SPINANES Strand (Sub Pop) lp 10.98

SPINNA, DJ All Mixed Up : Collection Part 1 (Urban Theory) 2cd 18.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A tolerably well mixed 74 minutes of hip hop, soul, electronica, etc from the likes of Nightmares on Wax, Tek9, Terranova, Les Nubians, Runaways UK, 4Hero, etc. As with most of Spinna's releases, there's a second disc of the unmixed original tracks by themselves. This idea is cool when the originals are quite different from how they eventually sound when incorporated into a mix (as in the case of his old soul/r'n'b release Strange Games), and makes the DJ look good, too, but in the case of this title, the originals aren't that different from how they sound within his set. Still, an enjoyable comp.

SPINNA, DJ Strange Games and Things (Barely Breaking Even) 3cd 18.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A three cd collection of classic old soul, disco and r'n'b gems. The first disc is a continuous mix by DJ Spinna, whose skills aren't all there but somehow his clunkiness adds a charm to the whole thing. The two remaining discs are the originals of each of the records he used in his set, and this is such a treasure trove of good music, 27 tracks in all, well worth the price. With Minnie Riperton, Bohannon, Marvin Gaye, Donald Byrd, Sugarhill Gang, Foxy, Johnny Bristol, Roy Ayers, and many more.
RealAudio clip: MINNIE RIPERTON "Reasons"
RealAudio clip: LEMURIA "Hunk of Heaven"

SPINY ANTEATERS Current (Kranky) cd 13.98

SPIRACLE Iris (Clouds Of Static) cd 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Spiracle's 20 minute composition Iris was actually released well over a year ago, but Clouds Of Static has been dormant ever since Mnortham abdicated his position as the artistic director for the label. It's a real shame, as there were some real gems which might have come out on the label, with recordings by Murmer and John Duncan and talks of reissuing the brilliant first cd-r from Of (aka Loren Chasse). Yet, none of that will probably come to pass; and it was quite possible that the remaining stock of what was released through Clouds Of Static may have languished in some Swiss castle (quite literally) for years. Fortunately, we were able to uncover a few copies of Iris by Spiracle (aka Hitoshi Kojo, whose collaboration with Maurizio Bianchi is reviewed elsewhere on this list). Taking cues from David Jackman's arsenal of growling harmonics from bowed metals, Ellen Fullman's long-stringed instruments, and Akio Suzuki's impeccable ear for tactile events, Hitoshi offers a dynamic drone composition of compacted layers of acoustic sound with slowly scraped strings amassing into a sustained drone made porous by tumbling fistfuls of sand poured out upon the floor and a weirdly compelling flanging bellow. We only got a dozen or so of these in; and we don't plan on storming any Swiss castle anytime soon, so these few copies are probably all that we'll be able to get!
MPEG Stream: "Iris"

SPIRAL JOY BAND Lullabies For Jeff Dean (VHF) cd 13.98
By now, avid AQ list readers should know just how much we love the drone, and how much we love dark swirling stretched out ambient music. And just how much of our favorite drone music comes from the always impeccable VHF record label: Sunroof!, Total, Skullflower, Vibracathedral Orchestra, Flying Saucer Attack, Pelt and many more. And now you can add Spiral Joy Band to the list. A long running Pelt offshoot, this is the first official release from the SJB after having formed almost 5 years ago. The Spiral Joy Band focuses on just one element of Pelt's sound, bowed and struck metal, and makes that their sonic focal point, stretching the sound of reverberating metal into massive trance like drones. Singing bowls, gonga, sruti box, bells, flute, esraj, tanpuram, shenai, tongue drum, dumbek, shakers and electronics all contribute to the drone, or add subtle melodies and simple rhythms, each subtle layer and woven into a slow burning, dreamily hypnotic thrum. The final track adds some unlikely piano, that gives it a very laid back seventies hippy space psych prog vibe, with tinkling chimes, huge washes of gong and strange atonal melodies, all hovering above a distant rumbling Tony Conrad-like drone. Nice.
MPEG Stream: "Lullaby 1"
MPEG Stream: "Lullaby 2"

SPIRES OF OXFORD cd 13.98
Beautiful, trancey, solo guitar improvisation from the Azusa Plane guy.

SPIRES THAT IN THE SUNSET RISE s/t (Graveface) cd 9.98
Finally available on cd! The debut recording from this Chicago trio of damaged hippie primitivists who unleash a miasmic flow of creepy, primal free-folk ragas woven from guitars, cellos, autoharp, melodica, harmonium, spike fiddle(!), mbira, piano, violin, voice and percussion. Childlike and playful, innocent and haunting, disturbing and dreamy, eliciting acid fried flashbacks to such pagan classics as Comus, Current 93, the Wicker Man and of course NNCK and the Sunburned Hand!
MPEG Stream: "I Am Sewn"
MPEG Stream: "Birds Of Paradise"

SPIRES THAT IN THE SUNSET RISE s/t (Galactic Zoo / Eclipse) lp 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
This is the debut recording from this Chicago trio of damaged hippie primitivists who unleash a miasmic flow of creepy, primal free-folk ragas woven from guitars, cellos, autoharp, melodica, harmonium, spike fiddle(!), mbira, piano, violin, voice and percussion. Childlike and playful, innocent and haunting, disturbing and dreamy, eliciting acid fried flashbacks to such pagan classics as Comus, Current 93, the Wicker Man and of course NNCK and the Sunburned Hand!

SPIRIT CARAVAN Dreamwheel (Meteor City) cdep 11.98
Not long after their excellent debut album Jug Fulla Sun, ex-Saint Vitus/The Obsessed frontman Wino and his new band (a.k.a. Shine) of stoner rock doomsters return with this equally smokin' 5-song ep. Great stuff. However, could the cover art be any worse?

SPIRIT CARAVAN Elusive Truth (Tolotta) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Here's the eagerly-awaited second full-length slab of doom-groove from legendary guitarist and vocalist Wino (aka Scott Weinrich) and his band of stoner rock saviors/survivors Spirit Caravan. Like their 1999 debut "Jug Fulla Sun", this builds on the sound of Wino's previous downer-metal outfit The Obsessed (and his experience singing for psychedelic-punk doom-lords Saint Vitus back in the day) for some decidedly heavy ROCK action by veterans who really know what they're doing.
RealAudio clip: "Black Flower"
RealAudio clip: "Elusive Truth"

SPIRIT CARAVAN Elusive Truth (Tolotta) lp 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Here's the eagerly-awaited second full-length slab of doom-groove from legendary guitarist and vocalist Wino (aka Scott Weinrich) and his band of stoner rock saviors/survivors Spirit Caravan. Like their 1999 debut "Jug Fulla Sun", this builds on the sound of Wino's previous downer-metal outfit The Obsessed (and his experience singing for psychedelic-punk doom-lords Saint Vitus back in the day) for some decidedly heavy ROCK action by veterans who really know what they're doing.

SPIRIT CARAVAN Jug Fulla Sun (Tolotta) cd 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Scott "Wino" Weinrich (ex-Saint Vitus, The Obsessed) returns with his new stoner rock power trio (until recently, known as Shine). This, their debut full-length, was made possible by Joe "Wino's biggest fan" Lally of Fugazi's new label Tolotta. Doom, groove, riffs, Wino's trademark Ozzy-tinged vox: this is the real deal. On Allan's top ten for the year so far.

SPIRIT CARAVAN So Mortal Be (Tolotta) 7" 3.50
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Two new tracks from these stoner metal heroes. The A-side's "So Mortal Be" is typical rockin' Spirit Caravan fare, while on B-side "Undone Mind" bassist Dave Sherman takes over on vocals from Wino, his rougher, more wretched pipes fitting well with the song's doomier vibe. White vinyl by the way.

SPIRIT CARAVAN The Last Embrace (Meteor City) 2cd 21.00
Joe Lally's Tolatta label sadly seems to have shuffled off this mortal coil (that's why we can't get those first two Dead Meadow albums anymore, too bad for new fans who came to that band via their debut on Matador this year) and Tolotta's flagship stoner rock outfit Spirit Caravan did the same, as well, with leader Scott "Wino" Weinrich moving on to new projects The Hidden Hand and Place Of Skulls, notching more bands on a resume that also includes The Obsessed and Saint Vitus. But demand remains for Spirit Caravan's two Tolotta albums so Meteor City has stepped in with this double cd that combines 'em into one neat package -- plus bonus material that makes this essential for completists even if they've already got the original albums. Perhaps Meteor City will arrange to do the same with the Dead Meadow discs? Hint hint. Anyway, if you're a Wino/Spirit Caravan fan who missed either Jug Fulla Sun or Elusive Truth, now you've got another chance. And in case you're unfamilar with Wino & co., but stoner-curious, here's a quote from our review of Jug Fulla Sun, which was definitely one of the top stoner rock releases of the past ten years: "Doom, groove, riffs, Wino's trademark Ozzy-tinged vox: this is the real deal." In addition to the two whole Tolotta albums, these cds include three totally unreleased songs, plus five 7" and comp tracks, and three demo tracks recorded by the band back when they were known as Shine.
MPEG Stream: "The Last Embrace"
MPEG Stream: "Powertime"

SPIRITU / VILLAGE OF DEAD ROADS split (Meteor City) cd 14.98

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS Ad Astra (Music For Nations) cd 16.98
The latest groove rock offering from ex-Carcass guitarist Michael Amott. No Carcass-y grind here, just swampy, grindy, bluesy stoner rock. But still heavy as fuck, with heaping helpings of Hammond organ ladled all over it.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS Demons (Inside Out) cd 19.98

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS On Fire (Music For Nations) cd 16.98
'70s lovin', long-haired n' heavy (musically speaking, that is -- they look kinda skinny, actually) Swedes the Spiritual Beggars, whom you know as the "stoner rock" band of ex-Carcass, current Arch Enemy six-string wizard Mike Amott, introduce a new singer (the guy from Grand Magus, another one of what must be millions of Swedish stoner rock bands) with "On Fire". It's going to take a few more listens than we've had the chance to experience to determine if this new album is any kind of step up for a band we already like quite a bit, or just more of the same -- but so far, anyway, it seems pretty cool! The Hammond organ still throbs mightily, as they run through rockin' riff-fests and mellow, spacey psychedelic excursions. And the new guy's vocals are just fine, if a little cliched (their old singer Spice wasn't Spiritual Beggar's drawing card anyway). In the mood for a loud n' proud, modern-day take on Deep Purple and the like? This ought to fit the bill.
RealAudio clip: "Street Fighting Saviours"

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS s/t (Regain) cd 14.98
The rare first album by Swedish stoner rockers Spiritual Beggars finally reissued on cd with four bonus tracks! Not to be confused with fellow stoner rockers Spirit Caravan, Spiritual Beggars is the band in which ex-Carcass, current Arch Enemy six stringer Michael Amott gets his heavy '70s groove on. Fans of their other albums (like the mighty "Mantra III" and "Ad Astra") will want this of course, but those other albums are recommended for starters 'cause we really dig the Hammond organ action that's not yet a part of the Beggars' sound on this one, recorded as a pure power trio. But then again, that leaves more room for Mike's guitar. Swirling psychedelic stomp for fans of Kyuss, Monster Magnet, late-period Trouble, and the like. Also note the "Foxy Lady" cop on opener "Yearly Dying", and "Purple Haze" is clearly part of their vocabulary too.
RealAudio clip: "If This Is All"

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS / GRAND MAGUS Split (Southern Lord) 7" 4.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Two excellent stoner rock groups go head to head on this split single: Mike Amott's much-loved Spiritual Beggars and newcomers Grand Magus.

SPIRITUALAIRES, THE OF HURTSBORO, ALABAMA Singing Songs Of Praise (CaseQuarter) cd 14.98

SPIRITUALIZED Amazing Grace (BMG) cd 17.98
Jason Pierce is back, taking the gospelized space-pop of his band Spiritualized into the most rawked-out Stooges territory he's traipsed since his days in the legendary Spacemen 3. Seriously, even the vocals on here sound a bit (too much?) like Iggy! It's Brit pop gone bad -- Windy quipped that this sounds like an Unhappy Mondays. So, if you're looking for the blissful sounds found on Spiritualized's classic Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space you'll have to look harder. But if you can dig some punky, psychedelic rock bombast then you'll dig this, and you'll also find some nicely slow, sparse, sad songs on here too. Indeed, while your first impression is gonna be Raw Power, the distorted guitars give way to the kind of raw (heavenly) power you can only evoke with the help of choirs and horns and stuff. Pretty nice overall.
[Btw, Windy has a question: has Pierce ever spoken publicly about his Christian beliefs? There's a lot of flirting w/it on this album (name of band, duh... title, duh) -- but one wonders how much of it is admiration for gospel style vs genuine devoutness. Just wondering.]
MPEG Stream: "This Little Life Of Mine"
MPEG Stream: "The Ballad Of Richie Lee"

SPIRITUALIZED Come Together (Dedicated/Arista) cdsingle 4.98
2 versions each of two songs ("Come Together" and "Broken Heart") -- the Two Lone Swordsmen remix of "Come Together" is SO GOOD that it alone is worth the price of this disc.

SPIRITUALIZED Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space (Dedicated/Arista) cd 12.98
No, we do not have the specially-packaged version of this cd, those went in one day. Nevertheless, this is a finely crafted, swirling space-pop album. If you can fight off those visions of floating VW bugs in your head, you'll be rewarded with an effervescent listening experience.

SPIRITUALIZED Let It Come Down (Special Edition) (Arista) cd 17.98
A lot has transpired since the superb "Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space" album from 1997. Members Sean Cook, Damon Reece and Mike Mooney were given the boot, but swiftly moved on to form the very similar sounding Lupine Howl (which we included in the last AQ List). The lone remaining member Jason Pierce forged ahead recruiting a whole new band. The result? More hugely epic Brit space-rock overflowing with bombast and melodrama... but perhaps too much? On my first few listens, this seemed to fall short of the polished mark of the previous album, with the textures and intricacies replaced by sheer volume and rock power. Spiritualized are reknowned for their jaw-dropping packaging and this one's no exception (a plastic case with a girl's bas-relief face, jello mold style), although once again... yep, it just can't surpass that of its predecessor (the blister pack of individual single track cd "pills"). Cool though.

SPIRITUALIZED Let It Come Down (Special Edition) (Arista) lp 14.98
A lot has transpired since the superb "Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space" album from 1997. Members Sean Cook, Damon Reece and Mike Mooney were given the boot, but swiftly moved on to form the very similar sounding Lupine Howl (which we included in the last AQ List). The lone remaining member Jason Pierce forged ahead recruiting a whole new band. The result? More hugely epic Brit space-rock overflowing with bombast and melodrama, but perhaps too much? On my first few listens, this seemed to fall short of the polished mark of the previous album, with the textures and intricacies replaced by sheer volume and rock power.

SPIRITUALIZED Royal Albert Hall, October 10, 1997: Live (Arista) 2cd 17.98

SPIRITUALIZED Songs In A & E (Sanctuary) cd 13.98
If you love Jason Pierce and Spiritualized you'll find plenty to entertain yourself within these Songs In A & E, though the record fails to capture the intensity and otherworldliness of such masterworks as Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, nor the sonorous integrity of Lazer Guided Melodies. This being Mr. Spaceman's first full length outing since his battle with pneumonia in '05, there is a distinctly weary tone to his voice, as well as notably morbid fixation in the lyrics. The last song ends with him chanting the words "funeral home," repeatedly. And with that said, ironically, one gets the sense that we haven't gotten our last great Spiritualized record, though this isn't it. Rather it seems Pierce is transitioning from a less spaced-out and youthful visionary into a more reflexive and bluesy troubadour. The vocals are far less effected on this record than in previous outings, and the acoustic guitar is allowed more attention in the face of the usual choirs, and luscious orchestration. Perhaps on the heels of his spare contributions to the Mister Lonely soundtrack, this is less significant, but in comparison to the broader patterns in his career, it is. Interestingly, the most richly orchestrated songs on the record are partitioned separately as instrumentals carrying the titles, H1-H5. Still here, naturally, are the shockingly, and sometimes even humorously frank references to heavy drug use, but it's perhaps in that honesty that we need Pierce. He seems to be fighting his way slowly into a new paradigm, the peak of which, we hope, will be something to behold.
MPEG Stream: "Soul On Fire"
MPEG Stream: "Borrowed Your Gun"

SPITE EXTREME WING Magnificat (Beyond...Prod.) cd 12.98

SPITZ, MARC AND BRENDAN MULLEN We Got the Neutron Bomb (Three Rivers Press) book 13.00
"You get a donkey and you get a baboon and you feed 'em a diet of chili and custard for thirty days and then you get 'em to fuck. Their children would be the Germs." -- Kim Fowley
That's just one of the choice quotes in this book, which chronicles the LA punk scene in much the same oral-narrative way that the wonderful Please Kill Me did for the NY punk scene of the '60s and '70s. This book starts in the mid-'60s with the Doors, and covers the Runaways, the Screamers, the Weirdos, X, Germs, the Cramps, Black Flag, SST, Slash magazine, etc etc etc. Everyone is mean and says that Belinda Carlisle was fat and ugly -- aw! The authors went straight to the source, if the sources were still living, so this is a story told from the horse's mouth -- the narrative smoothly constructed from the interviews. While not as perfectly-executed as Please Kill Me, this book is nonetheless highly recommended.

SPK Dokument III0 1979-1983 (Vinyl On Demand) 6lp/shirt/box 200.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Anyone familiar with the Vinyl On Demand label is probably well aware of how utterly amazing their releases are, how well researched, gorgeously packaged, and of course how limited and difficult to track down. We managed to get three titles, all of them amazing, we only have one copy of each, and wanted to give some of our mailorder folks a shot and snagging one of these. So a brief description follows, and we only have a single copy so first come first served.
SPK, Industrial legends. This over the top, already out of print box set is a doozy. Compiling recordings that document the band's first 5 years, the box includes 6 lps, all housed in printed numbered sleeves, collecting several long gone tape only releases as well as a handful of live performance. Also included is a shirt, with the same image as the box, size XL, a 36 page booklet, all housed in a gorgeous hinged wooden box.
LIMITED TO 800 COPIES. OUT OF PRINT. WE HAVE ONE SINGLE COPY! On your mark, get set, go...

SPLEEN Little Scratches (Function 8) cd 11.98
Rob Ellis of PJ Harvey plays a tense mix of Barry Adamson-style Bombast. Features ex-God drummer Lou Giccotelli & ex-PJ Harvey John Parish.

SPLENDOR MYSTIC SOLIS Heavy Acid Blowout Tensions (Galactic Zoodisk) lp 14.98
Well, there may not be a new Acid Mothers Temple record this list, but for those of you who find such news disappointing will surely be satisfied with this lp in the interim. SMS features 2/3 of the holy trinity of Japanese psych rock, Kawabata Makoto of Acid Mothers Temple, and Nahnjo Asahito of Mainliner, High Rise, Musica Transonic, etc., missing only the freak out guitar and whale-call wails of Keiji Haino. Oh, so close to being the record that would send all you Japan-psych-freaks over the edge. Haino, Kawabata, Nanjo...I don't think the world could handle it. Instead, the band is rounded out by Shimura Koji from White Heaven, High Rise, and Mainliner, Sasaki Hisashi of the Ruins, and Chicago psychrock freak Plastic Crimewave. And what you get is just what you might expect, massive, rambling, spaced out psychedelic jams, three guitars wide, roiling and seething, rocking and frenzied, occasionally drifting into wild and dreamy cosmic blissouts.

SPLINT! Moro (Lampse) cd 17.98
We were a bit thrown for a loop when we first heard this Lampse release by Splint! We've been digging everything Lampse has been putting out (Machinefabriek, Jasper TX, Gultskra Artikler) all of which are more on the noisy, murky, crackly and mysterious side of things. Splint! however has a sound way different then any of their labelmates, but we're always happy to when a label mixes things up and shows us they aren't just a one trick pony. Splint! are a quartet who merge electronics with trumpet, synthesizer, guitar and percussion to create a rich and moody sound that is influenced equally by exploratory jazz (think Bill Laswell's reconstruction of Miles Davis) as it is the sonic explorations of Delia Derbyshire and the archives of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. We weren't grabbed at first, but as the record progresses, it builds and expands, unveiling a more engaging and compelling sound that unfolds blossoming-flower-like after the first couple tracks. In fact there are even moments that make us think of what a group on Rune Grammofon covering later Coil might sound like. So while on the surface this is much different sounding then anything else on Lampse, it still shares those intangible qualities of mystery and suspense that has made Lampse one of our favorite new labels.
MPEG Stream: "Fooj"
MPEG Stream: "Sintjom"
MPEG Stream: "Bommosytsy"

SPLINTER GROUP s/t (W.D.T.C.H.C.) cd 13.98
G.E. Stinson and friends!

SPLIT LIP RAYFIELD Should Have Seen It Coming (Bloodshot) cd 14.98
It's kind of weird. We usually like our country dark and slow and lugubrious and miserable. And SLOW. But Split Lip Rayfield are one of the few bands who are a full on, rollicking bluegrass outfit, that kick ass and still hit the spot. Fierce and furious, these guys are all wicked players, insane fiddling, blazing banjo-ing and manic mandolining mesh into wild and wooly footstomping knee slapping old school bluegrass. With awesome harmonies and clever funny lyrics (songs like "Redneck Tailgate Dream", "A Little More Cocaine Please" and "C'mon Get Your Gun") these guys are unbeatable. When they do slow down even for a song or two, it's soooooo good. Dark and minor key, heartfelt and miserable. But even when they are at their most sensitive they are secretly taking the piss, like on the seemingly poignant, perfectly titled "Just Like A Gillian Welch Song."
MPEG Stream: "Hundred Dollar Bill"
MPEG Stream: "Just Like A Gillian Welch Song"
MPEG Stream: "Truth And Lies"

SPOERRI, BRUNO Gluckskugel (Finders Keepers) cd 23.00
The Andy Votel-affilated Finders Keepers label rarely, if ever, disappoints. They've brought us "Welsh Rare Beat", Jean-Claude Vannier, The Yamasuki Singers, etc., etc. Yep, Finders Keepers dig the crates like nobody's business, coming up with some incredible, unheralded psych/prog/funk gems to reissue. That brings us to Gluckskugel, a very interesting n' entertaining first-time-on-cd collection of music by Germany's Bruno Spoerri, whom we're told is an electronic, musique-concrete composer with Can connections. He certainly made a whole bunch of far-out, fun sounds in the '70s, ranging from rejected TV themes to experimental film soundtracks to industry demos, as documented here. Weird, wild, kinda kitschy! Sometimes augmenting his arsenal of electronics and tape loopings are live jazz/funk musicians, resulting in plenty of percolating, analog-synth laden grooves that recall the work of Goblin or John Carpenter (without the fright factor). Or, Spoerri would work alone at home with his musical gizmos, producing, for instance, the aptly titled "Drillin'" from 1971, using an early-model Japanese drum machine to great effect (and to the annoyance of his family). This comes packaged with cool photos and track-by-track liner notes by Spoerri himself, who promises that more unreleased music of similar vintage might be forthcoming, if he can find the tapes!
MPEG Stream: "Gluckskugel - The Race"
MPEG Stream: "Les Electroniciens"

SPOILS OF WAR II (Shadoks) cd 15.98
From 1967-1970, deep in their own little world in Urbana, Ill., the Spoils of War started making peculiar pop songs, layered with exotic instruments and experimental electronics, all performed with infectious warmth and emotion. One moment, the group is creating music that sounds like a jingle that sticks in your head forever, while the next moment, they allowed a folky sense of emotion and levity to rise above all else.
You know something pretty great is going on when you hear instruments more common in Afghanistan and Russia -- such as the domra and rubab -- on a record that also encompasses lots of heavy organ, male and female vocals, and a '60s fuzzy rock guitar sound. The Spoils of War had an ability to be both smart and catchy, sultry and playful, haunting and wholesome. They were the even-more-obscure sonic cousins of the United States of America. The spike in the drink of the Free Design. The fun daydream of Van Dyke Parks hanging out with the Monkees. Acid rock with a skip to its feet -- and a whistle in its pocket. Not a new reissue but one we just had to get around to listing.
Even the few of us who don't really dig this all that much, LOVE the bonus tracks, live and blown out acid drenched droning krautrocky nirvana, spacey and murky, heavy and so weird and amazing!
MPEG Stream: "Big Sugar Plantation"
MPEG Stream: "Frosted Windows"
MPEG Stream: "Big City Frank's Drum Solo"

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE - MUSIC FROM THE MOVIE AND MORE (OST) (Sire) cd 17.98
We love Spongebob. How can you not? Voiced by Mr. Show's Tom Kenny, SBSP is dumb and silly and loud and obnoxious enough to keep kids giggling and mesmerized, but it's also so drug addled and completely fucked that adults will be in stitches as well. Cartoonist Kaz even does some of the design so you know it's gonna be weird. Don't believe us? Go see the movie. You will understand. And if that's not enough, the soundtrack is fucking amazing! Mostly original tracks written specifically for the film by bands that are huge fans (or whose kids are huge fans). Flaming Lips perform their ditty "Spongeob And Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall Of Energy", a song so good it could have come right off Yoshimi or the Soft Bulletin. Ween contribute "Ocean Man" (from one of their proper records, but so fitting for Spongebob), a warbly underwater pop song with muted melodies and slowed down vocals. Then there's tracks by Wilco (exclusive!), Motorhead, Electrocute, The Shins, and Avril Lavigne (who some of us love so pppttthhh!) doing the Spongebob theme, as well as a bunch of awesome songs from the movie including the Twisted Sister-ish "Goofy Goober Rock" and the Spongebob theme performed by a bunch of pirates! Awesome!
MPEG Stream: FLAMING LIPS "Spongebob And Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall Of Energy"
MPEG Stream: WEEN "Ocean Man"

SPOOKS S.I.O.S.O.S. Volume 1 (Artimis) cd 16.98
Imagine the Roots, if Busta Rhymes and Onyx were members, and Bjork sang all the refrains. Sounds like a mess, but it works perfectly. This was kind of a hard record to pin down. The first track is all stuttering Timbaland, with a demented, off-kilter, Busta Rhymes style flow. Track 2 is a bit of jungle fluff, but from then on, it's all cream. Kind of like a grittier, streetwise Bjork record, with catchy as fuck melodies, wicked beats, and really funny, super creative rapping. Now usually I don't go for the light stuff (you know, Del, Tribe Called Quest, and all that), but the Spooks manage to add some grit and grime, making this record darker than I expected. And consequently, my favorite hip hop record since the Zion I.

SPOOKY DANCE BAND Scary Reality Nightmare Fantasy: A Retrospective (Mississippi Records & Friends) lp 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The Spooky Dance Band were an offshoot of Belligham's legendary funereal garage folk blues outift The Reeks And The Wrecks. The tragic death of Reeks guitarist Orion Satushek ended several brief but gloriously productive musical collaborations. The Reeks were gone, leaving a recently finished album, released earlier this year on Andee's tUMULt label, as well as a record by the Spooky Dance Band a group that featured Orion, his Reeks bandmate Jason Sands and his good friend Caroline Buchalter. The Spooky Dance Band shares a lot of sonic similarities with the Reeks, a stumbling, basement recorded, home made vibe, sort of dusty and grimy, a ramshackle jubilance, and a totally infectious love of music making that came through in every note they played. But where the Reeks took folk and blues and garage rock and twisted those all up into a beautifully skronky lurch, the SDB take bouncy circus keyboards, gypsy folk and angular new wave and turn it into a lush and bouncy warm and warbly haunted house new wave dance party. Farfissa organs wash over moaning deadpan vocals, wild wah guitars balance atop woozy sea sick rhythms, Buchalter's viola spinning melancholy gypsy melodies over infectious angular new wave punk rock. There's even a couple of covers, truly creepy haunting versions of Brian Eno's "Baby's On FIre" And T. Rex's "Cosmic Dancer", all droned out and slightly atonal, giving them a super otherworldly vibe.
Comes packaged in a gorgeous gatefold, with lots of photos and some truly heartfelt liner notes from bandmates and friends. R.I.P. Orion...

SPOOKY THAT SUBLIMINAL KID, DJ & DAVE LOMBARDO Present Drums Of Death (Thirsty Ear) cd 16.98
Hmmm. Don't know exactly what to make of this. It's a sorta sci-fi themed mish mash of frantic beats, scratches, spacey fx and heavy guitars credited to the odd pairing of uber-intellectual DJ Spooky and Slayer/Fantomas drummer Dave Lombardo, with such equally unlikely guests as Chuck D, Dalek, Meredith Monk, Meat Beat Manifesto's Jack Dangers and Living Colour's Vernon Reid. Maybe the only question to ask is: how come Buckethead's not on this too? ...or Bill Laswell? Or Anthrax?? There's something very early '90s about this, and the trio of updated, electro-metallized PE raps that Chuck D contributes -- "Brother's Gonna Work It Out (2005)", "B-Side Wins Again (2005)", "Public Enemy #1 (2005)"-- just add to the deja vu. We mainly ordered this in 'cause the last unlikey Dave Lombardo fcvcollaboration (the one where he plays Vivaldi!) we encountered was actually weirdly cool. But this... not sure why it exists, exactly. Some parts are alright in and of themselves, but it doesn't seem to add up to anything other than a demonstration of the range of Spooky's Rolodex.
MPEG Stream: "B-Side Wins Again (2005)"
MPEG Stream: "Terra Nullius (Cyborg Rebellion on Colony Planet Zyklon 15)"

SPOOKY VS. SPECTRE s/t (Black Hoodz) 10" 8.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A split 10" with two tracks from each. Spooky does hyper kinetic blunted drum & bass followed by a weird little downtown jazz / electronica / illbient number, while Spectre keeps up the doom and gloom with his morose style of hip hop.

SPOOKY, DJ Creation Rebel (Trojan) cd 14.98

SPOOKY, DJ Haunted Beats Vol.1 (Liquid Sky) lp 8.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Spooky's very own album of breaks for adventurous DJs. Still retains respect to the old school battle records, but has creepy repetitions we would expect from DJ Spooky. For battling with goblins, phantoms and the like.

SPOOKY, DJ In Fine Style (Sanctuary) 2cd 17.98

SPOOKY, DJ Modern Mantra (Shadow) cd 15.98
(darn we're out of this new Spooky remixing Shadow label stuff thingambob, and I had so many nice things to say about Mr. Miller.) (actually now supposedly we have one) (oh, crap. do i really have to?) (yes, now go do as you're told, and listen to dj spooky) (of all of the horrors that could be thrust upon me, did it have to be spooky?) (quit whining) (hey, i'm just saying... why don't you go fuck yourself, and while you're at it go fuck spooky) (you can't talk to me that way) (oh yeah?) (yeah!) (bif) (bang) (pow) (thwap) (slam) (thud) (ouch, no biting allan!) (thup) (crak) (bam) pant, pant, pant, pant (so will you review that spooky record?) (never! i quit) (no you can't quit, you're fired!) (go screw, jerkface) (right back atcha!)(who said that?!)

SPOOKY, DJ Optometry (Thirsty Ear) cd 15.98
An interesting project -- DJ Spooky, resident illbient black boho issuing missives to the masses from NYC (eeuw, I'm starting to talk like him), enlists the talents of excellent avant / free jazzmen: shimmering piano courtesy Matthew Shipp, cakewalkin' groovy bass from William Parker, squeals and cries from Joe McPhee's horns, athletic, careful drumming from Guillermo E. Brown. And of course, Spooky on laptop / turntables / kalimba etc. I was all set for this to suck, but it doesn't suck. It's "jazzy" trip hop that works. It's actually some of the most accessible work I've heard from these jazz virtuosi, so it's a nice introduction to them if you find truly free jazz too abstract to enjoy. Once in a while some sadly predictable breakbeats cheapen the music, but those segments don't occur too often. Augmented with the vocal flow of Carl Hancock Rux, Napoleon, High Priest (Anti-Pop Consortium). Pauline Oliveros even makes an appearance. If you like the clips below, you'll like the album.
WARNING: Just for heavens sake *don't* read the liner notes -- Spooky's so frickin' pretentious he ruins the experience. Let others do the critical analysis, no one wants to hear you analyze your own work, man! It's as if he thinks we won't "get it" unless he takes us by the hand and explains. The guy needs an editor:
"Check the vibe as jazz for the gene-splicing generation. An echo of the here and now put through the hard drive... It's a voodoo economics of the sound waves rolling across the basilar membrane... It's a post-rational thing... It's a synaethesia [sic] thing...Use your eyes to hear and your ears to see -- check the rhythm reality." Aaargh! Is he stoned or something?
RealAudio clip: "ibid, desmarches, ibid"
RealAudio clip: "Reactive Switching Strategies for the Control of Uninhabited Air"
RealAudio clip: "It's a mad, mad, mad, world"

SPOOKY, DJ Rhythm Science (Sub Rosa) cd 14.98