For most of its decade-long existence, Friendly Psychics Music has hidden a secret in Chris Jones, the label's co-founder, bass player and occasional lyricist and artist.

That changes with the inaugural release from A Surplus of 1, Jones' solo project. A longtime rock bassist, Jones switches gears by experimenting with the technology first introduced on Unified Alarm System's album "This is Only a Test." Employing a mix of sequencers, loops, circuit-bent electronics and more, Jones invokes the best of dark '80s pop and '90s techno with trippy, ambient numbers that balance structure and...

It's been a long time coming, but Friendly Psychics Music principal and in-house producer Dan Miller has finally released his first project under the name Derecho. If you can guess what the name means, you get a gold star and ride on the missile-equipped weather balloon.

"Dropped at 10,000 Feet" bears some resemblance to other FPM releases -- think burning slabs of guitar and bass, crisp percussion, dark Midwestern imagery -- but moves in a different direction with Miller's layered production and unique melodies.

Pink Floyd, Flaming Lips, ELO and Tobin Sprout all form reference points,...

Formed in the pre-dawn haze of Dayton, Ohio, Dishwater Psychics is a home recording project of schizophrenic proportions. The band has used everything from mini-cassette recorders to Pro Tools to capture its songs, which run the gamut from fractured folk and pseudo-metal to driving, melodic indie pop. Guided by Voices, Sebadoh and alcohol influences? All there, my friend.

Dishwater's debut, the "Industrial Prophet" EP (1999), gained moderate radio play and scattered reviews.
The under-the-radar "Blueprint of a God" (2000) ratcheted down the sound quality in service of 4-track...