The Goner Bitemarks EP (DFBM/Bandcamp)

The Goner, a five-piece collective from Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, has released 3 albums (Halartrallar; Hind Hand; Haven) in the recent years. Bitemarks is the first EP seen the sunlight by them. Psychedelia, improvisation, gothic/noir, drone and the approach of minimalism are here to be blended into a organic universe via folk music algorithms. Again, neofolk/dark folk, the output of traditionally sounding folk, and some psychedelic milieus are around here to come finishing it off in the joint area and to stand at each one`s side. The middle age, past and today will be wrapped in one restricted conception. The violin parts - which are played as a collaboration act by Emma Wahlgren, and much praised by the band itself -, organ passages getting more massive step by step, clearly articulated guitar chords, and the last two minutes at Oakmulgee Creek, the ending track, are filled in by the found sounds/natural sounds. To get a example of the relatives hereof, I cant`t go around without to mention Espers and Anahita (strong medieval music tendencies), Six Organs Of Admittance (epic progressive tendencies), Death In June (airy dark-sounding viscosity). Congratulations for the suggestively impressive coverprint as well.

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9.3

Least Carpet Least Carpet (Dying For Bad Music/Bandcamp)

Marko Martini aka Least Carpet `s debut album has epithets such as `psychedelic` and `experimental`. Indeed, it`s expressively psychedelic, and in this regard the magic of his music has already been attributed to some sort of mushrooms and weed. However, it is unlikely that the necessity arises at all, so far as this kind of music for the projection is not needed to show up by decisive pictures or fictions. Although being a conception of the folk, it is quite far from the well-known folk tradition. The German man`s concept is instrumental not being subordinated to any statements or visions. Just expandingly streaming sounds, the harmonies in movement, non-traditional instrumentation (a bouzuki, a melodica, flutes, guitars, cymbals, a Jew`s harp). Certainly, Least Carpet neither does deliver the extravagancy or ecstasy of freak folk, nor it is the part of the Eastern and Central European traditional music movements - as opposed to what is being mentioned in their home label website, except for Old Wedding Song, which treats the Hungarian folk music with some rhythmic influences from the Balkan Peninsula. The experimental side is primarily reflected through growings from harmonies into long droning keys, and skilful using of guitar and its effects within ethnic instrumentals. All of those who are being familiar with the Children Of The Drone (and its adjacent projects), and Six Organs Of Admittance, however, it will constantly be telling you of belonging intrinsically to the Indian music tradition. And the parallels can also be drawn with Charalambides` dragging psych lines. In most cases, very beautiful, it is like the opening of a lotus flower (A Narrow Path (Part II); Leaving) ). I am being remembered it is already the another great album in the vein of experimental folk from Germany in few months (after gillicuddy The yaouhl! Mashups).

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9.6

[Compilation] New Weird Australia, Volume Five (NWA005)

In a relatively short period of time the New Weird Australia compilations have already reached the fifth piece in a row, which probably does testify the fact that the Australian underground scene has enough power and vitality to subsequently set up the steps to permeate over the world.

Indeed, all around of it is ebulliently colourful. Speaking about any kind of so-called New Weird- movements, for instance about New Weird America or Finnish forest folk, you can find out the connection with folk music. In fact, to find out the link with folk music in Australian counterpart it is actually a bit harder task, though. For example, there is represented the music of Alex Yarbley aka Dot.AY, who have acquired enough notoriety in chiptune/tracker music circles in the last years. Another example and pleasant surprise is meet to Gail Priest, who is known by her confident sound art characteristics and methodology (in the recent case, the minimalist vocal drones are flavoured with spare electronics). However, the other projects are also far from (alt-) folk tunes - a primitive noise (Justice Yeldham, who is described by the Wire journalist Bruce Russell as one of the interesting artists after Iggy Pop to date), Ship Caught has a gothic blend of psych-punk and shoegaze to boom out, as if Joy Division had a very special wish to make acquiatence with the specifics of the Wall Of Sound; indie psychedelia (Crab Smasher), a sort of electronic primitivism (Ripple), a kind of Glass Bead Game with cut and paste formality (Kate Carr), a vanguardistic bunch of glitch-electronics, space rock, digital noise/ambient (Blake Freele, / / / ▲ ▲ ▲ \ \ \). Further, even in the recent context Mookoid`s structure seems to be innovative (Hex River Valley). My personal fancies are the Peace Out!`s psych-electro space noir mania (Running the Sand), so you can label it as `modern` without you could sound ridicolous somehow; and Burning Palms` noisy psych-rock with loudly ringing echo drums (Mockery). Third favorite of mine is The Atlas Room`s Iris , which is used to be similar to Burning Palms, though, having more emphasis on motorik sequences and rooting out the borders between different styles.

In short, Volume Five is a fabulous collection of ideas and sounds. If you want to get some excellent examples of contemporary avant-garde rock music, you should certainly listen to this compilation. Aboriginal spirits have got up to the machines to groove themselves out.

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Stereo Moon Like The Morning Sun Does (Kill Mommy)

Behind Stereo Moon is Emm Smith, a self-taught musician from Ontario, Canada. A singer-songwriter from God`s grace. The album Like The Morning Sun Does was already recorded at the end of the 90`s, except the opening track I Would For You Dream. The first time Like The Morning Sun Does was published 5 years ago, while at the moment it is issued under the Sicily-based label Kill Mommy which main focus has set up on a mix of blues, lo-fi garage, rockabilly, and alt-folk.

All of those 24 tracks aligned here are recorded with help of loaned 4 and 8-tape trackers. As so usual to the singer-songwriters the lines of acoustic guitar and vocals are the main instruments upon which the excitement is established in suggestive and diverse song manner. Although guitar sound is paramount, it does not sound in the anemic way just not being a decorating and forgery one - a drowning into tape hisses does add some kind of confidence and charm; moreso, there are also presented some electronic-experimental angles and weird out-of-context samples. A rough yet warm soundscape. As you even know the North Americans have been insurmountable in their credibility within this area. Smith does use natural room reverbs, though, there are 2 tracks (Everybody Love Someone; Read Between The Lines) for which Emm Smith locked himself into the bathroom to put guitar strings against the edge of a sink, and letting float out the sounds of pure gold. By the way, he even regretted more songs would have recorded in there.

By checking out Emm Smith `s blog you can see the successive keywords of his concept in the title: love, be loved and trip out. Anyway, the lyrical side will fix upon it. This lyrics seem to be about longing, escapism, love and lovelorn varying with weed topics. Moreover, this subject was going for something that would heighten his blissful experience. Because of this he tried to fill up those tracks with as many ideas he could. The lyrics are undoubtedly on the ball - beautiful, inside-watching, sometimes mysterious and downtrodden (Grow Up is going up to illustrate the collision between the memories of past and recent situation).

However, my purpose is instead of any kind of intoxicants to promote music, especially good one, only. Like The Morning Sun Does is undoubtedly a DIY/home recording masterpiece. There are a lot of excellent examples - some of them will especially scratch your soul and bear upon your consciousness, replacing some truths and clichès, on the other hand, I am not intended to shout them out - everyone ought to find out for him/herself the gems of the talented hippie musician. In fact, it is true, Emm Smith has more stunning moments to yield in comparison with (early) Devendra Banhart, for instance.

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9.3

Guezos Oito Destinos (Aregueifa)

From the Galician region, Spain, coming a 7-member ensemble demonstrates its flavour in compliance with the label Aregueifa which in turn reflects the tendencies of their native county. If you have already made acquaintance with Xurxo Romani, Xera PROJECTO [TREPIA], or Fanny & Alexander you can`t be wrong in your speculations about possible directions in songcrafting of Guezos. You do not actually need to do it - Guezos have been active more than 10 years and issued some albums as well. Their ethnic pop - as well as another native-minded bands from the Galician/Asturian region can`t be without demonstrating their Celtic roots - is mixed with psychedelic organ sequences and hard guitar riffs. However, the album contains of very unexpected yet pleasure elements at the first sight. The opening track Guezada 69 does crossover ethnic rock with acid dance rock tunes. It sounds as if the fairies have arrived to a madchester-music party and since the subsequent fete will little by little be taken over by those supernatural creatures. Acción-Reacción drives through impressive loud-sounding psychedelic shoutings in the choruses. Vals do Regueiro is a blend of downbeat, hard rock tunes and the sounds of local bagpipe gaita. Actually all of this stuff on the album are pushed elegantly up to the top and sustained therein by catchy organ grooves and gaita strokes. Todo Perfecto is the only one which does not symphatize for me. Even though it starts with a delicious Yann Tiersen-alike accordion motive the track will be evolving into quite lame latin estrada pop. The harmonies-melodies arisen from there even reminds of the criminal/platnoi songs from the former U.S.S.R. My favorite track is obscure Benvida a Terradentro - through its very brief longitude and introspective nature, yet, it is rather meant as an interlude or introduction to the ending track Terradentro (2009).

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8.1