Hongo Podrido

High Rise — Live [1994]

2011-07-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

I know I've abandoned this thing the past year and I meant to post far before this but my motherboard died while coping with the feedback and balls of this here record.

As a guitarist I see performance in two identifiable present participles: shredding, and blowing. Shredding is well known by any 15 year old with a baby Gibson and a stack of Maiden CDs, but blowing is the improvisational side you don't dig until maybe you've said fuck you to Kerrang magazine and left eleven far behind. Blowing is the forte of Narita-san and this live album showcases the band like...well, like their studio albums do, but somehow this is better; dirtier, even less restrained and even more ear bruising. Like everyone, I started with High Rise II and the Disallow ep, probably their best studio records, but the versions of "Pop Sicle" and "Sadame" here are somehow more mind-blowing, even with every track showcasing a shorter run time than its studio equivalent (check out 4 minute (?!) version of "Mainliner"). The booklet doesn't list any venues or dates, unfortunately, and its hard to tell if any editing has been done (probably only at the ends of tracks, if any) but this is one of my all time favorite live albums as it never wastes a single note and serves as the best introduction of the band you can have. So many godlike guitar solos here but the greatest moment of inspiration comes during "Ikon" where the feedback reaches new heights and Narita seems to be playing through banging his pickups with his fist alone (right around the 4:00 mark), but in a melodic way that perfectly complements Nanjo's throbbing bass, before completely flatlining only to come back even stronger. Have seventeen minute blowouts its awesome, but shortening them sometimes increases the impact of the sheer heat that this brings to your speakers. If you can't handle it, you don't like rock'n'roll.

Genre: Psychedelic/Heavy Metal
Label: P.S.F.
Origin: Japan
Bitrate: 192k
定めて掴む

Fraser & DeBolt — With Ian Guenther [1971]

2010-07-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last week digesting this. It's true, every bit of good criticism this has gotten is worth it. A true gem of folk music right here, and one that somehow DIDN'T explode when it was released on Columbia at pretty much the EXACT right time and still didn't sell a damn bit. This is also one of the truly great crossovers of country and rock and like John Gabree's review (included in this file) is 'one of the best pop records I've ever heard'. The lyrics here are damn poetic. Listen to the way they croon together on "Waltze of the Tennis Players" between the punctual, emotive playing of Guenther. "My love for you/ is an over night sensation/ Your love for me is an overnight sensation, too". The words are deftly simple and in a couple places hit you hard enough to weep. The songwriting is some of the best of the 70s, period. They apply an alto sax and piano to great effect on "Them Dancehall Girls", the albums most heard of track, and the most well produced. Everything else seems like it was recorded with no overdubs, but I'm not sure; it might as well be. Listen for the mild, playful wordplay on "Warmth"; notice the great guitar play on things like "Stoney Day" and "All My Paradise" which opens the album with an intro so slow and angellic as to make things almost surreal. Not even mentioning that they tackle a Beatles song (not even a year after it'd be realeased, and even better than the original!), or that a few of the tracks are mere snippets, this is one of the truly great folk/rock gems of the 70s, with many a song that could be placed on your mixtape of greatest love songs of all time. Drop everything else you're listening to if you haven't heard this. I wish I had sooner.

I held her sunshine, and I drank her rain

Spirit Caravan — Jug Fulla Sun [1999]

2010-02-16T15:32:00.000-08:00

Wino Weinreich is one of the most under appreciated and inventive guitarists you've never taken the time to hear out. When he wasn't busy with reviving The Obsessed (who will have their own place on this blog, sometime), or moving on to more political tunes (the first Hidden Hand record), he was cranking out riff after classic motherfucking riff on this debut from Spirit Caravan, the short-lived side project from Wino before he announced his arrival in Place of Skulls and the aforementioned. While he was always a fan favorite for the doom scene, he elevates himself to livingfuckinglegend within the first half of this album. I hate to sound stale by working in those overused adjectives that I did in the first sentence, here, but the guys ability to churn out head-banging, catchy leads is unrivaled and you'll know it right up front, with "hate on you can look real pretty," the albums first lyric of archetypal biker-rock. This, along with some of the shorter pieces here, rank among the man's best (and most FUN (which doesn't see enough love in metal)) song writing. The preceding break, with its 'primal' half-time drumming cannot help but form itself into a Vitus song of old when you hear it. Some may say this is treading old ground, but others would say you're not a doom fan. Song like "Courage" and "Fang" have such simple guitar melodies its a wonder that they work on the high level that they do; that is, live up to the stature of slower, less melodic pieces that he's known for (Born Too Late). But the wonder has a direct answer in Winos guitar tone, a thing that gets no love in this digitally-produced age of pussies. Listening to "Powertime" for the first time makes this seem obvious; a simple, Iommi-influenced riff that brings into being what may be Wino's most shining three minutes in his entire career, both vocally and otherwise. The following, and title, track only ups the ante, by simultaneously paying homage to Sleep (with its instrumental anticipation) while keeping things on the clean end for the first half of the song, before really smacking you around with its almost pop chorus. The only complaint, and it's very minor, is that the album wears a bit thin toward the end, especially with such a large amount of marijuana haze and whiskey-stained-vox within the first six tracks. Whatever... Every track has at least one completely menacing guitar riff, and Wino has never sounded so good. This is a classic album of newer-age doom from a guy whose entire career has revolved around a single, but undeniable, perfecting sound -- this is the culmination of that very tone.

Genre: Doom/Stoner
Label: Tolatta Records
Origin: Leather-lovin' Cali
Bitrate: 256k
Gonna ride in the cloud-swept sky

David Tagg — Wind Blown Guitar [2009]

2009-11-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

For all my insomniac, ambient loving friends. Dreamy drone done right on guitar (gasp)!

Genre: Ambient, Drone
Label: Second Sun
Origin: 'The Future of Modern Guitar'
Bitrate: 128k
MediaFire

Citay — Little Kingdom [2007]

2009-08-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Recent psych masterpiece. If you play guitar (or have any interest whatsoever in guitar-driven rock music) then this IS for you. There are like 80 good riffs per side; I have this on CD, LP and on my fucking computer and I listen to it all the time. Their first release is good, but this is ... well, it just is. Complex layering, multiple delays, synths, 12-strings, and all of what Zeppelin would've been if they'd embraced their feminine side completely.

Genre: Contemporary psych
Label: Dead Oceans
Origin: San Fran, USA
Bitrate: 192k
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Squarepusher — Music Is Rotted One Note [1998]

2009-07-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

Uploading this for my friend Matt. Classic Rephlex release anyways, might as well be here since I get a huge throbbing in my loins for most of the shit that comes out on this label. Worth the download for "Circular Flexing" & some of the more free-form oriented tracks alone. Though, I kinda wish the guy would join a rock band because his chops are damn impressive.

Genre: Jazz / Electronica
Label: Rephlex
Origin: UK
Bitrate: 128
MediaFire

Tyrannosaurus Rex — My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows [1968]

2009-05-19T22:21:00.000-07:00

More on this after you finish reading the album title...

Genre: Acid Folk
Label: Regal Zonophone
Country: U.K.
Bitrate: 192
MediaFire

UCHÜ — UCHU + Buddha [2006]

2009-05-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Here's the first two releases from UCHU. That is Kawabata and Hiroshi from Acid Mothers Temple with the addition of female vocals from Ayano. I picked this dreamy piece of work up at the AMT show. The liner notes proclaim "no synthesizer, no sampler, no programming, ...only Guitars!" and thats exactly what you get. Drone out bliss. There is some discrepancy here as the original recording I have of "Buddha" has different track titles as well as one track being completely absent. Though there is a hidden track on this compilation. Enjoy.

Genre: Psych/Drone
Label: Acid Mothers Temple [original releases] / na-mu [re release]
Country: Japan
Bitrate: ripped from CD @ 192k
[REMOVED BY REQUEST]

<3<3<3

2009-05-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

What the guy has to say about humiliation & its juxtaposition with performance is brilliant. I also love the guitar tone here.

frippertronics

2009-03-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

So emotional towards the end.

Tech N9ne — T9X (song)

2009-02-24T06:38:00.000-08:00

I won't be posting much rap here. This is mainly for psychedelic recordings as stated, but this track has a little bit of that and I've really been feeling it lately. Noticing that the guy isn't covering any new ground here is simple, but the presentation is enough to warrant it a post. The album this is from (Absolute Power) is definitely hit or miss (and has a Falco sample), but the drum line here should immediately trip you out. Also pay attention to how they screw his vocals down a bit in the mix, something I wish he'd experiment w/ more often. Screwed/Chopped music is a bit psychedelic in its own codeine-induced way, so you may hear more of that in the future. Anyways, enjoy.

Fall into a spell way deeper than hell. . .

Spiritualized — 01.16.09

2009-02-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a full live set from J. Spaceman & Co. (I can't keep up w/ who he hasn't kicked out of the band yet) from last month. It isn't bad, what I've seen of it. You atleast have to go watch "Ladies & Gentlemen..." and remember why this is one of the best bands making music right now.

Electric Wizard - s/t [1995]

2009-02-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

No new posts in a bit, so here's something extra special to me that doesn't get the props it deserves. The debut Electric Wizard.

So many people like to stick up for Dopethrone, but for me, this is their best release. Hard-hitting, very typical 4/4 rhythms and catchy, swords-and-sorcery lyrics are all a good doom album make. In fact, this is one of my FAVORITE doom release of all time, and none of it really does anything Black Sabbath hadn't done decades before, but that's one of the reasons I love it. Take the first three tracks for example. "Mourning Prayer" especially, with its delayed jump into the verse; you can feel your pulse skip on that one. And the nice instrumental "Mountains on Mars" psyching things up for a bit. And the nearly instant classic "Devil's Bride". So much fucking crunch in these riffs. Basically, if you've never heard this, you're missing out. Sometimes it's nice to just sit back and enjoy a fun song with conventional structure and forget all about 20 minute epics.

Genre: Doom
Label: Rise Above
Country: England
Bitrate: ~192k
MediaFire

Eternal Elysium - Spiritualized D [2000]

2009-01-08T08:47:00.000-08:00

This is a masterpiece. Being both a Japanophile and huge doom nut, I'm fucking surprised I didn't know about this band's greatness until just recently. They are my new favorite band because of this record. I have their whole recorded output but nothing really comes close to what this album does. It blends psychedelic melodies with fuzzed out, doom-laden riffs and emotive, strong vox. "Floating Downer", "Splended Selfish Woman" and "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" are instant classics if any contemporary doom is. The album's absolute best moment is on the short "Trick or Steal" where, at the one minute mark, the smoke lifts for a moment and takes a backseat to a lovely psyched-out melody with a huge, beefy bassline, reminiscent of the more well known Japanese psych masters. This is great! You must have this.

Genre: Doom/Psych
Label: Meteor City
Country: Japan
Bitrate: 320k
MediaFire

Les Rallizes Denudes - Mizutani [1991]

2008-12-31T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here's one of the first official CD releases from LRD, recorded live in '70 and unearthed decades later, this is the lo-fi experience of delay and fuzz from a garage somewhere in Japan. "Otherwise Fallin' In Love With", the last track, is probably the most well known of this, and was recorded at a later date (discogs says '73) and goes by another name, "Romance of the Black Grief". This is one of R'N'Rs most overlooked groups of the 70s and if you don't know them, I suggest you read up. Mizutani Takashi is probably my favorite guitarist. By the time this album came out officially Kevin Shields was already borrowing from this guy and hipsters everywhere were proclaiming genius.

Genre: Psych/Noise
Label: Rivista
Country: Japan
Bitrate: 128k
MediaFire

Nagisa ni te - The Same as a Flower [2004]

2008-12-29T07:43:00.000-08:00

More sweeping acid folk from the land of the rising-san, this boyfriend-girlfriend couple do things up right with clear acoustics, fuzzy wah freakouts and typical hippie vocals. The band leader runs the label, which has also put out shit from Maher Shalal Hash Baz (which I don't like, but whatever). This will make you think of summer days and hallucinogenic drugs. You can't ask for more.

Genre: Acid Folk
Label: Org
Country: Japan
Bitrate: 192k
MediaFire

Hallucinogen - In Dub [2002]

2008-12-16T21:47:00.000-08:00

I'm one to scoff at remix albums but holy FUCK - this is just amazing.

I had forgotten this was laying around on the hard drive. Within around 15 minutes (which barely covers the first track), I was hooked. This is everything awesome about Hallucinogen (who if you don't know, you fucking should) with everything "dubbed up" on MDMA and Red Bull by producer Ott. He's chosen six Hallucinogen favorites, amped up the bass and phasing and seemingly had them injected into Scratch Perry's amygdala. There is just so much going on here. And with six tracks going an hour you'd figure he'd wear out his welcome, but I'll be damned if I ain't gonna search out this dudes solo work (as well as the other Posford remixes he's done (one with Shpongle!)) and see if I can't get more info on him (the wiki is barebones, yo). This will have you craving for more.

And you'd think "LSD", being a staple for the entire goa scene, could NEVER be outdone or remade in any respectable way. Well fucking download this and tell me I'm wrong.

Genre: Dub/Goa/Psytrance
Label: Twisted
Country: England
Bitrate: 320k
Length: 59:49
Part 1 - Part 2

Hanatarash - 3 [1992]

2008-12-16T12:50:00.000-08:00

Hanatarash is best known for being Yamatsuka Eye's original snot-nosed disturbers of the peace before he started the most important band in the world. This is their third release and contains all of the unintelligible screaming, tape loops, warped instruments, power tools and feedback you could want. Most of this shit makes Boredoms sound like an all virginal female twee pop band from Scotland. Makes Merzbow look kinda tame by comparison, too.

Genre: Noise
Label: RRRecords
Country: Japan
Bitrate: 128k
Length: 46:18
MediaFire

Acid Mothers Temple - The Day Before the Sky Fell In America [2003]

2008-12-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

Here's a somewhat overlooked and really great live recording from Kawabata & co. most often known as the '06 release with the Amon Düül-like cover. This is the same recording under the original Eclipse label and showcases no "speed-guru" rock-outs but only a single, droning improvised jam. This was also before Cotton Casino left for a solo career (did that even happen?) and was recorded during their tour for La Novia. So if you liked that release at all you really fucking need to hear this. The main Novia theme is heard at the beginning of the second track. I prefer the first side better but theres a lot going on here for any AMT fan. Alongside Crystal Rainbow Pyramid this is my favorite AMT release.

Genre: Psych
Label: Eclipse
Country: Japan
Bitrate: ~256k
Length: 41:23
MediaFire

disembowelment - Transcendence Into the Peripheral [1994]

2008-12-12T19:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a famous Relapse release most everyone is familiar with by now with its 3xLP/2xCD re-release a few years back. Just to reiterate, this is essential listening for anyone into doom, funeral doom, black metal and grind. Just listen to the first 40 seconds or so and you should know immediately what the fuck is up. Further listening reveals long dirges, bits of ambiance and shattering blastbeats, sometimes all within the same track (the first two tracks being an example). That moment at 8:15 on "The Tree of Life and Death" has to be one of my favorite moments in metal. I could talk forever about why this album is amazing but its all been said before, probably by people who can say better than I. For a band that never had but a handful of recordings and never played one show, it's staggering. It's essential.

Genre: Funeral Doom/Grind
Label: Relapse
Country: Australia
Bitrate: 192k
Length: 59:37
MediaFire

Trees Community - The Christ Tree [1974]

2008-12-12T11:33:00.000-08:00

Imagine Ken Kesey's merry group of fuckups getting hijacked on the freeway by Gideons with LSD-blotter papered Bibles and have them record an album and this is what you'd get. This is one of the 70s biggest psych/folk gems, whether you're a Bible beater or a Bible reader beater like myself. There is so much here to enjoy and a lot of it is downright beautiful. The arrangements are godlike (heheh) and the lyrics can be appreciated on more than one (read: Christian) level. For anyone saying Christianity hasn't done anything good in the music world I'll point them to Trouble, and then this group. If you get down with Joanna Newsom, Feathers, Maher Shalal or the like, you really need this. Get this.

Genre: Psych/Folk
Label: Dark Holler
Country: USA
Bitrate: 320k
Length: 37:42
Merry Xmas

Rye Wolves - Oceans of Delicate Rain [2008]

2008-12-11T20:43:00.000-08:00

I sure as fuck haven't heard much but a few singles from label Aurora Borealis, but after this dicksucking-balljuicing ride from Rye Wolves I might just have to pay more attention. This is strung out, dirty, tuned-down heavy metal with progressive and doom leanings and vocals in the range of EyeHateGod or some shit. The triggers on the drums are really nice and that snare drum is really reminiscent of Quicksand, though thats probably a horrible comparison. A lot of screaming and Melvins references are found within. The opening track is really great with its intro build and release. There's also a funky little bass/drum break I really like, which presents itself with clean guitar arpeggiating and this can be heard elsewhere on the album too. The two ending tracks are a little too long for their own good. Or are they? Judging an album by its cover is fun, and sometimes reveals a bit into what you're gonna hear. This is an example.

Genre: Doom/Prog/Post Rock/Psych(?)
Lable: Aurora Borealis
Country: USofA
Bitrate: ~320k
Length: 58:30
MediaFire

Damon & Naomi with Ghost [2000]

2008-12-11T20:15:00.000-08:00

I've never really given two shits enough about Galaxie 500 to get past anything immediate in their catalog, and I like to think Ghost is only about half as good as some of their fans think they are, but putting these two together has done something. Highlights include "Judah and the Macabees" and "The Mirror Phase", the former really showcasing Ghost guitarist Kurihara's exemplary use of the ebow and the latter being something that would have to make it into the psych/folk jukebox of eternity, should something that awesome ever exist.

Genre: Psych/Folk
Label: Sub Pop
Country: Japan
Bitrate: 256k
Length: 48:14
MediaFire