordellos rule:

Metal Postcard has a bunch of other new releases, putting cool stuff out at a frenetic pace, go check it out. One of those recent releases is Super Hit, the solo project of Kyle Handley, who I think is up Portland way? He wrote a 6 song EP where each song is a song he sang to his departed pup, Baby Jean. I made up songs to sing to my cats when they were alive (I haven't re-upped on a pet since they passed a few years ago), so I can relate. Catchy, sweet, Baby Jean forever!

From the UK, CNQ fave bigflower has a new single released yesterday, "The Pill." Mellow psych:

And from last month, an uptempo track from Ivor, "Harder." Psych goodness as always:

Noise artist Dave Wallraf, from Hamburg, Germany, has a new piece out called Cutting Up Men, I listened to it today, it's like listening to whalesongs in space. Super cool and at times panic-inducing, but I had it up really loud in my earbuds to drown out chatter at work. Loved all 40+ minutes of it. There's a limited edition CD you can order as well. Noise enthusiasts should definitely check out Wallraf:

The new UFO Över Lappland, Spökraketer is killer-diller, real deal psychy krautrock from Sweden. Gotta get the vinyl (or CD, or cassette), put out by Philly's Burnt Toast Vinyl:

I have a ton of chrome tabs open on my phone, stuff to share on here. I'll try and whittle that down with each post. Here's japmn, friend of a friend in Portland. Cool stuff from August 2021:

And the soundtrack to a short film, from December, 2021:

I'm gonna play some Shadowrun: Dragonfall.

Will Feral (Texas); David Wallraf (Germany); Lars Haur (Oklahoma); The Usurpers (Salt Lake City); Night of Rage (Russia); Captain Average (Hungary); K. Board & The Skreens (Italy); The Conspiracy (U.K.)

One of my favorite sub-genres of noise/experimental/ambient/electronic music is the "score for non-existent film scores for film" category. Back in college in the late 90s I took a poetry class and I remember being very proud of a particular poem I wrote called "Invisible Movies." I don't have it handy but it began with something like

"This is the soundtrack for a movie that does not exist"

Maybe it's not as cool as all that, but for years, before and after I wrote that poem, I did make soundtracks for movies that didn't exist (i.e., mixtapes on cassette and then later on burned CDs). And then when I began my Will Feral electronic project, the goal was to make scores for films that, of course, don't exist. My most recent cyber-punk themed attempt was "Hellweb," which is out on Metal Postcard Records:

At any rate in recent years I've seen several other people use the same terminology about making non-existent film scores, and I think that's pretty neat. I'm not saying I invented it, of course. It's not a difficult concept to think up (especially if you're, to quote Jon Stewart, "on weed," or maybe you're just a sober yet creative individual, whatever); but it's fun and interesting to be contributing to a micro-genre mini-zeitgeist.

David Wallraf is a noise artist and researcher out of Hamburg, Germany, and his latest release, Subsongs, is also "supposed to function like the soundtrack to a nonexistent film," a non-existent film about birds, according to a pdf he supplied about the release. It's availble on cassette, and limited to 30 copies, from German experimental label Econore. 10 tracks of fascinating noise textures, complete with field recordings of birds. Very impressive and inspiring. Here's the second track from the album, called "Parliment of Birds," which, according to the PDF linear notes for the album, "refers to both a fictional secret language in William Gibson’s 2014 novel The Peripheral and the ancient Persian poem ر الط منطق ("The Conference of the Birds") by Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar." Too cool:

Over on Wallraf's own Bandcamp page, he has a number of releases, both digital and physical cassettes, and the most recent, released back in December, is a 20 minute, two track release that is panic inducing at its heights and highly recommended for noise freaks:

Lars Haur is an experimental artist from Oklahoma, and his latest release is a 4 song EP called Valences :2​:​2​:​2​:​2:. It releases Jan. 31, but you can hear the first two tracks already on Bandcamp. Of the EP, the artist says it is an "uncomfortable ambient EP created through a combination of typical writing and heavy use of semi-random generation of melodies. These semi-random melodies were then processed through a long chain of varied FX that were combined in a likewise semi-random fashion. The name of the EP derives from the characteristic of elements that dictates what other elements they may combine with."

Pivoting from noise to more straightforward hardcore punk, The Usurpers are out of Salt Lake City and have a split with Russian band Night of Rage, a cassette is due out this month but the Bandcamp page doesn't mention it. Fans of DIY hardcore should enjoy:

Captain Average is a 3 piece fronted by László Sallai, who I'm told is "one of the most active member of the Budapest underground," playing in various underground bands and running a cassette label and DIY booking agency. Captain Average "mixes post-punk with krautrock vibes and the lyrics are reflecting on Eastern Europe’s political issues." Their first album is an 11 song digital release called Heaven Capitulates. The single, "In The Post-Future," is a fun listen:

And, finally, it wouldn't be a CNQ post without new releases from the aforementioned Metal Postcard Records. K. Board & The Skreens Langue - EP is the debut album from the Italian group with only one member, and MP describes it as "bedroom electronic 8-bit chip music and add the magic of Italo." Sounds right to me. Super-tight:

The Conspiracy I assume are British. MP says: "Old songs re-recorded and released on Metal Postcard Records...It's like listening to the missing link between Squeeze & The Clean and World Party. They also have the uncanny knack of creating choruses that conjure up echoes of Steve Harley & The Cockney Rebel." Highly listenable:

J. Lansdowne (Atlanta); Headboggle (San Francisco)

Moving forward on October releases. J. Lansdowne is a guitarist from Atlanta and this s/t is his first vinyl release, which you can purchase on his Bandcamp page. Groovy lo-fi psych-blues. Totally rock'n'roll:

Ratskin Records is a collective based out of Oakland. Check out their mission statement:

"Ratskin Records is a collective record label and archival imprint championing decolonial experimental music centered in the Bay Area. We focus on LGBTQ+, Black, Native, POC, and disabled artists who create work that is sonically and politically pushing boundaries toward liberation. We work together to create an alternative to an industry that has historically exploited and devalued artist labor and requires artists to exhaust themselves to fulfill their life’s passion. We see the work of decolonial artists as world-building activism that centers empathy and basic human needs. The crux of our work is centered in engaging the healing power of sound for communities in struggle. Our goal is to pay and provide material resources for artists whose work lies on the margins of mainstream consumption. Our work is multifaceted in that we take multiple avenues to address issues around accountability, accessibility, racism, transphobia, and other systems of oppression. Ratskin is curation centered in its practice and provides resources for artists to create self-determined spaces."

I think that's rad.

Headboggle's Digital Digital Analog is a recent Ratskin release, the artist's first vinyl release on Ratskin. The solo project of Derek Gedalacia, a San Francisco based musician who has been performing under the Headboggle moniker since 2006. Experimental electronica, extremely cool, check it out:

More from Ratskin Records and other October releases to come. In the meantime, don't forget to drink lots of water throughout your day. Your body needs that shit.

Bordello & Clark; Metal Postcard Records

It wouldn't be CNQ catching up after a month of doofing around with other projects and video games without a post featuring Brian Bordello's latest project and/or something new from Metal Postcard Records. So here's a post featuring both.

Back in late August I mentioned Merseyside's Brian Bordello had a long unreleased album he did with U.S guitarist Ted Clark (I think Clark is based out of Ohio) finally due out courtesy Think Like a Key. That album, Atlantic Crossing by Bordello & Clark is finally out, and you can stream, download or purchase the CD on Think Like a Key's Bandcamp page. Long-time readers of CNQ will know I think there's nobody quite as good as Brian Bordello currently alive and making music. Clark's finish on Bordello's initial four track recordings of the dozen tracks compliment Brian's keen ability to craft a lo-fi pop song, with the tape hiss of the four track naturally adding to the ambience. Beautiful guitar songs with Brian's lyrics that are, as always, Lennon-levels of humor and vitriol, often nostalgic and melancholy, and each as enchanting as the last, from beginning to end. These two guys really knock it out of the park with this one. Absolutely one of the best albums of the year:

Hey, is it just me or is this year almost over? It went by faster than last year, feels like. Take care of yourself -- drink lots of water. Sit and breathe.

CNQ's favorite Australian label, Metal Postcard Records, has been as busy as always. The last thing I featured from MP was Leeds post-punk duo Salem Trials' Something Beginning With back in September. One half of the Salem Trials, Andy Goz, has done a team-up similar to Bordello & Clark with Texas' own Son of El Borko, from the Legless Crabs. Together they've release a self-titled EP and, as of today, a full length on MP called What We Did During The Fall. Andy Goz is as talented as all get out. Son of El Borko is me and I gotta say y'all, the week or so it took us to crank out the EP and the album was one of the most fun, challenging and rewarding experiences of my semi-churned life. Andy flexes his post-punk/no wave chops throughout, and I try to be clever and don't know what a key is. For "Holding Pattern," which is one of my favorite songs I've ever written, Andy brought in his friend Jules Lawrence for harmonica for the track, and that harmonica really brings the song home, I think.

Will Feral is an electronic producer who makes scores for invisible movies (actually it's just me and Garageband, but don't tell anybody). Hellweb is an attempt at a score for a cyberpunk horror story. This is the first Will Feral full length for MP:

Also in the electronic vein, MP stalwart Sir Robert Orange Peel has a new album out, and those are always fun, plus Dub Chieftain's Homeworld is a great album, think King Tubby making music for a 16-bit video game:

Rock'n'roll purists will undoubtably enjoy the Aliens album 30 lbs. of Air:

And, for some fun punk:

Metal Postcard Records is an incredible thing to be a part of. The level of talent Sean Hocking attracts and is able to amplify (plus my own bullshit) is a real feat in our current internet stage filled with noise and little signal. Metal Postcard is that signal.

And not to put too fine a point on it: "Pig Fucker," the Brian Bordello & Occult Character song that, many believe, and some even say aloud, is the finest song ever written and recorded, was released on MP, a little over a year ago now. Full disclosure -- I wrote the lyrics to the song, but man does Brian send this into the stratosphere where the best songs ever hang in orbit around us:

Tuff Sunshine (New York); Bunny and the Invalid Singers (Scotland); and Private Hell (Virginia)

Back after another month long break. But before we get to it, a brief grand proclamation that CNQ isn't on Facebook anymore. It was the last social media hold-out for the blog, as I stopped posting on Twitter several years ago and never got into Instagram. So I'll continue to post here on CNQ as time and inclination warrant. There's a "followers" sidebar button over on the bottom right of the web version of the blog. I guess it still works, even though a while back I got a message saying it was going away. You can use that to keep up for when I post, maybe, with your Google account. If not, just check in occasionally, or search for "Clean Nice Quiet" a million times so it shows up in your Google news feed. These are my only suggestions. There may be other ways to get notified when I post, if CNQ is what you're into.

Also, a quick reminder for those interested in submitting their righteous jams to CNQ -- please check out submission guidelines (top sidebar over to the right of the web version). I'll be more inclined to listen to your submission if it is submitted the way I prefer.

Alright, let's do it:

"My Greatest Hits" is a great single off Tuff Sunshine's 8 song digital release Yesterday Suit from label Declared Goods. The album was released back in June, but it's new to me. Tuff Sunshine is a trio from New York, according to their Bandcamp page. The album is low key, catchy, and highly listenable. It's weird to find stuff this good and it's only got 10 supporters on Bandcamp (people who have purchased the album).

Bunny and the Invalid Singers' new album Flight Of The Certainty Kids is out now on Edinburgh label Bearsuit Records. It's already received a lot of solid reviews, and I like it too. Instrumental electronic pop, Tortoise and Dan Deacon would be my touchstone for this. You can purchase this digitally or on CD. Why would you not?

Private Hell is a four-piece punk act out of Richmond, Virginia. Their new 5 song release is called Private Hell, and the last song on the album is called "Private Hell." That's the trifecta, friends. I love it, sludgy thrash punk. You can pre-order a cassette on their Bandcamp page, due out in February from Bat Magick Records:

This album has 47 supporters, which in terms of the stuff I like and feature from Bandcamp, that's a lot. It should be more, but not everybody's as cool and you and me and those 47 cool ass fans.

That's it for the time being. More to come from October submissions and other stuff I've been listening to.

Hans Condor (Nashville); Ab Ex (Dallas); Pink Milk (Sweden); Los Microbios (Vermont); Oceanography (Oakland); Women of the Night (Brooklyn); The Gents (Hamburg); Carbon Fields (UK); Naqoy (Budapest)

Nashville's Hans Condor is that now sound, man. I got a sneak peak at their new full length, Breaking and Entering, which you can pre-order ahead of it's November 16th release on their Bandcamp page, and it's a total ripper. Here's the single, "Breaking and Entering," it's a blister-fest:

Ab Ex is the new electronic solo project from Dallas-based musician Jason Hensel. Lost When Waking is 11 instrumental tracks of giallo-inspired darkwave, good stuff, check it out:

Speaking of darkwave, Swedish occult punk outfit Pink Milk have a new track available called "Here Comes The Pain." Atmospheric to the max! Music to lose your virginity by:

Los Microbios is the home-recorded project of Lance Jones, of Vermont. The 15 track Cognitive Thinning is a real lo-fi wonder, with covers of "Child of the Moon" and "Oh Yoko" to boot:

Brooklyn's Women of the Night have a new album available on Bandcamp, Sub Rosa, 14 tracks of bluesy, gritty, Stones 'n' Springsteen inspired rock that genre hops between proto punk, dream pop and psych, and Americana/indie/alt rock. I like story songs and songs about dirt bags, so enjoyed these:

Oceanography is another solo project, this one from Oakland musician Brian Kelly. Thirteen Songs About Driving Nowhere in Alphabetical Order is the album, also in an Americana/indie/alt rock vein, but much poppier than Women of the Night:

The Gents, from Hamburg, have released Multiple Attack on Bandcamp, a 4 track garage punk effort. Fun stuff:

Carbon Fields is another solo instrumentalist, I believe from the UK, and their new 3 song EP/mini-album is called Petrichor. Each song is around 7 minutes, and, per the artist, "combines field recordings with strings, down-tempo beats and an experimental instrument called a bow chime."

Pretty cool -- you can listen and download on the Hiru Recordings Bandcamp page. Hiru's Bandcamp About says: "Hiru Recordings is home to a collective of experimental musicians, noise makers and field recordists. We release new and archival sonic explorations in the fields of electronica and drone music." And as such, Carbon Fields does not disappoint:

Naqoy is a two piece electro-noise-rock outfit from Budapest. Their new Bandcamp release is called Four, and it's four noisey tracks that blend electronics, noise rock, post-punk and drone. The final track, "Fabric," is mesmerizing, and the artwork for the release is cool too:

UK Night: The Bordellos, Vukovar, Salem Trials, BOYA

On April 20, The Bordellos' second double A-side of the year will be released via the always amazing Metal Postcard Records. I've been lucky enough to receive a sneak listen to the two tracks, The Daisy Master Race and Cultural Euthanasia. Long-time fans of The Bordellos and Brian Bordello's solo work will not be disappointed. The Daisy Master Race is a delightful acoustic pop ditty about a shit-head "real life beautiful talented songwriter who writes beautiful songs but is a real-life right wing, fascist, homophobic, sexist, race hating bastard," sung and strummed by Brian, and Cultural Euthanasia, sung by Dan Bordello, is a mean little psych-out. If you haven't heard the Bordellos, or worse, are not a fan, then I encourage you to think about your life choices up to this point, and get hep. Here is that first double-A side, released back in early March:

Speaking of Dan Bordello, his other band, the gothic post-punk Vukovar, has announced their follow-up to last year's excellent The Colossalist. Called THE GREAT IMMUREMENT, it will be released on CD by the Russian label Other Voices Records, to be shipped May 25. I got the Colossalist on CD and the packaging is really slick, they did a good job. Here's the video for the single When Rome Falls:

Speaking of post-punk from the UK, Salem Trials has a super-bitchin' new single called Children of The CRASH you gotta check out. Andy's noisy guitar and chuga-chuga rhythms always pair well with Russ' sprechgesang vox:

Salem Trials are extremely prolific, so they've also got a new full length release on their Bandcamp page called Refuse To Die, "a collection of songs recorded during various sessions between October and December 2020, and vocals and additional instrumentation added March 2021." Here's the first track off that album, We're Not The People:

And don't forget to check out their double February full-length releases over on Metal Postcard Records, No Waving and File Under Concrete. Here's a track off each release:

And finally, speaking of Metal Postcard Records, and I do so very often, you gotta check out BOYA's Momentary Moments, released back in February. This low-key, ambient 5 song digital EP mixes electronic and acoustic sounds for maximum mesmerizing effect:

HC from Argentina, Noise Rock from Germany, Indie from Chicago, Alt-Pop from the Netherlands, and new Genghis Tron from Poughkeepsie

This post wraps up me playing catch up from being on hiatus. If you would like to submit something to CNQ for future posts, I'll be more inclined to listen and share if you send me a Bandcamp, Soundcloud, or Youtube link to matt at clean nice quiet dot com. I get contacted on the CNQ Facebook Messenger page a lot, but it's easy for me to miss those, just a heads up. I'm not on Twitter anymore, or Instagram or any of the Tick Tocks. Just not my thing. I shouldn't even be on Facebook, that company is swine. But, there's no ethical consumption in capitalism, yadda yadda.

I get requests for me to review an album and I'll mention once again, I'm probably not going to do that. I mean I might, if I get a wild hair, but in general if you submit something I like, I'll share it here with a quick sentence of who the artist(s) be, where they're from, what it sounds like, and that link to your baller-ass sound.

If it's not for CNQ I may or may not respond, apologies one way or the other. But if I don't respond about one thing you send me, please feel free to continue to contact me if you have something else you want me to check out. I enjoy a variety of music and if one thing you submit isn't for CNQ, that doesn't mean the next thing won't be.

And then you'll get listened to by all 4 or 5 of CNQ's dedicated readers/listeners (that number includes me).

Let's get to it:

6 song demo from 2020, Argentina's Emboscada is raw hc done right:

BITE is quality noise-rock from Münster, Germany. This is off a 6 song album released in November 2020 called "Never Satisfied," and you can still get the CD or cassette release, or digital from Bandcamp, of course:

Rick Treffers is a Dutch singer-songwriter and this single released digitally on Bandcamp back in February is choice:

Here's another track from Treffers released this month, "The Best of Your Days." Very pleasing alt-pop from a forthcoming album called "Looking for a Place to Stay." I'll be digging into Treffers' back catalog moving forward for sure, and this makes me very interested in what the new album will sound like. Fans of Belle and Sebastian take note:

Chicago's Nonagon is a three piece outfit who just released their new album "They Birds" on Controlled Burn Records earlier this month. 12 songs of righteous late 90s-inspired indie, reminds me of Cap'N Jazz and what they used to call emo before the kids made that tag mean something different:

In the mail today I received this new Genghis Tron, "Dream Weapon," on vinyl from Relapse Records. It's the Macha-est thing since the last Macha album, however long ago that was. Previous Genghis Tron I've not been able to grok; this, however, I can really get behind. Maybe it's the new singer:

There was a Nintendo game called Ghengis Khan that I loved to play as a kid. I would stay up all night playing that game, finally fall asleep, and then wake up and play it some more. Loved it.

CNQ Top 20 Sunday Countdown

20. Proto Idiot: “Difficult Questions” (Fub, Rigmarole Records, 2020) 19. Shanique Marie: “Freak” (2020) 18. Máscaras: “Braidwaves” (El Morán, 2017) 17. This Heel: “Cave Crickets” (Cave Crickets, 2020) 16. Salem Trials: “Head On Rong” (Metal Postcard Records, 2020) 15. Tall Black Guy Productions: “Gimme Mine feat. 80s Babies” (Restless As We Are, 2020) 14. Harmonica Lewinski: “Poison Pill” (Human BBQ, 2020) 13. Coffin Club: “Rain” (Nowhere Nowhere, 2020) 12. You Will Flood The River: “Evil Frank Is Dead” (Metal Postcard Records, 2020) 11. Damu the Fudgemunk, Archie Shepp and Raw Poetic: “Learning To Breathe (Album Version)” (Ocean Bridges, Redefinition Records, 2020) 10. Sparkle Division: “Oh Henry!” (To Feel Embraced, Temporary Residence Ltd., 2020) 09. Science Man: “That Shadow” (Match Game, Swimming Faith Records, 2020) 08. Liiek: “Waterfall” (s/t, Adagio830, 2020) 07. Big $ilky: “Baby Shower” (Big $ilky Vol. 1, 2020) 06. The Men: “Cool Water” (Mercy, Sacred Bones Records, 2020) 05. Yuvees: “Yr Not Invited” (Human Dance, 2020) 04. Santa Sprees: “Getting Married All The Time” (Sum Total of Insolent Blank, 2020) 03. Brian Bordello: “So Sad” (King of No-Fi, Metal Postcard Records, 2020) 02. Brandy: “(Wish You Was) Madball Baby” (The Gift of Repetition, Total Punk Records, 2020) 01. Night Shop: “Waiting” (The Fountain, Salinas Records, 2020)

Singles Night: Shanique Marie (Kingston, Jamaica) and Moon Hooch (Brooklyn, NY)

Shanique Marie, cool single and the instrumental dub I guess b-side from Kingston, Jamaica:

Moon Hooch -- a skronk single from Brooklyn:

Thanxgibbin Mix

Still working my way thru email updates with this post.

First off, a new traditional Fangsgibblin' tune:

From a neat little collection of psych-pop songs put out by Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records:

I dig this bedroom pop From Minneapolis' Lawn Chair Records:

New weirdo stuff from Guiguisuisui, I think from New Zealand:

Incidental music from the score to a new independent movie called "Counting for Thunder." My dad turned me on to this guy from Shreveport. Per the bandcamp page, Futreal built some of the instruments used on this score, including the electric gourd, electric chromatic dulcimer, electric mountain dulcimer, and chromatic gourd dulcimer. The whole album is really cool listening:

Dan Deacon-esque tune from London, apparently this cat makes music on kid's toys and old synths:

The Bristles were a Swedish punk band in the 1980s who broke up in 1985, but got back together in 2008. This is from their latest album, released in late October:

Music video of Australian hardcore from do-no-wrong Lethal Dose Records:

Michael Harren and Joan of Arse (2014)

Michael Harren is a composer and performer from Brooklyn who, per his site's About page, "combines elements of classical composition with experimental electronics and storytelling..." And he tours as pianist with Sandra Bernhard, who I've always had a crush on. Here's his new video - I like both song and video:

Small Bear Records has a new release, the absolutely right on Joan of Arse, from the Isle of Man. The video is by vanguard artiste Venison Lamprey. The Youtube video has the best quote ever: "it's not illegal if you don't care."

A Smattering of Sound

I'm waiting on San Andreas to download from Steam.

Some Elephant 6-esque psych from San Fran:

Grindcore from Leeds:

HC from New Jersey:

A spacey track from Paris:

The Notwist are cool:

Postcode: Zebratronic (2014)

The Isle of Man's Mikie Daugherty and Marie Reynolds are the duo behind Postcode. Their third album, "Zebratronic," has been released by Small Bear Records, and is 14 solid tracks, featuring, per their press release, "Drum machines, synths, guitars that don't sound like guitars (and plenty that do), screwdrivers, drumsticks and an increased deployment of slide, along with a complete lack of standard tuning." The result is highly listenable rock 'n' roll, with a fuzzy, shoe-gazey aesthetic and charming hooks. I think fans of Yo La Tengo and/or My Bloody Valentine will enjoy this album.

Zebratronic can be listened to in its entirety on Bandcamp and the download is pay-what-thou-wilt, with a physical edition coming with a bonus track. Here's a couple of tracks. Enjoy!