As is our tradition we would like to extend special I Die: You Die congratulations to this year’s winner of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Tournament. Yes, although we were pretty positive that Tetsuya Naito (formerly the Stardust Genius, now the leader of the Japanese chapter of international wrestling faction Los Ingobernables) was a lock to win before things even started, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing how he got to the final. Congrats to him, and we look forward to seeing him challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight title on January 4th at the Tokyo Dome. TRANQUILO.

Congrats Naito, now get a haircut.

Mentallo & The Fixer, “A Lot Like the Truth”
It’s been a whole half decade since Gary Dassing’s last outing as Mentallo & the Fixer Music from the Eather, but it certainly doesn’t sound like the time away has mellowed him out at all. The songs we’re hearing from the forthcoming Arrange the Molecule are arranged in the same controlled-chaos way that all contemporary M&TF songs have been, replete with rhythmic use of found sound and rapidly evolving sequences. Will this new record be a bad trip or a cosmic voyage? Only time will tell.

AM Tierpark, “Song For Us”
There’s a master’s thesis yet unwritten on the subject of how synthpop came to influence and guide dark electro and all of its descendants, but the Coles Notes version is that Claus Larsen really loved synthpop while growing up. Through AM Tierpark, his collaborative project with John Mirland, Claus has been giving the more melodic side of his muse free rein, and the duo are cuing up sophomore LP Trashy Luxury for release. The no-frills yet still embracing trills of lead tune “Song For Us” are a great example of the simple purity of classic synthpop.

Randolph & Mortimer, “Society”
Sheffield’s Randolph & Mortimer have been on the cusp of wider recognition for a minute now. Already a familiar name for heads who keep tabs on the new wave of body music, the band’s excellent Social Futures EP and their remixes for artists like 3Teeth and Bestial Mouths have felt like appetizers for some as yet unannounced main course. We’re still waiting to hear if an LP is in the works, but their latest three track release Hope Tragedy Myths is holding us over; just as nasty groovy as we’ve come to expect.

Slighter, “Lights Out feat. Craig Joseph Huxtable (Legendary House Cats remix)”
With the announcement that Slighter’s new album dropping this Fall, we were reminded that multi-disciplinary producer Colin Cameron Allrich had been doing some work with our friend Craig Huxtable of Landscape Body Machine and Ohm fame. Somehow we missed this incredible remix of their collab “Lights Out” by The Legendary House Cats, which brings a super smooth and melodic vibe perfect for late summer. Check in with us for some more Slighter coverage soon! Oh, and by all means spread this one around, it’s compulsively listenable.

Dead Voices On Air, “Papa Westray”
Mark Spybey’s taken to Bandcamp like a fish to water, using it to release archival Dead Voices On Air material, field recordings, off the cuff jam sessions, and now even full BC-exclusive LPs. The orchestral ambient bricolage of Doggerland has just been released, and, as with some of his best work, Spybey’s seasick strings on this piece convey a compelling mix of impassive beauty and unease.

Dominator, “No Heroes”
We’re really not sure what to make of the first gasps from LA’s Dominator. Part synth-punk, part pure 80s sleaze, there’s something charmingly cheesy about this tune’s 80s throwback feel, despite ostensibly being a screed against such backwards looks. As John McClane once observed, “California…”