BASMATI “Baz” C35 (Hand To Mouth Tapes)

I haven’t paid attention to Placebo in well over a decade, and was surprised to find that they’re still a band. I’m sure the tickets to their concerts require nefarious deeds done to have their price tag honored, so, good news…you can now hear America’s very own homegrown version, Basmati! Now with a li’l shoegaziness thrown in for good measure!

Seriously, if you have a thing for Placebo, these folx won’t disappoint ya in the least. Book ‘em a show and I bet they’d love to crash on your floor.

https://handtomouthtapes.bandcamp.com/album/htm-002-basmati-baz

and/or

http://basmatilovesyou.bandcamp.com/

- - Jacob An Kittenplan

WAND CARVER “Stood Up” C50 (Hand to Mouth Tapes)

Okay. So, on & off, I’ve spent over two weeks non-stop with this tape, because…well, I know it’s good, but I’ve been having a hard time figuring out WHY exactly. There are no memorable hooks by way of vocals or riffs, but the movement of moods conjured up have continued to captivate me.

Chicken-scratched notes I’ve taken include:

Akron/Family, dreamy, ambient, beach boi, 007, minimal surf-rock vibe, lost in a circus?, the Residents?, lo-fi dance-y now? Now?!, newfuckingORDERNOW?!!!, 90’s black metal intros/outros…with chants, Jerry Garcia’s slow-motion, meandering guitar.

And that was side one, alone. Side two starts off with Ride and Broken Social Scene aesthetics on the first two tracks alone. This is a Nu New Wave Mixtape for the Masses, for sure.

https://wandcarver.bandcamp.com/album/stood-up-wrp3

and/or

https://handtomouthtapes.bandcamp.com/

- - Jacob An Kittenplan