This is one for the noise cognoscenti out there. Two of the best modern rock bands in America come together for a collaboration (full title: The Flaming Lips With Lightning Bolt EP) and the results are pretty unusual - though not necessarily more than you’d expect. ‘Cos let’s face it, it’s highly unlikely that the genesis of this project was a desire to push either of these acts further up the charts. I’d like to think it had more to do with a shared love of acid-burnt neon psychedelia.

The clue may be in the song titles. “I’m Working At Nasa On Acid” and “I Want To Get High But I Don’t Want Brain Damage” are the first two tracks and the Flaming Lips’ main contributions, being the kind of bass driven psych-garage we’ve come to expect, but now with a whole extra layer of fuzzy noise on top. The remaining two tracks are reworks of the first two by Lightning Bolt, which feature even more noise and, of course, the furious drum chops of Brain Chippendale. These reworkings are called “NASA’s Final Acid Bath” and “I Want To Get Damaged But I Won’t Say Hi”.

The EP has been released on 12” mixed-color vinyl (some copies feature translucent vinyl mixed with black) but because of its limited nature was only shipped to some shops a few weeks ago. It’s likely to have completely sold out. If you really want one, I say get in touch with your local decent independent record store and ask if they can get it - failing that it has already turned up for sale on eBay. In the meantime though, here is the lead video introduced by Wayne Coyne, and the other 3 tracks:
 
The Flaming Lips and Lightning Bolt - “I Want To get High But I Don’t Want Brain Damage”
 

 
The Flaming Lips and Lightning Bolt - “I’m Working At NASA On Acid”
 

 
Lightning Bolt and The Flaming Lips - “NASA’s Final Acid Bath”
 

 
Lightning Bolt and The Flaming Lips - “I Want To Get Damaged But I Won’t Say Hi”
 

 
Ah, nothing like a bit of hyper-kinetic thrash punk to kick off your weekend! Lightning Bolt are rumored to be bringing out a new album this year, but seeing as it took four years between their last two (2005’s Hypermagic Mountain and 2009’s Earthly Delights) I wouldn’t hold your breath. I love these guys anyway, it’s like pure energy in a can. One drummer, one bassist, and Krakatoa erupting under your feet.

 
If you’ve never been to one of their shows (or even if you have), then watch this clip to get a taste of how truly insane they can be. Setting up on the floor, in the round, the audience are just as much a part of the show as the band. Both feed off each other’s energy, and while it seems basic, the band members (both called Brian) are incredibly skilled musicians. This clip should be watched in its entirety for full effect, but if you can’t take the thrash, just skip to 1:50 for the magic flying glasses moment.
 

 
Bonus: here’s one of my favourite LB tracks “Two Towers” - talk about raw power! It takes a minute to kick in…

 

Thanks to YouTube commenter pizzaROX for the headline!