Rangers – Pan Am Stories

The ever-fantastic Not Not Fun records are shortly set to drop Pan Am Stories, the new LP from San Fran-based deep-fried pop pulp purveyor Joe Knight, AKA Rangers. We were big fans of the previous album, Suburban Tours, but the new one has reached new heights, creating something of a magnum opus in distorted tape scuzz and ersatz sound collage. Whilst the success of Ariel Pink (and his subsequent flirtation with the mainstream) has pushed the sound into clichéd territory, the scope, scale and ability displayed on this new release should re-affirm the style’s place as relevant, exciting and downright fun – with Rangers (and James Ferraro, let’s be fair) at its head.

Check out the 13-minute marathon track that we feel sums up the album perfectly, Zeke’s Dream, here.

Image is pop art daddy Richard Hamilton’s Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing? May he rest in peace.

Jonas Reinhardt – Music For The Tactile Dome

Here’s a sweet new track (and accompanying vid) from the awesome Jonas Reinhardt that’s just been released on the album Music For The Tactile Dome on Not Not Fun records. I was going to have a bash at describing it myself, but when I came across the descriptions ‘technicolor fractals of glittering synthesizer skyways and master-crafted pulsing kraut terrariums’ and ‘an expanding magic eye tapestry of brainwave activity constellations’ on the NNF website I thought there wasn’t much point in me trying to improve them.

Click here to hop over to the website and purchase the album. We really recommend it.

For a bit of a more substantial hit, here are a couple of their older tracks for you to get down to as well.

Samantha Glass – Celestial Night Queen

Here’s some fantastically dreamy, zoned-out tape music for you to get your listening chops round. Straight outta Wisconsin, via Not Not Fun records. Like Peaking Lights’ recent stuff but more far gone and with added soft-industrial Suicide-esque drum machines. Granted it was out a while ago but it’s bloody great so get over it.

Image is by Rosie Hardy and is available through the wonderful Print Aid Project.

Peaking Lights – 936

Big new release from Not Not Fun records out today – the new LP from California neo-hippy duo Peaking Lights, 936. I first stumbled across these guys a few years ago when I was sucked into the amniotic bubble bath that is Silver Tongues, Soft Whispers and since then their name has been sacrosanct in my camp. The new album has only built on my pre-existing respect, improving the breadth of influence and expression of ideas. More and more layers of warped, reverberating keys and drifting, psyched out guitars have been slathered over the dreamy, beach-side dub that lies at the heart of their sound, making what must be the ultimate summer stoner soundtrack. I wish I was in Jamaica, man.

The album will be available to stream for a limited time only. If you like it, please support the artist by purchasing it here.