Wax of the Week #120...Marcos Calazans: “Cine-teatro” 7” (1974)

Brazilian crooner pop single. Don’t know much this guy. He co-wrote songs on records by Eduardo Gudin, Alaíde Costa, and Jane & Herondy. Pretty sure this was just a blind buy off the Bay. Nothing too thrilling but the Portuguese gives it a faint whiff of bossa.

Wax of the Week #119...Alain Goraguer: La Planète Sauvage LP (1973)

I think the first time I saw this movie was on the classic never-watch-it-straight weekend overnight anthology/variety barrage Night Flight on the USA Network, back in the mid-’80s. It was very European and pretty disturbing. Was happy to see Criterion issue the disc. Finally scored a nice copy of this soundtrack at a fair price. It’s an appealingly tense blend of Euro jazz/funk cues (most a minute or less) that wouldn’t sound out of place on a contemporary giallo. Goraguer (born 1931 in a suburb of Paris) also did a crime jazz EP I’m trying to find for less than mortgage payment rates.

Wax of the Week #118...Cul de Sac: “Sakhalin” 7” (1992)

Boston band who made a whole lotta records I still need to hear. I only have this 45 from Stefan Jaworzyn’s Shock label outta the UK, with demented Savage Pencil sleeve art. They played a tense, latter-day brand of surf music. Members included Dan Ireton (Dredd Foole) and Phil Milstein.

Wax of the Week #117...Abbath: s/t (2016)

First solo LP from Olve Eikemo of Immortal. If you like their later records, you’ll probably dig this one. I do. Some strong riffs and catchy arrangements; high energy music. Of the original Norwegian black metal bands, Immortal seemed to have run with the Bathory sound more than most, and this is on the same path. The fine pre-Immortal death metal act Amputation appears in my upcoming DemoLition book, as does Old Funeral, which featured Eikemo and other future Immortal members (along with Varg Vikernes).

Wax of the Week #116...v/a: Flyin' Saucer Twist: The Northway Sound Records Story Vol. One 7” (2008)

The mighty Norton empire reissues four 1960s tunes from a tiny Michigan label, highlighted by the spooky, Link Wray–like instrumental “Banshee” from the Jerry Lee Trio. Tasty sleeve design by Pat Broderick.

Wax of the Week #115...The Black Diamonds: Fire Music LP (196?)

Obscure Swedish licensing of the Animated Egg record that originally came out on Alshire in 1967. I used to have that one, but glad I kept this version, as it seems to have a punchier mix. Of course, these were outtakes from The Id LP, masterminded by the late, great Jerry Cole, that were put together without his knowledge. LOTS of records were mined out of those sessions, across several labels. I once planned on putting together a website that connected them all, but hey, life is short. Smoke out and enjoy.

Wax of the Week #114...Billy ThunderKloud and the Chieftones: Where Do I Begin to Tell a Story (1975)

Billy ThunderKloud, aka Vincent Clifford, a Tsimshian Indian from British Columbia, had some success in the 1970s country scene (his "What Time Of Day" hit #92 on Billboard's Top Songs of 1975 chart), and this is one of several LPs from him. On this one he does typical lounge standards like "Proud Mary" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads," plus a pleasant take on "Beautiful Sunday." On the Tennessee Christian label Superior.

Wax of the Week #113...Null: Heavy Water 7” (1993)

Noise release from veteran Japanese artist K.K. Null. Back in the ’90s I was buying a lot of these types of records on small experimental labels out of the UK; this one’s on Fourth Dimension, which was affiliated with Grim Humour zine. There was also Dirter (still going), Broken Flag, Shock, and Dying Earth. Anyway, this two-sider provides a nice head soaking.