Altered Zones

Gaurav Bashyakarla of Kansas' C V L T S, we learned recently, has teamed with a few friends to found his own tape label, Beer On The Rug. First on the menu, the self-titled debut from Ohio's Casino Gardens, a one-man, "hypnagogic" concept project centered around a fictitious Florida casino. Rose Quartz was spot-on in describing this stuff as a "nice mix of Rangers and Ducktailsian pop," though this album teaser from video artist Zahid Jiwa plays out like the collected dystopian vacation fantasies of the entire Olde English Spelling Bee contingent, from Ferraro/Clark and Matrix Metals to Dolphins Into the Future, Stellar Om Source, stop-motion animator Alice Cohen, and video mulcher Luke Wyatt. Kick back in front of this boob tube within a boob tube, zone out to this flashing parade of arcade games, pink flamingos, bottle-green water rides, and cable-car safaris, and marvel as you lose the ability to distinguish between nature, its simulacra, and everything in between. --Emilie Friedlander, Visitation Rites

MP3: Casino Gardens: "Casino Gardens"

MP3: Casino Gardens: "Finding You In The Plaza"

Casino Gardens cassette is available for pre-order via Beer On The Rug (limited to 200). Stream/download the digital album in full via Bandcamp