Perturbator & Kabbel Cover Depeche Mode

I was unaware that an "American Psycho" comic book was something that existed.  Or that said comic book had a soundtrack.  Or that said soundtrack included French synthwave artist Perturbator covering a Depeche Mode B-side with a little help from Swedish artist Kabbel.  But all those things are true.  Big thanks to Shawn Baker for clueing me on to this.  Check out the track below.

Man...or Astro-Man?

I had not thought about space surf rock band Man...or Astro-Man? in a long time.  Thankfully that was remedied by my friend Shawn posting about the band's latest release, "Distant Pulsar."  Check out the track below, get the double 7" record here from Chunklet Industries, and read more of Shawn's pop culture recommendations and exploits here.

A Collection of Desires

I've been meaning to post about my associate Shawn C. Baker's book for a while now, ever since i picked it up and flew right through it.  But for some reason, it kept eluding me.  Anyway, considering the season, "A Collection of Desires: 7 Tales of Modern Horror," seemed like the perfect thing to read before Halloween comes and goes.  These page-turning short stories feature a whole slew of the macabre, but through a decidedly 21st century lens, and a kind of seedy LA neon tinge faintly glowing in the background.  And there's something for everyone too.  Killer apps!  Demon summoning!  Evil (and single) goth girls!  Lovecraftian beasties!  Vampires!  Murder!  Revenge!  A highlight for me is the dread and paranoia soaked "In His Arms, She Felt Loved," but you can't go wrong with all seven of these morbid tales.

Support independent artists.  Get the book here.  And read more from Shawn here and here.

Ritual Howls

First, to credit Shawn Baker's current infatuation with Felte Records, i find myself revisiting the label's array of artists to find that many of them have new music coming out.  Detroit post punk band Ritual Howls are readying their latest LP, the forthcoming "Into the Water" due in August, and the tracks they've offered up thus far add strands of darkwave sheen and Gothic heaviness to their particular brand of post punk art.  Album closer "Going Upstate" in particular carries an ominous vibe, a dark current of menace...bad things are going to happen.  Listen below, pre-order the record here, and much thanks to Shawn.

Author & Punisher

Yesterday, i mentioned that i love end of year lists because without fail, i'm always clued into something i might have otherwise missed.  The trend continues (again with an album Shawn Baker recommended).  Author & Punisher's "Women & Children" is a sloppy mess of noise, yelling, and distorted keyboard and guitar effects, stirred together in an intoxicating batch of industrial mayhem.  To put is short, it's fucking awesome.  Listen to "In Remorse" below and grab the album here.

The Callas

Oh, end-of-year-best-of lists, how you cascade me with heaps and heaps of music i somehow managed to miss out on earlier in the year.  Such is the case with Greek art-rock band The Callas.  The foursome's "Am I Vertical?" LP was produced by Bad Seeds/Grinderman member Jim Sclavunos, and the record is full of angular, cutting avant garde rock tunes.  They sound like some alternate dimension version of The Fall, and we, as a planet, need more bands that garner comparisons to The Fall.  Get the album from Inner Ear and watch the video for "East Beat" below.

Much thanks to Shawn Baker for the heads up on these guys.  Check out his favorite albums of 2013 here.

Coolbrothas

Coolbrothas are an electronic production duo out of LA and come recommended to me by the always indubitable Shawn C. Baker.  "Buried Brothas" has a really mellow and trippy vibe to it.  Dig on it below.