TIMES, THE I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape (Artpop! / Cherry Red) cd 21.00

MPEG Stream: "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape"
MPEG Stream: "All Systems Are Go!"
MPEG Stream: "Big Painting"

TIMES, THE Pop Goes Art! (Cherry Red) lp 28.00

MPEG Stream: "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape"

TIMES, THE Pop Goes Art! (Cherry Red) lp 28.00

MPEG Stream: "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape"

TIMESBOLD s/t ( Blue Sanct) cd 14.98
Finally a full length from the amazing Timesbold! We first discovered them as the opening act for AQ fave Greg Weeks last year and loved the shit out of their debut ep. This full length fufills every promise their ep made and then some!! A dark and lonely trip down some very familiar paths, but the scenery is quite different and the company is much better. Taking the mournful, bleak country rock of Palace or Songs:Ohia, the lush melancholia of the Flaming Lips or Mercury Rev, and the classic songsmithery of Neil Young or the Band, Timesbold emerge with something at once totally timeless and classic, but also fresh and unique. Piano and acoustic guitars are the foundation for these expansive and gut wrenching tales of misery and hopelessness. Spare and sparse, evoking wastelands, both physical and spiritual, these tunes are so intense and brutally poignant, furtive peeks into the souls of men damned by love and loss. Breathtaking and intense, dark and dreary, but gorgeously recorded and produced. Thick throbbing low end, wisps of shimmery harmonium and that voice, a warbling, cracked cry to the heavens for forgiveness and salvation. So so good. This is probably the saddest, most beautiful, best sounding record we've heard in a really long time. Fans of Woven Hand, 16 Horsepower, Palace, Songs:Ohia, Souled American, etc...
MPEG Stream: "Giniwin"
MPEG Stream: "Sewn In Seems"

TIMESBOLD Woe Be Gone... (Tin Drum) cd ep 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We had never heard of these folks until AQ fave Greg Weeks came to town with his travelling musical revue (Timesbold in tow) and I have to say I was BLOWN AWAY by this band. How a band could be this good, sound this polished and self assured, share so many traits with more 'popular' and 'hip' indie bands, and still remain completely unknown is baffling to me. The closest reference points are probably Palace or Songs:Ohia, due in no small part to the gorgeous vocals: cracking and emotive, full and rich. Stunning. But unlike those bands' purposeful minimalism and spare instrumentation, Timesbold don't shy away from introducing pianos, synthesisers, strange production techniques and lush vocal harmonies, -and- they're not afraid to rock out, if the song calls for it. Also, unlike their indie/country/folkie peers, they seem more interested in production, crafting spacious and epic soundscapes, replete with soaring strings and creepy minor key washes. Think Jason Molina, Will Oldham or Neil Young singing for the Flaming Lips or Mercury Rev, but with a more isolated and bleak country vibe: crackling campfires, broken hearts, wintery chills, bitter loneliness. So fucking great. First time in a LONG time I've managed to just stumble on to a band this good. So recommended.
RealAudio clip: "I Hear You Hear"
RealAudio clip: "Gin I Win"

TIMMY'S ORGANISM Raw Sewage Roq (In The Red) cd 13.98
Latest blast of garage punk filth from these Detroit weirdos, and at first blush, unlike the noise-rock-space-garage what-the-fuck chaos of their last record, Rise Of The Green Gorilla, this new one, album title Raw Sewage Roq notwithstanding, seems to be a bit more reeled in. It's classic Stooges-y swagger and fuzzed out garage blooze crunch, the opening one-two punch of "Cats On The Moon" and "Bouncing Boobies" sounding more like something you'd hear from some SF garage rock combo, a sound not that far removed from Ty Segall, Mikal Cronin and all the rest, but then once we get to "Monster Walk", things start to go wonderfully wrong, and slip back into something much more warped and tripped out, thick swaths of wah guitar, weird almost Beefheartian vox, not to mention strange bellowed background vox, but somehow, it still manages to be catchy as fuck. Which is pretty much TO's M.O., a wild swirling cacophonous mess, piled atop crazy catchy hooks and indie pop jangle, everything wreathed in super distorted lead guitar shred, and thick buzzing low end bass thrum, often driven by some weirdo vox, just check out the weird punk rock gang vox sing along of "Unhook My Leash", or the almost death metal growls of "Take The Castle", which by the way, might be one of our favorite jams here, a sort of epic near-metal dirge jam, all tribal drumming, and woozy wah wah guitars, the aforementioned vox, all murky and muddy and freaky and psychedelic. And thankfully, the record never lets up, slipping easily from dark almost ballady creeps, to churning garage punk snarl, and from classic fuzz drenched pop to the full bore noise rock garage pound of the title track that finishes things off. So good!
MPEG Stream: "Bouncing Boobies"
MPEG Stream: "Monster Walk"
MPEG Stream: "Take The Castle"
MPEG Stream: "Raw Sewage Roq"

TIMMY'S ORGANISM Raw Sewage Roq (In The Red) lp 14.98
Latest blast of garage punk filth from these Detroit weirdos, and at first blush, unlike the noise-rock-space-garage what-the-fuck chaos of their last record, Rise Of The Green Gorilla, this new one, album title Raw Sewage Roq notwithstanding, seems to be a bit more reeled in. It's classic Stooges-y swagger and fuzzed out garage blooze crunch, the opening one-two punch of "Cats On The Moon" and "Bouncing Boobies" sounding more like something you'd hear from some SF garage rock combo, a sound not that far removed from Ty Segall, Mikal Cronin and all the rest, but then once we get to "Monster Walk", things start to go wonderfully wrong, and slip back into something much more warped and tripped out, thick swaths of wah guitar, weird almost Beefheartian vox, not to mention strange bellowed background vox, but somehow, it still manages to be catchy as fuck. Which is pretty much TO's M.O., a wild swirling cacophonous mess, piled atop crazy catchy hooks and indie pop jangle, everything wreathed in super distorted lead guitar shred, and thick buzzing low end bass thrum, often driven by some weirdo vox, just check out the weird punk rock gang vox sing along of "Unhook My Leash", or the almost death metal growls of "Take The Castle", which by the way, might be one of our favorite jams here, a sort of epic near-metal dirge jam, all tribal drumming, and woozy wah wah guitars, the aforementioned vox, all murky and muddy and freaky and psychedelic. And thankfully, the record never lets up, slipping easily from dark almost ballady creeps, to churning garage punk snarl, and from classic fuzz drenched pop to the full bore noise rock garage pound of the title track that finishes things off. So good!
MPEG Stream: "Bouncing Boobies"
MPEG Stream: "Monster Walk"
MPEG Stream: "Take The Castle"
MPEG Stream: "Raw Sewage Roq"

TIMMY'S ORGANISM Rise Of The Green Gorilla (Sacred Bones) cd 13.98
A blurry blast of noise-rock-space-garage-what-the-fuck distorto rock from this Michigan weirdo, the opening track is an in-the-red chunk of amp melting blown out Stooges style riff rock swagger, the vocals in your face, snarling and mewling, while the drums pound, and the guitars swirl and smolder, run through an arsenal of pedals, flanger, phaser, wah wah and DISTORTION, captured on a busted 4 track, totally psychedelic and maniacal and awesome!
That's only one facet of Timmy's twisted sonic Organism, a schizophrenic sound that flits from off kilter garage rock groove to damaged glam trash blooz, to gorgeously tripped out lo-fi dream pop ambience, to crusty ramshackle fuzzed out indie rock, to full on abstract pop experimentation, the whole thing constantly on the verge of collapse, little bits of perfect melody emerging from fierce squalls of noise drenched heaviness, Joe Meek like production wrapped around full on noise psych brutality, Chrome-like sci-fi space rock gives way, to drawled Jandekian reverb bedroom folk, which transforms into some sort of synthwave weirdness, before finishing off with a gorgeous bit of lush epic and majestic indie pop mood music. Weird as fuck, and all over the map, but definitely total bliss for anyone with a sweet tooth for totally cracked pop and unhinged lo-fi noise rock weirdness.
MPEG Stream: "Ugly Dream"
MPEG Stream: "Pretty Stare"
MPEG Stream: "Oafeus Clods"

TIMMY'S ORGANISM Rise Of The Green Gorilla (Sacred Bones) lp 14.98
NOW ON VINYL!!
A blurry blast of noise-rock-space-garage-what-the-fuck distorto rock from this Michigan weirdo, the opening track is an in-the-red chunk of amp melting blown out Stooges style riff rock swagger, the vocals in your face, snarling and mewling, while the drums pound, and the guitars swirl and smolder, run through an arsenal of pedals, flanger, phaser, wah wah and DISTORTION, captured on a busted 4 track, totally psychedelic and maniacal and awesome!
That's only one facet of Timmy's twisted sonic Organism, a schizophrenic sound that flits from off kilter garage rock groove to damaged glam trash blooz, to gorgeously tripped out lo-fi dream pop ambience, to crusty ramshackle fuzzed out indie rock, to full on abstract pop experimentation, the whole thing constantly on the verge of collapse, little bits of perfect melody emerging from fierce squalls of noise drenched heaviness, Joe Meek like production wrapped around full on noise psych brutality, Chrome-like sci-fi space rock gives way, to drawled Jandekian reverb bedroom folk, which transforms into some sort of synthwave weirdness, before finishing off with a gorgeous bit of lush epic and majestic indie pop mood music. Weird as fuck, and all over the map, but definitely total bliss for anyone with a sweet tooth for totally cracked pop and unhinged lo-fi noise rock weirdness.
MPEG Stream: "Ugly Dream"
MPEG Stream: "Pretty Stare"
MPEG Stream: "Oafeus Clods"

TIMONY, M. BAND (MARY) The Shapes We Make (Kill Rock Stars) cd 14.98
Whoa, this first few songs on this new Mary Timony album sounds about as close to her old band Helium as it could possibly get. And in our opinion that is a mighty good thing because although we've appreciated her many solo flights of fancy into fantasylands filled with castles, wizards and unicorns, our hearts still pine for the good ol' college radio solid Helium. On The Shapes We Make, Timony slips easily into each of her different musical guises that she's assumed over the years. Medieval maiden, indie rock firecracker, piano parlor princess, woodland pixie, dissonant axe goddess... yes, she's been all of those and then some. This is one of her best, most well-rounded albums to date! Recommended for old fans and neophytes alike!
MPEG Stream: "Sharpshooter"
MPEG Stream: "Summer's Fawn"

TIMONY, MARY Ex Hex (Lookout) cd 13.98
For her third solo outing, Mary Timony appears to have slipped away from her previous two albums' land of fantasy themes into more earthbound personal subjects. Ex Hex is certainly much more immediate and direct. The change is a refreshing one and is in many ways a return to her 'old' self. Indeed, some of these songs come closer to capturing the spark of her old beloved band Helium than any of her recordings since that band's demise. We're particularly happy to hear the return of that great bending guitar tone which was such a perfect foil for her distinct winding vocal style. The album balances her majestic side (check out the beautiful "In The Grass") and her more edgy side ("Hard Times Are Hard!" -- yes, the title has an exclamation mark!), effectively drawing together key elements from throughout her career into this one place.
MPEG Stream: "In The Grass"
MPEG Stream: "Hard Times Are Hard!"

TIMONY, MARY Mountains (Matador) cd 14.98
What can you expect from Mary Timony's first solo album? Well, from an initial look over the song titles and lyrics... more mystical tales of another time and place. Painted horses, poison moons, and golden fruit. Musically, many a bent note, deep rough strings, and those oh-so familiar vocals that sweeps from low, almost spoken phrases to prickly falsetto. Not surprisingly, this does sound quite like a Helium album, but here all music is performed by Ms Timony and Christina Files with guests John McEntire and Ash Bowie. As you might expect, the three tracks that Mr. McEntire plays on (especially the instrumental "An-Deluzion") end up sounding a bit like Tortoise and a bit out of place.

TIMONY, MARY The Golden Dove (Matador) cd 14.98
Ever since The Magic City (Helium's final album back in 1997), Mary Timony's music has descended further and further into the lair of dragons and castles. Her solo full length Mountains in 2000 was nothing but boggling fantasy tales. Truly a puzzling shift in musical direction that left me scratching my head in perturbed disappointment (and I know I wasn't alone in that department). I mean, after Helium's excellent, twisted pop album The Dirt Of Luck as well as their Pirate Prude and Superball EPs, I was so eager to hear more in the same vein. But alas, it was simply not to be with either of the above-mentioned albums... pixies and unicorns? No, not my cup of tea. And from the looks of the Ms-Timony-as-damsel back cover photo on Golden Dove, I shuddered and almost gave this album an automatic pass. But hold your horses honey pie! It appears this fair maiden has wisely blinked her dewy lash back to her sassy Helium days. Surprise! She's achieved a sweeter balance between her two worlds of lilting indie rock and fantasy chamber pop, although as the album progresses it is drawn back towards the latter realm. Swirling and romantic with an occasional glimpse of her old feist.
RealAudio clip: "Look A Ghost In The Eye"
RealAudio clip: "Dr. Cat"

TIN FOIL STAR Mort Aux Vaches (Staalplaat) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
With a handful of Kranky-esque 7's and 10's, Tin Foil Star caught the ear of Staalplaat, who got them to appear on the VRPO radio series and consequently issued this limited edition CD. The first release on Staalplaat (normally known for its obtuse experimentalism) by somebody whose name has floated more within indie rock circles (albeit droning circles). Tin Foil Star here manifests a warm if lonely pop-electronica.

TIN FOIL STAR Too Late Then, Too Late Now (Noise Museum) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Blankets of thick analog buzzes and hums weave around more delicate ambient tones, textures and vocals. With its repetitive keyboard melodies, at times this brought to mind a tiny, entranced, mad organist in a very large ancient cathedral. Very textural, melancholic and relaxing. A great follow-up to the Mort Aux Vaches cd on Staalplaat. For fans of Spacemen 3!

TINDERSTICKS Can Our Love... (Beggars Banquet) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The Tindersticks never cease to amaze me. Their unique and heartwrenching sound evolves with each release. "Can Our Love..." is their 5th full length album and the most soulful record to date, taking inspiration from such artists as Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack, and Tim Hardin. Some of the brass and organ arrangements bring a new soul mood to this release, but with Stuart Staples' signature vocal style and the slow beautiful cello and guitar, this is still very much a Tindersticks record, and a brilliant one at that.
RealAudio clip: "Can Our Love..."
RealAudio clip: "Don't Ever Get Tired"

TINDERSTICKS Curtains (Polygram) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Beautiful, lush pop of the most grand & dramatic kind. Tindersticks' deep, slow ballads and velvety songs draw you in. Plus a guest vocal appearance by Ann Magnuson of Bongwater. 'Nuf said. Recommended!

TINDERSTICKS Donkeys 92-97 (Island) cd 25.00
A collection of rarities, singles (that SubPop single you never see anymore), and unreleased recordings... one of the tracks seems to be a Pavement cover. Lovely cover art is a riff on Duke Ellington's "Anatomy of a Murder" soundtrack.

TINDERSTICKS Falling Down A Mountain (4AD / Constellation) cd 17.98
Since the 2006 departure of one of the founding members, multi-instrumentalist Dickon Hinchliffe (along with longtime drummer and bassist Al Macauley and Mark Colwill), the Tindersticks' sound has shifted quite dramatically away from their trademark well-worn velvety orchestral grandeur. Some fans delighted in the new developments, while others were torn. On this album it appears they've gone the farthest afield, and we're not quite sure if the challenging shifts will send us packing. Even where you'd think there could be no chance of change there is some - that is, in the deeeep intonations of lead singer Stuart A. Staples! He's singing ascends into a slightly higher register which certainly makes for a more varied tone, but we feel it often undermines the overall impact. The songs come in a grabbag of styles - smoky jazz, a little flamenco, cowboy twang - and if that were the extent of the band's new directions, things would probably be less perturbing. But without Staples' baritone delivery it all seems to drift somewhat nebulously, lacking the potent nail-you-in-the-gut gravity of their earlier releases. Nevertheless, we simply can't turn our backs to this beloved band just yet. Might need to take this for a few more spins. It will be interesting to see if they continue along this new path on their next album, and venture beyond these seeming growing pains into altogether new terrain. So, all of you diehards, we know this review probably won't dissuade you, but we just wanted to issue a warning!
MPEG Stream: "Harmony Around The Table"
MPEG Stream: "Black Smoke"

TINDERSTICKS Falling Down A Mountain (Constellation) lp 25.00
Since the 2006 departure of one of the founding members, multi-instrumentalist Dickon Hinchliffe (along with longtime drummer and bassist Al Macauley and Mark Colwill), the Tindersticks' sound has shifted quite dramatically away from their trademark well-worn velvety orchestral grandeur. Some fans delighted in the new developments, while others were torn. On this album it appears they've gone the farthest afield, and we're not quite sure if the challenging shifts will send us packing. Even where you'd think there could be no chance of change there is some - that is, in the deeeep intonations of lead singer Stuart A. Staples! He's singing ascends into a slightly higher register which certainly makes for a more varied tone, but we feel it often undermines the overall impact. The songs come in a grabbag of styles - smoky jazz, a little flamenco, cowboy twang - and if that were the extent of the band's new directions, things would probably be less perturbing. But without Staples' baritone delivery it all seems to drift somewhat nebulously, lacking the potent nail-you-in-the-gut gravity of their earlier releases. Nevertheless, we simply can't turn our backs to this beloved band just yet. Might need to take this for a few more spins. It will be interesting to see if they continue along this new path on their next album, and venture beyond these seeming growing pains into altogether new terrain. So, all of you diehards, we know this review probably won't dissuade you, but we just wanted to issue a warning!
MPEG Stream: "Harmony Around The Table"
MPEG Stream: "Black Smoke"

TINDERSTICKS Hungry Saw (Constellation) cd 15.98
Tindersticks creep their way back into our hearts with their latest (and seventh) album - their first studio full length since 2003's Waiting For The Moon. As always, their music lures you into its clutches with its balance of soulful threadbare emotions, gently caressing instrumentations and slowly (downward) spiralling arrangements. No one captures the essence of devastatingly beautiful despair like Stuart Staples and co. However, there are a couple of unexpected numbers on Hungry Saw in which the band, dare we say, almost has a skip in their step - case in point, the title track! Nevertheless, this is classic Tindersticks, a fine bruise-red vintage to drown your sorrows in. Sure to not only please their legions of devoted fans, but also captivate many new ones!
MPEG Stream: "The Other Side Of The World"
MPEG Stream: "Hungry Saw"

TINDERSTICKS Hungry Saw (Constellation) lp 15.98
Tindersticks creep their way back into our hearts with their latest (and seventh) album - their first studio full length since 2003's Waiting For The Moon. As always, their music lures you into its clutches with its balance of soulful threadbare emotions, gently caressing instrumentations and slowly (downward) spiralling arrangements. No one captures the essence of devastatingly beautiful despair like Stuart Staples and co. However, there are a couple of unexpected numbers on Hungry Saw in which the band, dare we say, almost has a skip in their step - case in point, the title track! Nevertheless, this is classic Tindersticks, a fine bruise-red vintage to drown your sorrows in. Sure to not only please their legions of devoted fans, but also captivate many new ones!
MPEG Stream: "The Other Side Of The World"
MPEG Stream: "Hungry Saw"

TINDERSTICKS Nenette et Boni (Bar None) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Finally a domestic re-issue of this Tindersticks soundtrack to Claire Denis' French film about Nenette and Boni.

TINDERSTICKS s/t (aka The First Tindersticks Album) (Plain) lp 22.00
Hurrah, two early Tindersticks albums have recently been re-released on vinyl, and we heartily recommend them both!
This is the Nottingham, England band's self-titled debut album which was originally released in 1993, not to be confused with their second album from 1995 which was also self-titled. Although lead singer Stuart Staples and company have shifted into different stylistic choices in the past few years, back in the early days you could definitely count on the band for a consistency in sound, mood and aesthetic (and album titling too, apparently!) that was distinctly their own and which drew masses of diehard fans.
This one is where it all started, and where any potential fan should start. Staples' trademark deeeeep vocal delivery is on display amidst their somber, elegant, downright lush chamber pop compositions. Lyrically, Staples delves into some less than elegant areas, however (song titles include "Jism" and "Drunk Tank"), although like Arab Strab, Staples and company are masters at taking such salacious sentiments and transforming them into brooding loveliness.
Nice to have this on vinyl again, for maximum decadent atmosphere. 180 gram wax, gatefold sleeve.

TINDERSTICKS s/t (II) (Plain) lp 22.00
Hurrah, two early Tindersticks albums have recently been re-released on vinyl, and we heartily recommend them both! If you're only going to get two Tindersticks lps, these are they.
Of this band's first two triumphs, their second (and also self-titled) album, from 1995, is at least as good as the first, maybe even better and more sophisticated, but of course still similarly somber and elegant, with a lush sound that is definitely reminiscent of Scott Waker (1-4), plenty of vibes, delicate melodies, swirling strings and vocalist Stuart Staples deep haunting sung/spoken croon, that at times reminds us of a more torch songy Lambchop, and years later, we can't help but realize how much bands like the National and the Editors and the like owe to the mighty Tindersticks. Absolutely gorgeous stuff, another moody masterpiece.
180 gram vinyl. Not a gatefold though, unlike the other one.

TINDERSTICKS The Something Rain (Constellation) cd 15.98
While we found 2010's Falling Down A Mountain slightly underwhelming, we've quickly fallen under the spell of UK mope rockers Tindersticks' new one, the spoken word driven opening track "Chocolate" playing out like a much more lush (and less sexually deviant) take on Arab Strab, the music so lovely, shuffling drums, tinkling chimes, twang flecked softly psychedelic guitars, a little bit slowcore, a little big Godspeed slow build epic, a dark orchestral late night sprawl of horns and warm sonic swirls, lead vocalist Stuart Staples in story telling mode, it's actually quite compelling, and hauntingly lovely. The rest of the record returns to the Tindersticks sound of old, smoldering and sensual, the instrumentation spare, but the arrangements lush and almost symphonic in places, but nearly skeletal in others, Staples' distinctive croon sounding as good as ever, the music gorgeous and lush as always, but some of our complaints about the last record still ring true, the band trying out different sounds and vibes, none of which suit them as much as the dour dreary doomy pop miserablism that defined their early records, the horns too are a bit much in places too, as are the female background vocals, but folks who dug the last record will like this one too, and longtime fans will of course be pleased, but that first track is definitely a stunner, and might be worth the price of admission on its own...
MPEG Stream: "Chocolate"
MPEG Stream: "Show Me Everything"

TINDERSTICKS The Something Rain (Constellation) 2lp 31.00
While we found 2010's Falling Down A Mountain slightly underwhelming, we've quickly fallen under the spell of UK mope rockers Tindersticks' new one, the spoken word driven opening track "Chocolate" playing out like a much more lush (and less sexually deviant) take on Arab Strab, the music so lovely, shuffling drums, tinkling chimes, twang flecked softly psychedelic guitars, a little bit slowcore, a little big Godspeed slow build epic, a dark orchestral late night sprawl of horns and warm sonic swirls, lead vocalist Stuart Staples in story telling mode, it's actually quite compelling, and hauntingly lovely. The rest of the record returns to the Tindersticks sound of old, smoldering and sensual, the instrumentation spare, but the arrangements lush and almost symphonic in places, but nearly skeletal in others, Staples' distinctive croon sounding as good as ever, the music gorgeous and lush as always, but some of our complaints about the last record still ring true, the band trying out different sounds and vibes, none of which suit them as much as the dour dreary doomy pop miserablism that defined their early records, the horns too are a bit much in places too, as are the female background vocals, but folks who dug the last record will like this one too, and longtime fans will of course be pleased, but that first track is definitely a stunner, and might be worth the price of admission on its own...
MPEG Stream: "Chocolate"
MPEG Stream: "Show Me Everything"

TINDERSTICKS Tindersticks (This Way Up / London / Polygram) cd 14.98
This is the sophomore album by this oh so elegant band from Nottingham, England.

TINDERSTICKS Trouble Every Day Original Soundtrack (Beggars Banquet) cd 13.98
Tindersticks' soundtrack to Claire Denis' eagerly awaited and rather infamous new film 'Trouble Every Day' (starring Vincent Gallo and Beatrice Dalle). The film has been out in France and other parts of Europe since mid-July 2001, following its controversial screening at the Cannes Film Festival, where its storyline, featuring graphic sex and cannibalism, caused quite a furor. This is the second time Tindersticks have worked with Denis (Nenette et Boni, 1996) and this film is her follow up to the much-acclaimed 'Beau Travail'. The album is an original score featuring the title theme, 'Trouble Every Day', which has already become a firm live favourite in the bands' set. It is yet another beautiful Tindersticksesque ballad. The bulk of this soundtrack is ambient and atmospheric, more of a score than a soundtrack, in that there aren't fully realized songs, more fragments and moody interludes. This was recorded in London last summer by the band with a host of other musicians.
RealAudio clip: "opening title"
RealAudio clip: "room 321"
RealAudio clip: "Trouble Every Day"

TINDERSTICKS Waiting for the Moon (Beggars Banquet) cd 14.98
Don't let the embittered scowls, anguished winces and brooding stares of the front cover art dissuade you. Each Tindersticks album finds its way into your heart and mind -- creeping in ever so gradually and deeply -- and this one is no exception. On this their fifth full length, multi-faceted member Dickon Hinchliffe takes on more of a vocal presence. The contrast between his thoughtful, mellow delivery and main vocalist Stuart Staples' deeeep smoky velvet near-spoken word brings a touch of ambered light to the usually all-consuming trademark Tindersticks shadowy gravity. At the beginning of the fourth song "4.48 Psychosis" a voice asks "What do you offer your friends to make them so supportive?" In the Tindersticks case, it's maintaining a consistently grand body of work steeped with immense drama and glistening beauty. Wonderfully somber elegance.
MPEG Stream: "Until The Morning Comes"
MPEG Stream: "Say Goodbye To The City"

TINDERSTICKS Waiting for the Moon (Beggars Banquet) lp 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Don't let the embittered scowls, anguished winces and brooding stares of the front cover art dissuade you. Each Tindersticks album finds its way into your heart and mind -- creeping in ever so gradually and deeply -- and this one is no exception. On this their fifth full length, multi-faceted member Dickon Hinchliffe takes on more of a vocal presence. The contrast between his thoughtful, mellow delivery and main vocalist Stuart Staples' deeeep smoky velvet near-spoken word brings a touch of ambered light to the usually all-consuming trademark Tindersticks shadowy gravity. At the beginning of the fourth song "4.48 Psychosis" a voice asks "What do you offer your friends to make them so supportive?" In the Tindersticks case, it's maintaining a consistently grand body of work steeped with immense drama and glistening beauty. Wonderfully somber elegance.

TINDERSTICKS Working For The Man: The Greatest Hits (Koch) cd 15.98
Although the existence of a 'greatest hits' collection for the Tindersticks seems a bit odd... really, who would think of this band as having 'hits'? Fan favorites? Sure. Hits? Uh uh. Nevertheless this new Tindersticks cd is great for many reasons. For one thing it serves as a great introductory sampler for anyone unfamiliar with the band. It also serves as a great career overview revealing the subtle changes that their smoky, langourous balladry has taken over the years (for instance excursions into Morricone style western soundtracks and Mayfield-inspired soul). Along with their recent Bareback video collection dvd, this cd is sure to please their devoted fans and perhaps garner them some new ones too.
MPEG Stream: "Marbles"
MPEG Stream: "Another Night In"

TING TINGS, THE We Started Nothing (Columbia) cd 13.98
Annoyingly infectious! You know the feeling. The minute it comes on, you roll your eyes and then a minute later against your better judgment you can't help singing along. Sassy Brits, The Ting Tings have created a nice buzz thanks to "Shut Up And Let Me Go" featured on a recent iTunes ad. Sort of like if Tegan and Sara invaded clubland or Le Tigre without the politics, We Started Nothing has some nice head-nodding moments where they pillage new wave, electroclash, and classic rock like it was a big tangled box of shiny bangles. Yet overall, it's pretty hit and miss. Most evident when the girl singer actually tries to sing. But if you like big summer jams to get your party on, there are more than a few right here.
MPEG Stream: "Shut Up And Let Me Go"
MPEG Stream: "That's Not My Name"

TINSEL The Lead Shoes (Alice In Wonder) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Wisconsinite Michael Hopkins (with help from a few friends) presents his debut album under the name Tinsel. He's responsible for the music -- lovely drone-folk, with a moody, late-night atmosphere. That's fantastic, but he also is responsible for the vocals which unfortunately are probably going to be a sticking point for some. He's just not much of a singer, with bad inflections, and a downright odd (but not interesting-odd) voice. Oh well. Disappointing, 'cause the music really is beautiful. Another example of a record kinda ruined by the singing. But there are folks who'll disagree -- Terrascope's Phil McMullen, for one, thought this was great, singing and all. So if you're a fan of similar drone-folk stuff like Tower Recordings and Greg Weeks (who has released discs on Michael Hopkins' Keyhole Records, and gets one of his songs covered here), then listen for yourself and see if you can deal with the vocals...
RealAudio clip: "The Great Indoors"

TINTED WINDOWS s/t (S-Curve) cd 12.98
Unless you've been in some sort of high security isolation unit, or stranded on a deserted island, you've no doubt been inundated with the hype around this band, Tinted Windows. We were just at SXSW in Texas, and they were one of the bands everyone wanted to see. It sort of makes sense, c'mon, a band with the guitarist from Smashing Pumpkins, the bass player from Fountains Of Wayne, the drummer from Cheap Trick and, wait for it, the singer is one of the Hanson brothers! Exactly. They had it made before anyone even heard a note. Or maybe they were doomed to fail, the most ridiculous and unlikely supergroup ever, one that on paper seemed like a put on. But you know what? This record kicks ass. It's not ground breaking or anything, it's just a killer chunk of old school seventies / eighties style power pop. You can hear Cheap Trick all over Tinted Windows, but you can also hear "Jesse's Girl" era Rick Springfield. We know Fountains Of Wayne dude is a pop master, having written tons of power pop classics, as well as writing the music for the movie That Thing You Do (still one of our favorite rock movies), and Iha definitely had a hand in some classic Pumpkins jams, and maybe most surprising of all, Taylor Hanson has got a decent set of pipes on him, surprisingly gritty and kick ass, but able to slip smoothly into a falsetto, and right back. And as mentioned above, with a pop pedigree like this (and yeah we're counting Taylor Hanson too), these guys were bound to be able to kick out some seriously catchy jams, and they do.
The slower songs don't fare quite as well, sort of ballady, a little bit cheesy, but thankfully those are few and far between. Tracks like the first single "Kind Of A Girl", "Can't Get A Read On You" and our favorite of the bunch "Messing With My Head" (which we just listened to about 10 times in a row, no lie) just kill. Total mix tape, cruising with the top down, kick ass, eighties rom-com montage, stereo cranked, feel good, rock and roll, power pop radness for sure!
MPEG Stream: "Kind Of A Girl"
MPEG Stream: "Messing With My Head"
MPEG Stream: "Doncha Wanna"

TINY HAWKS People Without End (Corleone) cd 10.98
Every once in a while, we find ourselves missing the sound of classic math rock. The sound of late nineties post rock. Oh hell, who are we kidding, we're ALWAYS missing that stuff. Slint, Rodan, Bastro, Bitch Magnet, Breadwinner, Dazzling Killmen, Hurl, Crain, heck, even Andee's old band A Minor Forest. Mathy, convoluted, serpentine, minor key, weirdly catchy, strangely structured, lots of starts and stops. As much as we're loving the new breed of metal bands gone post rock or math rock. They definitely tend to lean toward the post side of the equation, preferring to bliss out rather than math out. But for any one who finds themselves getting a little chill when reading the above list of bands, Tiny Hawks are the band to give you everything you've been missing. Tiny Hawks are a duo from Rhode Island, but don't be expecting tangled Lightning Bolt spazz, or stripped down guitar and drums duo rock, this is a huge sprawling explosion of gorgeously melodic and deftly complicated math rock. You'd never know this was a duo (the drummer plays bass on the record) as these guys create a huge sound, thick and textured, dense and dreamy. Some tracks are spastic freakouts, all chaotic drum splatter and manic riffing, others are shimmery expanses of muted strum and dreamlike shuffle. There's definitely an early nineties Dischord element to their sound as well. Intricate, erratic, experimental, bits of jazz and metal twisted into post rock shapes and then set in a dizzyingly mathy framework. Convoluted minor key workouts peppered by sudden bursts of jagged aggro crunch and pound, and plenty of loping blissed out mellowness, drifting harmonics, clanging guitars, all drifting in a jangly haze. This is ALL the shit we love about the genre, all tangled up in a hugely fresh sounding kick ass blast of super aggressive, sweetly melodic, math rock anvil to the head. So goddamn good. Like your favorite band from 1996, got in a time machine, got a practice space down the hall from yours, and invited you over to stand around a sweaty, stinky practice space, get drunk, bounce around and have your mind and ears fucking blown!
MPEG Stream: "Give It Rest"
MPEG Stream: "Eggs In Reverse"
MPEG Stream: "Smaller Cemetaries"

TINY TIM Live! At The Royal Albert Hall (Rhino) cd 19.98

TINY TIM Lost And Found 1963-1974 (Secret Seven) lp 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We're sure many of you are familiar with the eccentric ukulele playing, helium-voiced singer Tiny Tim from his surprising successes in the 1960s. Most view the man as nothing more than a novelty act, which may be easy to understand if you think "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" and Laugh-In is where the story begins and ends. But Tiny Tim (born Herbert Khaury) was more than just some flash in the pan weirdo, and one thing this compilation makes abundantly clear is that he WAS indeed a highly talented musician. Born in 1932, Tiny had been an avid listener and player of a wide variety of music since his youth. These recordings, many thought to have been lost, span his pre-fame years in the early '60s Greenwich Village scene to his post-fame comedown in the '70s. The range of material here will be surprising to many, and the songs are wisely sequenced without regard to their recording dates to demonstrate this more clearly.
The falsetto vocals are featured on many tracks, sure, but Tiny Tim also possessed an impressive and dramatic croon, while the instrumentation goes way beyond the sparse ukulele accompaniment, even going into some bombastic orchestral arrangements like in "I Ain't Got No Money". When "Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes" follows in the style most people associate with Tiny Tim, his unique genius and skill as a musical interpreter become more obvious. Elsewhere, like on his arrangement of "Maggie May", things are played impressively on piano and delivered in a mushmouthed old man voice. He also completely KILLS with a spooky, Halloween-y rendition of the oft-covered classic "In The Pines". Listened to together, it's all pretty hilarious, not as some joke, but because one man was capable of being not only incredibly strange but also so endearing and highly listenable. The sound quality here is murky, but in a good way, lending a strange out-of-time feel to many of these songs, which makes sense considering this comes to us via the same label that released Michael Yonkers' Goodby Sunball album. We expected to dig this for sure, but really had no idea just how much this stuff would rule. Highly recommended.
LIMITED TO 500 COPIES. Includes extensive and super interesting liner notes from Tiny Tim historian/biographer Justin Martell.
MPEG Stream: "If I Had A Talking Picture Of You"
MPEG Stream: "Sunshine"
MPEG Stream: "April Showers #2"
MPEG Stream: "Old Front Porch"
MPEG Stream: "When You And I Were Young Maggie"

TINY VIPERS Hands Across The Void (Sub Pop) cd 13.98
Back in stock!
Tiny Vipers is a lone lady, Ms Jesy Fortino, a drowsy dark folk songstress whose voice bears a striking resemblance to both Diane Gluck and Kim Deal. Very shadowy and very affecting. The fourth track "Forest On Fire" might be our favorite on this 7-song cd as the relatively conventional structure of the song is allowed to sprawl and dissipate out into a droning noisescape. Very cool.
MPEG Stream: "Campfire Resemblance"
MPEG Stream: "Forest On Fire"

TINY VIPERS Life On Earth (Sub Pop) cd 13.98
A couple of years ago, we were drawn into the captivating shadows of a "Forest On Fire". 'Twas a fantastic lengthy track from Tiny Vipers' Hands Across The Void debut album. It brought together two of our favorite things - droning soundscapes and heart-baring folk melancholia. So good. On this Ms Jesy Fortino's second full length, the haunting shadowy tendrils of her dark dark folk wind themselves even deeper into the dark recesses of your heart. As Life On Earth progresses at its solemn pace, each word and pluck from her acoustic guitar strings tighten the grip further in wringing despair. She's drawn comparisons to elder acoustic folk foremothers Sybille Baier and Karen Dalton as well as contemporaries Joanna Newsom and Chan Marshall, but electrified embellishments set her apart. Oftentimes, her drowsy guitar and whispery tremulous vocals are so hushed and bare bones that they seem in danger of shattering or being drowned out by any external elements. You want to hold it close, and offer it safe harbor, but then a slow creeping haze of drone or feedback materializes and provide a haunting veil of refuge. In a sense her music is conjuring its own stormy forces. Crushingly beautiful.
MPEG Stream: "Eyes Like Ours"
MPEG Stream: "Dreamer"
MPEG Stream: "Life On Earth"

TIPPETT, KEITH GROUP Dedicated To You, But You Weren't Listening (Akarma) cd 16.98

TIPSY Buzzz (Ipecac) cd 16.98

TIRATH SINGH NIRMALA Bluster, Cragg, & Awe (Digitalis) cd 12.98

MPEG Stream: "Nagg Clef Seatpoint"
MPEG Stream: "Moor Edge Hush"

TIROGO Float (QDK / Normal) cd 16.98
Two new reissues of badass obscure African '70s garage fuzz rock on this list, hot damn! One from Witch (whose album Lazy Bones!! we were already big fans of) and this record from Nigeria's Tirogo, one of the bands who appeared on that rad Lagos Disco Inferno comp. Tirogo were labelmates with the band Blo, and ought to appeal to folks into Blo, Ofege, Sjob, and others from the Nigerian scene, as well as "Zam Rockers" like Witch, Amanaz, and the Ngozi Family from down in Zambia. Originally released in 1977, Tirogo's Float, their debut, is a stoned masterpiece of psychedelic garage groove with authentic African vibes. Seriously, at this point, can't we just say, if you like those others, you'll like this? 'Cause you will. Stinging fuzz guitar leads swirl and sizzle over seriously funky, energetic rhythms, as the vocalists chant about girls and the devil... yeah! The sort of thing that when you're listening to it, you can't help but think, "this is the best shit ever!"... and it's kinda true!!
Dunno how many more records like this they can dig up, it's hard to imagine, but we're grateful for what's been reissued thus far, winners like Tirogo and Witch, wow. And they do it right, the cd booklet includes an extensive, interesting interview with original Tirogo lead vocalist and bassist Wilfred Ekanem, conducted by African music collector and Now-Again head honcho Egon, who coordinated these reissues.
MPEG Stream: "Devil's Gonna Get You"
MPEG Stream: "Ajufo"

TITAN A Raining Sun Of Light & Love For You & You & You (Tee Pee) cd 15.98
Our favorite Brooklyn-based stoner space rockers are back, with their first proper studio album (the limited Paradigms cd, and the self-released cd-r we've had before were both live recordings, apparently). If you liked those, you'll like this -- though they get up to some new tricks here as well. In fact, we weren't sure we were even listening to Titan when we first put this on, as the first of the four tracks found here starts off all folky for a minute, with strumming and singing that could be Comus or Devendra... before blasting into loud, distorted, truly TITANIC heavy instrumental psych rock powered in part by some extremely proggy keyboard action. It's like ELP jamming with Comets On Fire, or Tarantula Hawk gone '70s, or a much heavier, blow-out n' drugged-up Crime In Choir! A wild torrent of amp-ed up, cosmic crunch, spiralling energetically.
The following tracks have their blissed out interludes, and droning FX, and mantric rhythmic pulses, and other bits of weirdness (field recordings of what might be crickets chirping, and a fan blowing, are mixed in at one point), but that heavy space prog riffola isn't lacking either. Definitely there's plenty here to appeal to fans of the abovementioned bands, as well as, oh, AMT, Circle, Zombi, Ufomammut, Boris, Mammatus, and MoRkObOt among others... in a word, recommended!!
MPEG Stream: "track 1"
MPEG Stream: "track 3"

TITAN A Raining Sun Of Light & Love For You & You & You (Tee Pee) lp 15.98
Our favorite Brooklyn-based stoner space rockers are back, with their first proper studio album (the limited Paradigms cd, and the self-released cd-r we've had before were both live recordings, apparently). If you liked those, you'll like this -- though they get up to some new tricks here as well. In fact, we weren't sure we were even listening to Titan when we first put this on, as the first of the four tracks found here starts off all folky for a minute, with strumming and singing that could be Comus or Devendra... before blasting into loud, distorted, truly TITANIC heavy instrumental psych rock powered in part by some extremely proggy keyboard action. It's like ELP jamming with Comets On Fire, or Tarantula Hawk gone '70s, or a much heavier, blow-out n' drugged-up Crime In Choir! A wild torrent of amp-ed up, cosmic crunch, spiralling energetically.
The following tracks have their blissed out interludes, and droning FX, and mantric rhythmic pulses, and other bits of weirdness (field recordings of what might be crickets chirping, and a fan blowing, are mixed in at one point), but that heavy space prog riffola isn't lacking either. Definitely there's plenty here to appeal to fans of the abovementioned bands, as well as, oh, AMT, Circle, Zombi, Ufomammut, Boris, Mammatus, and MoRkObOt among others... in a word, recommended!!
MPEG Stream: "track 1"
MPEG Stream: "track 3"

TITAN Pilzmarmelade (Wakusei) lp 17.98
AT LAST, here's the vinyl lp version of what's been a long-out-of-print cd-r. And what a super deluxe vinyl version this is!!
Plizmarmelade is a single 40 minute long track, starting off skronkily aggressive, with the noisy bite of a Lightning Bolt, before getting building into a relentlessly energetic, almost... jaunty... crazy crunching howling throbbing bass groove, like Zombi or Circle or Pharaoh Overlord on happy pills, freaking out on the guitar solos and sci-fi effects!! Acid Mothers Temple would be proud of this. Eventually the pills wear off and things fade into a calmer, deeper, droned-out zone, still way out in space. Wow. Basically krautrock from Brooklyn, that's the deal here. If you dug their Paradigms and Tee Pee releases, this should turn you on too. Big time. And folks who have been digging stuff like
White Hills and the Heads and other practitioners of modern spaced out heavy psych, will likely go nuts for this too.
And rather than the way the cd-r originally was packaged with beat-up homemade covers, these lps look AMAZING. Incredible matte finish jackets, covered with fantastic romantic medieval style illustrations of dragons and forests and swords and knights and fair maidens; inside, a printed inner sleeve as thick as some records' actual jackets, covered in wild acid drenched psychedelic colors and more trees and cool sixties style text, the record pressed on gorgeous milky sunburst yellow vinyl.
And as if you even needed to be told, CRAZY LIMITED!
MPEG Stream: "Pilzmarmelade [excerpt 1]"
MPEG Stream: "Pilzmarmelade [excerpt 2]"

TITAN Pilzmarmelade (self-released) cd-r 8.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
BACK IN STOCK! VERY LAST COPIES EVER (though there's talk of a vinyl release at some point)!!
Remember a couple lists back we reviewed a Paradigms disc by a mysterious, very cool instrumental space rock band called Titan? We told the story of how, some months previous, these guys had sent us some cd-rs to check out, but with no contact information. And then when they finally did follow up with an email, and we tried to order some, we got no response! So we never ever got those cd-rs, but the Paradigms cd was a nice surprise.
Well, of course what happened was this: the slightly-flakey-but-nice Titan folks (hey this IS some kinda stonery drug rock, so some flakiness is to be expected, eh?) read our review, and emailed to see if we still wanted the cd-rs.... only they didn't have the one they'd sent us originally any more. But they did now have a new cd-r release, recorded at the same sessions as the Paradigms cd release. Plizmarmelade is a single 40 minute long track, starting off skronkily aggressive, with the noisy bite of a Lightning Bolt, before getting building into a relentlessly energetic, almost... jaunty... crazy crunching howling throbbing bass groove, like Zombi or Circle or Pharaoh Overlord on happy pills, freaking out on the guitar solos and sci-fi effects!! Acid Mothers Temple would be proud of this. Eventually the pills wear off and things fade into a calmer, deeper, droned-out zone, still way out in space. Wow. Basically krautrock from Brooklyn, that's the deal here. If you dug their Paradigms release, this should turn you on too.
We do have a bunch of these, but since they're cd-r's in home-made looking (silkscreened) digipacks, chances are they're limited...plus who knows if Titan will email us back if we need more...so get 'em while you can.
NB. the covers are all kinda beat up, that's the way they are!
MPEG Stream: "Pilzmarmelade [excerpt 1]"
MPEG Stream: "Pilzmarmelade [excerpt 2]"

TITAN Sweet Dreams (Relapse) cd 15.98
Brand new blast of spaced out prog-tastic heaviness from this Brooklyn quartet, and holy shit, everything we loved about their last one, A Raining Sun Of Light & Love For You & You & You, is even MORE this time around, more heavy, more proggy, more keyboards, the songs way more epic, total cosmic super distorted loud as fuck space prog metal bliss out, like ELP crossed with the Fucking Champs, stir in some Comets On Fire, Tarantula Hawk, Crime In Choir, La Otracina (with whom they share members), and of course some Yes and Osanna and New Trolls and loads more of that sort of '70s stuff, cuz this time it's definitely the prog that has been cranked way up, synths all over the place, every song like a non stop synth / guitar / drum battle to the death, totally exhausting and exhilarating and over the top, epic and majestic and complex and intricate and melodic and somehow catchy as hell.
Barring the 3 minute synth interlude "Synthasaurs", which sounds more like some sort of Goblin / Tangerine Dream / John Carpenter hybrid, the other 4 tracks are total progged out super jams, almost entirely instrumental, the melodies constantly mutating and intertwining, the keyboards unleashing wild flurries of notes, the bass and drums holding it all together, dense and thick and powerful, the guitars wailing and flailing and howling, constantly parrying with the keyboards, there are organs too, thick and fuzzy and gloriously distorted, like a supercharged Deep Purple, Titan are like the prog version of all those Hawkwind worshipping space rock groups, who take the psychedelic tripped out outros and stretch them into whole songs, Titan seem to do the same thing with prog, taking short bursts of classic prog, adding all sorts of metallic chug and modern psych rock crunch and stretching them out into gloriously endless sprawling epics, this stuff is so fierce and frantic and the pace so relentless and dizzying.
This stuff RULES. Heavy and spacey and proggy and mathy and fucking incredible, pretty much everything we could possibly want in a band. Comes in a swank diecut digipak too!
MPEG Stream: "Sweet Dreams"
MPEG Stream: "Synthasaurs"
MPEG Stream: "Maximum Soberdrive"

TITAN Untitled (Paradigms) cd 12.98
A few months ago, we got a package of cd-rs in the mail. Pretty cool looking discs, no information whatsoever on the cd-rs, or on the envelope they came in, just the name Titan on the front. We threw it on and were pretty impressed. Some seriously spacey blissed out modern day Hawkwind/krautrock stylings. So, we thought, let's order some of these to list, but then we realized we had no idea how to contact the band -- no phone number, no email, no website, no nothing. We weren't even sure how much to charge for the handful we already had.
So we waited. And waited. Finally one day, we got an email from the one of the guys in the band, who had just realized that they had sent us discs with no contact info. So we immediately emailed back, letting them know that we were definitely interested in selling their record. Asked them to send us 20 or 30 copies and NEVER. HEARD. FROM. THEM. AGAIN.
Then suddenly, we discover this new release on Paradigms by the name of Titan. Could it be? The song titles are all in German, but the Titan we heard was from Brooklyn. Sure enough, it was indeed them. Not sure if it's the exact same record we heard, but boy is it some divine spaced out drug drenched psychedelic krautrockiness. Three lengthy tracks, all ten minutes plus, the first opens with a lengthy stretch of meditative Tangerine Dream like organ drones, slowly shifting, melodies drifting and subtly intertwining, before the rest of the band joins in, locking into a groove and slowly building into a pretty serious psych rock jam. The band is rock solid, but still loose and free, loping relentlessly over a thick wash of organs and beneath wild squalls of freaked out psych guitars.
The second track launches right into an ominous spy thriller krautrock jam. Tense and propulsive, a totally mesmerizing groove surrounded by swirls of analog synth and swooping space FX. A bit like a way more rocking Zombi. About half way through, the jam dissipate and the track becomes a thick swirling free drone, with feeding back guitars ands and rumbling ambience. The final 15 minute track starts off much like the opener, a dreamy serene soundscape of sizzling cymbals, warm subtle drones and murky effects, before the band once again clicks into a slow sultry jazzy groove. The track builds into a near cinematic epic, like Godspeed or Mogwai, before slowly drifting back to Earth, and drowsily winding to a halt.
Limited to 750 copies, packaged in a colorful mini lp style sleeve wrapped in a hand stamped brown paper outer sleeve.
MPEG Stream: "Die Morgensonne / Die Mitternachtssonne"
MPEG Stream: "Weideraufladen"