Earth Girl Helen Brown Center for Planetary Intelligence Band

San Francisco trio The Sandwitches were a mainstay around these parts during their tenure.  And while they may have called it quits, we still get music from its members here and there, in particular from Heidi Alexander and her Earth Girl Helen Brown project.  That project has grown and is currently releasing music inspired by the solar system as Earth Girl Helen Brown Center for Planetary Intelligence Band.  That may be a mouthful, but the jams are tight.  Check out the weird psychedelia and motorik beat of "Earth" below and pre-order the upcoming "Earth" cassette here from Empty Cellar Records.

Frank Ene

Frank Ene (former member of Pure Bliss and The Fresh and Onlys) just released a new short solo album of darkened pop.  The songs on "No Longer" aren't necessarily gothy or anything, but there's an element of later era Leonard Cohen floating over the whole affair like gathering storm clouds, rain beginning to fall as a sad drunk laments his life in a dark corner of a bar.  Check out "I've Studied You" below and get the album here via Empty Cellar.

Grace Sings Sludge

I'm still bummed that Bay area trio The Sandwitches called it quits a little while back, but it's nice to see the band's members still making solo music.  Grace Cooper's new project, Grace Sings Sludge, shares some similarities with the artist's former group, haunted, stripped down, psychedelic folk, but feels slightly less aloof than her previous work.  Listen to the wonderful "Dedicated 2" below and get the "Life With Dick" LP from Empty Cellar.

The Sandwitches

San Francisco trio The Sandwitches will be releasing their newest, and unfortunately their last, album, "Our Toast," in June on Empty Cellar Records.  That's awesome and a bummer at the same time.  These three ladies have always managed to craft swooning, sexy, and sometimes haunting songs, and while the prospect of a new record is great, i'm sad to see them go.  Check out the aching and ominous "Play it Again Dick" below.

Cool Ghouls

San Francisco garage psych outfit Cool Ghouls have a new record coming out in November on Empty Cellar Records.  "A Swirling Fire Burning Through the Rye" is full of wonderful crunchy nuggets, a call back to the dusty old records found in aging Austin hippies' garages.  It's just the right amount of sunburned and bleary eyed.  Listen to "The Mile" below.