Prince Rama

  Prince Rama, "Rest in Peace" by The FADER

I haven't posted some straight up sprawling psych awesomeness in a while, so here is the new Prince Rama track.  This thing starts in high gear and then just kicks it up from there.  "Rest in Peace" is the kind of song I always want Gang Gang Dance to make, but they never do.  This thing is a swirling lava lamp of psych rock, middle eastern tunes, and drums.  Good lord those drums are epic.  They have a new album, Trust Now, coming out October 4th on Paw Tracks.  They also formed a super group with Sun Araw called Prince Sunarawma with that album coming out soon.  So they are staying busy.

Balam Acab

  BALAM ACAB - Apart by TriAngleRecords

  BALAM ACAB - Oh, Why by TriAngleRecords

I am still not totally sold on the drag/witch house genre, but Balam Acab brings it with these tracks.  He has a new album, Wander/Wonder, coming out August 29th on Tri Angle Records.  The two tracks above are from the new record.  I personally prefer "Apart" - it keeps a stronger bass/drum track.  "Apart" would mix nicely with a couple tracks by The Weeknd, for one of the strangest late night cruising mixes in history. "Oh, Why" is a slightly quieter and more ambient track.  If these two tracks are indication of the material on the album, it should be one of the best of the year.  And just for good measure here is "Sea Birds (Moon)".

  See Birds (Moon) by BALAM ACAB

Tobacco/Black Moth Super Rainbow

  TOBACCO "Heavy Makeup" by Black Moth Super Rainbow

  TOBACCO "Streaker" feat. Notrabel by Black Moth Super Rainbow

Recently, I have been listening to a lot of Tobacco and Black Moth Super Rainbow.  So, I was pumped when I saw that not only are they back, but also touring and coming to Boston.  I am not as big a fan of Tobacco's solo work as I am of B.M.S.R.  However, the two Tobacco tracks on the bands soundcloud are fantastic. They have that perfect acid crunch beat.  "Streaker" is heavier than just about anything you will hear this year.  "Heavy Makeup" is a little less heavy and has that almost disco beat that Black Moth does so well.  Anyway, check out the tracks, Tour dates after the jump, Get Excited!

Arc In Round - Brighton Music Hall

Slow Ceiling by Arc In Round

On Tuesday I saw Arc in Round at Brighton Music Hall.  The show was headlined by Woods and Kurt Vile, but unfortunately I had a big meeting at work the next day so I had to go early.  Arc in Round put on a solid performance though.  Their sound really comes alive on stage, everything gets room to breathe and expand.  They play a nice style of propulsive shoe gaze.  They have a new album out now, Diagonal Fields.  I posted two of my favorite tracks off the album, the album closer "Slow Ceiling" and the album opener "3 A.M. All the Time".  Definitely worth checking them out if they come by your town.  More photos after the jump!

Fool's Gold

  Fool's Gold - Street Clothes by iamsoundrecords

Fool's Gold are favorites of Noise Verse Noise, so I was excited when they announced a new album was on its way.  Leave No Trace is due out on August 16th.  You can check out the first single above.  Sounds like another groovetastic affair.

Blackbird Blackbird - Calypso

  Calypso by BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD

The good homie, Blackbird Blackbird, is back with the new track, "Calypso".  Its a little slowerer, a little darker than previous tunes.  I love that the man never stops evolving and working.  I think the Halo album was funded so it should be comming out on vinyl.  Thats a big win for everyone.  Hopefully, he gets a deal.  Can not wait for his new E.P., Passions.

Steve Mason and Dennis Bovell

Steve Mason & Dennis Bovell - Yesterday Dub by DominoRecordCo

I love dub remixes. Classic dub is something that will never go out of style. Here Steve Mason, former Beta Bander, is remixed by dub royalty Dennis Bovell. The song original melacholic sound is extenuated by the dubby horns and reverb.  Definitely going to be added to favorites list.  Steve Mason's latest  album, Boys Outside, is being given the full dub remix treatment, so expect more greatness.  The remix album is coming out July 25.

A Couple Bands I Missed

 
It's slightly more than halfway through the year and its time to do some recap stuff this week.  First, I want to highlight a couple of bands who have sent me new material that I have meant to post, but ended up getting lost in the shuffle:

• Bwedge - Shrunken Head:  Bwedge is a one man tropical/Florida pop project by Tim Peacock.  I was sent the album forever ago and kept having it be the next thing I am going to write about.  Shrunken Head is an album full of warm pop hooks and distant memories.  Definitely worth checking out for a summer evening.
• Adoptahighway - Chances, Circumstances, Conditions:  This is an electronic project by Barry Paul Clark coming out of Milwaukee.  I have no idea if Milwaukee has the same kind of electronic music tradition that other Midwestern cities have, but this project is awesome.
• Grushenka is a band from Barcelona.  They make tropical sounding music.  I don't know much about them, but they sent me a pretty cool music video which you can see below.  

Check out songs and videos after the jump.  Apologies again for taking so long, but thank you and please keep sending me new music!