7th Level Music

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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Klaus Johann Grobe – Spagat Der Liebe

German electro-duo Klaus Johann Grobe’s (Daniel Bachmann and Sevi Landolt) newest record, Spagat Der Liebe (The Balancing Act of Love), is forty minutes of groovy neo-lounge music perfect for late night drinks, clubbing, lovemaking, driving, or all four. Just don’t mix the driving with the drinking or the lovemaking. Safety first.

“Ein Guter Tag” (“A Good Day”) kicks off the record with groovy bass and space synths. It’s a perfect way to start your day, really. “Wo Sind” (“Where Are”) has catchy bold synths and crisp drumming throughout it. “Rosen Des Abschieds” (“Roses of Farewells”) will get you dancing with its groovy bass and snappy percussion. The vocals, despite being about a break-up, are wonderfully light and help the song bounce.

“Pure Fantasie” (You can guess the translation.) is pretty much a lounge version of a slow jam. It’s meant to inspire you to get your freak on, so put it on your latest make-out playlist. “Heut Abend Nur” (“Tonight Only”) sounds like something you’d hear in a 1960’s European art film.

“Geschichten Aus Erster Hand” (“Stories Firsthand”) has some of the few English lyrics (“Come on, baby.”), but the chorus of “tanzen, tanzen, tanzen” (“dance, dance, dance”) is what will stick in your head. “Ohne Mich” (“Without Me”) has synths straight from a 1980’s OMD record, or so it seems.

If this record hasn’t hooked you by now, the flute solo by Roman Weissert on “Liebe am Strand” (“Love on the Beach”) will not only hook you, it will yank you out of the water. “Springen Wie Damals” (“Jump as Then”) has a killer drum and bass breakdown in it that will make you stop what you’re doing and listen. The closer, “Gedicht” (“Poem”), would make a fine addition to the soundtrack for a movie about a retiring private eye.

Don’t worry that nearly all the lyrics are in German. You won’t care because the music on this album is so groovy and cool. Euro-lounge music needs to be played everywhere now and then, if you ask me, and Klaus Johan Grobe are fine ambassadors for it.

Keep your mind open.

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Live Nation offering $20 concert tickets through May 20th.

Concert ticket retailer Live Nation is offering $20.00 concert tickets now through May 20th as part of its Kickoff to Summer promotion.

There are many good shows on sale, including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Steely Dan, Weezer, Black Sabbath, Florence and the Machine, Garbage, Duran Duran, Rob Zombie, Jane’s Addiction, Kool and the Gang, and dozens more.

Granted, these $20.00 tickets aren’t prime seats, but seeing Steely Dan for only $20.00 to sit on the lawn in general admission is pretty good. Get them while you can.

Keep your mind open.

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Misfits announce Riot Fest reunion shows.

Punk legends The Misfits are reuniting for Riot Fest this year. It’s the first time the original members will have performed together in nearly 34 years.

Early bird discount tickets for Riot Fest have been selling fast, meaning the prices keep going up as each tier sells out. The Misfits are the only band announced so far, and it will only cause tickets to sell faster. This will be the one of the biggest gigs of the year, so don’t miss it if you get the chance.

Keep your mind open.

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