Rat Columns : I Wonder

David West, James Vinciguerra, Matt Bleyle and Jon Young make the line up the for Rat Columns.  Some may already be familiar with these guys from their work in Rank/Xerox, Total Control, Lace Curtain, Burning Sensation, Orgy Of The Undead, Frank & The Can I Speaklys, Whalehammer, Pualine Mason, Nosedive, KBA, Sopors, Abi Yoyos and Violent Change.  

Rat Columns recent show opening for Rank/Xerox at The Lexington was one of my favourites this year, their set was completely arresting and I had to pick up this 7" (the LPs had already sold out).  Rat Columns started primarily as a solo project and that's what I think we hear on this single.  These 4 songs of Post punk wanderings recall 80s British Indie with it's dejected vocals paired with lush guitars, alongside a Joy Division-esque bass line and drum machine - best shown on BSide "Glass Coffin".  Rat Columns album 'Sceptre Hole' is out now featuring the full line up which pushes things over the edge with songs becoming more ballistic, more pop and more psychedelic shrouded under a cloud of drone.  All releases so far have been on Smart Guy records and you can pick up copies here

Rat Columns : Tumblr Bandcamp 

Video for "I Wonder" by Hannah Lew

Rat Columns "I Wonder" from Aubree Bernier-Clarke on Vimeo.

Purling Hiss : Water On Mars

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Purling Hiss began, as bedroom recordings of Mike Polizze until a tour with Kurt Vile a few years ago propelled the project into a full band in its own right.   The Philadelphia power trio are; Mike Polizze (Birds of Maya), Kiel Everett and Mike Sneeringer.   Together they play out a turbo-guitar, gulping bass and fiery rhythms.  To date Purling Hiss has four albums, an EP and split 12” with Puffy Areolas, all of which has seen Polizze at the core of the songwriting.   This new album for Drag City ‘Water On Mars’ to my ears at least, sounds like all three members constructed the album together as these ten songs build on the big psych-rock sound Purling Hiss is known for with some new ideas thrown into the mix.  ‘Water On Mars’ channels the kind of fuzzed out approach and saccharine melodies you’d expect from Dinosaur Jr and brilliant tangents of 60s psych.  Opener "Lolita" steamrolls in with chewy, sanguine tinged guitars, rumbling bass, forthright rhythms apace with Polizze's gravelly voice layered with screeching distortion.  "Mercury Retrograde" follows immediately taking things down a gear, filtering out abrasive noise and smoothing over vocals allowing a melody heavy bass to come through alongside roaming guitars.   It's the play on hard/soft, loud/quiet, pop melodies/dissonant noise that best describes the album as Purling Hiss finds the perfect balance between these opposites - just listen to eventide-esque "She Calms Me Down" next to freaked out "Face Down" to see what I mean!  'Water On Mars' feels like a game changer for Purling Hiss where they don't just think outside the indie-rock box, they smash it and build a new box. On tour soon in the UK for Fuzz Box at The Dome in May - not to be missed!

Bedwettin' Bad Boys "Bite My Tongue"

Crawlspace have unveiled the first track from upcoming Bedwettin' Bad Boys LP 'Ready For Boredom'.  "Bite My Tongue" plays outside the margins of melody heavy power pop and time-honoured indie sounds.  This teaser is unbelievably infectious and sets hopes very high that 'Ready For Boredom' is going to get 2013 started off right.  

Copies in Australia from R.I.P Society
Copies in America from Easter Bilby Distro

It's also worth noting Raw Prawn have their highly anticipated first single out on the same day, you can find copies in the links above.

Freakapuss/Sic Alps split 7"

New split single out on Drag City features Freakapuss (Zarjaz formerly of Tronics) and Sic Alps.  Freakapuss designs a cosmic opus about golden elephants, crazy experiments and jeweled rock pools in track "Here Today Here Tomorrow".   This side of the single plays out feel good rock 'n' roll guitar alongside bongos, with cerebral teasing lyrics adding a psychedelic twist to the track.  Elements from the verse are depicted in Unica Zurn-esque drawings on an eye grabbing sleeve, a fitting image for Freakapuss' first vinyl release.  Regarding the reverse side Sic Alps offer up "New Trawgs III" featuring sun-kissed guitars, hand percussion and strung out vocals.  "New Trawgs III" follows on nicely from "Here Today Here Tomorrow" in its rock swagger and stripped down approach.  The cohesiveness of this release shows Freakapuss and Sic Alps a perfect pairing for a split single, well worth grabbing a copy.

UK copies here
US copies here

Rebecca Gates + The Consortium 'The Float'

Here we have Chicago based artist Rebecca Gates + the Consortium’s new album for 12XU entitled ‘The Float’. Some may already be familiar with Gates from fronting Sub Pop indie band The Spinanaes during the 90’s. Gates came into her own in 2001 releasing ‘Ruby Series’ and toured opening for Stereolab alongside a live band comprised of Mikael Joergensen (Wilco), Noel Kupersmith (Brokeback) and Jerry Busher (Fugazi). Although the shows went well she ended up out of pocket, so began exploring other outlets for her creativity. Gates spent the best part of ten years involved in exhibitions merging elements of sound into visual art, her new setting afforded a platform to explore her ideas in new ways but music was never far from anything she did. So it’s no surprise that she’s returned to the studio for a new album, the new songs are unmistakably Gates with a tender folk approach paired with the finesse of 90’s indie.

‘The Float’ has been gradually pieced together since 2004 featuring members of The Jicks, Tortoise and Portland Cello project to name a few. The album incorporates drums, guitars, xylophones, cellos and violins to create eleven evocative tracks tinged with upset. Track “&&&” sounds out Gates’ smokey voice apace with a piano, beats that tread in and out of step and freely wandering guitars plucking out loose melodies and rhythms. This best shows how Gates assembles small components to create one cohesive piece like a musical jigsaw. The highlight for me on ‘The Float’ is “Slowed Lowed Lowered”, with blinking eventide keys anchored by a drifting abrasive guitar alongside Gates ethereal whispers. “The Float” is quite simply a beautiful album and worth your time, another great release on the 12XU imprint.

You can find copies here

The Feelies 'Here Before'

The Feelies stormed back on to the scene in 2008 for a reunion show with Sonic Youth in Battery Park. Since then, the band have been regularly playing their universally loved indie songs spanning the first part of their career from 1980 to 1991 in New York and their native New Jersey. 10 years on from their last album The Feelies offer up some brand new material on 'Here Before'.

Aptly, the album opener "Nobody Knows" muses "Is it to late to do it again, or should we wait another ten?", it's this double viewpoint simultaneously acting as a self-reflective statement and acknowledging the listener that best sums up why their songs are so inviting. This is reiterated in closer "So Far" where Glen Mercer sings in his Lou Reed-esque voice, "now it's time to say goodbye". The first part of the record really warms up with "When You Know", abound with zestful guitars swarming at head rushing speed grounded with veracious vocals. The album cools off from here introducing some sugary bell jangles in the slower numbers. Shortest track on the album, "Time Is Right" stands out for its sense of urgency with siren guitars chiming out apace with a bold vocal delivery. This record delivers exactly what you expect and want from The Feelies, layered guitars shimmering with melody, harmonious vocals and locomotive rhythms. Like putting on your favourite sweater it's familiar, comforting and feels GOOD. When a band can create something as beautiful as The Feelies can, it doesn't need to be questioned, 'Here Before' attests that these guys are just as good as they ever were.

http://www.mediafire.com/?5i2in77nvbpa2ac

Kurt Vile 'Smoke Ring For My Halo'

Philadelphia's psycho folk troubadour Kurt Vile has released his fourth full length album, the second for Matador Records. Since 'Constant Hitmaker' (Gulcher) Vile has been turning heads with his transcendent guitar style amalgamating folk, psychedelia and indie producing something entirely unique and unmatched. Those who enjoyed 'Childish Prodigy' will find bursts of heavy psyched out rock on this new album, however, Vile reins it in considerably and offers up some surprises that surpass everything he's done before.

Opener "Baby's Arms" breezes in setting the tone for the record with ethereal, dreamy notes tumbling over each other anchored with aloof musings and metronomic rhythms. An ode to a loved one dealing with finding comfort Vile hums, "I get sick of just about everyone and I hide in my baby's arms". It's these confessions and takings on his everyday life that continue to be a theme on the album. "Jesus Fever" kicks things up a gear with chiming, aerobic guitars at the forefront of the song with piano parts and foot tapping rhythms. "I pack my suitcase with myself but I'm already gone" sung with his commanding yet unassuming vocal style, it's this lone wolf viewpoint that aptly sums up 'Smoke Ring For My Halo'. Introducing sinewy guitars on "Puppet Man" and "In My Time" the record takes twists and turns down rockier, moodier roads. Seamlessly weaving in lyrics from past records, such as "Runner Ups" echoing "Red Apples" ('God Is Saying This To You'), "Hey girl come on over that'd be just fine" is an unexpected delight. Vile summons some sort of voodooism with closing track "(shell blues)" with a soft, disconsolate piano played alongside a single chiming bell that lingers long after the album is finished. This release is nothing short of sheer brilliance, Kurt Vile's gift for song writing makes today's music scene a more exciting place to lose yourself in.

Kurt Vile 'Jesus Fever'

The past 2 years seem to have been a whirlwind for Philly's Kurt Vile. His releases on Woodsist, Gulcher, Richie and Mexican Summer sent everyone from record collecting fiends, music lovers and just the down right curious into a frenzy. Through relentless touring and having one New York label as his number on fan Kurt Vile has been propelled from underground treasure to becoming a universally loved musician.

During my three year stay in New York I first saw Mr Vile play a modest show in the most famous kitchen in Brooklyn, Silent Barn. Shortly before I left the big apple this indie-psych-folk wizard was opening for Big Star. I can't say I ever expected him to be opening for such a huge act in such a short space of time, but wasn't all that surprised either.

Kurt Vile recently gave a cracking interview for WFMU giving details on his new album 'Smoking Ring For My Halo'. It's out on March 8th and there's a new song, 'Jesus Fever', available to check out courtesy of Matador.

Grass Widow 'Pass Times'

They had me with their cover of Urinals 'Black Hole'.

The all girl three piece from San Francisco have an album and EP (Make a Mess and Captured Tracks respectively) already under their belts. 'Past Time' released on the renowned Kill Rock Stars label is their sophomore offering. Astral harmonies and frenetic drums instantly bring Young Marble Giants to mind. Grass Widows aren't challenging that in any way, rather bringing new blood to a type of music that has seen quite a resurgence lately. There's so much going on in the album repeated listens means you'll continuously find new things to love about this 25 minute stunner.


Read full review of Past Time - Grass Widow on Boomkat.com ©