Features &
Interviews

Chocolate Weasel
DJ Cam
DJ Method One
DJ Stratus
DJ 3D
Dwindle
Ed Rush
Electronica
Frank Lloyd Wright's California
Ganger
Gapeseed
Her Space Holiday
Holiday Flyer
ICU
Jungle Defined
Kim Salmon
King Rhythm
Laika
Latin Playboys
Lounge Lizards
Mark Robinson
Mixtapes
Monochrome
Most Secret Method
Music Appreciation 101
Pressure Drop
Terrastock II
Third Eye Foundation

Icarus Line Red and Black Attack CD
The only two colors that read hatred are red and black. Drawing from the sinister mystique of these two colors The Icarus Line launches a violent, frenetic post-hardcore assault upon the listener. Screaming guitar lines and vocals, shatter the calmness of an LA rush-hour road-rage beating, as drums continue to pummel the motionless figure with the audio equivalent of a police flashlight. Wound so tight, the alcohol ingested during the recording session likely had no effect on the tempers and concentration that took to make this four-song document. It takes a lot of energy to hit the "play" button, but I am prepared to go in for one more round. (New American Dream POB 265 Balboa Island, CA 92662) – Keith York

Ida Ten Small Paces CD
This album appears to be a testament to relationships. Relationships with other bands, songwriters, recording venues and personnel, and those within Ida are at the heart of this document. Ida fearlessly walk on frail ice flows, through dark thick wooded regions, through cold and heat. Ida’s songs are brimming with the warmth and compassion the four of its members hold in their hearts. With frail pop songs as a framework, their finely honed delicate instrumentation dances about whispery vocals in quiet rooms. Whispers like those heard in libraries. Ida share the hearth-warmth of Low’s songs absent the melodramatic pauses and difficulty slow tempos. Ten Small Paces is a rare opportunity to peek inside others’ worlds, their delicate human fears and desires, their solo moments with a four-track recorder, their quiet time. Hugs all around. (Simple Machines PO Box 10290 Arlington, VA 22210-1290)

Idaho The Forbidden EP CD
Blue is what Idaho do. From lyrics of obsessedly sad ventures to guitars that speak the blues without strutting Southern blues guitar licks. Idaho play their own blues. Somber sentiments and yearning are disquieting to hear from loved ones. But from this duo it is a virtual relationship that is tearing apart for which you are there to help the lonely get through the painful times. Soothing voices usually heal the pain and strife gained from losses - these voices are for those that don’t have real friends, that don’t have real enemies, that don’t know what it is to be in pain. The Forbidden EP is the 12-step guide to caring for those tragedy-stricken people near to us, albeit in this case only virtually. (Buzz 1936 W. Thomas, Chicago IL 60622)

IDEM s/t CD
Crashing upon cliff-born seashores, the ferocious cold white water of the Atlantic wears away the centuries-old rock formations. Sharing in the same intensity are four young lads from Nantes, France who offer our coasts the chance to digest their energy. With the assistance of their peers' label, Shoshin Sounds (run by Angers band Kyü), IDEM's frenetic style(s) hits your stateside disc player with surprising vigilance. Guitars, drums, samplers and keys meld together into new fresh forms, we egocentric Americans may have difficulty comprehending. Rage Against the Machine guitars rock the boat settled on calm dub-inflected tides as breakbeats create an undertow that even Quicksand, Jesus Lizard and Baboon would struggle in. As the oceans have many personalities, so too does the IDEM quartet – all of which display Mother Nature's strength and perseverance. (Shoshin Sounds 4 rue de la Madeleine 49000 Angers France) – Keith York

Impossibles Back 4 The Attack CD
Skipping school with skateboard in tow, they head to the local drainage ditch. Someone brought a portable stereo to exorcise the ska and powerpopunk demons from the surrounding suburban sprawl. The Impossibles' EP erupts from the tiny 4-inch speakers as the sun bakes the black plastic stereo console trying to draw shade from taller, wider Igloo cooler next to it. Chunka-chunka ska guitar catapulted by statuesque 4/4 drum banter kicks the 'boarders' adrenaline into overdrive as the sun bakes cement. Summer. (Fueled By Ramen PO Box 12563 Gainesville, FL 32604) - Keith York

Inch Dot Class C CD
Growing up on Fugazi and Minor Threat must be difficult anymore. As youngsters grow into their 20s, the frames of reference seem to be wider than ever before. For those of us living in it now, we share a narrower field of past references, and musical experience. For these three San Diegans, punk rock listening has matured into angsty melodic guitar damage and lyrics explaining the difficulties of being young, white, and in love. As I said earlier, narrow. This is not James Joyce or Ernest Hemingway speaking of western culture in flux. This is not Sly and the Family Stone revolutionizing rock and roll. This is Inch doing what they know and what they believe in. (Headhunter 4901-906 Morena Blvd. San Diego, CA 92117)

Individual Fruit Pie Lay-by Lullaby CD
Harvesting fields sandwiched between farmers Mr. Lloyd Cole and Mr. Tindersticks, farmer IFP lazily stalks the grains he needs to gather to earn a living. Out there at dawn, farmer IFP just squeaked through his 14 chores for the day before the sun set again in the west. The sun cradled by two hills of corn and hay bails, lay half-asleep until disappearing only to awaken those in distant urban time zones. Almost effortlessly the hard work on the farm appears as easy as waking up in the morning since most of us don’t know what labor is like first hand. As long as the labors and toils make it to the farmer’s market and eventually on our plate, or tray for that matter. (No.6 PO Box 5037 NYC 10185)

Ink s/t CD
The puzzling architecture of Ink's songs grabbed me by the collar. Shaken, surprised and delighted by the complexity of their songs I was lured in for a couple of listens this morning. Soon enough the afternoon had come and gone and my ears were buzzing with the melodies, the weight of the drum kit and renewed respect for innovative works within the confines of indie-rockdom. As with the greatest works of art, descriptive words come slowly to mind, and choices of synonyms feel impossible, as do comparisons to other artists. Check out the website and go from there. Risk-taking is always rewarding. (Monitor Records www.monitorrecords.com) – Keith York

Insanity Wave Do The Worm CD
A trio of Madrid residents playing overtly Americanized power pop. My parents said if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. (Cherry Pop/SpinArt PO Box 1798 NYC 10156) - Keith York

International Airport "s/t" CD
Glasgow veteran Tom Crossley of Appendix Out has created a gently sweeping pastoral follow up to the “Airport Songs” 7” on All City. Powerful in its restrained, poised, maturity, the mostly-instrumental album speaks to fans of Glaswegian bands Delgados, Belle and Sebastian, Arab Strap and the softer sides of Mogwai. Guest appearances by members of Incense and Belle and Sebastian will likely startle some interest, but the kindness of strangers will likely be refused by consumers afraid of the risk. Stunning. (Overcoat 3831 N. Christiana Chicago, IL 60618) – Keith York

Interpreters Back in the USSA CD
A bunch of ideas rooted in late 70s Brit power pop akin to 999, Buzzcocks, and the Vibrators brought to you by three young Philly upstarts trying to take over the controls of the plane Blur normally pilots. (Volcano 71 West 23rd St. NYC 10010)

Isobella Akasha CD
Strangely this collage of dissonant sounds comes together as a whole to create an intoxicating work. Focused around scraps of keyboards torn from vintage and contemporary newspapers, magazines and books, Akasha is a statement of post-shoegaze drone pop evidenced to be bubbling under music fashion today. Rules in piecing together this collage were learned from headphone sessions with the likes of My Bloody Valentine, 18th Dye, Can, Pale Saints, as well as Stereolab (if for no other reason, their key drones circa Jenny Ondioline). Hearing a bit of Cocteau Twins would not be embarrassing as drums become drum machines, and guitars become waterfalls on Akasha. Now a trio, having lost drummer Heath to Versaille, Isobella shed their Akasha moniker to mark the transition away from the quartet of collage artists. With scraps of musical ideas, determination, and the know-how, scraps can be recycled and rearranged to bring new life to canvases as well as onlookers. I can't wait until the next exhibit opening. (Clairecords POB 61495 Jacksonville, FL 32236/Space Station 21, 121 W. North St. Tampa, FL 33614) – Keith York

Isotope 217 The Unstable Molecule CD/LP
San Diego’s local jazz scene leaves a lot to be desired when compared to more favorable scenes for discriminating music fans, such as that of Chicago.
Chicago’s newest success comes in the form of the avant-jazz outfit Isotope 217, which recently released its first recording, The Unstable Molecule. This success does not come as a surprise, as Chicago’s musical roots are in black music and avant-jazz scenes which spawned the likes of The Art Ensemble of Chicago.
The Isotope collective – which features two members of instrumental post-rock forerunner Tortoise, three talented players in the Chicago Underground Orchestra, and one member of dance-experimentalists Tranquillity Bass – incorporates influences from Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Brian Eno, and Red Snapper into one album. “Kryptonite Smokes the Red Line,” the album’s introduction, is as funky as it is sultry with its drums-meets-horns approach. The album’s bass lines are equally groovy and dub-influenced, as seen on “Beneath the Undertow.” Much of the instrumentation also signifies the type of musicianship which can be tied to improvisation – particularly the cornet, guitar, and bass.
A mind-opening experience for any fan of eclectic arrangements and the off-kilter, or of rhythmic masterminds like Tortoise, The Unstable Molecule marks a creative nerve-center from which listeners can look forward to hearing more. (Thrill Jockey/New Beyond Records, PO Box 476794, Chicago, IL 60647)

IZM Globalization CS
Joe Preston’s latest foray into the mixer domain has yielded something of uncompromising quality. Globalization calls upon his talents as a hip-hop DJ as he puts the stylus warranty to the test, scratchin’ and cuttin’ up the trax. Going global, IZM jumps it up, jazzes it up, but it is the drum ‘n’ bass quarry that he mines for 90 minutes. IZM’s uptempo drum ‘n’ bass stirs the crowd with his inimitable party vibe. Rumored to already be working on his next mixer as well as more dubplates of his own tracks, this DJ is one to watch. (Contact: 619.287.2509, izm@pacbell.net)

IZM/Peacemaker Suave CS
What appears to be the first release on Red Zone, Suave is nothing short of personality-heavy drum ‘n’ bass by two of San Diego’s finest. Managed by the same team, IZM and Peacemaker represent different styles of trax yet both sets are steeped in hip-hop influence. Whether scratched or beat-matched, Suave delivers a fine selection of jumpy, techy, and jazzy selections from a wide variety of producers and labels (Peacemaker loves that new Adam F track!). Their skillz on the decks and in the record shops are plenty to give the promoter or headphone jockey to jive to. With labels and DJs like this in the “619” you’d think people would start talkin’ already! (contact: Red Zone 619.583.9943 or 619.521.5398)