Sun City Girls

[alan nagsworth]

WHOA how come I've only discovered this band, really? I've known about them for ages but their vast catalogue was a little intimidating, as was the same with The Residents, but immediately upon hearing 'Torch of the Mystics' I was completely enthralled. 'The Shining Path' is going on repeat, it's absolutely gorgeous.

I've heard they incorporate surf into their music quite a bit, but I can only really hear that in 'Radar 1941' on 'TotM'. I'd like to hear more of that, because I am a surf music fanatic.

Isn't that Alvarius B. in your avatar, NoSleep, or am I mistaken? Either way there's got to be some other fans of these guys on here. Speak your love and recommend some essential records for me to dig into.

[Thursday]

I discovered them thanks to NoSleep playing them on CaB Radio years ago. Still haven't really delved into them as much as I should have, but Horse Cock Phepner is my favourite.

[alan nagsworth]

Horse Cock Phepner

This is fucking ace, it really reminds me of Monks. :)

[NoSleep]

<< Yup, that's Alan Bishop (in the guise of Uncle Jim)

I saw the band live in Dec 2006 (and Uncle Jim actually made an appearance). Then, with 3 months, Charlie Gocher had died (I saw their 2nd-to-last appearance) and the band were no more, although within that time I stumbled upon a torrent that compiled almost every single recording the band have released throughout their career, which must have cost the guy who put it together a fortune, because some of those releases were intentionally placed so that it would be virtually impossible to do what he had achieved. They would put out a CDR, for example, that would only be available in Malaysia or somewhere similar (SCG, well, the Bishop brothers, do a lot of travelling, in search of instruments and local music - the Sublime Frequencies label represents the fruits of these travels). Some of their album-length recordings sound like they woke up in the morning and said "let's record an album today" and then actually deliver on their declaration before the day's over.

Aside from their LPs (check out Grotto Of Miracles, btw) they have released a series of CDRs known as Carnival Folklore Resurrection (volumes 1-14) and a bunch of videos which are fun to watch, combining theatre, music, puppetry (my favourite parts!) monologues in character, solo performances, live performances - get hold of them!! You can probably find lots of excerpts from the various films on YouTube.

A good "Best Of" would be the more-recent compilation "Gum Arabic" which consists of the band performing pop songs they have discovered from the Middle East dotted over their entire career.

Check out their website, from where you can order any stuff that might be currently available, but shuts down when they're off travelling.

[NoSleep]

Don't miss out on their solo albums, either.

(Sir) Richard Bishop will do anything from solo acoustic guitar albums through to electronic music, whilst Alan Bishop (as Alvarius B) likes to multitrack record himself in a very lo-fi manner to good effect (particularly like the recent Baroque Primitiva, with its covers of John Barry and Ennio Morricone music and songs). Alan Bishop was the compiler of an Ennio Morricone collection entitled Crime & Dissonance.

Richard Bishop's film God Damn Religion is disturbing and entertaining simultaneously.

There is an old thread somewhere about, too. http://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,13672.0

worth updating the links in my first post (the ones still surviving):

Nice clip of them playing together in their HQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5n52U_s4dw

Soft Fragile Eggshell Minds:
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1215884237685

Clip from the gig I saw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o_dPNOy0QY

And a clip of (SIr) Richard Bishop (solo) demonstrating what a great guitarist he is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoJq2eKK3Fc

[NoSleep]

Some full SCG films (all in parts) available on YouTube:

The Halcyon Days Of Symmetry Part 1

The Burning Nerve Ending Magic Trick Part 1

And a complete version of my favourite film from Sublime Frequencies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JadKdU4EGg4

[alan nagsworth]

You're a saint, doing the lord's work. Thank you!

[Famous Mortimer]

I absolutely love them. I had their first 20 cassette albums, covers hand painted by the band (presumably) and when I broke up with my girlfriend back in 2006 they were lost when I moved out. BOLLOCKS

Anyway, I think the album I heard first was "Torch of the Mystics" too, but I've played "Midnight Cowboys from Ipanema" more than any other record of theirs. I've not heard it in years, but I used to play "Juggernaut" all the time too. Just seeing this thread pop up has made me put on some of their music, so thumbs up to everyone in here.

[NoSleep]

Proof of how you could never have expectations before attending an SCG gig:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fz8w2SNPog

I love this band.

[NoSleep]

Another complete film in 4 parts:

Myths & Legends Of The Blue West

From the above, straight to one of my favourite clips:

Soft Fragile Eggshell Minds

And another complete film in 4 parts:

Cloaven Theatre

And a clip from that:

Eyeball In A Quart Jar Of Snot