Ecstatic Cosmic Union - XCU - (EID 007)

crystal-covered healing vibrations leave one in a trichome trance.   peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Say your farewells in advance of pressing play.  Once you arrive in the realm where Ecstatic Cosmic Union resides, the heady vibrations may obviate the need to return.  XCU, the latest from this Seattle husband and wife duo on venerable Eiderdown Records, guides you through sparsely populated climates that pulsate with celestial energy.  XCU swirls with interminable buoyancy through the plumes of dank indica haze that envelop the atmosphere.  From these lovely travelers emanate six cosmic lofi zoners comprised of guitar, synths, congas and incantations.  These tracks were endowed with life at the duo's XCU Experiential Research Center - i would like to be a subject!  My hypothesis - you are going to grip this tape and lift-off will soon commence - is such a sure bet that it exists in the right tail region of the normal distribution. With music like this, the only constraints are self-imposed.  Let's ride this heavenly tide until the flame of life becomes enervated.  Some tracks boast an outright cosmic funk style, while others mine the internal structures where outliers exist and the air is thin.  Admirers of cosmic synth, new age, krautrock, J D Emmanuel, Peaking Lights and Sun Araw will be in heaven with these sounds. One of the greatest joys of listening to music is being introduced to something by a friend.  Thus, XCU  has become one of my favorite nugs of the year; something to which i continually return, which highlights and enhances the good vibrations.

XCU billows in your head like a blazing dollop of hash oil - it's not long before it envelops your being.  'Center of Light' illuminates your chakras with new age vibrations.  Heady rhythms consume the head as light passages of synth and a guitar loop bring the breath and the moment into alignment.  It feels so good to close the eyes and revel in these ebullient waves.  The cosmic funk is ubiquitous in the symmetrical  oscillations of 'X=C=U'.  Outer realm synth transmissions dance among uplifting rhythms and fuzz.  If you still feel tethered to the earth, then the next track, '∞ Gratitude', will escort you farther away from the core.  An inward looking jam, it's comprised of reverberating drone and effervescent synth that accelerates across the myriad of synapses.  Fuzzed guitar is sprinkled over the track like fine cosmic dust.  The last track on side A promulgates the type of vibe that makes life worth living.  Wah and fuzz crystals glisten, while breathy incantations and lovely congas float effortlessly through plumes of Bubba.  An incredible side!!  The flip maintains elevation as 'Skarab's Bones' ascends the final tier with reverberating energy and a righteous groove that is joined by various electronics and interspersed guitar.  The frenetic molecules of 'Skarab's Bones' release their copious energy, descending to a stratum - 'Cave Paintings' - where serene reverberations and tranquil passages of synth meet up with the soothsayer.

I'm not reticent to assert that these jams are the real deal - some of the best of the year.  While i'm not reticent, neither am i surprised.  Adam, from Eiderdown, is operating a great label.  He is highly adept at bringing aural and visual elements into balance.  The artwork and design - credited to Ecstatic Cosmic Union and printed by A. Crawshaw for Broken Press - for his tapes are among the most appealing in the tape scene.  A true 'gripper and ripper', obtain a copy of this wonderful tape directly from Eiderdown!

peace and love, friends :)

Golden Gunn - S/T (TLR 095)

 top shelf RSD grooves from Three Lobed.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

 When it comes to Record Store Day (RSD) releases, Three-Lobed Recordings has few peers.  Last year they released Eight Trails, One Path, which was a favorite of 2012.  Golden Gunn follows that stellar release in true Three-Lobed fashion.  The proprietor of Three Lobed is brimming with excellent ideas.  Coupling the guitar excursions of Alvarius B., Ben Chasny, Lee Ranaldo, Danny Paul Grody among others made for an engaging listening experience.  This time around, Steve Gunn and Hiss Golden Messenger (M.C. Taylor and Scott Hirsch) and others - under the direction of guru Dickie Silk - create another notable Three Lobed release.  There is an intriguing story - wonderfully composed by Brendan Greaves - behind this release.  It's a story that, much like life, is imbued by randomness - the chance meeting between Steve Gunn/Hiss Golden Messenger and Dickie Silk.  Originally envisioned as a collaboration between Hiss Golden Messenger and Steve Gunn, Dickie Silk's input transformed these songs into something unique. The songs were structured around rhythm tracks that Mr. Silk programmed on his antique drum machine.   Largely an instrumental album with lyrics interspersed, it vacillates between sweetly flowing twang, country-funk foot stompers, and finger-picked folk.  First, I highly recommend reading the story which accompanies the release.  It is something to which I continually return.  After you have absorbed the story, head over to Time-Lag's discog's page to purchase one of the remaining copies. Something beautiful is happening within and between these grooves - one of 2013's best.

peace and love, friends :)

    

Fallen Axe - As The Sun Reached Eternity (Permanent Nostalgia ‎– no. 19)

dank, organic action for your trip to Frank's star.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)   

From the recent batch of Permanent Nostalgia, Fallen Axe - Frank from Hobo Cubes - provides a well-constructed cassette comprised of lofi, guitar-based ambient/psychedelic zoners that radiate faithfully from start to finish.  First, regardless of the moniker and instrument, one observes through listening that Frank is extremely adroit at structuring a track.  He has a proclivity for adding or removing certain elements at the perfect time, which is conspicuous throughout As The Sun Reached Eternity.  Thus, the music breaths with vitality.  Sometimes shimmering pleasantly in the front of your head, and at other times reverberating ominously in the dark recesses, As The Sun Reached Eternity sees this wonderful artist negotiate dark and light ambient zones.

Flowing at ease from the periphery through the third eye, ominous tones resonate and move quickly to the core as the tape commences.  Periodic, acute tones are interspersed, becoming more prevalent near the end.   The first track segues into a section of swiftly moving opaque, hiss covered transmissions.  The third track is one of my favorites.  It's much different than either of the aforementioned tracks - a serene and psychedelic experience.  A placid loop comprised of warm, ascending tones meanders in the sunlight, as other parts are layered.  Next, it floats through the trichome smoke where a metallic drone is accompanied by tangential chords that radiate in random directions.  The fourth track, the last one on side A, is one of the better experimental guitar tracks I have heard this year.  Admirers of the vibe that Steven R. Smith conjures will find much to love here.  A solemn drone and fluctuating rhythms grow in strength as mutant, submerged transmissions swirl uneasily.  Soon, a burgeoning, enlightening drone faithfully moves to the center of the listener's attention.  Accumulating energy, the drone reverberates in your bones, then becomes obscured by the billowing tape hiss only to return with enhanced vigor - a fantastic finish to side A!  The flip is equally as engaging and psyched out, especially the second track.  The combination of warm, sparse tones and portentous noise at the beginning is one of the best parts of the tape.  As the tremors begin to exhibit more energy, the formerly sparse tones begin to resonate and billow, producing lovely multifaceted sonics that orbit and enrich your head.

As The Sun Reached Eternity is a true treat for the ambient/psych heads out there.  Produced in an edition of 36 and held in a lovely paper case with an insert, As The Sun Reached Eternity may be purchased directly from Permanent Nostalgia.  It's hard to beat 3 great tapes for $17.

peace and love, friends :)

Reefer Tree - An Army of Some (Permanent Nostalgia ‎– no. 20)

hazy jams floating above the indica flowers and empty cases of High Life.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

It was only a matter of time until Reefer Tree set up shop in my head.  Upon receiving the latest batch of Permanent Nostalgia, I was intrigued by the lovely designs and inserts.  The Fallen Axe nug - Frank from Hobo Cubes - is a family favorite at the house.  To date, it's Frank's best offering under this moniker - even better than the wonderful Jozik split with Mt. Tjhris.  Also, this batch boasts an excellent tape from R. Franklin under the moniker, Sootskin Pearls.  If you have enjoyed the Cabin Floor Esoterica/House of Sun/Rotifer vibrations, then this tasty nug is ripe for your head.  The green imbued tape from Reefer Tree titled, An Army of Some, had the THC receptors in my head vibrating with alacrity.  There was nearly no background to light a path.  The only information being that this is a duo of Royallen and T.S. Rockafeller.  When in doubt, light a pathway.  And, that's exactly what happened.  The flowers went up in flames and the dank aroma of Reefer Tree made everything right as lofi nugs of warped guitar, synth and samples oozed forth from the speakers, coasting easily atop the layers of tasty smoke that permeated the room.  Their Myspace page proved more informative -  a wild set up of guitar, synth, mics and tapes situated among scenes of High Life homage and stems that populate empty cans of the Beast. What exactly happens when you grind up Reefer Tree bud and throw it in the bong?

Reefer Vision makes the type of music that gives one the impetus to do bong rips lined with kief until sunrise, all the while being buttressed by worn memories and propitious hopes.  These lofi instrumentals form one of the wildest analog experiences of 2013.  At the end, if it has yet to be instilled that smoking in bed is the number one cause of preventable home deaths by fire, then you need to pack it more tightly on the next listen - just not in bed. Heavy amp noise and synth are coupled with samples of a raucous faith-based exhortation as the tape commences.  Assertive elements of dialogue drift hazily in a sea of frayed synth and decomposing drones.  Aggressive bursts of noise are juxtaposed to something which sounds like a xylophone - quite beautiful!  Everything seems to blur together, making it difficult to discern the disparate elements. The nearly inert wall of noise glows around the echoing contour of the tones from the xylophone.  Discordant, periodic noisy transmissions are interspersed with chirping birds.  A frenetic radio dial vacillates among the frequencies, which lead into loops.  A sample from the fire safety message echos and we are lifted to the next level by swirling tones and churning noise.  The flip presents a different experience.  The samples from A  are not present.  Fragmented, fuzzed-out guitar parts populate the early part of side B.  Rolling, mutant noise is the foundation for a section effects-laden notes.  Towards the end, overdriven oscillations introduce a reverb-saturated section of disintegrating guitar loops.

This is exactly the type of vibe you need to prepare your head for Friday night.  Another thing to note: at the cross-section of this lovely trio of tapes is one of my favorite labels, Rotifer.  Expect me to smoke you out with some tasty, hairy, dank Rotifer nugs in the near future.  Returning from that tangent, this is the first in a series of reviews for the recent batch of Permanent Nostalgia - next up is Fallen Axe.  Released in editions of 36 tapes with gorgeous paper-based cases and inserts, the entire batch may be purchased directly from Permanent Nostalgia for $17 postage paid.

peace and love, friends :)  

Günter Schlienz - The Catalanian Tapes (SR - 02)

Visca Günter!  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

The Catalanian Tapes, by Günter Schlienz on Seconds Records, reflects on the ubiquitous beauty of Barcelona.  Recorded in August 2010 while in Barcelona, there is a symbiosis between Günter and this beautiful province of Catalunya. Günter opens his arms to the wonderful people and aesthetic of Barcelona, and, in turn, he enriches the denizens and the climate with three tracks of tranquil, ambient sound. Minimal, gentle currents - recorded on Günter's DIY modular synthesizer - pervade all three tracks.  There is a calmness or lightness instilled in each track, which reflects the natural beauty of the area - omnipresent, but especially on 'Inside The Park Güell'.

'Camp Nou', the first track on side A, refers to the majestic futbol stadium, which is home to FC Barcelona. Across a section of seats in the stadium reads the message, 'Més que un club' - more than a club.  The message corresponds perfectly to Günter's ambient paeans.  Ever since hearing the Goldtimers tape, I've thought of Günter's music as more than a pleasing succession of sounds and ideas.  Rather, the aural serenity emitted from his DIY machines becomes part of the listener and illuminates the soul.  Gentle, fluctuating tones  combine with echoing transmissions and soft, infinitesimal multi-textured rhythms in the beginning.  The calm, fluid soundscape reflects the tiki-taka (quick passing and movement) style of FC Barcelona.  As the elements  coalesce, the track comes into being.  Serene echoing tones spiral upward.  Periodic, gentle rhythms infuse the track with vitality.  Nearly imperceptible bass-like tones combine with soft, voluminous trails of notes that glide along the pitch like a Xavi-Messi give-and-go -  a track that magnifies the splendor of the stadium.  The last track on side A, 'Les Rambles', refers to a street - comprised of shorter streets - in central Barcelona.   Fluid, natural sounds pervade the tree-lined street. Peaceful tones spread over Plaça de Catalunya like the incipient sun, which warms the torso as a succession of looped tranquil tones radiates from the confluence of soft low-ends and blissful transmissions from the mod synth - an outstanding track!  However, don't think we are finished yet.  Side B contains one track, 'Inside The Park Güell', which presents a nice contrast to side A - one of Günter's finest tracks.  Regarding aesthetic, it's minimal beauty will please admirers of Josh Mason.  Designed by Antoni Gaudí, the tranquility of Park Güell informs Günter's art.  At the main terrace, the slow climb to the cosmos commences with the coming together of reverberating and ascending tones.  Field recordings and flute are interspersed throughout. The elongated tones from Günter's mod synth stretch the length of the tiled serpentine bench, which surrounds the main terrace.  A masterful track!

  Everything about this tape is excellent and it is perched on the highest of high shelves, where the trichomes glisten.  The diligence and love put into this tape by Mika Perez (Sylvia Monnier), of Seconds Records, is apparent through the sublime artwork, design, and hand-painted/hand-numbered cassettes.  Home-dubbed in an edition of 32, it is sold out at the source. However, a few copies may be floating around.  Anybody interested can send an inquiry here.

peace and love, friends :)

Aerosol Constellations - Within the Beyond (PF053)

stoney jams for the sunset!!  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Out here in the land of trichomes, Friday - especially during the spring and summer - is a sacrosanct day.  On this special day, the crystals glisten, the kief is plentiful, the nugs are dense and the jams adopt a heavy character!  Thus, the perfect setting for two side-long slow burners of psych drone from Aerosol Constellations - the duo of J.V. Dub and Bill Batt - on Prairie Fire.  Within the Beyond travels through the labyrinth in your mind at sunset, subsequently negotiating the myriad of doors that line the corridor, and then ascending to the crest.  The tones are singed, as bronze-coated flakes flutter through the recesses of the mind.   These tracks - comprised of guitars and percussion - travel a deliberate path.  The elements coalesce at a nice pace - track one is an exemplar.  An excellent facet of this tape is the manner in which the percussion is integrated.  Sitting in the mix at the perfect volume, the percussion allows the reverb-covered riffs and sections of heavy shredding to sit in the fore of your mind.  Admirers of Not Not Fun-era Barn Owl, Charalambides and Heather Leigh will enjoy this trip.

Crystal-covered tones vacillate and are singed by the departing sun.  The pace of these resonating tones gradually increases, which endows it with vibrations not dissimilar to tracks from New York City Ghosts and Flowers.  Reverb-covered drones resonate through the chasm as the smoldering jam slowly ascends the spiral staircase of your head.  The juxtaposition of these elements is beautiful.  Barely audible, the percussion is a portent, as a psychedelic maelstrom soon sweeps all before it.  Hash oil heavy shredding begets formidable energy as the track reaches for the zenith.  The flip commences in a different manner than its companion.  Where side A was somewhat linear, the flip gives no quarter as a vortex of noise consumes everything with such ferocity that it burns the layer of kief from the bowl.  As the traveler warily walks through the smoke, the journey turns inward and the listener is buttressed by reverb-covered riffs and percussion.

A sure sign of anything top shelf in my collection is the appearance of crystal-covered fingerprints on the cassette shell - deeply symbolic of usage.  Within the Beyond is smeared with crystals and a tape that I highly recommend.  2012 was a stellar year for sibling labels, Prairie Fire and Dub Dutch Picnic.  The latter released two standout burners in that year: Exalted King from The Cosmic Dead; and Technical Death Metal Parking Lot from 3 Leafs.  From the jams to the artwork to the cassette shells, everything related to Dub Dutch Picnic / Prairie Fire reflects the diligence and love of the curator.  The sun is high in the sky; thus, the perfect time to purchase Within the Beyond directly from the DDP shop.

peace and love, friends :)
  

Drab Pony - Bulbul (LTFR 030)

L'animaux luv!  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

The preponderant physical characteristics of the glistening Olive Oyl are analogous to the fecund ideas, depth, and adroit composition that make this c45 such an entrancing experience.  Bulbul, the debut tape from Drab Pony on L'animaux Tryst (Field) Recordings is a deep listener's kind of tape.  Drab Pony articulates its vision with loops and samples.  The soundscapes are infused with shimmering guitar parts and elements of musique concrete.  The variegated bud, bursting with purple, orange, green among other hues correspond to the varying atmospheres of the tape.  Without any type of aural perforation, the quiescent, serene drones and tones of side D elevate the listener into the ether, where waves of resonant guitar are interwoven with feedback.  Just like Olive Oyl, there is tremendous amount of ideas and depth to this tape.  First, side D and P are both dynamic, meticulously-crafted compositions that reward the attentive listener.    The subtle introduction, departure, and reappearance of sonic elements throughout the tape - especially the first part of side D - make the tracks sound anything but inert. Additionally, the composition throughout is excellent.  Both sides form slowly through the introduction of various layers and ideas.  On side D, a serene, pulsating drone seizes the listener's head - perfect music for conscious breathing.  Gradually, incipient transmissions become audible from the periphery.  Fluctuating, voluminous tones interspersed with soft rhythms move into attention before departing and reappearing - lovely!  Side P is just as delightful as buzzing low-ends combine intriguingly with elements of musique concrete and reverberating tones.  Reverb-soaked guitar rings into the air, accentuating the mysterious vibrations.  Dark, voluminous tones are a harbinger to a section of  feedback.  Just as the writhing feedback reaches its apex, it fades out and is concurrently followed by a part suffused with luminous, tranquil energy - quite beautiful and an apt ending to this magnificent tape.

L'animaux Tryst is one of my favorite labels, possessing a deep discography that is well-informed by the wonderful taste of it's curator.  They release some fine cassettes, as is evidenced by the Pete Fosco tape and  Concord Ballet Orchestra Players 2xCS.  Bulbul is home-dubbed with a grey-foil cassette shell.  Presented in a polybox with a full color pro-printed vellum insert, the outer sleeve is made of black cotton art paper and faux gold foil.  Released in a limited, hand-numbered edition of 75, Bulbul may be purchased directly from L'animaux Tryst.

peace and love, friends :)