Posts Tagged ‘Aquarius Records’

Album of the day: Dust – Dust

Posted on Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Praise for Dust‘s Self/Titled from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Dust’s two early ’70s proto-metal classics had been out of print on cd for far too long – and even the last time we had ‘em, YEARS ago, we could only get a few drilled cut-out copies. But now, huzzah, import CD reissues are available, packaged in those slim digi-wallet sleeves. Definitely feels good to have ‘em back in our vintage heavy rock section once more, were they belong as essentials in that genre.

So, for those who need to know: the American hard rock trio known as Dust are another of those legendary early ’70s bands that get mentioned in the same breath with heavies like Captain Beyond, Sir Lord Baltimore, The James Gang, Bang, and the like.

They cut two excellent LPs of late-psychedelic-era proto-metal back in ’71 and ’72. This the first, self-titled one, and of their two albums, this one’s swampier, with a lot of slide and country / southern rock moves on tracks like ‘Stone Woman’ and ‘Chasin’ Ladies’. But then there’s the lugubrious and weighty 10-minute epic ‘From A Dry Camel’, and conversely, the gentle acoustic dreaminess of ‘Often Shadows Felt’. Mostly, though, the album kicks ass with uptempo hard rockers, including the ripping, rollicking instrumental ‘Loose Goose’ that closes the album quite frenetically.

Maybe Dust could be considered the American version of Nazareth (with vocals somewhat less soaked in whiskey). And they’re a lot like Highway Robbery, whose LP reissue we raved about recently. What we’re saying is: pretty great! And also: any Danava fan oughtta check ‘em out!

Oh, and Dust featured the future Marky Ramone on drums, by the way, before he decided punk was the way to go (or even had that option)…

At 40 years old, Aquarius is the oldest independent record store in San Francisco. We try to only carry music we love, and we’re always searching for more new, cool, weird and wonderful music. All of which we then share with you, our loyal customers.

Tags: Album of the day, Aquarius Records, Dust, heavy 70's, Marky Ramone, Repertoire
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Album of the day: Black Hole – Land Of Mystery

Posted on Friday, January 13th, 2012

Praise for Black Hole‘s Land Of Mystery from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: This is the THIRD time we’ve had a reissue of this album to list, and so if you missed it before, pay attention, ’cause there’s good reason it keeps getting reissued (& slightly differently each time, too). Black ...read more

Album of the day: Nadja – Autopergamene

Posted on Thursday, January 12th, 2012

Praise for Nadja‘s Autopergamene from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: If you’re a Nadja fan, you’re definitely gonna want one of these, sure all Nadja records are pretty great, but this one is incredible, an hour long three part epic, the heaviest, most lush and orchestral and intense record we’ve heard ...read more

Album of the day: House of Low Culture – Poisoned Soil

Posted on Saturday, January 7th, 2012

Praise for House of Low Culture‘s Poisoned Soil from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: It’s been a while since we’ve heard from House Of Low Culture, the one man experimental / drone / soundscaping project of Aaron Turner, he of Hydra Head Records, Sige Records, Mammifer, Isis, Twilight, etc. This one ...read more

Album of the day: Burning Witch – S/T (4LP + DVD)

Posted on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Praise for Burning Witch‘s S/T (4LP + DVD) from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: We’ve got just a handful of these expensive new Burning Witch 4LP/DVD boxes, they’re fancy and SUPER limited, so odds are once we sell out we won’t be able to get more. Seems likely that only super ...read more

Album of the day: Death Trip – Pain is Pain

Posted on Monday, January 2nd, 2012

Praise for Death Trip’s Pain is Pain from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: When we travel, record shopping plays a huge part in our planning. We’re guessing the same is true of many (most?) of you. Not only do we typically have various stores we want to check out, we also ...read more

Album of the day: Otesanek / Loss / Orthodox / Mournful Congregation – Four Burials

Posted on Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Praise for Otesanek / Loss / Orthodox / Mournful Congregation ‘s Four Burials from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Originally released in 2008 on Battle Kommand, this crushing ultra doom four way split is available again, courtesy of local label The Flenser. Absolute heaven (or hell if you prefer) for the ...read more

Album of the day: Sunn O))) Meets Nurse With Wound – The Iron Soul Of Nothing (LP)

Posted on Monday, December 5th, 2011

Praise for Sunn O))) meets Nurse With Wound‘s The Iron Soul Of Nothing from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Back in 2007, Stephen O’Malley approached Nurse With Wound about reworking Sunn O)))’s 00Void, urging that Steven Stapleton push the sound of Sunn O))) towards the classic NWW sound of Soliloquy For ...read more

Album of the day: Tim Hecker – Dropped Pianos (LP)

Posted on Sunday, December 4th, 2011

Praise for Tim Hecker‘s Dropped Pianos from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Canadian dronescaper and ambient deconstructionist Tim Hecker’s most recent record, Ravedeath 1972, was, as we proclaimed in our review of that record a few lists back, probably our favorite yet, which is all the more notable for belonging to ...read more

Album of the day: Pharaoh Overlord – Out Of Darkness (LP)

Posted on Friday, December 2nd, 2011

Praise for Pharaoh Overlord‘s Out Of Darkness from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Now on LP, this great PO album. Here’s what we said about the CD version when it came out a few months back, concurrently with Steel Mammoth’s Radiation Funeral. It’s “NWOFHM” in overdrive overload this week, with not ...read more