the adventures of picklebilly
kerceblogArchive for January, 2009
hecker/nadler/collective
big thanks to the fantastic blog raven sings the blues for posting up a couple of new Tim Hecker tracks off the upcoming “an imaginary country” album. i’ve been eagerly awaiting this album and the tracks are a strong start. for those uninitiated, hecker is my personal favorite purveyor of ambient music, and for a reference point i’d highly suggest his album “harmony in ultraviolet”…also, for any folks like-minded with me musically, you should really peruse around RSTB and make them a favorite because they’re always well ahead of the game on good tunes.
i also had the pleasure to get an early listen to folk songstress Marissa Nadler’s album “little hells.” though i must say i’m not intially as enthralled with it as i was her previous recordings, it seems every Nadler album has one track that i just play incessantly, and it appears the track below may be the one off little hells. enjoy!
also, this is from a couple of days ago – but for anyone that missed it, hop over to i guess i’m floating for tracks from Animal Collective’s BBC Session including an unreleased track they’ve been playing on tour.
Film Recommendation of the Week
an expertly crafted work from a French master who’s tales often unfold like novels on the big screen. the characters exude the vapidity and cruelty that only the French seem capable of delving out and still remaining nonchalant. the sexuality and it’s underlying tensions and psychological effects are palpable, and Haydee Politoff is truly a sight to behold. it’s ultimately a tale of intellect versus instinct and the bittersweet disharmony between the chase and the catch. part of Rohmer’s “Six Moral Tales” cycle.
locals
Jax psychsters guardians of the thickets have posted up a free download for their Blue Lodge Prom EP (artwork above)…it’s hard to pin down to a genre or description, which is probably the point, but it’s great stuff from the psych, drone, experimental realm. give it a listen for yourself:
also wanted to acknowledge a couple other local-esque bands that are putting together great stuff out in picklebilly’s official sister city, Portland, Oregon…
DudeLord – righteous bass and drum heavy stoner doom dudeness…members of The Yusge and Civilization, two long time picklebilly local favorites
To Get Her Together – psych folk that literally could be lost tapes from the Syd Barrett catalog. featuring certified “friend of picklebilly” Alexa Marmon (do this link to hear her also stellar solo stuff.)
:::Guitars from Agadez:::
we’re back folks! welcome us!
i was inspired to post by the always righteous Sublime Frequencies label’s new release, Guitars from Agadez, Vol. 2, featuring the Taureg band Group Bombino. I’ll let the label’s press clipping speak for itself, but let me just say this is amazing stuff. if you’re not up on the Western Saharan guitar “scene” (if you will), and you’re into African music or just want to hear something completely new, original, psychadelic and full of life, do yourself a favor and check this release out. in fact, if you’re into “world” music at all, check out Sublime Frequencies to really find a goldmine of really fantastic stuff from all over Asia, Northern Africa and the Middle East (the label was started by Alan Bishop of Sun City Girls to give you a reference point.) they also have a couple of pretty amazing, extremely lo-fi dvds documenting some of the stuff they’ve released.
here’s the description from SF:::
“Group Bombino is the latest salvo from the Agadez music scene. Led by the guitar virtuoso Omara Mochtar (Bombino), the group’s debut LP– Volume two in the Guitars from Agadez series, represents the latest chapter in the modern sound of the Tuareg revolution. As of 2008, the Tuareg rebellion is in full force again, and Bombino is in exile to parts unknown. Agadez has been cut off from the rest of Niger. The only road that connects this legendary city with the rest of the country is littered with land mines and the only escorts are the military. This music and its messages of hope, justice, and desire for validation of the Kel Tamachek way of life ring louder than ever. Group Bombino are gaining mythic status in and around the Tuareg community for their incendiary live performances. Coming from the same scene as Group Inerane and sharing some of the same musicians, Group Bombino showcase both sides of the Tuareg Guitar style. Side one features the “Dry Guitar” sound, an unplugged selection of songs sung among the dunes and stars of the Tenere desert. Side two showcases the electric fury of the full band, a melding of heavy, psychedelic guitar heroics with a raw garage sound, back beat percussion, all swirling in extended trance rock moves. Recorded live and unfiltered in Agadez and the surrounding desert in early 2007, with the band’s equipment powered by generators and an unflinching dedication to the rebellion, Group Bombino’s music transcends any influence and ignites the raw passion of its message to the outside world. This is a one-time pressing of 1,500 copies. Pressed on 180 gram vinyl and comes in a gatefold full color jacket stocked with great photos of the musicians and liner notes by Hisham Mayet.”
here’s a track to get you started from Group Bombino:
Boghassa
and a video from another picklebilly favorite, the band from Guitars from Agadez Vol. 1, Group Inerane:
