What Are You Listening To Now?

[sunray]

The Velvet Underground - Loaded: Sounding like one of the greatest albums ever made right now. Which of course it is. A hard to beat opening triple whammy and a finish of the glorious, majestic, not-enough-superlatives-in-the-world 'Oh Sweet Nuthin'. A constant reminder of friends, fields, sunshine and acid. Times past yet still possibilities ahead.
And yes, i'm at a sad enough place in my life at this specific moment that i am posting here at this particular time Onwards & upwards....

[niamhm]

The Velvet Underground - Loaded: Sounding like one of the greatest albums ever made right now. Which of course it is. A hard to beat opening triple whammy and a finish of the glorious, majestic, not-enough-superlatives-in-the-world 'Oh Sweet Nuthin'. A constant reminder of friends, fields, sunshine and acid. Times past yet still possibilities ahead.
And yes, i'm at a sad enough place in my life at this specific moment that i am posting here at this particular time Onwards & upwards....

I love this album, the only Velvets album I listen to these last 20 yrs or so - Live 69 exception made for - so many memories wrapped up in it, and it’s really very uplifting,

Richard Dawson - The Ruby Cord, daughter got me this for Xmas and with one thing and another including a nasty bout of the flu this is the 1st I’ve had a chance to play it, 3 x today, it’s superb, the 41 minute The Hermit, once you get your head around it is a quiet and understated, masterpiece, although I readily accept many may not agree

[Hans Lucas]

The Velvet Underground - Loaded: Sounding like one of the greatest albums ever made right now. Which of course it is. A hard to beat opening triple whammy and a finish of the glorious, majestic, not-enough-superlatives-in-the-world 'Oh Sweet Nuthin'. A constant reminder of friends, fields, sunshine and acid. Times past yet still possibilities ahead.
And yes, i'm at a sad enough place in my life at this specific moment that i am posting here at this particular time Onwards & upwards....

Great album. And I've been there. A lot. Hope you are well and have a great 2023.

[stegraham]

Don't know anything about this band - Jadu Heart - but I like this track.

[angel-sighs]

Spencer Cullum has been a good recent discovery for me. not even sure how to describe it, he is a pedal steel player but theres also quaint and quirky vocals some have compared to Robert Wyatt. bit of a british folk rock feel but other stuff in the mix too

https://spencercullumscoincollection.ba ... collection

Then theres also a song which is kind of a hoedown version of krautrock!- great live version here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSoGpQbTdKU

[sunray]

King Pong Dub System - System Sound Shock: Sample-heavy Electrodub from Canada that would sit right at home at On-U Sounds. Hit the spot for me. https://kingpongproductions.bandcamp.co ... ound-shock

MADMADMAD - MORE MORE MORE: No-wave Disco, dance-punk etc. with added knob twiddling and effects. ESG meets Battles with a hint of Soulwax? Perfect for a festival https://madmadmad.bandcamp.com/album/more-more-more

Lump Hammer - Beast: First off, what a perfect name for a Sludge/Noise band! Dirty, heavy, repetitive riffing that pummels. Loses marks for the occassionaly crap vocals. At other times they're fine. https://invertedgrim-millrecordings.ban ... a387436953

The Shits - Punishment: More filth, this time in a Noise/Punk vein but still sludgy too. New album coming on Rocket. Be interesting to hear what that's like. https://theshitsrock.bandcamp.com/album/punishment

Orchestra Gold - Medicine: Contemporary Afro-psych i guess. Couple of songs don't quite land but overall a good listen. https://orchestragold.bandcamp.com/album/medicine

Plus a rekindling of my love of Funk with a bunch of different comps

[Rokkenwithdokken]

Acid Rooster - instrumental psych rock from Germany - their latest record Ad Astra from 2022

https://acidrooster.bandcamp.com/album/ad-astra

Two extra long jams. Recorded live with only a few mics I believe, sounds raw but really enjoyable on headphones - the drums on the first track have got a nice stereo field thing going on. I think recorded in a garden. The second track is pure ambient bliss, no drums just synths and guitars - a real trip I found it to be.

Incidently these chaps have recorded the most 1990s Spiritualized era sounding track I think I've ever heard from the record before Ad Astra

https://acidrooster.bandcamp.com/track/remote-places

Well worth checking out!

[aadamm]

[Rokkenwithdokken]

I’ve been enjoying this album recently

https://reflectorband.bandcamp.com/album/echo-colonnade

They’re from Ukraine. Apparently it’s been out for a few years but will be released on vinyl by Sulatron Records soon so that’s how I heard about it.

New Carlton Melton is out too

[sunray]

Incidently these chaps have recorded the most 1990s Spiritualized era sounding track I think I've ever heard from the record before Ad Astra

https://acidrooster.bandcamp.com/track/remote-places

Well worth checking out!

Funny, i have Irrlichter and i don't remember that track at all. Time to revisit i guess.

Not sure about the new Carlton Melton lp. Will need a few more listens.

[niamhm]

Les Big Byrd - Eternal Light Brigade, late to this party but this is so good,

BJM - Fire Don’t Grow On Trees, this has been getting a constant play since it came out, BJM at the Barras this weekend,

Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell, extremely late to this party but damn this is great album and Dio is some heavy rock chanter

White Heaven - Strange Bedfellow, fabulous 90s Japanese psych reissue

[ro]

the colemanaires w the wonderful ann cole
out on the ocean sailing

https://youtu.be/58iFtvcWYe4

[rapideye]

First heard of Six Organs of Admittance from here during lockdown and it really hit homes in those times. They've now become a favourite. 1st listen of 'Ascent' today. Really liking it. Fair to say an in-between of Comets On Fire and his more folky, acoustic stuff or even more recent releases?

Also, had Mogwai Young Team and CODY on vinyl turn up, CODY is on white vinyl, so let see how that turns out. Young Team is a lovely colour vinyl.

[ro]

the always heartbreaking
down from dover
dolly parton

https://youtu.be/MZ1IL8R5sSY

edit/
and this wild set of songs from lou ragland/love apple

https://louragland.bandcamp.com/album/love-apple

In the late '70s, three do-right women from Cleveland forged a brief partnership with Ohio's everything man, Lou Ragland. Unlike the prefabricated singing combos of the day, Lily Pearson, Annette Warren, and Avetta Henry swapped lead duties as situation demanded. When a Ragland-centric publicity stunt preempted a concert appearance, Love Apple disintegrated, abandoning this rehearsal tape within the lo-fi confines of Thomas Boddie's cherished Eastside studio. Devoid of bass, the sparse instrumentation (only Lou on guitar and piano and Hot Chocolate's Tony Roberson on drums) accentuates each vocalist's aptitude, showcasing some of Ragland's finest songwriting in the process. During any given take, Ragland can be heard calling audibles, directing his singers to repeat a passage, or lending his own sweet tenor to the vocal mix. Never intended for release, Love Apple's six-song sketch is the perfect companion to I Travel Alone, bringing Ragland's unique musical vision into sharper focus.

[angel-sighs]

First heard of Six Organs of Admittance from here during lockdown and it really hit homes in those times. They've now become a favourite. 1st listen of 'Ascent' today. Really liking it. Fair to say an in-between of Comets On Fire and his more folky, acoustic stuff or even more recent releases?

This is really great to hear! I have also picked up key recommdations from this site that have become some of my all time faves.
If you need further pointers on Six Organs happy to supply, its a fairly big and rewarding catalogue

[rapideye]

Cheers, Angel-Sighs. Yes, been picking up a few Laps over he last couple of years - Veiled Sea, Companion Rises, Asleep..., Burning Thresholds, Hexadiac I, Ascent and the release for the music library (Name escapes me ATM) and I think there are a couple I'm getting MP3 only that there was an email about recently. I'll try and pick up whatever I can. Any other standouts? The Marial Keppel (that proper name escapes me too) release I downloaded when Olan mentioned it in a post to someone.

[ro]

rapideye,
re: six organs, i’m not knowledgeable about the catalogue and which pieces fall under what taxonomy, but the two i like to listen to are:

the sun awakens
and
school of the flower

[angel-sighs]

Couldnt pick too many better choices than ro's selections to be honest! Might add Shelter From The Ash. All those are richly textured albums mixing acoustic and electric

I downloaded Maria Kappel too after the raves on here. It's pretty gorgeous, but physical copies do not come cheap so is having to remain on my discogs watchlist for now!

[ro]

Might add Shelter From The Ash.

i’ll have to look this up!
thank you

[rapideye]

I can vouch for Shelter From The Ash as I have a copy of that. I search out the others noted here. They're all on the list.

I found that during COVID, while out walking, escaping the uncertainties of what COVID brought, that his music seemed to fit and help make sense. It felt like music that lends itself to open spaces, nature, running, biking and camping. One of my favourite moments was loch-side camping and listening to Companion Rises. It felt reassuring. I'm not usually spiritual at all, but it was a comfort.

Now hoping for UK gigs at some point.

[Ammuniti0n Train]

Last night I decided to revisit Dr John ... Gris Gris.
1968 and still sounds incredible

[niamhm]

Pigs x 7 - Land Of Sleeper, 4th album of doomy, stoner sludge with a nice dose of psychedelia, now refined and distilled to an art form

[sunray]

Pigs x 7 - Land Of Sleeper, 4th album of doomy, stoner sludge with a nice dose of psychedelia, now refined and distilled to an art form

Spot on. Fine album indeed https://pigspigspigspigspigspigspigs.ba ... nubar=true

GAS - Vol.1 Four tracks, with two long ones bookending the lp and two shorter ones in between. Shorter tunes are similar in style to the single released a few years ago but the extended jams are where it's really at. Opener kicks off with some fuzzed 70s riffing then gets a little spacey before eventually settling at the halfway point into some lovely Indian vibes with flute and sitar. Meanwhile the closer is a droning beauty incorporating some bluesy Spacemen guitar stylings. Hopefully Rocket will release this at some stage like they did with Hills and Centrum and thus make it more affordable. €50 all in was too rich for me.
https://gassweden.bandcamp.com/album/vol-1

Gnoomes - Ax Ox: Nice slice of psych/electronica/shoegaze. Plenty of uplifting sounds https://gnoomes.bandcamp.com/album/ax-ox

Throw Down Bones - Three: Post-punk/Industrial/Electronica/Psych. Pretty good https://fuzzclub.bandcamp.com/album/thr ... nubar=true

Water Damage - Repeater: Similar to France, where they take a drone and ride it till the tape runs out. 3 drummers/2 bassists/bowed guitar/synth setup featuring ex-Swans percussionist Thor Harris and members of USA/Mexico amongst others. Love it https://waterdamage12xu.bandcamp.com/album/repeater

The Telescopes - Experimental Health: An album composed entirely with old toys and cheap synths but this is no Data Rape.It's far more accessible than the EAR album as all the tracks are song based. Worth a listen https://thetelescopes.bandcamp.com/albu ... tal-health

Gina Birch - I Play My Bass Loud: Surprisingly good lp from The Raincoats founder. There are bits of indie (one of the songs is reminiscent of The Breeders 'Cannonball'), Dub, Electronica and a couple of 60s girl group type tracks https://ginabirch.bandcamp.com/album/i- ... nubar=true

Orbital- Optical Delusion: The Hartnoll brothers doing what they do. Not bad, maybe too many guest vocalists though https://orbitalofficial.bandcamp.com/al ... l-delusion

I would suggest all of these albums are worthy of at least one listen and then take it from there.

[jhudson]

6 o’clock by The verve

[olan]

Very nice collection of lo-fi records on ridiculously nicely pressed vinyl. Sourced from Vinyl Me Please.

[SpEnCeR1]

6 o’clock by The verve

Classic. When they reached for the stars before being doomed by the crushing weight of one man's ego.

[runcible]

Steve Mason - Brothers and Sisters
Needs no introduction. Sounds better with every listen.

Black Angels - Wilderness of Mirrors
Not played these guys for a while but some of the descriptions of recent shows made them sound interesting and I do like this album.

The Dolly Rocker Movement - Electric Sunshine
Fantastic garagey psych from Sydney. So many snappy tunes on this - and indeed their other 2 albums which are also really excellent.

Long Ryders - September November
Latest Americana release from these seasoned Californian guys. I'm tempted by their May Brudenell show after hearing this.

Juleah - Melt Inside The Sun
Guitar psych rock from Austria. A few other albums from her to explore too but this is a good one.

Bobby Lee - Origin Myths
Trippy cosmic country from a guy who's touring the UK with Jeffrey Silverstein in a couple of weeks.

Various Artists - Wayfaring Strangers, Cosmic American Music
Compilation of cool cosmic country music. Can't get enough of this sort of stuff at the moment.

Michael Nesmith - Magnetic South/Loose Salute/Nevada Fighter
1st 3 solo albums of seriously good country rock from ex-Monkee bloke.

Trey Anastasio - s/t
I keep coming back to this solo effort from Phish frontman. So many good tunes and riffs on this.

[Rokkenwithdokken]

I’ve been enjoying this https://handsofhydra.bandcamp.com/album/hands-of-hydra

One man sitar chap from Chicago. I get some nice electric mainline vibes at times.

[angel-sighs]

Various Artists - Wayfaring Strangers, Cosmic American Music
Compilation of cool cosmic country music. Can't get enough of this sort of stuff at the moment.

I have been collecting this Wayfaring Strangers series recently, I think the only one I haven't got now is the Yacht Rock one. It is pretty incredible how much great obscure music is still out there. A lot of these records were total flops or produced in small private press runs.

[stegraham]

I'm enjoying the two new tracks from the Mark Peters Magic Hour EP released today. Both Alpenglow and Magic Hour are really good. More uptempo than his usual stuff I would say.

[aadamm]

[angel-sighs]

Culto Al Qondor - Templos. Got quite a few releases on Drone Rock Records (run by our very own Shinesalight) this has to be one of my faves. Quite different to the fuzzy and repetitive tendencies of a lot of modern psych, it's more rhythmic and dynamic with the sound building up and swirling nicely

BRMC - s/t . Long time since I listened to this all the way through, it really stands up for me (aside from a couple of songs at the end that are a bit 'meh'). They really don't deserve to be bundled in with all the other retro rock bands of the time, they always had something darker and with a bit more oomph but still with great songwriting. White Palms, Red Eyes & Tears, Awake, what great songs.

Various Daniel Lanois. The Dylan Time Out of Mind outtakes have lead me to dig deeper on his own releases. Daniel really is all over the map, everything from rootsy song writing, some stuff a bit more dubby, some more minimalist ambient with pedal steel. But I am digging pretty much all of it to varying degrees. This could get expensive.

[niamhm]

The Orb - Abolition Of The Royal Familia , Olan in here piqued my interest on the this one, and it’s fantastic, maybe not their most groundbreaking, after 30 yr come on? But it’s still mighty entertaining,

Depeche Mode - Memento Mori, never really a fan but dipped my toe in and find this very enjoyable, over £40 for it on vinyl seems excessive though, this needs to be the best packaging and vinyl reproduction going to justify that,

U2 - Songs Of Surrender , lol this is so funny, it’s so easy, my Spotify stream allows me to listen to the full 40 song version - I’ve listened right through maybe 4 times, really enjoyed maybe a 3rd, another 3rd okay an the the last 3rd? Ffs - have to say I really enjoyed the Bono And The Edge With Letterman doc

[sunray]

I’ve been enjoying this https://handsofhydra.bandcamp.com/album/hands-of-hydra

One man sitar chap from Chicago. I get some nice electric mainline vibes at times.

Thanks for the recommendation, i like it, cheers. You might be interested in one of his other bands, Spiral Galaxy. Similar vibe: https://spiralgalaxychicago.bandcamp.co ... nubar=true

I see you're also a frequenter of Trippy Jam!

[Rokkenwithdokken]

Cheers, I’ll check that out. Yeah between Trippy Jam and here that’s usually where I go to find new tunes

[ro]

The Larks
I want you back
https://youtu.be/9xDuXsMxK1A

The Magic Touch
A woman will do wrong
https://youtu.be/wyXTkjKoJKY

[Sim]

I'm enjoying the two new tracks from the Mark Peters Magic Hour EP released today. Both Alpenglow and Magic Hour are really good. More uptempo than his usual stuff I would say.

This is very good indeed. Alpenglow in particular has a very Spiritualized feel and sound to it (LGM/Electric Mainline period). I really enjoy Mark's solo stuff but sometimes it can wash over me a bit, these two new tracks are much more engaging.

[sunray]

I've gone down an Acid Techno rabbithole (yet again ), but rather than the usual Stay Up Forever/Routemaster 90s/00s stuff, i've discovered a whole new generation that have kicked some life back into the genre. All courtesy of this fine site: https://flatliferecords.bandcamp.com/music

There is plenty here to equal the forefathers output

[Ammuniti0n Train]

https://youtu.be/qmEhpqeMrJ0

[sunray]

Telekinetic Yeti - Primordial:This album ROCKS!!! A two-piece( ) Stoner/Doom band with the emphasis probably more on the Stoner. It's been getting regular plays for a couple of months now and i'm delighted to be seeing them with Weedeater in a week or two.
Anyone into the heavy side of things / Pigsx7 / or the idea of a heavier Kyuss/QOTSA really need to check this out: https://telekineticyeti.bandcamp.com/album/primordial

Benefits - Nails: I'd describe them as Sleaford Mods' Industrial loving nephew. That's a good thing! https://benefitstheband.bandcamp.com/album/nails

Mudhoney - Plastic Eternity: You know what to expect really and it's pretty good all told. The problem with Mudhoney is, if i'm in the mood to listen to them i'm always gonna reach for the first few albums: https://mudhoney.bandcamp.com/album/pla ... nubar=true

The Shits - You're A Mess: Latest act signed to Rocket. A punky, repetitive, noise thing. As per, not as filthy as made out to be but a nice racket all the same. If you dig Hey Colossus/Part Chimp etc. https://theshitsrock.bandcamp.com/album/youre-a-mess

Ecstatic Vision - Live At Dunajam: This album catches the band in full flight, channelling early Monster Magnet, Hawkwind and The Stooges and finishing the set with covers of TV Eye and Come Together(MC5). I've no idea why anyone wouldn't want to listen to it https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcam ... at-dunajam

[olan]

Arrived in the mail this morning, although mine is on orange vinyl. Really decent on first listen.

[sunray]

^^^^^^ That's a great looking cover.

[niamhm]

Arrived in the mail this morning, although mine is on orange vinyl. Really decent on first listen.

Was listening this morning, need a few more listen, the tracks I knew all sounded great - even better in situation - but the whole thing needs a few listens to gets proper overview and feel for it

[angel-sighs]

Some sounds that have intrigued my ears recently

Nathan Salsburg - Landwerk no 3.
https://nathansalsburg.bandcamp.com/album/landwerk-no-3
Layering of guitar and keyboard over samples from old phonographic recordings. I find it really meditative

Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet. 4 crack guitarists take on Bill's recent release of interlocking guitar pieces. The pieces are short but often fierce and twisted sounding.
https://www.youtube.com/live/DsBpYLAU8Ag?

Emeralds - various
https://emeralds.bandcamp.com
Not sure how it's taken me so long to properly get into this band but they are just my kind of electronic music (apart from the last album which went a bit iffy for me). Lots of nice textures with a bit of grit and guitars in the mix too

[Laz69]

New Helicon album. Even though the band are friends, and I love them all dearly, I was nervous to listen to it. That whole trying to go in blind thing.

Really shouldn't have worried. It's tremendous.

Sounds huge, and has some variety in the songs too. Have heard a number of the songs live already but the album makes them make a lot more sense. Much more fully formed, and actually, much richer.

These guys always impress me live, especially in an often crowded neo-psych scene, but they have grown so much in these last frew years, its great to see them getting some attention they so deserve recently.

[angel-sighs]

Again on the electronic tip, anyone here know Craven Faults? I got one of their records a little while back, nice big droney synthscapes and the new one coming out is getting a little bit of buzz.
I find their music really good to zone out to.

https://cravenfaults.bandcamp.com/album/standers

Apparently it's a bit of a mystery who the person behind Craven Faults actually is. they are doing a live show soon so I guess that mystery will be solved soon enough.

[sunray]

Again on the electronic tip, anyone here know Craven Faults? I got one of their records a little while back, nice big droney synthscapes and the new one coming out is getting a little bit of buzz.
I find their music really good to zone out to.

https://cravenfaults.bandcamp.com/album/standers

Apparently it's a bit of a mystery who the person behind Craven Faults actually is. they are doing a live show soon so I guess that mystery will be solved soon enough.

There's a few fans here i think, including myself. I'm expecting the 3 cd version of the new album to be popping through my letterbox anyday now.
I'm sure i read somewhere that it was Richard Formby who's behind it.

[angel-sighs]

Again on the electronic tip, anyone here know Craven Faults? I got one of their records a little while back, nice big droney synthscapes and the new one coming out is getting a little bit of buzz.
I find their music really good to zone out to.

https://cravenfaults.bandcamp.com/album/standers

Apparently it's a bit of a mystery who the person behind Craven Faults actually is. they are doing a live show soon so I guess that mystery will be solved soon enough.

There's a few fans here i think, including myself. I'm expecting the 3 cd version of the new album to be popping through my letterbox anyday now.
I'm sure i read somewhere that it was Richard Formby who's behind it.

Richard Formby? well I never. cool. I assumed it was a younger bloke for some reason.

I have gone for the 3CD as well. this is music I need to zone out into rather than getting up to flip over records. its cool that you get the extra tracks too. I like the whole aesthetic of post industrial Yorkshire too. some of his youtube vids are just pans across the landscape.

[Ammuniti0n Train]

A compilation Waves of Distortion. The best of shoegaze 1990 to 2022.
Compiled for Two Piers in Brighton UK.

Here's a track

https://youtu.be/XiSKxvmd1bg

[Rokkenwithdokken]

Just giving the new Kanaan record Downpour a listen. These instrumental Norwegians have put out a lot of records in a short amount of time and I haven’t kept up with all of them, but this one is sounding nice and fuzzy to me.

https://kanaanband.bandcamp.com/album/downpour

If you’re new to these guys another album worth checking out is the collab with Jonas Munk from Causa Sui

https://kanaanband.bandcamp.com/album/odense-sessions

And Double Sun is really good too - the opening track is Floyd-ie as hell

https://kanaanband.bandcamp.com/album/double-sun

[Rokkenwithdokken]

Been on a bit of a synth kick lately

Krautrock loveliness - Got a bit of a fake schtick going on about East German music and a whole back story, but it is very good and I find it very enjoyable, Kosmischer Laufer's new one (the last song is the best one!)

https://kosmischerlaufer.bandcamp.com/album/volume-five

A new deep synth ambient album from Paul Riedl https://paulriedl.bandcamp.com/album/ocean-of-peace

on the meditative side of things this fella. His ambient mix tape releases are great as well, well worth checking out I reckon

[BzaInSpace]

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2duJa ... 7lZDmJZfMg

[angel-sighs]

Just giving the new Kanaan record Downpour a listen. These instrumental Norwegians have put out a lot of records in a short amount of time and I haven’t kept up with all of them, but this one is sounding nice and fuzzy to me.

https://kanaanband.bandcamp.com/album/downpour

If you’re new to these guys another album worth checking out is the collab with Jonas Munk from Causa Sui

https://kanaanband.bandcamp.com/album/odense-sessions

And Double Sun is really good too - the opening track is Floyd-ie as hell

https://kanaanband.bandcamp.com/album/double-sun

Nice! I came here to also post about the Kanaan album myself. I've only checked out a bit of their stuff but I am liking. Some is a bit stoner rock, not quite as heavy but this means they are a bit more fluid as well

[veiko]

https://crystalcloisters.bandcamp.com/album/space-trout
Almost half an hour long track, bouncing around on many levels expanding on kraut-rock and spacey prog-rock.

[herman]

Thank you for the Craven Faults recommendation, it's a great record!! Total mindblowing !! Lovin' it a lot!

[Sim]

Thank you for the Craven Faults recommendation, it's a great record!! Total mindblowing !! Lovin' it a lot!

If you're enjoying Craven Faults then you'll likely appreciate Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan - very similar vein but takes 60s new town planning as inspiration rather than the Yorkshire environs.

Love this quote - "A potentially overwhelming experience for anyone ever separated from their mum in a crumbling multi-storey car park.
Electronic Sound"