Aquarius Records closed in 2016. This site is an archive — a place to rediscover their extraordinary music recommendations. Nothing here is for sale.
Showing results 1 through 50 of 79.
AIREverybody Hertz(Astralwerks)cd$ 9.98
Sounds like Air got some more folks drunk on their French designer cologne and hair tonic and coerced them to do some mingling and remixing. Most notable party goers: Adrian Sherwood (applying his trademark deep dubby stamp), Mr. Oizo and The Hacker (hello, New
ALL GIRL SUMMER FUN BANDs/t(K)cd$ 14.98
Sprouting up out of the thawing pre-springtime earth like happy lil' crocuses is this new retro-pop quartet starring Jen from The Softies. Join them under their beach umbrella as they warm things up with their breezy, janglin' guitar melodies and sugary-fun harmonies heavily influenced by the '60s Brill Building pop like the Shangri-Las or the Ronettes. If you were/are a fan of that
AMON DUUL IITanz Der Lemminge(Repertoire)cd$ 15.98
Originally released back in 1971, "Tanz Der Lemminge" was the third album from the second incarnation of Amon Duul. Where the first incarnations of Amon Duul (along with Amon Duul I, there was supposedly an Amon Duul 0 from the mid-'60s) had much more of a
ANDREW W.K.I Get Wet(Mercury)cd$ 28.00
Ah, Andrew W.K... Hard rockin' heartthrob. Vice Magazine mascot. Crushworthy object of Windy's adoration and Andee's guilty 'rock' pleasure. Bloody-faced and beeyootiful. Though we don't have a date on the domestic issue of this, his debut full length, we've got a precious few copies of the import version. Andrew plays pretty insanely catchy cock rock: super anthemic, major key, kickass and dumb (in a good way). He lies somewhere between the Ramones, Rocket from the Crypt, and Van Halen. And yeah, all the sounds are variations on a theme -- he basically writes the same song over and over with the same three chords, but what a song! This will have you air guitaring all over the place and bouncing in your seat.
AREALive Concerts Box(Akarma)3cd$ 46.00
Italian "International Popular Group" Area were a '70s prog rock band. But they went far beyond the ELP/King Crimson/Yes worship of many of their peers. Area's music incorporated avantgarde jazz improv, new electoacoustic composition, dramatic and bizarre This handsome box contains three cds of Area recorded live at their peak circa 1976, in Paris, Lisbon, and Milan. The latter concert takes up two whole cds, and features avant-jazz guests Steve Lacy (sax) and Paul Lytton (percussion). Area perform many of their signature tracks from such albums as "Crac!", "Maledetti", "Caution Radiation Area", and "Arbeit Macht Frei", plus several live-only improvs. Disc three also includes two bonus solo tracks by Area singer (and John Cage collaborator) Demetrio Stratos. Inside the box, the cds are packaged in miniature lp style sleeves, and are accompanied by a booklet featuring photos, notes, lyrics, and a discography. Definitely a worthy package for fans of Area, but probably too daunting a place to start for those unfamiliar with the group!
BENUMB / PIG DESTROYERSplit(Robotic Empire)3" cd$ 9.98
West Coast vs. East Coast!! Grindcore tag team battle royale. Benumb offer up 3 tracks of grunted, growling metal/grind, with some cool strangely recorded sub-bass rumble (not sure if it's on purpose or not). The mighty Pig Destroyer spit out 7 tracks of
BERKOWITZ, LAKE & DAHMERWithout Chemicals He Points(Fflint Central)cdr$ 8.98
The mighty Fflint Central again prove that they have cornered the market on subversive (and intelligent) electronic fuckery in the UK. Why listen to the retarded antics of V/VM or the pedestrian downtempo dreck of Boards Of Canada when you can get the best elements of both AND THEN SOME from almost any band in the Fflint stable?! The return of the 'killer' electronica threesome (actually a twosome, like the 3 piece Thompson Twins) and their imbalanced, dangerous and baffling electronica. Balancing noise and melody, BL+D craft noisy epics, with gurgling, sputtering synths, purloined Middle Eastern melodies. distant rumbles, screeching high end crunch, chopped and shuffled 20th century classical, ultra-abstract musiqe concrete, bursts of face melting noise, running water framing delicate far-away melodies, totally nonsensical, epileptic drum programming, and more strange and beautiful sounds than any two guys should be able to produce. Gorgeous, challenging, intense and completely original. If there was any justice in this world, Berkowitz, Lake + Dahmer would be the jewel in someone's electronic crown (Warp, Skam, Lo, etc...) They'll just have to settle for Andee's tUMULt label, who will be releasing their first non cd-r release towards the end of the year. In the meantime, don't miss out. You know you want to be able to say 'Oh yeah, I was into BL+D way back in February!' SO RECOMMENDED.
BOARDS OF CANADAGeogaddi(Warp)limited edition cd + book$ 19.98
One of the most highly anticipated records of the year (at least for AQ staff and customers alike) is *finally* available. And Geodaddi is not a disappointment, although the record breaks no new ground. For those of you who love the Boards of Canada mellow Until we run out, we've got the limited cd in a hardcover book-like package, and also the limited triple lp. If you order this, make sure to specify your desired format, and let us know if the regular jewel case version (which we also have, at $17.98) is ok if we're out of the special ones. PS: triple-lp vinyl back in next week, hopefully...
BURNT BY THE SUNSoundtrack To The Personal Revolution(Relapse)cd$ 16.98
The long awaited debut from these East Coast metallic grinders who up until now only had a few singles and a split cd available. I have to say the record kind of took me by surprise. If you took out the two or three blasting grind parts from each song you'd
CAPRICORNSIn The Zone(Paroxysm)cd$ 9.98
A new, lo-fi casiotone punky pop duo! The Capricorns are Kirsten Nordine of SF and Heather Lynn of Athens, GA (although she's soon to be Bay Area based as well). Both women tackle the singing and keyboard duties. With playful vocals very reminiscent of
CIRCLERaunio(Ektro)cd$ 14.98
Weird. That's the word to describe this new live disc from our favorite Finnish band, the one and only Circle. Of course, Circle is always weird, but on "Raunio" they're downright spooky-weird! Mika Ratto, in addition to his Goblin-esque keyboard lines, Besides the vocals of Mika, there's just lots of spacey, noisy stuff on here. The disc sounds great (they're an amazing live band and this is quite well recorded). You can hear the enthusiastic audience at the start of a few songs, but they are quickly drowned out by Circle's amplified insanity. The album (derived from two shows in Finland this past fall) features a great version of "Dedofiktion" (one of the highlights of their "Prospekt" album) and at least one song derived from their latest studio album, "Taantalums" (which we don't have yet, as it's soon to be released in the USA on our own Andee's tUMULt label, as a picture disc 12" and then a cd, sorry for the wait). The rest of "Raunio" consists of either new songs or live improvisations (or both)!
CONN, BOBBYWinners(Thrill Jockey)cd ep$ 8.98
Four remixes and the original version from Mr. Conn's "The Golden Age". Detroit electro sensations Adult., Magas (that's Marlon Magas -- ex Couch / Lake Of Dracula, current booty bass electro technician and co-owner of Chicago's Weekend Records and Soap),
CORNER / KNOWLES / BRECHTFluxus(Wergo)cd$ 19.98
"Whenever 'Fluxus' comes up, the three New York-born artists whose radio plays are collected on this CD seem to always be mentioned. They have appeared together in performances and they are also connected by their relationship to John Cage's aesthetic,
COUSIN SILASs/t(Ffint Central)cd-r$ 8.98
More electronic weirdness courtesy of our pals at the prolific and 'all hit and no miss' Fflint label. The mysterious Cousin Silas delivers some down tempo, almost dreamy electronica (especially considering the 'fucked-up-ness' of most of the stuff on Fflint).
CRACK WE ARE ROCK / WOLF EYESMy Dad's Boyfriend / Day of Hell(Fcute)12"$ 6.98
Electronic art-noise soundclash representing SF and Ann Arbor. San Francisco's Crack:WAR, fresh off their tour of Japan, pump out three dark electro tracks -- Liquid Sky meets Throbbing Gristle. Ann Arbor rock deconstrucivists Wolf Eyes churn out a sidelong
DAN THE AUTOMATORWanna Buy A Monkey?(Sequence)cd$ 16.98
A sixteen-piece "mixtape" created by Dan the Automator. While there are plenty of tracks that he himself originated or remixed (like Deltron 3030, Gorillaz, Lovage) there are also personal favorites of his that he's messed with in typical cool Automator
DELAY, VLADISLAVNaima(Staubgold)cd$ 16.98
"Naima" is an edited document of Vladislav Delay's extended live performance at Ars Electronica Klangpark 2001. While his previous albums were of the digidub / ambient electronica sound alongside Pole and Kit Clayton, "Naima" is a spartan abstraction of
DESAPARECIDOSRead Music Speak Spanish(Saddle Creek)cd$ 14.98
Here is the full length from Mr. Bright Eyes Conor Oberst's emo pop band. We were given an EP's worth of Desaparecidos in late 2001 (which was quite promising), and now it's high time for a full dose. Far from the fragile, low-key, warbled sensitivities of
DIMITRI FROM PARISAfter The Playboy Mansion(Astralwerks)2cd$ 21.00
Another tres chi chi dance mix by French suave DJ Dimitri From Paris. L'homme onctueux has stylishly stacked two full cds worth of sexy, jazz-tinged clubland tracks for his follow-up to his 2000 collection 'A Night At The Playboy Mansion'. One is designated
EARL 16Cyber Roots(e park)cd$ 15.98
Roots reggae hits the dancefloor and ouch my tummy hurts. I'm sure this will soon be playing non stop at a cafe near you. I can't see sitting through it again here though.
ELECTRONICATShuffle Tiiiime(Alice In Wonder / Noise Museum)12"$ 7.98
Excellent, ass-moving, dancefloor filth in the oh-so-infectious "Schaffel" style from Fred Bigot, aka Electronicat - French counterpart to T. Raumschmiere/Marco Haas or a tight rockin' Wolfgang Voigt (re: his 12" series as Frieland). The title cut was
EX, TERRIE, & AB BAARSHef(Terp)cd$ 14.98
Guitarist Terrie Ex (of Dutch political avant rock band The Ex) follows up the collaboration with Han Bennink on "Laughing Owl", with another duo recording, this time making noise with saxophonist Ab Baars. Improv brutality, totally harsh and grating. Are you
FAST FORWARDs/t(Vermiform)cd$ 10.98
Fucked up lo-fi DHR style disco terrorism from Los Angeles, recorded by some dude from Le Shok. Supposedly someone in this group moonlights in Death Drug, who also shares said ex-member of Le Shok. Like a messy, less tweakedly cute, American version of Japan's Polysics. Atari Teenage Riot goes lo-fi pinball goth? Lame KKK artwork by the usually amazing Matt Brinkman of Load/Fort
GOBLINPatrick OST(Cinevox)cd$ 16.98
The soundtrack for Patrick, a Richard Franklin Film from 1978 (he did Psycho 2 and a few other un-notables) featuring the kings of horror soundtrack prog, Goblin! The film sounds great: a comatose patient named Patrick uses his psychokinetic powers to terrorize
GOLDEN BOY WITH MISS KITTIN'Or'(Emperor Norton)cd$ 15.98
Domestic release of the lp by Zurich tech house artist Stefan Altenburger aka Golden Boy. Originally issued by Ladomat in 2001, the folks at Emperor Norton repackaged the whole affair with new artwork by photographer Jules Spinatsch and two bonus cuts.
GRANDADDYConcrete Dunes(Lakeshore)cd$ 15.98
Not a new full length from those dear Grandaddy boys but instead a collection of odds and ends. Sounding veeerrrrrrry much like Sparklehorse at times, and at others veeeerrrry much like Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips. Doesn't sound a whole lot like the An axe to grind though: someone at the label should spend a little time/cash on a proofreader to go over their stickers 'cause apparently this band are "Heartchingly beautiful" and "Exhilerating". Tsk!
GRANDMASTER FLASHThe Official Adventures Of...(Strut)cd$ 18.98
All right, we're all probably familiar with Grandmaster Flash, the guy that invented scratching and turntablism, who was instrumental in laying down one of the foundations of hip hop -- he was THE DJ. In the voluminous, entertaining liner notes (it's
HALSTEAD, NEILSleeping On Roads(4AD)cd$ 14.98
Neil Halstead, perhaps best known as the singer/songwriter for Mojave 3 and Slowdive, has crafted a solo album of warm, fragile, wispy folk-pop that completely and totally resembles Nick Drake and Belle & Sebastian. So of course it's plenty pretty and pleasing. Sunny trumpet and guitar counter the melacholic words, and delicate piano, strings and chimes. Very nice.
HECKER, TIMHaunt Me, Haunt Me Do It Again(Substractif)cd$ 14.98
With a couple of recordings under his belt as Jetone on Force Inc, Tim Hecker has temporarily shelved his Chain Reactive, techno-minimalist pseudonym to experiment with sonic abstraction. "Haunt Me, Haunt Me Do It Again" is easily Hecker's best album
HONDA, YUKAMemories Are My Only Witness(Tzadik)cd$ 16.98
Cibo Matto's Yuka Honda takes the solo path. It's clear her mind is fully stocked with sonic ideas and inspirations, and she certainly shows off her skills in bringing them to fruition. She's definitely expanding and exploring beyond the perky, funky
IBARRA, SUSIE TRIOSongbird Suite(Tzadik)cd$ 15.98
Downtown NYC drummer Susie Ibarra presents her second disc on John Zorn's Tzadik label, a project featuring piano, violin, electronics, and percussion, with the celebrated electronic percussionist Ikue Mori as "special guest". Moody, cross-cultural
IMMORTALSons Of Northern Darkness(Nuclear Blast)cd$ 14.98
From the cold frozen north (Norway) comes this, the latest cd from one of our favorite corpse-painted bands ever, Immortal. It's their seventh album but their first for new, big-time label Nuclear Blast, so expectations are high. And "Sons Of Northern Darkness" delivers, in fine Immortal fashion. It's got the unmistakable Popeye-gone-metal vocal stylings of guitarist Abbath, who rasps out the frostbitten fantasy lyrics penned by their former guitarist, the crippled Demonaz, all backed by a blizzard of drums from hefty skinbeater Horgh. Followers of Immortal's career know that they began as your basic, howling at the moon, primitive blasting black metal outfit. They quickly developed a reputation as the fastest band out there, reaching a peak of pure speed with the classic "Battles In The North". Unable to top that, they did an album of Morbid Angel worship, the hectic "Blizzard Beasts"...and then Demonaz left the band, unable to play guitar due to "arm disease". Regrouping, Immortal shifted in a newly melodic, heavy-metal-riff oriented direction, releasing the brilliant "At The Heart of Winter". Some old fans (Josh from The Fucking Champs, you know who you are) were disappointed that the songs wasn't as fast, and the production not as "necro" (i.e. bad) as before, but the drums still blazed and the better production (courtesy of Peter Tagtgren's Abyss Studio) combined with their improved song-craft made for a true masterpiece. They followed that up with "At The Heart of Winter Part II" (actual title: "Damned In Black"), and now here we are with what is essentially part three, "Sons Of Northern Darkness". No, it doesn't top "At The Heart of Winter" but it's indeed more of the same quality Immortal, totally satisfying! While their blasting abilities are still incredible, this disc is perhaps at its best on the slower songs, like "Tyrants". Cold, cold stuff. There's even a song about Antarctica! Immortal. Sometimes, there's nothing better.
INFINITE X'S, THEs/t(Chainsaw)cd$ 13.98
It should be noted that this group is entirely comprised of experienced and popular pop punk musicians like Jody Bleyle (Team Dresch, Hazel), Tamala Poljak (Longstocking, Automaticans), Whitney Skillkorn (Little Deaths, Fighter D) and Scotty Walsh
JAPANESE TELECOMVirtual Geisha(International Deejay Gigolo)cd$ 16.98
Second long player from the moonlighting project of the mysterious Detroit duo known as Dopplereffekt (first act on Detroit's Intuit-Solar). Cold, rhythmic electro grooves circa 1984, very reminiscent of New Order's "Confusion" sans vocal track. Nothing
KING TUBBYS & FRIENDSSound System Dub Vol. 1(Original Music)lp$ 13.98
Collection of all previously unreleased dubs recorded betweem 1975 and 1978. Features the usual cast of musical suspects: Sly & Robbie, Winston Wright, Scully, Tommy McCook, et al and the tracks were cut at Joe Gibb's, Randy's and King Tubby's studios. This
KNIFEHANDCHOPRespect To All the Haters(Tigerbeat6)12"$ 8.98
Yeow! The highly anticipated US debut (via Kid 606's Tigerbeat6 imprint) from twenty-year-old Canadian bootylicious whizkid Billy Pollard aka Knifehandchop! Seven new dancefloor scorchers - mashing hip hop, hardcore dancehall, gabba techno and straight up rave while incorporating and referencing mass pop culture (Outkast etc). Super catchy and poppy, though still hard and way ahead of the
KNIZAK, MILANBroken Music(Ampersand)cd$ 14.98
The Czech artist Milan Knizak began his art career without much success, getting himself thrown out of Pedagogic Uni Prague, Preliminary Art School Prague, and Art Academy Prague in quick succession. But during the mid '60s, Knizak affiliated himself with
KUBISCH / PLESSITempo Liquido(Ampersand)cd$ 14.98
Continuing to dig into the vaults of 'new music' composers, Ampersand offers another reissue from the collaborative team of Christina Kubisch and Fabrizio Plessi. Just as their previous outing "Two and Two" centered conceptually around the primal
L. STINKBUGThe Allure Of Roadside Curios(Starlight Furniture Company)cd$ 13.98
Nels Cline is the man. He's not only a super-nice guy, but of course also a brilliant avant-garde guitarist, equally at home with ECM jazz as Sonic Youth noiserock. L. Stinkbug is the (odd) name of his band with fellow LA guitar maestro G.E. Stinson, bassist Recorded live at Bruno's, just around the corner from us here at Aquarius. Can't imagine the usual yuppie Bruno's crowd would have liked this one bit!
LAMBCHOPIs A Woman(Merge)cd$ 14.98
It's been years since I (Windy) reviewed a Lambchop record. Having deeply adored this Nashville collective's debut full length from several years back (I Hope You're Sitting Down), I haven't found their ensuing musical trajectory very interesting. Their
LE TIGRERemix 12"(Mr. Lady)12"$ 6.98
Le Tigre gets the vinyl-only remix treatment. While somehow the cut 'n paste, deliberately lo fi punk attitude to the making of the band's particular brand of electronic music is somehow endearing, these remixes, while similarly lo-fi and amateurish, don't pass muster. They're just mediocre. With other Le Tigre albums, there's some heavy political content going on, and that makes the With Analog Tara, Swim With The Dolphins (Johanna Fateman of Le Tigre), DJ Ham & Cheese on Rye, Reid Speed, Tim Goldsworthy (ex-UNKLE), James Murphy, and Lauren Flax.
MIRAHCold Cold Water(K)cd$ 10.98
Mirah's contribution to K Records' long-running International Pop Underground Series is a glimpse at what would become a grand cowboy folk-inflected affair... her second full length just-released album "Advisory Committee". It contains twelve tracks in all, four of them actual songs including two versions of the album's lead-off track "Cold Cold Water", two other alternate versions of
MOUNTAIN GOATSAll Hail West Texas(Emperor Jones)cd$ 14.98
The most lo-fi of John Darnielle's recent albums is paradoxically also one of his best. He spends much of the liner notes explaining how the recording was mostly made on a battered, thought-to-be-broken Panasonic 4-track, resulting in a sound quality So, I'd say if you're already a Mountain Goats fan and you like the stark lo-fi warmth of his sound, get this album. If you like John's collaborations with others, which involve a more fleshed out sound, then you may want to pick up the recent Extra Glenns record. And if you're not already a fan, this is a fine place to start.
OP8Slush(Thirsty Ear)cd$ 15.98
Attention all Calexico, Giant Sand, and Lisa Germano fans! In case you missed it the first time around, the collaboration between those fine artists has been re-issued. Yessiree, and those jubilant cheers you may be hearing are undoubtably coming from our Cup. Why? Well, 'cause it's one of her absolute most favorite albums ever. Not just another Giant Sand side project. No! It's a magical one-time combination of John Convertino, Joey Burns, Howe Gelb AND Lisa Germano. The beautiful rich twang we've grown to know and love from the gents' main projects (Calexico and Giant Sand) is most definitely in full glorious bloom here. Combine it with Ms Germano's off-kilter, melancholic vocal delivery and you've got yourself one very special album. Odd textures and noises creep in to keep the slow bittersweet melodies company. Originally released in 1997, these eleven moody, heartswelling 'n' handwringing songs never ever fail to break Cup's heart (especially tracks #3 and #5). Beautiful downer music. Includes a breathy, slow-winding world-weary duet between Germano and Gelb covering Lee Hazlewood's "Sand". Damn fine listening. Sooo very very recommended.
PEPITOMigrante(This Record Label)cd$ 9.98
A delightful local surprise from the Bay Area's ridiculously-talented pool of avant electronicists, Pepito is Jose and Ana, augmented with the production and musicianly talents of Brian (of AQ-staff-and-customer fave Brian & Chris). Pepito play a
PERRY, LEE SCRATCHJamaican E.T.(Trojan)lp$ 17.98
Sadly, an unremarkable new album from Lee Perry. It's tempting to give props for sticking with a live band to lay down the tracks on this album, but then I remember those insane Ariwa proto-drum n' bass discs that Perry put his name to and think better of it. The tracks on "Jamaican E.T." sound like some tepid hotel reggae band where a drunk and senile Perry has stumbled over from the
PSYCO ON DA BUSs/t(Platform)cd$ 16.98
The press release for this record claims that it attempts to "fill the gap between the 70s and the new millenium, blending gospel & soul vocals, Afrobeat rhythms, jazz & funk licks with wicked electronics", but uh... they forgot to confess it's *bad*. This is
RABELAIS, AKIRAEisoptrophobia(Mille Plateaux)cd$ 14.98
Not just another member of the electronica community who programs code by day and is a Mille Plateaux superstar by night, Akira Rabelais has wonderfully romantic bone in his body that affects everything he does, including programming. If his cheerleaders are
ROCKET FROM THE TOMBSDay The Earth Met(Smog Veil)cd$ 16.98
Rocket From The Tombs was borne of the same urban decay that coughed up the Electric Eels, the Consumers and Pere Ubu. While not as well known as the any of those bands or the other bands like the Stooges or the MC5 that shared their sound/ideals (although fairly well known as the band that Rocket From The Crypt stole their name from) RFTT kicked serious ass, spitting out trashy, classic seventies anthemic punk. I LOVE this shit! 'Day The Earth Met' is a collection of rare and live tracks (great recording quality considering). Perhaps "The best record never recorded". Two Stooges covers and some songs that would later became Pere Ubu songs (RFTT's Peter Laughner's next band) The lyrics are desolate and depressing, hopeless and punk and stupidly brilliant (or brilliantly stupid). To quote their song "Ain't it Fun": "Ain't it fun when you're always on the run / Ain't it fun when your friends despise what you've become / Ain't it fun when you get so high you can't cum / Ain't it fun when you know your gonna die young / Such fun / Such fun / Ain't it fun when you feel you just gotta buy a gun / Ain't it fun cuz your takin care of #1 / Ain't it fun when you just can't find yer tongue / Cuz you stuck it way to deep in something that really stung / Ain't it fun / Somebody came to me and they spit right in my face and I didn't even feel that / It was such a disgrace I broke the window / smashed my fist right through the glass / But I couldn't even feel it, it just happened to fast. / It was fun / Such fun / Such fun" Definitely for fans of the aformentioned bands as well as anyone into dirty, scuzzy, nasty, snotty catchy garage/punk/rock!
ROUSE, JOSHUnder Cold Blue Stars(Ryko / Slow River)cd$ 16.98
Call us opinionated. Overly opinionated. But I have to say -- we had really high hopes for this solo cd from singer songwriter Josh Rouse, and they've been dashed. These hopes were based on the lovely collaborative album "Chester" that Rouse made with I want to like this but, man, those lame drums keep bothering me. Listen to the first soundclip: Andee, our resident drummer, says that beat is the first rhythm you learn after you learn 4/4 to 'mix things up': 'boom - bap - boombaboom - bap'. The VH1 shuffle. Indierock's breakbeat. Ech! Sounds like the soundtrack to some Dawson's Creek episode... oh wait, he *did* make some music for that show!