"Five For Friday" with experimental musician Matt Kelly

Philadelphia based experimental musician Matt Kelly has been releasing his thought provoking compositions for several years now. From droned out ambient soundscapes to frantic blasts of psych/surf mayhem he is always creating music that's colorful and inviting. His latest E.P. "A Night Drive Down a Familiar Road You've Never Been Down" is full of lush ambient tones and haunting dynamics. Matt shares some of his favorite songs in this weeks edition of "Five For Friday" but first check out his track "A Picture Of A Picture".

Delia Derbyshire – Nightwalker

A pioneer of electronic music, Delia might be best known for performing the theme for the original “Dr. Who” (one of the first television themes to be produced by entirely electronic means). Despite that notoriety, Delia does not get the full credit that she deserves for her contributions to modern music. Working with tape loops and found sound, Delia’s time with the BBC brought musique concrète into the homes of everyday people. Her passion for sounds and her ability to create atmosphere is a huge inspiration to me.

Joe Meek (The Blue Men) – Hear a New world

Another pioneer, Joe was doing some weird stuff in 1960. This song is a great example of his innovative use of reverb, found sound, and overdubbing, all tactics he pioneered from his home studio. The “chipmunk” vocals were all done by tape manipulation, and there’s sounds like a sink being drained and bubbles being blown lurking in the mix. It’s sort of childish and whimsical, but also psychedelic and demented. I love the “cosmic luau” vibe, although the lyrics are deceivingly sad and wistful upon closer listen. Alas, Joe’s tale is a tragic one. He advised Brian Epstein to not bother signing The Beatles. He became fascinated with communing with the dead, and would set up tape machines in graveyards to record sounds from beyond the grave. Sadly, mental illness derailed Meek’s life, culminating in a grisly murder suicide involving his landlady in 1967. A sad end for a man who was ahead of his time.

Howlin’ Wolf – 44 Blues

Howlin’ Wolf might be my favorite artist ever. This song is about how he’s worn his 44 pistol in its chest holster so long that now his shoulder is sore, which I always found kind of funny. I love the hypnotic riff and how the beat is so heavy on the 1. But it is Wolf’s delivery that does it for me. His voice can empower you just as easily as emasculate you, depending on what kind of mood he’s in. I also love the line later in the song that says “Well I’m so mad this morning, I don’t know where in the world to go.” It’s a feeling of kinetic energy that’s just looking to explode.

Roland S Howard and Lydia Lunch – “Some Velvet Morning”

Roland is a big guitar hero of mine, and I love the original version by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood, so this is a great meeting of minds. This song is at once romantic yet leering; sweet yet menacing. Roland and Lydia’s version definitely take those elements up a notch.

Blind Willie Johnson – “Dark was the Night, Cold was the Ground”

One of the most haunting songs I’ve ever heard, and it’s just a guy and a guitar. No words, just emotive slide guitar and moans. This song is a damn near psychedelic rumination that always gives me images of desolation and longing. Chills every time.Unlike some of his contemporaries, Blind Willie was not born blind. He was blinded at age seven when his stepmother threw lye in his face to spite Willie’s abusive father. Johnson preached and sang on the streets throughout Texas until 1945 when his house burned down. With nowhere else to go, he slept in the burnt out ruins of his home on a wet bed covered by old newspapers. He soon died of malarial fever. Pretty grim, even for a bluesman. Blind Willie doesn’t always get included when we talk about the “Blues Greats™”, maybe because he didn’t play a Strat or make a deal with the devil. However, in 1977, Carl Sagan included this song on the Voyager spacecraft’s Golden Record, which featured music and sounds of Earth like crickets, volcanoes and heartbeats. This song is currently floating through space. The record is to be a “snapshot” of Earth to educate potential alien life about our planet. Sagan said he chose this song because it concerns “nightfall with no place to sleep. Since humans appeared on Earth, the shroud of night has yet to fall without touching a man or woman in the same plight.” Universal emotion conveyed with no words, just a man and a guitar.

Six Records CMM Wants You To Know

Beach Towels "Sun Soaked" Single (thebeachtowels.bandcamp.com)

Beach Towels are an excellent new surf/psych band based in Calgary, Alberta Canada who have certainty hit a home run on their debut single "Sun Soaked". It's huge wall of sound style vocals are like a warm blanket that feels like it was sent down from the sky. The rich guitar tones and flourishing organs glide over top of the minimal yet perfectly fitting drum beat. Everything has a very vintage feel that brings to mind the likes of The Animals, The Beatles and ? Mark And The Mysterians. I've had this one on repeat for quite a while as I wait with anticipation to hear what the band offers up next.

Daniel Lanois "Heavy Sun" (feat. Rocco DeLuca) Single (www.facebook.com/lanoise)

A beautifully soothing soundscape from legendary producer and experimental connoisseur Daniel Lanois from his upcoming album "Goodbye To Language". "Heavy Sun" also features Rocco DeLuca who is a longtime friend and collaborator of Lanois. The piece takes you into other worldly territories that make me think of the lonely crew of a spacecraft that has been traveling through multiple galaxies for decades on end only to finally reach a blissful euphoric planet to begin a new life on. It's an absolutely gorgeous track that longtime fans of Lanois are sure to enjoy. "Goodbye To Language" will be available Spetember 9th from redfloorrecords.net.

Lonely Hunting S/T E.P. (sherwoodsphinx.bandcamp.com)

The second E.P. from Tucson musician Gorge Alvarez's project Lonely Hunting features five eclectic and enjoyable songs that delve into mysterious moods backed with an underlying intensity and pure sense of passion. I'm captivated by the raw honesty of the songwriting as there seems to be an aura that surrounds each track. Opener "Call Me Out" is devastatingly cold and strikes up haunting imagery with it's ominous presence while stand out piece "The End" makes good use of some hypnotic guitar effects that shimmer over solid percussion and Alvarez charming vocal delivery. The shuffling acoustic guitars of the title track fuel the fire for the bleak and grey filled tone that winds down this well founded release in fine fashion. A remarkable effort from a driven musician that's not afraid to relinquish his inner self.

Idlefox "V" LP (idlefox.bandcamp.com)

I'm in love with this amazing offering from these Omaha Nebraska based musicians. In a world full of heartless, cookie cutter indie rock Idlefox bring new life back to the genre by simply tearing the doors off the competition. From the opening chords of "Fire Inside My Heart" you know you are in for a real treat as it's jangling feel and infectious vocal swagger sets the pace for a bright and uplifting mood. "Gold Coins" actually makes me think of The Smiths as it has the kind of wavering quality to it that's easy to latch on to while "Arrows" has a 50's/early 60's crooner feel that makes it one of the albums best tracks and really shows off the bands range. "Zebra" adds a nice ambient touch to things and serves as a fine lead in for the more psychedelic sounding songs like "Lung Capacity" and "Looking Glass". The album winds down with a collection of more straight forward guitar and vocal pieces that work like a beautiful sunset at the close of a long Summers day. A refreshing and inspiring album from beginning to end.

On Pink "On Pink Is Good" E.P. (onpink.bandcamp.com)

This Brooklyn outfit blast through a fine collection of unique experimental rock numbers that makes for a top notch debut. The band shoot the energy level to 10 and really keep you guessing as to what will come next as they incorporate in your face garage punk with elements of jazz fusion and experimental madness that includes saxophones, off time signatures and amazing musicianship throughout. It's almost like The Stooges and members of The Mothers Of Invention got together after both bands had a revelation from attending a Sun Ra concert and decided to jam on some King Crimson numbers together. It all makes for an undeniably amazing listening experience that's truly one of a kind. Listen to this loudly as soon as you can!!!

Tom Lockett "Everything Changes In Time"

The B-Side to English singer songwriter Tom Lockett's debut single "Feeling Bad" has a timeless quality to it that is certainly fitting for the current state of the our worlds affair's. Lockett's vocals are simply stunning and mesh perfectly with the highly textured acoustic guitar that accompanies the piece. It's got a haunting quality to it as it's bold delivery makes a major impact on your psyche and cements Lockett as one of the best new singer songwriters going today. "Feeling Bad" b/w "Everything Changes In Time" will be available from Magic Cactus Records August 5th

"Approaching Noise" An interview with Caustic Roll Dave

Barcelona based musician Caustic Roll Dave has been releasing records for several years now. His latest album "Approaching Noise" blends traditional blues sounds with industrial beats matched with an experimental twist creating a sound all his own We sat down with Dave to discuss how he got into music and the artists that inspired him early on, the current music scene in Barcelona and the making of "Approaching Noise".

CMM-What are some of your first musical memories and what bands/artists made the biggest impact on your musical style?

Dave-My first musical memories are from my childhood. My father is a huge fan of Dylan and artists like The Stones, Creedance Clearwater Revival, Hendrix, blues and jazz, so he played this music on the Hi-Fi while I was playing at home. I was really lucky with that. I’ve been listening to music so many years, I’m quite old so lots of music has influenced me in some way. As I said before, music I listened to at home I think Dylan, Stones and blues like John Lee Hooker (when he plays alone), Lighting Hopkins, Robert Johnson… surely made an impact on me. People usually ask me about blues artists but although I like it I’m not a huge expert of any blues artist. I think I’m more into artist who have been influenced by blues…. Ok maybe It’s a stupid thing, who is not influenced by blues in some way? Artists focused in raw and primitive sounds for example like The Stooges, Cramps, JSBX, The Sonics, ... really made the hit on me. Hip Hop was a true influence as well. Public Enemy, NWA, Beastie Boys,Geto Boys, etc… I love those guys man. The sampling process is a key process in my music, and the Bomb Squad productions maybe are the top of all that. That links with James Brown and the primitive funk from the early 70’s. They bring the groove!!! The 90’s which I say they begun aprox in 1987, make a deep impact as I lived that musical period so intense. Ok I know the 70’s or 60’s or whatever have so much good music but they weren’t contemporary to my existence, so I guess that was definitely a point. Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, Beck, Pixies, Kyuss, Man or astroman… there was a blend of everything those years. And of course Tom Waits, and other classics, say Neil Young or Led Zeppelin… The 50’s rockers like Eddie Cohran as well.

CMM-What was the song writing and recording process like when making your latest album "Approaching Noise"? Any particular inspiration for the songs?

Dave-The song writing process is “there is no process”. Some structures can begin just from a simple drum loop or a beatbox idea. Some from a chord or a guitar riff. My music is very primitive and simple; there are no complicated structures, changes and so on. Always music first and then lyrics. Recording process is quite slow. I would like to improve that! But the way of writing affects that. You try something, then you change that, then I leave it there for some time, I come back, etc… There’s no particular inspiration for the songs. I think the album works well as a whole unique identity but there isn’t a common message or thread.

CMM-How did the song "Low Cost Countdown Beat" come about? What inspired you to make that track?

Dave-I think this song or “Many Pigs” are representative of that mess of primitive old bluesy sound and industrial or electronic beats I look for. Say Industrial Blues? Maybe… In Low Cost Countdown Beat I think there’s some Alec Empire breakbeats inspiration that I blend with the old style blues harmonica sounds. I think It works perfectly in that song.

CMM-Any particular gear you all used in making the album?

Dave-Well, sure the rare or the non-usual one is the Resontaor Cavaquinho. Somekind of a ukulele with the resonator system of a Dobro. I bought it in Rio de Janeiro. The opening riff in “What We Undertand” for example is that instrument. The software I used is so old, it’s quite ridiculous in some way. It hasn't been updated in the last 10 years???

CMM-If you could do a film score for any film director who would it be?

Dave-Not really any preference. I think what kind of film I would have to attempt to score would be more important. Wim Wenders , Jim Jarmush, Cohen could be a choice…

CMM-What is the music scene like in Barcelona right now?

Dave-It is strange to answer this question because I realize that I’m out of the scene, It seems that Caustic Roll Dave is not welcomed hahahaha,… If we could agree that there’s one. There are a lot of people doing music in different directions. There are also people trying to get new things out or to promote gigs but times are hard except for a few that reach that level of popularity to be everywhere and generally repeating the formula that works for them and it seems people love. But I think it’s quite similar everywhere.

CMM-Any touring or shows planned for the coming months?

Dave-No. I would say that for the moment the touring is coming to an end. I will begin again to restart after summer. But I had a call from and electronic festival yesterday. That’s interesting and it seems that not everybody is a prisoner of music genres.

CMM-Were do you see the future of your music heading? Any different sounds or genres that you would like to explore more and incorporate into your music?

Dave-I usually change my mind every day. Sometimes I want to focus more in the groove and beats, heading to a more hip hop oriented sound. Sometimes I would move to the desert and bring more desert-stoner feelings. And maybe tomorrow I think I will do an electronic album. Or do an acoustic EP. So finally I decide I’m going to do some caustic-rolling music. Actually I’m a little confused. I’m listening to some demos I have recorded this year and I can’t say that there’s a particular direction. I've been thinking of making a band, too as I play alone. I think It could be very challenging to try that but at the same time it would take a lot of time and work.

"Five For Friday" with Singer/Songwriter Tom Lockett

Inspired by writers and poets such as Hermann Hesse, George Orwell and Allen Ginsberg, and with musical influences ranging from Woody Guthrie to Ravi Shankar, Tom Lockett combines Great Depression style folk, with the sounds of blues, jazz, and "The Summer of Love". Tom talks about some of his favorite songs in this weeks edition of "Five For Friday" but first check out the video for his debut single "Feeling Bad".

Woody Guthrie - 'John Henry'

I first come across Woody Guthrie about three years ago, and in that time he has influenced me greatly, through both his music and his writings, most notably his semi-autobiographical novel, Bound For Glory and the Hard Hitting Songs For Hard Hit People songbook which he compiled with Pete Seeger and Alan Lomax. Woody and the Great Depression made me realise that music doesn't have to be about writing fancy songs with fancy lyrics and arrangements, but instead having something to say and saying it in way which anyone can understand. But what struck me most of all was how he was singing about the same social problems we still encounter today, nearly 80 years on. Too many songs to choose one in particular, so here's some rare live footage of him performing 'John Henry' with Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee.

The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations

One of my all time favourite songs. By 1966, Brian Wilson was proving that he was on a whole different level to his contemporaries. For me this song is the 1960's.

Elephants Memory - Old Man Willow

I chose this because it has it all, jazz, folk, psych, avant-garde, everything that was cool about New York in the 1960's. The track was also featured in the soundtrack of one of my favourite films, Midnight Cowboy.

The Chips - Rubber Biscuit

Just a great track, I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't like this song. Black music in the 1950's was something else, with the emergence of acts like Frankie Lymon, and most notably James Brown and The Famous Flames.

The Grateful Dead - The Golden Road

Probably my favourite band of all time, they had it all. The Grateful Dead along with the Jefferson Airplane and the rest of the Haight-Ashbury scene just seemed so effortlessly cool. 'The Summer Of Love' has been a major influence on my music for years now, especially during my time with Electroshock Therapy. It just never gets old. Without a doubt the coolest period of the 20th century. This is the first track from The Grateful Dead's debut album.