Help Kickstart Ad Hoc

As you might recall we were part of the Altered Zones collective until its untimely demise earlier this year. Since then several of the contributors have regathered under the former editors with the new name, Ad Hoc. A collective of ten music blogs from all over the world, Ad Hoc is a daily destination for MP3s, videos, mixes, interviews, artist's writings, and cultural commentary-- curated for quality, and with an emphasis on emerging artists and musical movements that best exemplify the new grassroots, Internet-fueled DIY.

Ad Hoc is also a quarterly zine-- available in electronic and paper formats, and full of original art work and long-form features. Resurrecting the curatorial logic of zine culture, Ad Hoc will paint a dynamic, living landscape of the underground music world at large, setting the reflections of professional journalists and critics alongside artists, promoters, and other music-world personalities.

In order to cover costs the site has begun a Kickstarter campaign and you can help support us HERE. Plus you can see me awkwardly talk to the camera, proving once again why I'm better in writing than in person. Anyway, check it out and you can nab great bonuses like a tape compilation or bundles of records from some great labels for your support.

	Téléphone - Crache Ton Venin A couple of weeks ago we featured the great lost album Different from The Dogs, one of a rare exceptions to the notion that French bands couldn't compete on a level with their U.S. and U.K. counterparts. Well, an even stronger argument
against such rumblings can be made after on listen to Téléphone. The band came together with former members of Sémolina and some fortuitous stand-ins that included the exhilarating guitarist Louis Bertignac. The band opened for several well known touring bands including Eddie & the Hot Rods and Television. This, their second album, was the point at which they achieved triumphant success in their homeland. The album is full of taught punk sneer and classic rock swagger. Unlike many of the bands that appear in this feature, Téléphone enjoyed a great deal of success, albeit mostly in France and the surrounding area. The band dissolved in 1986 with members of the original Sémolina reuniting to record some more funk oriented projects later on. This, however, remains a pinnacle of their career and indeed French rock itself. Download: [MP3] Téléphone - Fait Divers Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Jozef Van Wissem & Jim Jarmusch

Dutch lutenist Jozef Van Wissem has always lent a unique strain of spirituality to the acoustic folk song. His ability to skirt the lines of Baroque and experimental, edging one genre into the folds of the other, has long been lauded and it’s been celebrated in the entirety of his catalog. Here Van Wissem hooks up with previous collaborator Jim Jarmusch, a pairing that seems on paper an abstract connection if Jarmusch's credit is seen only as a filmmaker. In truth Jarmusch's guitar playing is sorely under appreciated and here it adds a stormy dissonance to Concerning The Entrance Into Eternity's mystic shell. Jarmusch weaves layers of feedback between the measured plucks and runs of Van Wissem's lute making this one feel as at home alongside James Blackshaw as it does with Tetuzi Akiyama or even Keiji Haino. The album acts as a continuation of the themes the two explored on Van Wissem's The Joy That Never Ends album, dragging the two even further into the ritual catacombs of Baroque spirituals than ever before. It’s not an easy journey but when the skies are scarred and menacing it makes for a great companion.

Download:
[MP3] Jozef Van Wissem & Jim Jarmusch - Concerning The Entrance Into Eternity

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Expo '70

Justin Wright returns with another floating vabrational anthem under the Expo '70 moniker. His latest release comes from small run masters Sound of Cobra and features two cuts of dark, driven Kosmiche marked with the usual high quality musicianship that we've come to expect from Wright. The title track is a definite highlight, underpinned by an ominous drone and Wright's snaking guitar only building the inky tension to a white-knuckled height. The second cut injects an Eastern raga template to Expo's usual adherence to the Space Rock/Kosmiche axis and its a fittingly ornate counterbalance to the title track's dark spirals. It seems that in our opinion, Wright can do little wrong and this Hovering Resonance is further proof of this theory. It is, however, extraordinarily limited so be sure to pick one up in its handsome vinyl packaging as soon as possible.

Listen: Expo '70 - Hovering Resonance


Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Perispirit

Ricardo Donoso is a name that might ring familiar to regular RSTB readers, the ambient artist has hooked up with sound sculptor Luke Molodof and the two have christened themselves Perispirit. Spiritual Church Movements is the first full length vinyl release for the duo following some cassette releases for Hospital Productions and Ricardo's own Semata label. The duo digs deep into the recesses of sonic divination. Donoso harnesses the stratospheric vibrations of field recordings provided by Molodof and processes them into an amalgamation of deep space transmissions and noise juxtapositions that feel pulled from the pages of science fiction or even field studies of electromagnetic recordings of the dead. It’s easy to imagine how this fits right in with the Hospital Records aesthetic but also nice to see that Digitalis has done a wonderful job of packaging the duo's first vinyl release into a beautifully bound art object. As the months grow colder Perispirit feels like a perfect accompaniment to the isolated depths of winter to come.

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Terry Malts

Slumberland newcomers Terry Malts caught our ears last year with a pair of singles that mixed crackling hooks with a fuzzed out garage style that'll feel pretty familiar to most RSTB readers. The album acts as an extension of the redlined fizzy pop that those singles traded in but overall ends up feeling a lot more coherent than either. Its a simple formula but when a band does it so well and with such a delightful exuberance then its hard not to get swept up in ensuing wave of crunchy fun. The lyrics bounce all over the map from religious autonomy to the usual woes of love and personal neurosis, all blanketed under a coating of their self administered chainsaw pop signifier. Definitely another great addition to the Slumberland roster.

Download:
[MP3] Terry Malts - Tumble Down

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

	Teenage Head - Teenage Head Canadian punks Teenage Head never achieved their deserved level of success outside of their home country. Though often seen as Canada's version of The Ramones, the band seemed to not be able to cross the border and bring the
bounce stateside. The band actually formed after some local gigs by The New York Dolls and The Ramones and picked up their name from the classic Flamin' Groovies track. After an initial single they recorded this debut packed full of taught rockers that never feel as loose as their U.S. counterparts but burn with a sound that borders both the punk and new wave movements. Following this album the band would go onto record Frantic City which was bolstered by press from a riot at one of the band's recent gigs. The press opened them up to opportunities abroad but like so many of these lost classics, fate intervened. A car accident injured band members causing them to miss their New York showcase. Sadly the band skewed more rockabilly on their third album but the first two are solid reminders of their prowess. Download: [MP3] Teenage Head - You're Tearin' Me Apart Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Rene Hell / Pete Swanson

Sharing two sides of a limited slab of vinyl, Pete Swanson (breaking out of the Yellow Swans mold) and synth master Rene Hell aka Jeff Witcher create a dichotomy of destruction and bliss. Swanson keeps things noisy as is expected but breaks from the total devastation that usually comes associated with anything bearing his Yellow Swans moniker. His side, a one track build that starts from a field of sonic debris and crescendos into a well constructed noise carving that bears a softer yet still jagged impact from one of noise's masters of the form. The flip sees RSTB favorite Rene Hell emerging from his suited release The Terminal Symphony with three new synth excursions that plunge down the well of sonic soup that brings to mind the analog wonderlands of the 70's. Hell is in fine form here bouncing between the wires and feting out a sort of negative Utopian bliss that feels as calm as it feels uneasy.

Download:
[MP3] Rene Hell - Walking In Tune

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Bleached :: Searching Through the Past Video

Here's a nice Friday treat. RSTB singles faves Bleached have worked up a sweet video for their song "Searching Through the Past". The Clavin sisters are quickly making a name for themselves post Mika Miko and with each piece of the Bleached puzzle that drops we're more anxious for a full length. Hopin there's new of that soon.

Suport the Artist. Buy it HERE.

Young Governor – Where It's Quiet 10" Ben Cook's solo endeavor as Young Governor has always swung close to pop but his latest outing wraps up four tracks of pure cane sugar crunch that's an undeniable pop treat. Utilizing the bastard son of vinyl

formats, the 10", Cook cleans the usual fuzzed edges of Young Guv's sound with the title track sounding like its ripped right from the soundtrack of any number of 90's indie movies. Pining and jangly, the cut is one of Ben's best yet. The rest of the EP takes no slouches either, pulling his fuzzed punk through Westerberg and Lemonheads territory with equal measure. Its good to see Cook refining his pop palette and it begs the question of where he's headed next. Download: [MP3] Young Governor - Where It's Quiet Support the artist. Buy it HERE

Kane Ikin

Better known as one half of Australian electronic duo Solo Andat, Kane Ikin sets out on his own for an EP of guitar centered pieces that swing away from his formerly computer obsessed recording procedure and further into the blurred nuances of analog tone. The four pieces on the Contrail EP flutter through the consciousness in pulsating waves of nostalgia, crackling with the hiss of tape and time. Ikin adds some flourish with a wealth of field recordings that peek around corners like shadows in an old house. The EP comes immaculately packages in a chipboard sleeve with clear vinyl making this a piece well worth tracking down in the physical form (ltd to 300).

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Rhyton

Gotta admit, this one kinda had us from the start. After seeing the combination of names involved - Dave Shuford (D. Charles Speer, No Neck Blues Band), Jimy SeiTang (Psychic Ills) and Spencer Herbst (Messages, Matta Llama)- Rhyton almost seemed tailor made for RSTB. Happily the collaborative results more than surpass the expectations laid down by those involved and the record settles into a blissful psychedelic groove that finds welcome company among some of Thrill Jockey's current roster, namely Eternal Tapestry, Barn Owl and Wooden Shjips. The entirety of Rhyton's self-titled debut exists in a sun flayed desert mindset, full of dust-throated blues and heat refracted visions. The trio pushes from slow crawling oil slick meditations to fierce, crumbling excavations of the psychedelic core. That the whole endeavor was laid to tape at Black Dirt Studios raises little surprise as the whole thing is pristine and cavernous from start to finish.



Download:
[MP3] Rhyton - Stone Colored

Support the artist. Buy it HERE

	The Dogs - Different The derision usually associated with French rock is often well placed but there are several arguments against such a line of thinking in the form of early 80's punk and power pop entries like The Dogs and Téléphone. The former made
their mark on the French punk scene with the highly underrated Different, a pounding bit of punk with a pop soul and a sour lyrical streak that garnered it comparisons to The Only Ones. Well deserving of the comparison too, Dominique Laboubée's songwriting carries the same weary edginess that marked the best UK punk of the time. Despite great reviews in their home country and a great follow-up, Too Much Class for the Neighborhood the album remains only a cult favorite that's long overdue for further praise. Download: [MP3] The Dogs - A Different Me Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Gross Relations - "Cut The Final Scene"

Brooklyn's Gross Relations, who you might remember as having a great little EP out on RSTB Records last year, have thrown this gem of a tack our way. "Cut The Final Scene" is another slice of fuzz wrangled pop that skates through your speakers on a foam wave of keys and woodchipped guitar blasts. The band is in the process of putting together a full length for release sometime in 2012 so keep your ears perked for that.

Download:
[MP3] Gross Relations - Cut The Final Scene

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

White Faces

L.A. trio White Faces have brought some serious sneer and swagger to the garage punk plate. The band's debut for Windian is packed full of sweat soaked rockers throbbing with the kind of infectious energy that can't be denied. Hell they even throw in a cover of RSTB faves Milk n' Cookies' under sung pop nugget "Nots" so you know they had us from the start. The album burns from run in to run out with the kind of danceable garage that's always a welcomed addition to a Saturday night. Ripe with the smell of denim and dirt but with a touch of the pop soul and jangled edges that keep your feet moving and the choruses lodged firmly in your brain. It’s good to see DC stalwart Windian moving themselves out of the singles market and into album territory and this record is a great start. Keep your eyes on them for sure.

Download:
[MP3] White Faces - Ain't Havin' Me

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Royal Baths

Back when we frist got wind of Royal Baths' cassette debut it hooked us in with its dark spirals of downer guitar and overcast lyrics that somehow lodged themselves between the folds of the brain and sat to fester. It was no surprised that the album was given a second life, rebranded Litanies and released by Woodsist. The band then jumped ship on their San Francisco roots, feeling a disconnect with the ever spreading garage scene there and moved to NY. Their sophomore album, on NYC label Kanine, shows few signs of tempering the dark guitar clouds that formed on the debut. In fact, Better Luck Next Life may be even further down the well in terms of strung out lyrics and itchy guitar snarls and its all the better for its sour disposition. The record seethes with heatsick vibrations and a VU-styled sour heroin shakes that seep out of the record and right under the skin. This one's fast crawling up our most played of 2012 list. Definitely pick one up.

Download:
[MP3] Royal Baths - Darling Divine

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

The Doozer

Seems the Woodsist roster now has a case of contention for which artist is more likely to grab the Syd Barrett comparisons. Like his labelmate Tim Presley of White Fence, The Doozer has a seemingly endless love for the off-kilter pop sensibilities that made Barrett such a unique soul. The fourth release sees The Doozer heading away from his previous lonesome, one man approach; roping in 11 collaborators for the album and fleshing out the psych-folk palette that showed such promise on his last full-length for the venerable Siltbreeze. Each listen reveals new layers of pluckish charm via a swarm of strings, thrift store brass and a grassy knoll witticism that feels like a trip through the rosy colored glasses of the 60's mindset. If you like your Floyd with a sidecar of acid and kaleidoscopic perspective then The Doozer is certainly one to put on your 2012 list.

Download:
[MP3] The Doozer - Fold Up Chair

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Instant Action @ K&M in Williamsburg

If you're up for a night of garage, power pop, glam and 70's era punk and you're in the NYC area, come on out to K&M in Williamsburg tonight where I'll be DJing our third installment of this monthly series.

	The Dwight Twilley Band - Sincerely If there's a case for Big Star never quite getting their due for locking down the power pop template and dosing it with a heavy helping of Memphis soul then its undeniable that Dwight Twiley and by
extension his writing partner Phil Seymour have really never gotten their fair share of acclaim. Any fan of #1 Record or Radio City owes it to themselves to check into Twilley's Sincerely. The record was fleshed out after Seymour and Twilley had an unstoppable hit in the form of "I'm On Fire," a song that's undeniably one of the anthems of Power Pop. And though much of the album is forced to live in the shadow of their hit, there's no denying that it’s a force of blue-eyed soul grit and southern charm. Despite the success of "I'm On Fire" by the time the album was finished the band had hit a streak of bad luck that proved too much for the pair. Distribution woes and a follow-up single (“Shark”) that was rejected because of its title seeming a little too close for comfort to the just released hit film Jaws sunk the band's chances. After a similarly unsuccessful follow-up Seymour left to pursue a solo career but was tragically cut down by Lymphoma. Still this album stands as one of the great injustices of the Power Pop movement. Download: [MP3] Dwight Twilley Band - I'm On Fire Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Donovan Quinn

On his third solo album away from the meadow of Skygreeen, Donovan Quinn drops the 13th Month moniker and heads out again just under his own name. Quinn has truly found his voice this time around, dusty tongued and besieged by the double edges of bittersweet melancholy and sun dappled euphoria that's always drawn the Leopards close to our hearts. Honky Tonk Medusa shares the summoner’s tale troubadour vibrations that former stagemate James Jackson Toth has employed under the many folds of his Wooden Wand habit proving Quinn to be quite the songwriter in his own right. There are some surprising moments that really pull the album out to the forefront of Quinn's work, not the least of which are the eerie Twin Peaks vibes that surface on "My Wife" and the breezy elegance of "Shadow on the Stone." Its been too long in our opinion since the Leopards have shared a stage but its hard to complain when their side journeys are so enjoyable.

Download:
[MP3] Donovan Qunn - Shadow on the Stone

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Karl O'Connor

So technically this one might fall under a re-released heading but it just didn't seem right. Released when Karl O'Connor, now known as Regis, was working under the alias Sandra Electronics and it’s a bit of a departure from those expecting the techno skitter that's become synonymous with his Regis alias (check out the EP on Blackest Ever Black for a good taste). These early recordings fall into the crevices occupied by Throbbing Gristle or even Cabaret Voltaire. It’s a hard edged, nihilistic valley of grey jagged beats intercut with the clang and scrape of noise floor fallout; occasionally even touching on a bit of post-punk that seems far stretched from the producer's later leanings. Hell, "I Understand" might even appeal to fans of newer noisemakers like Pop. 1280 and Puerto Rico Flowers. No matter how you approach White Savage Dance - time capsule, historical document, lost gem or just damn fine music that's finally getting its due; its clear that this will feel at home in any brittle collection.

Download:
[MP3] Karl O'Connor - Here and Now (English Version)

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

Shannon and the Clams

Another one that slipped away from us this year. Shannon Shaw, she of Hunx and His Punx fame, has quite a good thing going in her own regard with the fuzz licked doo-wop leaners that The Clams pump out. Not as swooningly candy coated as the gems that she's become such an integral part of with Sir Hunx, but the touch of grit does her well. I'm said to say that her past releases have escaped me, perhaps it was the name, then again RSTB is no stranger to a plethora of tongue in and out of cheek band names so what was the hesitation. Anyhow it’s a good thing this landed on the Raven turntable, even if it was a bit too late to really get into our 2011 rotation. Also of note are a few of The Clams' latest videos, brought to life with a campy touch by Grass Widows' own Hannah Lew. Check out the video below and do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Sleep Talk when you get the first chance.



Download:
[MP3] Shannon and the Clams - Sleep Talk

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

	Hawkwind - Hall of the Mountain Grill Its hard to understand sometimes how every college freshman owns a copy of Dark Side of the Moon and maybe a few even go so far as to throw in Yes or a little King Crimson, but Hawkwind fails
to wind up on the recommended listening list. Hall of the Mountain Grill, widely considered one of the band's pinnacles at least as far as studio albums go, is perfectly positioned to nab the most ardent Floyd fans. Its a superb mix of the space rock template and harder territories that would be explored by followers such as Blue Öyster Cult and their prog brethren. The album sees Lemmy getting more comfortable with his role in the band, penning the excellent "Lost Johnny" and enjoying a relatively stable period before he'd choose to exit the band after this album's follow-up Warrior on the Edge of Time. Thankfully much of the Hawkwind catalog is now finding its way back onto vinyl via the superb Plastic Head label. If your collection lacks this essential piece of the psychedelic puzzle. I'd highly recommend picking it up. Download: [MP3] Hawkwind - D-Rider Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

No UFO's

Konrad Jandavs released Soft Coast on cassette in 2010 and now Spectrum Spools has given it a well deserved vinyl edition. Blending synth flutter and Kosmiche drift with a psychedelic touch that guides both halves, the album manages to make itself stick out amid a plethora of similarly minded synth projects. Jandavs has a keen sense of space and texture, blending noise elements and dropping beats out entirely to great effect. Adding to the already potent mix is Jandavs' use of some dry guitar crunch, which lends a bit of the raw nerve of punk that quivers down the VU/Spacemen/Suicide axis. Definitely a unique record that's well deserving of a second look and a vinyl presentation and one to keep an eye on in 2012.

Download:
[MP3] No UFO's - 00/00/2010

Support the artist. Buy it: HERE