Review: A reissue of 2022's covers single, Alvarius B's 'Karaoke' gets a second run via Unrock. A titan of the US underground singer-songwriter scene, Alan Bishop is best known as a co-founder of Sun City Girls and owner of the labels Abduction and Sublime Frequencies. His less-known alias Alvarius B has nonetheless seen an extended panhandle of releases at least since 1994, and plays host to a string of 'characters' and sub-pseudonyms. One such 'charakter', as he calls them, is Karaoke, whose forte is covers of noir cinematic rock classics. Here we've got two dark rundowns; on the A, a dark rundown of Ennie Morricone's 'Solo Nostalgia' from the film Comandamenti per un Gangster, and on the B, a version of Indonesia's finest Koes Plus' 'Tiba-Tiba Ku Menangis', whom Bishop had already interpreted as part of the band Koes Barat. Both detail Bishop's talent as a rarely-performed alter-ego, a cosmopolite solo-entertainer.
Review: Acclaimed Japanese artist Cornelius is back with a new three-song EP, Bad Advice/Mind Train, featuring a collaboration with Arto Lindsay. The EP's first single, 'Mind Train,' is an epic nine-minute track inspired by Yoko Ono which blends ethereal space-pop with minimalist structures and bursts of exhilarating chaos. Cornelius describes 'Mind Train' as a symbol of spiritual and inner exploration that is designed to prompt self-reflection. The accompanying video, created by renowned visual stylist Keita Onishi, enhances this journey with stunning retro-futuristic graphics that allow you to explore your own interpretations.
Review: Synthesiser is the third release from New York post-punk legends A Place To Bury Strangers on their own label, Dedstrange. After spending the early part of their existence releasing on labels such as Mute and Dead Oceans, seeing them settle into the saddle on their own label and thrive is encouraging to see. Afterall, it suits frontman Oliver Ackermann as he's had an indelible impact on the New York DIY scene after more than 20 years doing top level stuff. He's been steering indie record labels, running DIY spaces, and has his own pedal manufacturing company. Part of the joy of Synthesizer is that it's a feast for the ears thanks to the galactic trip it feels you're on with the custom effect-laden instrumentation and vocals. The avant-gade and experimental noise that they embrace comes from a collaborative and spontaneous approach to writing. Unlike the band's previous album, where Ackermann wrote everything on there, this is Ackermann with John and Sandra Fedowitz fully in-tow and it's about as far from a Pro Tools plug-in operation as you can imagine. This is a hand-wired masterpiece with some explosive and, at times, elegiac moods to immerse in. This is the music you wish New Order were making.
Review: A Place to Bury Strangers' seventh album, Synthesizer, is a celebration of spontaneous and natural sounds and features a new lineup with John and Sandra Fedowitz. Frontman Oliver Ackermann describes the album as chaotic yet human, pushing the limits of gear to create an "epic sound journey." Tracks like 'Fear of Transformation' deliver a snarling gothic techno-punk experience, while 'Have You Ever Been in Love' offers hypnotic, tribal rhythms. Recorded in their Queens studio, Synthesizer is one of the band's most live-sounding records, capturing the raw energy of their performances. The lead single, 'Disgust,' epitomises this with its open strings and high-pitched guitar cry. Ackermann's playful approach and dedication to the DIY ethos shine throughout, echoing the collaborative spirit of his Death By Audio venue. In Synthesizer, A Place to Bury Strangers melds extreme noise with catchy hooks, creating a record that is both wild and beautiful inside the experimental rock genre.
Review: Raw post-punk trio Abdomen trade in the heavier end of the genre unafraid to douse distortion and fuzz onto everything and create music so exciting it would be hard not to want to throw yourself into a circle put for, 'Damage Tool' is a breathtaking way to get things started and 'Numbers' makes Fontaines DC sound like Boyzone. They are capable of slowing down - 'Dazed' has been slowed into a hypnotic Spacemen 3-esque psych/shoegaze jam. The band are relative newcomers and not widely known... yet. But this is going to be one of those albums you'll be kicking yourself for not having a first pressing of. Abdomen is only going to get bigger and it will give the Tapetown studio in Aarhus, Denmark - where they recorded this - more bragging rights for being among the coolest alternative music spaces in Europe.
Review: Does The Cosmic Shepherd Dream Of Electric Tapirs? is not just a great - and amusing - question but also the title of Acid Mothers Temple's debut release on Space Age Recordings. This Japanese soul collective, known as Acid Mothers Temple and The Melting Paraiso UFO, remains an enigma to both the Western and Eastern worlds. Their music spans acid-rock, experimental, and psychedelic genres, varying with the listener's mood. After being out of stock for some time, the long-anticipated repress of this wild offering is now available on two solid green vinyl records and complete with the original seductive artwork.
Xxxtra Asceticism Or Allergic To Meditation (9:13)
Asoka Ananda (19:44)
Review: Trust Masked Replicants showcases Acid Mothers Temple (AMT) in top form, delivering their signature brand of experimental psych-rock built around skeletal frameworks. Led by Kawabata Makoto, the band navigates chaotic, drone-infused improvisations, pushing the boundaries of human consciousness with their cosmic jams. Side-2 features the standout 20-minute track 'Asoko Ananda', a fast-paced, side-long piece that fuses kosmische rhythms, filter sweeps, free-jazz piano, tabla drumming, and vocal experimentation. This track captures the full range of AMT's skills, climbing to the summit of their collective abilities. Rooted in prog, Krautrock, modern composition and noise, AMT has been a driving force in the psyche-rock scene since the early 90s. With a long history of prolific releases and global tours, the band returns to Important Records for this limited vinyl edition featuring original member Cotton Casino. Trust Masked Replicants - with its neat titular nod to Captain Beefheart's best known album - is another top album for fans of the group's improvisational, mind-expanding soundscapes.
Review: With the latest release of 2024's triumphant Les Chants de l'Aurore, label Nuclear Blast have opted to reissue the 2019 predecessor project from French post-black metal/blackgaze pioneers Alcest. Spiritual Instinct initially marked only the second time the band's live bassist Indria Saray had performed on record following on from his in-studio inclusion on 2016's Kodama, while musically, the material is noted for continuing to restore some of the previously eschewed metallic malevolence absent from their previous efforts. This restoration reembraces cataclysmic blastbeats and despair-laden vocal shrieks yet reliably subdued, compressed and drowned under swathes of shoegaze haze and bombastic yet lilting crescendos. In short, no one makes black metal sound as pretty as the French.
Review: This is a limited edition black and yellow marbled vinyl version of Alcest's Les Chants de L'Aurore". In the midst of a bewildering world, the album emerged as a beacon of transformative power. Hailing from Bagnols-sur-Ceze, and led by Neige, the group defy heavy music norms as they famously blend darkness with radiant light. Since their groundbreaking debut in 2007, they've reshaped the metal scene, infusing beauty and melody with extreme metal's intensity and their latest release again offers hope and renewal. Recorded intimately yet expansively, it reinvents their sound with newfound depth and sophistication. Neige's ethereal melodies counteract darkness with positivity, offering a sanctuary of blissful beauty. All in all, this record marks a poignant evolution in Alcest's journey as it resonates with both charm and conviction.
Review: Alcest's latest album Les Chants de L'Aurore' is a transcendent journey amidst the chaos of modernity. Originating in the quaint French town of Bagnols-sur-Ceze, Alcest, led by the visionary Neige, defy the confines of heavy music by blending darkness with radiant light. Since their groundbreaking debut in 2007, they've captivated with a unique fusion of beauty and extreme metal, influencing a generation of "blackgaze" artists. Released amidst global turmoil in 2019, Les Chants de L'Aurore now arrives on vinyl and emerges as a beacon of hope. Recorded intimately yet expansively, it reinvigorates Alcest's signature sound for a new era. Amid existential reflections, Neige crafts euphoric melodies, counteracting darkness with love and positivity. Five years in the making, this album represents a profound evolution, resonating with both gentle charm and fierce conviction. In a world hungry for solace, Les Chants de L'Aurore offers a sanctuary of beauty.
Review: All Seeing Dolls make the best case for cross-pollination we've had in a while. Their sound is psychedelic tinged, garage-y leaning rock with plenty of breathy bits and opportunities to look at the sky in hope or despair, invoking the shoegaze 'thing'. In other moments, they sound like they've been hiding away in the back room of a 1960s acid party, while there are also times when vocals soar to such harmonious heights you could be forgiven for using made up terms like 'choral indie'. The sum of all those parts is a genuinely powerful and unique record that moves and insists, ebbs and flows throughout a real odyssey of a listen. But the ingredients also warrant a mention. The legendary Dot Allison is here, hence the beauty and subtle power of the vocals. The Brian Jonestown Massacre's Anton Newcombe is also present and correct, as are a piano, ukulele, guitar and auto-harp.
Review: Alvarius B's latest offering is a testament to the power of simplicity. The raw charm of his lo-fi, stripped-back arrangements allows his distinctive vocals to shine, lending a striking intimacy to every track. The album veers from covers of The Kinks to a hauntingly personal take on The Rolling Stones, but it's the original material that stands out. It's a rare thingiboth timeless and completely of its own time, drawing from folk, rock and an unshakeable sense of personal longing. It's unlikely anyone else could pull it off quite so well.
Review: Gothenburg trio Amateur Hour is Hugo Randulv, Julia Bjernelind and Dan Johansson, and Gar I Kras is their fourth album. It builds on the expansive Krokta Tankar Och Branda Vanor from back in 2022, and though still experimental and out there, it might also be their most accessible and polished work yet. Dreamy lo-fi pop meets gritty electronics and sound collage throughout as damaged linger above humming basslines and grimy guitars underpin detached vocals. It's a haunting but beautiful soundtrack for outsiders who like music from the fringe but that retains a sense of human warmth and soul.
Review: Despite producing one of the most influential rock records of the 20th century, American Football's legacy has not been a traditional one. Originally, 'American Football' was meant to be a one-and-done situation, with only a couple of shows played; The band members were all college students and summer was fast approaching. The album was released and the members parted ways shortly thereafter - little would they have guessed that it would go on to define an entire genre for years to come, finding its audience over time. It's not hard to see why, especially with the viral opening track 'Never Meant', which has found fame online repeatedly throughout the years. 'American Football' is melancholic, somewhat tender at points, and undoubtedly contains a certain mystique to it that completely swept the emo crowd by storm. After 14 years, when the band reunited, they had a legion of adoring fans all of a sudden - it's stories like these that prove that true talent will always triumph. Whether it's today, tomorrow or in a decade, good music will always rise to the top. Boasting as a definitive version, Polyvinyl resurfaced the original audio tapes and recruited the OG engineer - Jonathan Pines - for a top-notch remaster. The anniversary package also includes a 24-page booklet with liner notes from frontman Mike Kinsella, an embossed outer jacket and high-quality cardstock inner sleeves.
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