The Outsiders-C.Q.

Totally fucking essential Dutch psych is not a phrase one hears too often. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty good to be found from that scene, but I won't say everything is a must own. This one, however, does happen to fall into that rare category. The cover rules. Wally Tax's androgenous performance is especially noteworthy (check his release as Tax Free-terrible pun, great John Cale affiliated album). The guitars were more than capably handled by the deftly monickered Ronnie Splinter. The list I just provided should clue you into how special this record is. Oh, and it's also culled from the NWW list for more cultural cache.

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Ahora Mazda

Since you can't get drunk and listen to Abba every night I figure I should just get back to the albums. Believe it or not, there is a sort of a format here. And since all the clip I posted are all songs you've heard a million times, I figure I should dig a little deeper with this post. These guys played along with previously posted bands like Shocking Blue and Group 1850, but never really achieved much success. I've read that they were briefly courted by e.s.p.-disk, but unfortunately, nothing was to come of it. And really, I think this would have fit nicely in that stable. There's certainly an interest in free jazz, but they add more global sounds and psych moves. Making one hell of a out there classic in the process.

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Michel Waisvisz-Crackle

Kind of a jarring cover, I know, but it does capture what Waisvisz is all about. I definitely recommend checking youtube for some of his unusual sound experiments, as his homemade instruments really need to be seen to be believed. And the nice thing is, is that you can still buy his crackleboxes. If some kind reader is thinking about birthday presents for yours truly, that might be an item to consider. This guy continues to make amazing things that confound and titillate. Check him out.

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Pure Hate-We've Got the Right to Remain Silent, but...7"

Someone recently posted a comment that maybe I should tone down my hatred. I'm not trying to insult that person, because his/her comment is valid and was really in reference to a particular album. While there's definitely merit to this person's assertion, it's just something that I just can't do. Sorry. I'm too old, bitter, set in my ways to renounce my passion for resentment. Hence this album. I never said I was a nice person.

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Group 1850-Paradise Now

Dilettantes who infrequently travel the sonic spaceways often overlook the fact that there was plenty of dark shit available before the whole 70s blowback of selfishness and disillusionment occurred. And here's a prime example of a band that still gets high praise for the more archetypal hippie rock of their first album (Agemo's Trip--a super awesome record in it's own regard), but get dumped on for this freak out. I can't explain why tastemakers rank this one so low, but I think it's another essential Dutch masterpiece. People, who really wants to listen to songs about clowns, and pies, and sunbeams all the time? I'll take the dark stuff instead.

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Shocking Blue-At Home

Curse my fate. My much anticipated premier as a dj was stymied by a faulty sound system and general incompetence. One more bullshit thing to happen to me this week, I guess. In any event, the crowd seemed pretty lame. I doubt they would have dug this (it was on my playlist), but that doesn't mean that you can't. This crew is probably most known to us for two things: 1.) Nirvana covering Love Buzz and 2.) writing Venus--you know, the one they play in that commercial for that razor. What people should be talking about instead is what a bad ass guitar player Robbie van Leeuwen was. Then again, I think people should really be talking about how awesome the whole Dutch psych scene was. Aside from a select few I've never really heard people talk much about that scene. Why is that?

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Desert Corbusier-S/T

Well, I thought this was a self titled album, but I saw a few people label this off of the text on the album's cover. But I tagged it as self titled. I don't know what is right since I don't know much about this band. For those of you who adore the Lowlands, here's some Dutch grimness of the post punk persuasion. Deep vocals, mechanical drumming, etc. You know the drill. But it's still really good. Dark, of course, but how could you think it would be anything else. This rip is a little crackly, but I'm not going to waste a day cleaning it up. If you don't like the sound of old vinyl than you can go scratch.

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