Squeamish (Atlanta); Assassun (Berlin); Magna Zero (Los Angeles); Salem Crabs (Leeds/Dallas); Salem Trials (Leeds); Super Hit (Portland)

Alrighty, here's some cool new albums from Bandcamp. I'll be playing stuff from these new albums on my Saturday KPISS.FM show, it's usually 5P Eastern / 2P Pacific, but this Saturday DJ CD Playa of the OOO Show won't be there and has graciously let me sit in on her spot, so I'll be on at 4P Eastern and playing tunes for two full hours, so be sure to tune into that on the Internet over at KPISS.FM or Radio Garden (and apparently there's a KPISS app for you Apple cultists.)

Squemish is punk rock out of Atlanta. Their Bandcamp debut Burn Down Stone Mountain is the good stuff:

ASSASSUN's Chronic Quicksand Depression Morning is the new full length from Blackjack Illuminist Records, out of Germany. I've been featuring a lot of releases from Blackjack Illuminist lately, they're putting out rad sounds regularly. Gothy synth-punk, sehr cool:

Magna Zero is based outta LA. Their new album, The Great Nothing, is sprawling r'n'r in the vein of Jane's:

Metal Postcard Records naturally has three new releases out this week:

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:

Jay Brown and the Legendary Ten Seconds, Santa Sprees, No Base Trio

Got some interesting submissions for you tonight. And don't forget to tune in to the Clean Nice Quiet Hour on KPISS.FM this Saturday, 8/27, at 4P Central/5P Eastern. I'm having a lot of fun doing those, there's a chat you can get in on the KPISS website and gab with me as I play tunes.

Jay Brown and the Legendary Ten Seconds are out of the UK. They contacted me about their sci-punk track, "The Time Stream," which is pretty good, but I really liked this follow up release, "The Torquay Sandyman."

Did you know there's vinyl available for Santa Sprees' Fanfare for Tonsils? Great album:

Check out this improvisational jazz/noise combo called No Base Trio, based out of NYC. Their second album, NBT II, is coming out October 14th, 2022, on Setola di Maial. Here's a track from it and a video from their first album:

Three Singles from The Legless Crabs

Ya know I completely forgot to mention, The Legless Crabs have a new video for their smash no-hit, "(I Wanna Be A) Cult Musician," from the recent Metal Postcard release, Always Your Boy. Cult Musician will also be released as a single soon on MP, with a b-side that I think is pretty rad, but honestly I don't even remember what it was I sent to Sean for the flip. Meanwhile here's the video for Cult Muso, directed by Son of El Borko, the Crabs' shadowy, bizarre front man and main lyricist:

The erstwhile three to four piece also have a couple of new tracks available for pay what thou wilt over on their Bandcamp page, "I Know What Yr Dad Is Sayin' (And He's Wrong)," and "Anti-Christian Scientists." Appreciation of naive noise rock and a degenerate sense of humor may be required to fully enjoy, but give it a listen anyway:

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.

New Rock'n'Roll from Bandcamp!

Another reminder to check out the Clean Nice Quiet Etsy shop, got a couple of new paintings up and it'd be cool if you bought one! Meanwhile a lotta submissions to cover and I've got some Cyberpunk 2077 to play and music of my own to record, so let's get this over with.

I started off the last new music post with a new single from Liverpool's Bigflower, so why not do it again? Solid motorik just under the 3 and a half minute mark, dig it:

New San Franciso label Color and Time Tonight's first vinyl release is from Ohio's Wild Wings. Foil Landscape is 4 tracks of killer psych-punk r'n'r, listen below and order the vinyl from CTT here.

Brooklyn solo act Sunk Heaven has a new release on Crass Lips Records called Porous Mirror. Nine rad tracks, a must listen for fans of experimental/industrial noise:

Total Punk Records is an unstoppable force, they've got new Buck Biloxi and Alien Nose Job coming out which I can't wait for. In the meantime, check out this amazing racket from Montreal's Tha Retail Simps, Reverberant Scratch: 9 Shot in tha Dark, due out March 1 and Total Punk's first release of the year. You can listen to three of the tracks already on Bandcamp, and there's videos for "End Times Hip Shaker Pts. 1 & 2" and "Rock and Roll." Described in the TP hype e-mail as equal parts Velvet Underground and Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs; I can't argue.

Speaking of unstoppable labels, Metal Postcard has a number of new releases that all bear repeated listens. First for your consideration is the latest from Brian Bordello, Cardboard Box Beatle, what Brian says is his final acoustic album, and it's probably his best, which is a feat. 11 tracks of heartbreakingly excellent tunes. The words I always use to describe Brian's songs all apply across the 11 song album: raw, honest, amusingly caustic, caustically amusing, and just absolutely beautiful, man. Songs like "Cat Food on the Floor," "Here Comes Eric With His Dead Child Song" and "Salamanda Fruit Fly" are Brian continuing to show us all how it's done. I've been singing "Any Room In Your Life for a Song and Dance Man" in my head all week.

Next up from Metal Postcard, Super Hit is former White Fang guitarist Kyle Handley's solo project, and this 18 track self-titled release is super-solid:

Kyle has another project called The Tyrds and their 8 song release on Metal Postcard is called I Got Shit On My Mind. Fuzzed out!

Salem Trials has a new full length, Foe Fact, and on top of that is releasing a new single every Sunday through February on Metal Postcard. Unstoppable seems to be the secret word for tonight's post, as Andy and Russ from Salem Trials are absolutely unstoppable as well:

Andy Goz from Salem Trials and Son of El Borko from Legless Crabs (who happens to be me) teamed up to release Legless on Main Street, a 9 song effort that features Andy at the top of his game and me just trying to keep up with his undeniable ability to write a bad-ass rock'n'roll song. I like to think of it as the Stones and the Velvet Underground meet Wesley Willis and the Shaggs. It's the best thing I've ever worked on and I'm super proud of it! Here's a track called "Singer" about abusive singer songwriters from the 1970s:

Finally from Metal Postcard, Italy's K. Board & the Skreens have a new EP, 4 tracks of mind-blowing Italian outsider electro-pop. So frickin' good:

Speaking of Legless Crabs, I've been busy with my made-up Naive Noise Rock Collective over on my own Bandcamp pages. Here's three new releases of naive noise rock I've put out. Enjoy at your own risk:

More submissions to come. I got other shit to do now tho. Look out!

Jeffrey Lewis (New York); Sour Blue (Los Angeles); Rick Treffers (Netherlands); Gasp (Sweden); and Last Wars (New Jersey)

Working on an interview with The Mangfather Bob Katz. Bob turned me on to an artist I'd never heard of before, Jeffrey Lewis, and I have just been blown away listening to him all day. The latest thing on his Bandcamp page is The Jeffrey Lewis & Peter Stampfel Band: Both Ways (The Great Lost 2017 Double Album!). Lewis is a New York boy, and a cult figure at this point, who also does comic books. When I see a guy my age doing what I'd like to do, in this instance making great tunes and creating comic books, I'm always a little jealous. But these songs I've heard of his today are so great, my jealousy is overshadowed by the joy his off-kilter songs immedietly brought me. Weird, unique, utterly listenable:

Schema EP is a 7 track digital release from LA band Sour Blue. Their introductory e-mail describes them as "dream pop melted into...IDM, shoegaze, (and) ambient...(with) lots of tape experiments, warping, (and) sound design." I'm not as hip as I used to be, if I ever even was, and had to look up IDM -- "intelligent dance music." At any rate, it's cool stuff, worth checking out:

Rick Treffers' final single, "The Earth is Turning Round the Sun," from his digital album, Looking for a Place to Stay, is good stuff. Indie pop from the Netherlands:

The new Gasp video is cool. Gasp is from Sweden:

Last Wars' latest two song digital release is bitchin'. The first song, "Pale Fire," is Tubeway Army meets the Wipers, I'm super into it. Last Wars is from New Jersey:

4:44; Yammerer; Salem Trials; Metal Postcard Records; Legless Trials; The Legless Crabs; The Bordellos; Alien Nosejob; Ausmuteants; Thalmus

4:44 is a singer-songwriter one man recording project based out of New Jersey. I feature new 4:44 from time to time, always good stuff. The last post with a 4:44 track was in September (where I erroneously said he was from Philidelphia), but the track I featured has been taken down by the artist on his Bandcamp page. So here's another track from his most recent 21 track Bandcamp digital release, Orchid, released back in September:

Thalmus is also a singer-songwriter solo project, based out of Atlanta, who makes "weird country music," and I love that description. Midnight Country is a digital Bandcamp release "featuring a few originals mixed in with country covers of Sonic Youth, Thundercat, Anita Baker, and Rae Sremmurd." Check out their cover of SY's "Schizophrenia," it's super-cool:

This was submitted back in June and I missed it. Just stumbled on it tonight while ironically trying to figure out how best not to miss stuff like this. Yammerer is from Liverpool. I was 3 seconds in and hooked on this track, "Tell Me What The Ancient Astronauts Believe," and stayed hooked for the full 3 minutes of the song. Killer, urgent post-punk, and what a great song title:

New Salem Trials is bitchin' as always. Post-punk rock duo from Leeds about as prolific as Bob Pollard or Zappa:

I was honored to get to work with Andy from Salem Trials under the moniker Legless Trials, and we're very lucky to have Metal Postcards to promote them for us. Our most recent Metal Postcard release is an EP called Hotwire an Ambulance. The lead track, "Hotwire an Ambulance," has been played on no less than three terrestrial radio stations, and as far as I know, maybe more. Maybe ALL THE STATIONS. That's me on vox, Andy on everything else:

I just looked over at the Metal Postcard Records Bandcamp page and betcha by golly, Salem Trials has another release on it. I told you they were prolific. Synthetic Animals and Other Plastics is an 8 song concept album, here's "Halo of Flies:"

And speaking of prolific Metal Postcard artists, both the Bordellos and the Legless Crabs (who may or may not be my noisy, off key solo project) both have new releases. The Bordellos have a new 2 song double A-side, "Dancing To The Hits/Slow Motion Fade Out," and the Crabs have a new 11 song, 20 minute long album called Tender Karaoke, and I gotta say, it's not the worst thing, if you're into noisy, off key solo projects. The Bordellos release is genius as all fuck tho:

The Bordellos also have a 4 song digital release on their own Bandcamp page, Rock N Roll Is Dead EP. The Bordellos are that band where you tell people how rad they are, and they don't listen, and then some time later they say to you, "hey, have you ever heard of the Bordellos?" And you want to strangle them, despite their well-meaning attempt to turn you on to cool new music. I do that to my wife all the time and it's a wonder she hasn't strangled me to death yet:

Alien Nosejob has new vinyl out, I'll pay for that without having to hear it first because you know it's gonna be rad. But luckily I do get to hear it first on Bandcamp before I inevitably order it. Alien Nosejob is the bedroom project of Jake Robertson from Ausmuteants. Ausmuteants has not put out anything since 2019, but these Alien Nosejob albums have been super cool. I've got the first two on vinyl, will be ordering this as well:

...Present The World In Handcuffs was the last Ausmuteants album, released in the Before Times of 2019. The Bandcamp page still has vinyl available:

All that got us up to is mid-November with new releases and submissions. More later and soon maybe, ya know. I dunno. Go forth and listen to the above! And drink lots of water. I want to play some Skyrim, or maybe Tropico, or some Sims. If I could play all three at once, I still wouldn't be satisfied.

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:

This Heel (Sweden); Lappen (Germany); Meph Luciano & CK (Dallas)

Martin Månsson Sjöstrand's This Heel has a new EP called Invisible Space, due out October 16 on Bandcamp. I got to listen to the 6 track EP today and it is This Heel at its lo-fi psych-pop rock'n'roll finest. Sjöstrand keeps getting better and better at what he does. "Cave Boy (Blow The Flower A Kiss)" is from the new album, give it a listen:

Also, all true Sjöstrand fanatics should check out volumes 2 and 3 of his Arkivkollage series. I featured #1 in the series a while back, and since then there's been two more -- each 20 minutes or so of songs from Martin's archives, collaged together into a must listen for purveyors of weirdo lo-fi psych-pop extended freak-outs:

Deutschpunk from Leipzeig:

Hip-hop from Dallas:

And another thing...

Just to keep myself having fun, here's some quick takes from new releases on Bandcamp:

Rad lo-fi bedroom punk from a woman in Chicago:

When you think about rock'n'roll calcifying, when I hear stuff like this, I think we got a few years left. This will be played at weddings in 2057:

Corntuth (Brooklyn); Little Beards (Dallas); WSZY (Poland); and Kingfisher (Sweden)

Back in late July I posted a good review of Brooklyn-based ambient producer and musician Corntuth's latest album The Desert Is Paper Thin, and since then it's been a feature on Bandcamp Daily, which is always nice when I get to scoop them. (Bandcamp Daily I used to think was uncool, but I have since come around and now I think they're doing a good job). The vinyl for The Desert Is Paper Thin is now 80% funded. Meditative "Ambient Americana" is a good way to describe it, take a listen, and if you like it, you should head over to Corntuth's Bandcamp page to contribute so the album gets funded. I did, it's great stuff and should sound rad on the hi-fi:

You know Syf Records has been cranking out the jams, as that's what they do. Here's some of the newest stuff from the lo-fi, high powered Polish micro-label, and not what you'd expect, either. Instead of the raw, noisey rock y electro that Syf typically trucks in, WSZY's debut EP, .GNIDY is post-rock -- or maybe, heavy jazz, man, yeh -- Polish heavy jazz. I think you would dig it the most. Like a lo-fi cross between Morphine and Tortoise, the 3 song instrumental EP is certainly a lot more intentionally musical than previous Syf releases, the ones I've heard anyway. Syf cranks out a lot of material, which is a good thing, but I'm not able to keep up with the expanding catalog like I'd like to. At any rate, you can order WSZY's .GNIDY on cassette via the Syf Records Bandcamp page, and you should, this is exceptional stuff, a ton of fun:

That Little Beards single, "What's The Point (It's Funny)", from their forthcoming album The Legend of Spectacular Living, is now streaming, and you can pre-order the album on Bandcamp. Smartwave gothy post-punk from Dallas, check it out:

Kingfisher is a rock duo from Sweden and their new single, "Lover to Discover," is available on Bandcamp. They describe themselves as a combination of '90s MTV Rock and 00s British indie, which I think sums up this single nicely:

Brian Bordello and The Bordellos; bigflower; Bordello and Clark; Vukovar, and Beauty Stab (UK)

The Bordellos have announced their 4th and penultimate double A-side of the year. I've had the golden opportunity to preview the two tracks. The first song, "All Psychiatrists Are Bastards", is a playful ditty written by the younger Bordello Dan, the velvet-voiced frontman also of Vukovar and Beauty Stab. The song's a hoot, usually you don't hear Dan this playful in his songs. The second A-side, "Will I Ever Be A Man," was written by Dan's pop, Brian, with the Everly Brothers in mind, shortly before Don passed away.

Y'all know I think Brian's a genius of a songsmith, and if "Will I Ever Be a Man" doesn't prove it to you, then you and I just aren't on the same page with it. And that's fine -- but you're wrong. With my own recording projects I always ask myself, "What would Brian Bordello do?" And the answer is always the same: he would make it fucking rad.

All Psychiatrists Are Bastards/Will I Ever Be A Man will be released for download/streaming on Metal Postcard Records August 28th.

Brian has been as busy as ever. Here's another recent release from him and Ivor Perry, who has an amusing story about the time he replaced Johnny Marr in the Smiths. Perry's current project is bigflower, and that's what this release is filed under. It's the first track recorded by Brian, 30 years ago, dug out, dusted off and revisted. A great song:

The long awaited Atlantic Corssing is finally due out September 24, from Think Like A Key Music. Brian and American guitarist Ted Clark have teamed up for a 12 song album that you can pre-order from Think Like A Key's Bandcamp page. I can't wait.

And for the road, some Brian Bordello genius level material you may wanna rub your ears against. First, probably my favorite Bordellos song ever. I think that's Dan singing:

And a killer track from Brian off a recent Dream Society Records comp:

Of course you should check out Vukovar and Beauty Stab if you haven't already:

And here's a boss Ivor Perry bigflower song, "Criminal," released back in June. Recorded on a phone with an acoustic. 100% cool:

I conclude: if you aren't listening to any of the above, then it's like man, you just don't even know what's happening.

O yeh and don't sleep on the Metal Postcard EP Brian and I did together, Heart to Heart. The song "Pig Fucker," and this is really odd but true, is the best song ever recorded:

New from Metal Postcard Records and Syf Records

A desire to scratch a symbol on a cave wall, or beat a drum, or ululate, or tell a story.

Imagine that.

Imagine being present at the beginning of our history, and then, hundreds of thousands of years later, being present for the end of it. Like you lived all that time. I bet you'd be glad to finally see shit wrap up.

Loyal CNQ readers will know Sean Hocking's Metal Postcard Records is bad-ass and indispensible if you want to stay hep af in our modern age.

Halfway through 2021. Scratches on a cave wall.

"Love is a Healing Force" is a taster single from a new act called The Kessler Cascasde. 7 minutes of off-beat bedroom blue-eyed soul with a positive message. I am inspired:

Also from Metal Postcard, Graham Domain has a new 9 song album out. A lot of the songs on it are also long. Here's a shorter one though. Graham's a serious talent:

Speaking of 7 minute long tracks from Metal Postcard, and the opposite of real talent, I'd be remiss to not feature "Abandon All Dope," the last track off Occult Character's new Metal Postcard release, The Song Remains The Stain. Around an hour of lo-fi histrionics, courtesy yours truly:

I did an interview with Syf Records a while back and they've been steadily releasing stuff since -- now they've got their first cassette release, which is exciting. It's all their KILØFF EPs in one place:

This first cassette released earlier this month was quickly followed by two more cassette releases!

Soma Crew (York), The Poppermost (Glasgow), Uhylak (Wroclaw, Poland), Bethan (Dallas), The False Positives (Rochester, NY), and Pink Milk (Gotland)

Soma Crew is based out of York and has a new "twin" vinyl release, Out of Darkness/Into Light courtesy Vinyl Eddie Records. The 12 songs are all around 5 minutes, give or take. I haven't listened to the whole thing, but the four or five tracks I listened to are rad. Psych in a Brian Jonestown Massacre vein.

Here's a video for their single, "Mighty Forces:"

Uchylak is from Wroclaw, Poland. Going back to 2019, he has eight albums and eight EPs on Bandcamp, and I love an artist who is so prolific that his friends tell him "I can't keep up with your output." I can relate.

Super-cool instrumental electronic music, the artist says it's "a mix of techno-industrial, ambient, drone and lo fi." This song has a Ministry vibe I love:

The Poppermost is a one-man band from Glasgow with a new album due out on the 30th called Hits To Spare, which will be made available on vinyl and CD in the US courtesy Think Like A Key Music. A Beatles/Bands Influenced By The Beatles-influenced project, "Up Against It" is the B-Side of the first single:

Velvet Blue Music is a label out of Huntington Beach, California, I'm interested in digging into their catalog a little more. There's a number of bands on their Bandcamp page from the DFW and Texas. I love this track from Dallas artist Bethan, whom I've never heard of. An eerie jazz vocal:

I look forward to listening to more of the Velvet Blue Music catalog soon.

Here in the Year of our Lorb 2021, there are so many people making so much music. What a time to be alive. And you'll never listen to it all. It's a wild scene, man.

The False Positives are out of Rochester, NY, and I have been there twice. They've got a really cool record store called The Record Archive that has a bar in it.

This is The False Positive's eighth digital single release since December 2018. Fun lo-fi power pop:

Swedish duo Pink Milk have got to be going places. Gothy shoegaze, reverb to the max -- and what a fun video:

That's half a month's worth of quality submissions right there. I'll try for the other half of July submissions here soon.

Thanks and The Bordellos (UK), Shakali (Finland), and Jay Royale (Baltimore): Noise, Lo-Fi, Ambient Psych and Hip-Hop

Thanks is noise rock from Leeds. "Thankology" is a compilation of everything they've released up to this point. Digitital download, CDs, and cassettes are still available. It is so awesome, I can't stop listening it.

I listened to all of this 9 and a half minute long ambient psych piece today on my drive back to work from lunch. Killer diller:

New hip-hop from Baltimore's Jay Royale. Absolutely:

The Bordellos' "Be My Maybe/David Bowie" double A-side courtesy Metal Postcard Records is now available. Prepare to melt:

Rick Treffers (Netherlands); Gasp (Sweden); The Bordellos (UK); The Conspiracy (UK); The Chris Rolling Squad (France); Last Wars (New Jersey); and Adam Holtz (Alabama)

A while ago I featured singer songwriter Rick Treffers from the Netherlands, and his new release, Looking For A Place To Stay, is now out on Bandcamp and streaming services. 12 song album, I haven't gotten a chance to listen to all of it yet, but the few songs I've listened to confirm my suspicion that Treffers is a talent. Highly pleasant indie pop. Here's the video for the first song on the album, "Time Is Really Running Out"

Gasp is solid Swedish three piece punk. They've released a new single, "Least Expected," which is rad. Here's that, as well as the video for their previous single, "Dragging Through Mud." Also rad:

The Bordellos have a new double A-side due out on Metal Postcard Records, "Be My Maybe" and "David Bowie," and it's getting difficult for me to think critically about a Bordellos track, I just think they're the coolest no matter what. Dan's baritone vox (see also: Vukovar, Beauty Stab) is always in fashion, and his pop Brian knows how to write earworms. They are truly my 21st century heroes. While you wait for "Be My Maybe" and "David Bowie," here's their most recent double A-side from Metal Postcard, in case you missed it:

Also from Metal Postcard, I managed to miss this: weirdo pop duo The Conspiracy, with an 18 song album called Apple Zapple. Check out the title track, killer diller:

France's The Chris Rolling Squad released their second album back in April, Cannonball Holocaust, available streaming on Bandcamp or on vinyl. Motörhead-inspired rock'n'roll for sure:

New Jersey's Last Wars have a bitchin' new single, a cover of Flipper's "Get Away." Lo-fi moog-punk excellence:

Alabama's Adam Holtz has a "new" track up on Youtube -- it's actually a 20 year old recording, originally done on a 4 track analog tape porta-studio machine. More super-cool stuff from one of CNQ's favorite singer-songwriters:

The Ducks (UK); The Slime (Canada); Mustat Kalsarit (Finland); ✞ 𝕸𝖊𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖔 𝕴𝖉𝖎𝖔𝖕𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖈𝖔 ✞ (Japan)

Brighton weirdo two piece The Ducks have a new video, check out this punky freak-out, "Hypno Dim Sum":

These two hc singles from Toronto's The Slime are like, the most, man:

Finnish garage rock four-piece called Mustat Kalsarit -- you can get a limited cassette or the album on digital, from an LA label called Cudighi Records. I was immedietly taken by the first of the three songs available on streaming, "En tahdo astua pimeyteen," and when the second, "Uimaan" started, I was sold. Then there's the last song available for listen without pay, "Puu" -- when was the last time I listened to a flute-driven psych freak-out??? A while ago, I betcha. Great modern day garage-psych that happens to be Finnish:

✞ 𝕸𝖊𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖔 𝕴𝖉𝖎𝖔𝖕𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖈𝖔 ✞ -- A little over one minute of weird noise from Toyko. If you wanna be cool, you should probably check it out:

Roland Bruno (Argentina); Palberta and Sunk Heaven (New York); The Ducks and Salem Trials (UK); Call In Dead and 2Amature (Florida); The Shifters (Australia); Franck Racket (France); and Adam Holtz (Alabama)

Back in 2016, Buenos Aires based Roland Bruno released a 7" single called "Cumbia Reaction." Apparently Switzerland's Voodoo Rhythm will have a new release from Bruno soon. Absolutely rad Latin garage psych:

Is "rhythm" the weirdest word in the English language or what? I find it impossible to correctly spell it the first or second time. It never looks right.

On May 7, at 7PM Central, Palberta is doing a livestream on Bandcamp where they'll play their new album Palberta5000 in its entirety. Ten bucks, and an electro-noise artist called Sunk Heaven will also be playing. I've got my ticket, and got an e-mail from Warf Cat Records today letting me know my Palberta5000 record has shipped. They still have vinyl for sale on Bandcamp:

On May 19, 7PM GMT, Brighton two-piece The Ducks and something called Super Nothing TV will present "The Ducks Will Fxck You," "a live stream set from The Hope & Ruin in Brighton, a collection of sketches and music videos." I'm intrigued:

Also from the UK, prolific CNQ faves Salem Trials have a rad new track on Soundcloud:

SalemTunes · In the Future lies the Past

Released today, DCxPC Live Volume 1 Presents: Call in Dead and 2AMature Live at the Danger Room in Orlando, FL, is the first 45" put out by new punk label DCxPC. Limited to 200 copies, you can get one for $10. The Call in Dead side is a mishmash of hc and pop punk, crust/screamo, metal, and unfortuntely, a little bit of ska ("Summer Camp"), but despite the skanin' in "Summer Camp," it's quality r'n'r. The 2Amature side leans towards pop/surf but has an edge, and the whole live split is a success at capturing the sound and energy of a kinetic punk show. Recommended:

It's quaint to say I miss going to live shows, but I do. I know some folks have already started going back to live events, but I'm not ready for it.

The Shifters - Live In Gaul was recorded live (on an iPhone!) back in 2019, and put out on cassette this year by French label Arvo Disques. The cassette has already sold out, but a repress is on the way. Meanwhile you can listen to the full thing on Bandcamp. Fun, jangly, lo-fi rock'n'roll, and it's nice to hear a crowd having fun:

Also from France, Franck Racket is a grungy two-piece and their 5 song release Dark Ages is available digitally or on CD. I've been on a '90s hard rock kick lately and this release from back in February hits in that spot:

Finally, longtime CNQ fave Adam Holtz has a new song and video he made called "You." Always a pleasure to hear a new song from Adam:

Martin Månsson Sjöstrand (Sweden); Palberta (New York); Sunk Heaven (New York); Sophia Chablau e Uma Enorme Perda de Tempo (Brazil); Rick Treffers (Netherlands)

The "Followers" widget I've got over on the right side of the desktop view of the blog is going away. The 7 of you who follow CNQ may need to bookmark and check back at your convenience, if I'm not readily supplied with a replacement widget that does the same thing.

CNQ favorite Martin Månsson Sjöstrand put a 16:47 digital release out on March 31 called Arkivkollage 1 for pay what thou will. It's a whirlwind of a collage through snippets of lo-fi alt-rock, psych, and surf sounds, I assume, based on the name, from Martin's archive of unreleased tracks. My frame of reference for this is that GBV collage of song snippets towards the end of either Propeller or Vampire on Titus, I forget which. At any rate, this is awesome, and you should pay money for it. Sjöstrand is a supreme rock'n'roll talent.

NY three piece Palberta is going to be on Bandcamp Live on May 7, and to tell you the truth I didn't even know Bandcamp Live was a thing. But very cool that it is. Palberta will be playing every song from their new album, Palberta5000, and a guy called Sunk Heaven will be playing too.

Tickets for that event are available here. Meanwhile, you can listen to and get the new album on digital, CD, or vinyl.

Highly recommended, here's the first track off of Palberta5000:

Sunk Heaven is electro-noise from Brooklyn:

This 9 song, self-titled digital release from Brazil's Sophia Chablau e Uma Enorme Perda de Tempo is so, so good. You owe it to yourself to sit back and enjoy the whole album:

Dutch singer/songwriter Rick Treffers has a great new single, "Time Is Really Running Out":