BAND SHOW

Though I've had the band thing kicking around for a while I guess we haven't actually played Toronto too many times yet. Well come see us already! These guys are the greatest. We're playing with some groovy local characters, details below. DO SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC FROM WHERE YOU ARE FROM!

Slim Twig (Band)

Deloro

Man Made Hill

at The Garrison

FRI MAY 25

$7 / 9pm

CORMAC

'Holding himself close that he not escape from himself for he felt it over and over, that lightness that he took for his soul and which stood so tentatively at the door of his corporeal self. Like some light-footed animal that stood testing the air at the open door of a cage.'

SING SING

Sing Sing are apparently a label based in NY specializing in punk / new wave / power pop etc... Beyond that I can tell you that they are currently destroying the reissue game. I've only ordered a slim handful of records online over the past 6 months, but I've had to order 3 of their 4 latest LP reissues.

I wrote briefly about Clap's 'Have You Reached Yet' in my year end list earlier on this blog, equally good is The Leopards' 'Kansas City Slickers' (probably the best example of outright Kinks worship, maybe ever)... And while these two records are certainly minor gems of 70's American pop-roq, their latest release  - 'Yes It Is' by Rockin' Horse appears to me to be an outright classic.

I'm actually astounded how little known this record is, it's criminal. Yes it sounds very Beatlesque at points at probably the only time in rock history in which this could be said to have been an unfortunate thing... But seriously, get over it cuz these tunes are unbelievable. Almost every track is a total pop stunner. Lovely piano stomp, tantalizing lead work, luggagy sounding drums, great harmonies. If you don't like Britain, or melodies, or the radio, or anything that could be described simply as Pop-Rock or McCartney indebted - well then piss right off and find something else. For the rest of us, we have Rockin' Horse.

DIG IT OUT.

DELFONICS

People will try to tell you that the first 3 albums by the Delfonics are the true classics. Not to take anything away from those records (they are fantastic), but my favourite is their 4th - 'Tell Me This Is A Dream'.

The lush, fuzzy quality of the production is truly massive. At it's haziest moments it reminds me of the mellower tracks on 'Forever Changes' sharing some kind of baroque pop sense, needless to say some of it is pretty imaginative.

Found this record in Philadelphia which was entirely appropriate. Nice to get music from the source when you can. Download this and invite your lady / man over.

THIS IS THE BEST TRACK.

DJ

On May 5th I'll be DJ'ing the Toronto date of the Black Dice tour. Last time they played I got to open for them which was a thrill, so I'm very stoked to be involved once again. This time they are playing with Carl Didur, so it'll be a STACKED bill.

Black Dice w/ Carl Didur

& DJ's Slim Twig & Dan Vila

MAY 5th

@ Polyhaus 

Their new LP is way awesome so there's no doubt it will be a heavy time.

I will play nifty songs like this.

Also, if you are in Europe right now go see this lady play.

BLUE PHANTOM

I decided I wanted to post more about older records that I really like on here. It's always lovely to be tipped off to music that isn't immediately evident in a cursory glance of the internet world (or a regular record store).

DO YOU LIKE FUZZ? If so, Blue Phantom was made for you. Distortions is their only album as far as I'm aware. If you'd really like to surprise me on my birthday send this flashy looking library edition in the post!

For me this record is the highwater mark of fuzzy library psych (not that I am an expert). Some lovely bits of electric harpsichord in their too, so you know this is my kinda parteee. Halfway between Davie Allan and some Italian Horror stuff. Nice.

CHECK IT OUT.

JEFF LYNNE

Just finished work producing and mixing the new U.S. Girls LP.

No one is ready. No one is safe.

'ENDING YOUR REIGN, RIGHT ON THE ROAD.'

Now all I gotta do is finish work on the 2nd Slim Twig LP that will be released this year, and Carl has to finish producing / mixing our contribution to a split 12" with some other cool cats.

2012.