V/A - Cast Exotic Vol. 1: music for the psych-eye!

(Cast Exotic Archives - crosswinds.net/~otic/)
[Genres: indie rock, experimental, noise]

This interesting compilation from Vancouver's Cast Exotic Archives label is definitely worth checking out. Although a few of the song (like the sound experimental stuff) is a bit tedious and devoid of any hooks or catchiness, the folky and no wave stuff makes up for it. Some of the experiments are fun to listen to, like the Bushwick Trio stuff, but much of it ends up fading into the background. Brian Ruryk's very weird avant-garde/experimental guitar work is just amazing, worth listening just for the pure screwy-ness of the composition. Other highlights include newcomers The Eyelickers' brand of neo-psychedelia/folk, Metabolismus's German rock, and Terminal Waste Band's garden rock. If you can get your hands on a copy of this, it's definitely worth it, especially because only 550 copies were pressed. You can also obtain it at Cast Exotic's web page. Not essential, but definitely worth tracking down! To add to it all, the cover art is beautiful, and very professionally done. (Cast Exotic Archives' top ten weirdest songs are included earlier this issue!)