Women - Service Animal 7"

Here's that 7" that's being sent out with orders of the Public Strain 12" through Insound. Two very solid tracks, both previously unreleased.

- Dan

Download Service Animal

Catholic Spray/Zyklon Beach - Fruits of the Moon

Here's that split I mentioned a week ago, and if you've been enjoying the Zyklon Beach side, you're going to shit a reverb and feedback-riddled brick when you hear Catholic Spray. This is some of the best stuff I've heard this year. Recorded exactly the way I like it, loud as fuck without anything sacrificed in the process. Apparently French garage rock fucking rules (or should I say "freedom" garage rock?). The Zyklon Beach tracks are exactly those from the demo I posted last week.

Side A: Catholic Spray

1. Captain WOLF

2. The Ghost From My Grave

3. Kiss The Smack

4. OuiJa Drunk Party

5. Beast In The Bushes

6. Waiting For The Sun

7. The Only One

Side B: Zyklon Beach

1. Twisted Witch
2. Ghosts
3. Shit Me Fire
4. Fuck Downtown
Bonus : Bad (live) + Screaming Girlfriend (live)

- Dan

Download Fruits of the Moon

White Laces - s/t

Fuzzy, hazy, string-bending mid-90s Swirlies-esque indie/shoegaze out of Richmond, VA. "Motorik Twilight" is a highly recommended and contagious track. 12" EP coming on Whole Ghost/Shdwply Records. 300 pressed. Ships Nov. 02. Get it here. Below is a video a friend of mine (Show Me Deals, Show Me Deals) recorded at one of their shows back in Feb.

- Dan

Download White Laces

Bwedge/Swimming Trunks - Split CD

Feel-good loop-based tropical tunes. The Bwedge (Sarasota, FL) tracks outshine Swimming Trunks' (Springfield, MO), but both seem to be most concerned with getting those beach bum booties swaying, preferably with a drink in hand.

- Dan

Download Swimming Trunks/Bwedge Split

Pregnant - Regional Music

(Request)

More organic, conceptual, and seemingly personal than any of his previous releases. Larger variety of instruments. This release was originally slated for June and was delayed for a bit, but should be shipping this month. 500 pressed on "big bird" marbled yellow vinyl. Preorder it from Life's Blood.

- Dan

(Link Temporarily Removed)

Afrirampo - We Are Uchu No Ko

If you weren't already aware, this is sadly the final Afrirampo record. The ladies are calling it quits, but I'm sure we'll be hearing more "ongaku baka" from them in future projects. This is without a doubt a celebratory record, as I'm sure their disbandment was decided before the recording process, and it shows in their sound. Their most playful, comfortable, and mature record. 2 discs. Track 2 & 3 of Disc 1, and track 4 of Disc 2 are exactly what I wanted to hear from the duo. Thanks to Oni and Pikachu for pleasing these ears over the last 5 years.

- Dan

Download We Are Uchu No Ko

Thunder Buffalo - s/t

(LINK REMOVED 11/03/2010)

Lo-fi garage bandits out of Seattle. Recorded at a volume that is sure to cleanse your sonic palate. There's not a single track that disappoints and, as far garage records are concerned, they create a good variety here. They also have a more recent release on their bandcamp that's requires your attention. "Gloomy In Us All" and "Black Cat Rising" are top notch.

- Dan

Zyklon Beach - Demo

Garage goodness out of France. Pretty sure it was recorded in a very small metal trashcan. Sounds completely broken at times, but I promise you will not want to fix it. Some of these tracks are from their upcoming debut release, a split cassette with Catholic Spray out in November on White Moon Recordings/Inch Allah Records.

- Dan

Download Zyklon Beach

Magic Beach - s/t

Magic Beach is Francesco Gallo and Philippe Lambert.

On their 1st record for Black Mantra, Magic Beach takes a trip to Ghost Island,and balance their tropical proto-house tendencies with a heavy dose of visionary psychedelia. If Les Rallizes Denudés where the house band on a Polynesian sea cruise.

Recorded in Montreal, but sounds more like it was recorded miles below the surface of the ocean. Free-floating periodic waves with the occasional unknown medium causing refraction. Really enjoyed Side A. Roll a fatty and head to your nearest beach as soon as possible. Limited to 80 copies. Get it for $5 @ Black Mantra.

- Dan

Download Magic Beach

Cum Stain - s/t

Sleazy and rowdy West Coast teenage garage punk.

- Dan

Download Cum Stain

Contréo - Album

This one was submitted to us back in June, but I've had the hardest time giving this a proper listen. It's an interesting mix of pop, electronic, and baroque music. It's undeniably good, but it's countertenor vocals make it difficult to listen to for extended periods of time. The Radiohead-esque beats get relatively intricate and the strings are absolutely gorgeous. Hopefully some of you will give this the listen it deserves.

- Dan

Download Album

Women - Public Strain

I only gave this one a quick listen because I wanted to get it up on the blog ASAP. This is the followup to Women's self-titled debut, an Ongakubaka favorite from back in 2008. My initial impression: this shit is dissident and bleak as FUCK. As an album, it flows a lot better than their previous work. Tracks move from one to the next in a more logical progression, which ditches the more thrown together (and at times schizophrenic) feel of the first record. I'll have to give it a few more spins, but right now I'm sold. Even if it lacks a big home run track like Black Rice, I can see Public Strain ending up on a lot of "best of" lists at the end of the year. Download this and then pick up the LP when it drops next week. Women is your new favorite band.

- Steve

Download Public Strain

Justin Heathcliff - s/t

You may recognize the name Justin Heathcliff from the Love, Peace & Poetry: Japanese Psychedelic Music compilation that Steve posted a few years back. Heathcliff was the alias of Japanese musician Osamu Kitajima, who moved to the UK in 1971 and released this one and only LP under the moniker. British-inspired. Syd Barrett style vocals. Apparently I put two tracks from this LP on a mix for a friend years ago, but had since completely forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder, Scott (aka Papa Titty).

- Dan

Download Justin Heathcliff