***“BUGSKULL, the solo project and sometimes band of Austin, Texas' SEAN BYRNE, returns with this stark and airy album of deeply personal songs born during the recent collapse of his marriage. It is a subdued and powerful album that I will not cheapen with anymore one sheet speak. It's honest music. We are honored to work with Sean again with his first new music in years, and happy to partner with our friends at Shrimper (who are releasing the cassette) and Almost Halloween Time (who are doing the limited vinyl). What else? There's a fantastic cover of Beck's ‘Lost Cause.’ Hey, we're all still alive!”—Scratch. Cassette version available on Shrimper.
CD $9.25
11/06/2012
***“I'll be the first to admit I never made the effort to check out Edmonton's legendary OLD RELIABLE when they were around. They were rumoured to be Canada's best roots/alt-country whatever band, but by the early 2000's I wasn't sure we needed anymore indie twang, regardless of how good it was. It's funny how things work as I now go backwards with the music of Old Reliable's co-leader SHUYLER JANSEN. A demo of a few songs Shuyler was working on with John Collins and Dave Carswell crossed my path sometime in 2009, and I was stunned with what I heard. These were fully realized downcast yet hooky songs of rich psychedelic thick swirling epic proportions. And that voice! Who was this Shuyler Jansen? A guy from an Americana band? Well he's come a long way. And just what the heck kind of music is it? Hayseed spacerock? I'm really not sure if these are rock, or pop, or country, or electronic songs. They have conventional stringed and keyed and plucked and bowed instruments yet the overall sound is expansive in a floating, comforting (yet unfamiliar) way. The songs of course on that demo were flushed out and finished and became this otherworldly gem of a new album. It is incredibly catchy in a warm and weird way. I continue to listen to it and hear new things, and I've heard it dozens of times now. And how to do I bring it back to Old Reliable? Well, I have went...
CD $10.25
12/06/2011
***The first new release in three years from Portland, Oregon's revered BUGSKULL (no longer a band, now the solo efforts of SEAN BYRNE). BIG WHITE CLOUD is the name used by Byrne's collaborative partner on this release, PHIL QUISTLUND, formerly of the also-revered and also-from-Portland SONE. Together the two men create an otherworldly melange of moody space rock sounds fueled with an undeniable spirit and humanity.
LP $12.00
08/20/2002
CD $12.00
08/20/2002
***If you can handle a lethal swarm of robot-bees, you can probably handle a Duotron CD. A collection of both their We Modern! We Now! and Battalia Feminil! LP’s originally released on Bulb, along with their music from the split 7-inch with Xerobot, and an unreleased spoken word piece. Female vocals, abstract lyrics, ahead-of-their-time dischord, and intentionally inept guitar playing with a surprisingly danceable beat. You so no-wave!!!
CD $12.00
03/28/2000
***The masterfully orchestrated and surreal pop of Portland, Oregon’s long-running song-oddballs takes a turn to the roots as mainstay SEAN BYRNE heads back to the bedroom where it all began seven years ago. The result is eight tracks of tape loops, odd-instrumentation and electronics all blended into a wonderous new form of outsider-pop. Previous releases on Shrimper, Scratch, Road Cone, Quixotic and Pop Secret were all met with smiling winks by those truly “in the know.” Atmospheric, pyschedelic and just plain nice.
CD $12.00
05/04/1999
Bristol indie standard-bearers cast the first stones.
CD $9.75
08/07/1997