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Quarterly Review: Dorthia Cottrell, Fvzz Popvli, Formula 400, Abanamat, Vvon Dogma I, Orme, Artifacts & Uranium, Rainbows Are Free, Slowenya, Elkhorn

Posted in Reviews on May 11th, 2023 by JJ Koczan

the-obelisk-qr-summer-2020

Here we go day four of the Quarterly Review. I would love to tell you it’s been easy-breezy this week. That is not the case. My kid is sick, my wife is tired of my bullshit, and neither of them is as fed up with me as I am. Nonetheless, we persist. Some day, maybe, we’ll sit down and talk about why. Today let’s keep it light, hmm?

And of course by “light” I mean very, very heavy. There’s some of that in the batch of 10 releases for today, and a lot of rock to go along, so yes, another day in the QR. I hope you find something you dig. I snuck in a surprise or two.

Quarterly Review #31-40:

Dorthia Cottrell, Death Folk Country

Dorthia Cottrell Death Folk Country

Crafted for texture, Death Folk Country finds Windhand vocalist Dorthia Cottrell exploring sounds that would be minimal if not for the lushness of the melodies placed over them. Her first solo offering since 2015 runs 11 tracks and feels substantial at a manageable 42 minutes as delivered through Relapse Records. The death comes slow and soft, the folk is brooding and almost resistant in its Americana traditionalism, and the country is vast and atmospheric, and all three are present in a release that’s probably going to be called ethereal because of layering or vocal reverb but in fact is terrestrial like dry dirt. The seven-minute “Family Annihilator” is nigh on choral, and e-bow or some such droner element fills out the reaches of “Hell in My Water,” expanding on the expectation of arrangement depth set up by the chimes and swells that back “Harvester” after the album’s intro. That impulse makes Death Folk Country kin to some of earlier Wovenhand — thinking Blush Music or Consider the Birds; yes, I acknowledge the moniker similarity between Windhand and Wovenhand and stand by the point as regards ambience — and a more immersive listen than it would otherwise be, imagining future breadth to be captured as part of the claims made in the now. Do I need to say that I hope it’s not 2031 before she does a third record?

Dorthia Cottrell on Bandcamp

Relapse Records website

Fvzz Popvli, III

FVZZ POPVLI III

It’s been a quick — read: not quick — five years since Italian heavy rockers Fvzz Popvli released their second album, Magna Fvzz (review here), through Heavy Psych Sounds. Aptly titled, III is the third installment, and it’s got all the burner soloing, garage looseness and, yes, the fvzz one would hope, digging into a bit of pop-grunge on “The Last Piece of Shame,” setting a jammy expectation in the “Intro” mirrored in “Outro” with percussion, and cool-kid grooving on “Monnoratzo,” laced with hand-percussion and a bassline so thick it got made fun of in school and never lived down the trauma (a tragedy, but it rules just the same). “Post Shit” throws elbows of noise all through your favorite glassware, “20 Cent Blues” slogs out its march true to the name and “Tied” is brash even compared to what’s around it. Only hiccup so far as I can tell is “Kvng Fvzz,” which starts with a Charlie Chan-kind of guitar line and sees the vocals adopt a faux Chinese accent that’s well beyond the bounds of what one might consider ‘ill-advised.’ Cool record otherwise, but that is a significant misstep to make on a third LP.

Fvzz Popvli on Facebook

Retro Vox Records on Bandcamp

 

Formula 400, Divination

Formula 400 Divination

San Diegan riffslingers Formula 400 come roaring back with their sophomore long-player, Divination, following three (long) years behind 2020’s Heathens (review here), bringing in new drummer Lou Voutiritsas for a first appearance alongside guitarist/vocalists Dan Frick and Ian Holloway and bassist Kip Page. With a clearer, fuller recording, the solos shine through, the gruff vocals are well-positioned in the mix (not buried, not overbearing), and even as they make plays for the anthemic in “Kickstands Up,” “Rise From the Fallen” and closer “In Memoriam,” the lack of pretense is one of the elements most fortunately carried over from the debut. “Rise From the Fallen” is the only cut among the nine to top five minutes, and it fills its time with largesse-minded riffing and a hook born out of ’90s burl that’s a good distance from the shenanigans of opener “Whiskey Bent” or the righteous shove of the title-track. They’re among the best of the Ripple Music bands not yet actually signed to the label, with an underscored C.O.C. influence in “Divination” and the calmer “Bottomfeeder,” while “In Memoriam” filters ’80s metal epics through ’70s heavy and ’20s tonal weight and makes the math add up. Pretty dudely, but so it goes with dudes, and dudes are gonna be pretty excited about it, dude.

Formula 400 on Facebook

Animated Insanity Records website

No Dust Records website

 

Abanamat, Abanamat

Abanamat Abanamat

Each of the two intended sides of Abanamat‘s self-titled debut saves its longest song for its respective ending, with “Voidgazer” (8:25) capping side A and “Night Walk” (9:07) working a linear build from silence all the way up to round out side B and the album as a whole. Mostly instrumental save for those two longer pieces, the German four-piece recorded live with Richard Behrens at Big Snuff and in addition to diving back into the beginnings of the band in opener “Djinn,” they offer coherent but exploratory, almost-UncleAcidic-in-its-languidity fuzz on “Thunderbolt of Flaming Wisdom,” growing near-prog in their urgency with it on the penultimate “Amdest” but never losing the abiding mellow spirit that manifests out of the ether as “Night Walk” rounds out the album with synth and keys and guitar in a jazzy for-a-walk meander as the band make their way into a fuller realization of classic prog elements, enhanced by a return of the vocals after five minutes in. They’re there just about through the end, and fit well, but it demonstrates that Abanamat even on their debut have multiple avenues in which they might work and makes their potential that much greater, since it’s a conscious choice to include singing on a song or not rather than just a matter of no one being able to sing. The way they set it up here would get stale after a couple more records, but one hopes they continue to develop both aspects of their sonic persona, as any need to choose between them is imaginary.

Abanamat on Instagram

Interstellar Smoke Records store

 

Vvon Dogma I, The Kvlt of Glitch

Vvon Dogma I The Kvlt of Glitch

Led by nine-string bassist Frédérick “ChaotH” Filiatrault (ex-Unexpect), Montreal four-piece Vvon Dogma I are a progressive metal whirlwind, melodic in the spirit of post-return Cynic but no less informed by death metal, djent, rock, electronic music and beyond, the 10-song/45-minute self-released debut, The Kvlt of Glitch confidently establishes its methodology in “The Void” at the outset and proceeds through a succession marked by hairpin turns, stretches of heavy groove like the chorus of “Triangles and Crosses” contrasted by furious runs, dance techno on “One Eye,” melody not at all forgotten in the face of all the changes in rhythm, meter, the intermittently massive tones, and so on. Yes, the bass features as it inevitably would, but with the precision drumming of Kevin Alexander, Yoan MP‘s backflipping guitar and the synth and strings (at the end) of Blaise Borboën (also credited with production), a sound takes shape that feels like it could have been years in the making. Mind you I don’t know that it was or wasn’t, but Vvon Dogma I lead the listener through the lumbering mathematics of “Lithium Blue,” a cover of Radiohead‘s “2+2=5” and the grand finale “The Great Maze” with a sense of mastery that’s almost unheard of on what’s a first record even from experienced players. I don’t know where it fits and I like that about it, and in those moments where I’m so overwhelmed that I feel like my brain is on fire, this seems to answer that.

Vvon Dogma I on Facebook

Vvon Dogma I on Bandcamp

 

Orme, Orme

orme orme

Two sprawling slow-burners populate the self-titled debut from UK three-piece Orme. Delivered through Trepanation Recordings as a two-song 2LP, Orme deep-dives into ambient psych, doom, drone and more besides in “Nazarene” (41:58) and “Onward to Sarnath” (53:47), and obviously each one is an album unto itself. Guitarist/vocalist Tom Clements, bassist Jimmy Long (also didgeridoo) and drummer Luke Thelin — who’s also listed as contributing ‘silence,’ which is probably a joke, but open space actually plays a pretty large role in the impression Orme make — make their way into a distortion-drone-backed roller jam on “Nazarene,” some spoken vocals from Clements along the way that come earlier and more proclamatory in “Onward to Sarnath” to preface the instrumental already-gone out-there-ness as well as throat singing and other vocalizations that mark the rest of the first half-hour-plus, a heavy psych jam taking hold to close out around 46 minutes with a return of distortion and narrative after, like an old-style hidden track. It’s fairly raw, but the gravitational singularity of Orme‘s two forays into the dark are ritualistic without being cartoonishly cult, and feel as much about their experience playing as the listener’s hearing. In that way, it is a thing to be shared.

Orme on Facebook

Trepanation Recordings on Bandcamp

 

Artifacts & Uranium, The Gateless Gate

Artifacts & Uranium Gateless Gate

The UK-based experimentalist psych collaboration between Fred Laird (Earthling Society) and Mike Vest (Bong, et al) yields a third long-player as The Gateless Gate finds the duo branching out in the spirit of their 2021 self-titled and last year’s Pancosmology (review here) with instrumentalist flow and a three-dimensional sound bolstered by the various delays, organ, synth, and so on. Atop an emergent backbeat from Laird, “Twilight Chorus” (16:13) runs a linear trajectory bound toward the interstellar in an organic jam that comes apart before 12 minutes in and gives over to church organ and sampled chants soon to be countermanded by howls of guitar and distortion. Takest thou that. The B-side, “Sound of Desolation” (19:55), sets forth with a synthy wash that gives over to viol drone courtesy of Martin Ash, a gong hit marking the shift into a longform psych jam with a highlight bassline and an extended journey into hypnotics with choral keys (maybe?) arriving in the second half as the guitar begins to space out, fuzz soloing floating over a drone layer, the harder-hit drums having departed save for some residual backward/forward cymbal hits in the slow comedown. The world’s never going to be on their level, but Laird and Vest are warriors of the cosmos, and as their work to-date has shown, they have bigger fish to fry than are found on planet earth.

Artifacts & Uranium on Facebook

Riot Season Records website

Echodelick Records website

 

Rainbows Are Free, Heavy Petal Music

Rainbows Are Free Heavy Petal Music

What a show to preserve. Heavy Petal Music, while frustrating in that it’s new Rainbows Are Free and not a follow-up to 2019’s Head Pains, but as the Norman, Oklahoma, six-piece’s first outing through Ripple Music, the eight-song/43-minute live LP captures their first public performance in the post-pandemic era, and the catharsis is palpable in “Come” and “Electricity on Wax” early on and holds even as they delve into the proggier “Shapeshifter” later on, the force of their delivery consistent as they draw on material from across their three studio LPs unremitting even as their dynamic ranges between a piano-peppered bluesy swing and push-boogie like “Cadillac” and the weighted nod of “Sonic Demon” later on. The performance was at the 2021 Summer Breeze Music Festival in their hometown (not to be confused with the metal fest in Germany) and by the time they get down to the kickdrum surge backing the fuzzy twists of “Crystal Ball” — which doesn’t appear on any of their regular albums — the allegiance to Monster Magnet is unavoidable despite the fact that Rainbows Are Free have their own modus in terms of arrangements and the balance between space, psych, garage and heavy rock in their sound. Given Ripple‘s distribution, Heavy Petal Music will probably be some listeners’ first excursion with Rainbows Are Free. Somehow I have to imagine the band would be cool with that.

Rainbows Are Free on Facebook

Ripple Music website

 

Slowenya, Angel Raised Wolves b/w Horizontal Loops

slowenya angel raised wolves horizontal loops

It’s the marriage of complexity and heft, of melody and nod, that make Slowenya‘s “Angel Raised Wolves” so effective. Moving at a comfortable tempo on the drums of Timo Niskala, the song marks out a presence with tonal depth as well as a sense of space in the vocals of guitarist/synthesist Jan Trygg. They break near the midpoint of the 6:39 piece and reemerge with a harder run through the chorus, bassist Tapani Levanto stepping in with backing vocals before a roar at 4:55 precedes the turn back to the original hook, reinforcing the notion that there’s been a plan at work the whole time. An early glimpse at the Finnish psych-doom trio’s next long-player, “Angel Raised Wolves” comes paired with the shorter “Horizontal Loops,” which drops its chugging riff at the start as though well aware of the resultant thud. A tense verse opens to a chorus pretty and reverbed enough to remind of Fear Factory‘s earlier work before diving into shouts and somehow-heavier density. Growls, or some other kind of noise — I’m honestly not sure — surfaces and departs as the nod builds to an an aggressive head, but again, they turn back to where they came from, ending with the initial riff the crater from which you can still see right over there. The message is plain: keep an ear out for that record. So yes, do that.

Slowenya on Facebook

Karhuvaltio Records on Facebook

 

Elkhorn, On the Whole Universe in All Directions

Elkhorn On the Whole Universe in All Directions

Let’s start with what’s obvious and say that Elkhorn‘s four-song On the Whole Universe in All Directions, which is executed entirely on vibraphone, acoustic 12-string guitar, and drums and other percussion, is not going to be for everybody. The New York duo of Drew Gardner (said vibraphone and drums) and Jesse Sheppard (said 12-string) bring a particularly jazzy flavor to “North,” “South,” “East” and “West,” but there are shades of exploratory Americana in “South” that follow the bouncing notes of the opener, and “East” dares to hint at sitar with cymbal wash behind and rhythmic contrast in the vibraphone, a meditative feel resulting that “West” continues over its 12 minutes, somewhat ironically more of a raga than “East” despite being where the sun sets. Cymbal taps and rhythmic strums and that strike of the vibraphone — Elkhorn seem to give each note a chance to stand before following it with the next, but the 39-minute offering is never actually still or unipolar, instead proving evocative as it trades between shorter and longer songs to a duly gentle finish. Gardner formerly handled guitar, and I don’t know if this is a one-off, but as an experiment, it succeeds in bridging stylistic divides in a way that almost feels like showing off. Admirably so.

Elkhorn on Facebook

Centripetal Force Records website

Cardinal Fuzz Records BigCartel store

 

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The Obelisk Questionnaire: Giorgio Natangeli of Fvzz Popvli

Posted in Questionnaire on March 14th, 2023 by JJ Koczan

Giorgio Natangeli of FVZZ POPVLI (Photo by Andreas Steckmann)

The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.

Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.

Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.

The Obelisk Questionnaire: Giorgio Natangeli of Fvzz Popvli

How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?

We do what elevates us the most, possibly the best thing we are able to do after breathing. Music is the life we have chosen. There is a moment when you are a kid, Music speaks to you in a certain way, and at some point you feel like your paths connect and bond strongly. Once it has happened, there’s no going back, it’s a life-long relationship.

Describe your first musical memory.

When I was a young kid, well before learning to play any instrument, on weekend mornings, my parents would put up some CDs on the stereo with their favorite music (classical, Italian songwriters, classic rock). It was such a joy to wake up listening to that kind of music, and to this day, those are the sounds of my childhood, and the foundation of my music culture.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

My first European tour with FVZZ POPVLI, back in 2017. It has been my first experience playing outside my country and was unbelievable. The amount of joy bringing your music to other people from different countries is a life changing experience. Coming back to Rome felt like the end of a beautiful dream.

When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?

Being a musician, I’ve learnt that you should never hold a belief so firmly it incapacitates you to enjoy what’s around. Music, to me, is about being surprised, amazed by something you could never have expected. Being open and ready to be caught “off-guard” makes music and other artistic experiences so enjoyable and cathartic.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

To us, Art is both a language, and a craft. For an artist, making a living out of his/her ability to communicate with others is a primary need to fulfill. Over time, every experience lived by an artist will help him/her refine his/her craft, giving a powerful tool to achieve this goal.

How do you define success?

Success is being able to convey your message to the highest number of people. Art is a statement, so do not expect everyone to agree with you, but be honest to yourself and be the first to believe in what you do. It has nothing to do with money.

What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?

Hate, Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia, short-minded people seeing others as enemies and not as brothers or sisters.

Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.

Maybe our next record hehe.

What do you believe is the most essential function of art?

Conveying a message. It is a powerful ability and can be (and definitely has been in the past) misused or abused. Art by itself isn’t good, nor evil, but the context in which it is used is critical. Using Art just to control people, to produce violence, to anesthetize minds, to make money, all of this is a crime. Art is a product of the artist and his/her will to communicate with the world, and cannot be turned against humanity itself.

Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?

Friendship, seen as true relations between people, of all countries, all ethnicities. The way a human being is able to connect to others, is what makes us what we are, unique, wise, free.

[Photo by Andreas Steckmann.]

https://www.facebook.com/FvzzPopvli/
https://www.instagram.com/fvzzpopvli/
fvzzpopvli.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/RetroVoxRecords
https://www.instagram.com/retrovoxrecords/
https://retrovoxrecords.bandcamp.com/

Fvzz Popvli, III (2023)

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Fvzz Popvli Announce October Tour Dates

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 2nd, 2022 by JJ Koczan

In late 2019, with fervent momentum on their side following two initial full-lengths and a swath of live activity, Roman heavy rockers Fvzz Popvli announced they were leaving Heavy Psych Sounds and signing to Retro Vox Records for their next, third album. At the time, guitarist/vocalist Francesco “Pootchie” Pucci had this to say:

“After 2 albums, 10 European tours, 50.000km and more than 200 shows in 11 EU countries… We must say STOP! Now it’s time to rest and have a bit of time for ourselves… But the best thing is that a new adventure is coming, we gonna enter in the studio for our 3rd album in the end of January! We are very excited to announce our new label for this release: RETROVOX RECORDS an Italian based Rock’n’roll label, Bye Heavy Psych Sounds, thanks for all you did! More news soon! “

Well, it’s entirely possible that that album was done by the end of January 2020, but as I recall, Italy was a roiling shitshow of covid spread and lockdown mandates. They had a live album out last year, and started playing again as much as possible in June 2021, but as to the record, could be done, could not be started yet. I’d be interested to find out which, if either, the case may be.

But if they’re getting back to it for real, Fvzz Popvli‘s upcoming run will take up much of the band’s October and is probably a good way to do it. If they have other things to sort out in the wake of two of the shittiest years in the century-plus since the first audio was ever recorded for playback, well, they’re hardly alone in that.

From the ol’ PR wire:

Fvzz Popvli tour poster

FVZZ POPVLI will be finally back in Europe for a 15 gigs tour in October! Retrovox Records & MMV Booking are glad to announce this tour, which will cross four countries: Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Take a look at the following gigs list, on five of those we will have the pleasure to share the stage with CANNABINEROS from Berlin. Fellas stay tuned, this will be just an appetizer for what will come further!

06.10.2022 – I – Castelnuovo D’asola – Bolther’s Secret Show
07.10.2022 – Ch – Kreuzlingen – Horst Klub
08.10.2022 – Ch – Basel – Renee’
09.10.2022 – Ch – La-Chaux-De-Fonds – Bikini Test
11.10.2022 – D – Bielefeld – Potemkin Bar
12.10.2022 – D – Finsterwalde – L86*
13.10.2022 – D – Dresden – Chemiefabrik*
14.10.2022 – D – Potsdam – Archiv*
15.10.2022 – D – Hamburg – Bar 227*
16.10.2022 – D – Tba
19.10.2022 – D – Trier – Lucky’s Luke
20.10.2022 – D – Mannheim – Juha Schonau
21.10.2022 – D – Rosenheim – Asta
22.10.2022 – a – Kufstein – Vibes
23.10.2022 – I – San Zenone Degli Ezzelini – Punky Reggae
*shows with Cannabineros

FVZZ POPVLI ARE:
FRANCESCO “POOTCHIE” PUCCI – Guitar and Voice (BEESUS, The Wisdoom)
DATIO PALATIO – Bass (The Anthony’s Vinyls)
George – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/FvzzPopvli/
fvzzpopvli.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/RetroVoxRecords
https://retrovoxrecords.bandcamp.com/

Fvzz Popvli, Live in Hamburg (2021)

Fvzz Popvli, Magna Fvzz (2018)

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Fvzz Popvli Releasing Live in Hamburg Jan. 29; “Stamps are For… Smile” Video Posted

Posted in Whathaveyou on January 8th, 2021 by JJ Koczan

I’ll spare you — this time — the diatribe about how crucial live albums have become in a time when live music itself feels like a thing of the past. Rome’s Fvzz Popvli traveled to Hamburg, Germany, in Sept. 2019 to support their 2018 second album, Magna Fvzz (review here), and the show was recorded. I’m sure when it happened they didn’t think much about it. There’s video as well, and you can see the set opener “Stamps are For… Smile” at the bottom of this post. The lesson here? If you’re in a band, document as much as you can. Recording sessions, rehearsals, demos, live shows, everything. Get as much as you can, because you never know when you’re going to want it.

Maybe never. Or maybe some crazy weird shit will happen all over the world and instead of releasing your third album and touring the whole year like you planned, you’ll be stuck at home in a quarantine situation. Bottom line is I bet Pootchie and company are pretty happy those cameras showed up to MS Stubnitz.

Release date is Jan. 29. Here’s PR wire info:

Fvzz Popvli LIVE IN HAMBURG COVER

FVZZ POPVLI PROUDLY PRESENT: LIVE IN HAMBURG!

Fvzz Popvli are proud to announce the release for their first live album ever!

The world covid crisis unfortunately forced us to reschedule our 3rd album for an unknown date. We took the decision to release our first live album in a moment where live concerts aren’t possible, just to remind all of you how much live music is the fuel for our beloved scene.

Live in Hamburg: Eight killer tracks of our live concert produced by Desert Hazard Crew and recorded inside a fishing boat named MS Stubnitz, a legendary venue docked in the Nord Elbe river in Hamburg (D)! This live album will be a digital release exclusive for Bandcamp, coming out Friday the 29th of January 2021.

TRACK LIST
Stamps Are For… Smile
Hashish
Mastvrbation
White Fish
Napoleon
Lost In Time
Shamother
Rvmpeltvm

In the meantime enjoy the first “Live in Hamburg” video of Stamps Are For… Smile the second track of our first album “Fvzz Dei”.

AVAILABLE FROM 29th JANUARY ON FVZZPOPVLI.BANDCAMP.COM

FVZZ POPVLI ARE:
FRANCESCO “POOTCHIE” PUCCI – Guitar and Voice (BEESUS,The Wisdoom)
DATIO PALATIO – Bass (The Anthony’s Vinyls)
George – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/FvzzPopvli/
fvzzpopvli.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/RetroVoxRecords
https://retrovoxrecords.bandcamp.com/

Fvzz Popvli, “Stamps are For… Smile” Live in Hamburg

Fvzz Popvli, Magna Fvzz (2018)

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Fvzz Popvli Sign to Retro Vox Records for New Album

Posted in Whathaveyou on December 6th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

As Rome’s Fvzz Popvli round out what was a pretty successful year supporting their 2018 album, Magna Fvzz (review here) — most recently on a Fall tour produced by Heavy Psych Sounds — they’re announcing a new label home for what will be their third full-length. Pootchie Popvli & Co. will take their fuzzly — or is that fvzzly? — ways to Retro Vox Records, based out of Parma, in Italy, after taking a bit of time to catch their breath after touring and what was a pretty whirlwind couple of initial years for the band. I think their records were sleepers compared to some of Heavy Psych Sounds‘ higher profile releases, but they both delivered, the second even more than the first. No matter which outlet has its stamp on there, the third one will be something to look forward to, whenever it will happen along.

Retro Vox — who have worked in the past with countrymen Gorilla Pulp, Caronte, Whiskey Ritual, Da Captain Trips and others — and Pootchie both offered comment on the alliance:

fvzz popvli

Fvzz Popvli sign with Retro Vox Records!!!

Pootchie of Fvzz Popvli on the signing:

“After 2 albums, 10 European tours, 50.000km and more than 200 shows in 11 EU countries… We must say STOP! Now it’s time to rest and have a bit of time for ourselves… But the best thing is that a new adventure is coming, we gonna enter in the studio for our 3rd album in the end of January! We are very excited to announce our new label for this release: RETROVOX RECORDS an Italian based Rock’n’roll label, Bye Heavy Psych Sounds, thanks for all you did! More news soon! “

Carlo Izzo, A&R Retro Vox Records on the signing:

“I met Mr. Pootchie at Duna Jam years ago and soon was a blast. We had a lot of fun. Even if the band was under licence with another label I always try to help ’em with booking and with suggestions on production. That’s why I think this is a sort of natural transition.”

FVZZ POPVLI ARE:
FRANCESCO “POOTCHIE” PUCCI – Guitar and Voice (BEESUS,The Wisdoom)
DATIO PALATIO – Bass (The Anthony’s Vinyls)
George – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/FvzzPopvli/
fvzzpopvli.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/RetroVoxRecords
https://retrovoxrecords.bandcamp.com/

Fvzz Popvli, Magna Fvzz (2018)

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Fvzz Popvli Announce Fall European Tour; Playing Heavy Psych Sounds Fest and More

Posted in Whathaveyou on July 26th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

fvzz popvli tour banner

And so the fuzz of the people return to the people. Rome’s Fvzz Popvli are set to head out for a month-long string of dates in support of their 2018 album, Magna Fvzz (review here). They also toured Europe last Fall, right around the time of the album release, and though they’ve only been around a couple of years, have done numerous Euro stints behind their two records. This time around, they’ll play Berlin Swamp Fest in Germany as well as Desert Rock Fest and Heavy Psych Sounds Fest in their hometown after the tour has wrapped, where they’ll join Black Rainbows and Giobia, whose Bazu guests on the 12-minute space rocker title-track of Fvzz Popvli‘s latest outing. Should be a fun family reunion-type event, if you happen to be in Rome to catch it.

All the dates were posted on the social medias thusly:

fvzz popvli tour poster

FVZZ POPVLI – European Tour

Greetings brothers and sisters from the whole psych scene, FVZZ POPVLI will be back in europe for a huge 20 gigs tour presenting MAGNA FVZZ between September and October! This tour will cross seven countries: Italy, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France and Spain.

The band will also have the honour to take part in three of the best festivals in the scene: Berlin Swamp Fest 2019 w/ DŸSE & Many More, Tabernas Desert Rock Fest Spain w/ Zodiac, Karma To Burn, Rotor, Powder for Pigeons, Avon, Daily Thompson and many more, and in the end Heavy Psych Sounds Fest // Roma w/ Giobia, BLACK RAINBOWS and more! Take a look to the following gigs list!

12.09.2019 – IT – ZEROBRANCO – ALTROQUANDO
13.09.2019 – A – GRAZ – CLUB Q / Stonedepartment
14.09.2019 – A – WIEN – Café Carina / Stoner Rock Night
15.09.2019 – D – NUREMBERG – Projekt 31
17.09.2019 – D – LEIPZIG – Black Label
18.09.2019 – D – HAMBURG – MS Stubnitz
19.09.2019 – D – BERLIN – Berlin Swamp Fest
20.09.2019 – DK – COPENHAGEN – Lygtens Kro
21.09.2019 – NL – HENGELO – INNOCENT
22.09.2019 – B – GAND – Den Drummer
25.09.2019 – F – SOULVACHE – Le Papier Buvard
26.09.2019 – F – RENNES – 17B
27.09.2019 – F – LORIENT – Le Galion
28.09.2019 – F – POITIERS – Le Cluricaume
02.10.2019 – F – TOULOUSE – La Cave à Rock
03.10.2019 – EH – BERRIZ – Topa Taberna
04.10.2019 – ES – MADRID – Trashcan Music Club – TCMC
05.10.2019 – ES – TABERNAS – DESERT ROCK FEST
06.10.2019 – ES – VALENCIA – EL ANTRO
12.10.2019 – IT – ROMA – Heavy Psych Sounds Fest // Roma

Photo: Valentina De Santis
Poster Art: Riccardo Alexander

FVZZ POPVLI ARE:
FRANCESCO “POOTCHIE” PUCCI – Guitar and Voice (BEESUS,The Wisdoom)
DATIO PALATIO – Bass (The Anthony’s Vinyls)
George – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/FvzzPopvli/
fvzzpopvli.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/
www.heavypsychsounds.com/

Fvzz Popvli, Magna Fvzz (2018)

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Heavy Psych Sounds Fest Rome Set for Oct. 12 with Black Rainbows & More

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 30th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

heavy psych sounds logo

Another day, another Heavy Psych Sounds Fest announced. This time it’s in the label’s hometown of Rome, and Black Rainbows will headline a lineup that also features GiöbiaHigh ReeperCrypt Trip and Fvzz Popvli. The fest is set for Oct. 12, which puts it smack in the middle of a busy season in Europe, but with that lineup, they shouldn’t have any trouble getting heads in the room, whatever else might be going on at the time — it’s Keep it Low in Munich, which is plenty far enough away so that the two aren’t competing. Another good bill and another cool show for Heavy Psych Sounds, which already this year has done or announced fests on the US West Coast (a tour), Germany (Berlin and Dresden), and Austria. Shit is busy and logistically complex.

I’ll be honest, I’m having trouble keeping up with it all, but here’s what I think is the latest:

heavy psych sounds fest rome poster

Heavy Psych Sounds Records & Booking and Metamorphosis are really proud to announce the HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST – ROME

– Artwork by Branca Studio –

!!! We are so stoked to announce the very first edition of the HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST in ROME !!!

feat.
BLACK RAINBOWS
GIÖBIA
HIGH REEPER
CRYPT TRIP
FVZZ POPVLI

– SATURDAY 12th OCTOBER – TRAFFIC LIVE CLUB –

Headquartered in Rome, Italy, Heavy Psych Sounds specializes in presenting the best artists in the global heavy psych, doom, fuzz blues and space rock realms, and their Festival- series will be no exception, spotlighting the ever-growing label’s dedication to its craft. While the first HPS Fests were held in Italy, the label has since extended its live reach into the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria and even the USA: The underground cult label is not only THE adress for all heavy rock record collectors, but has also become an important live and festival institution; with a brisk participation from heavy music fans all over the world.

Now, Heavy Psych Sounds is set to bring the ROCK to Rome with the just-announced special shows taking place this October 12th!

In cooperation with Metamorphosis, the very first HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST in ROME will feature bands like Black Rainbows, GiÖbia, High Reeper, Crypt Trip and Fvzz Popvli !!!

TICKETS PRESALE (active soon)
www.heavypsychsounds.com

official Facebook event here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/624855984662136/

https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS
http://www.heavypsychsounds.com
https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com

Black Rainbows, Pandaemonium (2018)

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Fvzz Popvli European Tour Starts Oct. 4

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 11th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

fvzz popvli

They’re going here, they’re going there. They’re going to Germany, like you do. Italian scuzzrockers Fvzz Popvli are set to release their second album, Magna Fvzz (review here), on Oct. 5 through Heavy Psych Sounds, and the night before, they’ll begin a run of more than three weeks’ worth of shows to support the record. You’ll note that this is the “European Tour Part I,” which means there’s a “Part II” lurking somewhere on the horizon.

I’d guess probably in the Spring if you were going to make me guess — which would be an odd thing for you to do — but it’s further evidence in any case of the band’s will to tour as they have done basically since they got going a couple years ago. They might not stop with “Part II,” either.

The PR wire has it accordingly:

fvzz popvli tour

FVZZ POPVLI – MAGNA FVZZ EUROPEAN TOUR part I

Magical Mistery Van & Heavy Psych Sounds are proud to announce the first leg of the “Magna Fvzz European Tour” from October 4th to 28th in Italy, Germany, Swtizerland, Netherlands, Austria and France. Ready to catch FVZZ POPVLI on the road?!? Check their routing here!

Raised in Rome by Pootchie and Datio in A.D. MMXVI, with the conception of powertrio a direct and rough way for bring heavy fuzzy riffs. Their sound melt Black Sabbath style heavy riffs with the attitude of the roughest garagepunk bands like The Stooges, adding the psychedelia from 70’s getin’ their own style! The band released and promote an “EP” in May 2017 with a tour in Italy, Switzerland and Germany.

In June 2017 them become a part of the Heavy Psych Sounds Records (Brant Bjork, Nick Olivieri, Fatso Jetson, Yawning Man, Nebula, Giöbia, Duel, Black Rianbows.) roster for promote their first album “FVZZ DEI” out in September 2017, the album has brought the band on more than 70 european stages in 8 countries gettin’ the chanche to play in the mysterious DUNA JAM. In June 2018 the band recorded their 2nd album “MAGNA FVZZ”, will be released October 5th !!

04.10.2018 – I – Verona – Stoner Mafia Party
05.10.2018 – A – Graz – Club Q
06.10.2018 – A – Bludenz – Villa K
07.10.2018 – CH – Basel – Renèe
09.10.2018 – CH – Biel – Labiu
10.10.2018 – F – Stuttgart – Keller Klub
11.10.2018 – F – Nancy – The Riveter
12.10.2018 – F – Rouen – Les 3 Pièces
13.10.2018 – NL – Hengelo – The Sound – Innocent
15.10.2018 – D – Osnabruck – Dirty + Dancing
16.10.2018 – D – Dresden – Elbsludge
17.10.2018 – D – Leipzig – Black Label
18.10.2018 – D – Berlin – Toast Hawaii
19.10.2018 – D – Nuremberg – Projekt 31
20.10.2018 – D – Zittau – Bunter Hund
21.10.2018 – A – Wien – Weberknekt
23.10.2018 – D – Rosenheim – Asta
24.10.2018 – CH – La-Chaux-De-Fonds – Lac
25.10.2018 – CH – Geneve – D’urgence Disk
26.10.2018 – F – Roquebrune Cap Martin – Secret Show
27.10.2018 – IT – Parma – Splinter Club
28.10.2018 – IT – Bologna – Mikasa

FVZZ POPVLI ARE:
FRANCESCO “POOTCHIE” PUCCI – Guitar and Voice (BEESUS,The Wisdoom)
DATIO PALATIO – Bass (The Anthony’s Vinyls)
George – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/FvzzPopvli/
fvzzpopvli.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/
www.heavypsychsounds.com/

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