Andromeda – S/T (1969)

Reviewed by Rekti

Firstly, I have to point out that I hate Emerson, Lake & Palmer; Rick Wakeman’s solo albums; and slightly disowned post-Syd Barret Pink Floyd. These are because I grew up in the punk rock environment. Somehow I could sense difference between intensity and pretentiousness. Later usually could be seen on mega show of progressive rock band, who later will inspire super mega boring guitar shredders. Even though Andromeda was formed around that golden age of prog rock era, these guys are the different shit.

Secondly, the fact is that they disbanded after one album (to join Atomic Rooster later on) is so punk rock. I mean no one even noticed them at the time even to this day. Selling out was the least thing they could hold in mind for sure. Definitely, they were just about dropping some acid, crank the amp up, having some good laugh, and then went home for another job – for another day. Except for one guy who joined Atomic Rooster, he might’ve been tasted a lil’ bit of cock rock glories. But of course you could still argue that Atomic Rooster is so much better than ELP. Then again that’s a bit of different story, sorry.

Andromeda – Turn To Dust

Bootleg Without The Boots

words by Rekti

Some might say digital technology kills the music industry. With mp3’s rapidly replacing conventional phonograph, major labels and big time music businessmen still searching ways to obtain huge amount of money they once earned. But is it true what people saying about the internet, file sharing and all other gadget that they accused for killing music industry? Are they really a disaster for us? Should we call them a enemy?

Certainly not.

Whole bunch of kids now days are only into spending their parent’s money for metal bands T-shirts, tight jeans, tattoos, McBeth and eyeliners rather than collecting records and spending hours in front of the jukebox. They don’t even have a sense for research, what they favor are only what they have on their iPod which from their hipster friend they got the playlists from (Shit, too many they in on sentence).

What people doesn’t realise is that there’s a whole new adventurous possibility brought to you by the virtually unlimited world of internet. Thank god for the existing vinyl junkies and geeks that evolves them selves and their exponent from the younger generation. What they do is not too different from what they did for Led Zeppelin, when they hide the tape recorder inside their boots and talked all day about the band among their friends. This word of mouth culture still obviously preserved well not only by the former geeks but mainly by the whole new generation who share the same feeling for the love of music.

Since MTV is not access-able anymore these days, youtube could be the new way of promoting music videos, in a tradition of bootlegging of course. Bellow are the example of what they do. They might wear sneakers rather than boots and use cellphone rather than tape recorder. But they still are the bootleggers. These kids are the saviour. This century’s chirstined warrior with internet as their weapon.

I’d like to say the music industry may die, and I might even not caring about those limo riding CEO’s. But the music will be here and there forever until the end of the world.

Darker My Love – Darker My Love (Danger Bird 2007)

Reviewed by Rekti

The City of San Francisco has been associated with ‘Summer of Love’ along with ‘wear flower in your hair’ cliche for over 30 years now, it’s citizen apparently getting used with middle aged tourist wander around in the streets trying to find Grateful Dead’s head quarter for a typical photographic souvenir.

These cliche too, what made young musician alike whose paving their way in the music industry desperately tagged as ‘Psychedelic Rock Revivalist’, and made Jefferson Airplane feels like a slight bitter taste on their throat after vomiting in the morning, every time they compared to the name. Especially for Darker My Love, who is actually came from Los Angeles, CA.

Comparisons to the likes of Jeffersons (or other late 60’s band that affiliated with that Summer of Love) is not only too obvious but unobserved. It is an important fact that Tim Presley (duitar/vocal) and Andy Granelli (drums) are formerly a member of the band The Nerve Agents and Andy formerly plays drum for The Distillers, which fairly explain why I could slightly sense proto-punk element in Darker My Love sounds. What they have in conscience is apparently more of The Stooges than The Doors. And the group’s sound is often compared to bands such as Can and My Bloody Valentine which totally make sense.

Other fact which also amuse me a lot is that in Spring 2006, Presley and Barbato (bass/vocal) became members of Manchester (U.K.)-based group The Fall. They both are featured prominently on The Fall’s most recent album, Reformation Post TLC. This could be an indication of their broad musicianship and artistry.

Their self titled debut album is a combination of sleazy ambient pop with blistering fuzzy stomper. Their emotion flood fluently through several mood changes between songs. Some tracks are lazy and others are sometime extremely furious. That changes even happen in one song, if you listen to it firmly it could make you want to check in to the mental institution voluntarily. Their songs are not in the tradition of monotonic stoner rock of The Warlocks. They sounds ethereal but has a very compressed meanings in someway.

My personal favorites are ‘Fall’ and ‘Summer Is Here’. You could barely hear what Presley and Barbato singing about but it does make sense perfectly as melodic message rather than literal. It’s exactly the same feeling that you feel when you listen to ‘Touched’ by My Bloody Valentine.

You can download their S/T album for free :

Darker My Love – Darker My Love (album) [.zip]

Darker My Love – Summer Is Here (Video)

The Shaggs – Philosophy Of The World

http://www.shaggs.com/