PAPA M Whatever, Mortal (Drag City) lp 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Dave Pajo (ex-Slint, ex-Tortoise, permanent Lousiville resident) here returns with a somber Papa M recording. While this record is not as incandescently melodic and pretty as his Live From a Shark Cage album (which is definitely where you should start if you've never heard Papa M before), this is loads better than the artistically unsuccessful Papa M Sings ep.
Drawing away from the sweetness found in the repetitive loopy pop sounds of Shark Cage, here Pajo turns serious with a twang now and then. It's very nice, sad and atmospheric, with more vocals than previous Papa M Releases. A few songs sound like Leonard Cohen or the better laid-back moments of Lou Barlow. Altogether quite pleasant.
The all star cast includes Tara Jane O'Neil from Rodan & Retsin, Will Oldham (Palace etc.), and Brit Walford from Slint.

PAPA M / CHRISTINA ROSENVINGE Five (Drag City) cd ep 5.98
The fifth installment of Papa M's audio tour diary series finds him in New York City on April 11, 2003. Quite possibly the lovliest of the bunch thus far, it's comprised of two collaborations with vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Christina Rosenvinge (Two Dollar Guitar) whose willowy voice adds more misty-eyed, introspective dreaminess to David Pajo's already world-weary, poignant music.
MPEG Stream: "Nickel Song"

PAPAGIKA, MARIKA The Further The Flame, The Worse It Burns (Canary / Mississippi) lp 14.98
**MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT** **MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT** **MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT**
Another fantastic release from Mississippi, this one a collection of recordings from Greek folk singer
Marika Papagika, who was born in 1890 and was one of the first Greek women singers to be heard on sound recordings, and who over the course of her career, toured extensively, owned her own club, with her husband (who also played in her band), recorded 225 performances, yet somehow remains sadly for the most part overlooked and underappreciated. The liner notes (by Ian Nagoski, whose records this collection was compiled from, and who also helped put together a whole mess of other amazing compilations including Black Mirror, String Of Pearls, Unheard Ofs & Forgotten Abouts among others) are extensive, and chronicle her life (what is known about it) as well as the recordings, performances and instrumentation.
The music is of course hauntingly lovely and mystical, emotional and dramatic, her voice gorgeous and powerful, and the instrumentation perfect, simple, just cello, violin, clarinet and cymbalon (a sort of hammered dulcimer).
Everything is bathed in that warm scratchy old record sound, but it only makes the music that much more beautiful, on some tracks you can actually hear birds chirping in the background, as if they had recorded outdoors, the songs are spare yet somehow so lush, moving and moody, just fantastic, fans of Greek folk music and Rembetika will of course need this, but anyone just looking for music that's both haunting and pretty, these songs totally transcend any sort of classification really, they're just beautiful songs, performed impeccably by an incredible band, and sung by one of the finest vocalists you've probably never heard of.
Pressed on heavy vinyl, and housed in a thick sturdy jacket, with a massive oversized printed booklet, featuring extensive liner notes, as well as all the know photographs of Papagika.

PAPAS FRITAS Helioself (Minty Fresh) cd 15.98
Crisp sweet trio whose lush sound and three-part harmonies should appeal to lovers of pure pop. Head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, recommended.

PAPER RAD Taking Out The Trash (Load) dvd 14.98
Warning: NOT FOR EPILEPTICS!!! What's probably the best-yet dvd release from the Load label brings together a bunch of animations from the Paper Rad comics/video/art collective, whose hyper-kinetic, colorful aesthetic relies heavily upon what must be a mega-collection of childhood pop-culture memorabilia, y'know, stickers and stuffed animals and those plastic trolls with the dayglo hair and Muppet Babies and so forth. Animated with intense strobe-effects and eyeball-searing hues, in constantly-moving symmetrical patterns reminiscent of Eastern mandalas, these graphics are some seriously psychedelic shit. LSD for your DVD player. So awesome, yet a bit overwhelming after a while, which is why it's nice that part way along the the viewer is offered a bit of a breather in the form of a very deadpan, nonsensical narrative, wherein things slow down to examine the lives of three very odd flatmates, living in what may or may not be the middle of nuclear Armageddon. In the context of the rest of this disc, this segment almost seems "normal." Stepping up the pace again, other highlights include music vids for The Usaisamonster and Lightning Bolt side project Wizardzz, both bands whose spazzed music fits perfectly with this stuff. Highly recommended for those who'd like to try a potent dose of ocular insanity, but again, bewarned, potentially seizure-inducing!

PAPER RELICS Over Exposure (Time Released Sound) cd-r 13.98
We're really so excited to finally welcome local label Time Released Sound to the aQuarius family. We've yet to list anything, in part because their releases are so limited, but also, because they sell out so quickly. Every single release, every single copy is an incredible work of art. Each one hand crafted, individually assembled, numbered and hand stamped, letter pressed and printed, the packaging thematically linked to the sound within, with photographs, or old records, strange little knick knacks, clock hands, piano keys, they're really incredible, an absolute labor of love, with most of the limited versions taking hours to assemble, and the fact that Time Released Sound is just one man, makes it all the more impressive. So from here on out, we'll get a limited number of each release, they're quite limited already usually around 70-100 copies. And odds are we won't be able to get more than 10-15, but trust us, they're worth it, sonically beautifully, and visually stunning. There will be regular non-art editions of some of the releases, much less limited, and thus less expensive, but if you're after one of the limited editions, you'll want to act fast.
The super limited art edition of this release sold out before we could manage to get any copies at all, but we did manage to get a handful of the slightly less limited (100 copies) digipak cd-r version, which is much cheaper, and still worth grabbing for the music inside, a gorgeous collection of field recording flecked folk, hazy and pastoral, spidery steel string guitars unfurl a dreamlike Appalachia over a bed of chirping birds, and mysterious bits of random percussion, a lovely bit of back porch dreaminess, which is how most of the record plays out, slippery slide guitar hovers over woozy bass and the sound of a gently burbling brook, long stretches of steel string buzz underpin simple, sweetly melancholic acoustic guitar, a crackling fire in the background, much of the music here is moody and muted, the guitar occasionally bursting into a fiery bit of psychedelia, but more often than not, darkly strummed, intertwining melodies creating lush landscapes of twang flecked drift.
Fans of Scott Tuma, Ilyas Ahmed, Chris Smith, James Blackshaw and other Appalachian soundscapers would do well to check this out.
MPEG Stream: "Over Exposure (Prelude)"
MPEG Stream: "Soft Focus"
MPEG Stream: "Fading"

PAPERCUTS Can't Go Back (Gnomonsong) cd 13.98
Musing about the name of this dandy SF one man band, we can't help but feel that he must be referring to the pretty delicate scissor craft and not the annoyingly painful stationery-inflicted wound. The Papercuts' retro-tinged pop is a honey sweet, wistful confection. Released on Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong label, this new album moves upwards and onwards from 2004's Mockingbird. It's decidedly more mid-fi and more psych folk leaning than those previous lower-fi chamber pop styled recordings. Perhaps a little earthiness has rubbed off on him from the folks with whom he's recently collaborated such as Skygreen Leopards and Vetiver? Or perhaps he's been spending more time out in the wondrous wilderness? Whatever it may be, the results are splendid. Can't Go Back caught us daydreaming about paddling a lil' rowboat down a gentle stream, and peering dreamily over the edge into the sundappled depths. As we gaze at a fallen leaf drifting by, the sparkly glint from an orange-gold carp catches our eye. Aaaah. This album will surely appeal equally to fans of Yo La Tengo, Low, Olivia Tremor Control and the abovementioned Skygreen Leopards. Recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Dear Employee"
MPEG Stream: "Just Another Thing To Dust"

PAPERCUTS Can't Go Back (Gnomonsong) lp 13.98
Now available on vinyl!
Musing about the name of this dandy SF one man band, we can't help but feel that he must be referring to the pretty delicate scissor craft and not the annoyingly painful stationery-inflicted wound. The Papercuts' retro-tinged pop is a honey sweet, wistful confection. Released on Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong label, this new album moves upwards and onwards from 2004's Mockingbird. It's decidedly more mid-fi and more psych folk leaning than those previous lower-fi chamber pop styled recordings. Perhaps a little earthiness has rubbed off on him from the folks with whom he's recently collaborated such as Skygreen Leopards and Vetiver? Or perhaps he's been spending more time out in the wondrous wilderness? Whatever it may be, the results are splendid. Can't Go Back caught us daydreaming about paddling a lil' rowboat down a gentle stream, and peering dreamily over the edge into the sundappled depths. As we gaze at a fallen leaf drifting by, the sparkly glint from an orange-gold carp catches our eye. Aaaah. This album will surely appeal equally to fans of Yo La Tengo, Low, Olivia Tremor Control and the abovementioned Skygreen Leopards. Recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Dear Employee"
MPEG Stream: "Just Another Thing To Dust"

PAPERCUTS Do What You Will / Thoughts On Hell (Sub Pop) 7" 5.50
It's been so nice to see Papercuts really mature over the years. There was no doubt at their beginning that they had the ability to craft melt worthy indie rock, but as the years have passed their sound has only gotten more warm, layered and potent. As Papercuts now join their buddy and former label head, Andy Cabic (Vetiver) as the newest recruits for Sub Pop, it feels like just the perfect time for this shift to a higher profile. No doubt these two swoon worthy songs will get compared to Grizzly Bear and Beach House, but what makes us excited about Papercuts these days is that it really is starting to feel like they are discovering how to put their own unique stamp on such a satisfying sound. Can't wait for the Sub Pop full-length about to drop!

PAPERCUTS Mockingbird (Antenna Farm) cd 13.98
Finally, a new record this San Francisco band whose first record was released on Owen Casiotone's Cassingle USA label a few years back. Papercuts lather up sweet, creamy lo-fi indie chamber pop. Singer/songwriter/engineer/band member, Jason Quever, who produced critically acclaimed Cass McCombs, makes some lovely songs here. Anyone who enjoyed The Shins' Beach Boys style sounds will enjoy the Papercuts' Mockingbird. Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Mockingbird"
MPEG Stream: "Poor And Free"

PAPERCUTS Rejoicing Songs (cassingleUSA) cd 9.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A new release on lo-fi stylemakers cassingleUSA label, but don't be mistaken -- this is much more than a cassingle. Papercuts give us 13 songs, soft, sweet and bittersweet, this would not be out of place next to Music Tapes or Casiotone For The Painfully Alone. As a matter of fact, our dear pal Owen of Casiotone plays on track #4.

PAPERCUTS You Can Have What You Want (Gnomonsong) cd 14.98
So lovely, and soft as pussywillows! Jason Quever's back with his fourth Papercuts full length! His indie psych-tinged pop calls to mind a more cryptic and loosely woven Camera Obscura or Magnetic Fields (when Claudia is singing, mind you!). Everything about You Can Have What You Want is warm and fuzzy and inviting. Generous applications of reverb melt and blur the pop song structures into ear-hugging blankets that glisten and glow. Quever's wheezy '60s vibe vintage organs cozy up to the ultra pretty string arrangements of Beach House's Alex Scally who contributed a good deal to this album. Wistful and slightly melancholic, this really is a terrific end of summer album. So maybe nab it now, and tuck it away for when you really need it come late August? Some might find it to be a gradual grow-on-you kind of album (as we admittedly sort of did!), so the timing might actually work out perfectly that it'll have completely sunken its dreary lil' hooks into your heart by Labor Day! Recommended if you like the abovementioned bands as well as Caribou, Loney, Dear, and/or fellow Bay Area popsters Grand Lake who also have a terrific new album out now.
MPEG Stream: "Future Primitive"
MPEG Stream: "Jet Plane"

PAPERCUTS You Can Have What You Want (Gnomonsong) lp 15.98
So lovely, and soft as pussywillows! Jason Quever's back with his fourth Papercuts full length! His indie psych-tinged pop calls to mind a more cryptic and loosely woven Camera Obscura or Magnetic Fields (when Claudia is singing, mind you!). Everything about You Can Have What You Want is warm and fuzzy and inviting. Generous applications of reverb melt and blur the pop song structures into ear-hugging blankets that glisten and glow. Quever's wheezy '60s vibe vintage organs cozy up to the ultra pretty string arrangements of Beach House's Alex Scally who contributed a good deal to this album. Wistful and slightly melancholic, this really is a terrific end of summer album. So maybe nab it now, and tuck it away for when you really need it come late August? Some might find it to be a gradual grow-on-you kind of album (as we admittedly sort of did!), so the timing might actually work out perfectly that it'll have completely sunken its dreary lil' hooks into your heart by Labor Day! Recommended if you like the abovementioned bands as well as Caribou, Loney, Dear, and/or fellow Bay Area popsters Grand Lake who also have a terrific new album out now.
MPEG Stream: "Future Primitive"
MPEG Stream: "Jet Plane"

PAPERCUTS, THE Fading Parade (Sub Pop) cd 13.98
We've always appreciated the music of the Papercuts, but we still felt like they were capable of more. Not all the elements had come together, something seemed to be missing, something kept it their sounds from achieving greatness. Always lovely and lilting and dreamily folky, but with Fading Parade, they have finally made the record they always seemed capable of creating. Perhaps it was getting signed to Sub Pop, but the Papercuts have elevated their song writing and delivery into an entirely different league. The recording of the album is so perfect in capturing a warmth and seduction in their songs that we had never felt before. Jason Quever's vocals are some of the most smooth and dreamy male vocals we've heard in such a long time.
Not to keep pressing the Sub Pop connection but we can hear sonic and song comparisons to two of the labels best releases of the last decade, Chutes Too Narrow by the Shins and Teen Dream by Beach House. From their touring with Beach House this past year, we can tell that the Papercuts were able to really learn how to incorporate such rich and hypnotizing atmospheres into their songs. We also hear a touch of the elegance of The Clientele. This is an album that's both hazy and woozy, while also being catchy and emotional and immediate. We always love when a band we've been on the fence about, makes that huge leap and delivers a record that makes us all hardcore believers!
MPEG Stream: "Do You Really Wanna Know "
MPEG Stream: "Chills "
MPEG Stream: "Charades "

PAPERCUTS, THE Fading Parade (Sub Pop) lp 15.98
We've always appreciated the music of the Papercuts, but we still felt like they were capable of more. Not all the elements had come together, something seemed to be missing, something kept it their sounds from achieving greatness. Always lovely and lilting and dreamily folky, but with Fading Parade, they have finally made the record they always seemed capable of creating. Perhaps it was getting signed to Sub Pop, but the Papercuts have elevated their song writing and delivery into an entirely different league. The recording of the album is so perfect in capturing a warmth and seduction in their songs that we had never felt before. Jason Quever's vocals are some of the most smooth and dreamy male vocals we've heard in such a long time.
Not to keep pressing the Sub Pop connection but we can hear sonic and song comparisons to two of the labels best releases of the last decade, Chutes Too Narrow by the Shins and Teen Dream by Beach House. From their touring with Beach House this past year, we can tell that the Papercuts were able to really learn how to incorporate such rich and hypnotizing atmospheres into their songs. We also hear a touch of the elegance of The Clientele. This is an album that's both hazy and woozy, while also being catchy and emotional and immediate. We always love when a band we've been on the fence about, makes that huge leap and delivers a record that makes us all hardcore believers!
MPEG Stream: "Do You Really Wanna Know "
MPEG Stream: "Chills "
MPEG Stream: "Charades "

PAPPADEMAS, LIZ 11 Songs (self-released) cd 11.98
Liz Pappademas' debut album is imbued with a hushed parlour elegance quite akin to Brooklyn's Edison Woods, but with strong female vocals reminiscent of Carly Simon. Intimately centered around her piano and voice, 11 Songs is smooth, smoky lounge splendor from start to finish. Assisting her with these eleven songs is Brian Kehew ( of The Moog Cookbook and the astoundingly obsessively comprehensive 'Recording The Beatles' book). Lovely!
MPEG Stream: "Loma Prieta"
MPEG Stream: "I Had To Tell You"

PARADE GROUND The Golden Years (Dark Entries) lp 15.98
Parade Ground are a Belgian duo, born in the new wave / post-punk explosion in the early '80s finding a sympathetic ear and an ongoing relationship with Patrick Coydens and Daniel B of Front 242. Despite the members of 242 encouraging, producing, and collaborating with Parade Ground, these Belgian lads didn't really fit within the EBM crowd that began to flourish in the mid-to-late '80s in their country. Their synth-pop melodicism drew more from the Brits, especially Wire and OMD. This collection, curated and released by Dark Entries, maps out Parade Ground's development from spiky post-punk into darkly tinged synth pop. Their 1987 anthem "Gold Rush" is featured here, as are the two collaborative tracks Parade Ground did with Colin Newman of Wire.

PARADISE BOYS 2 O'Clock (Anthem) 12" 5.98
A track from local club kids Paradise Boys' The Young & The Guest List album gets the remix treatment from Daum Bentley and Modeselektor (bpitchcontrol). If you dug the full length, you'll surely shake a rump to this too. The A-side features the album version of "2 O'Clock" as well as Bentley's "2 O'Coke Remix". The B-side is the stronger of the two with Bentley's brooding "Running Lovers Dub Mix" and Modeselektor's "6pm Remix" grooving darkly and creating a more mysterious and shadowy atmosphere.

PARADISE BOYS Gonna Make You Mine (All Systems Underground) 12" 5.98
The Paradise Boys wanna sex you up with their poolside... errrr, dancefloor manner. Led by Jeff Fare (aka DJ Jeffrodeeziak and former member of The Calculators), PB are probably not for those seeking a deep listening experience. No way, they're definitely more for those out lookin' for action! This debut EP, mixed at Seismic Seance Studios, contains a total of four tracks rooted in the primal dancefloor urge. The lead-off (and title) cut is filled with ample servings of melodramatic vocals, uncomplicated midi arpeggiated basslines and electronic handclaps, but things get progressively more interesting in the subsequent remixes. Vocals are suitably fragmented and processed, and each of the three remixes generally sound much more polished and fully articulated. PB have enlisted Broker/Dealer who break down the repetitive nature of the track and add a bit more booty thumpin' to the proceedings, and Nikki Anderson with All The Way Lovers who adds a welcome dose of mood and mystery to the mix.
RealAudio clip: BROKER / DEALER "Gonna Make You Mine (Pair-Of-Dice Mix)"

PARADISE BOYS Gonna Make You Mine (All Systems Underground) cd-r 5.98
The Paradise Boys wanna sex you up with their poolside... errrr, dancefloor manner. Led by Jeff Fare (aka DJ Jeffrodeeziak and former member of The Calculators), PB are probably not for those seeking a deep listening experience. No way, they're definitely more for those out lookin' for action! This debut EP, mixed at Seismic Seance Studios, contains a total of four tracks rooted in the primal dancefloor urge. The lead-off (and title) cut is filled with ample servings of melodramatic vocals, uncomplicated midi arpeggiated basslines and electronic handclaps, but things get progressively more interesting in the subsequent remixes. Vocals are suitably fragmented and processed, and each of the three remixes generally sound much more polished and fully articulated. PB have enlisted Broker/Dealer who break down the repetitive nature of the track and add a bit more booty thumpin' to the proceedings, and Nikki Anderson with All The Way Lovers who adds a welcome dose of mood and mystery to the mix.
RealAudio clip: BROKER / DEALER "Gonna Make You Mine (Pair-Of-Dice Mix)"

PARADISE BOYS The Young & The Guest List (Prince House) cd 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
From the looks of the band name, cover photo,Êand album/song titles, SF's Paradise Boys would haveÊyouÊthink that every night of the week they're making the scene, indulging in a rainbow of flesh and chemicals, sexin' everyone up - cocktail in one hand, rolled twenty in the other. Indeed on their debut full length, it's nothing butÊparty music for party people.ÊTotalÊ(plastic) passion, thrusting hips, sweaty hands. Flying high on plenty of substances,Êand plenty lacking in substance.This album really should've come out a few years ago, asÊthe Paradise Boys seem excessively fashionably late for the electro-clash / disco-punk caravan...Êmaybe they've decided to followÊthe lead of head 'Boy' Jeff Fare's formerÊbandmates' current band The Rapture -- expanding their line-upÊfrom an electronic dance music duo to a full-fledged band and bringing together theÊicyÊstare ofÊelectro, the primal urge of disco and the angular churn of postpunk. New Orderish keyboard lines, ching-a-ling funk guitar accents, thumpin' 4/4 programmed beats. The lead male vocalsÊcan beÊthin and forced, but they've added a female vocalist who brings a glimmer of passion to the proceedings.ÊAs a result, they're showing more heft than their previous ep'sÊmirrorball melodrama (the album actually kicks off with an improvedÊreworking and retitling of one of the tracks from their first cdep/12"), but it's still the aural equivalent of a string of one night stands. If you're looking for an anonymous, no-strings-attached lifestyle accoutrement, you'dÊbest be makin'Êyour way across the dancefloor toÊthe Paradise Boys.
MPEG Stream: "Even If It Takes All Night"
MPEG Stream: "I Burn For You"

PARADISE CAMP 23 Mu (Mandragora) cd-r 11.98
After two cd-r's and a proper cd of completely gorgeous improvised Sitar music from Erik Amlee, we pretty much got to the point where we'd buy anything he put out. But we definitely weren't prepared for this Paradise Camp 23 disc. Sitar is still his instrument of choice, that and electric guitar. But PC23 is not another Amlee solo venture, PC23 is a 4 piece. A real band. Sort of.
All improvised, these tracks sound a bit like Amlee's solo material but WAY heavier, WAY darker, WAY more dense, and a lot thicker, and more slithery and almost metal at times. You can definitely hear lots of Bardo Pond, and SUNNO)), and Sunroof! and even some NNCK or Sunburned Hand. But with a haunting Eastern buzz, and way more of a blissed out psychedelic sprawl. Some tracks are monsters, huge churning walls of downtuned guitars, others are dreamy and shimmery, with the buzz of the sitar spreading out like a late morning fog, while guitars and electronics just drift lazily by, others are weird primal tribal jams, rife with deconstructed riffs, bits of random percussion, lots of buzz and clang and clatter, and still others are straight up sun dappled, strummy dream folk. So great. A definite contender for psych-dirge-dream-buzz-drone record of the year!
MPEG Stream: "Kether"
MPEG Stream: "Oaxaca"
MPEG Stream: "Bhang"

PARADISE ISLAND Lines Are Infinitely Fine (Dim Mak) cd 12.98

PARADISE ISLAND Seeing Spots (Latitudes 0:08) (Latitudes / Southern) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Newest installment in the always great and way too limited Latitudes series comes from none other then Jenny Hoyston of Erase Errata fame, with her side-project Paradise Island. The second we put this on we knew we had a new favorite Summer song! "Motions" has this amazing urgency, simplicity, power and passion that has seeped right down into our souls. In fact we're pretty happy to finally put the "repeat" function to use on our cd player's remote control as Irwin and Scott had to get their fix over and over and over! Luckily the rest of this short ep is just as good, definitely some of the best songs that Jenny has ever churned out. We can't even begin to tell you how obsessed we've been with this ep playing it again and again in the store and still more at home. While DJing? On our iPod? Yes yes yes! Four songs of direct action cutting out all fat and leaving us only with the sounds that matter. This is the kind of D.I.Y. punk spirit that still makes our heart go all a flutter. So good! Remember this is part of a limited series so make sure to get one before they are history...!
MPEG Stream: "Motions"
MPEG Stream: "Pedal Revotion"

PARAGON IMPURE To Ganius! (Goatowarex) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

PARAGON IMPURE To Ganius! + 2 (Daemon Worship Productions) cd 13.98

PARAMAECIUM Echoes From the Ground (Veridon) cd 14.98

PARASOL, RYKARDA For Blood and Wine (self-released) cd 12.98

PARASOL, RYKARDA Here She Comes... (Blood of the Young) cd-r ep 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The overall picture of Rykarda Parasol's music is one of somber, tarnished beauty with a smoky cabaret atmosphere. Ms Rykarda possesses a powerful voice resembling a melding of Siouxsie and P.J. Harvey -- slightly ashen and achingly empassioned. It's presented prominently amid the reeling piano, organ, violin and guitar. Hearts and wounds are laid bare in deeply wrought fashion. Includes a cover of The Gun Club's "She's Like Heroin".
MPEG Stream: "En Route"
MPEG Stream: "Lullaby For Blacktail"

PARASOL, RYKARDA Our Hearts First Meet (Three Ring) cd 12.98
On her second release Our Hearts First Meet, SF chanteuse Rykarda Parasol sounds as though she's weathered a storm or two since her well-received debut cdep a couple of years ago. Her deep, slightly tattered, world-weary vocals bring to mind those of Carla Bozulich and Siouxsie Sioux, but mellowed out in a way that's more along the lines of Cat Power's Chan Marshall. Much rain and tear soaked enchantment is infused in each of her fifteen songs. The shadowy mood is supported by the beautiful cover art and striking, hazy black and white insert photo of Ms Parasol, but it's also unfortunately somewhat undone by the assorted casual band photos that reside on the inner traycard. Alas, but 'tis a minor distraction. Nevertheless, a fine follow-up to 2004's Here She Comes.... Released on the evergrowing SF indie label Three Ring Records.
MPEG Stream: "Hannah Leah"
MPEG Stream: "Lullaby For Blacktail"

PARCHMAN FARM s/t (Jackpine Socal Club) cd ep 10.98
The guys (and gal) in San Francisco's Parchman Farm are doing their dangest to rekindle the spirit of the city's sixties ballroom era, when righteous psychedelic rock ruled the scene. This five song, 23 minute ep is their recorded debut, and right away you'll realize that there's some serious Blue Cheer worship going on here (which you might guess from the band name and cover graphics). It's like they brought Dickie Peterson into the studio to play the bass line on their song "Say Yeah" -- and that stuff rocks. But Blue Cheer aren't their only influence and they get all melodic as well, not always trying to turn the air into cottage cheese with sheer amped-up umph. Over the course of these five tracks, they go from all heavy to trippy and hippy and always come through with full-on rawk vox and even (of course) cowbell... Ironic and retro it might be, but I think that they're legitmately into this sort of '60s/'70s thing and trying real hard. They definitely have the sound. But do they have the songs? Almost. I mean, nothing here would/should really fool you into thinking it was a lost out-take from Vincebus Eruptum or Tyranny And Mutation or Closer To Home. But they're getting there. A decent debut for sure.
By the way, we think that someone at Parchman Farm's label Jackpine Social Club might need to check into rehab, for writing in the band's press one-sheet such god-awful lines as "their jean-clad legs wrapped around a fleshy column of stoner rock sludge and humpin' it all night long...like a shark riding on top of an elephant, just stomping and chomping everything in sight". What? Ugh. I mean, we've written some clunkers too, but...
MPEG Stream: "Mirror Spirit"
MPEG Stream: "Say Yeah"

PARDONS Charlie's Pardons (Acid Mothers Temple) cd 18.98
Maybe we shouldn't be so hard on the Acid Mothers collective for being so prolific. You and I go do our jobs everyday, and no one complains as long as we do a good job, and are productive and successful, right? So until AMT start peddling utter crap, maybe we should give them a break. It just so happens that their job is to explore the cosmos with spaced out synths and swirling rattlesnake guitars, and to spread wild, freaked out psychedlic love. And they continue to do it better than most of their contemporaries. It just gets frustrating from a fans point of view to try and keep up. So here we have the third or fourth AMT release this month (seriously), this time it's record number two from the Pardons, the guitar/synth duo of AMT frontline Cotton Casino and Higashi Hiroshi. And it's quite a gorgeous affair. Any traces of pychedelia dissipate into an expansive and spacious dreamscape of tinkling shimmering chimes, spacy dreamy ambience, gently finger picked guitars, reverbed crystalline tinkle, theremin like vocal trills, and soaring distant operatic vocals, like wisps of smoke floating lazily through the air. Beautifully serene and gorgeously otherworldly.
MPEG Stream: "Lune Qui est a Son Premier Quartier"
MPEG Stream: "Se Promener au Clair de Lune"

PARIS Sonic Jihad (Guerilla Funk) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The much anticipated return of Paris. A man who's no stranger to controversy, Paris' new album is certainly going to sell a few copies and/or cause some consternation over the cover alone. Most people can remember his debut The Devil Made Me Do It as a kick ass record for its time, and his 1992 track "Bush Killa" certainly garnered him some attention. But his following albums suffered from good intentions coupled with tepid production values. Sadly, if it wasn't for the bold cover and title we honestly probably wouldn't have picked up his newest. Sonic Jihad isn't a complete disappointment though. And depending on one's predilection toward late nineties west coast production values you might get even more mileage. The funky bass low rider optimized rhythms here smack of Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg's hey day. But the worst of it is the background soul vocals of the slow jam variety that do the biggest diservice to the album. On the upside, there's a great cameo appearance from Capelton (Dead Prez, Public Enemy and Kam also make appearances). And lyrically, it's a great album. While everyone else in hip hop seems content to press their street credentials ad naseum, it's about time that someone stepped up and bitch slapped Dubb-yuh. Paris and the Dixie Chicks, what strange bedfellows.
MPEG Stream: "Freedom"
MPEG Stream: "What Would You Do?"

PARIS Sonic Jihad (Guerilla Funk) 2lp 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The much anticipated return of Paris. A man who's no stranger to controversy, Paris' new album is certainly going to sell a few copies and/or cause some consternation over the cover alone. Most people can remember his debut The Devil Made Me Do It as a kick ass record for its time, and his 1992 track "Bush Killa" certainly garnered him some attention. But his following albums suffered from good intentions coupled with tepid production values. Sadly, if it wasn't for the bold cover and title we honestly probably wouldn't have picked up his newest. Sonic Jihad isn't a complete disappointment though. And depending on one's predilection toward late nineties west coast production values you might get even more mileage. The funky bass low rider optimized rhythms here smack of Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg's hey day. But the worst of it is the background soul vocals of the slow jam variety that do the biggest diservice to the album. On the upside, there's a great cameo appearance from Capelton (Dead Prez, Public Enemy and Kam also make appearances). And lyrically, it's a great album. While everyone else in hip hop seems content to press their street credentials ad naseum, it's about time that someone stepped up and bitch slapped Dubb-yuh. Paris and the Dixie Chicks, what strange bedfellows.
MPEG Stream: "Freedom"
MPEG Stream: "What Would You Do?"

PARIS 1942 s/t (Majora) lp 9.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
"This past August, I was in Nashville on vacation listening to WRVU, the 'alternative' radio station affiliated with Vanderbilt University. For thirty minutes or so, they were playing this amazing avant-garage-drone track by 'The Legendary Dave Cloud'... needless to say, it was a friend of the DJ who had recorded this track on his 4-track earlier that day. Until I find any of his recordings (hopefully he has sent some demos to Drunken Fish or Majora, who should appreciate this hidden talent), there's this kick-ass album from Paris 1942, which includes Rick & Alan Bishop (of the Sun City Girls) and Moe Tucker! They only played together 4 times but had enough sense to record at least an album's worth of lo-fi improv garage-punk tracks. Highly Recommended!" - Jim, AQ staff guy who would love any info / demos on the aforementioned Dave Cloud.

PARISH, JOHN How Animals Move (Thrill Jockey) cd 15.98
Multi-instrumentalist John Parish weaves together a mostly instrumental record with the help of some highly qualified friends such as Howe Gelb, Eric Drew Feldman, PJ Harvey and more. A good deal of the tracks laid down here sound as if they would make the perfect soundtrack to a Hal Hartley film. Some of the other instrumentals just sound like they're unfinished rock songs from the sketch book. For the most part this album is just "okay". Maybe, aside from the lack of any songs that stand out, there's just an absense of coherency that would hold the album together. Not that rock albums need to be concept albums, but one that consists primarily of very "filmic" instrumental material sort of begs for, if not leit motifs, then something to bind it together. But what really makes us cringe is the absolutely un-called for "Airplane Blues" at the end of the album, in which PJ Harvey sings some of the worst blues vocals on the whitest blues jam since Jon Spencer. Sure it's a joke, but the type of joke that's best left for the band and the engineer to enjoy in private.
RealAudio clip: "How Animals Move"
RealAudio clip: "Airplane Blues"

PARISH, JOHN Once Upon A Little Time (Thrill Jockey) cd 14.98
Once Upon A Little Time is the second solo release from Mr. John Parish... and have to say, we're not quite sure what to make of it! It's a bit of a puzzling work. In contrast to 2002's mostly instrumental How Animals Move, there's much more of a vocal presence on Once Upon A Little Time. On some songs he bears a surprisingly striking slouchy resemblance to Beck ("Sea Defences") while on others he intones deeply like a cross between Lou Reed and Howe Gelb ("Somebody Else"). Actually with it's balance of light-hearted numbers and more somber creepers, you could easily mistake this for a Gelb album. Not a bad thing! No, qute the contrary, but it's just sorta strange. His vocals are nicely complemented by those of Ms Marta Collica, and once again he's joined by members of PJ Harvey's band, Portishead and Nick Cave's Bad Seeds.
MPEG Stream: "Sea Defences"
MPEG Stream: "Somebody Else "

PARISH, JOHN Once Upon A Little Time (Thrill Jockey) lp 13.98
Once Upon A Little Time is the second solo release from Mr. John Parish... and have to say, we're not quite sure what to make of it! It's a bit of a puzzling work. In contrast to 2002's mostly instrumental How Animals Move, there's much more of a vocal presence on Once Upon A Little Time. On some songs he bears a surprisingly striking slouchy resemblance to Beck ("Sea Defences") while on others he intones deeply like a cross between Lou Reed and Howe Gelb ("Somebody Else"). Actually with it's balance of light-hearted numbers and more somber creepers, you could easily mistake this for a Gelb album. Not a bad thing! No, qute the contrary, but it's just sorta strange. His vocals are nicely complemented by those of Ms Marta Collica, and once again he's joined by members of PJ Harvey's band, Portishead and Nick Cave's Bad Seeds.
MPEG Stream: "Sea Defences"
MPEG Stream: "Somebody Else "

PARKER STREET CINEMA s/t (Abandoned Love) cd ep 5.98
Parker Street Cinema are a slightly unconventional post-rock three piece. How so? Well, while their sound for the most part keeps within the confines of Chicago style post-rock, they do give the conventions a refreshing nudge. On this their first five-song cdep, they've got bass guitar, they've got drums, but 'instead' of guitar they've got piano! Lots of moody dramatics and dynamics. An impressive debut!
MPEG Stream: "Deliver"
MPEG Stream: "Midnight Shakes The Memory"

PARKER, ANDREA Kiss My Arp (Beggar's Banquet/Mo'Wax) cd 15.98
Domestic version of this great album, the debut by this electronica-diva. It totally sucks that Mo'Wax put so much time and energy into that piece of crap U.N.K.L.E. record when the ONLY female artist on their roster creates a record this good. Sub-bass electro thud, dark cello melancholia, breathless Portishead-esque vocals, and an exquisite attention to detail make this record as good as it is. Parker does it all, she produces, she sings, she djs (check out her fine entry in the "DJ Kicks" series)...in a better world this would be getting the push, and the attention, that not-so-hot UNKLE disc did.

PARKER, ANDREA Kiss My Arp/Instrumental (Mo' Wax) cd 23.00
The instrumental version of Andrea Parker's outstanding "Kiss My Arp" album... without the breathless vocals, Andrea's mild reworkings display her talents of moody electro-thud and dark cello melancholia. Deep, enveloping. Shadowy and gorgeous.

PARKER, ANDREA The Dark Ages (Quatermass) cd ep 9.98
Somehow Andrea Parker manages to continue to release music that is forward-looking and challenging yet always super crowd-pleasing and easy to listen to. How does she do it? She's plies her trademark moody electro-thud by starting off with a heavy addictive rhythm and severe yet lush beats, then adds doom-laden synth shrieks and bass thumping that's worthy of, say, Techno Animal but much more friendly. No vocals to get in the way, just an uber-cool confident attitude. Steady and not hyper. Give it a try. This five-song EP is a fine place to start with her, or if you've already got Ms. Parker's other records, you already know she never disappoints. Recommended.
RealAudio clip: "The Swamp"

PARKER, ANDREA The Rocking Chair (MoWax) 12" 8.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Breathy female vocal accompanied by emotional Portishead-like triphoppedness. There are 2 different vinyl 12"s (available separately), one with Attica Blues remix, one with English String Orchestra. The cd collects all the versions and adds one more. A headturner.

PARKER, ANDREA The Rocking Chair (MoWax) cdep 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Breathy female vocal accompanied by emotional Portishead-like triphoppedness. There are 2 different vinyl 12"s (available separately), one with Attica Blues remix, one with English String Orchestra. The cd collects all the versions and adds one more. A headturner.

PARKER, CHARLIE Yardbird Suite (Rhino) 2cd 29.00
Billed as "the ultimate Charlie Parker collection," packaged in a slipcase with a thick booklet.

PARKER, EVAN Live at 'Les Instants Chavires' (Leo Records) cd 16.98
Working with Lawrence Casserly (who collaborated with Parker for the amazing Solar Winds album for Touch), Noel Akchote, and Joel Ryan, Parker has managed to construct live soundscapes resembling musique concrete's erratic starts and stops in and out of silence. Lots of discordant blips make for an another great album...

PARKER, EVAN The Topography Of The Lungs (Psi Records) cd 21.00
Solo sax skree from the circular-breathing master. A classic.

PARKER, EVAN Time Lapse (Tzadik) cd 16.98
The British avant-garde saxophone titan's latest release for John Zorn's Tzadik label is something that we think will appeal to more than just the regular "jazz peeps" out there. It's one for those into Steve Reich style 20th century minimalism as well -- or any sort of mesmerizing, droning, repetitive music that can be both beautiful and challenging.
Evan Parker, a stalwart of the UK/European free improv scene since the '60s, is known for both his mastery of the "circular breathing" technique (which can prolong his soloing seemingly indefinitely -- it's a sight to behold if you ever get to see him play!!) and, more recently, for being very open to the use of experimental computer/electronic processing in the context of live acoustic improv. While Time Lapse doesn't involve electronic effects, it does use the studio in a way unusual in jazz, heavily overdubbing the multiple saxophone (and on one track, organ) lines played by Parker. Once set in motion, these burbling streams of sound gradually, mentally mesh into "clouds" of music that in places recall a horn version of AQ fave pianist Lubomyr Melnyck. Actually, a few of these pieces ARE in fact completely solo, just one track of saxophone, yet it's testament to Parker's incredible technique that they still sound overdubbed and "multivoiced" even when they're actually not!!!
The melodic and tonal qualities of the eleven tracks here certainly differ... some sound completely soothing, with all the prettiness of birdsong, whereas others have more of a seasick, "squeaky wheel that needs the grease" thing going on, like bagpipes fed backwards through a tape machine or something. As mentioned above, we're reminded of Steve Reich, some of this almost sounding somewhere betwixt that swinging pendulum microphone feedback piece of his, and the endless, skronky improv blowing of solo sax familiar to fans of Charles Gayle, Anthony Braxton, Peter Brotzmann... or Evan Parker. Cool.
MPEG Stream: "Gees Bend"
MPEG Stream: "Pulse And The Circulation Of Blood"

PARKER, EVAN & EDDIE PREVOST Imponderable Evidence (Matchless) cd 18.98

PARKER, EVAN & JOHN WIESE C-Section (Second Layer) cd 15.98
Evan Parker - the venerable saxophonist and avant-jazz icon of the UK, known for his mastery of circular breathing - and John Wiese - the Californian noisenik with a vast array of lo-fi meets hi-tech strategies in gnarled sound - set forth on a series of collaborative concerts in 2008 throughout the UK. On an off day from performing, the two found themselves in the studio where they recorded these real-time improvisations. Parker's looping glissandos and continuous streamed notes result from his circular breathing techniques; and Weise musters a static-laced cacophony, cable buzz splutter, and start-stop tape mechanications given over to MSP control systems. Wiese doesn't succumb to any ill-informed desire to dress-up his noise constructs, if anything his abrasions with all of their soft and loud dynamics are as guttural and gurgling as ever. Well, they never hit the full-on sustained explosion of some of Weise's Sissy Spacek recordings; but what good would that do for Parker? If anything, this is a solid redux of the British improv ethos that Parker helped pioneer in the '70s.
MPEG Stream: "No Shoes"
MPEG Stream: "The Jist"