Utley F'n Rules

At least today...



Though he should not have apologized, I guess ya gotta do what ya gotta do. But remember, Philly fans boo'd Santa Claus! Ahhhh! Phils still in first place, eat a dick Mets!

Holy Angels - Angel Trip (LA-082)

This is another one of the Nanjo/La Musica cassette tape releases from the late nineties. This is one of my faves; the rich, deep echo'd out psych is just gorgeous. Not really sure what the story behind this is exactly, though Holy Angels do have a few cassettes listed in this La Musica catalog. Angel Trip is listed as catalog number LA-082 and contains two long tracks. The description from the catalog (by Nanjo, translated by Alan Cumming) goes like this:

Space psycedelic group centring around female members. Their third release to feature that heavenly holy sound. While still pursuing the minimal progressive direction evident on their previous release, here they increase the voltage and add a full psychedelic trip-feel. Also features Asahito Nanjo on sitar. Unreleased studio recordings.

And that is about all the info I can dig it. It seems this was issued on vinyl at one point, but I never actually saw it or anything.

Holy Trip Part 1
Electric Flix

New Issue of SALT (#8)

Been meaning to mention this for a bit, but have been sidetracked and such... anyway, the new issue of SALT is out now and has been for a month or so. Kevin McCaighy's zine is one of my all time favorites and a new issue is always a welcome delivery in this house. Full disclosure: I am personal friends with Kevin and have written for SALT in the past.

Totally done like a real deal fanzine; on paper, black & white, music (and film and wrestling and print) coverage, it really is one of the best reads out there. Sure, as a crank, I dig the aesthetics of actually paging through paper whilst being super awesome and listening to the new Endless Boogie (which is pretty massive by the way)... but the printing would be pointless if the writing didn't back it up, of course. Luckily Kevin (who also writes for Rock a Rolla as well as some other pubs, I think?) is one of the best music writers doing it these days. His mix of analytical questions and excited music fan enthusiasm make his interviews dig much deeper than the usual email transcriptions. His reviews actually talk about what the stuff sounds like and his sense of musical history often makes connections between sounds/bands I would have never thought of. I wish this issue had more reviews, though! Plus he pretty much sticks to writing about what he likes (in SALT) and wants people to hear instead of wasting time trashing easy targets like so much internet/indie smart mark dreck. I seem to be praising "genuine enthusiasm" a lot lately, but goddamn it is nice to see/read, what can I say? Plenty of it in issue eight, no doubt.

Interviews with Circle and Xasthur are highlights for sure, especially since it is probably one of the last interview Malefic is gonna give. Some good inside stuff, without being gossipy, etc. A cool journal about Suishou No Fune at SXSW and a funny interview with grind types 7000 Dying Rats. Nice long chat with author John Lister about ECW and pro wrestling in general, always an awesome focus in most issues of SALT. The first 50 copies come with a 3" CD of exclusive music from Hwyl Nofio, who are also interviewed in the mag. Of course the issue is rounded out with some of Kevin's artwork, check out the cover drawing of Diamanda Galas and a full page of RTX.



It looks like Aquarius Records has issue 8 in stock, read their review and try not to buy an issue! Seriously... you can always contact Kevin at kevinmccaighy (at)hotmail(dot)com and buy direct from the source.

Wave That Flag

Happy 4th of July... my eternal goal is to be as fuckin' stoked as overalls guy at 2:30. He is the my fave person in the Dead movie, hell any movie... And screw the air guitarist looking at the camera, what a phony!



OVERALLS UPDATE: He is even more stoked at 3 minutes in. Yes!

La Otracina @ Marvelous July 1 2008

Great set last night from La Otracina in West Philly at Marvelous Records. New guitarist leads to a more rock (but not rockist) sound, though certainly in line with their old deal to me. Pure psychedelic rock meeting that blues boogie jam action as well. Would fit in so good at a Pearls & Brass show... or Stone Age! Heavy riffs meeting spazz drumming and Adam sings now too, so I guess things are more song oriented by definition, but yeah, I dig the heavy-now. I guess they played around 40 minutes with the last jam being an awesome "Kick Out the Jams" style rave up. Fun blabbing with them as well, always dig their genuine enthusiasm and work ethic. Plus new guitarist Phil was down with Turning Point and Misunderstood, crazy small world, yall. And friggin' William Walton and Eric Zimmerman (who has copped my beard and the Jay Laughlin headband from like 2002) were there. Awesome!

Here are some pics. Go see them if you can, psych is not afraid to rock, yo.

Awesome Lil Wayne mixtape

Probably the best mixtape (I have heard), since None Higher. This one came out of left field and is a great mix of Wayne raps and "fresh" beats/blends. Mardi Gras!

La Otracina @ Marvelous Recs West Philly tonight

Ooops, forgot to mention this over the weekend, but the awesome psych trio from Brooklyn, La Otracina are rocking out at Marvelous Records in West Philly tonight, July 1. They are on tour and have a new tour CDr and such to join their full length on Holy Mountain. Should be awesome. Marvelous Records is at 208 S. 40th St. in West Philly. La Otracina start things off at 8PM as far as I can tell. Here is a pic from almost exactly a year ago when they played the Balcony Bar.