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VOLCANO THE BEAR, "GUESS THE BIRDS"
For connoisseurs of uncommon music the Lactamese 10" series fromPortland based Beta-Lactam Ring Records has been quite a treat. Thedozen records, each limited to 500 copies, come on direct metalmastered audiophile vinyl so they sound as great as they look. 'GuessThe Birds' is the 8th installment and surely one of the mostanticipated. It's of an attractive dim gray vinyl and comes with a Dadameets Dali cover, big glossy inserts, signed art postcard and labelstickers. Dada meets Dali is probably a good way to describe VTB'smusic too. Track titles will give you some idea: "Urchins At the Harp","There In the House of the Moon", "Millipede for the Little Boy", "Allthe Paint I Can Breathe". The six tracks are relatively subdued andsomewhat sluggishly unfold. Sounds include ambient shuffling about,some odd vocalizations and intercom talk, snoring, electronics andplenty of blown, bowed, plucked and struck stuff. Arabic overtones arepresent on a few songs thanks to vocal wailing, contemplative droningand percussion pastiche. Yes, it's uncommon music alright, but it's farfrom difficult listening. In fact, it's rather pleasant and alwaysinteresting. Coming soon is 'The Mountains Among Us' LP, also fromBeta-Lactam.-
WZBC's 30th Anniversary Bash
It's no wonder that one of the world's most internationally renowned college radio stations is based in one of the world's most internationally renowned area for its colleges. Based in Boston, WZBC celebrated 30 years of groundbreaking radio last year (beat that, Resonance!). This week is the irregular pledge week and to support them, a video document of the 30th Anniversary Bash has been assembled from footage taken by students and DJs, edited by Jon Whitney and current WZBC Operations Director Amar Ashar. Performers at the bash included Keith Fullerton Whitman, Quasi, Lightning Bolt, Out Hud, Due Process, Jackie-O Motherfucker, Sunburned Hand of the Man, Tunnel of Love, Landing, Bardo Pond, Christopher Willits, No Neck Blues Band, Hella, and Nautical Almanac (many appear in this mini-documentary). Watch the video, then tune in afterwards at www.wzbc.org (or tune in if you're local) and hear for yourself! Support innovative non-commercial radio. Thanks!13 Minutes, Quicktime Streaming Video
