Psych

New album: Joey Joesph || Do You Bongo?

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Power Pop, Psych, Punk / 1 Comment

Joey Cook used to play in psych indie pop outfit Pomegranates, but currently records and performs as Joey Joesph – which I keep reading as Joey Joseph. Despite several releases preceding Do You Bongo, it is the first post-Promegranates work I’ve heard from Cook/Joesph. The record is hard to overlook though. Opener Bellezebub immediately grabs your attention with its Warm Sodaesque retro powerpop. From there on out, Do You Bongo is a delightfully weird mesh (mess?) of sounds and styles. There is proto punk, glam, power pop, synth pop, rock’n’roll, psychelic rock, and new wave. Psychedelic Baby Magazine sums it up as “rock & roll through a lens shaped by Saturday morning cartoons, half-remembered AM pop, and home-recording hero worship,” and that makes totally sense once you’ve listened to the record.

As such, you probably won’t like all of the songs on Do You Bongo, but the gems here (like Bellezebub, Little Brother, Rock & Roll Music, I Feel Nervous and Bongo 3) make the trip worthwhile nonetheless. Cool concept, cool execution.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

“New” album: The Frowning Clouds || Gospel Sounds & More from the Church of Scientology

By / / Garage Rock, Psych / Leave a Comment

In 2010, Australian folk-rock / pop-psych band The Frowning Clouds released their debut album Listen Closelier, which was followed in 2013 by the Whereabouts LP. However, the band had recorded more songs at the time, 8 of which ended up on Gospel Sound From The Church Of Scientology, a European tour cassette in a (quickly sold out) edition of only 100 copies. Good news: that tour tape, two tracks that never actually came out and a handful of non-album singles have now been brought together on the LP Gospel Sounds & More from the Church of Scientology – a total of 14 original tunes from the period 2011/2012. This 60’s inspired garage rock sounds just as contemporary, pure and delightful as the popular work of bands like The Growlers, Night Beats, The Murlocs and The Limiñanas – hopefully it will earn The Frowning Clouds just as much appreciation, that would be well deserved.

Gospel Sounds & More from the Church of Scientology is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Anti Fade Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

Gimme 5! Peter Matthew Bauer (The Walkmen) Shares 5 Recent Favorites In Anticipation Of His New LP Flowers

By / / Alternative Rock, Blues & Roots, Country & Folk, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Psych / 1 Comment



With ‘Gimme 5!’ we take a peek into the collections of artists we admire. The premise is simple: artists WE like share five records THEY love.

Depending on your frame of reference and location, The Walkmen were either wildly succesful in the ’00s or criminally underrated. I, for one, am a huge fan of the band’s discography. Unlike other bands, the Walkmen’s demise did not end the musical careers of its individual members. In fact, they continue to gather critical acclaim with their solo (see Hamilton Leithauser, Walter Martin, Paul Maroon, and Peter Matthew Bauer) and band careers (Matt Barrick with Muzz). A close look at all of these projects reveals the diverse talents and musical interests of the individuals that made up the Walkmen.

In anticipation of his third record (Flowers), we reached out to The Walkmen’s bass player Peter Matthew Bauer to provide a Gimme 5 feature. He kindly obliged, and his list is as diverse as I’d hoped it would be. Part of this has to do with his own record label (and management company) Fortune Tellers Music. The Flowers LP, which will be out September 23 on Fortune Tellers – pre-order now) is a reflection of the different artists Bauer works or has worked with. Currently, three teaser singles have been released and none of them sound alike, yet all of them are of interest. Whereas Skulls has hints of The Walkmen, Knife Fighter starts out as an acoustic folk song that grows into something bigger and more exciting along the way. That also applies to Miracles, a gorgeous and particularly powerful track where Bauer constantly builds and releases tension. Continue reading below to hear the song and discover Bauer’s Gimme 5.

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Gimme 5! Peter Matthew Bauer (The Walkmen) Shares 5 Recent Favorites In Anticipation Of His New LP FlowersRead More »

New EP: The Special Pillow || Mind Wipe

By / / Indie Pop, Psych / Leave a Comment

Hoboken (New Jersey, US) four-piece The Special Pillow are back with a six-track psych folk / baroque pop EP with a 1960’s feel but a 2020’s connection. A slightly estranged but fascinating combination. How different would we listen to this sound without knowing its music history? “An empty slate // A really empty slate // Is really not so rare // And it’s really pretty great” (from title track Mind Wipe). However, we have to deal with first world problems. “Can you prove you’re not a robot? / Click all the boxes with traffic lights” (from Access Denied). Lyrics aren’t even necessary: Organic Panic could have been a forgotten soundtrack hit (love for the Bronx Zoo flamingos featured here!). Dan Cuddy (bass, vocals, moon guitar, keyboard, glockenspiel), Katie Gentile (violin, viola, vocals), Peter Stuart (guitars, vocals, electric sitar) and Eric Marc Cohen (drums, percussion, vocals) know how to surprise and captivate in every way.

Mind Wipe is out now digitally and on CD (self-released). Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The People´s Pleasure Grounds || The People´s Pleasure Grounds

By / / Indie Rock, Psych / 1 Comment

The People’s Pleasure Grounds is the new solo project of Dutch multi-instrumentalist Jimmy de Kok (Iguana Death Cult and The Black Marble Selection). Accompanied by three close friends, and recorded by Temples drummer Rens Ottink, these first four songs of the band are an impressive blend of psych, surf and sunshine pop. The band’s sound has elements of the laidback nature of Allah-Las, but also of the urgent guitar licks of Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.

Pick up the Cassette at Harry Records. Vinyl available through Little Water Records.


Add to wantlist: Harry Records || Little Water Records

New album: Quiet Confusion || Magella

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Ten years after the release of their debut LP, Quiet Confusion is back with their fourth full-length studio album Magella (the title is a tribute to freedom of expression). Although the Italian trio has changed their line-up (below you listen to Antonio Cortina (vocals, guitar), Giovanni Franceschini (drums) and Roberto Panarotto (bass)), remained has the stoner rock ‘n’ roll that is deeply drenched in heavy blues and psychedelics. The album title is a tribute to freedom of expression, because the three musicians had the privilege to explore soundscapes in an instinctive and genuine way. This led to standout opening track Long Wave, which with a (far too short) running time of only 2:42 is unique in this genre, in which long jams such as the instrumental closing track J.J. are common. This band shows how to master both and everything in between. This is powerful and exciting music with a live feeling and authentic sound.

Magella is out now digitally and on CD through Go Down Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Go Down

New album: Tchotchke || Tchotchke

By / / Indie Pop, Psych / Leave a Comment

New York-based trio Tchotchke – Anastasia Sanchez (drums, vocals), Eva Chambers (bass, vocals) and Emily Tooraen (guitar, vocals) – have released their self-titled debut album, produced by The Lemon Twigs. At first hearing these are simply nine indie pop songs with a 60s girl group sound, but surprising baroque, psych, folk and rock influences – guest musicians added cellos, horns and violins – make the album more unique, fascinating and eccentric than you initially expect. Wonderful arrangements, enchanting vocals. Actually, there are no weak moments here, but apart from the singles Ronnie, Dizzy and Don’t Hang Up On Me, in particular Oh Sweetheart, Come (featuring Jonathan Rado) is an addictive summer hit.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Paper Lips || The Sound Of Sound

By / / Country & Folk, Psych / Leave a Comment

The imaginary award for the most nerdy cover art of recent months goes to Paper Lips’ debut album The Sound Of Sound. Fortunately, the music is more exciting than the graphics suggest. Paper Lips is a solo project by English singer-songwriter Mike Whittaker, who we know from garage rock / rhythm ‘n’ beat bands The Baron Four, The Jack Cades and Thee Vicars, but what he does here is fundamentally different – no less good though. You’ll hear ten psych folk songs, nine originals and a cover of 13th Floor Elevators’ Splash 1, with chiming guitars, relaxed vocals and summery melodies. They take some time to get used to, but slowly but surely enchant you. Connoisseurs will be able to name the precise audio frequency spectrum, but even without that knowledge you feel that The Sound Of Sound is on the right wavelength.

The Sound Of Sound is out digitally and on vinyl LP through Dangerhouse Skylab and Mono-Tone Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

Dusted || The 10 Best Cover Songs Of June 2022

By / / Alternative Rock, Blues & Roots, Country & Folk, Funk & Soul, Garage Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Psych / 2 Comments

Not all new music is really new, as many artists cover songs. Sometimes these are songs by their favorite artists, eg as a tribute to such a musical hero for a special reason, or they simply feel that a song deserves to be dusted and polished to reacquaint fans with great songs from the past. Other times, bands cover songs as a parody. Regardless of intent, some of those cover versions are so good or so much fun, we’d like to put a spotlight on them. Chosen from a wide range, here are – in random order – ten of our favorite covers from last month – links to the pages where you can add them to your wantlist included.

In June we heard some covers on the soundtrack of Baz Lurhmann’s biopic film ELVIS, The Routes’ did a surf rock Kraftwerk tribute, Elvis Costello celebrated Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday, a project of Disclotch Records contained 27 home recordings to pay homage to Daniel Johnston, and previously we wrote about releases from Thee Escapees, Mikey Erg, Reverendo Band, Runaway Lovers and Townies with some successful cover versions. Below we list the 10 best that we haven’t mentioned yet.

Hound Dog || Cover: The Record Company || Original: Big Mama Thornton
The iconic rock ‘n’ roll track Hound Dog was written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, first released by blues singer Big Mama Thornton (1953), and made famous by Elvis Presley (1956). The ELVIS soundtrack features an honorable cover by Shonka Dukureh, but as a fan of American roots rock band The Record Company, it’s their version that you see here (not related to the movie). It’s not a Thornton or Presley imitation: as always The Record Company gives it its own twist. In case you don’t know: they previously worked on Beastie Boys’ So What’Cha Want, still one of my favorite covers ever.

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New album: Marco Busato || Night Of My Times

By / / Indie Rock, Power Pop, Psych / Leave a Comment

Marco Busato is a Brazilian-born, London-based singer-songwriter / multi-instrumentalist (please don’t confuse him with canceled artist Marco Borsato from the Netherlands), who is just in time to make your summer a bit better with his first solo album Night Of My Times. You’ll hear nine original, sunny guitar pop songs rooted in the 70’s, inspired by the psych, surf, soul, mod and tropicalia greats (the entertaining “influences” playlist includes Kevin Ayers, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Os Mutantes, Love, Allah-Las, Chris Bell, etc.) – perfect tunes from a sympathetic music maker that make you forget your worries for a while. “Be high and low, not right or wrong”, he sings in Sunken Ships, and for someone who likes to be right, I’ll think about that again when the sun goes down. Anyway, if only the beach clubs would play these tracks instead of the usual electronic noise pollution, how right would that be?

Night Of My Times is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Bickerton Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Bickerton || Discogs

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