pic by Emilio Paranoico

I first heard Kill Your Boyfriend, courtesy of the Limited Edition 10″ split double A Side, with New Candys back in January.

Their “Illimitate Post Punk | Dark Wave | Black Shoegaze | Irritating Noise”, was an indelibly intoxicating introduction.

Fast forward to Fuzz Club Festival a few weeks back and fellow aesthete, Monica Melissano of A Giant Leap, EU/UK booking agency for Kill Your Boyfriend, hands me a promo copy of the CD for ‘The King Is Dead’.

To my heartfelt shame and embarrassment it has sat, waiting patiently for it’s opportunity to shine. And SHINE it has, it has caressed then blown my ears off, with blissful immoderation.

“Inspired by the rise and fall of the beautiful Edie Sedgwick.”

So says the liner notes on this latest EP release from Paradise Range, a band rooted in the Thuringian green heart of Germany.

Paradise Range excel at crafting their unique blend of “electronic psych rock”.

Michael Böerner (MPC 2000, Guitar, Efx) and Lucas Hotop (Organ, Synth, Bass, Efx), exist under the aegis of their “art for art’s sake” banner.

photo by chromaticism at Fuzz Club Records Festival

Throw Down Bones are, Frankie Frankie, (so cool they named him twice!) : Guitar/Synth/Vocal/Effect, Dave Cocks: Bass/Percussion and James Aparicio: Producer. Throw Down Bones is “Noise Militia, Amnesia haze kraut and Philosophical drone”.

Risen, phoenix-like from the ashes of Piatcions, “THROW DOWN BONES is the answer, a personal therapy, a rehab from life, an artistic space without structures where we can let music flow naturally.”

For certain, these guys kick collective ass live. I consider myself extremely fortunate, to have witnessed the Throw Down Bones performance, as part of the recent Fuzz Club Records Festival. Frankie and Dave brought their raw, elemental DIY ethos to the mixing desk, and summarily wowed the faithful with their blistering set.

Photo by: Christian Apolo

‘Caballo Negro’ or Black Horse by Sudakistan is an album I was destined to hear.

In the week leading up to Liverpool Psych Fest 2104, if El Lobo first came to me in the guise of ‘Dale Gas’, then ‘Rabia‘ literally injected me with Sudakistan’s rabid frenzy. My pack allegiance was immediately assured.

Luke Reilly, co-founder of PNKSLM Recordings, at the time described Sudakistan as a group of five South American guys, living in Stockholm and as being, “the best live band around today”.

Liverpool certainly fanned the flames of Sudakistan’s glowing reputation, whetting the appetite with the promise of much more to come…

Who the fuck is Fyrskeppet I hear you cry…

In this instance it is not so much a who, as a what.

In the truly idiosyncratic style to which we have become addicted, Fyrskeppet – or Swedish for Lightship is the latest incarnation of Daniel Westerlund, aka The Goner, aka E Gone.

That he returns in a guise, hauntingly familiar to my sea faring lineage, is a particular delight.

I spent most mid-70’s school holidays aboard my father’s trawler, in and around the Faroes and Iceland. An unwitting observer and participant in the last instalment of the “Cod Wars”, even being rammed on occasion by the Icelandic Gunboat!