Following last year’s volume one, we are pleased to announce the sequel, Tape Feed, Vol 2 will release October 3rd, on Gypsy Farm.
Tape Feed is a compilation cassette + digital release, curated by Gypsy Farm, & made possible by the Athens Area Arts Council with a goal of raising donations for the food bank (Feeding America), helping to fight hunger & food waste.
Volume 1, released in 2021, served over 1,200 meals via contributions from the cassette.
“Causes come, go, & change as quick as the wind” says GF associate Willie Shears.
“But one thing that remains constant is that we’ve all got to eat to get anything done.”
Volume 2 is packed with Gypsy Farm favorites including: Thee Crucials, Tommy Powell, Outersea, The Bear Traps, Marble Soup, Bat & The Bears, The Humms, Shoal Creek Stranglers & several others that make up this 11-song release.
Cassettes include a digital download/streaming copy of the mixtape and may be obtained through GF’s bandcamp store & at participating locations.
Athens group, The Humms, release their third album today, titled “Pelzer Fuck Club” on Gypsy Farm Records.
It includes 12 brand-new songs dealing with a range of subjects not unheard of from anyone that has previously perused the band’s catalog, dating back to 2008.
“Maurice” by The Humms
Early stand out tracks include the trip-soaked story of a song called Maurice & the numbing, Sometimes I Feel (Nothing At All).
“On ‘Maurice’ the titular character is questioned and called out for dealing counterfeit pills straight from his pockets, which results in people feeling ill, an unsettling result for the sick seeking their fix. The song’s acoustic guitar cast a weightless sunny gauze over the song, which paired with a simple infectious keyboard melody binds the weight of the subject matter with infectious melody.” – The Go Go Radio Magic Show
“The song ‘Sometimes I Feel (Nothing At All)’ hits you right in the heart with a tightly clenched fist. This song is beautiful despondency packaged in an immediate indie rock classic.” – Tristen Colby, Rapturous Noise
We caught up with the producer of Pelzer Fuck Club (GF013), Skud Harris, originally tasked by Gypsy Farm with assisting the Humms in their 3rd effort.
“It recently came to my attention that the fine folks over at Gypsy Farm are releasing that album “Pelzer Fuck Club”, of which I had the unfortunate experience of producing. I can not express the amount of emotion that went into the trash while working with this group, from the bank of red clay to the shadow of pine. At times, It felt like a feat, in fact, that this album ever materialized, much less with myself holding the helm steady.
Then at other times, it was anything but steady. I would surmise that we all learned a little something about ourselves & though I can not necessarily say we emerged as better people, we certainly came out [on] the other side as different people.
While we did have our arguments, hurt feelings, & upsets, after all, what does a producer do? Sometimes they just stay out of the way.”
– Skud Harris
Physical formats of the album include vinyl, courtesy of Kindercore in Athens, Ga & cassette, by way of Canada’s AMT, inc.
The Humms, Pelzer Fuck Club cassette tape. Courtesy Gypsy Farm.
Vinyl preorders will be shipped out as they are delivered by Kindercore, with bonus material as an extra “thank-you” for your support.
Stream Pelzer Fuck Club by The Humms on Spotify, Apple, or anywhere fine music may be found.
The Humms, Pelzer Fuck Club cassettes at Wuxtry Records, Athens Ga.
The band’s upcoming album, Pelzer Fuck Club, opens with the suggestive “Burn One Off”, hexing the energy of a high desert drag-strip before spilling into their previous offering, the junglelike “Golden Bears“.
The PFC album is slated for release August 30th.
“And that doesn’t stand for Private First Class” mumbles Skud Harris (producer), narrowly missing his coffee cup.
As Harris takes a slow slip from the steaming mug, his brow flexes a downward look of disgust.
“What did they filter this through, a sock?”
Watch & share the music video below, directed by Wjay & shot at Gypsy Farm’s infamous sound stage #666.
The Humms have previously released two albums on Gypsy Farm Records. 2010’s Lemonland, and 2020’s Vampire Hours.
Singing the words of Georgia-born poet, Byron Herbert Reece, Jacqueline Elsner recites: “But a step before them and a step behind are people possessed of a very small mind” during this chilling rendition of If Only Lovers, recorded acapella to the traditional tune of Fair & Tender Ladies.
Byron Herbert Reece summed up his own legacy with these words:
“From chips and shards, in idle times, I made these stories, shaped these rhymes; May they engage some friendly tongue when I am past the reach of song.”
Exciting news is dead ahead for several GF artists, including Uncle Goo, who recently began tracking new music for his yet to be titled record.
“Uncle Goo” is the stage name of Garrett Carpenter, who signed with Gypsy Farm in 2012.
We caught up with Mr. Goo as he was passing through the lobby & asked for a quick comment on the new material:
“[It’s] funky enough to make a freight train take a dirt road” he proclaimed.
Meanwhile across the facility in studio Z, tensions were heating up with The Humms as sessions for their follow up to Vampire Hours continue on, despite creative concern from outside sources.
“We’ve already lost two interns” said Skud Harris, acting manager for Humms’ camp.
“They’ll [intern] get a few songs in and inevitably, at some point, get offended or their feelings hurt” he confided.
“Then some sorry fool named CJ phoned the studio’s landline & threatened to ruin the lot of them on social media” laughed Harris.
“With any growth comes questions, criticisms, opinions…we’ve certainly received a fair share of each”
Skud continued: “As standard protocol, the receptionist on duty referred CJ to the number of a highly experienced mental healthcounselor & advised they seek attention there”
The Humms’ third album, Pelzer Fuck Club is slated for release next year.
Gypsy Farm’s label sector had a productive year, releasing 10+ new titles to an actively growing catalog, including Tape Feed, a compilation cassette of GF artists that helped serve over 1000 meals while GF’s other divisions continue a diverse venture into paranormal investigation, nature conservation, & EV charging technology.
The following list is an attempt to summarize the truly numerous records spun at GF HQ throughout the year. Each song is linked, in no particular order, & we highly suggest you visit, listen, & support if able.
Here’s looking for you, 2022.
Bob Dylan – Rough And Rowdy Ways This needs no introduction, just a minimum of one (1) ear to hear and all other necessary body parts. Select track: “MyOwn Version Of You”
J. Lansdowne – Self-TitledLP Former members of The Trashcans (ATL) & recorded on a Tascam 388. Select track: “Rope Trick”
Nicholas Mallis – Artificial Irrelevance Throw it on & dance around while you burn supper on the stove. Select track: “Caveman”
Jay Gonzalez – Back To The Hive Excellent songwriting and backing accompaniment for this solo effort by JG of the DBT. Select track: “I Want To Hold You”
Mr. Husband – Sufjan, You Took Too Long So I Went Ahead & Made West Virginia You may laugh, you may cry. You will smile. Select track: “Meemaw”
Vincas – Phantasma This record showed up covered in blood. Select track: “The Witch”
Dusk – Generation Loss An old Hartwell, Ga band that no one seems to remember anything about but has been recording since at least the late 90’s. Select track: “Plastic”
Moloq – Empire/Driving A wonderful pair of tunes for sitting in Atlanta traffic. Select track: “Driving”
Jan Terri – Ave Maria Jan Terri’s take on this classic with a rather entertaining music video.
Holiday Songs In B Flat – Holy Crap Records compilation Just when you think you’ve been too bad this year, Santa stuffs this down your stocking. Select track: “Holiday Inn”
Everyone at GF and beyond appreciate your continued support and wish you a happy & safe new year.
Taken from their most recent album Vampire Hours, the Humms submit a change of weather with the strikingly somber tune, Forward Cue.
GF manager and confidant, W.JAY undertook the task of compiling over a decade’s worth of footage, packed into the song’s 3:23 window.
Of the notable clips included, viewers may recognize several blasts from the past including the band’s infamous practice trailer, where several early works were tracked, such as 2008’s Talking To A Ghost.
Whilst digging through the media vault, located some 660 feet below the GF archives, we stumbled upon an old, but not forgotten, family favorite.
Tracked in the summer of 2014, ‘Ted Bundy’ drifts in and around Helen Scott’s signature tapestry of harmony, carried on a cloud of haze, & powered by the backing of organs.
Also hitting the digital shelfs as of last month, possibly a most unsettling rendition of the old spiritual “Death Ain’t No Big Deal” by Pastor Doug Brown.
While August saw the debut of DJWJ’s I Ride The Roads:
Rounding out this GF update, we still have copies of our most recent release, a cassette titled: TAPE FEED, Vol. 1 – shipping out now, with proceeds donated to Feeding America. Check it out here:
Every now & again, between cigarette breaks, after the show, the recording machine will be left unattended and running. Sometimes, we end up with what, more often than not, becomes some sort of cherished artifact for the GF archive.
Remembering one such time when the Shoal Creek Stranglers would pick & lick their way through Sinful Sunday Singings, a free show & supper combo hosted at various churches in the Georgia & South Carolina area.
It was an occasion when associates would track their own performance, at times unbeknownst to them.
We’re proud to present one such artifact, a tune that is all too relevant.
Performed on the spot by Reverend Douglas Brown, Death Ain’t No Big Deal.
Early 90’s promotional photo of the Drovers Old Time Medicine Show
Uncle Carl was known throughout the upstate and beyond, not only for his musical abilities, but also for his soft spoken voice & loving nature.
May Uncle Carl’s memory forever permeate through the songs & jokes he would tell, within the hearts of those who remember him well, as he eternally travels that low down damp & dusty trail.
Any patron of the downtown Athens gift shop Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother will probably remember Dave Martin. If they don’t, chances are they may have caught the musical group, Poncho Magic at Tasty World once or twice.
Dave Martin at 40 Watt club, 2012. Photo by Bryan Brown.
Since way back when, Martin has kept busy in a variety of ways, like performing various duties with electronic act Astral Summer and playing guitar with Gypsy Farm artists Uncle Goo and The Humms.
Dave Martin performing with The Humms (2020, courtesy Netfreqtv)
Naturally, we are proud to announce the debut of Dave’s latest endeavor, a bedroom pop-stained, musical mattress titled THE BEAR TRAPS and it’s two singles: “Desert Of Love” b/w “I Don’t Want To Die Tonight” are out now on Gypsy Farm Records.
Pre-orders are now up for Ancient Whales: Live at Adult Swim via the GFR bandcamp. Originally recorded at Adult Swim HQ in Atlanta, GA for broadcast in 2018, the band then consisted of Enoch (guitar) and Natalie (bass) both sharing vocal duties, backed by the dual drum-team of Scott (TS) Woodward and Bryan (BP) Poole, respectfully.
“Live at Adult Swim” drops on May 29th wherever good music is streamed!
Also sneaking out from the ether during this strange time is the first material in two years to be released from Clemson, SC’s cow-punk stewards, Pine Tar Rage. The song titled “Perfect Day” recalls the adventures of an individual from pre-sunrise and climaxes into all the fixings of the perfect day. Fans of PTR will immediately notice that the song is a somewhat departure in sound comparatively to their past recordings, but nothing unfamiliar to long time patrons of the band’s live set.
Singer songwriter, Ed Campbell trades in his usual high-gain mesa/boogie for a more reserved guitar-tone that is only complimented by Brant Duncan’s slippery-slide guitar leads, reminiscent of early Flaming Lips with Ronald Jones.
Both elements are meld together by the retro country-shuffle rhythm section of Jeff Barrett (bass, vocals) and Zeke Sayer (drums, vocals).
Meanwhile, back in March, we saw this interesting piece of sonic-syrup take forum within the laboratories of Gypsy Farm by a specimen known only as “RICHIE”.
The near six-minute raver is called “W.I.P” and was received with this press release:
“In 1973, the fabric of time was ripped open and from that gaping hole emerged a being that would be known only as ‘Richie’. He deserved no last name but in him the fire remained to make you move yo’ ass and make you smile and laugh. Richie didn’t have no Daddy, only Mama. She taught him superstitions and lived a life full of drama. But she sang and loved sincerely. She gave him music and he loved it dearly. The magic in the songs is all that’s kept him moving along. Up, down, sideways, bringing it honest and strong.”
We recommend this tune garnished with a sub-woofer or synced into your morning run.
Until next time, we leave you with the latest from our YouTube channel:
Article by GF staff writer, Willie Shears. Photo courtesy of Liz Trader Williams / Ancient Whales.
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