On a dark and stormy night in 1998, in one of the links of Boston's emerald necklace, two brothers searched for a key. The heavy steel door of the old auto body repair shop was helped open by a strong northeastern wind. Inside, they lit their cigarettes and coaxed the old propane heater on, while the opening hums of Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man” played on the stereo. In their wet, salt-stained boots, the brothers took a few mouthfuls of whiskey to help loosen up their hands enough to form a few chords on their guitars. As the room filled up with smoke, they talked Spacemen 3, Richard Farina, those early Parliament records, pearl-button shirts, a borrowed theremin. Sterling loaded a ½ inch reel on the machine while Scott duct-taped down the D key on the old Hammond. With their guitars and amps, and whatever else was laying around, Terrapin Gun made the music they wanted to hear.
As the seasons changed, Sterling and Scott were joined by some friends, Sir Richard Wentworth (bass, keyboards) and Carolyn Klump (drums). A demo was recorded, gigs were played, and connections were made. One of these was with Ben Vendetta, who tapped Terrapin Gun to contribute to a compilation on his label, Orange Sky Records. “Postcards from LA,” the closing track on Carnivals, Cotton Candy, and You, was the band’s tongue-in-cheek nod to days spent dreaming of west coast sunshine while trying to make it through another dark east coast winter. And in a way, the band almost didn’t: Sir Richard and Carolyn left around this time—for reasons forgotten by time— and Sterling relocated to New York. But the brothers weren’t ready to close the door on Terrapin Gun without getting their vision down on tape. "Relax Your Mind" was ultimately completed after many gear-jammed car trips down I-95, between 2001 to 2003, finishing what was started during those late-nineties nights in the garage.
RIYL: Spacemen 3, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Byrds (Gram Parsons), Suicide, Arthur Lee, Velvet Underground, The Fugs
“Postcards from LA” is an exquisitely recorded blur of guitars”
— Shredding Radio.com
“The album concludes on a high with the Terrapin Gun giving the low down on their “Postcards From L.A.'' While McGuinn and McGuire may no longer be roaming the west coast they chronicle today’s shaggy-haired, between the pearl buttons, desert booted ramblers following their footsteps and also blazing their own trails”
— Wendy city.blogspot.com
While the Terrapin Gun is a New York and Boston-based duo, their sounds are distinctly West Coast. It’s no mistake that they name check Beachwood Sparks on the album’s standout track “Postcards From L.A.” For the most part, this 12-song collection has a distinct acoustic blues, country-tinged vibe that brings to mind the Brian Jonestown Massacres more damaged moments (think Thank God For Mental Illness and Bringing It All Back Home (Again), Skip Spence, and maybe a touch of Gram Parsons.
— Ben Vendetta (Vendetta Magazine)
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supported by 17 fans who also own “Postcards From L.A.”
This Greek quintet make virtue out of simplicity, by allowing slow hand transcendent guitar and synth melodies to wash over propulsive percussion, evident on standout ‘The Island Of Lotus Eaters’. The Germanic voiceclip on track 4 alludes to their Krautrock influences, while 'Uranometria' takes a quick post-rock left turn. Fans of Michael Rother, Pink Floyd, ‘Force Majeure’ era Tangerine Dream and Steve Hillage will find much to enjoy on this LP’s bubbling, atmospheric drift. Bliss out… Logen Ninefingers
supported by 14 fans who also own “Postcards From L.A.”
Already had the digital but couldn't pass up on the vinyl when they found extra copies :D
sometimes you hear a record and think f**k me that is so good this is one of those grizzuk
Rooted in the deep Scandinavian psych tradition, the latest album from Kungens Män offers epic songs with billowing guitars. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 23, 2022
supported by 14 fans who also own “Postcards From L.A.”
"If you’re a long-term fan of one or more of the participating groups or of modern acid rock in general, you won’t need much convincing to add this gem to your collection. But even if you’re completely unfamiliar with this whole scene, yet interested in dipping your toes into the wide world of spaced-out guitar music, I would highly recommend this idealized ISS homage as a gateway experience to the genre."
my full review on Veil of Sound:
https://veilofsound.com/2022/09/23/VA-ISS_Vol1.html Der Ohlsen