Yura Yura Teikoku :: Hollow Me

Prior to founding Zelone Records and becoming the emperor of mellow groove, Shintaro Sakamoto fronted Yura Yura Teikoku. A scrappy psych trio with humble origins in the Tokyo’s DIY underground, the band cut a unique trail guided by an eclecticism that pushed their sound ever further to new heights. Over two decades, 10 studio albums, a live record, and a slew of EP’s, the band eventually saw crossover success in Japan, signing to a major label and garnering a cult following abroad. However, as everything seemed to fall in place for in place for Yura Yura Teikoku, the . . .

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Horse Lords :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview

Comradely Objects is every bit as mathematical as it is melodic, and as already covered artfully here at AD by Brent Sirota, it is arguably the crowing achievement of the Horse Lords cannon. Fresh on the heels of their latest release, we caught up with guitarist Owen Gardner and bassist Max Eilbacher to discuss recording in lockdown, relocating to Germany, weaponizing the avant-garde, Cornelius Cardew, and what happens when lyrics fail . . .

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Dezo Ursiny :: Modry Vrch (1981)

Slovak prog legend Dezo Ursiny is still to find the recognition he deserves outside of his homeland. A successful composer of documentary soundtracks in the socialist 1970s, and later a filmmaker in his own right, Ursiny passed away prematurely but left a significant oeuvre.

It's the music you'd hear in a dream where you're coming back from a party in a late night cab and the streets are empty and the sky is gleaming and the world is ending . . .

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Primal Scream :: Carry Me Home (Dennis Wilson Cover)

... dig into this remarkable cover. Arguably Bobby Gillespie’s most soulful delivery, the piano-driven track delivers a shimmering, almost spiritual ambiance before crashing into a haunting, slow burn of an outro. The narrative penned through the lens of a wounded Vietnam soldier, the stark minimalism of Wilson’s lyrics is a perfect match for the band’s bluesy comedown and the . . .

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Celtic Guru :: Van Morrison In The 80s | Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart

Picking up exactly where Beautiful Vision’s “Scandinavia” left off, “Higher than the World” unfolds amid a cascade of synthesizer, choppy R&B guitar, and the saccharine acknowledgment of higher consciousness that defined Van Morrison’s sonic pilgrimage of the 1980s. The third installment of what can be termed the Celtic Guru period, Inarticulate Speech of the Heart incorporates a softer edge to the sound that Van was building over the course of the decade . . .

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The Ecstasy of Gold :: Volume One

The Ecstasy of Gold finds members of Acetone, Dick Slessig Combo, and Dengue Fever teaming up for a set that spans fuzzed out workouts, psych, prog flexes, surf, and sure enough, Morricone-y grandeur . . .

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The Aquarium Drunkard Show: SIRIUS/XMU (7pm PST, Channel 35)

To the other side of the sky. Via satellite, transmitting from northeast Los Angeles — the Aquarium Drunkard Show on SIRIUS/XMU, channel 35. 7pm California time, Wednesdays.

34.1090° N, 118.2334° W . . .

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The Woods Band :: S/T (1971)

After a brief stint contributing to Steeleye Span’s remarkable debut, the husband and wife duo of Gay and Terry Woods set forth to Ireland in search of a sound not quite attained with their English cohort. Slightly more rockin’ than the ensemble they had just left – and definitely more soulful – The Woods Band borrows the electrified approach of Fairport Convention, Mellow Candle, or Strawbs.

And while the nuances of the old isles remain, the warmth that the group cooks up on The Woods Band makes an ideal companion for the post-holiday thaw, entering January bleary-eyed but ready . . .

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Spiral Stairs (Pavement) :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview

Scott "Spiral Stairs" Kannberg discusses Medley Attack, the influence of The Clean, and takes us deep behind the scenes of the blockbuster Pavement reunion . . .

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Zelda :: 真暗闇 - ある日の光景

Channeling western contemporaries like Pylon, and forecasting 2010-era recordings from the likes of Lower Dens and Deerhunter, Japan’s Zelda first emerged as a punk-rock/new-wave quartet in 1980 with a pair of 7” singles, followed by their 1982 self-titled debut—a boisterous affair that balances a healthy diet of glossy, hard-charging rock, playful power-pop, and avant-garde art rock leanings . . .

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The Aquarium Drunkard Show: SIRIUS/XMU (7pm PST, Channel 35)

Ce soir, lourd sur l'ambiance française. Via satellite, transmitting from northeast Los Angeles — the Aquarium Drunkard Show on SIRIUS/XMU, channel 35. 7pm California time, Wednesdays.

34.1090° N, 118.2334° W . . .

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Grey On Gray :: A December Mixtape

All vinyl hour long slide to close out another weird year. Fireside GORP-jazz, new age, and beyond. 1969-2022 . . .

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Arve Henriksen :: Chiaroscuro

Meditative, yet engaging, Chiaroscuro plays as more of a continuous statement piece than as a collection of individual songs. Widescreen and cinematic, Henriksen's vocals float intermittently across the album's 42 minute run-time amidst a cascade of hand drums, ambient trumpet (reminiscent of Jon Hassell), and sparse sound design . . .

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ECM Records All-Star Night :: The Village Gate, New York City, January 1976

The most beautiful sound next to silence comes to NYC. This “all-star night” of ECM-related performers is a delight, with some unique performances and collabs. Manfred Eicher's esteemed label had been around since the late 1960s, but Keith Jarrett's blockbuster surprise, The Koln Concert, brought ECM closer to the mainstream in 1975. Jarrett wasn't there for this evening's celebration, but the All-Stars shine bright without him . . .

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First & Last: Japanese Private Press, Vol. 7

Welcome to the seventh installment of First & Last, a series of mixes providing a glimpse into the world of Japanese private press, or 自主盤, pronounced “jishuban”, which loosely translates to “independent board . . .

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