Beaching Jellyfish

Electric Jellyfish features Michael Beach, whose Mountains & Valleys tape on Twin Lakes Records last year was a delightful, underrated gem. Electric Jellyfish is a different kettle of...er...fish though. The Melbourne 3 piece bark up David Yow's rancid tree, yet there is more space lurking in the shadows that focuses less on the abuse and more on the tension. They are a rad little band, and whilst its taken almost forever for me to post about, they have released a little number that is bound to melt that stupid grin off your face. Available through Twin Lakes Records as a limited edition cassette, Trouble Coming Down is well worth the pennies - grab it here. Get back over here, stat!

Electric Jellyfish - Trouble Coming Down

Salo Bring The Discordant Pestilence

Glasgow has never been found wanting when it's come to intricate, loud and weird rock, and so it remains with the introduction to the debut self-titled EP by Salò. Its incredibly discordant, somewhat similar in tonality and darkness to Manchester's Kong (although not as good in my opinion). On Overlook Records, Salò’s sound stems from a shared love of the discordant end of 80s and 90s post-hardcore, such as Fugazi, Shudder To Think, The Jesus Lizard and Polvo, while also bringing in a range of more left field influences, from Swans to Beefheart. It shows.

In the immediate future, Salò will be playing as many shows as possible in support of the EP, and will be releasing a limited edition 7″ with Struggletown Records before starting work on new material. Looking forward to it, boys. Check out their song 'Valis' amongst this Overlook Records compilation, which isn't bad in itself.

Lizards And Jesus Swan On The Live Front

The Swans reunion was one of the greatest things to happen amidst teh shithouse reformation surge of the past few years, especially as Michael Gira and crew went out and made an album of original material that was just as important and defiant as their back catalogue. Now it's time to hear how it all sounds live (although many of you have had the chance to have that experience already) in the form of a double CD Limited Edition with special handmade packaging. It is called We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head and has been culled from the best recordings and performances of the recent Swans tour(s) of 2010/2011. That special packaging is a handmade woodblock print of a drawing Gira did for the occasion. With hand coloring and detailing by the man himself, it is 4 colors, in all with each one is signed and numbered. What's more, this special package also contains solo recordings Gira made at home of some of the songs that will appear on the upcoming Swans studio album, The Seer. In fact, purchasing this live album helps to fund the new album, so it's definitely win win! The Seer, by the way, is set to be a triple vinyl/2XCD/Digital release. Crazy good! Grab We Rose From Your Bed With The Sun In Our Head at Gira's Young God Records.

Swans - Intro/No Thoughts No Words (live) (note - this is a massive 24 minute track, so it will be a big download...but it is fucking incredible!)


Then of course you cannot beat Club, one of the best live albums I've heard in forever. David Yow is in fine rampant redneck form, a vitriolic arsehole that is impossible to love or hate, and the rest of his Jesus Lizards are in incredibly fine form. Club comes from a gig at the Exit/In club at Nashville back in 2009. It is exceptional. Ive actually had this for some time, but seeing as Swans' live album is deserved of an airing, I thought this would be the perfect complement. Too much of a good thing is never enough - especially when its as deliciously depraved as this... (NB - you can still buy the DVD, but Im pretty sure this LP is no longer available. Keep on searchin though...)

Jesus Lizard - Mouthbreather (live)
Jesus Lizard - Monkey Trick (live)

Weird Wives Swear And Drone On A Lot

The incredibly abrasive alter ego of Surfer Blood, Weird Wives put out some insidious little demos earlier this year that got under the skin and into your cerebral vortex, shutting everything down whilst flooding the blood stream with endorphins. Not a bad way to get rigor mortis on I suppose. Well they have just released an album, and the title is killer - Motherfuckers Gonna Be Walking 'Round With a Size 9 Diehard up Their Ass, Cause Apparently They Ain't Never Seen a Short AC Man Get Bad Ass on Methadone. Someone's looking to piss off mummy and daddy...

It still follows in the Jesus Lizard mold, but has a slower, more lethargic grind to it. In some ways this works to their detriment, for all you want is a proper explosion of fury and intent, rather than such constrained, fitful fare. But there are some tasty tracks on offer, no less 'Plastic Masks' which is all yours below. The Pitchfork review is pretty hasty in my opinion, but then I haven't lived with the album for that long. Still - I'd hedge my bets it's a better stayer than those guys are letting on... It's out on West Beach Beotches now.

Weird Wives - Plastic Masks