VIDEO: Platypi - Lassitude

Pleased to find some decent electronic tunes in my inbox yesterday. Chilled out hip hop from UK producer, Ali Hill. Inspired by acts such as Flying Lotus, Onra, Lemon Jelly, and Bonobo, Platypi's debut 3-track EP is the first release from newly formed Brighton, UK label, Numerology Records. You can stream Something Tangible below, or pick up a t-shirt/download bundle HERE.

- Dan

Electric Citizen - Demo

The Electric Citizen/Haunted Leather tour rolled through Richmond last Thursday night. Their original venue apparently fell through, which resulted in a last minute house show on VCU's campus. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect crowd-wise, and was almost certain it would get shut down, given its location. Electric Citizen kicked off the evening with an incredible set of Sabbath-like scorchers that absolutely blew the minds of the many students who were unfamiliar with the bands before entering the party. The looks on some of their faces were almost as enjoyable as the set itself. Overall, it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable show-going experiences I've had in quite some time, and felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to not only see them in a living room setting, but to also get a little weird with them in the process. You'll be hearing plenty more from them soon, with two 7inchers and a cassette on the way, but for now you can check out their 2 track demo via the bandcamp stream below.

- Dan

Tingle In The Netherlands - Why Can't You Write Something Nice For A Change

Tingle In The Netherlands answers the age old question of "What would Glass Candy sound like if they sang about dicks?". Dark 80's synth music with absurd, surreal lyrics and guaranteed to please/confuse all of the guests at your next dance party. "Prostitute's Handbag" is a free download, and the rest of the album is available in both digital and physical form via Bandcamp.

- Steve

Moonrises - Frozen Altars

Had a chance to catch a great set by Moonrises at a free in-store at Steady Sounds here in Richmond, VA last Thursday afternoon. Moonrises is the latest project of Steve Krakow, a.k.a Plastic Crimewave, and their organ-ic avant psychedelia LSD trips are sure to vaporize your already-melted minds. For fans of Fifty Foot Hose, Silver Apples, Faust, Can, etc. If you haven't checked out their sophomore record, Frozen Altars, here's your chance to finally do so. Stream the whole thing below, and pick up the LP, which has sounded most excellent on my turntable for the last week, for $15 over at Captcha Records' bandcamp.

- Dan

VIDEO: Haunted Leather - Come and Join Us

Haunted Leather kick off a tour w/ female-fronted 70s heavy psych band, Electric Citizen, tomorrow night in Grand Rapids, MI. To celebrate, they've also released a brand new stoned-out track and video from their upcoming record, In Her Golden Room, which is yet to find a label or release date (Attn: LABELS). Tour poster w/ dates below. If they're coming anywhere near you, and you miss it, don't ever plan on coming back to Ongakubaka, dig?

- Dan

Waylon Thornton & The Heavy Hands - Enter The Coven

Florida garage punker Waylon Thornton is back with what seems to be his 1,000th release in the last few years. Like all of his previous releases, Enter the Coven cranks it up to 11, but it might contain some of his most infectious guitar and vocals riffs to date. Pay what you want over at bandcamp, and stay updated via tumblr. 

- Dan

Download Enter the Coven

VIDEO PREMIERE: Lord Scrummage - We All Need Honey

EDIT: YouTube hates boobs and/or products made by bees so they took the video down. Vimeo to the rescue.

The video for "We All Need Honey" is a madcap mishmash of psychedelia, stop motion, hand drawn animation, and honey. A metric shit-ton of honey. Seriously. It all comes together like the sort of spring break LSD nightmare that would make Harmony Korine blush. I absolutely love these guys, and if you haven't gotten the chance to check out their New American Noise segment, you're missing out. After that, head over to the official Lord Scrummage bandcamp page and grab a copy of their latest album Triangle or Die for the low price of whatever the hell you feel like paying. If you're into fearless experimentation, boundless creativity, and shakin' your ass, Lord Scrummage won't disappoint.

- Steve

Cuntz - Aloha

Cuntz are 4 slimey fucks from Melbourne, Australia that bring the noise in the ugliest fashion possible. It's loud and confrontational sludge-punk, and if you don't like it, they certainly don't give a fuck. For fans of Pissed Jeans, Total Control, Big Black, Flipper, and the like. Mastered by Mikey Young of Eddy Current Suppression Ring. This debut LP got a Record Store Day exclusive pressing from Permanent Records, and you can stream the whole thing below, or pick up one of the 21 remaining copies over at bandcamp.

- Dan

Red Traces - Once Were [Single]

An email with the title "Some Twin Peak-ish kind of shoegaze" is certain to "peak" the interest of anyone, but I was pleased to hear that it's an incredibly appropriate description. A beautiful and paranoia-inducing drug led by L.A.-based musician Albert Ovadia. Only two tracks so far, both available as a free download, with a full length nearing completion. Excited to hear more.

- Dan

Download Once Were

VIDEO: Ancient River - YOU

Set your mind adrift to the new track/video from Gainesville's Ancient River. Video by White Vintage Vinyl. And if this is the first time you've come across the band, you can check out all their previous releases over at their bandcamp.

- Dan

VIDEO PREMIERE: The Group Sound - Romantic Notions

"Romantic Notions" is the first single from The Group Sound's forthcoming album and you lucky Ongakubaka reading bastards are getting the WORLD PREMIERE of the music video. I feel Like Carson Daly circa 1998 right now. This song is a nice little slice of hazy, dreamy, psychedelic pop goodness-- the perfect jam to usher in some warm weather. The band's second album, also titled Romantic Notions, is dropping this month, and if the rest of the record is half as good as this single I'll definitely have it heavy rotation.

For more info, check out The Group Sound's Facebook and their bandcamp page.

- Steve

The Cosmic Dead - Inner Sanctum

The Cosmic Dead's newest release drops later this week on Evil Hoodoo. It's 74 minutes of mind-melting psych kraut madness. Each limited edition pea-green cassette comes in a handstitched cotton sleeve. Stream/pre-orders via bandcamp.

- Dan

VIDEO: Dusty Mush - Boogie Bogger

Very cool video for Dusty Mush's "Boogie Bogger" from their split with The Future Primitives out on Cheap Miami. Stream it below and grab a cassette for $5 over at bandcamp.

- Dan

VIDEO: Haunted Leather - Midnight Women

HAUNTED LEATHER :: MIDNIGHT WOMEN from Haunted Leather on Vimeo.

Michigan psychers, Haunted Leather, have a new video for a new track from a new upcoming album entitled In Her Golden Room. Red Road is one of my more heavily played records of 2013, and it sounds as if these guys will continue to hypnotize minds on their next release. Can't wait.

- Dan

Psychic Blood - Drrrty 7"

 

Drrrty is the first vinyl single from Psychic Blood, recorded by none other than Justin Pizzoferrato (Thurston Moore, Dinosaur Jr.). Apparently these guys have drawn some Sonic Youth comparisons, and while their sound does have a few nods to that seminal group's early output, both tracks on Drrrty lean more toward a more straightforward approach to 80's punk inspired noise rock. Overall, this a great little record and I'm looking forward to hearing more.

- Steve

Download Drrrty 7"

In Zaire - White Sun Black Sun

In Zaire is a psychedelic trio from Italy that creates a "universe of sound" for your mind to orbit. If you're into the Japanese freakout bands like High Rise or Acid Mothers Temple, you'll be blowing out speakers to this one in no time. Limited to 500 copies, and available over at Sound of Cobra. Stream the whole thing below.

- Dan

Boogarins - As Plantas Que Curam

Excellent 60s summertime vibes from this Brazilian psychedelic foursome. This one came out of absolutely nowhere, and is easily one of the better submissions to appear in our inbox recently. Although As Plantas Que Curam doesn't boast the same squeaky clean studio recording quality as Tame Impala/Foxygen/Jacco Gardner's most recent records, this debut EP will certainly catch the attention of those who've been loving those records. There's also something about their sound that instantly transported me back to when I heard Dungen for the first time almost 10 years ago. Now I just need Winter to release its death grip on Richmond, VA so I can roll the car windows down to this one. Highly recommended.

- Dan

Download As Plantas Que Curam

Lou Breed - Stoned Out Two: Morning of the Way to Love

Lou Breed is back with another volume of "Stoned Out" after releasing Stoned Out: Miami Beach over 2 years ago now. This guy's brand of laid back beachside psychedelia is sure to induce a strong desire for psychotropics. Lo on the fi and hi on the mind. Download the whole thing for free, and if you want to give your support you can purchase the liner notes, which includes a bonus track and an alternate take, over @ bandcamp.

- Dan

Download Stoned Out Two: Morning of the Way to Love

Never Give A Goat The High Ground - T.I.N.A. EP

Excellent noise-rock/post-punk/experimental trio from Somerville, MA. For fans of Jesus Lizard/Shellac/Melvins. This The 2-track EP is available as a free download over at  Fabrik Recordings, but to better support the band, pick up one of their t-shirts HERE.

- Dan

Download T.I.N.A. EP

π - Ubik

Last year I was fortunate enough to stumble upon Pi's debut demo You In Colour while Dan and I were at Austin Psych Fest. The demo was solid, and while the band played it relatively safe with a familiar blues/garage rock foundation, the songs were undeniably great. Pi has remained busy, releasing an EP back in September and now Ubik, their latest EP at the beginning of 2013. Ubik is a huge step forward for the band, showcasing their musicianship and a willingness to branch out and experiment while still writing songs that fit comfortably into their oeuvre. The thunderous percussion of the opening track "Unfortunate Son" perfectly ushers in the band's evolved sound. Fittingly, the closing track, "The Fool" is a reworked version of one of the group's older songs and it trumps the original in every way. Ubik is available on Bandcamp as a pay-what-you-want download. 

- Steve

Download Ubik