DENT Stimmung (Magnetic) cd 14.98
Long beloved on cassette here at the store, this has been issued on Jonathan Segel's label. With an idiosyncratic singer and Jonathan's fiddle, this reminds me of a more mature and less self-conscious U.S. Saucer.

DENVER GENTLEMEN Introducing (Smooch) cd 10.98

MPEG Stream: "Mid-Day-Merry-Go-Round"
MPEG Stream: "The Blue Parrot"
MPEG Stream: "The Lord, He Speak To Me"

DENVER'S NECK, NATE Live (Rock Is Hell) 3 x 3"cd-r 15.98
Those of you who flipped for Denver's recent insane and insanely packaged No One Is Coming To Help You deluxe screen printed lp (we have a few left!!) will most definitely want to miss out on this ULTRA limited triple 3" cd-r set of live and not live recordings. The first two discs were recorded while Denver and his 'Neck were on tour with the Dirty Three. The third disc is new studio stuff. For those of you unfamiliar with Nate Denver, imagine, every band you liked in high school, every comic book you have ever read, every fantasy movie you've ever seen featuring either dragons or wizards or both, some skateboards, a lot of heavy metal, death metal to be specific, some beautiful folk songs, spikes, elves, banjos, Nintendos and anything else you remember fondly on your convoluted path to where you are NOW, all chopped up and blended into an impossibly catchy, goofy, funny, pretty, heavy, folk metal ultraviolent goofball spazz rock mess. Denver is insanely adept at squashing all manner of unlikely sounds into a single performance, or even a single song, and make it sound perfect. Pretty songs are only pretty on the surface, but are actually subtly violent and evil and hateful and miserable, howling chaotic blasts of pummeling noise are somehow happy and joyful, filled with flowers and clouds and sunshine. Which goes a long way to explainging the charm of Nate Denver's Neck. This world where metal and folk, dragons and elves co-exist peacefully, is fun and funny, ironic but not intentionally, wild and ridiculous, but ultimately, heartfelt and insanely well crafted. Schizophrenic for sure, but in a gloriously satisfyingly demented sort of way!
Packaged in a little paper bag sealed with a giant brad, containing as well three hand screened inserts on thick textured paper. Nice!
MPEG Stream: "Cough"
MPEG Stream: "Execution"
MPEG Stream: "Lunatic Of God's Creation"

DENVER'S NECK, NATE No One Is Coming To Help You (Rock Is Hell) lp 14.98
We are very afraid of what lurks inside the mind of Nate Denver's head. Let alone his neck. Because if the music that comes out of Nate Denver's mouth, and Nate Denver's band is any indication, then that head is stuffed to overflowing with a dizzying swirl of brain melting, ear bleeding, gut busting, genre smashing, musically dense, dreamily bouncy goofball ultraviolence. And we love it! As always, Denver and his Neck veer wildly from howled distorted vocals over shimmering black drones, to fey, jaunty warbly folk, to faux bluegrass, to geeky indie jangle, to full on death metal and back again. Even at its prettiest and most melodic, there's always a chance that everything will erupt into a squall of screeched vocals or howling feedback. And even when things do stay pretty and gentle, the mood is secretly anything but, with sweet lyrics about death and hell and destruction and mayhem and torture and chaos and brutality. Woah.
But holy fuck, the packaging! A one sided LP, silkscreened on the other to match the printed inner sleeve, making the label of the lp the mouth of a nude howling cartoon man. All wrapped in a thick cardboard sleeve, almost like a record mailer, with the liner notes and songtitles printed on the inside in big black scrawls with pink pictographs illustrating the songs, the outside, a garish image of a creepy white eyed naked hairy man, whose teeth and tongue fold into a flap (positioned not coincidentally right over his privates!) to keep the whole thing securely shut. So intense and super cool looking. Everyone who sees it utters something along the lines of "What the hell is that!!??" These were super limited so we were only able to get a dozen, and are not sure we can get more.

DENVER'S NECK, NATE Prepare To Die (Anchor And Hope) cd 10.98
Total Shutdown bass player/vocalist Nate Denver (who also does time as lead vocalist in Dig That Body Up, It's Alive) heads out on his own and heads in a decidedly less skronky (but no less strange) direction. Ostensibly a 'folk' record, there are elements of folk, quietly strummed guitar, hushed vocals, but any semblance to traditional folk ends there. Mix in some quirky keyboards, primitive drum machines, TV samples, vibes, a guest appearance from who I believe to be Rahzel of the Roots making an answering machine message for Nate, weird chipmunk background vocals, a drum machine/electric keyboard cover of Slayer's 'Raining Blood', some strange spoken word, ominous soundscapes, and a final track of ominous circus music set to a litany of folks giving the ol' what's up to Nate Denver: Kerry King from Slayer, Glen Benton From Deicide, Trey Azagthoth from Morbid Angel, Del, Jeru The Damaja, Black Thought, Mos Def, Masta Ace and more. Pretty fucking funny.
Think Robert Johnson, Sebadoh, Ween, Anton Maiden, the Folkways Box, Total Shutdown, Elliott Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Bongwater, They Might Be Giants, Will Oldham and Slayer and you might get an idea of what's going on in Nate Denver's head. Or you might not. Real nice.
RealAudio clip: "Blood Guzzler"
RealAudio clip: "Raining Blood"
RealAudio clip: "God of Worms"
RealAudio clip: "Lovely Creatures"

DENVER, NATHANIEL DRAKE (AKA NATE) Wait, You're Not A Centaur (La Mano) book / cd 14.98
We love Nate Denver. And his Neck. How could we not? He's so cool and cute and funny and nice and he's one talented motherfucker. From wielding a string-ed stick in the free skronk noise merchants Total Shutdown, to his strummy folk warblings, to his fucked up metal obsessed weirdness, to his masterful vocalizing in the now defunct Dig That Body Up It's Alive, to his weird rambling white boy hip hop, to his amazing artwork and completely demented stories, hard to resist.
So here we have Nate's latest project, a book of short stories, 50x50 stories he calls 'em, which means 50 stories, each 50 words long, accompanied by 50 drawings. The stories are awesome. From wacked and surreal, to simple and poignant, from awww shucks to what the fuck. Sweet and sour, happy and sad, usually somehow both. Nate's gorgeous and mesmerizing mini elephant artwork is all over the place too, but let's give some props to Mr. Zak Sally, formerly of slowcore legends Low, now master of the La Mano publishing house, the man who helped layout, design and print this puppy, cuz it is one beautiful looking little tome. The pages are all rough edged, printed on gorgeous thick textured paper stock. The cover is a sort of irridescent grey, with a dizzying mini elephant design printed in metallic silver ink, with built in dust jacket, and more printed metallic elephants on the end papers. And all over the book there are really funny little testimonials from Mick Turner of The Dirty Three, Mark Whiteley, the editor of Slap Skateboarding magazine, MF Grimm and Tom Araya of Slayer ("I hate this book.") as well as an introduction by Adam Jones of Tool!
As if that weren't enough, also included is a brand new Nate Denver's Neck full length album, "Ghost Alarm", packed with Denver's sweet folky ramblings, seriously funky hip hop jams, his playful white boy flow in full effect (he teams up with MF Grimm on one track!!), lots of little random snippets, Nate as a child, a botched shout out from the GZA, a killer introduction with a bunch of super stars giving Nate a shout out (see if you can figure out who's who), and all sorts of other random sonic weirdness.
Absolutely fucking amazing, looking AND sounding. All Hail Nate Denver!! And his all powerful Neck!!
MPEG Stream: "Introducing"
MPEG Stream: "Mace"
MPEG Stream: "Agony (Featuring MF Grimm)"
MPEG Stream: "Ballad Of The Bullied Demons (Extended)"
MPEG Stream: "Who?"

DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES In Ear Park (4AD) cd 13.98
Grizzly Bear fans will immediately recognize the vocal stylings and elegant moodiness of Daniel Rossen who is one half of Department Of Eagles and who has been a major presence in Grizzly Bear for the last several years, joining the band in 2004 and helping make Yellow House their best record yet. Along with his Department Of Eagles bandmate Fred Nicolaus, the duo have released several records that somehow slipped between the cracks but luckily with the widespread popularity of Grizzly Bear and their recent signing to 4AD this will be their most widely heard releases yet. And it's a good thing too, because this is such a moving record. With arrangements that sound like a more somber adaptation of Van Dyke Parks signature style or what it might sound like if Sufjan Stevens covered the more bittersweet side of Vetiver or Wings. And with most of his Grizzly Bear bandmates on board, there's no denying that In Ear Park sounds a lot like a great Grizzly Bear record, if not a bit more focused and even more emotionally impacting. Most of these songs were written after Rossen's father passed away, and there is such an honest reflection and mournful tone to these songs. So nice.
MPEG Stream: "No One Does It"
MPEG Stream: "In Ear Park"

DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES In Ear Park (4AD) 2lp 16.98
Now on Vinyl! Grizzly Bear fans will immediately recognize the vocal stylings and elegant moodiness of Daniel Rossen who is one half of Department Of Eagles and who has been a major presence in Grizzly Bear for the last several years, joining the band in 2004 and helping make Yellow House their best record yet. Along with his Department Of Eagles bandmate Fred Nicolaus, the duo have released several records that somehow slipped between the cracks but luckily with the widespread popularity of Grizzly Bear and their recent signing to 4AD this will be their most widely heard releases yet. And it's a good thing too, because this is such a moving record. With arrangements that sound like a more somber adaptation of Van Dyke Parks signature style or what it might sound like if Sufjan Stevens covered the more bittersweet side of Vetiver or Wings. And with most of his Grizzly Bear bandmates on board, there's no denying that In Ear Park sounds a lot like a great Grizzly Bear record, if not a bit more focused and even more emotionally impacting. Most of these songs were written after Rossen's father passed away, and there is such an honest reflection and mournful tone to these songs. So nice.
MPEG Stream: "No One Does It"
MPEG Stream: "In Ear Park"

DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES The Cold Nose (American Dust) cd 14.98
Grizzly Bear fans, here's a reissue that might pique your interest! Department Of Eagles was the name of Dan Rossen's pre-Grizzly Bear duo, and this was their debut (originally released by Isota Records back in 2003). He along with Fred Nicolaus crafted The Cold Nose, a sprawling album that on occasion brings to mind the expansive musical patchwork of bands like Beta Band and Badly Drawn Boy. The songs languidly come into view, alternately locking into sun-dappled folksy melodies, nutty pop jigs and jazzy grooves for a stretch only to have an array of hazy samples and electronic squiggles tug it all apart. Nice! Includes four bonus tracks and new artwork!
MPEG Stream: "Noam Chomsky Spring Break 2002"
MPEG Stream: "The Piano In The Bathtub"

DEPECHE MODE Playing The Angel (Sire) cd 17.98
Depeche Mode are back, and they're poised to bring out the goth in ya! After some highly publicized tumultuous times on the part of lead singer Dave Gahan, it seems the group has regained some stability and creative flourishes. That said, Playing The Angel is still coming from a very very dark place. Martin Gore still expertly handles the bulk of the songwriting, but Playing The Angel is all about David Gahan's imposing downcast vocals. They're so impossibly burdened by the weight of the world. Sure makes for one big ol' morbid bummer of a listen... but in a good way. Now in their 25th year, they've produced an album that contains some of their best material since the good ol' days of Violator, Black Celebration and Music For The Masses. On Playing The Angel, they haven't rehashed, but rather refreshed their sound -- creating a work that's not only respectful of their analog synth-laden past (not to mention their longtime devoted fans) but also shows an openness to the present and future. Older and wiser, indeed. We were a bit taken aback though by the rather unflattering photographs of the band members on the cover. Hard living, indeed. Just the other day we saw an early photo of the band, and it was quite a shock to see each of the members' transformation from coiffed pretty boys into grimacing elders.
MPEG Stream: "A Pain That I'm Used To"
MPEG Stream: "Suffer Well"

DEPECHE MODE Sounds Of The Universe (Capitol) cd 17.98

DEPRESSOR Lord Of The Flesh / Black God's Shadow + 4 (self-released) 2 x 7" 14.98
Even if the two blood red slabs of thrashing blackened demonic death metal weren't enough to sell you on this here ultra evil double 7", then the obscenely extravagant packaging almost certainly would. Packaged in a thick black gatefold, printed in metallic silver ink, like some ancient lost book of magic, alchemy and evil, with the inner pages printed on parchment, edges actually burnt and candle wax dripped here and there, portraying horrific images of demons and planets with all the text in some mysterious lost language of runes and symbols. This is seriously one of the most intense and insanely packaged records we have ever seen (hence the price, hand made, and according to the band they take forever to assemble and burn and melt!). We passed it around when we first got these, gawking and examining them like they were some priceless artifacts, and for you metalheads and record geeks they just might be! SUPER SUPER LIMITED!!!

DEPTH CHARGE Lust 1 (DC Recordings) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
J. Saul Kane has for a number of years been at the forefront of the big beat / trip hop scene in the UK and has been rewarded with much critical acclaim but little US exposure. It's a shame as his work makes the Chemical Brothers and Fat Boy Slim look even more boring than they already are. "Lust 1" is thematically located within the 1970's as downer Hammond organ riffs are situated next to brassy Lalo Schifrin police chase knock offs and masculine disco funk. Kane's working knowledge of Lee Perry's warm dub production really makes this album an pretty exceptional catch.

DEPTH CHARGE Lust 2 (DC Recordings) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Depth Charge's "Lust 2" follows the previous festivities with a darker investigation into the big beat / trip hop he's been creating over the past decade. The '70s influences found on "Lust" are still present (Hammond organs, funky grooves, brassy horns) but things have been injected with a dose of Shaolin hip hop and even darker dub passages. Just as good as the first one.

DEPTH CHARGE The Goblin (DC Recordings) 10" 10.98

DER BLUTHARSCH Live At The Monastery (Tesco) cd 17.98
Ultra limited cd document of this 2005 live performance by Der Blutharsch, in Vienna in 2005 before a small audience of invited guests. Unlike the lush composed industrial soundscapes of DB records proper, these songs and versions are performed in a much more straight ahead apocalyptic folk style. Strummed acoustic guitar, wheezing accordion, simple percussion and dueling male / female vocals. Urgent and strident, powerful and emotional. Wild gypsy rhythms collide with simple moody ballads, dark and dreary epics are woven into expansive militaristic epics.
Packaged in a gorgeous, matte black, embossed digipak. And again, VERY LIMITED!!!
MPEG Stream: "One"
MPEG Stream: "Two"
MPEG Stream: "Three"

DER BLUTHARSCH The Philosopher's Stone (WKN) cd 25.00
The Philosopher's Stone marks the end the of ten long and productive years during which Der Blutharsch have unleashed their signature dark neo-folk upon the masses. Apocalyptic prophecies, mantras, and manifestos spewed forth from the hate-forged lips of Albin Julius, but even this must come to an end. Over the course of 8 tracks and nearly 56 minutes, long-time fans can't help but sit back and marvel at the gargantuan change between 1998's Der Sieg Des Lichtes Ist Des Lebens Heil! and the present release.
The band was considered highly innovative at its inception, but in retrospect it's easily classifiable as straight-forward neo-folk, albeit at its very finest. These days? Geez, I mean, we're hearing something like a blackened, post-industrial Loop or Jesus and Mary Chain. Or maybe even what the Birthday Party would've sounded like if they were a suicidal '70s psych group. Staccato dirges grab distorted basslines and ride them into droney psychedelia, underneath a sky of swirling guitar leads and brutal, haunting vocals. In a way, the album is heavily indebted to Death In June's old, old album The Guilty Have No Past, but on tons of heroin -- and probably a fistful of other downers and/or mood stabilizers. But through it all Julius's mantra could not be clearer. In fact, the back page of the booklet even reads in bold letters: "Uniforms are always changing, rock n' roll will stay forever." And if rock n' roll's main objective is to scare parents, or the majority of society in general, Der Blutharsch are definitely, definitely a rock band. Even though they sure as hell don't look like one. If you were to see them in the street, you'd probably try as hard as possible not to make eye contact, and maybe assume they were an extremely well-funded fascist militia of sorts. A dark and brooding, mysterious crew for sure...
The Philosopher's Stone is a fantastic cross-section of what Julius and crew are capable of producing, truly mood-altering, honestly fucked up music that completely transcends any traditional understanding of the way songs -- and albums -- work. Somewhere between a heathen liturgy and a well-produced personal catharsis, Der Blutharsch never fails to provide the listener with new experiences and forge new territory in a genre that tends to be cripplingly simplistic, predictable, and indulgent. Recommended.
As always, the packaging is incredible, the cd is in a miniature hardcover book style digipak, all glossy inks and subtle embossing, a big booklet, and super striking imagery. The lp too is extravagant, a similarly rendered glossy layout, but with a BONUS 7" with two tracks not on the cd, in a full color sleeve affixed to the inside of the gatefold.
MPEG Stream: "Philosopher's Stone IV"
MPEG Stream: "Philosopher's Stone VIII"

DER BLUTHARSCH The Philosopher's Stone (WKN) lp 39.00
The Philosopher's Stone marks the end the of ten long and productive years during which Der Blutharsch have unleashed their signature dark neo-folk upon the masses. Apocalyptic prophecies, mantras, and manifestos spewed forth from the hate-forged lips of Albin Julius, but even this must come to an end. Over the course of 8 tracks and nearly 56 minutes, long-time fans can't help but sit back and marvel at the gargantuan change between 1998's Der Sieg Des Lichtes Ist Des Lebens Heil! and the present release.
The band was considered highly innovative at its inception, but in retrospect it's easily classifiable as straight-forward neo-folk, albeit at its very finest. These days? Geez, I mean, we're hearing something like a blackened, post-industrial Loop or Jesus and Mary Chain. Or maybe even what the Birthday Party would've sounded like if they were a suicidal '70s psych group. Staccato dirges grab distorted basslines and ride them into droney psychedelia, underneath a sky of swirling guitar leads and brutal, haunting vocals. In a way, the album is heavily indebted to Death In June's old, old album The Guilty Have No Past, but on tons of heroin -- and probably a fistful of other downers and/or mood stabilizers. But through it all Julius's mantra could not be clearer. In fact, the back page of the booklet even reads in bold letters: "Uniforms are always changing, rock n' roll will stay forever." And if rock n' roll's main objective is to scare parents, or the majority of society in general, Der Blutharsch are definitely, definitely a rock band. Even though they sure as hell don't look like one. If you were to see them in the street, you'd probably try as hard as possible not to make eye contact, and maybe assume they were an extremely well-funded fascist militia of sorts. A Dark and brooding, mysterious crew for sure...
The Philosopher's Stone is a fantastic cross-section of what Julius and crew are capable of producing, truly mood-altering, honestly fucked up music that completely transcends any traditional understanding of the way songs -- and albums -- work. Somewhere between a heathen liturgy and a well-produced personal catharsis, Der Blutharsch never fails to provide the listener with new experiences and forge new territory in a genre that tends to be cripplingly simplistic, predictable, and indulgent. Recommended.
As always, the packaging is incredible, the cd is in a miniature hardcover book style digipak, all glossy inks and subtle embossing, a big booklet, and super striking imagery. The lp too is extravagant, a similarly rendered glossy layout, but with a BONUS 7" with two tracks not on the cd, in a full color sleeve affixed to the inside of the gatefold.
MPEG Stream: "Philosopher's Stone IV"
MPEG Stream: "Philosopher's Stone VIII"

DER BLUTHARSCH Time Is Thee Enemy! (Tesco) cd 17.98
Not sure why we've never listed any Der Blutharsch before. Especially considering they've been a favorite of ours for a long time. And in that whole militaristic folk / industrial scene, we much prefer Der Blutharsch (and MZ 412) over Death In June or Current 93 (at least if you ask Andee). As far as we can tell, this is DB's sixth full length and is as dark and hypnotic and intense as ever. Weaving together childrens choirs, maniacal growls, martial drumming, dark ambient drones, epic cinematic soundscapes, soaring strings, mumbled spoken word, pagan folk, found sounds, wartime propaganda soundbites, industrial rhythms, and apocalyptic / nihilistic lyrics. For those of you new to this stuff, imagine a renaissance faire, strolling minstrels the whole bit, but suddenly the sky starts to darken, shadows lengthen wrapping everything in inky blackness, the strolling minstrels slowly take on the appearance of demons, and the music loses its sunshine and cheer, becoming more and more ominous, major keys change to minor, bells toll, the men start chanting, invoking some unspeakable mystery, while the children's eyes turn black and they begin to sing as well, as if in some sort of trancelike state, the whole thing becoming less of a celebration and more some sort of ancient pagan ritual. Imagine Dead Can Dance with the vocalist from Rammstein, performing in the forest, covering the Comus record in its entirety, backed up by a military drum corps. Or imagine some impossible mixture of Current 93, Magnetic Fields, World War 2, In The Nursery, Ennio Morricone, a gypsy caravan, all the great black metal intros and all of those times you were lost and alone and afraid. It's that intense. And amazing. Allan actually thinks parts of this sound like a Hari Krishna version of Swedish drone folk outfit Parson Sound which they most definitely do at times. Time Is Thee Enemy is an epic and dark, cinematic journey through war and hell and the dark side of human nature. So recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Time Is Thee Ememy! Pt. IX"
MPEG Stream: "Time Is Thee Ememy! Pt. III"
MPEG Stream: "Time Is Thee Ememy! Pt. IV"
MPEG Stream: "Time Is Thee Ememy! Pt. V"

DER BLUTHARSCH When Did Wonderland End? (Tesco) lp 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Final glorious missive from Austrian militaristic folk / post industrial / dark ambient outift Der Blutharsch. Ex members of The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath a Cloud and former collaborators with Death In June, DB carved out a truly unique and musically diverse niche in a genre rife with problematic politics and unoriginal ideas. The music of Der Blutharsch was and is a seemingly impossible mix, taking the apocalyptic folk of Death In June, the Teutonic metallic stomp of Rammstein, the clattery industrial caberet of Einsturzende Neubaten, the swampy fire and brimstone dirge of Sixteen Horsepower and the dramatic gothiness of Sisters Of Mercy or Bauhaus and crafting all of those disparate elements into something dark and delightfully dreary, creepy and sometimes truly harrowing. Their sound has gone from dark ambience to industrial clatter to dramatic doom, and have now arrived at a sound that is even more difficult to describe. We once wrote that the music of DB sounded like "Dead Can Dance with the vocalist from Rammstein, performing in the forest, covering the Comus record in its entirety, backed up by a military drum corps. Or some impossible mixt of Current 93, Magnetic Fields, World War 2, In The Nursery, Ennio Morricone, a gypsy caravan and every great black metal intro ever" and that still pretty much sums it up. BUT, somehow, for their last hurrah, they've managed to sound even more bizarre and unique and all over the map. The core sound is still dark and droning, but the rock element is much more noticeable this time around, with a seemingly omnipresent churning low slung bass weaving a dense framework of rumbling low end, supporting doom laden soundscapes constructed from moaning cellos and martial snares, wartime sound samples and military speeches, pounding rhythms and dramatic teutonic vocals, gypsy violin and distorted guitar. But even within this industrial doom rock framework, DB manage to inject all sorts of really unexpected twists and turns, one track sounds like some hellish take on a Morricone spaghetti western with little bits of blackened twang, and another even sounds like a lost track from some sixties girl group, albeit in this case, swathed in dark sonic swirls and all sorts of rhythmic interference. So amazing and strange and totally mesmerizing. It's sad to think this is the last we'll hear from Der Blutharsch.
Packaged in a gorgeous all black, letter pressed sleeve, with a little sprig of edelweiss in full color, black text on a black background. Quite striking.
MPEG Stream: "When Did Wonderland End? II"
MPEG Stream: "When Did Wonderland End? III"
MPEG Stream: "When Did Wonderland End? IV"

DER BLUTHARSCH When Did Wonderland End? (Tesco) cd + dvd 25.00
Another glorious missive from Austrian militaristic folk / post industrial / dark ambient outift Der Blutharsch. Ex members of The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath a Cloud and former collaborators with Death In June, DB carved out a truly unique and musically diverse niche in a genre rife with problematic politics and unoriginal ideas. The music of Der Blutharsch was and is a seemingly impossible mix, taking the apocalyptic folk of Death In June, the teutonic metallic stomp of Rammstein, the clattery industrial caberet of Einsturzende Neubaten, the swampy fire and brimstone dirge of Sixteen Horsepower and the dramatic gothiness of Sisters Of Mercy or Bauhaus and crafting all of those disparate elements into something dark and delightfully dreary, creepy and sometimes truly harrowing. Their sound has gone from dark ambience to industrial clatter to dramatic doom, and have now arrived at a sound that is even more difficult to describe. We once wrote that the music of DB sounded like "Dead Can Dance with the vocalist from Rammstein, performing in the forest, covering the Comus record in its entirety, backed up by a military drum corps. Or some impossible mixt of Current 93, Magnetic Fields, World War 2, In The Nursery, Ennio Morricone, a gypsy caravan and every great black metal intro ever" and that still pretty much sums it up. BUT, somehow, for their last hurrah, they've managed to sound even more bizarre and unique and all over the map. The core sound is still dark and droning, but the rock element is much more noticeable this time around, with a seemingly omnipresent churning low slung bass weaving a dense framework of rumbling low end, supporting doom laden soundscapes constructed from moaning cellos and martial snares, wartime sound samples and military speeches, pounding rhythms and dramatic teutonic vocals, gypsy violin and distorted guitar. But even within this industrial doom rock framework, DB manage to inject all sorts of really unexpected twists and turns, one track sounds like some hellish take on a Morricone spaghetti western with little bits of blackened twang, and another even sounds like a lost track from some sixties girl group, albeit in this case, swathed in dark sonic swirls and all sorts of rhythmic interference. So amazing and strange and totally mesmerizing. It's sad to think this is the last we'll hear from Der Blutharsch.
Packaged in a gorgeous all black, letter pressed digipak, in a black slipcover, with a little sprig of edelweiss in full color, black text on a black background. Quite striking. And for a limited time, there's also a second disc, a DVD with a really cool and creepy video for the track "So Bring Your Iron Rain Down Upon Me."
MPEG Stream: "When Did Wonderland End? II"
MPEG Stream: "When Did Wonderland End? III"
MPEG Stream: "When Did Wonderland End? IV"

DER PLAN Geri Reig (Atatak) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Seminal weirdness from Germany circa 1980. A head on collision between the Residents and Conny Plank. Like new wave no wave.

DER TPK (TEENAGE PANZERKORPS) Harmful Emotions (Siltbreeze) lp 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
What's the connection between the seemingly defunct Jewelled Antler collective and the legendary Siltbreeze label? What do Teenage Panzer Corps and Der TPK have in common? More than you might think. Some might remember a couple killer cd-r's released on the Pink Skulls label, the sort of weirdo subsidiary of Jewelled Antler, by a band called Teenage Panzer Corps, featuring Bunker Wolf, Catholic Pat, Edmund Xavier and Boy True -- AKA various members of The Birdtree, The Knit Separates, Blithe Sons, Skygreen Leopards, Thuja and more...
The sound was distinctly unlike any of the Jewelled Antler stuff, raucous, droney, arty garagey punk rawk. Loud (or at least distorted), not too fast, and Teutonically snotty, referencing '80s downer artpunk (The Fall, Factory Records stuff I guess or maybe some of Savage Republic's tracks), and '60s garage with fuzz organ, as well as noise rock and krautrock. Noisy breaks, abrupt edits, and poppy grooves all tangled up into short sharp stabs aggro art punk, with clangy angular guitars, stumbling drums, lo-fi production and German vocals.
Well Der TPK is what the Panzer Corps are now calling themselves, and somehow they've wound up on Siltbreeze, which ends up being a pretty good fit. Some of the tracks are a little more drone-y and krauty, a bit more dubbed out, but still wild and noisy and punk as fuck. Not sure how much of this is actually new stuff, but at least a handful of tracks are taken from the now out of print cd-r's. Either way, this is essential stuff, fans of any of the aforementioned bands will definitely want to pick this up.
Packaged in plain white sleeves, with purposefully crappy paste on art, and probably pretty damn limited...

DERBYSHIRE, DELIA, BRIAN HODGSON, DON HARPER Electrosonic (Glo-Spot) cd 29.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We had the super limited (and crazy pricey!) vinyl version of this a while back, and they flew out of here. We only have a couple left of the vinyl, but we finally got it on cd, at a slightly cheaper price, and now all you sans turntable can dig on these far out sounds!!
We all went a little gaga for those BBC Radiophonic Workshop cds, amazing collections of freaky and far out music for movies and radio and television, crafted in mad scientist like labs packed to the gills with strange sound making devices, primitive analog synths, tape machines and all manner of random electronic bric a brac. Delia Derbyshire was one of the Workshop elite, having been responsible for the Dr. Who theme as well as the Tomorrow People theme and loads of other legendary BBC songs and sounds.
This cd, is a reissue of a super limited lp, which was itself a repress of a rare and long out of print disc of library mood music released on KPM in 1972. Derbyshire and her sonic cohorts recorded the record as Electrosonic, using pseudonyms as well, to avoid any sort of complications due to their positions at the BBC. The results were of course fantastic. Moody and mysterious, wild and playful, spacey and haunting. From Goblin-esque creepy haunted house synthscapes, to freaky fuzzy funky seventies sci-fi grooves, to far out bloops and bleeps. Analog synths, jazzy upright bass, tons of primitive and not so primitive effects, all whipped into impossibly catchy and fantastical sounds and songs.
MPEG Stream: "Quest"
MPEG Stream: "The Pattern Emerges"
MPEG Stream: "Celestial Cantabile"
MPEG Stream: "The Wizard's Laboratory"

DERBYSHIRE, DELIA, BRIAN HODGSON, DON HARPER Electrosonic (Glo-Spot) lp 35.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We all went a little gaga for those BBC Radiophonic Workshop cds, amazing collections of freaky and far out music for movies and radio and television, crafted in mad scientist like labs packed to the gills with strange sound making devices, primitive analog synths, tape machines and all manner of random electronic bric a brac. Delia Derbyshire was one of the Workshop elite, having been responsible for the Dr. Who theme as well as the Tomorrow People theme and loads of other legendary BBC songs and sounds.
This super limited lp, is a repress of a rare and long out of print disc of library mood music released on KPM in 1972. Derbyshire and her sonic cohorts recorded the record as Electrosonic, using pseudonyms as well, to avoid any sort of complications due to their positions at the BBC. The results were of course fantastic. Moody and mysterious, wild and playful, spacey and haunting. From Goblin-esque creepy haunted house synthscapes, to freaky fuzzy funky seventies sci-fi grooves, to far out bloops and bleeps. Analog synths, jazzy upright bass, tons of primitive and not so primitive effects, all whipped into impossibly catchy and fantastical sounds and songs.
This was SUPER SUPER LIMITED. It's already out of print. We have about 10 copies and once those are gone this is gone FOR GOOD. Gorgeous super stylish sleeve with amazing artwork, extensive liner notes, and pressed on super thick milky green vinyl!

DEROGATIS, JIM Let It Blurt: The Life And Times of Lester Bangs, America's Greatest Rock Critic (Broadway Books) book 15.95
If you've never read the work of Lester Bangs, the greatest rock writer ever, then you ought to take a gander at Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung, a book-sized collection of his essays, full of passion and wit, fanatical devotion to the things about rock that he loved, and utter disgust with the things about it that he hated. (We usually carry Psychotic Reactions here at AQ - you'll love it.) Lester lived the rock and roll lifestyle that his peers (from rockstars to underground geniuses, they were all his peers) did, and his writing spoke so much truer because of it. "Let It Blurt" is his biography written by Jim DeRogatis, resident critic for the Chicago Sun Times (and author of another book on sixties psychedelia). DeRogatis lovingly compiled tons of info about Bangs' life into a 300+ page softcover book, along with a hilarious never-before-published 14 page essay by Lester, titled "How to Be a Rock Critic". Here's an excerpt:
"The first thing to understand and bear in mind at all times is that the whole thing is just a big ruse from the word go, it don't mean shit except exploitatively and in the zealotic terms of wanting to inflict your taste on other people... You should also know that most of your colleagues are some of the biggest neurotics in the country, so you might as well get used right now to the way they're gonna be writing you five and ten-page single spaced inflammatory letters reviling you for knocking some group they have proved is the next Stones. It's all very incestuous, like this great big sickoid club full of people who were probably usually the funny-looking kid in class, with the acne and the big hornrims, all introverted, and just sat home every night through high school and played his records while the other kids yukked and balled it up. Tough luck, genius is pain."

DESAPARECIDOS Read Music Speak Spanish (Saddle Creek) cd 14.98
Here is the full length from Mr. Bright Eyes Conor Oberst's emo pop band. We were given an EP's worth of Desaparecidos in late 2001 (which was quite promising), and now it's high time for a full dose. Far from the fragile, low-key, warbled sensitivities of B.E., this is much more fired up and feisty, but you can still hear hints that it's from the same songwriter's pen. Have to admit though I found this album kinda disappointing. The extreme side of emo-boy-ness with its almost-painful teen angst screamed vocals. Ending the second song is a recording of some dialogue that just sounded like some skate kids shooting the shit. Not great, but worth checking out.
RealAudio clip: "Manana"

DESAPARECIDOS The Happiest Place On Earth (Saddle Creek) cd ep 6.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
...is where you'll find these quavery-voiced emo boys -- namely one Conor Oberst (aka the leader of Bright Eyes). Hear them practically hollering the words to get their message to you. Driving drumbeat, crunchy guitars, springy melodic hooks sorta like a cross between Superchunk and Treepeople. This EP is just a hint of what's to come -- a full length debut in early 2002. On the label that's home to The Faint and yes, Bright Eyes.
RealAudio clip: "Happiest Place On Earth"

DESCENDENTS 'Merican (Fat Wreck Chords) cd ep 5.98
Milo is back where he belongs, fronting the mighty Descendents. 'Merican is a 4 track blast of that classic Descendents pop punk sound. A sound that has been borrowed by a million other bands and turned into boring MTV pap. There was just some sort of magic with the Descendents and while it may not be as magical 20 years down the line it's still pretty fun and catchy and great. Two tracks of hyper speed, in your face punk rock, and two tracks of that heart-on-your-sleeve, pop on punk's clothing that the Descendents do so well. Can't wait for the upcoming full length. If you've never heard the Descendents, get Milo Goes To College or Enjoy and you'll know what we're talking about.
MPEG Stream: "Here With Me"

DESCENDENTS All (SST) cd 14.98

DESCENDENTS Cool To Be You (Fat Wreck Chords) cd 13.98
Descendents are back! And they kick as much ass as ever! Being the huge-est Descendents fan, I (Andee) was pretty worried about a new Descendents record after 7 years of frontman Milo, teaching biochemistry and living a normal life, and the rest of the band releasing lots of mediocre pop punk as All. The recent ep teaser wasn't all that encouraging either. The sound was there, and Milo's voice was as great as ever. But it just didn't hit. But now that the full length is here, everything is perfect! Easily one of the tightest fiercest rhythm sections ever (obviously, with Bill Stevenson, ex-Black Flag on drums) backs up Stephen Egerton's weird weird guitar playing and Milo's awesome raspy vocals! Drummer Bill Stevenson usually did most of the songwriting, but here bassist Karl Alvarez and Milo do most of the writing and the results are surprisingly good, and surprisingly like classic (All / Enjoy era) Descendents! Great songs, catchy and kick ass, with lyrics about politics, being a nerd, and mostly love and girls. The song Mass Nerder is the best Descendents song in forever. NERD POWER! The best lyrics:

Don't got no biceps
Don't got no pecs
But I'll read you under the table
With my thick specs!
See I got these glasses
So they kick my ass
But I'll kick their asses
When I get to class

I got these glasses
So I can't wear shades
But I'll kick their asses
I'll get good grades

And the music is so cathcy and heavy. Had me wanting to jump around like crazy! And the song 'Merican is one of the best anti-American regime songs in quite a while. But of course, the bulk of the record is made up of those classic Descendents sad boy, minor key, lost love perfect pop punk nuggets! So good!
MPEG Stream: "Mass Nerder"
MPEG Stream: "'Merican"
MPEG Stream: "Nothing With You"

DESCENDENTS Cool To Be You (Fat Wreck Chords) lp 8.98
Descendents are back! And they kick as much ass as ever! Being the huge-est Descendents fan, I (Andee) was pretty worried about a new Descendents record after 7 years of frontman Milo, teaching biochemistry and living a normal life, and the rest of the band releasing lots of mediocre pop punk as All. The recent ep teaser wasn't all that encouraging either. The sound was there, and Milo's voice was as great as ever. But it just didn't hit. But now that the full length is here, everything is perfect! Easily one of the tightest fiercest rhythm sections ever (obviously, with Bill Stevenson, ex-Black Flag on drums) backs up Stephen Egerton's weird weird guitar playing and Milo's awesome raspy vocals! Drummer Bill Stevenson usually did most of the songwriting, but here bassist Karl Alvarez and Milo do most of the writing and the results are surprisingly good, and surprisingly like classic (All / Enjoy era) Descendents! Great songs, catchy and kick ass, with lyrics about politics, being a nerd, and mostly love and girls. The song Mass Nerder is the best Descendents song in forever. NERD POWER! The best lyrics:

Don't got no biceps
Don't got no pecs
But I'll read you under the table
With my thick specs!
See I got these glasses
So they kick my ass
But I'll kick their asses
When I get to class

I got these glasses
So I can't wear shades
But I'll kick their asses
I'll get good grades

And the music is so cathcy and heavy. Had me wanting to jump around like crazy! And the song 'Merican is one of the best anti-American regime songs in quite a while. But of course, the bulk of the record is made up of those classic Descendents sad boy, minor key, lost love perfect pop punk nuggets! So good!
MPEG Stream: "Mass Nerder"
MPEG Stream: "'Merican"
MPEG Stream: "Nothing With You"

DESCENDENTS Milo Goes To College (SST) cd 14.98

DESCENSION Live March 1995 (Shock) cd 18.98
Ascension, the guitar/drums improv duo of Englishmen Stefan Jaworzyn (Skullflower) and Tony Irving, are joined by leading British jazz players Charles Wharf (saxophone) and Simon Hessian (double bass) for some extreme blowouts. Killer, says Allan.

DESCENT INTO THE VOID s/t (NOTHingness) cd-r 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Three new sonic missives from the ether, from whatever mysterious alternate sonic universe the NOTHingness label exists in. A world of bleak emptiness, massive expanses of barren rumbling tundra, of glassy black surface sonic pools... Every disc dark and lovely, creepy and ominous, haunting and super intense. And of course outrageously limited...
This one is an epic, 73 minute, single track plunge into the sonic abyss, or maybe more accurately 'descent into the void'. Long, drawn out, slow rolling soundscapes of deep swells, soft metallic buzz, and all manner of complex low end filigree buried way down in the mix, giving the track some strange inner momentum, a sublimated chaos, lurking just below the tranquil surface. Harrowing and gorgeously minor key, but the melodies here are just distant streaks, and strange smears of tonal color, everything super subtle, drifting billows of grey grainy shift and pulsing diffused light. Over the course of this expansive sprawl, random sounds surface, float ghostlike and sink back into the ether, disembodied voices, haunting clouds of high end harmonics, bits of hiss and stretched out slowed down percussion, all floating weightless above a soft blackened backdrop. So gorgeous. 
LIMITED TO ONLY 66 COPIES!! Packaged in a slimline dvd style case with full color cover.
MPEG Stream: "Untitled (excerpt)"

DESCLOUX, LIZZY MERCIER Press Color (Ze Records) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

DESERT CITY SOUNDTRACK Contents Of Distraction (Deep Elm) cd 10.98

DESERT CITY SOUNDTRACK Perfect Addiction (Deep Elm) cd 14.98

DESERT OF TRAUN Part III: The Lilac Moon (Bruhtal Shocks Music) cd 10.98

DESERT SESSIONS Seven & Eight (Rekords Rekords / Southern Lord) cd 13.98
Guitarist/vocalist and "desert rock" big-shot Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, ex-Kyuss) likes to get his musical friends together for jammin' jamborees. Homme's friends this time include Mark Lanegan, and, allegedly, somebody from Motley Crue.

DESERT SESSIONS Vol 1 / Vol 2 (Man's Ruin Records) cd 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

DESIDERII MARGINIS Deadbeat (Cold Meat Industry) cd 21.00

DESIGNER Gebarck Star (Duophonic) 12" 8.98
Casey Rice (one of the superstar Chicago producers whose talents have been featured in Tortoise, Liz Phair, etc.) is the latest to release a fetish object for Duophonic. Well produced, but terminally dull 'quirky' drum & bass / electronica grooves. Due to the Duophonic tag this will at least make for a good investment for future collectors.

DESIRE If I Can't Hold You Tonight (Italians Do It Better) 12" 9.98
Always an exciting day at AQ when a new slab of vinyl from Italians Do It Better comes our way. Earlier this year we got totally addicted to the debut full length from Desire, a record that was so spot on in its 80's sleek and sultry, late-night dance jams infused with a dark romantic aching yearning. With the intoxicating vocals of Megan Luise setting such a perfect tone for the impeccable production of Johnny Jewel (Glass Candy, Chromatics, etc.). So it's rad to get different versions of two of our favorite songs from the album. Side one gives us a totally lysergic slow burning stretched out version of "If I Can't Hold You Tonight" and then a completely stripped down minimal vocal version. Side two starts off with an instrumental version of their cover of "I Can Dream About You" followed by a goosebump inducing 8-track demo of the song that proves that Desire are not just about style and dancefloors, but that their music really does evoke such strong emotions. The 12" offers a much more minimal and slow burning side of Desire then the more over-the-top, all out 80's disco vibe of the full length. We're melting into this wax!

DESIRE II (Italians Do It Better) cd 13.98
Everything Johnny Jewel touches these days turns to sultry dancefloor gold. Whether it's Glass Candy, the Chromatics, or a handful of other groups on Italians Do It Better that have felt Jewel's magic touch, he has really been largely responsible for making IDIB a label to trust when it comes to sizzling, late night spaced out disco!
What sets Desire a little apart from other acts on Italians Do It Better is that it's much more of a full band effort, with an affection for analog synthesizers as well as strings, percussion, piano, and it's got an overall delivery that is much more warm and rich than some of the other similar sounding outfits on the label. Desire still have that icy-detached aesthetic that can be found in the sounds of Chromatics, but there is something a bit more personal sounding in the songs here. While most records in this genre tend to be filled with super immediate hooks that sometimes lose their staying power on repeated listens, this record is a serious grower. In fact on first listen we thought maybe this was going to be a bit of a let down, but we're so happy we gave it a few more spins, cuz we were eventually totally sucked into the moody, sultry stylings that Desire conjure up. Between this and the Nite Jewel record we gushed about recently, our late night coming down soundtrack is sounding better then ever. Feel the slow burn!
MPEG Stream: "Dans Mes Reves"
MPEG Stream: "Oxygene"
MPEG Stream: "Mirroir Mirroir"

DESIRE II (Italians Do It Better) lp 13.98
NOW ON VINYL!
Everything Johnny Jewel touches these days turns to sultry dancefloor gold. Whether it's Glass Candy, the Chromatics, or a handful of other groups on Italians Do It Better that have felt Jewel's magic touch, he has really been largely responsible for making IDIB a label to trust when it comes to sizzling, late night spaced out disco!
What sets Desire a little apart from other acts on Italians Do It Better is that it's much more of a full band effort, with an affection for analog synthesizers as well as strings, percussion, piano, and it's got an overall delivery that is much more warm and rich than some of the other similar sounding outfits on the label. Desire still have that icy-detached aesthetic that can be found in the sounds of Chromatics, but there is something a bit more personal sounding in the songs here. While most records in this genre tend to be filled with super immediate hooks that sometimes lose their staying power on repeated listens, this record is a serious grower. In fact on first listen we thought maybe this was going to be a bit of a let down, but we're so happy we gave it a few more spins, cuz we were eventually totally sucked into the moody, sultry stylings that Desire conjure up. Between this and the Nite Jewel record we gushed about recently, our late night coming down soundtrack is sounding better then ever. Feel the slow burn!
MPEG Stream: "Dans Mes Reves"
MPEG Stream: "Oxygene"
MPEG Stream: "Mirroir Mirroir"

DESOLATION WILDERNESS New Universe (K Records) cd 14.98
Hailing from Olympia, Washington, Desolation Wilderness create hazy dreampop that's the perfect twilight of summer soundtrack. With shimmering guitars, breezy vocals, infectious melodies swirled amongst the fog and haze, this record has been reminding us of so many bands we love, like Chapterhouse, Spiritualized, The Chills, 764 Hero, Galaxie 500, Sparklehorse, Ride, etc. While there is a definite shoegaze element to their sound, the songs also have a spark and punch to them. We also can't help but think of a very awesome and underrated '90s band from Los Angeles called Strictly Ballroom who similarly found enticing ways to evoke this kind of daydream nation. New Universe is one of those records that's perfect for so many occasions - the long ride home, the blissed out late night walk through the city, the lazy Sunday afternoon... Desolation Wilderness pleases on so many levels!
MPEG Stream: "Boardwalk Theme"
MPEG Stream: "Slow Fade"
MPEG Stream: "You Hold A Power Over Me"

DESORMAIS Dead Letters (Intr-version) cd 14.98

DESOTO REDS Hanglide Thru Yer Window (Floating Man) cd 11.98
Those Desoto Reds sure have a knack for writing the sweet pop hooks and winking lyrical twists. Each tune comes with heaping servings of horns, organs, vocal harmonies... and fun! The first song "Allowed Loud" sounds like a cross between the themes from two incongruous TV shows (The Partridge Family and Crank Yankers). It's a playful pairing of punchy and perky pop. Whoa, is that enough 'p' words for ya?! Definitely for fans of those seemingly long-forgotten quirky early '90s college radio pop bands such as Too Much Joy (remember them?).
MPEG Stream: "Allowed Loud"
MPEG Stream: "My Affair With Julia Roberts"

DESPERATE MAN BLUES Discovering The Roots Of American Music (Cube Media) dvd 24.00