My dreams are strange dreams. Dreams filled with violence, absurdity, and, often, gore. They are somewhat Lynchian, a little Cronenberg, with a dash of Tsukamoto and Miike thrown in. Nonsensical and non sequential - the sequences morph into a clouded, twisted epilogue. What separates my dreams from, say, nightmares, is the fact that no matter how dark or desolate, I am always the victor.
Those emotions are mirrored in Blissed Out’s sludgey “Scarified”. Sounds of subaquatic goblins purr and thrum, while synths and drum machines throb - pulsing like an elevated heart rate. The fiendish imps prance and taunt you until you succumb to their banshee shrieks - submerged in the murky, oscillating beat.
You can purchase the 4 song ep, “Second Plane”, on Impose Records here.
They are also embarking on a second US tour. Check them out if they’re in your neck of the woods.
US Fall Tour Dates:
9.15 - 185 Pearson Street, Asheville, North Carolina
9.16 - Co-Labrotary, Savannah, Georgia
9.18 - Secret Squirrel, Athens, Georgia
9.19 - Circle Bar, New Orleans, Louisianna
9.20 - Majestic Dwelling of Doom, Denton Texas
9.21 - Baby Blue Studios, Austin, Texas w. How I Quit Crack and Lay Bac
9.22 - The Tree House, Albuquerque, New Mexico
9.23 - Tin Can Ale House, San Diego, California w. Jeans Wilder
9.25 - The Smell, Los Angeles, California w. Frankie and the Outs, Hunx and His Punks
9.30 - Cal Arts, Valencia, California
10.3 - Milk Bar, San Francisco, w. oOoOO (DJ Set) and Water Borders
10. 8 - Rhinoceropolis, Denver, Colorado
10.10 - Vaudeville Mews, Des Moines, Iowa
10.12 - Jurassic Park, West Lafayette, Indiana
10.13 - Believeland, Cleveland, Ohio
10.14 - Smog Garage, Annendale-on-Hudson, New York
10.15 - Butcher Shoppe, Boston, Massachusetts
♪ File under: electronic, noise, demonic creatures playing underwater
Listening to Blastoids‘ ”Human Bells” is a bit like seeing your friend at a costume party. You know it is them, yet they have altered their appearance in a way that causes you to do a double take. Although “Trash Mountain“ was recorded at the same time as “Megachurch”, it is worlds away from the blissful, bordering on bubbly output I came to associate Blastoids with. The electronic elements have not disappeared, instead they found a fuller sound that can be extremely jarring and noisy. Yum. They shout and scream, whilst distorted ice cream truck-like jingles/8bit noises are scattered throughout. As if they are mutating to sludge in the scorching sun and are completely thrilled about it.
Cop Trash Mountain at Fiftypop* or bandcamp.
♪ File under: electronic, noise, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Bachelor Pad, from Australia, create lo-fi, pop tunes with a punk attitude. They can be noisy, fuzzed out, with a touch of reverb, but they’re always addictive. Like most of the songs I grew up listening to, the tracks rarely go over the 2:30 minute mark further proving that a little gem doesn’t have to be long-winded. There’s a charm to these songs, something earnest under the boisterous clanging and distortion. I found myself bobbing my head involuntarily while listening and, hopefully, you will too.
Contact Bachelor Pad through myspace if you’re interested in getting “All Chiller, No Filler”. It is worth it!
♪ File under: lo-fi, pop punk, the first 12 minutes of mad max