White Hills - H-p1 (2011)

Space rock is alive and well. Dark buzzing guitars, woozy, effects-drenched atmosphere, motorik drumming, chanted dead-eyed vox, some seriously caustic and crunchy FX. The guitar tones thick and super-distorted. The sound ominous and sinister. The roiling riffage infused with a pulsing droning thrum, all the elements are here in abundance. Add to the cosmic tone a theme of anti-government, anti corporation sentiment and what you've got is a classic of the genre.

H-p1

Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm - A Black Man's Soul (1969)

Recorded in Ike's free time while touring with Tina, this album is a departure from the style typical of his more popular compositions in favor of a more straightforward funk. And it slays. Arguably one of the best funk instrumental albums of the time, and a brilliant example of the man's genius. Turner played guitar and piano on the album, the other instruments helmed by The Kings of Rhythm who are, to me at least, unknown musicians. Billy Preston steps in on the keys for the track "Getting Nasty."

I Like Ike

Krzysztof Komeda - Astigmatic (1966)

Many regard this as the paragon of European jazz recordings.Critic Stuart Nicholson describes the album as "marking a shift away from the dominant American approach with the emergence of a specific European aesthetic." Komeda was a master pianist who, besides leading his quintet, paid his bills by providing soundtrack scores to over seventy films, including the Polanski films Rosemary's Baby, Knife In the Water, Fearless Vampire Killers, all of which are brilliant, by the way, and show his amazing versatility. As is the case with many of the finest among us, Komeda died tragically all too early, four days before his 38th birthday.

Krzysztof

Video is a piece not included on this album, and in fact doesn't accurately represent what you'll find on Astigmatic, but it goes to show the man's genius.

Abner Jay - Swaunee Water and Cocaine Blues

"Jay was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia. His father and grandfather were both slaves in Washington County, Georgia. His grandfather was also a banjo player and imparted a vast repertoire of old-time and folk songs to Abner. He started playing in medicine shows when he was 5. In 1932 he joined the Silas Green Minstrels and would later go on to lead the WMAZ Minstrels on Macon radio from 1946-56, before going solo. He spent many years travelling the American South and playing concerts from his "converted mobile home that opened up into a portable stage, complete with amplification and home furnishings." These concerts, as evidenced in his recordings, were often equal parts spoken word (jokes, philosophical asides, rants) and music. Common instruments on his recordings include harmonica, drum kit, a six-string banjo (that Jay claimed was made in 1748), and the "bones," which were chicken and cow bones that had been bleached in the sun and used to create percussion.  Jay's song repertoire included field songs, Pentecostal hymns and minstrel tunes. He once described himself as "the last working Southern black minstrel." He also performed original material that was mostly secular, and subjects ranged from politics, relationships, war, the bible and depression. In later years he had a residency, playing shows and selling his LPs and cassette tapes at Tom Flynn's Plantation Restaurant in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Anthony Braxton, renowned American composer and philosopher, called Jay and "American Master."

This guy really was something amazing. Playing all instruments himself and belting out his plaintive Southern drawl, Jay's songs get under your skin. By turns sad and funny, happy and lonely.

Abner Jay

Stark Reality - Now

 'One of the most tripped-out albums of funk ever. a rare treasure with a very unusual history. The Stark Reality were a cool little combo formed to work on public television in Boston in the late 60s featuring some heavy guitars, fuzzed-up vibes, and some monster percussion laid out in tight bass & drum rhythms that were years ahead of their time. The group recorded one rare album -- ostensibly a children's record, but based around old compositions by Hoagy Carmichael, completely pulled apart, sliced up, overly harmonized, and spat out into wild funky tunes that bear no resemblance to their originals! The original album -- Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop -- has been a holy grail for collectors for years [we once sold a copy for hundreds of dollars], and the music has only ever really been heard by a few dedicated beatheads that have tracked down rare copies. Now, though, the geniuses at Stones Throw have put out the whole LP, plus bonus material, in one fantastic package that is soon to make the Stark Reality legends amongst funky fans the world over! Mad vibes meet fuzzy guitars meet killer funky beats -- and the whole thing's a masterpiece that will never be duplicated again!' 


Honestly, this is like an insane man's answer to the question "What does Funk, Jazz, Fuzz, Psych and Skronk sound like?"


Stark Reality

Rob Jo Star Band - S/T (1975)

As far as proto-punk goes, most are familiar with a couple obvious examples: The Stooges, The Velvet Underground, The Modern Lovers, The New York Dolls, Roxy Music, Television, etc. As close to the heart as these are for me, I've got to say that a very small handful of bands got thrown under the bus and deserve the same recognition and devotion. French one-off act Rob Jo Star Band sits mightily, along with Simply Saucer, at the top of that list. An absolute blast of weird, what with the insane synth skree and Damo Suzuki-esque semi-English patois. Must be heard.

Call On One's Muse

Doldrums - Parrot Talk VHS Mixtape

Just gonna let their videos do the work. Honestly, how could you not want this?

Parrot Talk Mix

Backwards Sam Firk - The True Blues and Gospel of Backwards Sam Firk (1968)

"In the early 1960s, Mike Stewart adopted the professional name of Backwards Sam Firk. "My dad used to call me Backwards Sam because my initials are MAS," he explained. He recorded for the private label of the eccentric Maryland record collector Joe Bussard in the early 60s, on his own, with John Fahey and in impromptu groups. 

Mike's pseudonym came to wider notice in the late 1960s when he was associated with Gene Rosenthal's Adelphi Records, an independent Blues label based in Silver Spring, Maryland. The first item in its catalog was his album "The True Blues & Gospel of Backwards Sam Firk," consisting of scrupulous interpretations of repertoire learned from Mississippi John Hurt, Bo Carter, Big Bill Broonzy and other Blues masters of the 1920s and 30s"  

Firk is a fingerpicking master, not to be missed. Mostly instrumentals here, interspersed with a couple vocal tracks. Continues in the vein of the standard blues masters and completely does them justice.

Backwards Sam Firk

Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus, Max Roach - Money Jungle (1962)

The Jazz Gods smiled upon the world back in September '62 when Duke Ellington decided to get together with Mingus and Roach to record this beauty. Truly a jazz "supergroup," although I hate that term. Mostly new material was written for the album with the exception of new renditions of Ellington classics "Caravan" and "Solitude." I recently told a friend of the existence of this collaboration and got a head-cocked-to-the-side-raised-eyebrow-"bullshit" look. So here's the proof.

Money Jungle

Wooden Shjips - West (2011)

New album from the San Francisco psych cosmonaut drone rock masters themselves. These guys are the torch bearers, no doubt. To be honest, I'd been apprehensive about this release, their style not having paved much territory since it'd been developed, but my doubts are thoroughly assuaged via West. New sonic metals are forged.

Go West

Diplo and Tony Tripledouble - AEIOU2

DJ and producer-extraordinaire Diplo teamed up with Philadelphia record fiend Tony Tripledouble to concoct this amazing mix compiled from obscure psych, funk and soundtrack material. Originally released on cassette in a total somewhere around 500, it's popularity has given rise to a proper reissue. Classic breaks 'n beats.

AEIOU2

Lewis Reed

Haha........Lewis. First two sung by Lou. Last two written by Lou, performed by The Jades.