I came across them when I heard their track Kundalini eyes featured on the most recent Reverb Conspiracy compilation,(put out by the people behind the Austin Psych Festival.
Kundalini Eyes
Dead Skeletons were formed by Jon 'Noni Dead' Saemunder in 2008. Saemunder was previously known for his visual artwork, which features strongly in Dead Skeletons.
Other members include Ryan Carlson Van Kriedt, previously with the fantastic Asteroid #4, Henrik Bjornsson and Will Carruthers, the former bass player with the hugely influential Spacemen 3.
"Dead Mantra is a battle of life winning over death and the sonic palette that colours the struggle between fight and surrender is consistent throughout. In the middle of this hypnotic maelstrom come the otherworldly vocals. Bathed in echo and reverb, they attempt to find their way from a spiritual battleground that suggest a strange ambiguity over whether the desire for life can keep morality away for just that bit longer."
In 1994 singer 'Nonni Dead' was diagnosed with the HIV virus leading him to develop the Dead Mantra.
The Mantra frames their work, from the stunning visuals to the songs themselves.
Check out their album 'Dead Magick', 2011 - A Records.
I first discovered Spacemen 3 when a friend lent me a bunch of records he thought I needed to hear. In there were records from Bikini Kill, The Red Krayola, Stereolab, Pavement and Royal Trux.
I loved them all but the record that jumped out at me the most was 'Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To'(1994).
I think was first attracted my to the album was the monochrome, psychedelic artwork. It reminded me of hippie campaign artwork and 13th Floor Elevators gig posters.
The record is made up of 13 fuzz ridden freakouts. With lazy, drawn out vocals and lengthy instrumentals.
I loved the simple lyrics and repetitive, hypnotising sequences and soon brought up every spaceman recording I could find.
One of those first tracks I heard was 'The Sound of Confusion'...
Spacemen 3 was primarily the partnership of musicians Pete Kember and Jason Pierce, perhaps know better as Sonic Boom and J. Spaceman. After Spacemen 3 disbanded both musicians went on to have productive solo careers under different guises. Pete Kember released under the names Sonic Boom and Spectrum whilst Jason Pierce had great success as Spiritualized.
Kember has released a prolific amount of material since his departure from Spacemen 3. 'Soul Kiss (Glide Divine)', 1992, and 'Spectrum', 1990, are must listens. As well as his solo material, Kember has collaborated with the likes of Silver Apples, Kevin Sheilds and Jim Dikinson.
Spectrum
Although at the time of release Spacemen 3 did not sell a ton of records or find great success, today they are hugely influential. MGMT, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Animal Collective, Dead Skeletons and even Florence and The Machine,(slightly randomly), cite Spacemen 3 as a key inspiration for their sound.
Recently there have been a serge of young psych bands who wear their love of Pete Kembers' work on their sleeves. The Vacant Lots, as featured here a few weeks ago, Asteroid #4 and Hookworms show their admiration more obviously than others. One of the first Asteroid #4 recording was a great cover of Spacemen's 'Loosing Touch With My Mind'.
In the last 10 years Kembers profile as a producer has been getting higher and higher. The last MGMT album, 'Congratulations', a big budget production, features Kember on production. His presence and influence is clearly heard throughout the album especially, in my opinion, on the track 'I Found a Whistle'.
Kember in the studio with MGMT recording 'Congratulations'
Other production credits include his work with the electronic artist Panda Bear on his recent release 'Tomboy'. It's a great album from the Animal Collective founder..CHECK IT!
Kember performing live with Panda Bear
I recently came across a band Kember has been working with called Teen. The all-girl, Brooklyn based, band have a far 'poppier' sound than I have heard Kember work with before. The mixture of Kembers tripped out synths and production with their upbeat pop songs creates something really great.
Sonic Boom's website is a great source of information, especially the 'Spacelines Track Notes'. Another great Spacemen related resource is the fan run Spacemen 3 site. Also the Soft Focus special on Pete Kember is well worth a watch, Kemper and Ian Svenonius in a room together - oemgeewhat!!
I'm seeing Spectrum live, for the first time, in .... 4 days!! I's going to be emotional :)
I'm sorry I have been so quiet on here recently, I have beenshoulder deep in dissertation madness!
Being stuck inside has however given me a chance to listen to loads of music. New sounds and tracks I had forgotten existed.
I have been going through my record collection, breaking the circle of the same ten records that I seem to have got stuck in.
Gong, Edith Piaf, Nuggets compilations, Sic Alps and Nico are all back on the menu.
Here are two songs...with the same name :o !
The Jesus and Mary Chain - The Living End
I have been blaring the Mary Chain loads recently, especially their debut 'Psycho Candy' - absolute classic!
I cannot wait to check them live at Primavera, in Barcelona, this May.
Bongwater - The Living End
Bongwater were a lo-fi experimental act based in New York city in the late eighties and early nineties. The duo, musician Mark Kramer and the actress Ann Magnuson, released a total of four albums of their unique brand of psychedelic, experimental indie pop. Kramer later went on to not only produce dream pop sensations Galaxy 500 but became an important factor in the formation of the bands sound.
