Show #1, 8/22

1. It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl - Faust (Faust So Far, '72)
- This is far and away my favorite Faust track. I had actually never heard of them until about 6 months ago when I realized that this at that time unknown to me song was inexplicably stuck in my head for days after going to see shows at Chicago's Empty Bottle (the song inevitably makes it into their pre-show mix). I had to know what it was!

Anyway, this song, along with all the others on the first 2 Faust LPs, was recorded in 1971 in a converted schoolhouse in total isolation, save for a little meddling by minimalist composer Tony Conrad. Their isolation is apparent in that this sounds like nothing else going on at the time. Check out some of the stuff on the first LP for some real out-there sounds.

2. Basak Saçlim - Bunalim (Bunalim [singles collection, Shadoks '07])
A Hungarian group, Bunalim did their damnedest to bring the LSD/hippie/free love thing to their native land. Tales abound of them running down the main streets of their town stark naked screaming about LSD for the people and whatnot. Some of the songs on the singles collection from which I plucked this track are a little more subdued, and the group really only had one consistent member (Aydin Cakus), but Basak Saçlim is some of the rockingest stuff around. Makes me want to ride a motorcycle.

3. Come Together - Mystic Siva (Under the Influence, '70)

4. I'm Hiding My Nightengale - Can w/ Magareta Juvan (unknown comp., ??)
It's interesting to hear Can with a female, and what's more totally intelligible singer. Unfortunately, I don't know a damn thing about this track other than the name.

5. China - Electric Sandwich (unknown comp., ??)

6. Blue do Cachorro Muito I - Satwa (Satwa, '73)
This track was recorded by Lula Cortes of Paebiru fame with some guy named Lialson during the height of the Brazillian military dictatorship. I guess when newspapers are so heavily censored that they run cake recipes on the front pages you have to be careful what your lyrics are getting at. Or you could just record an amazing instrumental album. How crafty.

7. Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda - Angus MacLise (Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda soundtrack, '68)
Taken from an Ira Cohen film of the same name, this track by the original Velvet Underground drummer is a real epic. 30+ mins. of harmonium, tablas and indistinct vocals in what sounds like a huge cathedral but may just be several tape-echoes. Here's the preview of the film that Arthur Magazine put together to go with their re-release DVD package



8. Little Eyes - Ed Askew (Little Eyes, De Stijl reissue '04)
Says DeStijl records of their reissue: "Not long after Askew left the Gandalf group, ESP signed him and released the album that has become known as Ask The Unicorn. Little Eyes was recorded immediately following the poorly selling debut. Made with little more than Ed’s voice and the stunningly modern arrangements of his beloved Martin Tipple, all the songs were recorded in one continuous take. Little Eyes is as grand, sad and beautiful a statement as can be expressed. His off key lilt hangs like a seductive pink mist, and settles deeply; you’ll hear these songs long after they are over."

I just found a copy of their really limited run of reissues at CD Ally for $5!! They had some flood and the record sleeve got a little wet. Who gives a shit? God bless America!

9. Tears - The Mysetery Meat (Profiles, Shadoks reissue)
Profiles is a perfect case for record collecting. Not only is it a major fetish item (if you ever see an original copy, buy it! They sell for thousands of dollars) but it is a seriously good record. Recorded in the basement of an office on the campus of some Illinois college in '68, this is some of the best organ-based garage rock stuff around. My roommates hound me to play this song all the time because it is i-n-f-e-c-t-i-o-u-s.

10. Concerto Do Pantano - Spectrum (Geracao Bendita, '71)

11. Angel - The Dead C (Vain, Erudite and Stupid: Selected works 1987-2005)

12. Zweiter Sommer - No-Neck Blues Band w/ Embryo (Embryonnck, '06)
This song, and what's more, the entire collaboration between these two bands demonstrate the common ground held by kraut and psych rock. Embryo are by far one of the most respected early Krautrock bands, and I don't know how but the contemporary psych-freakout NYC cats in No-Neck somehow convinced them to come out of retirement or whatever 60-year old German guys do to make an album. Needless to say, the results are totally awesome. Just for reference, this is what NNCK is up to when Embryo isn't around:



13. Oneway-Trip - Limbus 3 (New-Atlantis "Cosmic Music Experience", '69)
This band is seriously weird. Especially if you consider that this album was recorded in '69. This ain't no Woodstock stuff, and would probably have turned those infamous festival-goers into instant acid-casualties if they had happened to become acquainted. Travis came in to the production room while Lee and I were blasting this and said something to the effect of "you guys must be fucking stoned." We weren't, but I was digging this anyway.