Alexandre Tannous joins us for a discussion about sacred music, music theory, equal temperament, microtonal scales, harmonic ratios, dubstep, music as a form of mind control, and more.

In late 2012, music writer and avid record collector Patrick Lundborg returned with a follow-up to his acclaimed book Acid Archives. This time though, the focus was not exclusively on psychedelic music, but rather psychedelic culture in a general, all encompassing sense. In Psychedelia: An Ancient Culture, A Modern Way of Life, the Swedish DIY scholar takes on the exhausting task of summarizing and discussing the past, present and future of all things psychedelic.

Byzantine chants, Gregorian chants, icaros, and sacred songs are featured. Robert Tindall talks to us from the from the Takiwasi clinic in Peru, and discusses his new book, "The Shamanic Odyssey: Homer, Tolkien, and the Visionary Experience", as well as "The Jaguar that Roams the Mind", his book about apprenticing with an ayahuasca shaman in South America.

Be sure to check out The Shamanic Odyssey: Homer, Tolkien, and the Visionary Experience and The Jaguar that Roams the Mind: An Amazonian Plant Spirit Odyssey on Amazon.com.

YouTube tracks featured in this Episode: Byzantine chant - Praise the Lord, Icaro for peace, Gregorian Chant - Kyrie Eleison, Gregorian Chant - Dies Irae, Song of the Dwarves, Enigma - Sadeness, TheReal Mix - Hard Dubstep Edit & Gregorian Chant, Icaro - Juan Flores, Gregorian Dubstep - Kozmic Klimax

After the success of PsypressUK 2012, as an advert-free saddle-stitch freebie, which received orders from across the globe, the magazine is returning for 2013. The next edition is tripling in size and will be soft-bound, making it not only an important source of features, articles, research and comment on psychedelics, but also a beautiful object that you’ll wish to keep on your bookshelf. Filled with especially-commissioned illustrations – including a cover design by renowned Cornwall-based artist Lucy Brown - a matt finish and printed on high-quality paper, the magazine will, of course, remain advert-free. With so much extra space dedicated to content it is important to have a high calibre of words and this edition of PsypressUK has a host of excellent writers.

Nicholas Buxton, author of "Tantalus and the Pelican" talks about giving up drinking to go on a spiritual journey exploring modern monasticism. He discusses his visits with monasteries around the world, Christian vs. Buddhist monastic traditions, participating in BBC's documentary "The Monastery", life as an urban priest, and whether or not entheogens mix with spiritual or monastic life.

Be sure to check out Tantalus and the Pelican: Exploring Monastic Spirituality Today on Amazon.com, and The Monastery on Youtube.com

Ramez Naam, author of "More Than Human" and "Nexus", joins us for a discussion about brain computer interfaces, neural prosthesis, brain hacking, transhumanism, nanotechnology, wireless brain-to-brain communication, the technology behind "Nexus", and the future of the human race.

Be sure to check out More Than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement and Nexus on Amazon.com.

Steve Beyer, author of "Singing to the Plants," sits in for a discussion about Tibetan Buddhism, shamanism, ayahuasca, sorcery, magic darts, ayahuasca tourism, and much more.

Be sure to check out Singing to the Plants: A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon on Amazon.com.

Also check out Steve Beyer's Singing to the Plants Blog and Ayahuasca Pinterest Board.

Spin.com hips us to a delirious new music video from K-X-P that demonstrates the dangers of drunken driving in an altogether too enticing fashion:

The song's driving vibes and playful psychedelic inclinations are well matched by the video above, which begins with a man drunkenly stumbling out onto the street from a local watering hole. He's initially swinging wildly at something only he can see, but soon we can see it too — all of it: the green-skinned mud witch that teases him, the alien camel creature that lumbers past his car, and the hitchhiking polar bear he picks up en route to nowhere in particular. The clip is fantastically surreal and even more so when you learn that it's sourced from a 1986 Finnish drunk driving PSA that was scrapped because it made the offense in question look awesome.

I don't personally know anyone who wants green-skinned mud witches backseat driving for them while they've been drinking, but then again, I have no idea what Finnish culture was like in 1986, so your mileage may vary.

Jamie Lidell shows us how it's done in his visually stunning music video for the track "You Naked". From the press release:

The video sees Lidell performing inside a giant light cube, created using realtime projected graphics triggered by the movement of his microphone stand. The technology was conceived by London-based studio Flat-e, who shot and directed the video without any post-production effects...

Watch for Lidell's new self-titled album on the Warp label, due out February 18.

In attempt to catch up to demand, the Maker's Mark brand is being diluted:

In an interview Monday, Bill Samuels Jr. said he failed to foresee a worldwide surge in demand for premium bourbon when he was still in charge of the brand about six years ago. As a result, Maker's Mark is being diluted to 42 percent alcohol by volume, from 45 percent, so more of the whiskey can be bottled to meet demand. That's a cut from 90 proof to 84 proof....

Samuels and his son, Maker's Mark CEO Rob Samuels, insist consumers won't notice the change when the slightly weaker bourbon hits shelves in the next few weeks. Even Maker's Mark's professional taste testers couldn't tell the difference, Rob Samuels said.

Mmm... more water, less alcohol. Gotcha. How about the price?

And if you're thinking a weaker drink will have a weaker price, "The value of Maker's Mark isn't set by alcohol volume," Bill Samuels said.