Two records I'm looking forward to.

There's a very simple occasion for this here post: two records I'm quite keen on will be seeing the light of day shortly.

Crossover's last album, Cryptic and Dire Sallow Faced Hoods Blast Off Into Oblivion on International Deejay Gigolo Records floored me, and said album still gets regular play on my stereo system. That being said, it's been a good few years since that one came out and they're about due for a new full length. Lord knows, it's been long awaited in quite a few circles. Anyways, the nomadic duo in Crossover set up shop in Portland not too long ago and recorded their new album, Space Death, over there. I've had the pleasure to of working with Dez on a few projects, as he's done the layout for both Mt Sims records we released on Hungry Eye. He also pretty single-handed saved the Missing Foundation project we've been working on for years since he came in and did a bang up job on the layout after that had gotten tied up for way too long. I'm confident Space Death will just as regularly find its way onto my CD player as its predecessor. It's on pre-order now from Punch Records in Italy.

You don't have to look far to find my last post on Silk Flowers, written shortly after they came into town with No Age and Soft Circle. They brought along their brand new, self-released 7" on that trip, and in the meantime they've got another 7" in tow. This time it's on Dean of No Age's label Post Present Medium. Much like the other 7", this one's sporting a cover of a smashed mask, this time facing the wrath of a combat boot. (Like the Agnostic Front "skinhead" shirt? Can push that unlikely AF comparison any further??)

Seriously, though, it's apparent that Silk Flowers is a band to be on the lookout for. Look for a forthcoming LP on PPM sometime in 2009 that will seal the deal. And you can follow the band's blog to monitor their comings and goings.

SILK FLOWERS!

A few weeks ago my pals in Silk Flowers trekked up to Montreal one unseasonably cold November evening (the 22nd, I think). They were on a northeast tour with No Age and Soft Circle and played Club Lambi. If you're paying attention, Avi and Peter might already be familiar to you from their previous band Soiled Mattress and the Springs, though in additional claim to fame, the former was also my roommate on Orchard Street.

Silk Flowers formed shortly after the No Age/ Soiled Mattress tour in the UK when the latter decided to call it quits. Unsatisfied with not playing in a band, Avi and Peter started jamming with a fine fellow named Ethan (who sports a Neanderthal sticker on his synthesizer), and morphed SM's staccato "soft-jazz" concoctions into heavy, rhythmic synth-driven territory. They set up their three stations of keyboards, drums, boxes, and noisemakers facing each weave some noisy tapestries. Much too raw to veer into synth-pop territory, there's shade of Psychic TV in their sound. Keyboards are often used to percussive effect, and despite some of the harsh sounds cultivated, there's an imposing catchiness to the tunes. One song struck me as Human League's Being Boiled meets Agnostic Front's Fascist Attitudes. The band was psyched on the comparison. Good stuff!

One man band Soft Circle was great that night, as was No Age.

Silk Flowers had just picked up their self released 7" whilst on tour, which is a winner. A subsequent record is coming out on Dean Spunt's PPM Records. Be on the lookout.

Silk Flowers on myspace
Silk Flowers blog