Robyn Hitchcock – I Wanna Go Backwards (Yep Roc)
In the massive ocean of reissues and re-packaging, Yep Roc does even long-standing fans a huge service by this prodigious box set. I opted for the eight-LP version, and it’s a cracker. Not only does it feature his best record ever created (I Often Dream of Trains), but in addition to the other early work he did sans Egyptians, it’s got a plethora of B-sides, assorted singles, compilation tracks, and a lot of otherwise unreleased material.
Six Organs of Admittance with Mick Turner and Thalia Zedek Band – The Middle East (Cambridge, MA) – Sunday, January 27, 2008
Last time BEN CHASNY was in town as SOAM, he was in a trio format (KEITH WOOD of HUSH ARBORS on bass, and JON MOLONEY of SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN playing drums. He was also in a sour mood, and the show suffered accordingly, in brevity and overall tone. This time he was joined by ELISA AMBROGIO on bass, after a stunning five or so songs done solo, on acoustic guitar, including a masterful version of COIL’s “Fire of the Mind,” which was dedicated to the late JHONN BALANCE. Elisa did a bit of awkward, sub-THURSTON MOORE guitar skronk but kept the energy level high, and her dad even sat in behind the drums for a song.
DIRTY THREE guitarist MICK TURNER brought a slideshow of his paintings to accompany the languid, looped guitar he played over a jazz-influenced drummer. Ex-COME guitarist THALIA ZEDEK has a great band that brings a Balkan/Gypsy feel to her blues-based rock, helped greatly by the mournful viola of MICHAEL DAVID CURRY.
Coil – The Ape of Naples (Important)
Super-deluxe four-record reissue of the last Coil studio record, before the untimely passing of JHONN BALANCE, lovingly recreated on 3×12” discs, one side etched. The fourth record is the long-awaited Backwards recordings, which were originally slated for release on TRENT REZNOR’s Nothing label, but never saw the light of day. “Teenage Lightning 2005” is masterpiece, but the entire package is stunning.
Cat Power – Jukebox (Matador)
CHAN MARSHALL continues to reinvent herself, and the songs of others. Recruiting a crack band is never a bad idea, but her dusky vocals and powerful emotive force are still the attraction.
Birds of Maya – Vol. 1 (Holy Mountain)
There really should be no doubt that Holy Mountain is the premier heavy psych label going right now, and they continue to sign an impressive roster of acts. Not sure what roost the BIRDS OF MAYA have flown from, but it’s a heady take on the dunt/scuzz psych blues of BLUE CHEER recorded through a tattered microphone in the middle of a howling storm.
BIG DIPPER – Supercluster (Merge)
Well, it’s not out yet, but come Tuesday make sure to stop by yr local music emporium and snatch up this smoking deal from the late 80s-into-90s Boston rock stalwarts BIG DIPPER. You cannot beat the deal: $15 MSRP gets you three cds, including all of their seminal recordings on Homestead which are long out of print, a big handful of assorted stuff, and an entire disc of unreleased goodies. Look for the reunited band to play Boston and NYC later on this Spring.
Ulaan Khol – I (Soft Abuse)
STEVEN R SMITH, easily one of my favorite guitarists of all time, bounces back from the spotty Owl release to mine the eastern European influences he described so well as HALA STRANA.
ROY CAMPBELL PYRAMID TRIO – Ethnic Stew (Delmark)
I saw Roy play along with WILLIAM PARKER and JOE MORRIS for a wonderful night of improv, and picked up this disc from the merch table as I left. Some gorgeous phrasing and playing on this one, and a much needed dose of newer jazz, as all I ever seem to listen to in that genre is stuff made 25-40 years ago.
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND HIS MAGIC BAND – “My Human Gets Me Blues” (Reprise)
That this record was released by a major label is the sort of head-scratcher that vies with the Nazca lines as totally bewildering. This is an excellent and humorous view into DON VAN VLIET’s warped genius, as seen on Youtube
JOHN CALE – “Heartbreak Hotel” (Island)
From the record Slow Dazzle is a harrowing take on the Presley chestnut, inverting the song into a mad descent into paranoia. ROBYN HITCHCOCK thoroughly agreed with the reading and covered this song in concert, in much the same manner.
