The Men 'Leave Home' & European Tour

The Men are a four piece from Brooklyn who released their third LP on Sacred Bones in 2010 and since have exhaustively toured their kraut inspired punk rock in basements, living rooms and other crevices of the US. The Men are about to embark on a European tour next month, if the hype surrounding constantly sold-out shows on their home turf is anything to go by, we are all in for a treat.



UK leg of the tour -
19 February BRIGHTON Prince Albert uk
20 February LIVERPOOL Mojo uk
21 February LEEDS Brudenel uk
22 February NORWICH Norwich Arts center UK
23 February LONDON Camp Basement uk

Full details of The Men's tour is on their blog
Find the record at Sacred Bones

Magik Markers/Sic Alps 12"

Somebody pinch me. I couldn't believe my luck when I found this, Magik Markers and Sic Alps on one 12".

The A side is written by gritty noise poppers Sic Alps, with help from Ty Segall and Lars Finberg (Intelligence). The stand out thing for me is abrasive noise in the first track. "Guxxe Bathe Ballade" is filtered out gradually through their three songs here. "The Greatest" which closes side A, by comparison to "Guxxe Bathe Ballade" is softer and clearer while the abrasiveness disappears, melodies surface coming through stronger. You might hear this too, I don't know.

B side features shredding drone makers Magik Markers, whose most recent full length on Drag City Balf Quarry is hands down my number one album of 2009. Elisa Ambrogio's reverb-ed vocals howl through psychedelic guitars and hypnotic bass parts on opening song "The Diamond Guitar of Tico Feo." "White Map Laid with White Ink" is a total jam and Pete Nolan's phenomenal drumming seems completely effortless here. Side B closes with Kraut Rock-esque "Tighten One and Loosen the Other."

I believe the first pressing of the EP (pink) was limited to 600 copies and is now sold out. You can still find the second pressing (blue) around though.