“Psych-rock” (Used 19 times)

New Editions, an offshoot label imprint for New Weird Australia, winds up its schedule with two new albums – from Thomas William vs Scissor Lock and Strange Forces. Since launching in 2010, the series has released albums and EPs from Caught Ship, Blake Freele, Paneye, TANTRUMS, No Zu, Kris Keogh, Forenzics and Spartak. Each release has been available in both physical and digital formats.

The final two releases in the series see Sydney experimental electronic artists Thomas William and Scissor Lock coming together for their debut collaborative release, ‘Jewelz‘, as well as the first Australian physical release for Brisbane psych-rock ex-pats Strange Forces, who have been tearing up a storm in Berlin over the last two years.

Both releases are available for download in full from FMA:

Stream / Download 'Jewelz' by Thomas William vs Scissor Lock

Stream / Download 'Strange Forces' by Strange Forces

Ducks Battle Satan on Thomas William vs Scissor Lock: "Like Sigur Ros mixed with Pimmon with Birchville Cat Motel producing the most wonderful chill out experimentronica ... both transcendent and challenging, Jewlez is a very fine release indeed."

20jazzfunkgreats on Strange Forces: "Rattling, monstrous invocations of acid-rock breakdowns both mental and musical ... The Old Ones would be proud."

Contemporary Turkish improv-psych-folk-rock group Hayvanlar Alemi have been a favorite discovery for many Free Music Archive members, myself included. I've written previously about how the group is inspired by the global psychedelic awakening of the 60s and 70s that blossomed pretty much everywhere from America to Zambia to Cambodia to India to their home country of Turkey (where artists like Selda Bagcan and Ersen are possibly my favorites of this entire era).

The Sublime Frequencies label, founded by Alan Bishop (Sun City Girls) and Hisham Mayet, has done incredible work shedding light on traditional music and psychedelic sounds from around the world, including those from previous decades (Cambodian Cassette Archives, 1970's Algerian Proto-Rai Underground, The Vinyl Warp of Latin American Psychedelia) and a transportive sound-collage series (i.e. Radio India, Radio Thailand, Radio Java, Radio Morocco). Meanwhile, contemporary artists like Syrian debke legend Omar Souleyman and the Western Saraha guitar sounds of Group Doueh have found international recognition and toured the globe thanks to Sublime Frequencies' support. The label is known for presenting these types of prolific artists (Omar Souleyman is said to have released over 500 cassettes!) through well-curated slices of sound.

Many of these sublime sounds have undoubtedly been an inspiration to Hayvanlar Alemi's music, so it's fantastic news that Sublime Frequencies is issuing their first-ever vinyl LP Guarana Superpower. We just received a promo copy here at WFMU, and Guarana Superpower is a helluva record that includes reworked versions of a few tunes that were first heard on Hayvanlar's many free mp3 releases Demolar (which our friend Olgu introduced to WFMU way back in its CD-R format -- thanks Olgu!).

Enjoy the Demolar version of these tracks, and you can pick up Hayvanlar Alemi's Guarana Superpower LP here.

I had blogged with much enthusiasm about the fact that one of my favorite indie psych-pop bands of the 90's had uploaded most of their output here on FMA.  I'm super excited to see that Devolver is very much back and still creating some catchy tunes.  Christs Lane will be the band's 6th album and the first since 2003.  The album is not out yet but will be released by the band's own label (Transsiberian Music Co.) later this year.  As a treat Marc Devolver (leader of the group) was gracious enough to throw up a few tracks from the new disc right here on the good ol' FMA.

From what I have heard so far the band seems to be picking up right where it left off.  Great bedroom psych sounds with some poppy hooks thrown into the mix.  "Careful" is my fave track of what I have heard so far.  Give it a listen and enjoy!