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Mind Manifesting: Apothecary's Guide To Psychedelic Soundscapes
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Thumbs up: +18
I've always been a huge fan for psychedelic music of any and all kinds. The enveloping atmosphere, the ability of minimalist solos to create a grand sense of harmony, and all those deliciously trippy effects that you can zone out with... they all come together for such a stimulating, otherworldly experience. This is often the type of music I'm most comfortable with: dazing, mind numbing, and hypnotizing.

My psychedelic definitions (including, but not limited to)
1. Very free flowing and (often) formless guitar playing. Specific soloing style of focusing more on the individual notes themselves to create a grand harmony around the main rhythm at hand.
2. Intense manipulation of guitar tone, including feedback, delay, looping, etc.
3. Heavy use of electronic effects. This is something that goes back to the earliest psychedelic bands of the 60s who used hammond organ and harpsichord, but today it's evolved into a wide range of keyboards, synths, equalizers, etc.

Recs both encouraged and appreciated.

Created by: Auntie Sahar | 19.09.2014


1. Aarni - Bathos
All that's good in the worlds of one man doom metal, Lovecraftian mythos, and magic mushrooms. Proceed through the caverns of Markus Marjomaa's mind with caution. *Highlights: Kivijumala, V.I.T.R.I.O.L. http://tinyurl.com/pc8tr2j
2. Æthenor - En Form For Blå
A project of Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley and Garm and Daniel O'Sullivan from Ulver. Trippy, Avantgarde, and all around otherworldly and bizarre. If you enjoyed Terrestrials, chances are good you'll appreciate this one as well. *Highlights: Jocasta, One Number Of Destiny In Ninety Nine. http://tinyurl.com/l6xdr34
3. Angst Skvadron - Sweet Poison
Black metal drenched in spacey vibes, a good half of this album is actually just strictly instrumental melody. Fun, groovy, and surprisingly relaxing. *Highlights: Fucking Karma, Sweet Poison. http://tinyurl.com/ltuaqt9
4. Atomikylä - Erkale
Oranssi Pazuzu meet Dark Buddha Rising. That should be enough to get any psychedelic, drone, or dark ambient junkie's mouth watering. As good as it sounds. http://tinyurl.com/kajmzw3
5. Bong - Stoner Rock
Hindu raga epic hail Shiva sitar drone. Yes, you read that right. *Highlights: Polaris. http://tinyurl.com/pgxmb7b
6. Boris - Smile
These multi-faceted Japanese take a break from the monolithic drone of their early days and go for something more based in rock structures: relaxed, mellow, and floaty. *Highlights: Next Saturn, You Put Up Your Umbrella.
7. Cloak Of Altering - NONE
Maybe not psychedelic in the relaxing sense of most other albums on here, but nonetheless, this is probably the one COA album that most sits in this territory. Nightmarish, trippy, and strangely resembling video game music at points with its electronics, this is the sonic equivalent of Jodorosky's Santa Sangre: a psychedelic journey through hell. *Highlights: Unending Deities, Plane Of The Seven Earths. http://tinyurl.com/mnfpmgf
8. Dark Buddha Rising - Dakhmandal
A curious blend of drone doom and dark ambient, with tasty electronic effects to help recreate the cries of Wrathful Buddhas in the Intermediate State. *Highlights: K, M. http://tinyurl.com/pua6qw9
9. Domovoyd - Oh Sensibility
The debut of this Finnish group is a strong stoner output. Groovy and heavy, but also very laid back, melodic, and pleasantly atmospheric, as a great ode to classic psychedelic culture. *Highlights: By Taking A Breath, Effluvial Condenser. http://tinyurl.com/k3htht7
10. Earth - Primitive And Deadly
The first Earth album with vocals in quite a while, think of this one as a heavier version of The Bees. Same sort of Western, bluesy feel going on, but this time it's a bit darker and more structured. *Highlights: There Is A Serpent Coming, From The Zodiacal Light. http://tinyurl.com/lgymm26
11. Electric Wizard - Come My Fanatics...
If you don't know this album, what the hell are you doing on this list? *Highlights: Return Trip, Wizard In Black.
12. Esoteric - Paragon Of Dissonance
Always a creative force in funeral doom, the recent output from these guys is a natural continuation in their saga: crushing, trippy, and enveloping as ever. *Highlights: Abandonment, Non Being. http://tinyurl.com/m7eh3ah
13. Fullmoon Bongzai - Is All That You Deserve
Weird, weird, and more weird. BIZZARE black metal from Greece drenched in a mindfuckingly creepy electronic cloak. *Highlights: Like A Virgin, Mora & Kasida. http://tinyurl.com/kowboxb
14. Ginnungagap - Remeindre
Another Stephen O'Malley project, totally shamanic and including many nontraditional instruments such as tambura, farfisa, and sruti box. Amazing Eastern feel, if George Harrison had gone full force with the Indian thing with the Beatles, this is likely what would've resulted. *Highlights: Duel Ravens. http://tinyurl.com/lkausys
15. Hail Spirit Noir - Pneuma
Black metal meets Hawkwind. There is no turning back. *Highlights: Mountain Of Horror, When All Is Black. http://tinyurl.com/kxuqafl
16. Horseback - Half Blood
Essentially what happens when drone and black metal meet psychedelic rock. Awesome album, and awesome project in general. *Highlights: Arjuna, all the Hallucigenia tracks. http://tinyurl.com/nl4cgn7
17. Jex Thoth - Blood Moon Rise
Something like doom's ode to Jefferson Airplane, with Jessica Bowen conjuring thoughts of Grace Slick with her vocals, and the band following suit with the laid back atmosphere at work here. *Highlights: The Places You Walk, Keep Your Weeds. http://tinyurl.com/q6tgmnx
18. Klabautamann - Merkur
More BM than anything else, but also interspersed with an amazingly well-executed dreamy atmosphere that is both enticing and stimulating and well worth the wait at the moments in which it does choose to rear its head. *Highlights: Merkur, Lurker In The Moonlight, Noatun (cherish this album, it gets better as it goes along!).
19. Mastodon - The Hunter
I remember this used to be my least favorite of the band's albums, but these days I don't really dislike it for what it isn't as much as I can appreciate it for what it is: probably Mastodon's biggest tribute to acid rock, with a ton of nods to Pink Floyd. *Highlights: Stargasm, Creature Lives.
20. Monster Magnet - Tab
Quite possibly the spacey-est of these stoner rockers' releases, featuring the massive title track, a 30 minute + through hallucinogenic landscapes of guitar, keyboard, and groooovy viiiiiibes maaaaaan. *Highlights: Tab, of course!
21. Mörkö - Itsensänimeävä
Finnish metal has been getting quite trippy in recent years, and Mörkö are an excellent example. Blackened doom, but with a great balance between the two, the more doomy moments getting quite melodic and dreamlike. *Highlights: Kosmoksen Huhmareessa. http://tinyurl.com/n4glm8s
22. The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation - Anthropomorphic
A strange blend of jazz, dark ambient, and psychedelia. Horns lull you into a quiet numb while synth effects tickle your mind.
23. Murmuüre - Murmuüre
French Avantgarde psychedelic one man insanity black metal. To describe it any farther would simply ruin the mindfuck. *Highlights: Reincarnate, Amethyst. http://tinyurl.com/q3k76m6
24. Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1
Perhaps the strangest album from Blake Judd's band, with a bunch of trippy elements and an intentional head nod to Pink Floyd with its title. *Highlights: Omnivore, the three part Seasick.
25. New Keepers Of The Water Towers - The Cosmic Child
More psychedelic-ish stoner metal, heavy, mellow, and chill. *Highlights: The Great Leveller, Pyre For The Red Sage. http://tinyurl.com/m3g3zaz
26. Nocte Obducta - Umbriel (Das Schweigen Zwischen Den Sternen)
Once BM, these Germans have made a strange left turn with this latest album, which is more of an Avantgarde ambient journey through dense keyboard effects and melodic guitar lines. *Highlights: Dinner Auf Uranos, Leere. http://tinyurl.com/pptbs8s
27. Oranssi Pazuzu - Valonielu
More space rocky than the previous albums, in part a nod to the band's increasing embrace of krautrock influences. Bouncy, trippy, and faaaaar ouuuuut maaaaan. *Highlights: Uraanisula, Olen Aukaissut Uuden Silmän. http://tinyurl.com/mjsqx8j
28. Rintrah - Salt Of The Earth
Cool mix of some psychedelic stoner elements with a bit of prog too. Strong debut. http://tinyurl.com/nvrofv3
29. Samsara Blues Experiment - Long Distance Trip
Great, great ode to classic acid rock, perhaps one of the best examples of the genre's resurgence in recent years. Easily sounds like something the Dead or Country Joe & The Fish could've done, but with a strange sense of modernity that unquestionably lets you know they're a recent band. *Highlights: Singata Mystic Queen, Center Of The Sun. http://tinyurl.com/nlu4wxc
30. Seidr - Ginnungagap
Interesting funeral doom with a very relaxed, melodic side to it and some very drone-ish moments as well. Chants and occasional acoustic guitar help to embellish upon this mood quite well. *Highlights: A Blink Of The Cosmic Eye, As You Return. http://tinyurl.com/o6mb65g
31. Spectral Haze - I.E.V.: Transmutated Nebula Remains
With Hawkwind and Monster Magnet worship galore, the debut of this Norwegian four piece is enough to make you think it was released in 73 if you didn't read the release date. Proceed with caution with these psychonauts. *Highlights: Black Gandharvas, Triads And Trishulas.
32. Station Dysthymia - Overhead, Without Any Fuss, The Stars Were Going Out
Trippy Russian funeral doom, effectively described by one of our reviewers as something of a cross between Sunn O))) and Esoteric. Mastered by Greg Chandler, which may have contributed to the music's overall spacey vibe. http://tinyurl.com/q27b9sh
33. Sula Bassana - The Night
A side project of David Schmidt of Electric Moon, this one sees the inclusion of vocals to add in a whole nother dimension to the guy's trippy sound. Definitely recommended if you like your psych really spacey and inducing of a mood of flying in a rocketship, some nice krautrock elements to this one as well. http://tinyurl.com/qceehrc
34. Sunn O))) - Terrestrials [Collaboration]
Masters of drone meet the psychedelic dabblings of the Avantgardists in Ulver. The result is nothing short of hypnotizing. http://tinyurl.com/mjencxx
35. Transcending Bizarre? - The Four Scissors
Perhaps a strange album to put on here, more symphonic and Avantgarde than psychedelic, but still containing a very strong "floating" feeling, with an additional guitar soloing style typically associated with the style. All three members of Hail Spirit Noir were previously in this band, that should be enough to make you listen. *Highlights: A New Saturn!, To Heaven In A Thick Fog. http://tinyurl.com/q643e9s
36. Undersmile - Narwhal
Drone/doom/sludge with not one, but TWO female vocalists. This creates an incredible dimension of harmony, and, coupled with the repetitive and often melodic nature of the music, conjures a highly ethereal, psychedelic vibe. *Highlights: Myra, Milk. http://tinyurl.com/prkbdfb
37. Windhand - Soma
Good stoner release, drony and monotonous, but with a pleasantly hazy, floating feeling. *Highlights: Woodbine. http://windhandva.bandcamp.com/album/soma
38. Wo Fat - The Conjuring
One of stoner metal's biggest odes to classic psychedelic rock in recent years. Trippy, bluesy, and groovy in every sense of the word. *Highlights: The Conjuring, Dreamwalker. http://tinyurl.com/mexypqq
39. Wormlust - The Feral Wisdom
One man psychedelic black metal from the heathen tundras of Iceland. Eerie shit. *Highlights: Djöflasýra. http://tinyurl.com/onk8jse
40. Yob - Elaborations Of Carbon
Groovy and relaxing, everything Yob established themselves as being with this album, and have been ever since. *Highlights: Clearing Seeing, Asleep In Samsara. http://tinyurl.com/kmjjorn


Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by Auntie Sahar ]



Comments

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Comments: 34   Visited by: 98 users
20.09.2014 - 13:21
angel.
Evil Butterfly
Oh two lists with the same theme ?
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The Fangirl.
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20.09.2014 - 15:30
mz

Oh nice. Just a few ones I don't like here. Good job
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Giving my ears a rest from music.
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20.09.2014 - 15:30
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by angel. on 20.09.2014 at 13:21

Oh two lists with the same theme ?

Apparently. The topic of psychedelia was brought up in the SB a few days ago, I guess we both just got the same idea at the same time. Might delete this one though, not much point in having just another clone list.
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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20.09.2014 - 15:45
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Written by Auntie Sahar on 20.09.2014 at 15:30

Written by angel. on 20.09.2014 at 13:21

Oh two lists with the same theme ?

Might delete this one though, not much point in having just another clone list.


Aw, feeling bad for you, gangbanger.
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Cynic's Metal On Spotify

Cynic's Stoner/Sludge/Doom On Spotify
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20.09.2014 - 16:41
Lit.
Account deleted
Again, upvoted for the avatar.
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20.09.2014 - 16:44
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Guest on 20.09.2014 at 16:41

Again, upvoted for the avatar.

Nostalgia, dude
Fuck it, ya know, I'll build upon this in the coming week and at the end of the day I'm sure Joe and I will have a different variety of included bands. Our tastes are similar, but not that similar
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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20.09.2014 - 18:00
angel.
Evil Butterfly
Written by Auntie Sahar on 20.09.2014 at 16:44
Joe and I will have a different variety of included bands. Our tastes are similar, but not that similar

My thoughts
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The Fangirl.
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20.09.2014 - 23:35
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by mz on 20.09.2014 at 15:30

Just a few ones I don't like here.

Care to share?
(for note, this list is far from done)
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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22.09.2014 - 22:03
Erik M.

Yeah, I wouldn't delete it if I were you. It's definitely different enough. Too bad (for you?) I like Joe's more because he features pretty much all of my favourite psychedelic albums (and there aren't a lot of those... yes of course I'm referring to Brown Jenkins, among others ). Have only heard 7 albums from this list, so I can't thumb up it (yet). Any albums that you suspect I will like a lot?
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22.09.2014 - 22:13
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Erik M. on 22.09.2014 at 22:03

Yeah, I wouldn't delete it if I were you. It's definitely different enough. Too bad (for you?) I like Joe's more because he features pretty much all of my favourite psychedelic albums (and there aren't a lot of those... yes of course I'm referring to Brown Jenkins, among others ). Have only heard 7 albums from this list, so I can't thumb up it (yet). Any albums that you suspect I will like a lot?

If there's one album here I'd recommend it's that Transcending Bizarre? one. I personally don't find it psychedelic but it is one of the best avant-garde albums I've ever heard. Basically for fans of Arcturus.
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22.09.2014 - 22:15
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Erik M. on 22.09.2014 at 22:03

Have only heard 7 albums from this list, so I can't thumb up it (yet). Any albums that you suspect I will like a lot?

Well I'm not done with it just yet, and have to work on it more in this coming week. For now I can't see much here you'd like, as there's a lot of stoner/classic acid rock sort of stuff, which I think you've said before you're not really into. However, if you like Hail Spirit Noir, I'd suggest you check out that Transcending Bizzare? album, HSN was actually formed with some of its members
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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22.09.2014 - 23:20
Erik M.

Written by Guest on 22.09.2014 at 22:13

If there's one album here I'd recommend it's that Transcending Bizarre? one. I personally don't find it psychedelic but it is one of the best avant-garde albums I've ever heard. Basically for fans of Arcturus.


Alright, will check it out.
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22.09.2014 - 23:20
Erik M.

Written by Auntie Sahar on 22.09.2014 at 22:15

Well I'm not done with it just yet, and have to work on it more in this coming week. For now I can't see much here you'd like, as there's a lot of stoner/classic acid rock sort of stuff, which I think you've said before you're not really into. However, if you like Hail Spirit Noir, I'd suggest you check out that Transcending Bizzare? album, HSN was actually formed with some of its members


Funnily you and Joe both recommended the same album. Yeah, you're right, I'm not much into stoner/classic rock and the kind... Hail Spirit Noir is great and even though I prefer Oi Magoi, I think the debut is great as well.
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22.09.2014 - 23:32
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Erik M. on 22.09.2014 at 23:20

Funnily you and Joe both recommended the same album.

Oh really? Jeez, that guy just seems to have been ninja-ing me on everything lately
It's honestly more BM than it is psychedelic, and even the psychedelia is a bit along symphonic lines, but it's still a good head trip. I think you'll dig it.
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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22.09.2014 - 23:38
Erik M.

Written by Auntie Sahar on 22.09.2014 at 23:32

Oh really? Jeez, that guy just seems to have been ninja-ing me on everything lately
It's honestly more BM than it is psychedelic, and even the psychedelia is a bit along symphonic lines, but it's still a good head trip. I think you'll dig it.


Joe is ridiculously fast when it comes to replying to others on MS. Even when I don't quote him he somehow still manages to notice my post and reply to it (which happened just now).

Anyway, sounds great the way you describe it. Pretty sure it's indeed right up my alley.
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11.10.2014 - 13:55
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Seeing as there's no more room on my list you should consider adding this. Avant-garde, microtonal psychedelic metal of some sort.

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11.10.2014 - 15:57
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Guest on 11.10.2014 at 13:55

Seeing as there's no more room on my list you should consider adding this. Avant-garde, microtonal psychedelic metal of some sort.

Sure, I'll look into it
Have a few others on my mind at the moment as well, Æthenor, Ginnungagap, Horse Latitudes, and maybe some more of the psychedelic revivalist stuff like Electric Moon, Acid Mothers Temple, and Carlton Melton.
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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23.10.2014 - 12:26
Maratha

You being fan of Dark Buddha Rising and Oranssi Pazuzu, have not mentioned anything anywhere about their collaboration Atomikÿla. Their album Erkale is a massive beast.
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25.10.2014 - 17:20
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Maratha on 23.10.2014 at 12:26

You being fan of Dark Buddha Rising and Oranssi Pazuzu, have not mentioned anything anywhere about their collaboration Atomikÿla.

Holy hell, they did a collab together?
Dude, those are two of my favorite bands, link me up!
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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25.10.2014 - 19:04
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
To follow up on the Atomikyla thing, there are two songs on soundcloud from the upcoming album under that name (it really is a Dark Buddha/Oranssi collab). The two songs are Musta Kulta and Ihmiskallo. Once Musta Kulta hits the 3:40 mark (its a 10 minute song) I swear to god a came buckets. Fuckin sexy shit right there.
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25.10.2014 - 19:27
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Alex F on 25.10.2014 at 19:04

To follow up on the Atomikyla thing, there are two songs on soundcloud from the upcoming album under that name (it really is a Dark Buddha/Oranssi collab). The two songs are Musta Kulta and Ihmiskallo. Once Musta Kulta hits the 3:40 mark (its a 10 minute song) I swear to god a came buckets. Fuckin sexy shit right there.

This is one of my worst times to be at work right now, stop fucking teasing!
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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25.10.2014 - 23:04
Maratha

The album Erkale is more or less like an amalgamation of sounds from the empty voids of the cold Mt. Everest and the trippy Sahyadri Mountains. The vocals are minimal, but yeah, they are signature OP styled. Cool album.
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25.10.2014 - 23:48
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Maratha on 25.10.2014 at 23:04

The album Erkale is more or less like an amalgamation of sounds from the empty voids of the cold Mt. Everest and the trippy Sahyadri Mountains. The vocals are minimal, but yeah, they are signature OP styled. Cool album.

Any full streams available my man? I've been looking for about the past hour
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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26.10.2014 - 00:00
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
(weren't you on work or something?)
----
"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
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26.10.2014 - 00:05
Erik M.

Written by Auntie Sahar on 25.10.2014 at 19:27

This is one of my worst times to be at work right now, stop fucking teasing!


To be on MS while working is weird to begin with, to me. I mean, don't you actually work, when you're there?
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26.10.2014 - 00:07
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Erik M. on 26.10.2014 at 00:05

To be on MS while working is weird to begin with, to me. I mean, don't you actually work, when you're there?

I'm a tutor in a reading lab at a college, and thus have my own desk with my own computer. As long as there are no students that need immediate attention or any other pressing issues, no one gives a fuck if you're zoned out online
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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26.10.2014 - 00:11
Erik M.

Written by Auntie Sahar on 26.10.2014 at 00:07

I'm a tutor in a reading lab at a college, and thus have my own desk with my own computer. As long as there are no students that need immediate attention or any other pressing issues, no one gives a fuck if you're zoned out online


Hah, that's a relaxing job. Well, I have a (huge) desk and computer (with two huge screens, since I need that for my job) as well but I'm never on Facebook or MS (I do check my phone for messages regularly though). But then, our jobs are vastly different to begin with so it's hardly comparable.
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26.10.2014 - 03:49
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Maratha on 25.10.2014 at 23:04

The album Erkale is more or less like an amalgamation of sounds from the empty voids of the cold Mt. Everest and the trippy Sahyadri Mountains. The vocals are minimal, but yeah, they are signature OP styled. Cool album.

Dude, you honestly made my day with this shit, thank you. It's an amazing album and I am in love. Check out the review! (yes, I finally managed to find a full download)
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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26.10.2014 - 12:20
Maratha

Read it already. It's the best review anyone could do for Erkale. My AOTY pick for sure. Thanks man!
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27.10.2014 - 02:00
mz

What about shabda ?
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Giving my ears a rest from music.
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