Phosphene Dream, the third album from MAGNET faves the Black Angels, marks a big step forward for the Austin, Texas, psych quintet. The band signed to the Blue Horizon label (run by industry bigwigs Richard Gottehrer and Seymour Stein) and worked in L.A. with veteran producer Dave Sardy (Oasis, Rolling Stones), marking the first time the group recorded an LP outside of its home base. The Black Angels also recently upped their profile with a collaborative appearance with UNKLE on the soundtrack to The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. (We hear the track, “With You In My Head,” is played at a pivotal scene in the film, but when it comes to movies, we are more Black Swan than Bella Swan.) The band also backed Austin legend Roky Erickson (though the fruit of that labor is still up in the air, release-wise) and is still working hard on its annual Austin Psych Fest. And if that wasn’t enough, the Black Angels will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Alex Maas.
Maas: The Taishōgoto originated in the Taishō period (1912-1926). I found the instrument online by typing in “old man playing rare instrument” just to see what would come up. It is almost like a Japanese dulcimer of sorts. It can sound like a Turkish folk instrument, a soundtrack for a samurai movie or a Middle Eastern gypsy/jangle machine. I call it a musical typewriter. You can find me in the Greenbelt in Austin playing this in caves early in the morning, playing for the waking forest. I love it and so will you.
Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQfg2gaKSk
