In case you missed out on these 2 gems...

AZ 238 – TOKYO ELECTRON
(FDH Records/Certified PR Records joint release LP)


'AZ238' flew under the radar when it was released last December but this posthumous release by one of the most exciting punkrock bands of the ’00s is a glorious swan song that you simply cannot afford to miss! The music on this album is so urgent & blistering that it sends shivers down my spine and makes me realise that 4 years after the band’s promising debut album on Jay Reatards’ Shattered Records, Tokyo Electron has released its magnus opus. Here’s what a guy from The Los Angeles Times wrote about this record: “Rousseau's wounded vocals and the band's brash instrumentation conspire to create an atmosphere of musical malaise and disenchantment that carry the album forward and aloft like desert thunderclouds threatening to douse the dry ground below.” I couldn’t have said it any better! First pressing of 500 copies almost gone so don’t waste precious time!

"I'll be back" - TOKYO ELECTRON

"AZ238" - TOKYO ELECTRON

*****

Steal My Mind – JOHN WESLEY COLEMAN III
(Certified Records LP)



Although I consider myself a big GOLDEN BOYS fan, I was really dissapointed by ‘Cash Flow’ John Wesley Coleman’s debut album from 2005. I wonder if anyone was interested in such a god-awful mishmash of poor songwriting and annoying experiments. Needless to say, I wasn’t really looking forward to Coleman’s second solo album but I am completely amazed at how good it turned out to be! The songwriting is really excellent this time and there are no irritating intermezzo’s. The first two songs have very repetitive lyrics but they just sound wonderful: good hooks and a great sound! Warren Zevons’ “Lawyers Guns & Money” sounds like a forgotten Crazy Horse gem and with songs like “Donkey Song”, Coleman proofs he’s one of the most interesting songwriters these days. It’s hard to pick highlights because there really aren’t any weak songs on ‘Steal My Mind’. When you flip over the record, you think it will all go downhill after so many great tunes but the opening song “Threw It Away” makes you realize that 'Steal My Mind' is a genuine masterpiece! The sleeve says that the record was recorded in the summer of 2009: “10 hours, eleven songs, 2 bottles of Bullet Bourbon, 100 beers, a carton of smokes, marijuana & stuff and Chinese food and good friends altogether to make this live shit!!!”. I am glad someone released this session because you can feel that there was magic in the air. Shoot me, call me a fanatic or whatever, but I think this is a perfect five star record! Essential!!!

"Donkey Song" - JOHN WESLEY COLEMAN III

"Steal My Mind" - JOHN WESLEY COLEMAN III

Hidden Gem: "The Book" by DaVincis

Here’s an awesome track by an obscure band from Liverpool that didn’t record a lot. I heard this brilliant song called “The Book” when John Peel played this track on one of his shows. The track is from the compilation album ‘Ways to Wear Coats’ that came out on Brilliant Genius Records in 1986. I think powerpop doesn’t come any better than this!

DaVincis - guitar influenced band in the style of the Replacements, the Windbreakers formed 1984 as The Dream Play, feat; Paul McCormick (voc,gtr), Martin Smith (gtr), Chris Stevens (bass) (later Mugstar, Cicada Falls, Rattlebus), Faith Moore (drms). Changed name to The Davincis in 1985 soon after which Martin Smith was replaced by Martin Ward (ex Redo Zebri later Mugstar, Rattlebus). In 1986 Faith was replaced by Iain Bickle (ex Fire). This line-up had track ‘The Book’ on Brilliant Genius comp Ways To Wear Coats (Vulc.001), rec first John Peel session (Jan87) and rel mini-LP Eating Gifted Children. Iain married and relocated to Canada. 2nd Peel Session (Sep88) and ‘Pull’ single (on Pink Moon) were rec with Steve Ashton on drums. Mike James replaced Martin Ward on guitar for a short German tour (Nov/Dec89). Were on the same bill as Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, My Bloody Valentine amongst others. They also toured France before changing several lead guitarists, operating as a 3-piece briefly, then calling it a day due to one too many runarounds from major labels playeing their last gig in Mar90. Paul McCormick also rel a solo 12″ on Pink Moon ‘Another Day At Home’ & now lives in New York & is a member of Sumac On 08.07.02 The Davincis (Martin W, Steve, Paul & Chris played a reunion gig at The Slaughterhouse).

from http://link2wales.co.uk/liverpool-a/liverpool-d/

The Book - DaVincis mp3

- some random thoughts & shit -

My 3-weeks camping journey through ex-Yugoslavia with wife & kids ended on a bitter note in Germany the second day when a fuckin’ BMW started slipping on the highway and crashed into our car. Fortunately, nobody was hurt but the monthly budget I spent on records, books & films during the last 20 years will now serve for the hire purchase loan of our new second-hand car. A real bummer but on the other hand, it was about time to impose some restraints on my compulsive buying addiction. At last, I will finally have some time to listen attentively to my music collection and moreover, there will still be some cash left for our Mexico/Guatemala trip next year so there’s really no need for desperation I guess. Of course, I will buy some stuff every now and then but only if I think the purchase guarantees 100% satisfaction (read: after I checked the entire album on Soulseek or think the movie is a masterpiece – with books it’s often hit or miss). As far as this blog is concerned, I will review at least 1 remarkable record from my own collection every week (that’s what I am aiming for at least).


Before the end of this month, I will publish some music reviews on my site too including a couple of records that flew under the radar recently but are absolutely fantastic. The main reason why I dedicated some of my precious time to reviewing these albums is that I can’t stand the fact that some albums are doomed to be ignored although they are downright outstanding. I hope I tickled your fancy and will let you know when the reviews are uploaded in cyberspace.

Last week, I saw 4 movies at the theatre: INCEPTION, AMER, ENTER THE VOID and THE GHOST WRITER. I didn’t like the Belgian fake-as-fuck AMER but enjoyed watching the other 3 although I once again realized that blockbusters like INCEPTION and THE GHOST WRITER aren’t really my cup of tea. Sure, THE GHOST WRITER is a masterfully directed thriller but the film leaves no room for personal interpretation or profound emotions. INCEPTION on the other hand takes itself way too serious although multiple scenes are often stuck in ordinary James Bond territory. Of course, with a budget of 200 million dollars you can’t take a lot of risks so the most clever thing to do seems to be aiming at both the masses and the critics. Call me pretentious but that’s where I am dropping out as I despise people who butter their bread on both sides. The film that made the biggest impression on me this week was ENTER THE VOID. It might be flawed but it’s also a damn courageous and challenging film that leaves you KO. The way Noé visualizes the effects of hallucinogenic drugs through kaleidoscopic visions and electronic sounds is mind-boggling; like a drug-infused A Space Odyssey! Beware however: this film begs to be seen on the big screen!



Some upcoming films I am really looking forward to include Julie Bertucelli’s THE TREE, Shirin Neshat’s WOMEN WITHOUT MEN, Xavier Beauvois’ DES HOMMES ET DES DIEUX and especially Palme d’Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s latest tour-de-force LONG BOONMEE RALEUK CHAT. In the meantime, I am really looking forward to further explore Claude Chabrol’s amazing filmography by means of these 2 quintessential DVD box sets I bought when I still had the cash. I already saw 7 of the featured films and not one of them let me down! Enough said.


A record that is on constant rotation over here for the last couple of weeks is last year’s “Fragments of the Universe Nurse” by HUMAN EYE. It was released on Hook Or Crook Records and since I believe there won’t be any extra pressings, I suggest you to order this record right now as it’s probably the ultimate Timmy Vulgar record. While I am typing this, I realize how much ENTER THE VOID and this HUMAN EYE record have in common as far as psychotic alienation goes. Step into new dimensions and check both out. I promise you won’t regret!