QUICKSAILS "A Fantasy in Seasons" c30 (NNA)

The thing that immediately stands out about this release by Chicago's Quicksails is that this is a synth album with some really excellent percussion. That makes plenty of sense when you learn that the man behind the keys is Ben Baker Billington, drummer for the assblasting free jazz group Tiger Hatchery. As if the genuinely kosmische analog synth wasn't enough, Billington tricks out each track with some exceptional accompaniment on tabla, timpani, log drum, clinking metal and drum machine...or at least it sounds like that's what it is. None of the percussion is drivingly rhythmic, but is instead used to further the expansive psychedelic thing he's going for here. I can't recommend this highly enough. Quicksails was my favorite part of the recent Raw Meet fest in Boston and this has got to be my favorite release on NNA thus far. Waiting for that LP...who's putting it out?

ANDREW SCOTT YOUNG "Slophaus Diver" C20 (Catholic Tapes)

This is really one of the best tapes I've heard in a while. 20 minutes of harsh, punishing noise created on an acoustic bass, found percussion, bass strings on metal, electric bass, electric guitar, and cello and recorded extra hot to create an electronic-like soundscape. I don't believe any post production work was done on this stuff and it was surely not needed. Young is the bassist in the esteemable free jazz trio Tiger Hatchery, and I picked this up on his solo tour with Hatchery drummer Ben Baker Billington (wish I'd got one of his tapes, cuz Quicksails his synth set was also through the roof). I'm a really big fan of acoustic noise, but not so much of bass solos, so it is a real testament to the quality of this music that I've played this thing a number of times. This will really hollow out your skull. Who needs all that excess grey matter anyhow?

Andrew's site: http://www.reallyloveto.blogspot.com/
Catholic Tapes: http://catholic-tapes.com/

WIZARD AMPS "Ice Guitar" C40 (Baked Tapes)

Great drone from the Grasshopper dudes, Jesse DeRosa and Josh Milrod, plus Slaser Risk shredder Andy Borsz playing what I believe to be heavily processed guitars and keys. They told me this was a "blues" tape, but aside from a moment or two that recalls a half second of a guitar lick on cough syrup, I fail to see the connection. That being said, this is the best "blues" tape I've heard in awhile. If you've ever found it hard to write about drone music then you'll understand why I ain't exactly putting out the adjectives. But trust, this is good. These guys totally wowed me the other weekend with an intensely beauteous trumpet/electronics trio set as Hex Breaker Quartet with Telecut Powers/High School Confidential mastermind Mr. Matthews in tow. Doesn't seem like the Baked Tapes site has been updated of late, but you can contact Mr. Jesse at bakedtapes@gmail to procure this and other fine releases. The new Tiger Hatchery tape is pretty hot too.