TASHI DORJI & TYLER DAMON "Soft Berm" C41 (Magnetic South Recordings)

Total fucking shredders, man, both of ‘em.

I distinctly remember Losing My Shit while meditating to Tyler Damon’s last release on MSR, “Cloud That Passes, Cloud That Stays” a few years ago, and it looks like he hasn’t let up a single bpm.

With both musicians sharing the initials TD (and about a half-dozen collaborative releases together), this hyper-driven frenetic duet could easily assume the moniker Total Destruction, were they not equally as capable of dynamically delivering nuanced interplays, on-the-hush, as well. Dorji’s unique approach to looping a drone background whilst exploring improv dissonance is ever present, and, as always, met with Damon’s complimentary creative, percussive attack (I’m pretty sure he’s giving a manual typewriter a Serious Workout at one point), fluidly employing warp-speed fills, blastbeats, head/cymbal scraping, and rattlesnake-like shakers, to name but a few techniques he’s mastered.

This particular collaboration finds them all the better at trading off freak-out duties, letting the other build up a good frothing mouth before joining in on the rapid-fire, howl-at-the-moon madness.

https://magneticsouth.bandcamp.com/album/soft-berm
and/or
https://tashidorji1.bandcamp.com/
https://tylerdamon.bandcamp.com/

--Jacob An Kittenplan

CREEPING PINK “Parliament of Trees” (Magnetic South)

Bloomington, Indiana brought me some interesting slightly psyche-y slightly noisey rock with sweet vocals and smooth transitions from track to track on this tape. The nice blend of effects, droney parts in combination with more formal structure and buzzy guitars remind me of a good mescaline experience, though i've never tried mescaline. “Those sympathetic to the UK comedown between psychedelia and punk should find comfort in Parliament of Trees.” “Parliament of Trees” would pair well with the desert, whether it be in mixed reality or real reality - if that makes sense. This has been the first tape i've listened to with guitars in a hot minute, why? Because technology is taking over of course. You already knew that though.

https://magneticsouth.bandcamp.com/album/parliament-of-trees

-- Lucas Martinez

TYLER DAMON "Cloud That Passes, Cloud That Stays” C34 (Magnetic South)

Organic Resonance. Solo Subtlety. Contact Microphones. Minimalism. Drumkit Overtones. Aggressive Posits. Disequilibrium equals Groove? Evolution + Memory. Goddamn I miss Bloomington. Perhaps a cedar drumstick head scraping? Neighboring open snare by a marching band’s bass drum? Psychedelic. For Whom the Treble Tolls. One Brilliant Headfuckin’.

Listen with headphones or a roomful of acoustic stringed instruments for wildly differing experiences. This is the gift that keeps on giving.

https://tylerdamon.bandcamp.com/album/cloud-that-passes-cloud-that-stays

https://magneticsouthrecordings.org

and/or

https://aurisapothecary.org

-- Jacob An Kittenplan

PNATURE WALK "Self-Titled” C16 (Magnetic South)

Nothing necessarily “new” here, but Hot Damn if it ain’t done well! In time, this album may assume the title “The Psychedelic Moons of Marquee Sound”, as the inescapable “influence” of heavyweights the 13th Floor Elevators and Television are splattered all the fuck over this tape, from guitar tone to vocals, dynamic mix to rhythm section, the full n-i-n-e. So, if you’re really into psychy garage rock and still bummed that you won’t be catching those aforementioned legends anytime soon (on this side of the grave, anyway), rest assured you can bear witness, firsthand, to this here next bestest thing, playing down at your local Hoosier bar or basement. Pnice soupnds!

https://magneticsouth.bandcamp.com/album/pnatural
and/or
https://pnaturewalk.bandcamp.com

-- Jacob An Kittenplan

THEE OPEN SEX "s/t" LP (Magnetic South)

There's something about this blend of modern day reverb vocals and old school Krautrock throwback action that makes Thee Open Sex really stand out to me.  Funny, cause I'm constantly raggin' on bands for being derivative, but I suppose the raw sexuality of the vocalist combined with the band's deep cosmic sound has won me over this time.  The group is just completing a successful US tour, but if they didn't make it to your town, I strongly urge you to check out their first full length vinyl release on Magnetic South Records.