A summer with Gorky’s – Middle Period

Gorky’s was a pretty prolific Welsh band that put out a slew of singles, EPs, and full lengths in their history. One of my favorite records came from what I call their “middle period”, when they moved away from the psychedelic extremities of the pop scene and started to play more traditional poppy music. Spanish Dance Troupe was released by Mantra Records in 1999, and saw the band refine their sound to a significant degree. The first single provided here, “Poodle Rockin’” still has the noise and chaos of the early records, but the record was really the voice of a band coming to terms with their more mature stage in their career. The second song here, which the title of the record is taken from, is one of the best British pop songs of the 90s. Doubt me? Well, see for yourself and get ready to be schooled.

Poodle Rockin'


Spanish Dance Troupe

The Drunken Draculas get drunk

Steven Nunez and I play in a band called The Drunken Draculas, and we have a recording diary going at the moment. you can check it out here, and proper songs will be up shortly.

Summer Sun and Coralie Clement

Coralie Clement plays that hip, French café music that every American Francoph is sure to appreciate. She has released a slew of records over the last 7 years, but her first is still my favorite. Sounding like a recent Woody Allen soundtrack, with a laidback and untailored lyrical approach, Coralie is worth a spin on an afternoon drinking wine and enjoying the sunny weather.

Here is a video from said record.

A summer with Gorky’s - Early Singles

With this being the summer of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, here are two tracks from the band's early period. As is the case with most of their early material, they are mostly in Welsh and have that psychedelic playfulness that is all in vogue these days.

Both of these songs can be found on a recent retrospective from the group, “20: Singles & EPs 94-96” released by Sanctuary Records but originally released in limited quantities on the Welsh label Ankst. You can buy it here, and download some of their early songs here.



(Merched Yn Neud Gwallt Ei Gilydd)


(Bocs Angelica)


And a video for "Merched...". Feel the early 90s British psychedelic pop!

Vasquez: Instrumental Scottish Tech. Rock

Most of the time, I'm a pop grinch -- unless it has three verses, a refrain, and a key change for the final chorus, I'm all but legally obliged to stay 500 feet away*. Vazquez are the kind of band that make me feel like the Grinch at end of the story, though, when his heart grows three sizes bigger and he wonders if there's room for technical rock in there, too. The Edinburgh three-piece's self-titled EP conjures up powerful-sounding metaphors: a particle collider, where hooks appear and vanish in milliseconds, or a subterfuge that churns a flood of sound into melodic lines. Mixed metaphors aside, these songs are dense but approachable, and schizophrenic in a way that rewards multiple listens.

*Which makes me more of a pop sex offender. 

Ital Tek - Babel

A great new video form Planet Mu's Ital Tek.

Valleymakers: Gorgeous Chamber Folk or Why Every Day Is Canada Day

It's OK to be jealous that they thought of a better band name than you, but be happy that they're putting it to good use. Valleymakers' self-titled EP is gorgeous and knows it. And, for all of the bands that come out of Montreal, they turn the lineage into something meaningful: Leonard Cohen's close-to-God sparseness gives way to lush, quietly cathartic orchestration. The best argument I've heard for virtuousity in a long time.

"It's My Body In The Tree You're Tearing" from Valleymakers EP, available to stream and purchase here.

Best Coast - Gone Again

A new track from Best Coast, with a free download here.

A summer with Gorky’s - Ffa Coffi Pawb

I have been on a Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci kick as of late, the Welsh psych/folk/pop group that was active in the the 90s and early 20002, and thought I would share some of the band's music as well as the precursors and projects that came about after the group's breakup.

The first up is Ffa Coffi Pawb (pronounced "Fuck off everyone" in English, but translates to the much more family friendly "Everybody's Coffee Beans") is an early super-group of sorts. Some of its members would go onto form Super Furry Animals, while Rhodri Puw would join an early version of Gorky's.

The band released a retrospective in 2004 that is readily available to buy and download, and has most of their best songs.

Gafael Yn Dynn


Breichiau Hir

Clout: All Girl South African Power Pop

Clout were a South African girl group best-known for their cover of the Righteous Brothers' album track "Substitute" in 1978. Their take is punchier and more dynamic than the original, with some neat piano flourishes. It went to #1 in South Africa and Europe but would have fit in nicely on American 70s AM radio, as well. The power pop sheen turns the song's hook into a wry, unromantic come on: "If she doesn't come back / I'll be your substitute / Whenever you want me."