Lee McAdams – EP: In The Crypt (USA 2023)

Track List:

1 - Enter the Mothman
2 - Wendigo
3 - Siren Song Streaming Link:

  Soundcloud (Free Download) 

 

„Lee McAdams is a musician, songwriter and producer from Providence, Rhode Island. His eclectic style and ability to adapt has led to many collaborations over the years, gaining some notoriety among the New England music scene with the Cosmic Factory. Lee started the Cosmic Factory, a psychedelic/progressive rock trio, in 2010 and the group remains very active. Lee’s most recent projects include the Tellurian Orchestra, an orchestral ambient/new age project, who released their debut EP in September 2023. Finding inspiration in everything from old roots music to groundbreaking progressive music, Lee’s music covers a lot of ground and is always evolving.

Lee also founded the indie label and recording studio Squatch Sounds, based in Smithfield, RI. At Squatch Sounds, he has mixed and/or recorded music for Wogglez, White Rabbit, the McAdams Brothers and more.
“In the Crypt” is the latest EP by Lee McAdams, released on October 27th. Just in time for Halloween! Stemming from his interest in the paranormal, McAdams wrote these three songs about cryptids. The second of three EPs that Lee started writing during the pandemic lockdown and the first to feature vocals. This EP was inspired by the music of Porcupine Tree, Clutch, Goblin, Pink Floyd and more. A music video for the song “Wendigo” will be released on October 31st." (EPK info)

Credits
Lee McAdams - guitars, bass, lead & backing vocals
Alexander Agudelo - synthesizer, organ piano
Drew Doyon - drums
Justin McAdams & Kyle Carlson - backing vocals
Linus Powers - guitar solo (on “Siren Song”)
Produced, Recorded & Mixed by Lee McAdams at Squatch Sounds Additional Engineering by Ben Drumm & Linus Powers
Artwork by Linus Powers Label: Squatch Sounds

Indeed I can hear a clear Porcupine Tree influence in Lee's work. And his guitar playing reminds me of  David Gilmour's later sound.

Check it out! 

Dani L. - A Bell for Mike (GER 2009)

DANI L. has already appeared on HLFP as a member of Superking and the Fire Action, Orange and the unforgettably titled Captain Fartfish and His Careful Muffins as well as contributing a solo track to HLFP 03 New Kids on the Blog, and he now brings us a full-length solo album of psychedelic stylings. Primarily instrumental, A Bell for Mike features only the briefest and/or most buried of vocal appearances, and while Dani presumably handles (with great competence) all of the instruments, it is his deft and versatile guitar playing that grabs the spotlight. Stylistically, he evokes Floydian grandeur ("Bell"), Riot-era Sly Stone and "Belly Button Window" Hendrix ("Time"), hints of Mahavishnu/Crimson malevolence ("Brainwash") and Zappafied jamming ("Shot"). A few tracks strike me as overly repetitive while others verge a little too close to modern Frisco-inspired jamband workouts for my taste, but you can't please all of the people all of the time, right? The production is neither too slick nor too raw, with arrangements that keep the ear and brain engaged without overdub overload. If you want to take a wild ride on a wild guitar through a variety of psych/prog/fusion/ jamband settings, A Bell for Mike may be for you as well.

(Guest review by BaM – BRIAN ANDREW MAREK – thanks a lot!)

Q: Where exactly are you from?

A: Born 1965 in Frankfurt/M., now living in 68167 Mannheim, Melanchthonweg 8.

Q: Do you want your real name mentioned? If so: What is your real name?

A: My name is "Dani L. Paul Caesar". And the name of this group, which currently consists of me composing, playing and singing, is "miniRock".

Q: How recorded??

A: In my practice room in the cellar of a laundrette in Mannheim. Orange Tiny Terror guitar amp with 2x12" Tone Tubby Box. Marshall amp. Gibson SG. Music Man bass. Various acoustic guitars. Pearl drumset. Some keys and percussion. All blown into two Shure SM 58. Digitally put together with Cubase Essential.

Q: When recorded?

A: Sometimes 2009.

Q: Who involved? Who played what?

A: No one but me composed, improvised and performed everything.

Q: What is the meaning of the album title?

A: Talking about my future release you´re right, a whole album should follow soon, hopefully this year. It will be a vinyl LP; you will receive a copy if you wish. My virtual band is called miniRock. The album title could be "planet der affen - no sex, no drugs, just rockNroll". It means I´m just an ape. Or "Iron Sunrise". Means what it says. I didn´t decide yet.

Q: What's your favourite track on the album? Why?

A: The pauses. I like the silence between different songs. And "Nessie"! It´s my hit record.

Q: How do you write your songs?

A: Step by step. Mostly improvised riffs or rhythms, recorded immediately, "first take" after "first take", then a little mixing, maybe a "second take" here and there, then it´s enough. Sometimes an idea, some melody or words I dreamed of had been there before, sometimes nothing at all.

Q: Any more releases?

A: Every day in the morning, after a cup of coffee and some food it works very well... very important for people at my age.

Q: Since when are you into recording music?

A: Since my childhood. My very first recording was "What shall we do with a drunken sailor", using a portable Grundig Kassettenrecorder and a bucket full of water stirred with wooden sticks creating the marine mood of the song.

Q: Any previous bands worth mentioning? Discography?

A: No, ... doesn´t seem so... hahaha. Or is there anybody remember Orange?

Q: How'd you "label" your music? (I know... nobody wants to get

labeled... bla bla bla...)

A: "Ich lasse meine Musik in keine Schublade stecken", aber "man darf gespannt sein" (can´t translate this shit)? Ok: It´s Roc!

Q: What is "psychedelic music" for you?

A: Today:

A) the short one - a SunnO))) concert.

B) the long one - the Chanting each morning during my annual ten-day-vipassana course.

Q: What is your all time favourite psychedelic record? Why?

A: Ummagumma. I like the gnomes behind David.

Q: Any plans for live gigs?

A: Maybe I will perform solo with my Loop Station, maybe on some open session, a vernissage or a party.

Q: What are your main influences?

A: Early Pink Floyd; early Black Sabbath; early Mothers Of Invention.

Q: Website, myspace?

A: No.

Q: The last five records you bought?

A: Shield Your Eyes: "Shield ´em"

Eagle Twin: "The Unkindness Of Crows"

Sunn0))): "Monoliths & Dimensions"

John Scofield Band: "Überjam"

Iggy And The Stooges: "Metallic K.O."

Q: Anything that you think is interesting, that you'd like to inform the

blog readers about...

A: This piece of music is written for and dedicated to you, Mike. It makes me a little happier that you seem to like it. – Best regards, Dani L.

Favourite track: Brain Ache and Bell

Thanks for the dedication!

DANI L.: A Bell For Mike

(GER 2009)

(mp3-zip, 9 tracks, 54 min, 122,3 MB @ 320, non-art incl.)

Get it here or here or here!

Leonel Garcia - The Eyelid of God Is Approaching the Humane Train... (Puerto Rico 2009)

Leonel Garcia - The Eyelid of God Is Approaching the Humane Train... (2009)

(mp3 zip, 6 tracks, 41 min, 75,3 MB, artwork incl.)

1. The Eyelid Of God... - 9:27

2. Take My Hand And You'll Be Free - 4:24

3. Prisoner Of Yourself - 4:21

4. My Pen Doesn't Write Anymore - 6:01

5. He Donated His Brain To Science (Fiction) - 4:04

6. Life Ain't Sweet - 12:00

Get it here or here!

This is already the fifth post with LEONEL GARCIA's music on HLFP. His albums are always worth a listen. I especially like his guitar playing, but he very often also comes up with some pretty cool surprises regarding song structure or instrumentation. - I like this album quite a lot.

Check out his older releases here or on his own side:

http://leogt.blogspot.com/

My favourite track: the experimental "He Donated His Brain To Science (Fiction)" and the middle section of "Life Ain't sweet" is just fabulous!

"This album is now my favorite one of all I've recorded. It reminds me a lot of those early 70's albums by Gravy Train, Krokodil, Raw Material, etc. which is the music I listen to the most, but it has that indie rock quality of the 90's." (L. G.)

Sky Picnic - Public Assembly, NYC 2009-04-26

SKY PICNIC live (04/2008)

If you ever wondered how the very talented neo psychedelic rock band SKY PICNIC from New York City might sound live, after listening to their very promising studio recordings posted here recently - THIS IS YOUR CHANCE!

Chris Sherman, guitar player and singer of SKY PICNIC, sent me some live tracks recorded 2009-04-26 at Public Assembly, NYC! Though the sound quality may not be perfect it is very good in my opinion, and the performance is excellent - showing the band in full psychedelic flight... Just listen to 'universal mind decoder' and you'll know what I mean...

Easily one of the best neo psychedelic bands around these days! Enjoy!

Sky Picnic- Public Assembly, NYC 2009-04-26

(mp3 zip, 4 tracks, 53,5 MB, 39 min)

1. warren - 7:05

2. moons of jupiter - 6:39

3. universal mind decoder - 17:25

4. miss central london - 7:47

Get it here or here!

Sky Picnic - The Psychedelic Picnic in the Sky - Volume 1 (USA 2009)

This record was written and recorded by SKY PICNIC over the month of February in 2009. 

"It was, for the most part, recorded live on the first take, and is meant to show the more experimental side of the band." (liner notes)

"This is the first release of many in our 'psychedelic picnic series', which will feature experimentations by the band, a sort of alternate discography if you will and a deeper look into the band. - This releases coincides with the conclusion of the '2009 RPM Challenge' - in which a record is to be written and recorded over the month of February 2009.  For this LP, each band member composed a solo piece, and then there are 3 band compositions surrounding said pieces." (band info, Myspace)

Yes, indeed! The tracks on "Psychedelic Picnic in the Sky" are not quite as structured as the songs on their marvelous debut EP, they are more loose and sound more improvised - but they are excellent as well! Now don't expect any senseless sloppy noodeling - the playing is tight and the songs are not a second too long. One might imagine that this probably comes close to the sound of the band playing a live gig (watch out, there might be a surprise for you in the next days...). The early PINK FLOYD influence is even more evident than on the EP reviewed earlier (read here), and that is pretty cool, if you want my opinion. I don't know many bands in these days that have such a truely classic psychedelic rock sound...

My favourite track: 'For Miss Central London' - exquisite slide guitar playing!

SKY PICNIC - The Psychedelic Picnic in the Sky 

- Volume 1 (USA 2009)

(mp3 zip, 7 tracks/1 bonus track; 111,9 MB, 

2 x 48 min, artwork incl.)

1. The Mercurial Professor's Vast Array of Gadgetry (by Sky Picnic)

2. Strange Things Are Afoot (by Leah)

3. A Weightless Blur Before Me, Part I (by Chris)

4. A Weightless Blur Before Me, Part II (by Chris)

5. It Travels In On Phantom Wind Currents (by Pete)

6. For Miss Central London (by Sky Picnic)

7. March of the Spacemen (by Sky Picnic)

In addition, and keeping with the exprerimental nature of the record, Sky Picnic has recorded an audio commentary track discussing the making of the record and the ideas behind the compositions. - Really nice idea!

Get it here (complete w/audio commentary track) or 

here (7 tracks) and here (audio commentary track)

Enjoy! - And thanks, Chris, for sharing!

Sky Picnic - Synesthesia (EP) (USA 2008)

Chris Sherman of SKY PICNIC from New York City sent me a mail and asked me to feature their debut EP "Synesthesia" on homemade-lofi-psych. And I'm glad he did, because "Synesthesia" is a marvelous debut!

When I started this blog, I thought I would get to hear lots of Sixties inspired garage/psychedelic rock/neo psych/paisly underground music - the kind of psychedelic music I love the most -, but in fact there were only a few bands/musicians that played that kind of stuff (first to mention: CLOUD NINE & THE VITAMIN C, ANYONE'S DREAMCOLOUR, RANCHO RELAXO, BILL ROGERS and some of BRIAN ANDREW MAREK's music - of course that doesn't mean, that I don't like the music I post here that is of a slightly different character... more experimental, more grunchy, ambient or dub style or whatever - very often I find myself surprised by the high quality and originality of the music - and I have to say that is really great!!! But nevertheless 60s inspired psych rock is and was my first love...). Luckily for the more 'old-fashioned' psych lover there now is another new band that explores those Sixties inspired psych rock spheres: SKY PICNIC! They are: Chris Sherman- guitar/vocals, Leah Cinnamon- bass/vocals, Pete Meriwether- drums/percussion and they play “abstract and intellectually driven psychedelia”...
"With a love of music, a penchant for exploration, and punctuated by elaborate and intense live performances, Sky Picnic bridges the gap between experimental and straight-forward music. Laden with creative songwriting, solid musicianship and a vintage, yet modernized feel, each Sky Picnic performance stands out as a one-of-a-kind musical trip that blurs the lines between music and art, with experimental instrumental breaks full of feedback, echoes and endless exploratory possibilities. The flight plan is laid out from the start on Sky Picnic’s debut EP “Synesthesia,” beginning with the ethereal drone of sitar in the opening notes of their ode to perpetual sleepiness, moving on to the menacing sounds transporting you to the outer fringes of the universe and finishing with a multi-part epic closer, “Synesthesia” takes you on a philosophical, artistic journey through space that you won't soon forget. Coupled with the aforementioned live performances, searing echo-drenched guitar solos, and pulsing fuzz bass, Sky Picnic re-creates the unique psychedelic experience that has been absent since the era of "Sgt. Pepper," and "Piper at the Gates of Dawn."- So check out Sky Picnic, give them a listen- who knows, it may just expand your mind." (band info)

Indeed "Synesthesia" has got everything any serious psych head wants. And any band that sometimes plays "Astronomy Dominé" as an encore for sure deserves our attention...Favourite Track: pretty hard to deceide, probably "Moons of Jupiter" - there isn't any bad track on that thing!
Enjoy! - Strongly recommended!!!

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARTISTS AND BUY THE ORIGINAL CD (order at the website below or buy here: http://www.independisc.com/skypicnic.htm)!

Next NYC live dates:
05, 12, 19, 26 May 2009
Otto's Shrunken Head
538 E 14th St., New York, NY 10009
9:30 PM - FREE!!

http://www.skypicnicmusic.com
Wonderful web site - go and check out the fantastic free mp3 "For Miss Central London" from the Psychedelic Picnic in the Sky, Volume I, here!
http://www.myspace.com/skypicnic

SKY PICNIC - Synesthesia (EP) (USA 2008)
(mp3 zip, 5 tracks, 33 min, 78,1 MB, artwork incl.)
1. Tea Break
2. Half the Queen's Face
3. Moons of Jupiter
4. the Wise Man Lost His Head
5. Sequence IV
(I. Astral Projections)
(II. Magic Spells)
(III. Star Chamber)
(IV. Interlude, or the Event Horizon)
(V. Renaissance)
(VI. Mouth of the Vortex) 

Get it here. Re-up 04/2024

The Flow - Incubation (GR 2003)

"'THE FLOW is a progressive/psychedelic/space rock band from Patras, Greece. They were formed in 2000 and since then they have released one album called 'Incubation' (released in 2003) and have played many concerts in Greece. Their style revolves around 60's krautrock and progressive rock of the 70's. Some of their influences are GONG, ASH RA TEMPEL, CAN, AGITATION FREE, VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and many more. Furthermore they blend traditional folk Greek melodies played by original traditional Greek instruments such as 'daouli' (a kind of drum) and the 'flute of Pana' (ancient Greek flute). They also love blending the old sound (vintage synths) with the modern one (laptop)."

(Info by THE FLOW)

Very competent progressive rock band that clearly deserves more recognition. Rather than the above mentioned bands I hear some reflections of GENESIS and PINK FLOYD, and like with most of the better 70's prog rock bands one can also clearly detect some jazz influences. Also reminds me of the better works of  2nd generation prog bands like PORCUPINE TREE and should appeal to any serious prog fan.

Enjoy!

Myspace

Official band site

(You can order original cds from here)

THE FLOW - Incubation (2003)

(mp3 zip, 12 tracks, 63 min, 57,8 MB, artwork incl.)

Get it HERE! New link 05/2024.