Floorian

When Bomp Records head honcho Greg Shaw talks, people listen. The man who discovered and put out the first records by the likes of the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Warlocks, as well as releasing the first American record by Spacemen 3, has just signed Floorian to his roster, so don't be surprised if you hear a lot more about these trippy cats from Columbus in the near future.

Floorian's 2002 debut, What the Buzzing, on the Columbus indie Drigh Records is a staggering effort, channeling a dark, atmospheric vibe similar to the likes of early Pink Floyd and the first two Catherine Wheel records, as well as the best work by U.K. cult favorites such as the Comsat Angels and Loop. On songs like "Or So They Say," "Lenka," "In Slow Emotion," and the 10-minute juggernaut "Symptoms Alone," the instrumental interplay between bass player John Godshalk and the dueling guitars of Todd Fischer and Phillip Park is mesmerizing; slow-burning psychedelic buildups, complete with Near Eastern undercurrents, cascade into a trance-inducing avalanche. Phil Spector may have coined the phrase "wall of sound," but trust us, on What the Buzzing and especially live, Floorian has built a fortress.