The Strange Story of Joe Meek

Quintron - Singing House

György Ligeti - Poème Symphonique For 100 Metronomes

The Lift Boys - LIFTVOOYZZZZ

Transcendental Sound returns with another post in the Brown Sounds series. Readers of the blog may remember the series dating back to the origins of the blog itself and fortunately has been able to continue to this present day, along with the blog! What a fitting way to celebrate the 50th Transcendental Sound post.

Not only that but this may be the most desirable of the bunch, as it is one of two solo 12"s by Boredoms frontman Yamantaka EYE's under the pseudonym The Lift Boys. In addition this is the more obscure of the two, being the LIFTVOOYZZZZ record, as the other has seen two separate pressings & is readily available on the web. Seems fitting as it being Transcendental Sound's 50th post, as well as the 1 year anniversary and all.

The Lift Boys features EYE taking on some House informed beats that are essentially trying to be ready for the dance floor. For the most part they totally exceed at that. The four, all untitled, tracks making this 12" feature have a strong smell of 90's dance/rock hybridism but do it manageably well. At times the tunes in all honesty really remind me of those Six Flags commercial from a few years back with a "geriatric" man dancing in excitement to a house/techno track in the playing in the background. This is not necessarily a bad thing though as some bits of uplifting House nostalgia comes bubbling through the speakers.

Beyond this little personal tid bit, the first side features two vocal cuts. One of which seems to sees EYE take the mic, while the other either a sample or guest appearance by a more soulful singiThe music is offers a super positive vibes that step beyond underground taste barometers for better or worse. Personally to me it seems to offer a little ironic

This is the 5th post in a series focusing non Gavin Brown's Brown Sounds label. Check out his gallery Gavin Brown'a Enterprise, which has been home to many great visual & multimedia artists in the past, as well as providing a home for these great very limited audio excursions, including Urs Fischher, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Oliver Payne & Nick Relph, Brian DeGraw, Elizabeth Peyton and a great deal more.

The Lift Boys

LIFTVOOYZZZZ 12"

Brown Sounds

BS002

Edition of 500

This LP is commercially OOP in all formats

Listen here

V.A. - Girls In The Garage Volume 9: Oriental Special

Ah after a short break away from the site for a little bit things are back in motion. What a better way to kick start a new season than some prime time 1960's garage rock. The Girls In the Garage series seemed to have been a relatively long running series Though I'm only relatively familiar with the series it offers just what it it advertising girl groups, or at least female fronted bands, strum & stumble through some classic tunes.

This particular volume focuses on some asian female musicians & singers doing cover versions of British & American hits of the day. I think the records jacket cover is a clear indicator of the campy bubble gum pop one can expect to hear when listening. The liner notes, written by Bradley Ghoulstein purport that material for the album came from a stopover in Singapore. A nice collection of a some mid-60's garage stompers.

At this point it seems as if many, if not all, of the artists found on this compilation have had tracks & albums reissued in one form or another. Some of these musicians are Nancy Sit, who apparently was also a famous actress of the period, Rita Chao, and Naomi & The Boys. Regardless of the tracks origins there is plenty here to fuel some go-go dreams for a couple of nights.

Also sorry for the kinda cruddy pictures on this one, and really the last couple of posts in particular. I no longer have a digital camera & have been using whatever I can get my hands on to take some pics, mainly iphones. Hopefully that will change in coming posts.

Various Artists

Girls in the Garage Vol. 9: Oriental Special

Romulan Records

UFOX27

This LP is OOP

Listen here

V.A. - Brass Pins

The ever fantastic Mississippi records has released the 2nd compilation by musicologist & drone maestro Ian Nagoski. Some may remember the Eliane Radigue & Nagoski interview we posted a little while back too. Brass Pins And Match Heads is an excellent LP of 78's that span the globe. Nagoski has chosen to bring us some rare treats mixed with some more common tunes, with an ear for the totality of the LP. He mixes the likes of Django Reinhardt with Native American Flute music, arabic Lute performances, & some other worldly vocal performances. With an overall down tempo and contemplative atmosphere.

The release itself was made in an edition of 1000, and includes a pro printed four page liner notes. It is housed in a heavy Tip-on jacket with some beautiful album cover.

Purchase here, here, & here (for the UK etc.)

The Link has been removed if you are interested in listening you may purchase from one of the links above or a number of other distributors.

*Pics coming soon

Silk Flowers - LTD. Form

The NYC group Silk Flowers have recently offered up their 2nd full length LTD. Form. Here they have seen there sound receive some streamlined production values courtesy of Amanda Warner of MNDR. The album offers a sweet blend of synth driven instrumentals and nostalgic pop songs that really kick in when the vocals hit. The choice to intersperse the vocals throughout really achieved wonders in bringing out a certain charm within the oft kilter singer.

I think that the press release for the release nails it when they point out the group's blend of "high" and "low" elements into their work. This can especially be seen in context of the members larger oeuvre with groups such as Soiled Mattress & The Springs and U.S.A. is a Monster.

The album was released by PPM, along with their previous LP outing. This copy is from the 1st pressing of 1000, with 160 being on the translucent vinyl shown and a printed insert.

Silk Flowers

LTD. Form

PPM Records

PPM43

Purchase here, here, & here among others