September 17, 2008

		OCT Sun 05 Mon 06 Tues 07 Wed 08 Thurs 09 Fri 10 Sat 111   OTHER MUSIC RIDES FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST MS Other Music is proud to announce that once again we are fielding a team in the annual Bike MS fundraiser for the New York City chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. On October 5th we will be cycling the streets of NYC to raise money for the fight against MS. Our team has raised more than $10,000 each year since 2001, and we need your support to reach our goal this year. Any donation large or small is appreciated; you can securely donate to Other Music team leader Josh Madell's ride by clicking here. Thanks for the support!

		FEATURED NEW RELEASES Yo La Tengo Getatchew Mekuria & the Ex Sten Blank Dogs Heikki Sarmanto Quintet Chrissy Zebby Tembo Eddy Current Suppression Ring Anne Briggs Mark Tucker El Barrio Vol. 3 (Various) Godflesh (2 LPs) Vivian Girls (7" single)   caUSE co-MOTION (7" single) Gregory Carmichael Suarasama Passion Pit Dubstars Vol. 1 (Various) Sunforest Boston Spaceships Joe Chambers Charlie Louvin Brad Barr

		SEP Sun 21 Mon 22 Tues 23 Wed 24 Thurs 25 Fri 26 Sat 27   OTHER MUSIC IN-STORE PERFORMANCE CALEXICO: Tuesday, September 23 @ 9PM Calexico's Joey Burns and John Convertino will be stopping by the store with their full band in tow to play an intimate set in support of their fantastic new album, Carried to Dust. OTHER MUSIC: 15 East 4th Street NYC Free Admission / Limited Capacity

		SEP Sun 21 Mon 22 Tues 23 Wed 24 Thurs 25 Fri 26 Sat 27 Endless Boogie   WIN TICKETS TO ENDLESS BOOGIE & BLACK DICE We've got tickets to give away to a couple of upcoming shows at Santos Party House. NYC's Endless Boogie will be serving up their hot-knife blues psych choogle on Friday, September 26. And then the next night, another local favorite (by way of RISD), avant sound sculpturists Black Dice will be performing along with I.U.D. (Members of Gang Gang Dance) & DJs Jesse Fischler and Justin Vandervolgen (!!!, Out Hud). One pair of tickets are up for grabs for each show. To enter, email giveaway@othermusic.com, and list which show you'd like to see in the subject line. We'll be notifying the two winners next Monday. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 & SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 SANTOS PARTY HOUSE: 100 Lafayette Street, Ground Fl South (btwn Walker & White Streets) NYC

		SEP Sun 21 Mon 22 Tues 23 Wed 24 Thurs 25 Fri 26 Sat 27   WIN TICKETS TO TAKEOVER BAM We ALWAYS love the Brooklyn Academy of Music, one of the best film, music and arts venues in the city. But their Takeover event is simply one of the best and most eclectic nights of entertainment you can find all year. On Saturday September 27, one ticket buys you admission to a non-stop night of live music, DJs, film and much more. The stage of the opera house has been curated by Sufjan Stevens, and features St. Vincent, the Budos Band, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus (performing the works of Nico Muhly and others), and Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens. King Britt and Vikter Duplaix are DJing all night in the BAMcafe. And the four movie theaters are playing a non-stop assortment of classic films including The Warriors, Saturday Night Fever, Strange Brew, The Last Dragon, and Lars Von Trier's The Kingdom (Part 1). Plus a rec room with Wii, Guitar Hero and ping-pong, $3 beer all night, and more more more! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 BAM: 30 Lafayette Avenue Brooklyn, NY More information, as well as $20 advance tickets are available here: www.TAKEOVERBAM.org And we are happy to offer 2 pairs of VIP guest-list tickets to our readers. To enter, send an email to tickets@othermusic.com. We'll notify the two winners on Monday, September 22nd. Good luck!

		$14.99 CD $9.99 MP3   YO LA TENGO They Shoot, We Score (Egon) "Driving Home" "Love Chant" The past few years have seen YLT fully embrace the art of the soundtrack, not just licensing the occasional album track but fully scoring a number of excellent indie films. The sound is always unmistakably Yo La, just a lush instrumental version of themselves. This release on the band's own Egon imprint features 27 great tracks, the scores of Old Joy, Junebug, Game 6 and Shortbus in their entirety. The music of the opening track, Old Joy's "Leaving Home," is indicative of its title, as it takes you on a disappearing, never-to-be-found journey, led mainly by some atmospheric guitar work and piano. The Junebug score soon breaks this skeletal spell by introducing some strings and wind instruments to the mix. The songs for this particular soundtrack are mostly named after characters in the film, and it feels as though the different tracks denote each person's demeanor, every song having its own kind of personality. The song titles of the Game 6 score are even more direct, as they mirror the actual music, a la "Pharaoh Blues," "Zoo Chant," "Love Chant" and "Return of the Pharaoh." And we also get a fix of classic YLT jamming during "Spec Bebop." Throughout this collection, YLT effortlessly steers through many different musical styles, predominantly all instrumental, an exception being Georgia Hubley's whimsical "ba da ba da" melody in Shortbus's closer, "Wizard's Sleeve." Like their Sounds of the Sounds of Science soundtrack from a few years back, They Shoot, We Score is a nice divergence for YLT fans and a wonderful reminder of Georgia, Ira and James' mastery of music and mood, as if we needed further proof. Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo, indeed. [KP]

		$13.99 CD   GETATCHEW MEKURIA & THE EX Moa Anbessa (Terp) "Ethiopia Hagere" "Musicawi Silt" For many, one of the highlights of this past summer's string of concerts here in NYC was the free WFMU-sponsored show featuring some of the masters of Ethiopian groove music -- vocalists Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete among them. No doubt, one of the stand-out moments of that concert was the somewhat unlikely pairing of Ethiopian saxophonist Getatchew Mekuria with Dutch anarcho-punk masters the Ex. Little did people realize, however, the pairing has actually been active for over two years now; and the first real fruits of this labor of love was this amazing CD, released last year on the Ex's own Terp Records (itself a showcase for many incredible African musicians, among them the first live album by Congolese faves, Konono No 1). Thankfully, Terp finally has some serious distribution outside of Europe, and we can offer this monster of an album to you all! Terrie Ex describes wonderfully in the liner notes how this collab first came to light. I won't give away all of the details but in short, the Ex invited Mekuria (probably best known to Western ears as the sax player on Ethiopiques Volume 14) to perform with the band in a series of anniversary concerts, and the idea for the album actually ended up being Mekuria's. All parties compiled a list of their favorite Ethiopian tunes and got to work. What you get here are all covers of Ethio classics, featuring new arrangements by the Ex (doing what they do so well: tearing it up) and completely unbridled sax solos by Mekuria (doing what he does so well: tearing it up), with a horn section fleshed out by a group of Dutch improvisers. About half of the record is taken from beautifully recorded live shows in France, and the rest are studio jams. It's near guaranteed you've never heard Ethio music done this way -- take one listen to killer opening track "Ethiopia Hagere" and you can get a pretty clear picture of the ride you'll be going on -- stomping rhythms, slashing guitars, GW Sok's ranting vocal delivery, and THAT HORN SOUND, so beautiful, so soulful, so punk in its own way. I don't hesitate in saying that this is unequivocally one of the best albums the Ex has ever made -- it's obvious they had a blast recording it, and they successfully manage to make the material their own while still being entirely respectful of it. Mekuria, at 70-plus-years old(!), still sounds incredible, gets plenty of solo space, and meshes with the Ex's sonics seamlessly -- he's obviously having a blast himself, too. One of the most unlikely collabs in years turns out to be one of the most satisfying -- so much so that I hope they go on to make another record. Highest recommendation, pick this up and play it LOUD! [IQ]

		$15.99 CD   STEN The Essence (Dial) "Daylight" "More Stash" A perfect title for this one from Dial co-chair Peter Kersten (a/k/a Lawrence, DJ Swap) as it has all the stripped-down yet propulsive energy that these ears crave. The damn near flawless (and I only say "near" for humility's sake) "Unknown Faces" is a great example of the sublime balance of elements consistent throughout this album. (See also "City of Dust" for its absolutely warm/cold, percolating, endlessly ascending Detroit-ness.) The soft, stripped down, non-retro techno vibe keeps the tracks buoyant with not one sound out of place, as each subtle shift pushes the track forward, giving more and more without any flaccid breakdowns. The intimate and personal vibe of the Lawrence project is bolstered by tracks full of throbbing efficiency that, like Efdemin, have the perfect mix of heyday Motor City and modern-day Hamburg and Berlin. All this and a palette of sound devoid of any distracting, trendy, overripe bells and whistles. Though not as straightforwardly "emotive", The Essence still moves the floor in a skillfully subtle and unmistakably heartfelt way. Previous Sten releases also had more of a techno feel than the Lawrence releases, but may have seemed uncharacteristically synthetic sounding in comparison. With The Essence I have to say Lawrence has NAILED it. Here, the house-inspired warmth dovetails perfectly with the techno-inspired propulsion. Anyone capable of appreciating the ineffable qualities of the Efdemin full-length, as well as the angular yet completely inviting genius of Robert Hood will be sufficiently moved by this album. Approach it with all the expectations Kersten's discography inspires, and you'll still be pleasantly surprised! We need more stuff with this much effortless grace and personality. Easily one of the top techno albums of the year. Essential! [SM]

		$11.99 CD   BLANK DOGS On Two Sides (Sacred Bones) "Twenty Two" "RCD Song" Finally on CD after cassette and LP issues, the full-length debut by the mystery man/band Blank Dogs makes it to the CD format via the Sacred Bones label. With an MO that recalls the late '70s, when DIY approaches were being applied to more than just punk rock formalism, shades of coldwave, primitive electronica, new wave and yes, punk rock (check out the relentless "Pieces") are all evident here. Cheap guitars, cheaper basses, vintage snyths and basement-next-door vocals are all cloaked (ALWAYS CLOAKED!) with an aura of mystery and it still can't stop the songs. One of the most satisfying full-length records in recent memory. [DMa]

		$14.99 CD $9.99 MP3   HEIKKI SARMANTO QUINTET Counterbalance (Porter) A pretty sweet reissue on Porter (Birigwa, Natural Food) of a highly obscure Finnish/American jazz combo led by composer/pianist Heikki Sarmanto, though on this date he favors the melodious tones of a Fender Rhodes. There's a rather unusual approach to jazz at play here, mostly pastoral throughout, with more than a few nods to rock, folk, and world music. We could almost file it in the Psych section, as it's comparable in a way, and certainly as incense-drenched, as some of my other favorite jazz albums from around the same time period by Alice Coltrane or Pharoah Sanders. Counterbalance is more atmospheric and gauzy, however, with less of the spiritual heaviness that those two bring to the table. A crossover album without the ugly connotations, a perfect jazz record for folks that don't like jazz that much, and for folks that do. (Preview song clips on Other Music Digital.) [MK]

		$22.99 CD   CHRISSY ZEBBY TEMBO My Ancestors (Hummingbird) "My Ancestors" "Coffin Maker" Who is this dude? To most he's just one of the people on the African installment of the Love, Peace and Poetry series. And as great as his "Oh Yeh Yeh" track is on that comp, it's just a dancefloor-ready, loping, fuzzy instrumental that only hints at the true charm of Chrissy Zebby Tembo and the Ngozi Family. Listen to My Ancestors in its entirety to be blown away by its uniquely awkward charm. To me, Tembo is the Ozzy-inspired Afro-Sabbath, Kenneth Higney meets '70s Sesame Street jingle vibe of Afrobeat. There's just something so charmingly dumb about this record; and I mean that in the best possible way. Just look at the vacant, gape-mouthed visage of Tembo on the album cover. He looks like the type of wayward accidental almost-genius that would stumble upon this unique blend of simple, raw, almost-naïve fuzz pop. Exactly the kind of guy who would absent-mindedly blend fuzzy Hendrix/Iommi guitar licks with a double-layered young Ozzy-sounding vocal with Afrobeat as heard on the amazing "Troublemaker." Vocal sample: "You're now a troublemaker...TROU-BLE MA-KAH!/TROU-BLE MA-KAH!...TROU-BLE MA-KER, DON'T RUN-A-WAY (YEAH)!" Then there's the instant charm of the undertaker's lament, "Coffin Maker," that weaves a snakey fuzz guitar through the bouncy, beach-rhythm of VU's "Rock and Roll" with an almost Eagles-like/"Take It to the Limit" vocal melody?!? I'll run the risk of over-explaining by describing one more gem: Remember the "music video" parts in mid-period Fat Albert cartoons where his voice would suddenly change from the gruff Cookie Monster voice to an mildly African-accented regular singing voice? Try to listen to "I've been Losing" without imagining Fat Albert jamming on his radiator-accordion with the rest of the Junkyard Gang. I apologize for all the descriptions, but comments on the blogosphere merely chalk this one up as "perfect for Sunday drives" or "perking up rainy days" and I think this album is so much more. This is one that will be universally loved for its elusive familiarity, unstoppable fun and understated audacity. An album for people ranging from fans of raw African sounds and Sublime Frequencies to fans of dumb-fun music like Ween, Kenneth Higney, Low Down Dirty Dogs, Wesley Willis and Tumult records, and everyone in between! One of the gems of the summer and perfect for the transition into fall. Recommended. [SM]

		$12.99 CD   EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING Primary Colours (Goner) "Memory Lane" "Which Way to Go" All the best rock 'n' roll comes from Australia: Coloured Balls, Buffalo, Missing Links, Easybeats, Birthday Party, Scientists, New Christs, Saints, Victims, Thought Criminals, Just Urbain, Hard Ons, Psycho Surgeons, Ooga Boogas, Silverchair, and now...Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Working with a formula of pure simplicity, ECSR take a brilliant half talking/half singing vocalist, and one riff and a primitive beat and stick with it. Hey, the Stooges and Neu! did it so why not? It's not all Neanderthal thump and grind on Primary Colours, however, there's plenty of melodic guitar chime and smart lyricism to go around too, and "We'll Be Turned On" (complete with a great Clean-esque keyboard line) is one of the best garage pop songs in a long while. Elsewhere, there's "Which Way to Go" and "Colour Television" which roll Modern Lovers, the Fall, and Television into one, add some laidback Aussie cool, to create something that's not quite garage rock (too smart, too trebly) or post-punk (too fun). I never understood why anyone would want to reinvent the wheel, when you, like ECSR, can add some bigger, shinier rims to make it seem brand new. A favorite of the year. [AK]

		$15.99 CD   ANNE BRIGGS Anne Briggs (Water) "Blackwater Side" "Living by the Water" Hearing Anne Briggs sing is a lot like that thing that sometimes happens when you're walking down the street completely preoccupied and bump into someone you know, only they see you first and you're completely unaware until they call your name. When you realize you're face to face with someone familiar, you're shocked into a sudden state of joyful surprise. It's a quick jolt that shakes you out of whatever nonsense was weighing down your mind and puts you immediately into a place of comfort and warmth. There's a bigger picture, and you just needed to remember it. That might seem like hyperbole, or maybe a bit emotionally weighted, but listening to this re-issue of her 1971 debut album really isn't like anything else. One of the most important figures to arise from the post-war British folk revival, Briggs approaches traditional songs and a few of her own compositions with a voice incredibly powerful, intuitive and emotionally evocative to the point of being cinematic without ever stepping foot into theatrics. Of the 10 songs here, only the first four have musical accompaniment. The remainder finds Briggs singing a cappella, creating a mood so still and beautifully sad it really sounds like nothing before it. Forget for a minute about the Joanna Newsoms, White Magics and Josephine Fosters of the world, and realize that the scope of Briggs' influence shaped not just the ladies, but also Will Oldham, Devendra, Red House Painters and really anyone strumming and singing. This is what they wish they could be; the blueprint of folk music so deeply moving and thoughtful it actually reaches perfection. Essential listening. [FT]

		$13.99 CD $9.99 MP3   MARK TUCKER In the Sack (De Stijl) "Sandbox-Upon-Storm" "Sultry Summer Siren/More Than Just Friends" In the Sack is a conceptual monument to the emotional turmoil of a young man watching reality get parceled and delivered, lost in the quicksand of the United States Postal Service… or something like that. Tucker, or T. Storm Hunter, released his second album in 1983, and as far as introspective, weird, haunted, tortured, bedroom, outsider music is concerned, he is as indecipherable and perplexingly indescribable as his reputation explicitly forewarns. The tracks range from touching pop tunes to backwards songs, avant-garde piano, arcade noise, and bitterly sardonic pop. Seven years after Batstew (and you thought that record sounded crazy), Tucker went through some rough times to make it to this album, which explains the tangibility of the music's mood swings. From the ironically surreal tape manipulation and plodding bass on "Attractive," to the rather catchy backwards song "Everywhere with Sally," such pure happiness and determined melancholy could only originate from someone working through insufferable instability. As if the fact that this being available again isn't cause enough to check this album out, an unexpected perk on this reissue is an alternate version of "Everywhere with Sally," played forwards. Yes, this is a very personal record that pauses to mock itself, rewind itself in all sincerity, and then completely lose you. Hear it for yourself; you won't be disappointed. [BCa]

		$15.99 CD   VARIOUS ARTISTS El Barrio 3: Back On The Streets Of Spanish Harlem (Emusica/Fania) "Willie Whopper" Willie Colon "Cucaraca Macara" Harvey Averne's Barrio Band Oh, yes. I'm a huge fan of Latin Boogaloo, and Fania really delivers with this collection, the thrid volume in their El Barrio series. Where previous volumes delivered hefty doses of salsa and unbridled Puerto Rican rhythm, this time the collection is focused around Latin sounds with a distinct American twist, taking liberal inspirations from funk, R&B and even jazz, for a collection that swings on a different groove than most other Fania records. Highlights include opener "(I'll Be a) Happy Man" by the Latin Blues Band Feat. Luis Aviles, Willie Colon's "Willie Whopper," the Lebron Brothers' killer "Summertime Blues," Joey Pastrana's "My Girl," and the Shaft-in-Spanish-Harlem monster "Cucaraca Macara" by Harvey Averne's Barrio Band. It's great party music to be certain, and is pretty much guaranteed to liven up any room in which it's played. Informative liner notes fill out an overall great package by one of the greatest labels in Latin music's history. Recommended! [IQ]

		$16.99 LP $16.99 LP   GODFLESH Godflesh (Kreation) GODFLESH Streetcleaner (Kreation) A few words to get out of the way: Pummeling. Guttural. Essential. Pure. Singular. Godflesh is the first project Justin Broadrick (Jesu) started (with G.C. Green) after leaving the groundbreaking original lineup of Napalm Death. Godflesh was highly influential in a handful of ways. Though not the first -- Big Black pre-dated them -- they used drum machines in a way that absolutely embraced and enhanced their cold, exact, repetitive qualities rather than trying to hide them. Broadrick's guitar sound is best described as two tanks locked in mortal combat, complete with bass-heavy collisions and high pitched, steel-scraping squeals. Vocally, Broadrick is a cross between Michael Gira and Pinhead from Hellraiser. They are credited for being pioneers of the industrial-meets-metal sound which gets such a bad rap, as most bands described with these qualities are usually a pale imitation of what Godflesh started about 20 years ago. Both of these vinyl reissues are essential Godflesh. The doomed-out, cold, brutal purity of the first extended EP makes it one of my all time favorite metal albums, with endless, churning pile-driver riffs (see "Avalanche Master Song") that were so far from the blues-based metal/rock that the was standard at the time. A song like "Veins" has a primitive hardcore meets Spacemen 3-leaning psychedelic delay thing that cast the die for some of my favorite primitive black metal songs. To subtly reference another essential industrial band, Godflesh always did come across like the soundtrack to new buildings being destroyed in slow motion. Streetcleaner is probably the record most-cited as people's favorite Godflesh release. It has all the pummel of the first album, but with an overall more urban/psychedelic production quality and a bit of a thrashier drive. Songs like "Devastator" have an industrial, sound-collage effect that predates Ministry and even Mick Harris' equally essential Scorn project. There is a majestic undercurrent to this album that was hinted at on from the first EP. Also present are the dub-like elements and even vaguely hip-hop breaks that would be explored and even serve to inspire others in years to come. To put it in perspective, we know there would be no Sunno))), OM or Sleep without Earth or Winter (NY). I think its safe to say that we would have no Earth or Winter if it weren't for Godflesh. [SM]

		$5.99 45   VIVIAN GIRLS I Can't Stay (In the Red) I can't help thinking that at this point it seems a bit funny to write a review about a band that has already had so much said about them. As both the recipients and victims of the blogosphere's voracious appetite and need for speed, these three Brooklyn ladies have gone from having a record coming out on a small punk rock label (that self-titled record is being reissued next month on In the Red) to being one of the most talked about bands of 2008. But, at the end of the day it is their songs and style that prove they can carry the weight of the praise that is continuing (and will continue) to be heaped upon them. A wall of reverbed guitar, '60s girl group harmony vocals and a simple but effective rhythm section are all tied up around great songs. Both the original A-side and the Daisy Chain cover on the B-side are non-LP making this a must have. [DMa]

		$6.99 45   CAUSE CO-MOTION! I Lie Awake (Slumberland) Over the past few years Brooklyn's caUSE co-MOTION! (case sensitive folks) have put out a somewhat steady stream of nerd-pop classics that seem to just get better and better. Their songs take the nervous energy and frustration of this modern life and add more reverb than you may have thought possible, all crafted into some of the best dance-around-the-room-and-break-things soundtrack in recent memory. Also, this new single is their debut for the newly invigorated indie-pop stalwart label Slumberland and it should be noted that if you missed any of those singles Slumberland will be releasing a handy compilation of them next month. [DMa]

		$9.99 CDx2 (Cut) $9.99 MP3   GREGORY CARMICHAEL Red Greg (P&P) "Space Disco" Universal Robot Band "Lady Bug" Bumblebee Unlimited The NYC-based P & P Records is now regarded as one of the premier disco labels from the '70s. The influence that their records have had on today's neo-disco scenes in NYC, Sweden, Norway, Berlin -- not to mention Chicago house -- cannot even be understated. While back in the day, most of these songs never even made it onto the radio because of the suggestive nature of the tunes, the tracks gained notoriety in the after-hours discotheques. The spaced-out synthesizers, psychedelic moans and minimal grooves formed the perfect aural backdrop for all sorts of decadent dancing -- and some 30 years later, still make for a great late night soundtrack. The Red Greg label was set up by the two Ps of the P&P imprint (in house producers Peter Brown and Patrick Adams) for Greg Carmichael who, along with Adams, would create tracks, often under guises like Universal Robot Band or Bumblebee Orchestra, to name a few. This is the first comprehensive collection of Carmichael's productions and they're excellent! "Lady Bug," "Dance and Shake Your Tambourine" and "Making Love" are still floor-fillers to this very day; and through the years, these records have been coveted by disco connoisseurs -- the originals sometimes fetching triple digits from collectors. Needless to say, this compilation is a godsend. Some of the best dance music on the planet just got a little easier to access. Thank the disco deities above! [DH]

		$13.99 CD $19.99 LPx2   SUARASAMA Fajar di Atas Awan (Drag City) "Fajar di Atas Awan" "Sang Hyang Guru" It seems the sensibilities of today are better prepared for Fajar di Atas Awan than they were when this was originally issued in 1998, and many thanks are due to Drag City for bringing it to our attention. Somewhere between the western guitar playing, hushed and reverent female and male vocals, Persian drums, Arabic lyrics, and overall non-traditional arrangement of traditional instruments, Suarasama find a reassuring harmony synthesizing so many different cultures into a globalized folk sound. Different ethnomusicologists make up the band, and somehow the result is not completely boring. The album is absolutely engaging intellectually as the refined musicianship lends itself to clear and distinguishable trademarks, where listeners can pick up Turkish influence in one spot and Indian or Sumatran in another, and so on. However, this recording is far from an intellectual exercise, songs like "Lebah" and "Zapin Shirat/Ghazal Ingatan Diri" quicken the album's tempo and offer original sounds of authenticity and breathe remembrance into lost traditions where only the most precise musicianship can pay proper tribute. Fans of Give Me Love and Sublime Frequencies ought to find miles of pleasant listens in this disc. [BCa]

		$17.99 CD   VARIOUS ARTISTS Dubstars, Vol. 1: From Dub to Disco and from Disco to Dub (Echo Beach) "The Jezebel Spirit" Brian Eno & David Byrne "She Lost Control" Grace Jones The latest compilation to come from the eccentric folks at Echo Beach throws a wrench into a style known as disco dubs. This collection of dub- AND disco-flavored tracks is a good throwback to the late eighties/early nineties, when the lines between genres seemed to be closer and more adventurous. Across the thirteen tracks we get Lee Perry, Dennis Bovell, Francoise Kevorkian and Adrian Sherwood, working their dub magic on the likes of Terence Trent D'Arby, Manu Chao, Cabaret Voltaire and Simply Red, respectively. Other takes on modern dub come from enthusiasts like Massive Attack, Eno & Byrne, Grace Jones, Stereo MC's and Paul Weller. However, the surprise jam comes in the form of a Jam & Spoon mix of New Order's Blue Monday, which sounds like classic era Orb, all liquidity and gooey. Maybe you wouldn't think so from the track listing, but Dubstars Vol. 1 was a hit when we played it. That said, this is an accessible, nostalgic, and surprisingly fun listen. [DG]

		$7.99 CD $5.99 MP3   PASSION PIT Chunk of Change (French Kiss) "I've Got Your Number" "Cuddle Fuddle" I may be getting ahead of myself when I say that I love every song on this record. Chunk of Change opens with the simple yet catchy electronic beat of "I've Got Your Number," the first of the many fine tunes on this six-song EP from Cambridge, MA newcomers, Passion Pit. The record builds and builds until it climaxes with "Sleepyhead," the kick-ass single that is sure to be on every iPod DJ's playlist from here on out (currently available on Other Music Digital as a free download through Friday). The song begins with a chipmunk-like voice (a sped-up recording of Jack Keroauc if you believe everything you read on the Internet) paired with an angelic choir supporting singer Michael Angelakos, and a thumping drum beat that evolves into a kaleidoscope of synths. Speaking of the synth, each of the five members has that credit to their name, but thankfully they use their collective superpower wisely. While Passion Pit have been mentioned in the same breath as Girl Talk and MGMT, nowhere in my research did I come upon any comparison to Postal Service. This was a little surprising; Angelakos sounds like a pubescent Ben Gibbard on speed. Which is to say he sounds f**king awesome. Try "Smile Upon Me" and tell me that's not Gibbard's saucy little brother. It's no wonder that they have opened for Death Cab in the past. What I like about these lads is that they are just so darn optimistic! For example, "Cuddle Fuddle" is a super cute track with a steel-drum sounding sample and lyrics about Rapunzel. In "Live to Tell the Tale," Angelakos sings, "I hope I'll fall asleep knowing that you'll always be the story with no ending." Tear. According to lore, he initially wrote and recorded these songs all by his lonesome as a (late?) Valentine's Day gift to his girlfriend. Then it became a gift to everyone, he got some band mates and signed to Frenchkiss -- and I predict that Passion Pit will soon become the most popular act on the label's roster. Just like the chorus of their hyper jungle/80s/M.I.A.-influenced "Better Things" proclaims, "Better things are coming, I swear there's truth in that." [TL]

		$15.99 CD   SUNFOREST Sound of Sunforest (Acme Gramophone) "Be Like Me" "Magician in the Mountain" The trajectory of Sunforest is one we're well familiar with by now: Materialize out of nowhere (in this case three girls discovered singing in a cafe), release a single album to complete commercial failure, fade quickly back into nowhere as your record lingers in obscurity for years eventually to become sought-after by either collector geeks or DJs, wait for culture to catch up with you and realize you made something valid and cool, and then BAM! -- reissues abound, maybe even a reunion tour. Originally released in 1969, Sound of Sunforest followed this form almost to the letter, and it makes sense why. In its day, this record would have had to spawned a hit or two in order to not seem random, and the peace-and-love image of the band easily be dismissed as hippie wannabe tripe. The tunes genre-hop White Album-style, from bummer acid folk dirges to medieval-tinged arrangements, turning on a dime to the faux-ragtime of "Lighthouse Keeper" and then directly into the stoned, lazy funk of album highlight, "Magician in the Mountain." Today, a concentrated listen reveals a depth of production ideas, clever songwriting and despite its schizophrenic pacing, a really memorable collection. The hooky harpsichord pop of "Give Me All Your Loving" and silly "Lady Next Door" both ape Mamas & Papas harmonies to the best effect, and "And I Was Blue" sums up the entire record in a psyche/freakbeat/folk-rock vibefest that was too ahead of its time to be a hit. Includes a 20-page booklet with additional insider information on the band, as well as lyrics. [FT]

		$14.99 CD $15.99 LP $9.99 MP3   BOSTON SPACESHIPS Brown Submarine (Guided by Voices) "You Satisfy Me" "Ready to Pop" At this point in history, the term "Pollard-esque" has been coined, primarily to intone an almost obsessive-compulsive prolific nature in songwriting. Decades into an incredible career, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Robert Pollard's story is that the dude just won't stop writing songs. In his stint as lo-fi's drunken captain with Guided by Voices, he graduated to urban legend status, with stories circulating of suitcases of unreleased GbV songs on cassettes in Pollard's Ohio basement that he'd play for you if you bought him enough drinks. Boston Spaceships is the latest in a literally never-ending string of post-GbV projects, following several solo albums, a few bar-band side projects and the proper release of some of those unheard suitcase tapes from back in the day. The debut Spaceships album, Brown Submarine (the title itself one of dozens of lopsided classic-rock references that are scattered throughout the lyrics) is the work of a real band, one that practiced and learned the songs and set up in the studio and actually thought about elements of production -- like the latter-period Guided by Voices albums. Still, let's not fool ourselves; Pollard's short-and-sweet pop songwriting magic is the calling card and the defining factor of listening to Boston Spaceships. Whatever name it's going under or what amount of tape hiss is present, anything Pollard-related has impressions of his best work (the flow of songs from two-minute sweet-hearted anthems like "Two Girl Area" into goofy meathead toss-offs like "Zero Fix" brings to mind the haunted radio-knob flipping feel of Alien Lanes") and also sees an artist known for writing hundreds of songs a year inevitably finding new voices or at least new ways to say it better. The Beatle-worshiping, cassette-dubbed, stinking-drunk power pop core never died, but strangely enough mutated to a point where it can influence itself and at the same time keep growing into something new, never losing sight of what made it so great to begin with. [FT]

		$14.99 CD $9.99 MP3   JOE CHAMBERS New World (Porter) Joe Chambers is one of the more underrated jazz drummers who came out of the classic Blue Note-era. Having made his rhythmic way around the compositions and playing of McCoy Tyner, Bobby Hutcherson, Eric Dolphy and Andrew Hill, as well as backing Archie Shepp on his Live at Newport recording, Chambers also went on to release a few albums as band leader. Originally released on Finite in 1976, New World showcases the diversity and fluid playing that made him a must have musicians for so many "heavyweights." Across five lengthy tracks, Chambers leads the six additional players (bass, dual percussion, saxophone, electric piano and guitar) into various cross-sections of culture and style. From free jazz to hard bop, avant-garde to soul/spiritual jazz, not to mention a little Latin groove thrown in, they firmly take things out and back with ease. At times the music is a bit reminiscent of some the lofty jazz vamps that were to come during the end of the '70s, mixing improvisation, fusion, and groove with great playing and nice dynamics throughout. Fans of Giles Peterson-styled jazzy selections will definitely enjoy this funky slice of -- at times -- psychedelic jazz. Includes a version of Herbie Hancock's soundtrack classic "Blow Up." (Preview song clips on Other Music Digital.) [DG]

		$13.99 CD $9.99 MP3   CHARLIE LOUVIN Steps to Heaven (Tompkins Square) "Precious Lord" "I Feel Like Traveling On" Charlie Louvin's influential career hit high points in the '40s and '50s with his brother Ira and the Louvin Brothers, and he continued with solo hits in the '70s and beyond. But since turning 80, he has been in the throes of a creative resurgence, and this new gospel full-length, while not quite Satan Is Real, is a nice addition to the catalog. Louvin's voice is rougher and less supple than in his prime, but the emotion is real and, with Mark Nevers (Lambchop) producing, the sound is rich and dynamic. Louvin is backed by a female vocal trio and with Derrick Lee on piano and Chris Scruggs on bass and guitars, the band has a timeless quality that appeals far beyond the church crowd, with an album of pure classic country. [JM]

		$12.99 CD $9.99 MP3   BRAD BARR The Fall Apartment: Instrumental Guitar (Tompkins Square) "Gin Gin" "Maria La O " Brad Barr, of NYC's the Slip, releases The Fall Apartment, a lovely album of solo guitar. Full of playfulness and melody, the gentle, airy tracks are simply and beautifully recorded to capture the room sound and the quiet between the notes, as much as the notes themselves.

		1. Diplo & Santogold Top Ranking 2. Okkervil River The Stand Ins 3. Ribbons Surprise Attacks 4. Calexico Carried to Dust 5. The New Year The New Year 6. The Walkmen You & Me 7. Vivian Girls I Can't Stay 8. Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes 9. Various Artists Calypsoul 70 10. Tallest Man on Earth Shallow Grave   11. High Places 03/07-09/07 12. Lindstrom Where You Go I Go Too 13. Stereolab Chemical Chords 14. Nightmares on Wax Thought So 15. Tricky Knowle West Boy 16. Claire Hamill Voices 17. Growing All the Way 18. Arabian Prince Innovative Life 19. Flying Lotus Los Angeles 20. Fujiya & Miyagi Lightbulbs

		PHONE ORDERS Phone orders are accepted at (212) 477-8150 (ext. #2, mailorder) Mon-Fri, Noon - 7pm EST EMAIL For general inquiries or other information please email sales@othermusic.com. Do not reply to this message. REMOVE This is an automated list. If you would like to be removed for any reason, please visit: digital.othermusic.com/subscribe.php   THIS WEEK'S CONTRIBUTORS [BCa] Brian Cassidy [DG] Daniel Givens [DH] Duane Harriott [IQ] Mikey IQ Jones [MK] Michael Klausman [AK] Andreas Knutsen [TL] Tanya Leet [JM] Josh Madell [DMa] Dave Martin [SM] Scott Mou [KP] Kimberly Powenski [FT] Fred Thomas THANKS FOR READING - all of us at Other Music

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