GATES, REBECCA Ruby Series (Badman) cd 13.98
Rebecca Gates was previously in The Spinanes from Portland, Oregon. She has since moved to Chicago and created this album, her first "solo" recording, with the help of John McEntire (of Tortoise and the Sea and Cake), Noel Kupersmith (of The Chicago Underground Quartet), and Brian Deck (of Califone, Red Red Meat and Modest Mouse), among others. Her songs vary from sweet folk to more driving songs, but always led by her vocal swagger and languorous guitar strum and backed by that Chicago post-rock sound (i.e. lots of marimba and adult-contemporary use of electronica breakbeats).
RealAudio clip: "Lure And Cast"

GAULT, THE Even As All Before Us (Amortout) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Finally back in stock!! It's been a bit of an ordeal too. The original pressing on Flood The Earth was defective, so we managed to get a bunch that the band had pressed themselves and listed those a while back, unfortunately those quickly ran out and tons of folks missed out. Now after a brief spell of unavailability, we finally managed to get copies of the European version, identical to the original version, only this time released solely by Amortout, the label run by the guys in Diamatregon! Phew, a lot of trouble maybe, but well worth it we think once you hear the dark brooding beauty that is the Gault. Here's what we had to say first time around:
By now everyone should be familiar with SF black metal legends Weakling. A brief existence, a handful of shows, and a single amazing record (released on Andee's tUMULt label, we should mention). Members of Weakling played in and/or went on to play in Amber Asylum, the Champs, Drunk Horse, Asunder, Sangre Amado, Saros and the short lived but now totally cult blackened gothic doom outfit The Gault. Recorded way back in 1999 by Tim Green, The Gault's Even As All Before Us languished for years before the band finally agreed on a mix and a label, and now five years later this mighty slab of depressive doom finally sees the light of day. Some of you may be wondering why we're only getting around to reviewing this now, since it was released a few months ago... and, the entire first pressing is already sold out. So what's the deal? Well, bad news for any of you who already picked up a copy somewhere else. The ENTIRE first pressing was, in fact, defective. But not defective enough apparently for the label to care, as they refused to repress it and continued to sell the defective copies anyway. To our ears though, the harsh digital glitches inadvertently inserted between every track totally detracted from the gorgeously bleak and harrowing ambience. So the band took it upon themselves to have corrected copies pressed themselves, and thus we finally have the Gault record the way it was meant to be heard. Imagine those Weakling riffs, slowed down and wrapped in dense '80s-ish reverb, smeared and stretched into serpentine minor key melodies, throbbing and pulsing and slithering through midtempo dronescapes of shimmering guitar buzz, creeping basslines, ghostlike female vocals, crashing steady drumming all cloaked in a rich blackened haze, suffocating and claustrophobic, but somehow completely epic at the same time. Think a black metal Joy Division and you might be close, due in no small part to vocalist Ed Kunakemakorn's distinctive wail. Equal parts Ian Curtis, Interpol's Paul Banks and weirdly enough, Dutch weirdo black metallers Urfaust, a soaring mournful croon, rich and velvety and quite haunting. Each track is a twisting complex doomscape of fuzzed out drones, pounding downtuned riffage, swirling psychedelic ambience, slow motion crawl and creep, building and building into massive black swells. A gorgeously creepy collection of heaving, lurching, dark and delicate, doomy and dense epics. So emotional and so totally and completely intense!
MPEG Stream: "Obliscence"
MPEG Stream: "Bright White Blind"

GAULT, THE Even As All Before Us (Van) 2lp 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Now available on vinyl! Deluxe, double lp in a gatefold sleeve with a patch!!!
Here's what we had to say about this AQ fave:
By now everyone should be familiar with SF black metal legends Weakling. A brief existence, a handful of shows, and a single amazing record (released on Andee's tUMULt label, we should mention). Members of Weakling played in and/or went on to play in Amber Asylum, the Champs, Drunk Horse, Asunder, Sangre Amado, Saros and the short lived but now totally cult blackened gothic doom outfit The Gault. Recorded way back in 1999 by Tim Green, The Gault's Even As All Before Us languished for years before the band finally agreed on a mix and a label, and now five years later this mighty slab of depressive doom finally sees the light of day.
Imagine those Weakling riffs, slowed down and wrapped in dense '80s-ish reverb, smeared and stretched into serpentine minor key melodies, throbbing and pulsing and slithering through midtempo dronescapes of shimmering guitar buzz, creeping basslines, ghostlike female vocals, crashing steady drumming all cloaked in a rich blackened haze, suffocating and claustrophobic, but somehow completely epic at the same time. Think a black metal Joy Division and you might be close, due in no small part to vocalist Ed Kunakemakorn's distinctive wail. Equal parts Ian Curtis, Interpol's Paul Banks and weirdly enough, Dutch weirdo black metallers Urfaust, a soaring mournful croon, rich and velvety and quite haunting. Each track is a twisting complex doomscape of fuzzed out drones, pounding downtuned riffage, swirling psychedelic ambience, slow motion crawl and creep, building and building into massive black swells. A gorgeously creepy collection of heaving, lurching, dark and delicate, doomy and dense epics. So emotional and so totally and completely intense!
MPEG Stream: "Obliscence"
MPEG Stream: "Bright White Blind"

GAUNTLET HAIR My Christ (Dead Oceans) 7" 5.98

GAUNTLET HAIR Out...Don't (Mexican Summer) 7" 5.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
After a handful of super limited tracks, including a now out of print 7", this here is the first record from these guys we've managed to get for the store, and it's a doozy. Gauntlet Hair are a duo from Colorado, who specialize in distorted jangly bombastic pop, falling somewhere between Animal Collective and The Big Pink, stirring in some programmed beats, some moody noisepop jangle into their hypnotic, soaring druggy psych pop crunch.
This new single will most likely have folks finally freaking out over these guys, not only is it on the uber hip Mexican Summer label, but it totally rules, definitely owing a huge debt to Animal Collective, with tribal rhythms, jagged bits of guitar crunch, and dramatic reverbed vox, but here, that stuff is augmented by handclaps, programmed beats, epic Big Country like guitar jangle, super distorted drums, effects drenched vocals that swing wildly from speaker to speaker, a thick gorgeously gauzy production, not to mention hooks galore, the chorus super catchy, as are the verses, the song a slow build to a super distorted blown out psychedelic noise pop climax. Definitely a new fave, and these two jams have us hankering big time for the forthcoming full length.
LIMITED TO 500 COPIES!!
MPEG Stream: "Out...Don't"

GAUNTLET HAIR s/t (Dead Oceans) cd 13.98
Gauntlet Hair's OutÉ Don't single on Mexican Summer might just be the best slab of post Animal Collective pop we've heard. Certainly our favorite. If any band spawned a million wannabes, it's Animal Collective, but few of those wannabes managed to take that sound and make it their own, unlike this duo from Colorado, who somehow feel more like a band that just happens to share some of the same influences, more than a band who wants to be AC. That single was pretty much prefect, a barrage of echo drenched noise pop, super reverbed soaring vocals, tribal rhythms, programmed beats, weird convoluted, almost proggy arrangements, hand claps, tripped out production, crazy hooks, fuzzy bass, chiming crystalline guitars, all of that stuff is still present here on the full length, the band expanding their sound to be even more hazy and druggy and dreamy, from the opening track, the blissfully propulsive "Keep Time", whose sound is so dense and layered that it takes headphones to hear everything that's going on, all the weird bits of skitter, the subtle harmonies, the music sounds like one of those photos when you shoot right into the sun, all shimmering sunspots and prismatic glimmer, this is total alien summer dream pop, and the more we listen to it, the less it seems to have any connection to the Animal Collective. "Top Bunk" wraps spiraling melodies around a dirgey groove, the multiple vocals all tangled up, the main riff twisted and swirly, the song like some sonic popsicle melting in the sun, warm and sweet, gorgeously warped and woozily washed out, "Mop It Up" adds some heft to the sound the vocals effortlessly slipping into a dreamy falsetto, a driving big beat, and some thick ropy basslines underneath soaring Big Country like guitars, all blurred and smeared into another stretch of sun dappled psychedelic outsider poppiness that we can't get enough of. Thankfully there's plenty more where that came from. New pop fave big time!
MPEG Stream: "Keep Time"
MPEG Stream: "Top Bunk"
MPEG Stream: "Mop It Up"

GAUNTLET HAIR s/t (Dead Oceans) lp 14.98
Gauntlet Hair's OutÉ Don't single on Mexican Summer might just be the best slab of post Animal Collective pop we've heard. Certainly our favorite. If any band spawned a million wannabes, it's Animal Collective, but few of those wannabes managed to take that sound and make it their own, unlike this duo from Colorado, who somehow feel more like a band that just happens to share some of the same influences, more than a band who wants to be AC. That single was pretty much prefect, a barrage of echo drenched noise pop, super reverbed soaring vocals, tribal rhythms, programmed beats, weird convoluted, almost proggy arrangements, hand claps, tripped out production, crazy hooks, fuzzy bass, chiming crystalline guitars, all of that stuff is still present here on the full length, the band expanding their sound to be even more hazy and druggy and dreamy, from the opening track, the blissfully propulsive "Keep Time", whose sound is so dense and layered that it takes headphones to hear everything that's going on, all the weird bits of skitter, the subtle harmonies, the music sounds like one of those photos when you shoot right into the sun, all shimmering sunspots and prismatic glimmer, this is total alien summer dream pop, and the more we listen to it, the less it seems to have any connection to the Animal Collective. "Top Bunk" wraps spiraling melodies around a dirgey groove, the multiple vocals all tangled up, the main riff twisted and swirly, the song like some sonic popsicle melting in the sun, warm and sweet, gorgeously warped and woozily washed out, "Mop It Up" adds some heft to the sound the vocals effortlessly slipping into a dreamy falsetto, a driving big beat, and some thick ropy basslines underneath soaring Big Country like guitars, all blurred and smeared into another stretch of sun dappled psychedelic outsider poppiness that we can't get enough of. Thankfully there's plenty more where that came from. New pop fave big time!
MPEG Stream: "Keep Time"
MPEG Stream: "Top Bunk"
MPEG Stream: "Mop It Up"

GAUZE Fuckheads / Equalizing Distort lp 17.98
Some of us at aQ have been going through a little bit of a Japanese crust phase, listening to lots of Lip Cream, Gloom, Confuse, GISM and of course Gauze, when what should show up but this lp reissue of both of Gauze's first two records, their 1984 debut 12" ep Fuckheads, and the 1986 follow up Equalizing Distort. Both brimming with furious chaotic metallic crust punk fury, grinding buzzing guitars, strange flanged riffage, all sorts of sound effects, seriously fucked up almost experimental production, wild tribal drumming, yelped vox, thick super distorted bass, weird squiggly atonal leads, all wound into churning, pounding blasts of frantic hardcore mayhem, with shouted almost sing along choruses ("THRASH THRASH THRASH") and some downright poppiness popping up here and there. But for the most part, this is some fierce as fuck frenzied Japanese hardcore crust punk genius, that sounds just as good now as it did nearly three decades ago!!
Includes a two sided 12" x 12" insert, photos on one side, a lyric sheer, in both English and Japanese on the other.
MPEG Stream: "Love Song"
MPEG Stream: "Power"
MPEG Stream: "Fuckhead"
MPEG Stream: "Pressing On"
MPEG Stream: "Crash The Pose"

GAY BEAST Disrobics (DNT) lp 9.98

GAY CAT PARK Synthetic Woman (Medical) lp 21.00
Yet another weird and wonderful archival release from cold/synth/new wave reissue label Medical Records, who over the last few months have given us a killer Record Of the Week in the form of the Lou Champagne System, as well as amazing releases from Axxess (another ROTW), Dalek I and Guyer's Connection. This latest blast from the past comes from a pair of Italian teenagers who recorded these tracks when they were between the ages of 14 and 16, one of which, "I'm A Vocoder" became a huge club hit. And that track, which somehow we had never heard before is well worth the price of admission alone. A pulsing synth-kraut groove, primitive drum machine, then some very Kraftwerk like melodies, and when the vocals come in, even MORE Kraftwerk worship, heavily accented English, delivered in a robotic sing-song, totally catchy, super fun and while not exactly 'funky', but definitely groovy, and motorik, and hypnotic. We had to listen to that track 4 or 5 times before we could move on, but then going back to the opener "GCP", it's almost as cool, a brooding synth-drone intro with vocals courtesy of a Speak & Spell, the perfect lead in to "I'm A Vocoder" for sure.
"My Love Is Electronic" cranks up the tempo a bit, with more intricate drum programming, and tangled synth melodies, not to mention more of those robotic vox, which is even more impressive when you realize these guys were using toy-like keyboards modified into makeshift synths, which is what gives this such a cool DIY vibe.
"A Bunch Of Flowers" is a way more melodic take on the electronic pop of groups like Depeche Mode, the sound fuzzy and gorgeous gristly, while "Mr. Do Re Me" is total eighties synth pop a la Yaz, as is "Bit Of Charm", poppy and synthy, with dramatic heartfelt vox and shimmering synths. The title track returns to the Kraftwerk like kraut-homage of the opening tracks, droned out and hypnotic, pulsing and mesmerizingly robotic, and finally, "Television" finishes things off with what sounds like a slowed down version of the "Axel F Theme", but with almost operatic female vox, soaring and dreamy and wonderfully retro-poppy.
Great stuff, as usual from Medical. LIMITED TO 650 COPIES. Each one hand numbered.
MPEG Stream: "I'm A Vocoder"
MPEG Stream: "My Love Is Electronic"
MPEG Stream: "A Bunch Of Flowers"
MPEG Stream: "Synthetic Woman"

GAY WITCH ABORTION Maverick (Learning Curve) cd 8.98
We first heard the awesomely monikered Gay Witch Abortion on a killer 4 way split we reviewed recently called A Butcher's Waltz, which teamed up this duo with some other aQ faves including Skoal Kodiak, Seawhores and Power Take Off. But for as much as we dug those other outfits, Gay Witch Abortion definitely stole the show, more than living up to the hype, which was a relief as we'd been hearing how great they were for ages.
So here now is the debut full length from these guys, hot on the heels of their collaboration with AmRep head honcho Tom Hazelmeyer, which should come as no surprise cuz GWA definitely sound like they'd be right at home on AmRep, channelling a little Lightning Bolt, reminding us a bit of recent aQ faves Wizard Rifle too, these guys take that bass (guitar?) / drum duo thing and make it their own, their sound more a sort of blown out fuzz drenched heavy rock stoner prog thing, wild chaotic drumming under dense buzzing riffage, the guitar weirdly processed so it almost sounds electronic, their might be keyboards too, but it sounds more like the guitar/bass is run through some seriously fucked up FX, the sound constantly peppered with bits of buzz and hum, little glitches, swirls of hiss and crackle, the songs locking into dense looped mesmer, before slipping into songs proper, the vocals clean and crooned, when there are vocals, but more often these two are like a cobra and a mongoose, a wild squirming sonic tangle, a gnarled, writhing metallic noise rock that flits from droned out dirge to frantic hyperspeed punkprog and back again in the blink of an eye, all that and the group never shies away from weirdness either, peppering these blasts of acrobatic noise rockery with bits of twangy dirgery rife with whistled melodies, or stretches of Torche like fuzz pop, tripped out super distorted psychedelic drones, and even some cool experimental electronic noisiness.
Super intense sweat soaked math metal spazz punk stoner prog heaviness that will definitely hit the spot for anyone who digs Lightning Bolt and other like minded outfits, or really anyone into heavy, dense, noise rock aktion!!
The cd version comes with a Learning Curve beer cozy!!
MPEG Stream: "Down With Giants"
MPEG Stream: "Stain On The Floor"
MPEG Stream: "Scythian Skulls"
MPEG Stream: "Asleep In The Dirt"

GAY WITCH ABORTION Maverick (Learning Curve) lp 13.98
We first heard the awesomely monikered Gay Witch Abortion on a killer 4 way split we reviewed recently called A Butcher's Waltz, which teamed up this duo with some other aQ faves including Skoal Kodiak, Seawhores and Power Take Off. But for as much as we dug those other outfits, Gay Witch Abortion definitely stole the show, more than living up to the hype, which was a relief as we'd been hearing how great they were for ages.
So here now is the debut full length from these guys, hot on the heels of their collaboration with AmRep head honcho Tom Hazelmeyer, which should come as no surprise cuz GWA definitely sound like they'd be right at home on AmRep, channelling a little Lightning Bolt, reminding us a bit of recent aQ faves Wizard Rifle too, these guys take that bass (guitar?) / drum duo thing and make it their own, their sound more a sort of blown out fuzz drenched heavy rock stoner prog thing, wild chaotic drumming under dense buzzing riffage, the guitar weirdly processed so it almost sounds electronic, their might be keyboards too, but it sounds more like the guitar/bass is run through some seriously fucked up FX, the sound constantly peppered with bits of buzz and hum, little glitches, swirls of hiss and crackle, the songs locking into dense looped mesmer, before slipping into songs proper, the vocals clean and crooned, when there are vocals, but more often these two are like a cobra and a mongoose, a wild squirming sonic tangle, a gnarled, writhing metallic noise rock that flits from droned out dirge to frantic hyperspeed punkprog and back again in the blink of an eye, all that and the group never shies away from weirdness either, peppering these blasts of acrobatic noise rockery with bits of twangy dirgery rife with whistled melodies, or stretches of Torche like fuzz pop, tripped out super distorted psychedelic drones, and even some cool experimental electronic noisiness.
Super intense sweat soaked math metal spazz punk stoner prog heaviness that will definitely hit the spot for anyone who digs Lightning Bolt and other like minded outfits, or really anyone into heavy, dense, noise rock aktion!!
The cd version comes with a Learning Curve beer cozy!!
MPEG Stream: "Down With Giants"
MPEG Stream: "Stain On The Floor"
MPEG Stream: "Scythian Skulls"
MPEG Stream: "Asleep In The Dirt"

GAY WITCH ABORTION Opportunistic Smokescreen Behavior (Learning Curve) lp 13.98
With a name like Gay Witch Abortion, and some awesomely aberrant cover art, featuring a twisted collage of children and teeth, and huge harelips and organs, and song titles like "Prison Charm", "Gun Mad Mountain Folk" and "Prison Charm", most bands would have a tough time living up to the sort of sonic expectations those non-musical elements seem to promise, but once again this duo delivers. Delivers a twisted, hyper rhythmic, noise rock, that more than ever seems to have a bit of a new wave vibe. The opener "Cult Chimera", after a long stretch of abstract noise and buzz, explodes into what sounds like a super charged Devo, with a little bit of No Means No, and that's some seriously unfuckwithable band math for sure. In our review of their Maverick record we also compared them to Lightning Bolt and Wizard Rifle too, and those still fit for sure. But this time around, there's some serious poppiness going on amidst all the twisted sonic fuckery. Check out "Hornet Japonica", which features some ridiculous mathed out drumming, wild dexterous bass playing, the band lurching and leaping from part to part, if it was any other band we'd think they were showing off, but that sort of twisted what the fuck freak outs are just part of what these guys do.
"Prison Charm" even adds a little bluesiness to the proceedings, sounding a bit like a more melodic Killdozer, which too is not a bad thing at all, the song flitting from vocal driven grooviness, to tangled mathy freakouts, to furious rhythmic churn. All of the density and musical mathiness that defined Maverick, is still present, in full force, but is most definitely tempered by this new found pop side, that makes for some awesomely confusional radness, that ultimately sounds like no other band we can think of. New wave noise rock math prog punk, or something. These guys seem like they must be amazing live, although there's so much going on, it's hard to imagine two people could pull it off, regardless, if you're in the market for some seriously twisted, densely rhythmic, weirdly catchy, heavy as fuck, new wave noise rock weirdness, then this is pretty much IT.
WAY recommended. Comes in an eye popping full color gatefold sleeve, and includes a download coupon to boot!
MPEG Stream: "Cult Chimera"
MPEG Stream: "Hornet Japonica"
MPEG Stream: "Prison Charm"

GAY, THE You Know The Rules (Mint) cd 13.98
What's the deal with Canadian bands? All too frequently you find a fine band from up north has gone and made a truly odd and questionable decision -- cover art, band name, whathaveyou -- that messes with the whole picture. It's almost like they're willfully trying to make things harder for themselves. Case in point, this new band, The Gay. Contrary to what almost everyone who has encountered the band's moniker has thought, they are not a joke band! And contrary to their long, sullen faces on the album cover, their music is decidedly upbeat and sunny (i.e. gay). They are in fact another Vancouver supergroup of sorts starring Tobey Black (former bandmate of Neko Case in the feisty girl trio Maow) Keith Parry (Scratch Records head honcho and former member of the awesome rock battalion Superconductor), Sara Lapsley (formerly of Superconductor's female counterpart Kreviss), Maija Martin and CoCo Culbertson (of sweet-twang combo Tennessee Twin). So introductions aside, let's get down to the music of You Know The Rules. It's a spritely sugar-pop blend with all members taking turns on lead and backing vocals - sorta like the Partridge Family inviting Fleetwood Mac and the Throwing Muses over for a pajama party. Swingin' sing-a-long harmonies, snappy drumbeats, playful interplay between the guitars, keyboards, accordion, piano, and bass. Produced by their New Pornographer pal Kurt Dahle.
MPEG Stream: "Critics"
MPEG Stream: "Palace"

GAYE, MARVIN I Want You (Rareties Edition) (Universal) cd 13.98

GAZE Mitsumeru (K) cd 13.98
The dreamy debut from this Vancouver sugar girl-pop trio. Features the notable presence of Ms Softie Rose Melberg behind the drumkit! Yes, super-sweet pop melodies sure to make your molars tingle and your heart go all a-flutter. For the girly-girl in us all. Sigh.

GAZE Shake The Pounce (K) cd 13.98
If Miko, Megan and Rose (yes, of Softies, Tiger Trap, etc) were to craft a knit version of their music, it'd most definitely be the loveliest of warm fuzzy sweaters. The angora kind with crocheted blossoms and mother of pearl buttons. Alternately romping and dreamy. If you like any music from Amelia Fletcher (Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, Marine Research) or Rose Melberg (see above), Gaze will surely please.

GEISHA Mondo Dell' Orrore (Crucial Blast) cd 14.98

MPEG Stream: "How To Kill A Career"
MPEG Stream: "Accidents"

GEL eVidenZ (Gooom) cd ep 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

GEL SET & WINDBREAKER split ep (Seehrs) 12" 11.98
Been meaning to review this for a while now, kick ass split of distorto-electro from these two Chicago outfits, Windbreaker being the reason we were into this in the first place as that group includes members of aQ faves Lazer Crystal, and fans of that outfit's sound will find much to dig here, pulsing crunching beats, swirling kosmische synths, tangled melodies, there's an early eighties video game music vibe, but also some sort of alien dance party thing going on too, with the beats fractured and fucked up, and thick squalls of weirdo FX and dense swells of noisiness, the second Windbreaker track slipping more into Zombi / John Carpenter territory, with cheesy eighties synths and vocodered vocals, definitely channeling old VHS movie montages, groovy and funky, spaced out and cosmically psychedelic.
Gel Set bring it way down on their side, unfurling a sort of sexy sci-fi murk, all handclap rhythms, sultry ethereal vox, distant swirling synths, minimal pulsing rhythms, the vibe is definitely "love theme from outer space", the sound like it could be from some Italians Do It Better 12", dreamy and washed out, woozily hypnotic, the second track "U Lock In My Hand" is super stripped down and spacey, pure sexy pouter space slo-mo synth disco blissout dreamdrift with some surprisingly swaggery bad ass lyrics, delivered in a dreamy laid back chanteuse croon.
Pressed on green vinyl!

GELB, HOWE 'Sno Angel Like You (Thrill Jockey) cd 14.98
The Giant Sand frontman has certainly traversed great expanses of musical terrain in his quarter century of music making -- getting to some pretty varied 'out-there' places often within a single album -- but 'Sno Angel Like You finds him at what just may be his most stable and consistent to date. That's not to say there aren't surprises. A strange swamp blues guitar interlude halfway through the album is a good indication of that! While some of this album definitely falls within the realm of his unmistakable dusky desert folk, he's also encorporated ample soul and gospel influences. The gospel according to Howe Gelb? Indeed, most of the songs follow in the tradition of such venerable artists such as Leonard Cohen whose near spoken word vocals are often backed by wonderful female backing chorus. On 'Sno Angel Like You, Gelb is backed up by the Canadian choir Voices Of Praise, and that's not the only connection this album has with our neighbors to the north. It was recorded in Ottawa, ON, and Gelb's current drummer is Jeremy Gara who also drums with a group of Canucks known as The Arcade Fire. Howe Gelb's never been one to seek 'cool points', but you gotta admit he scores plenty here intentionally or not. Seven new songs along with a few from his Giant Sand library and a few that were written by his Giant Sand bandmate the late Rainer Ptacek. Wonderful!
MPEG Stream: "The Farm"
MPEG Stream: "Nail In The Sky"

GELB, HOWE 'Sno Angel Like You (Thrill Jockey) lp 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The Giant Sand frontman has certainly traversed great expanses of musical terrain in his quarter century of music making -- getting to some pretty varied 'out-there' places often within a single album -- but 'Sno Angel Like You finds him at what just may be his most stable and consistent to date. That's not to say there aren't surprises. A strange swamp blues guitar interlude halfway through the album is a good indication of that! While some of this album definitely falls within the realm of his unmistakable dusky desert folk, he's also encorporated ample soul and gospel influences. The gospel according to Howe Gelb? Indeed, most of the songs follow in the tradition of such venerable artists such as Leonard Cohen whose near spoken word vocals are often backed by wonderful female backing chorus. On 'Sno Angel Like You, Gelb is backed up by the Canadian choir Voices Of Praise, and that's not the only connection this album has with our neighbors to the north. It was recorded in Ottawa, ON, and Gelb's current drummer is Jeremy Gara who also drums with a group of Canucks known as The Arcade Fire. Howe Gelb's never been one to seek 'cool points', but you gotta admit he scores plenty here intentionally or not. Seven new songs along with a few from his Giant Sand library and a few that were written by his Giant Sand bandmate the late Rainer Ptacek. Wonderful!
MPEG Stream: "The Farm"
MPEG Stream: "Nail In The Sky"

GELB, HOWE Confluence (Thrill Jockey) cd 14.98
This is the second 'solo' record of dark, langorous desert soul from Giant Sand mainman Howe Gelb. As with the last Gelb solo record, it basically sounds like a super spare, stripped down Giant Sand record, which is definitely a good thing. Lazy and sparawling mini epics, with minimal piano, guitar and mumbled vocals and lots and lots of space. Fans of Calexico (obviously), Giant Sand, Friends of Dean Martinez and Scenic, will find a lot to love here.

GELB, HOWE Hisser (Ow Om/V2) cd 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
From out of nowhere comes this wonderful new record from the leader of Giant Sand (who also spawned Calexico). This is dark, melancholy, stripped-down angular country. Really beautiful. Kind of like a less goofy Giant Sand. Highly recommended.

GELB, HOWE Lull (Some Piano) (Ow Om) cd 14.98
Howe Gelb has such a distinctive body of work, from Giant Sand, whose sound ranged from rollicking desert rock, to twangy country dirges, to his solo records, that also ran the gamut, sometimes quirky country, noisy rock, or dark ballads. In fact Gelb's last proper solo record, Hisser, was one of my (Andee) favorite records. That one was all dark and languid and delicately beautiful. Lull takes that langour even further, with this record of solo piano.
Melancholy, very pretty and sentimental. Lots of space and reverb, due in part to the fact that each song was recorded on a different, borrowed piano, in different locations. In fact, that's part of why it's so cool. Some of the pianos he uses are out of tune, or have completely dead keys, that add weird little dynamics to each piece. My only complaints are some spoken word bits, and that some of the tracks veer dangerously close to sounding like the theme from some soap opera, but overall, quite lovely.
RealAudio clip: "See"
RealAudio clip: "You"

GELB, HOWE Ogle Some Piano (Owom) cd 14.98
This is the second piano-centric album from the ever-intriguing shape-shifting Mr. Howe Gelb, and we're more than delighted that he's chosen to share a little more of this side of his musical self. Among other guest players, he is once again joined by his Giant Sand/OP8 comrades Joey Burns and John Convertino of Calexico. Such great chemistry! Vocals are few and far between and when they do surface they are distant, hoarse and textural. Heavy melancholic horns are second in command to the piano. The woven somber, off-kilter atmospheres of haunted carnivals and smoky desert taverns place this branch of Gelb's body of work in closer company to Tom Waits.
MPEG Stream: "Spangle Bib Of Radiant Value"
MPEG Stream: "A Memento Was Slid In Between The Actual House Of Cards So As To Maybe Remain"

GELB, HOWE The Listener (Thrill Jockey) cd 14.98
You never know what to expect from Giant Sand's Howe Gelb, but if you are going to board his musical caravan, you gotta know you're in for quite a ride. Roaming the musical landscape freely, sometimes the unexpected turns he takes may leave you scratching your head. Definitely one to always follow his muse, and the results - although frequently quite puzzling - are seldom a disappointment. On the surface, many of the songs appear to be very "normal", skillfully executed smoky lounge or dinner jazz or desert twang, but allow the music to sink in a bit further and gradually those distinct Gelb nuances and eccentricities reveal themselves. They manifest as subtle details, a slightly tweaked vocal effect or texture creeping just under the surface. Like an image in a slightly distorted mirror, the music is ever-shifting (in style, tempo, instrumentation, mood), casting light into the shadows, twisting perceptions. Gelb's deeeep, sedated vocals only furthers the emotional and cerebral slip. Often very stream of consciousness, he veers off on tangents about Lou Reed (on "Felonious" and does a remarkably convincing Reed impression, we might add!), scoops lyrics from the song "Lean On Me" (on "B 4 U") and slips into an odd Hazlewood/Sinatra-esque mode (on "Torque"). Intriguing, inspiring and a listening pleasure.
RealAudio clip: "Felonious"
RealAudio clip: "Torque"

GELLER, URI s/t (Forkbender) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Uri Geller, known for his telekinetic prowess that started to wreak havoc on the world's cutlery in the 1970s, may not be so well known for his musical output. And for good reason. He has created fervent admiration (Prince Charles, the Pope, President Clinton, Dustin Donaldson of I Am Spoonbender, Michael Jackson and George Harrison are all friends) with his charming persona and baffling mental abilities. Working with Del Newman (arranger for Paul Simon, Elton John, Paul McCartney) who composed half of the tracks and arranged, Geller's musical outing is nothing more than New Age poetry over sacharine 70s pop which recalls the Carpeters more than anything else. With Jim O'Rourke recent aesthetic mistake of "rediscovering" the 70s and the aural telekinesis of I Am Spoonbender, this may actually be more timely than you may think.

GEMS INTERVIEW ZINE (VOL. 1) (Strange Cessation) magazine 4.00
First issue of this new b&w xeroxed zine, and it's a doozy! The whole title is Gems Interview Zine, and barring a comic strip, this whole zine is in fact interviews, one with long time aQ faves Sic Alps, but even more excitingly, an extensive interview with German experimental music pioneer Eberhard Kranemann, who was an early member of Kraftwerk, a touring member of Neu! and the mastermind of acid fried boogie woogie outfit Fritz Mueller, he talks at length about the early days of Kraftwerk, tells stories about David Bowie and Brian Eno, his first band Pissoff, and more. Also included are tons of photos and documents and random ephemera from those early krautrock days. Definitely worth the price of admission alone for all your krautnerds. There's also a comic strip by Geneva Jacuzzi that fills out the rest of the zine. It's short, but cheap. And we're so excited to have another kick ass music zine, and we're already hankering for issue number two!

GENE DEFCON Have A Good Time (K) 7" 2.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Number XCVI (that's #97!) in the K Records International Pop Underground Singles Series. You may be wondering just what is this Olympia supergroup's mission? One word "PARTY!" Yup, bounce and bop to these four hyper-pop tunes 'til that cream soda goes right up yer nose. Features members of Tight Bros, Bikini Kill, Mocket and the Bangs.

GENE DEFCON FEATURING THE GENETTES Liz (Lookout!) 7" 3.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Now, I really don't wanna use the word "wacky" but the sleeve and liner notes to this record beg such a term. This self-proclaimed "Olympia's #1 Party Band!!!" boasts a line-up that includes Dr. Boogers, Coco Bozo, and Sabrina (the 30 year old witch). While that may produce groans from the party-pooper peanut gallery, don't let that dissuade you. If you're into the pop sounds of farfisa organ melodies and very boy vocals backed with girlie vocals, this is for you. Part of the Lookout! One Night Stand singles series.

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL Discover (Beggars Banquet) 2cd 13.98

MPEG Stream: "Kick"
MPEG Stream: "Desire"

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL Immigrant (Beggars Banquet) 2cd 13.98

MPEG Stream: "Shame"
MPEG Stream: "The Rhino Plasty"

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL Promise (Beggars Banquet) 2cd 13.98

MPEG Stream: "Upstairs"
MPEG Stream: "Bruises"

GENERAL MUSIC The Kloster Days, Part Two (General Music Productions) cd ep 12.98
General Music are from Sweden, but sound straight from Chicago, IL. A Euro-post rock improv assemblage with a rocketship full of squiggly synth sounds and reverbed-out guitars... emerging with music you might imagine if Lali Puna hooked up with The Sea And Cake for a latenight jam. Four songs in all.
RealAudio clip: "Kidding Around"
RealAudio clip: "There For Thousands Of Years"

GENESIS s/t (Guerssen) cd 23.00
No, not that Genesis. In fact several bands around the world in the '70s were named Genesis. This is the Colombian group who may just be running away with the title of Our Favorite Genesis! Founded by Humberto Monroy who was in another AQ favorite South American psych outfit, The Speakers, this is some breezy and beautiful psych-folk-rock with tasteful use of flutes, acoustic, electric and 12-string guitar and warm melt-in-your-ears vocals. With a pep and playfulness that hints at Tropicalia but with a much more laid back and sensual disposition, falling somewhere between the colorful psych-pop of Madrid's Agamenon and the dreamy acid-folk of Chile's Congregacion. For those that speak Spanish, the lyrics are very smart and impassioned, praising the farmers, the environment, natives and the lower classes. This was their 2nd album, originally released in 1974 and so very well standing the test of time. Highly recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Suenas, Quieres, Dices"
MPEG Stream: "Reconfortame"
MPEG Stream: "Manos De Hombre"

GENESIS Yakta Mama (Guerssen) cd 23.00
What an amazing time its been lately for anyone into '70s South American psych. For many of us here at AQ there was no region that delivered colorful psych-folk better then South America. Until recently so much of this amazing music remained unavailable but luckily the reissue craze has put the music of folks like Eduardo Mateo, Congregacion, Embrujo and Alceu Valenca into the limelight they all so deserve. A few lists back we gushed about the Columbian band Genesis and their great self titled record of breezy and mystical psych-folk-rock. Now we finally got our hands on another one, Yakta Mama which was originally released in 1975. And it's just as great if not even slightly more pleasing then that great self-titled offering.
These songs have truly stood the test of time, still glorious and lovely, letting us daydream in the subtle and majestic qualities of their melodies. In putting together these Genesis reissues, the Guerssen label found it impossible to track down any surviving members of the band. It's known that the leader and primary songwriter Humberto Monroy passed away many years ago after a heart attack, and while they for sure should have been one of the biggest names in all of Columbian music, most people there these days have no idea who they were. Here's hoping this reissue helps clue music lovers around the world into the simple beauty of a forgotten gem!
MPEG Stream: "Los Amantes Son Eternos"
MPEG Stream: "Canta Negro"
MPEG Stream: "Tu Y Tus Frutos"

GENGHIS TRON Board Up The House (Relapse) cd 14.98
It's generally a pretty bad idea to have a pun as a band name. Once in a while, if the band is pretty good, and you put some effort into it, eventually you can get used to it and forget it's a pun (Jucifer), sometimes you don't even realize it's a pun until you finally say it out loud (Vulture Club), sometimes it never gets any easier to say or type (Cream Abdul Babar), and once in a while, VERY rarely, it's actually a pun that makes sense, and suits the music, and thus is actually a perfect name for the band. That just so happens to be the case with Genghis Tron, who combine a punishing super complex grinding downtuned metallic onslaught (like a musical Genghis Khan) and tons of synths and video game sounds, and electronics and glitchery (like the video game Tron?), which is a chocolate-and-peanut-butter combo that is tough to beat.
We've always dug Genghis Tron, but something seems to have happened since the last record. The way we remember it, the old Genghis Tron wielded a non stop torrent of super spazzy buzzy synthgrind, we even described their sound as "synthcorespazzmetalfusion", but Board Up The House, while retaining plenty of spazz and buzz and grind, is a much more mysterious beast, much darker and dronier, with the gnarled blasts of hypergrind, peppered with awesome fuzzy synthy Gary Numan style new wave, all dour and moody, with crooned robotic vocals, tangled swaths of minor key synthdrone, Autechre like skitter, super spare minimal old school electro, some gorgeous washed out dreamy drift, and while some of those sounds end up tangled up with jagged shards of downtuned chug, or churning Neurosis-y sludge, or chaotic screamo freakouts, much of the time the band lets those sounds sprawl, creating gorgeous darkened soundscapes, very cinematic and epic, intense and majestic. It's like John Carpenter jamming with Pig Destroyer sometimes. Very few of the heavy songs make it to their ends without being awesomely complicated by the band's weirdo electronic proclivities, but somehow, instead of sounding like pointless genre hopping, or some infuriating ADD drive aggro rock band, the diverse parts are fused seamlessly, to the point where some soft synth shimmer couldn't sound more perfect than sandwiched between a wall of stumbling grind and a blast of hyperspeed Iron Maiden style guitar harmonies. And actually, the ratio of electronic weirdness and dark droned out synthscapes to full on mathgrind leans WAY more heavily toward the former this time around. And it definitely suits them.
The clincher is the 11 minute closer, "Relief", which is a gorgeous, post rocky dirge, all clean vocals and languorous riffing, the track builds to some serious chugging crescendos, and even offers up a few breathless skittery ambient interludes, but when the band lock into THE RIFF, the one they pound away at for the last 6 minutes, it's total drone-doom-kraut-groove nirvana, a loping seasick drum part, underpinning a slithery minor key riff, thick and relentless, glistening with harmonies, the various melodies slipping in and out of the churning groove, vocals and synths soaring in the background, another one of those parts we wish would go on for another 40 minutes, so much so that we've been driving everyone crazy by playing this track over and over and over.
Like we said above, we always dug this band, but even so we definitely weren't expecting a record this dense and epic and melodically mature. Fans of heavier stuff, of groups like Pelican, Conifer, Isis, Tides, Ice Bound Majesty, as well as dronerock combos like Pharaoh Overlord, Circle, Cave, might get WAY into this record, assuming they can dig some of the more manic freaked out stuff. And this just might be the disc to get Genghis Tron out of the synthspazzgrind ghetto. That is if they even want out.
WAY RECOMMENDED!!
MPEG Stream: "Board Up The House"
MPEG Stream: "Endless Teeth"
MPEG Stream: "Things Don't Look Good"

GENGHIS TRON Board Up The House Remixes Vol. 3 (Relapse) 12" 18.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

GENGHIS TRON Board Up The House Remixes Vol. 5: Remixed By Nadja + Tim Hecker + Dudes You Can Trust (Crucial Blast / Relapse) 12" 11.98
Now this is the one we've been waiting for!! The final installment in the 5 part Genghis Tron remix 12" series. For some reason we only ever reviewed the Temporary Residence 12" (each was on a different label), but there were other volumes on Lovepump United, Relapse and Anticon. We're predicting (hoping for) an eventual cd compilation release, but for now, this is the GT remix record not to miss. Nadja. Tim Hecker. Not sure who Dudes You Can Trust are, but they had us at Nadja and Tim Hecker.
Hecker's mix obliterates the original, in fact, if we didn't already know it was a remix, we probably would assume it was a proper new TH track. All warm and washed out and glistening and gauzy and sun dappled and woozy and blissy and dreamy, organic and shimmery, it's the sound that everyone shoots for, but only Tim Hecker seems to have perfected. The fact that there's a Genghis Tron track in there somewhere only makes it even cooler.
Dudes You Can Trust, which we just learned is actually one of the Genghis Tron guys, most definitely have a Nadja / Jesu vibe happening, the original track is stripped down and then bathed in dense shimmer, until most of the extraneous sounds peel back, leaving just a super minimal rumbly buzz, over a looped drum fill, before slipping into a brief stretch of lo-fi Ariel Pink like FM radio drift, and then finally a bit of glitchy minimal electro (!). Weird, but cool.
Nadja's remix takes up the whole of side 2, the first half of which is all minimal and drifty, with muted electronic bloops and bleeps, subtle effects, all very abstract and ambient, barring some barely there glitchy skitter.
Eventually, bits of the original jam burst through, a pounding howling metallic crunch, that sounds like it could have been looped or processed, but there's no time to figure it out for sure, as it quickly blisses out again into a haunting swirling whoosh of blissed out almost new wave shimmer, draped delicately over the remnants of the original track. So cool.
Needless to say, essential. LIMITED as all of the volumes are, this one is pressed on wicked red and green splatter vinyl!

GENGHIS TRON Dead Mountain Mouth (Crucial Blast) cd 14.98
Genghis Tron might have a joke name, but their music comes across as serious business. Not played for laughs, anyway. They blenderize genres like electro pop, grindcore, techno, screamo, and heavy metal into a delicious smoothie packed with blasting "boosts" and nutritious noise. Their name is still silly, but also fairly descriptive. The power and might of metal meets the computer age of music making! It's 100mph headspinning mayhem and sorta new wavey '80s synth pop sensibilities in collision, one or both of 'em subverting the other, it's not clear. Those of us here into The Locust and An Albatross and Horse The Band and the like were all thumbs up for GT's hyperkinetic debut ep Cloak Of Love and are equally stoked on Dead Mountain Mouth, which spreads their love all over ten tracks, a whole half-hour plus of gonzoid synthcorespazzmetalfusion. Very cool.
Note too, they have a few tracks on one of our recent Records Of The Week, the Drummachinegun compilation!
MPEG Stream: "Dead Mountain Mouth"
MPEG Stream: "Greek Beds"

GENGHIS TRON Remixed (Temporary Residence Ltd.) 12" 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
First in a series of remix 12"s, each being released on a different label, each with a different collection of uber cool remixers, all tackling various songs from recent aQ highlight, Genghis Tron's Board Up The House. Off to a pretty good start with volume one, just check out the remixers: Justin Broadrick from Jesu, Steve Moore of Zombi, Eluvium and of course Mr. Rob Crow of Pinback and Heavy Vegetable.
First up is Steve Moore and as we might have expected (and hoped), he gets all Goblin / Heldon on our asses, transforming the original into some awesomely creepy and cheesy eighties soundtrack, all murky sci -fi synths and old school drum machine pulse, haunting and cinematic, definitely evokes all sorts of gruesome and scary images and ideas, why isn't this guy scoring movies??? This may be a GT remix, but boy it sure just sound like Zombi. Who's complaining?
Broadrick steps up next and takes a clunky chunky rhythm and chops it up a bit, loops it into a strange mechanized lurch, wrapping the whole thing in thick streaks of Jesu like fuzz, taking the vocals and drenching them in effects and burying them in the mix, adds in some soaring strings, streaks of feedback, and we're definitely in some metal bliss territory, the second half gets a bit heavier, much more doomy and ominous, but still quite shimmery and dreamlike.
On the flipside, Rob Crow tries his hand at a GT remix, and his ends up being the most schizophrenic of the bunch, mangling it into super strange shapes, stripping away all the metal guitars, adding acoustic strumming, only to flip it around and have it all come crashing back down, draping the vocals over some weird bloopy electronics, pulling up the drums, turning it all tribal, before letting it explode back into some face melting crunch. It's almost like they pumped Crow full of caffeine and let him loose in the control room where he proceeded to go nuts with the faders while they were mixing, but it sound pretty excellent.
Finally, GT transformed into deep shimmering dark ambience, fuzzy and gauzy and washed out and expansive, hushed melodic blur, over deep soft swells, eventually building to something a bit heavier and blissier, almost sounding more like a Jesu mix than the Jesu mix, or maybe more of a soft Sunroof! Either way, quite nice.
Pressed on cool grey and gold swirled vinyl, and SUPER DUPER LIMITED. We only got a fraction of the copies we ordered, so these will probably be gone soon.

GENGRAS, M. GEDDES Beyond The Curtain (Holodeck) cassette 7.50
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
One of five new tapes from the awesome Austin based experimental tape label, Holodeck. Largely documenting the growing and diverse Texas underground scene of synth conjurers, drone lords, psych meditators, and classical folk devotionalists, each tape conceived as a unique listening experience with beautifully designed minimalist packaging. We listed tapes by Lumens, Smokey Emery and Thousand Foot Whale Claw awhile back, and this time around we have another tape from Thousand Foot Whale Claw as well as tapes by Silent Land Time Machine, Amasa Gana, Survive, and this one from former Pocahaunted and Robedoor member, M. Geddes Gengra, who was also an accomplice with Sun Araw on the last Frkwys collaboration with The Congos.
No drones here or dramatic psych build-ups, just some of the most playful and bubbly modular synth explorations we've heard from a modern day practitioner. "Ball Trick" is more second generation of electronic composers Moog synth experimentation, reminding us at times of Suzanne Ciani, Laurie Spiegel or F.C. Judd. A bouncing syncopation and synth squiggles create a helium like atmosphere that gradually turns thicker and more rhythmic, like dance music made from air compressors and balloon textures. "Air Solo" has a more "industrial" soundtrack vibe, and by that we mean like Raymond Scott's commissioned interludes for IBM commercials, which have a hopeful techno futurist feeling, yet one that is not pastiche, but draws from a perhaps naive sincerity that music can be transformatively positive. "Beyond The Curtain", which comprises the entirety of the B side has a drunk machine vibe, like a happy-go lucky android who's had one too many, and runs amok with good intentions, but can barely keep itself upright. Interweaving percolating rhythms turn woozy, some rushing, some slowing, in a topsy turvy tailspin, winding themselves into the ground, moving forward as their edges grind down and garner a smooth roughness. Continuing to dance with busted eyes and blunted extremities yet at some point remarkably gaining balance and maintaining an intense diamond-edged focus like minimalist proto-techno in a Venutian atmosphere sucking up the helium and getting deadly high, endlessly waiting for the inevitable short circuit. Limited to 100 copies. Incredible stuff!

GENGRAS, M. GEDDES Test Leads (Holy Mountain / Intercoastal Artists) lp 15.98
First proper solo record from the mysterious M Geddes Gengras, who recently collaborated with Sun Araw and the Congos, and has popped up on records by Robedoor, Pocahaunted and others. And while we weren't entirely sure to expect from Gengras on his own, the first clue was probably the fact that this was released on the Intercoastal Artists label, run by folks from Cloudland Canyon, cuz this definitely explores some of the same territory, sprawling kosmische synthscapery of the highest order. The entirety of the first side is taken up by the epic "Waldorf (Pts 1 & 2)", which sends ping ponging electronics back and forth through a field of swirling synths, and percolating melodies, a woozily sequenced sprawl of futuristic pulsations, tinkling chimes, and washed out new age-y shimmer, gradually building momentum, a panning shot of the endless depths of the solar system gives way to some sort of sci-fi chase scene. This definitely fits in well with the usual suspects, Cloudland Canyon, Umberto, Majeure, Zombi, lovers of all things Goblin and Carpenter will definitely be in heaven, but it's not all pure bliss out, the sound is underpinned by a haunting minor key malevolence, that infuses the sound with a definite pathos, the track eventually blissing out into near ambience, before finishing off in a tangle of distorted electronic crunch.
The flipside mixes it up a bit, adding in some skittery skeletal programed rhythms, deep ominous thrum, and clouds of glitch and static. The krautrock vibe is huge on the first track "Night Work", propulsive and motorik, giving way to the way more dense "Cairo", which explodes like a swarm of electronic bees, a dizzying churn of layered melodies, swooning and swirling and roiling, dense and driving, but still spaced out and seriously mesmerizing, probably our favorite track here. Finally, the record finishes off with the third part of the "Waldorf" suite that began on side one, a hazy, washed out softly psychedelic coda, that runs MGG's retro-synth sound through some sort of Tim Hecker like filter, resulting in a gorgeously blurry, crumbly stretch of muted bloopy bliss out that builds to a seriously dreamy, softly noisy, densely layered finale.
Includes a download coupon!!
MPEG Stream: "Waldorf Pts. 1&2"
MPEG Stream: "Night Work"
MPEG Stream: "Cairo"

GENRICH, AX The Best Of... (ATM/BMG) cd 18.98
The 'best of' Guru Guru's psychedelic Krautrock guitar legend Ax Genrich. Includes 2 previously unreleased *live* Guru Guru tracks, plus all of Ax's 1975 "Highdelberg" super session record, and 2 tracks from his 1994 and 1995 amazing solo records. Freak out!

GENTLE RAIN Moody (Sunbeam) cd 16.98
Beatles covers and more done '70s synth-funk-soul-psych style.

GENTLE WAVES Swansong for You (Jeepster) cd 14.98
With Isobel from Belle & Sebastian, Gentle Waves is something you'll either avoid or drool over.

GENTLE WAVES, THE Falling From Grace (Jeepster) cd ep 8.98
The third cd release from former Belle & Sebastian-ian Isobel and co. opens with the title track of this EP sounding so familiar we'd swear it was a cover of an old ballad originaly sung by some French chanteuse a la Francoise Hardy. The only thing missing is a pretty la-la-la refrain. Breathless crooning, finger snaps, clarinet, double bass. Slow, pretty and destined for the next string of Volkswagon commercials.

GENTLE, JENNIFER AND KAWABATA MAKOTO The Wrong Cage (SillyBoy) cd 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
With the sheer number of releases coming from the Kawabata Makoto / Acid Mothers Temple camp, we tend to get a little jaded. But the fact remains that if any of these discs was presented to us as being by a new band, we'd be pretty excited. Such is the case with this one, which IS a new band that we're not familiar with -- an Italian psych/pop outfit with the odd name of Jennifer Gentle -- simply teaming up with hairy Japanese acid guitar guru Kawabata for a fine display of out-there instrumental interaction. Recorded live this past year, this disc includes Kawabata-added versions of two JG songs, both sprawling 12 and 14 minute long psych epics w/ guitars, keys, electronic effects, drums, and bass all over the place. Between these two tracks you get six or so minutes of Kawabata scraping and droning away solo at his Indian sarongi, a nice if eerie respite from the energetic electric Pipes of Pan rituals he enacts with the Jennifer Gentle people. A collaboration not to be overlooked by AMT fans, or anyone into heavy, claustrophobic freakout jams of almost occult power. Now we're really curious to hear JG's prior recordings, if any!
RealAudio clip: "Couple In Bed By A Green Flashing Light"

GENTLEKIN, THE s/t (self-released) cd 12.98
Introducing a new warm and sunshiney combo from SF pop veteran Jon Fellman and co. Gentlekin spin retro psychedelic 60s style pop with soft male vocals much like the Posies or Go-Betweens. Lots of sweet and yes, ever so gentle harmonies and jingle-jangle guitars. Particularly tempting confections are the very first and very last songs ("Fair Weather" and "Something Changes Here"). Delightful!
MPEG Stream: "Fair Weather"
MPEG Stream: "Something Changes Here"