The Van Pelt‘s Stealing From Our Favorite Thieves (1996) and Sultans Of Sentiment (1997), in hindsight, provided a number of significant indie-rock mile markers. The band was led by Ted’s brother, Chris Leo; Stealing recorded by Alap Momin (ex-Dälek); bassist Toko Yasuda went back and forth between TVP and Blonde Redhead after that record; and both albums saw the light of day via cult label Gern Blandsten. After being out of print since the turn of the century, the original tapes have been mined for reissue treatment by Spain’s La Castanya, allowing listeners to trace the band from its gorgeously melodic and incendiary, post-hardcore beginnings a la the Jazz June and Texas Is The Reason to a more subdued, Slint-like bent with Leo’s increasingly spoken-word vocal style by the time the last notes ring out on Sultans. Leo will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysdzYrlGSek
Leo: There are many dholka out there. All of them great. Thing is, there’s a dude-food kind of dhokla that looks like last night’s burrito leftovers turned inside out and might be exactly what you want to eat while watching the early-Sunday football game or cricket or something, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about Gujarati khaman Dhokla made with mustard seeds, desiccated coconuts and coriander and cut into neat little squares. If you’ve ever struggled with Indian food because the spices can obscure the true essence of the ingredients they coat, introduce yourself to the miraculous balance the khaman dhokla strikes and you’ll be back on the spice train overnight.
