Category Archives: album

Chasing Lions Presents The Soft Drugs

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Chasing Lions (formerly Puddlegum) has launched as the first blog label. There will, no doubt, be differences of opinion on who the actual “first” blog/label combo is or was–Dave Allen ran Pampelmoose.com for a time with an indie label section by the same name, but Pampelmoose the label seems to have disappeared from P-Moose the blog at present (unless I am just a sightless doink). But I digress…it doesn’t really matter.

Forget labels, the proof is in the music. Chasing Lions has partnered with The Soft Drugs, who offer Side A of their forthcoming vinly/CD release Get Back as a free download.

After having a go at Side A (four times in a row, back to back) I see good things for both the Chasing Lions and The Soft Drugs. I was a bit doubtful of the obvious Beatles tie-in (which are usually dreadful), but fortunately the Let It Be track has nothing whatsoever to do with the Fab Four’s song–except as a lyrical reference. “It could be your Hey Jude. . . It could be your Let It Be…”

The best of this mid-tempo, laid back four-song download is also the most energetic of the bunch. Comparisons are odious, but I Need Space manages to somehow channel GBV in the vocal department, but not in a derivative way…it just sounds –at first listen, anyway– like these two bands belong together on a mix disc in spite of the fact that The Soft Drugs aren’t into the minimal, lo-fi vibe. There’s a healthy energy running through this that holds up well on repeated listens. My only gripe with I Need Space is that the track feels truncated…it’s begging for another round at the end instead of trailing off the way it does. Still, that’s showbiz–always leave ’em wanting more. In this case gents, mission accomplished.

 This Boston outfit features former Pedro the Lion member T.W. Walsh. The sounds are described in the press kit as being a cross between indie rock and trad rock…but you won’t hear any of those Jurassic rockers singing about feeling like a “baby on speed”. Nice! Grab the freebie while you can, and we’ll see how that full-length vinyl sounds when it drops this fall. Click below to hear the great I Need Space cut off the freebie Side A download of Let It Be.

 

I Need Space – The Soft Drugs

Chris Joss: A Part In That Show 12-Inch Single

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Chris Joss is a musical juggernaut. Based in France, the Chris Joss experience is a funky, uber-smooth retro callback to the disco dance floors and too-cool-for-school Shaft-style action soundtracks I grew up digging very much. The fact that Joss plays all his own instruments cinches the deal–he has too much talent to measure and if you are one of those people (like me) who can sit through an otherwise lukewarm 60s or 70s film because it has a killer soundtrack, this 12-inch is for you. A Part In That Show is from the You’ve Been Spiked album, a must-own. Go to the Chris Joss site to hear a very generous free sampling of everything he’s done to date. RECOMMENDED.

Geyser: Icelandic Indie Rock Anthology

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Before Bjork started caterwauling about UFOs, before the Sugarcubes was upping the weirdo factor on MTV’s 120 Minutes with Dave Kendall (whatever happend to THAT guy?) Iceland was growing a great indie music scene that went totally unappreciated in America…except by Enigma Records. Geyser is an anthology released on vinyl in 1987 featuring a nice lineup of talented groups from the land of the midnight sun.

Iceland’s indie scene is even more fascinating today with blokes like Bardi Johannsson (aka Bang Gang), but before Bardi, there was Kukl, Hoh, Bubbi Morthens and Das Kapital tearing things up. This album covers all the bases from techno throb to the great, Crass-like screaming about “the man on the cross” on Kukl’s stellar track. Mickey Dean and De Vunderfoolz give some new wave/Billy Idol thrills with “Citified”…there simply isn’t a bad cut on this album.

I have no idea why Enigma released this in 1987, but I am so grateful they did…it gave me a lot to look for when I finally made to Iceland for two years in 1999. Icelandic indie lovers should also search high and low for a two-CD soundtrack to the film Rokk i Reykjavik, a concert film roughly equivalent to Urgh! A Music War in terms of the number and diversity of bands. If you want to get an idea of modern Iceland indie music, check out my interview with Bang Gang’s Bardi Johannsson for Gearwire.com.

Piero Umilliani: “Lady Magnolia”

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Yesterday I mentioned picking up the soundtrack by Piero Umilliani pictured above, La Ragazza…Today, lo and behold, what do I find while idly searching around on YouTube? A collection of posts on Umillani, including this trippy vid accompanied by Umilliani’s Lady Magnolia as performed by Lavalamp. Very nice stuff indeed!

There is nothing more fun than being a left-of-center musical omnivore who can devour Kinks, Sex Pistols, Buggles, Hawaiian Pups and Morricone records with equal fervor. I remember being surrounded by people in college who were monochromatic, musically speaking. How sad for them!

One thing I love about vinyl records is the ability to discover new sounds at budget prices. I never would have picked up now-treasured recordings by the far-out Mystic Moods Orchestra or 4 Out of 5 Doctors if they hadn’t been in the bargain bins. Taking a chance on crazy bands and compilations like Pop Against Pope would be crazy at full price, at least in THIS economy…but I digress. Enjoy the vid, and as for Lavalamp, and I would certainly love to hear more of their work–right up my alley, this is…Lavalamp, get in touch!