#native cats

3/2/24.

I received an email from Rough Skies Records (Hobart, Tasmania) saying that a few extra 7" copies of "Counting/Relief" by Melbourne-by-way-of-Hobart based band Heart Beach were available. Julian Teakle (Native Cats and solo cassette "New Hobart") runs Rough Skies. His solo work and Native Cats music together give him the utmost credibility.

I don't think I made it all the way through "Counting" before buying this 7". It sounds like an excellent midway between Teakle's two projects.

A handful of favorites from what seemed like a particularly strong year for music. Rest in peace to Yuzo Iwata, who had the album of the year the second I heard it. I Dischi Del Barone was my label of the year; everything Matthias released could’ve gone on here. Most releases listed below are readily available via any links provided: support the artists, and let’s keep this thing rolling.

LP

Yuzo Iwata, Daylight Moon (Siltbreeze)

Mournful Congregation, The Incubus of Karma (20 Buck Spin)

Lolina, The Smoke (self-released)

The Body, I Have Fought Against It, But I Can’t Any Longer. (Thrill Jockey)

Woolen Men, Post (Dog’s Table)

Constant Mongrel, Living In Excellence (La Vida Es Un Mus/Anti Fade)

Mamitri Yulith Empress Yonagunisan, Yulith Lilith (Bruit Direct Disques)

Vilkacis / Turia split (Altare Productions)

Arv & Miljö, Svensk sommar i stilla frid (Omlott)

Six more:

Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt, Brace Up! (Palilalia)

The Doozer, Figurines (Feeding Tube)

Geld, Perfect Texture (Iron Lung)

The Native Cats, John Sharp Toro (R.I.P. Society)

Patois Counselors, Proper Release (ever/never)

Mette Rasmussen & Tashi Dorji, s/t (Feeding Tube)

12″ / 7″ / cassette

Mosquitoes, Drip Water Hollow Out Stone 12″ (ever/never)

Alienation, Bitter Reality 7″ (Warthog Speak)

Fåglar I Bur, “Platt” b/w “Öppen Inbjudan” 7″ (I Dischi Del Barone)

Healer / DJ Eons, Dank Goblins split 7″ (Warthog Speak)

Honey Radar, Psychic Cruise 7″ (Chunklet)

JJ Ulius, “Tänder Ett Ljus” b/w “Era Jävla Manér” 7″ (Happiest Place)

Monokultur, s/t 7″ (I Dischi Del Barone)

The Native Cats, Spiro Scratch 7″ (Rough Skies)

Phrenelith, Ornamented Dead Eyes 7″ (Night Shroud)

Rapid Dye, Nurture or Destroy 7″ (Paradise Daily)

Mary Lattimore, Charlie’s Yard cassette (Petty Bunco)

Long Hots, Monday Night Raw cassette (self-released)

Wonderfuls, Voices Like Rain cassette (Round Bale)

Reissues? My research was scattered and lacking, but my top picks would be the Nightcrawlers’ Biophonic Boombox Recordings 2xLP, a much-needed reissue of Corrupted’s Se Hace Por Los Asesinos (buy that here or here), and Cut by Bill Direen/Bilders.

Above: Mizmor at Migration Fest 2018, Mr. Small’s Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA

Shows

Migration Fest at Mr. Small’s Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA: So many great sets, bolstered by the best company I could ask for and a multitude of trips to the nearby Grist House brewery. Mizmor, Mournful Congregation, Hell, Yellow Eyes and Fórn were my favorite performances of the weekend.

Primitive Man and Spectral Voice at the End, Nashville, TN

Bill Direen / Bilders at the Pilot Light, Knoxville, TN

2/16/22.

Die! Die! Die! are an Auckland, New Zealand band. I'd heard of this band before...they've been on my periphery for a while. But I guess I never listened that closely; "This Is Not An Island Anymore" is a punch right to the face. It is loud, unabashed music.

Bands like Mclusky, Native Cats, Fatima Mansions and Mission of Burma immediately come to mind. Frankly, Die! Die! Die! don't really sound like any of those bands, but at times they are an amalgamation of them all.

New 7" from The Native Cats! I'm very smug because the A side features a vintage lap steel I got for Chloe as a birthday present 😤 However if you want some really thumping post punk in the more familiar NC style head on over to the B side, Lose Count, which goes hard

4/8/18.

This is my 3rd post of Mariah Johnson’s Philadelphia band Woven In.  Frankly, this is music that is hard to describe.  I’m assuming Mariah herself is hard to describe.  This music has been and still is heavy on the bass. 

The music only recalls Native Cats.  Vocally you could draw comparisons to Daughn Gibson or the reverb of Crystal Stilts (I looked at my earlier posts for this, but still believe it).

7 month old Mai Thong, found on the streets of Thailand. 

Breeders have been searching all over Thailand to find cats suitable for a programme to revive and preserve the rare native natural breeds. Because of her unusual color, Mai Thong’s DNA was tested at UC Davis in hopes she can contribute. [source]