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Spotlight 41
Welcome to the Spot Light. Check out the latest psychedelic, cosmic, prog, freakbeat, folk, kraut, experimental, jazz, drone, mystical, and avant-garde sounds!
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PSYCHEDELIC/PROGRESSIVE/FOLK
Electric Fly Swatter
Night Flyer
Electric Fly Swatter features Parliament Funkadelic legends Michael "Kidd Funkadelic" Hampton and Lige Curry along with the band's front-man Dave Behar on guitar and Shane Croxton absolutely hammering the drum kit. The album art by Stefon "Dat Artist" Penn fits the madness of these jams perfectly.
Shadow Show
Baba Yaga/spy Balloon
Following the release of their sophomore album, 'Fantasy Now!' (Little Cloud Records/Stolen Body Records), Detroit's psych-pop power trio Shadow Show return with a double a-side 45 via Rogue Records. 'Baba Yaga' dances after dark under the influence of '70s eastern European grooves, showcasing the group's flexibility and willingness to transcend genres. 'Spy Balloon' harnesses the whimsical psychedelia of the 1960s ala Syd Barrett, and emphasizes the group's utilization of the studio as an instrument with inclusions of synthesizers, tape delays, and other various overdubs to their harmonious wall of sound.
Various
Brown Acid: The 19th Trip (black)
There is NO LIGHT at the end of this tunnel! 'Brown Acid: The Nineteenth Trip' fires ten more savage nails deep into the coffin of '60s psychedelic idealism. This series is THE premier top dog journey into the rarest and most wasted early local eruptions of heavy rock, unleashed at a time when harsh reality, human nature and disillusionment drove prevailing underground rock glimpses of a 'better' world into ever darker selfabsorbed comedowns. Mind expanding '60s love energies transform into toxic aggression right before your ears! The great thing is that these moves are totally justified, 'we are all one' is cosmically good in theory but 'get it while you can' ends up perhaps better advice in the light of human history. Both of those angles of awareness can coexist, some of these bands deliver unrelenting sideways positive energy but they aren't over-thinking it, they are youthfully driven by hunger for life and satisfying the undeniable urges their DNA thrusts upon them. Sonically, the results in the 'Brown Acid' series never fail to breathe hot and heavy, the guitars kill it every time, the variety of approaches these tracks take keep the scenery shifting into new places. The key element that makes this stuff so potent is that THEY (the bands) are in control. Captured genuinely with no compromise, right out of the gate. No doubt they had ambition with high hopes for the future when they laid down these primal efforts, the fact that they captured their energy so vividly at a moment in time when the only direction imaginable was UP creates a hard hitting life affirming subtext to the proceedings. That is the core energy of blues and rock and roll, dealing with the struggles of existence by flipping a gigantic 'what the fuck' high energy bird right in the face of the moronic defective reality these bands were born into. If you take this stuff too 'seriously' you are utterly missing the point, it is beyond analysis, it is life itself! No amount of thinking will get you there quicker! 'Brown Acid: The Nineteenth Trip' is scary... the bottomless pit of deranged vintage heavy rock the series presents continually expands over time... one deadly dose too many and you might be trapped in the bad trip loop forever... enjoy it or lose your mind!
GARAGE/BEAT/SURF/ROCK’N’ROLL
Intveld, James -with The Velvet Candles-
Sings
This is an exciting collaboration that brings together rockabilly legend James Intveld and the harmonizing doo-wop group The Velvet Candles. Known for his smooth, vintage-inspired sound, Intveld showcases his timeless voice with backing vocals by The Velvet Candles, who add a rich, nostalgic layer of doo-wop harmonies.This release blends classic rock 'n' roll, country, and doo-wop vibes, making it a perfect collector's item for fans of 1950s and 60s-inspired music. Whether you're a fan of rockabilly or vintage pop, this 7-inch record delivers a heartfelt, retro sound that transports listeners back to the golden age of rock and roll.
Wrong Society
Misery Has Got Me Down/find Me Gone
The Wrong Society formed 2012 in Hamburg, Germany. They play a blend of moody garage punk and psych, often focusing on the bitter side of love, influenced by the sounds of mid-sixties U.S. Teen Beat bands. After five singles and a LP issued on different labels, this release features the straight 66 style punker 'Misery Has Got Me Down' b/w 'Find Me Gone,' a lysergic swirling organ ballad about vanishing.
POP/ROCK/WAVE/NOISE
Kaiserinas -feat. Alicia Faye-
Don't Come Back/promise Me
For over 30 years the Kaiserinas have existed in the mind of George Miller, lead guitarist in Scotland's kings of beat, The Kaisers. Now this fictional group has burst into the real world. Original compositions from The Kaisers repertoire have been reimagined and rearranged in true 1960s girl group style and recorded at KGM Sound, the studio where the recent album 'More From The Kaisers' was recorded. The results sound like lost gems from the era when likes of The Shangri-Las, The Shirelles and The Angels rode high in the hit parade, with Hammond organ, saxophones and vibes to the fore. This is Kaisers music as you've never heard it before - very different, but just as exciting. Lead vocal duties are performed by the fabulous Alice Faye, 22 years old and possessor of one of the most beautiful singing voices that Scotland (or indeed anywhere else) has ever produced. Alice makes every song she sings her own and has the ability to thrill you one minute and break your heart the next. A fantastic artist in her own right and a rising star in the UK, Alice's contributions are sure to make The Kaiserinas records highly collectable items in the not too distant future.
PUNK/HARDCORE
Bad Dreams Always
Hagelbossan Brann Av
The first full-length in a very long time and the first with only Swedish songs. It's not the first punk/hardcore band in Sweden which has changed from English to Swedish. Short lyrics that still have some meaning are accompanied by their fast and hard music, which makes it effective with the short songs that get hammered into your head in an effective way. Brutal, beautiful, tough and naughty at the same time. In vein of Mob 47, D.R.I., Lärm. GG Allin, Bad Brains, and Discharge.
Rainswept
No Threats Allowed
The album covers a lot of territory throughout its succinct rampage. Not only does Rainswept deliver the expected classic hardcore sound, the influence from more contemporary styles, along with some metal vibes, pushes its way to the forefront, culminating in the band's most vicious material yet. 'No Threats Allowed' blends various musical tastes from classic NYHC to edgier notes of '90s metal, featuring fast riffs, two-step parts, and breakdowns. Conceptually, it serves as a declaration of intent, a manifesto. Years of sick and toxic social dynamics, both in personal life and even within the music scene, have led this band from Rome to feel the need to create a safe space, where the foundation lies in self-reflection and interaction with others. Only by respecting each individual's mental well-being can there be collective improvement. For fans of Madball, Drain, Terror, Incendiary.
Detention
Dead Rock 'n Rollers (black)
Deluxe 12-inch reissue of Detention's rare, early-1980s punk/hardcore single, 'Dead Rock 'N Rollers' b/w 'El Salvador' plus 7 additional songs, 4 of which are from the band's out-of-print self-titled LP, while the others also were recorded in the early-1980s, but not released. All songs on this mini LP or maxi EP (take your pick) have been remastered at Enormous Door in Austin and the grooves cut at 45 RPM to achieve the highest fidelity and maximum punch. The tombstone art on the front cover of the original 45 by Jeff Jamieson has been resurrected for this release. If it looks familiar, that's because, like the NastyFacts EP art, it's been ripped off... numerous times... most famously it appears on the cover of the 'Killed By Death #2' compilation. "I remember Detention opening for the Dead Kennedys at The Showplace in New Jersey. I was standing next to Jello Biafra watching Detention's set when Jello looks over at me and says "these guys are fucking great." It wasn't until years later that I got to hear the bulk of Detention's recorded music including some of the songs that were never released and I have to agree with him, Detention were fucking great." ~Dave Scott/Adrenalin O.D., author and Sneakerhead 4 Life!, 2024. Limited to 200 copies on black vinyl.
INDUSTRIAL/EXPERIMENTAL/NOISE/NEOFOLK/GOTHIC
Dias Gomes, Ricardo -& Star Rover-
This Whole Emptiness
In early 2017 Ricardo Dias Gomes (longtime member of Caetano Veloso's Banda Çe) made a trip from Rio de Janeiro to New York to play a few solo shows, and on the recommendation of fellow Rio musician Arto Lindsay, dropped by Trans Pecos in Queens to see what was happening. Onstage happened to be drummer Jeremy Gustin (Albert Hammond Jr., Rubblebucket) performing in a duo. Blown away by his unusual, bombastic style, Gomes introduced himself after the show. They quickly discovered that they had met previously when Gustin and guitarist Will Graefe (Okkervile River, Landlady) had performed in Rio on tour with Grammy Award winner Jesse Harris. That very night Gustin invited Gomes back to his Bushwick loft to jam with him and Graefe, his partner in Star Rover. Moved by the immediate musical connection, they knew more had to happen. After a tour in Europe later that year, Star Rover met up with Gomes in Lisbon, where he had recently expatriated with his family. With only sketches, they spent several days in the studio of Marcelo Camelo (of Los Hermanos) - also a recent expat - recording snippets of songs alongside free improvisations. Then began the long process of their separately overdubbing parts and sending notes back and forth, developing concrete songs, such as the gems 'No Espelho,' a tone poem with Portuguese lyrics, sung by Gomes; 'Swallow The Sky,' a mediation on birth and destiny, with English lyrics sung by Graefe and Gomes; and 'Happy Birthday,' an Indie/Brazil fusion that sounds like Tropicalia on speed. Says Gustin, "It all happened in a sweet sort of blur. We knew something special was being captured. Though Ricardo has his influence of Brazilian music, I've studied in African rhythms in Ghana, and Will is a jazz-trained guitarist, the outcome is more other-worldly as opposed to 'world music.'" Indeed, 'This Whole Emptiness' transcends genre and strikes a unique balance between artists from different cultures. Listening, for example, to the instrumental 'Farmacia,' one would be hard-pressed to say exactly what kind of music it is. Is it from the future? Gomes' lyric to 'A Parada' sums up the projects's ethos well: "Trabalhar na parada mais honesta é bom," which translates roughly to, "To work on something in the most honest way possible is good." The title 'This Whole Emptiness,' extracted from Gomes' lyric concerning his move from Brazil to Portugal, is almost ironic as it relates to the music, which is so robust and rich - anything but empty. Aside from recording three albums with and touring the world many times as bassist/keyboardist for Caetano Veloso, Ricardo Dias Gomes has released two solo albums: 'Aa' and '-11.' Accompanists to battalions of indie bands from Brooklyn, Star Rover has also released two albums, 'I May Be Lost But I'm Laughing' and 'Western Winds Bitter Christians.'
METAL/STONER/HARDROCK
Brainsore
The Grip Of The Naked Mind
'The Grip Of The Naked Mind' is a relentless mix of death metal, grindcore, hardcore punk and a few sludge moments. Its strength lies whether in the dynamic and fluent songwriting, or in the stylistic variety and compactness. Major influences on Brainsore's sound have been bands like Brutal Truth, Pig Destroyer, Morbid Angel and Cephalic Carnage. Lyrics consider hystorical and somehow weird topics, imaginary stories and distorted visions courtesy of our beloved planet earth.
Doomraiser
Cold Grave Marble
Formed in 2004, Doomraiser have evolved into an instantly recognisable figurehead for those pushing doom metal into crushing new directions. Through the years the band have shared the stage with acts such as Electric Wizard, Reverend Bizarre, The Gates of Slumber and Orange Goblin and have released several records, experimenting and contaminating their music with raw heavy metal, psychedelia and other influences. 'Cold Grave Marble,' the 6th Doomraiser full doom length, is a frozen view in the darker side of life: Death, the Omega of our earthly dimension. The album is made up of raw riffing seasoned up in heavy, dark and gloomy dreaming atmospheres, and explores a plethora of styles with different sounds and solutions. The songwriting approach is rougher than before, experimental, suggestive, still preserving the classic Doomraiser characteristic sound. The whole concept lies upon a personal portrayal of Death, the Infinite Void, the Great Absence, the greatest experience in matter of Chaos and disruption of reality. It's a journey exploring the end of the biological cycle and man's awareness of the ancient idea of "having to die," an extreme but natural event belonging to the inevitability of time.
Hashishian
Hashishian
"Hashishian is a mysterious meditative psych/doom/stoner metal band that travels through the same riff-filled land of Ufomammut, Om, Sleep and Hawkwind. Their debut album is what would happen if Om had released 'Dopesmoker' and not the mighty Sleep." ~Steve Howe, Outlaws Of The Sun.
Soulseller
Witching Hour
Debut album by American doom metal band Soulseller.
SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/R&B/GOSPEL
Zhane
Remixes
Given a prominent spot on the all-star compilation 'Roll Wit Tha Flava' as their first recording opportunity, Zhané (Jean Norris and Renée Neufville) came out with one of r'n'b/hip-hop's all-time party anthems, 'Hey, Mr. D.J.' After meeting Naughty By Nature member Kay Gee, Zhané (then credited as Jhané) impressed the producer enough to head straight into the studio to record for 'Roll Wit Tha Flava.' When 'Hey, Mr. D.J.' was released as a separate single as well, it peaked at number six on the pop charts and earned the group a contract with Motown in 1994. Their debut album, 'Pronounced Jah-Nay,' produced two more Top 40 hits ('Groove Thang,' 'Sending My Love') and went gold by the end of the year; it reached platinum status two years later. Zhané kept busy during 1995-1996 with guest appearances on tracks by Busta Rhymes and De La Soul, as well as new songs of her own on the 'NFL Jams' and 'NBA 50th Anniversary' compilations and the soundtracks for 'Higher Learning' and 'A Low Down Dirty Shame' - the latter, 'Shame,' became their fourth Top 40 hit. Norris and Neufville released their follow-up album 'Saturday Night' in 1997, co-produced by Kay Gee, Eddie F., and themselves. The release featured the hit single 'Request Line.' A remix featuring 'Good Times' lyrics and different raps by Queen Latifah followed. It peaked just outside the Top 40. Released on slightly-marbled hearther purple wax.
Reis, Celinha/jordana
Tenha Fe, Pois Amanha.../cade Minha Viola
Two '70s MPB samba funk classics on 7"! Released on orange wax.
Los Sabios/los Eliceos
Trip To The Moon/la Cabana
Discodelic presents its new sub label El Eclypse focused on undocumented obscure Mexican groups. On this first 45, they present Los Eliceos and Los Sabios. Two obscure monster Latin funk psych tracks recorded in Mexico in the mid '70s. Reissued for the first time and quality mastered by Michael Graves at Osiris Studio. This is serious rare killer funky Latino power with psychedelic fuzz! If you are a DJ looking for funky breaks you NEED this! Limited edition!
Hernandez, Vivi -y Su Conjunto-/grupo Caverna
Tocando Macizas/caverna
Discodelic presents its new sub label El Eclypse focused on undocumented obscure Mexican groups. On this second 45, they present Vivi Hernández Y Su Conjunto and Grupo Caverna. Two obscure monster Latin funk psych tracks recorded in Mexico in the mid '70s. Reissued for the first time and quality mastered by Michael Graves at Osiris Studio. This is serious rare killer funky Latino power with psychedelic fuzz! If you are a DJ looking for funky breaks you NEED this! Limited edition!
SOUNDTRACKS/LOUNGE/CULT ETC
Various
Monster-o-rama, Vol. 4 (+cd)
BOO-yeah! Halloween's almost here, along with the 4th 'Monster-O-Rama' compilation! Illustrated by the terrifyinglytalented MarcelBontempi, this new album issure to delight thrill- andgrooveseekers of all stripes. Groovy goosebumps guaranteed!What's on the menu?Fewer vampires thistime round make room for more colorfulbeasties: red and green monstrosities, not to mention the mysterious Zotz, withhis lugubrious gait. For good measure, there's alsoa caveman, a werewolf, aghoul and a zombie. As for the curious creature Gonzales: surely the first timeyou'll havebeen frightenedby such a mouselike monster. In a nutshell, a musical palette ashorrifically variedas its beating bestiary. Monstrous wails accompany creepy choruses, cries ofterror precede melodious crooning, with voices intoning Carpathian rhythms... And onceagain El Vidocqhasjust asmuch fun ashismonstrous discoveries!
PRESS: SELECTED REVIEW QUOTES, INTERVIEWS A.S.
ORKESTR – I (CD-LP, Sound Effect)
Review Quote: “Orkestr’s ‘I’ is chock full of outstanding progressive music which I enjoyed immensely.” (Translated quote from a review by Carry Munter for Carry’s New Underground Music)
PAUL ROLAND – Morbid Beauty (CD-LP, Blue Matter)
“…‘Graveyard Train’ and ‘Mephisto's Blues’ veer into country blues and folk punk, the gothic ‘Lilith’ reinterprets biblical themes (we imagine Neil Gaiman Was a Roland fan in his youth), ‘Dreaming Of The Lizard King’ intertwines Sunset Strip mythologies and Floydian organ embroideries.” (Translated quote from a review by Alessandro Besselva Averame for Rumore, prinited zine Italy)
THE MERIDIAN BROTHERS’ excellent LP ‘Mi Latinoamérica Sufre‘ was released by Bongo Joe to much acclaim last summer. In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s an informative interview with the group by Afropop Worldwide, published last July.
And in August Sounds And Colours published this interesting interview with the group’s mastermind Eblis Álvarez, conducted by Marco Pisciotti.
BULL RUN was an early ‘70s heavy rock/proto metal outfit from Youngstown, Ohio. Back in the day they recorded a stunning album that didn’t see the light of day until earlier this year, when Peppermint Records finally took care of a wonderful release on vinyl. (Three different colours available!). The band was led by drummer and singer Jim Connor, who passed away in 2019. His daughter Kim used to listen to her father and his mates rehearsing. She talked about those memories and more to local paper The Vindicator.
STONED ROSE is finally breaking free from the depths of underground history, with their long-lost recordings resurrected by Guerssen. Their member Peter Hughes shared an in-depth story in a very recent interview for It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine.
‘France Noise 90,’ an eagerly anticipated compilation curated by Yves-Marie Mahé and set for release by Jelodanti Records on October 22nd, provides an insightful exploration of the often underappreciated French noise scene of the 1990s. The story behind the upcoming compilation can be found here.
SATAN'S SATYRS' latest album After Dark was recently released by legendary New York label, Tee Pee Records. Satan’s Satyrs have always been the oddballs—too riffy for punk bills, too fast for doom, and way too glam for the metalheads. Read insightful interview with Clayton Burgess at It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine.
The Swedish collective GOAT is back with their latest self-titled album, a captivating sonic journey that highlights their distinctive fusion of psychedelic rock, tribal rhythms, and an eclectic mix of influences. You can read about their latest album in an interview with Prince Pepe here.
From Uppsala emerged GANDALF, a progressive powerhouse born in the mid-70s in Sweden. Their self-titled album, ‘Gandalf,’ originally released in 1977, is now receiving a long-awaited reissue from PQR-Disques plusqueréel. In a recent interview for It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine, one of the members of the band shared their story.
WHOOPIE CAT – Cat Weight In Gold (LP, Kozmik Artifactz)
Review Quote: “...it meets the listener at the intersection of classic, ’70s-style heavy blues rock and prog.” (Quote from a review by JJ Koczan for The Obelisk)
SMOTE – A Grand Stream (2LP, Rocket Recordings)
Review Quote: “Smote aren’t strangers at this point to the expanse or to longform expression, but there still seems to be a sense of plunging into the unknown throughout A Grand Stream.” (Quote from a review by JJ Koczan for The Obelisk)
CYRIL CYRIL – Le Futur Ca Marche Pas (LP, Born Bad/Bongo Joe)
Review Quote: “Le Futur Ça Marche Pas is for agitators, a genre-be-damned assemblage of poetry and vivid effects that just happens to be in the form of well-produced electronic rock in a broad sense.” (Quote from a review by Adriane Pontecorvo for PopMatters)
OGIVES BIG BAND – Boisterous Love (LP, Stolen Body Records)
Review Quote: “Ogives Big Band sit in the centre of a Venn diagram that has Rush on one side and Motörhead on the other.” (Quote from a review by Paul F Cook for Joyzine)
DREAM PHASES – Phantom Idol (LP, Coconut Spaceship)
Review Quote: “At times, the album sounds very Brit rather than Californian. Phantom Idol is beautifully written, arranged and performed. Very gentle, particularly vocally, but backed up by instrumentals of the upmost quality and melody.” (Quote from a review by I Don't Hear A Single)
MOONSEEDS – Moonseeds (CD-LP, Sulatron Records)
Review Quote: “They capture a special moment in the studio and build around that central, maybe-improv foundation and hold a character that is their own.” (Quote from a review by JJ Koczan for The Obelisk)
MUSIC VIDEOS
More MERIDIAN BROTHERS! The official video for the track ‘Mandala’, taken from the album ‘Mi Latinoamérica Sufre‘. Enjoy!
You also don't want to miss the live session for ‘Zen’ by STONUS.
There's also a music video for ‘Voxel’ by ANTA, taken from the recent album released by Stolen Body Records.
‘Broken Upon The Wheel’ by HIGH REEPER gets a new music video. Their latest album is available via Heavy Psych Sounds.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
KACIMI (Le Pop Club)
16-11-2024: Genève (CH) – Bongo Joe / Vernissage
23-01-2025: Paris (F) – Le Point Ephémère
11-02-2025: Genève (CH) – Urgence Disk
LINUS VANDEWOLKEN (Morc)
16-10-2024: Pont L’Abbé (F) - Galerie Rouge
17-10-2024: Le Fret (F) - La Jetée le Fret
18-10-2024: Lannion (F) - Le Comptoir
19-10-2024: Brest (F) - Badseeds Recordshop (afternoon 'in store')
19-10-2024: Brest (F) - Atelier Carnot (evening)
20-10-2024: Rennes - (lieu secret/secret location)
SULA BASSANA - with band (SULATRON)
24-10-2024: Nürnberg (D) - Blackbox
25-10-2024: Vöcklabruck (A) - OKH
26-10-2024: Bayreuth (D) - Glashaus
28-03-2025: Berlin (D) - Neue Zukunft
17-04-2025: Bochum (D) - Planetarium
SOCCER COMMITTEE (Morc)
05-11-2024: Düsseldorf (D) – Kunstakademie / Mini Music Department
16-11-2-24: Vorstenbosch (NL) - Kloosterkapel
ZONE SIX (Sulatron)
06-12-2024: Rüsselsheim (D) - Das Rind, Herzberg Unterm Dach
MINERALL (Sulatron)
21-12-2024: Esslingen (D) - Komma, Light in Bloom Festival
22-12-2024: Ulm (D) - Hexenhaus
WATER DAMAGE (Cardinal Fuzz)
04-11: Rotterdam (NL) - Roodkapje
05-11: Diksmuide (B) – 4AD
06-11: Antwerp (B) – Het Bos
07-11: Amsterdam (NL) – OCCII
08-11: Utrecht (NL) – Le Guess Who
09-11: Utrecht (NL) – Le Guess Who