8-11-2015

Setlist:
The Cleptos - She'll Never Give Me The Answer
Tilth - Cabin Bells
Squrl - Purple Dust
Cancers- Dig
DMPH - Oakland
The Imposters - Private Lives
Brain Car - Suburbia Sux
I'm Being Good - Coopers Farm

The Cleptos - "She'll Never Give Me The Answer"

From "Collection Volume 1" released by Orange SLS Records in 2015.

The story behind The Cleptos is a strange one. Fronted by Sid Demaro, the New York music group was active from the late 70's to possibly sometime in the 1980's, and even played gigs at CBGB's. The tapes they recorded went unheard until Sid Demaro passed away and the tapes were handed to one named Scotty Shoes; whom runs Orange SLS Records. Since then Scotty Shoes has been making The Cleptos music available towards the public. Sid Demaro recorded his own solo album, and if you like this you'll dig his solo album. Sid Demaro seemed like an interesting dude - recording music in his house with a primitive drum machine, singing about girls and getting into run-ins with the police.

Oh, and the songs good. Very influenced by pop rock and reggae, this basement jam, along with The Cleptos other songs, is a keeper.

>> Cleptos' Orange SLS Records Page <<

>> Buy 'Collection Volume 1' here <<

>> Stream 'Collection Volume 1' here <<

>> The Orange SLS catalogue <<

Tilth - "Cabin Bells"

From the "Country Music" LP, released by Round Bale Recordings in 2015.

Beautiful vinyl product from Round Bale Recordings; the first (and hopefully not last) LP to be released on the Minnesotan label. Tilth makes music that can most easily be compared to the music that was being made by Finnish Avant-Garde bands in the 60's and 70's, (i.e, The Sperm, The Silver, Pekka Airaksinen and Aavikon Kone Ja Moottori) drones with minimalist strings, ear punching horns and reel to reel textures. Tilth released an album prior to Country Music, fittingly called "Angular Music," which was released on The Soft Abuse label. 

Tilth's latest full length effort centers less on tape cuts (like Angular Music did) and more on Free Jazz sounding horns with dissonant instrumentation. If you enjoy either ambient, experimental, improv, minimal, drone or ethereal music, than this is for you. Tilth is purposefully impossible to label - metaphysical music for metaphysical people. 

>> Buy, stream and read about the LP here <<

>> Tilth's website <<

Sadly, their first LP "Angular Music" is out of print. I do own a copy however, so do plan on hearing that in the near future...

Squrl - "Purple Dust"

From "EP #2", released on ATP records in 2013.

Fronted by film director Jim Jarmusch, Squrl specializes in experimental noise rock that has a more spiritual and ethereal atmosphere than most of their contemporaries. At times, the band completely removes any type of "rock" from their sound. 

The band originally formed out of another project called "Black Rabbit," whom of which released one EP. Squrl however planned to release 3 collectable EPs, which seems to be successful, since some sellers are trying to sell their first EP for 80 dollars. Each EP has a beautiful picture disc, a photo in the form of a postcard, and a limited set of 1,000. Squrl has already met their ambition of releasing 3 conceptual 12" EPs, so I wouldn't anticipate any new releases from the band; but they still seem to be playing shows.

Cancers - "Dig"

From the "Dig / Moral Net" single released on Dead Broke records in 2014.

I had to throw in some punk music to keep you on your feet, and to stay true to this blog's ambitions! Cancers are a 2 piece band that performs music that isn't too unlike grunge. 80's noise rock and punk mixed into a more contemporary package, just for you. They released another single and even a full length, neither of which I've heard. But still, Cancers is a band I'd keep an eye on.

DMPH - "Oakland"

Off the "Oakland / Sacramento" released on Weird Forest Records in 2009.

I didn't know Tilth smoked meth! All jokes aside, DMPH is the same concept as Tilth; jazz and drone influenced tunes that slowly build up. Difference is, DMPH is Tilth's formula taken to the extreme. A chattering guitar, blairing Alto Sax and some angular drumming. I can't find any dirt on this band, so this'll have to be another half assed description.

Oh, and the youtube video that is pictured on the 7"s sleeve can be viewed here.

The Imposters - "Private Lives" 

Off the "Down By The Bay" single, released on Headcount Records in 2011.

The Imposters were a punk rock band from Hermosa Beach with one consistent member: Nickolai Preiss. The band formed in about 2004 and disbanded recently, the disbandment was announced in June of 2015. During their career they put out 4 albums, 1 EP, 3 singles and 2 compilations. Their weird style that mixes surf rock, garage, blues and punk differs from alot of the Hermosa crowd. They don't pull it off aswell as the Minutemen, but it's still something. The other 2 songs on this single are good (Jayne Daze and Down By The Bay) although the A side (Down By The Bay) is pretty dumb, and in more ways than one. If this peaks your interest than check out any of their albums from this time. They started out as a typical west coast punk band, so not all of it is the same.

Brain Car - "Suburbia Sux"

Off the "Rock N Roll Bologna" EP, released in 2010 by REEL Time Records.

I've got a bit to say about Brain Car and the scene they came from, because unlike 90% of the music I post here, I have some background knowledge. Brain Car came from Rochester, NY; which hosted a surprisingly vibrant Hardcore Punk scene in the 2000's and early 2010's. (Now, not so much. Guess all the punks grew up and got jobs. Ha!) In terms of sound, alot of the bands were taking the sound of 80's Hardcore bands and 60's Garage and updating it to fit a more contemporary context and aesthetic. Brain Car's guitar tone sounds more in line with Link Wray and Chuck Berry than it ever does Black Flag, although the propulsion and intensity of Black Flag and say, Circle Jerks and Urban Waste, is in play here. Hardcore for people that are sick of the same 3 notes and the same guitar tone. Rochester's scene had 2 labels, Feral Kid and REEL Time. Both put out, and still put out, great upstate New York punk; although there was much more NY punk a couple years, as opposed to now. I do know that Jacob Bliss, who was in Brain Car, Bad Taste, Love Pork and some other Rochester bands is now a full blown skinhead. Sad. If you're interested in getting into Rochester, NY's punk scene (which as a Minnesotan, I know so much about) then check out Feral Kid and REEL Time's catalog. Two great labels making history before our eyes.

I'm Being Good - "Cooper's Farm"

Off the "Gods With Proboscis" split single, released on Destroy All Music Records in 1994.

What would later go on to record with John Peel and reach a measurable amount of notoriety, I'm Being Good are still unknown at the point of this 1994 split release with the other band Small Things, who I know nothing about. Small Things's side is straight up avant-rock while I'm Being Good's side is a artsy, dreamy, Lo-Fi albeit noisey 6 minute tune that is pretty damn good. I'll leave you guys on that not; cuz I gotta go eat some bread.

Update: That bread was delicious.