The Orb, featuring Lee "Scratch" Perry:
The Orbserver in the Star House

Interesting collaboration. Disc one is basically the Orb at their dubbiest with Perry sing-talking over the top. I'd say the Orb sound is definitely the dominant flavor here. It really is The Orb "featuring" Perry, not something where he significantly changes their sound outside of the vocal bits. Disc 2 is all instrumentals, haven't gotten there yet. Curious if Perry's musical presence is felt much at all there. So far though a really good listen.


I may wanna take a bit of that back, as the disc goes on, you hear Perry's influence more. It still leans more to the Orb side of things overall, but some real organic rhythms that sound way more Perry than Orb bubble up into the mix by the time it's all over and they do play with a couple classic Perry rhythms on a couple covers, Police & Thieves getting drug out once again.

The Lonely Wild - Dead End EP // Slowdive - Pygmalion

Discoverer: Tunnels

After really digging their Build a Base tape last year, I've been looking forward to this one. It's more of the same with a bit more polish. Hazy electronic beats with strong melodies and a very laid back feel. Always nice when you are very much anticipating something and it lives up to expectations.

Went to a used CD shoppe in Monterey last night and browsed. Found a live Southern Culture On The Skids disc that I didn't have, Live at the El Sol for $7. They're on Amazon starting at $14, so that was a good find (highest seller wants $76?!? Lol.)


Only a couple left and I'll have 'em all. Don't know why, some sort of completist thing.

Also picked up The Katies for a buck. Haven't listened yet, but AllMusic likes it.

The Murfreesboro, TN trio the Katies -- consisting of brothers Jason and Josh Moore on guitar and drums, and Gary Welch on vocals -- takes the best elements of melodic hard rock and alternative pop to create an arresting debut. Melding the sonic punch of bands like Stone Temple Pilots and the pop sense of the Beatles, their first release, produced by Joe Baldridge, is an infectious brew. Lead singer Welch possesses the same pop-perfect vocals of Robin Zander and the music manages to sound both raw and polished at the same time. "Powerkiss," the lead-off track, is the first of many memorable cuts with its "do I, do I, do I...do I need you" hook. The single "Noggin' Poundin' (Tongue-Tied & Underspoken)" is a sheer sonic delight with its chugging riffs and buzzsaw guitars. The less frenetic numbers are also a flat-out success. "Shisiedo" features a dreamy, lovelorn lyric delivered by Welch with urgency, and "Jesus Pick" combines the moody, spacy feel with wry lyrics advising Jesus against returning to create a tour de force. An inspired and significant release made more impressive by the fact that it's the Katies' first album.

Hauschka - Salon des Amateurs (remixes)