Backtracking with CAUSA SUI'S EUPORIE TIDE

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Dragontears – Turn On Tune In Fuck Off!!

This record is the last outing in the trilogy from Dragontears. At first listen this record sounds much more rocking and less acidic than the previous two - but that's just a scam.

The record do start out with the song "Two Tongue Talk" which could have been a song from the Baby Woodrose catalogue with added psychedelic effects en mass and almost excessive use of theremin. Next track "No Salvation" continues in the rocking way and may probably be the closest Dragontears will ever get to an actual radio friendly hit. The song is so darn funky and swinging it could freak out a dance floor. Besides having hit quality there's also some of the records greatest acidic guitar work and phenomenally cool female background vocals by Emma Acs. After this rocking start it's time for the slow and semi acoustic ballad "Myfriend" - a melancholic tale about friendship and ... well, life in general?! And then … well, let the chemicals kick in. "Time of No Time" is a musical trip of dimensions. It's a matrix of swirling sounds and vocals and the slightly salted tears do incept your cortex. This song is without doubt one that shows off the blueprint of what this collective is all about. "William" is the only really extended track on this record and complete with all the lysergic effects one could want - and expect! The song has a nice slow groove and a steady almost tribal drum beat that gives it the perfect monotonic and hypnotic feel. The strong and well written lyrics are in Danish and tells us a story about the haunted mind of painter William Skotte Olsen. Last track "Mennesketvilling" is another dream catching and surreal song that strongly underlines that this is Dragontears and not just another semi-psychedelic hipster band.

If you dig: Woodrose, On Trial, Aron

http://www.myspace.com/dragontears2000

The Movie Star Junkies – A Poison Tree

This is actually kind of voodoo rhythm rock from an extremely dark Blake inspired Italian combo. In all its dark matter the band refers to The Birthday Party and that comes to mind in “The Walnut Tree” with the songs swamp’ish shuffle and Cave like feel. Another reference might be Morricone in the title track with a harmonica resembling “Once Upon a Time…”. But these psycho-garagepunks also gives you a slow melancholic tune with nice Farfisa as in “Hail” and “Saddle Smile”. There’s also a reference to surf and a slight twist of balkan in some tunes – and the real surprise is actually the strong impression of a Robert Burås feel in songs like “Saddle Smile” and the album closer “All Winther Long” which could have been taken from the catalogue of My Midnight Creeps!? In all you will find yourself enwrapped in a synesthestic fog and you only wish the record didn’t stop after a little more than 30 min. But hey, just put it on repeat… If you dig: Nick Cave, My Midnight Creeps, Morricone

Distortions - Autoproducted

Distortions keep up their psychotic overdriven take on psycho-garage-surf and this new album continues where the previous two left. At first I found the songs less focused, less complete in the musical expression and the whole stuff a bit messy. Again the music is extremely fuzzy garage-punk with lots of reverb on the vocal - this time also with a few cool samples thrown in here and there. The vocal still sounds haunted and like it comes right from the mouth of a mad man. But then after a few spins this record is strong like an ox. There are more influences this time like "Bahnhoff Zoo" that has a strange and sloppy PiL dub groove and "Sittin in the Same Room" is almost Sort Sol post-punk anno '81. From "Mercurochrome" and on the band really rips everything apart and the last three song makes the house burn for sure. The band shows that it is the psychic surf they master. Last track "Peep Show" sounds like an early 70's psychedelic score for a drugsploitation movie. Another cool record from this psychotic French freak show... http://www.myspace.com/lithiumforyou

Introduction - Santa sets sail for Saturn

Have you ever had the experience of waking up from a dream hearing the most intriguing music ever? Well, I have - several times. But then again, was it just a dream? Now, the last week I have been awake and heard this most intriguing music when awake - but it feels like I'm dreaming. The music is played by the magnificent Swedish band Introduction. A modern band playing music almost forgotten and for sure underestimated by the modern consciousness. This is prog-rock in the absolute best way. A blend of Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Black Sabbath. All vortexed and blended into a soft musical minestrone perfectly spiced and tiggeling your inner senses like a mix of ice cream, ginger and chili peppers. Introduction delivers the perfect blend of all the musical inspirations one ever wanted. It's so delightful that you just lie down on your back and say "yaaaahhhhhhh, I dig it" Introduction Website Santa Records

Penny Ikinger - Fragile

Aussie noise darling Penny Ikinger is out with a 3 track EP teaser for her next album “Penelope”. Last time around Simon here at LowCut almost wet his pants – and yes, she is a darling. First track “Fragile” starts out like a sweet pop song and then it’s topped by a beautiful dirty guitar solo, damn well done. Next track “Memories Remain” is a slow noise drenched duet with cool slide and vocal duties is shared with Ron Peno. Last track of this EP is a daring one! Although she’s been compared with Nico it takes some big balls to actually cover “All Tomorrows Parties”. But she do well, actually after four spins of this track I’ll say that she do what almost no other woman may be capable of! I also like the cool effect of adding sitar to the laid back and controlled noise inferno. What a tease … Penny Ikinger Web LowCut

Pirate Love - Black Vodoun Space Blues

The name is without doubt taken from the classic L.A.M.F. record by Heartbreakers, but luckily this isn't just another Thunders rip-off band. The CD starts with a blast of true garage punk with gritty guitars and cool organ in the back and a sing-along chorus of "The Lonely Streets". Halfway through the record the band moves into more strange territories and gets quite acidic. This is when the music become interesting! Actually the record has a quite strange almost dreamy horror like feel and some of this psyched stuff may be because it amongst others was mixed by Emil Nikolaisen of Serena Maneesh. The song "Slumber Blues" starts out like a bit ordinary punkabilly tune, but hey, then it moves to a quite cool slow rock'n'roll groove and gets pretty psyched out. In all the band takes elements from 60's garage punk, surf, rockabilly and psyche and fucks it all up in a big cup of strange tea. Although the band can be compared to much of the Gutter style music Scandinavia is so overfloated with, this band brings a fresh wind from the pirate sea. MySpace Love Voodoo Rhythm Records

Miss Chain and The Broken Heels - Lie 7"

Miss Chain & The Broken Heels makes kind of sixties pop reminding you of old movies with girls dancing around wearing long dresses and big wigs. The sound is dominated by the female vocal, but with cool backing harmonies by the "boys". The songs are the kind of teenage bubblegum songs about problems with boyfriends and naive nonsense. But who cares when the voice of Miss Astrid is so charmingly cute you wanna hug your speakers? It's hard not to love the happy grooves of this band ... Miss Chain MySpace Shake Your Ass Records

Leonard Davies - Shit/Black Leather 7"

Leonard Davies is mostly (un)known from lo-fi garage rockers Fallen Men. This double A sided 7" solo is a step forward when it comes to both sound and intensity. This is really compressed simple-as-it-is motorrock with snotty Iggy style vocal and screaching guitar work. The bass is powerfull and groovy. Not much more to say about this record than it's straigh ahead down the rock 'n' roll cliche back alley - "You belong in the shit". Fallen Men MySpace SOPA Delicious

Rock 'n' Roll Monkey and the Robots - Back to Beatsville

Rock N' Roll Monkey and the Robots obviously dig kitschy 60's sci-fi stuff and retro mechanical toys. But what they also like is to make shakin' cool psycho-pop in the vein of B-52's with lots of twang and surf feel. Inspirations may also be the Cramps take on psycho-whatever with their b-movie twist. All songs are damned catchy and makes your feet twist. I would like to say that this band could be the new saviours of alternative pop. This is great stuff - weird - but groovy. If you dig: B-52's, Gun Club, The Mummies - anything catchy ... Motor Sounds Records RnR Monkey MySpace LowCut Magazine

Ahymsa – Demo 2009

Here we have four new tracks from the Londoners Ahymsa who play progressive acid rock with strong references to the early 70’s. The music in these four tracks at first seems quite laid-back with very strong vocal arrangements, but the heavy elements are also present. The music in itself is flowting away pleasantly with cool shifts and breaks. The band really handles the difficult art of making progressive rock arrangements without getting lost in pure showoff and the band always keep the hard hitting elements in the back of their hand as like in track two “Numbers” which ends with some very cool fuzzorma. Track 3 “Green Orange Buddha Juice” starts out real mellow with acoustic guitar and nice cord shifts before a very clear electric guitar leads into the song itself. In the last track “The Singularity” there’s really something heavy going on and the song has a cool keyboard in the middle and towards the end of the song. Because of the many layers in the music, this band is to be listened to carefully and with much concentration. The handwritten liner notes state that this demo is recorded in bedrooms! Wow, quite cool bedrooms I guess – please let me sleep over some time … If you dig: Siena Root, Carpet Knights, Danava http://www.myspace.com/ahymsa meefo LowCut Magazine

Teeth of the Sea – Orphaned by the Ocean

I’m really not fond of post-rock – I find it quite pretentious. I also don’t really like all the drone stuff that’s so fucking popular in indie circles nowadays. Avant-garde gives me the creeps more than anything – I find the labeling so misused although a band like Sunburned Hand of the Man do hit it right from time to time with all their circus show on top. So when I recently stumbled over this London band I was quite surprised. Teeth of the Sea is out on the great label Rocket Recordings. They play instrumental music with strong elements of post-rock and drone. Extremely layered and what you musically will call “epic” and they build what we with the biggest cliché will call “soundscapes”. I was therefore almost happy when I read this statement in an interview: “We were all sick to death of going to avant-garde and noise shows and being bored to tears by either uncharismatic self-important post-rock style muso behavior or dull laptop-staring showmanship.” Well, a bit out of context, but the meaning is clear, right! This is some fucking serious heavy stuff, man! I love this music! It’s so layered and creates so many different expressions. And the trumpet … I mean the trumpet?!? How often do you hear a clear, sorrow Morricone style trumpet lead the music when it comes to swirling dark epic psychedelia? But, it’s the trumpet man – the trumpet made me loose control of my inner senses. And it’s right from the start of the CD. Everything starts out with the heaviest drone, strange synth sounds and then the trumpet. These guys fuck the socks off all the pretentious crap out there. The sound is so wide and scary with layers of layer of feeding guitars and God damn heavy bass. Put Neurosis to bed and come out for a black mariachi sabbathi. In many ways this music sounds like the background noisy part of Torche’ “Amnesian” put in front and pushed to the extreme. The music is all instrumental, but there’s some real scary use of voices like in the beginning of “Sentimental Journey” before the band drones you out for almost five minutes – and then the bass comes in with a heavy Joy Division’ish groove, only to get lost in a swirl of noise at the end. End of record - fucking WOW! So glue on your headphones and float away with the band, don’t resist when you feel like your loosing control. Let the airborne acid-waves get to your inner ear and cross the membrane to the very deepest part of your crippled mind. Don’t be scared, it’s only music – but you will for sure get addicted – he, he, he ... If you dig: Boris, Torche, Nadia – then this is for you! @ MySpace Rocket Recordings LowCut Magazine

Distortions - Psychic Reverb

Back in June I reviewed Distortions first album and gave it 5 out of 5 and stated that it maybe was gonna be my top album of the year ‘08. Well, now they are back with yet another album!?

The music is the same kind of extremely distorted garage-punk with lots of reverb on the vocal and a heavy bass. So, is there any news from this band, or is it just another spin of the same thing? It for sure is the same spin off, and you for sure will say that you’ve heard it before. But then again, this time the songs are even more twisted and psychedelic grooves are added making the songs freak your mind in another way. It’s not just a raw take on punkish garagerock.

A song with the ambitious name “Radio Hit” shows the band moving into the real acidic territories with an awkwardly catchy ska-punkish riff and a simplistic almost dada guitar solo. This strange kind of soloing is also found in “Night Bar to the Next Girl” where the “solo” is actually a short phrase of a child song. And hey, the song “Urinals” is actually an almost complete rip-off of the ”Transmission” bass-riff with just two chords and the same kind of stroke, but developing into a nightmare of distorted fuzz – astonishingly great crafted and so familiar without actually being a coversong – actually I don’t even think it’s intentional. Strangest song of all must be “Propane 200” which sounds like The Cramps rehearsing high on bad acid after listening to early XTC. I wouldn’t recommend going to sleep listening to this record since it might give you a creeping nightmare. Anyway, this is a brilliant take on really acidic horror-psyche – maybe even genius!?! And of course out on blurry green vinyl – what else?!

http://www.myspace.com/lithiumforyou Celebrity is in the Whiskey Bar

The Hors d'Oeuvres - Yeast

Reviewing The Hors d'Oeuvres demo from last year in LowCut #44 I wrote that is was a demo forewarning a great record that I really looked forward to. Well, now it’s here – and it’s damn brilliant! For those ignorants not aware, The Hors d'Oeuvres is probably the best fucking desert/stoner band in Denmark. And this release only adds to my fave for these guys. Absolutely best thing about this new album is the heavy psychedelic vibe all over trying to melt your speakers as it floats out into the room and warms your soul. The song structure is as usual complex in the most simple and accessible way and makes me once again wonder if front man Lasse actually fell in the pot of magic tea as a child? No matter what, he’s backed by a damn tight rhythm section made up by bassist Steffen and drummer Kurt. Adding to the psyche-fun is also Justin Schoening doing space-guitar and freaky organ and Lars Trier playing clarinet on the title track “Yeast”. I love the shift in a more psyched out direction without loosing the heaviness and if I’m not wrong there are even strong elements of Sgt. Pepper on closing song “The Leak”? The Hors d'Oeuvres MySpace Review in LowCut #44

Beta Satan - (Drunk) Girls

Although the Danish “alternative” rock scene is mostly very predictable and pretty boring, one gets surprised from time to time. Listening to Beta Satan’s Girls for the first time was one of those nice surprises. Kind of: “Well, there’s still some hope left for the kids”. On the other hand I know that I’m a predictable old ignorant that hates almost anything hyped in the Danish mainstream press. Beta Satan is kind of an all-star band with members from Tiger Tunes and I Am Bones – two bands I have ignored completely! Anyway, this record is really cool aggressive synth driven guitar rock. Lot’s of punky attitude and snotty provocative lyrics. It’s really original, catchy and melodic. I like this a lot and find this record a fresh blow to the whining and boring Danish mainstream so-called rock. If this kind of music is gonna hit the charts and get some serious airplay at the major radio stations, I’ll clap my hands and piss my pants. I would love it if the sorry mainstream indie-kids and confused Volbeat “fans“ would turn their ears towards Beta Satan and went for more experimental rock like this. But hey, let’s put them down instead; don’t let them think they are better than us! Isn’t that what we usually do? It’s not that good! The record gets a bit boring at the end doesn’t it? Well, the Danish press has been full of 3 out of 6 ratings and conform reviews. So let’s get in opposition … it's a 5/5

Beta Satan @ MySpace Crunchy Frog Recordings

La Otracina – The Risk of Gravitation

Jesucks! I mean, gee… man – La Otracina is a mind bending hard to cope with complex familiarity. Adam Kriney of the band contacted me through my blog and asked if I wanted to review this new mini-album. And hell yes I wanted to after listening to the songs on their MySpace site. Adam presents them as a stoner-prog/psych band. I would go further and call them a heavy prog-space-freejazz band - or whatever. This record is for sure going to keep your mind occupied for the whole half hour! The music interchanges from amphetamine driven space-jazz to downtempo almost prog-doom into almost polished psych-prog. The record seems to be one long suite with all songs floating in and out of each other. Every new song is a new surprise since they change their style from song to song – well, actually even within many of the songs. What a cool band and what cool music. This is for fans of Zappa as well as Hawkwind as well as Orthodox. http://www.myspace.com/laotracina Colour Sound Recordings

Ahymsa - Synæsthesia

Ahymsa is a well kept secret from London. They play a musical blend of progressive hardrock, psychedelic stoner and acidfolk. Very varied and with a retro feel you don’t hear from that many bands even though many tries. The record starts out with some chilled piano intro turning into a hard-hitting riff-o-rama and from there the music constantly progresses with elements of both late ‘60s heavy acid rock and early ‘70s hardrock leaving you breathless because the tempo is mostly in the fast lane. “Astra” is a song that starts out as a complete acid trip with drone pipe and percussion but ends in a short burst of ‘70s metal. Closing song “Life in the Sand” incorporates both heavy riffing and slow psyched out passages and ends as the record starts with a piano outro. This recording is from ’06 but the band is soon releasing a new demo and states that their sound has progressed! Wow, if one progress further from this it’s gonna be fantastic. The only minor weak point to me is the production of the vocals that seems a bit sloppy concerning the apparently dubbed backing vocal, but the singing in itself is marvelous and taken directly from ancient times.

http://www.myspace.com/ahymsa Synaesthesia

AliX - Good 1

Italian groove rockers ALiX is a pretty new band to me. I only recently discovered their ’04 album “Ground” but I was hit right between my eyes by that. At that time they played pretty tight stonerrock with a nice twist of steel guitar and a magnificent female vocal with a twist of ‘60’s psyche. I’ve been looking forward to this new album because of the band itself but also because it was to be produced by Steve Albini!

Then how is it? Well, at first … very different! Actually I was a bit disappointed at first because the band and the production is quite different than at “Ground”. But after some more spins this is again a damn cool record. The sound is more stripped down and less stoned. Most songs have a tight up-beat tempo pushing the songs forward while other songs are completely laid back and groovy. There’s a lot of steel guitar and less heavy distortion. Vocalist Alice sings even more drowsy and with less vibrato and the vocal is moved more to the front in the mix. Compared to “Ground” Alice sounds even more like Chrissie Hynde and less like psyche icons like Joplin or whomever – and that’s cool.

In all this is a very convincing release and pretty daring because the fat stonersound have been exchanged with a much lighter and more alternative style. But it’s still groovy rocking and still one of the most intriguing vocals – especially when she delivers sexy Italian lyrics in the remake of “Bianco E Nero” backed by one of the coolest psychedelic chill-out tunes. http://www.myspace.com/alixband

If you dig: The Misteriosos, Pretenders, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Torche - Meanderthal

Heavy lightness? One one hand Torche manages to create a wall of heavy and repetitive guitar riffing and one the other hand they manage to lift the music up from the swamp of mainstream sludge. Singer Steve Brooks also sings much more melodic than most of he’s fellow singers of the genre. It’s a genius mix of horror-heavy doomish pop and Melvins inspired circus-stonerrock. There’s also a strange feel of Helmet in the production of drums and guitars in some songs like ie “Sundown”! The whole album is one long suite bound together with sharp precision. In my opinion this is a masterpiece, not only as a Torche album, but also compared to the bunch of heavy riffing epic hardcore stuff as the like of Pelican and so on – this record makes me smile while pushed to the wall by the heaviness. Torche is highly recommended for anyone into anything from funeral doom to geeky post-rock.

You can hear the whole album here >>

The Sword - The difficult sequel ...?!

The first record "Age of Winters" was groundbreaking to me! Not at first, but after a while those monumental riffs simply paralyzed my mind. And although I had difficulties with the vocal at first - and especially the lyrics - the band won me ower for good. They are the riff-masters of the universe! This time I'm having difficulties again. What is this? Is it metal or is it stoner that they wanna sound like? I don't really get it. The riffing on "Gods of the Earth" is much like the first time around, but there's too many metal clichés. But the record grows and the last two songs: "Black River" and "The White Sea" really redeem these guys. And one thing is for sure: the louder you play this, the better it feels ...

DOWNLOAD The Sword @ myspace