wot i bought from amoeba records

Been doing a helluva lot of blogging over at Bad Idea in the last couple of weeks about the financial crisis, hence the lack of posts on good ol’ PIAIL. I should really do a credit-crunch-music post at some point, but for now I’m going to start posting highlights of my mammoth record buying spree in California recently.

To record geeks everywhere: when you wake in the middle of the night and you’re not sure why, I’ll tell you why. It’s Amoeba Records calling you. Once you go through the doors, you understand that yes, there is a path in life, and it has been leading me here. I am home. It’s pretty weak for experimental things, but aside from that you can just wander for ever around its vast stores in LA and SF, thinking of records you’ve always wanted and they’ve probably got it for not very much money. Of course with the pound getting owned by the dollar at the mo it’s not really prudent anymore, but I still urge you to go.

First up is The Mole, whose record As High As The Sky has the occasional moment of bland funky house where it sort of drifts into the background rather than grabbing you by the hips, but when it shines it shines very brightly. Particularly loving “Alice, You Need Him”, which has a sick racquetball of a melody being punted around a mirrored cube while crisp drums knock against the walls.

The Mole - Alice, You Need Him

Then there’s The Bug, who cannot be listened to in the day, it just doesn’t make sense. But stick it on while riding the night bus or walking through a busy Saturday night insulated via headphones then it becomes totally transcendent. “Poison Dart” is so damn heavy. Trying not to nod your head is like not licking your lips post-doughnut.

The Bug - Poison Dart (feat. Warrior Queen)

Listened to this Earth track at dawn in The City on the morning of HBOS et al getting nationalised, watching all the bankers hurry past to their fate, made the day hang even heavier with importance and gravity.

Earth - Hung From The Moon

Finally, I’ve got major love for Way by Ecstatic Sunshine, a brilliant record of intricate, looped-nightingale guitarwork set against scrunchy drones and placid tones. Can’t recommend enough (pretty big file this one).

Ecstatic Sunshine -Perrier