Glazed, baby

Fauna in the sauna

by Michael Caito

Here are several more new releases and demos, blistering and clammy, for your playback pleasure. The Nightswimming web site has been chillin' on an anonymous server, poised for activation, so please -- always include a phone number on releases sent for review because we will not ever post sampled audio clips online without the artists' green light. Photos/cover art should also include credits if they're desired. In a similar vein, bands can now send releases to columnist Matt Obert, reviewing again for the newly renamed Free Times (formerly Good Times) based in Kent County. Welcome back, Matt. Thank goodness.

Johnny West:Imaginary Driver (Four-song cassette)

Flashback: haunting acoustic twin-bill at Babyhead with Vic Chesnutt opening for Bob Mould. Imagining what would happen if Chesnutt's twangy, idiosyncratic songs were meshed with Mould's unswerving intensity and gloom. Wow. That would be fine.

That may be at least a spiritual goal of Johnny West, formerly known as the Pants. The brothers Garfinkel -- Paul and Todd -- plus ex-Halo Bit bassist Dickey Wright certainly have created lush grooves and textures on this demo, produced by Vehicle guitarist/singer Dave Stem. (Vehicle drummer Pedro is temporarily drumming for JW as well.) Paul Garfinkel's semi-sung vocals speak of world-weariness, and though he's not as convincing in that slower, countrified vein as, say, Pip from the mighty Delta Clutch (recording an LP this summer for an autumn releaseon Blackberry Records), his wistful tales still hold water. In this string-heavy mix Garfinkel, having just finished his Masters in 19th-century Italian criminology (?!), sounds overwhelmed by the strummery. They could just as easily make do with one less guitar overdub, but the foundation -- the songs -- is A-OK. Noteworthy re-entrance.

Mr. Slugg:(4-song cassette)

Mr. Slugg has not yet left the blasted landscape trod upon by Nick Cave and Trent Reznor. Cheers to him for sticking with his nightmarish, Goth-tinged roots, abetted here by the reappearance of long-lost cohort Chicken Chuck. If Brian (aka Mr. Slugg) is ever loosed in a studio with the EBN guys we'll have the sonic equivalent of 10-inch nails driven soul-deep. For now, Mr. Slugg is determined to keep the lost faith, solo if necessary, driving ominous, self-made 4-track observations like "You look so good in gasoline" directly through our skulls. Can't figure out why or how this still works, but it does.

DEREK PROSPER

Derick Prosper (aka Mastermind): "Waited All My Life" b/w "Hip Hop Heads" (Brainchild Entertainment)

Rapper/poet/producer Prosper follows last year's The Adventures of Mastermind with a harder edge, polishing the menace, brooking no idiocy and delivering on his new maxi. The three versions of each track is standard set-up: one each for commercial radio, one each for instrumental, while the A-side has the swearing left in for mix tapes and B-side has a version of a cappella snippets. The Providence poet remains true to his art, and we hear another unflinching, detail-rich moment of his life. The occasional preachiness of Adventures of is replaced here by a more effective surveying of the aftermath, especially on "Hip Hop Heads." As attitude goes, Adventures ofcould be paraphrased as saying "Don't be stupid; don't do this," while "Hip Hop Heads" cooly describes inevitable carnage native to a gangster lifestyle. "Waited All My Life" showcases a true player's confidence, borne of reaping the rewards of hard work, not thuggery. It also happens to be very funny. Think he can't run with De La and Jeru? Think again. Listen again. When was the last time you heard any rapper rhyme "cypher?" If this is in fact the level of area talent Prosper championed during a recent interview, it won't be long before the rest of Providence -- plus Newport and Pawtucket -- finally check in with their own self-styled beats. We can hope, then, that Mastermind's new vinyl is a harbinger. This fall, the pass-the-mic sessions at the space on Washington Street (same building as the Black Repertory Theatre and the old NewPaper) will hopefully kick in again, providing a testing ground/ trial by fire for MCs who think they can hang. On Brainchild's newest, Prosper certainly gives young rappers, DJs and producers a level of excellence to try to match. For the Mastermind, as usual: it's on so don't sleep.

Blueshift Signal:The Waterside EP (Ethereal/Twighlight Time 4-song CD)

Watersideis an exquisite offering from the trio featuring Ron Kuba (g,v), Jay Bouchard (b) and drummer/percussionist John Orsi. Though in the opening "Aegean" a Stone Roses pop influence distracts, the overall is buoyant and the playing extremely tasteful. After a few months, this EP earned its own listening-room nickname:the "Stress Dissolver." Roughly shoved near a niche, it would shoehorn 'twixt psychedelia, New Age and maybe the soundtrack to an early '90s 4AD compilation. By themselves, the shimmery, synthesized effects which Kuba wrings from his guitar would be worth it. Having a veteran like Orsi along shooting percussive sparks makes this one delicious.

Hallucinating Arkansas (4-song CD)

Power-pop evolving from Taunton's excellent Blair's Carriage, Hallucinating Arkansas cover personally exalted ground similar to that of the Figgs and Mercury Quartet: melodic, full o' hooks, dangerous to drive to. They can write and sing, and Scott Riebling's production hones this trio's already keen sense of dynamics. Buffalo Tom?Yeah, them too, I suppose. We want more.

SHOW BIS: Scotland's bis were snatched up by Beastie Boy Mike D. for Grand Royal after a short sharp bidding frenzy. Bikini Kill's revered front-grrrl Kathleen Hanna and the one-and-only Poly Styrene are admitted heroines of Kenickie frontwoman Manda Rin. bis were tempted from Glasgow, Kenickie from Convent school in Sunderland. Well, except for Johnny X, who does a good deal of their songwriting. Between them, they've released two of the brattiest, goofiest, most exuberant discs of the year in bis' The New Transistor Heroes (Grand Royal) and Kenickie's At the Club (Emidisc/Warner). Forget the Headcoats, hipsters: this is the sh**. Kenickie justly relegate the Bangles to Barbie Doll status, and bis's shout-along agit-Brit-brat-pop has the kids swinging out in the UK. Both CDs are so full of life and energy it's enough to make me throw out all my Pearl Jam records except I've never owned any. At the Call on Saturday at 6. (This just in: Kenickie have cancelled their US tour, so they won't be along for the ride. But get the CD anyway.)

Metrified:Tues./Wed./Thurs. is the streak at the Met Café: Purple Ivy Shadows appear with Tuscadero and Starry Eyes Tuesday; New Radiant Storm King and Rebuilt Hangar Theory hit the next night; and the Muffs appear on Thursday. This Friday it's Mark Cutler &Useful Things with Dopey Lopes opening, featuring Freddy Abong on drums. Also on Friday, ace rockabilly with Racketeers at the Green Room. On Sunday at the Call there will be a big AS220 bash featuring V Majestic (have you tasted their fine new disc yet?), Ether, the Eyesores, Joe Auger, His Panic Band and many more. All to celebrate a new record label for the Space, which re-opens August 1.