If you’ve been following Groovescapes for a while, you might remember this post featuring local, indie group Sun Hotel… If not, here’s another chance to get to know them. Last weekend these college-rock do-it-yourselfers released their second EP Team Spirit. As for myself, I’ve listen to the disc a handful of times over the past few days, and I’m picking up some heavy Crooked Rain-era Pavement vibes – a mix of smashing drums, jangling guitars, irreverent feedback, and astutely bewildering lyrics… Ahhhh, the beauty of blissful belligerence. Also at it again is Caddywhompus guitarist Chris Rehm, who, when left to his own devices, churns out eerie, ambient soundscapes and creepy, electro-acoustic pop tunes by the boatload. Before releasing his most recent EP, Salivary Stones, digitally, Rehm made the six-song set available for $5 on cassette tape – that’s right, cassette tape! Who even has a tape player anymore… Apparently quite a few people because last I heard Rehm had already moved all of the copies he packaged, 50 in total (if I remember correctly). Luckily for you, you can download both of these albums for FREE… So, give a listen below, and head on over to sunhotel.bandcamp.com and chrisrehm.bandcamp to snag the rest of the tracks!

MP3: Sun Hotel – Plantation Land
MP3: Sun Hotel – Honey
MP3: Chris Rehm – Soggy
MP3: Chris Rehm – (Not Thinking About the Future)

What is it about youthful exuberance and loud guitars that seems to transfix us? This formula – plug in, rock out – is something that few do better than Caddywhompus guitarist Chris Rehm. If you’ve followed the New Orleans indie scene over the past year, you should be pretty familiar with the NOLA by way of Houston noise duo’s antics. If not check them out now… and try not to immediately go flailing about the room.

But what many people don’t know about Rehm is that when he's not channeling Thurston Moore, he's busy tapping into his inner folk troubadour or his inner Brian Eno. Since May, Rehm’s released four solo EPs: one acoustic, one live acoustic, and two ambient. It seems like every time I turn around, he's releasing something else… for FREE at that! Who does he think he is, the college rock Lil Wayne?!

Well, it’s pretty obvious that I’m into Rehm’s endeavors. And, when I heard the news that he was slated to open for Boston indie outfit The Wandas, I was definitely amped. The show’s taking place tonight (10/20/09) at 10pm at the Circle Bar. You should be there. To get you in the right state of mind, I’ve got a few goodies from Rehm cued up below: "Cobwebs" (acoustic), "Certain" (live acoustic), "It’s Great to Stay Up Late" (ambient), and "Absinthesizer" (Caddywhompus) – Just press play…

To download all of Rehm’s tasty delights, visit his bandcamp page.

MP3: Chris Rehm - Cobwebs
MP3: Chris Rehm - Certain
MP3: Chris Rehm - It’s Great to Stay Up Late
MP3: Caddywhompus - Absinthesizer