NP164 Lab Coast "Editioned Houses" C26

Lab Coast from Calgary came to our attention by our friends at Eggy and Scotch tapes who put out killer Lab Coast cassette releases in 2011. Lab Coast have that sort of breezy layered subtle guitar pop sound that's easy to like. Invoking a bit of unpretentious retro sound reminiscent in the catalogs of labels like Slumberland and Sarah. Lab Coast keep it really catchy in that loose but tight way good bands of this variety hit on just right. The flip finds them getting a bit more far out and showing some of their more experimental impulses and pedigree that is subtly at play in all of their songs. They ride out on the B side more psyched out almost in the long form weirdo mood of a band like Strapping Fieldhands or Thinking Fellers. Good stuff just right for spring time just around the corner. Artwork by Shawn Reed.
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NP163 Xiao Hong Yu Xiao Xiao Hong "Black Sheep" C45

Xiao Hong Yu Xiao Xiao Hong (Little Red Small Little Red) comprised of Zhao Cong and Zhu Wenbo are from the blossoming Beijing underground scene that fostered fellow Night-People band Hot and Cold that is focused around labels like Pangbianr, and Rose Mansion that is just starting to seep into the N. American underground consciousness perhaps due to Dirty Beaches and Hot and Cold's connection to the scene or Noisey's recent profile of some of the bands such as Soviet Pop etc. Wenbo is a prime mover of the younger generation of experimental musicians in Beijing and hosts a weekly noise night called "Zoomin". Black Sheep first appeared as a self released CD by the band but NP felt it necessary to reissue it for a bigger audience. Musically in debt to no wave, cold wave, kraut rock and industrial gestures Xiao Hong's noisy textures remind us a good deal of killer Japanese Vanity Record band Tolerance, Throbbing Gristle, Peace Trials era Kites and even fellow NP band Angels in America. The begining of a hopefully prolific relationship between the Beijing Underground and Night-People. Artwork by Shawn Reed.
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NP160 Son of Salami "Deli Days" C26

Vermont weirdo Son of Salami contributes to the NP catalog after a bit of time of us being aware and siked on his weirdo ways via a series of high praises from mutual friends that lead us to get a good correspondence going with Joey Pizza Slice who is Son of Salami. Last year Joey released a killer but criminally overlooked LP on the Feeding Tube Record label out of Western MA. Joey records on a portable tape recorder from which the erase head has been removed, allowing for overdubbing at the cost of not being able to hear the music being recorded over. A distinct and strange recording method that actually sounds a bit impossible and confusing. Regardless it works for Joey to amazing results creating a distinct lo-fi vision all of his own that perhaps out does many of the comparable bands flirting with outsider pop in a similar way. Check out this tape and the LP on Feeding Tube to see what all of the "Fuzz" is about. Artwork by Shawn Reed.
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NP159 N.213 "Bastard" C30

N.213 is Nic Hughes from Vancouver B.C. and the long running band Shearing Pinx. Nic's interest in post punk and no wave continue here but where as Shearing Pinx songs can sometimes develop into long form droning epics N.213 gets more to the point with shorter and more direct punked out jams reminiscent of a more hard edged almost industrial take on The Fall, Mars, and Swell Maps. Included are a Sonic Youth and Fall cover delivered with an appropriate force distinct to N.213. Artwork by Shawn Reed.
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NP158 Terror of the Deep "The Airport Underneath the Dome" C32

The situation in which I stumbled onto New Zealand band Terror of the Deep is so specific that its about impossible for this release to not feel special for Night-People. Being on tour in Australia is a bit of dream come true but spending some time crashing with our friends from the Twerps in Melbourne was a bit extra special. During that time specifically while driving around the city with our friend Pat (drummer of the Twerps) on the hunt for good Pho dives we first heard Terror of the Deep on a cassette put out on Aussie label Hideotic. I quickly went through the right channels to score my own copy and totally fell in love with Terror of the Deep's bright, lush, upbeat but a bit melancholy NZ guitar pop. Washes of flange or phaser, organ drone etc. cruised over a few songs in just the perfect way to give it weirdo tinge, coupled with great lyrics and a distinct NZ croon it was an instant classic in my mind. Just the right amount of psyched out garagey indie pop done in classic NZ fashion but not trying to make good on any past scene glory, Terror of the Deep is just doing their own thing and its great. So glad to put this out for others to hear outside the Southern Hemisphere. Artwork by Shawn Reed.
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NP157 Mole House "s/t" C16

Mole House are a new band from Melbourne Australia that is fronted by Carla Dal Forno in collaboration with other members Michael Zulicki (Mad Nanna), and Pat Breen (White Woods). With prior recent releases on Alberts Basement, Goaty and the new killer NYC label Quemada this band is just getting going but is starting to make some buzz. Evoking some classic lofi outsider Aussie arty indie strum, Mole House speaks a bit to the 80's/90's New Zealand Scene especially the Expressway label. Think of greats like Roy Montgomery, Dadamah, Nocturnal Projections, Scorched Earth Policy and you would be on the right track. A totally killer highlight of some of the greatness coming out of the Aussie underground. Art by Shawn Reed.
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NP156 Lantern "Burned Youth" C32

Lantern return with a 2nd tape release for Night-People this time in the form of a reissue of a tour only cassette called Burned Youth that highlights the bands evolution over the course of 2009-2011. Despite being a bit of a retrospective Burned Youth feels very whole, considered and complete. The fidelity of the recordings are actually a bit more hi-fi overall then the recent NP tape "Stranger I Come/Stranger I Leave". The destroyed pysched out proto punk (Stooges/Denudes) inspired squall of that release isn't really present on this more archival material. At the point of these recordings Lantern seemed to be approaching things from a more Texas/Delta blues and "Their Satanic Majesties" era Stones influence with a good bit of Texas Garage Psych thrown in the mix ala the Elevators and "Parable of Arable" Red Krayola. This is really good catchy fun music regardless and feels like its own take on classic rock n" roll aesthetics. Artwork by Shawn Reed.
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NP155 Miami Angels in America "A Public Ranking" C30

After a few years of deep USA underground dwelling and touring documented by a series of hard to find cult collected cassette releases, Angels in America began to surface a bit more with their excellent debut LP on Ehse Records. Recent tours saw them on the road with Mark Lord and Weyes Bluhd fitting touring mates who share much in common with Angels dark atmospheric industrial din and fuzzy science fiction synth explorations. Taking up residence across Eastern North American cities such as Baltimore, New York and Montreal, Angels are a bit hard to pin down in identity, aesthetics and location. As we type this they embark on their first European tour with a performance at the renowned Kraak Festival. Angels seem to take on variety of influences merging them all into their own distinct smear not overly representative of anything particular in terms of genre. Perhaps the easiest comparison is to the originators of their own unclassified sound which in term became its own genre...TG. In their own way Angels carry on the kind of amorphous, androgynous, but distinct sound that is hard to find so deep into history. Art by Shawn Reed.
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NP154 Featureless Ghost "Mindbody" C30

Its really rare to stumble onto a band or music with no prior connecting points to mutual friends, another label, a live show, a recommendation, a demo, but thus is the high point yield of living at least part of the life in cyber space and its possibility for randomness. It is there that we discovered the rich and impressive body of work present and future that is Atlanta's Featureless Ghost. Seeing a live video of a radio performance of their song Scanproof was a revelation of what could still be done in the contemporary saturated music environment with synth and electronic pop music. Not wearing any genre classifications or influences distinctly on their sleeves, but creating a rich connection to what came before (think Chris and Cosey, OMD etc) Featureless Ghost couple Matt Weiner (also records as Twins) and Elise Tippins are as critical as they are prolific bringing distinct song craft into composition while being very much a live band. With rich dual vocal sections, hi-fi home recording and mixing, Featureless Ghost is just getting started. An LP on NP is already in the works as well and we couldn't have more confidence in the possibilities and present creative momentum of this band. Artwork by Shawn Reed.
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NP153 Ryan Garbes "1965" C16

Ryan Garbes follows up last years LP on Woodist imprint Hello Sunshine with a new tape on Night-People. We have been sitting on this for a bit so its not brand new but brings on the same kind of hazy pop fuzz that most of his recent recordings have highlighted. Striking out in a similar vein as the LP with distinct vocal passages, organ and loose drumming providing a take on what he brings to the Wet Hair sound more expanded in this solo setting. At this point Ryan's back catalog speaks for itself, this is great stuff, as good as anything else he has been a part of. The melodic pop concentric elements are meshing ever more fully with the fuzzy propulsive organ/synth rock he's become known for. Artwork by Ryan
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NP152 Bebe Fang C152

Dutch duo Bebe Fang shares members with Eklin who released a cassette recently on Night-People as well. Bebe Fang although stripped down in comparison to Eklin in number of members has many similar aesthetic and sonic tendencies. They present the same kind of foreboding but elegant glacial ambiance but with a different sense of minimalism and soulfulness. The mood is always in a state of flux with Bebe Fang never quite settling always subtly evolving depending on the listeners thought or vision moment to moment. At times unsettling in tune with vintage horror soundtrack vibes and at others hypnotic and almost heavenly the greatness lies in the subtle details of Bebe Fang's music.
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NP151 Golden Hours " Floating Weeds" C20

Golden Hours is long running Portland based flower pop guitar band with ties to Eggy Records, The Polyps, The Woolen Men etc. who predate much of the recent resurgence of this sound. Distinct pop and twee flavors of sound ride around on the upbeat waves of guitar, keys, and distortion. A rock solid effort with no overt posturing to retro tendencies, just honest well made creatively written catchy indie pop, that rides a little bit like other excellent contemporary lady fronted post punk/twee/ etc groups like Grass Widow etc. A really killer follow up to the excellent "Spooky" cassette that came out on Eggy awhile back. If you missed that def. check this one out.
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NP149 Sore Eros " Sickies Volume One" C32

Very siked to get a chance to release something by our western Mass. friends Sore Eros, a great live band thats even better on record and always pushing the limits of their sound and song writing. A band truly doing their own thing in a time of much retro posturing. The articulation of their sound and approach is always interesting because it embodies so many sources of potential influence and sound language. At times folky, sometimes rocking, always seeping with dreamy atmosphere and warm psychedelic melody their representation of pop music radiates, resonates, and sparkles like big sun on syrupy water. This cassette is very well recorded and even professionally mastered. One of the finest NP releases thus far.
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NP148 Hot & Cold " Conclusion Introduction" C20

Hot & Cold are two brothers Simon and Joshua Frank who divide up time in Beijing and NYC/Toronto respectively. This tape had its origins on the very stellar Rose Mansion Analog label out of Beijing and we felt it fitting to re-release it state side to try and increase its profile as this is an excellent collection of tracks for this young duo. Some cool Martin Rev. fuzz tones shake over propulsive post punk bass and drum machine pop to create some weird cross section of south east Asian style psychedelic garage groove and loner darkness ala 39 Clocks and the like. Killer.
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NP147 The Pink Noise C26

With previous vinyl releases on prolific contemporary indie labels like Sacred Bones, Kill Shaman etc. Montreal's Pink Noise are not an unknown presence in underground music circles. This new cassette plays out similar to a 7inch in duration but packs a solid punch of glittery psychedelic synth punk and raucous post punk nihilism. Coming off even a bit more odd then previous releases this current material has a cold annihilated feel similar to early Chrome. Visions of late night drugged out concrete jungle lurking come to mind.
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NP146 Bomber Jackets " Larching" C32

Bomber Jackets made their release debut recently on a split 7" with the Rebel that is out on Savory Days and Kill Shaman and this tape gets deeper into the odd world they create. Consisting of members from the excellent UK group the Pheromoans and with ties to other recent NP release Charcoal Owls this cassette offers further necessary obstruction of contemporary art punk and synth aesthetics. Crisp odd synth pop tones collide against the distinct vocal style represented on many of these fellows other outputs. Overtly a hard to pin down affair as would be expected but with of course no disappointments.
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NP143 The Garment District " Melody Elder" C40

Melody Elder is the debut release by Pittsburgh-based The Garment District, the new musical project of multi instrumentalist Jennifer Baron, who was a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor (Merge Records). Recorded both with Kevin C. Smith in Friendship, PA, and in her home-base Golden Mountain studio. Sometimes hazy, sometimes articulate, the songs and sound collages of Melody Elder lie somewhere at the intersection of pop music sensibility, soundtracks, experimentation, and synth-driven ambience. Making an appearance on Melody Elder is Jennifer's cousin Lucy Blehar on lead vocals, and legendary Television Personalities/Swell Maps' member Jowe Head on bass. A truly distinct new voice and musical presence is presented by The Garment District.
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NP143 German Army "Papua Mass" C40

Germany Army comes from mystery periphery LA zones, transmissions from submarine or some Hollywood studio closet, who knows. The Kill Shaman axis might have some hidden knowledge on the subject of said origins but we can't figure it out. Regardless this cassette gets deep into a mutant lab rat labyrinth of synth tones, concussion drum machine hiss, and warped spoken vocals. Post punk poetics ranting in some forgotten dream hole speaking to the speakers up close and personal.
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NP138 Lantern- “Stranger I Come/Stranger I Leave” C26

Lantern is Zachary Fairbrother Philly by way of Montreal resident backed up in the full band mode by Emily Robb and Sophie White. Lantern’s bluesy infused earlier efforts in loner rock built up a bit of buzz in the internet media zone but this full on noisy blast of full on Stooges/Denudes/Bo Didley heavy proto punk garage psych will surely turn even more ears to this new talent with serious rock n’ roll moves. Co-Released with Sweat Lodge Guru.
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NP135 Trailblazer- “Successor” C32

Trailblazer is the solo project of Lexington KY resident Coleman Guyon who did a prior 7inch on Chicago label Moniker Records. Trailblazer creates blasted anthem drum machine driven walls of dreamy sound from voice, synth and guitar that pour out melodic repetition that would fit right at home with late Spacemen early Spectrum, Kraut punks La Dusseldorf, and the best of the Creation records jams. The motorik back beat present in these tracks makes these tunes perfect for long drives, summer nights, and general getting blissed out. Video:
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NP133 Blanche Blanche Blanche- “Songs of” C32

Blanche Blanche Blanche hail from Brattleboro VT and have a recent 7” out on Feeding Tube Records that was cut from the same recording session as the tracks on this cassette. With some recent press attention stemming from the 7” and some recent videos made by the band for some of their songs, this release will be sure not to disappoint new fans of the group. BBB make a very distinct blend of pop music. Jazzy retro synth arrangements create a backdrop for catchy monotone vocals that often dual between vocalists, creating a sort of minimalist post punk reference point for these often goofy and very enjoyable tunes. One of the best and strangest bands witnessed live in recent times, BBB are truly distinct and fun. Upcoming LP on Night-People this summer.
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