Grab It

 

Feeling giddy yet? Let the Bingo's amaze you. For here are the lo-fi survivors from Amsterdam once more, with their umpteenth release since starting out in the year of 1995 with More Soul on the legendary Shrimper label. Older and wiser they may be, but their understated and warm pop gems sound just as good today as they did way back when. I mean, try not singing along with the charming earworm below... The vinyl edition (Europe here, US here) is quite limited, so don't sleep on it, you magpies you.

Bingo Trappers - Amazer Amazer

Join The Bingo

If you find yourself with nothing to do in Amsterdam, Holland, this Sunday night, do head over to the cosy Nieuwe Anita club. Why, you ask? Well, Simon Joyner, that fine fine singer/songwriter from Omaha, Nebraska, will play a gig there backed by Amsterdam's lofi heroes the Bingo Trappers. Not to be missed, right? And this just in: on Saturday, Joyner will make a solo appearance at Db's in Utrecht as well.

Simon Joyner - Three Well-Aimed Arrows
Simon Joyner - The Last Parade

As for the Bingos, they will finally release a new record sometime this January. About time, lads, it's been a long wait... Sister Planet (vinyl only I hear) will come out on Morctapes/AHT, and here's an exclusive taster. "Hey stupid, there's no lookin' back..."

Bingo Trappers - Long Weekends

Bingo Masters

Gonna see the Bingo Trappers today. Amsterdam's finest of the lofi will perform at an exhibition in the Nieuwe Anita. Be there or be square, as they supposedly said back in the sixties, and "try to stay cool, when it's cool enough to stay here..."

Bingo Trappers - Manual For A Safe Trip MP3

The Bingos rose from the ashes of the Karabekians, who were named after a Kurt Vonnegut character, loved the Feelies and made use of a remarkably jazzy rhythm section. I always was a big fan.

Karabekians - January MP3

Smooth Spgt

Today we congregate to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that landmark lofi label from Upland, California called Shrimper Records. It brought us the Mountain Goats, Diskothi-Q, Refrigerator, Sentridoh and many more interesting pioneers with low budgets but musical ideas aplenty. Congrats guys, good to see you´re still in business, and thanks for a lot of fine tunage over the years.

To mark the occasion, Dennis Callaci and co decided to put out a tribute to one of the finest bands in their stable, the obscure Wckr Spgt - which should be pronounced as Wacker Spaggot if I´m correctly informed. Smooth Sounds is a tribute with a twist though: the chosen artists don´t perform songs the Spgt already put to wax in the past, but rather play the ´future hits´ of the band. With 36 songs spread out over two discs, this obviously becomes a bit of a mixed bag, but the highlights - feel free to check out a couple below - are not to not be missed. As the Bingos sing: "It´s like a secret promise, eventually you will follow through..."

Alan Smithee - Kurt Cobain Will Have His Revenge On The City Of Los Angeles MP3

Bingo Trappers - Cause And Effect MP3

Mountain Goats - Predator Eyes MP3

The Good Book

I´ve got a confession to make: I´m studying a part of the bible at the moment. Don´t be afraid; I haven´t been born again. Far from it. Only last week I forcefully expelled some stubborn evangelists from my doorstep. But hey, they didn´t bring the gospel according to Robert Crumb.

When Crumb is on the ball, I´m always game. And in his version of the Book Of Genesis, which just happens to be an already interesting collection of stories in the first place, his drawings are as marvellous as ever. His vivid depictions of the life and times of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and all their kin really enrich the reading experience.

I had expected Crumb´s God to slightly resemble his famous Mr. Natural character, but except for the long flowing beard he doesn´t. Crumb shows a lot of respect for and stays close to the original texts of the first bible book and never comes across anywhere as even remotely blasphemous. He permits himself only one small liberty: all the women pictured, Eve included, are ´comely in features´. Which means they have these big butts and nipples sticking out that the icon of underground comics has always been famous for...

Repent and buy this book forthwith, readers. And lest I forget, here´s a fitting biblical six pack soundtrack of sorts for all you sinners out there.

Bogus Ben Covington - Adam And Eve In The Garden MP3

Sly & The Revolutionaries - Genesis 1:11 MP3

Johnny Cash - God´s Gonna Cut You Down MP3

Monster Magnet - Spine Of God MP3

Bingo Trappers - God´s Biographer MP3

Mountain Goats - Genesis 3:23 MP3

Upper Air

This summer tenpack edition is all about cool new music I recently stumbled upon. Some I found on other music blogs, some I actually bought. In record stores. Ain´t that something this day and age, pop kids.

Most of these tracks were released over the last couple of weeks, while others will come out very soon. A few acts featured here are rather well known, while others have either been working under the radar a bit or are brand new hopefuls, waiting for a bit of fame (what´s my name) to come their way. Please check ´em all out and if you like what you hear, buy their albums at your local record store. If it´s still in business, that is.

Son Volt - Roll On MP3

Simon Joyner - The Drunken Boat MP3

Roadside Graves - Far And Wide MP3

Bingo Trappers - Stranded On A Short Break MP3

Spiral Stairs - Maltese T MP3

Jack Oblivian - Against The Wall MP3

Bowerbirds - Beneath Your Tree MP3

Greg Weeks - Lay Low MP3

Frankel - Anonimity Is The New Fame MP3

Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band MP3

Grab bag deluxe

Time to get your weekly fix of timeless tunes in Friday´s grab bag again. Here´s a healthy diet of songs that mattered to me over the past seven days, featuring some wild banjo stuff, some pure pop and a Dutch treat amongst others. Like Captain Beefheart said: "You can physically drown in paint, you can mentally drown in music..." Here´s your lifeline.

Let´s kick off tonight´s proceedings with Palace, a former nom de plume of the great Will Oldham (aka Bonnie Prince Billy). Here he uses a song by southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd to paint one of his trademark desolate landscapes. To call this intense would be an understatement. Originally released on 7-inch in ´96, it´s now available on the compilation Guarapero - Lost Blues 2 (Drag City). I´ve never heard the original btw, so I´d be much obliged if someone could help me out here.

Palace - Every Mother´s Son MP3

Uncle Dave Macon was a farmer who played the banjo as a hobby. He later ran his own horse-drawn wagon company. Macon started out as a professional musician at the ripe age of 50, only to find himself immensely popular almost overnight. Also known as the Dixie Dewdrop, Uncle Dave (1870-1952) soon became one of the first Grand Ole Opry stars at age 56. Buddy Won´t You Roll Down The Line (find it on Harry Smith´s incredible Anthology Of American Folk Music) is one of the most infectious pieces of music I know.

Uncle Dave Macon - Buddy Won´t You Roll Down The Line MP3

Pay attention you label bosses and A&R types out there... Yup, I know you´re reading this. Amsterdam´s Bingo Trappers are looking for a new record deal at the moment, so what´s keeping you guys? They already recorded albums for illustrious labels as Shrimper and Animal World in the past, while their trademark lofi sound has been compared to the Kinks, the Velvets and Syd Barrett´s Floyd. This is a brand new song, and I can´t get it out of my head.

Bingo Trappers - Greater Lakes Of Life MP3

For something totally different, check out John Fahey. Both eclectic guitar innovator and allround weirdo, Fahey (´39-´01) left behind a huge oeuvre that´s well worth exploring. Later in his life he also ran a fine record label (Revenant) and published a wonderful collection of short stories called How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life (Drag City Books). The delightfully titled When The Catfish Is In Bloom comes from The Essential John Fahey (Vanguard ´74).

John Fahey - When The Catfish Is In Bloom MP3

I still think Black And White should have been a huge hit. It never was of course. Still sounds as fresh and as sharp as the day it was recorded. One of my all-time favorite pure pop songs. You can find it on Stands For Decibels (´81) by the dB´s. Great band, sadly forgotten.

The dB´s - Black And White MP3

We´re going to finish tonight with Al Green, who´s going to take you to the river. I first heard this song in the version Talking Heads recorded for More Songs About Buildings And Food (´79). That was already great, but believe me, the original is even better. Funky as hell. It´s from Al Green Explores Your Mind (74´). Dip me in the water!

Al Green - Take Me To The River MP3