7th Level Music

The Rough Guide to a World of Psychedelia compilation

This collection of psychedelic world music from the 1960’s to modern times is nothing short of outstanding. It has fine grooves from around the world ranging from Asia to South America.

Cambodia brings us tinny, freaky grooves on Ros Seresyothea’s “Jam 10 Kai Theit (Wait Ten Months More)” and a Yos Olarang garage-psych cut (“Cyclo”) that was probably heard buzzing from jukeboxes in little bars all over the country in the 1960’s. I’ve been intrigued with 1960’s and 1970’s Indian music lately, so Ananda Shankar’s “Dancing Drums” is a welcome killer track with a beat (and flute solo!) made for an Indian hitman’s newest playlist. Indian singing legends Asha Bhosle and R.D. Burman weren’t immune to the thrill of psychedelic music in the 1960’s. “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” is sensational, with James Bond-theme guitars, soaring strings, and sexy (yes, sexy) vocals from Bhosle.

Down in South and Latin America, Brazil’s Laranja Freak brings hard psych-rock with “Alergico De Flores.” Anarkia Tropikal’s “El Silbido Del Tunche” is like a lost Goat track if Goat was formed in Columbia. The guitar on it sizzles alongside percolator beats. Juaneco Y Su Combo from Columbia bring more cumbia-psych on “Perdido En El Espacio.” Wal Sant’Ana’s “Que Vide E Essa” is more delightful psych-samba that will get you moving, and M.A.K.U. Soundsystem’s “Canto Negro” is solid modern psych-cumbia with a heavy dose of trippy synths. It reminds me of old Morcheeba tracks. Iuri Andrade’s “Folia No Vento” is psych-samba and Bacalao Men’s “Japones” is psych-salsa. Ray Perez y Su Orquesta’s “Recordando Los Soneros” has these great muted horns, backward tracks, and other oddities underneath fun vocals. Traffic Sound’s “La Camita” has loud, fuzzy guitar any psych band from anywhere in the world would love on their record. Mix it with groovy Latin beats and you have a winner.

Africa isn’t left off this compilation either. Celestine Ukwu brings beautiful guitar work on “Obialu Be Onye Abiagbunia Okwukwe.” Mlimani Park Orchestra’s “Taxi Driver” is good, perky Afro-psych. Kalyanji – Anandji’s “Cabaret Dance Music” is almost a freaky psychedelic nightmare with screams, action movie percussion and horns, and orgasmic moans. Victor Uwaifo’s “Guitar Boy” is an Afro-psych classic from 1966 with crisp yet slightly fuzzy guitars.

This is a good primer for psychedelic sounds, both new and classic, crafted outside the U.S. and the U.K. Snag it if you can find it and start exploring.

Keep your mind open.

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Fort Wayne’s inaugural Middle Waves festival already has a killer lineup.

Fort Wayne, Indiana’s first alternative / psych / multi-genre music festival, Middle Waves, will be held in Headwaters Park in downtown Fort Wayne September 16-17, 2016.

The initial lineup announcement is stunning: The Flaming Lips, Jeff the Brotherhood, Beach House, Doomtree, Either/Or, Metavari, and Heaven’s Gateway Drugs. More bands will be announced as summer rolls along. There will be three stages, food trucks, art installments, and a host of all-ages events. Get your tickets now before early bird pricing sells out.

Keep your mind open.

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DJ set list for May 22, 2016

Thanks to all who listened to my latest show on WSND last night. Here’s my set list:

Golden Dawn Arkestra – Osaka
Julian Cope – Adam and Eve Hit the Road
Julian Cope – I’ve Got Levitation
Suuns – Translate
M83 – Do It, Try It
Frank Zappa – I’m the Slime
Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor – Long Lovers Sun
Strange Lot – Superium
Screaming Females – It All Means Nothing
The Coathangers – Perfume
Tancred – Bed Case
Nirvana – Been a Son (live)
The Lumberjerks – Trailer Trash
The Dickies – Stuck in a Condo (with Marlon Brando)
Bogg Hog – Sick
The Smithereens – Time Won’t Let Me
The Heavy – Since You’ve Been Gone
Bleached – Wednesday Night Melody
Hi-Fi and the Roadburners – Hellride
Flat Duo Jets – My Life My Love
Johnny Cash – In My Life
Glint – Daydreamers
Les Baxter – Meeting Katia (from the Black Sunday soundtrack)
The Police – Spirits in the Material World (live)
Klaus Johann Grobe – Liebe am Strand
Errors – Barton Springs
Rustie – Workship
David Starfire – Shimla
DJ Rolando – Jacquar (Derrick May mix)
Bayonne – Spectrolite
Junior Brown – Gotta Get Up Every Morning

I’ll be back on air this Sunday May 29th at midnight EST. Give me a listen if you’re up late (or early, depending on where you are in the world).

Keep your mind open.

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Golden Dawn Arkestra – Stargazer

Part-funk, part-Afrobeat, part-1970’s Sinbad movie, Golden Dawn Arkestra have descended from somewhere beyond Alpha Centauri and delivered their new record – Stargazer.

The title track opens the record. It’s at first a gentle lift-off from the gravity of your job, your latest screwed-up relationship, and even this world. You’re off-planet and in orbit once their drummer, one of the best funk drummers I’ve heard in a long while, and the horn section kick in and encourage you to look beyond this earthly plane (and how about that saxophone solo?).

The groove of “Sama Chaka” immediately seeps into you and will not leave until you dance it out of your system. The xylophone and horns combine for a funky combination that will improve the mood of anyone listening.

“We walk on nothin’ but clouds,” the band sings on “Clouds” (taking us into psych-pop territory). Imagine the New Pornographers as a funk band and you might get the idea. “Space Waves” implores us to dance to the cosmic beats the band puts down on every track. The baritone sax and synth work on this cut is as smooth as the Silver Surfer’s board.

“Shabuki” belongs on a 1960’s Japanese spy thriller soundtrack. “Disko” belongs on a 1970’s Blaxploitation film soundtrack. Just listen to that wicked bass line, crisp guitar, and groovy horns if you don’t believe me. “Osaka” does have a bit of an Asian flair (mostly in the guitar riffs), but the rest of it is straight-up big, bold phat funk.

The closer, “All Is Light,” is a mesmerizing trip into another reality. It blends eastern Indian sounds with rock drumming and guitar reminiscent of 1980’s Zappa material.

Stargazer is the funkiest album I’ve heard in years. Take the journey with Golden Dawn Arkestra. The destination doesn’t matter. You’ll be different by the time this thirty-eight-minute journey ends, anyway.

Keep your mind open.

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Rewind Review: Dayluta Means Kindness – The Ground Is Lava (2014)

Dayluta Means Kindness is a five-piece prog / psych rock outfit from El Paso, Texas. They play big instrumental jams that evoke images of alien worlds and cosmic exploration. The title of their four-song debut, The Ground Is Lava, suggests childhood playground memories, space exploration. and shifting landscapes.

The title track opens the record with soaring guitars that border on drone rock. “Everywhere You Look There’s a Mountain” has a title like a Zen koan, drums like a tribal ceremony, and guitar work like a slow avalanche. This would be perfect for hiking at sunrise in the American southwest. I must remember to put in on such a playlist for my next trip out there.

“Young Savagery & General Debauchery” is a great name for a juvenile delinquency movie from the late 1950’s, but the song is a long, floating piece of beautiful guitar work and stadium rock drumming. This track will change your mood, slow your thinking, and inspire you. To do what? That’s up to you, but I suggest rock climbing, meditation, surfing, or creating any kind of art.

The closer, “The Sun’s True Brightness in Comparison with Other Stars,” is as epic as its title. It builds from tones that remind you of a sunrise to a soundtrack for navigating an asteroid field. It belongs on your “morning run” playlist, and the whole album belongs in your collection.

Keep your mind open.

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Gary Wilson releases rare Lord Fuzz tracks from 1967.

Avant garde rock legend Gary Wilson has given us a cool gift. He’s released a 7″ single of two tracks from his first band, Lord Fuzz, from 1967. These psych-rock tracks are wild, weird, and wonderful. You owe it to yourself to pick up the limited edition vinyl record (only 300 copies) or download the digital files if you’re a fan of Gary Wilson (and if you’re not, what’s wrong with you?).

Keep your mind open.

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Riot Fest 2016 announces first wave of bands.

Riot Fest has announced it’s first wave of bands for their Denver and Chicago festivals. Both can boast a Misfits reunion, which is one of the biggest tickets of the year.

Denver comes first (Sept. 02-04) and has some excellent headliners. Jane’s Addiction, Sleater-Kinney, Bad Religion, Sleigh Bells, and Yo La Tengo are all excellent choices.

Chicago is two weeks later, and I’ll be attending. I’m not only keen on seeing the Misfits, but also The Specials, Bad Religion, The Hives, Bob Mould, Juliette Lewis and the Licks, and, yes, Morrissey. I have a lot of bands to research. The first one I’ve heard is Sleepy Kitty, and I think they’re already on my first-tier list.

Get your tickets before they sell out. They’ll go even quicker now that the first wave has been announced.

Keep your mind open.

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Firefly Music Festival 2016 lineup announced.

If you think there’s nothing to do in Delaware, you might want to check out the Firefly Music Festival June 16-19th. A four-day pass is less than $350.00 and they have a big lineup this year. Kings of Leon, Florence & the Machine, and Deadmau5 are big scores on the festival circuit this year. Tame Impala, Flogging Molly, M83, A$AP Rocky, Blink-182, Major Lazer, and The 1975 are also fine additions. Check it out.

Keep your mind open.

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Float Fest 2016 lineup announced.

San Marcos, Texas’ Float Fest is set for July 16 and 17th. They have a great lineup of electro, rock, and rap artists. Santigold, Metric, and Chromeo alone are worth the price of admission (which is just over $100 for both days). San Marcos is also a nice college town with good pubs and easy to navigate. Swing by the festival if you’re near there, or make the drive if you’re not.

Keep your mind open.

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Strange Lot – Another Mind

I discovered Phoenix, Arizona’s psych outfit Strange Lot (Dominic Mena – guitars and vocals, Tim Lormor – drums, David Dennis – bass ) when I attended the 2016 MR Fest in San Marcos, Texas. Their set was one of best I saw there.

Their first full-length album, Another Mind, is solid. They open big with “Into the Night.” The guitars bounce off each other like they’re in a mosh pit, and the vocals are layered in reverb to the point where they’re almost indecipherable. “The Horror” dives headfirst into trippy psych. “Wasted Fields” has wild, weird, and fascinating guitar work from Mena. “Supremium” might be an obscure reference to Marvel Comics’ version of kryptonite, but I think it’s probably about allowing your mind to open to a cosmic experience. Lormor’s drums almost sound drunk, Dennis seems to be playing a freestyle jazz tune on his bass, and Mena’s guitars float around like he’s in zero gravity. Trust me, it all works.

“Stone” bridges the gap between psych and shoegaze, while “Right with your Pain” is a raucous rocker. “Call My Name” is so full of fuzz that Ty Segall probably wishes he’d recorded it. After a brief instrumental break (“Sandwich”), “Erthquake” roars in like its namesake. Lormor and Dennis try to shake you to the ground and Mena tries to lift you from the chasm with excellent, soaring guitar work. The title track is the last one. It’s like something you’d find on an obscure early 1980’s goth rock compilation with its mournful vocals and lyrics, down-tuned guitars, and strangely peppy keyboards.

I like these guys. They’re doing odd stuff, loud stuff, psych stuff, and shoegaze stuff and it all works for them. It is a strange lot they’ve mixed, but a good one.

Keep your mind open.

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