Boris and Merzbow

Japanese metal and noise innovators Boris and Merzbow are back collaborating again with their new, epic two-part album "Gensho."  The two halves are meant to be played at the same time, a la The Flaming Lips' "Zaireeka," but stand pretty tall on their own too.  Reworking a few old Boris tunes, it's kind of like the two artists are covering themselves, reinterpretations years later, sonic portraits of how things have changed...or even stay the same.  Get the records from Relapse and listen to the newer version of "Farewell," originally on the 2005 album "Pink" below.

Daily Bowie - Andy Warhol

Enjoy some "Andy Warhol" on your Friday, today's Daily Bowie...

Vaadat Charigim

It's always a pleasure to see how music transcends language and cultural boundaries, styles and genres across the globe bleeding into each other, informing each other, bringing us all together.  And so we get amazing bands like Israel's Vaadat Charigim, a dreamy shoegaze act with harder, darker edges.  The language may be different, but it soothes and pummels my eardrums all the same.  Listen to "Hadavar Haamiti" below and get the "Sinking as a Stone" LP from Anova Music.

Daily Bowie - Hallo Spaceboy

The day is almost over, but here's some "Hallo Spaceboy" just in time...your Daily Bowie.

Xiu Xiu covers the music from Twin Peaks

Been a little busy lately with work and kids and SXSW, i barely just now had a chance to check out the slate of releases coming out on Record Store Day.  There's some great stuff set to come out, but if experimental band Xiu Xiu's "Twin Peaks" cover album isn't at the top of your list, then i don't know you anymore.  Listen to the dramatic and breathtaking cover of "Falling" below, and be sure to grab the record next month courtesy of Polyvinyl.

Pillar Point

Earlier this afternoon, i found myself drinking free Sapporo and nodding, tapping, and shaking my butt to the thumping, new-wavey synth pop of Pillar Point.  It felt right.  Listen to "Part Time Love" below and grab the "Marble Mouth" LP from Polyvinyl Records.

Heimat

First, here's a quicky description of France's Heimat as phrased on Kill Shaman Records, the stateside distributor of the band's self-titled album:

"Almost as if John Carpenter, RZA, and The Slits made a record together.  Sort of."

Holy shit!  It's a wonderful and absolutely intoxicating mix of weirdo beats, DIY Euro-post-punk aesthetic, odd synth tones, and Nico-esque moodiness.  I think i'm in love.  Listen to "Trocadero" below, order the LP here, and grab the album download here.

The Stargazer Lilies

I'm not sure if i'm going to get a chance to check out Pennsylvania band The Stargazer Lilies this week, but i sure feel like i'd love them, shoegaze hum and swoon to float me away, the kind of stuff that declares a permanent residency in my earspace.  Listen to an unused album cut, "U R Y" below and get the download here.

Wall

Later this week, i'll post a bunch of pics of my SXSW antics this year...they are getting increasingly tamer as i get older.  Boo.  Anyway, today i caught some great punk acts, one of them being the New York four piece Wall, an abrasive, but grooving band trading in a mix of No Wave and post punk.  Their "WALL EP" from Wharf Cat is sold out, but you can still grab the download of the record here.  In the meantime, listen to "Milk" below.

Breathing Problem

Breathing Problem are Austin's answer to unnerving, BDSM-tinged noise art, the kind of electron-industrial-drone scraping metal against metal in a cold, dark room somewhere, chains clinking, a constant hum.  Their album, "Bed of Sex, Pit of Tar" came out last year, but just got a vinyl release from Deutsche Asphalt.  Listen to "Heart of Snow" below, download the album here for free, and pre-order the record here.