Episode 90

Ooooh boy, received a doozy of a surprise this week with the self released ten inch by London/Brussels shadow dwellers, Hunter's Palace. A few weeks had gone by after the band had solicited a promo of their debut, so unwrapping the record last week was met with head scratching after trying to read the words on the front of it. Out slipped the promo sheet with a write up that muddied things even further. Apparently the band's name was translated to Maltese for the cover, then the sheet went on to inform me of strange laws in Malta. No description of the band, well, outside of "formed in 2003, disbanded in 2014". Well, proof's in the puddin', so they say. Side A,"Tal-Metall", begins with a disorienting guitar line that reminded me of later period Don Caballero, before the song eventually erupts into well-timed guitar howls and smoked out riffs. Meanwhile, the vocalist is singing in a language I cannot place. Maltese? Eventually it all settles down, though some great tension is created by some whirling electronics and eerie guitars. Soon the riffs are back and the vocals grow urgent this time, yet still indiscernible. The song fades out and soon it's over. What just happened there? No easy reference points here so I bring the needle back to the beginning. Again. And again. I guess it sounds a bit like a thuggish offshoot of one of the many bands from Metz, France (think of a more monlothic Anals or A.H. Kraken...maybe). That's the best I got. The flip is a lot more chaotic but very controlled and calculated. More yelping in Maltese coupled with a beefy wall of feedbacking guitars, droning keyboards and cavernous guitars. Intense listening to say the least. Easily one of my favorite releases so far this year, and it blindsided me, as so many great records do. I highly recommend you grab this one direct from the source because it doesn't seem like too many shops or distros will be picking up on this anytime soon.

Also just watched this video for Tal-Metall, which hasn't really cleared much up.
*note: not for the squeamish




The Sandwitches "Over The Moon" Mrs. Jones Cookies LP (Empty Cellar) 2011
Terrorbird "We Were Monsters" Human Culture LP (Night People) 2011
Circuit Des Yeux "Barrel Down" s/t 7" (De Stijl) 2011
The Fresh & Onlys "Keep Telling Everyone Lies" Secret Walls 12" (Sacred Bones) *due April 26
Girls Names "Lawrence" Dead To Me LP (Captured Tracks) 2011
Vacant Lots "Cadillac" s/t 7" (Mexican Summer) 2011
True Widow "Skull Eyes" As High As The Highest Heavens And From The Center To The Circumference Of The Earth LP (Kemado) 2011
Broken Water "Heartstrings" Peripheral Star 12" (Perennial) 2011
Jerusalem & The Starbaskets "Brighter The Light" DOST LP (De Stijl) 2011 *due May 7
Jeans Wilder "Don't Want To Live Forever" Nice Trash LP (Atelier Ciseaux/La Station Radar) 2011
Dirty Beaches "A Hundred Highways" Badlands LP (Zoo Music) 2011
Krang "Spirit Animal" s/t 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
Hunter's Palace "Tal-Metall" Il Palazz-Tal Kaccatur 10" (self released) 2011
Norman Neubauer "Background" unreleased mp3, 2011
Hobo Cubes "There Are No Corners In This Dimension" Perceptive Pulses CS (Orange Milk) 2011
Giant Claw "Big Heat" Midnight Murder CS (Orange Milk) 2011

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 90 here (right click link, then Save As)

Episode 89

After creating some of the harshest noise assaults under his Burning Star Core moniker, CS Yeh steps out from behind his violin and processed electronics for a shot at pop. The A side, "In The Blink Of An Eye", starts out with an early 00's bass thump (think early DFA singles) and is followed by some obtuse and muted guitar work. Then his voice (noise fans will have heard this only in the form of Yoko Ono-like vocal workouts) jumps in. Doubled up, we first hear a flat and almost unemotional voice, a bit reminiscent of Jim O'Rourke's, and is coupled with a backup that awkwardly tries to hit the higher notes. May not sound that appealing on paper but it balances out quite well alongside the upbeat music, all of which grows in sonic density as the song progresses. It's all pretty head scratching at first but much like his more experimental work, it grows on you. The flip is a piano-led ballad that is a bit more stark and haunting than the A. Both songs are expertly produced and reveal a side of the musician that I'm sure most would never have even thought possible. Hopefully this is just a taste of things to come from. Great packaging on this too; silkscreened covers on nice textured paper. Sure to be out of print soon. Snatch it here.

CS Yeh "In The Blink Of An Eye" s/t 7" (De Stijl) 2011
Koban "Turn Him On" s/t 7" (Broadway To Boundary) 2011
Sharp Ends "Vacant City" s/t 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
Dan Melchior "The Grassy Knoll" The King Of Sheep CS (Scotch Tapes) 2011
Dan Melchior "Atomizer" Assemblage Blues LP (Siltbreeze) 2011
Slug Guts "Town Tied" Howlin' Gang LP (Sacred Bones) 2011
K-Holes "Native Tongues" s/t LP (Hozac) 2011
Primitive Motion "Circle Of Light" Certain Materials 7" (Soft Abuse) 2011
Tyvek "Outer Limits" Third Man Live LP (Third Man) 2011
Strange Attractor "Just Lookin'" Strange Attractor CS (Scotch Tapes) 2011
Lenguas Largas "Endless Sands" s/t LP (Tic Tac Totally) 2011
Women In Prison "Births Of Rot" Strange Waves 7" (Hozac) 2011
Cosmonauts "Dorothy" s/t LP (Permanent) 2011
Purling Hiss "Walking Down The Street" split w/Puffy Areolas 12" (Permanent) 2011 *due April 16
Psychic Paramount "DDB" II LP (No Quarter) 2011
Total Control "Pyre Island" Pyre Island 7" (Hustle Muscle) 2011
Black Zone Myth Chant "Sleeping With The TV On" Straight CS (Winged Sun) 2011
High Wolf "Dream Is Good" Etoile 3030 CS (Not Not Fun) 2011

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 89 here (right click link, then Save As)
*episode MIA, should be up later this week

Episode 88

Topless Mongoes "Rowena" s/t 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
Sharp Ends "Broadview Pressure Test" s/t 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
B-Lines "It Rains" Bloodstains Across B.C. 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
Manic Attracts "Dead City" Bloodstains Across B.C. 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
Indian Wars "Get To The Point" Bloodstains Across B.C. 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
Yung Mums "BC Budz" Bloodstains Across B.C. 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
Timecopz "Laptop DJs" Bloodstains Across B.C. 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
Student Teacher "Eco-Babes" Bloodstains Across B.C. 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
UV Race "Low" Homo LP (In The Red) 2011
Vivian Girls "Lake House" Share The Joy LP (Polyvinyl) 2011 *due April 12
Crystal Stilts "Precarious Stair" In Love With Oblivion LP (Slumberland) 2011 *due April 12
Crystal Swells "Waco, Wasilla, Waikiki" Goethe Head Soup CS (self released) 2011
The Vacant Lots "Confusion" s/t 7" (Mexican Summer) 2011
onYou "Sight/Seen" White Waste one-sided 12" (Captcha) 2010
Krang "Speed Of Tent" Speed Of Tent 7" (Mammoth Cave Recording Co.) 2011
Circuit Des Yeux "Self Satisfaction" Ode To Fidelity 7" (De Stijl) 2011
Motion Sickness Of Time Travel "Auto Suggestion" Seeping Through The Veil Of The Unconscious LP (Digitalis) 2011
Belong "Come See" Common Era LP (Kranky) 2011
Higuma "Pacific Temple" Pacific Fog Dream LP (Root Strata) 2011
Mandlebrott and Skyy "System R" OD-Axis LP (Digitalis) 2011

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 88 here (right click link, then Save As)

Episode 87

Fungi Girls "Glare #2" s/t 7" (Group Tightener) 2011
Bitch Prefect "Holiday In America" s/t 7" (RIP Society) 2011
Dan Melchior "Stairway To Croydon" Assemblage Blues LP (Siltbreeze) 2011
K-Holes "Gutter" s/t LP (Hozac) 2011
Crystal Swells "Patent Trolls" Goethe Head Soup CS (self released) 2011
Iceage "Never Return" New Brigade LP (Dais) 2011
Psychic Paramount "N6" II LP (No Quarter) 2011
Lumerians "Burning Mirrors" Transmalinnia LP (Knitting Factory) 2011
Follakzoid "Now" s/t 12" (Sacred Bones) 2011
Holydrug Couple "Arabic Hash" Ancient Lands 12" (Sacred Bones) 2011
Gypsy Treasures "Strawdogs Of Wroclaw" Buried Goods CS (Not Not Fun) 2011
High Wolf "Flowers Of Congo" Etoile 3030 CS (Not Not Fun) 2011
Peaking Lights "Hey Sparrow" 936 LP (Not Not Fun) 2011
Hype Williams "William, Shotgun Sprayer" One Nation 12" (Hippos In Tanks) 2011
Tonetta "Big Rig" Vol. 2 LP (Black Tent Press) 2011

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 87 here (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 86

Hozac has hooked up a couple great LPs so far this year, with the most addictive being the new K-Holes full length (album cover above). Made up of a few members of Golden Triangle-- amongst a numerous other bands I can't gather much info on--the band combine thunderous, tribal drumming more than one drummer?), some voodoo sax wails and a bent take on surf rock. Moments of Golden Triangle's high energy pop up here and there, but this is certainly not the party music that their day job have become known for. Dirge-y, ritualistic and swampy blues that bring to mind The Birthday Party, Scratch Acid or, more recently, Australia's Slug Guts. Highly recommended stuff. Also make sure you check out the hammering thug-punk of France's Subtle Turnhips on their third album and first for Hozac.


Spotlight this week on the Not Not Fun affiliated 100% Silk label. It seems as if there is more than enough mutant disco, haunted R&B and chopped and screwed midnight soul for there to be an entire label dedicated to these hazy, late night dancefloor riddims. You can get these from most decent suppliers on the cheap (they're all 45rpm 12 inches that are housed in the exact same sleeve) and come highly recommended if you like what Amanda Brown, the head honcho of the label, does under her LA Vampires guise.

Fungi Girls "Owsley Knows" s/t 7" (Group Tightener) 2011
Kurt Vile "Jesus Fever" Smoke Ring For My Halo LP (Matador) 2011
Bitch Prefect "Marilyn Monroe" s/t 7" (RIP Society) 2011
Koban "Turn Him On" s/t 7" (Broadway To Boundary) 2011
K-Holes "Short Zippers" s/t LP (Hozac) 2011
Dizzy Eyes "Ay" Let's Break Up The Band 7" (Hardly Art) 2011
The Sticks "Under Pressure" Scrapes EP 7" (M'Ladys) 2011
Davilla 666 "Obsesiano" Tan Bajo LP (In The Red) 2011
Duchess Of Saigon "Zero Song" s/t LP (S-S) 2011
Los Llamarada "A Current" Restless Night 7" (S-S) 2011
Subtle Turnhips "Two Two" Terd Album LP (Hozac) 2011
Folded Shirt "Always Born That Way" F/S LP (Fashionable Idiots) 2011
Unholy Two "Sick Fuck" $kum Of The Earth (Columbus Discount) 2010
Metal Mountains "Orange Yellow" Golden Trees LP (Amish) 2011
Psychic Reality "Expla" Vibrant New Age LP (Not Not Fun) 2011
Samantha Glass "Sky Tricks" Celestial Night Queen CS (Not Not Fun) 2011
Tonetta "Get It Going" s/t 7" (Black Tent Press) 2011
Ital "Queens" s/t 12" (100% Silk) 2011
Cuticle "Towel" s/t 12" (100% Silk) 2011
Maria Minerva "Hagasuxzzavol" s/t 12" (100% Silk) 2011
The Deeep "Muddy Tracks" s/t 12" (100% Silk) 2011

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 86 here (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 85

Plenty of great local action to report on this week. First up is the long awaited (at least around these parts) seven inch by the two-piece Koban. The duo combine Joy Division-esque guitar lines of misery with thumping bass and super simple drum machine beats. Sam's vocals are at the right level of buried and distorted, just enough to mask them but clear enough to hear the lyrics. He usually sounds like he's singing from the back of the room, while Brittany's vocals are up front, very clear and act as an excellent counterpoint. The band have really come into their own as a live act since forming in 2008 as Manta Ray Gun and are surprisingly entertaining to watch live, which is kinda rare for a duo with their minimalist tendencies. You can catch them live twice this weekend--Friday will see them at the Lion's Den for their seven inch release party and they'll be opening up for NYC's Silk Flowers at the Anza Club on Saturday.




Vancouver's Dizzy Eyes also have a new seven inch out this week, released on the new-ish Sub Pop subsidiary Hardly Art. Three breezy tracks of urgent pop garage that verges on the anthemic and brings to my mind late era Pixies. Absolutely addictive stuff. Two of the three songs here have been cleaned up from their original and long sold out appearance on a split cassette with Mode Moderne. An LP is apparently in the works for Hardly Art later this year, though, outside of an appearance at SXSW later this month, the band will be on hiatus for a good chunk of 2011. Snatch that limited single up here or grab it from yr local grocer.



Dizzy Eyes "Let's Break Up The Band" Let's Break Up The Band 7" (Hardly Art) 2011
Beach Fossils "Out In The Way (Feat. Jack Tatum)" What A Pleasure 12" (Captured Tracks) 2011
Tim Cohen "New House In Heaven" Magic Trick LP (Captured Tracks) 2011
The Sandwitches "In The Garden" Mrs. Jones Cookies LP (Empty Cellar) 2011
Julian Lynch "Canopy" Terra LP (Underwater Peoples) 2011
Trophy Wife "Light Socket" s/t 7" (Private Leisure Industries) 2011
Peaking Lights "Amazing And Wonderful" 936 LP (Not Not Fun) 2011
Sonny Smith "Broke Artist At The Turn Of The Century" 100 Records Vol. 2 5x7" (Turn Up) 2011
Dirty Beaches "Horses" Badlands LP (Zoo Music) 2011
Koban "Solid Gold" Solid Gold 7" (Broadway To Boundary) 2011
Julianna Barwick "Prizewinning" The Magic Place LP (Asthmatic Kitty) 2011
Factums "Slow Run" Gilding The Lilies CS (Night People) 2010
Bad Indians "Come Down" Don't Hang That (On Me) CS (On The Make Music) 2010
Pheromoans "Trusthouse Blues" It Still Rankles LP (Convulsive) 2011
Cheveu "Charlie Sheen" 1000 LP (Kill Shaman) 2011
Folded Shirt "Hello Telephone Pole" s/t LP (Fashionable Idiots) 2011
Los Llamarada "Restless Light (Was Made Flesh In Me)" Restless Light 7" (S-S) 2011
Pas Chic Chic "Premier Souffle" s/t 12" (Semprini) 2010

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 85 here (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 84

Apologies for the lack of posts, listeners. Just got settled into a new home and I'm finally hooked back up to the internet. You'll see updates of the last previous 4 episodes below this post. Unfortunately, a few of the shows have been lost in the digital ether. Things should be getting back to normal 'round here, so do some catching up.

This week's episode features an interview with a few friends who are putting on a video installation/live show at W2. Local favorites like Channels 3 & 4 and Magneticring are playing, among a few others. There will also be some DJs and, of course, video projections from local artists. Should be an immersive experience. Check more on that here, or listen to the episode and get some first hand info.


Weed "Release Party" Down In The Valley EP CS (Orchid Tapes) 2011
Jeans Wilder "Blanket Mountain" Nice Trash LP (Atelier Ciseaux/La Station Radar) 2011
Dirty Beaches "Lord Knows Best" Badlands (Zoo Music) 2011
Pheromoans "Cruel Humans" It Still Rankles LP (Convulsive) 2011
Channels 3 & 4 "Input Select" Christianity LP (Gilgongo) 2010
Deaf Wish "Elementary" Mercy LP (Radio) 2010
Deaf Wish "VHS And Cheese" Mercy LP (Radio) 2010
The Sticks "Come Back" Scrapes EP 7" (M'Lady's) 2010
N. 213 "Future Hair" Faggotry CS (Islolated Now Waves) 2011
Teenage Panzerkops "Hooks On The Sky" Kauf Nicht Von CS (Campaign For Infinity) 2011
Butcher Cover "Modfucker" s/t LP (Rotted Tooth) 2011
Baby Tears "She Sells Eggs" Hot Lettuce CS (Doom Town) 2011
Timecopz "Get Away" split w/Fist City 7" (Geographing) 2011
AV Murder "Caveman Disco" Missile Command EP 7" (Dusty Medical Records) 2008
Robe & Allied "side A" Yes Less Good Past Vol. 1 CS (Modern Arrangements) 2011
Haunted Beard "Prehistoric Breakthrough" Deathbed Video CD (Unit Structure) 2011 *forthcoming
Giant Claw "I Know" Midnight Murder CS (Orange Milk Recordings) 2011

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 84 here (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 83

Estrogen Highs "The Mild Delusion" Cycles 12" (Safety Meeting) 2011
The Rebel "Keen Air For Chasseur John" The Race Against Time Hots Up LP (Junior Aspirin) 2010
Primitive Calculators "Pumping Ugly Muscle" split w/Slug Guts 7" (Sweet Rot) 2011
Slug Guts "Hangin' In The Pisser" Howlin' Gang LP (Sacred Bones) 2011
Circle Pit "Sewercide" Sewercide 7" (Sweet Rot) 2011
Puerto Rico Flowers "3 Sisters" 7 LP (Fan Death) 2011
Meercaz "Hide" Space Hate 12" (Tic Tac Totally) 2010
Neon Blud "Untitled 2" B Girls LP (Drugged Conscience) 2010
Fist City "Iggy Pup" split w/Timecopz 7" (Geographing) 2011
The Holydrug Couple "Ancient Land" Ancient Land 12" (Sacred Bones) 2011
Föllakzoid "IV" s/t 12" (Sacred Bones) 2011
Peaking Lights "All The Sun That Shines" 936 LP (Not Not Fun) 2011
Monopoly Child Star Searchers "Waterfalls Introduction" Bamboo For Two LP (Olde English Spelling Bee) 2010
Mist "Mist Refrain" Glowing Net EP 12" (Amethyst Sunset) 2010
Broken Water "Peripheral Star" unreleased mp3

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 83 here (right click link, then Save As)

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 82

UV Race "Acid Trip" s/t 7" (Sweet Rot) 2011
The Zoltars "Voodoo" s/t 7" (Sundae) 2010
Slug Guts "Pumping Ugly Muscle" split w/Primitive Calculators 7" (Sweet Rot) 2011
Circle Pit "RWTP" Sewercide 7" (Sweet Rot) 2011
Dead Ghosts "Detroit Jerry" s/t LP (Florida's Dying) 2011
Plague Rats Throughout History "Plague Rats Throughout History", "Interspecies Predatory" & "Head Prolapse Elegy" Comorbid 7" (Primitive Air Raid) 2010
Shaved Women "Everyday Life" s/t LP (Rotted Tooth) 2011
Sharp Ends "Hybernation" s/t 12" (Kill Shaman) 2010
Jeans Wilder "Blonde Beach" Nice Trash LP (Atelier Ciseuax/La Station Radar) 2011
Wet Hair "Vagrant Dawn" split w/Naked On The Vague LP (Night People) 2010
Peaking Lights "Tiger Eyes (Laid Back)" 936 LP (Not Not Fun) 2011
Puro Instinct "California Shakedown" Headbangers In Ecstasy LP (Mexican Summer) 2011
The Deeep "Mudd (Guy Dallas Remix)" Muddy Tracks 12" (100% Silk) 2011
Seefeel "Rip-Run" s/t LP (Warp) 2011
Metal Mountains "Structures In The Sun" Golden Trees LP (Amish) 2011
Natural Snow Buildings "The Waves Of The Random Sea" The Waves Of The Random Sea 2LP (Blackest Rainbow) 2011
No UFOs "MC 3" Mind Control CS (Dub Ditch Picnic) 2011

EPISODE 82 is MIA. Sorry...

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 81

The Liminanas "Down Underground" s/t LP (Trouble In Mind) 2010

Estrogen Highs "Kings Run Errands (For Me)" Cycles 12" (Safety Meeting) 2011

Mrs. Magician "I'm Gonna Hang Out With The Lesbians Next Door And Drop Acid" s/t 7" (Thrill Me!) 2010

Timecopz "Shit City" split w/Fist City 7" (Geographing) 2011

Sic Alps "May Ltd" Napa Asylum 2LP (Drag City) 2011

Dan Melchior Und Das Menace "Spectral Birds" s/t CS (Night People) 2010

Whatever Brains "Love Tap" Nesting 7" (Funny/Not Funny) 2010

The Beets "Dead" Stay Home LP (Captured Tracks) 2011

We Shave "Street Life" In The Flesh CS (Night People) 2010

Edgar Wappenhalter "Cyclone" On The Beach LP (Morc) 2010

Umberto "Widow Of The Web" Prophecy Of The Black Widow LP (Not Not Fun) 2010

Ensemble Economique "Hail" Psychical LP (Not Not Fun) 2010

Kohn "u c i m" 4-way split 7" (KRAAK) 2010

Coppertone "Query Refinement" The Best Of The First 6 Months CS (Night People) 2010

Mist "Soaring "Yellow/Glowing Net" Glowing Net 12" (Amethyst Sunset) 2010

Caboladies "Aquarium Railroad" s/t LP (DNT) 2010

Concern "Discrete Memorial" Caesarean LP (Arbor) 2010

Barn Owl And The Infinite Strings Ensemble "Condensation" Headlands LP (Important) 2010

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 81 here (right click link, then Save As)