Found Vinyl: Steve Roach - Dreamtime Return

Okay, so not to go all "pure moods" on you here, but i recently picked up composer Steve Roach's 1988 double album "Dreamtime Return" originally on Fortuna Records, and i'm digging the atmospheric ambient thing its got going for it.  Bits of electronic textures, various world instrumentation and percussion, and the occasional restrained piano create a sonic landscape influenced by dreams and Aboriginal culture.  Despite the hoity-toity-ness of the whole thing, it's very relaxing music, and the perfect soundtrack for nap time.  Take a listen to album opener "Towards the Dream" below.



And here's another track called "The Continent."  (And seriously, the youtube videos these songs pull up are absolutely ridiculous."



Here's one more called "Magnificent Gallery."


And that's all for today.  Have fun at the planetarium everybody!

Adam Franklin and Bolts of Melody

Remember Swervedriver, that awesome UK shoegaze act from the early/mid 90's?  They were great right?  I thought so too, and as it turns out, lead singer Adam Franklin i still out there making music with his band, Bolts of Melody.  Take a listen to spacey "Boocat Leah" from the upcoming album "Black Horses" below, and pre-order from Goodnight Records.

Beck - Defriended

Here's a new jam from Beck, "Defriended."  It's not as grabbing as the country rock noodlings on last year's Third Man Records output, or as experimental and daunting as his contribution to the Philip Glass remix album, but it's still a nice, floaty, synthy little ditty.  Listen below.

Varmakon (Var and Pharmakon)

Two of our favorite noise makers of late, Var and Pharmakon, played a one off show together in New York a few days ago.  Watch the performance of "Hair Like Feathers" and "Crawling on Bruised Knees" below.

David Lynch TBD716

Film auteur and artist David Lynch posted a very strange and short video to his youtube page called "TBD716."  There is already a lot of conjecture as to what it might mean (Ronnie Rocket maybe?), but being a David Lynch joint, it may very well just be something he decided to make that day.  Watch it below.



UPDATE:  Turns out that TBD716 stands for Lynch's upcoming album "The Big Dream," due from Sacred Bones on July 16th.  Keep an eye out for it.

Outfit

Somewhere between Brian Eno and Hot Chip lies Liverpool's Outfit, a smooth layering of piano, beats and layered vocals that gently seduce and hypnotize the soul.  It's a lovely mix of pre-party primping and post-hangover daydreams.  Listen to "I Want What's Best" below from the upcoming "Performance" LP, due in August from Double Denim.

Morne

Just in case sing-a-long synth-pop is not your thing, don't believe for a second that i'm not thinking of you too.  "New Dawn" is the latest from Boston doom-purveyors Morne.  The band's "Shadows" LP is due at the end of July from Profound Lore.  If you like your metal bleak and dirge-like, then this one is for you.  Listen below.

FMLYBND

Wailing synthesizers, group vocals, pure pop hooks, and a nicely placed guitar solo make "Electricity," the first single from Santa Barbara troubadours FMLYBND an awesome jam to kick start the summer to.  Maybe we've heard it all before, but it just makes it more inviting.  Listen and download below.

New music from Fuck Buttons

I've been out of the loop the last few days (i'm a dad now), but what better news to come back to than a new Fuck Buttons album on the horizon in July.  This edit of "The Red Wing" comes from new album "Slow Focus" on ATP.  Listen below.

Found Vinyl: Oliver De Coque - Born Singer

Sometimes African rhythms just feel right, and so i came home from the record store yesterday with the "Born Singer" LP from Nigeria's Oliver De Coque and His Expo '76 Ogene Sound Super of Africa.  While that may be a mouthful, the music is pretty chill, with elements of funk, blues, and Afro-beat interspersed throughout.  It's good vibe jams for peace and love, and damn if it doesn't make me want to drink a beer outside.  Take a listen to "Peoples Club of Nigeria" below.



The man recorded over 70 albums in his lifetime, a prolific guitarist and innovator, popularizing the Ogene dance movement in Nigeria.  He passed away in 2008, but he left us with a groove.  Listen to the album's title track below.