Archive for February, 2012

Album of the day: Pontiak – Echo Ono

Posted on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from The Sleeping Shaman: The brothers Carney, otherwise known as Pontiak, make a welcome return with this, their first full-length recording since 2010′s Living, somewhat breaking their ridiculously fertile and productive 2008-2010 streak of five albums in a two year span.

Last we heard from the brothers was Comecrudos, an EP comprising one sprawling, dusty twenty-five minute track split into four ‘movements’ and a slight diversion from the usual for the Carneys, but this time things are a lot more succinct and to-the-point – Echo Ono is, essentially, a ROCK album.

A raucous rawkin’ riff welcomes us into opener ‘Lions Of Least’, a punchy li’l number that bops along on a groovy bassline from Jennings Carney, shaded by ghostly organ while lead vocalist and guitarist Van Carney alternates between modal drones and that big-ass rawkin’ riff.

Leading straight in from the first track, ‘The North Coast’ shuffles in on a low-key groove of gently tumbling drums, looping bass and hanging chords before knocking things right up to the max with a firmly in-the-red recurring guitar and drum eruption. Van’s pleasingly melodic vocals here are shaded by cooing background harmonies from his brothers to fine effect, taking the rough edge off of the amped-up guitar roar to some extent.

Continue reading: Pontiak ‘Echo Ono’ CD/LP 2012 | The Sleeping Shaman.

The Day After The Sabbath Vol 63: Roadburn Special Part 1 – No Sleep Til’Burg

Posted on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

We’re huge supporters of Rich’s The Day After The Sabbath blog. It’s the main source in our quest for obscure heavy 60s and 70s rock. It’s Rich’s aim to reveal the secret world of bands that were inspired by the early psychedelic, doom and hard rock greats but were too short-lived, ...read more

Roadburn Cinema Presents: Blood, Sweat + Vinyl – DIY in the 21st Century

Posted on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

We’re excited to announce the return of Roadburn Cinema in the V39 basement  from Thursday, April 12 to Saturday, April 14th. This year’s selections will include Blood, Sweat + Vinyl: DIY in the 21st Century. From 2005 to 2010, Director Kenneth Thomas documented the live shows and musicians on 3 ...read more

Album of the day: Pale Divine – Painted Windows Black

Posted on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: It’s been 15 years since Eastern Pennsylvania doomers Pale Divine released their pivotal Crimson Tears demo in 1997. That release in many ways would come to define them, as they signed with Game Two Records to issue their also-stellar Thunder Perfect Mind debut in 2001 ...read more

Album of the day: Sigh – In Somniphobia – Sea of Tranquility

Posted on Monday, February 27th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from Sea of Tranquility: Japan may not have the world’s most renowned metal scene, but Tokyo’s Sigh have gained a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking extreme metal bands on an international scope since their formation in 1990. The band’s constantly changing sound and ability to consistently ...read more

Monday Song: Johnny Cash – Thirteen

Posted on Monday, February 27th, 2012

Every Monday morning we’ll post a kick-ass song to get your week going. Film clip for Johnny Cash‘s song Thirteen. Starring Jason Butler and Peter Lawn as 13. Directed by Leigh Chalker.

Album of the day: Stone Axe – Stone Axe II (Ripple Music)

Posted on Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from Über Röck: Stone Axe aren’t out to reinvent the wheel, they’re out to keep it round in a world that’s decided it would be better off square,” so says the bio of Washington state’s Stone Axe; well, you can say that again. Seventies rock preservation is indeed ...read more

Album of the day: People of the North – Steep Formations

Posted on Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Praise for People of the North‘s Steep Formations from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Record number two from this Oneida offshoot, two long form pieces, both heavily drum driven, spaced out, psychedelic and very very rhythmic, beholden for sure to the many minimalist greats that came before, not to mention heavily ...read more

Album of the day: 3 Leafs – Canal Smarts

Posted on Friday, February 24th, 2012

Praise for 3 Leafs‘ Canal Smarts from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Latest from these San Francisco psychedelic space rockers, and yet another record that has us wondering what it is exactly that keeps these guys from being huge. Sure here at aQ, we sell TONS of 3 Leafs records, but ...read more

Album of the day: Steve Moore & Majeure – Brainstorm

Posted on Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

Lovingly pinched from Consequence of Sound: If you chop a band in half, are they necessarily still of that same band? Steve Moore and Majeure (a.k.a. Anthony Paterra) are better known as members of Pittsburgh space rockers Zombi, and while much of this split EP sounds largely similar to the ...read more