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World in Sound Offers Free Voyage through the Ages Sampler

Posted in Whathaveyou on January 10th, 2014 by JJ Koczan

There’s little I’m going to argue against less than free psychedelia, and if you’re in the mood, German imprint World in Sound have a new compilation called Voyage through the Ages that plots a pretty ambitious cosmic course. The mission? To summarize the relationship between modern psychedelia and that of the earliest days of the movement, or as they put it on the cover of the thing, to “Witness Yesterday Becoming Today!”

It’s a cool idea, and they’ve made it easy with each included song having not only the year of its release right in the title, but also the artist/band’s country of origin, so you get a sense of flavor not only of eras, but different places in Europe and the US and how mind-expansion was treated where and when. In both modern stuff like Doctor Cyclops and Buddha Sentenza and classic-era inclusions like Cosmic Dealer and Mystic Siva, they do about as much as one could ask without just making a 60-hour release that actually includes everything, and again, when it comes to free psychedelia, you’re not going to hear me complain.

That Doctor Cyclops is especially notable for being a 2014 — i.e. forthcoming — release. It’s one of three on there, alongside Prisma Circus and The Rising Sun Experience, who just happen to lead the thing off. Funny how that works out. Seems the label get to give a little glimpse at the future as well as the past and the present here, so I guess Voyage through the Ages lives up to its title all the more:

 

World In Sound invites you to a trip in time from 1969 till today with 13 international heavy psychedelic artists from the WIS catalogue.

Feel free to download and share this timeless and mindblowing 72 min piece of music!

Artists include The Lone Crows, Prisma Circus, Orcus Chylde, Cosmic Dealer and many more…

https://soundcloud.com/world-in-sound/sets/voyage-through-the-ages
http://www.worldinsound.com/

Various Artists, Voyage through the Ages (2013)

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Doctor Cyclops Release Video for “Angel Saviour in the Cannibal House”

Posted in Bootleg Theater on December 30th, 2013 by JJ Koczan

Italian trio Doctor Cyclops debuted in 2012 with the full-length Borgofondo and in February, they’ll follow that album with their second offering, Oscuropasso, keeping loyal to a heavy ’70s methodology while not at all shying away from getting weird in a longer jam like that within the cumbersomely-named “Angel Saviour in the Cannibal House.” Near as I can tell, that’s not the title of a horror movie from 1973, but it probably should’ve been. Either way, Doctor Cyclops give the song — which also appeared on their first EP in 2010 — a natural treatment in the video, and then the masks go on and there’s a whole bunch of freakoutery happening and gasmasks, running through the woods, etc.

Sounds like a party at the Cannibal House. Oscuropasso will be out through the varied and venerable World in Sound and there’s plenty in the clip below to give a sampling of what the three-piece of vocalist/guitarist Christian Draghi, bassist Francesco Filippini and drummer Alessandro Dallera have to offer with the record, which obviously includes no shortage of riffs and classic atmospheres.

Enjoy:

Doctor Cyclops, “Angel Saviour in the Cannibal House” official video

Doctor Cyclops releases their new video

Welcome to the roots of life and witchcraft, welcome to Doctor Cyclops’ mountains. Born in the middle of nowhere in northern Italy, the power trio is ready to unleash its 2nd LP “Oscuropasso” next february.

Their first video for this album will take you to the Cannibal House, following the steps of Kaspar Hauser and all the people lost in a society they can’t understand anymore. Shot like a 70s horror film, the video for Angel Saviour In The Cannibal House is a great introduction to the atmosphere and grooves of “Oscuropasso” : life, death, sorcery, goblins and rotten trolls.

Doctor Cyclops on Thee Facebooks

Doctor Cyclops’ website

World in Sound

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Samsara Blues Experiment Fifth Anniversary Tour Underway Now

Posted in Whathaveyou on November 11th, 2013 by JJ Koczan

Last Friday, Samsara Blues Experiment began their fifth anniversary tour. It’s also the four-piece’s first stint in support of their new album, Waiting for the Flood (review here). That’s particularly  noteworthy first because the record is awesome — there, I just saved you reading that whole review — and second, because they’ve also made the whole thing available for stream, download, etc., through Bandcamp. I grabbed the player for that and tacked it down under the tour dates below in case you haven’t yet had a chance to listen, because it’s a winner and I dig it and hope you will as well.

Way back in 2009 (maybe it was late 2008), these guys came to the West Coast of the US for a tour. I keep hoping they get to come back, and when they do they hit the East, but until then at least they’re getting out in Europe on the regular. Sound of Liberation sent this update down the PR wire:

Berlin-based psychedelic stoner rock band SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT celebrates this year its 5th anniversary !!

According to that, they are going to release in a very few days their 3rd album “Waiting For The Flood”. Available from November 14th on via Electric Magic / World In Sound, this album is already considered as their best and most accomplished work yet !! This release goes with a 3-weeks European tour !!

11.11 (DK) Copenhagen – Stengade 30
12.11 (GER) Hamburg – Hafenklang
13.11 (GER) Dortmund – Kaktus Farm
14.11 (BEL) Brussels – Magasin 4
15.11 (UK) London – Borderline
17.11 (FR) Paris – Glazart
18.11 (FR) Bordeaux – Bootleg
19.11 (SP) San Sebastian – Bukowski
20.11 (POR) Oporto – Hard Club
21.11 (SP) Léon – El Gran Café
22.11 (SP) Madrid – Barracudas
23.11 (SP) Barcelona – Plataforma
24.11 (FR) Chambery – Brin de Zinc
25.11 (GER) Freiburg – White Rabbit
26.11 (CH) Zurich – Mascotte
27.11 (GER) Munich – Feierwerk
28.11 (AT) Vienna – Arena
29.11 (AT) Steyr – Kulturhaus Roeda
30.11 (GER) Berlin – Cassiopeia

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Samsara-Blues-Experiment/118507736187
http://samsarabluesexperiment.bandcamp.com/

Samsara Blues Experiment, Waiting for the Flood (2013)

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Samsara Blues Experiment, Waiting for the Flood: All the Brahmins Sing

Posted in Reviews on October 22nd, 2013 by JJ Koczan

The sonic adventure of Samsara Blues Experiment continues on their third full-length, Waiting for the Flood. Released by the German heavy psych foursome through guitarist/vocalist Christian Peters‘ own Electric Magic Records in cooperation with World in Sound, the new album makes yet another surprising turn for a band that seems increasingly unwilling to be pinned down by expectation. Their last outing was 2011’s righteously moving Revelation and Mystery (review here), which broke from the path that their 2008 demo (review here) and subsequent 2009 debut, Long Distance Trip (review here), appeared to have set, moving away from some — not all — of the exploratory, jam-it-out feel and toward a more traditional, classically heavy rocking approach, toying with motoring riffs and straightforward grooves more than they had to that point while holding onto the basic psychedelic roots that on Waiting for the Flood seem to have returned to the fore. Certainly middle cuts “Waiting for the Flood” and “Don’t Belong” particularly have their driving moments, but the feel of the LP overall and even the manner of its presentation feed into a psych ideal. Waiting for the Flood is comprised of four extended tracks:

1. “Shringara” (13:32)
2. “Waiting for the Flood” (10:38)
3. “Don’t Belong” (11:58)
4. “Brahmin’s Lament” (12:25)

And each track showcases some measure of personality separate from the others while also keeping an exceedingly well-honed full-length flow for the total 49-minute duration. Because one can put Waiting for the Flood into a narrative of re-emerging psychedelic vibe,  it would be easy to look at it as a return to the band’s beginnings, but as they showed on earlier-2013’s Rockpalast live album (review here), those elements were never completely out of their sound. Things in the real world are never as cut and dry as “they were doing one thing now they’re doing another,” and though Waiting for the Flood, which was recorded by Samsara Blues Experiment bassist Richard Behrens at Big Snuff Studio in Berlin, doesn’t lack for otherworldly sensibilities, it’s more of a shift in how varying elements are blended than a radical turn in overall approach.

Those who’ve encountered Samsara Blues Experiment before will likely rejoice at the Eastern-style sonics that Waiting for the Flood is quick to bask in and the immediate meditative feel of “Shringara,” which gracefully unfolds its beginnings as though waking up and having a stretch. Not tentative, but not rushing. Behind Peters‘ vocals, a light wash of sitar drone, layers of his and Hans Eiselt‘s guitar interweave with a steady bassline from Behrens and the consistently fluid drumming of Thomas Vedder, who’s proven adaptable to whatever changes Peters and company might call forth, both moment to moment and over the course of their overarching creative progression. “Shringara,” which is the longest song on the record (immediate points), is sweetly toned and lyrically rich, the opening line, “Hey come my lady won’t you move a little closer to me,” does little to give a full notion of the sonic breadth or even that of the lyrical concepts at work, the song’s title being derived from the Hindu demonstration of romantic love in the arts. A fitting title for what arises in the varied and increasingly intense verses, and the music mirrors as well, an early jam rising to a thickened peak by the halfway point only to gradually step down and hit into a kind of stoner semi-shuffle as prelude to the last verse and capstone solo. The opener is less based around verse/chorus tradeoffs than “Don’t Belong” or the finale of “Brahmin’s Lament,” but it sets the tone well so that the jazzy, key-laden intro to the title-track comes in smooth and serene amid the warm rhythm and engages the listener rather than repels as self-indulgent or noodling for its own sake. Almost three minutes have passed in that jam before Peters enters for the first verse of “Waiting for the Flood,” but the groove is its own excuse for being, and one would hardly ask anything else of Samsara Blues Experiment, whose strengths are just as likely to come forward in the chemistry of those explorations as in the crispness of a memorable hook.

Read more »

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Samsara Blues Experiment Announce November Release for Waiting for the Flood

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 11th, 2013 by JJ Koczan

In addition to adding a date to their previously-announced fifth anniversary tour, continually expansive German heavy psych four-piece Samsara Blues Experiment have unveiled a November release for their third album, Waiting for the Flood. The new outing will mark the first studio LP the band will issue through their own Electric Magic Records, though the Live at Rockpalast live album (review here) came out via the imprint earlier in 2013.

Samsara Blues Experiment‘s last offering, 2011’s Revelation and Mystery (review here), saw them solidifying from their prior jammy wanderings into driving heavy rock territory, still with an air of the ethereal, but offsetting that with more crunch than they’d yet shown. Between guitarist/vocalist Christian Peters‘ solo-project, Soulitude, released its So Came Restless Night (review here) debut earlier this year (hopefully not as a one-off), and the sitar flourish in the swirling sample of “Brahmin’s Lament” below, I don’t dare guess what Waiting for the Flood might have in store.

Here’s the artwork, info and tour routing, courtesy of Sound of Liberation:

*** SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT ***

SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT’s new album “Waiting for the Flood” is now recorded and should be released in NOVEMBER 2013 on their own label Electric Magic / World In Sound, according to three weeks of touring Europe including countries like England, Portugal, France, Sweden, Norway, Germany and some more.

It was recorded at Big Snuff Studio Berlin and mastered at Calyx Mastering. Coverartwork by Zdzislaw Beksinski.

08.11 (SWE) Vaexjo – Kafe Deluxe
09.11 (NOR) Oslo – Betong
10.11 (SWE) Stockholm – Pussy A Go Go
11.11 (DK) Copenhagen – Stengade 30
12.11 (GER) Hamburg – Hafenklang
13.11 (GER) Dortmund – Kaktus Farm
14.11 (BEL) Brussels – Magasin 4
15.11 (UK) London – Borderline
17.11 (FR) Paris – Glazart
18.11 (FR) Bordeaux – Bootleg
20.11 (POR) Oporto – Hard Club
21.11 (SP) Léon – El Gran Café
22.11 (SP) Madrid – Barracudas
23.11 (SP) Barcelona – Plataforma
24.11 (FR) Chambery – Brin de Zinc
25.11 (GER) Freiburg – White Rabbit
26.11 (CH) Zurich – Mascotte
27.11 (GER) Munich – Feierwerk
28.11 (AT) Vienna – Arena
29.11 (AT) Steyr – Kulturhaus Roeda
30.11 (GER) Berlin – Cassiopeia

www.samsarabluesexperiment.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Samsara-Blues-Experiment/118507736187

Samsara Blues Experiment, “Brahmin’s Lament” teaser

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Friday Long-Player: The Flying Eyes at Rockpalast Crossroads 2011 (Full Set)

Posted in Bootleg Theater on November 23rd, 2012 by JJ Koczan

Seems only reasonable to cap this week with The Flying Eyes, from Baltimore, as I’m situated outside the city for the weekend. The Patient Mrs. has family down here and I’ve adjourned early on what if the noise level emanating from downstairs is an ongoing evening, but yeah, I’m pretty much done with the night. I left work early to head south, we’ve got the dog with us, and there will be plenty more geniality tomorrow. Honestly, I think last night’s Thanksgiving food coma carried over into today. No amount of coffee could make me stir, and all a few glasses of wine with leftovers for dinner did was increase my longing for the comforts of pajamas, bed and laptop glow. So here I am.

The Flying Eyes have a new album in the works that I’m looking forward to hearing, and in the meantime, this full set from Rockpalast Crossroads is full-on righteous. There are a few young bands right now that make me excited for the prospects of next-gen American heavy. The Flying Eyes are one. Eggnogg are another, and bands like Pilgrim and Elder seem like a given by now, but they’re both still plenty young as well. As long as everyone remembers to turn the bass up, things should be just fine. I’m excited to hear what The Flying Eyes have in store for their next record.

Kind of wild week, but I guess that happens with holidays. In any case, I took a little shit for it, but I was glad to get that Om review up yesterday. Coincidence has it that they’re playing the Ottobar in Baltimore tomorrow night, with Arbouretum opening. I’ve never seen Arbouretum, and I’d like to, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Kind of a hard sell to be like, “Hey, yeah, we’re coming to stay with you for the weekend but by the way we’re gonna skip out and go to a show and oh by the way do you mind watching our dog for the night she’s allergic to peanut butter okay thanks bye!” Seems a little scummier than I’m interested in being, at least this weekend.

Nonetheless, I’m hoping to get into town proper tomorrow for a bit in the afternoon, maybe get a crabcake sandwich and hit a record shop or two, as is my wont. I’ll be sure to report on any and all acquisitions, and otherwise, stay tuned next week for reviews of Kowloon Walled City‘s new one, Cultura Tres, and probably one or two others, as well as a High on Fire live review — they hit Philly on Thursday and I’m going — an interview with Dylan Desmond about the new Bell Witch album and a track stream of the Don Juan Matus/Oxido split 7″ that’s been out for a while but I wanted to feature all the same because it’s limited and because it’s cool.

And speaking of audio, it seems only fair to give you the early heads up that on Monday I’m going to be launching a live, 24-hour streaming radio station. The Obelisk Radio. I’ll have more details Monday and you’ll probably be able to check it out before then since I’ll be putting the links up and stuff over the weekend, but yeah, that’s happening. Thanks to Johnny Arzgarth, I got the hard drive that was the old K666 from StonerRock.com, Slevin essentially set up the stream, and I’ll be adding to it as we go. The first record that I put up today as a test — in addition to the hundreds already there — was Sungrazer‘s Mirador. Much more to come on that.

Until then, I hope you have a great and safe weekend. I will see you on the forum and back here Monday for a whole new league of shenanigans.

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Samsara Blues Experiment Take on UFO with “Midnight Boogie” Cover and Jam

Posted in Bootleg Theater on October 18th, 2012 by JJ Koczan

The B-side to a new limited 12″ EP that Samsara Blues Experiment will release to mark their fall tour, “Midnight Boogie” starts out with a UFO cover (that’d be the “Boogie” part, as in “Boogie for George” from the band’s 1970 debut, UFO 1), and the band promptly use the low-end groove of the track as a bed for an 11-minute jam. And well, it’s awesome. The Berlin outfit begin the aforementioned run of shows tomorrow, Oct. 19, and they’ll mostly be in their native Germany, but plan to hit up Belgium, Switzerland and Austria as well, sharing the stage along the way with Mars Red Sky, Cherry Choke and Kadavar.

Dates are below and more info is at Samsara Blues Experiment‘s website. Here’s the video for “Midnight Boogie,” which the band put together themselves using fest footage and clips from 1935’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Please enjoy:

Samsara Blues Experiment on tour

19.10.12 – GOETTINGEN, GER – STILBRUCH
20.10.12 – FRANKFURT/MAIN, GER – DAS BETT – Sky High Festival
21.10.12 – ERFURT, GER – MUSEUMSKELLER
22.10.12 – MUNICH, GER – FEIERWERK
23.10.12 – PRATTELN, CH – GALERY
24.10.12 – BONN,GER – HARMONIE – WDR Rockpalast
25.10.12 – BELGIUM – TO BE ARRANGED
26.10.12 – WUERZBURG, GER – IMMERHIN
27.10.12 – VIENNA, A – ARENA
03.11.12 – HALLE, GER – ROCKSTATION

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Samsara Blues Experiment Announce Fall Tour, New 12″ Vinyl and Rockpalast Appearance

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 20th, 2012 by JJ Koczan

German heavy psych jammers Samsara Blues Experiment have a slew of activities in the works before the end of 2012. Below, the band updates on the latest goings on in support of last year’s Revelation and Mystery (review here), including tour dates, a Rockpalast appearance and a new 12″ to be released through World in Sound. Check it:

We will be touring through Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium in October 2012. All dates can now be seen in our calendar.

There will be an appearance at Rockpalast Crossroads Festival and as some of you might already know this will be shown on German TV. Yes we´re nationwide…

We´ll also have a new release with us which will feature “Center Of The Sun” and a mixture of the UFO song “Boogie” combined with a new jam (summing up to 12 minutes), that will surely please your ears and minds.

This 12 inch maxi single will be limited to only 1000 copies on black and colored vinyl. Released through World In Sound Records with the beginning of the tour.

Et voila, this is the cover…

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