Traitors return to earth - Columbus, Ohio's purveyors of downtuned sludge assault. Running the full gamut of classic heft: Name your price @ http://traitorsreturntoearth.bandcamp.com/
In 1978 I left Montreux right after the jazz festival and arrived by train in Grindelwald. I was backpacking in the Bernese Alps and planned to stay in hostels. I came to Grindelwald to view the north face of the Eiger. I exited the train station and hiked down Dorfstrasse to the Mountain Hostel, a gingerbread alpine inn.
As I neared my destination across the street stood a blonde-haired man in sunglasses, shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops, with a well-used and waxed surfboard under his right arm. I grew up on the beach in Southern California and immediately yelled out the first thing that came to mind,
“Hey man, where are the waves?”
We talked. He said he was on a one year holiday from Australia, that he had just finished surfing in Sri Lanka and, now, was slowly making his way to Amsterdam by train. He had just arrived and had yet to find a place to stay so he was still carrying the board. We both checked in at the hostel and went out for some beer and darts at a local bar.
The Mattson 2’s release Feeling Hands rekindled memories of that bizarre random encounter. In a way my whole experience was an apt synopsis of The Mattson 2 album. Feeling Hands is a majestic cross of landlocked instrumental surf and jazz music. Identical twin brothers Jonathan (drums, hand claps, percussion) and Jared (guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, synthesizer, electric bass, hand claps) Mattson, two San Diego beach rats with a love of jazz, channel The Ventures, Larry Carlton and Earl Klugh, mash them all together, and create a unique and enticing sound. It is surf music brought to terra firma. To accentuate the point freestyle skateboarders and musicians Ray Barbee and Tommy Guerrero help out on two tracks “Chi Nine” and “Give Inski’s.”
This is a sound synthesis album and it succeeds in a way very few such albums can. Think a nuanced Dick Dale meets Chet Baker on his way to grab some breezy George Benson. It is honest, clean and refreshing, Give it a listen. You won’t have to ask where the waves are. You will be riding one.
I'm not so spoiled and jaded by being a part of this music machine to have lost my basic inner fanboy nature, and let me tell you, as far as being a fanboy goes, UK-based Criminal Records know just how to feed me.
First up, great news that The Kut are back in the studio preparing some new songs. For those who may not recall, their single (green vinyl 7") "Doesn't Matter Anyway b/w Closure" was one of my absolute favorites of 2009. The tightness of the riffing, the driving beat, the solid songwriting craft. Damn, it just may be one of my favorite singles period. To this day, I can not hear that song without getting happy . . . and isn't that what music's about?
So it tickles my Ripple heart to hear that the girls are reading some new tracks, and the demos that I've heard so far are killer. Absolutely killer. Heavy, tight, punchy, punky and kicky. Great stuff. I'm already anticipating having a new favorite single for 2011. Catch the video to "Doesn't Matter Anyway" below.
Following that news, it's great to hear that The Exits are back in the studio with some new songs also. "Neon City" was one of the great driving or dancing songs of last year, so my interest is piqued to see what they turn out next.
And finally, Criminal Records newest band, Rocketclover is causing a ruckus overseas with their unusual take on a punk classic, "Anarchy in the UK." Originally released in 1977, The Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save The Queen’ was prevented from hitting No. 1 in the charts by the British government. Today media attention in the UK and beyond seems to be devoted to Prince William’s engagement, and it is soon forgotten that mere hours ago, university students were clashing with police in a protest to education cuts.
It sounds as though history repeats itself once again, demonstrating that Sex Pistols songs are still as relevant now as they were 33 years ago. ‘Anarchy In The UK’ would perhaps be a perfect soundtrack to the state of economic turmoil in one of the hardest recessions the younger generations are facing. However, while students protest and everyone is annoyed at the state of affairs, there is no real movement. The tongue-in-cheek cover of ‘Anarchy In The UK’ by Criminal Records’s latest signing ‘rocketclover’ has had some great support, but some more politically charged opposition.
A video shot in the streets of Camden Town accompanies the release and offers an ironic twist to the Sex Pistols’ classic. Although it looks like it’s been shot by a bunch of drunk teenagers, the video is being hotly debated as a dig at the lack of political clout when it comes to the state of government.
Self-described '70's rock preservationists, Stone Axe, contacted us today with some news sure to make all the lovers of blues-infused, classic '70's rock turn into a bucket of mush. First, the new Stone Axe II is out and burning a hole in my speakers, meaning that we got another Stone Axe album to freak our minds on (calm down Woody, down boy!).
Secondly, T. Dallas Reed, Dru and boys just launched a new website that features all the Stone Axe goodies you could want, plus each month there's a free download of a rare studio, cover, demo or live track. Hearing this I immediately popped over, and now I'm feasting my ears on a delectable Stone Axe cover of Cream's "SWLABR." And damn, is it good.
