THE LOKI LABEL

STEFAN CHRISTENSEN & FRIENDS Empty Plateaus (The Loki Label - 2016)

Stefan Christensen (ex-Estrogen Highs) is really on a tear this year. Empty Plateaus is not his most recent, but it has four songs (two short, two long, including a cover of the Dead C’s only MTV hit, “Bad Politics”) and they’re all superb. The longer cuts remind me of last year’s stellar Mountain Movers LP in the way they stumble forward into these twisted villages of extended psych without telegraphing it at all. That Mountains Movers record was one of theeee best ‘Best Reasons To Write A Fuckin’ Record Review In 2015′ and makes me think all the jokes about Connecticut’s music scene(s) over the years not having to do with Dave Brushback* should be rescinded, and this tape is right in that league.  There’s a cabal in that state doing violence to popular song in the best of ways.

Much of Christensen’s stuff can be found at the C/Site Recordings store and it’s all GREAT…BUY.

PS: @thelokilabel​

AVAILABLE NOW VIA THE LOKI LABEL:

http://thelokilabel.storenvy.com

- ISS s/t cassette (Brain F=/Whatever Brains hardcore punk built on hardcore punk samples) (https://iss2012.bandcamp.com/releases)

- PEPPERMINT SEAHORSE cassette - more from the Cheater Slicks vaults! Shannon bros and pals go freeform skronk-rock in their Boston apartment onThanksgiving Day 1995

- remaining Lokifest editions of QUATRILLION REVELATIONS

- DUSTY RHODES “HARD TIMES” cassette from American Dream Tapes

“…the sorta stuff that tickles me in all the right spots–cheaply recorded falling-apart rock…C/U = entire pressing”

INCREMENTAL DECREPITUDE #3  2014  (page 7)

COUNTER INTUITS review by DAVE BRUSHBACK, Editor

The Fuckin’ Record Reviews range generally covers the era of long gone paper from 1983-1997, but it’s not like it’s the law or anything. Dave’s got the best zine, as usual.

Pic of Counter Intuits tape lifted from Dave’s essential (but semi-retired) blog, One Base On An Overthrow, joe.  There are also two Billy Squier posts, in case you were wondering. 

An email request sent to [email protected] will likely annoy Dave while he’s trying to enjoy what’s left of the North American summer.