Les Big Byrd - Tomorrow's Echoes Today

 

Small bio:
Les Big Byrd is a Swedish psychedelic and alternative rock band formed in Stockholm in 2011 by Joakim Åhlund and Frans Johansson. Across a series of acclaimed releases between 2011 and 2026, Les Big Byrd evolved from fuzzed-out psych explorers into masters of cinematic, dreamlike rock music filled with glowing synths, cosmic textures and late-night urban melancholy. Often cited among Sweden’s most adventurous contemporary rock acts, combining hypnotic Krautrock rhythms, lush synths, and shimmering guitars,their collaborations with producers like Pete Kember and Anton Newcombe underline their bridge between classic psychedelia and modern independent music.

After posting a Pell Mell anthology back in March, I decided to turn my attention towards a more recent band who I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to since I heard their first release. This collection comprises of 1 track from all 5 studio album releases, plus a few tracks from EP/single releases. 
I was sorely tempted to pick 2 tracks from each album which would have resulted in a much longer anthology, if this one turns out to be popular maybe I could post a 2nd volume in the future. Favourite album for me is a tough choice, but 2022's "Eternal Light Brigade" just about wins out. As usual, origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and noted in the download folder. Hope you all enjoy this latest anthology. Cheers!

  1. Roundhouse Blues (7:42)
  2. Back to Bagarmossen (4:32)
  3. Roofied Angels (7:10)
  4. I Gave It All Up for You (5:04)
  5. Two Man Gang (English Version) (5:43)
  6. Lycka Till På Färden (6:35)
  7. I'm Living a Saved Life Now (5:14)
  8. Gerausche (6:00)
  9. Dandelion Seeds (8:34)
10. I Woke Up in a Dream (5:00)
11. Next Time Around (5:25)
12. Snö-Golem (4:12)
13. Hökvind (7:09)

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Lumerians - Burning Mirrors (2008-2021)

 

Bio:
Lumerians are a psychedelic rock quartet that emerged from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2006, later establishing themselves in Oakland, California. Known for their expansive, trance-inducing sound blending space rock, krautrock, drone and progressive elements, the band layers deep bass, synths, percussion, and atmospheric guitar to create immersive sonic landscapes that range from murky and hypnotic to rhythmically propulsive. 
After early recordings like their self-titled 2008 EP and 2011's full-length "Transmalinnia", the band released "The High Frontier" in 2013 and continued exploring spontaneous compositions and improvisation through series such as "Transmissions from Telos". In 2018 they issued the sprawling studio album "Call of the Void", followed by the single "Yellowcake" in 2019, and culminated their catalogue with the live Fuzz Club Session EP in 2021, capturing reimagined material and unreleased jams from their dynamic performances.


I was preparing a completely different anthology just before compiling this, listening to one of my old mixes. One track which really stood out for me was "Dogon Genesis" by Lumerians, and I decided to put on hold what I was working on and delve into the Lumerians back catalogue. This is the end result, feauturing favourites from all their releases, apart from their 2012 album "The Weaning and The Dreaming" which features 2 very long drone tracks and is quite different from anything else they've recorded. Also, I'm not that much of a fan of drone music! In case anyone is interested, the anthology I was working on was a compilation of various projects which featured Peter Howell, a musician/composer that not many have heard of. I'll complete that eventually...

I first posted this Lumerians anthology (in mix form) on hearthis, and an online friend commented he found their music to be "banal", as "everything had already been heard somewhere before"... OK, there's nothing highly original here, but what they do, they do very well. Sure, you can hear influences from several bands such as Spacemen 3 and Can, but I don't find anything wrong with that. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this latest anthology. Cheers!

  1. Tawazula (3:11)
  2. Silver Trash (5:33)
  3. High Frontier (4:58)
  4. Olive Alley (3:14)
  5. Untitled 3 (6:59)
  6. Corkscrew Trepanation (7:08)
  7. Atlanta Brook (5:16)
  8. Laser Barn (2:27)
  9. C-Rock (3:23)
10. Life Without Skin (5:57)
11. Hook For an Eye (7:28)
12. Fictional (7:32)
13. Orgon Grinder (5:51)
14. Dogon Genesis (5:53)
15. Burning Mirrors (4:43)

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Beautify Junkyards - Everything is Still Floating (2013-2024)

 

Short bio:
Beautify Junkyards are a Portuguese psychedelic folk band formed in Lisbon in the early 2010s, centered around songwriter and multi-instrumentalist João Sobral. Drawing deeply from 1960s and 70s acid folk, pastoral psychedelia, and early progressive rock, the band quickly developed a sound marked by lush acoustic textures, vintage keyboards, hypnotic rhythms, and a strong sense of atmosphere. Their music often feels timeless, blending pastoral calm with subtle surrealism.

Across five studio albums, Beautify Junkyards have refined a distinctive identity that balances introspective songwriting with rich, cinematic arrangements. Their work is heavily influenced by British folk revival, krautrock, and psychedelic pop, yet filtered through a modern sensibility and a distinctly Iberian sense of mood. Celebrated for their immersive albums rather than singles, the band has become a key reference point in contemporary European psychedelic folk, admired for their consistency, restraint, and quietly transportive sound.

 

When posting my Homunculus Res anthology, I mentioned another band who had featured quite prominently on this blog were Beautify Junkyards. I began compiling this collection 2 months ago, but due to my mother passing away in late October everything went on hold for several weeks. During this difficult time, sorting out everything which needed to be sorted out, I barely listened to any music and never thought I'd be able to complete this anthology. It was only earlier this week I felt able to continue with this collection, finding it somewhat therapeutic and helping me come to terms with everything that's happened the past couple of months.

So,  finally, here it is. Needless to say Beautify Junkyards have been one of my favourite bands the past 10 or so years, and I look forward to their every release. I highly recommend everything they've recorded, I can't say I've ever heard a song I've disliked by them. This collection includes 3 tracks from all 5 studio albums, plus a few single releases and one track from the "Tiddlywinks" compilation album of reimagined nursery rhymes. As ever, info containing track origin & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download folder.

I'm a bit behind with musical releases from the past couple of months, so my "best of" 2025 comps will probably appear in the new year. As usual I will ask my pal Man Erg to send me his favourite tracks this past year, hopefully this will be posted before the end of the year. This is always something I look forward to, he often introduces me to many releases I never knew of. So, for now, thanks to everybody who has taken time to download and listen to my comps, especially those who have posted  to comment on how much they enjoyed them. Cheers!

 

  1. Constant Flux (3:44)
  2. Reverie (4:13)
  3. Half Marble (3:52)
  4. Parangolé (3:11)
  5. Black Cape (3:37)
  6. Radioactivity (4:38)
  7. Refresco Eléctrico (3:21)
  8. Aquarius (3:36)
  9. The Miller's Song (3:02)
10. Dupla Exposição (4:31)
11. Verde Pino (4:39)
12. Yellow Roses (3:49)
13. Ritual in Transfigured Time (4:36)
14. Groundstar (3:18)
15. Rainbow Garland (3:22)
16. Cabeça-Flor (3:26)
17. Here Everything is Still Floating (3:58)
18. Pirâmide (3:37)
19. Ask Me No Questions (5:23)
20. Tecnicolor Hexagon (3:46)

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Homunculus Res - Sogni in Tasca (Anthology 2013-2023)

 

Short bio:
Homunculus Res are a progressive rock band from Palermo, Sicily, founded in 2010 by multi-instrumentalist Dario D’Alessandro. Their music draws heavily from the Canterbury scene of the 1970s (Soft Machine, Hatfield and the North, Caravan) while infusing it with Italian wit, surrealism, and Mediterranean warmth.

Their debut, "Limiti all’eguaglianza della Parte con il Tutto" (2013), immediately won praise for its playful, labyrinthine miniatures. Follow-ups such as "Come si diventa ciò che si era" (2015) and "Della stessa sostanza dei sogni" (2018) expanded the band’s palette, introducing longer suites like “Ospedale Civico” while maintaining their trademark mix of quirky pop sensibility, intricate counterpoint, and whimsical lyrics.

Over the course of five albums (most recently "Ecco l’impero dei doppi sensi", 2023), Homunculus Res have become a cult favourite in modern progressive circles. Critics often note how they balance complexity with lightness: unusual time signatures and adventurous harmonies delivered with humour, melody, and a refreshing lack of pretension.


Thinking about which artist to feature for my next anthology, I looked back through the blog to see which names crop up most often in my mixes. Two immediately stood out: Homunculus Res and Beautify Junkyards. After some deliberation I decided to start with Homunculus Res — though I hope to put together a Beautify Junkyards anthology before the year is out.

As mentioned in the short bio, Homunculus Res have released five studio albums to date. Their 3rd album, "Della stessa sostanza dei sogni" was my first introduction to them, and I was instantly hooked. Favourite album by them? I couldn't possibly choose, they're all excellent. If you have any affection for the Canterbury Scene bands of the early 1970s, I’d recommend exploring all of them.

As ever, info containing track origin & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download folder. I hope you enjoy this latest collection as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Cheers! 


  1. Il gran finale (3:50)
  2. Dopamine (3:47)
  3. Preparazione Bomba H (3:11)
  4. Vesica Piscis (6:21)
  5. Supermercato (6:16)
  6. La casa dei sogni (2:48)
  7. Viaggio astrale di una polpetta (5:14)
  8. Dogface (3:40)
  9. La Salamandra (6:21)
10. Il papa buono (2:51)
11. Mentre dormi (4:13)
12. Ottaedro (2:44)
13. La ballata dell'amore stocastico (3:10)
14. Fine del mondo (4:04)
15. Se la mente mentisse (4:14)
16. Paum/ (1:52)
17. La Luccicanza (4:23)
18. Doppi sensi (10:00)

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Wire - Partial Exposure 2002 - 2020

 

Short bio:
Wire formed in 1976 in Watford, England and after splitting in 1980, have reformed three times. They consist of Colin Newman (vocals, guitar), Graham Lewis (vocals, bass) and Robert Grey (aka Robert Gotobed; drums). Founding guitarist Bruce Gilbert left in 2004. In 2008, Margaret Fielder McGinnis of Laika joined the band as their touring guitarist, but as of 2010 has been replaced by Matt Simms.

Wire are considered a definitive and highly influential art punk and post-punk band, due to their richly detailed and atmospheric sound and obscure lyrical themes. They steadily developed from an early noise rock style to a more complex, structured sound involving increased use of guitar effects and synthesizers. The band gained a reputation for experimenting with song arrangements throughout their career.

 Click here for full bio

Wire have featured prominently on this blog, appearing multiple times in my "Spaghetti Tree" or yearly "Best of" compilations. Over the years, several compilations of Wire’s music have been released, the most notable being "On Returning (1977-1979)" released in 1989, and "1985-1990: The A List" in 1993. However, no compilation has yet celebrated Wire’s later period. To rectify this, I've picked a few favourite tracks from their various EPs/albums from 2002's "Read & Burn 01" up to their most recent (final?) release, 2020's "10:20" which contains reinterpretations of a few old songs from their back catalogue.
As always, each track’s origin and year of original release are tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy this latest anthology!


  1. I Don't Understand (3:17)
  2. A Flat Ten (2:14)
  3. Hard Currency (3:50)
  4. Underwater Experiences (10:20 Version) (2:15)
  5. Unrepentant (4:56)
  6. Fishes Bones (3:02)
  7. Brio (3:37)
  8. Trash/Treasure (5:07)
  9. In the Art of Stopping (2:46)
10. Re-Invent Your Second Wheel (3:45)
11. Oklahoma (3:05)
12. No Warning Given (5:24)
13. Sleep-Walking (7:27)
14. Four Long Years (3:45)
15. German Shepherds (10:20 Version) (4:28)
16. Clay (3:12)
17. Sleep on the Wing (2:57)
18. Forward Position (4:48)
19. 23 Years Too Late (9:43)

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Triptides - Leave Your Body Behind

 

Short bio:
Influenced by the sunny jangle of the Byrds, the warm psychedelia of Pink Floyd, and the bouncy melodies of the Beatles, Triptides never sound in thrall to their heroes. Instead, their music sounds like a modern, kaleidoscopic continuation of the magical sounds of the late '60s, spiced with a little bit of the Paisley Underground and dipped in modern, reverb-heavy production techniques. Their early albums saw the band learning their craft, and by the time of 2015's "Azur", they were making assured psychedelic pop on par with any of their contemporaries. A move to Curation Records in 2021 for the LP "Alter Echoes" coincided with their biggest, most professional-sounding effort yet, which they followed with the wide-ranging, jazz-fusion-tinged "Starlight" in 2023.

 Click here for full bio

Formed in 2010, Triptides had already released several albums by the time I first took an interest in them. That moment came when I heard their sixth album, 2018's "Visitors", and was immediately captivated. So much so that it made my top 10 albums of the year, "Mary Ann" being the opening track on my Best of 2018 mix. Though the band has since refined their sound, incorporating even more influences, "Visitors" remains my favourite release, though their last album, "Starlight" from 2023 comes a close second. I’ve never been particularly drawn to their earlier work, which leaned more into surf and garage rock with noticeably rough production. Because of that, this isn’t a comprehensive anthology, none of those early tracks feature here.

Unsurprisingly, "Visitors" features most prominently here, with three tracks included. I highly recommend starting with their 2013 album, "Predictions", which was remastered in 2022 and now sounds significantly better. Perhaps their earlier releases could benefit from a remaster as well? Time will tell...
As usual, origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy this latest anthology!


  1. Colors (3:47)
  2. Sundown (3:01)
  3. Gone for a While (2:58)
  4. Hole in Your Mind (4:14)
  5. Blow Away (3:58)
  6. It Won't Hurt You (3:01)
  7. The Illusion (2:51)
  8. Unwound (4:19)
  9. Undone (2:07)
10. Not Mine (3:50)
11. Clementine (2:55)
12. Heavy Cloud (4:08)
13. See Her Light (2:29)
14. Free Fall (3:08)
15. Slip Away (4:41)
16. Shining (5:05)
17. Another Shore (2:51)
18. Resolve (3:37)
19. Nirvana Now (4:53)
20. Mary Anne (4:19)
21. Never Asking Why (3:28)
22. Thinking About the End (3:43)

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The Memory Band - Time and Space

 

Bio:
The Memory Band is an English folk group founded by Stephen Cracknell, featuring a rolling cast of collaborators from across the musical spectrum. High profile members over the years have included Al Doyle, Adem, Simon Lord (from Simian and The Black Ghosts), Nancy Wallace and Lisa Knapp. Cracknell’s intention from the outset was for the band to be "an imaginary band, built inside a computer and made flesh by the contributions of numerous musicians. Live an acoustic band of ever changing numbers and on record a new approach to traditional music."

After releasing a couple of EPs in 2002/2003, they released their first self-titled album in 2004, which mostly comprised of re-recorded tracks from the first 2 EPs. Since then they have released several more EPs/singles and 5 more studio albums, plus an archival collection released this year which features alternative takes, mixes and arrangements of songs from the past 20 years.

 Click here for their Bandcamp page.

Although The Memory Band have been around for several years, I didn’t know much about them until I started compiling Manerg's Wyrdology mix in April 2021. Manerg included two excellent tracks from the band, prompting me to buy a couple of their albums right away. Then, just a couple of months ago, they offered their entire digital discography on Bandcamp for under £25, an offer I couldn't resist! I paid a bit more than the asking price to show appreciation, but it was still an incredible bargain, and I wasn’t disappointed. Every release is a delight. As for my favourites, I’d say the albums "Apron Strings" (2006) & "A Fair Field" (2016), plus the "Further Navigations" EP (2014) truly stand out.
As ever, origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy this latest band anthology!


  1. Calling On (3:27)
  2. Catch As Catch Can (3:04)
  3. I Don't Believe in You (2:34)
  4. The Mason and the Lark (2:55)
  5. The Wearing of the Horns (Weyhill On My Mind) (3:04)
  6. I Wish I Wish (7:53)
  7. Blackberry Way (2:44)
  8. Hobby Horse [with Belbury Poly] (3:21)
  9. After Night (2:43)
10. Bells (1:58)
11. This Is How We Walk on the Moon (3:40)
12. Why (4:51)
13. Demon Days (3:17)
14. Green Grows the Laurel (Jon Hopkins remix) (4:12)
15. The Ballad of Imber Down [with Grantby] (5:48)
16. So Fleet Runs the Hart (3:15)
17. The Landscape Movement (3:00)
18. Children of the Stones (3:46)
19. A New Skin (2:38)
20. Voices (2:06)
21. Facing the Granite Country (3:36)
22. Time and Space (2:43)
23. The Poacher (2:58)

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Dungen - Kalejdoskopiska Klangar

 

Short bio:
Swedish collective Dungen is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Gustav Ejstes and their music blends '60s-styled psychedelic rock, free jazz, Swedish folk, and instrumental ambience. With a band of like-minded explorers surrounding him, Ejstes' records with Dungen expand sonic boundaries with songs that sound like lost psych-pop hits from late-'60s Europe. Early efforts like the 2004's "Ta Det Lugnt" set the scene for an evolution that continued for over two decades on subsequent works like 2022's "En Är För Mycket och Tusen Aldrig Nog".

 Click for full bio 

I first heard Dungen when I bought their breakthrough album, "Ta Det Lugnt". It was a total delight on first listen, and revisiting the album all these years later it still sounds as powerful as it did back then. I've purchased all their albums since, and none have been disappointing. My favourite albums are "Ta Det Lugnt", and "Skit I Allt" which was released in 2010. For this collection I've included tracks from all their albums released between 2002 - 2022, plus a couple of single releases and their contribution to the compilation album "Lagniappe Sessions, Vol. 1". Regarding their early discography, it's a little bit confusing regarding their actual first or second official album releases. I'll leave that one for you to figure out as I can't come to any definite conclusion!
As usual, origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy this latest anthology. Cheers!


  1. Fredag (4:18)
  2. Brallor (3:13)
  3. Ät Det Som Växer (5:39)
  4. Panda (4:53)
  5. Svart Är Himlen (2:08)
  6. Franks Kaktus (5:06)
  7. Klockan Slår Den Är Mycket Nu (4:07)
  8. Achmed Flyger (4:33)
  9. Vem Vaktar Lejonen? (3:28)
10. Om Du Vore En Vakthund (3:00)
11. Öga, Näsa, Mun (5:05)
12. Mina Damer Och Fasaner (3:42)
13. En Dag På Sjön (4:10)
14. Soda (3:36)
15. Gör Det Nu (3:03)
16. Nattens Sista Strimma Ljus (4:23)
17. Alberto Balsalm (4:43)
18. Lipsill (2:43)
19. Barnen Undrar (3:18)
20. Jakten Genom Skogen (4:10)

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Elephant Stone - Caught in the Noise

 

Bio:
Combining the influence of Indian classical music with the influence of British Invasion bands like the Kinks and the Beatles, Canadian neo-psychedelic outfit Elephant Stone is the brainchild of Rishi Dhir, formerly of the High Dials. The project's first album, 2009's "The Seven Seas", demonstrated Dhir's knack for breezy melodies as well as his use of instruments like sitar, dilruba, and tabla in a Western rock context. "The Glass Box" EP followed in 2010, their self-titled 2nd album appearing in 2013. Settling into a regular lineup of Dhir, Gabriel Lambert on guitar, and Miles Dupire-Gagnon on drums, their third album "Three Poisons" arrived in 2014. Their fourth LP, "Ship of Fools" was released in 2016, followed in 2020 by the band's fifth, "Hollow",  with  guitar duties now split between Lambert and Robbie MacArthur.  The French-language EP "Le Voyage de M. Lonely dans la Lune" appeared in 2022. Their sixth album "Back Into the Dream" is set for release early 2024.


My latest anthology should delight all fans of sitar-infused psychedelia. I've been a fan of the band since their first album, they've featured on several compilations posted on this blog. My favourite album by the band is probably their self-titled 2013 release; however, I wholeheartedly endorse exploring their entire discography. Their next album promises to be yet another excellent release, two tracks from which are featured here. As usual, origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy!


  1. Motherless Child (Love's Not for War) (3:29)
  2. Lies, Lies, Lies (3:19)
  3. A Silent Moment (5:14)
  4. Au Gallis (5:38)
  5. M. Lonely (4:04)
  6. The Spark (3:28)
  7. The Straight Line (7:04)
  8. Hollow World (4:03)
  9. Sally Go Round the Sun (1:43)
10. Echo & The Machine (4:22)
11. Silence Can Say So Much (3:03)
12. Alap / Strangers (4:00)
13. Harmonia (5:09)
14. La Fusée du Chagrin (3:45)
15. Don't You Know (7:30)
16. Godstar (2:04)
17. Andromeda (3:33)
18. The Sea of Your Mind (8:32)

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21st Century Psychedelia - Volume 6

 

  1. The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Ineffable Mindfuck (3:28)
  2. Upupayama - Entering the Time of Wilderness (3:02)
  3. MIEN - Earth Moon (5:35)
  4. Cool Ghouls - Smoke & Fire (3:05)
  5. Bhopal's Flowers - The Majestic Purple Sky (5:58)
  6. Les Big Byrd - Feels Like Wasting My Life Is Taking Forever (3:50)
  7. Los Mundos - El Espejo del Tiempo (2:23)
  8. Nice Biscuit - Passing Over (6:37)
  9. Hawkeyes - Look at 'em Scramble (5:39)
10. Elephant Stone - Harmonia (5:09)
11. Hypnotic Floor - Fall (11:13)
12. White Canyon & The 5th Dimension - As Above So Below (4:03)
13. Holy Magick - The Death of Me (2:56)
14. Dorotheo - Ahitar (3:45)
15. Goat - Chukua Pesa (2:24)
16. Marmalade Knives - Xayante (5:14)
17. New Candys - Vyvyan Rising (4:17)

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Shellac - Be Prepared

 

Bio:
Shellac, from Chicago, Illinois, consist of Steve Albini (guitar and vocals), Bob Weston (bass guitar and vocals) and Todd Trainer (drums and vocals), formed in 1992. Their music genre has been classified as noise rock, post-hardcore and math rock, but they describe themselves as a "minimalist rock trio."

Shellac has a distinctive, minimalist sound based on asymmetric time signatures, repetitive rhythms, an angular guitar sound, and both Albini's and Weston's surreal, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. Songs typically do not have traditional verse/chorus/verse structure and the arrangements are sparse, to the point where some describe them as "amelodic".

Writing for Drowned in Sound, Benjamin Bland stated: "Big Black and Shellac are surely the two most influential 'noise rock' groups there have ever been. Hundreds of bands have sounded like them, and in all probability so will hundreds more. Who can blame them? When a shadow that large looms over an entire subgenre of music, it’s hard not to be influenced by it, let alone ignore it altogether."
John Robb, music critic and frontman of British post-punk band The Membranes, called Shellac "the finest rock band on the planet. This is the rock band that the rest of us in our bands [...] have had to measure ourselves against and if we are found wanting then we have to cower behind rocks and attempt to revive our measly offerings until they measure up."


I'll keep this bit relatively short... I've been a fan of Steve Albini since I first heard Big Black in the mid 80s, and his subsequent bands Rapeman (Albini later expressed regret at the name of the band, saying "it was a flippant choice", calling it unconscionable and indefensible) and of course Shellac. If I were to compile my favourite 50 songs of all time, I'm sure Big Black's "Kerosene" and Shellac's "Wingwalker" would be in that list.

This collection features tracks from Shellac's 5 studio albums so far (from 1992's "At Action Park" up to "Dude Incredible" in 2014), plus various singles/EPs and one compilation track. Favourite album? That would be "Excellent Italian Greyhound" from 2007, and features the most heavily here. Not the most prolific of bands, I guess his production work with many other acts over the years has kept him quite busy, but I hope Shellac surprise us with a new album at some point in the future.

As per usual, info containing track origin & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy this latest collection!


  1. The End of Radio (8:24)
  2. Doris (3:11)
  3. Copper (1:45)
  4. Prayer to God (2:26)
  5. Riding Bikes (5:23)
  6. Killers (1:24)
  7. Spoke (2:13)
  8. The Rambler Song (2:54)
  9. Pull the Cup (4:12)
10. '95 Jailbreak (4:30)
11. Squirrel Song (2:36)
12. Disgrace (2:40)
13. Dude Incredible (6:00)
14. Kittypants (1:57)
15. Billiard Player Song (3:45)
16. A Minute (3:37)
17. Song Against Itself (4:13)
18. Gary (3:57)
19. Be Prepared (3:59)
20. Il Porno Star (5:12)
21. Wingwalker (4:59)

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David Cronenberg's Wife - Bursting at the Seams

 

Bio:
David Cronenberg's Wife is the brainchild of Stockport-born songwriter Tom Mayne. Having moved to London, following an undisclosed past in the north of England, Mayne formed DCW in late 2002.

Described as "where genius meets idiocy" by BBC Radio 2's Mark Lamarr, the band's lyrics combine dark subject matter with an off-kilter humour. They released their first single "I Couldn't Get Off" in 2007, followed up by two singles and their first album "Bluebeard's Rooms" in 2008. It was described in The Fly as "one of the albums of the year". Other reviews, however, were more critical of the album's dark subject matter and "repugnant imagery".

The band's second album "Hypnagogues" was released in November 2009, with a noticeably more personal feel to the lyrics and a less harsh sound, even approaching alt country on some of the tracks. The magazine NME called it "a promising work in progress" with Drowned in Sound naming opening song "Sweden" (the band's sixth single) "one of the tracks of the year", adding that "it stands so far out from the rest that it encumbers the rest of the album."

Their third album "Don't Wait to be Hunted to Hide" was released in December 2012, and features some of the band's most controversial songs, such as the album's first single "Spiked", which describes a date-rape from the attacker's point of view. The album's themes caused one reviewer to call it the "most truly controversial I’ve heard all year", adding that it may "upset and unsettle" some listeners.

The band had two previously unreleased tracks featured on Trashmouth Record's 2014 compilation "Thinking About Moving to Hastings" along with songs by Fat White Family, Pit Ponies and Warmduscher. In October 2018, they released a new EP, "The Octoberman Sequence", and their fourth album, "The Ship (Necrologies)", was released in March 2020. The album's first single, "Hannity Comes Home", was described by The Indiependent as one of the best singles of the first five months of the year.

Band members are currently singer & songwriter Tom Mayne, keyboard player Mary Boe, lead guitarist Adam Croucher, drummer Stuart Saunderson, violin player and guitarist Thomas Alder and bassist Jeremy Walton.


Not much I can add to the above. Yes, as stated in the bio several of their songs are rather disturbing, hence the album cover I conjured up, but they can be equally funny... for instance tracks such as "Sweden". This anthology includes tracks from all the albums mentioned in the bio, my 2 favourite albums by them being their debut "Bluebeard's Rooms" and their most recent release, "The Ship (Necrologies)". As usual with these anthologies, info containing track origin & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy this latest collection!

  1. My Best Friend's Going Out With a Girl I Like (3:39)
  2. Spiked (4:17)
  3. Sweden (3:53)
  4. You Should See (5:03)
  5. Fast Life, Slow Death (2:50)
  6. Nazarbayev Applause Laughing (3:50)
  7. All of Me (3:49)
  8. Body to Sleep With (2:52)
  9. I Couldn't Get Off (3:10)
10. Such a Sweet Boy (3:15)
11. Pushin' Too Hard (2:48)
12. Organ Love (5:23)
13. Suli's House (2:40)
14. Drawn Again (6:12)
15. I'm on the Booze, Mama (4:02)
16. Jailbird (Bergegrend version) (2:48)
17. Free State Congo (3:39)
18. Rules (4:03)
19. The Russian Death Song (4:40)
20. Man (6:47)

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Big Dipper - Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Bio:
Big Dipper formed in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, in 1985 by bassist Steve Michener and guitarist/vocalist Gary Waleik (both formerly of Volcano Suns), guitarist/vocalist Bill Goffrier (formerly of The Embarrassment) and Waleik's cousin Jeff Oliphant on drums. They released one mini-album and three albums between 1987 and 1990, before splitting up. The band reunited in 2008. They were described in a New York Times article as "musical contortionists: they love to toy with extremes, juxtaposing ferocious guitar noise with celestial vocal harmonies or planting a delicate melody in jagged rhythm".

Their first release was the 1987 mini-album "Boo-Boo", issued by Homestead Records. Their first full-length studio album, "Heavens", released later in 1987, was later described by AllMusic as "one of the finest American indie albums of its era". Their second album, "Craps", followed in 1988. Big Dipper signed to Epic Records for 1990's "Slam". Michener left the band, and they continued with various players for two years, splitting up in 1992 after releasing the "Approach of a Human Being" single (1991, Feel Good All Over) and recording more than an album's worth of material.

In 2008, Merge Records released "Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology", a 3-disc collection of Big Dipper's Homestead recordings, with additional material including the unreleased tracks recorded after Michener left. This renewed interest prompted the band to reform for some live shows in April 2008. In November 2012, they released their first new studio album in 22 years, "Crashes on the Platinum Planet", on Almost Ready Records.


Here's another band Manerg introduced me to back in the late 80s, and for that I'm very grateful. Big Dipper were one of my favourite bands back then, well at least up until their major label release "Slam". Many people regard "Heavens" as their best album, for  me I think "Craps" just shades it, and why tracks from that album feature the heaviest here. Regarding the album "Slam", I remember the excitement on purchasing it, though somewhat concerned by the awful record cover. Well... let's just say on first listen I thought the record cover just about summed up the contents of the album, it was bloody awful! I think I played it twice, and then got rid of. It was such a crushing disappointment after their previous releases on Homestead.

Go forward to 2008 and the "Supercluster" anthology on Merge, reigniting my love for the band, especially the several unreleased tracks which would have most likely been their 4th album, "Very Loud Array", after being ditched by Epic. This would've definitely been a return to form after the overproduced rather flat "Slam", and maybe they wouldn't have sadly split up. It still took me several years to even try and listen to "Slam" again, but once I did it surprisingly wasn't as bad as I remembered. Sure there are many weak songs, but on closer listen I found at least half a dozen tracks that really are quite good!

This anthology comprises mostly of tracks from "Supercluster", plus 3 tracks from "Slam", and the odd EP/compilation track. Focusing on their recordings from 1987 to 1992, I decided at the last minute to include a 'bonus' track from their 2012 comeback album "Crashes on the Platinum Planet", an album which stands up very well to their earlier Homestead releases. "Supercluster" was originally a limited edition release of only 5000 copies, but can now be found easily on bandcamp. I recommend you purchase it, there's hardly a dud on it.


  1. You're Not Patsy (2:28)
  2. Mr. Woods (3:09)
  3. Meet the Witch (3:53)
  4. San Quentin, CA (2:17)
  5. Impossible Things (3:00)
  6. Wrong in the Charts (2:58)
  7. Making Plans for Bison (2:00)
  8. Restaurant Cloud (3:10)
  9. The Insane Girl (3:37)
10. Lou Gehrig's Disease (3:47)
11. Approach of a Human Being (4:30)
12. Man o' War (2:40)
13. Slam (2:49)
14. Faith Healer (3:01)
15. Ron Klaus Wrecked His House (5:02)
16. Extraordinary Worm (3:24)
17. Homosapien (4:29)
18. Which Would You Rather? (featuring Ellie Marshall) (2:40)
19. Younger Bums (2:56)
20. Semjáse (4:34)
21. Life Inside the Cemetery (3:42)
22. Silentium (2:39)
23. The Monsters of Jazz (2:41)
24. A Song to Be Beautiful (4:05)
25. Untitled (2:08)
     "bonus track"
26. Robert Pollard (4:13)

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Gravenhurst - Rusted Masks

 

Bio by Heather Phares:
Making music equally inspired by the British folk of Fairport Convention and Bert Jansch and the volatile, textural rock of My Bloody Valentine, Gravenhurst was the brainchild of singer/multi-instrumentalist Nick Talbot (14 May 1977 – 2 December 2014).  Gravenhurst's first album, 2002's "Internal Travels", concentrated on simple but meticulous acoustic guitar work coupled with lyrics inspired by murder ballads. The following year, Talbot released the more elaborate, fuller-sounding "Flashlight Seasons", which attracted the attention of Warp Records, who signed Gravenhurst and re-released the album early in 2004. Later that year, the mini-album "Black Holes in the Sand" became Gravenhurst's first original release for the label.

Released in 2005, the single "The Velvet Cell" and full-length "Fires in Distant Buildings" were Talbot's most fully fleshed-out works yet, incorporating not only folk and electronica but heavy fuzzed-out electric guitars and chugging Krautrock-influenced rhythms as well. The band's excellent 2007 album, "The Western Lands", leaned more toward space rock and shoegaze. With the departure of most of Talbot's touring band for other countries and projects, he returned to a one-man version of Gravenhurst for tours and performances at festivals in the late 2000s and early 2010s. This approach rubbed off on his fourth album, "The Ghost in Daylight", which featured some of his most intimate songwriting and seamless blends of folk, shoegaze, and electronics. Late in 2014, Warp released "Offerings: Lost Songs 2000-2004", a collection of previously unreleased early recordings. That December, Warp announced that Talbot had died at the age of 37.


There isn't really much more I can add to the above excellent bio by Heather Phares. This collection features tracks from all the albums mentioned above, plus the odd compilation track and a few b-sides/EP tracks. Again this is another artist I didn't think of doing a compilation of, until I dug out my copy of "Fires in Distant Buildings" a couple of weeks back, prompting me to revisit his whole back catalogue. A sad loss to music, to this day the cause of his untimely death has never been disclosed. As usual origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy, cheers!

  1. Black Holes in the Sand (7:22)
  2. Entertainment (3:43)
  3. In Your Room (3:38)
  4. East of the City (2:33)
  5. Hollow Men (3:55)
  6. Song From Under the Arches (10:21)
  7. Longest River (2:57)
  8. Circadian (4:07)
  9. I Found the F (3:25)
10. For Erin (2:32)
11. Nightwatchman's Blues (4:02)
12. A Call to Arms (3:15)
13. The Velvet Cell (4:59)
14. Tunnels (4:42)
15. Islands (8:03)
16. The Western Lands (4:11)
17. Winter Moon (4:29)
18. Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm? (3:27)
19. Underfoot (4:19)
20. See My Friends (9:04)

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