A job is found!! Music Tidbits: Harrison, New York Dolls, Randy California and pink dots bounce and bounce and bounce!!!

A new job is taken on! Security lives!!

racing towards the unemployment line
when good timing
walked into the picture
(I mean...my contract was done last Monday)
I'm staying
where I like it

BUT

It's taken time away from my blog!! 2 people moved on, so in 3 days I was trained for 2 different jobs and left to my own devices...

I ain't complaining, it's tiring though...ahhhh

The boss is cool...always a bonus.
***

Music Tidbits

I've been downloading Zappa stuff from this site: Kill Ugly Radio: Gilles Friday Boot. There's a Zappa boot or gig available for download every Friday. Only for us Zappa fanatics...

I must be listening to a LOT of weird shit! I listened to Don Cherry & John Coltrane: The Avant-Garde (1960) and it's as amazing as you would expect, but it sounded surprisingly trad to me. I do need to listen to more Don Cherry! Coltrane could be my fav jazz guy...fuck that!! One of my fav musicians. Period..........

Been listening to some early George Harrison solo stuff. I don't bother listening to The Beatles anymore, but George has become my fav little beetle. Beware of Abcko (1970) is a fantastic bootleg, and I can relate to those that think Spector's production took away from the inner song. I'll keep my copy of All Things Must Pass though. Especially with the poster!!!!!

Randy California: Kapt. Kopter (1972)
WOW! This is amazing! Spirit were one of the best late 60s bands...
criminally under-rated...
this solo album is great!!
Randy did a shit load of great stuff in the 70s. Listen to Spirit: Live at Rockpalast (1978) for proof. Incredible live album! Next stop is the 80s stuff, but I'm already satisfied!

Agitation Free were fucking incredible!

I'm enjoying The Legendary Pink Dots: Maria Dimension (1991). I heard about these guys from Ricardo Wang's What's This Called?. Very cool.

Starting to watch more videos on You Tube. Saw some old rare New York Dolls clips. Especially from their last shows. Great stuff. I see that the new New York Dolls video for "Dance Like a Monkey" is splitting the fans. 1/2 love it, the other half think it's awful. Too soft. I think it's a great song. The video? It's fun, but what kind of video would you expect for this song? The new album's pretty strong. The new album got me to go back and listen to classic Dolls, David Johansen's stuff and Johnny Thunders with and without The Heartbreakers.
That makes it worth it for me.
[aside: I really like David Johansen & The Harry Smiths.
Q. David Johansen sings the blues???
A. Fucking right!

So Mole...how was Jandek??
I must say I am still contemplating this mysterious wonder by the name of Jandek.
***

the mind melds
into torrents
of fantastical reams of light
bleeding through ears of tin

music travels far and wide
back to the beginning of time
...the end of time

has it happened?

a constant state of puzzlement
at our species
...puzzlement
at our behavior

the past is
cut into the stone of our minds
and we run and run and run
and...

we can never escape the past.

the beauty of memories
the terror of the truth

I see people confused
confused like me
confused like you

the future approaches
unsure
hesitant
frightened at our destruction
baffled at our brutality

we wonder why???
why needless tragedies?
why needless deaths??

babies taken from mothers
lonely and scared
nothing to hold on to...
...except strands of sanity
that become more strained
every second....

Then I turn on the tv
and see the
glorification of violence
and I see the answer
I see the fucking answer

The answer is US

the eternal question?

why???
***

Busy times...it's all good, Peter Brotzmann and a blizzard of Popcorn!??!

Times have become BUSY BUSY BUSY...in a good way!

I'm on the shortlist for a job where I currently work (and the contract is up Sept. 18th AND I really like it here...great place) and I'll be filling in until the interview process. All sounds good, but until I hear: "We'd like to offer you the job", I won't celebrate...anything can happen.

BUT

The 2nd person [out of 2] is also leaving as of this Friday...thus...I'm learning to do 2 jobs in 3 1/2 days, and will be doing them both Monday! And...I still have the contract job, but that's almost done.

SO

It's a shit load of stuff to learn and work at, so it hasn't left a lot of time for the blog.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I can hardly wait until things return to normal!!! The you'll get a more in-depth review / study of Jandek's "Glasgow Sunday", as well as all the other shit I do on here...hopefully better!
***

Peter Brotzmann: Machine Gun (1968)
What the hell is this????????????????
Machine Gun is fucking right!!!

a blast of bullets
riddle the body
blood boiling
on burning asphalt

chaos on the streets
people screaming
people singing
people dancing
there is no
rhyme
there is no
reason

You can hear the Albert Ayler influences VERY clearly. Even I can tell the influence and I'm no technical expert. Amazing amazing stuff.

Just be ready for blast of bullets through your brain!
***

Popcorn Blizzard...really cool name!
Released their only album in 1968. Light psychedelic pop. It's ok.
Guess who the lead singer was................Meatloaf!

I like obscure weird facts and shit like this. I mean...who knew??
***

Sorry bout the delay! Initial "Glasgow Sunday" impressions!!! Yoko is my Goddess, poetry practice [aka/ I'm losing my mind!]

Sorry bout the delay

reality interrupts....

gets in the WAY
of LIFE.

Yes, I've had to focus my attention...and t i m e
on resumes, cover letters, studying job pdq's (not a lotta fun...but helpful).

Until I'm back in a regular routine and the job search is over
(amidst great relief on my part!!!)
blog publishing may become a little...irregular.

So here's what I haphazardly have noted. I'll try to keep within a week next time.
***

Jandek: "Glasgow Sunday" (2004)
Initial impression...I was startled at the dynamics of the music!
I had only heard New Town (1998) which was quiet, dark and acoustic.
This is louder, dark and electric.
Am I the only person who sees a connection between Jandek and Krautrock???

The way the music ebbs and flows...improvised, but in tune with each other.
Jandek's young rhythm section drive hard and keeps the pulse of the music flowing.

The mysterious Mr. Jandek is very thin and quite youthful for his age (sorry J). Like a young William S. Burroughs on electric guitar...

I love the way the video starts without any big introductions...
3 guys on a small stage
nod at each other
start the journey
and we are invited
along to savor the sounds
and observe the action.

The lyrics and singing are something else!
Jandek certainly understands how it feels to be
lonely, isolated, depressed
one would think he has an intimate knowledge of these feelings.

The vocals threw off The Guru somewhat who kept mumbling about drugs...I don't know what she meant! I wasn't that high!!

I remember placing my first order for a Jandek (ordered "New Town" from Amazon for like $12!! Great deal!), and the darkness of that album may have been a bit impenetrable on first listen. I feel that this dvd opens up his music and makes exploration of this muse long overdue!!

I should have time over the long weekend to view this amazing documentary again, and give my opinion (or whatever the hell it is I do!) in more detail. It's worth it! Thanks Mole!!! When I get a chance I'll throw you some more great krautrock I got recently. Jandek web site.
***

Charalambides: Market Square (1995)
What a brilliant wrapped way to start an album.

"please, pick up the phone...
pick up the phone!!
If you don't pick up the phone
...I'm calling the police!!"

...the desperation,
pleas falling on empty ears...

The strumming of the electric guitar, the whispered vocals...
enticing you into Market Square.
think about...before it's too late...I mean, just "think about".

This is spooky, enchanting, thought-provoking... Excellent!!

Randy heard of these guys through a top 100 list on Terrascope.

This is another great way to discover new/old bands. Check out lists. Rate Your Music has tons. Top 50 krautrock albums you never heard...Top 100 Dylan bootlegs...I mean the possibilities are endless out there!
***

It's no fucking joke...Yoko Ono WAS the BOMB!!!

Fly (1971) is EVEN better (!!??) than Plastic Ono Band (1970)...Absolutely stunning and brilliant. She had so much fucking GALL...I love it!!!

Another reason to love her: She broke up The Beatles!!!
***

OK

Life is getting..weird

The past week:
1) Steve and I were talking about this cd Psychedelic States in the 60s: Alabama and were laughing at imagining hippies in Alabama in the 60s.
So, I leave, get in the car, turn on the radio. What do you think was playing? Of course, it was "Sweet Home Alabama" by Skynyrd.

2) Yesterday I started thinking about my old workmate (for 13 years!!) from Hamilton, Marg Turnbull. [aside: Hi Marg!!] Out of the blue. We haven't communicated since xmas. I get home, go to my email and sure enough...there's an email from Marg notifying her contacts of an address change!

3) I have been recollecting parts of my childhood in excruciating detail that I haven't thought about for...decades!! Let's leave this one alone!!
***

Bob Bannister: Dives and Lazarus (2002)
Oh My fucking God!!!!
Who the hell is this guy? This is absolutely stunning.

"Maria Marten" starts the cd off with fantastic violin and Bob singing about killing his fiancee instead of marrying her. A little drastic maybe, but...isn't this what folk music is about?
"I Am A Pilgrim" rocks along with the desperation of hope.
"A Minature Rainbow" experimental beauty
"Got To Hurry" I love his singing! Bob's in a hurry to get to the promised land...and the song convinces me that Bob's well on his way!
"Dark Hollow" has some amazing electric guitar.
"In Christ (Slight Return)" ends the cd beautifully.

If you like intelligent, string based (and not afraid of electricity) folk this is HIGHLY recommended. The musicianship and vocals are top notch. Brilliant!!
This is firmly in the folk tradition BUT not tied to it. It is free, experimental, traditional.

There's not much online about Bob, but here's a link to his label.
***

The Mind of Self Pity

fragility...
broken glass cells twist into unending fury

dreams become your reality...
your dreams are a fucking nightmare

sweat drips into unseeing eyeballs
the terror of the future
has you clutching for something
...you never had, you've never seen
- only sensed -

friends come
... go
lovers come
...go

...you're still...
with yourself

addictions supply
warmth and comfort
BUT
isolated and withdrawn

the walls enclose
you like a prison
but the prison
is your mind
...in your mind...

Link to Walsh gallery - Lucy Kim page (artist of painting)
***

Jandek arrives, Randy's Stash continued: Agitation Free, Acid Mothers, Dylan and now - Steve's Stash of lps!!

A package arrived all the way from Hamilton, Ontario from my friend, ex-manager and all around man about town, Bruce "The Mole" Mowat.

As hands grasped the package, one could tell it was a cd. Ha! Wrong! It was a DVD!! It's hard to tell the difference these days....

Jandek's "Glasgow Sunday"!! Footage of the mysterious Mr. Jandek playing live in October 2004. I am anxiously awaiting viewing this piece of historical footage and relating my thoughts here at the Carnival.

Thanks Bruce!!! Jandek web site.
***

I am working my way through Randy's stash and discovering so many morsels of musical goodness that it is keeping me in a constant state of excitement! Here's more of:

Randy's Stash (part 2)

Agitation Free: Malesch (1972)
Another band I was ignorant of. Here's a snapshot of info I found:
They disbanded in 1974 after two albums. Malesch was the first. 2nd (1973) was the second. Last (1974) was..the last and live. Other albums appeared after they broke up.
2 main guys regrouped as Lagoona.
That broke up.
In 1998 they reformed.
First impressions: Very impressed! Awesome for you krautrock fans out there. I definitely need to check out their 2nd as well, and later various offshoots. Check out the official Agitation Free web site.
The band also look very cool as well...(or freaks)...same thing to me!

Acid Mothers Temple: The Penultimate Galactic Bordello (2004)
4 - FOUR fucking cds!!!
I know I mention these guys a lot, but what can I say? I'm a huge fan!
The Acid Mothers and their various offshoots [aside: Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno, Acid Mothers Gong, Acid Mothers Afrirampo, and the most common (but done with...for now! or are they??) Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso UFO] have released seemingly thousands of recordings, but...BUT!!!
This sounds to these ears like a classic!!! I've only heard the 1st cd and it's taken me on a
flight

through stars
and comets
and laser beams
shooting
through
synapses
of brain tissue
nailing me
to its dream
state
... a new path
opening and
I hear the heavens calling me calling me.....
Also...Cotton Casino is awesome. She could take you away with a touch of her finger on the right key...This is already one of my fav hits of the Acids.

Bob Dylan: Beneath the Border Sun (1978) bootleg
Here's a concert of Bob's from 1978 that blows away At Budokan (1978) ** for live performances. This was recorded a little over a year after that, and the energy, arrangements and Bob's voice are much more"involved". For some reason I get a kick when he keeps saying "Merci" to the crowd.
First impressions: Great bootleg! Good sound, great performance. Great Bob Dylan bootleg discography site. Bob has a few...
***

Steve's Stash (part 1)

As if going through gigabytes of Randy's stash wasn't enough...

Well...I picked up 61 lps (counting 2 & 3 lp sets as 1!) at Steve's garage sale on the weekend.
All kinds of stuff...

Derek & The Dominos (Layla & In Concert - both 2 record sets), Sidney Bechet, Humble Pie (w/ Peter Frampton still in the band), Manfred Mann, Roy Buchanan, George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" with poster!! Pink Floyd, XTC, Ry Cooder, CSNY Deja Vu, Goblin: Suspira (1977)!! Ian Hunter: Shades Of - 2 records!! Zappa in New York (another 2 record set!), Warren Zevon from 1969...
all kinds of shit...
some brilliant, some fun, some silly, some kitschy....it's lps man!!!! Gotta love it.

The Guru was going through them and she related how much she liked looking at album covers when she was 13-14. There is something about the allure of lps over cds/cd-r's. The artwork was part of the package. This is probably why lps refuse to die the way of 8 tracks or cassettes.
***

Life Crap

Harvey Dog's contract at his current job [aside: which I love...best job ever!] is ending in less than 5 weeks...so I'm starting to feel the pressure of having to go out...
do the
bullshit resume
bullshit cover letters
bullshit interviews and all the other bullshit involved.

As you can see, the ol' attitude needs to be readjusted so I can get through this.

I know I'm not alone when it comes to
looking for work,
dealing with shitty work,
even getting shitty work!
So here's some positive vibes to those currently in the same boat.

Positive Vibes!!
Positive Vibes!! peace out..
***

The good people of Wells! Randy's Stash! Yoko Ono Rules!! Edgar Broughton, Fela, Popol Vuh!! Poetry?! That's Enough!!

Back from my Holiday in the Sun...in the new Belsen!!!

Actually the funky little town of Wells, BC
for their 3rd Annual ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art.

It was a relaxing time for Harvey Dog, the Guru and the Bah.

The Town: I've never really been to a town quite like this. It's a town full of artists, freaks and a few others (total pop: 500). The area is gorgeous and is perfect to rejuvenate broken down, tired depressed people. Check it out: Wells BC

The Music: We didn't see as much music as we originally planned, but that's ok...The music we did see was all good...relaxation was the order of the trip!

Here's who we saw:
The Buttless Chaps: Enjoyed them live, and when they did their 80s schtick (cheesy..ie. Duran Duran) it worked fine, but listening to Love This Time (2003) when we got back home, I found that the 80s schtick broke the momentum of the album. I mean...if you're going to do 80s music you have to be coked out, and these guys don't seem coked out at all! Overall: fun band.

Kia Kadiri: very popular with the crowd and she had tons of energy and seemed to enjoy herself. Overall: Good.

OK Cobra: We only got one (of two) OK Cobra, but I liked him. He worked his ass off and seemed to mean every word. I thought it started ok, got really strong and enjoyable, then tapered off at the end. Overall: Very Good.

Ken Hamm: This man can play the guitar and he sounded great. I'd like to check him out with better sound than you get in a Community Hall! Overall: Worth investigating.
***

My friend Randy went incredibly insane and sent me a massive amount of music from his collection.

I am FREAKING OUT!!!

And Vaspers always recommends brilliant music and videos, as well as creating incredible music himself...
And Steve (another music fanatic) is always feeding my rock and prog desires...
And Mole is sending me a package from Hamilton that sounds...intriguing.

good friends...good music...good times
***

Impressions of Randy's Stash

Where to begin? So much music....How about what I'm listening to right now as I'm typing this?

Yoko Ono: Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band (1970)
This is absolutely brilliant. Stunning. I guess it was outrageous in it's day for conservative Beatle lovers, but today it sounds vital, experimental, engrossing...
"Paper Shoes" is freaking me out...should I be listening to this at work?
Should I be doing my blog at work?
Should I get back to my VS2005 copy function project? OK...but LISTEN to this one!
Wait...is Yoko screaming: "Alfred!!! Alfred!!!!" in "Open Your Box"? Who's Alfred? The butler? Her man-servant? Paul McCartney? Alfred E. Newman?
[aside: This album just finished up, and it appears to me that Yoko was the TRUE innovator of The Beatles! Forget Lennon/McCartney let's hear it for Yoko!!!]

Miles Davis: The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 (2005)
Randy and I were extremely stoked when we first heard about this 6 cd box. We're both huge Miles fans of his late 60s early 70s electric period. Incredible fucking music!

Soul Jazz collections
The Soul Jazz compilations are a great way to discover obscure, underrated artists from the past. Always interesting.

Fela Kuti: Expensive Shit (1975) / He Miss Road (1975)
I love this! The groove is happening and entices you in...immediately! Then Fela and company bitch about expensive shit that smells. Now who can't relate to expensive smelly shit!?
The politics are great as well. I mean, you can go on and on about why Bush and all these other world leaders (using the term "leader" very loosely) are demonic and seemingly bent on the destruction of our world and its people...
BUT, Fela sums it all up by saying: "He Miss Road". How fucking true!
Summary: Happy to be introduced to Fela's world.

Edgar Broughton Band: Out Demons Out - Best Of 1969-1972 (2001)
Gotta love the freaks...and STILL going strong. Loads of fun...
"There's No Vibrations But Wait" is insane.
Actually, there's tons of good old freaky insanity going on.

Popol Vuh: Affenstunde (1970)
OK...I had heard of these guys and desperately wanted to hear them.
Finally!
This is beautiful music that takes one into
different atmospheres
walking on planets
reminding me a bit of Eno's Apollo (1983) album which I always thought was brilliant.
***

scattered
and strewn
amongst my pile
of music

refreshing the mind
constantly revolving
like old lps
on a dusty turntable

solid...true...
reliable
like life
and death...

drowning in the
v a s t n e s s
of humanity
called music

music is life
music is death
music is everything
and

all is music
***

The Guru and I are hooking up a second computer at home...
will this lead to more posts?????

Just warning ya!
[aside: I didn't use any of the post I mentioned...last post! Once you get started...]
***

Vacation....

Vacation Time!!!!

Off to Wells, BC for the 3rd Annual ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art!!

4 DAYS
40 ACTS
Eric Tompkins!!! [from PG!!]

It should be
fantastic
relaxing
soothing
healing

Guru T-Lu, the Bah and myself will be departing tomorrow morning.

A new post will be published early next week.
The notes are done...just gotta put it together!

Happy BC Day!!!
***

Captain Beefheart is safe as milk, flowing saws in a can and bananas are melting in the SUN!!

Heat Wave!!!

set the controls for the heart of the sun
avoid being blistered by the sun
don't forget
sea, sex and sun!!!
***

Captain Beefheart: Safe as Milk (1967) ***1/2
For years, I've had a lousy re-issue bastard called Captain Beefheart at His Best (1989), which deservedly received a slam from The Captain Beefheart Radar Station.
Lousy sound!!
Lousy mix and they dropped..."Dropout Boogie"!!!
The bastards!!!!

Praise the good Captain, the situation has been rectified and I am now in possession of a proper release of Safe as Milk...with bonus tracks!!!

Listening to early Cap is different...
unique...
straight r & b
NOT straight r & b...
brilliance
still o d d
more...traditional?

a young Captain?????????
with overt influences????????????????

Fav songs:
Electricity - breaks away from tradition and creates it's own
Yellow Brick Road - always found this really catchy...I've always wanted to go to OZ.
Call On Me - moves me...
Plastic Factory - hard rockin' precursor to "Hard Workin' Man"

Is this the place for a neophyte Beefheartian to start?
I started with Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974) in high school...liked it...didn't think it was that weird...
next got Trout Mask Replica (1969) and umm...
You could say that I thought it was weird...
I knew it was fucked!
I knew, I knew...it was worth working through...
not all classics are EASY.

So my answer would be ---- start with Clear Spot (1972) --- a little bit of everything, then go fishing for trouts!!!
***

Can: Flow Motion (1976) **1/2 Saw Delight (1977) ***
What to make of latter Can?
No Damo...No Malcolm...
I haven't listened to these that much...but from what I have, it's --- enjoyable.
Doesn't hit the peaks of days past.
Lower expectations, and let it silently
...wash over you.

Conclusion - inconclusion = pleasant if you're a fan...but start with Damo or Malcolm!!
[aside: I should add Soon Over Babaluma (1974) and Landed (1975) are pretty great, and are the first ones without Damo.]
***

Melt Banana: Cell-Scape (2003)
crazy crazy crazy
I LOVE IT!
Closer to The Boredoms than Acid Mothers Temple
(And that can mean whatever you want it to mean!!!!).

This is my first Melt Banana and this is a group definitely to be explored.

after a ridiculous amount of sweat, they end the album with a 10 minute journey to the stratosphere.

chaos
then...peacestorm
***

Random Ramblings

What was the music you heard growing up? For me, my Dad was into jazz - mainly big band - lots of lps
[aside: including the classic Herb Alpert: "Whipped Cream" lp with that delicious cover!].
I love a LOT of jazz (Miles and Coltrane would be top 10 artists of all-time for me), but still can't get into big band shit...

With all the shit going on in the world today...where the fuck are today's punks???

Pere Ubu...
The first album I had of Ubu was Worlds in Collision (1991) which, you know...is good, catchy and a few songs are even great, BUT...it's not early Ubu.
Fortunately, Randy supplied a couple of early Pere Ubu albums, (as well as Rocket from the Tombs)
I have no idea why the fuck I never got into these guys in the late 70s...
Why does that happen?
You miss a band you really shouldn't have. [aside: I blame the booze!]
Hey, who cares? Just enjoy it today...I'm currently grooving to The Modern Dance (1978).

Betty Davis is funky as shit...check her out...

Do you know who wrote / performed the 3rd song referenced in my opening salvo?
I know the first 2 were easy...but didja get the last one?
Answers: Pink Floyd, Violent Femmes...Serge Gainsbourg.
***

John Cage meets Sun Ra!!

John Cage Meets Sun Ra (1987)
So...I'm done downloading from Live Music Archives for the weekend and decide to get all intellectual and go visit UBU Web.

A great site full of poets...readings....poets reading...and....
John Cage Meets Sun Ra!!!!

A complete album from 1987 and recorded June 8th, 1986 at the "Sideshows by the Seashore: Coney Island, NY".

What to expect with these 2
f
a
r
o u t
musicians?

let's see...sounds like a flute...bells...a synth?...chimes!?
some nice conversation between the 2...

hello sun...hello john
nice day...yes it is
wanna freak people out?...sure.

oh oh..john's in a trance!!!!
hey...where did everybody go?? hello? hello? um...hello?
all i hear is a crackle...
WAIT
this is john fucking cage...
this IS the song!!!

oh...he came back!!!
hi john! where's sun?
this sounds like a sad sound poem about aging...* sigh *
i hear ya john
...damn he's gone again.
what?!
there's a crowd??
the most polite crowd...EVER!!
now it's....beautiful.

and the first side ends
and the second begins

ominous
then...silence...
getting their shit together?

oh, hi john

as i listen...
i understand...

the value of silence...

they applaud the silence
...a great crowd!!

now they're rockin'!
intensity
interactions
entwined genius

what???
it's done!!!!
way too fast!!

This is a great listen, and can be downloaded from UBU Web...
great wild shit...

Verdict: worth the download
***

Boredoms bore through brains, Kevin Coyne sings for Syd Barrett, Walter Wegmuller reads tarot cards and Parliament IS Osmium!!

The Boredoms: Super AE (1998) *****
the mind...
expanded
manipulated
fucked
...ever since my friend Randy hooked me onto the incredible Japanese noise bands, Acid Mothers Temple & The Boredoms.

This album takes you on a wild trip...
a roller coaster ride through the cranium.

The best advice I have for a "noise-experimental-avant garde-krautrock" music newbie is to....
ACCEPT!
Forget your preconceived notions of music...music is whatever you want it to be! It can be found anywhere and everywhere. Appreciate the beauty (AND ugliness) of sound.

I actually found a translation of whatever the hell they're singing about on the net...click on the Boredoms link above. Now that's dada (or is it mama
mama
it's S U P E R !everything!

[aside: doing a bit of searching on Japanese Noise Bands, has brought up a couple more bands to explore: Melt Banana and Merzbow. Musical discoveries never stop...yeh!!!]
***

Random Thoughts

I put on The New Faggot Cunts right after The Boredoms, and it felt like a very linear progression. Very impressive stuff. Free download at Puzzling Music Archive. Nice name, huh?
hahahahaha....certainly stands out like a motherfucker!!

Silver Apples: Silver Apples (1968) / Contact (1969) *****
I'm listening to this right now, and it's freaking me out...once again!
These guys were so far ahead of their time...
mind blowing
intense, wild, experimental
playful, thought-provoking
highly enjoyable...highly recommended.
thoughts from a silver apple ("You and I")
we don't have time for little things
there is no room for little things
because life is full of important things.

My friend Mole has a blog where he puts up the playlists for his radio show on...
ta..da!!
CFMU
McMaster University
my hometown of Hamilton Ontario...."a long long long time ago!!!"
There are links to his radio show on it...check it out, lots of good old fantastic weirdness. Mole's blog.
***

Kevin Coyne with Achim Goettert: Opera for Syd (1999) **** bootleg
This was a stage presentation put on by Kevin and Achim, and the Syd in question is none other than...Syd Barrett.

"Ain't this weird?" category
I pick out around 10 cds to take to work each day [aside: I don't listen to them all...I just like choice!], so I picked out this cd.
While driving to work I heard on the radio that Syd Barrett had died at the age of 60! Of course, I put this on immediately.

This record is fucking great!
I'm not sure why, but I had low expectations for this album.
No idea why...a feeling.

I was W R O N G!
It's blowing me away.
depraved and disturbed
energy and intensity
Another thing about Kevin Coyne -
when it comes to writing
singing about the mentally ill /
no one does it better / more attuned / sensitive
true or honest
than Kevin Coyne
(Born: January 27, 1944 Derby, England
Died: December 2, 2004 Nurnberg, Germany)

[aside: "House on the Hill" is probably my fav song about the mentally ill. Find it on Marjory Razorblade (1974).
Case History (1972) is my fav album about mental illness.]

This should be released immediately!!!
***

Cool web site alert

NPR Music Mavericks.
Play Harry Partchs' instruments and more fun!
I thought I sounded good on the "Metal, glass and bells"!! almost

You can even listen to the whole series (13 parts) on RealPlayer if you want and various interviews with oddball composers.
I'm listening to some interviewer trying to get Lamonte Young a chair. It seems to be taking them a bit of time to get their shit together! Hilarious!!
***

Walter Wegmuller: Tarot (1973) ****
This 2 cd set involves favs of mine: Ash Ra Tempel / Cosmic Jokers!

Walter introduces the 36 or so (actually 8!) people that co-wrote each song on the album to kick it off.

rockin' elements
jazzy elements
folk elements
space elements...sometimes o v e r t h e t o p ....
throw together in a vat of acid
(or other mind-altering substances)
and...record baby record!

cd2 starts off on another
planetary dimension and I feel like I'm in a gypsy tent...
I can't find the door
the walls are invisible.

unknown corridors
more dark
more ominous
the end is nearing
the tarot
reveals
t r u t h...
whatever you want it to be!

Great stuff as is everything I've heard Ash Ra involved in. Walter on AMG.
***

Parliament: Osmium (1970) ****
Different from the more familiar and famous Parliament albums. More Funkadelic-like in tone and feel.
Lots of Eddie Hazel...lots of gospel singing...lots of acid...lots of EVERYTHING!!
Let the party begin!! The greatest funkers of all-time are here!!

I Call My Baby Pussycat - awesome start...a classic!
Put Love in Your Life - psychedelic gospel baby and we all need a little love in all our lives...great singing, great guitar.
Little Old Country Boy - this is awesome...what a hook! who put the acid in my cornflakes?
Moonshine Heather (Takin' Care of Business) - not bto...mercy...just funky bizness
Oh Lord, Why Lord / Prayer - back to church for healings after moonshine heather
My Automobile - very cool song...i wouldn't think that driving with Mr. Clinton would be the brightest of ideas...
"George, look out!! Flying spaceships!!!!"
"Shaadap and have more of this...fucking white boys!"
There is Nothing Before Me But Thang - fucking right!!! great rawkin' song.
Funky Woman - reminds me of the old days...
Livin' the Life - gospel psychedelic jesus acid guitar
[aside: hey...great name for a band: "Jesus Acid Guitar"...feel free to steal]
The Silent Boatman - Bagpipes. There are fucking bagpipes in this song!?!

This album moves between genres fast and quick, which some may cite as a weakness...
not necessarily me...
This is the most underrated, ignored CLASSIC album by the funkers. If you love the psychedelicized acid guitar work of the early years (as I do)...what are you waiting for?? Get this album NOW!!
***

A Big One! Impressions Part 2, Faust, old recollections and free music download sites! And More! Whew!!

Free Music Downloads.
And legal too!!!

#1 - Live Music Archive.

They have some live concerts available for free download. How many? Oh, only about 37,000.

It only includes artists who are trade-friendly. So...no worries about artistic infringement and all that legal stuff.

I've downloaded some great shows by Dream Syndicate (yes!!!), Cracker, Hammell On Trial, Josh Ritter (mainly for the Guru, but it sounds good), Acid Mothers Temple (double YES!!!), Soul Coughing (cool!) and there's tons more to check out and explore...awesome site!!!!

#2 - Puzzling Music Archives

Another great free, legal music download site. Nowhere near as big, but sure as hell more
w e i r d...
For those of you into the weird fucked-up shit (like me), check out Fat Worm of Error, New Faggot Cunts and especially Deerhoof!
***

Impressions (Part 2)

Can: The Peel Sessions 1973-1975 (1995)
Finally! Some live Can! It's great. The 1st track with Damo is the best...he's wild! The rest is without Damo, but I still love their later stuff.

Dream Syndicate: Medicine Show (1984)
I remember buying this when it came out in 84, and I was into them. Then I sold my lps [aside: * sigh cry sob *...I hate youth, alcohol and lack of money!] and the only cds I had of theirs was the first (great) and a scratched copy of their greatest hits.
forward 20 years later * BAM!!! *
I've got back into these guys once again! It's cool re-discovering great music. These guys also have a couple of shows on "Live Music Archive" that I've already downloaded.
I've listened to the 1987 set from Greece and thought to myself: "Self. These guys were awesome live! I've got to check out the 20 or so live shows that Steve Wynn has on Live Music Archive"...real raw guitar-based rock'n'roll..."John Coltrane Stereo Blues" absolutely blows me away every time!
Steve Wynn Official Web Site.

Captain Beefheart: Captain Hook 1974 (1993) bootleg
This is a boot from a concert with the so-called "Tragic Band".
Well...I think this concert is the tops!!!
The Captain's in great voice, the band's tight and rockin'.
I always liked Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974). First purchased on 8 track when I was around 15 0r 16.
I love how the Cap throws out poetry every so often to an unsuspecting crowd...great show!Here's a link to a note from Michael Smotherman (keyboardist for the Tragic Band) which I think sheds some light on this period of the Cap. Interesting.
P.S. I agree that Bluejeans and Moonbeams (1974) indicated that the Cap needed a break to rejuvenate...which he did!!

Alex Harvey: Rock Workshop (1970)
Early pre-Sensational Alex Harvey is relatively straightforward, but his charisma and personality still shines through (check out "Born in the City"..."You To Lose" is interesting even though it sounds like Alex isn't totally comfortable in this style). A number of instrumentals surprisingly. I find him intriguing...whom knows? Maybe I'm even related to him!
***

Faust: Faust (1971) **** / So Far (1972) *****

free your mind...
experience
different places...
crevices...
holes in the soul...
a murder mystery
for fortune seekers...
a junkie's paradise
where Miss Fortune
is the heroin
surging
through your veins

sunshine girl
sits crosslegged
knitting rainbows
reading Henry Miller
and sipping wine

it's a rainy day
sunshine girl
it's a rainy day.

"It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl" & "No Harm" are my 2 favorite Faust songs! ...
why do they want Daddy to take the banana?
what does it matter that tomorrow is Sunday??

These are definitely questions worth pondering!!!
What twisted perversions are they talking about???
I mean...bananas and daddy? and on Sunday!!!!

Brilliant...great Faust web site
***

Recollection Time

Out of the blue...old thoughts...
The Violent Femmes playing their first Canadian show...
ever...
a minister's son
from Milwaukee Wisconsin
in my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario.

Now get this...
In the basement of my old
Roman Catholic Church...
Canadian Martyrs'...
2 blocks from where
Harvey Dog
was raised
as a young pup...

My buddy JK and I got shitfaced [aside: as usual] and the band played great and we stood at the side...pounding 'em back like thirsty motherfuckers...and I pissed next to the bass player, Brian Ritchie, and he verified it was their first time in Canada...he was friendly.
The band got high outside...
my old Church, my old Grade School...
how times had changed
how times had changed.

We got drunker...bought a cool red Violent Femmes t-shirt...had a few more drinks...
broken glass,
a hand in the broken glass...a little blood...more drinks
Mickey DeSadist of The Forgotten Rebels was there...he sang with the opening act...good, but the ol' noggin's a little dull on the details...

a good time was had by one and all...

then I went back to JK's
...and we had, if I recall

...a few more drinks.
***

Depression Status: Well, I've worked really hard on controlling this depression bastard and the hard work is paying off. One thing I've learned through this ordeal (which has been going on intensely for over 3 years now) is that controlling depression requires work...forever!
some of the hardest work I've ever had to do.

So if you're struggling...keep working hard
you can get over it.

positive vibes
positive vibes...
***

Vaspers has added more Camouflage Danse mp3s for free download! Here's the link for details and lyrics and all kinds of good stuff.
***

Guru T-Lu on the New York Dolls: One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This (2006)
"David Johansen sounds like Randy Newman fronting a rock band."
[aside: the album sounded good on first listen. Can't compare to the original 2. How could it?]
***

Great conversation between Thelonius Monk and some reporter.
"What kinds of music do you like?"
MONK: "I like all types of music."
"Do you like Country and Western?"
MONK: "I like all types of music."
***

Back from Jasper, Bunch of new music: Impressions (part 1)

Greetings blog readers of the universe!!!

After a great visit to Jasper, Alberta and soaking in the beauty of mother nature I am back to the blog.

In the past couple of weeks I have accumulated more music and will do the old sharing of first impressions

re-impressions

pre-impressions.

***

The Heads: Under the Streets of a Headlong Drive (2006)

I'm not sure if putting this on first thing in the morning at work was the most brilliant idea I've ever had (especially when trying to learn sql server 2005!), but hey...

I would call it heavy space rock with a bit of an edge. The singer sounds like some lost ghost of Ian Curtis or Virgin Prunes [aside: I haven't heard these guys for 24 years so have no idea what I'm talking about...I should get some Joy Division!]

First Impressions: Interesting...Heavy [aside: as it's playing I'm starting to wish I was on the right kind of drugs, but I'm at work! Damn!]

Last 2 songs definitely fit into the Boredoms, Acid Mothers camp...best stuff on the cd.

John Cale: Ocean Club 1976 (1976) bootleg

This is great! Cale is in awesome voice and the contrast of Cale and Patti Smith singing "Abilene" cracks me up. The Guru chuckled as well.

You could tell Patti was trying so hard to be significant in front of her heroes (Lou was there too). I don't blame her...fuck, who wouldn't be! Link to info on great Cale site.

(while listening to) Sun Ra: The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra Vol. 1 (1965)

From the very first notes of this album I knew I was going to absolutely love it...man...

it's mind blowing stuff for blown minds.

It's going crazy man.

"Other Worlds" is definitely an appropriates title! Awesome!

Why do I love the sound of bells in w a y o u t h e r e jazz? Coltrane does the same thing and I love it.

Flying Island: Flying Island (1975)

Never heard of this one until someone passed it along...cool jazz-rock fusion...lots of violin work so if you're a fusion fan...go for it! Pretty obscure shit.

Pink Floyd: A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)

I've always been a fan of Floyd yet never had this one.

Early Floyd is more where my head is at these days than later Floyd. Very spacey...

"Let There Be More Light"
starts off the album on a space journey

floating into stratospheres

melting the atmosphere...great beginning

"Remember a Day"

I have this one on Relics and always liked it.

dreaming

soaking up energy

in a field of poppies

sleepy and languid

i dream i dream

"Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"

is absolutely awesome...

"Corporal Clegg"

had a wooden leg

drugs rhyme with bugs

rhymes rhyme with times

line by line

i drink wine

feeling fine...

yes, obvious rhymes here

that's neither here nor there

...um...ok...

"A Saucerful of Secrets"

i am scared that

the secret is here

the secret is nowhere

no it's now here

what the hell is in that saucer anyway?

"See-Saw"

ok...i guess it's a rest from the intensity of the rest of the album...so so

"Jugband Blues"

syd is not here

syd is not there...boy, syd sure has personality in his singing...great stuff.

Great album.

Gong: Time is the Key (1979)

This is really Pierre Morlen's Gong and it's certainly not as

o u t t h e r e

as Gong is with that crazy guy Daevid Allen.

It's nice, but I would go back to the wilder Gong or Acid Motherhood with the Acid Mothers first. Visit Planet Gong.

***

Jasper was beautiful by the way...the weather was great, the hiking was great.

felt at peace

at ease

saw elks (dozens)

bears - 2 (1 dead, 1 alive crossing the highway)

coyotes (also crossing the highway)

...and the vicious Poobah!!

In our car!!!!!

Jasper Photos.

***

Link for free Camouflage Danse downloads!!

I want to give out a link to Vaspers the Grate for free downloads of his Camouflage Danse: "Inside Sessions" (1987). Incredibly, it's all improvised...lyrics and all! I'd say if you like experimental music with "Hawaiian wah-wah guitar feedback, acoustic guitars, and Leonard Cohen-esque lyrics" which Vaspers describes as an "electronic psychedelic industrial space rock jam band" then this is the ticket for you. It certainly is for me. I've been getting into classic krautrock, space rock, weird shit, avante garde and this fits right in there.

The image is a Camouflage Danse poster from Vaspers' site. Very nice...

Give it a listen!!
***

Tiger Lillies play with animals, first time listens and poetry inspired by Buckley...Tim that is!!

OFFENSIVE BAND
OFFENSIVE SECTION
OFFENSIVE MATERIAL
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

The Tiger Lillies: Farmyard Filth (1997)
I first heard The Tiger Lillies on The Gorey End, a collaboration with The Kronos Quartet. It was a blast...
completely different
from anything else. The Guru is a big fan as well. However, The Gorey End CANNOT prepare you for this musical platter.
Nothing could!

As they describe it on their web site: "the most extensive collection of songs dealing with zoophilia in recorded history. Flies, Sheep, Hamsters, German Shepherds, Giraffes, Pigs and Calves, a veritable Noah's ark of beasts are paraded before the listener. Other subjects include amputees, pensioners and transsexuals. You have been warned."

This is completely accurate...I should mention that the instrumentation consists of an accordion, musical saws, Eminance removable neck bass, recycled drums and toys. It's like you stumbled into some offensive,
hilarious
dark underground cabaret.
I have no knowledge of cabaret music, but it's very listenable and catchy, occasionally beautiful
with words enticing and
shocking
...and the way they say: "c-ock" cracks me up.

So, dudes and dudettes...if you're not....I repeat...NOT easily offended, check them out for a very surreal
bizarre
twisted time. These guys are fucked! A site with lots of photos of the band playing live and a site with some info.
***

FIRST TIME IMPRESSIONS

Sun Ra: Strange Celestial Road (1980) Awesome!! Do yourself a favor and listen to SUN RA!

Thee Hypnotics: Soul, Glitter and Sin (1991) Ok...didn't really hit me.

Iggy Pop w/ David Bowie: The Mantra Sessions (1977) [Confession Time: When I was 20 or so, I really identified with Iggy. I mean...I fucking understood what Iggy was about!! I knew why he cut himself...I knew why he attacked the audience...I knew why every show HAD to be extreme...had to be on the edge...nothing less than TOTAL commitment would suffice. If you didn't go to the edge then...a safe, boring, predictable life awaited you...and that had to be avoided at all costs.
I guess it had something to do with low self-esteem, never feeling good enough, fear...as for Iggy...musta had something to do with that whole trailer park upbringing.]
As for this pretty famous bootleg? It's fantastic. This is primo Iggy and it is Iggy's show. Bowie sticks to the background. Good for him.

Pink Floyd: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967) I'm not sure why it took so long to finally get this album, but I'm glad the time finally came. It's pretty o u t t h e r e. I need to listen closer to the words (I was at work programming away). Maybe I'm starting to understand the reason for the cult of Syd.

Art Ensemble of Chicago: Bap-Tizm (1972) These guys are awesome, and so is this great live album. Intro by John Sinclair.

Kevin Coyne: Wild Tiger Love (1991) I've never been disappointed by any of his albums, and this album continues that streak. Kevin Coyne official web site.

Strata Institute: Cipher Syntax (1988) This is a free download at Steve Coleman's M-Base web site. This is a great album. Jazz. Pretty rocking jazz, actually. There must be 15 cds worth of downloads at his site. He wants people to download his music, and he writes about his philosophy on this. Very interesting...
***

Poem written while listening to
Tim Buckley's "Starsailor"

float to the beat
of the whispered raven

let the flight
teach
the wisdom of
elusive truth

babies starve in the street
children die in the street
we turn our heads
we turn our heads
and still search for

truth...

it's swimming in the river
it's walking on mountains
it's riding through
the desert

it's living in the
pulse of every
movement
every moment

sweep aside
passive
indifference

it's alright to be scared
it's alright to be scared
***

Prog Archives, Random thoughts, Ponty meets King Zappa and Ambrose Slade slide in at the end

I want to start off by providing a link to a great site. The Prog Archives. This is a great site to find info on obscure krautrock, space rock, or any kind of music that encroaches upon that dreaded term: p r o g r e s s i v e.

An excellent reference site that includes many bands not included in the All-Music Guide, which is also a fantastic reference. Isn't the internet wonderful?
***

Random Thoughts

When I was little Harvey Puppy, I bought John Cale: Music for a New Society (1982) **1/2 when it came out. I didn't understand or get into the mother at all. I tried...
it was dark
depressing...all the things I usually like! No dice. Couldn't get into it.
Well, years later and the lp is long gone, so I got a copy on cd and put it on thinking I missed something in my younger years.
Nope. I still can't get into it. I love Cale, and I've read some pretty great reviews for this album...well, it's just one of those things.

Ash Ra Tempel: Ash Ra Tempel (1971) ***** I love this album.

I've been starting to collect old Captain Beefheart shows. I'll never get a chance to see the Captain live, and the closest I can get is listening to these mediocre tapes and feeding off the energy contained within. I have one from Portland 1971, and one from Vancouver 1973. Thank God for crappy audience tapes!

OK. After talking about the Flaming Lips in my last post, I got a hold of a copy of the new one. At War with the Mystics (2006). How many times do you hear "rock" stars in interviews always say that the new album is "harder" than the last one, and "we're back to rockin' man". I can understand they're viewpoint and the attitude. BUT. If you have to talk about "rockin'" you ain't "rockin'".
[aside: I'm referring to interviews in MOJO and Uncut where the Lips talk about how they're rocking again...blah blah blah]
Anyway...what about this album? I think it sounds great! I don't see that they rock like the early albums (that attitude is gone, man...sorry), but it's catchy, upbeat and a fun listen. The electric guitar is more prominent than on "Yoshimi", and it sounds a little more open. Good stuff.

The Sunburned Hand of the Man: No Magic Man (2004) is pretty fucked up. I really like it! Interview with the head Hand of Man, John Moloney.

I'm listening to Soul Jazz's "Universal Sounds of America", which is great as are most Soul Jazz compilations, and it includes the full length "Space is the Place" by Sun Ra. This was my second listen to this incredible 20+ minutes within the past 3 days. It really is amazing...the 20 minutes just fly by.

Big Star: #1 Record - I've heard and read tons of positive things about Big Star, and listening to this I can see that it's certainly catchy. These guys and The Raspberries do give "pop" music more depth than the usual 70s AM "pop" fare.
***

Jean-Luc Ponty: King Kong (1969) Finally I have this interesting slab of Zappa instrumental compositions done by Ponty under Frank's dictatorship. Zappa has at times in my life been my MOST favorite artist. This is also a really good album to listen to if you're programming. I love the sound of the violin in a rock context. Good shit!
[aside: One of my favs is Sugar Cane Harris' amazing violin and vocals on Little Richard's "Directly from My Heart to You" on Zappa's: Weasels Ripped My Flesh.]
***

Let's stay positive! Ambrose Slade: Ballzy (1969) Ambrose Slade were the precursors to Slade and this early album from 1969 is extremely charming and enjoyable. "Roach Daddy" is a buzz, covering Zappa's "I Ain't Got No Heart" is fun and well-done,...nothing revelatory or totally mind blowing,...just a cool little obscure artifact from a cool period in music.
***

Flaming Punks on Acid, Red Krayola Rule, Embryos and Sun Ras are cool!

The Flaming Lips: Finally the Punk Rockers are Taking Acid 1983-1988 (2002) ****1/2
I got a great fucking deal on this 3 cd set. $30 at a used cd store place in Mississauga, Ontario. This was my first "real" introduction (I had heard "She Don't Use Jelly" when it was a college hit) to the band, and remains to this day, my fav Lips album.

The early music has more raw energy, compared to the great, but VERY precise later albums. I really really really like Yoshimi and maybe the new one ("At War with the Mystics") will make me a believer ...BUT....

I cannot lie. I like the early
punky fun
crazy
d r u g
induced lyrics
one million billion
brain cells
swirling in a
vat of acid
spewed out like only you can when you're young, dumb, and full of acid fried goodness.

I love shit like "Jesus Shooting Heroin", "One Million Billionth of a Millisecond on a Sunday Morning" and the Alice Cooper "Levity Ball" influenced "The Ceiling is Bending". You just can't hear those riffs often enough!

I really should get the "Fearless Freaks" documentary on the Lips. They are definitely worthy of more investigation. Flaming Lips official web site.
***

I am thoroughly enjoying Red Krayola's "Introduction", and the deconstruction of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" called (appropriately) "Breakout" is fantastic. Ya gotta love the older guys who are still interested in "creativity". There is so much to enjoy in this album, that different bits leap out on every listen. Highly recommended.
***

EmbryoNNCK: No-Neck Blues Band and Embryo (2006) Don't expect the blues, but expect an album of primitive beauty with music floating in and out of the ear
voices come
voices go
peace approaches
and this is an excellent new album by early krautrock pioneers Embryo and The No-Neck Blues Band (the NNCK part of the name) who sound incredible. I will be looking into NNCK in the future.
***

Sun Ra: Space is the Place (1972) ***** This album is one hell of a motherfucker. This was the first Sun Ra that I completely fell in love with.

Space
is the
Place
Space is the Place
and we all need to find our space
and we all need to find our place
and we all need to listen
to the master of the sun...
the RA man!!!!

Cool Sun Ra web site.
***