Free City is proud to announce the release of our second compilation CD. The bands on this album reflect the indie psych tastes of Free City's online 'zine www.freecitymedia.com: melodic '60s-inspired rock punctuated with wild guitars. This collection features new, rare and previously unreleased tracks from some of our favorite artists working today. A number of countries are represented: Australia (Sh'Mantra), England (The Bevis Frond, The Bitter Little Cider Apples, The Heads and The Lucky Bishops), Germany (The God Box, formerly known as Discolor), Norway (AqPop and Dipsomaniacs) and the U.S (Nick Bensen & Jeff Sanders, The Impossible Shapes, Kable, Patrick Porter, The Sunshine Fix and Joe Turner). Anton Barbeau is also an American but recorded his song in England with decidedly English musicians. Troll, based in San Francisco, is truly a global cosmic alliance with members from around the world.
There was a really friendly spirit among the musicians on this project, with several collaborations and guest appearances between bands. Dipsomaniacs leader Øyvind Holm adds a stunning middle section to the lovely AqPop song "Caught By This Feeling", and Jade Hasselgård sings backup on both the AqPop and Dipsomaniacs tracks. Anton Barbeau's crisp rocker "Motor" features the Bevis Frond studio line-up of Nick Saloman, Ade Shaw and Andy Ward. Free City's own Nick Bensen is joined by Jeff Sanders of Mountain Mirrors on the brooding mood piece "Summit". Al Strawbridge, who recently played full sets with four consecutive bands in a marathon show at the Cavern in Liverpool, appears here as part of The Bitter Little Cider Apples and The Lucky Bishops. On the groovy psych single "Turn Me Upside Down", Joe Turner (formerly of Abunai!) is aided by Bill Doss and Sam Mixon from The Sunshine Fix as well as Ajda Snyder of Turkish Queen.
Further Adventures of the Telepathic Explorers carries on where the International League compilation left off. This second collection may even be more varied while retaining a sense of community. The dynamic tension is emphasized within songs and from track to track. With songs ranging from Kable's frenetic dance mantra "Just A Domino" to Patrick Porter's smoldering ballad "A Better Thing" to Sh'Mantra's abstract "Headlight", this compilation covers many moods and styles. Perhaps the most dramatic transition happens when the blissful serenity of "Student Of Astrology" by The God Box segues into the brutal acid rock of "Stodgy" by The Heads. So very cool! Hope you love this CD as much as we do.
…Clearly so well-sequenced and thought out to function as a whole despite the wide range of music covered across its 61 minutes...If any of the artists (on the compilation) rings a bell there’s absolutely no point in ignoring the obvious fact, that you need this one right away. - Mats Gustafsson, The Broken Face
The first psychedelic pop compilation Free City Media put together was a stunner; and this follow-up is possibly a bit more varied, but no less impressive. - George Parsons, Dream
A phantastic sample with the best contemporary psych bands. Just look at the complete content list! We can be sure that every track is carefully chosen and is a highlight of the latest work of the given band. - Betti Grohnert, psychedelic-music.net
I've now listened to the album more than 10 times, and it still gets better every time. In addition, all the tracks are previously unreleased or rare. This leads to a conclusion, that also this CD is an essential part of any modern but 60's styled psych fan's collection. - Santtu Laakso, Psychotropic Zone
Free City has managed to put
together 16 different musical experiences, and by doing so they
have also released a great record that should keep happy most
of you rockheads...Well Done Free City Media! - Alex Muraro, Stoned
Gods
Corrections
from the liner notes:
The North American version of Anton Barbeau's King Of Missouri
CD is actually being released by the Canadian label Bongobeat
Records (www.bongobeat.com) some time in 2004.
New web address for AqPop: http://aqpop.fupp.net.
Track listing:
1. AqPop - Caught By This Feeling 3:02
2. Anton Barbeau - Motor 3:39 MP3 clip
3. Nick Bensen & Jeff Sanders - Summit 4:05
4. The Bevis Frond - Under The London Wall 6:18
5. The Bitter Little Cider Apples - Butter Face Down 3:23 MP3 clip
6. Dipsomaniacs - Freedom Candy 3:25 MP3 clip
7. The God Box - Student Of Astrology 3:53
8. The Heads - Stodgy (Coke's Gone Flat) 2:54
9. The Impossible Shapes - Shake A Sound 1:55
10. Kable - Just A Domino 3:33
11. The Lucky Bishops - She's Breaking Up 3:28 MP3 clip
12. Patrick Porter - A Better Thing 5:12 MP3 clip
13. Sh'Mantra - Headlight 4:44
14. The Sunshine Fix Electric Blues Band - What Do You Know? 3:43
15. Troll - Shattered Venus 4:26
16. Joe Turner - Turn Me Upside Down 3:31
Also available from Free City:
DIPSOMANIACS The Tremolo of Her Mind… The Strings of Her Soul (FRCD004)
"Dipsomaniacs' debut in the genre is one of the most inspired ones I've heard in quite a while… It's like you can touch the electric and magnetic fields that surround every little note." - Mats Gustafsson, The Broken Face
"…Yet another creative milestone for this stellar outfit." - George Parsons, Dream
V/A The International League
of Telepathic Explorers (FRCD003)
A collection of new, rare, and previously unreleased tracks by
Aquarium Poppers, Nick Bensen, The Bevis Frond, Bitter Little
Cider Apples, thebrotheregg, Dipsomaniacs, Dunlavy, Lucky Bishops,
Mandra Gora Lightshow Society, The Minders, Motorpsycho, Photon
Band, Polar Arc, The Sand Pebbles, Adrian Shaw, and 33 Tiger Infinity.
"…A thoroughly solid collection of some of the best independent psychedelic artists going these days." - Jeff Fitzgerald, Aural Innovations
"...One of the best compilations I've heard all year… Recommended." - Mats Gustafsson, The Broken Face
"…A fine sampling of some of the best modern psychedelic pop and rock around at the moment." - George Parsons, Dream Magazine
NICK BENSEN No Resistance (FRCD002)
"Absolutely definitive in terms of song oriented psychedelia." - Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations
"…Definitely among the better psych gems you will hear this year… Fans of acid/psych take notice." - Karl Morten Dahl, Luna Kafé (The album also made Karl's 10 best albums of 2001 list)
"An album that finds its place among the best we've heard in its genre…" - Enrico Ramunni, Rockerilla
NICK BENSEN Psychedelic Juggernaut (FRCD001)
"Definitely worth checking
out… Bensen's guitar is the fire streaking out over the ice."
- Robert Morris, Bay Arts & Music Magazine
"Fantastic Acid-Psych
album… Sawing guitars, spherical keyboards, driving grooves."
- Alie Thormann, Psychedelic-Music.net
"A voyage through psychedelism where one hundred different vibes surround you in a blissful harmony." - Renaud Rigart, Zoopa Loop
…and, from our private archives:
The New Scene of NICK BENSEN
(Free City Authorized Bootleg Collectors' CD-R #3)
Recent compilation tracks, demos, etc. Signed and numbered edition
of 200. Only available directly from Free City. SOLD OUT.
NICK BENSEN Tales From The
Vermont Years
(Free City Authorized Bootleg Collectors' CD-R #2)
Live acoustic tracks, jams with Burrie, and side two of The Green
Album. Recorded 1992-1993. Signed and numbered edition of 200.
Only available directly from Free City. SOLD OUT.
V/A Gigantes del Rock
(Free City Authorized Bootleg Collectors' CD-R #1)
Vintage jams by Nick & Burrie, The Green Album Collective,
Three Globe Banana Monte and more.
Recorded 1984-1993. Signed and numbered edition of 200. Only available
directly from Free City. SOLD OUT.