Soothe Me

Out now on the Tompkins Square label: an album filled with the warm and delicate picking of Chapel Hill native Josh Kimbrough. Not a solo guitar album this, as some of his pals tastefully help out on bass, cello, flute and a particularly fine fiddle. Lovely miniatures with nature themes abound, so go on: slither, soar & disappear here.

Josh Kimbrough - Backyard Hawk

Fly Into The Mystery

From the east-side of dreams, here's this summer's ideal trip. Mysterious, vaguely oriental (which is rather obvious) but also deliciously krauty, the soothing soundscapes of Taiwanese psych duo Mong Tong are a joy to behold. Out now on Kikagaku Moyo's trademark-of-quality Guruguru Brain label.

Mong Tong - Mystery

Take Two

Two recent, exciting and new-to-me jazz voices from the States. Check these cats out, you just might dig 'em as much as I do.

Jeremy Cunningham - He Pushes Up
Ryan Porter - Mesosphere (live)

Milestone

Carlos runs the voodoo down while latinising Miles. Admirable job for sure.

Santana - In A Silent Way (live)

All That's Left

Trippy cover, trippy sounds. The days of wine and roses may be long behind them, but the revived Dream Syndicate soldiers on with an album of five extended heavy jams. Not everything works, but here and there Steve Wynn & co still manage to light the sparks. An uncharacteristic record this, which just may grow on you.

The Dream Syndicate - The Longing

Gonna Fly

The always charming Paradise of Bachelors label delivers the goods again in the form of James Elkington's second album. If you're into Michael Chapman and Richard Thompson, to name but two greats, be sure to check out Ever-Roving Eye.

James Elkington - Nowhere Time

Looking Down

This just in from the last will and testament department: this August, the Secretly Canadian label will release a posthumous work by the late great Jason Molina. Recorded in 2008 in London while reportedly ill from an Italian spider bite, this proved sadly the last time the highly talented Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co frontman (1973-2013) found himself in a recording studio. Gorgeous first taste below.

Jason Molina - Shadow Answers The Wall

Extra Special

Good news, as the fine folks over at Primitive Offerings have unearthed a cool '89 session by Detroit garage trio supreme the Gories. Hey hey! Here's a quality taster.

The Gories - Thunderbird ESQ

Great Set

The ultimate nihilist anthem comes to you courtesy of poets extraordinaire Ed Sanders, Tuli Kupferberg and their merry Village pranksters. De nada, folks.

The Fugs - Nothing

Down On My Luck

Found myself enjoying some prime Warren Zevon late last night. When Zevon (1947-2003) was on, he was a true great. The opening lines of Lawyers Guns And Money never fail to crack me up: “I went home with the waitress, the way I always do, how was I to know she was with the Russians too..." Sharp writing that. Here goes with a couple of choice cuts for your listening pleasure.

Warren Zevon - Poor Poor Pitiful Me
Warren Zevon - Lawyers Guns And Money
Warren Zevon - A Certain Girl
Warren Zevon - Carmelita

In The Brain

Is this a mighty fine demo version or what? Just don't sing on that second verse please...

Kris Kristofferson - Border Lord

Ghost Train

A gritty beauty by singer/songwriter Chris Gantry. Comes from last year's Nashlantis, an album expertly produced by Jerry David DeCicca. Dude makes it a habit to bring out the best in ageing outlaws.

Chris Gantry - Life Well Lived

Heavy Dialogue

With Eddie Hazel perhaps? Seems to me that our favourite Swedes are seriously trying to invoke the ghost of the late great Funkadelic guitarist here. Just take that trip.

Kungens Män - Tung Dialog

Want some prime Eddie, too? Thought as much. Here goes.

Eddie Hazel - So Goes The Story