The Bishop

Song: “The Bishop”

Artist: Battle Of Mice

Album: Jesu/Battle Of Mice Split EP ( 2008 )

…Knife, Fork, Bottle and a Cork; that’s the way you spell New York…

I would of thought the dark, heavy, agonizing sound from Battle Of Mice would of contrasted well against the electronic, post rock pieces put together by Jesu.  But in reality the two tracks submitted by BOM seem out of place when placed next to the material from Jesu.

“The Bishop”is probably not the heaviest song from BOM’s catalogue but it would have to be one of the most impressive. There are many layers to the track vocally and musically, with dynamic changes progressing from soft to loud and loud to soft.

Julie Christmas vocals are something that has grown on me over time. At times they can be almost soft spoken and are very similar to Bjork but unlike Bjork they can quickly move to an intense scream that literally bleeds emotion and rawness.

A great album to check out simply because of the two Battle Of Mice tracks.

I Know It’s Called The Street Of Dreams

Song: “Street Of Dreams (a.k.a. The Blues)”

Artist: Guns N’ Roses

Album: Chinese Democracy (2008)

… Los Angeles, United States …

Well Chinese Democracy has finally been released and it’s nothing special (but who actually thought it would be).

“Street Of Dreams” has been nagging me for weeks now, it reminded me of another song and for the life of me I couldn’t think what that song was. That’s until this morning when it all came flooding into the forefront of my cranium.

Its Peter’s Dracula song from the movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.

I Don’t Know How We Were Created

Song: “Created”

Artist: Portugal. The Man

Album: Censored Colors (2008)

…Alaska, United States…

After spending the morning listening to the new Guns’n'Roses album I needed something decent and melodic to flush out my ears and in steps Portugal. The Man’s “Created”.

A simple, uplifting song in its entirety. I just think it gets around to say that we all are eventually going to die. Possessions and money are useless to us then so maybe all that really matters in life is how we treat others.

Your Roofs Blow Out Into The Stormy Seas

Song: “Gobbledigook”

Artist: Sigur Ros

Album: Með Suð I Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust (2008)

…Reykjavik, Iceland…

Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust – translation “With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly”

I always find this such an amazingly, uplifting track to start an album, shut your eyes and you can even feel the sun come out. As always Sigur Ros’s albums are magnificently crafted and this album has plenty of beautiful moments to make me stop whatever I’m doing at the time, sit back, listen and just try to absorb it all in.  

Its A Big Dark World Now, Its A Big Dark Hell.

Song: Nightgoat

Artist: Fantomas Melvins Big Band

Album: Live from London 2006 (2008)

…Hollywood, United States…

The Fantomas Melvins Big Band – Live in London 2006 DVD flew into my hot little hands yesterday after many painstaking weeks of waiting. So after the days dust had settled and a cold beer was wedged firmly in my hands I sat down to watch this monster growl.

With Buzz Osborne, Dave Lombardo, Trevor Dunn, Dale Crover, David Scott Stone and Mike Patton at the helm you can imagine the beast that unleashed. I mange to catch Fantomas, Fantomas Melvins, Melvins and Tomahawk a few years back and still to this day it is one of the best shows I have ever witnessed.

Predestination Blues

Song: “Predestination Blues”

Artist: Grails

Album: Doomsdayer’s Holiday (2008)

…Portland, United States…

Many have touted this latest offering from Grails as their darkest and heaviest album to date. Stretching out with smokey psychedelic rock, smoldering middle eastern melodies and experimenting with some lounge-bound cosmic jazz, it is definitely their most diverse and edgy album.

While I dont feel like this their best work to date and it is probably their least consistent album there still are a lot of great moments to be had for the listener.

Predestination Blues is just the first track off the album that appealed to me.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Grails

Lionize

Song: “Lionize”

Artist: Benea Reach

Album: Alleviat (2008)

…Oslo, Norway…

Heavy and tight, Benea Reach have created an album full of thick, impenetrable sounds. Like a huge wave of metal that looms over you, casting your entire body and mind in shadow and threatening to crush your entire being into a thousand pieces.

With there Mushuggah trademark tempo’s and rythmic playing, Benea Reach construct the programmed sound of a mechanized hammer’s pounding away at the fabric of conventional thought.

Lionize was the first track that stood out for me, so if you want some fibre in your diet I recommend it.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Benea+Reach

Hologram Buffalo

Song: “Hologram Buffalo”

Artist: Brightblack Morning Light

Album: Motion To Rejoin (2008)

…Psychedelic, Folk originating from Alabama, USA…

This is my Sunday morning slow burn jam session and pretty much describes the pace that today is running too. Looks like its going to be another long trip, procrastinating, pushing foreign objects up my nose….and this album/song I have dedicated to be the soundtrack of my day.

It’s 70’s meets 2008, the taking of psychedelic, folk and atmospheric sounds into one big ol’ cooking pot. The melting and merging of past and present influences and finally when the brew is just right casting them into something new, fresh and innovative.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Brightblack+Morning+Light

14 Spaceships Out In The Desert

Song: “Spaceships”

Artist: Tweak Bird

Album: Reservations (2008)

…Psychedelic Rock from the good ol’ US of A…

Today, finally after many weeks I have been able to give this album the listen it deserves and I have to say striaght away I was immediatly entranced with the simple but catchy riffs and subtle psychedelic influence. All the songs are short, with the album coming in at 17min, but what they lack in stature they sure make up in grooves.

This track is nice and thick, just the way I like it….

Lastfm – www.last.fm/music/Tweak+Bird