Call this what you like, a post CD release, or a pre-vinyl release review on Tarbeach Records, so you could say it’s either well overdue, or it’s way ahead of the proposed summer vinyl release. The question is who are the mysterious Thee Effits, I hear you ask? The band is the latest incarnation of the ever mysterious The Electric Fits, the brainchild of Walt (aka Thee E-Fits), who released a debut album Opposable Thumbs back in 2015/6. The band is now, pick your adjective, re-formed, re-imagined, re-invigorated, re-generated, re-born, re-invented, re-incarnated into…Thee Effits and to celebrate this re-birth, have released this six track album in the form of Psychic Coffee Shop.… Read the rest
Tag: Tarbeach Records
It is almost a year since I last attended a real, live gig. Let me tell you, I have missed live music terribly, and things don’t look rosy for a return to sweaty club gigs, or any other kind of gig any time soon. After we entered the first lockdown in those dim and distant days of early 2020 little would we know we would be in the same, or maybe worse situation a year down the line with no end in sight.
Online Fatigue
Over spring and summer last year I enjoyed watching a variety of online gigs, from acoustic guitars in front rooms, to full blown electric sets from bands playing to camera’s in empty clubs.… Read the rest
Frontman for Chapter 11, Ty Murray had his album Treefort re-released on CD on Astoria, NY label Tarbeach Records last week. Two of his tracks have appeared previously on Tarbeach , with Monkey Don’t Care covering She Goes Her Own Way and the albums closing track, After My Time.
Thankfully (for someone who loves a vast range of musical styles and hates labels) it is hard to pigeonhole/label Ty. His music is good old straight up rock music. Sure, there are influences that can be heard here and there. Opening track Fallen Angel has a Start! rhythm running throughout. While the second track Re-Enactor has its roots somewhere in the world of reggae, mixing this with classic rock riffing.… Read the rest
Vox
I have just finished reading a disturbing novel, Vox by Christina Dalcher, a frighteningly dystopian view of a future America where men have taken away all women’s rights, limiting them to speaking 100 words per day in the process.
Thankfully, we are currently in a place where strong women are celebrated, a situation reflected in the latest two releases on New York’s own Tarbeach records.
Fur & Cynthia – Bass legends
Bass playing legends of the alternative music scene Fur Dixon (The Cramps, The Hollywood Hillbillys) and Cynthia Ross (The “B” Girls, New York Junk) feature front and centre and as usual both are loud and proud, Fur on a new 7” single, preceding the vinyl release of her magnificent WTFukishima/Return 2 Sender album later in the year and Cynthia on the imminent Electrajets debut album release.… Read the rest
High on Emotion
This weekend ended on a pretty bloody special note. A night that will live long in the memory. No, scratch that, a night that I will never forget.
The weekend had kicked off on a high with a brilliant works night out, so it was fitting that it should end on a high too. There were moments of emotion throughout my weekend. My first viewing of It’s A Wonderful Life for the year always ends with my eyes watering slightly, well, quite a lot. And I welled up again during Sunday morning’s Santa Dash. I know, I’m a sap. … Read the rest
Vinyl Rules
Two cracking 7” singles arrived at The Ginger Quiff towers recently. (Well one of them was a few weeks ago, but I’ve been AWOL from the log in recent weeks…)
The Jackhammers
First up it’s the mighty Jackhammers with Jim Shit on vocals & bass, Andy Drankit on Drums and Horace Cockpuppet on guitar and vocals. I’m pretty sure they are not the names they were christened with.
The 3 track 7” is available from their bandcamp site. It has 3 different covers available. Standard orange cover (100 copies), white cover (50 copies) and you’re too late for the black cover – only 5 of those exist.… Read the rest
White Vinyl
To keep Reaction fans going until the new album, they have a limited edition white vinyl 7″ out now for ordering on Tarbeach Records.
The two songs on this 7” show two different sides to the band. On one side, “Out of My Head” with its driving guitar, pounding bass and drums intro & refrain is the sophisticated melodic punk rock that the band have become known for. engaging guitar breaks, cymbal crashes and tambourine all add up to this being a stonker of a tune. Carson my want “you out of my head”, but I’m quite happy for this tune to stay there all day.… Read the rest
Pepper Kings
2018 releases on Tarbeach Records are underway with the eclectic debut album from Pepper Kings.
Over the years there have been a number of underground/alternative bands coming out of the USA that could be described as eccentric in their approach. Whether that be their image, style of music or song subject matter. I’m thinking the likes of Velvet Underground (with their bizarre tale “The Gift” on White Light/White Heat), through the 70’s of Devo and The B52’s up to the 80’s/90’s of Beat Happening or Daniel Johnson.
Add NYC’s Pepper Kings to that list. It is most refreshing to hear an album that sounds like the band is thoroughly enjoying itself.… Read the rest
Tarbeach Records
Over the years, there have been a number of essential record labels with Scottish roots that have given rise to some unforgettable bands and their music.
The list is massive but everyone must be familiar with at least one of these:
- Postcard (Orange Juice, Josef K, Aztec Camera)
- Creation (Oasis, Ride, Primal Scream, Jesus and Mary Chain, House of Love)
- Creeping Bent (Vic Godard, Secret Goldfish, Alan Vega)
- Chemikal Underground (Mogwai, The Delgados, Malcolm Middleton, Arab Strap)
And that is just scraping the surface.
Scottish Roots
Add a new one to that list – Tarbeach Records. Although NYC based, the label has Scottish roots and a number of Scottish bands on their release list.… Read the rest
Heavy Drapes
I’ve been banging on about Heavy Drapes for some time now. Recently things have really started going stellar for the band. They are one of the most talked about bands on the punk scene.
The band has very definite ideas, knows exactly where it wants to be. Important it has the tunes and the image that live up to those ideas. Lead singer De Liberate’s swagger and confidence is not unfounded.
Having seen the band on a number of occasions in the last couple of years, they never fail to disappoint. Heavy Drapes have a tight sophisticated sound that doffs its cap to the classic punk 76-78 era.… Read the rest