Critical Distance

2008 in Review

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:58:00 +0000

A review of 2008 will serve well to wipe away at the dust that's been collecting around here. So here it goes...my backlogged reflection of the last year, of which nearly half was spent in Budapest, Hungary and surrounding areas.

First of all, here are a few important things I missed in 2007 but thankfully found in 2008:

Dinosaur L - 24/24 Music (Sleeping Bag - reissue)
John Maus - Love Is Real (Upset The Rhythm)
Pantha Du Prince - This Bliss (Dial)
V/A - Latinamericarpet (Sublime Frequencies)
White Hills - Heads On Fire (Rocket)
Wildildlife - Six (Crucial Blast)

Onto 2008...

Below is a download link to tracks from my top ten. Song titles are listed below each record.

Full-lengths:

1. Grouper - Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill (Type)
Liz Harris cut the delay in half and started singing-- couldn't ask for more from this gorgeous blissed-out gem.
>Heavy Water / I'd Rather Be Sleeping

2. Arthur Russell - Love Is Overtaking Me (Audika)
It's Arthur Russell. As featured in the superb documentary on his life, Wild Combination, this collection of previously unreleased folk-songs gives a different sort of glimpse than the Arthur Russell we're used to, opening a new facet in his repertoire but still keeping it bittersweet.
>Love Is Overtaking Me

3. Have A Nice Life - Deathconsciousness (Self-Released)
All the claims about this being one of the most depressing records are actually pretty true. Industrial/shoegazey/ambient/drone from these black metal veterans will bum you out, but not disappoint.
>Hunter

4. Grails - Take Refuge In Clean Living (Important) / Doomsdayer's Holiday (Temporary Residence)
Hits from the bong. Word.
>Take Refuge

5. Belong - Colorloss Record (St. Ives)
Live drone versions of psych covers. So great to hear such a washed out version of July's My Clown the same year it was reissued.
>My Clown

6. Four Tet - Ringer (Domino)
Never expected much from Four Tet before, or been much of a fan. This time around, the IDM factor has been toned down for something a bit more straightforward but still way interesting. What a surprise!
>Ringer

7. Smorzando - Smrad (Midwinter)
Absolutely killer lo-fi depressive black metal from Switzerland.
>Lied 1

8. Sleepy Sun - Embrace (Sol Diamond)
Solid songwriting from these talented SF dudes that deserve all the kudos that come their way. Look for them at SXSW and ATP this year!
>New Age

9. Crystal Stilts - Alight Of Night (Woodsist)
Dark and lovely infectious lo-fi garage that channels Joy Division's best moments.
>Shattered Shine

10. Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna (Social Registry/Warp)
Couldn't resist the MBV synth rips and catchy weirdness.
>Afoot

>>>>DOWNLOAD TOP 2008<<<<
100.8mb

Other favorites:

Aidan Baker + Tim Hecker - Fantasma Parastasie (Alien8)
Deerhunter - Microcastle (Kranky) [not including Weird Era Cont.]
Growing - All The Way (Social Registry)
James Blackshaw - Litany Of Echoes (Tompkins Square)
Kieren Hebden & Steve Reid - NYC (Domino)
Koen Holtkamp - Field Rituals (Type)
Lifelover - Konkurs (Avantgarde)
Paavoharju - Laulu Laakson Kukista (Fonal)
Pyramids - S/T (Hydrahead)
Sunn O))) - Dømkirke: Live at Bergen Cathedral (Southern Lord)

Reissues:

1. Teenage Filmstars - Star (Creation/Art Pop!, 1992)
An amazing reissue of an overlooked Creation Records classic. Ed Ball injects a heavy dose of psychedelia into all the right moments of shoegaze heavyness.

Droids - Star Peace (Barclay/Repressed, 1978)
Gas - Nah Und Fern (Mille Plateau/Kompakt, 1995-2000)
July - S/T (Sweet Dandelion/Rev-ola, 1968)
Robert Fripp & Brian Eno - No Pussyfooting (Polydor/Discipline Global Mobile, 1973)
Rodriguez - Cold Fact (Sussex/Light In The Attic, 1970)

Shows:

1. My Bloody Valentine @ Concourse Center (SF)

2. Rodriguez / Sleepy Sun @ The Echo (LA)

3. Black Dice @ Studenski Centar (Zagreb, Croatia)

4. SCSI-9 /Rex the Dog @ A38 Hajó (Budapest, Hungary). Probably the best venue ever: an old Ukrainian cargo ship turned venue + upstairs club deck in summer sitting on the Danube!

5. Health @ West Germany (Berlin, Germany)

6. Boris / Growing @ Vörös Yuk (Budapest, Hungary)
7. No Age @ Rickshaw Stop (SF)
8. Grouper @ some gallery in Oakland, can't remember.
9. Sir Richard Bishop @ Aquarius Records (SF)
10. Any part of the awesomely tight-knit and surprisingly unpretentious techno scene in Budapest. Highlights include:
-Efdemin @ Cha Cha Cha
-Corvin-Tető: department store rooftop turned club.
-And the tried and true favorite Monoklub.

Frisco Freakout (2pm-2am psych fest) proved to be better in theory than anything else. Even with such a solid lineup, it seemed overwhelmingly long. By the time Earthless (pictured above) closed the show, I couldn't tell a crybaby wah from a Big Muff. That could have been due to eating weed for close to ten hours, true. But I blame it on standing in claustrophobia all day at Thee Parkside.

Hey MBV, hurry up with that promised follow-up to Loveless....

2007 in Review

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:43:00 +0000

As I write this list, I mark the end of my first year on-air at KUSF, and also a temporary hiatus from the station. January 10 will be my last show as I will be living out of the country for the next five months. Eastern Central Europe calls, ya know?

I know we're already a few days into '08, but it's not too late for another top 2007 list. I included mp3 downloads of my favorite tracks from each of the top ten records. Please support these artists and don't settle for my downloads. They're on my top ten because of the collective awesomeness of their entire albums!

Top 25 Albums:

1. Panda Bear - Person Pitch (Paw Tracks)
Unsurprisingly dominating top 2007 lists.
Download Take Pills

2. The Field - From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt)
This gorgeous techno masterpiece pulled through the whole year.
Download A Paw In My Face

3. Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow (Pedal)
Having witnessed the pair together in October served as further proof as to how great of a collaboration they are.
Download Rafflesia

4. Robert Wyatt - Comicopera (Domino)
Still around, still awesome. Beautiful and most certainly weird.
Download Just As You Are

5. KTL - 2 (Editions Mego)
So "Theme" is 27 minutes long...but the intensely climactic e-drone wouldn't be the same if it wasn't.
Download Theme

6. Gowns - Red State (Cardboard)
So far, my favorite classifiably 'freak-folk' record yet.
Download White Like Heaven

7. Titan - A Raining Sun Of Light For You And You And You (Tee Pee)
Stunning and psyched out. Maybe ripped off Neu! too literally (see "Hallogallo" vs "Aufruf Der Pilze"), but I honestly don't mind.
Download Aufruf Der Pilze

8. Wzt Hearts - Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones (Carpark)
Multi-faceted psych-drone makes it a standout. Soft, loud, pretty, and scary.
Download Spell

9. Nadja - Touched (Alien8)
Couldn't keep up with the duo's nine or so releases of this year (the same goes for Aidan Baker's solo work). But this reworked version of the 2003 CD-R of the same name is about ten times heavier and even better than the original.
Download Stays Demons

10. No Age - Werdo Rippers (Fat Cat)
A confusing mess of shoegaze, drones, garage, and punk that works so well together.
Download Every Artist Needs A Tragedy

the rest in no particular order...
Deerhunter - Cryptograms (Kranky)
Burning Star Core - Operator Dead...Post Abandoned (No Quarter)
Caetano Veloso - Cê (Nonesuch)
Gui Boratto - Chromophobia (Kompakt)
Growing - Vision Swim (Troubleman Unlimited)
Tim Hecker - Atlas (Audraglint)
Common Eider, King Eider - How To Build A Log Cabin (Yik Yak)
Islaja - Ulual Yyy (Fonal)
Mammatus - The Coast Explodes (Holy Mountain)
Soft Circle - Full Bloom (Eastern Developments)
White Lichens - S/T (Holy Mountain)
Throbbing Gristle - Part Two: The Endless Not (Mute)
Fennesz Sakamoto - Cendre (Touch)
Sunn O))) - Oracle (Southern Lord)
Ulrich Schnauss - Goodbye (Domino)

Reissues:

1. Eroc - Eroc 1 (Brain)
I can't even believe how much I have (and am still) listening to this AMAZING psyched-out blissed-out kraut gem! Probably my favorite record of the year, but it's a reissue, so it'll have to stand on its own here.

Michael Yonkers - Grimwood (Destijl)
Psychic Paramount - Gamelan Into The Mink Supernatural (No Quarter) [LP]
Flower Travellin' Band - Satori (Phoenix)
Vladislav Delay - Multila (Huume)

Top 10 Shows:

1. Tim Hecker @ Project Artaud Theatre

2. Jesus And Mary Chain @ The Fillmore
3. Boris @ Amoeba Records
4. Gowns @ The Hemlock
5. Psychic Paramount @ The Hemlock

6. Booka Shade @ Mezzanine

7. Magik Markers / Axolotl / Rah Dunes @ Amnesia
8. Wildildlife @ Elbo Room

9. Seekers Who Are Lovers / Sergio Iglesias & The Latin Love Machine @ The Hemlock

10. Ettrick vs 16 Bitch Pile Up on The Bus (also tied for worst show of 2007)

KUSF Playlist Thursday 01/03/08 Midnite-3AM

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:59:00 +0000

First show of 2008...

Ateleia - Threaded -- Nightly (Table Of The Elements, 2007)

Glenn Branca - The Ascension -- The Ascension (99, 1981)
Burzum - Hen Som Reiste -- Det Som En Gang Var (Cymophane, 1993)
Hours Of Worship - Beneath A Cloud -- Unreleased, 2007

Yikes - Irresponsible -- Whoa Comas/Blood Bombs (Kill Shaman, 2007)
Loop - Spinning -- The World In Your Eyes (Head, 1987)
Comets On Fire - Holy Teeth -- Avatar (Sub Pop, 2006)
Amon Guru - Dat Loop -- Die Krautrock Explosion (Cleopatra, 2007)

Slowdive - Golden Hair [Syd Barrett] -- Holding Our Breath (Creation, 1991)
Brian Eno - Variations On The Canon In D Major by Johann Pachelbel: Fullness Of Wind (Editions EG, 1975)

Darkthrone - Skald An Satans Sol -- Transylvanian Hunger (Peaceville, 1994)
Vampire Belt - The Straight Horn Of The Vampire Belt -- Dead Is OK (Open Mouth, 2003)

Area C - That Spark -- A Trick With A Knife (Trensmat, 2007)
Ricardo Villalobos - Dexter -- Alcachofa (Playhouse, 2003)

Tollmann Av Ildtoppberg - The Ancients -- The Forest Of Doom (Monolith, 2007)
Mammatus - The Righteous Path Through The Forest -- S/T (Holy Mountain, 2006)
Olekranon - Jim Red -- The Wire Risk (Inam, 2007)

Faust - No Harm -- So Far (Polydor, 1972)

Burmese - Shut Your Mouth -- Men (Load, 2004)
Demons - Firewalk -- Evocation (No Fun, 2007)

Goldmund - To -- Two Part Discrimination (Western Vinyl, 2007)
Kraftwerk - Neon Lights -- The Man Machine (Capitol, 1978)
Black Dice - Toka Toka -- Load Blown (Paw Tracks, 2007)
Alex Smoke - Coda & Clang -- Incommunicado (Soma Quality, 2005)

Eric Cordier - Lieux De Repos -- Breizhiselad -- (Erewhon, 2007)
GHQ - Asphalt Rainbows -- Crystal Healing (Three Lobed, 2007)
Stars Of The Lid - Lactate's Moment -- Gravitational Pull vs The Desire For An Aquatic Life (Kranky, 1997)

KUSF Playlist Thursday 11/15/07 Midnite-3AM

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:15:00 +0000

Angels Of Light - Not Here/Not Now -- Love Is Simple (Young God, 2007)
GHQ - Pyramid Merchandise -- Crystal Healing (Three Lobed, 2007)
Murcof - Cuerpo Celeste -- Cosmos (Leaf, 2007)

Black Dice - Heavy Manners -- Broken Ear Record (DFA, 2005)

Richard Youngs - Low Bay Of Sky -- Autumn Response (Jagjaguwar, 2007)
Axolotl - Kingdom Of Ends -- Memory Theatre (Important, 2007)
Boards Of Canada - Sixtyten -- Music Has The Right To Children (Warp, 1998)
Caetano Veloso - Alfômega -- Tropicalia - A Revolution In Brazillian Sound (Soul Jazz, 2005)

Can - Mushroom -- Tago Mago (United Artists, 1971)
Mammatus - Dragon Of The Deep Part Three (Excellent Swordfight) -- The Coast Explodes (Holy Mountain, 2007)
Vampire Can't - Self-Titled Debutante -- Key Cutter (Load, 2006)
Six Organs Of Admittance - Shelter From The Ash -- Shelter From The Ash (Drag City, 2007)

Amiina - Lóri -- Kurr (Ever, 2007)
Ulrich Schnauss - Shine -- Goodbye (Domino, 2007)
Arp - Premonition Of The Sculptor Steiner -- In Light (Smalltown Supersound, 2007)

Burning Star Core - A Curse On The Coast -- Blood Lightning (No Fun, 2007)
Brian Eno & Cluster - Old Land -- S/T (Sky, 1985)
Xela - Humid At Dusk -- The Dead Sea (Type, 2006)
Growing - Friendly Confines -- Color Wheel (Troubleman Unlimited, 2006)

Lou Reed - Wind Coda -- Hudson River Wind Meditations (Sounds True, 2007)
Ateleia - In Inner Air -- Nightly (Table Of The Elements, 2007)

Vertonen - Failure (Greywater Terminal) -- Orchid Collider (Crippled Intellect, 2005)
Wzt Hearts - Spells -- Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones (Carpark, 2007)
Tarantism - Occam's Razor -- Stuck To The Bottom (Resipiscent, 2006)

Windy & Carl - Lighthouse (alt. version) -- Introspection (Blue Flea, 2002)
Hala Strana - Grain -- Heave The Gambrel Rood (Music Fellowship, 2007)

KUSF Playlist Thursday 11/09/07 Midnite-3AM

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:23:00 +0000

White Magic - Shine On Heaven --Dark Stars (Drag City, 2007)

Religious Knives - Electricity And Air --Remains (No Fun, 2007)
Grauzone - Der Weg Zu Zweit -- Die Sunrise Tapes (Play It Again Sam, 1998/1981)
Murcof - Cometa -- Cosmos (Leaf, 2007)
Cluster - Rosa -- Zuckerzeit (Brain, 1974/2005)
Mammal - Cyclops -- Lonesome Drifter (Animal Disguise, 2007)

James Blackshaw - Spiraling Skeleton Memorial -- O True Believers (Important, 2006)
Low - Laser Beam -- Things We Lost In The Fire (Kranky, 2001)
Michael Yonkers - Lonely Fog -- Grimwood (Destijl, 1969/2007)

Stars Of The Lid - Humectez La Moture -- And Their Refinement Of The Decline (Kranky, 2007)
Sir Richard Bishop - Esoterica Of Abyssinia -- Plays Sun City Girls 7" (No-Fi, 2006)
Christine 23 Onna - Top Of Spot -- Acid Eater (Midi Creative, 2002)

Aavikko - New York-London-Siilinjarvi-Tokyo -- Multi Muysic (Hawaii Sounds, 2000)
Superpitcher - Happiness -- Here Comes Love (Kompakt, 2004)
Growing - Cutting, Opening, Swimming -- The Sky's Run Into The Sea (Kranky, 2003)

Kristin Miltner - Stunned Night -- Grains (Praemedia, 2007)

Nadja - Stays Demons -- Touched (Alien8, 2007)
Boredoms - Super Going -- Super AE (Birdman, 1998)

Harmonia - Hausmusik -- Musik Von Harmonia (Brain, 1974/2000)
Barn Owl - Diamond Cloud -- Bridge To The Clouds (Not Not Fun, 2007)

Tim Hecker - Azure Azure -- Radio Amor (Mille Plateaux, 2003)
Neurosis - Given To The Rising -- Given To The Rising (Neurot, 2007)

KUSF Playlist Thursday 11/02/07 Midnite-3AM

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 23:42:00 +0000

Sir Richard Bishop - Mahavidya -- While My Guitar Violently Bleeds (Locust Music, 2007)
Mammal - Repulsion -- Lonesome Drifter (Animal Disguise, 2007)

Harmonia - Sehr Kosmisch -- Musik Von Harmonia (Brain, 1974/2007)
Eroc - Die Musik Vom Olberg -- Eroc 1 (Brain, 1975/2007)
Boris with Merzbow - excerpt -- Sun Baked Snow Cave (Hydra Head, 2005)

Thrones - Oso Malo -- Sperm Whale (Kill Rock Stars, 2000)
Glenn Branca - 4th Movement -- Symphony No. 5 [Describing Planes Of An Expanding Hypersphere] (Atavistic, 1995)
Ateleia - Threaded -- Nightly (Table Of The Elements, 2007)
Jesus And Mary Chain - Never Understand -- Psychocandy (Blanco Y Negro, 1985)

Khanate - Dead -- No Joy [Remix] (Load, 2003)

Robert Wyatt - Stay Tuned -- Comicopera (Domino, 2007)
Faust - It's A Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl -- So Far (Polydor, 1972)

Mouthus - China Drier -- S/T (Psych-O-Path, 2003)
Michael Yonkers - 162 -- Grimwood (Destijl, 1969/2007)
Christine 23 Onna - The Last Hunter -- Acid Eater (Midi Creative, 2002)

Citay - Eye On The Dollar -- Little Kingdom (Dead Oceans, 2007)
The Bark Haze - Punchline 2 -- Total Joke Era (Important, 2007)

Steve Reich - excerpt -- Music For 18 Musicians (ECM, 1978)
Hala Strana - Wedding Of The Blind / Ratlines -- Heave The Gambrel Roof (Music Fellowship, 2007)
Common Eider, King Eider - Red Bears -- How To Build A Log Cabin (Yik Yak, 2007)

KUSF Playlist Thursday 10/26/07 Midnite-3AM

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:53:00 +0000

Plants - Seedling -- Photosynthesis

Burning Star Core - Deaf Mute Spinning Resonator -- Blood Lightning 2007 (No Fun, 2007)
World - Slow Prog -- CD-R (Yarnlazer / Collective Jyrk, 2004)
Wzt Hearts - Hassler -- Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones (Carpark, 2007)
Sun City Girls - The Shining Path -- Torch Of The Mystics (Tupelo, 1993)
Wooden Shjips - Losin' Time -- S/T (Holy Mountain, 2007)

Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rafflesia -- Rainbow (Pedal, 2006)
Jesus And Mary Chain - Some Candy Talking -- Some Candy Talking (Blanco Y Negro, 1986)
Gui Boratto - Scene 1 -- Chromophobia (Kompakt, 2007)
Ellen Allien - Come -- Thrills (B-Pitch Control, 2005) *request

Islaja - Pysahteneet Planeetat -- Ulual Yyy (Fonal, 2007)
Common Eider, King Eider - Steal Your Hair -- How To Build A Log Cabin (Yik Yak, 2007)
Michael Yonkers - And Give It To You -- Grimwood (Destijl, 1969/2007)

Yellow Swans - Velocity Of The Yolk -- Psychic Secession (Load, 2005)
Acid Eater - Free -- Virulent Fuzz Punk A.C.I.D. (Timebomb, 2007)
Solar Anus - Asid In My Brain -- Skull Alcoholic: The Complete Solar Anus (Tumult, 2006/2000)

GHQ - Blue Silence -- Crystal Healing (Three Lobed, 2007)
Nonloc - The Golden Apple Pie -- Between Hemispheres (Strange Attractors, 2007)
Suicide - Cheree -- S/T (Ariola, 1977)
No Age - Every Artist Needs A Tragedy -- Weirdo Rippers (Fat Cat, 2007)

Eroc - Abendfrieden -- Eroc 1 (Universal Strategic Marketing, 2007 / Brain, 1975)
Soft Circle - Sundazed -- Full Bloom (Eastern Developments, 2007)
B. Fleischmann & Ms. John Soda - Here She Comes (Slowdive cover) -- Blue Skied An' Clear (Morr, 2002)
Cepia - Clay Face -- Natura Morta (Ghostly International, 2007)

Brian Eno - 2/1 -- Ambient 1: Music For Airports (Polydor, 1978)
Windy & Carl - Through The Portal -- Live At Terrastock (Mult-Theramin Soundscapes, 2000)
Fursaxa - Sheds Her Skin -- Alone In The Dark Wood (Eclipse, 2007)

Monosov Swirnoff - Snake Lust -- Five Recorded Works: Volume 3 (Eclipse, 2007)
The Bark Haze - Punchline 1 -- Total Joke Era (Important, 2007)
Six Organs Of Admittance - The Desert Is A Circle -- The Sun Awakens (Drag City, 2006)

Jan Jelinek - A Concert For TV -- Tierbeobachtungen (~scape, 2006)

KUSF Playlist Thursday 10/05/07 Midnite-3AM

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 22:12:00 +0000

Tarantism - Trilobyte Waltz -- Stuck To The Bottom (Resipiscent, 2006)
Gowns - White Like Heaven -- Red State (Cardboard, 2007)

Aix Em Klemm - The Girl With The Flesh Colored Crayon -- S/T (Kranky, 2000)
Larsen - Montage -- Musm II (Important, 2007)
Titan - Aufruf Der Pilz -- A Raining Sun Of Light For You And You And You (Tee Pee, 2007)
Burning Star Core - The Universe Is Designed To Break Your Mind -- Blood Lightning (No Fun Productions, 2007)

Gui Boratto - Scene 1 -- Chromophobia (Kompakt, 2007)
Sylvester - I Need Somebody To Love Tonight -- Dirty Space Disco (Tiger Sushi, 2007/1979)
M.I.A. - Mango Pickle Downriver -- Kala (Interscope, 2007) *request
Galaxie 500 - 4th Of July -- Selected Galaxie 500 (Rykodisc, 1996/1990)

Can - Bring Me Coffee Or Tea -- Tago Mago (United Artists, 1971)
Circle - Black Black Never Neverland -- Katapult (No Quarter, 2007)
Nadja - No Cure For The Lonely [Swans cover] -- Trembled (Utech, 2006)

Hours Of Worship - She's In My Pulse -- Got Howls (Pish Posh, 2007)

Christine 23 Onna - Erotopia (The Climax) -- Acid Eater (Midi Creative, 2002)
Landing - Tell Myself -- Passages Through (K, 2003)
Magnetic Fields - Famous -- Get Lost (Merge, 1995)
Tangerine Dream - Cold Smoke -- Electronic Meditation (Ohr, 1970)

Jesus And Mary Chain - Happy When It Rains -- Darklands (Blanco Y Negro, 1987)
Low - Over The Ocean -- The Curtain Hits The Cast (Vernon Yard, 1996)
Grouper - Little Boat / Bone Dance -- Wide (Free Porcupine Society, 2005)

Sibylle Baier - The End -- Colour Green (Orange Twin, 2006/1973)
Damon & Naomi - Turn Of The Century -- Playback Singers (Rykodisc, 1998)

The Chameleons - Thursday's Child -- Script Of The Bridge (Statik, 1983) *request
Kraftwerk - Computer World -- Computer World (Odeon, 1981)
Ultravox - Vienna -- Vienna (Chrysalis, 1980)

Axolotl - Lake Garden -- Memory Theatre (Important, 2007)

KUSF Playlist Thursday 09/27/07 Midnite-3AM

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:23:00 +0000

Christine 23 Onna - Wild Private -- Acid Eater (Midi Creative, 2002)
Eroc - Norderland -- Eroc 1 (Universal Strategic Marketing, 2007 / Brain, 1975)
Circle - Luikertelevat Lahoavat -- Forest (No Quarter, 2004)

Wolf Eyes - A Million Years / Lake Of Roaches -- Human Animal (Sub Pop, 2006)
Glenn Branca - Lesson No. 1 -- New York Noise (Soul Jazz, 2003 / 99, 1980)
Tarentel - Untitled B -- Home Ruckus: Double Sided Air 7" (Type, 2007)

Ride - All I Can See -- Ride EP (Creation, 1990)
Akron/Family - Phenomenon -- Love Is Simple (Young God, 2007)

Ulrich Schnauss - Goodbye -- Goodbye (Domino, 2007)
The Goslings - Dinah -- Grandeur Of Hair (aRCHIVE, 2006)

Burning Star Core - The Pleasure Is All Mine - Body Blues 7" (Hospital Productions, 2007)
Religious Knives - Electricity & Air -- Remains (No Fun Productions, 2007)

Earth - Harvey -- Phase 3: Thrones & Dominions (Sub Pop, 1995)
No Age - Dead Plane -- Weirdo Rippers (FatCat, 2007)
Vampire Can't - False Teeth -- Key Cutter (Load, 2006)
16 Bitch Pile Up - The Brown Soil -- Bury Me Deep (Troniks, 2007)

World - Way Down -- CD-R (Yarnlazer / Collective Jyrk, 2004)
Angels Of Light - We Are Him -- We Are Him (Young God, 2007)
Brian Eno - Burning Airlines -- Taking Tiger Mountain (Editions EG, 1974)

Neu! - Hallogallo -- Neu! (Brain, 1972)
Hours Of Worship - Mellowharsher -- Got Howls (Pish Posh, 2007)
This Heat - Horizontal Hold -- S/T (Piano, 1979)
Titan - Obelisk Orbit Overdrive -- A Raining Sun Of Light For You And You And You (Tee Pee, 2007)

GHQ - Radiance Illuminate -- Crystal Healing (Three Lobed, 2007)
Wooden Shjips - Shine Like Suns -- S/T (Holy Mountain, 2007)
Sir Richard Bishop - Smashana -- While My Guitar Violently Bleeds (Locust Music, 2007)
Xela - The Gate -- The Dead Sea (Type, 2006)

September 2007 Recap

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:20:00 +0000

It's been a month since Tim Hecker shook a nearly pitch-black Project Artaud Theatre and with his beautiful fuzzy soundscapes as a part of the eight annual San Francisco Electronic Music Festival. Whitecaps Of Whitenoise (I) is still ringing in my ear.

Woke up in time on a Saturday afternoon to make it to a Godwaffle Noise Pancakes for once. The harsh noise of Xome stuck out, mostly because his set featured his (ADORABLE) nine year-old son dressed in a faceless robe screaming through a manipulated toy megaphone. Could have been gimmicky, but it was actually totally cute and the set maintained intensity.

Acid Mothers Guru Guru collab at Bottom Of The Hill blew minds with tons of shredding and krauty jams.

Got way too drunk selling KUSF merch all day at the first annual Polk Street Fair to pay attention to Spectrum play, but I do remember a Kraftwerk cover. T.I.T.S, Triclops!, and Los Llamaradas took the main stage. Finally an alternative to yuppies on ecstasy, shitty bands taking over downtown, and unsightly displays of D. & B!

Sadly missed two great Recombinant Media Lab events -- Biosphere and Blixa Bargeld (Einstürzende Neubauten).

Animal Collective disappointed at an uncomfortably sold out Fillmore. Missing a guitarist and playing their latest record, Strawberry Jam, almost in its entirety made for a somewhat deflated sound. Noah Lennox (Panda Bear), however, multi-tasked at the sampler and his drum set, utilized his surprisingly impressive vocal harmonizations. Wizard Prison put on a fun show with great visuals, but I think they would have been more effective in a smaller setting rather than raised on a huge stage. Eric Copeland stood at his sampler with a microphone in hand-- not exactly captivating. But again, it may have just been the huge space of the Fillmore.

Caught the last half of Circle's in-store appearance at Aquarius Records and barely caught a glimpse of the band through packed crowd on a sweaty Wednesday afternoon last week. Sounded super fun and went along well to flipping through psych dvds in the shelf next to me. Skipped their "secret" bus show with Wildildlife later that nite to catch the last exp.folx nite at G3. Sad to see the free weekly noise nite's demise at the hand of the owner's noise-induced terror. Her concerned and horrified face made it obvious she was never happy on those Wednesday nites. The Inner-Richmond location made it awesome for those, like myself, who don't live in the Mission or downtown. The $8 drinks and crappy bartender did not. The frequency of the nite gave way for quantity over quality, and honestly I saw some pretty terrible shit there that reformed my standards as to what good noise is versus bad noise. But it was still a great concept with some really great moments, most memorably: NVH/Chasny, MX80, Richard Pinhas Trio, Mr. Tipi, Horseflesh, Axolotl, and so many more I can't remember.

Missed Circle's main show at Bottom Of The Hill because of my new KUSF shift (Thursday nites at midnite-3am), but heard they threw down.

I have to mention that KUSF DJs Nicole G. and Momo destroyed the Hemlock as a part of the monthly KUSF DJ nite there (every last Friday of the month).

This post should have had pictures I took over the last month, but somehow I lost my camera during a drunken G3 episode. Hopefully that will be taken care of next month...with another 30 days of great happenings. Check out Nicole G's super duper comprehensive upcoming shows of note around the Bay Area through the next month!

KUSF Playlist Thursday 09/20/07 Midnite-3AM

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:10:00 +0000

I will no longer be doing the limit pushing, eyelid muscle endurance testing Wednesday 3AM-6AM shift! New time is now Thursday nites from midnite-3AM. Just late night enough to keep it doomy.

Nels Cline Singers - Caved In Heart Blues -- Draw Breath (Cryptogramophone, 2007)
Axolotl - Chemical Theater -- Memory Theater (Important, 2007)
Ulrich Schnauss - Shine -- Goodbye (Domino, 2007)
Gui Boratto - Gate 7 -- Chromophobia (Kompakt, 2007)

Ettrick - Feeder Of Ravens (Not Not Fun, 2007)
Goatsnake - Raw Curtains -- Goatsnake/Burning Witch Split (Hydra Head, 2000)
Slowdive - Primal -- Just For A Day (Creation, 1991)
Hours Of Worship - She's In My Pulse -- Got Howls (Pish Posh, 2007)

Tarantism - Echoes Of The Underbrush / The Cowl Apparatus -- Stuck To The Bottom (Resipiscent, 2006)
Animal Collective - For Reverend Green -- Strawberry Jam (Domino, 2007)
Terry Riley - In C B excerpt -- In C (CBS, 1968)
GHQ - Pyramid Merchandise Pt. 2 -- Crystal Healing (Three Lobed Recordings, 2007)

The Human Quena Orchestra - A Wheel For Quinn / Believer -- Means Without Ends (Daft Alliance, 2007)

Greg Ashley - Legs Coca-Cola -- Medicine Fuck Dream (Birdman, 2003)
Tim Hecker - Radio Spiricom -- Harmony In Ultraviolet (Kranky, 2006)
Wolf Eyes - The Driller -- Human Animal (Sub Pop, 2006) *request
Arthur Russell - Keeping Up -- Another Thought (Point Music, 1994)

Bülent Arel - Stereo Electronic Music No. 1 -- Columbia Princeton Electronic Music Center (Columbia, 1961)
Sunn O))) - Belulrol Pusztít -- Oracle (Southern Lord, 2007)
Eroc - Stermchen -- Eroc 1 (Universal Strategic Marketing, 2007 / Brain, 1975)
Thurston Moore - Silver > Blue -- Trees Outside The Academy (Ecstatic Peace, 2007)

Grails - More Erosion -- Black Tar Prophecies Volumes 1, 2, & 3 (Important, 2007)
Slendro Nem - Gendhing Kodok Ngorek -- Gamelan From Central Java Vol. VII: Songs Of Love & Wisdom (Dunya, 2007)
Andrew Liles - Taking Bumblebee To -- Black Market (Becta-Lamb Ring, 2007)
Triclops! - Jewel Of Oakland -- Cafeteria Brutalia (Sickroom, 2007)

Midnight 1,2,3 - It's Yer Fault -- S/T (Self Released, 2007)
My Bloody Valentine - Lose My Breath -- Isn't Anything (Creation, 1988)

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:51:00 +0000

KUSF PLAYLIST MON 08/27/07 3AM-6AM

Conrad Schnitzler - Auf Dem Schwarzen Kanal -- Dirty Space Disco (Tigersushi, 1980/2007)
Steve Reich - Violin Phase -- Octet / Music For A Large Ensemble / Violin Phase (ECM, 1980)

Eric Copeland - Wash Up -- Hermaphrodite (Paw Tracks, 2007)
Burning Star Core - The Emergency Networks Are Taking Over -- Operator Dead...Post Abandoned (No Quarter, 2007)
True Primes - Intramental -- We Have Won (Locust, 2007)
Liars - Leather Prowler -- Liars (Mute, 2007)

Wolf Eyes - Desert Of Glue/Wretched Dog -- Dread (Hanson / American Tapes, 2001)
Titan - Aufruf Der Pilz -- A Raining Sun Of Light For You & You & You (Tee Pee, 2007)
Flower Travellin' Band - Satori Pt. II -- Satori (Radioactive, 1971)

Bleach (03) - Samurai Jingle -- The Head That Controls Both Right And Left Sides Eats Meat And Slobbers Even Today (Australian Cattle God, 2007)
Sun City Girls - Trippin On Krupa -- Sun City Girls (Placebo, 1984)

Zu & Nobukazu Takemura - Awake In The Next Room -- Identification With The Enemy: A Key To The Underworld (Atavistic, 2007)
Tarentel - Untitled B -- Home Ruckus: Double Sided Air 7" (Type, 2007)
Growing - Lightfast - Vision Swim (Troubleman Unlimited, 2007)

Tralphaz - Noon -- Bursitis EP (Self Released, 2005)
White Lichens - Bael -- White Lichens (Holy Mountain, 2007)
Windy & Carl - Consciousness -- Consciousness (Kranky, 2001)

Vladislav Delay - Huone -- Multila (Chain Reaction, 2000 / Huume, 2007)
Xiu Xiu - Tonite & Today [Grouper Remix] -- Remixed & Covered (5 RC, 2007)

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:25:00 +0000

KUSF PLAYLIST WED 08/08/07 3AM-6AM

Fursaxa - Alone In The Dark Wood -- Alone In The Dark Wood (Eclipse, 2007)
Talking Heads - Heaven -- Fear Of Music (Sire, 1979)
Gowns - Cherylee -- Red State (Cardboard, 2007)

Magnetic Fields - Why I Cry -- Get Lost (Merge, 1995)
Slowdive - Blue Skied An' Clear -- Pygmalion (Creation, 1995)
Low - Cue The Strings -- The Great Destroyer (Sub Pop, 2005)
L. Pierre - Weir's Way -- Dip (Melodic, 2007)

Manual - Astoria -- Ascend (Morr, 2002)
Colleen - Le Bateau -- Les Ondes Silencieuses (Leaf, 2007)
Alex Zhang & Jesslabz - 617 -- Unreleased (2005)

Pulga - Still It Rides -- Pulga Loves You (Fire Museum, 2007)
KTL - Snow 2 -- 2 (Editions Mego, 2007)
Jandek - Every Morning -- Newcastle Sunday (Corwood Industries, 2006)
Cat Power - The Greatest -- The Greatest (Matador, 2006) *request

Sun City Girls - Esoterica Of Abyssinia / Space Prophet Dogon -- Torch Of The Mystics (Tupelo, 1993)
Aaron Ross - Mississippi Burnin' -- Shapeshifter (Grass Roots, 2007)

Glenn Branca - The Ascension -- The Ascension (99, 1981/Acute, 2003)
True Primes - In The Surf -- We Have Won (Locust Music, 2007)
Vladislav Delay - Viite -- Multila (Chain Reaction, 2000/Huume, 2007)

M83 - In Church (Ben & Cyann Version) -- Dead Cities, Red Seas, & Lost Ghosts (Gooom/Labels, 2003)
Andrew Chalk - Old Hive -- Crescent (ICR, 1986)

Strategy - Running On Empty -- Future Rock (Kranky, 2007)

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 19:37:00 +0000

KUSF PLAYLIST WED 07/18/07 3AM-6AM

Axolotl - Pneuma / Uroboros -- Way Blank (Psych-O-Path, 2005)
NVH/Chasny - Obedience Training -- Plays The Book Of Revelations (Yik Yak, 2005)
Ciccone Youth - Into The Groovey -- The Whitey Album (Geffen, 1988)

Pink Floyd - Bike -- A Nice Pair (Harvest, 1973)
Earthless - Cherry Red -- Rhythms From A Cosmic Sky (Tee Pee, 2007)

Boris - Blackout -- Pink (Southern Lord, 2006)
My Bloody Valentine - Honey Power -- Tremolo (Creation/Sire, 1991)

Lifelover - I Love (To Hurt) You -- Erotik (Total Holocaust, 2007)

The Nels Cline Singers - An Evening At Pop's - Draw Breath (Cryptogramophone, 2007)
Throbbing Gristle - Greasy Spoon - Part Two: The Endless Not (Mute, 2007)
Sleep - Jeruselem Pt. I -- Jeruselem (The Music Cartel, 1999)

7 Year Rabbit Cycle - Wake Up! Wake Up! -- Wind/Machines (Free Porcupine Society, 2004)
Weasel Walter - Neutron -- Early Recordings: 1988-1991 (Savage Land, 2007)
16 Bitch Pileup - The Earth Was Loose -- Bury Me Deep (Troniks, 2007)

Monosov Swirnoff - With Charles Curtis -- Five Recorded Works: Vol 3 (Eclipse, 2007)
Circle - And Far Away -- Panic (Ektro, 2007)
The Field - The Deal -- From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt, 2007)
Vladislav Delay - Ranta / Karha -- Mulitia (Chain Reaction, 2000/Huume, 2007)

Jesus And Mary Chain - Just Like Honey (Demo Version) -- Just Like Honey 12" (Blanco Y Negro, 1985)
Panda Bear - Search For Delicious -- Person Pitch (Paw Tracks, 2007)

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 07:47:00 +0000

KUSF PLAYLIST WED 07/04/07 3AM-6AM

Fennesz Sakamoto - Amorph -- Cendre (Touch, 2007)
KTL - Theme -- 2 (eMego, 2007)

Wham! - Heartbeat -- Make It Big (Epic, 1984)
Wolf Eyes - Human Animal -- Human Animal (Sub Pop, 2006)
Christian Death - Romeo's Distress -- Only Theatre Of Pain (Frontier, 1982)
Kemialliset Ystavat - Super Himmel -- Untitled (Fonal, 2007)

Deerhunter - Wash Off -- Fluorescent Grey EP (Kranky, 2007)

Thurston Moore & Nels Cline - Finish Yrself excerpt -- In Store (Father Yod, 1996)
Omar Souleyman - Toul Al Zeenah -- Highway To Hassake: Folk And Pop Sounds From Syria (Sublime Frequencies, 2007)
Swans - No Cure For The Lonely -- Love Of Life (Young God/Rough Trade, 1992)
Larsen - Impro 2 (Alt Mix) -- Musm II (Important, 2007)

Cul De Sac - Death Kit Train -- ECIM (Capella, 1991/Rough Trade, 2006)
OOIOO - Be Sure To Loop -- Feather Float (Birdman, 2001)
The Field - Good Things End -- From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt, 2007)

Grey Daturas & Yellow Swans - Copper Pt. 2 -- Copper / Silver (Collective Jyrk, 2005)
Colleen - I'll Read You A Story -- The Golden Morning Breaks (Leaf, 2005)
William Fowler Collins - Midday Shower / Autumn Lights -- Western Violence And Brief Sensuality (West Mountain Road, 2007)

M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas, & Lost Ghosts -- Dead Cities, Red Seas, & Lost Ghosts (Gooom/Labels, 2003)
Machine Fabriek - Uiterwaarde -- Welees (Lampse, 2007)
Mary Timony Band - Pink Clouds -- The Shapes We Make (Kill Rock Stars, 2007)

Wha'chyou gettin' your fork into?

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:54:00 +0000

Initially, I was under the impression Sunn O))) and Earth would sell out The Independent, and then all of a sudden I wasn't when I heard there were lots of tickets left. Due to an unforseen plague of laziness that kept me from physically picking up a ticket, as well as my stubborness when it comes to giving money to Ticketweb, I ended up spending my fourth of July night with a bottle of whiskey and some Digiorno. It was interesting (and aggravating as I would have really liked to have been inside) to see just how many people were standing outside during Earth's slow clean-toned set looking totally bummed out. "I don't get it. I just don't get it," some guy said to us amidst a Hibernaculum twang. Obviously the majority of the crowd was there to see Sunn O))). It led me to think...how has such an inaccessible band -- for the most part -- like Sunn O))), while completely deserving of any praise and exposure they get, reached such a wide audience? Ah...that's right....

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/43252-sunn-o-tour-issue-new-12
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22125-black-one
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22124-the-grimmrobe-demos
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22123-white2
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22121-white1
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22122-flight-of-the-behemoth

A fairly consistent 8.0+. The power of Pitchfork.

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:10:00 +0000

KUSF PLAYLIST WED 06/27/07 3AM-6AM

Big ups to international superstar DJ Cameron Octigan who accompanied me on my shift and busted out some serious jams.

KK Null - "0500" -- Fertile (Touch, 2007)
BJ Nilsen & Stiluppsteypa - "Untitled" -- Sov Gott (Helen Scarsdale Agency, 2006)
Plastikman - "Cor Ten" -- Consumed (M_nus, 1998)
Tangerine Dream - "Movements Of A Visionary" -- Phaedra (Virgin, 1973)

Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas - "Nummer Fire En" -- Reinterpretations (Eskimo, 2007)
Juan Maclean - "I Robot" -- I Robot (DFA, 2004)
SPK - "Suture Obsessiön" -- Information Overload Unit (Normal, 1985)
Kammerflimmer Kollektief - "Palimpsest" -- Jinx (Staubgold, 2007)

Vangelis - "Creation Du Monde" -- L'Apocalypse Des Animaux (Polydor, 1973)

Expo 70 - "Summoning The Cosmos" -- Music From Inaudible Depths (Kill Shaman, 2007)
Gowns - "Mercy Springs" -- Red State (Cardboard, 2007)
Death In June - "Nation" -- The Phoenix Has Risen (Supernatural Organization, 2005)
Loop - "Vapour" -- A Gilded Eternity (Situation 2, 1990)

Boris - "Farewell" -- Pink (Southern Lord, 2006)
Throbbing Gristle - "Greasy Spoon" -- Part Two: The Endless Not (Mute, 2007)

Chris & Cosey - "October Love Song" (Dance Mix) -- October Love Song (Rough Trade, 1983)
Nathan Fake - "Long Sunny" (Fairmont Mix) -- Drowning In A Sea Of Remixes (Border Community, 2006)
Windy & Carl - "Traveling" -- Antarctica: The Bliss-Out Volume 2 (Darla, 1997)

Pluramon - ??!forgot to write it down ): -- Dreams Top Rock (Karaoke Kalk, 2003)
The Idle Suite - "The A & P Show" / "Krap Kao" -- Up Two Sticks Road (Last Visible Dog, 2007)
Grails - "Silk Rd" -- Burning Off Impurities (Temporary Residence Limited, 2007)
Chie Mukai - "Untitled" -- Somethings #1 (Last Visible Dog, 2007)

PS-- Richard Pinhas Trio is ON tonite despite previous cancellation confusion.

Richard Pinhas Trio
(feat. members of Heldon & Magma)
Telepathik Friend
Leavenworth
Bruce Bennet
Elephant Gun

@ G3 Lounge
(Third Ave & Geary)
Starts promptly at 9:30 PM
Always FREE

www.richardpinhas.com
www.myspace.com/richardpinhas
www.cuneiformrecords.com

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:24:00 +0000

KUSF PLAYLIST WED 06/20/07 3AM-6AM

Pantaleimon - "Crystalline Rain" -- Cloudburst (Soleilmoon, 2007)
Isaiah Ceccarelli - Estaobio Pouri Ba Repaous't Roussi" -- Lieux Dits (Ambiances Magnétiques, 2006)
Grouper - "Black Out" / "Adorned" -- Way Their Crept (Free Porcupine Society, 2005)

Aidan Baker - "The Sea Swells A Bit" -- The Sea Swells A Bit (A Silent Place, 2006)
Throbbing Gristle - "Vow Of Silence" / "Almost A Kiss" -- Part Two: The Endless Not (Mute, 2007)

KK Null - "0644" -- Fertile (Touch, 2007)
Growing - "On Anon" -- Vision Swim (Troubleman Unlimited, 2007)

Andrew Bird - "Scythian Empire" -- Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum, 2007)
Animal Collective - "Winter's Love" -- Sung Tongs (Fat Cat, 2004)

Nico Muhly - "Honest Music" -- Speaks Volumes (Bedroom Community, 2006)
Jean Francois Laporte - "dans le ventre du dragon" -- Soundmatters (23five, 2007)
Tujiko Noriko - "Magic" -- Solo (Editions Mego, 2007)

KTL - "Snow 2" -- 2 (Editions Mego, 2007)
Monosov Swirnoff - "Fly Away" -- Five Recorded Works: Vol. 3 (Eclipse, 2007)
Zoviet France - "Alchemagenta" -- Digilogue (Soleilmoon, 1995)

Death In June - "Untitled" -- The Phoenix Has Risen (Supernatural Organization, 2005)
George Brigman & Split - "Blowin' Smoke" -- Cherrystones Word (Poptones, 2007/1995)

Anthony Braxton - "Compostion 352 Pt. I" -- 9 Compositions (Iridium, 2006)

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:48:00 +0000

KUSF PLAYLIST WED 06/13/07 3AM-6AM

NVH / Chasny - "The Emasculator" -- Plays The Book Of Revelations (Yik Yak, 2005)
Khanate - "No Joy" [James Plotkin Remix] -- No Joy [Remix] (Load, 2003)
Grauzone - "Ich Lieb Sie" -- Die Sunrise Tapes (Play It Again Sam, 1981/1998)

Philipp Quehenberger - "Far Away Places" -- Phantom In Paradise (Editions Mego, 2007)
Weasel Walter - "Improvisation Pt. I" -- Early Recordings: 1988-1991 (Savage Land, 2007)
Camberwell Now - "The Ghost Trade" -- All's Well (RecRec, 1986/2006)
Seekers Who Are Lovers - "It's A Hard Life" -- You Are The Pride Of Your Street (Soundsister, 2006)

Andrew Pekler - "Rockslide" -- Cue (Kranky, 2007)

Avarus - "Snoopy Snoop Snooberson" -- Jättiläisrotta (Secret Eye / Lal Lal Lal, 2005)
Gowns - "Mercy Springs" -- Red State (Cardboard, 2007)
Jakob Olausson - "Silhouette V" -- Moonlight Farm (Destijl, 2007)
Islaja - "Suru Li" -- Ulual YYY (Fonal, 2007)

The Psychic Paramount - "Perpignan Pt. One" / "Ex-Visitations" -- Live 2002: The Franco Italian Tour (Self-Released, 2003 / Public Guilt, 2005)

Northern Cross - "Corvus Dei" -- Crows Of The World (Last Visible Dog, 2007)
Geoff Mullen - "Untitled I" -- A Rip In The Fabric 7" (Rare Youth, 2007)
Zach Hill & Mick Barr - "Parallel Patchwork Abduction" -- Shred Earthship (5RC, 2006)
Impractical Cockpit - "Latitude/Longitude" -- To Be Treated (Load, 2005)

Lichens - "Bune" -- Omns (Kranky, 2007)
Pink Reason - "Up The Sleeve" -- Cleaning The Mirror (Siltbreeze, 2007)
Low - "Murderer" -- Drums & Guns (Sub Pop, 2007)
Mark Van Hoen - "Put My Trust In You" -- Touch 25 (Touch, 2006)

I just realized a lot of the artists I played earlier this morning are playing the Bay Area soon:

Gowns
play TONIGHT June 13 with Naomi, Captain Ahab, and Jessica Rylan (Can't) at 21 Grand in Oakland.

Weasel Walter
The genius improvisationist is of course playing a ton of dates around the Bay in the near future. Next performance is June 16 at 21 Grand in Oakland.

NVH / Chasny
Noel Von Harmonson (Comets On Fire) Ben Chasny (Six Organs Of Admittance, Comets On Fire) will be playing their ultra dark noise with The Deletist, Bulbs, and Ozmadawn on June 20 at the always FREE experimental/noise shows that go down every Wednesday at G3 (Geary @ 3rd Ave).

Seekers Who Are Lovers
Hailing from Mexico and now playing as a duo, SWAL play a third Bay Area date on their current tour on June 20 (same as the NVH / Chasny.... transportation will be the deciding factor) at the Stork Club in Oakland. They put on a great show a couple weeks ago at the Hemlock, when they also played as Evil Hippie alongside Sergio Iglesias and the Latin Love Machine.

Sunn O)))
I played a Khanate track but the two bands have what every band has in common with one another: Stephen O'Malley (KTL, Asva, Teeth Of Lions Rule The Divine, ETCETCETC). They headline with none other than the very source of their homage, EARTH, at The Independent on July 4. I can't wait to celebrate America's independence with doom and downers.

Next objective: find someone who will take me to Oakland and get me back home in the city.

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:14:00 +0000

KUSF PLAYLIST WED 06/06/07 3AM-6AM

KTL - "Game" -- KTL 2 (eMego, 2007)

The Field - "A Paw In My Face" -- From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt, 2007)
Loose Joints - "Is It All Over My Face" -- Is It All Over My Face (West End, 1980)
Betty Davis - "Anti-Love Song" -- S/T (Light In The Attic, 1973/2007)

Pole - "Mädchen" -- Steingarten (~scape, 2007)
Von Sudenfed - "The Rhinohead" -- Tromatic Reflections (Domino, 2007)
Pale Saints - "Language Of Flowers" -- The Comforts Of Madness (4AD, 1990)
Avey Tare & Kria Brekken - "Opís Helpus" -- Pullhair Rubeye (Paw Tracks, 2007)

Grails - "Soft Temple" -- Burning Off Impurities (Temporary Residence Ltd, 2007)

April March - "Chick Habit" -- Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof Soundtrack (Maverick, 2007)
Symbion Project - "Le Fetichisme Dans L'amour" -- Wound Up By God Or The Devil (Self-Released, 2007)
Experimental Audio Research - "Untitled 8" -- The Köner Experiment (Mille Plateaux / Space Age, 1997)
Fennesz Sakamoto - "Haru" -- Cendre (Touch, 2007)

Moss - "Maimed And Slaughtered" [Discharge cover] -- Moss / Monarch Split 7" (Rise Above, 2007)
Area C - "Haunt" -- Haunt (Last Visible Dog, 2007)

Andrew Pekler - "On" -- Cue (Kranky, 2007)
Efdemin - "Salix Alba" -- S/T (Dial, 2007)
Burial - "Forgive" -- S/T (Hyperdub, 2006)

Yo La Tengo - "Cherry Chapstick" -- And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out (Matador, 2000)
Low - "Sunflower" -- Things We Lost In The Fire (Kranky, 2001)
Rameses III - "Theme Five" -- Honey Rose (Important, 2007)

Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid - "Superheroes" -- Tongues (Domino, 2007)
Sheffield / Rippie - "Variations For Harp" / "Variations For Guitar" -- Variations (Elevator Bath, 2001)

Neil Halstead - "High Hopes" -- Sleeping On Roads (4AD, 2001)
Greg Ashley - "Song From Limestone County" / "Won't Be Long" -- Painted Garden (Birdman, 2007)
The Oh Sees - "It Kicked Mom" -- Sucks Blood (Castle Face, 2007)

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:47:00 +0000

KUSF PLAYLIST WED 05/16/07 3AM-6AM

BJ Nilsen - "Gotland" -- Touch 25 (Touch, 2006)
Oren Ambarchi - "Morning Violation" -- Touch 25 (Touch, 2006)
Kites - "Flag Torn Apart" -- Peace Trials (Load, 2005)
Robert Ashley - "Automatic Writing" (1979)-- Ohm: Early Gurus of Electronic Music (Ellipsis Arts, 2005)

Mammatus - "Dragon of the Deep Part Three" -- The Coast Explodes (Holy Mountain, 2007)
Earth - "Within the Drone" -- Hibernaculum (Southern Lord, 2007)
Veli-Matti "Läjä" Äijälä: Billy Boys- "?" -- The Passions of "Läjä" Äijälä (Bad Vugum, 2006)

Alvin Curran - "Canti Illuminati" (1982) -- Ohm: Early Gurus of Electronic Music (Ellipsis Arts, 2005)
Nadja - "No Cure For the Lonely" (Swans cover) -- Trembled (Utech, 2006)
Slowdive - "Avalyn I" -- S/T (Creation, 1990)
Gowns - "Rope" -- Red State (Cardboard, 2007)

Burning Star Core - "Operator Dead...Post Abandoned" -- Operator Dead...Post Abandoned (No Quarter, 2007)
Soft Circle - "Whirl" -- Full Bloom (Eastern Development, 2007)
Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid - "Brain" / "Our Time" -- Tongues (Domino, 2007)

Panda Bear - "Bros" -- Person Pitch (Paw Tracks, 2007)
Nurse With Wound - "Swamp Rat" (1987) -- Drunk With the Old Man of the Mountains (United Diaries, 2005)
Alex Delivery - "Sheath Wep" -- Star Destroyer (Jagjaguwar, 2007)

The Field - "Over the Ice" -- From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt, 2007)
Omar Souleyman - "Atabat" -- Highway to Hassake: Folk and Pop Sounds Of Syria (Sublime Frequencies, 2007)
Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs - "Jesus Don't Love Me" -- You Can't Run (Damaged Goods, 2007)

Entertainment!

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Fri, 11 May 2007 19:58:00 +0000

With the start of the 11th Annual Mission Creek Music Fest, so many great things are coming up in the next couple weeks, especially:

and

Saturday, May 12 @ Bottom of the Hill
Acid Mothers Temple
Triclops!
Mammatus
DJ Dave Pehling

Wednesday, May 16 @ The Lab
Double Headed Double Header part 2 (live audio and video):
Blectum From Blechdom - Re-dead Mallards, the only ones not laughing
Blevin Blectum - The Preserving Machine
Hans Gruelsel's Kraenkenkabinet
James Goode (Faxed Head) - Somniloquy

Saturday, May 19 @ The Lab
Gowns
Bran...Pos
Bulbs
Matt Ingalls
Core Ogg/PAUL BAKER
Kwisp
Kristin Miltner/Cliff Caruthers
RHY YAU
ANTI-EAR
DjVj MIC NASTY

Sunday, May 20 (2pm) @ The Lab

The Kinetic Equestrian Philatelic Post Meridian
Ettrick
Can't (Jessica Rylan)
16 Bitch Pileup
Micose and the Mau Maus
Tullan Velte
HISSEATERS
John Davis
That Hideous Strength
T Hahn

*Thursday, May 24 @ The Hemlock

Xela
Starving Weirdos
Tarantel

*Thursday, May 24 @ Mezzanine
Kompakt Records Tour:
Michael Mayer
Gui Boratto

TONS more is listed on the festival's site (*not part of Mission Creek). Sadly I'll be missing most of these during my visit back to the homeland. Consider me weeping in paradise, but not really.

Gowns at the Hemlock 04/29/07

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Wed, 02 May 2007 13:11:00 +0000

Gowns were amazing!! I have not been able to stop listening to Red State since I picked it up that nite (I never ever buy CDs, but this was a necessary exception). Their use of effects were probably the most efficient and, well, effective I've seen lately. Vocals were soulful with a consistent quirkiness and overall just very well done. I swear I got goosebumps when they opened with "Fargo." Beautifully mysterious sounds swelled from what was either a violin or viola soaked in reverb and delay as the live drums fucking topped it off. Everything came together so well that I really just don't know what to say.

Download: White Like Heaven from their website.

I accidentally missed Vholtz for pizza down the street, but finally got to see Fuckwolf. Tons of psyched out layers lost me at times, especially during the slow dubby stuff, but the rest was fun, invoking a special "whoa." at times. They're the only time I think I'll ever be okay with hearing bongos, albeit they were processed through tons of effects. My main problem with bongos is that whenever I'm trying to have a drink and smoke a bowl in Golden Gate Park, some asshole has to sit ten feet away and play his fucking bongos for hours. The park has a pretty good range too, and thus they become completely inescapable forcing me back home into the confines of my no-bongo-zone bedroom.

Blonde Redhead live at Bimbos 04/23/07 + Changing Your Life

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:12:00 +0000

So it's New Year's Eve 2006-7, everyone's wasted, I intentionally arrive late to a maximum capacity Mezzanine and FUCK YEAH was only exposed to half of Shiny Toy Guns' last song just in time to catch Blonde Redhead after midnight. Their set was nothing short of amazing. But somehow The Annoying Drunk Girl got out of her cage and started yelling, pounding the stage, throwing her heels at people, and then revealing whatever scary shit that was under her dress (image has been removed). I was so ready to get into the first fight of my life. Anyway, it was a shitty environment for a non-party band (vs Mezzanine's usual stock of live events), especially given the New Year's Eve circumstance.

Blonde Redhead at the Mezzanine in San Francisco 01/01/07

Last night was a different case entirely: an early show at Bimbo's. It took about six songs to get the levels right and the band kept signaling dozens of thumbs-up and thumbs-down to the sound booth throughout the night. Seriously, what is up with the sound there? But once it was right, it was fucking right (crispiest drums ever??!). The entire first half of the set was from their latest release, 23. Sadly when they played the title track, Kazu's voice was muffled by the rest of the instruments amidst the prolonged level problems. About two or three songs from Misery is a Butterfly were played as the set consisted mostly of new album material. Sadly, didn't get to hear anything from An Expression of the Inexpressible, though the New Year's Eve show took care of that. It seemed like the pre-programmed aspect had a stronger presence this time due mostly to the more layered electronic nature of 23-- but in this case it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. With the trio's well-known talent, backing tracks weren't necessary for compensation at all, but instead were almost a luxurious addition.

However, hearing a couple of their more electronic songs from the new record live solidified how forgettable those are, especially when compared to their more stripped down stuff. "Equus" properly illustrated that by blowing all the pre-programmed shit away, despite Kazu fucking up on the song's climax (actually a hilarious moment of the night, with the crowd and band laughing).

Epiphany

After the show, headed to Beauty Bar to Get Awesome, my favorite night in San Francisco. I only mention this because I think my life changed last night. In addition to eating at both Cancun AND El Farolito, I got to hear My Bloody Valentine's Loveless in almost it's entirety IN A BAR-- from an original pressing nonetheless! Still trying to figure out how to dance to it in public though. Maybe start taking notes from Belinda Butcher?:

jesslabz@gmail.com (jesslabz) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:34:00 +0000

Vampire Can't - Key Cutter
(Load, 2006)
This has easily become one of my favorite records of last year. While honestly I can't really sit through much of Jessica Rylan's (AKA Can't) circuit bending mastery, this collaboration with Vampire Belt is a wildly percussive powerhouse of loudness. I don't know what else to say that hasn't been said better here, aside from pick this up if you find it!

Download: False Teeth (1:35) from the Load Records site