ordering info

new additions

catalogue a - f

catalogue m - r

catalogue s - z

compilations and zines

coming soon

links

 

There is an update email sent out weekly - if you'd like to receive one, email me: gayleboa (at) yahoo.co.uk

Prices are all in pounds / sterling. THEY DO NOT INCLUDE POSTAGE ANYMORE SO PLEASE EMAIL FIRST FOR A TOTAL AND I WILL PACKAGE UP AND WEIGH YOUR ORDER. PLEASE ALSO SPECIFY WHETHER YOU WANT FIRST OR SECOND CLASS POSTAGE. The prices have all been adjusted downwards to account for the change.

g

Ron Geesin - Electrosound LP (Glo Spot) 12

From one giant of electronic sound to another. Glospot launched itself in spectacular style last year with a reissue of a KPM library disc by Delia Derbyshire. This is another reissue of a KPM release, this time by tape splicer extraordinaire, Pink Floyd collaborator and the best thing to come out (the only good thing?) of Stevenston, Ron Geesin. This was originally issued in 1972 and it must have sounded pretty wild then; it sounds pretty wild now. A crazed mix of musique concrete, avant-electronics and wired oscillations given liberal helpings of "RonDelay" and adding up to some seriously surreal sci-fi nursery rhymes. The LP is on heavy blue and white marbled vinyl (meant to be lightning on a blue sky!) and comes in a superb gatefold sleeve with an illustration of Ron in the studio by his son, a photograph of Ron levitating in front of a tape machine and some wonderful sleeve notes from the man himself. I'll leave the final words to him: "pleasantly hysterical". Highest recommendation!

Generals & Such - Quizote cassette (Digitalis Industries) 2

A trio of Californians, Christian Kiefer, Timothy Rowan, & Erik Werner, who perform to a painted score. This one is a 15 foot painting by Werner based on the first 8 chapters of Don Quixote. It is a 73 minute improvised piece which oscillates between tense quiet spells with scattered drums, acoustic guitar scribbles and warm sustained electric guitar tones penetrating the silence, and infrequent flurries of free form sprawl.

Ghost Brames - Static Aero cdr (Leaf Trail) 2

Ghost Brames are French duo Florian Tositti (also the Reggae) and Jacob Garret. This "goes" well with the new Bonecloud Leaf Trail cdr, being another amorphous haze of sound - high wire drones, splashes of ringing metal and deep vocal oms that build into a ringing cacophony of tones, subtle harmonies and wind-tunnel atmospherics.

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra - Poetic cd (Creative Sources) 6.75

In June 2007, Lisbon's Ernesto and Guilherme Rodrigues played in Glasgow with Neil Davidson and Aileen Campbell. Ernesto's work across about 3 decades includes collaborating with a diverse range of people - and I mean truly diverse - including Eugene Chadbourne and Karlheinz Stockhausen. He plays viola and Guilherme plays 'cello on these recordings, which were captured at a full-scale GIO session the following day. Even with string players as strong as these guesting, the balance of the Orchestra doesn't tilt in one direction: from bass clarinet to flute, guitar to trumpet, everyone gets their chance to shine in four vivid pieces. (JC)

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra with Barry Guy - Falkirk cd (FMR) 8

GIO's collaboration with double bass player and composer Barry Guy took the Orchestra into new territory. The concert recording featured here has an improvised piece then the main work, Witch Gong Game 11/10, inspired by Scottish painter Alan Davie. Guy faced the other musicians, playing and directing by means of conduction, a form of structured improvising developed by Butch Morris. The idea is that a language of symbolic gestures and movements suggest a type of sound or dynamic and individual players offer their own reactions. Since this concert, GIO has continued to work on conduction, with group members Raymond MacDonald and Una MacGlone striking the poses. Anyway, what Barry Guy did here was to guide GIO into a distinctly jazzy territory: some sections of Witch Gong have a rather Mingus-like swing to them, others are full blast freeform and, with vocal and spoken word elements, there are some beautiful calmer passages too. Cogent work indeed and a welcome thing to hear this special night captured on record. (JC)

also: Burt / MacDonald Quartet, Neil Davidson

The Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra with Evan Parker - Munich and Glasgow cd (FMR) 8

The Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra has become noted for collaborations with visiting artists and they began these was with legendary free improv saxophonist Evan Parker in 2002. This album was recorded in Glasgow and Munich the following year, when the floating lineup of GIO was 21 strong and included Alex Neilson, Daniel Padden, Peter Nicholson (One Ensemble) Tom Crossley (International Airport) and Raymond MacDonald. I was at the Glasgow concert and my salient memory is of guitarist George Burt playing the chair he was sitting on in addition to his instrument! Having said that, the six pieces here are quite structured, at times recalling the deeply melodic dirge of the Gil Evans Orchestra and, at others, the funkiness of Charles Mingus. A welcome document of a great live experience. (JC)

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra with Maggie Nichols - Which Way Did He Go? cd (FMR) 8

Maggie Nicols had a series of workshops with GIO which encouraged all the players involved to use (and in some cases this meant discover) their voices. In this way, she established a wonderful rapport and, quite literally, harmony with the Orchestra and that shines through in the five pieces on this album. Maggie is of Scottish/North African parentage (she's the daughter of a Berber princess!) and these elements have helped make her one the most distinctive voices in improv circles since the 1970's. Even though GIO members don't sing on this record, Maggie's subtle direction made for quite a different sound from the Orchestra and the whole process was a pleasure for the players and the audience. (JC)

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra & London Improvisers Orchestra - Separately & Together 2cd (Emanem) 15

GIO have been proving for several years now that large scale group improvisation can work successfully and their live sound has translated onto record very well too. As the title suggests, this double disc set features music by the Glasgow orchestra, their "opposite numbers" in London and three substantial pieces where forces are joined. There are devised structures, free works and, for the joint ventures, conductions. All in all, a huge tapestry of sound, from low rumbles of bass clarinet and strings to full-on assault of the impressive forces captured at London's Freedom of the City festival in May 2007. I can't help but mention that the lineup of the London orchestra reads a bit like a who's who of my formative listening experiences in this area: Lol Coxhill, John Rangecroft, Evan Parker, Marcio Mattos, Sylvia Hallett, Veryan Weston, Harry Becket.... impressive - and not just for the names! (JC)

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra / George Lewis - Metamorphic Rock cd (Iorram) 6.75

The time George Lewis spent with GIO in Glasgow was a particularly pleasant one for all concerned. Lewis, the New York trombone legend who has worked with artists as diverse as Gil Evans, Anthony Braxton and Count Basie, enjoyed the people and the city, it seemed, as much as he enjoyed playing. When not involved in workshops with the Orchestra, he might be found sampling single malt whiskies, out shopping or even having a dance at Nice'n'Sleazy's across the road from the CCA where this cd was recorded. I mention these details because Metamorphic Rock s the product of a free session which took place after George & GIO had been rehearsing the main, commissioned, work he was in town to play. This session happened because everyone was enjoying playing so much and wanted to carry on. It is improvised music making born of a joyous moment and it sounds like it too. Just as well the 45 minute span was captured and can be shared via this disc. (JC)

Glider - Ils S'appellent 7" (Bearos) 0.25

gorgeous pastoral post-rock instrumentals from Gavin of Billy Mahonie's side project; I could imagine this sort of thing being released on the Temporary Residence label if it tended more towards the ethereal. 

Glory Fckn Sun 

  • Vision Scorched cd (Pseudoarcana) 5.75

Reissue of this wonderful cd without the book. Features Antony Milton (Nether Dawn, Mrtyu! etc), Ben Spiers & percussionist Simon O'Rorke engaged in ecstatic sun worship. The opening track is a long piece of cosmic improv - the expansive crash of gongs, the deep rumble of guitar, drawn-out drones. Track 2 is an infernal white noise onslaught. The closing track is a ragged electric raga, almost buried beneath layers of intense drone and percussive splash.

  • Spectra LP (Tipped Bowler) 12

Follow-up to that incredible debut on Pseudoarcana by  Antony Milton (Nether Dawn, Mrtyu! etc), Ben Spiers & percussionist Simon O'Rorke. Expansive black holes of noxious gases and an impending sense of ill-ease, which leads onto the second side, bleak Haino-esque squalls of over-layered distortion. Excellent again. Red vinyl.

Goatfooted / Hunting Rituals split cassette (Digitalis) 5

Two Canadian bands. The first, Goatfooted, are a duo who create utterly enthralling ballads from muffled guitars and Sarah Good's enchanting vocals. On the other side Hunting Rituals serve up mysterious electronics and haunting whistles, a bit like Bjerga / Iversen lost in a forest.

The Goner 

  • H.H. 2cdr (Deep Water) 8.50

A double disc adventure into the creative mind of Daniel Westerlund, aka The Goner, which spans enough different textures to keep interest alive all the way. There are looped beats, spooky banjos, distantly miked songs that evoke sunset back porches, the resonant sound of the bodhran, even some funky wah-wah guitar. Well worth further investigation. (JC)

  • Behold A New Traveler cdr (Deep Water) 5.50

Sweden's Daniel Westerlund sings and plays most of the instruments heard in The Goner's music. There's a strong folk element to the songs, although the opening of the album is propelled by a bassline which is straight out of '60s soul and it's selling this record to me straight away. There are a couple of instros here, but Westerlund's vocals are to the fore most of the time and they have something of a Michael Stipe quality about them. Spooky banjos abound, a bit of synth.... it's a very persuasive mix. This review copy is going in the "buy" pile! (JC)

Gorman - The Railroad Earth cassette (Blackest Rainbow) 2

Funereal ritual drones that piles layer upon layer of gloom. Percussion that sounds like a death march and scouring feedback help build an atmosphere on threat on side 1. Side 2 lets a little light in - the drum is still funereally paced but the guitar and wordless vocals float like a sea haar at first light. 

Green Blossoms - Whiskey Leaves cd & 3" cdr (Digitalis) 9.50

I've been immensely looking forward to this follow-up to "Stones & Ecstasy" from 2006. Green Blossoms are a duo featuring Aiko Kogo and Boa favourite Anthony Guerra. Like the debut release this is full of space with simple lines on guitar / ukelele / flute woven into hypnotic meditations. Aiko's vocals are gorgeous, reminiscent of the Tenniscoats on the childlike "We Are Green". Highly recommended. All copies come with a 3" cdr with 2 extra tracks and a handmade cover.

Greenhouse - Learning Curve cdr (Reverb Worship) 2.50  

Debut release from Canadian Curran Faris. This is lovely - ever-evolving soft-edged tones and e-bow drones. Harmonic sunlight.

The Greens, Pinks and Whites - s/t cdr (Fictitious Sighs) 6.50

Duo recording made in Berlin by Jason Honea (Shitty Listener) and Tim Coster. Made using thumb piano, synth, guitar, bells and tapes, this is a quiet and fragmented collection of almost-melodies eg guitar plies a spidery trail through a couple of lines of singing that mysteriously tail off.

Grey Park  - A Final Exam For a Agent cdr (267 Latttajjaa) 1

Weird and wired electronics from Finland: buzzing and fuzzing like distant sounds echoing and amplified in a subway tunnel.

Groove Criminals - Kicking Up Dust 7" (Kitchen) 0.50

a loose-limbed slow groove, some delightful melodies and a hint of mystery

Gryn Brvs / Siblings of Plasma split cassette (Digitalis Ltd) 2

A split featuring two groups that share some members. Gryn Brvs' side is a freeform percussion / acoustic guitar sprawl that seems to lost its way several times but when it's good, it's gloriously good. Siblings of Plasma explore similar territory but with less emphasis on improv and more on hypnotic ritual.

Arek Gulbenkoglu / Adam Sussman cdr (Rhizome) 2

Anthony Guerra & Matthew Nidek - nb cdr (Seedy R) 5.50

extraordinarily loud live show from Australian guitarist Guerra and American drummer Nidek: fuzzed-up guitar and drum mayhem that simply slashes its way out of the speakers - superb

Gulliver - Boujouba 7" (Pickled Egg) 0.25

lovely melodic songs from the man they call the French Momus ... I'd say a Noel Coward for the synth pop generation

h

Tom Hall - Cross cdr (Hello Square) 2

New release on Shoeb Ahmed's Hello Square recordings. Manipulated and processed sounds (keyboard, wind-up watch, dulcimer, cymbal, guitar, piano, field recordings) that become a warm, amorphous ambient electronica shimmer. 

Sam Hamilton 

  • Sooty Symposium cd (Tumbling Strain) 8

I've stocked quite a few of Sam's releases, mainly his duo collaborations, so this is the first full length release I've heard by him. It's stunning, full of sparkling electronics and shimmering drones that sounds like a dream meeting between Harmonia and Es. Flicker film soundtracks for children perhaps but certainly this would be the perfect sound for a beautiful new world.

  • Pala LP (Tumbling Strain) 12.25

An album of many layers which reveals more from successive plays from New Zealand's Sam Hamilton, who has been praised in the past here at the Melodybar... and rightly so! Pala allies the precision of electronic music, with soft-edged glitchiness, and allies it to something free and expressive with a nod to what made the first wave of synth-pop so vibrant before it became all white sock and black slip-on shoe. This is a refreshing album which, in knowing where it's coming from, completely avoids sounding as though it wants to live back there! The album includes a code for a free digital download of what's on the vinyl, plus extra tracks. More of this would be welcome, but the sound on lp is of a notable high standard to go with the music. (JC)

Sam Hamilton & Chris O'Connor - Tidal Dee's and Harboured Dum's cdr (Pseudoarcana) 3

Originally created as a soundtrack to the film "Anguish" by experimental film-maker Tim Van Dammen and featuring New Zealanders Sam Hamilton and Chris O'Connor. Malevolent squalls of bass, guitar, electronics and drums that seem to inch slowly towards impending doom over the first 3 tracks. Final track "Joy" is an appropriately joyous meshing of sing-song electronics, crashing drums and psych-guitar pyrotechnics.

Hanage Youchien - The Children of Ganga cdr (om ha sva ksha ma la va ra yam recordings) 2

Another limited edition cdr from Jani Uton's Indian trip. Jani Hirvonen (Uton) with a Japanese couple he met in Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh. Instruments used include ravanhattha (traditional Rajasthani instrument), violin, percussion, flutes and vocals. Child-like jams and improv trances.

Hands of Sun - Clay Dreams cdr (Nothing Out There) 4

This is the second instalment of the Odomez Series; the first being that fine cdr from Robert Horton from last year. "Odomez... it's a small town up north in France, inside which is located a huge and beautiful land of strangeness. Before 1965, it was a chemical-textile factory. After that, no one really knew. Like a quiet jungle of metal and plants. The Odomez Serie aims at keeping the memory of that place alive, now that it is doomed to demolition, and to call for musical and visual collaborations. Every artist contributing will be sent an artwork related to the place as an inspiration." Hands of Sun is English sound artist Mark Peter Wright and his contribution is an evocative mixture of musique concrete and field recordings, adrift in a huge haze of wind tunnel drone. The cdr comes in an outsize envelope with a postcard / photograph featuring the work of Constantin Dubois who runs the label.

Harappian Night Recordings - Non Euclidean Elucidation of Shamanic Ecstasies cd (Ikuisuus) 7.50

This is possibly even further out than the Bo'weavil album from earlier this year. Harappian Nights is Dr Sayed Kamran Ali, also a member of Hunter Gracchus. This is a head-on collision between ethnic ritual music and percussion-driven free jazz / folk clatter that sometimes results in the most vicious over-loaded shamanic garage punk such as the appropriately titled "Anarcho-Ambic Makane Punko". Excellent.

Gareth Hardwick 

  • London 220109 cdr (Under the Spire) 5.50

Live set by Gareth Hardwick recorded at Cafe Oto early 2009. Who'd have thought there could be such calm in such the UK capital? This is gorgeous. Gareth is joined on second guitar by Dan Layton - chorales of meditative guitar tone singing into the endless winter night.

  • Of the Sea and Shore cd (Low Point) 6

An album inspired by visits to various remote coastal locations around the UK ... the cover and rear photographs look like the North Norfolk coast and the sounds on the album reflect that areas fogged mystery and infinite skies. The guitar tones merge into beautiful warm textured drift and are augmented by ghostly gamelan-like chimes and later, as if I wasn't enjoying the sounds enough, harmonium, which is always guaranteed to win my heart. Highly recommended.

Gareth Hardwick / Eyeballs split cassette (Blackest Rainbow) 3.50

Nicely matched split featuring one side of Hardwick's glacial drift - tones merge like clouds on the horizon - and the other features Richard Dawson (Eyeballs). On this side I can hear distant melodies beneath the drone haze but it sounds like they've been suppressed beneath layers and layers of fog or buried deep underground and it's an effect that's deeply unsettling (but in a good way!).

Gareth Hardwick / Machinefabriek split LP (Low Point) 7

Another great pairing featuring Mr Hardwick. This time his piece is recorded on lapsteel and the gliding notes elongate into longing tones that ebb and flow. Its meditative qualities remind of chorale music. Beautiful. Dutch musician Machinefabriek sculpts his drones from static and hiss and latterly the piece becomes a ghostly counterpoint to Hardwick's more classical tones. Highly recommended and on clear vinyl. 

Harps of Fuchsia Kalmia- The Angular Acceleration of Light in the Unsound Mind of my Uncle Dead in Michigan cdr (Reverb Worship) 2.50

Harps of Fuchsia Kalmia is the alter-ego of Salvatore Borrelli (also of Etre). Loose improvised folk clutter utilizing a lot of exotic stringed instruments such as saz, ectara, israj, dulcimer, egyptian harp and celtic drone harp as well as the wheezy drone of harmonica / shruti box / organ. Valerio Cosi contributes saxophone to one track - a strange collage of queasy jazz and dusty Victoriana.

Ian Hawgood - Live Performances Japan 2009 cd (Under the Spire) 6

Two long pieces recorded live in Japan. The first was recorded in Tokyo and features the wheezing tones of the shruti box, processed through laptop into a beautiful piece of horizontal tone-drift of great warmth and depth. The second piece was recorded in Sapporo using wind chimes and laptop, and is a gorgeous glassy meditation. Another gem on Under the Spire.

Hayaken - Jugti cdr (Reverb Worship) 5.50

If the words "gentle" and "soothing" are in danger of sounding a bit flat as a description of this record, they're not meant to, it's simply that Hassaka Kenichi, aka Hayaken, makes rather lovely music which is both gentle and soothing! Acoustic guitar and banjo go forwards, sometimes electric guitar goes backwards, there's a heartfelt singing style and a more experimental side to sound too. I can't find any connection between Kenichi and Maher Shalal Hash Baz, but if you like Tori Kudo's work, you'll probably enjoy this too. (JC)

Heathen Prayers - Behind the Patterns cdr (HP Imprint) 2

Bart Jacobs and Sander Wildeboer (what a splendid name!) use percussion and guitar, respectively, to create 3 soundscapes of quite sparse improv. This is music of introspection, where the players realise that an increase in intensity doesn't have to mean playing louder. (JC)

Heavy Winged - cassette (Blackest Rainbow) 2.50

Heavy riffing galore from the Heavy Winged trio. The black text on black background on the inner sleeve is clearly meant for someone with enhanced vision.

Helhesten 

  • Only the Sun of Folk Songs Visits Your Grave cdr (Cook an Egg) 6.50

Helhesten are the band formerly known as On Fire who shared a split with Chora (in face Rob Lye of Chora plays on this cdr too). Also guests Pascal Nichols, Kelly Jones (Cooper Jones) and Ben Morris. Cultish jams with stacks of percussive clatter, unhuman vocalizations and clarinet parping.

  • A Day-Moth Cling cdr (Chironex) 4.25

Communal zoned improv similar to some of the stuff Singing Knives has been releasing (Part Wild Horses Mane on Both Sides / Hunter Gracchus). Percussive plucked and ringing guitar strings, blasts of clarinet and lots of wordless wails and deep oms. An offshoot of Towering Breaker.

  • Thickly Grown cdr (Iorram) 5

Another lovingly handmade package from Iorram, this time housing a cdr by Helhesten. Excellent ritualistic improv centred around the demonic free vocalisations of Ben Knight. Blasts of free clarinet blowing, tape scree and scratchy viola playing add to the cultish atmosphere.

Nils Helstrom - Discarding All That Was Before cdr (Reverb Worship) 2

Expansive drone-works with an uneasy undertow.

Jason Henn and Joe O'Connell - Mingus Plays Electric Guitar 7" (Luddite Rurual) 1

home-recorded 'tape chess' - ping-pong collaboration from members of Elephant Micah

Chris Herbert / Felix split 7" (Low Point) 2

A lovely split on Gareth Hardwick's Low Point label. Chris Herbert has an LP due on Kranky and one out already. This track is dedicated to the ghost of Basil Kirchin - this starts out with Chris processing electric guitar into drone layers, haunted by a collage of field recordings and a sense of unease. The other side features Felix: a duo of Lucinda Chua on piano / vocals and Christopher Fummerlin on guitars. It is an intimate recording with 'cello underpinning the hushed piano chords and Lucinda's semi-sung, semi-spoken vocals and sounds like Empress recording for Kranky. 

Herons - Walk Upright cassette (Housecraft) 2

Dense drifts of bowed strings, feedback and the kind of indeterminate sound that generates unease and reminds me of Lanterns. 

Victor Herrero - Anacoreta (10 Songs for Spanish Guitar) cd (Bo'Weavil recordings) 3.50

Victor recently collaborated with Josephine Foster on her "This Coming Gladness" album but this album finds him on 6 string (nylon) acoustic rather than electric guitar. The result is a fascinating collection of Spanish folk, flamenco and classical traditions.

S R Hess - Demise cassette (Digitalis) 5.25

Steven R. Hess has worked with Sylvain Chauveau (type records), Haptic and Dropp Ensemble. This solo work sounds like subterranean shortwave; hazy electronic drones heard along a subway.

Christopher Hipgrave - Slow, With Pages of Fluttering Interference cd (Low Point) 6

Following albums on Under the Spire and Home Normal, this is the 3rd album by sound artist Christopher Hipgrave. Gorgeous warm ambient drone - one of the finest examples of its kind.

Hobo Duo - Across Great Distances cdr (Ikuisuus) 2

On this cdr, dedicated to Harry Partch, the duo of Bruno Duplant and Kevin Cosgrove who use a variety of homemade instruments to create a cosmic improvised blues on lapsteel and percussion. 

Holy Family - Anoint cassette (Digitalis) 5.25

Duo featuring Lawrence English and John Chantler of Room 40. Decomposed analogue synth drones.

Homescience - End the Year 7" (Pickled Egg) 0.25

quirky US lo-fi pop with an epic heart

Hoofbeat, Caw & Thunder - s/t cd (Hand/Eye) 2

My first impression of the opening track prompted thoughts of Timothy Leary's Turn On, Tune In Drop Out: atmospheric spoken work over hazy droning background. However the subject matter here has more to do with biblical subjects - apocalypse, prophecy - than '60s trippy-ness. There are almost nedieval folky songs and full-on fuzz guitar salvos too. Overall, the most obvious way I can describe what this sounds like is to say "Current 93". Very well packaged too. (JC)

Horrible cassette (self-released) 0.50

Mangled synths and garbled noise from Arttu Partinen (Amon Dude, Avarus) and Erwin van Looveren (of Schizoide Shattered Minds). 

Robert Horton

  • If I Can't Play My Boot, I Don't Have A Leg to Stand On cdr (Nothing Out There) 9

A welcome return from one of America's finest sound-makers. Horton's home-made guitar, the Boot, features on every track here, forming a spectral haze of strings. Bells, harmonium and a keyboard that reminds me of Dolly Collins' flute organ breathe sunshine into the stringed fug. Two tracks near the end are monolithic drones: "Dirge for the Court of the Sow Bug", featuring bagpipe chanter, fizzes and swarms like a huge cloud of insects and the final "Tune for the Great Wood" exhales in slow chordal wheezes. Gorgeous. 4 panel artwork.

  • 30 Years of Tape Music cassette (Gold Soundz) 5.75

A delve into the treasure trove of Robert Horton's recordings from the last 30 years. Imaginative splicings, harmonica breath, android covers of bubblegum pop, space hum ... there's never a dull moment on any of Horton's releases.

Robert Horton / Sindre Bjerga - Broken Wisdom on Its Wild Lone cdr (Striate Cortex) 6

A reconstruction of Sindre Bjerga's solo release "Broken Wisdom" by Sindre and Robert Horton. The result is an endless shimmering subtly evolving dronescape of synth, gong, boot, tapes and effects. It's hard to see where one sound ends and another begins on a journey into infinity. Nice homemade packaging.

Howard Hello EP (Temporary Residence) 0.50

"EP is four new songs that cover the entire aesthetic spectrum of Howard Hello. Beginning more or less where the 2003 album Don't Drink His Blood left off, the aptly titled "More of the Same" is a sprawling orchestral pop gem. "Interlude" recalls early Howard Hello, when ambient guitar loops and keyboard washes were punctuated by eerie echoes beneath foggy melodies that seemingly float along on mood alone. The biggest surprise comes with the dense, thumping pop of "Follow." Riding the line between Stereolab and Popol Vuh, the track's skidding duel drum attack (courtesy of Hella's Zach Hill) provides the foundation for the hypnotic vocal layers that glide across the entire song. Ending with the Pink Floyd-inspired "Even More of the Same," EP is more than a stop-gap between albums. It's an eyebrow-raising glimpse into the future of Howard Hello." (TR)

Howlin Rain - Wild Life LP (Three Lobed) 8

Vinyl reissue of a cd available only as part of the 3 Lobed Oscillations III subscription series. Howlin Rain features Ethan Miller, Ben Chasny, Utrillo Kushner, Joel Robinow and Ian Gradek. Side A features an incredible side-long take on Wings' "Wild Life" which sounds more like an extended completely psyched-out version of CSNY's "Almost Cut My Hair". Side B is pretty good too, venturing into jazz-rock territory, but the onslaught on Wings has to be the side for me.

The Human Combustion Engine 

  • Amarillo Vivo cdr (Memoirs of an Aesthete) 2.50
  • 2 cdr (Smokers Gifts) 2.50

Melanie Crowley & Phil Todd of Ashtray Navigations join forces in creating an entirely different sound. Shades of Joe Meek's "Glob Waterfall" from "I Hear a New World" with silvery beams of synth light sweeping across the night sky and ominous humming undertones. 

The Hunter Gracchus  - Sacred Object of the Yiye People LP (Chironex) 14.50

Free folk improvisations from Jon who runs Singing Knives and played with Sharron Kraus in Feather Gatherers, Ross Parfitt (Tirath Singh Nirmala collaborator) and members of Harrapian Night Recordings. Jams based mainly around percussion but also melodica and recorder that have the feel of a cultish ritual. The sleeve photograph is great too.

Hunter Gracchus / Kommissar Hjular und Frau split LP (Blackest Rainbow) 10.25

Two sides of out-there improvisation. Hunter Gracchus' side was recorded live in Argentina and is a mass of clattering percussion and haunting clarinet / vocal squawk. On the other side are Kommissar Hjular und Frau: blurts of guitar and Mama Baer's possessed vocals.

Hunton Quintet - Kuutelus cassette (Ikuisuus) 1

Anti meets Uton. This is their fourth release and very odd it is too. Helium-voiced hallucinations and wisps of chemical drones. Guitar / piano improvisations.

Hush Arbors / Wooden Wand  - Swappin' split 7" (Great Pop Supplement) 2

Split featuring one new song each, "Light" from Hush Arbors and "Breather" from Wooden Wand. Recommended.

i

Iditarod - The River Nektar cd (Blue Sanct) 5

Reissue of the debut album by Jeffrey (later in Black Forest / Black Sea) & Carin, originally self-released on Hub City - bleak haunting avant-folk. Also features 9 bonus tracks including singles, compilation tracks and covers of Donovan & Brian Eno.

Iibiis Rouge - Pink Hybrid cdr (Winged Sun) 2

Collaboration between High Wolf and Astral Social Club - 6 tracks on here and a forthcoming LP on Dekorder. Seriously high-octane stuff that comes on like a cracked meeting point between Neu! and Monopoly Child.

Impromptulons - Beat It / Beat Off 3" cdr (Black Petal) 2

Abstract improv revision of Weird Al Jankovic's version of "Beat It" by Joel Stern, Will Charlton, Alan Nguyen, Rin Healy, Marek Rygalski and Adam Bark.  

Indoor Park - The Neutral Mile cd (Deep Water) 6.50

An album of mainly instrumental electric guitar and drum pieces which confounds any thoughts of beard-strokey post rock. Instead, there are hints of krautrock, nods to instro rock'n'roll and really fine melodic sounds and fuzzed soloing. Sampled spoken word interjections are used to great effect, especially on The Long Boy and the Fat Boy, which I just can't stop playing. A welcome surprise find and one I'd recommend to you. (JC)

Inhibitionists - Concessions Strings cdr (MYMWLY) 2

Abstract sound impressions from Christian Kann, often built from rattling strings into a frenetic throb. Some tracks utilize percussion and drums echo around a weird unearthly hum. Others get darkly glitchy. Nice packaging with felt inside.

Inner City 

  • Visions From Dream State cdr (Rural Faune) 5.25

Part of Rural Faune's Synth Series. Inner City is Hans Den from Antwerp and the 11 tracks on this cdr are all tinged with a vaguely industrial feel from dystopian soundscapes to subterranean dub excursions. 

  • 2 cassette (Ikuisuus) 5

Loops, drones and eddying currents of melody flow in, out and through the soundscapes of Innercity. On his website, Antwerp based Hans Dens (Mr Innercity himself) attests that these are the sounds that he "found written in the starry scorpion sky on the night of my 29th birthday". He also says that the plastic of the cassette has been designed to absorb the intellect of the listener. Prepare to be absorbed! (JC)

Isaac Willow - Santimonious Rhythm & Rouge cassette (Housecraft) 1

Crazed improv finds itself buried under a mountain of hyperactive tape debris. Sold out at source.

Isengrind - Modlitewnik LP (Blackest Rainbow) 12.25

Gorgeous vinyl release from Solange Gularti, the female half of Natural Snow Buildings. Thick plumes of Eastern-leaning drone-smoke and ethereal folk. Solange uses sitar and other stringed instruments, flutes and whistles and a plethora of hand percussion, filtered through a ton of reverb to create something utterly otherworldly. Beautiful artwork from Solange too, particularly the inner sleeve.

Islaja 

  • Palaa Aurinkoon cd (Fonal) 9
  • Meritie cd (Fonal) 9

exotic and beautiful avant-folk from Merja Kokkonen who also plays with Kemialliset Ystavat & Avarus: an astonishing array of instruments are plucked and bowed, the vocal harmonies are haunting, the arrangements sound vaguely archaic and the result is utterly sublime if rather unsettling

  • Ulual Yyy cd (Fonal) 8.50 / LP (Fonal) 8.50

Brand new (third) album by Merja Kokkonen, also of Avarus / Hertta Lussu Assa. This is truly extraordinary experimental pop that is extremely hard to pin down; it seems to exist in an entirely different world and time - I suppose it makes me think of Can's "Ege Bam Yasi" without really sounding like it. It has a similar tranced feel and a dubby edge to it at times. Merja's vocals are astonishing -  up-front and disconcertingly double-tracked. A few tracks towards the end sound similar to older Islaja songs but this is a bold step into something entirely unique. Highly recommended.

Ithaca Trio - Tesla Verses the Night cdr (Under the Spire) 5.50

Far from being a trio, Ithaca Trio is just Ollie Thurley, with the assistance on these release of other musuians on drums, accordian, clarinet, flute, electronics, guitar and piano. Lovely pastoral electronica / glitch that reminds me of Fennesz in parts or Fabio Orsi.

Jan M Iversen - Live Klubb Kanin 2 x 3"cdr & dvdr (Striate Cortex) 7

Four live tracks recorded as an accompaniment to short films at Klubb Kabin. All my copies have a dvdr featuring the films. Very limited.

Ixchel - Dreams of cdr (Leaf Trail) 2.50

Duo featuring Dubliners Timothy Hurley (Quetzolcoatl / Bonecloud) and Barry Semple. Of all Hurley's projects, this comes closest to being song-based with Hurley's blissed-out vocals drifting high over layers of fogged sound. "Clockwork Castles" sounds like Skaters play something off "Pet Sounds" - nice! I've been a fan of everything Hurley has done to date but this is his finest moment.

j

Jane Austen - Wish Wash cassette (Clean Teeth) 2.50

Solo project of Angeline Chirnside who has also been in Currer Bells, Wyntr Raven and Lost Roman Legions. Strange and magical lo-fi home recordings. Distorted bells that sound like they're ringing from underwater. Sea shanty drones. Strange piano sounds that sound like gamelan music.

Frank Janiurek - Electric Sex Goddess cdr (self-released) 2

Stunning solo guitar from one half of Red Kites, soaring arcs of ringing feedback and the purest of tones, reminiscent of Mazzacane Connor's electric guitar recordings.

David A Jaycock - A New Love Song 7" (Great Pop Supplement) 4

This single is a delight in every way. The artwork is fabulous with a gold sprayed bird on the leaf-cut cover and a printed insert. David A Jaycock is also a member of Big Eyes Family Players and the B side of this single could easily have graced one of their albums with its melancholic chamber folk. The A side is a song with a real early '70s English singer-songwriter feel. Lovely stuff.

Jazzfinger / Culver & Fordell Research Unit LP (Blackest Rainbow) 5

"Brand new split LP featuring heavy hitting UK bleak dudes... A-Side is Jazzfinger's 'Killed In A Clear Sky', one solid slab of fucked up tapped guitar drone and distant eerie whir... like a storm of electric feedback, slashes and cuts. Far out, and a real killer 20 odd minutes to make you lull out. B-Side is a collaboration between Culver and Fordell Research Unit, another side long piece, that starts off with some bassed up doom chugs and slogs that sound like fucking something that could lay down by some Southern Lord brutality, but then it punches you in the face with its distorted churning hell. Limited to 275 white label LPs."

Jennifer Gentle 

  • A New Astronomy cd (A Silent Place) 2.50

The official release of a cdr released in an edition of 100 on Sub Pop in 2005 and dedicated to 19th century amateur astronomer Giovanni Paneroni who held a staggering number of nutty ideas, including that the sun is a 2m in diameter silver ball. Luckily "interesting" ideas translate better to the arts than sciences as this cd, perhaps JG's strangest release, testifies. Sounds range from cosmic drone to sweet but warped pop, like hearing Joe Meek productions in your dreams to ragged VU-esque drone / raga jams to damaged acid pop to an out-and-out Meek tribute "Me and Joe on the Moon". Fantastic.

  • Live In the House of God LP (A Silent Place) 4

This solo performance by Marco Fasolo was recorded, as the liner informs us, "in a little church somewhere in Italy on July the 31st 2003". It seems like an omen of things to come, as nowadays Jennifer Gentle is Marco's solo project. A Vox Jaguar organ is played through a variety of effects and the music created really thrives in the echo-y acoustic of the church. At times it's almost as though an ancient choir was being channeled through the organ! This is on single sided white vinyl - a lovely thing to look at as well as fine music. (JC)

Jerusalem & the Starbaskets - Battle of the Orchids LP (Great Pop Supplement) 8.75

This duo of guitar/vocals and drums conjure up plenty of pop gems to fill a slice of vinyl which is half wine/violet in colour and the other half a sort of lemon/lime. Imagine the Black Keys being brought up on indiepop rather than blues rock and you're well on the way to imagining this sound. The tunes and the format which carries them are hard to resist. (JC)

Jerusalem & the Starbaskets / Bengal Traitors split 7" (Great Pop Supplement) 2

Two earthy and refreshing rockin' tunes with, at times, flavours of Bo Diddley (the guitar at the end of the Jerusalem song especially) and Medicine Head about them. This is a highly attractive 7" on opalescent vinyl with a spiral pattern printed on the sleeve and fronted by a separate print of the spiral on clear plastic: if you move this against the background, you can simulate the opening sequence of Jon Pertwee-era Doctor Who shows in the comfort of your own home... fab! (JC)

Joey Chainsaw / Kema split cassette (Gold Soundz) 5

"The Joey side is solid piece of ultra-crude battered guitar-dirge.. There's a real crunchy and toasted basement-vibe that is quite rare these days, it sounds like it's played on a floor-board guitar and pedals found deep in the mud through speakers made of cotton. Kinda like a punk-ass, weed-out version of Ashtray Navigations...   Kema comes more the the Dead C end of things.. Perhaps not that different from Joey, but there's more stoned-out riffing and that ultra lo-fi guitarbased trash-scapes that we've come to love that NZ vibe for... Excellent stuff for sure, this is pure no-fi so turn up loud and scare away the posers! Purple tapes wrapped in double-sided purple A4 sheet. Edition of 30. " (GS)

P Jørgensen  - Palimpset (for Strings) business card cdr (Under the Spire) 4.50

This is one of those dinky business card cdrs, that unfortunately won't play on my hi-fi. It features a track that will be on P Jorgensen's album due out in September, plus another track unavailable elsewhere. This is what I thought of his Low Point album: " Soft-hued tones shift and merge and form dense chordal clouds. Jørgensen has a fondness for a warm, fuzzy ambience which suits listening at sunset on a cold autumnal night."

Joshua - Life Less Lost cd (Spirit of Orr) 6

Reissue of Joshua Burkett's second album, originally released on his own Feather One's Nest in a folded-paper black and white sleeve. Woozy late-night loner folk. Highly recommended.

Ryan Jowell / C Spencer Yeh / Wsteland Jazz Unit cdr (Dreamsheep) 2

"Sounding like Laddio Bolocko playing Aufgehoben's songs, this amazing quartet shares a seriously mindblowing connection with the huge  underground noise scenery in the United States.  This half-an-hour free-form session between these Ohio-based dudes  is a long electroshock torture which features Yeh (experimental violinist/electronic musician with a highly growing reputation around the world) playing bass here, Jewell (experimental drummer/electronic musician also involved in Pink Reason and Psychedelic  Horseshit) on drums/electronic junk and John Rich/Jon Lorenz  (Wasteland Jazz Unit) totally immersed in a hyper-amplified and nihilistic sax playing. File under sparkling brutality." (Dreamsheep)

CWK Joynes - LHR Twins 3" cdr (Rusted Rail) 4.75

Otherwise known as C Joynes, who released a couple of albums on Bo'weavil, with 2 extra initials. There are 3 instrumentals on here and the disc opens with a fascinating take on what sounds like an Appalachian folk tune played on zither, prepared piano, cello and music box. It's utterly charming. Next up is a long reworking of the spiritual "Lay You Down O My Brother" (used in part on ISB's "A Very Circular Song") which also draws in elements of Hildegard Von Bingen's "Columba Aspexit" - the mid-section of this develops into the kind of celestial elegance James Blackshaw's 12 string playing manages. Finally Joynes rounds the disc up with a melancholic meditation, on nylon strings.

CWK Joynes & the Restless Dead - 8 Selections and Premonitions from the Tower Vol 1 7" (Great Pop Supplement) 5

This is the first in a series of 5 7" singles by C Joynes, also being released by Bo-weavil Records. A sides will feature Joynes originals and the B sides reworkings / remixes of his compositions. Gorgeous meditative acoustic guitar finger picking accompanied by The Restless Dead comprise Babygrand (field recording, salt, metal bowl & zither), Rhodri Davies (harp) and Glen Hall (bass flutes).

Julie's Haircut with Sonic Boom - N-Waves / U-Waves cd (A Silent Place) 2.50

Julie's Haircut hail from Italy and have accompanied Can's Damo Suzuki, so the Krautrock feel in their music isn't surprising. However, it seems rather unusual to hear Sonic Boom involved here. I say unusual, but I also mean very welcome, as his electronics sit very neatly within the tight rhythms and alongside some very funky Hammond organ! (JC)

Juniper Meadows - Grand Sonora 3" (Palustre) 2.50

Reissue of a 3" that originally came out on Imvated (now Bread and Animals) - hesitant banjo and ukulele pluckings, bowed strings and the soothing wheeze of one of my very favourite instruments the melodica. Sounds like it was improvised late at night under the stars. Gorgeous. Hand-made packaging.

k

"Keep Breathing" cdr (Rhizome) 4

I'm not sure who this is but it was originally available on Winter records of Adelaide and contains 3 tracks of harshly recorded harmonica / melodica drone

Keijo 

  • Just Enough cassette (Digitalis) 4

8 track cassette from Finland's Keijo Virtanen. This is his droniest work in a while with the guitar work kept fairly sparse. Harmonica haze, vocal oms and singing metal create a meditative air and Keijo's cyclical guitar weaves magic through that.

  • Reduce Snow cdr (267 Lattajjaa) 3.50

Latest from Keijo Virtanen. Minimal blues and hypnotic repetitions on guitar, harmonica and jaw harp.

  • So Cold Blues cdr (Anti-Guru) 4.50

Keijo's music is never anything less than enthralling. He is solo on this release, except for the assistance of Aarni Virtanen on percussion and plastic pipe on one track. Endlessly cyclical folk-blues mantras heard through a thick psychedelic haze. Nice fold-out card sleeve with pasted-on artwork.

Keijo & Uton - Alun Aania cdr (Om Ha Sva Ha Ksha Ma La Va Ra Yam) 3

Two of Finland 's prolific forces come together here for an album of mainly instrumentals where strong bass lines underpin developing wildness - some of it very organic; some of it electronic. There's an air of mystery to the only song and sounds of nature fuse with the contemplative harmonica and guitar of the closing track which, in translation, is called awakening from sleep. As it is at the end, I'm developing the notion that the rest of the album might be a soundtrack to a night of colourful dreams! (JC)

Greg Kelley / Alex Neilson - Passport to Satori LP (Golden Lab) 7

"This beautiful super-heavyweight LP, which comes packaged in a sweet full-colour sleeve reunites the UK's premier free drummer Alex Neilson, who's played, amongst others, with Motor Ghost, Directing Hand, Trembling Bells, Tight Meat Duo, Josephine Foster, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Jandek, MV&EE, Richard Youngs, Baby Dee and Alastair Galbraith, with Nmperign member Greg Kelley, whose reinvention of the trumpet is as crucial now as Anthony Braxton's reinvention of the sax was 30 years ago. A screeching, soaring, scattergun array of noises come maniacally out of Greg's horn, unlike anything we've ever heard and he successfully straddles no wave, concrete and free jazz in a way that makes those genres seem like trite pigeonholes." (Golden Lab)

Kemialliset Ystavat

  • Alkuharka cd (Fonal) 9

Lost-in-the-woods folk-psych that has a wonderful childlike naivety to it - plenty of exotic sounding pickings and pluckings and  primitive percussion with a move into frazzled electronics on 'Alkuharka'. 

  • Kellari Juniversumi cd (Fonal) 7.50

Reissue of the earlier Fonal cd with a 24 page booket of artwork by Jan Anderzen.

Kitchen Cynics 

  • Hoodie Craw cdr (self-released) 4.50

intimate folk-psych, mostly unadulterated guitar, a bit of keyboard and Alan's gentle lilt. This features covers of 'Vegetable Man' (Syd Barrett), 'Josephine, for Better or for Worse' (the Strawbs) and 'Gently Johnny' from the Wicker Man

  • Dumbfoundlings cdr (self-released) 4.50

Another new cdr from Aberdeen's prolific Alan Davidson of purely instrumental tracks, every bit as lyrical and bewitching as his songs. Cascades of harp-like strings like summer rain, Alan's lilting guitar playing, a bit of music hall, some lovely instrumentation (zither, chanter, phono-fiddle, psaltery, clarinet) and the usual great titles ("Double Line for the Gentleman's Comfort" being a favourite).

  • Master Of The Fuzzy Fadeout cdr (self-released) 4.50

Aberdonian Alan Davidson has been quietly making some lovely records for over a decade now  - intimate bedroom psych-pop, in a similar vein to Robin Hitchcock but a slightly folksier feel  - includes covers of Fairport Convention and Bridget St John

  • A Tune-a-day the Kitchen Cynics Way cdr (self-released) 5

In 2007 Alan Davidson ran a subscriber series of cdrs featuring as you might guess one tune for every day of the year. This compiles 31 of them. Bewitching and lyrical bedroom psych-folk. Adrian Crowley plays on and co-wrote one track.

  • A Tune-a-Day the Kitchen Cynics Way 2 cdr (self-released) 5

In 2007 Alan Davidson ran a subscriber series of cdrs featuring as you might guess one tune for every day of the year. This second volume compiles some more of them. Bewitching and lyrical bedroom psych-folk. 

Klangmutationen - Liturgie cdr (Dreamsheep) 2.50

An incredible blast of free jazz wipeout from a collective from Malaysia. This set was recorded live at the Annexe Central Market, Kuala Lumpur - two tenor sax, electric bass and guitar, bamboo whistles, vocals and drums. Feedback hums and sears and the saxophones provide a wall of malevolent energy.

Kogumaza - Sevens 7" (Low Point) 3.50

Side 1 is a Mogadon-foggy take on endless riffing a la Bardo Pond. Side 2 delves further into sleep-walking riffs. Red vinyl.

Kommissar Hjuler & Frau / Rogaland Hot Club split cassette (Gold Soundz) 5

"Der Kommissar und die Frau continue their travel into the deeper realms of art bruit and the frizzled-out upside-down-world.. Chanting, screaming, huffing and puffing, they wrestle their way through the theme of the german detective series like none other could ever do... Somewhere between Ya Ho Wha and the Shadow Ring, but neither here nor there really... There's a playfulness here that's all theirs. A unique world either way..
Norway's improvocateaurs Rogaland Hot Club occuupies the other side with 6 shorter tracks... Vocal outbursts, bathroom chorales, primitivist rock moves and odd thumping all mixed in a kinda Faust tapes style... Orange tapes wrapped in orange A4 sheet, superb collage art by M. Korsbols. Edition of 50. " (GS)

Kompleksi - (I Ain't No) Lovechild / Moscow 1980 7" (Lal Lal Lal) 0.50

complete with jittery bubbling bass-synth lines and vocoder, these are 2 fine European retro-electronic-pop songs

Kosmische Keuterboeren - Harvest cassette (Sloow) 4.75

Belgian duo who feature a member of Sylvester Anfang 2. Stoner rituals using drums / casios.

Sharron Kraus - Right Wantonly A-Mumming cd (Bo'weavil) 8

A collection of new songs and traditional that reflect the passing of the seasons from mid-winter to mid-summer through May Day and harvest time. Sharron is joined by singers and musicians from the Oxford folk scene (including a crumhorn player which you don't hear too often). The vocal harmonies are rich and melodious, reminiscent of the Young Tradition, the instrumentation unobtrusive, mostly flute, melodeon and fiddle, the songs memorable instantly. Another essential Sharron Kraus release.

Kungen - Cub In 5 10" (Intercontinental) 0.25

I can't find the blurb about this but from memory it's someone from Hermann Dune doing a sample-strewn electronic thing that ranges from fairground cheesiness to hip-hop prowl to rawer early drum-machine / fuzz guitar & organ stuff 

Stefan Kushima - Your Purple Breath cdr (Ikuisuus) 1.50

Austrian sound artist Kushima uses Indian & Mexican pipes, guitar, drums and synths through a plethora of effects on this release to create a haze of crackling drone / fuzz.

Kuupuu  

  • Yokehra LP (Dekorder) 10.50 

This LP is a compilation of some of the tracks on Kuupuu's early releases: "Sateen Suutelemat" on Nidnod, "I Can Walk the Earth" on Foxglove and the 3 self-released cdrs. Intimate night-time meanderings, primitive electronic loops, wordless vocal wow and lost-in-the-woods whisperings.If you missed those, don't miss this as it is truly magical.

  • Lumen Tahden LP (Time Lag) 16

Jonna Karanka's first non-cdr / tape release. When not playing with the likes of Avarus, Anaksimandros & Hertta Lussu Assa, Jonna creates a unique kind of bedroom psychedelia, formed from loops, backward tapes, toy instruments, repeated piano figures, casio drones, creepy strings and haunted layered vocals. Acid-drenched nursery rhymes with an unsettling undertow and a spellbinding hypnotic presence. Highly recommended. Packaged in a stunning ultra-heavy laminated full color gatefold cover with full color art labels, all created by Jonna. Heavy vinyl.

  • Spring High Spiritual Spree Spray Ray cassette (Cabin Floor Esoterica) 6.50

Excellent tape from Jonna Karanka and her most synth-fixated to date. Warped child-like repetitive nursery rhymes, lost-in-the-woods lullabies buried deep in casio blur and the intense hum of the forest. This comes in a fabric pouch with an insert and a dried flower.

Kwannon - Clear Star cdr (Reverb Worship) 5.50

Kwannon is a solo project from singer & multi-instrumentalist Jenne Micale, her soaring operatic voice heard here alongside dulcimers (hammer & mountain), whistles drums and, according to the insert, chest beating... well, why not?! She creates a mysterious and ethereal sound world which is rooted in her interests in medieval music. One track has a gently electronic feel to it, but most of the album is acoustic, with her lyrics drawing on Ralph Waldo Emerson and W.B. Yeats in addition to her own work. Those with a taste for Fursaxa or indeed something more gothic should definitely hear this. (JC)

l

La Grieta - Decision cdr (Black Petal) 5.75

Quite frankly this is one of the creepiest discs I've heard - La Grieta features Mattin. It starts off with disjointed screams and buzzsaw guitar, like garage punk spliced into nightmare-sized chunks and re-arranged cut-up style. It then heads abyss-wards with creepy-crawly lurching bass and tortured vocals. 

Lady Space - Long Lost in a Twilight Head cdr (Reverb Worship) 5.50

This album captures the listener's attention straight away and doesn't let it slip. Crisp acoustic guitars and plaintive e-bow sweeps abound, topped with lovely harmony vocals. This Swedish trio's debut album is easy to recommend to fans of folk-psych, whether from the '70s or the more recent sounds by the likes of Greg Weeks/Espers. Reverb Worship has done it again! (JC)

Laissez Faire - Asylum cassette (Abandon Ship) 0.50

One sided tape of music from Peter Friel (JKTapes / Widening Horizon). A collection of electronic squiggles layered into one seething mass of machine scrawl drone.

Lakes - Monument of nests cassette (Digitalis) 2.50

Lakes is Sean Bailey who also runs the Inverted Crux label and has also been involved in Paeces, Lamp Puffer and Waster Truth. Lo-fi pop distorted through a weird malevolent prism and an octopus on the drum machine.

Lamppukello - Kaahumatti Kaheskanneski, Yyjo Ite Yheskanneski cdr (267 Lattajjaa) 1

perhaps the most deranged thing to come out of Finland - this is a similar idea to the Kneale Kneale Kneale project on CPP: one anonymous Finn and his 2 kids create mind-melting sounds with casios on stun and child-babble looped to crazed infinity - yikes!

Lanterns / Gultskra Artikler split LP (Other Electricities) 7

Split LP featuring Glasgow-based duo Lanterns and Russian sound-artist Gultskra Artikler, that comes with a free cd featuring the same album. The Russian artist contributes a couple of tracks that remind me of Bjerga / Iversen's uneasy sonic fuzz and one that mixes spooked childlike electronica with acoustic folk. Lanterns continue to impress with one long track of casio / drone bliss and the other a gentle acoustic jam - both utterly hypnotic.

Lapizjack - s/t cdr (Reverb Worship) 5.75

This Japanese duo bring electronics, guitar, samples and field recordings together in a fine, flowing way. Just when the mists of some reflective psych are merging into the sounds of water, in comes the funky drumming and wah-wah guitar. The twists and turns of these players, members of the bands Mizuumi and Friction was, for me, best summed up by the moment that a sample from Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax popped up, then melded into something entirely other. Skillfully done and with a great sense of fun too. (JC)

Latralmagog - Bootis cdr (Reverb Worship) 2

Full value here: this is a close-on 72 minute piece, spliced into 6 sections and Reverb Worship continue their numbered editions of 50 copies by packing this in an especially striking cover, using spray paint and tinfoil to suggest volcanic lava in flow. The music is by the Philadelphia improv duo Ethan Tripp and Al Berheimer, who use lots of percussion and keyboards. Their full-on sonic assaults are balanced by subtler dynamics; for me the shining example is the fourth section, a beguiling chiming percussion piece. The album is named after a star - Bootis is a yellow dwarf in the constellation Bootes. (JC)

Lau Nau - Kuutarha cd (Locust) 9

Solo project of Laura Naukkarinen from Paivansade, Anaksimandros and Kiila: she uses the kind of free-folk associated instruments you might expect (kantele, acoustic guitar, recorder, violin, liberal use of percussion) but creates a different world of haunting lysergic nursery rhymes that sound like a child of nature lost in reverie. Highly recommended.

Lauhkeat Lampaat - Taikaa Takataskussa cd (Peippo) 3

Fascinating improv duo featuring Antti and Jaakko Tolvi of Rauhan Orkesteri. Discordant ukelele pluckings, vocal gibberish and the sound of all manner of hand-held instruments and objects being dragged across the forest floor.

Leafy Green - Songs cdr (267 Lattajjaa) 1

Ten songs from America "Recorded in a cool room during a hot week in a southern town" by Leafy Green, aka Barrett Jones. These are gentle, wistful guitar based pieces and if you value the heartfelt over exact vocal pitch (and who doesn't?) they may move and soothe. (JC)

L'Enfant Meduse 3" cdr (Nothing Out There) 5

Part of the Odomez series, in which sound artists record their reactions to objects found in the abandoned Odomez factory in the north of France. L'Enfant Meduse recorded these songs at the factory and the result is 3 loose improvisations of acoustic guitar and (mainly wordless) vocals (vaguely reminscent of "Sapphie" era Richard Youngs). Nice handmade packaging: outsize card with a photograph and a metal cog (from the site).

Les Beyond - Privacy Act cd (Reverb Worship) 2

Les Beyond is the work of Erin Jane Ward - 6 tracks of melancholic delayed guitar repetitions. Shades of a more minimal Yellow 6.

Antonia Leukers - Hasenlove pic disc plus zine (Dekorder) 5

Here's a highly unusual release - actually, I'd go as far as calling it unique. The label on the clear sleeve containing this picture disc dubs it "An oddly disturbing & humorous Rabbit Love Story". However, as the songs are in German I can't really comment on this, except to say that Ain't She Sweet, that 1927 hit revived by the Beatles in Hamburg and I Don't Want To Talk About It are among them, sung by Leukers in what could be the style of a cartoon rabbit. One side of the disc has a couple of rabbits coiled up with their tongues out - soixante-neuf indeed! - whilst the other is heavily etched and also illustrated by A.L, who is best known as a visual artist. Listening to this made me think of Fred von Jupiter, but I suspect this dips into darker terrain... translations are welcome! Comes with a free magazine (JC)

Light of Shipwreck - When I Hold the Ashes cdr (Reverb Worship) 2.50

Nothing to do with cricket and everything to do with Ben Fleury-Steiner, previous releases on Peasant Majik and Crucial Blast among others. He creates mysterious fog-like drones full of threatening distant rumblings reminiscent of Bjerga / Iversen. Other tracks are pits of  infernal feedback.

Harvey Lord 

  • Weighted Down cdr (Reverb Worship) 3

Impressively crisp finger picking guitar flows throughout this album and I suspect Mr Lord sees himself as an instrumentalist first and a singer second. However, his gentle vocal style compliments the folk-blues tinged music well. I suspect he is well acquainted with Bert Jansch's back catalogue and I'm guessing that Weighed Down might be a reference to Skip Spence. Whatever, it's a good record. (JC)

  • Don't Believe I Exist cdr (Reverb Worship) 3

More delightful guitar picking from Harvey. His two previous releases (one with Dave George) have been excellent and this one follows suit. His guitar playing is gorgeous - sunlit nylon picking and some more folk-blues influenced pieces too. His songs have a gentle warmth that slowly ebb their way into your consciousness. 

Harvey Lord & Dave George - Static cdr (Reverb Worship) 3

Previous Reverb Worship releasee Harvey Lord teams up with Dave George to create one long spacious piece of Harvey's languid picking with some laptop manipulation creating an ambient shimmer, evocative of long summer days. Hand-made covers that come in 4 different colours.

Lost Domain 

  • Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed cdr (Cook an Egg) 6.50

This release apparently came out on French label Paha Porvari back in 2007 but it's not one I recall. This is gorgeous: acres of space traversed by quiet organ hymnals, sparse guitar & percussion and occasional glockenspiel. Semi-improvised and gently stoned. 

  • Northwest Passage cdr (Cook an Egg) 6.50

This, the latest from Australia's The Lost Domain, starts out with an easy saxophone duel, dark and foreboding jazz / blues sprawl, before launching into the album's centrepiece - a long loose krautrock jam that sounds like "Monster Movie"-era Can might sound were they forced to play to the point of exhaustion: drumming that somehow manages to be both bone-rattling loose and onward-driving and squalls of feedback that sound like blinding headlights in the dark. The dark, foreboding percussion-driven sprawl continues on the last 3 tracks with "Drift / Crack" being particularly fine - with distorted howls to wake the dead. Great to hear some new sounds from the Lost Domain. 

LSD March 

  • Jurando (2nd ed) cdr (Reverb Worship) 4

Second edition. The duo's ragged ballads are played acoustically on guitar, drums, bells and vocals and it gives them an even more fragile and post-midnight feel than their recent album on Important.

  • Under Milk Wood cd (Important) 4.50

The latest album from Japanese duo LSD March is a real quiet storm. Strung-out fragile ballads, wah-wah psych guitar and heavy-lidded dirges. Excellent stuff as always. There are a bunch of outtakes as extras too.

Samara Lubelski - Spectacular of Passages  / Did You See 7" (Time Lag) 4

Dreamy folk-pop from Samara Lubelski (Hall of Fame  / Golden Road / Tower Recordings). 2 tracks that date from 2004. Packaged in silver & black on bright red offset printed art paper covers, with simple hand stamped labels.

Luminous - Whatever The Truth Is cdr (267 Latttajjaa) 1

"Following several releases on labels such as Fi-Sci Records, Clinical Archives and tara Records, comes the latest album by Tim Chaplin's electronic / experimental project Luminous. Eight tracks of edited one-man jams, using more traditional instrumentation than previous Luminous recordings." (267)