CENTRAL FALLS Latitude (Truckstop) cd 14.98
Ok first of all, let it be known that this band contains many Chicagoans who also play in such outfits as Town and Country, US Maple, Chicago Underground Trio, Brokeback, Manishevitz, and Lofty Pillars. But before you go writing them off like I (Windy) almost did (not being a fan of any of those groups, although some of us at AQ are rabid US Maple fans), give this a listen. It is much better than you'd think; in fact it's downright pretty. The most apt comparisons are to the Radar Bros and the Scud Mountain Boys (and other Scud-related groups like Pernice Bros and Chappaquidick Skyline.) Central Falls sound *so much* like that particular flavor of well-executed downer rock, complete with the delicately fragile male vocals, and heartswelling slow-in-coming guitar soloes. The restrained instrumental backup also brings to mind Lambchop, with its slowed down slight twang, melancholy lap steel and lushly strummed acoustic guitar. Once in a while the melodies are even worthy of George Harrison. Very very nice, if you've got the patience that the best of the slowcore bands deserve.
RealAudio clip: "So Lovely, So Lovely"
RealAudio clip: "Travel"

CERBERUS SHOAL Bastion Of Itchy Preeves (North East) cd 12.98
Cerberus Shoal's newest offering is a slow, strange, earthy beauty. On each of the ten ever-shifting avant-folk songs (some quite lengthy jams), notes from the horns, flutes and mellotron (we're guessin') slink and slide hypnotically while percussion comes in the form of warm melodic wood block tapping. The ensemble singing and chanting conjured images of a pagan ritual conducted by Brian Eno. Bastion Of Itchy Preeves is a precarious balance of the dissonant and the delicate.
MPEG Stream: "Bogart The Change"
MPEG Stream: "Me And My Dead Head: Baby Gal"

CERBERUS SHOAL Chaiming The Knoblessone (Northeastindie) cd 14.98

CERBERUS SHOAL Crash My Moon Yacht (Pandemonium/NEI) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Look out, Windy's got a new favorite band, and it's Cerberus Shoal. Never mind that I'm a latecomer to the group -- "Crash My Moon Yacht" is their _fifth_ album -- it's never too late to experience the crashing beauty that is Cerberus Shoal. High time, too, as this band, who live and make music together in Portland, Maine, has been grievously overlooked throughout their career.
On such Western and ethnic instruments as bowed guitar, balalaika, flute, trumpet, dholak, woodblocks, oud, quena, radios, whistles, electric bass, hammond organ, xylophone, etc, Cerberus Shoal plays a stretched out, intense yet langurous blend of mostly-instrumental drone-rock similar to many of the bands AQ knows and loves. They're equally epic and emotional as Godspeed You Black Emperor, but less weepy. They're as careful as Tarentel, yet much more complex. As for other groups who feature ethnic instrumentation, Cerberus offers a worthy challenge: far more consistent than the spotty Sun City Girls, they don't try to wrestle their ouds, djembes and congas into pop song structures like Macha does, and they're more accessible and varied than Pelt. Without meaning to slight any of those groups, hopefully comparisons will make it clear to you just how amazing and worthy of your time this group is. Live and on record, the band displays amazing restraint -- although the stage is crowded with dozens of instruments, at any one time only 3 or 4 distinct sounds will be in play, making for any number of possible sonic combinations, all the while keeping the music simple and utterly respectful of each instrument's unique timbre. There are even parts that remind us of music as disparate as Boards of Canada and prog rock, that's how evocative it is. Very late night soundscape-y. I can't say enough good things about this band. If you've got the patience and the desire for meaningful music that's as substantive as it is lovely, Cerberus Shoal will make you so happy.
Please note that we also have in stock "Homb" (on Temporary Residence), Cerberus' breathtaking fourth album and Caleb's (Cerberus' frontman) own personal favorite.
RealAudio clip: "Changabang I"

CERBERUS SHOAL Garden Fly, Drip Eye (North East Indie) cd ep 6.98
The always-inventive Maine collective releases a two-song cd single for those who can't wait for their next album. Although Cerberus' strongest moments are its multilayered instrumental climaxes that come after several minutes of murky, evocative buildup, this ep instead forefronts their experimental girl/boy vocal quirkiness. The Thinking Fellers fans amongst us may have had enough rollicking herky jerky voice antics to last a lifetime but nonetheless you may want to check this out.
RealAudio clip: "Garden Fly"

CERBERUS SHOAL Homb ( Temporary Residence Ltd.) cd 13.98
Look out, Windy's got a new favorite band, and it's Cerberus Shoal. Never mind that I'm a latecomer to the group -- "Crash My Moon Yacht" is their _fifth_ album -- it's never too late to experience the crashing beauty that is Cerberus Shoal. High time, too, as this band, who live and make music together in Portland, Maine, has been grievously overlooked throughout their career.
On such Western and ethnic instruments as bowed guitar, balalaika, flute, trumpet, dholak, woodblocks, oud, quena, radios, whistles, electric bass, hammond organ, xylophone, etc, Cerberus Shoal plays a stretched out, intense yet langurous blend of mostly-instrumental drone-rock similar to many of the bands AQ knows and loves. They're equally epic and emotional as Godspeed You Black Emperor, but less weepy. They're as careful as Tarentel, yet much more complex. As for other groups who feature ethnic instrumentation, Cerberus offers a worthy challenge: far more consistent than the spotty Sun City Girls, they don't try to wrestle their ouds, djembes and congas into pop song structures like Macha does, and they're more accessible and varied than Pelt. Without meaning to slight any of those groups, hopefully comparisons will make it clear to you just how amazing and worthy of your time this group is. Live and on record, the band displays amazing restraint -- although the stage is crowded with dozens of instruments, at any one time only 3 or 4 distinct sounds will be in play, making for any number of possible sonic combinations, all the while keeping the music simple and utterly respectful of each instrument's unique timbre. There are even parts that remind us of music as disparate as Boards of Canada and prog rock, that's how evocative it is. Very late night soundscape-y. I can't say enough good things about this band. If you've got the patience and the desire for meaningful music that's as substantive as it is lovely, Cerberus Shoal will make you so happy.
RealAudio clip: "Harvest"

CERBERUS SHOAL Mr. Boy Dog ( Temporary Residence Ltd.) 2cd 15.98
Long awaited new album from the Portland, Maine collective known as Cerberus Shoal. Their signature sound is intact: a meandering, honey-slow drive towards perfection. They'll take so long to build up to the crashing climaxes that you sometimes forget you're waitin' for 'em, and you think you're listening to some sort of cool ethnic drone record or something -- except for the decidedly rock guitar that's wandering sadly & introspectively over it all. While this double album is not as good as their Homb record, which we always have in stock, it's very lovely.
P.S.When people ask me about Cerberus Shoal, I usually quote this past review:
On such Western and ethnic instruments as bowed guitar, balalaika, flute, trumpet, dholak, woodblocks, oud, quena, radios, whistles, electric bass, hammond organ, xylophone, etc, Cerberus Shoal plays a stretched out, intense yet langurous blend of mostly-instrumental drone-rock similar to many of the bands AQ knows and loves. They're equally epic and emotional as Godspeed You Black Emperor, but less weepy. They're as careful as Tarentel, yet much more complex. As for other groups who feature ethnic instrumentation, Cerberus offers a worthy challenge: far more consistent than the spotty Sun City Girls, they don't try to wrestle their ouds, djembes and congas into pop song structures like Macha does, and they're more accessible and varied than Pelt.
RealAudio clip: "Nataraja"
RealAudio clip: "An Egypt That Does Not Exist"

CERTAIN BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT Live Berlin '98 (Manifold) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A live collision of the combined forces of Mick Harris (Scorn) and Tony Child (Surgeon) making freaky nightmare sonic landscapes.

CHA CHA CABARET Chez Vous (K) cd 13.98
Greetings! Your hostess Miss Lady Hand Grenade is here with her Olympia, WA friends Nikki McClure, Miranda July, Old Tyme Relijun, and a crowd of others for a grand indie pop show time. If there's one thing you can always count on with the Oly folk, it's a barrel of fun: theme shows, puppetry and music with something to say.

CHA.CY. Minicd 3-99 (Spider Records) cd 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
3-song, 20 minute ep from a freaky avant-pop band featuring Jean-Herve Peron of Faust and Chris Karrer of Amon Duul II, two krautrock legends up to strange new tricks.

CHAIN AND THE GANG Down With Liberty...Up With Chains (K Records) cd 14.98
By this point the charismatic Ian Svenonius is most loved as a indie cultural icon, his ramblings, writings, and TV show (Soft Focus on VBTV.com) are all so undeniably entertaining and compelling. Though, we have to say we haven't been too thrilled with most of his musical output since he pulled the plug on The Make Up. But before that most of us were all pretty obsessed with his first band Nation Of Ulysses as well as the ultra short lived Cupid Car Club. His newest project Chain And The Gang is closest in aesthetic to the gospel funk of The Make Up. Lots of call and response vocals, tons of sharp witted sass, and darker take on that classic girl group sound. We'd still probably rather hear Ian shoot the shit or read his latest manifesto but this is sounding pretty darn OK to us. Not amazing by any stretch, but Ian Svenonius diehards (and we know you are out there!) will definitely want to snag this.
MPEG Stream: "Trash Talk"
MPEG Stream: "Interview With The Chain Gang"

CHAINSMOKER Guarana Planet (Bad Vugum) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Another installment of Finnish madness from the brilliant and unpredictable Bad Vugum label. Chainsmoker were born from the ashes of Bad Vugum stalwarts Sweetheart, but the sound is far from Sweetheart's freaked out guitar rock. Chainsmoker are a strange mix of eighties new wave/techno (New Order, Human League), gothy cabaret (Nick Cave, Bauhaus), a little modern electro (Adult., Fischerspooner) and of course that special, undefinable Finnish touch that seems to make everything a little bit better! Check it out.
RealAudio clip: "Drop Test"
RealAudio clip: "Out Of Tranquilizers"

CHAIRLIFT Does You Inspire You? (Kanine / Columbia) cd 13.98

MPEG Stream: "Garbage"
MPEG Stream: "Planet Health"
MPEG Stream: "Earwig Town"

CHAMELLOWS Rat Hearts (Fonal) cd 17.98
Our favorite Finnish label and perhaps one of our favorite labels anywhere on the globe go into the vaults for this one and we're so happy they did. Chamellows (aka Sleeping Bags) is the scrappy, playful, naive pop side of Lau Nau (Laura Naukkarinen, whose Locust release from a few years back was a big AQ favorite!) and visual artist Mikko Kuorinki. Pulled from various limited edition 7"s and cassette only releases these are recordings that date back as far as a decade ago. This is sweet and demented lo-fi pop with lively experimentation and an answering machine quality recording that suits these songs so perfectly. Had us thinking of what Ariel Pink might sound like if he were from Finland. Or The Shaggs and Daniel Johnston brought into a vacant house in the middle of Finland with some ragtag equipment and some yummy psychedelics on the tip of their tongues. So warped and wonderful!
MPEG Stream: "Universal Goodwill"
MPEG Stream: "I'm Walking"

CHAMPALE Simple Days (Pitch-a-tent) cd 14.98
From NYC, mellow indie-pop that references the likes of Big Star and the Pernice Brothers. Sweet (but not sugary) stuff with twinkling vibes and wistful male vocals. Lilting and gentle. It made me think "a modern-day Bread" which is a-ok. Oh yes, and if you liked the "Yellow" song by Coldplay... this might be right up your alley, 'cause Champale show moments of grandiose pop tunesmith possibilities. Check out the opening track "Hard To Be Easy". Nice.
RealAudio clip: "Hard to Be Easy"
RealAudio clip: "See You Around"
RealAudio clip: "Special Guest Star"

CHAMPS, THE III (Frenetic) cd 11.98
San Francisco's Champs (or C4AM95 as they prefer to be called for silly legal reasons) are an amazing two guitars and drums no bass, sometimes three guitars no drums, very rarely any vocals, trio that on this their debut album crank out over seventy minutes of catchy, complex, mostly instrumental metal in indie/math-rock clothing. Kind of like the indie-prog of Don Caballero or Breadwinner, with touches of Trans Am (the bombast and occasional "techno electronica" interlude) ...and healthy helpings of Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy, Metallica, Carcass, Motley Crue, Priest, etc. I could go on. Mesmerizing live, they're on tour now but will be back soon so I hope y'all went to their shows. For what it's worth, there's a former member of Nation of Ulysses in their ranks. Rec-o-f'n-mended.

CHAMPS, THE / THE TIGHT BROS. FROM WAY BACK WHEN (Ace-Fu) split 7" 4.50
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

CHANCE, JAMES Irresistible Impulse (Tiger Style) 4cd 42.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A very timely release in light of the last few years' acute rash of no-wave revivalism. Actually it would've been good to see it even sooner! This box set arrives to shine a spotlight on one of the major players in the NYC no-wave scene back in the late '70s and early '80s. The man in question? James Chance (aka James White). The four cds compile his rare, out of print and unreleased skronky sax-laden white boy funk/jazz/rock tracks along with his four albums including the awesome, rare Buy. Actually, four discs is really quite a bit of Mr. Chance - sure to thrill his most ardent of fans! But for the rest of us, perhaps a more welcome and more wallet-friendly release would've simply been that of the aforementioned album. Ask yourself, can you afford to contort yourself this time?

CHANCE, JAMES & THE CONTORTIONS Buy The Contortions (Ze) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A genre-defining album finally receives its deserved reissue (along with a bunch of other James Chance / James White releases yet to be reviewed here). The genre? New York No Wave! Fingers crossed that it stays in print! Buy is well worth... uh, buying for the one song "Contort Yourself". Totally unbridled angular art jazz skronk sax no wave madness! Soooo good! If you have purchased anything current (i.e, last five years - on Troubleman Unlimited, etc) that falls under the banner 'no wave', buy this immediately and find out that 'no wave' was invented, defined and has yet to be bettered by anyone using the James Chance formula found on Buy The Contortions.
MPEG Stream: "Design To Kill"
MPEG Stream: "Contort Yourself"

CHANCE, JAMES & THE CONTORTIONS Live Aux Bains Douches - Paris 1980 (Ze) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A couple of lists ago we raged about the recent reissuing of the Contortions' awesome BUY album. Well NYC No Wave fanatics, if that got you itchin' for more of Chance & co., you might wanna nab this live album that was reissued at the same time.
The recording effectively captured the insistent energy of the band as they whipped the audience into a frenzy at Bains Douches, Paris, France back on May 13, 1980. Opening with a speedy cover of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", this live show breaks down into super loose acid sax jams, then more covers, a pause, more jams. The musicianship is constantly on the brink of falling apart but wildly energized and in the moment. The performance comes together for a finale of "Contort Yourself" leaving the crowd in a wild fervor. Highly recommended for all Chance and Contortions fans.
MPEG Stream: "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough"
MPEG Stream: "Contort Yourself"

CHANCE, JAMES AND THE CONTORTIONS Soul Exorcism Redux (Roir) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

CHANTIGS Four Hats (Rodent) cd 11.98

CHANTS R&B Live 66: The Stage Door Tapes (Action) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We became huge fans of this heavy garage group from Christchurch, New Zealand after we got the reissue of their only proper album a little while back. Think a heavy, fuzzy, more primitive Monks, with more groove and less edge. This is a live recording from 1966, recorded on a shitty old tape recorder! The sound is rough and raw and a little spotty, but the energy is right on.
RealAudio clip: "Train Time"
RealAudio clip: "When I Found Out"

CHANTS R&B Stage Door Witchdoctors (Dionysus) cd 12.98
Re-issue of the output of this heavy garage group from Christchurch, New Zealand. The tracks on this cd were taken from recordings made between 1964 and 1966. Quite a nice, primitive sound -- like the Monks with more groove and less edge, and a bit more heavy fuzz.

CHAO, MANU Clandestino (Virgin) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The debut album from the former lead vocalist of the awesome, electrifying French group Mano Negra! A wonderfully refreshing and uplifting cornucopia of styles.

CHAO, MANU Esperanza (Virgin) cd 16.98
Manu Chao, former leader of the French band Mano Negra, was born in France of Spanish parents, and in recent years has spent much of his musical career in South and Central America. And as you would expect, his music is a similar stew of sounds, all of which have been simmered together so long that he's emerged with a sound all his own. This, his second solo album, is super sunny-afternoon music which will pick you up instantly and fling you around the room dancing wildly. The music's foundation is in rock, overlayed with the surrealistic silliness of another AQ fave band Os Mutantes. Yep, it's that good. You hear a psychedelic pastiche of horns and rocksteady swing, samples of people chattering, bells and buzzes, Latin rhythms and vocals in Spanish, girl backup singers, addictively catchy singsong melodies. And *no* obligatory "see how modern and stylish I am" electronic beats to mess with the integrity of the music. This is one of the sunniest, funniest, happiest, most musically adroit, most musically schizo albums released so far in 2001. It was really difficult to choose which tracks to make into soundclips, as they are all good. Highly recommended!
RealAudio clip: "Merry Blues"
RealAudio clip: "Me Gustas Tu"
RealAudio clip: "Denia"
RealAudio clip: "Mr Bobby"
RealAudio clip: "Papito"

CHAO, MANU La Radiolina (Nacional) cd 16.98
Good things come to those who wait... and wait... and wait! Manu Chao fans, your patience has been rewarded with the release of Chao's first studio album in six years! Not surprisingly, La Radiolina is wonderful, a hyper kinetic album brimming with his trademark fiery spirited fusion of styles. So irresistible, even the biggest stick in the mud will find his or her body moving involuntarily to Chao's music. La Radiolina is a busy, crowded affair whose heart pounds to a variety of impassioned Latin American rhythms. Caught in this fevered embrace are layer upon layer of electric guitars, horns, flamenco guitars, keyboards and exuberant vocals sung mostly in Spanish with a little Portuguese, French, Italian and English too. 21 tracks ranging in length from a 68 second shot of adrenaline to just over four minutes.
MPEG Stream: "Tristeza Maleza"
MPEG Stream: "Otro Mundo"

CHAO, MANU Radio Bemba Sound System (Virgin) cd 16.98
Manu Chao (formerly of French band Mano Negra) releases a lengthy live album which is even more upbeat than his albums proper, if you can believe that. And if his albums are the perfect party soundtrack, then this live record *is* a party in an of itself. I can see the lighters waving julbilantly in the stadium right now. The music's foundation is in rock, overlayed with the surrealistic silliness of another AQ fave band Os Mutantes. Yep, it's that good. You hear a psychedelic pastiche of horns and rocksteady swing, samples of people chattering, bells and buzzes, Latin rhythms, dub, hip hop, vocals in Spanish, girl backup singers, addictively catchy singsong melodies. *Super* celebratory. If you don't already have his previous albums Clandestino and Esperanza, get those first.
RealAudio clip: "Blood and Fire"
RealAudio clip: "Minha Galera"
RealAudio clip: "Radio Bemba"

CHAPPAQUIDDICK SKYLINE s/t (Sub Pop) cd 13.98
The new project from Joe Pernice is just as pretty as you'd expect from the former frontman of both Scud Mountain Boys and the Pernice Brothers. With ample doses of Leonard Cohen, Joe Jackson, and Elvis Costello, this is more 'orchestrated' than any of Pernice's previous work, with warm strings adding fullness to the sound. Also features a delicate New Order cover: "Leave Me Alone".

CHAPTERHOUSE Blood Music (Cherry Red) cd 17.98
It wasn't long ago that Cherry Red Records rescued Reading's shoegazing Chapterhouse from near obscurity by reissuing their first album. Now, they've gone and done it again with the band's markedly different sophomore effort Blood Music. Where as Whirlpool was a hybrid decidedly indebted to Spacemen 3 and bands like the Seeds, this album sees them learning and progressing, updating their sound, and moving into their own distinct sound. If the Cardigans had a male singer and made a record in the wake of the Stone Roses, this might be it. Basically, the first record was proto-shoegaze, and this, the second record, adopted some more distinctly pop leanings. If you missed out on them in the past, or you lost your original copy, you need this beautiful slab of '90s British catchiness in your life! Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Mesmerise"
MPEG Stream: "Forst"

CHAPTERHOUSE Whirlpool (Cherry Red) cd 16.98
Long overdue reissue of this shoegaze classic. Out of all the bands dubbed shoegazers in the UK in the late eighties, Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Ride, Slowdive, Swervedriver and especially My Bloody Valentine, for some reason, Chapterhouse never really received their due. Sure they sold some records, had a few hit singles, but no one spoke about Chapterhouse with the same hushed reverence as they did when name dropping Slowdive or My Bloody Valentine. Every single band since the nineties, with even the slightest hint of noisiness or spaciness never hesitates to reference MBV as a huge influence, but now that we're finally getting a chance to listen to Whirlpool again, it definitely reminds us how fucking great Chapterhouse were, and what a unique take they had on the whole spaced out bliss out shoegaze thing. Swervedriver may have been the heaviest, My Bloody Valentine the wildest, but Chapterhouse managed to be the most interesting, dipping their toes into both Stone Roses-y dance tracks, and blown out druggy psychedelia a la Swervedriver or MBV. In each instance the band made the sound their own.
The heavier tracks here, "Breather", "Treasure", "Guilt" are packed with dense squalls of heavily affected guitars, big swirls of droney ambience, all of the elements that defined the shoegazers, but Chapterhouse were much more subtle, the result sounding much more druggy and droney like Spacemen 3 (their sonic inspirations) than freaked out and wild like MBV. And when they chose to, like on "Pearl" or "Falling Down" they could whip up an ultra danceable groove, albeit still swathed in a good amount of guitar fuzz and blissy psychedelia. Either way, Chapterhouse at their core, were a pop band, and at the heart of each song was a pop song, a catchy hook, that would either get buried in a thick wash of blissy fuzz, or draped over some sort of funky groove. Either way, we love it!
This reissue includes the Whirlpool album, the Freefall ep, the Sunburst ep and the Pearl ep. Huge booklet with liner notes, band interviews, photos, original album and ep artwork and all of the lyrics printed for the first time!
MPEG Stream: "Breather"
MPEG Stream: "Pearl"
MPEG Stream: "Autosleeper"

CHARALAMBIDES A Vintage Burden (Kranky) cd 14.98

CHARALAMBIDES Ana / Kata - Lactamase Vol. 9 (Beta-Lactam Ring) 10" 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Here's a very limited (to 500 copies) 10" from Texas trio Charalambides, whose delicate, ghostly guitar and voice meanderings get more and more so with each release. On Ana/Kata we hear long spaces of woozy guitars weaving in and over and between themselves, then ethereal female voices quietly add themselves to the proceedings... and the queasiness factor triples. Quietly squealing guitar adds to the haunted house effect. A fractured blissout record for the very experimental-lovin' readers of our list, the type who usually confine themselves to static, glitch, and noise.
RealAudio clip: "Kata"
RealAudio clip: "Ana"

CHARALAMBIDES Being As Is (Crucial Blast) cd-r 6.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Our friend Adam who runs the super cool Crucial Blast label, has, for over 6 years now, been quietly (and not so quietly) putting out some of the coolest shit around. From crusty Finnish metal to droning electronica to sparse folk to brutal power electronics. This new series of cd-r's, limited to 100 copies and nicely packaged in oversized DVD cases will only be available via Aquarius records (unless you get them directly from Crucial Blast). So don't blow it...
AQ faves Charalambides contribute what has to be their quietest and most minimal collection of tunes yet. The sound takes their minimalist psych-folk a step further, exploring spaces as much as the notes that seperate them, with Christina Carter's fragile croon even more ghostlike and ethereal. She seems to be making sounds, more than singing, gentle and haunting, rich but delicate. Tom Carter's guitar is equally spare, with the notes spread out, and pucked tentatively, sounding like a Fahey record played at 5 r.p.m. Distant melodies drift lazily as stray notes wander off and get lost in the foggy ambience. Quiet, and quite gorgeous.
RealAudio clip: "One"
RealAudio clip: "Three"

CHARALAMBIDES Electricity Ghost (Wholly Other) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Oooooh. Witchy.
MPEG Stream: "Holy Electric"
MPEG Stream: "Electricity Ghost II"

CHARALAMBIDES Historic 6th Ward (Time-Lag) 2lp 22.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Gorgeous double lp reissue of Charalambides' amazing 'Historic 6th Ward' record, until now only available on cd. And this reissue isn't just for vinyl lovers, as the cd is long out of print -and- this lp version adds 7 extra tracks not found on the cd. Charalambides play hazy, dreamy, spaced out acid-drone folk, with ethereal female vocals, using minimal instrumentation and lots of rumbling droning ambience. Fans of Joshua, Six Organs Of Admittance, Thuja, Greg Weeks and similar psych-space-folk should not miss out. Thick vinyl, in breathtaking handmade sleeves. Super limited!!

CHARALAMBIDES Likeness (Kranky) cd 14.98

CHARALAMBIDES Market Square (Siltbreeze) 2lp 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Lovely Texas acid-folk-space trio (how's that for buzzwords?) who release records, tapes, and cds in small quantities that only serve to add to their allure, predictably enough. But they deserve it. Ethereal female vocals over pleasantly disturbing drone.

CHARALAMBIDES Our Bed Is Green (Kranky) 2cd 16.98
A remarkable precursor to the current fascination with all things acid-folk, Our Bed Is Green came out as a self-released 90 minute cassette back in 1992. Then a couple of years later after Charalambides earned considerable praise and adoration for the Market Street 2LP (which still ranks as their best work), the Charalambides duo of Tom and Christina Carter reissued Our Bed Is Green in a condensed version as a single cd on their Wholly Other label. Now as Kranky has undertaken a campaign to reissue the bulk of their early work, Our Bed Is Green sees the light of day once again, with all but the two covers songs featured from that cassette release. Within this sprawling set of minimally composed sketches and song fragments, the Charalambides conjure a drug-addled haze that settles gently upon their fuzz guitar psychedelic stupor, replications of early Americana folk, and post-Fahey improvisations. In their doped-up introversion, the Charalambides have always had a knack for rapturously free-falling moments rendered in slow-motion, and it's clear from Our Bed Is Green that they strongly developed this aesthetic from early on. Certainly fans of Six Organs of Admittance, Animal Collective, and the Skygreen Leopards would do well to check this out.
MPEG Stream: "Take The Pointing Finger To The Moon"
MPEG Stream: "Stuttgart"

CHARALAMBIDES Unknown Spin (Kranky) cd 14.98
Latest release from the duo of Christina and Tom Carter known to the underground psych-folk world as Charalambides. This is actually a reissue of a long out of print cd-r orignally limited to 300 copies and released on the band's own Wholly Other label. Like all of their records this is a dark and folky, primitive and ethereal, spare and gauzy chunk of psychedelic folk bliss out. So so beautiful.
MPEG Stream: "Voice Within"

CHARLEBOIS, ROBERT Avec Louise Forestier (Unidisc Music) cd 14.98
These Unidisc Music reissues aren't necessarily new, but they are new to us here at AQ, and we've found them to be quite intriguing and enjoyable listens. On this 1968 album it's clear that Robert Charlebois' collaborative work with Louise Forestier were just as high on dramatics (and at times as loopy) as her solo albums... if not more so. The chemistry between Quebecois artists Charlebois and Forestier is not unlike two old friends getting together to bend a musical elbow over a glass of wine (or two or three). Heck, on songs such as "C.P.R. Blues" and "Egg Generation" they get downright unhinged -- lively frolics that verge on the mad or chaotic. You also get a duet version of the song "California" which appears as a solo-sung number on Forestier's Avec Enzymes album. Great!
MPEG Stream: "C.P.R. Blues"
MPEG Stream: "Egg Generation"

CHARLES ATLAS Felt Cover (Static Caravan) cd 16.98
Local guy Charles Wyatt along with Matt Greenberg returns with a second Charles Atlas full length, this time released on the dependable Static Caravan label. Looped haunting guitar, lulling stereo-separated pulses, softly-uttered melodies, plus some minor-key atmospherics that're very "post-rock" in their wistfulness. A very quiet album where not a lot happens but that's how it was meant to be, I think -- just right for falling asleep to.
RealAudio clip: "Valdivia"

CHARLES ATLAS Social Studies: An Introduction To Charles Atlas (Howells Transmitter) cd-r 6.98
Only available here at aQ! Even if you're already well-acquainted with Charles Atlas (the band, not the bodybuilder!), you won't want to miss this 'introduction'. It's an absolutely lovely summer-melting-into-fall sort of album. Breezy but not lightweight, drifting melodic tendrils of horn, piano and organ are accented by chiming vibes. Despite the gentle chill of melancholia, the whole proceeding is warmed by lots of reverb and warbled by lots of tremolo. Sure to appeal to fans of Sea & Cake and High Llamas!
MPEG Stream: "Antiphon"
MPEG Stream: "The Snow Before Us"

CHARLES ATLAS Worsted Night (Ochre) cd 16.98
A fine new album from local darlings Charles Atlas, on UK's Ochre label who've released music by similarly dreamy outfits Windy & Carl, Fuxa, Magnetophone, Kawabata Makoto, A.M.P., etc. This is organic instrumental blissout music -- warm and human -- consisting mainly of heartbreakingly pretty arpeggiated piano and guitar chords whose gentle notes articulate themselves separately yet are moodily sustained for many seconds, a sonic tactic we've also heard wielded by Boards of Canada, but Charles Atlas is more sad and emotional. Reminds me of Sonna, Pan American, David Kilgour, and Tarentel, although Charles Atlas sets itself apart using gorgeous flourishes on warbly musical saw, quiet tinklings, female oohs and ahhs, cool trumpet, hollow ticktock clicks (a la Young Marble Giants). The chords are minor key and tension-filled yet still pastoral and hushed -- a very pleasant combination that prevents the album from becoming boring or sickly sweet. Very restrained, mature and introspective. Had enough of Boards of Canada? Give Charles Atlas' fresh take a try. Beautiful.
RealAudio clip: "Sun with Teeth"
RealAudio clip: "Antiphon"

CHARLES BRONSON Complete Discocrappy (625) 2cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Two cds of off kilter, screaming fastcore. This collection is everything ever recorded by these crazy kids from Dekalb Illinois. Cd one contains 96 songs, in chronological order, from their stumbling retarded hardcore roots, to their emergence as the reigning kings of absolutely pummeling powerviolence. Disc two is all unreleased stuff, including a really long movie, that contains 30 second blasts of CB live intercut with scenes from actual Charles Bronson movies. With truly comprehensive and completely illegible packaging. Absolutely amazing. Essential for fans of Crossed Out, Man Is The Bastard, Drop Dead, etc.

CHARLIE & ESDOR s/t (Mellotronen) cd 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Finally got enough of these to list. It's something you're gonna DEFINITELY want to have if you're into the whole '60s/'70s Swedish psychedelic scene, Sweden's "krautrock" bands if you will. Y'know, if you like Parson Sound, Trad Gras Och Stenar, International Harvester, Arbete Och Fritid, Algarnas Tradgard, Kebnekajse, and all the other often interrelated outfits that we've been lucky enough to find reissued on cd in recent years. You can add this to that list, a brilliant collection of loping, rollicking, freaky hippie jams from the drums/sitar and guitar duo of Edmund "Charlie" Franzen and Esdor Jensen, and friends. They got their start together in 1969, and performed at the first of the free festivals in the summer of 1970 that are now an part of Swedish counterculture hippie history. They definitely must have fit right in that time and place, judging by this cd's awesome mixture of Eastern-inspired raga rock, Swedish folk troubadour music, Dylanesque ballads, and HEAVY guitar power trio acid rock.
These tracks, recorded in 1970 and '71, have languished in obscurity, mostly unreleased for the past 30-some-odd years, several of them originally meant for an abandoned album release back in the day. A few, like "Wolfs Mouth Song" (here given its original title of "Fuck The Cops"!) were released on vinyl as singles and so forth. But you were probably never gonna run across one of those rarities... so it's great to have this all on cd! And Mellotronen has presented this in a nice digipack. Isn't that a great cover shot, of Charlie's back as he beats his drum kit at one of those hippie festivals?? It would good for a Levi's ad (you can see the tag on his jeans) if they were that hip. The 32 page booklet provides plenty of photos, a history of the band, and detailed track-by-track commentary on these recordings. There's also a discography complete with full-color reproductions of album covers and single sleeves. Very very nicely done.
MPEG Stream: "Da Klagar Mina Grannar"
MPEG Stream: "Fuck The Cops"

CHARM (OST) (5 Rue Christine) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Soundtrack to the long awaited feature film by Sadie Shaw (infamous SF/Olympia underground filmmaker extraordinaire, responsible for numerous music videos and photography, mostly for the Kill Rock Stars label, guitarist in SF outfit The Lies) and Sarah Reed (also of The Lies). Features (mostly) exclusive tracks by Aisler's Set, Deerhoof, Thrones, The Need, The Lies, Concentrick, Replikants, Sarah Lund (Unwound) and Aaron Beam plus wonderful scoring by Tim Green and many more! What's most interesting about this soundtrack is most of the better-known bands' contributions are quite unindicative of their "normal" output (specifically Thrones, Replikants, Deerhoof and the exclusive Aislers Set track), but they fit the overall tone of the film and are quite beautiful on their own. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that these artists had the film in mind when composing their contributions to Charm. Quite nice!

CHARMING HOSTESS Eat (Vaccination) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Amazing triple female harmonies laid over rapid fire fake ethnic music. For fans of Uz Jsme Doma, Sun City Girls...and Idiot Flesh, which this band basically is entirely members of (but better).

CHARMING HOSTESS Punch (ReR) cd 14.98

CHARMING HOSTESS Sarajevo Blues (Tzadik) cd 16.98
For those familiar with the SF group Charming Hostess, this follow-up to 2001's Trilectic album is an eagerly anticipated, more than welcome sight (or should we say sound?). For those unfamiliar, this is a wonderful way to acquaint yourself with Charming Hostess' vibrant trio of fiery female vocalists Jewlia Eisenberg, Marika Hughes and Cynthia Taylor. Richly infused with Balkan, Jewish and Sufi elements, their music is at once captivatingly complex, electrifyingly bold and nothing short of acrobatic. You might also know these ladies for their membership in the equally avant SF bands Idiot Flesh and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum -- some of whose members also contributed to this album.
MPEG Stream: "What Will You Remember?"
MPEG Stream: "Death Is A Job"