SPOTLIGHT 247

10/05/2010 11:26

the Spot Light #247

d.d. Monday, May 10th, 2010  

NEW RELEASES

CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

SANCTA SANCTORUM - THE SHINING DARKNESS (CD/BLACK WIDOW)  Dark hard rock sounds by former members of Death SS, the highly respected Italian underground band. The powerful music of Sancta Sanctorum is heavily inspired by early progressive elements and the best 70s hard rock has to offer.

  SUNSET AT FIVE - PINK ELEPHANT (CD/BASSICK)  Here's the tasty debut album of Belgian pop-rock outfit Sunset At Five, who bring us happy sounding songs that make you long for the summer. Catchy rhythms, sparkling guitars and the fantastic vocals of Stefanie Wijns are the main ingredients. The album is produced by Tony De Block, known from his work with Hooverphonic, Janez Detd and The Ditch. 'Pink Elephant' should appeal to fans of f.i. Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and Editors.

NATHALIE TOBIAZ - NANA (CD/JONAH)  Franco-Belgian pop singer Nathalie Tobiaz is a successful artist in the (French-)Canadian pop scene. After working in Canada for many years she decided to return home. On her new album, this time also released in the Benelux, Nathalie delivers catchy and exciting pop songs, slightly comparable to f.i. Vanessa Paradis and Annie Lennox.

  ASTRO & CORNUCOPIA - DEEP WIND (CD/QUASI POP)  New collaboration between Japanese noise bighead Hiroshi Hasegawa (Astro) and Cornucopia, a powerful, experimental, electronic noise duo  from Puerto Rico. Though the two extended tracks on this disc at times are brutal and disturbing, there are many more sides to 'Deep Wind'. Released by Ukrainian label Quasi Pop. Limited edition of 500 copies. Comes in oversized gatefold jacket.

S K L S - S K L S (7"/QUASI POP)  S K L S is the new (side-)project of Joachim Nordwall and Henrik Rylander, two well-known radical/experimental artists who also are the core members of Skull Defekts. S K L S perform minimalist, dark, haunting, intense and groovy music with traces of space-, synth-, drone-, and kraut-rock as well as ambient. Mostly recorded on analogue machines.

EXPECTED RELEASES

CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

  SIXTYNINERS - TOO DRUNK TO TRUCK (CD-LP/VOODOO RHYTHM)  An exciting debut full length for Voodoo Rhythm! The Sixtyniners hail from The Netherlands, but their sound, combining Americana and stompin' Hillbilly influences, reminds of a North Carolina Trailer park rather than whatever kind of Dutch folklore. The core of The Sixtyniners is made up of drummer Claudia and guitarist-vocalist Michiel, who also are well known graphic designers. There are guest appearances by members from Mama Rosin, Urban Dance Squad, Bluesgrass Boogiemen and Anomalys. Most of these 14 tracks were written by Michiel, but some Leadbelly-tunes are present as well. This is truly great and enjoyable stuff!

FABULOUS DIAMONDS - II (CD/CHAPTER MUSIC)  Melbourne duo Fabulous Diamonds are an odd pair. They make overtly hypnotic music, full of lulling, sensual repetition, but there's also an edge of irritation, an undercurrent of friction that cuts through the drone and propels the songs forward. They have been playing and arguing together for more than five years now, and their musical bond has grown deeper and more expansive since their 2008 self-titled debut. That album made it into revered UK mag The Wires top albums of the year, and got glowing reviews from the likes of Pitchfork and The Fader.

WITCHES BREW - WHITE TRASH SIDESHOW (CD-LP/BLACK WIDOW)  Witches Brew was founded by well known Italian musician MirkO ZOnca and the equally respected Mirko Bosco, ex-guitarist with Disper-Azione. Their 2010 album, 'White Trash Sideshow', should appeal to fans of early 70s rockbands in the vein of f.i. Black Sabbath.

FIRE IN THE HEAD - CONFESSIONS OF A NARCISSIST (CD/COLD SPRING)  Quite possibly the final release for this tumultuous force in U.S. Power Electronics. This release features artwork created specifically for this disc by Nick Blinko, in the early 80s a member of anarcho-punks Rudimentary Peni. Blinko also appears as guest vocalist and J. Randall (Agoraphobic Nosebleed) took care of some additional electronics.

  KING SALAMI & THE CUMBERLAND THREE - 14 BLAZIN' BANGERS! (LP/SOUNDFLAT)  Fourteen top tunes by London's newest Rhythm'n'Blues-Punk sensation. With a repertoire encompassing and influenced by many of the greats of the '50s and '60s you won't be able to help but move your feet when the Cumberland Three are blasting out of your speakers. The King howls like Screaming Jay Hawkins with Bo Diddley chasing his coat-tail whilst Andre Williams tries to offer up some of his bacon fat. This man never stops shakin' and twistin' and groovin' while the Cumberland Three (former members of the Parkinsons, Ulcers, and Chinese Lungs) play their own branded mix of vintage rockabilly, desperate rock'n'roll and a bit of soul with fire, energy, gusto and fun! 

  HEARTBEEPS - MY BONES ARE TATTOOED (LP/DEAD BEAT)  The Heartbeeps rose out of the ashes of Bordeaux' legendary TV Killers. Nevertheless, their music remains raw and primitive rock'n'roll that tips its cap to The Real Kids, Saints, DMZ, Pagans and the Zeros. Limited edition of 500 copies.

60’s & 70’s & 80’s (RE-)RELEASES AND ARTISTS + OTHER OLDIES

TULLY - LIVE AT SIDNEY TOWN HALL, 1969-1970 (CD/CHAPTER MUSIC)  Chapter Music presents two rare live recordings from quintessential Sydney prog group Tully, including their 1970 performance of Australia's first ever rock opera. These recordings capture the band in their first incarnation, before they joined forces with members of revered folk-psych band Extradition to explore more contemplative territory.

DANNY & THE PARKINS SISTERS - DANNY & THE PARKINS SISTERS (CD/CHAPTER MUSIC)Chapter Music is proud to resurrect from undeserved obscurity the scratchy beatnik art-punk stylings of early 80s San Francisco trio Danny & the Parkins Sisters. Their high-performance shows played out in legendary venues such as the Sound Of Music and Club Generic, with guests including Dead Kennedys drummer DH Peligro. Fans of angular post-punk luminaries like the Bush Tetras, the Raincoats or Y Pants will love this CD, which comes with bonus live and rehearsal recordings.

ABNER JAY - FOLK SONG STYLIST (LP/MISSISSIPPI)  Long awaited follow up to the 'True Story of Abner Jay' LP. In his lifetime Abner Jay's expression of what folk music could be encompassed some serious stylistic variations. Sometimes he was a one man band travelling troubadour playing an electric banjo, harmonica, and drums who tried to hoodwink audiences into believing that he was 150 years old and the standard bearer for authentic Americana. Sometimes he played in electric straight up r&b bands such as Koko Joe & the Jobhunters. Sometimes he claimed to be the "black Bob Dylan" strumming an acoustic guitar and singing socially conscious urban folk. On this LP we find Abner in all of these modes and more.

FUCKING FLYING A-HEADS - SWISS CHEESE BACK/WATCHING TV (7"/DE STIJL)  The Fucking Flying A-Heads were a band from Hawaii most commonly construed as "punk", though they might provide one of the more exciting links between a more typified conception of "punk", and that of "noise". Not suitable for people with high blood pressure!

VARIOUS - BEEN HERE ALL MY DAYS (LP/MISSISSIPPI)  'Selections From The George Mitchell Archive'. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, George Mitchell recorded extensively in the South. Mitchell concentrated mainly on local blues traditions recording some famous bluesmen and many otherwise ignored artists. The George Mitchell Collection was originally released as a series of forty-five EPs on Fat Possum, and this LP contains fourteen of the very best tracks, including songs from many well known blues musicians such as Fred McDowell, Furry Lewis and Joe Calicott as well as some from criminally under represented artists like Jessie Mae Hemphill, Rosa Lee Hill and John Lee Ziegler. Comes with a short booklet of photos, discographical notes and recollections.

SELECTED PRESS QUOTES

CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

  SEAN SMITH - ETERNAL (CD/STRANGE ATTRACTORS AUDIO HOUSE)  reviewed by Peter Marinus for MusicKnockout (excerpt)  This album is highly recommended for lovers of great guitar playing and for psychedelic folk lovers.

  HIPBONE SLIM & THE KNEE TREMBLERS - THE KNEEANDERTHAL SOUNDS OF... (CD-LP/VOODOO RHYTHM)  reviewed by Lenny Helsing for Shindig! (excerpt)  The three piece outfit is driven along by some deftly executed string-scratchin' and pumping stand-up bass, spectacularly ruddered and anchored by the rattlin' drums of of Bruce 'Bash' Brand.

  FROWNING CLOUDS - LISTEN CLOSELIER (CD/OFF THE HIP)  reviewed by Joost Jan Meertens for Planet Trash (translated excerpt)  ...a bunch of young Australians who tried their best to record an album like it's 45 years ago. They succeeded extremely well. 

  DELANEY DAVIDSON - SELF DECAPITATION (CD-LP/VOODOO RHYTHM)  reviewed by Lenny Helsing for Shindig! (excerpt)  Delaney Davidson is a wandering minstrel of sorts. A Multi-instrumentalist, he cvertainly knows his way around many a fine tune...  reviewed by Dirk Verhoeven for KindaMuzik (translated excerpt)  The morbid songs of Nick Cave and folk tunes may be important sources of inspiration, Davidson is at his best as the disturbed leader of country-, rock- or Balkan-orchestras.

  LYNX LYNX - THIS TRIBE OF YOURS (CD-LP/NASONI)  reviewed by DubbelMono for FileUnder (translated excerpt)  Produced by Bart eL Monte, also known from his work with The Fuzztones, who most probably are a band the members of Lynx Lynx like a lot.

  MUSHROOM - NAKED, STONED & STABBED (CD/4ZERO)  reviewed by Marco Rossi for Shindig! (translated excerpt)  These semi-improvisedpieces, bearing deliciously loaded titles such as 'Tariq Ali' and 'Jerry Rubin. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', take you on the long road to enlightenment by stealth. Float on, ladies and gentlemen.

60’s & 70’s & 80’s (RE-)RELEASES AND ARTISTS + OTHER OLDIES

    PANICKS - COMPLETE RECORDINGS (CD/GEARFAB)  reviewed by Ine for Punkrocktheory (translated excerpt)  You gotta love those dirty guitar solos. Raaaaawwwwr.

LIVE

SHEETAH ET LES WEISSMULLER (SCREAMING APPLE)  May 22: Amsterdam, NL (OT301/Beatfestival) 

SIXTYNINERS (VOODOO RHYTHM)  May 23: Groningen, NL (Vera - album release party) / June 5: Groningen, NL (Gideon festival) / June 26: Amsterdam, NL (Sleazefest) / August 8: Roermond, NL (Solar festival)

C.W. STONEKING (VOODOO RHYTHM)  May 29: Eindhoven, NL (Naked Song Festival/Muziek Centrum Frits Philips) /  June 4: Haarlem, NL (Patronaat) / August 8: Roermond, NL (Solar festival)

DEAD BROTHERS (VOODOO RHYTHM) June 4: Haarlem, NL (Patronaat)

GRAVES BROTHERS DELUXE (GREEN COOKIE) June 18: Haarlem (Patronaat)

GÖSTA BERLINGS SAGA (TRANSUBSTANS)  July 16: Haarlem, NL (Patronaat) / July 17: Nijmegen (Valkhof/Affaire festival)

DUNGEN (SUBLIMINAL SOUNDS)  July 17: Tilburg, NL (013) / July 18: Nijmegen (Valkhof/Affaire festival) / July 19: Amsterdam, NL (Paradiso)

THE FLYING EYES (WORLD IN SOUND)  July 18: Nijmegen, NL (Valkhof/Affaire festival) / July 25: Roermond, NL (DeWeegbrug)

KENTIN JIVEK (S.R.)  spring-summer 2010 

THINGUMA JIG*SAW (DESERTED VILLAGE)  Fall 2010 t.b.a.

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Previous editions:

06/09/2010 11:47 SPOTLIGHT 264

30/08/2010 11:42 SPOTLIGHT 263

24/08/2010 11:09 SPOTLIGHT 262

18/08/2010 11:22 SPOTLIGHT 261

09/08/2010 11:31 SPOTLIGHT 260

02/08/2010 11:29 SPOTLIGHT 259

26/07/2010 11:16 SPOTLIGHT 258

20/07/2010 12:06 SPOTLIGHT 257

12/07/2010 12:22 SPOTLIGHT 256

05/07/2010 11:52 SPOTLIGHT 255

29/06/2010 11:34 SPOTLIGHT 254

21/06/2010 11:21 SPOTLIGHT 253

15/06/2010 11:37 SPOTLIGHT 252

07/06/2010 11:43 SPOTLIGHT 251

31/05/2010 11:35 SPOTLIGHT 250

25/05/2010 12:20 SPOTLIGHT 249

19/05/2010 11:48 SPOTLIGHT 248

03/05/2010 11:46 SPOTLIGHT 246

26/04/2010 12:04 SPOTLIGHT 245

19/04/2010 11:42 SPOTLIGHT 244

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