My obsession over the past month has been the new Ganglians‘ record Monster Head Room (if you follow my twitter or tumblr you probably were expecting this one), and I’m hoping after the pitchfork review of the album last week it is yours too.

Around the beginning of June I placed an order for the Weird Forest edition of this record (almost entirely based on the packaging, but I had been digging on a handful of the tracks for a while too).  It was on red vinyl and was an LP/7″ combo limited to 500 copies (thanks to MBV for the heads up).  The next morning I was clicking back on Weird Forest’s website only to find out that the first pressing was sold out!  This is responsible for the delay in posting…I tend to only do this column on vinyl, and wanted to wait till it was back in print.

I checked back on Weird Forest this today to find out that the second press, on black vinyl of the LP/7″ combo is now available…this one also limited to 500 copies.  The image to the right can be used to imagine what the second press will look like.

The good news is though that this record will not be going out of print again.  According to Weird Forest:

The second pressing (on black vinyl for you purists) is available. Many distros and shops will have it shortly. Please note this record will not be going out of print — after our second pressing Woodsist will be keeping the vinyl in print.

It is unclear if the Woodsist 3rd pressing will have the LP/7″ format, but either way this record is too good to be out of print.

If you haven’t heard Ganglians yet, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.  I really love the bands coming out of the Woodsist camp, but it is no secret that they all go very well together…not that Ganglians fall far from the tree, I just think that they are offering up a new sound (or their own take on an old sound) that feels very new and fresh.

Ganglians, in my mind, are another product of the summer and their record comes just in time.  Psychedelic stoner pop rounded off with a healthy dose of folk… and while this all sounds familiar you get an unexpected undertones, and sometimes overtones, of the late 60′s early 70′s pop thrown in.    This is indeed an outdoor record, and if not outdoors at least sunshine flooding into your windows.   This album has the ability to transport you into another place, time, and state of mind (it has been a good escape the past couple days in the office)…and all good vibes.

I’m looking forward to rocking it on mine and klk‘s long drive though the South East in a couple weeks.

Here’s to summer:

[mp3] Ganglians- “Lost Words”
[mp3] Ganglians- “Valiant Brave”
(both tracks via MBV. off Monster Head Room)

[Stream] Monster Head Room in it’s entirety at aLonelyMic.com
(again via MBV)

Buy the LP/7″ combo from Weird Forest here
Buy the CD from Woodsist here.
If the LP goes out of print at Weird Forest keep and eye on Woodsist, it will be repressed.

You can jump tracks on the stream, and if you only listen to one…please listen to “Crying Smoke,” it seems to be the one I keep going back to over and over again.  This is definitely one of my favorite albums of the year so far.

Ganglians also have a handful of tour dates coming up, but these two seem to be the only ones confirmed:

• 7/4/09 Brooklyn, NY @ 979 Broadway Backyard (WOODSIST/CAPTURED TRACKS FESTIVAL)
• 7/5/09 Brooklyn, NY @ Monster Island Basement
• more tour info here (most are still TBA, but the cities are there)
  • if you think you can help them with their east coast tour see this blog post and get in touch.