archived brainwashed reviews
“Palenque Palenque: Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots in Colombia 1975-91” (Soundway, 2009)
The major recurrent theme for Soundway compilations is documenting that fragile and fleeting period when two cultures collide and the resulting music still seems exciting, fresh, and revolutionary. Palenque Palenque […]
My Cat Is An Alien, “Mort Aux Vaches” (Staalplaat, 2009)
Despite its utterly mystifying and goofy lenticular packaging, My Cat Is An Alien’s contribution to Staalplaat’s long-running studio session series is a very focused, formidable, and often incendiary affair. The […]
Area C, “Charmed Birds Against Sorcery” (Students of Decay, 2009)
Area C’s newest release borrows its theme from a passage in Claudius Aelian’s On The Characteristics of Animals (written around 200 AD); specifically one that states that doves can protect […]
Nurse With Wound, “Spiral Insana” (Torso, 1986)
First released in 1986 on Torso, this enduringly bizarre collage of kaleidoscopic surrealism has now been reissued with the original cover art. More than two decades later, it still stands […]
Fenn O’Berg “Magic & Return” (Editions Mego, 2009)
Editions Mego has finally reissued the woefully out-of-print complete recorded oeuvre of this massively influential and infrequently convening laptop supergroup. Unsurprisingly, it still sounds great. Christian Fennesz, Jim O’Rourke, and […]
“Panama! 2: Latin Sounds, Cumbia Tropical & Calypso Funk on the Isthmus 1967-77” (Soundway, 2009)
A new compilation from Soundway is always cause for excitement and this follow-up to 2006’s excellent Panama! is no exception. I have no doubt that this album will finally cement […]
Jim O’Rourke, “I’m Happy, and I’m Singing, and a 1,2,3,4” (Editions Mego, 2001)
Despite having been recorded more than a decade ago with somewhat fledgling technology, Jim O’Rourke’s 2001 groundbreaking laptop masterpiece still sounds fresh and vibrant today. That is no small accomplishment, […]
“1970’s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground” (Sublime Frequencies, 2008)
Originally released on vinyl only in 2008, this album sold out almost immediately and it is quite clear why, as these are some thoroughly raucous jams and nobody but Sublime […]