Dead Mellotron - I Hate The Way Things Are

One of the most extraordinary records to be released during the past few years is Dead Mellotron's Ghost Light Constellation album. GLC (as we'll call it) is an eight-track romp through the very best in space rock, psychedelia and acid garage.

It's extraordinary in that - for all its brilliance, beauty and bare brutality - it's such a little-known record. This is as much down to the band's circumvention of the press (deliberate or not) as to any lack of accessibility in the mainstream music market. Interviews are few and far between and what little PR work is done seems to be delegated to that most-faithful of assistants, 'word-of-mouth'.

With their roots in Baltimore, MD, Dead Mellotron, is (live, at least) a four-piece led by guitarist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Josh Frazier. Frazier himself though, is widely credited as being the band and the music as very much his solo project.

Whatever the case, it's some of the finest Stateside shoegaze you're likely to hear. From the soaring blur of Shame to the synth-driven bleep and patter of Heart Flutter, it's expansive, inventive and utterly compelling.

Capping off the album, is a remarkable 4-minute instrumental entitled I Hate The Way Things Are - a stellar landscape of lazer-guided loops and growling, bass-heavy feedback. This is space rock at its very best and for that reason it's our featured track (see below).

On February 23rd  it was announced the band had signed for influential British label, Sonic Cathedral. A new album, Glitter, is scheduled for release on May 7th. In the meantime, you can discover more about  Dead Mellotron by visiting their Bandcamp page. And why not, when their back catalogue can be downloaded for as little as $3 per record?

Sarabeth Tucek - Get Well Soon (Team Ghost Remix)

It's incredible to think that Sarabeth Tucek only picked up a guitar when she was in her mid-20s... An acclaimed singer-songwriter, Tucek already has one album under her belt (her eponymous 2007 debut), a prestigious support slot for Bob Dylan and a songbook to make Neil Young blush.

Fêted for her soul-searching brand of alt country, Tucek is now back for more with a clutch of live dates, a new single and her eagerly anticipated second album - due in April on Sonic Cathedral.

The lead single and title-track of the album, 'Get Well Soon' is a typically absorbing slice of raw Americana - comparable with the likes of Mazzy Star and Cat Power. A fragile ballad played through a fog of vulnerability; it's as beautiful a song as you'll hear all year.

Included on the single is a quite astonishing remix of 'Get Well Soon'. A truly heart-stopping moment courtesy of Tucek's Sonic Cathedral stablemates, Team Ghost. As one might expect from the new project of Nicolas Fromageau (formerly of M83) it's a remarkable reinvention full of warped synths and squalling guitar. It's intense stuff and a blissful statement of intent from two hugely promising artists.

Like what you hear? Then have yourself a free download, courtesy of the lovely people (I would imagine) at RCRD LBL

Sarabeth Tucek's new album, Get Well Soon is released in April 4th 2011 on Sonic Cathedral.

School of Seven Bells - My Cabal (Robin Guthrie remix)

It’s fair to say that Robin Guthrie has something of a midas touch when it comes to music production. His celebrated career with the Cocteau Twins led to eight hugely influential albums and a string of successful collaborations, perhaps most notably with This Mortal Coil.

Now best known for his solo work, Guthrie has also forged a credible path as a remixer, working with the likes of Ulrich Schnauss & Definition of Sound.

One such project, which really caught my ear, was his 2006 reworking of the School of Seven Bells single My Cabal. In pushing out the pulsing chorus, Guthrie gave what was already a strong record a new-found depth of sound. The result was a glorious, anthemic slice of dream pop. There's no video this time, just audio, so you'll have to entertain yourself on Facebook whilst it plays...