Snowman - The Horse, The Rat & The Swan

Genre: Hypnotic, Garage, Psychedelic, Punk Rock
Year: 2008
Label: Dot Dash
Who: Joe McKee, Andy Citawarman, Olga Hermanniusson and Ross DiBlasio.
Where: Perth
Like: A tribal insane asylum
Rating: 7/10

Compare to: Black Tapes, The Drones, Hatifnats, Wilderness, Crystal Antlers

If you're into those outrageous, crazy-eyed rockabillies whom appear rather shoegazish but then side-swipe you with hypnotizing tribal-esque rhythms and belligerent vocals than hold the phone because Snowman has come just in time to slap that holiday cheer right off your face. But in a good way! That is if you enjoy making your greasy hair stand on end and then making it all right again. On their November release of The Horse, The Rat & The Swan, Snowman has accomplished all of this and then some. Their aesthetic is hard to put your finger on. I'd suggest listening to them before you investigate them...which is always best anyways. They embody a specific style of alternative rock fused with dark psychedelic punk rock that is a very worthwhile listen if you ask me.

Choice Tracks: Our Mother (She Remember), She is Turning Into You, Diamond Wounds

1 Our Mother (She Remembers)
2 We Are The Plague
3 The Gods of the Upper House
4 The Blood of The Swan
5 Daniel was a Time Bomb
6 A Rebirth
7 She is Turning Into You
8 The House (parts 1&2)
9 Diamond Wounds



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Flood by Todd Chandler (Dark Dark Dark)

FLOOD

with Dark Dark Dark
& Fall Harbor







"Flood is an experimental narrative journey. It begins on the water, on a fleet of hand crafted boats, pieced together from scrap and found materials . On water time twists and bends in mysterious ways. Some people aboard the rafts cannot remember a time before the water. Others are lost in their memories from a previous life on the land. Some remember the boats starting out as a summer project among friends. Others remember fleeing their homes. Still others remember that the way of living they used to know was no longer working, and that something had to give. As the flotilla creeps down the river the past, present, and future stories of the boats and their inhabitants becomes clearer and more elusive.

A mash-up of genres, Flood blends narrative, documentary, musical, and improvised experimental film. The film will be shot amidst the installation artist Swoon’s Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea project, in which seven homespun boats will be built and crewed by an eclectic group of artists and performers. The boats will float down the Hudson River conducting performances as they stop in towns along the way.

The primary cast of Flood is comprised of the bands Dark Dark Dark and Fall Harbor. The musician/actors will be performing in the film in addition to composing the score. There will be two final versions of the film: one which will be a stand-alone feature length film screened theatrically and at festivals, and another which will tour galleries, performance and community spaces in Spring 2010 with the musician/actors featured in the film providing a live musical score during screenings."


I just watched the trailer for Flood, which was brought to my attention by Chandler, and I must say I was blown away. Although I'm not much for thick rimmed glasses (shout out to Tallahassee), I will admit the film is gorgeous and seems like it will be an incredibly moving narrative like a mix between Mark Twain, river rats, Noah's ark, and two very talented--and not to mention aesthetically pleasing--bands. The presentation is awe-inspiring and the cinematography is seemingly outstanding. Definitely a strong collection of talented people. Check out the website and watch the teasers and buy the bands albums!

FLOODMOVIE.COM

FLOOD TEASER from flood movie on Vimeo.

Robedoor - Endlessly Blazing

Genre: Drone, Experimental Psych, Avant Gard, Noise
Year: 2008
Label: Woodsist
Who: Alex and Britt
Where: Brooklyn
Like: An hour walk down judgment path
Rating: 8/10

Compare to: Sunn O))), Yellow Swans, Pocahaunted, Burning Star Core, Emeralds

Headless druids falling through a portal. Freak lore repeated as such. The overturning of blackened wax and the unfearthing of a howling mystery. Drone amulets, Robedoor, bring all five senses hailing back with their release of Endlessly Blazing. Listen while dreaming and you'll either never wake up, never want to wake up, or ever go back asleep again. I'm sorry, but I love robedoor, but be forewarned you may not.



1. Sabbath Breaker
2. Reality is a Mausoleum
3. Fire in the Hole





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Woods Family Creeps - Woods Family Creeps

Genre: Psychfolk, Experimental, Psychedelic, Lo-Fi
Year: 2008
Label: Fuck It Tapes
Who: Jeremy Earl, Jarvis Taveniere, and G. Lucas Crane
Where: NYC
Like: Watching an 8mm in somebody's garbage bagged garage in Iowa
Rating: 7/10

Compare to: WOODS, Lau Nau, Tickley Feather, Paavoharju, Blank Dogs

WOODS are back and reinvented with their release of Woods Family Creeps' self-titled album. The album is full of lo-fi rambling bullshit infused with a bit more soulful blues than their previous projects. Its fluid and easy to listen to, and if you like this definitely hop over to their site and check out the three other more lyric based tracks they have streaming. Aside from the hookish vocals, which as usual mirror anything anyone has ever licked into a microphone, the band's sound embodies a unique lo-fi style, flagging its own crispness as well as haughty psychedelic drone. well worth a listen.

Choice tracks: The Creeps, Diamond Days

1. End to End
2. Creeps Collage
3. Twisted Tongue
4. Family
5. Howling on Howling
6. Diamond Days
7. Spike
8. Sleep Sleep Sleep
9. The Creeps


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Dark Dark Dark - The Snow Magic

Genre: Gypsies yess?
Year: 2008
Label: Blood Onion Records
Who: Nona Marie Invie, Marshall LaCount, Todd Chandler, Jonathan Kaiser
Where: Manhattan/Minneapolis
Like: crying while drinking on the streets in the slums of Russia in the 20s
Rating: 7/10

Compare to: Beirut, Firekites, Deer Tick, These United States, Dresden Dolls

Heavy strings and harmonious vocals make Dark Dark Dark's debut album The Snow Magic a pure vision of fluid instrumentation and jarring imagery. The band's past is so deeply woven within the dynamics of their sound and style that it is impossible to not be moved by this album, though it may be a tad too movie soundtrack sounding. Singing of ghosts, murders, and of course love, Dark Dark Dark's dueling male/female vocals make you wanna swirl around to embroidered paper doll cut-outs and cotton ball clouds. Its intense if you're in the mood for daunting gypsy music sung by semi-realistic gypsies.


Choice tracks: Ferment in D Minor, Dig a Grave


1. Ashes
2. Benefit of the Doubt
3. A Cloud Story
4. Colors
5. Dig a Grave
6. Ferment in Dm
7. Junk Bones
8. New York Song
9. A Spell for Letting Go
10. That Light
11. Trouble No More
12. Winter Coat
13. All the Things


Try It. Then Buy It.
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Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic

Genre: Psychedelic, Avant Gard, Lo-FI, Ambient
Year: 2009
Label: Unsigned
Who: Luke Temple & Band
Where: Brooklyn, NY
Like: an eerie back alley bum tripping on shrooms
Rating: ?/10

Compare to: Luke Temple, Ariel Pink, Cass McCombs, Flying, Animal Collective, Caribou

Luke Temples side project is set to make their psychedelic debut this February under the name Here We Go Magic. The release has yet to leak, but the band is streaming a handful of tracks on of course their myspace. Having given these tracks more than a fair listen, I can say I am quite excited for this album especially since there aren't that may outstanding records forecasted for this spring. Here We Go Magic has a refreshingly mature lo-fi psychedlic sound abundant with flushing harmonies and warm beats perfect for a day in the grass with your shroomies. Although their sound may resemble classic psychedelia a tad too much, it can be heard with a modern ear which makes it better than anything Ariel Pink has ever attempted. But of course this is just based of three tracks.


1. Only Pieces
2. Fangela
3. Ahab
4. Tunnelvision
5. Ghost List
6. I Just Want To See You Underwater
7. Babyohbabyijustcantstanditanymore
8. Nat’s Alien
9. Everything’s Big

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More qbout Luke.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion

Genre: Experimental, Freak-Folk
Year: 2009
Label: formally Paw-Tracks now signed to Domino
Who: Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz)
Where: NY/Washington/Lisbon/DC
Like: Like usual, hookish beats and vocal slurs underwater
Rating: 6/10

Compare to: Panda Bear, Grizzly Bear, Ariel Pink

Follow up to their previous release, Strawberry Jam and latest EP Water Curses, Merriweather Post Pavillion (due out on Jan 20th) is pretty much the same deal. One noticeable change would be their tendency to steer stronger toward Noah Lennox's style and structure. Personally, I think that's unfortunate, but what can you do. Nonetheless, here is Animal Collectives 2009 release. Its decent, as usual their tracks pick up towards the end making for a jammish finale.

Choice Track: My Girls (aka House)


1. In the Flowers
2. My Girls
3. Also Frightened
4. Summertime Clothes
5. Daily Routine
6. Bluish
7. Guys Eyes
8. Taste
9. Lion in a Coma
10. No More Runnin
11. Brother Sport
*12. Grace
*13. On a Highway

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