lundi 9 mai 2011

Operator Generator

Operator Generator is an American stoner rock band from San Jose, California. They were formed in 1997 and released their first self-titled EP in the winter of 1999 under 12th records (Artwork by Malleus). Over a year later they released their debut album titled "Polar Fleet" under Frank Kozic's Man's Ruin Records.

One common denominator among so many stoner rock bands that emerged in the ’90s and early ’00s is a strong appreciation of Black Sabbath. Operator Generator is no exception; Sabbath’s influence often asserts itself on the band’s debut album, "Polar Fleet". Whenever guitarist Thomas Choi provides his forceful, driving riffs, it is obvious that he is a major admirer of Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. But admirers aren’t necessarily clones, and while "Polar Fleet" is very Sabbath-minded, no one will mistake "Polar Fleet" for "Paranoid" or "Master of Reality". Operator Generator’s stoner rock not only owes a debt to Sabbath’s influential metal, but also, to psychedelic rock and space rock. The moody “Soil of Lavamore,” in fact, finds guest Jasper George playing the electric sitar — an instrument that would be right at home on a psychedelic recording. As heavy and aggressive as most of the songs are, Polar Fleet never fails to be melodic. Some headbangers are only interested in brute force for its own sake, but melody and aggression are equally important to Operator Generator. "Polar Fleet" isn’t perfect — some of the songs are more memorable than others. Nonetheless, Operator Generator shows a fair amount of promise on this exciting, if imperfect, debut. (Review by Alex Henderson)


Mitchell French : vocals (Dear Deceased)
Thomas Choi : guitar (Asbestos Death, It Is I, Noothgrush, The Black Jetts)
Joe Tucci : bass
Michael Parkinson : drums
Anthony Lopus : drums (1997-2000)

" Operator Generator " Self-titled EP/2000 (Total time: 13'15")
01. Arctic Quest - 3:26
02. Infinite Loop - 6:04
03. Equinox Planetarium - 3:45



" Polar Fleet " Full-length/2001 (Total time: 32'13")
01. Equinox Planetarium - 3:45
02. Polar Fleet - 4:17
03. Museum's Flight - 3:21
04. Atmospheric Insect/The Launch - 3:15
05. Quaintance of Natherack - 3:45
06. Arctic Quest - 3:26
07. Infinite Loop - 6:04
08. Soil of Lavermore - 4:20

Listen (3 tracks):

Download "Polar Fleet" (mp3/.rar):

Buy Operator Generator music (ebay/amazon):

hybridmagazine review:
sludge swamp review:
stonerandmore review (french/français):

Eternal Elysium

Thundering sludge-filled riffs; massively plodding doom rhythms; slicing, soulful, raging vocals; psychedelic, jazz-filled leads; sweeping jams and driving grooves: every song is epic and raw, each note unforced and natural but as powerful as the birth of anger and pain and hope.

Eternal Elysium know what smoking pot - or at least playing pothead music is all about. This CD reminds me of the Melvins-Sleep-and the jazzy stuff that Black Sabbath did while they were together. (Orexis Of Death blogspot) review: http://orexisofdeath.blogspot.com/2007/12/eternal-elysium-spiritualized-d-2000.html

Yukito Okazaki : vocals, guitars, keys, percussion
Eiichi Okuyama : bass, percussion
Takashi Kuroda : drums, percussion

" Spiritualized D " Full-length/2000 (Total time: 65'33")
01. W.T.G.B. - 6:21
02. Splendid, Selfish Woman - 8:05
03. Floating Downer - 6:04
04. Trick or Steal - 2:56
05. What A Difference A Day Makes - 7:39
06. Stone Wedge - 2:24
07. Easygoin' - 6:41
08. Innocent Exile - 5:21
09. Faithful '99 - 6:27
10. (hidden track) - 15:01

Download (mp3 files/192kbps):
Compressed files (mp3/320kbps):

Eternal Elysium: live footage @ Le Klub, Paris, 25 october 2010 (4 videos):

mercredi 4 mai 2011

Core


Core was a stoner rock band from New Jersey during the late 1990s. The heavy rock trio Core consists of guitarist/singer Finn, bassist Carmine, and drummer Tim. The group's intense mix of jazz, metal, and classic rock debuted in 1996 on their Atlantic Records release "Revival"; three years later, the group returned with "The Hustle Is On", which was released on MIA Records and added acoustic elements to their sound.
"Somewhere between Hendrix, Cream and Blue Cheer with 70's Miles Davis, a blissful psychedelic journey into the new breed of acid rock".

Core debuted with their first album, "Revival", in 1996 on Atlantic Records. The album was produced by Billy Anderson and supported by tours with Fu Manchu, Clutch and Orange 9mm. Despite this publicity, the album suffered due to limited promotion. The band bounced back in 1999 with their follow up, "The Hustle Is On" on MIA Records and Tee Pee Records. Produced by Eric Rachel, this album features artwork by Arik Roper. The album was supported by a tour entitled "Riff Rock Railroad," which also featured Atomic Bitchwax and Nebula. The album mixes stoner, psychedelic rock, punk and jazz music. It contains several instrumental tracks, sometimes long and sometimes just like intermede which gives the album a sort of jam-like feeling. The album begins with the "Monolith" sound of the science fiction film "2001: A Space Odyssey" by Stanley Kubrick.
The last track's name features "AuH2O" which means goldwater (Au=gold, H20=water).
This album was produced and mixed by Core. Tracks 1,2,4,5,7, were Recorded At Sub Sound and engineered by Stacey "Springdale" Phelon (Engineer on Monster Magnet's first album "Spine Of God"). The other tracks were recorded at Trax East with Eric Rachell. It was mastered at West Side Music by Al Douches.

In addition to the two albums, Core was also featured on the MeteorCity Records compilation "Welcome to Meteor City" (1997), an album that showcased numerous Kyuss-like bands and helped establish MeteorCity. They also contributed "Soul Shaker" (a cover of Aerosmith's "Soul Saver") to the Small Stone Records tribute compilation "Right in the Nuts" (2000). The unreleased song "The Godfather" appears on the Red Sun compilation "Stone Deaf Forever" (2001). The song "Fleetwood" appears on the Tee Pee Records compilation "Guerrilla Jukebox Vol.1" (2003).

In 2004, Finn Ryan replaces Ed Mundel in the group The Atomic Bitchwax.


Carmine Pernini - bass
Finn Ryan - vocals/guitars
Tim Ryan - drums
(Other instruments played by Core: Acoustic Guitar, Acoustic Bass)


" THE HUSTLE IS ON "
Full-length/august'1999 (Total time: 55'33")
01. The Monolith Problem - 5:49
02. Supernumber - 4:49
03. LD.5° - 1:05
04. Fleetwood - 2:31
05. Sarah's Curious Accident - 4:17
06. No.5 In A Series - 0:47
07. Vacuum Life - 3:20
08. Square And Round - 3:50
09. Skinny Legs And All - 1:44
10. (Untitled) - 0:51
11. Bicycle And Tricycle - 4:41
12. Edge City - 6:08
13. Blues For Gus (AuH2O) - 15:24


Download links:


 

Early live in St. Louis, July 26th, 1996 (opening for Clutch & Fu Manchu) :

The Heavy Eyes


The Heavy Eyes is psychedelic bluesy rock from the delta that sounds similar to a skeleton driving a speed boat on a flaming Mississippi River headed back to 1969. (MySpace)

This is a very rough EP that was recorded on a Tascam recorder in a non soundproofed room. It was recorded track by track with no metronome and can be off-time at times. The album is meant to give the listener an idea of our sound. Better recordings will be released in the near future, until then enjoy the rough EP. Could we possibly emphasize rough any further? (BandCamp)


Tripp: guitar/vocals
Wally: bass
Eric: drums


" 1 " EP/oct'2010 (Total time: 12'55")
01. Voytek - 2:39
02. Into the fogg - 3:00
03. In Need - 3:11
04. It's Been So Long - 3:05

Download/listen on BandCamp:

Download (compressed files):

Chybucca Sounds review:



mercredi 20 avril 2011

500 Ft. Of Pipe


Listening to this album, we can feel that this band comes from Detroit, Michigan, like The Stooges, MC5, Ted Nugent,... and that it had to be a big influence on them, as well as british bands such as Hawkwind or Deep Purple. The group configuration is rather unique: a drummer in the center, a guitarist on his left and an organist-vocalist on his right. No bass player. Midway between garage and space, their music is reminiscent of some early Monster Magnet, or Spiritual Beggars. They describe themselves their style as "drug-rock".

"If you like the energy and drive of MC5, get a hold of this CD, you won't be disappointed. If you never have listened to the MC5 or 500 Ft. of Pipe, then I feel sorry for you. Do yourself a favor and pick up this CD so you can hear what really good straightforward pot drenched rock and roll sounds like. Over and out." (robwrong/StonerRock.com)

Once again, the amazing artworks for the albums "Dope Deal" and "Electrifying Church Of The New Light" were made by Italian artists Malleus.

Ross Westerbur: vocals/keyboards
Kevin Edwards: guitars
Mick Stone: drums

"DOPE DEAL"
Full-length/2001 (Total time: 42'28")

01. Detroit City (Never Done Me No Good) - 4:45
02. '77 Burnout - 3:15
03. Not Your Mule - 2:32
04. Dope Deal - 3:01
05. 420 To Go - 4:40
06. Big Brother - 2:58
07. D.E.A. - 5:15
08. Sunshine Superman - 4:24
09. Wear It Out - 7:02
10. We Blew The Whole Thing Up - 4:36


"ELECTRIFYING CHURCH OF THE NEW LIGHT"
Full-length/Recorded: 1999, Reissue: 2003 (Total time: 43'42")

01. Turn Me On Baby - 4:11
02. Marshmallow - 4:55
03. Skynet - 2:47
04. Molotov Cocktail - 4:33
05. Automation - 3:48
06. Century 21 - 3:54
07. Open The Pod Bay Doors, HAL - 5:16
08. Sonic Nutrition - 3:56
09. The Electrifying Church Of The New Light - 10:22



"SO GOOD/YOUR HEART IS ANGRY BUT YOUR MIND IS STONED"
7" single/2000 (Total time: 7'23")

01. So Good - 3:46
02. Your Heart Is Angry But Your Mind Is Stoned - 3:37



"BETTER LIVING THROUGH ALCHEMY"
Full-length/1997 (Total time:35'47")

01. Full On Baby - 6:15
02. Graffenberg Decision - 3:23
03. Down Syndrome - 1:47
04. Alice - 4:41
05. Supercharger - 3:17
06. Egyptian Lust - 6:03
07. You See, Oh Nexus - 10:21


Buy albums (All That Is Heavy): http://tinyurl.com/5rb379s




500 Ft. Of Pipe: " 77 Burnout/DopeDeal " (video):
Footage from The Shelter, Detroit, MI, and The Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI.



Low Vibes


Formed in June 97, in Paris (France), the band is playing, as the reviews used to say, some heavy psychedelic groove rock. After a bunch of releases, Low Vibes has started to be well-known from the medias & audience of the stoner rock & hard rock scenes. Mentionned in the reviews as one of the leader of the french "stoner rock " movement, the power-trio is currently finishing its first album. Stay tuned...

"I´m a sucker for long trippy songs and all but one of the songs on this CD was over 6 minutes long... so this was just right up my alley... ”Connection” shows that these french dudes can both be trippy and lay down a heavy rock groove at the same time..." (robwrong/StonerRock.com)

"I have always said that Brant Bjork's Jalamanta must be the best album to smoke pot to ever, but Psychic Travel now takes over as the best record to take mind swirling substances with. I've never done either so I can't tell you for sure, but after listening to this album I honestly FEEL like I just got high off my ass." (Dr. Perky/White Trash Devil)


Matt : bass & vocals
Nico : drums
Esteban : guitars


" PSYCHIC TRAVEL "
EP/2001 (Total time: 26'38")

01. Soul Salvation - 6:48
02. Connection - 3:46
03. Shine - 6:10
04. Traveller Song - 6:33
05. Change (live) - 3:21





lundi 18 avril 2011

That's All Folks!


That's All Folks! is an Italian psychedelic stoner rock band founded in 1990. They released their first single in 1994: "I Hate That's All Folks!" (Containing "Smoke" and "You Gotta Pay"), then a split-single with Nebula in 1997 ("Vulcan Bomber" & "Sky Diver" b/w "Aquasphere"), followed by one EP ("Reptile Soul" in 1998) and two albums: "Soma... 3rd Way To Zion" (2000), and "Psyche As One Of The Fine Arts" (2002).
They also shared a 4-way split 2x7" with Hogwash, Acajou, and Vortice Cremisi titled "Cookery Course" (1999 / Laser Eye Foundation). In june'2010, the band returns after a silence of more than 7 years to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its genesis. For the occasion, they have recorded "Hypnotic Pulse", a wonderful ultra-psychedelic track and choose to publish it under the magnificent form of 7inch. The split is shared with Anuseye "Fine Needle", new band formed by Claudio Colaianni, singer and guitarist of the original That's All Folks! The ingredients are all there... the magic potion is ready to be swallowed... the effects will be beautifully devastating! (Davidew, Vincebus Eruptum)
The cover art for "Soma..." was made by Malleus, as well as for the split with Nebula .

After the debut release "Soma...Third Way To Zion" in 1999 which received a lot of good reviews worldwide, TAF! are proving with their new album, that they are now one of the most promising heavy psych acts today. Instead of repeating the typical structures, they have open up their sound much more to the roots of this music what means that there's a bigger influence of the 60's in their songs. TAF! have recorded this album after one year of restless live activities and it's obvious to hear that they've put a lot of their live energy into the recording sessions. Although they've recorded the album in the same studio, it sounds more organic and mature than the forerunner. The songs are more spaced-out, but this isn't an album full of endless lysergic jams. This album got everything from smoking rockin' heavyness to instrumental virtuosity and although they are aware of the past, TAF! are playing it in a modern sounding way. "Psyche As One Of The Fine Arts" contains twelve tunes and there's no real filler on it. This album is recommandable for everyone who likes the orgins as Hawkwind or The Stooges, but also if you dig newer stuff as early Monster Magnet or On Trial for example.
(CosmicLava review)

Claudio "Willy" Colaianni : guitars/vocals
Nino "Crampo" Colaianni : guitars/drums/vocals
Michele "Lupin" Rossiello : bass/vocals
Luca Stero : guitars/sitar
Vito Rucci : drums (1997-2000)
Max Marzocca : drums (2010)
Nico Masi : drums/guitars/cello/keys (2000/2002)
Daniele Sindaco : guitars
Fabio Mongelli : guitars
Nico Tamma : live spiritual vocals


" REPTILE SOUL "
EP/1998 (Total time: 20'56")

01. Reptile Soul II - 3:27
02. My Moan - 3:47
03. Winsome Underwear - 4:12
04. The Sambuca Song - 4:40
05. X-Posed Bosom - 4:50



Download link:

MySpace:

French review for "Psyche..." (dec'2002):

Buy TAF/Anuseye split 7":
Kozmic artifacts: http://tinyurl.com/5tbkxpw