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Intro: A diverse music positive weblog for the discerning listener with an interest in creative artistic music across the contemporary sound spectrum: Goto New Content Section for DJ Martian's Page

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Age: I entered this world in 1970. A British Blogger.

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Friday, November 30, 2001

 

Etronik Frontline Issue 118

etronik Frontline includes news of a forthcoming album from Crossover :

Crossover, the recent signings to DJ Hell's (pictured)Deejay Gigolo label, release their debut album, �Fantasmo� in February 2002. Consisting of New Yorkers Desmond and Verona, the act were formed in 1998 and mix �cosmic music, early electro, foreign disco, new wave and punk rock.�

# posted by DJ Martian 6:02 PM

 

the Milkfactory - Top 10 albums of 2001

the Milkfactory - Top 10 albums of 2001

1
R�YKSOPP - Melody A.M.
WALLCD027 - Wall Of Sound

2
FRIDGE - Happiness
TEXT002CD - Text Records

3
BJ�RK - Vespertine
TPLP101CD - One Little Indian

4
PLAYGROUP - Playgroup
CDSOUR014 - Source

5
MANITOBA - Start Breaking My Heart
WIGCD94 - Domino Recording Co.Ltd

6
FOUR TET - Pause
WIGCD94 - Domino Recording Co.Ltd

7
AUTECHRE - Confield
WARPCD128 - Warp Records

8
310 - After All
BAY19CD - The Leaf Label

9
ZERO 7 - Simple Things
UDRCD016 - Ultimate Dilemma

10
LEAFCUTTER JOHN - Microcontact
ZIQ022 - Planet Mu

# posted by DJ Martian 4:56 PM

Thursday, November 29, 2001

 

Anti NY compilation - on Gomma Records

Anti NY Compilation - Something that caught my interest in an advert in the new Jockey Slut magazine:

An art rap soundclash that couldn't get fresher ! The Cream of rare & lost sound grafitti from the melting pot of punk funk electro hip hop that was downtown New York, reissued and remixed by today's kindred spirits. The Face

Forced Exposure - Anti NY - Gomma

Rare music from the early 80's New York underground and some contemporary re-interpretations. A collection of what we think are some truly fine (groundbreaking) songs -- music that mainly comes from New York's early 80's Mudd Club scene: hip hop & graffiti -- legend Rammellzee on an electropunk tune together with Death Comet Crew (later the Dominatrix). An obscure recording of Jim Jarmusch's band the Del-Byzanteens. The only recorded and previously never released music by Jean-Michel Basquiat's band Gray. A sweet little song by the now well-known writer Vivian Goldman. And more. We took the original stuff and asked some friends to re-interpret them: while the Compost-band Syrup replayed the Sexual Harassment tune, Funkst�rung goes electroboogie with Ike Yard, Protein makes Rammellzee sound like it's 2010 and Mowax-act the Psychonauts reworked Gray... you get the whole spectrum from 1979 to 20XX."

Muzik magazine: as intriguing as 9 O'Clock drop and Disco Not Disco

# posted by DJ Martian 10:58 PM

 

Meanwhile, back in Communist Russia - Indian Ink

DrownedinSound review Meanwhile, back in Communist Russia - Indian Ink

# posted by DJ Martian 3:40 PM

 

the Milkfactory - December Reviews

the Milkfactory have a new delivery of reviews for December, below are the summaries - visit the website for full reviews !

GOTAN PROJECT - La Revancha Del Tango

French trio Gotan Project explore the realms of Tango music, giving it a very modern twist. However, as they have collaborated with Argentinean musicians living in exile in Paris, La Revancha Del Tango has a real seal of authenticity to it.

ARLING & CAMERON - We Are A & C

This Dutch duo have gained a lot of respect in Europe, Japan and, more recently, the US, since they started to work together, in 1994. We Are A & C is a melting pot of influences, from pop to hip-hop, which never fails to surprise.

CHESSIE - Overnight

On this album, Chessie draw a non-conformist map of sonic abstraction, as close to the foggy atmospheres of My Bloody Valentine as to the electronic permutations of Kraftwerk, inspired by the sonic realms of the railways.

E.A.R. - Continuum

Experimental Audio Research is the most experimental and challenging project by ex-Spacemen 3 founder Sonic Boom. With this album, he continues he exploration of sound and develop further the conceptualization of sonic structures started on previous work.

LLORCA - New Comer

Despite the undeniable resemblance with St Germain, New Comer is disarmingly fresh. As the record alternates between vocal and instrumental tracks, Ludovic Llorca affirms himself as one of the most talented new artists.

MONOLAKE - Cinemascope

Fourth album for Berliner Robert Henke and Gerhard Bekles, Cinemascope pursue the duo's sonic explorations at the frontier of minimalism. Abstract and atmospheric, this record remains nevertheless incredibly accessible.

AOKI TAKAMASA - Silicom

Japanese artist Aoki Takamasa is one half of art unit Silicom. With Masakazu Tagaki, a visual artist, he has produced a series of audio visual installation in Japan, and the pair have gained recognition for their pioneering work. This album uses some of the music used during these performances.

# posted by DJ Martian 12:39 AM

 

These Records

These Records the London based Avant Garde/ Experimental music mail order company have a new website, at the moment it is basic text - a full updated, redesigned and extrapolated version will be operational in 7 days !

# posted by DJ Martian 12:28 AM

 

More Links

A collection of Record Label links and also more links @ Mondo Alacran

# posted by DJ Martian 12:21 AM

 

October 2001 Releases

Once again it is time to prune back my blogger template, so for reference here is a recap of October 2001 releases:

ALBUM RELEASES: October 1st

Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit (Music For Nations)
Bathers - Desire Regained Best of the Bathers (Wrasse) (R)
Eardrum - Side Effects (Leaf)
Fun>DA>Mental - There Shall be Love (Nation)
Vincent Gallo - When (Warp)
Garbage - Beautiful Garbage (Mushroom)
Green Velvet - Whatever (Music Man)
Her Space Holiday - Manic Expressive (Wichita Records)
J Majesty - 23 (Some)
Christian Kleine - Beyond Repair (City Centre Offices)
Koma & Bones - Blinded by Science (TCR)
Les Savy Fav - Go Forth (Southern Records)
Locust - Flight Of The Wounded Locust (GSL)
Machine Head - Supercharger (Roadrunner)
John Matthias - Smalltown Shining (Lifelike)
Mogwai - Ep6 (Chemikal Underground)
The Opposition - Breaking The Silence (Via Red Sun Records) (R)
Bogdan Raczynski - My Love I Love (Rephlex)
Marc Ribot - Saints (Atlantic)
Solvent - Solvent City (Morr Music)
Symptoms - Apathy (Swim)
Teardrop Explodes - Greatest Hit (Mercury) (R)
Uziq - Tango N'Vectif PLUS (Planet Mu) (R)
Geoff White - Questions And Comments (Force Inc)
Wolfgang Press - Everything is Beautiful: 1983-1995 (4AD) (R)
Wumpscut - Wreath of Barbs (Metropolis)
V/A Juan Atkins - The Legends (Om)
V/A Adam Freeland - On Tour (Marine Parade)
V/A Luke Slater - Fear & Loathing (React)


ALBUM RELEASES: October 8th

Czars - The Ugly People vs The Beautiful People (Bella Union)
Diablerie - Seraphyde (Avant Garde)
Einsturzende Neubauten - Strategies Against Architecture III (Mute) (R)
Electric Company - Greatest Hits (Tigerbeat6)
[Embodyment] - Hold Your Breath (Tooth & Nail)
Frontline Assembly - Epitaph (Metropolis)
Fugazi - The Argument (Dischord)
Markus Guentner - In Moll (Kompakt) German Import
Gigi - Gigi (Palm)
Herbie Hancock - Future 2 Future (Transparent Music)
Lamb - What Sound (Mercury)
Gerard Langley - Record Player (Art Star)
Lotus Eaters - Silent Space (Vinyl Japan)
Madrigal - I Die, You Soar (Nuclear Blast)
New End Original - Thriller (Jade Tree) (R)
Radioinactive - Pyramidi (Mush) Import
Royksopp - Melody AM (Wall of Sound)
Skids - Absolute Game (Virgin) (R)
Solefald - Pills Against The Ageless Ills (Century Media)
Swans - Soundtracks for the Blind - 2cd re-release on Young God (R)
V/A Blackmarket Presents Rollin Best of Drum + Bass Volume 3 (Blackmarket)

ALBUM RELEASES: October 15th

A Silver Mt. Zion - Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward (Constellation)
Jamie Anderson - Blue Music (Nrk)
Billy Mahonie - What Becomes Before (Southern Records)
Colourbox - The Best of Colourbox (4ad) (R)
Cut.Rate.Box - Dataseed (Accession)
Depeche Mode - Singles 81 - 98 (Mute) (R)
Fad Gadget - The Best of Fad Gadget (Mute) (R)
Harkonen - Grizz (Hydrahead)
Kinobe - Versebridgechorus (Pepper)
Lacrimosa - Fassade (Nuclear Blast)
Lali Puna - Scary World Theory (Morr Music)
Neil Landstrumm - She Took A Bullet Meant For Me (Tresor)
Masters of Reality - Deep in the Hole (Brownhouse)
Meads of Asphodel - Excommunication Of Christ (Supernal)
Markus Nikolai - Back (Perlon) (R)
Norken - Spring Themes (Hydrogen Dukebox)
Origami Galaktika - Stjernevandring (Jester Records)
Pisces - Pisces (MDMA)
Playgroup - Playgroup (Source)
Regency Buck - Incoming (B-UNIQUE)
Rothko - Not Gone Not Forgotten (Lo Recordings)
Scritti Politti - Songs to Remember (Virgin) (R)
Sunscreem - Ten Mile Bank (Five AM/inferno)
Teebee - Through The Eyes of A Scorpion (Certficate 18)
Tortoise - Gently Cupping The Chin Of The Ape: Ltd (Thrill Jockey)
Trans Am - Futureworld (Thrill Jockey) (R)
Trans Am - Red Line (Thrill Jockey) (R)
Trans Am - You Can Always Get What You Want (Thrill Jockey) (R)
Trans Champs - Double Exposure (Thrill Jockey)
Trembling Blue Stars - Alive to Every Smile (Sub Pop)
Zohar - One Three Seven (Ark21)
V/A Arthur Baker - Breakin (Perfecto)
V/A Freezone: Vol7: Seven Is Seven Is: 4cd (SSR/crammed)
V/A J Majik - 7 Live Vol 5 (DMC)
V/A DJ Marky - The Brazilian Job (Movement)
V/A Talvin Singh - Back to Mine (DMC)

ALBUM RELEASES: October 22nd

Anaal Nathrakh - Codex Necro (Mordgrimm)
Anathema - Resonance (Peaceville) (R)
Aphex Twin - Drukqs (Warp)
Ballboy - Club Anthems: The First Three EP's (SL Records)
Cex - Oops, I Did It Again (Tigerstyle)
Dismemberment Plan - Change (De Soto)
Emperor - Prometheus The Discipline of Fire & Demise (Candlelight)
Eyeless In Gaza - Rust Red September (Cherry Red) (R)
Terrence Fixmer - Muscle Machine (International Deejay Gigolos)
Freeform - Audio Tourism (Quatermass)
Funker Vogt - Code 7477 (Metropolis)
Godflesh - Hymns (Music for Nations)
Heaven 17 - Remix Collection (Virgin VIP) (R)
Beth Hirsch - Titles & Idols (K7)
In The Nursery - Engel (ITN Corporation)
Mr Len - Pity the Fool: Experiments in Therapy Behind The Mask of Music While Handing Out Dummy Smacks (Matador)
Loscil - Triple Point (Kranky)
Mogwai - My Father My King (Southpaw) Cdep
Jackie O Motherfucker - Liberation (Roadcone)
My Dying Bride - The Dreadful Hours (Peaceville)
Orange Can - Home Burns (Regal)
Piano Magic - Seasonally Affective (Rocket Girl) (R)
Pulp - We Love Life (Island)
Reign Of Erebus - Humanracist (Blackend)
Robert Rich - Bestiary (Cold Meat Industry)
Justin Robertson - Presents Revtone (Nuphonic)
Run Level Zero - Symbol of Submission (Memento Materia)
Schindler - Raising Cain (Eastworld)
Schmoov - While You Wait (DIY Discs)
Set Fire to Flames - Sings Reign Rebuilder (Fat Cat)
Soft Cell - Twelve Inch Singles (Mercury) (R)
Peter F Spiess - Crystal Polymorphs (Klang) UK release
Jimi Tenor - Utopian Dream (Sahko)
Terre Thaemlitz - Oh,No! It's Rubato.. (Mille Plateaux)
Tomahawk - Tomahawk (Ipecac Records)
23 Skidoo - Seven Songs CD [reissue] (Ronin)
23 Skidoo - Urban Gamelan CD [reissue] (Ronin)
Twintone - World Domination (Position Chrome)
Will Haven - Carpe Diem (Music for Nations)
V/A Chicago Trax (Unisex)
V/A Goldie.co.uk - A Drum N Bass Mix album (Trust the DJ Records)

ALBUM RELEASES: October 29th

Aktivate Sin - Psychology of the Hateful (Luidspreker)
Ancient - Proxima Centauri (Metal Blade)
Azure Skies - Azure Skies (Ant Zen)
Ben Christophers - Spoonface (V2)
Clan of Xymox - Notes from the Underground (Metropolis)
4 Hero - Creating Patterns (Talkin Loud)
Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea Translations (Jumpin & Pumpin) (R)
James Hardway - Straight from The Fridge (Hydrogen Dukebox)
Ken Ishii - Flatspin (Exceptional)
Katatonia - Last Fair Deal Gone Down: Ltd edition (Peaceville)
King Crimson - Vroom Vroom (Discipline) (2CD) (R)
Kirlian - De Todas Partes (Disko B)
Tim Koch - Shorts In Alaska (deFocus)
Le Tigre - Feminist Sweepstakes (Chicks On Speed)
Lu - Lu (Pulcec)
Mountain Men Anonymous - Mountain Men Anonymous (Cytherea)
Phoenecia - Odd Job Discrimination (Schematic)
Sombre View - I Want To See The World Go Under (Life Is Painful)
Sophia - De Nachten (Flower Shop)
Stormcrow - Bubonic Jukebox (Insomnia)
Tenth & Parker - Twenty Twelve (Disorient)
Tricolor - Nonparticipant And Milk (Atavistic) Import
Tweak - Hybrid Organics (Straight Ahead Records)
Ultravox & Midge Ure - The Very Best Of (Chrysalis) (R)
Reinhard Voigt - Im Wandel Der Zeit (Kompakt)
Xingu Hill & M2 - This Anxious Space (Hymen)
V/A Anti NY (Gomma)
V/A Deep Dish - Moscow (Global Underground)
V/A DJ Spooky - Under the Influence (Six Degrees)
V/A Joey Negro - Nite Life 08 (NRK)
V/A Planet Mu Compilation: The Cosmic Forces Of Mu (Planet Mu)
V/A Revelation mixed by Nick Warren and Danny Howells (Renaissance)

# posted by DJ Martian 12:04 AM

Wednesday, November 28, 2001

 

Laurent Brondel - Weld

Tone Casualities have just released an album from Laurent Brondel - Weld an artist that mixes contemporary electronic sounds with inspirations from Kraftwerk, Magma, John Coltrane and Tangerine Dream.

Larent Brondel's musical vision is one to be shared. Starting from the building blocks of contrived electronica and occasionally flirting with dance, Brondel begins the album with the vocoded dance sensibilities of the stop-start 'Somatic Propeller' before plunging into the punchy dance beat of 'Cotton Candy', punctuated with spiralling classical piano amidst the female sampled vocals. From then on 'Weld' takes a more introspective, experimental feel, inspired by a combination of 70's and 90's electronic music, the clean detached electronics of Kraftwerk merged with the film soundtrack sensibilities of Tangerine Dream and the warmer, more vague philosphies of modern electro. This pays dividends too, particularly on '21st Century Lounge' where Brondel provides surreal ambient soundscapes, touched up with elements of jazz and electric guitar, truly inspiring. This theme is expanded further on the pacy jazz bustle of 'Mental Intruder' which is no less effective in painting a hallucinatory slice of dark, brooding filmic electronica of the highest quality. Brondel then pushes the soundtrack element of his music to the max with a trilogy of interconnected contemporary film-stye electronica tracks, culminating in the jazz-guitar improvisation of 'No Time To Die Anywhere'. Ending with the experimental, dubby, drum and bass of 'Death Machines', you realise that Brondel has glided effortlessly through a welter of styles with not only some ease but certainly some style too. 'Weld' is one of the surprise releases of the year and well worth forking out for.

Source: Barcode Review of Laurent Brondel - Weld

# posted by DJ Martian 1:35 AM

 

Cave In

DigitalMetal.com review a 2 track promo ep from sublime epic rockers Cave In bring on the new album in 2002 !

# posted by DJ Martian 1:20 AM

 

Kerrang

The weekly rock comic Kerrang has noisecore kings Will Haven on the front cover, also Mogwai are interviewed (On sale Wednesday 28th) and it comes with a free 22 track CD - some of it is utter crap (Andrew WanKer, Adema included) but there may be a few gems on it including Will Haven.

Also Emap the producers of Kerrang are out to make money this Christmas I noticed Kerrang Yearbook 2001 in stores today. I had a quick flick through in Tower Records most of it was filled with generic awful big name rubbish. However there was one page where they highlighted 10, 5K albums not to miss in 2001, including Converge, Candiria, Thorns and Ulver's Perdition City - as if the Slipknot metal youth will be getting any of these albums for Christmas !

# posted by DJ Martian 1:09 AM

Tuesday, November 27, 2001

 

Lasse Marhaug - an experimental electronics artist from Norway

Lasse Marhaug an experimental sound artist from Norway who released an album earlier this year on Smalltown Supersound that is now being distributed in the UK via Cargo Records

LASSE MARHAUG: NOTHING BUT SOUND FROM NOW ON (Smalltown Supersound)

Lasse Marhaug is one of the innovators of the norwegian noise/experimental scene. With over a hundred releases under various constellations on labels all over the world, this is actually his first full lenght solo album since 1996's "Science Fiction RoomService". The last couple of years Marhaug has mainly focused on his glitch/electronica duo Jazzkammer. After the sucessful and critically acclaimed albums "Rolex" (Rune Grammofon) and "Hot Action Sexy Karaoke" (Ground Fault) and the upcoming remix album "Rolex" (with remixes from Reynols, Merzbow, Pita, Thurston Moore, Francisco Lopez and others), Marhaug felt the time was right for a new solo album. Marhaug shares the same background as Merzbow (with whom he has collaborated with) as they are both noise artists who has gone on to produce all their music on powerbooks. The sound of Marhaug has similarities to the Japanese noise scene with Merzbow and Otomo Yoshihide, and to Austrias Mego label with artist such as Pita and Fennesz. But one can also find references to the beautiful and arctic sounds of Biosphere, Pan Sonic's minimalist techno and to Oval and Microstorias glitch electronics. But Marhaug has his own style. His music is extremely rich on details. Layers of sound slowly reveal themselves as you listen. The music ranges from open spaces and ambient soundscapes to cut-ups and extreme digital brutalism. His use of blips and clicks often with deep soundscapes in the background, creates a shimmering and swirling sound. "Nothing But Sound From Now On" is a masterpiece; abstract, captivating and beautiful in a bizarre way.

BBCi have a feature on Smalltown Supersound as part of the New Room feature.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:58 PM

 

VNV Nation - Futureperfect - January 28th, 2002

Side Line report the release date for VNV Nation's delayed Futureperfect album as Jan 28th on Dependent Records, this will follow up the esteemed last album Burning Empires.

It's taken months of unofficial murmerings, but now Dependent can finally announce the release date for VNV Nation�s long awaited album �Futureperfect�. It has been set for January 28th, 2002.

VNV Nation are electro-industrial/future synth artists of the finest calibre.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:28 PM

 

If I were an editor of a weekly music magazine this week's front cover would feature: Minotaur Shock

[I am bit late with this week's choice, I had meant to do this feature last night.]

So this week's choice is Minotaur Shock, that also feature as Rough Trade Album of the week on John Kennedy's Xfm show

The album Minotaur Shock - Chiff Chaffs and Willow Warblers

debut album from folktronica combo minotaur shock on melodic.sublime,woozy,melodic folk tinged electronica equating roughly to boards of canada gone pop

was released on November 19th on Melodic Records

'Futuristic fractured folk music� cutting a swathe through the competition with it's fragile brilliance' - The Face

'Sublime, woozy, melodic, folk-tinged electronica' - NME

'Equating roughly to Boards Of Canada gone pop or Radiohead gone merrily leftfield' - Mixmag

Well here you go, the Minotaur Shock album. What can we say? 'Album of the year', of course!

Maybe, maybe not. But a more beautiful listening experience in a folk / electronica stylee will definitely be hard to find this year.

Also won Album of the Month in Style Magazine Dazed & Confused

I have heard a few tracks so far and am impressed this is in the same sublime sound terrain as one of my favourite albums of the year - Four Tet - Pause, i.e warm melodic electronic arrangements and free flowing guitars.

# posted by DJ Martian 9:09 PM

 

The Wire - December edition

So this month Mercury Rev are on the front cover of The Wire - I will be picking up my copy tomorrow.

[I have a problem with Mercury Rev - the vocalist with his silly high pitched singing style - I am sure there must be a few others that agree - although MR are COR - Critic Oriented Rock - no doubt many will be putting their album on end of year lists - not me !]

# posted by DJ Martian 1:04 AM

Monday, November 26, 2001

 

The Brainwashed Brain V04I46 - 11252001

This week's The Brainwashed Brain has a stack of reviews, including these:

Dntel - Life is Full of Possibilities

Boxhead Ensemble - Two Brothers

Bovine Life - Social Electrics

Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By

Shimmering guitar sounds bring back memories of Cocteau Twins tricks, lush keyboards can easily sink the Boards of Canada and crisp beats are tasteful and never oppressive. 'Far Away' is absent of clicky glitches and is an incredibly clean recording, one which always prompts callers to my radio shows when being played

Chessie - Overnight

'Overnight' flawlessly swirl and flow together, creating an engrossing and abstract sonic landscape of abstract samples, ambient electronics, guitar, piano and more. Fans of artists like Labradford and Stars Of The Lid will very likely find much to appreciate here.

Single Unit - Family of Forces

Mokkelbost's musical mission seems to include that of merging metal/hardcore with electronica, believe it or not. Appropriated snippets of guitar/bass/drum onslaughts are painstakingly re-assembled alongside electronic and organ-like melodies into new songs

# posted by DJ Martian 11:15 PM

 

Starecase

Starecase the Bristol progressive breakbeat band will release their debut album, Firstfloor next year (April)

More information @ Hope Recordings

# posted by DJ Martian 2:04 PM

Sunday, November 25, 2001

 

Freq

Freq have updated their music reviews including:

Alva.Noto - Transform
Label: Mille Plateaux Format: CD

Bovine Life - Social Electrics
Label: BiP-HoP Format: CD

Eardrum - Side Effects
Label: Leaf Format: CD, limited 2LP

[This is a startling intense album and definately will be near the top of my end of year list]

Lou Ciccotelliand Richard Olatunde Baker
draw on a pool of guest musicians from London's pan-cultural village to whirl out s fine selection of percussive travelogues through the virtual domains inhabiting their studios; it's a fertile journey too, skipping on the rattle of shakers and congas at the junction of electronic effects, swinging into and out of reach of the ears and stirring the ground under the feet with non-4/4 rhythms which owe much to Dub and Jazz and still more to the future and past sounds of West Africa.

The Flying Dutchman - Pathfinder
Label: Tone Casualties Format: CD

Mixing elements of Trip-Hop and Ambient styles this is a beguiling and spacey journey led by Hanyo van Oosterom, the Flying Dutchman himself. Enlisted as support and fellow travellers are vocalist Ciska Ruitenberg and Edwin de Herder among others. Comparisons, however odious, are inevitable. Jon Hassell-style trumpet voicings can be heard on a couple of tracks and there are hints of Massive Attack and Portishead in other places. I don't have a problem with this, I'm all in favour of cross-pollination, musically speaking.

Richie Hawtin - DE9 | Closer To The Edit
Label: NovaMute Format: CD,LP

HiM - New Features
Label: FatCat(Europe)/Bubble Core (North America) Format: CD,2LP

Kammerflimmer Kollektief - Hysteria
Label: Bubblecore (North America)/Afterhours (Japan) Format: CD

Rehberg And Bauer - Passt
Label: Touch Format: CD

There's much more to Passt than simple purgative eviscerations of the contents of the duo' hard discs; rapid-fire loops build dynamic structures out of the aether, heartbeat motions become shuffly patches of bass and crackle; progression rides on post-vinyl pops and static crepitations snake themselves from the depths of an eviscerated loop into the foreground of demi-semi-consciously applied sonic decay in action. In other words, it's a multi-layered sampladelic noise feast, and one that's not to be sneezed at (because Rehberg and Bauer will probably try to sample the sound) in a zeitgeit awash with the sound of laptops uncoiling themselves with all the glee of an emetic fetishist on a binge and purge mission the hard way. Snap, crackle and squelch have become the new Rock'n'Roll for some, somehow; and more simply the best way to get sine-tinglingly lost, deleriously at that, in the inner malfunctions of sound for others.


Irmin Schmidt & Kumo - Masters Of Confusion
Label: Spoon/Mute Format: CD


Between them Schmidt and Kumo construct a variety of musical textures, sometimes harsh, sometimes melodic, never dull. They seem to challenge and inspire each other. The setting of grand piano with all its cultural associations alongside the newer culture of Kumo's world works perfectly. A truly creative meeting.

Set Fire To Flames - Signs Reign Rebuilder
Label: 130701(UK, Europe)/

To Rococo Rot - K�lner Brett
Label: Staubgold Format: CD

23 Skidoo
-Seven Songs
-Urban Gamelan
Label: Ronin Format: CD

# posted by DJ Martian 11:53 PM

 

Sand - Still Born Alive album due Jan 2002

Last Thursday John Kennedy on Xfm played a track, Body In The River by a band I was previously unaware of Sand who are set to release their second album in January 2002.

Body In The River' (Satellite) from 'Still Born Alive' out January 2002

This provoked an interest in finding more about this innovative and unusual /different band - a strange mutant envigorating dense electronic and avant rock hybrid.

Satellite Records state

Having completed their second album SAND are now rehearsing their new live show featuring a heavier sound plus moody and disorientating video projections. You can expect dark electro, melancholic disco and metallic riff grinding. Recordings and performances that will be burned into the consciousness of audiences worldwide.

Satellite Records Discography states that Sand first album:

STL027 Sand "Beautiful People Are Evil"

Their debut LP. Noise / techno / punk / jazz / dub / industrial? Haven't a clue how to describe it but it's bloody good. The NME said "Black Sabbath do Krautrock voodoo music - as gritty as it gets".

Sand website

More information at the Discography of Sand

stl 027 lp/cd oct 1999
this heat, can and 70s miles, all parts fed through a scabrous grindcore riff mincer. guaranteed to both confuse and scare the living shit out of your neighbours.

Key players in Sand by a following a few links I found it interesting that John Richards a member of Sand is also an academic at De Monfort University @ Music, Technology and Innovation - Research Group (MTI - RG)

This group was formed in September 2001 with the establishment of a Research Professorship. It is connected to the Centre for Technology and the Arts (CTA).Its current membership currently includes all full-time staff, two Visiting Professors, one part-time staff member, associates from outside of the Faculty as well as all postgraduates. It describes its research focus as follows:

To investigate praxis in musical innovation (practice being informed by theory and vice-versa), particularly in the following areas:

sonic arts/electroacoustic music (including interdisciplinary art work)
applications of music technology
acoustic and electroacoustic communication
popular music supported by a commitment to:
access (e.g., reaching and involving both new/alternative musical
communities)
appropriate studies in musicology
This is articulated similarly in the RAE2001 RA5 document as follows:

composition
alternative music communities
upgrading and expanding the musicology of electroacoustic music

Why innovation? Innovation is the driving force of music technology and has always been the driving force of any artistic evolution. By including this word in the research group's name as well as all courses at DMU, the MTI members state clearly that their work, both in artistic as well as scholarly research terms concerns innovative aspects in their fields.

# posted by DJ Martian 9:51 PM

 

Speedy J

Mute inform us that Rotterdam based Jochem Paap, aka Speedy J, is set to release his new single 'Krekc' on novamute on November 26th a new album will follow next year.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:56 AM

Saturday, November 24, 2001

 

The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar single.. sounding like New Order

I heard the forthcoming single by The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar - details described @ BurnitBlue.com on the radio today. They are sounding more and more New Order alike, with a Peter Hook style guitar sound mixed with electronic beats.

The Chemical Brothers will release the new single �Star Guitar� on January 14, following the huge success of �It Began In Afrika�.
It will be the second single taken from the duo�s forthcoming album �Come With Us�.. [due January 28th 2002].

# posted by DJ Martian 11:16 PM

 

ILM Best of 2001 Music

I still think it is too early to be doing this sort of thing - best music of 2001 - when December has not even began, but a thread has started on the ILM messageboard

I am always impressed with Melissa W's lists because she is very knowledgeable about contemporary electronic music and incredibly young - only 18. [Also note the quick take up of ...Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By ..in @ 38]

The list reads like an esteemed exploration of Grooves magazine and covers much of the excellent music Nick Luscombe plays on his 3 hour Xfm show Flo-Motion on Sunday's 9pm - 12pm GMT, that can be accessed via the web - for non London readers of this weblog.

Melissa W's Top 50 albums [at 24th Nov]

01. Radiohead - Amnesiac
02. Lali Puna - Scary World Theory
03. Noriko Tujiko - Shojo Toshi
04. Akira Rabelais - Eisoptrophobia
05. ISAN - Lucky Cat
06. Fennesz - Endless Summer
07. Jan Jelinek - loop-finding-jazz-records
08. The Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds of the Stars of the Lid
09. Stephan Mathieu - frequencyLib
10. Low - Things We Lost in the Fire
11. DNTEL - Life is Full of Possibilities
12. Arovane_Phonem - Aer (Valid)
13. Bogdan Raczynski - My Love I Love
14. Random Inc. - Jerusalem
15. Autechre - Confield
16. Vert - Nine Types of Ambiguity
17. Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings
18. Prefuse 73 - Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives
19. Mia Doi Todd - Zeroone
20. Pierre Bastien - Mecanoid
21. Labradford - fixed::content
22. Pan Sonic - Aaltopiiri
23. Ilpo V�is�nen - Asuma
24. Natacha Atlas - Ayeshteni
25. Kristin Hersh - Sunny Border Blue
26. Hood - Cold House
27. Herbert - Bodily Functions
28. Stereolab - Sound-Dust
29. Styrofoam - A Short Album About Murder
30. Shannon Wright - Dyed in the Wool
31. Matmos - A Chance to Cut is a Chance to Cure
32. John Zorn - Love, Madness, & Mysticism
33. Neotropic - La Prochaine Fois
34. Kevin Blechdom - The Inside Story
35. Scratch Pet Land - Solo Soli IIIII
36. Beta Band - Hot Shots II
37. Mouse on Mars - Idiology
38. Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By
39. Tara Jane O'Neil - In the Sun Lines
40. Nobukazu Takemura - Hoshi No Koe
41. Mira Calix - Prickle EP
42. Plaid - Double Figure
43. Susumu Yokota - Grinning Cat
44. Andrea Parker - Dark Ages EP
45. Boxhead Ensemble - Two Brothers
46. cLOUDDEAD - cLOUDDEAD
47. Broadway Project - Compassion
48. Jackie-O Motherfucker - Liberation
49. Minotaur Shock - Chiff Chaff and Willow Warblers
50. Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein

[I also admire the discipline of Melissa of actually numbering her lists, I normally can manage the top end of list, but deciding the rank order down to 50!]

# posted by DJ Martian 9:19 PM

 

Carbon Disks

Carbon Disks overview the latest/and forthcoming leftfield/avant rock/electronic/IDM/ambient/Industrial etc releases.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:11 PM

 

Bip Hop Label Profile and Current Listening from Phillipe Petit - Label Manager of Bip Hop

The BBCi Music have a feature on Bip Hop as part of their online Global Top 10 series for promoting creative contemporary electronic music.

2002 will see releases on BiP_HOp from Si-(cut).db who releases "enthusiast", where a major proportion of the sounds are samples of woodwork noises, different timbers, turning processes, shavings, planings, splintered pieces, contact mikes on veneered surfaces, acoustic instruments such as piano, fused with microsounds to create a rhythmic template between digital glitch and organic sources. Plus full lengths from Cray, Twine, Andrew Duke and a release entitled [reciprocess : +/vs.] vol. 1 which will be a series of split CDs featuring the work(s) of two sound assemblers and documenting the process of musical reciprocity between them. As the title of the Series suggests each issue in "Reciprocess" features two sound assemblers contributing a collaborative work; a series of independent works; and finally, contributing a remix of each other's work(s). The series will be co-curated by myself and Christopher Murphy (F�llt) and features artwork by Fallt designer's Fehler.

Also coming up: BiP_HOp Generation [v.5] [bleep 13] Accelera Deck (USA) / Andrew Duke (Canada) / Mikael Stavostrand (Sweden) / StudioTonne (UK) / Rechenzentrum (Germany) / D'Iberville (France)

I hope that the BiP_HOp Generation series be an accurate document of today's creative forms of Electronica. Tons of compilations documenting that scene come out but I try to make something different, where the composers are each given much longer amounts of time to showcase their talent. So that they really create a special piece of music for BiP_Hop. The label is devoted to spread unconventional sound adventures, adventurous & creative electronica. I'm interested in original music, ambient, abstract but with melodies. Besides the compilations BiP_Hop is releasing full-lengths by sound assemblers from all over the place, and very soon we'll be a real family of talented creators growing altogether.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:10 PM

 

Workshop - Es liebt dich und deine Koerperlichkeit, ein Ausgeflippte

Press release from Sonig distributed via email of a forthcoming album from Workshop:

new Sonig release

sonig 19CD/sonig 19LP

Workshop
"Es liebt dich und deine Koerperlichkeit, ein Ausgeflippter."
("You and your physicalness is loved by a dropout.")

CD 10 tracks, 44 min., also available on LP.

'It is indeed the future in the present, and it seems: there is a
good deal that is possible'

Workshop have completed their sixth album, their most personal and
most political to date. This band resembles a dragon breathing
saviours, exhorters, seditionists, anarchists, levellers and rockers
from its mouth. A German band most difficult to pigeon-hole. Ten
songs- extended, brief, sudden, incomprehensible sounds, annoying,
true, break-neck stories, complex and compact rhythms, pauses, noise,
guitars, fluff, images, voices and grimaces. "Es liebt dich und deine
Koerperlichkeit, ein Ausgeflippter." is a cleverly though-out,
unconventional, ambivalent, German language Rock album, geared
against the apolitical sloth which besets our minds. Having already
released two albums on the Indie label Finlayson and a further three
on Ladomat, Workshop have now signed with Sonig.

They share the roster with Mouse On Mars, Vert, F.X.Randomiz and
Scratch Pet Land and as such are the first 'classic' band on the
label. To compare Workshop with Ton, Steine, Scherben, Can, Faust,
Brigitte Fontaine, Neu, Art Bears, Witthueser und Westrupp, Gastr'
del Sol, Franco Battiato, the Red Crayola, Pink Floyd, John Zorn,
International Harvester, Boredoms, Einstuerzende Neubauten or Klaus
Kinski, is only helpful superficially.

This album will be released in the UK on December 10th.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:04 PM

 

Cabaret Voltaire - confirmation of release dates Re: reissue compilations

There seems to be some recent confusion of when the Cabaret Voltaire reissue compilations would be released, these are the details:

Cabaret Voltaire - Conform to Deform - pioneering sheffield electronic band Cabaret Voltaire with a 3 cd box set featuring material from 82 to 90 including unreleased material and a big booklet.essential. This will now be released on November 26th.

Maybe with this release Cabaret Voltaire's legacy will have greater awareness from those under 30: Cabaret Voltaire - With Quotes from the likes of:

Ralf H�tter / Kraftwerk: 2001, Derrick May, Jon Savage, Graham Massey / 808 State, Chris Carter & Cosey Fanni Tutti, Martyn Ware / Heaven 17, BEF, The Human League. Matthew Collin, Marc Almond, Steve Beckett / Warp Records, Bernard Sumner / New Order, Paul + Phil Hartnoll / Orbital, Andrew Weatherall, Tom Rowlands / The Chemical Brothers, Paul Morley, Phil Oakey / The Human League, Parrot / The All Seeing , Sherman and Stevo / Some Bizzare.

Available to order @ Audiostreet

Cabaret Voltaire - The Original Sound of Sheffield

The other Cabaret Voltaire collection album The Original Sound of Sheffield will follow on December 24th includes 12" mixes of Cabaret Voltaire between 1983 and 1987 tracklisting details here

Just Fascination
Crackdown
The Dream Ticket
Sensoria
James Brown
Kino
I Want You
Don't Argue
Here To Go
Thank You America

# posted by DJ Martian 3:40 PM

 

This Week's New Releases @ Pelicanneck

This Week's New Releases @ Pelicanneck include the following releases:

Kid Acne And Req One - Rap Traffic - Invisible Spies

After designing sleeves for labels as fly as Warp, Chocolate Industries and Big Dada, and toying with our senses together with his Toah Dynamic crew on their shocking debut album �Movement�, Sheffield�s Kid Acne teams up with Warp�s latest signing, beat-juggler and graf-master Req-1 to bring us his long awaited debut album � Rap Traffic!! Rap Traffic is all about what happens when two graffiti lords collaborate on the ultimate hip hop tourist guide. Mixing up the flavours from the Kid's base in Sheffield and Req's pad in Brighton, Rap traffic brings together all that's good from the golden age of old school hip hop plus a UK style that's fresh in it's honesty. Unique vocal styling's from the Acne in a battle style, soaking up UK culture and schoolyard referances. Seriously addictive and quotable lyrics that make you flip. Req's fatter than fat production reminds you of the early stylings of old school legends like Marley Marl, Krs One, Schooly D, while there�s a feel of DJ Shadow's early productions for Solesides in the mix. Eight tracks fat with one collaboration with Invisible Spies partner the Supreme Vagabond Craftsman, this is the freshest slice of acne�d hip-hop pie you�ll hear all year. Biggitup styles allround, this is the stuff they call killer!!


Timeblind - Rugged Redemption - Orthlorng Musork

There�s a really easy way of summing this up � you NEED this record. In a year that has seen a plethora of re-jigged hip-hop stake claim to innovation and the cross-fertilisation of the B-Boy and Electronic Genres, few artists have managed to come up with an amalgam that is as original, engrossing and downright fat as this. Timeblind appears to come from a universe all his own � sounds here echo the finest lo-fi hip-hop, Berlin dubism, heavyest rudeboy basslines, jiggy, cut-up..all manner of devices modified to make u shake yr ass. The opening �Rastabomba� is immense � a midpace break of the dustiest, dirtiest proportions attaches itself to an immaculate dub refrain and is accompanied by the kind of relaxed rudeboy voiceover that Carl Craig used to such great effect on the last Innerzone Orchestra LP. �Desperado Move�, featured on the excellent �Bloatware� 12�, is crushing � instrumental hiphop filtered through a distance effect, decimated and rebuilt with the heaviest low-end you�ll hear this year. Shockout style. We could go on and on about individual tracks, but this would be a largely pointless exercise for an album that hits the spot so often and with as much flair and crushing bounce. Go on, treat yourself. Immense!


Dntel - Life is Full of Possibilities - Plug Research

Yet another fantastic LP bringing together indie sensibilities to the electronic sphere. Dntel create a sound not unlike the blissed out drifts of bands like Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, only to rewire them via the circuitry of their electronic studio - with the end result giving fans of Seefeel, Mum and Sigur Ros much to cuddle up to across the 10 tracks included. The title track alone is astonishing - a digital bassline attaching itself to a spectacularly full and elaborate wash of sounds, a guitar gently strumming; the mood downbeat but ever so pretty. A break in tone comes with the penultimate track - �The Dream of Evan And Chan� - an upbeat vocal track in the finest tradition of Indie-Pop. Recommended.


Jonesco - Covert Clients - Engelzorn

Taking time out from his recording duties as Zorn, Berlin�s Michael Zorn has returned to his part-time label Engelszorn and has pieced together its second release � this time by Nottingham�s Jonesco. The work of Sam Greenwood-Jones, �Covert Clients� is a beautifully understated piece of work. The mood here is decidedly downbeat, although not without a comforting optimistic undertone. �Office For A Cover� straddles territory that could just about be described as �Ambient� - though the make-up of hisses, clicks, bass drops and synths is temporarily fractured and distant. The resulting noise is deeply engrossing : a train operating at half-speed under the cover of night, rushing past beautifully obscure scenery. The title track immerses itself in the kind of layered bliss that have made Isan so many friends..a beatless trip through chords and echoes...hints of melody scattered to create a picture that could only be described as serene. Jonesco has created a deeply personal debut full-length, a record that requires repeated listening and little distraction...it returns to reward with a flavour that builds and purifies with time. Gorgeous.


Lightspeed Future Lullaby - The Spirit of Pop - Secret Agent

Excellent debut album from Lightspeed Future Lullaby, intricate and melancholic electronica that treads similar ground to the understated charm of artists such as Plaid, Pilote and the Toytronic label. Having already released tracks through the Dishy and We Love You labels, Lightship put out their debut 7" earlier this year that featured a remix by kindred spirit Plone. Check.



Translussion - The Opening of the Cerbral Gate - Supremat

O.K. Straight from the top, you have to buy this record, track after track of genius electro brought to us straight from the Drexciya crew, from the aquatic 'cluben in guyana' to the Drexciya-esque 'dimensional glide'. The melodies, the synth's are all there, perfected in some underwater laboratory, even the harsher tracks ( War of the clones ) are sublime, sounding akin to the killer Ultradyne track 'the robot speaks'. A slew of electro releases of late have left us spoilt for choice, a revival of sorts is taking place, but some artists hold that certain "j'ai ne sais quoi" that just makes a track, imagine the 'other people place' LP gone wild and your getting close. Liquid Acid for Liquid People. Essential.


Rehberg And Bauer - Passt - Touch

Five years ago, Fa�t declared itself to be entirely made up of the 'mistakes' and system errors of the digital processes Rehberg & Bauer had used in its making, thus finding themselves at the front end of an emerging tendency in new music that came to be known as 'glitch'... frustratingly to those actively involved, because it freeze-framed the more critical dimension of such works into a genre that quickly became a clich�. Following Fa�t and ballt, and originated live on their tour of Australia last year, Passt completes Rehberg & Bauer's trilogy for Touch; as such, it provides a window through which to monitor the progress (and atrophy) of this phase of development, now that the laptop seems as commonplace as the electric guitar. In 2001, surface abstraction is easily output. Passt therefore is an attempt to relocate this mode of music-making into something once again more progressive. Peter Rehberg (aka Pita) & Ramon Bauer (aka General Magic) run the Mego label in Vienna, Austria.


Anti Pop Consortium - The Ends against the Middle - Warp

Long awaited first release for the mighty Anti Pop consortium for the Warp label! With the seemingly unending (but welcome) torrent of avant class hip hop that has come our way over the last year, Antipop must surely still stand at the top of the genre. Back in around 1995 we first came across the Priest 12" �Mind Control� on the newly formed Antipop Records and even then we knew something intense and immense was just around the corner. And then, nothing.... silence for five years bar the odd guest appearance under camoflage. Then a 10" snuck out on Wordsound, followed by the news that the Automator was to launch his new label (75 Ark) and that he'd signed Antipop. Finally Priest, M.Sayid and Beans had their chance to burn. With the 12" Lift and album Tragic Epilogue that followed the world of hip hop finally took notice, got cold flipped upside the head and thrown to the floor. Then in 2001 the fearsome High Priest 12" for the re-launched Antipop Recordings, brain crushing hip hop instrumental brutality rarely heard performed with such suss. Then, a real surprise, we came across the sadly Japanese-only CD �Shopping Carts Crashing� that furthered the sound even more, and now..... to the present. Warp signed the group and the buzz became deafening, here is the initial launch, a 16 minute manifesto of future intent, Tuff Gong starts with judder beats and a Morricone styled riff along with lyrics that rip at your synapses, then the main bomb Splinter an AntiPopClassic in the flesh, while the instrumentals that come along Dystopian Disco Force and Pit/Perpendicular shockout before the vocal artillery on 39303 and Vector rounds out one dope release. Class is in session.


Charles Atlas - Felt Cover - Static Caravan

A full-length silver disc from San Francisco�s Charles Atlas and the first CD on Static Caravan. Charles Atlas are Charles Wyatt; Matt Greenberg and Alexander Kort. Charles was previously a member of Half Film and the highly respected and much recorded new 4AD band, Piano Magic. Alexander Kort (formally a student of Tony Conrad) who played cello on Felt Cover is now a full time member of the band. The record was recorded by Monte Vallier - a member of Jet Black Crayon who was also an original member of the band Swell. Think �Piano Magic polished to within a few helium band widths using a Tony Conrad and La Monte Young polish and a Stanley Kubrick buffer�. Drones, Noise, Space, Great tunes; subtle Bridget Riley beats and gentle Anish Kapur strings are all present and correct. 1000 copies on CD only in Montelimar sleeve. Previous Charles Atlas releases have included two sold out discs for the US label Star Star Stereo and a split seven-inch single with Alan Spearhawk (Low).


Club Off Chaos - Par Et Impar - Eternity

As the drummer for legendary Krautrock outfit Can, Jaki Leibzeit's name has become synonymous with master drumming, much the same as Jazz-Fusion pioneer Billy Cobham. Leibzeit first used the Club Off Chaos moniker on the first release on Tim Simenon�s Electric Tones label. He returns with a full exploration of the Club Off Chaos sound on this impressive double album. Classic Leibzeit polyrythms feature heavily throughout but are counterbalanced by precise digital programming and ethereal, almost ethnic melodies. A progressive, genre blurring release from an undisputed sonic innovator.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:54 PM

 

High Contrast - Forthcoming album True Colours in Feb 2002

Grooverider on the Radio 1 jungle show dropped a brilliant track into his show tonight by High Contrast called Make It Tonight released as a single by Hospital Records

High Contrast have sound that combines the futuristic widescreen jungle of Teebee with the funky uptempo bounce with vocals sound of John B.

The long awaited "Make It Tonight" b/w "Mermaid Scar" by High Contrast's is out this month. Being championed by all the key players, from Fabio to Bad Company. ::VIP::Watch for his mammoth album "True Colours" droppin in Feb and the sampler available from January.

[Also it is good to see creative music coming out of Cardiff - a fine city that I spent 4 years of my life in]

# posted by DJ Martian 3:09 AM

Friday, November 23, 2001

 

Future Beat Alliance - Disconnected

Delsin records release debut album from Future Beat Alliance - Disconnected which is available in the UK from next week.

Ten tracks warm & soulful, groovy techno debut album by Matthew Puffett from Brighton. The music has been compared to Carl Craig.

After being in musical action for almost ten years, Future Beat Alliance now comes up with his debut album: Disconnected. The album brings ten gorgeous warm funky tracks, with techno as main element, shifting towards deeper house and jazzy grooves as well. The album sums up what his music has been all about until now: futuristic, haunting for beauty, deep funkiness, groovy and there always seems a link with the original Detroit techno vibe. Future Beat Alliance (FBA) is Matthew Puffett and most of his releases came through his own fine Void label. After quitting the label and putting out two more releases on the Archive & Ferox labels, FBA find a new home at Amsterdam�s Delsin Records. This album brings very soulful, funky techno tracks, in style of Ian O�Brien, Kirk Degiorgio and others, proving deep romantic techno still exist!!

See Delsin records site for Disconnected - track listing & sound snaps (downloadable mp3)

# posted by DJ Martian 9:03 PM

 

FRIDGE reissues

3 Fridge albums will be released on 17th DECEMBER

FRIDGE'S CLASSIC FIRST 3 ALBUMS, LONG OUT OF PRINT, NOW REISSUED AFTER THE SUCCESS OF THE CURRENT ALBUM 'HAPPINESS'

FRIDGE - Ceefax (Output)

FRIDGE - Semaphore (Output)

FRIDGE - Sevens And Twelves (Output)

Source Chunky Records

# posted by DJ Martian 8:14 PM

 

Music Non Stop - New Releases

New releases listed @ Music Non Stop include:

Judith - Play of Light

With Judiths third full-length CD, Judith have reinvented themselves
as a trio, bringing a cleaner, more intense interpretation of their
sound to the surface. Cinematic lyrics, stunning guitar overtures,
driving bass grooves, majestic violins and smooth vocals, with just
the right touch of seduction to keep you intrigued.

label - Neue Asthetik

Leechwoman - Three 3Zero

This is the third album from UK industrial veterans "Leechwoman". The
band continue with their distinctive sound - experimental industrial
which relies heavily on percussion. The songs on "Three 3Zero" are a
touch more melodic than on their previous releases and after
excellent live appearances in the UK at Infest and Black Celebration
3, the bands appeal is likely to have been broadened considerably.

Synthetic - A.D.S.R.

This the brand new album from English EBM/Synthpop act "Synthetic".
Their much praised debut "Midi Slave" of 2 years ago was a good
seller and the band has grown and matured significantly over the last
few years. Synthetic have already played the Euro-Rock and other
Festivals in Europe and toured successfully in Italy. This new album
reflects the evolution of the band. They are now producing a blend of
EBM and Synthpop which is highly polished, very danceable and very
catchy. Definitely a band to watch and listen to carefully.

# posted by DJ Martian 8:10 PM

 

etronik frontline Issue 117

etronik frontline Issue 117 includes news of:

Grandmaster Flash album

[this was due to be released back in October, but is delayed to 2002]

Hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash releases a new compilation album, �The Official Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash�, on Strut on January 28th, 2002.

Leaf Event in London on December 10th

Underground label Leaf host their biggest party to date at London�s Cargo on December 10th. The event features seven piece act Eardrum (pictured) playing their first ever London show, along with live performances from Manitoba and Gorodisch and DJ sets from Graham Sutton from Boymerang, Kieron Hebden from Fourtet, label boss Tony Morley and Rob Ellis. All those in attendance will receive a CD featuring new and exclusive music from Leaf artists. Advance tickets for the event cost Stg �7 from Ticketmaster and all usual outlets, while entrance on the door is Stg �9.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:49 AM

 

oh no its VH1 Top 100 albums of alltime poll!

Take look at some of the miserable and dull entries in this VH1 Top 100 albums of alltime poll - as mentioned in this Guardian article [voted for by 250, 000 VH1 viewers.]

What No Joy Division! ..but the masses prefer rubbish such as Dido, Robbie Williams, Texas, Alanis Morissette, Travis, Coldplay, David Gray and Macy Gray, Shania Twain, Dire Straits, Oasis, Craig David, Gabrielle etc at least Ocean Crapping Scene have disappeared from the Top 100 this time around. This poll is a deeply disturbing snapshot - but that is the lamentable world of mainstream Britain ..Q reading, Capital FM, Virgin FM, Jools Holland's Later, TFI Friday, VH1 and MTV UK viewing British public.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:38 AM

Thursday, November 22, 2001

 

Absorb Reviews

Absorb have updated their reviews section, including these:

Pierre Basten

pierre basten - mecanoid (rephlex)

bastien describes his music as ambiguous, and calls the style 'mechanica' and 'acoustica' in the liner notes.

The Boy Lucas

As the reviewer mentions this release has a very low profile re promotion and reviews the boy lucas - out of the wires (output)

...as this is one of the finest records i've heard this year. very lo-fi, the album weaves a web of analogue sounds through electronics, all making for a fucked up experiment of sound and glitch, while maintaining a solid base of natural instruments, and occasional soft singing. 'out of the wires' maintains a dark moody atmosphere throughout its 12 tracks, but never becomes tedious or boring, it's consistently flowing through bizarre amalgamation of sound. drums and guitar work is evident

Gotan Project

uptempo dance sounds from gotan project - la revancha del tango (xl)

Mina

electronic and avant rock mixed together from mina - a to b (bungalow)

DJ Teebee

Widescreen techstep jungle from dj teebee - through the eyes of a scorpion (certificate 18)

Stewart Walker

minimalist techno / house from stewart walker - reclamation: 1997 - 1999 (persona)

# posted by DJ Martian 12:51 PM

 

Ammo City - Closes (for now)

Confirmation that the London based leftfield culture website Ammo City is shutting down - for now. They have sadly run out of cash to keep it going, although existing content and radio archives will remain.

Dear You,

AMMO CITY, the greatest ever online magazine and radio station, is in a spot of bother. There we were, certain of the ���s to last far into 2002, when suddenly bad investor 'stuff' knocked us down. We hope to be back (we'll get to that bit in a minute) but for now, let us reminisce�

�It's been fuggin' fantastic. In one year, we've seen our monthly audience grow from 8,000 to 122,000. We covered everything from the socio-political - the aftermath of September 11, Mayday, race, anti-globalisation - to the severely purile - trainers made from fish, meat lollies, male chastity belts - with equal pace and style. And having got over the Eighties thing quicker than most, we've been oddly stylish, too. Step forward pioneering content on antique chic, the aggro gent, dressing like you're from Surrey - that and frequent accusations that we're based in delightful Hoxton. Not guilty, your honour. Has this level of excellence been hard to achieve? Courtesy of the savviest pool of contributors ever assembled online, no, far from it. We're immensely grateful to every one of them.

Then there's AMMO CITY Radio. The Jockey Slut show featured the Plump DJs, Zoot Woman and James Lavelle. Indie superclub Trash broke its radio virginity, bringing an astounding rabble of tunes, plus Peaches and her fruity cousins the Moldy Peaches. Club dons Bugged Out spread twisted house with Rob Bright, Justin Robertson and Midfield General. Rough Trade brought incredible independent releases, while Rob Da Bank and Tim 'Love' Lee's administered our chill pills. Twice As Nice delivered the 2step. Sean Rowley convinced the likes of The Avalanches, St Etienne and Arthur Baker to reveal the tunes that keep them alive. Hip hop heroes Scratch, with guests like De La Soul, joined in. Coldcut's Solid Steel came with Roots Manuva, Super Furry Animals and David Axelrod in tow. AMMO CITY has had the best DJ mixes you could find anywhere - this is where The Avalanches' Gimix took up early residence; where Lemon Jelly unleashed the soft rock phenomenon; where sets from Paul Daley, Jon Carter and Richard Fearless shook the web. Mucho thanks to all involved.

Purveyors of "slightly randy social issues," that's just one of the many things that's been said about us. "Bin Laden-loving pinko scum" - that's another. Whatever, we believe AMMO CITY encouraged heartfelt opinion, savage wit, fabulous music, incisive commentary and a truly loyal following. This, we hope, is the end of a chapter rather than the story. There's so much more for AMMO CITY to achieve, after all.

What now? Firstly, the AMMO CITY website goes into hibernation - we'll leave the first year's worth of content (there's almost 3,000 articles, radio shows and videos) online for you to look at. Then we'll get thinking how best to bring it back. Go here - http://www.ammocity.com/ammo/link.php?itemid=2895 - if you're the kind of person/company who wants to get involved - financially or otherwise - with our website, our newsletter, our parties and events, our plans for further development, our hugely talented team; ultimately, with our informed and influential audience. If you can't help, ah well, we hope we've brightened up your PC no end and we wish you all the best. For hate mail, offers of casual sex and the like, individual members of the AMMO CITY team can be contacted at the email addresses listed below. Ta-ra! Don't cry, y'all.

AMMO CITY - it's been better than good by quite a long way�

# posted by DJ Martian 2:03 AM

 

Diskant weblog

The Diskant collective have a music related weblog.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:56 AM

 

Pennyblackmusic.com

More Information on Forthcoming Releases @ Pennyblackmusic.com including:

December 10th onwards

From Autumn To Ashes - Too Bad You're Beautiful

CD on Ferret

Released on 10/12/01


Ferret Music brings us an uncategorisable yet wholly breathtaking debut albums from this young NY band. Taking slick metallic riffing, chaotic breakdowns, erratic time signatures and emo melodies, they have created a masterpiece of musicianship, energy and passion. This is pure intense hardcore the way it should be played: nothin held back - creative, unique and blistering. Ferret Music is fast becoming a label you can trust to bring you the best in modern metal & hardcore alongside REVELATION, HYDRA HEAD, VICTORY, RELAPSE etc.


Otto Von Schirach - Escalo Frio

CD on Schematic

Released on 10/12/01


The 2nd full length otto von schirach album, following up his devastating spring 2001 release �8000 b.c� on schematic, and the more recent �el golpe avisa� ep on rice & beans / beta bodega. Featuring guest appearances from matmos, dr. Flamenco, takeshi muto, jeswa, mr. Egyptian hologram, queeph brothers & mr. Soundwave. You know what to expect from a schematic release by now, and this keeps up the unfeasably high standard.


Sunseth Sphere - Storm Before Silence

CD on Hammerheart

Released on 10/12/01

Sunseth Sphere's music incorporates stylistic influences from such diverse acts as Pink Floyd, The Gathering and Nightwish which revolves around the mystical ancient egyptian concept of the lyrics.


Workshop - Es Liebt Dich Und Deine

Sonig
Released on 10/12/01

Workshop's sixth album is probably their most personal and political to date. The title translates as "There's love for you and your corporeality - a freak" and the album is a cleverly thought-out, unconventional, ambivalent, German language rock long-player. Workshop are often compared to Faust, Brigitte Fontaine, Neu, Gastr Del Sol and Pink Floyd, which gives you some idea of where they're coming from but definitely not the whole story.


December 3rd

Esa Ruoho - Spaces

CD on Ucover

Finnish 21 year old ESA RUOHO (also known under his 'LACKLUSTER' moniker) already had releases on Defocus, on the Squadron compilation (Merck) and on the limited 7label Zealectronic. Now it's time to move on with a release on the acclaimed U-Cover imprint (known for the internationally acclaimed LUSINE ICL, QUENCH aka FUNCKARMA, LLIPS. and STARFISH POOL releases) which drifts into complex ambient and intimate drones sparsely curved by fase-shifting rhythms. Excursions into dark and moody soundscapes, desolate frozen places and old forgotten stories. Esa Ruohos sound is definetely Scandinavian. The CD version contains seven unreleased tracks

Knut - Knut

CD on Hydra Head

Hydra Head keep pushing the Swiss Metalcore heroes on us with 4 new tracks of dirty, twisted, city levelling power and technicality. After an extremely successful US tour with labelmates ISIS, the band are working on their follow up album at home in Geneva. In the meantime, here is another example of why they are becoming one of the most respected European metal/hardcore outfits. ""KNUT are Metalcore like no other, prowling about with bloodlust like "Fun House" era STOOGES, only 100 times more weighty and bloodsoaked... There's no 2 ways around it - KNUT are godly" 9/10 Terrorizer. .

Miriodor - Mekano

CD on Cuniform


Miriodor is the main Canadian exponent of the R.I.O. (Rock In Opposition) sound, and one of only a few bands worldwide whose works convey all hallmarks of that school: adventurous and inspired compositions, rigorous musicianship, a distinctive and highly personalized sound, periodic references to folk music, and a steely determination to make music without compromise. A perfect marriage between the more chamber-oriented sound of bands like Univers Zero and (later) Henry Cow, and the more symphonic woodwind-oriented sound of bands like Happy the Man and VDGG. ..Miriodor of 1984 was a meeting ground of many of the best elements progressive rock has to offer. .

On Thorns I Lay - Angeldust

CD on Black Lotus


6th album from the masters of melancholy. "Angeldust" is intoxicated with beautiful melodies, nostalgia and postmodern soundscapes. Mid-paced dark metal meets melodic art-rock!


Pale Forest - Exit Mould

CD on Listenable

Third album from the rock/metal female fronted group from Norway. PALE FORESTdid two albums and a minicd distributed worldwide on the VOICES OF WONDER label. Their new album shows the band in top shape. Their music is packed with mood and sheer class. PALE FOREST , thanks to their open minded mixture of styles and musical textures, don't exactly belong to the current trend of female fronted gothic metal bands. PALE FOREST can mix both groove, happiness and utter sadness and melancholy through the same song.


Richard Devine - Aleamapper

CD on Schematic

Devine's last lp, 'lipswitch' (on warp in europe), was intended to be a full length project, but ended up being trimmed down to the essential rhythmic core. What was left over is the heart of 'aleamapper'. The re-assembled result is not unlike a film score, and devine guides the music in the style of cinema's great directors, the 16 tracks appearing as a series of varying scenes that add up to a 64 minute whole suggesting an overall widescreen experience. Those pointing to a lack of musicality in modern electronics will be please with 'aleamapper', devine's new compounds of sound being wide open for aural exploration, his subliminal details freely accompanying and frequently saturating the remaining spaces. If the first movies were silent visual films, perhaps the most modern are blind audible experiences. .

Rip Off Artist - Pump

CD on Mille Plateaux

MATT HAINES, a.k.a. the RIP-OFF ARTIST, releases his seventh album on MILLE PLATEAUX. This album, appropriately entitled Pump, is a story of oil and love, petroleum and sex. Music about longing in the midst of grindingly hard work. The RIP-OFF ARTIST captures this bizarre juxtaposition of flesh and metal on Pump. Tracklisting: Ubble-Tight Soft Seat, 07/Downhole, 15/Pipeline Pig, 19/Pop Tank, 21/Swage Nipple, 28/Ball And Swing, 36/Stuffing Box, 43/Honeycomb Coke, 48/Utility Ash, 54/Eye Of The Impeller, 61/Hydrocracking, 66/Packing Gland, 68/Fluted Drill Collar .

Sandoz - Afrocentris

CD on Intone

CABARET VOLTAIRE's RICHARD H. KIRK RELAUNCHES HIS INTONE LABEL WITH THIS AWESOME NEW ALBUM FROM HIS OWN PROJECT SANDOZ....'Afrocentris' is in true Sandoz style, a blend of funky electronics, African and Latin American rhythms with elements of Jamaican dub, ragga, all underpinned with the trademark Kirk cut and paste of found sounds, radio programmes and processed human voices. TROUSER FLAPPING BASS MEETS BLISSED OUT AMBIENCE IN THE HEART OF THE CONGO!. Best known as the musical force behind the hugely influential Cabaret Voltaire, he also recorded as SWEET EXORCIST as well as numerous other releases for WARP (Virtual State 1994 and Number of Magic 1995). FILE NEXT TO : Cabaret Voltaire/ON U Sound/Warp .

Starfish Pool - Illusions Of Move : The Golden Cycle

CD on Hymen


The next step in the ongoing series of koen lybaert's 'illusions of move'. This release features contributions by two female vocalists (laura rebuttini and ivy smits) and two female soundartists (chantal yzermans and esther santoyo). From driven ambient to minimal techno or breakbeat. An imaginary soundtrack with sweet female vocals and realistic soundrecordings taken from the streets of mexico city and new york.


Takagi Masakatsu - Pia

CD on Car Park
Double cd

Takagi Masakatsu is a musician and film-maker who is wholly dedicated to exposing and preserving the human experience as it is now, and has travelled the world in search of sound & vision to construct a fluid picture of our current hiuman condition. He employs samples of children talking alongside "real" sounds like the weather, his own piano, and a wealth of sounds & musics recorded in his and others' home environments. This is all blended into his laptop arrangements and manipulations to create a very new type of ambient music. This double disc set comprises one cd of melodic audio creations, while the second is a cd-rom carrying 5 audio / video pieces which have already been presented in various galleries and live settings throughout japan. .

Tristinia - World Of Glass

CD on Napalm

The genre of Gothic Metal advances to new dimensions with the new release from Tristania. Bombastic choirs, unique female vocals and outstanding arrangements create an atmosphere that leads the listener into another world.


Venetian Snares - Doll Doll Doll

CD on Hymen

A hybrid of monstrous breakbeats and drum and bass ... a terrorising wall of sound, a splatter mix of broken drill and noise, tweaked frequencies, cut-up noises, bizarre funky samples, and straight noise attacks. it rattles the speakers, shatters the windows, drives your adrenaline to all-time high and then pins you to the floor with the thunderous percussion attacks. heavy corroded beats and constantly spinning, breaking, crushing and rolling breaks, noises, screeches, cut- up speedcore textures constantly mutate and span multiple genres with only few things remaining in common - speed, aggression, and fun. this ... hurts - and makes playing with dolls obsolete.

November 26th

A Certain Ratio / Human League - Shack Up / Being Boiled

12" on Soul Jazz
Cat No : SJR057

Limited edition (500 copies in the UK) 12�. Two classic tracks re-issued together as a sampler from Soul Jazz Records forthcoming �In The Beginning There Was Rhythm� compilation that features tracks by A Certain ratio, The Slits, The Pop Group, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, Gang Of Four and more! This 12� features two songs that show the birth of dance music out of punk - A Certain Ratio�s cover of the rare groove classic �Shack Up,� originally recorded by the group Banbarra, alongside The Human League�s �Being Boiled�, the first release by the group and one of the first all-electronic dance records to be recorded in England.


Adrian Sherwood - Zero Zero One / Rizla

10" on Green Tea
Cat No : GTT008


The FIRST EVER solo release from the legendary producer/dubmeister ADRIAN SHERWOOD is a strictly limited edition NUMBERED 10". Both cuts blend JA dancehall beats and live distorted hip hop grooves with sheets of noise in a real return to Sherwood's peak form. 'Zero Zero One' deals with God and drugs with Burroughs style cut up vocals and Keith LeBlanc's relentless beats - 'Tackhead goes to JA with sulphate and a fuzz-box'. 'Rizla' features the vocals of Bim Sherman and Prince Far I over a rhythm cut with Sunjay from Asian Dub Foundation. Recorded at On-U Sound, these exclusive mixes are a taster of Sherwood's forthcoming debut early year. Essential!!!


Baz - Believers

CD single on One Little Indian

Debut full commercial release by One Little Indian priority artist Baz. �Believers� is the first single to be taken from her debut album, �Psychedelic Love�, scheduled for release in spring 2002. CD1: King Unique Radio edit; Dave Angel Mix; Firstborn Mix CD2: Dave Bascombe Mix; King Unique River Deep Mix; Circulation Mix 12" : Crispin paris je t'aime Dub; King Unique River Deep Mix; Circulation Mix

Birdwatcher - The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn

CD on Talitres

Debut album from dan matz frontman for windsor for the derby.matz has a home studio in brooklyn and a bunch of friends from bands like jets to brazil and home to collaborate with. Matz - primarily known for the tangential, slow-core records he made with the austin band wftd - includes trace elements of math rock; brian eno-ish absract art; frayed, frizzed, and folky guitars; and isolated, spooky bass lines.although a few tracks are mostly instrumental and incredibly atmospheric, the album isn't merely background music. When matz's vocals come in, as they do 1/2way through the 10-minute oeuvre "first bright light", the words are bare whispers that you'll fight to pay attention to, you'll discern about 3 mini-songs within this track. . The more straight - forward songs, such as "3 weeks" and "the hunt", are sparse and with trippy electronics and twisted, provoking lyrics. The album concludes with a fairly literal yet lovely translation of the rolling stones "no expectations" nme's ten to watch from cmj in nyc.comparisons hood, calla, labradford

Chessie - Overnight

CD on Plug Research

Somewhere between being awake and asleep there is a suspended dream state where sounds float and pulsate, where you can no longer trust your senses. CHESSIE is the soundtrack to this special place. Over the course of three albums, CHESSIE's STEPHEN GARDNER and BEN BAILES have plumbed a swirling, indistinct realm of sonic abstraction. Inspired by the sounds of railways, their work has blended electro-acoustic production techniques, live playing and non-sequenced electronics in an effort to capture the spirit and emotion of rail travel. The propulsive, inexorable clank of steel on track forms the rhythmic backbone of the CHESSIE compositions, and makes a particularly American counterpart to the motorik rhythms of much post-Kraftwerk music. .

Cylob - Mood Bells

CD on Rephlex

Beautiful new ambient album from Cylob, one of Rephlex's most hotly tipped artists, beloved by APHEX TWIN/BJORK/ARTHUR BAKER amongst others.. Cylob's thoughts on the album: "Mood Bells was started after a two week trip to Japan where i got to check out a few temples , gardens and mountains. The unique vibe of these places inspired me. This album is my idea of a japanese traditional music that doesn't exist, based around bell and gong type sounds.The music is intended for contemplation and relaxation. A deep home listening album that cuts through the cliches of current chill out albums, sparse and beautiful. FILE NEXT TO : Susumu Yokota/Aphex/Eno. .

Donnacha Costello - Together Is The New Alone

Mille Plateaux

Dublin based producer, DONNACHA COSTELLO has made an impressive mark for himself over the past year, establishing himself as a leading Irish based electronic musician. With a full length on FORCE INC. 'Growing Up In Public' (EFA# 04443), running his own label MINIMISE, appearing on compilations and a handful of EP's that include the sensational underground label D1, DONNACHA COSTELLO now moves towards digital ambience with a contemplative debut for MILLE PLATEAUX. The influences of BRIAN ENO, HAROLD BUD and DANIEL LANOIS integrate with precisely designed tones that bring forward a gentle rhythmic property that moves clearly in mesmerizing formation.


Electric Birds - Strata Frames

CD on Ucover

U-COVER presents the 10-track full length album CD release of MIKE MARTINEZ aka ELECTRIC BIRDS (Deluxe, Inc.US). Minimal and dubby electronica with hypnotic layered soundscapes with deep & groovy basses, while the ambient-scapes flow against clicks & cuts, resulting in an highly enjoyable album. Dark driven atmospheres that reminds us of the work of POLE, KIT CLAYTON, UUSITALO (Vladislav Delay), MAURIZIO or GAS ... yet Martinez sound has further developed into a unique sonic landscape that embraces deep warmth. Tracks like Strata, Stem or Frames give a warm organic take on minimal techdub, while Pitch Patterns and Sodona applies the influence of Steve Reichs pattern music with repetitive looping melodic patterns sycopated against clicks & cuts rhythms.


Fat Truckers - Superbike

7" on Roadtrain
Cat No : ROADTRAIN001


�an addictive synthsquash of suicide, kraftwerk and the b-52's - reckless artronica wrapped in '80s-style warm leatherette - but they're quick to point out that "none of us went to art school". They sing of teenage daughters, barry sheen antics and unpleasant nautical mishaps


Fc Kahuna - Hayling

10" on City Rockers
Cat No : ROCKERS5


FC Kahuna kickstart their relationship with City Rockers with this limited 10". 'Hayling', featuring the vocal talents of Hafdis Huld, formerly with Iceland's Gus Gus, is a sensual, slo-mo track of fragile beauty. The first track to be taken from their debut album 'Machine Says Yes' - released spring 2002 - an electrifying fusion of futurist acid house and silicon soul. With labelmate Felix Da Housecat picking up Best album at the recent Muzik Awards 2001 the future looks strong for City Rockers.


Lackluster - Wrapping

12" on De Focus
Cat No : FOC368

Last year on deFocus, the Finish born and bred Esa Ruoho enlightens the world with yet more lush electronica. *This 12" sampler gives a hint of what is to come from the much-anticipated album, 'Wrapping' (foc369lp/cd), due for release in March 02. Unlike his name suggests, Lackluster has been far from idle this past year. He has released a single with America's Merck Records, Belgium's U Cover and a 7" with both Rikos and Zealectronic. Lackluster friend, BrothmStates were snapped up by Warp after they heard the remix he did for deFocus on the 'R U OHO' single(foc354) last year. The original mix of that track, 'Suntrap' (previously unreleased) is appearing on this 12" single ONLY. 'Manual Lounge Ticket' opens the single and the album with its simple melodies and layered chords, whilst 'Glimmer' carries a more sinister insight into what is to come .

NDE - Fix

CD on Rage of Achilles

The last release in a very busy year for Rage Of Achilles, & it's the debut full length cd from heavyweight Ohio quartet NDE. Entering the studio with producer Bill Korecky (Earth Crisis, Incantation), they recorded 'Fix', fusing the NDE sound of brutal, grooving powerhouse riffage, pulverizing percussion and agonised, hate-fueled vocals for a straight ahead, bulldozing modern thrash metal hardcore assualt. And for idle reference, it falls somewhere near a bastard mix of Soilent Green and Pantera to kick your f**king ass.Their live brand of crowd control has also been creating pit carnage in support of 'Fix' in the USA, with dates in the mid-west with Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death and The Misfits. .

Nad Navillus - Show Your Face

CD on Jag Jaguwar

The second album from nad navillus, their first for jag jaguwar. The record combines chicago-native dan sullivan's john fahey-esque guitar playing with his beautiful voice and timeless lyricism. The songs throughout the release demonstrate the happy marriage of a minimalist approach to songcraft with traditional fingerstyle guitar. Sullivan is known as the guitarist in songs:ohia, he displays here his own skills and this should appeal to fans of gastr del sol, archer prewitt and low.

Sr Chinarro - La Casa Encima

CD on Acuarela
Cat No : NOIS019

Brand new 4 track ep from spain�s answer to the redhouse painters, all the instruments are recorded by antonio luque, and there are times on this ep when you can hear new order and disco inferno as well as the redhouse painters.


V/A - Rnd

CD on Pause 2
Cat No : PAUSE004

A collection of mostly exclusive tracks - the rnd series is a selection of random current electronic music from various labels, countries and cities around the world. Featuring: andreas tilliander [sweden] (mille plateaux / raster noton), eu [russia] (pause_2 / lo / art-tek), maps and diagrams [uk], carthage [uk] (twin valley falls), zan lyons [uk] (foundry / moshi moshi), draven tanks [uk] (might be someone nearly famous in disguise), novel23 [russia] (art-tek / pitchcadet), metamatics [uk] (clear / neoouija / hydrogen dukebox), sybarite [usa] (temporary residence / 4ad / static caravan), theboylucas [uk] (output), com.a [japan] (fat cat / notek / itgerbeat6),quinoline yellow [uk] (skam), wauvenfold [uk] (wichita), mati:k [japan] (sub rosa)..

# posted by DJ Martian 12:30 AM

Wednesday, November 21, 2001

 

Coil - The World Ended A Long Time Ago

Coil will release a new album next year:

The World Ended A Long Time Ago (formerly known as Backwards) will be released by Nothing in the Americas, and by Threshold House in the rest of the Whirled with distribution by World Serpent .

# posted by DJ Martian 6:12 PM

 

Witchman - The returning Witchman in 2002 - Innasylum

Witchman will release an album Innasylum in 2002 on the Deviant label. Witchman's music is the dark industrial cinematic breakbeat vein - a direction that Scorn having been moving into and also Rico. [Witchman, Scorn and Rico are all set to release albums in 2002.]

Witchman (aka John Roome) creates his very own breed of exorcised dust beats. Tripping out through soundscapes of fx-ridden breaks, Witchman melts together the haunting regions of dub-fused hip hop with the sheer energy of heavyweight breakbeat. While fitting seamlessly into the current musical climate, Witchman has the undeniable responsibility of being one of a kind, impossible to pigeonhole easily, incorporating the best of every genre.

See the Tunes section:

This is a chance to download and hear an exclusive edited versions of witchmans new material for the forthcomming cd "Innasylum"

# posted by DJ Martian 5:35 PM

 

Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia - Indian Ink - debut album released next week

Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia are a sixpiece "art-rock collective" based in Oxford blending spoken word vocals, sequenced beats, intricate melodies and white-noise distortion. Their sound is reminiscent of Seefeel, Insides, Laika, Piano Magic and Mogwai.

The band played an excellent live set, broadcasted on the John Peel show at the recent One Live In Birmingham.

Their debut album Indian Ink is released on Jitter Records next week (November 26th) it can be pre ordered @ Opal Music

# posted by DJ Martian 12:39 PM

Tuesday, November 20, 2001

 

The Cardiacs

Strange art rockers The Cardiacs will release a Greatest Hits album on the Alphabet label in February 2002.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:23 PM

 

Piano Magic

Pitchfork review the retrospective release from Piano Magic -Seasonally Affective: 1996-2000 [Rocket Girl; 2001]

# posted by DJ Martian 11:13 PM

 

Sigur Ros Win Artistic Music Prize

Icelandic ethereal types Sigur Ros Takes Home Inaugural Shortlist Prize for their album �g�tis Byrjun. [Also this album was highly praised by Pitchfork in the year end poll back in December 2000]

# posted by DJ Martian 10:33 PM

 

Landshipping

I caught that last two tracks of Lammo's show tonight (Steve Lamacq on Radio 1) a DJ I normally can't stand and rarely listen to, one track was a generic pop punk tripe but he did play something that caught my interest of band called Landshipping that reminded me of Piano Magic - that same weird atmospheric spoken word vibe. One to keep tabs on for the future.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:14 PM

 

If I were an editor of a weekly music magazine this week's front cover would feature: Ulrich Schnauss

This week's front cover choice is the mysterious Ulrich Schnauss, a German electronic artist. This week sees the release of his debut album - Far Away Trains Passing By - on City Centre Offices label.

Far Away Trains Passing By grabs you by the heart. All 6 tracks, full of heavenly melodies and harmonies, do not even think about caring about unwritten laws of the so-called electronica genre, but switch on sun after sun in the sky instead, hover old drumboxes and breakbeats and explore the more than impressive collection of maschines in Schnauss' studio. Everything works and flows on autopilot here and sounds much more like a studio with wooden floors and walls rather than harddisk cooling fans. Ulrich Schnauss? No, the name should not ring any bell, although it might sound familiar to his Berlin neighbours. However, Mr. Schnauss released more records over the last couple of years than you might think, all of them appeared in quite different contextes though. And does it matter? Far Away Trains Passing By ist the most astonishing debut of the year and at the same time only the beginning of a long story. Next time, everyone will take them serious though...."

Info

Already raved about by New York music store Other Music - as electronic album of the year.

There is very little information on the web about Ulrich, no website, no interviews and apart from the Other Music review there are no other reviews according to Google, however once the word starts to spread I expect many positive reviews appearing over the coming months. [In fact for an obscure artist I have had a fair amount referrals for Ulrich Schnauss over the past week or so on this website.]

From the track I heard on Nick Luscombe's Xfm I knew this was very special, just like when I heard Cex, something this sublime - is easy to spot.

Lets face facts albums by Arovane and Boards Of Canada - have been delayed to 2002, so there are no excuses ORDER this album this week - Ulrich Schnauss is making sublime lush organic fresh top grade electronic music.

Hedonizm Records state

Future Music - have nominated it as album of the month.

(new artist on the excellent City Centre Offices and this is set to be big - album of the month in Future Music and an incredible CD review in Other Music. beautiful electronica described as a blend of Herrman & Kleine, Boards Of Canada & Arovane)

Chunky Records state TOTALLY RECOMMENDED / ESSENTIAL !


ULRICH SCHNAUSS. Far Away Trains Passing By. (City Centre Offices) CD �10.99 LP �8.99 "Ulrich has released a considerable amount of tracks under a host of names and for a host of labels (some of them would really surprise you), this is the first collection of tracks that Ulrich has felt strongly enough about to put his real name to. This is one of those albums that touches everyone who listens to it � simple, uplifting, reminiscent of a variety of things you can�t quite put your finger on. Names like Herrmann and Kleine, Boards of Canada, Arovane...all come to mind � influences, for sure, navigating Ulrich on course to creating one of the most complete and downright addictive electronic LP�s we�ve heard in time on end. Old drumboxes, synths, breakbeats, so much warmth, bright, sunniest sunshine" TOTALLY RECOMMENDED / ESSENTIAL

# posted by DJ Martian 1:40 AM

 

Yellow6 - Lake:Desert

Yellow6 - Lake:Desert will now be released 10th December.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:00 AM

Monday, November 19, 2001

 

One Armed Bandid

Harmsonic will release the debut album from One Armed Bandid next Spring:

One Armed Bandid

His debut solo album is in production and is scheduled for release spring 2002. It will reveal the other side of the artist Drew McDowall whose name behind One Armed Bandid we know from Coil and Psychic TV. But with the tracks on his debut Drew he will be able to surprise many.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:53 PM

 

British Underground

British Underground is an association of Independent labels that promote alternative, underground and leftfield music. Includes record label profiles and releases.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:50 PM

 

Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit

Ink19 review Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit

you'll be whisked away to the darkest underbelly of OK Computer, the angry cloud of doom n' gloom hovering above Grace, and the non-dilettantish death knell of Dark Side of the Moon -- guideposts, yeah, but apt ones, guaranteed. In fewer words, the album's epic, ringing, uplifting, depressing, invigorating, tragic, and altogether painted in hues that aren't "metal" per se, but metal in spiritual nature: Anathema are now coming to a new audience near you.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:44 PM

 

Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost are working on the follow up to their Believe In Nothing album:

The three tracks laid down so far are "My Religion," "Two Worlds," and "Promises." The band is said to have returned to their rehearsal studio in Bradford, England to continue writing material for the upcoming album, tentatively scheduled to be tracked in early 2002. As previously mentioned in the band's recent press, Paradise Lost are looking to reproduce their "raw live sound" on the forthcoming album, which may or may not be produced by Pennington, for a mid-2002 release through EMI Records.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:27 PM

 

Annual Nightingale Awards 2001

So as the year is drifting to end it means mad end of year polls take Annual Nightingale Awards 2001 run by Radio 1 DJ - Annie Nightingale - as for some of the categories/questions - totally off the wall! Ba humbug I will not be entering!

# posted by DJ Martian 11:03 PM

 

Dntel - Life Is Full of Possibilities

Pitchfork review Dntel - Life Is Full of Possibilities

the album is a matchless combination of scratchy indie rock and post-Oval electronics.

I've only become this ecstatic about one other album this year (Herbert's Bodily Functions), and Life Is Full of Possibilities exceeds even that landmark album. Possibly, it'll have an similar effect on you.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:49 PM

 

The Brainwashed Brain - V04I45 - 11182001

The Brainwashed Brain this week includes reviews of:

Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid

Set Fire to Flames - Sings Reign Rebuilder

# posted by DJ Martian 10:36 PM

Sunday, November 18, 2001

 

Fake Jazz Reviews Issue 22

Fake Jazz Issue 22 including reviews of these:

Another excellent review for Solex - Low Kick and Hard Bop (Matador) another critic Scaruffi still rates this as the best album of 2001.

From Scotland comes ex Ganger leader in Aereogramme - A Story in White (Matador)

Combining the song structure of Sigur Ros with the anger and emotion of Nirvana and much use of a Chavez-like heavy metal guitar sound, A Story in White is a powerful, personal album.


Scott Cortez makes more MBValike music Astrobrite - 8 Candy EP (Sonic Syrup)

Ever wondered what Kevin Shield's home recordings sound like? Now you don't have to! This EP, recorded entirely at home on cassette 4-track by Scott Cortez of Loveliescrushing fame, is almost ridiculous in its devotion to the faithful recreation of the "My Bloody Valentine sound".
That being said, Cortez makes a very good lo-fi Kevin Shields. The washes of guitar, the slightly "off" wavey lead lines, the simple drumbeats, the whispery buried vocals; it's all there. In truth, Astrobrite seems more suited to being a cover band, albeit a very good one!


the 22 minutes epic of a track Mogwai - My Father My King EP (Matador)

Lali Puna - Scary World Theory (Morr Music)

Pop music is not supposed to sound like this. Vocalist and keyboardist Valerie Trebeljahr, backed by two parts of The Tied and Tickled Trio, merges contemporary German electronica textures with the cool, laid back, droning pop of early Stereolab to create pop music that is sophisticated, smart, and open-armed.

Loscil - Triple Point (Kranky)

Some of the tracks on Triple Point bring to mind Seefeel and even Selected Ambient Works II era Aphex Twin. This is definitely a very good thing.

the sound of Trans Am and The Fucking Champs colliding TransChamps - Double Exposure EP (Thrill Jockey)

# posted by DJ Martian 11:11 PM

Saturday, November 17, 2001

 

This Week's Releases @ Pelicanneck

This Week's Releases @ Pelicanneck include:

310 - Downtown and Brooklyn only - Leaf

Long overdue reissue of the first two albums from NYC duo 310. The albums were released on their own very tiny imprint in very limited quantities. This two in one cd is their first full release. The cd features the albums: �Snorkelhorse� - hypnotic loops and rhythms, fusing hiphop sensibilities with shadowy found sounds and distant voices, and �AUG 56� - a much darker album somewhere between DJ Spooky and Zoviet France.


Atom Heart (The Disk Orchestra) - [K] - Rather Interesting

Uwe Schmidt, aka Atom Heart, returns after an unusually long absence to his Rather Interesting imprint with another pseudonym and another reinvention of his undeniably influential sound. �[k]� seems to be an opportunity for Uwe to take a step back from the increasingly commercial flavour of his Senor Coconut and Flanger projects (the latter being in association with Burnt Friedman) and delve headfirst back into a world of splintered beats and abstract compositional notions. Made up of 99 short tracks, the idea behind �[k]� falls close to the sequence re-jig that was envisaged by Gescom for their Minidisc-only release. The clips themselves range from heavily dsp�d beat juggles to vocal intro�s to aquatic SFX to electro-funk loops in the inimitable Atom stylee. Much of the material is readily available for loopage, creating an Atom Heart battle weapon of sorts. The CD has been indexed for ease of use and the inlay contains the track titles for each and every track. The sound of Mr Schmidt has been emulated so many times that I guess the idea here was to create a users guide to the Atom sound...a kind of DIY kit for budding Atom Heart copyists. Although this is difficult material for straight home listening, each of the clips contained seems to possess that magical Schmidt X-Factor.....designed for you to play with and reassemble at will. Enjoy!


Future Beat Alliance - Disconnected - Delsin

New On Delsin. At last the awesome Delsin label has delivered what might as well be the debut album from one of the UK's best kept secret's, one Mr Matthew Puffet. Bringing his love of warm soulful elctronic music to our ears for years now, firstly for the now sadly defunct Oxford label Void (also home to Yunx's debut) then onto Ferox and Archive before landing at his true home, Delsin. Here we have ten tracks of detroit excellence for the 2002 and beyond, starting with Numerical Noise, a killer offbeat rhythm glides beneath wayward synth strings and crucial bass. Next up Sweet pure Carl Craig, four four funk with moogy keys, shuffling hats and moody lower shifts. Tracks such as Void also show that Matthew's equally at home with downtempo, tight with a driving true funk feel. An electronic album to bring on time after time during this winter, warmth radiating from every groove and a hit on the more open minded dancefloors, as it should be. A big recommendation.


Minotaur Shock - Chiff chaffs and Willow warblers - Melodic

The boundries between genres and sub-genres are fast collapsing � eyebrows are no longer raised when electronix and guitars fuse themselves to create an amalgam of sound....and especially not when the results are as lovely as this. Minotaur Shock surf the golden waves of bedroom-produced misfit cinematic lullabies. �Roman Answer� sounds like the Remote Viewer and Bochum Welt writing a song for fluffy pink animals on the moon. �First To Back Down� recalls Tortoise at their finest, throwing Michael Nyman into the mix with a Piano, some guitars and lots of lovely metalic beats. �Chance Anthem� could easily be Farben scoring music to a wildlife documentary....�Three Magpies� evokes a mental image of a stripped down Isan lost in a forest. Lots of influences, for sure, but the result is so overwhelmingly loverly, so heartwarming...so successful that it really doesn�t matter....Listen and melt away. Please note � limited vinyl copies due in next week.


Sybarite - Placement Issues - Temporary Residence

Now available on CD!! Since the release of his astonishing debut 7� for the Emanate label some years ago, Sybarite�s Xian Hawkins has slowly, carefully pieced together an array of classic heartwarming tunes for a diverse list of labels. �Placement Issues� is, thankfully, a collection of some of his finest moments. �Second Cities� is perfect, sounding not too unlike Tortoise, the accoustic edge blossoms with an almost archetypal melody line, finely crafted with a subtle use of electronics and a train-moving-along -slowly-and-quietly-in- lushest-countryside kinda vibe. Lush. �Otonomy� is stunning, clear as pure still water and brimming with velvet licks of warmth and an array of instruments. This is incredibly fragile music, achingly beautiful in all the right, understated ways. There are several such breathtaking moments here � as on �Lapsong� and the stunning �Square One�. The LP finishes off where it all began � with the gorgeous �Meusic� lifted off the aforementioned Emanate 7� of the same name. Superb.


Taapet - Sounds - Fact

Stradling the kind of drift/ambient terrain that is so rarely done with care and attention to detail, �Sounds� is a truly gorgeos evocation of emotive/aural soundscapes. The underlying impact here is of creating a scene that is wholly organic � mostly beatless passages through distant echoes, poppy glitch and high frequencies. �Sounds� was recorded in the studio but is, indeed, a live set. The 45 minutes featured on the CD were edited from a one-take recording of less than 70 minutes. In a year that has seen an immense amount of work released in the minimal electronic arena, Taapet shine with a sound that is full to bursting with warmth and humanity. Penultimate track �Prahey� is the fullest track on offer � sounding like a devine fusion of Godspeed, Ry Cooder and Oval with solitary guitar strums and an underlying base of malfunctioning pedals and splintered keys. This is a subtle piece of work � quietly growing in the psyche for required future listening. Highly Recommended.


Tipper - Holding Pattern - Fuel

Don of the Nu-Skool breaks scene and cohort of Si Begg, Dave Tipper has forged his own sound, and virtually created the scene that is Nu-Skool breaks. Following his recent foray into the world of crunchy IDM with his �Crunch� alter ego, Tipper returns here to more familiar, obvious territory. 'Holding Pattern' is a 3x12" 6track LP that firmly states Tippers place as one of the Godfathers. The stand out track is 'on a limb' - rampant beats with heavy, fuzzy bass squeals give your feet the impetus to get up. The rest of the tracks are of a similar vein, bar one, the last track, 'end of make believe' is a kind of Groove Armada version of Tipper, lush Jazz keys over nice breaks, a good final track to round things off.


F.R.I. Studios - Goodbye If You call That Gone - Lucky Kitchen

Next up on Lucky Kitchen�s Sparkling Composers Series is the third and final release from A.F.R.I. Studios. The concept behind the series is to bring forward full length Solo CDs by electronic composers, new and old, whose work give Alejandra and Aeron the feeling of shiny generosity and warmth. These works are fully 'musical' in their harmonic range and rhythmic constructs (with or without backbeat), yet they are also fully developed ideas (a rare bird). Music/audio containing a vague idea of narrative using meditative compositional techniques, which are to be read like a book. Oppositional audio techniques, such as improvisation and composition, digital and acoustic, weave expressively around each other within the landscape of composition. They are works that open a door and step back so you can come in for a warm drink. We know their stories, we would like you to know them as well. The sounds included here are bare, minimal..slowly growing, building into a velvet wall of hushed sounds and gentle drifts. Three long tracks....half an hour in length. Recommended.


Gcttcatt - AmpErase - Mego

New on Mego!! Gcttcatt is a duo comprising of : Martin Ng (Grob, Staubgold - Turntables + DJ tools) and Mathias Gmachl (farmers manual, Skot, Fuckhead - real time data processing). gcttcatt reference many tactics familiar to the 'movement' seekers of this overly documented world. We can see the headlines now! -- 'turntablism dsp', 'hyperkinetic hands on beat boy meets doppler shredding maker' or maybe 'crab scratch tackles electroacoustic evidence in cross continent battle blitz!' Regardless of potential pockets, it's in the outer where gcttcatt reside. Taking time to spit fury, often enveloped split-axe like (inside a realm channeled through Shaeffer, Xenakis, Marclay, Q-bert and the like). This disorienting duo practice an extreme exploration of their chosen tools. What becomes of such activities when they fold into one united, albeit fractured mass, is what makes this release so damn special! The relationship between machine + man is blurred on numerous counts via the symbiotic set up of 'live' turntablism meets 'real time' processing meets virtual turntablism -- ( ie: the violent skips of Ng's restless stylus' morphs into splinters of feisty electroacoustics courtesy of Hiaz' acoustic modeling program). Recommended.


Pierre Bastien - Mecanoid - Rephlex

Pierre Batien returns with some more intriguing work following his turntablist debut for the Lowlands Label. The Concept here is outrageously tantalising � a robotic Meccano orchestra (called the Mecanium) plays an array of traditional musical instruments and locked grooves from old dusty records. The ten palindromic titles reflect the way the robots function, they play palindromes back and forth creating a strange hypnotic swing of wheezy scratchy noises which underpin nostalgic melodies. The resulting sound is one of broken bluegrass, blues and Musique Concrete that combine to create an amazingly cohesive and alluring organic atmosphere. With tracks selected by Richard James and Grant Wilson Claridge down at Rephlex HQ, this is an opportunity to explore conceptual work that is both accessable and remarkably refreshing. Check!


Dead Can Dance - 1981 to 1998 - 4AD

Their sound has been misguidedly labeled �gothic�, �world music� and everything in between, but the appeal of Dead Can Dance transcends the limitations of genre. Formed in Australia in the early Eighties by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry, Dead Can Dance had veered away from the punk explosion towards a non-conformist style and embarked on a career with 4AD that would last seventeen years. Both immensely talented vocalists - Gerrard with her inimitable, mesmeric style and Perry�s haunting baritone - they were also gifted, instinctive musicians and their melding of traditional instruments with samplers created a bridge between ancient and modern musics. This remastered boxset features material from the group�s eight albums alongside rare and previously unreleased audio tracks, and also contains a DVD of their in-concert film �Toward The Within� plus promo videos. 47 tracks across 3 Cds. Stunning limited edition package (limited to 1000 only) with 108 page booklet containing interviews with the group & lyrics.


Jim O Rourke - Insignificance - Domino

Maverick producer Jim O�Rourke�s new album �Insignificance� sees him in more �rawk� mode. The opener, �All Downhill from Here� alone pops a hilarious pie into the face of your average O�Rourke follower�s expectations. It�s a red herring too, of course, because in Jim�s hands the screaming love of rock n�roll is still not just �only rock n�roll.� Instead, �Insignificance� consists of rock plus: multiple musical allusions, layers of discreet noises, great playing from all the players and, to top it all off, funny pop-rock tunes laced with lyric arsenic. �Insignificance� widens the screen of the O�Rourke sound. As mentioned above, along the way you'll find a riff or two that one can truly ride. There�s more than one classic invitation for the lead vocalist to sneer and shout over it all - but of course, our Jim prefers instead more to murmur and moan quite melodically, to most sensual effect. There�s a spacious ballad to cool you down, then another one of those sick love songs in the mold of �Halfway to a Threeway,� as well. Cut quickly with a skeleton crew after two years of indecision, �Insignificance� brims with a newfound �immaturity�. Ace.

# posted by DJ Martian 7:29 PM

Friday, November 16, 2001

 

Drexicya - Harnessed The Storm

BurnitBlue.com have further details of the forthcoming album from Drexicya called Harnessed The Storm on Tresor due January 25? [Should this be Monday Jan 28?]. [Nice 4ad alike cover art too!]

The ten-track album includes the Kraftwerk-esque �Digital Tsunami�, �Dr Blowfins� Black Storm Stabilizing Spheres�, which harks back to old skool techno, and classic motor-city electro track �Aquatic Cataclysm�.

# posted by DJ Martian 6:46 PM

 

The Guardian - Greatest Hits Round Up

The Guardian have a Greatest hits round-up including The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, Dead Can Dance, Colourbox, The Teardrop Explodes and Simple Minds.

As the season of giving descends upon us, John Aizlewood decides which Greatest Hits CDs deserve a place in your stocking

# posted by DJ Martian 6:38 PM

 

Post Punk Compilation on Soul Jazz Records: January 2002

Soul Jazz Records will release a post-punk avant dance compilation:

January 2002.
SJRlLP/CD 57. In The Beginning There Was Rhythm "The Birth Of Dance Music After Punk"

This will include tracks by 23 Skidoo, Cabaret Voltaire, A Certain Ratio, Human League and This Heat.

# posted by DJ Martian 6:07 PM

 

etronik Frontline News - Issue 116

This week's etronik Frontline includes further news on the forthcoming album by IDM veterans The Black Dog:

The Black Dog

Following recent reports on Etronik about The Black Dog�s comeback album, we can now reveal further details of the pioneering electronic act�s sixth album to date. �Unsavoury Products� is scheduled for release on Hydrogen Dukebox in �early 2002� and is, apparently inspired by the late William Burroughs. According to Hydrogen Dukebox, �The Black Dog were collaborating with Burroughs prior to his death and for �Unsavoury Products� they have joined forces with performance artist and poet Black Sifichi to present a seamless mix of twenty tracks, spanning over an hour, inspired by his work and life.� Sounds interesting.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:08 PM

 

Review: Monolake - Cinemascope

MONOLAKE - Cinemascope (Imbalance, Germany)

It would not be in the least bit inappropriate to say that
"Cinemascope" is Robert Henke's finest accomplishment to
date. Certainly, "Hong Kong" is a close second, but this record
sees him exploring terra incognita, keeping a low-slung groove
beneath your feet (though one gets the sensation that he need
only push one button and pull the rug out from under you).
'Bicom' utilizes Mac voices, uttering phrases and sentences that
are virtually indecipherable, while a warm, rounded kick-drum rolls
around in the mix, and gurgling, sinking metal pellets travel by
you in surreal slo-mo. Henke explicitly stated that this record
was not the soundtrack to a movie never made, the usual clich? one
hears about music with this atmospheric density, but rather that
it possesses its own visual dimension. And though this may sound
like a rather bold claim, it is borne out in the narrative
structure of the tracks: 'Bicom', 'Remoteable', and 'Cut' and
their explicitly visual elements form a cinematic triptych.
On 'Ionized' and the nearly bouncing 'Remoteable', Henke moves
closer to the dancefloor, with a sharpened, then softened kick.
Overall, the cinematic conceit works well not because Henke
intended it, but because the scopic regimes he had in mind are
built into the custom software he created to make his music. This
is music tuned to near-perfection, and it retains a human warmth
that is impossible to resist. [TH]

Source: e-mail newsletter from Other Music

# posted by DJ Martian 4:58 PM

 

FLUKE return

Tech-house veterans Fluke return to the dance scene with their new single �Slap It (Untitled No 3)� on December 10th on Appalooso, which is a new imprint from Junior records.

This eagerly anticipated single comes over a year after they parted company with Virgin Records and includes a remix by Peacefrog�s Marvin Beaver in his Dylan Rhymes guise.

More material from Fluke will follow in the new year through Appalooso.

Source: Music Weekly e-mail newsletter.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:47 PM

 

Pennyblackmusic.com - Forthcoming Releases

Yet more release information from Pennyblackmusic.com !

Pennyblackmusic.com - December 3rd onwards including:

Fire Show - Above The Volcano Of Flowers

CD on Perishable
Released on 03/12/01

As the Fire Show retooled for release number 2, they stumbled on this - release number 1.5. Continuing in their self invented tradition of high contrast, black and white art rock. The Fire Show have strung together a 42 minute collection of high anxiety and soul searching epics. "Above The Volcano Of Flowers" includes offerings from The Fire Show's original line up and from the subsequent touring line up. The consistent elements are M. Resplendent and Olias Nil (both formerly of NUMBER ONE CUP). Ornette Coleman inspired horn lines and Black Sabbath-style riffage. Haunting angular numbers and over driven electronic tones and drones a la Television, Gang Of Four, Keith Levene-era PIL guitars ......


Lazarus Clamp - The More We Are The Funnier It Is

CD on Cleverlegs
Released on 03/12/01

With several dismal years of under-rated obscurity already behind them, lazarus clamp now release their slightly-awaited second lp, a recording typical of their complex, melodo-discordant, post-punk, pre-post-rock, improv-math-rock. Lazarus clamp have been known to dabble with sampling and to make use of unusual instrumentation, but more often than not their music is typified by rather beautiful, interwoven arrangements of guitars, bass, and violin. This music is structured by michael l. Clamp�s intricate songs, and the songs themselves carried by his understated (but often quite lovely) singing. This record captures the quiet acceptance of loss, and offers a half hopeful resignation. Beautiful and unique.think yo la tengo / sparklehorse / june of 44.


Pennyblackmusic.com - November 26th including:

Firewater - Psychpharmacology

CD on Jetset

Highly anticipated new album from NYC supergroup - "Sordid tales from the end of smoky bars from around the globe. Enthralling, sinister and audacious!" Spin magazine New York based alt rock band FIREWATER incorporate a global range of influences into their highly dynamic sound. Their new album 'Psychopharmacology" is largely angst ridden underpinnings of testosterone laced pop & has received extensive praise in the US. Firewater is a loosely knit ensemble featuring members of JESUS LIZARD, COP SHOOT COP, SOUL COUGHING & will appeal to fans of all those bands.


Green Carnation - Light Of Day Day Of Darkness

CD on Prophecy

Green Carnation are a Norwegian all-star band with members and ex- members of EMPEROR, SATYRICON, IN THE WOODS, TRISTANIA, CARPATHIAN FOREST and others created a masterpiece that is a new definition of Atmopheric and Doom Metal as well as Prog-Rock and Hard Rock music. "Light of day, day of darkness" is consisting a one hour long song, performed with a classical choir, a children choir, string ensembles and sitar players. Terrorizer will feature a double-page spread and 9/10 review in the December issue. A must for fans of ANATHEMA, MY DYING BRIDE & IN THE WOODS.

Hrsta - L'clat Du Ciel Tait Insoutenable

CD on Fancy

debut of montreal's hrsta (pronounced "hursh-tah"), being mike moya, founding member of both Godspeed you black emperor and molasses, as well as a member of set fire to flames and the lonesome hanks. This scintillating release, infused with endless waves of psilocybin pathos, does little to Enlighten listeners confronted with the mystery that has enshrouded the name moya, once thought To be a wayward rail-hopping tomcat. It does, instead, compound the intrigue with layers of hypnotic Drones, haunting melodies, beautiful vocals, and streams of bewildering lyrics; leaving us to wonder How long these songs and sounds have been bubbling under the surface. A guitar player at heart, this Multi-instrumentalist has just begun to show the world what can happen when he is left to his own Devices. Essentially a solo effort with moya providing guitar, tape loops, organ, bowed desk, Melodica, kazoo, and vocals, this release also features guest performances from bruce cawdron (godspeed & set fire to flames) on drums, bowed cymbals, and idiophones, and further members of Godspeed & molasses on cello, acoustic guitar, and saw. A heady mixture of instrumental and vocal Tracks bleeding seamlessly into each other. Sad, exotic melodies with disquieting swells of Six-string mayhem, creepy outer-worldly drones, volatile clench-teeth vocals and drums that start From nowhere then grow immense right before your eyes and ears, creating an epic 13 track 55 minute Swirl of dense, rotting, blissful psychedelia.

MD - Between Gaps

[improved distribution - this was available as an import earlier this year]

CD on Merck

md is the alter-ego of machine drum, setting aside the rawer hip hop style splicing and breaks in favour of a more warm and organic electronic sonic palette. This second full length cd proves to be another wonderful exhibition of his original sound, with everything from dense ambience and vocal cut-ups to the skittering and frayed dynamic beat structures that make his music so unique. A 13 track enhanced cd; in addition to the audio tracks there are 2 music videos (mpeg & .exe) by the blasphemy a/v collective.


Machine Drum - Now You Know

[improved distribution - this was available as an import earlier this year]

CD on Merck

probably the best album yet to fuse the cutting edge loveliness and warmth of idm, with chopped up vocals and hard hitting hip hop beats. Containing stunningly well crafted compositions that meld together the organic feel of downtempo breakbeats with experimental electronic music. Featuring the mangled lyrical stylings of poly-sci on two tracks, as well as lovely melodies and percussion throughout.the cd now enters a new lease of life with this second pressing to coincide with a brand new double 12" version. The vinyl contains 10 tracks taken from the (longer) cd, has completely new artwork, and is limited to 1000 copies with 250 of those on coloured wax, randomly supplied. Machine drum is also currently working on a collaborative / remix project with beta bodega coalition.

Mind Over Midi - Project 3

CD on Beat Service

Helge T�mmerv�g from Kristiansund on the mid-west coast of Norway is one of the veterans of the Norwegian electronic scene, he has made music since the early 80's, and in the mid 90's, he started his current project Mind over MIDI. Project 3 is his long-awaited third album, and he continues with the style from the previous ICE Acoustik album; dark arctic ambient mixed with Berlin-minimalism. Project 3 draws you away from clubland, back to the living room and the headphones. The listener wanders through an ice acoustic space with characteristic strange noises mixed into the biggest space you could imagine, in which the human voice, emotional feelings and messages create adventures .

The Mission - Aura

(look who is back - Wayne Hussey & co ! - and they are doing well in the German Alternative Charts)

CD on Playground

Aura marks the beginning of a contemporary and exciting new era for the band and the welcome return of all of the band's old swagger, relevance and confidence. It was produced by Wayne Hussey, and mixed by Dave Alien (Cure, Sisters) and Steve Power (Robbie Williams). HUSSEY and CRAIG ADAMS were reunited and with MARK THWAITE (guitar) and SCOTT GARRETT (drums). A punishing live performance schedule across the globe including memorable appearances at the Eurorock and Mlera Luna Festivals culminated in a full European tour in November/December 2000

Sicbay - Fort Busy Signal

CD on Earwing

If you don`t know Sicbay yet, you certainly know the bands these guys have played with. Nick Sakes, played in Dazzling Killmen and Collosamite Ed Rodriguez who also played in Colossamite, the grounbreaking Gorge Trio. Or Dave Erb, bass player who played in 3 Way Grady and Walking Octopus. Sicbay plays that brand of rock that is unknown to common man. Bring two guitars and drums, they will shake your inner sanctum. With a sound that drives and flutters, Sicbay will force you to look inside your self and make you realize that you might not like what you find. Precision work and aggressive thunder Sicbay will blow you away. They have been known to rock so hard they shake drinks off of tables.


Yellow 6 - Lake : Desert

CD on Ochre

. �lake:desert� is yellow 6�s third album release following on from those released on enraptured and jonathan whiskey. 'Lake:desert', is an 11 track 70 minute cd featuring tracks recorded during the first half of 2001. These recordings move further into the field of utilising the digital studio as an instrument and include more elements of looping and cut and paste techniques along with the semi-improvised guitar work of previous releases. Yellow 6 began in 1995 as the solo recording project of jon attwood, a guitarist based in leicestershire, uk. Early recordings consisted of guitar drone, slowly evolving to more structured melodic music including samples and drum machine rhythms but still with a large improvisational element. The mini-lp 'icanhearthemusicallaroundme' gained yellow 6 their first airplay from radio 1's john peel and tracks went on to be used in film and tv productions. Further releases appeared during 2000 including the late summer release of the debut album 'overtone' which gained yellow 6 more airplay both in the uk and abroad. A 70 minute cd-ep and a second, mail order only, album were released in late 2000 / early 2001 to critical acclaim and more airplay.


Pennyblackmusic.com - November 19th including:

5ive - Telestic Disfracture

CD on Tortuga

Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed self titled debut (check out the reviews and features in ROCK SOUND, TERRORIZER & KERRANG), the Boston Noisenik duo return with another album of gargantuan proportions. This time around they build on their immense "MOGWAI meets SLEEP meets KYUSS" sound by adding guest players including Jonah Jenkins from MILLIGRAM on guest vocals and Mike Hubbard from WARHORSE on extra guitar. The packaging is lovely as always, this time around they have opted for an orange tinted CD box. We call them "The White Stripes Of Sludge" - because we can. Seismic Post Rock/Doom Sludge for fans of: SLEEP, MOGWAI, WARHORSE, ELECTRIC WIZARD etc
.
Ashby - Power Ballads

CD on Marina

Ashby is the new lounge pop sensation from Boston/ USA - a collaboration between singer/ songwriter Evelyn Pope and producer Bill Cowie. Their debut album "Power Ballads" is an exciting blend of contemporary electronics and real acoustic instrumentation that reflects a deep influence of classic pop songwriting. Reflecting a kinship with the pop experimentalists of the Chicago postrock scene and the tasteful sounds of German electronica, Ashby go further by presenting a concise collection of PURE POP SONGS. In blending the classic sounds of vintage keyboards, real drums and acoustic guitars, they have concocted a sound that is at once reminiscent of 60's European movie soundtracks, Brazilian pop and bossa nova - and yet remains fresh and contemporary at the same time. Imagine The Aluminum Group or The Sea & Cake with female vocals teaming up with Air

Blind Passengers - Neosapiens

CD on Iris Light

BLIND PASSENGERS hail from Germany and have made a huge impact on the alternative charts in their home country. NEOSAPIENS (their 5th album), is a polished and intense mix of neo-industrial stylistics and rock music. They've performed with the likes of Type O Negative, Sisters Of Mercy, Paradise Lost, Project Pitchfork, Skunk Anansie etc.


Mick Harris and Ambre - Dys

CD on Hushhush

The 3rd and final part of the Hushush threesome series is the collaborative effort of the UK's Mick Harris (Scorn, Lull, Napalm Death, Quoit etc) and Ambre. A surprising trip into a very dense and subtle universe of sparkling and colourful sound experiments. DYS' 5 tracks of motion in space, textures, colours and sudden disruptions are stellar examples of contemporary music from the European school of electro- acoustic

# posted by DJ Martian 1:18 AM

Thursday, November 15, 2001

 

Noiseloop - Nominations for Best Album of the Year

Noiseloop have asked for Nominations for Best Album of the Year , summary below of some of the albums nominated - most are in IDM/Experimental Electronics field:


Abfahrt Hinwil - Logatech (Toytronic)
Accelera Deck - Shadow Land
Ambidextrous - Errorism (Shaped Harmonics)
Aphex Twin - Drukqs (Warp)
Autechre - Confield (Warp)
Biochip C - 2001 (Lux Nigra)
Bjork - Vespertine (One Little Indian)
Brothomstates - Claro (Warp)
Casino Vs Japan: Go Hawaii (City Centre Offices)
Caural's - Initial Experiments In 3-D (Toshoklabs)
Chris Clark - Clarence Park (Warp)
Delarosa + Asora - Agony Part 1
Vladislav Delay - Anima
Depeche Mode - Exciter
Dettinger -Oasis (Kompakt)
Dntel - Life Is Full Of Possibilities (Plug Research)
Donnacha Costello - Together Is The New Alone
Fennesz - Endless Summer (Mego)
Figurine - The Heartfelt (Monika)
Fourtet - Pause (Domino)
Funckarma - Solid State (Dub)
Future 3 - Like... (April)
Gimmik - Slow Motion Process
Gridlock - Trace
Her Space Holiday - Manic Expressive (Witicha)
Herbert - Bodily Functions (K7)
Isan - Lucky Cat
Jan Jelinek - Loop Finding Jazz Records
Kettel - Dreim On Kracfive
Lali Puna - Scary World Theory (Morr Music)
Leafcutter John - Microcontact
Machine Drum - Now You Know (Merck)
Manitoba - Start Breaking My Heart (The Leaf Label)
Manual - Until Tomorrow (Morr Music)
Marumari - Supermogadon (Carpark)
Md - Between Gaps (Merck)
Mogwai - Rock Action
Monoland - Cooning (Supermodern)
Mr. Projectile -Pug Times (Toytronic)
Oval - Commers
Plaid - Double Figure (Warp)
Posthuman - Uncertainty Of The Monkey
Prefuse73 - Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives [Warp]
Pretty Boy Crossover - The Building And Formation
Proem - Negativ (Merck)
Pub - Do You Ever Regret Pantomime
Roots Manuva - Run Come Save Me
Solarx - Chanel No. 303
Solvent - Solvent City (Morr Music)
Squarepusher - Go Plastic (Warp)
Telefon Tel Aviv - Fahrenheit Fair Enough
Time Blind - Rugged Redemption (Orthlorng Musork)
To Rococo Rot - Kolner Brett
Tool - Laterelus
Twine - Circulation
Susumu Yokota - Grinning Cat (Leaf)
Geoff White - Questions And Comments (Force Inc.)
Zorn - The City's Collapsing (But Not Tonight) (Lux Nigra)

# posted by DJ Martian 11:54 PM

 

Robert Rich - Bestiary

Recycle Your Ears review the ambient sounds of Robert Rich - Bestiary

A very original album, extremely well produced, that doesn't sound like anything else and is extremely rich in sounds

# posted by DJ Martian 11:29 PM

 

Faust - BBC Sessions

Pitchfork review Faust - BBC Sessions

# posted by DJ Martian 7:31 PM

 

Les Savy Fav - Go Forth

Ink19 review Les Savy Fav - Go Forth a fine choppy mix of guitars and electronic funk rhythms. Nathan T Birk the reviewer draws comparisions with post punk band The Gang of Four. Go Forth is surely one of the finest alternative albums to emerge from the US this year.

# posted by DJ Martian 12:37 AM

 

Hood - Cold House

NME manage to get some things right Hood - Cold House is described as a great album.

# posted by DJ Martian 12:14 AM

 

Massive Attack - Update

BurnitBlue.com with the latest studio news from Massive Attack speaking on the official Massive Attack website, Robert Del Naja (aka 3D) said: �I want to do the string arrangements in November along with some other instrumental pieces and we might even boldly mix some of tracks in December. But there�s no such thing as a final mix with us.

�If you try and rush into things, you�re inevitably going to fuck it up. When it�s right, it�s right and you just have to accept that with Massive Attack. We�re not going to give ourselves a schedule; I know it sounds selfish, but that�s the way it is.�

# posted by DJ Martian 12:12 AM

Wednesday, November 14, 2001

 

Posthuman - the uncertainty of the monkey

John Peel just played a track from Posthuman - the uncertainty of the monkey string laden orchestral electronic music with glitches and crackles - this music has a stong cinematic quality - definately worthy of further investigation.

Imagine the soundtrack to Bladerunner, if the films urban sprawl had been relocated from a futuristic LA to the shores of North Africa, "Uncertainty?" is an Innerzone Orchestra of soaring desert strings, propelled forward on an explosion of percussive blips and glitches, interspersed with snatches of voices, and twisted melodies. Cinematic in feel and scope, but still with one eye firmly on the dance-floor, "Uncertainty?" is a clear contender for album of the year. (John-P)

# posted by DJ Martian 11:59 PM

 

Lali Puna - Scary World Theory

Pitchfork review Lali Puna - Scary World Theory favourites of Radiohead and Andrew Weatherall.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:51 PM

Tuesday, November 13, 2001

 

Chunky Records - Coming Soon

Chunky Records have once again updated their coming soon webpage. Yet more releases ! including these:

RELEASED 19th NOVEMBER

5IVE - The Telestic Disfracture (Tortuga)

"Hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed self titled debut the Boston Noisenik duo return with another album of gargantuan proportions. This time around they build on their immense "MOGWAI meets SLEEP meets KYUSS" sound by adding guest players including Jonah Jenkins from MILLIGRAM on guest vocals and Mike Hubbard from WARHORSE on extra guitar. The packaging is lovely as always, this time around they have opted for an orange tinted CD box. Think SLEEP, MOGWAI, WARHORSE, ELECTRIC WIZARD etc"

Beefcake - Drei (Thrillbeatconstruction) German Import

"Latest from the Leipzig label which brought us their thrilling, tinfoil-wrapped compilation double album earlier this year. Beefcake provided the strongest track, and they affirmed their credentials with an excellent ep and album this summer for Belgian label Hymen. Coming in a dinky cloth bag this disc showcases the band's emerging sound, blending big string arrangements with some fierce dsp work. The ability to move between almost classically styled piano, to tearjerking orchestral passages, then take the whole thing by the scruff of the neck and shock out. Their drum programming is reminiscent of the miami school, but their ability lies in the juxtaposition of these toughest rhythms with the more acoustic elements"

Black Curtain - Black Curtain (Golden City)

"Manchester's finest art terrorist trio, Laurie Anderson obsessives and possibly our favorite live performers who always go that extra mile, have at last graced us with their debut album. Starting of with the drop dead marvelous Manifesto for a Black Curtain, Ennio Morricone slow jamming with Augustus Pablo's melodica while a possessed speak and spell spews out B-L-A-C-K-C-U-R-T-A-I-N endlessly for the full thirteen minute epic length. Five am music to die for. Beauty of Sadness and Heat Haze feature almost not there, whispered lyrics that still manage to lightly touch your soul, blissout. After eight tracks in you reach the finale, Mainline Slaughter Express, krautrock fuzzed motorik drift-driving to the end of the earth. Then there is the simple but perfectly realised natural DIY packaging (dig the chinese menu list and the legal stamp)"

Ulf Lohmann - Because Before (Kompakt)

"Compiling all the quiet moments from two jawdropping mini albums, this disc represents a major advance for the whole Pop Ambient movement"

Lusine Icl - Coalition 2000 (U Cover) Limited Import

"Coalition 2000' is the result of the live shows of jeff mcilwaine aka lusine icl at the coalitionmusic nights organised by u-cover records in antwerp in october last year. Over the years, lusine icl has created a musical style of his own that can be desribed as melodic, rhythmic, joyful and explosive, and is some of the purest idm music being made anywhere on the planet today. Srong melody together with complex percussion progra mming, emotional soundscapes, and warm leitmotifs ae just some of the characteristic elements"

Restiform Bodies - Sun Hop (Six Months) US Import

"Latest from the restiform crew, and a limited press, so get it while you can. An audio carcrash of 80's synths, weird idm, and some other stuff you never heard and don't have a name for. As for hip hop, restiform is about as avant as it gets, and their style has you rubbernecking to find out what just assaulted your ears and by the time you've figured it out, their halfway into the next thing !"

Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By (City Centre Offices)

"Ulrich has released a considerable amount of tracks under a host of names and for a host of labels (some of them would really surprise you), this is the first collection of tracks that Ulrich has felt strongly enough about to put his real name to. This is one of those albums that touches everyone who listens to it � simple, uplifting, reminiscent of a variety of things you can�t quite put your finger on. Names like Herrmann and Kleine, Boards of Canada, Arovane...all come to mind � influences, for sure, navigating Ulrich on course to creating one of the most complete and downright addictive electronic LP�s we�ve heard in time on end. Old drumboxes, synths, breakbeats, so much warmth, bright, sunniest sunshine"

RELEASED 26th NOVEMBER

Earth - Sunn Amps & Smashed Guitars (No Quarter) Ltd Import CD

"In the early 1990's earth crawled out of the state of washington. This was their fourth album, originally recorded for blast first records in 1995 and has been out of print since the initial pressing of 500 copies sold out. Layers of guitars and noise, and droning metal riffs became earth's trademark. This classic reissue contains the origianl "sunn amps." recording from 1995 as well as 4 never before released bonus tracks from a 1990 demo session. One of the demo tracks ""divine and bright" features a pre-"nevermind" kurt cobain on lead vocals. New artwork makes this total package essential for fans of the melvins, sabbath, st vitus, and impending doom!"

Faust - 71 Minutes ... (ReR)

"Includes "Munic + Elsewhere / Return of The Legend" LP + the previously unreleased LP "Faust Party Three"

Faust - Faust Tapes (ReR)

"Classic recordings 1971 -73"

Funkstorung - Vice Versa (Studio K7)

"Gnarrlll, Crackle, Deng, Splishh: Funkstorung are back. With "Vice Versa", the world-class studio wizzards in sound hacking, vocal splicing and grove shredding present their second remix compilation. Again, a very special musical delight. The magnificent talent of Fakesch and De Luca is manifested once again on "Vice Versa". the orginal tracks that are the source of material of this album are from celebrities such as Plaid, Jay Jay Johanson, Jean Michel Jarre, A Guy Called Gerald and Nils Patter Molvaer, to name a few. That means Jazz, Hip Hop, Elektro Pop, Electronica and Drum n Bass dissected, stock taken, newly arranged, and blended with the typical touch. The album is limited to 500 x LP and 1000 x CD in the UK. The CD's come in special custom packaging with cardboard inner + outer sleeve and plastic foam bag"

Tim Hecker - Haunt Me, Haunt Me Do It Again (Alien 8) Canadian Import CD

"Debut release by tim hecker aka jetone, and the first non-beat release for alien 8's electronic sub-label. not be confused with mego's florian hecker, as techno maverick jetone tim has released a full length for pitch cadet as well as new set 'ultamarin' on force tracks. this is the first release under his real name, and is a leap away from techno. exploring structured ambient sound, he has constructed strong pieces using lap to p , guitar and piano, and treated the material in programs such as audio mulch. there are certainly similarities to the likes of angelo badlementi, fennesz, mike ink's gas and oval, but overall the sound is quite unique. in fact, this is some of the most m e morable ambient music of recent years. much like austrian guitar / lap top experimentalist fennesz, hecker has perfected the tricky art of catchiness within an exploratory and avant-garde field. this is sad yet hopeful music that remains in the mind's ear for hours. further reference points might include swim's dual danish art-attack of silo and symptoms, or raphael toral"

Hrsta - L'Clat Du Ciel. (Alien 8 / Fancy) Import

"Debut of montreal's hrsta, being mike moya, founding member of both godspeed you black emperor and molasses, as well as a member of set fire to flames and the lonesome hanks. This scintillating release, infused with endless waves of psilocybin pathos, does little to enlighten listeners confronted with the mystery that has enshrouded the name moya, once thought to be a wayward rail-hopping tomcat. It does, instead, compound the intrigue with layers of hypnotic drones, haunting melodies, beautiful vocals, and streams of bewildering lyrics; leaving us to wonder how long these songs and sounds have been bubbling under the surface"

Lazarus Clamp - The More We Are The Funnier It Is (Cleverlegs)

"Lazarus Clamp release their slightly-awaited second LP, a recording typical of their complex, melodo-discordant, post-punk, pre-post-rock, improv-math-rock. Lazarus Clamp have been known to dabble with sampling and to make use of unusual instrumentation, but more often than not their music is typified by rather beautiful, interwoven arrangements of guitars, bass, and violin"

Nad Navillus - Show Your Face (Jagjaguwar)

"The record combines chicago-native dan sullivan's john fahey-esque guitar playing with his beautiful voice and timeless lyricism. The songs throughout the release demonstrate the happy marriage of a minimalist approach to songcraft with traditional fingerstyle guitar. Sullivan is known as the guitarist in songs:ohia, he displays here his own skills and this should appeal to fans of gastr del sol, archer prewitt and low"

Oval - Re:Systemisch (Form & Function)

"Re:systemisch" is a double CD compilation of OVAL's recordings between 1994 and 1996. Including the highly acclaimed and pioneering albums for the clicks & cuts scene "systemisch" and "diskont" as well as 12 previously unreleased bonus tracks from the pre systemisch phase . Both albums were originally released on Mille Plateaux and haven't been available in Europe for approximately three years"

Sam Shalabi - On Hashish (Alien 8) Canadian Import

"Sam Shalabi is the most active player in montreal's blossoming improv scene. Over the last couple of years he has been documented on releases by shalabi effect, detention, molasses and a silver mt. Zion. 'On hashish' is dedicated to german historian walter benjamin and highlights shalabi's compositional skills. He has enlisted the help of a dozen musicians from the montreal scene (including many godspeed & molasses alumni), spliced and diced their playing, and shaped it into his own compositions. The recording is broken up into three sections; one very long piece at 27 minutes and two others at around 7 minutes each. The final work weaves field recordings of various forms of static with sparse piano, gently gliding with increasing static distortion before dissolving into silence. Packaged beautifully in alien 8's custom gatefold wallet"


RELEASED 3rd DECEMBER

Cut Chemist And Nu-Mark - Live At The Variety Arts Centre. (???) Ltd Import CD

"Originally Available As A Freebie At Jurassic 5 Shows. Two Of The Finest Dj's On The Planet Presenting An Ill Party Mix Of Hip Hop, Funk, Great Beats And Dope Routines. Several Exclusives, Rare Remixes Of Classic Tunes And A Showboat Of Mad Skills For Which These Two Cutting Edge Djs Are Famed. 40 Minutes Of 4 Deck Madness, And Some Incredible Set Pieces"

Faust - Ravvivando Remixed (Klangbad) Import CD

"The new single consists of a series of remixes of the track "Wir brauchen dich" from Ravvivando, all by DAVE BALL (SOFT CELL / THE GRID) and INGO VAUK... BALL & CO have managed to showhorn faust into the >neu framework. Think 'Motorik Noise'. Think Kraftwerk (!). Think Industrial-Can. Think of it as the single that might put Faust into record collections that have never seen their like before. All pop records should sound like this, only with each one just ever so slightly different so we can tell them apart"

Herman Dune - Switzerland Heritage (Prohibited)

"This third album is a folk-rock manifesto. The singular and touching voices of David-Ivar and Andr� are carried by the straightforward beat of their new drum player, Neman. The Silvertone guitars break out and keep on the live experimental side. This time the trio has also written and played some arrangements (violins, acoustic guitars, organs, horns and harmonica). Om�, their former drum player, sang along and played the organ too. This combination makes "Switzerland Heritage" their bestalbum so far"


Ilkae - Pistachio (Merck)

"Ilkae is composed of aaron and krystian, 16 and 19 years of age, representing canada and poland respectively. Their musical style could best be described as a mangled pairing of video games, hip hop and electronic fuckery. Their youth is reflect ed on this 44 track, 64 minute adventure. A light hearted romp through well-produced and lushly melodic idm, with most tracks remaining around one to two minutes in length. Ideal for kids with attention deficit\line disorder. Served best on shuffle, or when you can't find your ritalin"

Takagi Masakatsu - Pia (Car Park) US Import 2CD

"Takagi Masakatsu is a musician and film-maker who is wholly dedicated to exposing and preserving the human experience as it is now, and has travelled the world in search of sound & vision to construct a fluid picture of our current hiuman condition. He employs samples of children talking alongside "real" sounds like the weather, his own piano, and a wealth of sounds & musics recorded in his and others' home environments. This is all blended into his laptop arrangements and manipulations to create a very new type of ambient music. This double disc set comprises one cd of melodic audio creations, while the second is a cd-rom carrying 5 audio / video pieces which have already been presented in various galleries and live settings throughout Japan"

Primordial Undermind - Beings Of Game P-U (Camera Obscura) Aussie Import CD

"Fourth album from PRIMORDIAL UNDERMIND : Divine acid rock and free guitar improvisation. 6 tracks and over one hour of instrumental music. 'Track 1 'Uva Urtana' marks a major departure from the song structures of the previous album - 15 minutes of spacey guitar, violin, electronics and percussion. Tonal bliss. Guitars are ascendent throughout but violin and drums are hugely important orchestrating elements ..."

Yellow 6 - Lake Desert. (Ochre)

"Lake desert is yellow 6's third album release following on from those released on enraptured and jonathan whiskey. 'Lake:desert', is an 11 track 70 minute cd featuring tracks recorded during the first half of 2001"

RELEASED 10th DECEMBER

Richard Devine - Aleamapper (Schematic) US Import CD

"The 16 tracks appearing as a series of varying scenes that add up to a 64 minute whole suggesting an overall widescreen experience. Those pointing to a lack of musicality in modern ele c tronics will be please with 'aleamapper', devine's new compounds of sound being wide open for aural exploration, his subliminal details freely accompanying and frequently saturating the remaining spaces. If the first movies were silent visual films, perha ps the most modern are blind audible experiences"

PSI Performer - Art Is A Division Of Pain Remixed Part 2 (Kanzleramt) CD

"ANTHONY ROTHERS alter ego for experimental electronics, gets back to his roots on K2o records. On CD 2 you can find the final 14 remixes by even more diverse and well known artists, almost 80 minutes of pure listening pleasure. Features TOM TYLER / TWO LONE SWORDSMEN / SUTEKH / PAN AMERICAN / SCORN / STARS OF THE LID / ISAN / GENTLE PEOPLE etc etc"

RELEASED 17th DECEMBER

Holland Borthwick - Helene (Temporary Residence Limited)

"Whenever electro-pop producer extraordinaire trevor holland and world renowned new york artist mark borthwick collaborate the results are always sure t obe richly poetic, hypnotically melodic and more than a little abstract. Many of the sound collages created by these two are set as soundtracks to borthwick's visual installations in various museum exhibitions throughout the world. The artwork for this album includes a fold out poster and a set of two exquisite photgraphs. There are a to tal of four photographs in the series, each cd is radomly assembled with two different photos"

# posted by DJ Martian 11:14 PM

 

If I were an editor of a weekly music magazine this week's front cover would feature: Tipper

Tipper, (Dave Tipper) is one of the most underrated producers operating in electronic music in the UK, his unique style straddles many different approaches - taken in a broadrange of breakbeats, techno, experimental electronics, trip hop - to create panoramic soundscapes. Tipper's second album, Holding Pattern is released on November 19th on Fuel Records.

BurnitBlue.com review of Tipper - Holding Pattern

# posted by DJ Martian 12:46 AM

 

The Brainwashed Brain V04I44 - 11112001

This week's The Brainwashed Brain includes reviews of these albums:

Surface of Eceon - The King Beneath the Mountain

Don't let the unpronouncable band name or low-tech cover put you off, this here's one of the best space-rock drone-pop records of the year.

Papa M - Whatever, Mortal

Her Space Holiday - Manic Expressive

Cex - Oops I did it again (CD version)

# posted by DJ Martian 12:15 AM

 

FC Kahuna - debut album

ICrunch have details of a forthcoming album from FC Kahuna called 'Machine Says Yes' on City Rockers label - it will be released early 2002.

The duo have described 'Machine Says Yes' as more electronic than previous 'big beat' releases and remixes. Kahunas said: "We were going through a phase of wanting to find records that updated the classic sense of an acid house record. We wanted that idea of when we went to clubs in the first place and there was this alien sound that made sense when you were locked into the groove. We used to sample lots of guitars and stuff. On this one we decided we wanted to use the basic technology aspect of it - something that was machine-based."

# posted by DJ Martian 12:02 AM

Monday, November 12, 2001

 

Review: Hood - Cold House

Playlouder review Hood - Cold House

From the second they kick in sounding like Autechre, Bark Psychosis and latter-day Talk Talk jamming in a lonely, darkened, candlelit studio you know that this discerning northern outfit are straining to scale fresh heights.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:55 PM

 

Skeletal Family - The Best of Skeletal Family

Included in the November reissues @ Cherry Red Records is a compilation from The Skeletal Family.

Skeletal Family
Promised Land � The Best Of Skeletal Family
CDMGOTH 12

This 19 track 'best of' collection by Goth rockers Skeletal Family shows just why they were leading lights of the post Punk Goth scene. Hailing from Bingley in Yorkshire (the spiritual home of Goth), Skeletal Family enjoyed widespread support and commercial success through the 1980's. All the band's best loved tracks are featured and this cd includes all 7 of their singles from their first "Just A Friend" through their Red Rhino days of "The Night", "Promised Land", "So Sure", "She Cries Alone" and ending up with their signing to Chrysalis Records with the two singles "Just A Minute" and "Restless". Other contributions are taken from their Number One Independent Chart album "Burning Oil" and Top 10 album "Futile Combat".


Just A Friend / The Night / She Cries Alone (extended version) / So Sure / Promised Land (extended version) / Trees / Burning Oil / And I / The Wind Blows / Black Ju Ju / Just A Minute / Restless / What Goes Up / Hands On The Clock / This Time / Far & Near / No Chance / What Happened? / Guilt

# posted by DJ Martian 11:34 PM

 

Julian Cope on The Boredoms - Vision Creation Newsun - Album of the Year!

Julian Cope selects The Boredoms - Vision Creation Newsun as album of the Year. [When I first listened to this album I thought this a album that Julian Cope would enjoy. I am just surprised it has taken this long to be selected as album of the month on his website - although Julian does spend considerable time being an esoteric psychedelic music historian ! dragging up obscurities from the 70s]

..There�s a whole vibrational otherness coursing through this record which, if I�m stretched to compare, again reminds me of the Faust Tapes. But really it�s just the sound of fine fine music made by people who live at a higher level than every other fucker. Sure those other reference points I�ve thrown in are there to ground the review in whatever the real world is. But Vision Creation New Sun is a masterpiece. And I mean that in the old sense. It�s a masterpiece insofar as it creates a new genre. A new die has been cast. It�s a sustainable sonic orgasm where before there was no sustainable sonic orgasm. Other musicians can now rip this masterpiece off (I surely fucking will) and humanity will be higher because of it. Nothing less.

Album of November? Album of the Year!

# posted by DJ Martian 11:24 PM

Sunday, November 11, 2001

 

Novel 23 - electronic music from Russia

Just heard a brilliant track from Novel 23 on Nick Luscombe's Xfm show. Sublime lush organic electronic music ala Arovane and last week's discovery Ulrich Schnuass.

Novel 23 Interview from earlier this year.

More info on Novel 23

Novel 23 is Roman Belousov who lives in Moscow and produces an electronic music full of romantic melodies and experimental
rhythm / sounds. Roman has released two full albums and several tracks on compilation for Art-Tek, Benbecula, Toytronic, Merck,
Surgery.

3 Novel 23 tracks appear on Bip Hop compilation Generation Volume 3 . Remember the name Novel 23.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:56 PM

 

Robert Smith

MTV report that Robert Smith will start recording his solo album in January or February.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:34 PM

 

Eternia

I recently discovered Eternia

Imagine Joy Division mixed in with 90s atmospheric Swans and even Beyond Dawn, I have downloaded a few Eternia tracks and this is some of the finest contemporary atmospheric goth/darkwave music I have heard for some time. Yes the vocals at times are very Ian Curtis alike and Interpol fans should check out Eternia as well, although Eternia's music is alot deeper and complex.

Eternia - From Dungeon's Luxury of Doubt - was released on The Nature of Gothic records in September 2001.

Oozing brilliance from every pore, Eternia�s first full blown album sees a perfect marriage of gothic and electronica with neither style having any dominance over the other. Never before has such a dark and brooding album had the ability to give such a lifting experience, like Joy Division on coke but without the bleakness of that long gone 80�s gothic sound.
David Quinn, the man behind Eternia, has an impressive pedigree when it comes to his musical ability. Originally hailing from Australia, his talents have led to releases in his home country aswell as the U.S and all over Europe. His classical apprenticeship hasn�t gone to waste here either. Now based in Whitby, the spiritual home of Goth in the UK, he has managed to almost single handedly write, record, mix and produce this searing collection of songs, which in his own words, conveys a message of the �beauty of sadness�.
This 8 track release should find a home in CD players wherever there are music lovers. Prepare to have your full range of emotions laid bare. This isn�t just a good album, it�s a brilliant one.

Eternia - more tracks to download at ampcast.com

The album is reviewed here by Starvox

Eternia hails from Australia by way of the UK, and musician/vocalist David Quinn has assured me that he will not be offended if I compare him to Joy Division. Eternia, like Joy Division, create music that is deep, dark and beautiful, and David vocals borrow much from the dour Mancunian legend who lives still in musical mythology. Where Curtis was stark, however, Quinn is richly emotive. The instrumentation is layered and strongly melodic, a throwback to the heyday of 80's dark pop music. Guitar chords churn in and out of a sea of drum beats and sound effects, each rising and falling in accord with the other. Quinn has an unerring sense of when to turn up the intensity, and when to just let it drop away. From Dungeon's Luxury of Doubt is a truly beautiful album....

# posted by DJ Martian 10:38 PM

 

SikTh

The most intense and startling British rock band to emerge this year SikTh now @ mp3.com.

I mentioned SikTh a few months back having heard their demo track on radio via Mary Ann Hobbs - and the feedback has been massive - the track has been played about 4 times in total. Now you can download and experience SikTh with their unique multi dimensional sonic approach to rock, check the volcanic guitar chord structure half way through Hold My Finger - very few British bands over the best 10 years have accomplished guitar music that is atmospheric, epic, intense and powerful as this - sublime up in the clouds with Killing Joke and Earthtone 9 and Anathema and although not British (they were based here though) The God Machine.

I hope SikTh get a decent record deal soon and unleash a superb debut album next year. Be prepared.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:06 PM

 

The Notwist - Neon Golden

Cityslang have set a release date for the forthcoming The Notwist - Neon Golden album - 14th January 2002.

# posted by DJ Martian 9:19 PM

 

[Gri:n] Files

These notes are done to know better beautiful and innovative music from different and several countries.

I have linked to the [Gri:n] Files once before relating to the forthcoming Bark Psychosis album, Dustsucker - (sorry no further news - it is rumoured to be coming out on Parlophone or Regal - but neither website has any further info at the mo)

This weekend I read through all the other entries to the [Gri:n] Files - a snapshot of what artists working in experimental music are thinking about music. Some intereresting entries to read through. Including:

Meanwhile, Back In Communist Russia... (UK)

Mountain Men Anonymous (UK, Wales)

The Panoply Academy Legionnaires (USA)

Rothko (UK)

The Third Eye Foundation (UK)

Yellow6 (UK)

Most recent [Gri:n] Files - Number 4 and [Gri:n] Files - Number 3 and [Gri:n] Files - Number 2 and [Gri:n] Files - Number 1

# posted by DJ Martian 9:03 PM

 

Tim Bowness and Peter Chilvers - California, Norfolk

Tim Bowness (of No Man) and Peter Chilvers will release a new album early next year on 3rd Stone Records called: California, Norfolk.

Two full Mp3 samples are available to download.

Tim Bowness & Peter Chilvers have recorded a new album, titled California, Norfolk which Tim described as being:

"an extension of what the title track on World Of Bright Futures hints at. It's heavily textured, quite intense music that in addition to the usual piano and voice contributions, combines cheaper than cheap drum machines, expensive brass samples and strange synthetic processing. It's almost like a latter-day miserablist singer-songwriter fooling around with early 1980's synth-pop technology.

There are elements of Blue Nile, Randy Newman, Steve Reich, Arab Strap and Bowie/Eno creeping in, but we think it's quite an original fusion of those influences."

Tim Bowness: Vocals
Peter Chilvers: Piano, Synth, Double Bass & Drum Programming.

# posted by DJ Martian 8:39 PM

 

Sound Projector and Helter Skelter Bookshop

Details of Issue 9 of Sound Projector - an interesting avant garde music zine, it is available from Helter Skelter the largest specialist music bookstore and mail order outlet in Britain, based in Denmark Street - Central London.

# posted by DJ Martian 8:31 PM

 

Ultima Thula

Ultima Thula music store provide an overview of recommended esoteric gems @ Brief guide to the UT catalogue including:

Krautrock, Kosmische Musik etc.

Canterbury, Gong, Zeuhl, RIO, etc.

general rock, prog & psych

Jazzy, fusions, ECM & folk

Synth, Ambient, New-Age, etc.

# posted by DJ Martian 8:22 PM

 

Robots and Electronic Brains Article on the decline of the weekly music press

Robots and Electronic Brains have a series of interesting viewpoints on the decline of the weekly music press (the inkies) So what went wrong? including Colin Newman of Wire. (I have been meaning to link to this article for some time)

Great: These days you wouldn't use the NME to line your hamster's cage

[ it is amazing how each week the NME (and Kerrang) remain consistently crap, Can the British govt please set up new state of emergency import exclusion control orders on Andrew WanKer, The White Stripes (how ghastly retro crap is that new single), Incubus, OPM, American Hi fi, Staind, Drowning Pool and Jimmy Eat World (a pathetic plain plod stomp rock band..fake jazz website were spot on laughing at this dreadful band) and a stack of other annoying plodding naff mainstream yanky rock crap that is flooding Xfm and the NME.. thanks ..America please take your unwanted trash back..]

# posted by DJ Martian 8:14 PM

 

The Blue Nile

Expect The Blue Nile to release a new album Spring 2002.

# posted by DJ Martian 7:38 PM

 

Manual

New Grass

Manual aka Jonas Munk Jensen is a producer from Odense, Denmark discusses why he enjoys Talk Talk's music. Manual released an album earlier this year on Morr Music called Until Tomorrow, reviewed here by AMG

# posted by DJ Martian 7:36 PM

 

Yellow 6 - Lake: Desert

Sublime instrumental post rockers Yellow 6 have set the release date for their lake: desert on Ochre Records as December 3rd.

# posted by DJ Martian 7:29 PM

 

electronicmusicreviews.com

A new website for reviews of the latest IDM releases electronicmusicreviews.com

# posted by DJ Martian 7:26 PM

 

Summary of Key Album Releases in November

Surprisingly November is turning out to be a busier month for album releases than I expected, certainly there are more releases compared to the same period back in 2000. For reference I have listed some of the key album releases in November - there is more to November than just best of compilations - that are being aggressively marketed at the moment!

November 5th

Agathodaimon - Chapter Three (Nuclear Blast)
Louie Austen - Only Tonight (Kitty Yo)
Bolz Bolz - Human Race (Longhaul)
Detroit Escalator Co - Black Buildings (Peacefrog)
EAR - Continuum (Space Age)
5IVE - 5ive (Tortuga) Import
The Fall - Are You Are Missing Winner (Eagle Reords)
Flanger - Outer Space Inner Space (Ninja Tune)
Cari Lekebusch - Mind Games (H Production)
Left hand - On Discovering Fire (3rd Stone/ Rayman)
Mocky - In Mesopotamia (Mocky)
Motorpsycho - Phanerothyme (Stickman)
Stina Nordenstam - This is Stina Nordenstam (Independiente)
Panoply Academy Legionnaires - No Dead Time (Secretly Canadian) Import
Quoit - Properties (Quatermass)
Silicone Soul - A Soul Thing (Soma) (R)
Simple Minds - Best Of (Virgin) (R)
Single Unit - Family of Forces (Jester Records) Import
16 Million Dollar Man (AKA Omid Nourizadeh) - The Witch Equation (Under The Counter)
Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds Of Stars Of The Lid (Kranky) Import No British release yet
Summoning - Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame (Napalm Records)
Sunroof - Bliss (VHF)
Ulver - Silencing the Singing CDEP (Jester) Import No British release yet
Volcano The Bear - Five Hundred Boy Piano (United Dairies/World Serpent)
When - The Lobster Boys (Jester Records) Import No British release yet


November 12th

Bad Company - Book of the Bad (Bad Company Recordings)
Borknagar - Empiricism (Century Media)
Clan Of Xymox - John Peel Sessions (R)
The Cure - Greatest Hits (Fiction) (R)
Cybele - Interactive Playground (Voice of Wonder)
Donnacha Costello - Together is the New Alone (Mille Plateaux)
Dub Taylor - Detect (Force Tracks)
Funki Porcini - Fast Asleep (Ninja Tune)
Hood - Cold House (Domino)
The International Noise Conspiracy - A New Morning Changing Weather (Burning Heart)
Kittie - Oracle (Artemis/ Epic)
Miss Kittin & the Hacker - The First Album (International Deejay Gigolos)
Lakescene - Realityflows (Ochre)
Monolake - Cinemascope (Imbalance)
Ian O'Brien - A History of Things to Come (Peacefrog)
Polar - Still Moving (Certificate 18)
Rival Schools - United by Fate (Island/ Mercury) UK release
Skeletal Family - Promised Land the Best of the Skeletal Family (Cherry Red)
Swift - Mainframe (Charger Records)
Sybarite - Placement Issues
Transient - The Conceptual World Is Losing It's Grip (Tbtmo)
Twelve Thousand Days - The Devil In The Grain (Tisol)
Vita - Ena (Force Inc)
Weevil - Weevil (WIAIWYA)


November 19th


Acid Mothers Temple - Absolutely Freak Out (Static Resonance)
Marco Carola - Open Systems (Statra/Zenit)
Convocation Of... - Pyramid Technology (Tiger Style)
Dead Can Dance - 1981 � 1998 (4ad)
Dntel - Life Is Full Of Possibilities (Plug Research)
Michael Gira / Dan Matz - What We Did (Young God)
Green Carnation - Light Of Day, Day of Darkness (Prophecy Productions)
Locust - Wrong (Touch Records)
Minotaur Shock - Chiff Chaffs And Willow Warblers (Melodic)
Papa M - Whatever Mortal (Domino)
POB - Essence (Platipus)
Sandoz - Afrocentrics (Intone)
Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By (City Centre Offices)
Telefon Tel Aviv - Farenheit Fair Enough (Hefty)
310 - Downtown and Brooklyn Only 2xCD [reissue of two pre-Leaf albums] (Leaf, UK)
Tipper - Holding Pattern (Fuel)
To Rococo Rot - Kolner Brett (Straubgold)

November 26th

Audio Soul Project - Community (Nrk)
Anti-Pop Consortium - Ends Against The Middle (Wordsound)
Chessie - Overnight (Plug Research)
Donnacha Costello - Together is the New Alone (Mille Plateaux)
Cylob - Mood Bells (Rephlex)
Figurine - Hearfelt (March Records) UK release
Funkstorung - Viceversa (K7)
Japanese Telecom - Virtual Geisha (Gigolo)
The Mission - Aura (Playground recordings)
Nookie - In At the Deep End (Good Lookin)
Portrait Of David - These Days Are Hard (Racing Junior)
Transllusion - The Opening Of The Cerebral Gate (Supremat) (one part of Drexciya)
Zabrinski - Yeti (Ankst musik)


Release dates are subject to change

So November is a busy month for (smaller) independent labels but come December the number of releases will trickle right down and this will continue to about the the 3rd or 4th week of January - when once again release schedules will start to pick up again.

December

December can be used as a month of reflection, numerous websites/ blogs /forums/ message boards/ mailing lists and print magazines will be formulating their best of lists of the year - and no doubt this will increase this year. It will be interesting to see what gets celebrated but also the mediocrity that is often nominated (or in some cases IMHO the worst, boring and unimaginative music gets shunted on to lists - prize plonker award goes to the first list to put the awful The Strokes as number one album of the year.)

When I look at best of lists I often shake my head in disbelief - and shout Why? or What are these people thinking ? Often I put it down to ignorance of creative music that is marginalised in so much of mass media - music on TV is absolutely atrocious and so much of radio is unimaginative and bland, back to my systems theory - GIGO - you put garbage into a system - then you can expect garbage out of a system.

Onwards to 2002

Onwards to 2002..then before we all know it January will be on us and the whole cycle starts again - a chance to look forward to new releases, to speculate what are the most anticipated albums, for new artists to emerge with fresh ideas and for existing groups/ artists to return. Some of you will notice that gradually over the last few months I have been adding to the list of forthcoming 2002 releases (see above the weblog entries). Take a look for yourself there is so much to look forward to in 2002 .

# posted by DJ Martian 6:30 PM

Saturday, November 10, 2001

 

This Week's New Releases @ Pelicanneck

This Week's New Releases @ Pelicanneck
include:

Ulrich Schnauss - Far away trains passing by - City Centre Offices

We�ve been so excited at CCO about Ulrich�s debut LP that it�s kinda hard for us to believe that we can finally share his music with you. Although Ulrich has released a considerable amount of tracks under a host of names and for a host of labels (some of them would really surprise you..if only you knew!), this is the first collection of tracks that Ulrich has felt strongly enough about to put his real name to. Having first heard the tracks that make up �Passing Trains...� some months ago, we couldn�t quite believe that Ulrich wasn�t already a household name. This is one of those albums that touches everyone who�s listened to it � simple, uplifting, reminiscent of a variety of things that you can�t quite put your finger on. Names like Herrmann and Kleine, Boards of Canada, Arovane...all come to mind � influences, for sure, navigating Ulrich on course to creating one of the most complete and downright addictive electronic LP�s we�ve heard in time on end. OK, so we�re biased, but we�d really like you to share in this � old drumboxes, synths, breakbeats, so much warmth � the purest kind of innocent, almost na�ve warmth, bright, sunniest sunshine. The word is, sure enough, starting to spread about Mr Schnauss....here�s an invitation to find out for yourself what all the fuss is gonna be about.


Hood - Cold House - Domino

Nice to be able to say at this 11th hour that here we have a definate contender for album of the year. In their new reduced lineup (one half have splintered off to concentrate fully on the awesome Remote Viewer project), Hood have managed to create an album that left me breathless on first listen. Featuring cLOUDEAD�s Dose-One and Why?, the opening �They Removed...� explains the genius of this album perfectly. Fractured electronic beats and accoustic guitars, violins, pops and whirrs, reminding me of Talk Talk, Bark Psychosis, and SND all at once, the pan of the vocal fragile and uncertain. Dose one�s inclusion here is measured perfectly...he glides into the track and adapts himself..a continuous phrase revolved and rotated in its nasal, melancholy best. This is just the beginning. Every track here is inspired, furthering the cause of musical cross-fertilisation and beauty with insane agility. �The Winter Hit Hard�, for example, sounds like nothing you�ve ever heard before � everything we love here at the neck rolled into one - microscopic beats, drone, jazz, anticon, dub, delays, accoustic flows, splintered electronix...and the best bit is that there�s nothing remotely conceptual or pretentious about anything you�ll find here. This is a truly stunning album, 45 minutes of life-affirming music, 45 minutes of music that is impossible to describe in a way that would even remotely do it justice. Sublime.

Beefcake - Drei - Thrill Beat Construction

Latest from the Leipzig label which brought us the thrilling double tinfoil wrapped compilation album earlier this year. Beefcake proved to be the strongest track, and they affirmed their credentials with an excellent EP and album this summer for Belgian label Hymen. Coming in a dinky cloth bag this disc showcases the band's emerging sound, blending big string arrangements with some fierce dsp work. The ability to move between almost classically styled piano, to tearjerking orchestral passages, then take the whole thing by the scruff of the neck and shock out. Their drum programming is reminiscent of the miami school, but their ability lies in the juxtaposition of these toughest rhythms with more acoustic elements. Check.

Console - Live at Centre Pompidou - Payola

Rather than confusing us with a brand new album, instead we get this very special Console Go Into Space live set recorded in February 2001 at the Centre Pompidou, Paris. Consisting of a set of new songs and live arrangements of some Console classics, the first track Thorax starts with a low down thud-snap beat, sublime aching melodies, mixed in live drum beat and occasional light synth stabs - equalling a pure straight up crushing piece of music. It's then that you realise that Mr Martin Gretschmann is a truly talented young man. Next track Bee Queen would grace any Tied & Tickled Trio album (who Martin also plays with) and shine. The intro of Die Wunderbaren Jahre evokes Arovane until the looping drums set in with the familiar melody of this Console classic. As a final bonus for you, the track Crabcraft is in fact the original instrumental that became �Heirloom� for Miss Bjork's Vespertine full-length, "I have a recurrent dream". So nine tracks, sixty minutes, one massive album that welcomes you with open arms. A complete joy.

Miss Kitten And The Hacker - First album - International Deejay Gigolos

O.K. Lets start at the start (!!), the opening ' Frank Sinatra 2001 ' unfolds dirty sleazy lyrics over dirty sleazy beats! it's not unusual for Gigolo to delve into this territory, but they do it so well, as do Miss Kittin and the Hacker. Though
predominantly 80's influenced, there are shades of Drexciya in the production, alongside Chris and Cosey style tracks. Ace bubbling arpeggio's with class handclaps in all the right places, take 'stock exchange' for example, it doesn�t make much sense, but it sounds so good. 'stripper' is a straight up stomper, sounding much like ESG vs Joey Beltram. You know what to expect from this label, and if you know Miss Kittin and the Hacker, then you know it's gonna be good, think of an S&M club in darkest Germany, imagine the music, then take it to the moon, that�s what this LP conjures up. Different, exciting, sleazy, and wicked, be a fetishist.


Monolake - Cinemascope - Imbalance

For an artist that has never put a foot wrong, with a catalogue which must be the envy of the vast majority of electronic musicians, it is with some gravitas that we say that this is without doubt Robert Henke�s finest work to date under his Monolake alias. Cinemsascope is exactly that � a soundtrack to your dreams, filmed in glorious technicolour and shot through panoramic widescreen. With roots firmly entrenched within the Berlin Techno scene, Henke has managed to develop his sound to create an electronic scenario that utilises the 4/4 rhythm and modifies it to produce something which is wholly unique. With tracks lifted off the �Ionized� and �Bicom� 12�s, together with new tracks, Cinemascope flows from the slowed-down breathy spaces of Bicom�s title track to the uplifting neon flicker of the immense �Television Tower�. New track �Indigo� is a spacious ambient masterpiece. So much time and attention have been given to each and every tone and sound present here � the attention to detail only matched by the sheer beauty of the composition. Henke is a sound-master, stereo techniques and software development have supplied him with access to musical conceit�s that have very little, if any, precedent. The triumph here is in the creation of machine music that could have only come from the mind of a dreamer. Utterly Essential.

Sandor Caron - Harmonica and cross - Music for speakers

Another classic out this week, for Sandor Caron produce the kind of late night electronica/downbeats that every home should own. There�s an overt Boards of Canada influence playing a part across much of the album�s 10 tracks � the opening �Z-Head� surfing along similar lines to �In A Beautiful Place...� - gorgeously subdued beats and slightly detuned synths. Very nostalgic, warm terrain. Links with the Delsin crew, however, also play a part here, the beats often escalating to a Detroitish rumble and the breaks are lined with an armoatic jazz flavour. The descriptive line on the back of the digipack sum it up best : �Sandor Caron � Electronics, Electrics, Accoustics�, a cliched combination, but one that works here to produce a work of tremendous beauty. Recommended.


Various - Swim Team #2 - Swim

This is the second in Colin Newman and Malka Spiegel�s Swim label budget sampler series. Following the success of the first volume, this compilation features 19 tracks from varied artists such as Silo, Immersion and Colin Newman himself among many others including Manchester's Toucaen. From drifty Post Rock to subtle Electronica, all bases are covered with ease. A bargain compilation from a strong label.


Ulf Lohmann - Because Before - Kompakt

Compiling all the quiet moments from two jawdropping mini albums, this disc represents a major advance for the whole Pop ambient movement. When Because originally came out, we described the listening experience "like a conversation with an angel, elevating and beneficial to the mood...An absolute joy of a release, accept no substitute." Since March, our opinions have if anything become higher of this music, except now the glories of Before are with us - suffice to say sounds this tender and refined are worthy of full orchestral performance, almost touching the delicacies of Arvo Part in places. Do not miss this emotional and immensely moving album.


Vita - Ena - Force Inc

Vita is the alias for Mille Plateaux�s critically acclaimed recording artist and Mitek founder Mikael Stavostand. One of the new faces to emerge out of the musical hotbed of Stockholm, Sweden, Stavostand has been featured as a key figure for his unique interpretations of club techno and micro-beats as well as producing some of the most essential experimental electronic music of the past year. This is an incredibly warm album, the dub influence kept to a simmer (courtesy of luscious rolling basslines) and an array of highrise rays of warm washes and drift tones. The clicks and pops are, indeed, present, but the empahsis here is very much on the layering of organic tones. If you�re into SND, Fraben, Andreas Tillijander, Colgne�s �Pop Ambient� scene etc, this is very much a record for you. Recommended.

Christof Migone - Crackers - Locust

One of the best (and most disturbing) ideas for a recording that I�ve come across in a while. Entitled 'Crackers' this is a series of recordings of people 'cracking' loose joints. For example, knees, hips(?), vertebrae sit alongside crunches and clicks from toes, wrists, fingers etc. With a starting point not too dissimilar to recent work from Matmos, the resulting audio diocument takes a very minimal form, almost a biological clicks and cuts. Fascinating.


Et Sans - L'Autre - Locust

Et sans is the Canadian duo of Roger Tellier-Craig (Fly Pan Am, Godspeed You Black Emperor) and Alexandre St-Onge (Undo, Shalabi Effect). Composed using upright bass, guitars and musique concrete style collages of their own tape treated voices, L'Autre is a drifting, hypnotic exercise where continuously unraveling ribbons of sound shape shift into a sonic surprise of other worldly cinematic proportions. This 42 minute epic is et sans debut cd.


Ian O Brien - A history of things to come - Peacefrog

Long awaited follow up to �Galactic Days� from Essex dude Ian O Brien, a superb cross fertilisation of all things Detroit techno, South London broken beat business, 70's space jazz ambience, and much more. Why Ian's output has always been so strong is due to his multi instrumentist upbringing, only getting into techno at a much later date. From his debut album for Russ Gabriel's Ferox label �Desert Scores� it's been obvious that a major talent is at work. This album features wonderkind Domu collabing on the devastating Veksel while elsewhere are spot on covers of Pat Metheny's A Midwestern Night's Dream and Weather Report's Teentown. Elsewhere you'll find batucadaesque percussive bombs and no noodle jazzness in full effect. The boy done good. Investigate.


Unforscene - Pacific Heights - Kudos

Taking the lead from artists such as Fila Brazillia and Jimpster this album from Unforscene rises above the competition with a high degree of panache. Indeed, Funk is the order of the day with an extremely well produced collection of slinky mid-tempo cuts hitting all the right Disco / 80's groove notes. Mastering and production has come courtesy of Jamie 'Supercollider' Lidell and there are many moments where Lidell's funk shines through. Like Fila Brazillia's best moments this is well written dancefloor music, not just another lame dancefloor filler. Recommended.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:32 PM

Friday, November 09, 2001

 

MUZIK MAGAZINE

Wednesday November 14th will see the unveiling of Muzik Magazine�s Dance Awards 2001 special issue.

The magazine will include all the photographs and gossip from October�s awards, a 2002 events calendar and two CDs of the year�s hottest underground and dance chart sounds.

CD 1 entitled �The Party� includes tracks from Zero 7, R�yksopp, Stanton Warriors, Depeche Mode and Fatboy Slim. CD2, �The Future� features tracks from PMT, James Holden, Chris Coco and Dirty Vegas.

Muzik will be out next Wednesday at a special one off price of �4.65.

Source: Muzik Weekly e-mail newsletter.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:26 PM

 

�-Ziq - Tango n' Vectif

Pitchfork review �-Ziq - Tango n' Vectif [Rephlex; 1993; r:2001]

You can call this record groundbreaking, or relevant, or just a real riot to listen to. I call it a masterpiece, and I don't think any IDM enthusiast can tell the sky from the ground without it.

[I have yet to hear this album, back in 1993 I listened to Polygon Window, Reload, The Grid, Fuse, Fluke, William Orbit, Spooky, Finitribe, Orbital etc but never got around to �-Ziq.]

# posted by DJ Martian 3:14 PM

 

The Opposition

epic atmospheric rockers The Opposition will release a new album Mr & Mrs Jones in January 2002.

New to The Opposition? check their webpage for mp3 samples (In the Discography section) - if you enjoy any of the following artists Doves, The Chameleons, The Comsat Angels, Magazine, Modern English, The Sound, Echo & the Bunnymen and The Bolshoi.

Also a reminder The Opposition's debut album, Breaking the Silence originally released in 1981 is now available on CD for the first time via Red Sun Records

# posted by DJ Martian 12:55 AM

 

anewnoise - ezine based in North London

anewnoise covers IDM/experimental electronics and post rock music.

Includes reviews, links, online radio show, interviews and listings etc

anewnoise is run by chris and laurence of north london UK. we're doing this just through a pure love or obsession with new music and wanting to share this music with as many people as we can. we hope that in letting you hear and read about what we think is some great new music that you will also let us know about any new music/bands you think we should hear and share with the rest of our listeners/readers. we know we're not going to change the face of music but hopefully you'll discover a great new band or song through us that you wouldn't hear on any normal radio show...

anewnoise - show 15. (october30th 2001) featured artists/bands

100 pets, american analog set, b.fleischmann, blonderedhead, e*vax, famous boyfriend, fridge, fourtet, hood, international airport, isan, jet johnson, k, lali puna, low, manitoba, the microphones, minotaur shock, mogwai, m�m, on air library, prefuse 73, pulseprogramming, the boy lucas, the reindeer section, the remote viewer, schneider TM, shoes and rider, solex, stereolab/autechre, steward, the for carnation, third eye foundation, the silver mount zion, timonium, tujiko noriko, vaportrail, weevil, wigwam, yo la tengo

# posted by DJ Martian 12:06 AM

Thursday, November 08, 2001

 

This Heat - Deceit

This Heat are on of these artists that I have heard the odd track on Peel over the years and enjoyed, but never got around to buying their albums, partly because I have never seen their albums for sale in music stores !

Aquarius Records in their latest New Arrivals list 124, review

This Heat - Deceit

It would be nice to think that These Records have only been releasing the reissues of "Deceit" -- This Heat's second and final proper album -- every ten years after the original release of the album in 1981. The first CD pressings arrived on 1991, and this remastered version of the album holds a released date in 2001. Regardless of These Records' coy intentions, the return of "Deceit" to the Aquarius Records' catalogue is very welcome indeed!!!

Almost all of the histories of UK avant-garde music have claim allegiances to This Heat, as Punk, New Wave, Industrial, Prog Rock, Jim O'Rourke, and even Electronica place the seminal outfit somewhere at the beginnings of their respective etymologies. To a certain extent all of these histories may be true, but then again the broad aesthetic and ideological contexts between all of those different styles may cross-each other out, leaving This Heat as one of the few artistic forces that truly exists all by itself.
Just a trio comprised of Charles Hayward, Charles Bullen, and Gareth Williams, This Heat manifested an incredibly explosive sound that hybridized all of the countercultural fury of Punk and Situationism, within a sonic context informed by technological advances of musique concrete techniques and electro-acoustic synthesis. Musically speaking, This Heat did not espouse the three chord structures or the snarling postures of Punk, instead injecting the complex pop agendas of Brian Eno (which were purposefully seeking to conflict the archetypes of rock into a new aesthetic language) with nervous tension building up to dramatic cathartic releases. "Deceit" is a record that was so ahead of its time that it has taken twenty years for artists like Fennesz and Radiohead to articulate ideas with such intensity and attention to the play between musical creation and technological advances. So highly recommended.

Americans order here Aquarius Records

Brits & Other European's order here ReR

# posted by DJ Martian 11:34 PM

 

Chris Cowie & Ian McCulloch

BurnitBlue.com report than Ian McCulloch is working with Chris Cowie on a new album.

Scottish Techno don Chris Cowie has teamed up with legendary songwriter Ian McCulloch to work on new material. McCulloch, frontman with guitar band Echo & The Bunnymen, will feature on Cowie�s forthcoming album, which is expected in spring 2002.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:52 PM

 

Cornelius - Point

Absorb review the forthcoming album from Cornelius - Point

difficult to fault this album really, the overflowing stream of ideas barely drops and it's relentless pace may be out of reach for some tastes. but for those willing to embrace inevntion like it's running out of fashion then this work is an absolute must. compulsory, really.

A UK release date of Jan 22nd 2002 has been set. [Although the album has been released in Japan already.]

# posted by DJ Martian 10:30 PM

 

Prodigy album

NME.com report that PERRY FARRELL will guest on the next Prodigy album. Liam Howlett sez:

"I thought it was gonna be really rocky but it's turning out quite electronic. I don't know what it's going to be like yet but I know it's not going to be all fake blood and stupid hairdos. I'm doing one track with Perry Farrell and Keith (Flint)'s playing guitar on the album too."

# posted by DJ Martian 10:24 PM

 

Doves - looking to fly second album Spring 2002

NME.com report that the Doves are putting the finishing touches to their follow up album from Lost Souls. An expected delivery date for the album is circa Spring 2002.

Andy Williams of the Doves commented:

It's 90% finished now and we're all really pleased with how it's shaping up. There's a lot more rock-orientated tracks and the over-all feel is much more positive and upbeat than 'Lost Souls'. There's even a salsa-style song called 'There Goes The Fear' where Jez (Williams) gets to try his hand at Latin percussion

# posted by DJ Martian 10:20 PM

 

ULRICH SCHNAUSS - Far Away Trains Passing By

It looks like I am not the only that is impressed with the music of Ulrich Schnauss, the reviewer @ Other Music in an e-mail newsletter received yesterday states Ulrich Schnauss has released the best electronic record this year

ULRICH SCHNAUSS - Far Away Trains Passing By
(City Centre Offices, Germany)

Ulrich Schnauss has released the best electronic record this year!
A pretty bold statement, to be sure, especially about an artist
who is relatively unknown, but this debut long player has
everything that I would ask for in a record today. Downtempo
beats, analog synth, delicately stroked piano keys, live
instruments sampled, and melodies, melodies, melodies! Ulrich
writes the kind of pop songs that make you feel, that tug at your
heartstrings, that soothe and relax. And does it sans vocals or
lyrics. Many perceive electronic music as cold, soulless -- well,
hand them this and tell me if their minds haven't changed in a
week. Mr. Schnauss has just upped the ante and miraculously
appeared as a major player in electronic music! This is a must for
fans of B. Fleischmann, Boards of Canada, Dettinger and Aphex
Twin. Beautiful and essential. [JS]

# posted by DJ Martian 1:02 PM

Wednesday, November 07, 2001

 

John Peel Listener's Festive 50

Once again it is time to vote in the John Peel Listener's Festive 50 - [I have not made my mind up yet] - but everyone has until the end of November to decide on their 3 favourite tracks from 2001.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:20 PM

 

Clairecords

Forthcoming releases from the dreampop/ shoegazer rock label Clairecords include:

Con Dolore - This Sad Movie CD

OUT NOW! This is our latest release, and one of our best if we do
say so! Sales and feedback have been very positive so far and that's
just from being sold via Clairecords directly so far! you should see
it start to hit record shops this week. Ed and Kristy have outdone
themselves with this masterpiece and they are already preparing their
newer tracks for the forthcoming EP for early 2002! Watch for them on
tour soon as well!

Isobella - A 24 Syllable Haiku CD

OUT EARLY NOVEMBER!

This release was held up (originally slated for
Oct 16) due to a recent discovery that the last two tracks have
mastering defects in them. So back to the plant they went and we are
now just waiting for them to pop the discs back in the cases. This is
a landmark sophomore album that will have you swooning. They are on
tour RIGHT NOW so you best get out and see them if they are in your
area! They have this new release for sale - free of defects! - so be
one of the first to get yr mitts warm with it!

Various Artists - Atlantic Flowers CD

OUT NOV/DEC 2001!

For those who do not know, this is the collaborative effort of
Clairecords (USA), Alison Records (Germany) and midsummer madness
(Brazil). All three labels were, at the time of conception, all
bordering the Atlantic Ocean, all flowering up with a forthcoming
showcase of wonderful releases each! Alas, Clairecords has since
gone to the Pacific edge of the country but hey - that matters not!
Just got the master for this today and it flows wonderfully. Many
exclusive tracks here, and some forthcoming ones, from the likes of
Con Dolore, Malory, Pia Fraus, Monster Movie, Stella Luna, Monster
Movie, Isobella - and that's just the Clairecords portion!! Alison and
midsummer madness have tons in store for you too. 16 tracks from 3
labels to reckon with!

Monster Movie - Last Night Something Happened CD/LP

OUT JAN/FEB 2002!

This one is going to the presses within the week, and then we are
preparing for 3 months of huge promotion. "Last Night..." is
garnering rave reviews from 'insiders' everywhere because it is a
drop-dead gorgeous album! The tracks are so perfectly split
between "side one" and "side two" that we HAD to do an LP format too -
so it will be a limited affair with a bonus track as well! So
timeless, so perfectly flowing, so lovely... you will not want
to miss this!!

Malory-Outerbeats CD

OUT JAN/FEB 2002!

Another one which showed up this week, the master for this album
sounds like heaven itself. If you were impressed with their
debut "Not Here, Not Now" on Alison last year, just wait til you hear
this one. The soaring guitars, angelic male/female vocals, and tiny
smidgen of electronics - all tied together with perfect production -
will leave you weeping and/or wetting your pants. We promise.
Licensed by Clairecords for worldwide release, with the exception of
Germany, where it will be released by Alison Records.

Pia Fraus - TBA CD

OUT FEB/MARCH 2002!

The master for this album arrived last week and we are completely
floored. A wonderful huge-smile-inducing album of upbeat dreampop
melodies that will surely not leave your CD player for months - if
ever! A six-piece from Estonia, this band caught our attention with
an incredible demo and they followed through brilliantly on their
full length. This will surely sweep the world and catch the hearts of
everyone...

Stella Luna - Stargazer MCD

OUT EARLY 2002!

And yes - another master has shown up at Clairecords HQ this week!
This is the band formerly known as Starbelly. They live in our old
hometown of Jacksonville FL and the first time we saw them play a
show, it sucked the breath right out of us. Sheer heaps of volume,
slow-burning thickness, inaudible male/female vocal interplay, and
the overall power of these hypnotic songs are a winning combination
in our book! These recordings are 3 years in the making and they are
ultra tasty! 4 extended tracks for nearly a half hour of pure
listening enjoyment.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:11 PM

 

Pump Up the Volume - Channel 4 Dance Music Documentary

Channel 4's dance music documentary - Pump Up The Volume starts Tuesday November 13th at 11pm on C4.

'Pump up the Volume' - A History of House Music By Sean Bidder

The series will take the story from Chicago and New York via Ibiza to Britain, interviewing key players on both sides of the Atlantic. These include the legendary Marshall Jefferson, Trax founder Larry Sherman, Happy Mondays' front man Sean Ryder, Goldie, DJs Pete Tong and Paul Oakenfold, Alfredo, Carl Cox and the people behind the superclubs Paradise Garage, Ministry of Sound and Cream.

Source: Music Mag.com and 7 Music Magazine.

# posted by DJ Martian 6:01 PM

 

BBC Rebrand Internet Portal as BBCi with redesigned website

A new-look navigation bar will appear at the top of all BBC websites, guiding users back to the main categories

What is BBCi?

BBCi is the new name and look for all our services across the web and interactive TV.

We're still offering a huge variety of information and entertainment, but we know that quickly finding exactly what you're looking for is the key to your enjoyment. So we've rethought the structure and presentation of our web and interactive TV services to make them really work for you.

The Media Guardian explains the changes to the BBC web presence that has been rebranded today as BBCi this has improved the design, content and navigation and search of BBC websites including the BBC Music section:

BBC Music links by style including:

BBC Dance Music

BBC Experimental Music covers similar music to The Wire, and there is a link to Mixing It

BBC Rock & Alternative Music

BBC Urban [this includes drum n bass/jungle]

BBC Classic Pop seems to cover 60s/70s artists

Other BBC Music Websites

BBC Music New Room has cutting edge music news and charts:

The New Room is a home for the pioneering edge of
all forms of music from underground scenes everywhere.
An audio/visual marriage made in funky electronic
heaven - there are Global Top 10 charts, the monthly New
Room mixes and features about new trends in music.

Also check BBC Artists Profiles is also an interesting feature, the sort of feature that NME.com should provide but don't !

Also to see changes to the navigation of BBC websites have a look at Radio 1 including Radio 1 Dance and Radio 1 Alternative and John Peel

# posted by DJ Martian 12:55 PM

 

Lamb Interview

iCrunch have a Lamb Interview.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:38 AM

 

Oneida - Anthem of the Moon

Pitchfork review Oneida - Anthem of the Moon this album is picking up good reviews at the mo.

Like its predecessor, "All Arounder" is sonically a mess, with guitars, synthesizers, bass and drums melding together into a swirly cloud of sound.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:35 AM

 

Lu - Lu

Another excellent review for an American art-electronic rock band called Lu this time from Pitchfork Lu - Lu [most reviews seem to name check Neu and New Order, this review adds in Rush and Trans Am]

On their self-titled debut they've recorded some of the best techno-futuristic rock instrumentals I've heard in a long time.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:30 AM

Tuesday, November 06, 2001

 

Andrew Weatherall Recommends

This Months Recommendations by Andrew Weatherall @ BI Wire Records from an email newsletter received today:

Vitalic - Poney EP
4 storming tracks of high quality anthemic alien electro-disco. 'La Rock Oi' has to be my most asked about tune of the moment after its devasting effect on the current RGC Records Tour. Another essential Gigolo release.

Renaud Campana, Didier Reggi & David Carretta
'Le Dimanche Electrique' - bouncing bass, tight funky electro programming, swings like a mutha. '3 Tickets' - stomping electro-disco tune that blew me away at the Villa Rouge. 'Electro Voice' - the sound of telephone cables buried underground. This shit is deep. Here endth the lesson according to Groove Pressure. PS Groove Pressure back catalogue also available...hit that search.

Other People's Children - On A Clear Day
Soundin like a long lost unreleased Factory Records classic, Australia's Other People's Children deliver two soaring lo-fi slabs of layered synth, drum machine and vocal loneliness. Note to the old team, think The Wake, Stockholm Monsters, Section 25; note to the young team, if you like this record you will like those of the above mentioned bands from the early eighties. Reveval shmi-ival, this music is timeless.

V/A - Tobias Thomas Presents Data Pop
An aptly named collection of machine based pop music fromn a variety of top notch producers and labels compiled by Tobias Thomas of Germany's Spex magazine. Check some of the line up and then tell me I'm pulling your pisser. Turner, Safety Scissors, Herbert, Lali Puna, Hausmeister and Blumfeld to name but a few. However, I feel it in my duty to wardn you about the New Order cover version contained within this selection, but like being confronted by a pint of stale mik you won't be able to resist giving it a sniff now and again...

Lali Puna - Nin-com-pop Remix
Obviously opening myself up to 'blowing own trumpet' accusations, but hey, i would never big - up a low quality trumpet. Myself and Brother T strip down and darken a track from the stunning Scary World Theory LP.

Konstruct One
A splendid three tracker from a brand new homegrown label that deserves your support. A real investigation of the machine groov, rythmic changes, gas poweredbeat boxes, yello-esque vox, and that's just track one. This record also includes a very dark bass throbbing electro tinged track that will blow your tiny fragile minds. Un-adulterated 'care in the community' music.

Carl A. Finlow: Electrilogy Part 1
From deep within Yorkshire's rhubarb triangle Mr Finlow proves once again why he is arguably the UK's finest exponent of 21st century electro. Nods to the past but with eyes firmly on the future. Two funky as fuck instramentals and another classic slice of Finlow vocal action on a par with the stunning 20/20 Vision Broken Mirrors. The clarity of digital...

Figurine - The Heartfelt
An essential collection of electro - pop gems from a label eagerly followed down at the Golf Club. Machine beats, New Order-esque melodies and melancholic pop songs of love and hate.This record lives in the land somewhere between Lali Puna and Fischerspooner.

CursorMinor - This Man Adventure
'thismanadventure' is like the tuning of three transistor radios who's dial allows the scanning of time, space, and radio waves. 'virus' is a three minute burst of electro - punk. 'pop music' retunes the Martian radio mentioned above but then begins to encase them in molten concrete. As befits a man who appeared on The Complete Death Of Cool, this EP is out there, funky, but with a sly grin on it's wee radge face. Care in the community never sounded so good.

Takeover - Movement
'This Side' brings you two tracks of micro-house lovliness, rounded corners but sharp edged, fluid yet strangely solid. 'That Side' tips a knowing wink to Aramchek with its latino two step dub approach, and says goodbye with a dark bassy electro-funk number. A very worthy follow up to Takeover 001.

Yunx - Customer Service EP
48 minutes of gloriously varied soulful electronics that give a nod to Detroit (as well as Europe) without being a lame copyist excersize. If comparisons must be made then think Delsin or Cim, although this definately inhabits a world of its own. If you've not had upstanding necks hairs for a while, buy this record.
Label: Yunx Format:

Argonic vs Atom X
Deep, dark and funky homegrown tuneage of the highest order. The machines are manipulated to bring you clunking ever morphing electro experimentation with one eye on the dancefloor and one eye on your mind's dark corners.

Mik At Home - Return of the Bantam
Lo-fi machine beats anchor this eight track ep of space age darkly tinted electro pop from Berlin. Within a crunchy tight framework melody and sound explodes, dies and re-ignites to create its own unique world, an initial to create its own unique world, an initial C64esque simplicity masking a twisted universe.

Marcin Czubala - Video Game
Mr Czubala does it again. 4 tracks of stomping bassdriven dancefloor techno ofd the type currently re-igniting my faith in the genre. Bored of the same oldgo nowhere one dimensional glorified lock groove sound? Then this is for you. Filth on a stick!

DJ Panix - Space Wars EP
And now its time for a Chairman's Chestnut. If you missed the Panic Trax label the first time round we've managed to secure a limited amount of this mighty four track electro essential with its feet in the old skool and head stretching into the future. If you collect essential electro click now to avoid disappointment.

DJ Sueme - The Peep EP
An outstanding trio of machine funkers. Chopped rhythms, ridiculous bass frequencies, and more twists than a van load of trouser sponsored Tongy compilations.

Sensorama - Where The Rabbit Sleeps
The deep minimalism of the title track, lush dark symphonics of the guitar based 'Mode' but mainly the mutant Two Step bass driven twisted electro stylings of 'Funkenflug' make this a must. (Also being charted).

Electric City Phunk - Raiders Of The Lost Arp
Part Three of the Electric City Phunk series - 'Raiders...' is four tracks of high quality, dirt filled machine music. Think Drexiya and Dexter but with that Plasmek edge.

DJ Hell & Richjard Bartz - Rock My Body
Solid electro muscles with intense analogue noise action.

David Carretta - Le Catalogue Electronic
An albums worth of pure filthy rebel electric disco

Inform3r - Sex Offender EP
Marc Almond's fucked up kid brother's dark electro pop doings

Miss Kitten & The Hacker - 1st Album
Sucking dick backstage while the machines they hum

Tiga & Zyntherius - Sunglasses at Night
Driving vocal electro stomper that's rocking the Golf Club and twisting the member's melons.

Der Zyklus 2
Layer upon layer peels away before your very ears and reveals a core of molten funk

These recommendations can be ordered @ Bi Wire

# posted by DJ Martian 11:55 PM

 

The Brainwashed Brain V04I43 - 11042001

Apart from the Hood album this week's the Brainwashed Brain includes reviews of the following releases:

Locust - Wrong

Trans Champs - Double Exposure

When - The Lobster Boys

Mogwai - My Father My King

# posted by DJ Martian 1:46 AM

 

If I were an editor of a weekly music magazine this week's front cover would feature: Hood

This week's front cover choice is the Yorkshire post-rock band Hood.

On the 12th November - Hood are set to release an album called Cold House, on Domino Records. With this album Hood have gone in experimental direction combining guitars with electronics.

The Press Release has stated

"The most forward thinking, innovative and radical album by any British band this year. Landing somewhere between Joy Division, Talk Talk and Autechre, it's an emotive, engaging and completely unique recording. Modern English music, naturally informed by electronica, and featuring stunning guest appearances by DOSE ONE and WHY? of the acclaimed U.S. avant-rap team cLOUDDEAD"

I have also seen reviews referencing Bark Psychosis, Fridge and Aphex Twin.

Reviews of Cold House by Hood

Another review @ this week's Brainwashed Brain

English, and the band shows a great mastery over their instruments, while rhythmic beds of IDM-ish grit and groove bring up the foreground. 'Cold House' is simultaneously challenging and familiar. This is 'post-rock' taken in another direction, brimming with sonic inventiveness and (gasp) real human emotion. Very, very strong work from a band that's not afraid to fuck things up and take chances. Refreshing and brilliant.

Hood - Cold House is available to pre order from Musica.co.uk for a bargain price !

# posted by DJ Martian 1:39 AM

Monday, November 05, 2001

 

Leonard's Lair Reviews: 80s Reissues from Eyeless in Gaza and The Lotus Eaters

Eyeless in Gaza are one of those enduring underground British bands that get namedropped but never or rarely heard on the radio (ala Death in June, Zoviet France, Nurse With Wound, Attrition, Coil, Current 93, Clock DVA, Psychic TV, In the Nursery) here Jonathan Leonard reviews a recent Eyeless in Gaza reissue album originally from 1983 Eyeless In Gaza - Rust Red September

Never really having a strong foothold in any particular style of music, they veered between folk, spoken verse, OMD-like pop and odd improvised instrumentals. 'Rust Red September' from 1983 followed two largely instrumental albums and chronicles their sound at its most focused and coherent. .. Eyeless In Gaza remain a curiously attractive proposition; their uniqueness and Englishness making a record like 'Rust Red September' very treasurable indeed.

As a tangent a fascinating overview of industrial/ electronic artists by Dave Henderson of Sounds magazine back in 1983 profiles many artists including Eyeless in Gaza in this article Wild Planet!

This article, one of several pieces written by Dave Henderson, originally appeared in the UK rock newspaper Sounds, dated May 7th 1983. I'd strongly recommend not writing to any of the very out-of-date addresses contained in it! It's a snapshot of what "industrial music" appeared to be in the UK at one particular point in time, when the earliest industrial pioneers had had their day, but widespread enthusiasm for an independent, networked music scene was still very much present.

and The Lotus Eaters - No Sense Of Sin and the only track I have heard of The Lotus Eaters is the sublime 'The First Picture Of You' one of the early 80s crossover records that implanted on your memory.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:30 AM

 

pHinnweb chart

pHinnweb chart provides a useful indicator what IDM/experimental electronics DJs are spinning around the global at the moment.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:30 AM

 

Splendid Reviews - 7 Weeks Backlog ! and Splendid Switches to a daily content format on November 5th

Well I have gone through a 7 weeks backlog of Splendid Reviews! since I last linked to Splendid back in early September - and a lot has gone on in the world since then !

[See details below for the albums that aroused my interest - I will be exploring some of the more unfamiliar artists by further investigation via band/ and record label websites - although I don't have the time to provide the links at the mo]

This will be the last time that Splendid presents weekly reviews, as of November 5th - Splendid will be switching to a 7 day content continous cycle - So there are no excuses for people like me to fall behind anymore !

Splendid

September 17th

Splendid Reviews Week of September 17th include:

a new band to me The Faint - Danse Macabre Saddle Creek the reviewer George Zahora points to references that include Cabaret Voltaire, Depeche Mode, Rosetta Stone and The Normal

Others - At A Glance include


New Order / Get Ready / Reprise (CD) - you should own this by now!

Robot Dog / Self-Titled / Superglider (CD)

Often described as post-something/something else, Robot Dog's style combines fast, groovy dance beats with electronic ambience.

More information @ Robot Dog


September 24th

Splendid Reviews Week of September 24th include:

Hood / Cold House / Aesthetics

"The Winter Hit Hard", which mixes clicks and pops with dreamy orchestrations and frayed emotional warblings, is a little like a jazz dub experiment, its cacophonous cloud pierced by stabbing, nasal vocals. "I Can't Find My Brittle Youth", which follows, is a cardboard cutout of a particularly compelling pop song, held in place by a sinuous bass line and aggressive (but muted) drumming; just when you think Hood are going to leave the song to its own devices, it disintegrates into sampled white noise. "The River Curls Around the Town" is a bleary-eyed waking dream of guitar and keyboards, its simple melody gradually decaying and fragmenting into stuttering, bell-like tones. And of course, we can't ignore "Branches Bare", in which Dose One and Why's sharpened, languorous rhymes drag a gentle, sleepy pop song in odd, edgy new directions.

an arty sound collaboration John Hudak and Jason Lescalleet / Figure 2 / Intransitive

Take one NY-based sound artist (Hudak) and one New England-based composer (Lescalleet). Give them a load of recording equipment, an audience and place the whole shebang inside a Massachusetts chapel in the middle of a snowstorm. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Thankfully, such preparations have resulted in a recording of such incredible beauty that it will make you believe that there are benevolent gods watching over those who explore what constitutes music.

I was surprised to hear this on Woxy97X a couple of months of ago Badmarsh & Shri / Signs / Outcaste

"Life is one big road," begins the Badmarsh & Shri mantra, "with lots of signs and more signs. You got to make up your mind..." And from that soulful, quasi-philosophical beginning, the group's record proceeds to ask a question:

this album has just been released in the US, it picked up a lot of good reviewers earlier this year in the UK Future Pilot AKA / Tiny Waves, Mighty Sea / Geographic

I still have yet to hear anything from this album, but by accounts it is more mature and smooth Prefab Sprout -The Gunman and Other Stories


October 1st

Splendid Reviews Week of October 1, 2001 include:

The Epidemic / I am Compltely Oprationa l / Ache

If you assumed The Epidemic would be punk, you're wrong -- it's experimental pop-electronica, and very melodic for experimental stuff, as well.

Schlammpeitziger / Collected Simple Songs of my Temporary Past / Sonig/Thrill Jockey

At A Glance include:

Mus / Aida / Darla (CD)

Mus (pronounced "Moose") is a male/female duo from Spain, who create dreamy soundscapes overlayed with vocals sung in the obscure Spanish dialect of Asturian. Aida is the latest installment of Darla's continuing "Bliss Out" series, which has previously featured noteworthy bands such as The American Analog Set and Lilys riffing on the ambient pop style

Bogdan Raczynski / My Love I Love / Rephlex (CD)

Eschewing the harsher leanings of his previous work, Raczynski has crafted an album of delicate melodies and warm, mellifluous soundscapes. Themes of spiritual alienation and lost innocence resonate throughout My Love I Love�s 17 identically-named tracks.


October 8th

Splendid Reviews Week of October 8th include:

The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band / Born Into Trouble As The Sparks Fly Upward / Constellation

Let's also remember that Born Into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward is the work of six sincere, earnest people; it's the fruit of their efforts to present new ideas, to make you think, and to give you something good. There are hundreds of little sparks and tiny epiphanies within the music, some of which will remain undiscovered after ten listens, or even a hundred. They're there as an insurance policy of sorts; they help the album to grow and endure.

Cruiser are from Scotland and completely new to me Cruiser / Northern Electric / Devil In The Woods

You'll find the album's measure in the unaffected friendliness of its title track. Programmed beats slosh warmly against jangling acoustic guitar, delicate strings and distant horns; the warmth, the friendliness, is palpable. It's the simple, languorous pleasure of an evening spent dozing in front of a roaring fire. It's the stillness of a winter-time walk across a snow-swept field. It's the tangible, reassuringly organic presence of a herd of cattle.

Cruiser's approach makes concessions to the new millennium, but their sound is as timeless as a painting or a postcard image. Their droning melodies tug at the heartstrings, opening their arms to daydreamed flights of fancy. As the final strains of "Departure Lounge"'s bagpipe-like drone conclude, you'll feel like walking into the sunset -- but before you can do so, the danceable beats of a hidden track will move your feet in a different direction. Sunsets are for postcards; Northern Electric is for real life.


A new project that I previously was unaware of Per Mission / A Ritual Loop / Monitor

Mastered by Matmos. It's a slogan that would sell cars, and should flag to the average CD-punter that you're in for an interesting listen. This disc was buffed up by the San Fran sound-masters, but the rough cuts must have been impressive on their own, given that this album is the brainchild of Jason Noble (Rachel's), and features members of Rachel's, Shipping News and other such seminal/weird acts. This all-star creation has already appeared on a compilation disc and cassette-only release, but this is the first time it's been let loose in a full-length style. And it's surprisingly good. Bassy, quasi-electronica weirdness is the future, and these guys know it. Hell, they are it.

I don't know much about Uberzone they have a very low profile in the UK, but I expect they are to the US what Way Out West are to the UK �berzone / Faith in the Future / Astralwerks the reviewer Jen Sykes gets excited:

Faith in the Future's virtuoso techno performance is like an all-you-can-eat BBQ sm�rg�sbord: meaty, spicy and full of variety. It's no wonder I love it. The CD opens with a voiceover -- "He hoped to arouse (the) kind of enthusiasm for fresh and dynamic innovations." -- which is an ambitious, albeit fairly conventional goal. However, �berzone -- aka Q -- succeeds, turning nu skool techno into a ferocious party in a way that hasn't been done for years

October 15th

Splendid Reviews Week of October 15, 2001 include:

The Dismemberment Plan / Change / DeSoto

Though not as viscerally enthralling as any of their previous efforts, Change is the follow-up record that The Dismemberment Plan simply had to make -- an album filled with dizzying highs, personal lows and just about every emotion, mood and feeling in between. A "mature" record for those who don�t like "mature" records, Change is our first glimpse of the older, wiser and somewhat more sedate Dismemberment Plan -- the group you just can�t wait to see more of.

Luke Sutherland's organic lush cinematic trip hop sounds in Bows Bows / Cassidy / Too Pure

Taken as a whole, Cassidy makes its intricacies -- and its rewards -- obvious. Sutherland's angular machine splurges create the ideal tableaux for this predominantly first class collection of vocalists, while his drum and bass experimentation deserves its own album, notably eclipsing many of the bloated efforts of certain Thrill Jockey bands (Chicago Underground Duo, Isotope 217). The disc isn't designed for the headphone crowd, but given its propensity to envelop the listener, you should listen to Cassidy on the most bad-ass stereo system you can find. I did, and I'm still recovering.

this is album that I would like to listen to LU / Self-Titled / pulCec

The band consists of former members of various DC bands, including Lorelei and the Lilys, all of whom have been brought together by a post-punk, pre-New Wave sound. Their press material refers to the band's sound as "hit(ting) sonically between Neu! and New Order", which is a pretty fair evaluation

As I said before, the name of the game here is referencing, not aping, and as the album progresses the group's more experimental side comes to the fore. "Mood Elevator", the album's opener, could easily have come from The Cure's Seventeen Seconds, with crisp drum sounds, thudding bass, and mingling keyboards and guitars.

Another album on my long to get list, - the psychedelic acoustic electronic sounds of Simian - this is Manchester answer to the Beta Band.
Simian / Chemistry is What We Are / Astralwerks

George Zahora reviews Stars of the Lid / The Tired Sounds Of... / Kranky - and suggests that context is important when listening to this album, [like Labradford this is never going to be party music, but music to drift away to late at night/ or early in the morning on a weekend]

Therefore, you'll enjoy this album the most when you're at your slowest -- clinging half-heartedly to consciousness, ready and willing to be carried away on its gentle, billowing waves of sound. At a time when you don't want to concentrate on anything, when you're ready to will your mind from your body with a single exhalation, The Tired Sounds of... will step in, ready for action. The title's message is simple, when you think about it: if you're tired, these are your sounds. Sweet dreams.

At A Glance Include:

Jackie-O Motherfucker / Liberation / Road Cone (CD)

[what a great name for band, I have yet to hear them - but it would be a great name to name drop in conversation - I have been listening to Jackie-O Motherfucker]

It shouldn�t come as any surprise to you to learn that this eight-member improvisational/noise/art house/free jazz/everything-but-the-kitchen sink outfit recently released an album on Thurston Moore�s Ecstatic Peace! label, or that lazy reviewers out there will lump them in with groups like Godspeed You Black Emperor! and Sigur R�s. In reality, this most offensively monikered of groups has more in common with avant-garde outfits like John Zorn�s Masada or Ornette Coleman�s Prime Time. The wildly eclectic and unpredictable Liberation is sure to curry the group favor with listeners who enjoy a more challenging listening experience.


October 22nd

Splendid Reviews Week of October 22nd include:

The Microphones / The Glow, Pt. 2 / K

The Glow, Pt. 2 is a logical but seldom-explored extension of early-'70s prog-folk pioneers like Dom and the Strawbs. It approaches this mostly unexplored area of rock's past with the same degree of experimentation, and classical expertise, but Elvrum fuses his tracks with more inward emotions, and the sort of fragile voice that wasn't commonly heard until indie rock's heyday. He also updates the sound by casting aside the stoner aspects of the music in favor of something purely organic and human.

Minus the Bear / What I Know About Being Gigantic / Suicide Squeeze

Minus the Bear is singer/guitarist Jake Snider, who also does the singer/guitarist thing in his other band, Sharks Keep Moving; guitarist Dave Knudsen, who also blazes frets in metal-core heroes Botch; drummer Erin Tate, who mans the traps in Kill Sadie; Matt Bayles on keyboards and electronics (who, to the best of my knowledge, isn't in any other bands, but happens to be one of Seattle's best known recording engineers); and bassist Cory Murchy (who, at this point, doesn't appear to have membership in any other bands either. Give him time, though).

If you've heard any of the aforementioned bands, you know that, for the most part, they're really, really good. Sharks Keep Moving play mellow, jazzy, complex emo-pop. Botch plays frenetic, mathy, metal-tinged hardcore. Kill Sadie plays complicated, art-damaged indie punk. So, whaddya get when you put members of these excellent (if very diverse) bands in a new, different band? A really, really stinkin' good side-project that may just be better than any of the members' full-time projects.

The songs are anchored by Snider's eloquent, jazzy guitar playing, Murchy's solid basslines and Tate's nimble yet rock solid drumming. On top of this, Knudsen lays down convoluted, complex, often fingertapped guitar lines, while Bayles lays back in the background, distributing ambient keyboard wash and programmed beats over the proceedings. On some songs, the live drums cut out, and are replaced by a frantic electronica beat for a few bars -- but the live drums take over again before you know what happened.

Ides of Space / There Are No New Clouds / Better Looking

. ..Taking what now seem to be the de rigeur trappings of modern post-punk pop-rock -- oddly-syncopated, not-always-quite-4/4 drumming, echoing lead guitar lines, spacey keyboards, melancholy, half-sung floating lyrics and plenty of distortion -- Ides of Space meander through this well-produced album with grace and aplomb


Saso / Big Group Hug / Melted Snow

The music on Big Group Hug could be thought of as melancholy or gentle, but there's something more than that running through these tracks, tying them together. It could be the piano that unifies them, but I think that the guitar work is the best and strongest glue. It's simple enough not to distract from all the other sounds, but its tone is somewhere between sad and hopeful, which is so strange that it's hard to ignore. The songs themselves actually teeter between sad and hopeful with the help of the vocals, which sound like a melding of Thom Yorke and Jeff Buckley at their quietest.

At A Glance includes:

Trans Champs / Double Exposure EP / Thrill Jockey (CD)


October 29th

Splendid Reviews Week of October 29th include:

Ten Speed Racer /Eskimo Beach Boy/ Reverb are a rock band from Ireland

Ten Speed Racer's strength is cranking out music that's instantly familiar, while at the same time absolutely energizing. The second track, "Knife" (unaccountably not one of the band's previous singles), opens with a quick strum of electric guitar that's joined by the rest of the group for an irresistible romp. The rueful chorus ("Could it be that I adore you?/Heaven help me") and insistent melody aren't innovative; you've heard this type of romantic two-and-a-half minute fuzzball before, but that doesn't mean a damn thing when the song's actually playing. You wish it would never stop, yet its energy is so contained that adding minutes would only court anticlimax. "January" yearns, "Eskimo Beach Party" stomps, "Lunar Junkies" hides a layer of electronic squiggles as a nearly subconscious counterpoint to the song's brooding surface. A melancholy romantic lament with swirls of feedback and piano set to a thudding beat, the pretty "Yo Yo" engages with the sadly ingratiating chorus, "You can shout at me like a stray dog/And rub my ears in the garden sun/I'll wag my tail whenever you're near me/And watch every move just 'cause it pleases you."

In The Nursery / Engel / ITNCorp

The music on Engel, the album, is intriguing for two reasons. First of all, ITN's soundtrack-friendly neo-classicism has never sounded better; even when you know that the majority of their compositions are sample-based, it's hard to listen to pieces like "Beutereiter" and "Gabrielites" without assuming the Humberstones had a full orchestra at their disposal. The steady improvement of sampling technology has enhanced ITN's sound dramatically; Engel doesn't merely ring true -- some of its more powerful passages could give David Arnold a run for his money. The new material here is particularly well fleshed-out, making greater use of wind instruments and de-emphasizing ITN's trademark (but sometimes slightly cloying) "liquid string" sound, while taking full advantage of their passion for detailed, often martial percussion.

Listening to Engel, you'll find joy, terror, fury, doubt, desire, uncertainty and love; you'll imagine spectacular battles, star-crossed romance and a timeless struggle between good and evil. It's virtually impossible not to be moved by Engel -- which makes it a success by almost any standard.

Sufjan Stevens / Enjoy Your Rabbit / Asthmatic Kitty

The album falls into a weird space between ambient chill-out music and active listening electronic pop. There aren't really any songs here, although some tracks feature distinctly memorable passages. Sometimes Stevens sets up repetitive, drone-heavy sections that will lure you into dreamland, but then he'll suddenly spin out big, chaotic sounds that your deaf grandma couldn't sleep through. It's that unpredictability that ultimately makes this disc both a time sucker and a really interesting listen; I'm never quite sure what's coming next, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be good. If you've burned out on harsh, wise-ass electronauts trying to blow up your speakers, but you still have a hankering for fun, tweaky electronic music, then you won't do much better than Enjoy Your Rabbit.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:05 AM

Sunday, November 04, 2001

 

Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By

Darla Records were spot on about Ulrich Schnauss (as linked to on this weblog recently) - just heard a track on Nick Luscombe's Flo-Motion radio show on Xfm from the forthcoming album far away trains passing by - sublime deep ambient warm lush electronics ala Arovane/ Boards of Canada. Essential - this is top draw material.

Ulrich Schnauss: far away trains passing by is released on City Centre Offices label on November 19th.

# posted by DJ Martian 9:51 PM

 

Death in Vegas

Just heard an advance promo of a new track by Death in Vegas called Scorpio - [on John Kennedy's Xfm Xposure show] they have moved into a new futuristic spacey electro/techno direction. If you like Slam/Underworld/Two Lone Swordsmen - you are in for a treat. Superb. A new album by Death in Vegas is due next year.

# posted by DJ Martian 7:58 PM

 

Koma & Bones

iCrunch have a feature on breakbeat artists Koma & Bones

# posted by DJ Martian 7:28 PM

 

Review: Flanger - Inner Space / Outer Space

Playlouder review Flanger - Inner Space / Outer Space

Friedman and Atom are two of the best programmers you'll ever hear, conceiving and assembling nimble rhythms that would fox the most dextrous of drummers, yet still making the results sound fluid and natural, as though they've been (super)humanly played. Sure these beats are indulgent and flash, but they're never dull. The tunes? Part vibey and easy a la Martin Denny, part spaced out like Sun Ra

# posted by DJ Martian 6:44 PM

 

Review: Cylob - Mood Bells

Absorb review Cylob - Mood Bells (rephlex)

# posted by DJ Martian 6:38 PM

 

Review: Lefthand - On Discovering Fire

Pennyblackmusic.com review Lefthand - On Discovering Fire
with post punk influenced sound including Wire, Killing Joke and Joy Division.

... while 'Lost in You' and 'Pornography' take 'Mezzanine' era Massive Attack to create dark, dubby punk with vocals that are sort of like a cross between Joy Division's Ian Curtis, Portishead's Beth Gibbons and Underworld's Carl Hyde.

# posted by DJ Martian 6:23 PM

Saturday, November 03, 2001

 

Pelicanneck - This Week's New Releases

This Week's New Releases @ Pelicanneck include:

Detriot Escalator Co. - Black Buildings - Peacefrog

Neil Ollivierra has been part of the Detroit techno scene since it�s infancy as label manager for Derrick May�s Transmat imprint. He recorded his first piece of work �Soundtrack 313� in 1996 for the Ferox label and has spent the time since developing his unique blend of Detroit flavoured chimes within a techno-free setting. This is a truly blinding full-length, based around 13 tracks (more on the CD) that hover around, within and beyond the gentlest of electronic principles. The opening �Folding Space� is breathtaking � a skittering treble, the deepest (double) bassline and the treated whisper of an unnamed vocalist (although there are no vocals here), the percussion oozes out a deeply organic feel � human, flawed, inspired. The heart-tugging vibes pioneered by the likes of Carl Craig are present too, although the accompaniment is never really 4/4 � more a loose based rhythm section designed for home listening and gazing at stars. �Mandala / Toronto� folds itself with layer upon layer of the warmest sounds imaginable, all levelled off with a kind of flowing, soul-searching patter of hiss and tick percussion. �City Lights� brings to mind the work of Bola in its aesthetic � simple electronic devices emitting detailed soothing sounds that contain within a love of jazz, progressive concepts and late 70�s futurism. There are too many good tracks to mention here, perhaps better simply to say that there are no duffers (an acheivement in itself) and that this is a deeply human album of some of the richest home-listening music you will ever encounter. Sublime.


Barry Adamson And Pansonic - Motorlab 3 - Kitchen Motors

A unique album by finnish electronic artists Pan Sonic, and Barry Adamson, formerly of magazine, the bad seeds, composer of countless scores & soundtracks, and respected sonic autuer in his own right. Commissioned by Kitchen Motors to travel to Reykjavik and compose a piece for the Hljomeyki choir (conducted by Horour Bragason), the players have created a dark choral work bringing to mind Adamson�s soundtrack work, seamlessly blended with pan sonic�s deep and brooding pulsing electronics. This work truly comes to life under the re-editing skills of the Hafler Trio, shifting the composition from drifting cinematic ambience through to cut-up static rhythmic bursts. Fans of both Adamson and Pan Sonic will not be disappointed with this genuinely essential release. Haunting.


Donnacha Costello - Together is the new alone - Mille Plateaux

Easy to see how certain releases have been overlooked on Mille Plateaux � a revered and highly esteemed label whose only shortfall is that of a release schedule that seems to expand with such ceasless enthusiasm and frequency that few can keep up. This, then, is a truly marvellous record, one that seems to stand slightly to the left of much of MP�s clicky output. With an entrenchment inside tone, rather than click, Donnacha�s flavour comes from the same school of electronic drift that has personified Kompakt�s �Pop Ambient� scene. Tracks like �In Spite Of Everything� reverberate with distant Piano�s, hissy chops of rhythm and layers of semi-accoustic ambience. �Slowly Sinking in� revolves in and out of electronic traditions and ends up sounding not-unlike Geiom / Morgan Caney�s forays into organic electronica. The album works incredibly well from start to finish, an emotional exercise in creating ambience that avoids the use of clich� and sinks you into a world of comfort and tired-eyed sleepiness....of the best kind. Don�t make the mistake of letting this slip by. Essential.


Flanger - Outer Space / Inner Space - Ninja Tune

It's ja-a-a-a-zz folks, but not as we know it. The third Flanger collaboration is born and finds our heroes stretching their musical horizons in most unusual ways. As we�ve said before on this list � early Flanger material may have blown our minds with the sheer level of attention to detail and the originality of the spliced-up programming, while more recent efforts haven�t quite pushed the boundries as far as we may have liked....but this is, however, still some of the finest jazz output we�ll be likely to hear for some time. Flanger circa 2001 also boast the introduction of specially recorded accoustic contributions from musicians around the world. Burnt Friedman, based in Cologne, and Atom Heart, located in Santiago de Chile, programme the tracks with a heavy fusion-y feel that is too knowing to fall into shit clich�s: gorgeous vibraphones, subtle variance of percussion, all undercut by the satisfying precision of the programming that creates lovely space; the weird jump cuts and edits that reveal a techno pulse amidst the layers of lush instrumentation. Nnnnniiccceee.

I Am Robot And Proud - The Catch - Catmobile

Starting with masses of radio exposure on CBC, Canada�s Broadcasting corporation; then contributing a track to the Autumn records compilation, sitting pretty alongside Fizzarum, Cex, Lexanculpt and Hrvatski, then finally a remix on last weeks Printed Circuit CD release. Opening with the title track, The Catch starts with its best foot forward, a classic electro cut, funky bass stabs and classy melodies. A slight shift takes place across the next tracks, veering more towards the melody, touching base with the light and shade of prime period idm. There is always an element of funk sneaking in on this album, the drums seem to hold all the floating chords back from the edge, giving even the most beautiful songs that certain swing. There are a whole host of new names and faces appearing by the week in electronic music, but I am robot and proud is as perfect as a robot is supposed to be, a logical choice captain��


Quoit - Properties - Quatermass

With production duties undertaken by Mick Harris, Quoit provide an onslaught of overloaded bass and transformed breaks. �Properties� strikes a careful balance between advanced dancefloor material for the DJs and intense listening structures that take the sound into seriously dark territory. From the cut-up breaks and granulated turns of "Lurker" to the centrepiece "Close Season".


Various - Electric Ladyland Clickhop Version 1 - Mille Plateaux

Mille Plateaux�s long-dormant Electric Ladyland series of compilations makes a welcome return with this new-millenium bound �click-hop� installment. As is often the case with these collections, there are far too many tracks included to keep the quality up. What I will say, however, is that there are a handful of tracks included here that really do make this an essential purchase. The opening �The Return of Us� by Vladislav Delay and AGF had us floored for several minutes. Vladislav has somehow managed to produce the rightful heir to Atom Heart�s vintage Cut-up funk (circa Dropshadow Disease, Fonosandwich etc..) upping the ante with the most precise fusion of lowend and crunch I�ve heard in a seriously long time. The Antipop Consortium�s High Priest delivers the band�s most crushing track to date � truly squashed frequencies and the tightest beats, experimenting for the sake of progress and never...and we mean NEVER neglecting the phatty stuff. Contributions come from a whole host of pioneers � Safety Scissors, Akufen, Kid 606 + Dalek, Errorsmith, I Sound, Log, Andreas Tilliander, Frank Bretschneider and shitloads more. In the right places � astonishing stuff.


Goem - Abri - 12K

With releases under their belts for Mego, Raster-Noton, Staalplaat and Audio.nl, Abri is the seventh full length offering from Goem and perhaps their most mature work to date. Constructed around buzzing analogue synthesizers and minimal loops, the result is music unfolding as a result of close listening, always a prevalent theme with 12k releases. Unusually for the label, Goem's work here has perhaps more to do with the pulse minimalism inherent in techno, rather than all things glitchy and scratchy. Subtle lattice like constructions blend with a harder tradition of sonic manipulation, making for another beguiling 12k release. Recommended.


Richard Youngs And Makoto Kawabata - s/t - VHF

This eponymous CD of duets by Kawabata (leader of the acid mothers temple) and Richard Youngs shows the pair in a relaxed yet psychedelic mood. Throughout the five untitled tracks, simple modal melodies are performed on acoustic guitar, autoharp, organ, voice and other instruments rubbing against the swirling production and layers of shifting haze. In all, some of the most beautiful sounds ever issued by either of these two gentlemen, both widely known for their edgy experimental work, is on this cd.


Sunroof - Bliss - VHF

The atmosphere of this somewhat delayed yet unstoppable annual collection from uk vibe maestro matthew bower and friends (who include members of vibracathedral, richard youngs, and the fantastic jazzfinger) is mostly spaced and buzzing instruments and voices hovering and floating in the dense mix, all running together like some sort of alien shortwave broadcast. This is like a more intense and interesting flying saucer attack. Recommended.


Workshop - Es liebt Dich und Deine Korperlichkeit ein Ausgeflippter - Sonig

Mouse on Mars� Sonig label has long since championed all manner of electronic and electro-accoustic mishaps and sonic experimentations. This, the 19th release on the label, is possibly its most eye-opening release to date. This is very much an accoustic LP, almost Folk-based in its outlook, with a traditional singer-songwriter element thrown in for good measure. The lonely jangle of �Fur Wen?� opens the LP with a solitary accoustic guitar and the eventual introduction of a slight drum machine and folkish vocal. The immediate problem encountered here comes with the realisation that the lyrics play an important part in the LP�s arrangement � sung in German the barrier for understanding the meaning of the words seems to suggest that non-german speakers are only getting half the intended story. There are, nonetheless, greatly rewarding moments to be found within regardless of the need for subtitles � especially once realising that there is nothing remotely tongue-in-cheek included here. Instead, this appears to be a seriously intended German folk LP on a label that has made its mark with an open mind and a broad-base of interests. Difficult yet somehow rewarding.

# posted by DJ Martian 12:54 PM

Friday, November 02, 2001

 

Sasha album next year

BBC Radio 1 Dance News report that Sasha is finally set to release his debut album next year - an album that has been 5 years in the making! [for the second best DJ in the world according to DJ mag readers poll]

Sasha has been putting the finishing touches to his first album, which has been at least five years in the making...Sasha is hoping the album will be ready for the Miami Winter Dance conference early next year

# posted by DJ Martian 5:10 PM

 

Stina Nordenstam - This Is Stina Nordenstam

The Independent review Stina Nordenstam - This Is Stina Nordenstam

Musically, it's Nordenstam's most ambitious album yet, her characteristic clashes of mood, timbre and style sympathetically sculpted into pleasing shapes by the album's co-producers, Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake......Nordenstam's voice always occupies its own unique space, safely shrouded in a cloak of reverb, alien and unreachable, secure from too effusive a commitment to anything but the next stop on her itinerary. Catch her quick, before she's off again.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:51 PM

 

DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Poll

TrusttheDJ have listed the Top 100 DJs - the annual readers poll of DJ Mag. Full analysis and profiles will feature in the new edition of DJ Magazine tomorrow.

[From a quick analysis - it does seem that Poll is heavily biased towards big name and high profile "Progressive" house or trance DJs, notable exceptions from Richie Hawtin at 22 - and from the superb set on the Peel show I can understand why, Dave Clarke representing electro/techno at 26, at 31 Andy C was top drum n bass/jungle DJ, Laurent Garnier at 47 with techno/tech house, Adam Freeland 59 with breakbeat and good to see DJ Hype at 60 - biggest surprise where is Andrew Weatherall !)

1 John Digweed
2 Sasha
3 Danny Tenaglia
4 Paul Van Dyk
5 Paul Oakenfold
6 DJ Tiesto
7 Carl Cox
8 Mauro Picotto
9 Steve Lawler
10 Deep Dish
11 Judge Jules
12 Danny Howells
13 Roger Sanchez
14 Erick Morillo
15 Sander Kleinenberg
16 Fergie
17 Dave Seaman
18 Tall Paul
19 Ferry Corsten
20 Seb Fontaine
21 Fatboy Slim
22 Richie Hawtin
23 Max Graham
24 Timo Maas
25 Danny Rampling
26 Dave Clarke
27 Armin van Buuren
28 Nick Warren
29 Lee Burridge
30 Darren Emerson
31 Andy C
32 Lisa Lashes
33 Anthony Pappa
34 Masters At Work
35 Pete Tong
36 Derrick Carter
37 Norman Jay
38 Scott Bond
39 Jimmy van M
40 Bad Boy Bill
41 Anne Savage
42 John Kelly
43 Guy Ornadel
44 Christopher Lawrence
45 David Morales
46 DJ Dan
47 Laurent Garnier
48 Sister Bliss
49 John 00 Fleming
50 Hernan Cattaneo
51 Jeff Mills
52 BK
53 Sven Vath
54 Mario Piu
55 Lottie
56 Donald Glaude
57 Mark Farina
58 JFK
59 Adam Freeland
60 DJ Hype
61 LTJ Bukem
62 Yousef
63 Dieselboy
64 Dave Pearce
65 Andy Farley
66 Plump DJs
67 Lisa Pin-Up
68 Tidy Boys
69 Dave Lee
70 Ashley Casselle
71 Kraft Kuts
72 DJ Sneak
73 John Pleased
74 Nick Sentience
75 Chris Liberator
76 BT
77 Armand van Helden
78 Stonebridge
79 Tony Humphries
80 Steve Thomas
81 Justin Robertson
82 Joe Claussell
83 Brandon Block
84 Mr Scruff
85 Marco V
86 Craig Richards
87 Matt Hardwick
88 Grooverider
89 Chemical Brothers
90 Francois K
91 Jon Carter
92 X-Press 2
93 Graham Gold
94 Parks & Wilson
95 Frankie Knuckles
96 Basement Jaxx
97 Fabio
98 Gigi D'Agostino
99 Doc Martin
100 Slam

# posted by DJ Martian 4:14 PM

 

Uncut Magazine: Simon Reynolds Post-Punk article and a bizarre NME advert

I bought the new Uncut Magazine today - definately worth buying alone for Simon Reynolds analytical article on post-punk: including a roll call of Cabaret Voltaire, PIL, This Heat, Gang of Four, The Pop Group, ACR, The Fall, Orange Juice, Josef K, Joy Division and Scritti Politti. [There are some excellent photographs too: John Lydon on stage, Cabaret Voltaire looking gloomy, A Certain Ratio on stage in shorts, Orange Juice looking innocent, Scritti Politti looking arty and from another planet, Gang of Four getting angst ridden on stage and a picture of PIL in 1979 looking pensive]

My only complaint is that the following bands/artists were not mentioned:

XTC, The Stranglers, The Sound, The Comsat Angels, Modern English, Matt Johnson, UK Decay, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Dif Juz, Durutti Column, Magazine, Passions, Rudimentary Peni, The Ruts, early Simple Minds, Young Marble Giants, Virgin Prunes and New Order's Movement.

and these artists were reduced to a few mentions: when they should have been expanded on:

Killing Joke, The Cure, Bauhaus, Section 25 and Wire.

Simon Reynolds has listed as coming soon on his website Independents Day: Post-Punk 1978-81 (one day, honest!) - which will probably be an extended version of the Uncut article. I look forward to it!

NME advert in Uncut

A strange thing in Uncut was an advert for the NME - they are having an album of the year edition with free CD on December 5th - with revealed NME Top 50 Albums of the year. Then they print front cover shots of the albums - and you can make out about 40 of the albums. No surprises - most are high profile artists and releases - and a fair few are artists that I have disliked/ criticised this year.

Am I the only one who finds this completely bizarre? As Albums of the Year have always been revealed in the double Christmas/ New Year special.

[Is something going behind the scenes at the NME? A relaunch? A redesign ? - their 50 anniversary is due early next year ]

# posted by DJ Martian 1:23 AM

Thursday, November 01, 2001

 

Pennyblackmusic.com - Forthcoming Releases

Pennyblackmusic.com have updated their forthcoming releases, including these:

Released November 5th

Next week 5th November

Convocation Of - Pyramid Technology

Label - Tiger Style

Convocation Of... have released three records in as many years, yet these Baltimore rockers have been making music for years under different monikers. Guitarist/vocalist Tonie Joy has not only been in such seminal outfits as MOSS ICON, BORN AGAINST, GREAT UNRAVELLING and UNIVERSAL ORDER OF ARMAGEDDON, but he has also released records by other important artists on his Vermin Scum label for years. Guy Blakeslee, bassist, released material on Vermin Scum with his band Behind Closed Doors. Despite the pedigree and indie cred, Convocation Of.. easily stand on their own two feet by playing music that incorporates elements of many different styles of 'rock'. From the Blue Cheer-esque psych/metal guitar work to the relentless, almost tribal, drum beats to the pounding rhythms of the bass lines, Convocation Of... are able to appeal to fans of pure energy rock and those who just appreciate the technical sophistication of the trio. 'For this record, the band has developed a richer sound by incorporating female vocals, organs and other instrumentation to push the limits of what the trio had previously accomplished on their two records with GSL. It's difficult to describe this music - it's heavy without the metal, it's punk with the rock, and it's post everything because what came before it was at least, in part, influenced by these three musicians' previous previous bands. Never mind, just decide for yourself.

Flanger - Outer Space Inner Space

Label - Ninja Tune


It's ja-a-a-a-zz folks, but not as we know it. The third Flanger collaboration is born and finds our heroes stretching their musical horizons in most unusual ways.. Previous Flanger music may have sounded like full jazz outfits later processed - but in fact, they were both entirely programmed. This time however, new co-ordinates and parameters were set. Friedman, based in Cologne, and Atom, located in Santiago de Chile, programme the tracks, building in specific contributions from sympathetic musicians around the world.. There's a fusion-y feel that is too knowing to fall into shit clich�s: gorgeous vibraphones, subtle variance of percussion, all undercut by the satisfying precision of the programming that creates lovely space; the weird jump cuts and edits that reveal a techno pulse amidst the layers of lush instrumentation


Keiko - Keiko

Label - Timbuktu Talking

Filling in the holes that love can vacate, Keiko's eponymous titled debut album on Timbuktu Talking Records is a brave attempt to paper over the cracks due to the doomed inevitability of the majority of songs lining the walls of this album. Rich in melancholy but with a tender, warm heart that occasionally suggests better times lie ahead, 'Keiko' is piano-led with electronic backing bringing to mind the work of Ben Folds Five with moments of the Blue Nile's 'A Walk Across the Rooftops'

Stinking Lizaveta - 111

Label - Tolotta

The new release on Joe Lally's from FUGAZI's label.<<<<<< Stinking Lizaveta has been an instrumental trio since 1994. Their first album ,"...hopelessness and shame" ('94) was recorded by Steve Albini. That same year they toured the U.S. with Zeni Geva (Alternative Tentacles) and Today Is The Day (AmRep). In the following two years they played countless shows on the East coast consistently dazzling audiences. In '97 they released their second album, "Slaughterhouse" which was recorded by Steve Austin of Today Is The Day. Since then Stinking Lizaveta has toured constantly and sold out all their albums. This third album, "III," features their trademark upright electric bass, heavy drum backbeats, and sceaming Les Paul attack. Also featured on the album are chaotic keyboards, violin, acoustic guitar, bowed bass, and vocals; new sounds as compared to the starkness of their earlier albums. The overall effect is almost like an instrumental version of early OBSESSED sound. Is it metal, skate-punk, or goth? One fan described their music as "chaostrophy." The riffs are there. Check it out!


Weevil - Weevil

Label - WIAIWYA

Weevil are four lads from Glasgow, London, Leeds and St Albans, who make fragile ambient soundscapes, disturbed only by broken beats and populated by three part harmonies, pop sensibilities and abused technologies. Jonny used to drum for seefeel, now he and Ambrose teach music to children... Richard watches arthouse films for a living, and Tom designs websites and makes techno records... they have done shows providing soundtracks to films that richard sees... . This debut album follows their excellent 'Fragile' 7" on their own Orphan label.


Released November 12th

November 12th

Dragbody - Flip The Killswitch

Label - Overcome

Organised chaoscore and tortured destruction from new Florida heavyweights DRAGBODY. Masterfully captured by Steve Albini and spat out with fury, venom and precision. An absolute must for fans of DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, BOTCH, CONVERGE etc.

Ghost - Ghost Ep

12" on Electric Stew

Ghost is the first release on Electric Stew Recordings. This is an extremely limited 12" E.P Electric Stew has turned into being London�s leading alternative Cutting Edge night out. The club has served to showcase the talents of such lumiaries as The Doves, Beth Orton, Simian, Jane Birkin, Kings of Convenience and A.R.E. Weapons. The club regularly pays host to the likes of Jarvis Cocker, Giles Peterson, Harvey , and Andy Votel all airing their record collections. Hotly tipped Ghost are a newly formed 5 piece from London who deliver a beguiling mix of haunting and evocative tunes...with shades of Jeff Buckley, David Sylvian, Talk Talk and Radiohead.

Hood - Cold House

Label - Domino

The most forward thinking, innovative and (yes!), radical album by any British band this year. Landing somewhere between Joy Division, Talk Talk and Autechre, it's an emotive, engaging and completely unique recording. Modern English �Rock� music, naturallynformed by electronica, and featuring stunning guest appearances by DOSE ONE and WHY? of theacclaimed U.S. avant-rap team cLOUDDEAD. Hood have been absorbing and perplexing listeners since their faltering formation in the early 90s. This release follows the magnificent �Rustic Houses and Forlorn Valleys�- a divine melange of agit-folk mournfulness and blistering digi-grind . 99�s �Cycle Of Days And Seasons� went even further: taking in a raft of influences from This Heat to Faust to Bert Jansch and back again.

Ian O Brien - A History Of Things To Come

Label - Peacefrog

Recently described as �the Herbie Hancock for the year 2000� Ian O�Brien launches in to his third album following from the highly acclaimed �Gigantic Days�. His superb production is only surpassed by his ingenious musicianship and in this is certainly his best work to date. As an artist O�Brien is in a league of his own taking his inspiration from such diverse areas as Keith Jarret to Underground Resistance. The result is a fusion of global sounds and although the use of drum machines is an integral part of his songs there is an abundance of live percussion and instruments; expect to find flutes, cowbells, moogs, bongo�s etc mixed in with fender rhodes and complex drum machine patterns. �A History Of Things To Come� is a cosmic jazz journey and will have cross over appeal with techno and jazz heads alike. He is also well respected amongst some of our own Detroit icons with personal endorsements from the likes of Moodymann and Carl Craig.


Miss Kitten and The Hacker : First Album

Label - Gigolo

OU'VE HEARD MISS KiTTIN's DEADPAN EURO SEX-DROID VOCALS GUESTING ON FELIX DA HOUSECAT'S SUMMER SMASH 'SILVER SCREEN (SHOWER SCENE)'AND MASSIVELY ACCLAIMED AILBUIVIXITTENZ AND THEE GLITZ . Now check out the debut album from International Deejay G olo's most eligible young artistes - France's foremost eiectro pop ass kickers Miss Kittin and The Hacker. JOCKEY SLUT "1t's about European cool, all sunglasses and hotel lobbies, emieres and paparazzi, aspirational yet post modern, ironic without being dismissive and sexy as hell too." 'Here's a few references. GIORGIO MORODER, AMANDA LEAR, THE NORMAL, MUT , ANDREW WEATHERALL, DAF, BALL & ALMOND, GAINSBOURG & BIRKIN, WARP, PEACHES, CHICKS ON SPEED and BOBBY ORLANDO. 'The album effortlessly fuses 70's Disuo, 80's Electro - P p and early 90's Techno, all the classic singles are here too including the infamous 'Frank Sinatra'. *Tracklisting CD: Life on MTV, Frank Sinatra, Walk On By, 1982, Stock Ex4ange, You and Us, Flexibility, L' homme clans L'ombre, Slow Track, Nurse, Stripper, DJ Song Walking in the Sunshine, Frank Sinatra 2001. Tracklisting 2 x LP: Life on MTV, Walk on By, Stock Exchange, You and Us, Nurse, Stripper, Frank Sinatra 2001. 'File next to : FELIX DA HOUSECAT/PEACHES/THE NORMAL/MUTE



To Rococo Rot - Kolner Brett

Label - Straubgold


12 exclusive new tracks recorded by the trio of Lippok/Lippok/Schneider. "K�lner Brett" is the name of a building, designed by Cologne architects b&k+ in 2000, that blends living and working in each of its single units. On the occasion of Archilab, an architectural exhibition held at Orleans in May 2001, b&k+ and Staubgold present a musical translation of the "K�lner Brett", composed by To Rococo Rot. The music of To Rococo Rot reflects the architectural grid (twelve equally sized modules giving structure and shape to the building as a whole) as well as the possible individual living and working conditions of the dweller, respectively. Previous To Rococo Rot releases have appeared on labels such as City Slang, Fat Cat and Soul Static Sound. They have also remixed the likes of Leftfield, Appliance and Mira Calix as well as collaborating with St Etienne on their last album 'The Sound of Water


Twelve Thousand Days : The Devil In The Grain

Label - Tisol

The second Twelve Thousand Days album by Martin Bates (Eyeless In Gaza, Scorn, Anne Clark) and Alan Tranch (Orchis) builds further on the blueprint of elegiac songs and sparkling soundscapes of 'In The Garden Of Wild Stars', their critically acclaimed debut album. Bates, the true voice of the English Neo-Folk underground, effortlessly sends his vocals soaring over these shimmering tunes, while Trench pushes the enevelope of aural acceptabilty with swooping strings, guitars, synths and delicate percussion that underpin a brooding atmosphere. Although an excercise in melancholy and loss, The Devil In The Grain is as much a celebration of life in all it's ancient glory. The sound of Autumn .

VITA - Ena

Label - Force Inc


VITA is the alias for critically acclaimed recording ar21: MIKAEL STAVOSTAND. One of theAew faces to emerge out of the musical hotbed of Stockholm, Sweden, STAVOSTRAND has been featured as a key figure for his ur,~que interpretations of club techno as well as producing some of the most essential experimental electronic music of the past year. *STAVOSTRAND is also the founder of the MITEK label and has over the past year perfo~med in over 40 cities in North America including the prestigious MUTEK festival. As VITA, his past 17 release on FORCE INC. imprint FORC,~ LABS was met to critical praise and became one of the best selling releases for the label. VITA furthers his interpretations of techno with Ena, he fixates his attention to the 4/~ melody but conjures a depth and surrounding that exquisitely moves the listener in an digitalized organic groove. Traces of the unesse71ial frequencies that infect the CLICKS + CUTS ungenre permeate through his compositions, yet a solid dance floor friendly stability hold the/tracks in place. VITA is poised to become another key element in the further explorations of dance~oriented electronics. File Under: electronic / technic. Tracklisting. 1 Ana. 2. Rest 3. Amin 4. Porsi 5. Millik 6. Wera 7. Van-T 8. Bulk 9. Vgn Ish .

Western Automatic - Its 1995

Label - Loose Thread

In the tradition of Brian Eno, Western Automatic set out to build a subtle musical landscape which "can be ignored if one chooses, but would also reward a more attentive listening." Many of the tracks were constructed over drones, and the instruments fed through numerous systems to fuse static, hiss, and a variety of other noises to the basic track, with very interesting results. If you like Pole you'll be into this.

19th November / 26th November

19th November Onwards


De Facto - Legende Du Scorpion A Quatre Queues

Label - Modern City
Released on 19/11/01

With the untimely demise of the critically acclaimed and universally praised Texas post Hardcore group AT THE DRIVE IN, there is one bonus: The group have fractured into several camps all exploring different musical styles. Here OMAR RODRIGUEZ & CEDRIC BIXLER (the afro'd pair) form the rhythm section and backbone for this Dub based new band. Formed in Texas in the Mid-Nineties, they are joined by fellow Texan James Ward on vocals and effects and Isiah "Ikey" Owens (ex SUBLIME / LONG BEACH DUB ALL STARS) on Keyboards. The music is Dub. Pure and Simple. In the lineage of AUGUSTUS PABLO, KING TUBBY & SCIENTIST, although the sound is, on the surface, a million miles away from ATD-I, the spirit and approach is still there. They have completed 2 European tours already and will be over again in the New Year.


DNTEL - Life Is Full Of Possibilities

Label - Plug Research
Released on 19/11/01

From (almost) nowhere, and with the help of SLINT/THE FOR CARNATION's BRIAN McMAHAN , DNTEL have come up with ONE OF THE LEFTFIELD ALBUMS OF THE YEAR, a STUNNING album of electronica and post rock...... A blissed out album with lush female vocals, minimal techno, haunting melodies buried in static, cut up acoustic guitars, sampled symphonies, found sounds and drones. The album also features vocal contributions from Chris Gunst (Beachwood Sparks) and Rachel Haden (That Dog). FILE NEXT TO: FOUR TET/MINOTAUR SHOCK/SIGUR ROS/LOW/BASIC CHANNEL/4AD

Figurine - Hearfelt

Label - March
Released on 26/11/01

Figurine's personnel met via the internet, swapping sound files between Los Angeles, Boston and San Fransisco and cementing their love affair for pure pop music along the way. 'Heartfelt' is a combination of warm analogue sounds that only bands like Stereolab & Mouse On Mars can capture, with the very obvious pop sensibility of bands like the Human League & OMD without ever dipping into romantica.

Minotaur Shock - Chiff Chaffs And Willow Warblers

Label - Melodic
Released on 19/11/01

LONG AWAITED DEBUT ALBUM BY MINOTAUR SHOCK, TIPPED BY MUZIK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AS ONE OF THEIR '10 FACES FOR 2001' (along with the likes of Zero 7, Royksopp). An awesome debut album, absolutely on a par with FOUR TET/MANITOBA/FRIDGE a more beautiful listening experience in a folk/electronica stylee will be hard to find this year. "Sublime, woozy, melodic, folk tinged electronica" (NME) "Equating roughly to Boards of Canada gone pop or Radiohead gone merrily leftfield" (Mixmag). Minotaur shock is the solo project of 25 year old Bristolian David Edwards. A man in demand and building a fair whack of a reputation with lots of plays from Radio 1 to Radio 3 as well as numerous remixes for the likes of Badly Drawn Boy, Andy Votel, His Name is Alive and Tim Hutton to name but a few.... VINYL LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES.


Melochrome - Stay A Little Longer

Label - Loose Thread
Released on 19/11/01

The second full-length from the Chicago-based Melochrome. Blending influences like the Velvet Underground, Nick Drake, My Bloody Valentine, and Miles Davis, their 1999 debut, "The Music We Make," was produced by Keith Cleversley (Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, Mercury Rev) and married warm vintage keyboards with dense guitars, bass, drums, and boy and girl vocals. This time around, the band recorded on their own, turned down the effects, and added more instrumentation, layering their laid-back pop songs with vocal harmonies, guitars, acoustic and electric pianos, samples, lap-steel, bass, drums, organs, analog syths, horns, and strings. "Stay a little longer is indie-pop perfection." - YEAH YEAH

Portrait Of David - These Days Are Hard

Label - Racing Junior
Released on 26/11/01

This beautiful debut album invites the listener on a journey through pure and honest tristesse, orchestrated by piano, guitar, synthesizer, cello and violin. With it's unique ambient acoustic atmospheres, Portrait Of David shares his very private and personal universe evoking musical comparisons (if any where needed) with the lush string arrangements of Labradford, the piano of Eric Satie and even elements of Nick Drake's Pink Moon. As beautiful a Sunday morning album as you will ever hear. Produced by Helge Sten of Norwegian band's Supersilent and Motorpsycho.


Vitesse - What Cant Be But Is

Label - Acuarela
Released on 26/11/01

Sentimental, dark and touching, north american duo vitesse�s third album is an essential release for fans of sad refrains, and 80�s synth pop. �what cant be but is� drifts in between the worlds andsounds of the psychedelic furs, new order, magnetic fields, joy division and even the cure. And including covers of omd and bruce springsteen prove how good this duo are. Previous releases on parasol.


Wolf - Rocket Science

Label - Snowstorm
Released on 26/11/01

The debut album from wolf is an album of sometimes stark and other times lush beauty. Musically reminiscent of labradford�s debut or four tet, it seems surprising that wolf can breath life into what has become a sometimes tired post rock formula. Wolf is actually clive painter, one half of broken dog, who have released four albums to date on a range of labels including big cat and piao!, and are currently signed to kitty kitty. Wolf is not just another studio bound project, they plan to play some live shows in the new year. .


Zabrinski - Yeti

Label - Anksmusik
Released on 26/11/01

Fantastic new album from ZABRINSKI on ANKSTMUSIK Zabrinksi's debut cd came out at the end of last year & the time inbetween has been put to great use as 'Yeti' marks a massive leap in the bands sound & rocks out in an electronic style.. Think Kraut Rock with a dash of MBV & Spiritualized. Electic & original! ZABRINSKI have been paving the way for the release of the album by supporting former Ankst recording stars Gorky's Zygotic Mynci on their autumn tour of Britain. Their live shows have steadily garnered great acclaim and a feverish response from sections of the british music industry . Their concerts and radio sessions for John Peel and Radio 1 have consolidated their position as one of the best new bands in Britain & within Wales the band are rightly acknowledged to be Ankst's rising stars There'll be a special Zabsounds night in Cardiff at Clwb Ifor Bach on the 24th of November to send YETI on its way + more dates tbc.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:15 PM

 

Review: Set Fire To Flames - Sings Reign Rebuilder

Opus review Set Fire To Flames - Sings Reign Rebuilder

# posted by DJ Martian 1:01 AM

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URL:DJ Martian's Page * Search Engines Listed: Google Directory