GOOD STUFF HOUSE Endless Bummer (Root Strata) cd 15.98
Endless Bummer is such a good name for a record. Usually we're not all that into puns as titles (or band names), but Endless Bummer manages to be a pun, while sort of flipping the spirit of the original inside out. We always wanted to call a record Endless Bummer, but we've now been beat to the punch TWICE. At least. Once in the nineties by Further, whose Endless Bummer was an effervescent chunk of in the red post-Pavement slacker Beach Boys worship, and now this record right here, by the mysteriously named Good Stuff House, whose own particular Endless Bummer is much darker and more sedate, a sprawling drift of minimal shimmer and fluttery folk enveloped by dense clouds of natural reverb and billows of soft buzz.
We didn't know too much about Good Stuff House, we had another cd-r that we dug quite a bit, but which went out of print before we could get enough to review, but now we know just why we liked GSH so much, it's the two guys from dronedrift duo Zelienople, and none other than long time aQ fave, guitarist Scott Tuma, he of the legendary Souled American as well as a clutch of amazing solo records (including a recent record of the week). Pretty much hard to go wrong. And Endless Bummer is further proof of just how far from wrong these guys can get....
Apparently Endless Bummer was recorded in unorthodox spaces, warehouses, churches, basements, and it's not just the band performing live, but much like Taj Mahal Travellers 30 years earlier, who would record various performances, then broadcast them into the space, playing along live, often more than once, every step adding more and more murk and buzz and reverb and echo, the sound getting less and less distinct, until it became the sound of drifting along some murky body of water, through a sonic fog so thick it clings to the surface of the water, every note sounding like it had travelled up from the bottom of the sea, or echoing off of the distant shore. Tuma offers up bits of his gorgeous distinctive guitar, and while they do manage to hover briefly, they seem to absorb the sounds around them, soft spidery tendrils transformed into thick swells, the trio introducing bits of voice, various other sounds, all rendered almost immediately unrecognizable, becoming more another part of this sprawling organic whole, cymbal sizzle becomes shimmering clouds, drifting over the drifting murkscape below.
The sound is simultaneously muddy, murky and lo-fi, yet warm, glistening, and subtly melodic, everything is muted, the softened edges barely hiding the glowing sonic glimmers within. Gorgeous.
LIMITED TO 300 COPIES. Packaged in super subtle silver ink on pale blue fold over origami style sleeve.
MPEG Stream: "Untitled I"
MPEG Stream: "Untitled II"

GOOGOOSH s/t (Finders Keepers) lp 25.00
Finally available on vinyl!!!!!! Here is what we said about the cd version:
Oh Googoosh! We were pretty thrilled when this came in as we've been anticipating a collection of her recordings ever since many of us first heard her mind blowing track "Talagh" on that great Pomegranates compilation of Persian pop, psych, and funk from the '60s and '70s. Luckily, Iranian singer Googoosh was no one hit wonder, as this collection shows that pretty much every song she made during this era (1970-'75) is totally awe-inspiring. Like the perfect cross between the explosive psychedelia of Selda and the introspective folk of Pari Zangeneh. Her voice reels you in and the music's alluring and dynamic swirling melodies leave you in the throes of serious sonic pleasure.
Much like Turkey's Selda, Googoosh's music had such a brave and fiery political stance to it as well. Sadly much of her music was banned by the Iranian government by the end of the 1970s, and many of her records were literally burned and destroyed. Luckily, from what copies did remain, Andy Votel worked his Finders Keepers magic and has compiled an amazing collection of one of the greatest voices to come out of Iran (and anywhere else for that matter)!
MPEG Stream: "Shekayat"
MPEG Stream: "Pishkesh"
MPEG Stream: "Mano Tou"

GOON MOON I Got A Brand New Egg Layin' Machine (Suicide Squeeze) cd 12.98
Whoa, nuthugger! Does this quench (or clench) your supergroup craving? Hella's Zach Hill, former Marilyn Manson guitarist Twiggy Ramirez and Chris Goss of Masters Of Reality. Strange bedfellows, indeed! Not surprisingly this total mish mash of musical personalities have made a total mish-mash musical stew that doesn't really resemble any of their other bands' stuff... well, maybe Hella a wee bit! Pretty hard to put into words. Give 'er a spin and see for yourself!
MPEG Stream: "Inner Child Abuse"
MPEG Stream: "Apartment 31"

GOPAL, SAM Escalator (Breathless) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Sam Gopal was an Indian tabla player, making the scene in Swinging Sixties London. His 1969 Escalator album is pretty obscure, but a classic as far as we're concerned. Sam's percussion of course does a lot to set it apart from the paisley pack (not that Eastern sounds weren't unheard of back then), but it's really vocalist/guitarist Ian "Lemmy" Willis (yes, Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead) who really shines here. The young Lemmy conjures up some incredibly liquid, languid dark psych on tracks like "The Dark Lord" and "You're Alone Now". Reminds us a bit of Twink's Think Pink album, or even T2. So starkly beautiful. Mellow, melodic, mystical. Not heavy in a loud way (nothing like Motorhead that's for sure!!), but "heavy" nonetheless if you know what we mean. Some of the songs definitely do rock out, but still remain somehow muted and moody. It's gorgeous stuff, the downer, down-tempo mood spoiled only a bit by covers of "Back Door Man" and "Season Of The Witch" (the later with R&B-ish female backing vocals). Aside from those, though, supposedly all the songs on here were written by Lemmy in one night, up on speed! Wow. Jeez, is Lemmy the best or what? Hendrix roadie, onetime Hawklord, metal icon...and sinister psych singer-songwriter too! This nice digipack reissue, including two tracks from the group's lone single as a bonus, comes very much recommended.
MPEG Stream: "The Dark Lord"
MPEG Stream: "The Sky Is Burning"

GORDON, EDWARD LARRY Celestial Vibration (Universal Sound) cd 21.00
For the past couple of years, we've really been digging the recent unearthing of little known private press new age music whether it be Collie Ryan, William Eaton or Iasos. Lately we've been especially excited about this reissue from Universal Sound, of Edward Larry Gordon's 1978 debut. Gordon, or Laraaji, as he is otherwise known, creates long-form trance-inducing compositions using electronically enhanced zithers, auto-harps, kalimbas and other acoustic instruments that shimmer and radiate in beautifully meditative pulses. This record comprised of two thirty minute tracks, "All Pervading" and "Bethelehem" gained little notice upon its initial release, but thankfully it caught the attention of Brian Eno who subsequently produced his follow-up Days of Radiance for the EG Editions Ambient series in 1980 to wider acclaim. You can tell that Gordon was much inspired by earlier progenitors of cosmic music from Sun Ra to John and Alice Coltrane. You can especially hear the harp-like shimmer of Alice Coltrane in his treatments of the open tuned zither that he plays while in a complete meditative state. Really gorgeous stuff!
MPEG Stream: "All Pervading"
MPEG Stream: "Bethlehem"

GORDON, KIM / DJ OLIVE / IKUE MORI SYR #5 (SYR) cd 9.98
The fifth title in Sonic Youth's self-released series of experimental work isn't Sonic Youth proper: instead it's bassist Kim Gordon, lauded avant-percussionist Ikue Mori, and DJ Olive of the illbient drum'n'bass group We. And guest Yuka Honda of Cibo Matto. Certainly all these folks have made excellent music with their regular groups, but in the name of that emperor who had no clothes, we must tell you that this record sucks. It's terrible. It's trying to be avant improv, I think (it certainly wasn't composed), but just comes across as utterly self-indulgent noodling without a center, a focus, or a point. The sound of a toilet flushing just might be the most apt moment on the record. Wanting to be supportive of Kim's side projects, and being a big fan of We and Mori, it pains me to have to write this. They're smart people, they must have realized this is BAD! How could they NOT know? For heaven's sake! A total disappointment.

GORE Hart-Gore / Mean Man's Dream (Southern Lord) 2cd 17.98
Holy shit. GORE! Easily one of our favorite heavy bands EVER. We raved about the separate 2lp reissues last list, but we figured we'd wait for the cds to show up before bestowing Record Of The Week status upon them. Now combined as one massive double disc document collecting the first two albums and then some from this Dutch instru-metal group, who forged an incredible minimal metallic legacy that would go on to influence loads of our favorite bands. In fact, aQ would quite possibly be a whole different kind of store if it wasn't for Gore...
This is the sort of review that is so intimidating. Records we have loved for years and years, listened to hundreds, maybe even thousands of times, and then to finally have to put into words what it is that makes these so good, so special, whatever it is that makes these two of our favorite records EVER!!!! How much do we love these records? Well, whenever we would find one used, we would buy it just to give it to someone who needed to hear it, so much so that Andee at one point was even talking to the band about a comprehensive career spanning box set. But why you ask? Difficult to explain, hearing them is enough, even decades after they were originally released, folks who have never heard Gore, are usually sold after ONE song. Sometimes it doesn't even take that long. Just listen to "Mean Man's Dream" below, we'll wait....
See what we mean? So heavy, repetitive, mesmerizing, hypnotic, angular and abrasive, but impossibly catchy, groovy even. Listen to the other tracks, you won't be able to stop, you'll need to hear them all.
Gore fanatics will need these no matter what, and most heavy music fans have probably at least heard OF Gore, if not heard them once or twice, so they too might also want to pick these up. But we might as well start with who the heck this Gore band is anyway, and why should we care...
Gore were a Dutch instrumental power trio trafficking in ultra minimal heaviness, like an even more minimal Melvins, but sans vocals, their songs made up of one, maybe two riffs, pounded out over and over, a bit like a more metal, proto-Circle.
Hart Gore and Mean Man's Dream are the first two Gore records, but play like part one and part two of a single song cycle. Crushing, pummeling, heavy as hell, repetitive, motorik, but weirdly melodic and impossibly catchy, we can't stress enough how massive and seminal these records were and are. Gore created and mastered a sound that would go on to influence countless heavy bands, and yet, somehow, these two records decades after their initial release, still sound YEARS ahead of their time, masterpieces of heavy rock, of minimal metal, of proto-math metal, of hypno rock, this, as they say is THE SHIT.
For now, all we can say, is if you are at all into heavy music, these records are about as essential as it gets, your life will be changed, the way you look at music, what you consider heavy, how you hear other heavy bands, all of that will change, for the better. Trust us.
For Gore fanatics, like us, these are ESSENTIAL, the new designs are gorgeous, incorporating the timeless original album covers with new drawings and a beautiful super stylized layout. The cd includes a big booklet, packed with liner notes, the story of Gore, tons of rare photos, and most importantly, both discs come with a whole mess of live tracks from the same era! Unreleased and unheard until now!
BUY THIS NOW! YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY. THIS COULD BE YOUR NEW FAVORITE BAND! AND C'MON SOUTHERN LORD! KEEP THE GORE REISSUES COMING. WREDE! LIFELONG DEADLINE! MEST! SLOW DEATH! WE WANT, NAY -NEED- THEM ALL!!!!!!
MPEG Stream: "Mean Man's Dream"
MPEG Stream: "Search"
MPEG Stream: "Extirpation"
MPEG Stream: "To The Gallows"

GORE GORE GIRLS Strange Girls (Get Hip) cd 14.98
Garage rock label Get Hip brings us this hot, hot, HOTT all-girl three-piece rock and roll band. The Gore Gore Girls, named after the Herschell Gordon Lewis movie of the same name, kick ass and sing tough girl songs like "I'm Going to Hunt You Down and Get You and Make You Mine." Reminiscent of the Pandoras before they went all L.A. metal, which, whether you believe it or not is quite a compliment. Full-sounding garage with raw guitar solos and burly, mean girls screaming over top. Sometimes the sound goes all beefy rock and roll but more often than not it's the cool and wicked stripped down garage that I love.
RealAudio clip: "Hunt You Down"
RealAudio clip: "I'm Gonna Get You Yet"
RealAudio clip: "Gore She's Got It"

GORIES I Know You Fine, But How You Doin' (Crypt) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
One of my (Sadie) favorite bands ever. Seriously, I don't tire of them. Simple, stripped down, fucked up garage rock, but no one else seems to be able to capture the magic they do. Blues. R&B. Garage. The basic elements of the Gories, who basically learned their instruments, and how to write songs as they went, which shows in the total energy of their delivery. They released three full lengths and a handful of singles, and their first two full length releases ('I Know You Fine But How You Doin' and 'Houserockin') are on this cd, for only 13.98!!! When I first discovered and fell in love with these records they were out of print and impossible to find, and now lucky you can have them both for totally cheap. These two are definitely my favorites. I've loved the Gories for so long I don't even think of them as unknown or underappreciated but I suppose they are. If you like any garage -at all-, for christ's sake, get this, it is so rockin' and dirty and driving and just makes you want to shake your ass like crazy. They have been such an enormous influence on so many bands (The Coachwhips, The White Stripes, et al) that if you like that stuff go to the source!!!
RealAudio clip: "Early In The Morning"
RealAudio clip: "Let Your Daddy Ride"
RealAudio clip: "Feral"
RealAudio clip: "Hidden Charms"

GORILLA Gimme Some... Gorilla (Beard Of Stars) cd 14.98
Last time when we stocked up on UFOmammut's Godlike Snake on the Beard Of Stars label, we also brought in a few copies of this second (new to us, released in 2004) album from English retro-rock stompers Gorilla. Consisting of two guys, including one who looks a heck of a lot like Ron Wood, and one girl who thankfully doesn't, this power trio remains unabashedly dedicated to good-time rock n' roll excess in the amped-up, fuzzed-out, cowbell-knockin' tradition of fellow '70s revivalists Fu Manchu, Nebula and Monster Magnet. Lyrics like "whoah-yeah" will be heard. SF locals Drunk Horse and Parchman Farm might also serve as comparisions. Of course, if you ask Gorilla I'm sure they'll say that what they're into is Blue Cheer, Grand Funk, Sabbath, Humble Pie, Free, Frijid Pink and other staples of the late '60s/early '70s stoner rock pantheon.
Channelling their heroes with enthusiasm, Gorilla pretty much veer between whoopin' it up on the fast songs, and grinding it out with plentiful psych leads on the slower, heavier tunes, or some combination thereof. There's a couple of longer cuts that also dabble in melodic, moody progness (even bringing in Mellotron and flute) but after each spacey interlude they generally start crankin' it again pretty quick -- which is good 'cause, well, we can't say that melodic vocals are their strong suit, unfortunately. But when they stick to the distorted, dunderheaded riff-dealin' on tracks like "Rok Orl Night" and "I'm Dirty", Gorilla live up to their burly name. If that's your thing, and/or if you liked their self-titled debut we reviewed in 2002, then Gimme Some... should prove to be an apt title.
MPEG Stream: "Double Neat"
MPEG Stream: "I'm Dirty"

GORILLAS Message To The World (Damaged Goods) cd 15.98

GORILLAZ D-Sides (Virgin) 2cd 23.00

GORILLAZ Demon Days (EMI) cd 17.98
Some changes have taken place in the Gorillaz 'virtual band' ranks since their wildly popular, super vibrant and fun self-titled debut in 2000. That album was a wholly collaborative effort between Blur-man Damon Albarn, man-of-many-hats Dan The Automator, and cartoon illustrator Jamie Hewlett along with contributions from Miho Hatori, Ibrahim Ferrer and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. For one thing, Mr. Automator has left the clubhouse, leaving Albarn as the lone lord of the musical manor. An immediate clue-in to the contrast between 'old' and 'new' Gorillaz can be read in the album's title and seen in Hewlett's latest Gorillaz' illustrations. He continues to provide the visual representation of the group, but his former palette of playful cartoonish hues have been replaced by the darker tones found in the more mature subject matter of graphic novels -- a suitable match for the headier undertones of the music. On the cover characters' faces there's nothing but grimaces and suspicious scowls. When we heard that Danger Mouse was slipping into the production control seat formerly occupied by The Automator, we were expecting some manner of radical changes in the Gorillaz's actual sound -- perhaps a little wilder approach or sumthin'? -- but it's really not that drastic of a departure from their past recordings. No, the primary difference is in the album's moodier undercurrent. Whereas the conceptual and sonic effervescence of its predecessor offered a sense of escapism, once you delve beneath the shiny pop surface of Demon Days, things feel somewhat more claustrophobic, sinister and foreboding. Guests this time include Neneh Cherry, Martina Topley-Bird, Happy Mondays' Shaun Ryder (!), London Community Gospel Choir, San Fernandez Youth Chorus and even Dennis Hopper! Dig it!
MPEG Stream: "Last Living Souls"
MPEG Stream: "Dare"

GORILLAZ Plastic Beach (Virgin) cd 17.98

GORILLAZ Spacemonkeyz versus Gorillaz - Laika Come Home (Astralwerks) cd 16.98
This appears to be dub versions of tracks from the Gorillaz record. Said outfit, you will recall, is a project of AQ-pal Dan the Automator (Dr. Octagon, Deltron 3030) with main guests Damon Albarn (Blur), Miho Hatori etc. Bearing little resemblance to the original Gorillaz album, or indeed its other, first remix record spinoff, all vestiges of rock and hip hop are stripped away in order for the bass to get heavier, the vocals to get echo-ier, the pace to slow down. As dub, it's decent, if a trifle formulaic. Melodica, horns, organs, even a flute round out the sound. This is my favorite of the Gorillaz-related projects.
RealAudio clip: "19/2000 (Jungle Fresh)"
RealAudio clip: "Starshine (Dub 09)"

GORKY'S ZYGOTIC MYNCI Sleep / Holiday (Sanctuary) cd 17.98

GOSLINGS, THE Between The Dead (Conspiracy) lp 29.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Our pals at Conspiracy Records, a label/distro based in Belgium, who in the past have brought us records by Boris, Jesu, Shora and more, are this year celebrating their 10 year anniversary. A decade of amazing music. From a bedroom based punk label, to one of Europe's most important and influential labels and distros, all we can say is HURRAY! And HUZZAH! It's always so exciting, when a bunch of folks get together to spread the word about great music, great WEIRD music, and survive, even thrive. Such is the case with Conspiracy. And as if that weren't already enough, just knowing that some great people were selling some amazing music, those sweeties at Conspiracy have decided to share the love with us. And you.
To celebrate their 10th anniversary, they've decided to do a super limited subscription series, 12 records over 12 months, each limited to somewhere between 200-500 copies, ONLY available to series subscribers. EXCEPT, they've decided to let AQ have 20 copies of each, we're the only store with copies of these subscriber only lps, and for a brief moment, we can offer them to you, our loyal AQ customers. Needless to say we are thrilled, as the series lineup reads like a who's who of AQ faves, as well as including a handful of lesser knowns. All pressed on super thick vinyl, and packaged in killer hand screened original art sleeves. But be warned, we only got 20 of each, and we will run out fast and we will not be able to get more. When we do run out, there is a chance you can still get more (or even subscribe to the series) from Conspiracy direct, but what that means is act fast and prepare to leave empty handed.
For the fourth installment in the series, Conspiracy have decided to briefly resuscitate the sadly now out of print Goslings cd Between The Dead. But we're happy to have it available again, no matter how briefly. AQ regulars are by now probably quite familiar with Goslings, but in case you missed it, here's what we had to say when we first got our hands on this amazing disc:
A couple customers suggested we track this down, the debut record from the Goslings, and from what we heard about it we were expecting yet another record of downtuned sludge doom drone, SUNNO))) / Earth worship, but man is this anything but. It's definitely heavy, but not typically heavy, or really sludgy even, which probably has a lot to do with the way this was recorded, ultra blown out and super distorted, sheets of crumbling high end and maybe the harshest crunchiest guitar sound we've heard in forever, but the Goslings take this white hot heaviness, this blown out brutality and somehow make it pretty, lovely, gorgeous even. Drifting female vocals and sweet sweet melodies are buried beneath a dumptruck of fuzz, like the a Mazzy Star record, covered by the Melvins, recorded by Merzbow or Masonna. Every track is hiding a secret center, a streak of lush melodicism that sound like bits of My Bloody Valentine, Jesus And Mary Chain, and huge slabs of warm and wonderful dream pop, all roughed up and dipped in tar and rolled in dirt and sent staggering through a minefield of razor sharp guitars, pounding Teutonic drums, all tangled up into a machinelike throb, trudging relentlessly at a snails pace, a head crushing plod wrapped in barbed wire riffs and a thick haze of violent whir, but still you can see a little glimmer, a shiny little wink from within the massively suffocating clouds of drum dirt and guitar grime, all tape hiss and recording grit and musical chaos, a glowing orb of crystalline shimmer, buried and barely visible, almost like someone was tossing bright shiny pop hooks into a pit filled with snakes and nails and used syringes and garbage and soiled diapers and rocks and dead animals. So is this the most gorgeous ugly record ever? The ugliest lovely record ever? The harshest, sludgiest pop record ever? The loveliest harsh noise-sludge record ever? Maybe all of the above. So good!
Original artwork on hand silkscreened sleeves. The LP's are pressed on super thick 180 gram vinyl and housed in thick plastic sleeves.
MPEG Stream: "Crow For Day"
MPEG Stream: "Brindle"

GOSLINGS, THE Between The Dead (self-released) cd-r 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A couple customers suggested we track this down, the debut record from the Goslings, and from what we heard about it we were expecting yet another record of downtuned sludge doom drone, SUNNO))) / Earth worship, but man is this anything but. It's definitely heavy, but not typically heavy, or really sludgy even, which probably has a lot to do with the way this was recorded, ultra blown out and super distorted, sheets of crumbling high end and maybe the harshest crunchiest guitar sound we've heard in forever, but the Goslings take this white hot heaviness, this blown out brutality and somehow make it pretty, lovely, gorgeous even. Drifting female vocals and sweet sweet melodies are buried beneath a dumptruck of fuzz, like the a Mazzy Star record, covered by the Melvins, recorded by Merzbow or Masonna. Every track is hiding a secret center, a streak of lush melodicism that sound like bits of My Bloody Valentine, Jesus And Mary Chain, and huge slabs of warm and wonderful dream pop, all roughed up and dipped in tar and rolled in dirt and sent staggering through a minefield of razor sharp guitars, pounding Teutonic drums, all tangled up into a machinelike throb, trudging relentlessly at a snails pace, a head crushing plod wrapped in barbed wire riffs and a thick haze of violent whir, but still you can see a little glimmer, a shiny little wink from within the massively suffocating clouds of drum dirt and guitar grime, all tape hiss and recording grit and musical chaos, a glowing orb of crystalline shimmer, buried and barely visible, almost like someone was tossing bright shiny pop hooks into a pit filled with snakes and nails and used syringes and garbage and soiled diapers and rocks and dead animals. So is this the most gorgeous ugly record ever? The ugliest lovely record ever? The harshest, sludgiest pop record ever? The loveliest harsh noise-sludge record ever? Maybe all of the above. So good!
MPEG Stream: "Crow For Day"
MPEG Stream: "Brindle"

GOSLINGS, THE Grandeur Of Hair (aRCHIVE) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Not sure if this got repressed or if the label just found a stash of discs under the bed, either way, this monstrous slab of sound is available again, if only briefly...
We've been pretty dang obsessed with the Goslings since the very first second we heard them. They have found massive favor with the SUNNO))) crowd, but other than being slow and heavy, they seem to be a whole 'nother beast. This married couple from Florida, craft impossibly noisy and gu wrenchingly heavy pop songs. That's right, you heard us, pop songs. "But wait," you say, "I'm listening to the sound samples and I don't hear any pop..." Well listen closer. Much closer. Hold your breath and close your eyes and dunk your head into the Goslings gorgeously abrasive soundworld and you will feel the pop. That's the beauty of the Goslings, each song is like a diamond dipped in mud and wrapped in barbed wire. Beautiful lilting shimmer-pop doused in crumbling crunchy downtuned guitar sludge and sheets of jagged feedback. A brief snippet, a casual glance, and all you'd see or hear is NOISE. But settle in, lean back, let the Goslings wash over you, suddenly shapes begin to emerge. melodies drift in and out, riffs take shape and then fade into the mist. A super blown out in-the-red dreamlike sludge, equal parts Boris drone, My Bloody Valentine bliss-out, and shimmering crystalline pop. Like a Mazzy Star record dipped in hot tar and then wrapped in a hundred layers of feedingback guitars. So beautifully heavy. And as we've mentioned in other reviews, the Goslings just might be the loveliest harsh noise-sludge pop band ever!
Packaged in a cool silkscreened oversized sleeve with abstract pink art and the cd affixed to a little plastic nub on the inside. As always, way too limited.
MPEG Stream: "Own A Car"
MPEG Stream: "Croatan"
MPEG Stream: "Golden Stair"

GOSLINGS, THE Occasion (Not Not Fun) cd 14.98
Not many artists can lay claim to their very own musical genre, but Hollywood, Florida's The Goslings are among the elite few who most definitely can. On first listen their sound seems to fit pretty comfortably amongst the current crop of distorted deconstructed decaying blissed out dreamy dirge rock that seems to be all the rave (Nadja, Alcest, Hjarnidaudi, Procer Veneficus, etc.), after all they often get described as half SUNNO))) and half My Bloody Valentine, but that's really only half (again) true. And while their sound does share some of the elements of those other bands, The Goslings are their own perfect, synergetic sonic force, an organic, original soundworld that has absorbed and re-synthesized those influences entirely. In other words, on this latest record, they somehow manage to sound way, way heavier and much, much more lush, transforming any vestiges of other bands' sounds into something distinctly theirs. Formerly just a husband and wife duo, Max and Leslie Soren, Occasion finds the couple joined by two apparently full-time members which does nothing but help make their sound, thicker, and more dense, more intense, more distorted, and impossibly, more beautiful. It's not a huge departure from the sound of their previous outings, but that's not really a bad thing. Occasion just serves to demonstrate that their sound is now even more of a particularly refined and menacing chunk of skull crushingly gorgeous sound.
Each of The Goslings' records has been self-recorded straight onto tape in their $15 an hour rehearsal space. Before it was a 4-track, now it's a reel-to-reel 8-track tape, with any additional tracks being added at a friend's house in Pro Tools -- a slight upgrade, but again, one that merely serves to push their sound even further into some hellish sonic realm. Mastered by James Plotkin, their commitment to relatively lo-fi, analog recording a significant part of why each and every track is so totally ear-stabbingly, skull-fuckingly shit heavy. But beneath the obvious doom veneer, the crushing sludge, the washed out hiss and buzz, there are buried some lovely melodies and more of the Goslings' near perfect pop songs. Fear not though, it's not like Nadja or Jesu, where there is potentially enough of said pop to turn-off those more dedicated to the seriously heavy and/or utterly grim. Regardless of the surprising melodic structures lay hidden beneath the blown out bluster, or the prettiness of Leslie's vocals drifting ethereally throughout, the music, the sound, the Goslings' sheer power continually threatens to overwhelm, a bludgeoning slab of sonic destruction that's systematically destroying your entire life, note by note. Then out of nowhere, there's a weird little bluegrass number, a brief respite before the band lurch back into motion, unleashing another avalanche of village crushing, ultradistorted, stumbling, downtuned beautiful brutality.
A higher recommendation would be difficult to give. Essential!
MPEG Stream: "Mew"
MPEG Stream: "Parsley Halo"
MPEG Stream: "Vitium"

GOSLINGS, THE Spaceheater / Perfectinterior (Crucial Blast) cd 14.98
We were first turned on to The Goslings, a husband and wife duo from Florida, by a couple of our more Sunn 0))) / Earth obsessed customers, so imagine our surprise when we discovered The Goslings to be in fact, a gloriously unlikely, sun dappled, fog shrouded, druggy, murky space pop combo. Sure they had certain elements in common with those dronedirge lords, but The Goslings were a much gentler, much more introspective beast. Taking their thick fuzz and spreading it out over their minimal blisspop like dew on blades of grass, each drop a sparkling, shimmering, glistening swirl of abstract color.
This disc collects two long out of print cd-r's and is the portrait of the artist as a young band, their burgeoning expansiveness only just beginning to take form, but already blindingly beautiful to the ears. The opening track is an endless landscape of hiss and fuzz, rife with random room sounds, the glitch of instrument cables, the feeding back rumble of crappy old amps with unplayed guitars plugged into them, sounds a little like an audience recording of the random sounds between songs at a Dead C show, some drifting vocals surface every once in a while, as do creepy little chimes, and near the end the swirling fog begins to take shape and becomes a warbly organ melody. But such a harrowing, slow moving journey for such little reward. Such is the way of The Goslings. Once you realize that, you realize that every second of hiss, and every minute of near motionless hum are rewards in and of themselves. The rest is easy. The next track is more representative, a Harvey Milk-ish dirge, drifting blurry eyed dopelike dreampop, huge swaths of fuzz drenched melody, soft ethereal vocals buried beneath the fuzz, a strangely lo-fi doomier version of My Bloody Valentine. Elsewhere, guitars unfurl tendrils of simple indie jangle, floating weightless beneath crooning female vocals, all over a rumbling slow motion bass groove, later an almost country ballad, slurred vocals lounged lugubriously over a dusty ghost town of downtuned twang. Each track is its own subtle shade of dopesick and doom drenched, some sinister, some glowing, some crawling broken and buried, some floating heavenward, some cracked and crackly, some lush and dense with soft shimmer. But all of them gorgeous and mysterious.
MPEG Stream: "Statuette"
MPEG Stream: "Lillian"
MPEG Stream: "Celestine"

GOSSIP Live in Liverpool (Columbia) cd 13.98
Anyone who has seen the Gossip live knows what a special and sweat inducing and spirit invigorating experience it is. When Beth Ditto takes center stage it feels like being at the most inspiring punk show, cathartic soul show, and gut wrenching blues show all wrapped into one intense night. So while we aren't always the biggest fan of live records, we knew that if any current band could get away with releasing a live album (and as a major label debut!) it would be the Gossip.
Recorded live in Liverpool, this will show those who have never experienced the Gossip in person what the magic is all about and remind those of us who have, why we try to see them every single time we get the chance. There's no doubt that when they hit the stage they pour every single ounce of blood and guts into making their songs ring as loud and true as possible. They are one of those bands whose music has changed lives, so many people, including a few of us at AQ have had moments when it was a Gossip song or a live show that really reminded us of our core strength, or gave us the perseverance to fight on and be proud of who we are regardless of sexuality, gender, weight, race, etc. Beth has become this amazing combination of the spirit of Mama Cass and Nina Simone with a riot girl disposition. As well as performing songs from their great albums, this live recording also captures a heartfelt cover of Aalyiah as well as a Wham cover not to be missed. Live In Liverpool also comes with a live dvd directed by Lance Bangs. One of the few new live recordings we can totally stand behind!
MPEG Stream: "Don't Make Waves"
MPEG Stream: "Are You That Somebody"
MPEG Stream: "Listen Up"

GOSSIP Movement (Kill Rock Stars) cd 14.98
Awright, listen up and get ready to get down. Somewhere in the sweaty intersection of blues-damaged southern rock and Bratmobile covering the Misfits, the Gossip bring us another album of booze-fueled, raw and dirty rock n' roll and stripped down, slow and heavy blues punk. Singer Beth Ditto has a great tough n' sexy holler, and the barebones guitar and drums get straight to the party-rockin' point. A bit like the Yeah Yeah Yeah's minus the hype-- actually, this new Gossip rocks a lot harder.
MPEG Stream: "No No No"
MPEG Stream: "Light Light Sleep"

GOSSIP Movement (Kill Rock Stars) lp 12.98
Awright, listen up and get ready to get down. Somewhere in the sweaty intersection of blues-damaged southern rock and Bratmobile covering the Misfits, the Gossip bring us another album of booze-fuled, raw and dirty rock n' roll and stripped down, slow and heavy blues punk. Singer Beth Ditto has a great tough n' sexy holler, and the barebones guitar and drums get straight to the party-rockin' point. A bit like the Yeah Yeah Yeah's minus the hype-- actually, this new Gossip rocks a lot harder.

GOSSIP Music For Men (Columbia) cd 10.98
We know that usually people want to keep their favorite bands a bit of a secret, always fearing what would happen if they exploded and became huge and mainstream. But when it comes to the Gossip we really do hope and wish they become HUGE like on the radio/MTV/blasted in malls/bedrooms of teenagers across the globe huge... because they are a band whose message, energy and spirit is so needed in this world. They are the sound of triumph, the relentless spirit of the underdog and outcasts. A reminder that gender roles and traditional views of beauty need to constantly be challenged and their songs have given so many the courage and inspiration to keep on going at the darkest of times. For their major label, Rick Rubin produced debut they have seriously gone for it, and we love the results! Picking up where their great last album Standing In The Way Of Control left off, but for sure adding more electronics, pop and dance elements to their already fiery and rocking sonic disposition.
There really isn't a more charismatic, powerful and soulful frontman or woman around who can top the Gossip's Beth Ditto for dynamic presence and a voice that speaks right to the soul. She is like some amazing amalgamation of Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Peaches, Kathleen Hannah, Mama Cass, Madonna, Aretha Franklin Missy Elliott, Corin Tucker, and Big Mama Thorton. And while the Gossip are not quite yet the biggest band in the world they are a lot bigger then anyone would have expected back when their first record on Kill Rock Stars was released, after the band members escaped the extreme religious right and homophobic surrounding of their hometown in Arkansas and took the inspiration of the Riot Grrl scene and fled to Olympia, WA in hopes of a better life. It's impossible to quantify the number of people who have been moved and impacted by their music (including several current and past AQ employees). The charged, clean and immediate production on Music For Men suits them very well, as they have always been a band that is about songs that pack a punch and keep you coming back for more and more. How cool it is that instead of airbrushed typical icons (Brittany, Christina, Jessica, etc) kids can hear sounds and read interviews with a large and in charge, queer and proud woman who like all of us, has had her ups and down yet continues to always believe in herself and give hope to all those who hear her songs. An inspiring and potentially crossover record for a band whose presence in the world continues to fill us with powerful positive energy and an undying spirit!
MPEG Stream: "Dimestsore Diamond"
MPEG Stream: "Love Long Distance"
MPEG Stream: "8th Wonder"

GOSSIP Music For Men (Columbia) 2lp 23.00
We know that usually people want to keep their favorite bands a bit of a secret, always fearing what would happen if they exploded and became huge and mainstream. But when it comes to the Gossip we really do hope and wish they become HUGE like on the radio/MTV/blasted in malls/bedrooms of teenagers across the globe huge... because they are a band whose message, energy and spirit is so needed in this world. They are the sound of triumph, the relentless spirit of the underdog and outcasts. A reminder that gender roles and traditional views of beauty need to constantly be challenged and their songs have given so many the courage and inspiration to keep on going at the darkest of times. For their major label, Rick Rubin produced debut they have seriously gone for it, and we love the results! Picking up where their great last album Standing In The Way Of Control left off, but for sure adding more electronics, pop and dance elements to their already fiery and rocking sonic disposition.
There really isn't a more charismatic, powerful and soulful frontman or woman around who can top the Gossip's Beth Ditto for dynamic presence and a voice that speaks right to the soul. She is like some amazing amalgamation of Joan Jett, Dolly Parton, Peaches, Kathleen Hannah, Mama Cass, Madonna, Aretha Franklin Missy Elliott, Corin Tucker, and Big Mama Thorton. And while the Gossip are not quite yet the biggest band in the world they are a lot bigger then anyone would have expected back when their first record on Kill Rock Stars was released, after the band members escaped the extreme religious right and homophobic surrounding of their hometown in Arkansas and took the inspiration of the Riot Grrl scene and fled to Olympia, WA in hopes of a better life. It's impossible to quantify the number of people who have been moved and impacted by their music (including several current and past AQ employees). The charged, clean and immediate production on Music For Men suits them very well, as they have always been a band that is about songs that pack a punch and keep you coming back for more and more. How cool it is that instead of airbrushed typical icons (Brittany, Christina, Jessica, etc) kids can hear sounds and read interviews with a large and in charge, queer and proud woman who like all of us, has had her ups and down yet continues to always believe in herself and give hope to all those who hear her songs. An inspiring and potentially crossover record for a band whose presence in the world continues to fill us with powerful positive energy and an undying spirit!
MPEG Stream: "Dimestsore Diamond"
MPEG Stream: "Love Long Distance"
MPEG Stream: "8th Wonder"

GOSSIP Undead In NYC (Dim Mak) cd 12.98
On record, Olympia, WA based The Gossip are an irrepressible, loosely slung, hell-raisin' blues rawk trio. Live, they crank it up a notch or three delivering the sweatiest swampy licks with an abundance of feist and fire. Live on record, it's all ultra raw, murky and dishevelled. The distorted, lo-fi recordings make you feel like you're right in the middle of the most rad basement party! They shimmy, stomp and shout their way through just over 27 minutes ending with a cover of Iggy Pop's "I Wanna Be Your Dog". Yay!
MPEG Stream: "All This Waiting"
MPEG Stream: "Confessor"

GOSSIP / TRACY AND THE PLASTICS Real Damage EP (Dim Mak) cd ep 5.98
Wait a second... Weird. These two bands usually sound nothing alike -- The Gossip's all about beltin' out their raw indie soulful blues whereas Tracy And The Plastics whoop it up with used and abused lo-fi electronics -- but on Real Damage it's super hard to tell where one band ends and the other begins. There's a potent devil-may-care grittiness that runs throughout this four-song EP. These Olympia scene faves end up being a great match for a split release, each kickin' out their respective hot licks. Super frantic and empassioned, and sure to please fans of both bands. Rad!
MPEG Stream: "Left Out Now"
MPEG Stream: "Dawn Feather"

GOSSIP / TRACY AND THE PLASTICS Real Damage EP (Dim Mak) 7" 4.50
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Wait a second... Weird. These two bands usually sound nothing alike -- The Gossip's all about beltin' out their raw indie soulful blues whereas Tracy And The Plastics whoop it up with used and abused lo-fi electronics -- but on Real Damage it's super hard to tell where one band ends and the other begins. There's a potent devil-may-care grittiness that runs throughout this four-song EP. These Olympia scene faves end up being a great match for a split release, each kickin' out their respective hot licks. Super frantic and empassioned, and sure to please fans of both bands. Rad!
MPEG Stream: "Left Out Now"
MPEG Stream: "Dawn Feather"

GOSSIP, THE Arkansas Heat (Kill Rock Stars) cd ep 11.98
These blues rawkin' young'uns continue their spitball snarl'n'swagger with this new 6-song EP. They certainly kick some trashy garage rock butt with plenty of thumping drumbeats and low slung bass and guitar. Lots of punky fist-pumpin' fun with songs about taking back the revolution... even if lead vocalist Beth sounds a bit too much like Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney.
RealAudio clip: "(Take Back) The Revolution"

GOSSIP, THE Arkansas Heat (Kill Rock Stars) 10" 8.98
These blues rawkin' young'uns continue their spitball snarl'n'swagger with this new 6-song EP. They certainly kick some trashy garage rock butt with plenty of thumping drumbeats and low slung bass and guitar. Lots of punky fist-pumpin' fun with songs about taking back the revolution... even if lead vocalist Beth sounds a bit too much like Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney.

GOSSIP, THE s/t (K) 7" 2.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The Gossip sling out a raunchy, raw batch of upright bluesy tunes that sound much older than these three youthful zealots' years. K Records International Pop Underground Series #96.

GOSSIP, THE s/t (K) cdep 5.98
The Gossip sling out a raunchy, raw batch of upright bluesy tunes that sound much older than these three youthful zealots' years. Number 96 in the K Records International Pop Underground Singles Series, but also released as a cd-ep.

GOSSIP, THE Standing In The Way Of Control (Kill Rock Stars) cd 14.98
While we're sure their live shows continue to be a sweaty wild blues rawk party, The Gossip have certainly pulled up their knee socks, combed their hair and tightened up their chops for this their latest full length. It's still very punchy with a thumpin' danceable beat courtesy of new drummer Hannah, but there's much less of the blistering grittiness that defined their sound. Granted some of their past grit could easily be attributed to less than stellar recordings. That's certainly not the case here -- they recorded at Bear Creek Studios (a very well-equipped pro recording facility housed in a beautifully converted old barn near Seattle) with Fugazi's Guy Picciotto at the helm. The band sounds great! It seems though that the band have reached a point in their recording career (with both confidence and ability levels at a high point) that if you didn't know that this music was being played by a trio of still-very-youthful indie kids, you could easily mistake it for something more mainstream-y... y'know, something that would never find its way onto Kill Rock Stars. Beth's voice alone has always delivered a soulful power well beyond her years. Now the music has locked into stride with her vocals. Right on!
MPEG Stream: "Fire With Fire"
MPEG Stream: "Jealous Girls"

GOSSIP, THE Standing In The Way Of Control (Kill Rock Stars) lp 13.98
While we're sure their live shows continue to be a sweaty wild blues rawk party, The Gossip have certainly pulled up their knee socks, combed their hair and tightened up their chops for this their latest full length. It's still very punchy with a thumpin' danceable beat courtesy of new drummer Hannah, but there's much less of the blistering grittiness that defined their sound. Granted some of their past grit could easily be attributed to less than stellar recordings. That's certainly not the case here -- they recorded at Bear Creek Studios (a very well-equipped pro recording facility housed in a beautifully converted old barn near Seattle) with Fugazi's Guy Picciotto at the helm. The band sounds great! It seems though that the band have reached a point in their recording career (with both confidence and ability levels at a high point) that if you didn't know that this music was being played by a trio of still-very-youthful indie kids, you could easily mistake it for something more mainstream-y... y'know, something that would never find its way onto Kill Rock Stars. Beth's voice alone has always delivered a soulful power well beyond her years. Now the music has locked into stride with her vocals. Right on!
MPEG Stream: "Fire With Fire"
MPEG Stream: "Jealous Girls"

GOSSIP, THE That's Not What I Heard (Kill Rock Stars) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Three kids transplanted to Olympia, WA via Searcy, AK. Beth sings in a raw, soulful Southern drawl (I think she kinda sounds like a female version of Danzig, just listen to Jailbreak!) over Kathy's rudimentary drums and stripped down bluesy guitar courtesy of Nathan (also of Boy Pussy USA). Sounds like the soundtrack to a juvenile delinquent flick set in late summer, in the parking lot of a Louisiana roller rink. Sloppy and sweaty and sexy in an awkward not so sexy teenage way. For fans of early Bratmobile, Pussy Galore/JSBX, Sleater-Kinney, and hell, Danzig!
RealAudio clip: "Catfight"
RealAudio clip: "Jailbreak"

GOSSIP, THE That's Not What I Heard (Kill Rock Stars) lp 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Three kids transplanted to Olympia, WA via Searcy, AK. Beth sings in a raw, soulful Southern drawl (I think she kinda sounds like a female version of Danzig, just listen to Jailbreak!) over Kathy's rudimentary drums and stripped down bluesy guitar courtesy of Nathan (also of Boy Pussy USA). Sounds like the soundtrack to a juvenile delinquent flick set in late summer, in the parking lot of a Louisiana roller rink. Sloppy and sweaty and sexy in an awkward not so sexy teenage way. For fans of early Bratmobile, Pussy Galore/JSBX, Sleater-Kinney, and hell, Danzig!

GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA Glue Works (Cuneiform) cd 15.98
A few years ago (2006) we reviewed the debut album from unpretentious modern day prog rockers Gosta Berlings Saga, of Sweden. Checking in with them again, they're up to album number 3, released Stateside by the venerable progressive rock / new music label Cuneiform. This actually came out last year, so we're a little late to it, but this sort of prog rock is timeless anyway (it might as well be from 1975!). They're still pushing our "traditional" prog rock lovin' buttons, so we thought we ought to list it for those of you likely to feel the same way, who dig other 21st century efforts at updating this '70s genre from the likes of Astra, Diagonal, and Crime In Choir, for instance.
Glue Works, like GBS's preceding albums, is mostly instrumental, and not overindulgent (for prog) - and thus could just as easily be seen as a moderately mathy "post-rock" album (but with mellotron!) instead of anything self-consciously retro. Most of the songs are even quite short and succinct, with only two of the 7 tracks breaking into double-digit lengths, those would be the powerful symphonic epic "Island" (12:58), and the album's multifaceted grand finale, "Sorteragatan 1" (12:51).
Filled with the varied drama & delight of grimy distortion, pleasant keys, eerie synth, sweeping strings, some angular new wavy guitar, and even musical saw, the entirety of Glue Works is a melodic and moody opus that nods to the proggy '70s without growing a ponytail or anything. Quite nice!
MPEG Stream: "354"
MPEG Stream: "Island"

GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA Tid Dr Ljud (Transubstans) cd 16.98
ATTENTION PROG ROCKERS! You know who you are. We are too. And while sure there's plenty of old faves and obscure '70s reissues to occupy your/our time, it's nice once in a while to get a hold of something new, something current, that still gives you that '70s prog-rock kick, right? We do our best to find stuff like that, and when we do we want to let you know. One recent example that hopefully you've already picked up was the new album from San Francisco's Crime In Choir. Well here's something else along those lines -- the cd debut from this really cool prog/jazz/psych band from Stockholm, Sweden. Recorded mid-2006, yet chock full of Mellotron, and even flute!! Yeah! And like CIC, GBS is also an all-instrumental proposition.
Gosta Berlings Saga -- we don't know why they chose it, but their name comes from the title of a 1891 Swedish novel, later (in 1924) made into a silent film that featured Greta Garbo in her first first starring role -- are definitely sorta retro, but still seem youthful and hip (a la Dungen, perhaps). They are definitely heavy on the keys, from Mellotron to synth to Fender Rhodes, but guitar and bass aren't neglected in the lineup. The drummer also has a crucial role to play, propelling these songs through their mostly 8-minutes-and-upwards lengths... In addition, they bring in that flute for one song, and also guests playing violins on a couple other cuts. Oh, and we've got to mention that there's somebody credited with "Buddha Machine" on another track!! All of this is woven together into a delightfully proggy, jazzy sound, reminding us of bits of Yes and Univers Zero as well as (fellow Swedes) Hansson & Karlsson and Kebnekajse. The seven tracks here encompass moods both bright and cheery, or (to a lesser extent, though) dim and dark, being by turns melancholic and sentimental, or dramatic and urgent. Apparently this is a concept album of sorts, something about the interaction of the forest and the city, with detours into outer space -- and ancient Egypt?? Well, of course, since it's instrumental (and furthermore the song titles are in Swedish), we can't really tell all that from just listening, as evocative as their music is, though the cool cd booklet artwork holds some clues (as does the band's website, from whence we got our information). Add some more prog rock points then for the concept album concept! And GBS gets even more points for definitely being about the MUSIC, not the playing. While it's obvious that these guys are good, they're not showing off, they're writing and performing some marvelous, melodic music without pretense that's still wonderfully PROG.
MPEG Stream: "Ljud Fran Stan"
MPEG Stream: "Knolsvanen"

GOTHIC ARCHIES The New Despair (Merge) cdep 8.98
Another wonderful side project by songwriter Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields. With this one, he's venturing into the all too appropriate land of goth. Yes, it's true! And his dour romanticism is a perfect fit.

GOTHIC ARCHIES, THE The Tragic Treasury: Songs From A Series Of Unfortunate Events (Nonesuch) cd 17.98
From all the over the top dour, embittered romanticisms that he unfurls in his Magnetic Fields and solo recordings, who wouldn't think that Stephin Merritt had a dark tormented soul... a downright tragicomedy-lovin' goth side? Well, if there was any question, The Gothic Archies is where he lets it all hang out. Yup, this is Stephin Merritt's 'goth rock' project, but as with each of his other themed ensembles this one comes with a wry wink and a sly twist. It's actually only sort of goth. You might think of him as sort of the living equivalent of a black velvet painting of a sad clown complete with tear creeping down one cheek. In case you couldn't guess from the title, this is his ode to the Lemony Snicket's book series. Each song is lovingly dedicated to one of the thirteen volumes - all in muted dusky tones, funereal paces, slightly absurd lyrics. Ahh, birds of a feather! There's also two extra treats: the band's original tune done for the audiobook version of The Carnivorous Carnival and a Gothic Archies theme song. So silly! His singing is at its ripest deepest atonal best. The compositions are nicely varied, as are the instrumentations. It's all so wonderfully antique-y in a novel Musee Mechanique kind of way. Verily a goodly fan pleaser!
MPEG Stream: "This Abyss (from The Ersatz Elevator)"
MPEG Stream: "Freakshow (from Carnivorous Carnival)"
MPEG Stream: "We Are The Gothic Archies"

GOTTSCHING, MANUEL E2 - E4 30th Anniversary (MG.ART) cd 17.98
At last, a nicely done new cd reissue of this renowned early '80s krautrock / proto-techno classic! We've actually never before reviewed E2-E4 because the previous reissues were expensive and kinda hard to come by, though we DID once list a double cd tribute to this record, imported from Japan, featuring tracks by the likes of Rovo, Buffalo Daughter, and Eye from the Boredoms, who took up the entire 2nd disc with his extended mix (wish we still had that, but it's long gone). Better, though, to have this, the actual album that inspired the tribute. Here's some of what we said about it when we reviewed that Japanese tribute disc:
German guitar guru Manuel Gottsching, founder of legendary krautrock pioneers Ash Ra Temple (which morphed into the new-age-ier Ashra), made a few records in the eighties under his own name. E2-E4, recorded in Berlin in 1981, and released in '84, was first and foremost among them. It's rightly hailed as a classic and was a great inspiration for early Detroit techno artists like Derrick May and Carl Craig. The resonant timelessness of E2-E4 has extended beyond many other albums of the era and its influence has continuously popped up in more recent minimalist techno circles - most noticeably within the Cologne scene.
We went on to say that while the reinterpretations on the tribute disc were cool, you should check out the real deal, and now here it is. It's one loooong track, approximately one hour in length, with nine titled and timed subdivisions indicated on the cover (suggestive of a chess match: "Quiet Nervousness", "Queen A Pawn", "Draw"...), that flows and flows and flows, Gottsching's guitar and electronics drifting and dancing beautifully over the continuous, pulsating, subtly-shifting proto-techno beat. It's so very pleasant and airy, also soooo hypnotic and ahead of its time. An hour you won't want to end, once it has lulled you into trance. Listening to this, it's easy to see why the Boredoms' Eye would revere it, and of course those abovementioned Detroit legends too.
This "30th Anniversary" edition comes packaged in a nice embossed miniature lp style sleeve showing off its iconic chess-board cover design.
MPEG Stream: "E2-E4 excerpt 1"
MPEG Stream: "E2-E4 excerpt 2"

GOUCHER, CHARLES & SCOTT COLBURN Pint Size Spartacus (Gravelvoice) cd 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Sun City Girls drummer with longtime collaborator/studio whiz.

GOUDE, JEAN-PHILIPPE Drones (Lion Productions) cd 14.98
Moogs. Magma. Need we say more? All right, we will. This reissued 1980 album is both very Moog-y and very Magmoid. Mostly instrumental, it was the work of classically trained French pianist Jean-Philippe Goude, who was also interested in jazz, rock, and minimalism, and who had played keyboards with the Magma offshoot band Weidorje in the late '70s. So though this is a solo album, he got a lot of help from various heavy friends... usual suspects from the French prog-synth-rock underground, including members of Magma and Heldon (Klaus Blasquiz, Bernard Paganotti, Patrick Gauthier, Richard Pinhas, Francois Auger, and many more, what a lineup!). Thus this fits in snuggly with the Magma-inspired, jazz meets prog "Zeuhl" movement, especially tracks like opener "Les Saturnales" (with Blasquiz on vocals) or the exciting quadruple-guitar heaviness of "Dies Irae". But this is a varied album, and despite all the guests, two tracks feature no one but Goude alone, including the quite strange and effective soundscape piece "Coma". He also does a piano/synth duet with Heldon's Pinhas on the original album's final track "Cantiliene", which has that sort of Romantic, classical vibe we associate with Cluster's Roedelius. We say original album's final track, 'cause this cd reish closes with a bonus cut, the relaxed, loping, rather happy-sounding "Trio Des Mini-Moogs". Another track we should mention is the fantastic "Machine", wherein the melancholic strings of a chamber music quartet are overtaken by bleeping, burbling mad scientist synth and chugging mechanical beats.
The entire album is a delight, being both experimental and avant-garde, AND mesmerically melodic. Like we said, interestingly varied, but always with an aura of refinement, elegance and careful composition. It makes sense that Goude would go on to make a career out of library music and soundtracks for film and television. Indeed, if we understand the liner notes correctly, several of the tracks here were rearranged from pieces Goude had previously written for a pair of privately pressed lps, commissioned for the use of the French national gymnastics federation (???).
You'll find those extensive liner notes, vintage photos, etc. in the cd booklet. Lion has done their usual thorough labor-of-love job here, although this could have used one more round of proofreading, as we noticed a few insignificant typographic errors. The only potentially confusing one, being that the tracklist on the back cover has the songs numbered 1-12, omitting 5 though, as actually there's only 11 tracks... whoops. But other than that minor glitch, this is nicely done, with the original album's retro-futuristic graphics carefully reproduced. Love the neon-looking script for the text!!
Definitely glad they reissued this, having never heard it before, many of us here at AQ are digging it, even the not so Magma obsessed. And while perhaps "warmer" than some French coldwave, fans of that sort of thing should check this out, it certainly has something in common (including personnel) with Bernard Szajner's stuff, for instance.
MPEG Stream: "Machine"
MPEG Stream: "Dies Irae"
MPEG Stream: "Tintinnabulum"

GOULD, BILL / JARED BLUM The Talking Book (Koolarrow) cd 10.98
Not to be confused with Stevie Wonder's album of the same name, this is a new collaboration between Bill Gould (of Faith No More as well as numerous other diverse international projects) and Jared Blum (whom aQ followers may recognize from his numerous musical aliases such as Beaks Plinth, Blanketship, Vulcanus 69, and their Bay Area parent indie label Gigante Sound).
Perhaps needless to say, this is quite different than the elder Talking Book or than any of Gould's past predominantly metal-rooted musical pursuits for that matter, but it's very much in familiar abstract sound shaping territory for Blum. Indeed, although you will find keyboards and synthesized sound here as you would on Wonder's 1972 classic, Gould and Blum sculpt them (as well as tapes, vintage vinyl and acoustic instruments) into shadow shrouded soundscapes instead of driving funk or soulful pop. The album starts out lurking in the dank gloom of earth-bound recesses, but later tracks drift out into the heavens with shimmering melodic guitar lines. Nice! It's an effective collaging together of the hazily delicate and the gristly dissonant. Soft crackle and hiss suggests something aged, dusty and weathered. Haunting moods are conjured by shifting tonal and textural layers with shards of piano and guitar cutting through the foreboding clouds. A darkened room and headphones are most certainly advised to best experience Gould and Blum's assemblage of blistered drones, faded abrasions, buzzing protrusions and bass-heavy contusions. Recommended for fans of Aidan Baker (Nadja, Arc), BJ Nilsen and Stilluppsteypa, Campbell Kneale (Birchville Cat Motel, Our Love Will Destroy The World, TRMRS) and followers of the abovementioned Gigante Sound label. Released on Gould's Koolarrow label.
MPEG Stream: "Sundown"
MPEG Stream: "The Fallen"

GOVERNMENT ISSUE Live 1985 (Flipside ) dvd 14.98

GOWN The Old Line (Divorce) lp 14.98

GOWNS Broken Bones (Latitudes) cd 14.98
Not too long ago, Gowns were at the forefront of SF's avant/noise-rock community, their live shows strung out between violent, explosive outbursts of earth shattering noise and intimate moments of quiet song craft. We loved the band's ability to seamlessly weave these two extremes into a beautifully violent sound that was difficult to classify but easy to get lost in. Catastrophically noisy, carefully composed, and effortlessly brutal, Broken Bones conveys the intimacy of a folk song with the delivery of a freight train.
Recorded after two full tours of the US and Italy, the band laid down these 5 tracks in the Southern Studios (in the dead of winter) to document the live set they had perfected on the road. The liner notes state these recordings reflect "a time when we were barely holding on by our fingernails", and certainly Broken Bones hovers on the cusp of uncertainty, each moment teetering between blissful resonance and utter destruction.
Heaven is by far our favorite track on the 19 minute ep, a song that became the highlight of every Gowns live set, and the recorded version captures everything we love about these guys. Quiet female vocals that fall somewhere between Kim Gordon and Nico, the silky voice recalling a drug laden evening before posing the question, "Is it white like heaven or dark like space?". Sporadic drumming, deep bass and spindly guitar gradually seep into the dreamy haze as the track slowly unfolds into a mind-melting, noise freak out.
Like all the Latitudes releases, limited, and distinctively packaged.
MPEG Stream: "Heaven"
MPEG Stream: "Griefer"

GOWNS Broken Bones (Latitudes) lp 16.98
Not too long ago, Gowns were at the forefront of SF's avant/noise-rock community, their live shows strung out between violent, explosive outbursts of earth shattering noise and intimate moments of quiet song craft. We loved the band's ability to seamlessly weave these two extremes into a beautifully violent sound that was difficult to classify but easy to get lost in. Catastrophically noisy, carefully composed, and effortlessly brutal, Broken Bones conveys the intimacy of a folk song with the delivery of a freight train.
Recorded after two full tours of the US and Italy, the band laid down these 5 tracks in the Southern Studios (in the dead of winter) to document the live set they had perfected on the road. The liner notes state these recordings reflect "a time when we were barely holding on by our fingernails", and certainly Broken Bones hovers on the cusp of uncertainty, each moment teetering between blissful resonance and utter destruction.
Heaven is by far our favorite track on the 19 minute ep, a song that became the highlight of every Gowns live set, and the recorded version captures everything we love about these guys. Quiet female vocals that fall somewhere between Kim Gordon and Nico, the silky voice recalling a drug laden evening before posing the question, "Is it white like heaven or dark like space?". Sporadic drumming, deep bass and spindly guitar gradually seep into the dreamy haze as the track slowly unfolds into a mind-melting, noise freak out.
Like all the Latitudes releases, limited, and distinctively packaged.
MPEG Stream: "Heaven"
MPEG Stream: "Griefer"

GOWNS Red State (Cardboard) cd 11.98
Strange and shambling ode to the underbelly of the American heartland from this duo comprised of Ezra Buchla (ex- Mae Shi) and Ericka Anderson (Amps For Christ). Mixing dusty feedback squalls, damaged electronics and bummed out gospel-y folk with distorted narratives involving drugs, cataclysmic weather and self-abuse, Gowns sounds at times like a primitive Cat Power if Chan Marshall went in a much darker direction after recording Moon Pix. Red State is mournfully elegiac with a simmering intensity that is barely restrained, much like the rarely lit corners of our troubled country.
MPEG Stream: "Rope"
MPEG Stream: "Fake July"
MPEG Stream: "Advice"