Electronic & Dance Music: drum n bass/ jungle, electro, breakbeat/ nu skool breaks, industrial/ electro-industrial/ ebm, synth pop/ electroclash, techno/tech house/deep house/progressive house, psychedelic trance, IDM/ experimental electronics/ ambient/ glitch sounds/ folktronica/ downbeat, jazztronica/ electro-jazz, leftfield/ instrumental/ electronified hip-hop/trip-hop. Rock Music: art-rock/ avant-prog/ avant rock, electro-rock/ epic alt-rock, experimental rock, jazz-rock, kraut rock/ math rock/ post-hardcore/ post-rock/ space-rock, darkwave/ gothic/ ethereal, dark metal, hardcore/ metalcore/ noisecore, post punk and shoegazer/dream pop sounds. Other Orbits:Kozmigroov, avant / free jazz, dub, modern composition, improvised music and many other hybrids and musical mutations.
Age: I entered this world in 1970. A British Blogger.
2008 ALBUM RELEASES: 2008 FORTHCOMING ALBUMS
using rateyourmusic.com: 2008 Album Releases [Updated Regularly]
This information is updated on a continual basis.
[These dates apply to the UK and can change as record companies/distributors do have a habit of messing us around!]
the jump
atyan b-boot
it's his birthday this year
never thought
the show
the end gag
wishy-washy wishing
pulsating puddles
great day in the morning
mastered at abbey road studios by sean magee
design: simon davies
photography : jeff cottenden
artist management: debi zornes # posted by DJ Martian 3:34 AM
Popular Music in the Blog world for the Week ending - August 27, 2003
Popularity is decided by counting links to Music items on Amazon # posted by DJ Martian 4:19 PM
DanceFrontDoor have the tracklisting for Tricky - Back to Mine compilation due for release on September 15th on DMC.
The full tracklisting is as follows:
The Cure - 'Lullaby'
Little Kings - 'How We Ride'
Eric B & Rakim - 'My Melody'
The Beat - 'Mirror In The Bathroom'
Doctor John - 'Loop Guru'
Rodagan and Tricka - 'Believe This'
Morphine - 'Potion'
The Buzzcocks - 'You Tear Me Up'
Le Tigre - 'Much Finer'
Gregory Isaacs - 'Night Nurse'
Kat Cross - 'Symphony For Irony'
Kate Bush - 'Eat The Music'
Constanza - 'Desire'
Chet Baker - 'My Funny Valentine'
Little Kings (feat. Shola) - 'Days Like This' # posted by DJ Martian 3:52 PM
New A Perfect Circle video for the single: Weak and Powerless can be viewed on Yahoo ! Launch # posted by DJ Martian 2:28 AM
Musique Machine review Bulbul - Bulbul (Trost) name checking reference points Neurosis, Lightning Bolt and Outhud.
Avant-rock, art-rock ? Whatever� 4th studio album for the austrian band, and what an excellent collection of songs !
More info @ Trost Records regards to BULBUL, the windig path is definitely the best. on their new, fourth album BULBUL unhesitatingly follow an inner card through various modern musical genres. mighty, improvisational noise-driven rock, white noise and electronical echo- and space effects build up to energetic songs. # posted by DJ Martian 2:14 AM
ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Donna Regina - Late Karaoke Kalk
Donna Regina is the collaborative work of Cologne duo Regina and G�nther Janssen. Over the course of their two previous albums, the pair managed to create a sugar-coated hybrid of traditional songwriting, electronic production techniques, acoustic overlays and the unique, unforgettable vocal delivery of the fabulous miss regina. Having been noticed early-on by Matthew Herbert, Donna Regina have released material on his Accidental imprint and Matthew provided production assistance on their highly acclaimed debut full-length "A Quiet Week In The House". Their last album "Northern Classic" has been the strongest selling release to date on Karaoke Kalk, capped with appearances at countless festivals including last year's vintage line-up at Barcelona's Sonar. This fabulous new album from Donna Regina sees the pair shifting their sound once again, developing the saccharine pop of previous outings into a more compositionally complex lineup of songs. Unmistakable, however, is Regina Janssen's way with words and flow, injecting each and every track on board with a slightly melancholy though always uplifting undertone. This is evident from the opening spanish-tinged lullaby "Late", to the goosebump inducing romanticism of "Passer-by" and the spacious autumnal quasi-house of "Rain". A record that will appeal to fans of Lali Puna, Herbert, and St Etienne, "Late" is one of those rare albums that flows into the open waters of the mainstream while retaining its own, uncompromised agenda. A myriad of samples, instruments and overdubs, always playing second fiddle to uncommonly good songwriting and that glowing, unforgettable voice. Gorgeous pop.
Daedelus - Rethinking The Weather Mush
If the full force of The Weather is too much for you then check this. Using the instrumentals of that album as a base, Daedelus has chopped, relayered, remixed, twisted, and given life to a new instrumental project dubbed 'Rethinking The Weather'. This is more or less Daedelus freestyling with his sample banks, cross wiring breaks, killer old school hip hop and ancient music styles in perfect company. Highly recommended.
Busdriver and Radioinactive with Daedelus - The Weather Mush
The album once rumoured to have been picked up by a major UK electronic label which may or may not have delayed it's shipping cross the atlantic to us is thankfully hear at last. Following the ace 'Touch Type' 7" the music continues the eclectic easy glistening textures but now in the more naturally suited hands of the man Daedelus. Of course are as important, hyperactive conscious outpourings which can be dismissed as nonsense but for me it's more akin to the Beasties' 'Paul Boutique' shot through with an Anticon vibe. Wrong but very right.
Why? - The Early Whitney EP
Anticon
By now you'll know what to expect from Why?. Un hip hop folk psych prog blues. Or something. Guests include Jel (scratching up chicken croaking on 'Darla') and Blevin Blectum (playing violin on 'The Crest'). Hopefully next time we'll hear Why? he'll be deep in the mix on the new cLOUDDEAD or Greenthink projects. # posted by DJ Martian 2:05 AM
Friday, August 29, 2003
The Wild Swans
via Dr. C on ILM who mentioned this retrospective compilation from The Wild Swans:The Wild Swans - Incandescent available to order now via mail order from Renascent, but gets a full UK release on September 15th.
The Wild Swans were from Liverpool who started making atmospheric guitar music in the early 80s, led by onetime Teardrop Explodes organist Paul Simpson. # posted by DJ Martian 4:08 PM
There are now over 300 brand new Mid Price titles available from Mute Bank from just �6.99 (or �5.95 Non EU) to �8.99 (or �7.65 Non EU).
This massive selection of back catalogue CDs will be available at these prices for a limited period only (until end October 2003).
The MID PRICE MADNESS campaign features a huge selection of Mute artists including:
Erasure, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Einst�rzende Neubauten, Fad Gadget, Diamanda Gal�s, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Laibach, Moby, Nitzer Ebb, Non, Wire, Yazoo, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, Irmin Schmidt, SPK, Plastikman, Speedy J, Suicide... plus many many more. # posted by DJ Martian 3:16 PM
Next week's new releases are reviewed @ Norman Records # posted by DJ Martian 2:38 PM
23 Skidoo - The Culling Is Coming is available now via LTM/ Boutique Label mail order, but gets a full UK release on September 29th. # posted by DJ Martian 2:27 PM
The album�s distinctive timbre comes from it�s marrying of a simplistic drumless electronic basis and orchestral instruments played by a cast of musicians emanating from a variety of backgrounds (Jeannot Gillis & Claudine Stannakers from avante-classicists Jules Verne, Luc Van Lieshout from Tuxedomoon, Patrick Codenys from Front 242 and the improbably named Rino Christ who was a mate of Luc�s from the circus band!)
Some Press >>> Back in 1986
"You can place 'Commercial Suicide' alongside Robert Wyatt's 'Rock Bottom' or Syd Barrett's 'The Madcap Laughs' in your record collection... just like these elders, Colin Newman is an excentric, in the better sense of the term" Rock & Folk France
"File under Genius, mad" Sounds UK
"One of the few Englishmen to whom I would give carte blanche to make pop." Melody Maker UK
"He's one of these tightrope walkers who throw narrow bridges between pop music and so-called 'new music': experimental, neo-classical, minimalism. Music with strange angles, biased perspectives... one thinks of paintings by Tanguy where mineral ectoplasms float in empty landscapes" Lib�ration France
"Insidiously powerful" Record Mirror UK
"If Colin Newman isn't careful he'll soon find himself horribly close to becoming popular" Q UK # posted by DJ Martian 2:13 PM
We're re-releasing "Wheel in The Roses" by Rema-Rema, which was 4AD's first ever single back in 1980 (although there were four previous records on the Axis label). This will be the first time the single has been made available on CD.
Rema-Rema were a London based five piece exploring post-punk music in the late 70�s before moving on and forming various influential bands in the 80�s.
The Musicians :
Gary Asquith - guitar (later in Mass, Renegade Soundwave)
Marco - guitar (later in Adam and the Ants)
Mick Allen - bass (ex-Models, later in Mass, The Wolfgang Press)
Mark Cox - keyboards (later in Mass, The Wolfgang Press)
Max - drums
The Music :
The �Wheel In The Roses� EP - one side recorded in the studio and one side live - is the only record of a band that had already split up by the time it was released.
�Fond Affections� is known to 4AD fans thanks to its appearance on the first This Mortal Coil album, �It�ll End In Tears�. Additionally, the song �Rema Rema� was covered in 1985 by Steve Albini�s Big Black on a very rare one-sided 7� single.
This re-issue is the first time that all the tracks have been available on CD and it is released in a strictly limited edition of only 1000 copies. The packaging is a card sleeve which is a minature of the original jacket; there's also an inner sleeve and a 4 page booklet with psychobabble by Kevin Mooney (ex-Adam and the Ants). The CD label is a facsimile of the original vinyl label.
For the Rema-Rema artist section, head to Rema Rema # posted by DJ Martian 12:55 AM
And Also the Trees will be releasing the new album 'Further from the truth' on the evening of 24th October 2003. # posted by DJ Martian 12:52 AM
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Junkmedia have an interview feature on Ima Robot # posted by DJ Martian 11:07 PM
indieworkshop.com report Jade Tree is set to release Cex�s upcoming full-length, Maryland Mansions on November 18th. [Just how many record labels has Cex been on to date?] # posted by DJ Martian 6:52 PM
Sonomu review Broadway Project - The Vessel # posted by DJ Martian 6:36 PM
Musique Machine review David Sylvian - Blemish # posted by DJ Martian 6:34 PM
TWINE: New Album set to be one of the essential experimental electronics albums of 2003
Twine release a self titled album on Ghostly International on October 21st
01_GRV
02_Plectrum
03_Piano
04_Girl Song
05_Kalea Morning
06_Pendant
07_Asa nisi masa
08_Counting off again
09_Strobe
CD includes "C_Song" Video
by Phase 4.
LP Contains additonal track:
"Sbrent".
TWINE CD TWINE 2XLP
-Catalog number: GI-18
-Format: CD (Digpak 6) / 2xLP
-Street Date: October 21, 2003
THE WORD POINTS OF INTRIGUE
-An eerie and romantic classic of
ethereal warmth and sinister
beauty.
-Follow-up EP (CD/12") scheduled
for Spring 2004
-Beautiful 2xLP mastered by Roger
Siebel with bonus track.
Friends talk about nothing over the phone; a gentle guitar strum mutates into a
gauzy substance; a swell of sub-bass and firework crackling ensues. Fuzzed-out
scanners capture distant conversations, and otherworldly voices emerge through
the noise, haunting like a recurring dream.
Twine�s self-titled album, their debut release for Ann Arbor�s Ghostly
International, is a record about the difficulties of 21st-century communication and
the universal threads that unite the physical and immaterial worlds. The
experience of Twine is the static on telephone lines, the nighttime whispers, the
sounds of the aether; a record of dizzying percussive glitch, eerie textures and
vocals grated into a dense fog, a collective but coded dialogue.
Cleveland, Ohio�s Greg Malcolm and Boulder, Colorado�s Chad Mossholder
comprise a unique musical entity. Twine is the culmination of their extended
history, which includes their acclaimed 2002 LP Recorder for France�s Bip-Hop
and their distinguished catalogue for Chicago�s Hefty Records and Sweden�s
Komplott. Their self-titled LP contains a mysterious and unresolved quality, the
result of the musical relationship which the group�s two main practitioners share.
Making music together from across the country, their collaborations are exercises
in postmodern abstraction. Songs become experimentations in the virtual realm,
with files bounced back and forth across time zone and singular ideas becoming
collaborative.
As much a noisy, ambient experience as any heard today, from Fennesz�s Endless
Summer to Black Dice�s Beaches and Canyons, Twine also draws influence from
the free-floating, sand-blasted vocals of Cocteau Twins. This is a story of the
fuzzy lines that connect and distance humanity, and the spiritual in-between that
emerges in the nighttime hours.
Source: Press Release from Ghostly International # posted by DJ Martian 6:26 PM
Issue 2 out September 1: Young People, Slumber Party, Cat Power, The Slits, Dizzee Rascal, The White Stripes, The Rapture, Dexys Midnight Runners, Booty Bass, Holly Golightly and a plethora of album reviews, in a handy, albeit back-breaking, A-Z format.
BBC Music review the K7 label compilation: K7 - 150 # posted by DJ Martian 1:00 AM
dotmusic report Echo And The Bunnymen will reissue remastered versions of their first five albums in October: 'Crocodiles', 'Heaven Up Here', 'Porcupine', 'Ocean Rain' and 'Echo & The Bunnymen', that will include new artwork, photos and comment from the band.
This will tie in with a 25th anniversary of the band and a 3 date tour taking in Glasgow, Liverpool and London. # posted by DJ Martian 12:45 AM
If I were an editor of a weekly music magazine this week's front cover would featureMu
This week's front cover choice is Mu, who finally release their album: Afro Finger and Gel on Output Recordings in the UK on September 1st. Mu music is an exotic blend of sounds mashed up into an intoxicating aural delight: sensual, spellbinding and super delicious.
Mu along with artists such as: Adult, Ellen Allien, Aspera, Bangkok Impact, Colder, Dinky, Goldfrapp, M83, Ulrich Schnauss, Patrick Wolf, Zeigenbock Kopf and Zongamin - are all putting exotica in electronics back on the agenda in 2003.
MU - Afro Finger and Gel (Output) Nobody (except perhaps Kool Keith) can claim to sport as many musical signatures as Baltimore-born globetrotter Maurice Fulton. After compiling an impressive rep sheet of twisted house programming as Ladyvipb, Syclops, Stress, Basement Boys and Eddie And The Eggs, he finally settled in Sheffield and got married last year to Japanese-born Matsumi. They started making beautiful music together and the resulting Mu album, Afro Finger And Gel, is the best punk electronics you�ll hear in 2003. It�s a poppers-fuelled blurring of the lines between goofy techno, body-popping Latin, Japanese pop, Skinny Puppy, Ministry and rousing horndog Basement Jaxx blitzes. Source: I-D
MU - Afro Finger and Gel 'Afro Finger And Gel' is the debut full-length offering from MU, a blistering new beat combo based in Sheffield. With all tracks written and performed by Mutsumi Kanamori, and produced by Maurice Fulton, 'Afro Finger And Gel' is a grand collection of punked up, spliffed out madness, that looks set to punctuate dancefloors worldwide, with its unique blend of demented disco savvy and sheer bloody addictiveness. Source: Vital/ RT # posted by DJ Martian 12:06 AM
Olympia, WA's Growing has created an album full of textured soundscapes that fall way beyond the realm of post-rock while maintaining an organic familiarity that keep their songs from going off the avant-deep end.
The ambience of Eno, the progressions of Pink Floyd, the epic sweeps of Godspeed! You Black Emperor and Landing-style segueways all come to mind when listening to The Sky's Run Into The Sea # posted by DJ Martian 4:37 PM
It's a positively sublime closing track that perfectly illustrates the genius of the So collaboration, the finest record Popp has been involved with since 94diskont. # posted by DJ Martian 4:23 PM
Some new releases listed in the weekly guide [via e-mail] from Manchester's music emporium: Piccadilly Records
Cardia - Cardia Silverthree
New York City's Cardia reveals and invokes the romance, vastness, and lush aspects of pop music. Self recorded and self produced, this eponymous debut resonates with a passion for song craftsmanship. This new band feature Ian Love (Rival Schools), St. John Scott (Shudder To Think), Brad Vanderark (Verve Pipe), and Andy Action (Speedball Baby). Seamlessly merging analog depth and studio prowess, combining textured ambient guitars with a driving rhythm section to lay the backdrop for Ian Love's rich soaring vocals.
The Faraway Places - Unfocus On It Bella Union
Debut album from LA's The Faraway Places. Wearing their musical hearts on their sleeves, they play 60s guitars, psychedelic keyboards and sweet harmonies, with songs ranging from funky garage numbers to West Coast pop, with obvious influences: Sun Ra, T-Rex, Motown, The Small Faces, Fleetwood Mac, The Velvet Underground, Fela Kuti, The Byrds and Memphis soul have all played their part.
The Raveonettes - Chain Gang Of Love Columbia
Second album? Same as the first! But 13 tracks, 33 minutes and in the more optimistic B Major chords, it's GENIUS obviously. Chainsaw rock, sixties girlgroup harmonies, Buddy Holly, Suicide, Blondie and J.A.M.C. Add unbelievably catchy songs, a decadent B-Movie glamour, a gorgeous singer-it's the perfect formula. Second album then: same as the first, but bigger, brighter and even better!
The Silver Mt. Zion - This Is Our Punk Rock Constellation
This third album from Silver Mt. Zion, is by far the most melodic album released by any Godspeed You Black Emperor project. On this release, they expand on their core six piece line-up, to include guests on drums and a couple of dozen folk on choral duty! Dense layers of strings collide, blend and differentiate against a backdrop of ragged repeating guitar figures and noise treatments. Their long instrumental passages are there as ever, but there's a much stronger vocal presence than before.
TV On The Radio - Young Liars Touch And Go
Five songs about lost loves reincarnated and beautiful eulogies for a dead century, from New York's TV On The Radio. On this their first EP for Touch And Go, they're joined by Nick and Brian from The Yeah Yeah Yeah's.
Jorma Whittaker - Jorma Whittaker Secretly Canadian
With his debut full length, Jorma Whittaker bursts out of the indie heaven known as Marmoset, the dark pop band he has fronted since 1995. Whittaker has created his best and most personal album to date, for fans of melancholic latter day Jesus And Marychain, the Ladybug Transistor, Television and the Clientele.
Various Artists / Hotel Pelirocco Distinctive
Compilation of tracks from the legendary Brighton hangout for rockers, mods and gutter punks and includes tracks from Henry Mancini, Dusty Springfield, The Bees, Noonday Underground, The Damned, Scissor Sisters, Add N to X, Primal Scream, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Small Faces, Sister Sledge and Minnie Riperton amongst others.
Rebel Powers - Not One Star Will Stand The Night Strange Attractors
"Not One Star Will Stand The Night" is the eerie debut release by Rebel Powers, a lonely, sorrowful wander through stark tonal passages and cinematic despair. Rebel Powers explore minimalist sound layering via two long, improvised tracks. Sustained guitar notes resonate and sarangi buzzes swirl while chiming waves of concrete percussive clatter and plaintive vocal wails slowly build momentum.
Tsurubami - Gekkyukekkaichi Strange Attractors
Comprised of Emi Nobuko (drums) and fellow Acid Mothers Temple compatriots Kawabata Makoto (guitar) and Higashi Hiroshi (bass), the inception of Tsurubami harkens a densely churning, deeply immersing whirlpool of sound, spun from a total state of ecstatic improvisation. Upon entering Tsurubami's sphere for the first time, it is immediately evident that a higher form of consciousness is at play. Resonating, ringing guitar fractals are drowned in layers of echo-chamber effects, swelling with intense volume over restless bass pulses and feathery multi-directional drum patterns, scattering sonic debris like clouds of pollen over unsuspecting heads.
Cobra High - Sunset At The Edge Of The Darkness Gold Crush
This is the debut release from the best and most exciting new band in the NW of America today. Cobra High make instantly familiar, catchy, edgy, fun, sexy music. They have been described as the Damned meet the Faint, that's pretty much on the mark, but there's more, mixing up a more punk rock and mashing up an 80s styled electro clash, keyboards and synths add a real new wave sound overall.
Richard X - Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1 Virgin
Rocketing to fame with his mash-up of Sugababes and Tubeway Army, Richard X is obviously a big part of the whole electroclash / 'mashing' (as featured on BBC Breakfast News) scene, but, as is proved by his debut LP, he's lightyears ahead of the chasing pack. The reason for this is partly his choice of tracks that he covers (Lil' Louis' "Club Lonely", Bacharach & David's "Walk On By" etc) and partly because of the singers he works with (Soul II Soul's Caron Wheeler, Kelis, Annie, Jarvis Cocker, Deborah Evans-Stickland of The Flying Lizards as well as pop's Sugababes and Liberty X etc).
The Black-Eyed Snakes - Rise Up Chairkickers Music
After the success of their debut, "It's The Black Eyed Snakes", and after several tours of the USA, the band reconvened and recorded their long awaited second album. The 'Snakes play the blues the way you wish they were played, taking advantage of the grit spawned by punk and the sonic freedom of modern artists - anyone who can cover Soft Cell, Swans and Bo Diddley without even flinching is worth a look. Tim Rutili of Califone makes guest slide appearances on several of the songs, but at the core is the distorted preacher meets doomsayer vocals of Chicken Bone George (AKA Alan Sparhawk of Low).
Fila Brazilia - B2 Twentythree
This is Fila Brazilia's second "Brazilification" collection that rounds up their mixes of other artists. It opens with their mix of Fluke's "Tosh", which you'll know as an Electric Chair anthem from a few years back, and also includes mixes of (in all different genres!) Jose Padilla, The Truth, Cal Tjader, Sven Vath, United Future Organisation, Future Loop Foundation, Mellow etc.
Req - Car Paint Scheme Warp
This is the fourth LP from Brighton's nocturnal beat creator Req, and it sees the rest of the world catching up with the avant electro-acoustic hip hop instrumentals he's been cutting since 1997. This Warp LP gives light to standout tracks from the past three years.
Jon Kennedy - Take My Drum To England Grand Central
Jon Kennedy ploughs a similar furrow to Mr Scruff, Hint or Aim - the one marked slightly quirky instrumental hip hop or dreamy downbeat. Among the instrumental tracks, there's also vocals by Kate Rogers and Karen Wilson. # posted by DJ Martian 12:12 AM
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
Reminder: John Kennedy on Xfm tonight [UK time 11pm - 1am] will be featuring the new UNKLE album in full with James Lavelle talking us through the Never, Never Land tracks.
Those outside of London can tune in via the web @ Xfm # posted by DJ Martian 6:39 PM
As profiled on End Records - The Omega one of the most challenging avant rock albums of the year? The soon to be released debut album from Norway's Virus
VIRUS - Carheart
The eccentricity of Virus lies at it's core as it features members of the prominent Ved Buens Ende. Virus is a new beginning though and conjures avantgarde auras of darkwave rock (Talking Heads) with unorthodox metal (Voivod). For the ones that seek adventures and new discoveries, Virus will plaque your ears for quite awhile... # posted by DJ Martian 6:05 PM
Jazzwise blog, notify what to expect in the September issue of Jazzwise magazine:
On the cover is the Esbjorn Svensson Trio, and inside the trio members are interviewed ahead of the release of their latest much anticipated CD. Inside there are features on bassist Dave Holland, Alan Skidmore, John Coltrane's Transition, new singer Gwyneth Herbert, Malian superstar Oumou Sangare and piano whiz Matthew Bourne plus news and a big review section. # posted by DJ Martian 5:57 PM
Photek will release an album: Do or Die in early 2004, as reported by indieworkshop.com # posted by DJ Martian 1:23 PM
BurnitBlue.com report that Massive Attack plan to spend the rest of the year in a recording studio, working on new material. # posted by DJ Martian 1:14 PM
5 tracks, 47 minutes. Debut album. Multi Layered drones & loops, fused with guitars. A beautiful album which simply transcends genres. Must not be missed.Distributed viaSouthern Records
Constellation will release Polmo Polpo - Like Hearts Swelling on September 22nd
Building on foundations of multi-layered full-spectrum drones & loops, the music of Polmo Polpo is distinguished by slide guitar motifs that are more naive pop pastoral than spaghetti western. Opening track "Romeo Heart" builds inexorably from silence to jet-engine pink noise squall, coaxed along by descending bass & guitar lines -- an excellent introduction to a record that gains in emotional resonance and structural complexity with every song. "Requiem For A Fox" introduces the techno-inflected, underwater heartbeat pulse that marks much of Sandro's earlier work, with whirring ring tones, detuned filters & a sardonic melody gradually giving way to the jauntier acoustic guitar groove & exuberant slide solo at song's end. "Farewell" is a darker interlude rounding out Side One, based on bowed bass, cello & timpani-sized drum samples.
"Sky Histoire" has the most overt rhythmic foundation of any Polmo Polpo track to date, anchored by brilliant interweaving bass & string lines while leaving plenty of room for guitars & keyboards to soar. The juxtaposition of melodic figures as the song hits maximum density is glorious, fittingly giving way to a reprise complete with celebratory bells & chimes. The title track & album finale features Gen from Hangedup, looping & weaving her string work into a verdant organic landscape of squeaks, skronks & moans while accordion sways over top: a gorgeous display of sonic fauvism to close the record.
Polmo Polpo has crafted a subtle, enveloping, kaleidoscopic instrumental pop record, brimming & bursting like hearts swelling. # posted by DJ Martian 1:08 AM
Absorb interview Patrick Wolf # posted by DJ Martian 12:37 AM
Fantomas, who feature Mike Patton and Dave Lombardo, release new album: Delirium Cordia on October 6th on Ipecac
1 track, 55 minutes. The third album from Mike Patton, Buzz Osbourne, Dave Lombardo and Trevor Dunn. A more ambient and dark record than their previous albums.
Abacus Records will release Radiation 4 - Wonderland, in the US on September 9th, [amazon.co.uk list it as import for UK folk]
With an aching and yearning to break free from the normal confines of hardcore and metal, RADIATION 4 was born, a band bent on raising the bar both creatively and aggressively as evident on their debut album, Wonderland. To those in the hardcore/metal underground: prepare for a breath of fresh air�
The Los Angeles-based quartet formed in the spring of 2001 in Diamond Bar, California with its core members, Chris Negrete (vocals), Jon Windham (guitar), Jose Escobar (bass) and Aaron Windham (drums), all prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve their collective musical aspirations. In October 2001, the band produced and released 1,000 copies of their self-titled EP, which eventually drew the attention of Abacus Recordings, who quickly signed the band. Drawing comparisons to The Dillinger Escape Plan, Mr. Bungle, Botch and Fantomas, among others, it�s no question that RADIATION 4�s debut will turn heads in all scenes while earning themselves legions of fans in the process. �I could never understand how bands just play the same thing time after time,� says Negrete. �They don't really set themselves apart from anyone. Our goal is to get everyone excited about something new.�
From rampaging fits of spastic energy, on tracks such as �Tick, Tock, Tick� and �When Animals Attack� to carefully crafted, epic yet eerie journeys such as �The Prize� and �John Vs. The Elephant,� it�s clear that the listeners� attention will never wander from this disc. Equally captivating are the vocal purgings from Negrete, who is as entertaining and amusing as he is gripping and powerful, with a resemblance toward Mike Patton�s acrobatics. Forgoing the typical lyrical path of countless hardcore and metal bands, RADIATION 4 base their lyrics around the musical theme of their songs, which will (certainly) confuse, (sometimes) astound and (definitely) provoke the listener.
Wonderland was mixed by Matt Bayles (Botch, Isis, Burnt By The Sun) at Studio Avast and features a breathtaking layout by Chandler Owen (Hopesfall, Shai Hulud) to aid in visually spellbinding the already sonically entranced audience. As a group, RADIATION 4 places no limitations on the scope of their songwriting, and Wonderland is solid proof of that. # posted by DJ Martian 12:12 AM
Monday, August 25, 2003
Just listened to this band: The Keys [a new signing to Too Pure records] on Xfm. The single: Love your Sons and Daughters which is released on September 8th, is a complete carbon copy of The Comsat Angels - 20 years + late.
The Keys have the exact timing, style, textures - vocals and guitars as The Comsat Angels, circa Fiction.
The recently completed self-titled debut album from The Keys is now set for an autumn release on October 6th. # posted by DJ Martian 11:34 PM
Stafr�nn H�kon
Resonant release Stafr�nn H�kon - 'Skvettir edik � ref' on September 22nd [although available direct from the label now]
Stafr�nn H�kon - 'Skvettir edik � ref' (RESCD005) CD in stock now . This is the first of two Stafr�nn H�kon albums coming out on Resonant in 2003, the second one '� �standi rj�punnar' (RESCD006) will follow before the end of the year and a third brand new studio album will be released in spring 2004 .. YAAHHOOO !
SOME INFO :
Stafr�nn H�kon is the musical project of Olafur Josephsson, a young Icelandic experimental musician. Since early 1999, he's been experimenting with guitars, drum loops and various instruments in his basement using a 4-track recorder. The concept of music has always been in it's basic form for Stafr�nn H�kon, mostly played on distorted guitars and an acoustic guitar along with drum loops and melodica. Both these albums are presented as digipack CD's and will appeal to all those with a love of drifting, ethereal soundscapes ala Labradford, Tarentel, Aerial M, an instrumental Sigur Ros etc etc
'Skvettir Edik � Ref' (RESCD005) will be released worldwide on September 22nd 2003 although mailorder customers can buy copies now from us direct. # posted by DJ Martian 11:20 PM
Prefix magazine provide the latest music news and reviews, covering alt rock and hip hop. # posted by DJ Martian 10:32 PM
Mark Russell and Robert Sandall report
from Edinburgh and Glasgow on the alternative
music scenes in the two cities, and meet Frog
Pocket, Bovine Life, the Magnificents and Colditz.
7 September 2003 - 23:00-24.05
Robert Sandall and Mark Russell present a unique
mix of musical styles and influences.
14 September 2003 - 23:00-24.05
A site-specific performance from the Niemeyer
Pavilion of London�s Serpentine Gallery by Mimeo,
an international improvising group including Pita,
Kaffe Matthews, J�r�me Noetinger and Keith Rowe. # posted by DJ Martian 9:55 PM
The latest Mixing It show features an interview with Basil Kirchin
Interview: Basil Kirchin
Basil Kirchin began his musical career as a big band drummer, and played extensively with the Ted Heath Orchestra. Towards the end of the 1960s he began to experiment with tape manipulation, field recordings and free improvisation, and produced some recordings which were never released but became legendary.
However, one of these recordings, Quantum, has finally seen the light of day on the Trunk label, run by long-time Basil Kirchin fan Jonny Trunk.
>>> To listen to the latest Mixing It show, click on the link on the top right, Listen to the Latest Programme. # posted by DJ Martian 9:51 PM
Project Dark - Gramophone De Luxe is released this week via PostEverything.com a launch party happens on Wednesday evening in London at the Foundry, Great Eastern St. # posted by DJ Martian 9:26 PM
new release selection - 25/08/03 @ Rough Trade # posted by DJ Martian 9:13 PM
Metal Urbain were often compared to as the French PIL/ Public Image Ltd, and recorded for Rough Trade. Some excelent news: Acute Records [part of Carpark Records] are to release a retrospective Metal Urbain anthology in November
acute is very excited to announce that we are reissuing the works of the legendary french post-punk group metal urbain and their side projects metal boys and dr. mix. we plan to release the metal urbain anthology this november and metal urbain will play some shows in the new york and LA area to coincide. for those who don't know, metal urbain were a late 70s/early 80s post-punk group that blended punk rock guitars, drum machines, and assorted analog synth noises. they were lucky enough to have the first release on rough trade records back in the day. and wouldn't you know it their records have been out of print for years and are considered expensive collector items. metal urbain's sound has influenced such groups as big black and the jesus and mary chain. the plan is metal urbain in november, metal boys in january, and dr. mix in february. more details very soon...
Source: e-mail from Carpark/ Acute records # posted by DJ Martian 8:54 PM
Kraftwerk - Tour De France Soundtracks
Astralwerks # posted by DJ Martian 8:42 PM
This week's Breezeblock show on Radio 1 features: Phuturistix with Zed Bias + Manitoba live # posted by DJ Martian 8:24 PM
According to the ranking on MetalBite.com: Zyklon - Aeon is the best Metal album of 2003 so far. This album will be released on September 8th in the UK.
That rad Sacto duo Hella is back, guitar and drums just goin' for it in a punk-prog stylee. You can still use Lightning Bolt and the Ruins as comparisons, but with the added instrumentation -- noisy, new wavey synths -- they're getting further away from the Bolt template. All instrumental save for some funny voices bookending the tracks, this album is just as kinetic and hyperchaotic as their previous output, veering into a bit o' Carl Stalling style cartoon music as befits the title. 7 songs in just under 20 minutes, plus for those with computers, a live video clip for "Brown Metal" from their first album. Definitely a treat for those into drums, math, and spinning around until you're dizzy. FUN!
One of the few "post rock" bands to play somber organic, electronica-imbued music and have it NOT be background filler, but full of emotion, narrative, texture, and meaning, Germany's Kammerflimmer Kollektief have delivered their prettiest album with Cicadidae. The squiggly processed electronics frolic, sounding like seagulls, over warm violin, harmonium drone, and chattery, shimmering drums. There's saxophone, vibraphone, double bass, all so evocative and melodic. Exploratory experimental jazz bits contrast nicely with the epic lush resolutions, reminding us sometimes of Amon Tobin's quieter moments, also Kreidler, To Rococo Rot, the Tied + Tickled Trio. Windy's new favorite record and one of the most satisfyingly lovely albums since Fridge's Eph. Just listen to that first sound clip and my guess is you'll be hooked.
Ephel Duath - The Painter's Palette (Elitist / Earache)
Woah. The "what the fuck?!" meter is going off the scale here. Ephel Duath -- no, we don't know what that name means exactly -- are from Italy and this is their second album. They're a black metal band. So far, so good, so what. Then take a listen. THIS is black metal?? More like metalcore (the screaming vocals), prog (the schitzo song structures), and/or jazz (the horns, the drumming). Let's talk about the drummer -- the dude's a jazz drummer pushing 50, who never played a metal "date" before. Well, he shows up quite a few metal drummers with this performance. And, to backtrack, yes we said horns. Total Miles Davis In A Silent Way trumpet, y'know... Then there's also everything from prettily melodic sensitive male vocals to skittering electronic beats to funk bass to ambient synth drone to, oh yeah, epic symphonic black metal thrown in. Could be a mess, yet somehow, somehow, it works, for us anyway. They just have a knack for mixing all these ingredients just right so that the results stick in your ear. Call 'em songs, even though they don't sound much like most songs out there. So, if your listening diet contains some or better yet all of the following, you're pretty much meant to buy this Ephel Duath disc: Arcturus, Naked City, Maudlin Of The Well, Mr. Bungle, Melt Banana, Yakuza, Neurosis, Sigh, Dillinger Escape Plan, Radiohead, Opeth, Emperor... Yeah, Opeth with jazzy trumpet and more of an ADD, John Zorn styled songwriting approach, that might be a good shorthand description of this Ephel Duath thingie.
Frog Eyes - The Golden River (Global Symphonic)
Hailing from the same city that popped out Hot Hot Heat, Frog Eyes bring forth an altogether different sound from their Victoria, BC brethren. Imagine a baroque hybrid of the Brit-inflected melodrama of Interpol or Pulp and the more dissonant, hand-wringing instabilities of Xiu Xiu. Very high on moody affectation with the focus squarely on the vocals. In addition to the deeply emotional croon and warble of those mentioned above, singer Carey Mercer may also draw comparisons to Tom Waits' hoarsely heart-baring delivery or the slightly smoother sandpaper swoon of Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler. Lyrics and song titles are somewhat cryptic, obtuse and strangely poetic. The backdrop: electric guitar string churns and howls, shimmery cymbal washes, all anchored by some velvety piano melodies. FYI: More evidence of the Vancouver/Victoria music scene being quite a mighty tight knit family? Neko Case's Corn Sister co-hort Carolyn Mark lent her lovely voice to three songs (check out the luminous fifth song "A Latex Ice Age"), and Ms Mark's bandmate Tolan McNeil engineered the proceedings. Recommended.
Ohgr - SunnyPsyOp (Spitfire)
Although the opening track "HiLO" seems to start things out in a similar fashion, as a whole SunnyPsyOp is definitely not as Numanesque and pop-oriented as Ohgr's previous album Welt. So if you were craving more of the same, unfortunately you'll just have to keep spinning the former 'cause this takes a somewhat different path. However, it's not completely off the map of Ohgr. If you're seeking more of a bridge between Skinny Puppy (the project that Ohgr is best know for, where he recorded as Nivek Ogre) and the abovementioned album - something somewhat more somber and abstract, more skin-crawling and mind-bending - this might be for you. Whereas Welt might've made you want to get up and move about, SunnyPsyOp might make you want to settle down into brood mode with a sturdy set of headphones. Shades of Nivek Ogre's Skinny Puppy roots surface here - perhaps as a result of the recent reunion of said group (that's right, we can expect a new album from Cevin Key, Ogre and co. very shortly! - listen... are those celebratory cheers coming up from the catacombs?). Of course it sounds great. Much like his SP bandmate, sonic craftsman / mad genius Key, Ogre's gained another well-suited, producer / multi-instrumentalist in Mark Walk (Pigface, Ruby). He skillfully fills your ears with rich synthesizer textures, sharply puncturing beats and intricate details and captures Ogre's deeply emotive and affected voice in fine form. With cover art by Camille Rose Garcia. Includes a video for the track "Majik".
Stars As Eyes - Loud New Shit (Tigerbeat6)
Stars As Eyes traverse through such varied musical terrain on their new cd that it almost sounds like a compilation of a bunch of different bands. Perhaps they've been drawing inspiration from their vast array of Tigerbeat6 labelmates (psst, check out the label's recent bargain-priced compilation Open Up And Say...@<%_|^[!] for a thorough sampling of their roster)? Actually this is more of a remix collection than an album proper. Of the dozen tracks, one third are new, and over half are remixes... which probably factors in greatly to the diversity of the track selection. It all starts familiarly Stars As Eyes-y. That is, chiming, airy electronic dreaminess (track 1 "Some Life"), then things darken and churn somewhat into something akin to 'industrial-lite' (track 2 "Rotten"). But wait! Let's not get all gloomy! Party down with some disco punk a la The Rapture, Outhud (track 5 "Falling Picture - Shy Child Remix"), and lighten back up with more soothing melancholic-tronica (track 9 "Our Light - Casino Versus Japan Remix"), then brood, brood, brood into some very moody Brit rock-ish songs (track 10 and 11 "La Methode Francaise - Dwayne Sodahberk Remix" and "Resistance Days - Mum Nostalgia"). Delightfully eclectic or puzzlingly wishy-washy, you decide. # posted by DJ Martian 6:27 PM
Pitchfork review Chris Clark - Empty the Bones of You
This album is album of the week at Junkmedia # posted by DJ Martian 1:46 PM
Stylus will be closed this week for summer cleaning. We will back next week with a new design, a slew of features and the same great taste in music...
This week: we'll be putting up a few reviews on the blog and, at the same time, keeping up the same torrid pace of posting that we've maintained in the recent past. If you haven't been, now's the time to start checking it out!
Stylus Blog...The Turntable # posted by DJ Martian 1:43 PM
SPOTLIGHT...KEY NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK:
Key new album releases for August 25th [A more detailed release listing including other new releases, compilations and reissues - can be found further up this webpage.]
This Week: August 25th
And One - Aggressor (Virgin) [German Import available at Music Non Stop]
Apparat - Duplex (Shitkatapult)
Arch Enemy - Anthems of Rebellion (Century Media)
Envy - Dead Sinking Story (Level Plane) [Listed as an Import @ Amazon.co.uk]
The Faraway Places - The Faraway Places (Bella Union)
John Foxx and Harold Budd - Drift Music/ Translucence (Edsel)
Greenbank - Rotating The Square (Benbecula) EP
Iyunx Productions - Syrup Bones & Toast (U Cover)
Jon Kennedy - Take My Drum To England (Grand Central)
LFO - Freak (Warp) EP Single
Project Dark - gramophone de luxe (Phono Erotic) [Available at PostEverything.com]
Akira Rabelais - ...Benediction, Draw (Orthlorng Musork)
Raveonettes - Chain Gang Of Love (Columbia)
Req - Car Paint Scheme (Warp)
Marc Ribot - Scelsi Morning (Tzadik)
Richard X - Presents His X Factor Volume 1 (Virgin)
Silencer - Signals (Critical Mass)
The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-la-la Band - "This Is Our Punk-Rock," Thee Rusted Satellites Gather +Sing (Constellation)
The Swords Project - Entertainment Is Over If You Want It (Ryko) [Import]
TV On The Radio - Young Liars (Touch & Go)
For Reference:
Last Week: August 18th
Campfire Songs - Campfire Songs (Catsup Plate)
Cappo - Spaz the World (Zebra Traffic)
Client - Client (Toast Hawaii)
Crankcase - Model Arimetic (Pete)
The Cruxshadows - Frozen Ambers (Ferret) [Available at Music Non Stop]
Elbow - Cast of Thousands (V2)
Fluke - Puppy (One Little Indian)
Manual - Isares (Static Caravan)
Minmae - Microcassette Quatrains (BlueSanct)
Pleasure - Pleasure (Circus)
Royce - Subtleties of the Game (Galapagos 4)
Secret Machines - September 000 (679) [UK Release 2003]
Signaldrift - Compass (Wobblyhead)
SikTh - The Trees Are Dead And Dried Out, Wait For Something Wild... (Unparalleled Carousel/Gut label) # posted by DJ Martian 2:19 AM
Sunday, August 24, 2003
new releases @ Fopp for this week [Week Commencing, August 25th] with added press quotes. # posted by DJ Martian 9:57 PM
Hydrogen Dukebox release The Lithium Project - Many Worlds Theory on September 1st:
Electronic Lounge scientists The Lithium Project return...
Swerving from their most probable musical path, Jason Farall and Kenny Clarke's latest Lithium Project intrigue sees them settling into an altogether more fluid batch of songs, departing from the grit-studded production of debut album 'Passo Fundo' and allowing the music it's head.
Something's happened. A rebirth, perhaps? Whatever the cause, the effect is startling to hear. A sharper focus has pushed their sound into a zone occupied by the purest of originators, and while this album sometimes maintains a connection with dark moods, it's the stuff you're glancing into rather than peering out from.
True, scuttling beats and avant-gasdism occasionally make a break for it, but a new-found feeling for the residual 'sweetness' in their sound means that even the discord of tracks like 'Feynman's Theme' seems utterly right. Likewise, take in the Duane Eddy guitar moments on 'Spooky Action' and you might expect a looming dark-up, but once again, there's something radiant bubbling under, and the emphasis shifts before the light fades.
Like all exploratory musical forms there's a beguiling broth of tones and textures to absorb here, but with a sure-footedness that again suggests a new-found clarity. Even the rhythms, close-up and delicately understated, follow suit. Ingenuity and unselfconscious emotion have, it would seem, conspired to make Many Worlds Theory a remarkable album # posted by DJ Martian 9:51 PM
The Creatures - H�i!
The Creatures will release a new album: H�i! on October 20th
THE CREATURES: Siouxsie & Budgie return as The Creatures with their emphatically titled new album �H�i!� Translated, the title of this Self-produced, Anglo-Japanese fusion means �Yes!� and is released on their own Sioux Records label on October 20, 2003. As mysterious as the serene yet sensual beauty of the cover image by Japanese artist Kimiko Yoshida, �H�i!� is an alchemy of distilled atmospherics and sublime minimalism. Yet as Siouxsie�s vocals soar over Budgie�s daredevil drums & marimbas, syncromeshed to the pulsing Taiko rhythms of ex-Kodo drummer Leonard Eto, �H�i!� soon splits several sonic skins to emit a roar that would rival that of Japan�s most famous movie monster, �Godzilla!�, whose paean from Siouxsie will be released as a single on October 6, 2003. �H�i!� began on the stormy Tokyo morning when fate brought Budgie and Taiko drum master Leonard Eto together for the first time. �The spirit of Japan has touched our souls and a new chapter in the story of �The Creatures� has begun� says Budgie.
Tracklisting: 1. Say Yes! 2. Around The World 3. Seven Tears 4. Godzilla! 5. Imagoro 6. Tourniquet 7. Further Nearer 8. City Island 9. Tantara
Press Release from: The Creatures # posted by DJ Martian 6:55 PM
That's the s**t im talking about. "Duplex" is a great electronic album - one of the finest of the year so far - at once daring and traditional, experimental and conciliatory, tough and soothing. An amalgamation of ideas and production tools that span across varied styles and means of execution, bringing to life an unpretentious, brave fusion of intricate electronic constructions and a seemingly unconscious sprinkling of acoustic traditions. "Granular Bastard" opens proceedings brilliantly, taking its time, carefully showing its hand from the disjointed synthesis of the opening sequence to the eventual materialisation of the crunchy complexities of rhythm and the affecting melodies. Taking it slow, one breath at a time. Awesome. "Contradiction" follows in startling fashion, weaving in a gentle backdrop of sparse guitar to the broken, slowed-down beat and the reflective vocal that uncomfortably squeezes itself in. Flawed, vulnerable, genuinely moving. The rest of the album employs these principles as its guideline - veering from a heavily processed take on IDM through to gentle reflections and vocal renditions - at times appearing robust and angry, at others exposing its flaws, but always doing so with utmost originality and a desire to innovate that once in a while just devastates. There are very few IDM albums that take these sorts of risks, a thing that should be applauded. Highly Recommended.
SINGLE OF THE WEEK!
Greenbank - Rotating The Square Benbecula
Following the massive critical and commercial acclaim heaped on Benbecula's recent album release from alleged one-time Boards Of Canada collaborator Christ, the label returns with another mouthwatering debut. This first release from Peter Brittain's Greenbank project glides across classic electronic terrain, employing at its root a love of the seminal IDM sound as employed by Aphex, Autechre and the Artificial Intelligence crew, coupled with an emotive response to delicate, crunchy soundscaping. The opening "I Need More Time" unfolds an arrangement of reflective piano cascades and squashed beats, a natural appendix to the sound of Christ that so mesmerised those who dipped into its wonders. "My Computer" is far denser, a tougher arrangement of crunchy beats and oscillating sub-molecular basslines weaved into a nostalgic, gorgeous line-up of synths in portamento - a massive electroid monster of a tune. The 8-bit pop-blitz disfunction of "Loads of Little Squares" acts as fine preparation for the simply immense opener on the flip - "Fluted". This is an awesome, perfectly executed Plaid-esque moment, all bouncy percussion and playful synths, broken beats wrapping themselves around the mix in a vaguely West London style - set to be absolutely massive. Benbecula is one of the world's most respected, closely-followed electronic imprints, this is undoubtedly one of their finest moments to date. Ace.
Iyunx Productions - Syrup, Bones and Toast U Cover
Manchester's Iyunx Productions, aka Yunx, take a break from their own Yunx Recordings imprint to deliver this fine slice of home listening for the dependable U-Cover label. "Syrup, Bones and Toast" is a soothing blend of detroit strings and evolved' electronic beats. The opening "Casee" revolves around a headnod tempo and some haunting, almost operatic samples that weave in and out of the mix in a typically Yunx-like, soundtrackish manner. "Glue Sniffer" is more uptempo and broken, slight ambient interjections aiming the music at the heart rather than the feet. Lovely stuff.
LFO - Freak Warp
CD single
Mark Bell is a man on a mission. He follows-up the one-sided promo release of "Freak" with this mighty, nasty 3-tracker, a devastating statement of intent for what will surely be a landmark album for Warp due in a few weeks time. "Freak" is remarkable in its ability to return to that nasty, dark warehouse acid sound that typified LFO's early work, doing so with an updated slant that comes across like vintage acid mangled in with Mr Oizo's Flat Eric. To be able to root out such an overtly rude, bunker club sound after producing material for the likes of Depeche Mode and Bjork is surprising and something to be greatful for - crossover status beckons for one of Warp's finest club outings in years. "Butterslut" on the flip is another menacing beast of a track, all grinding, grating oscillations and spastic synths, before a deep warehouse acid segement spins the track off and into another time. "Whistle While You Jerk" is more intricate and overtly "Electronic", a spannered arrangements of bullet-fast complex percussive constructions and tight as f**k beat-editing - definitely NOT home listening. Good to see the man letting off some steam - it's gonna be some party. Ace.
Prefuse 73 - Extinguished : Outtakes Warp
Those of you who found Scott Herren's last full-length outing as Prefuse 73 a bit disjointed, a tad over-ambitious, will be pleased to drop into this much tighter collection of out-takes, re-workings and edits for this 23-track, 40 minute long Mini-Album excursion for Warp. Full of short segments, interludes and cut-ups weaving in and out of lengthier pieces, "Extinguished" is a much more consistant effort from Herren. The opening "Suite for the way things change" emulates DJ shadows approach to sectioned arrangements, although with much more derranged samples and toys at its disposal. Veering from skewed string edits to the obligatory vocal snip, the movement flows into stutterd beats, time-changes and a more organic selection of drums towards its end. The demented scuzz funkline of "I Got No Time" deploys a big nod of approval towards Dabrye's focus on electric structures and 100 ton beats to blinding effect - knowing to end itself sweetly at the 1.30 minute mark for maximum impact. "Robot Snares", one of the longer tracks on offer at a staggering 3:17 minutes, is a much more traditional Prefuse outing, piano slaps and melodic vocal enhancements bringing to life a more traditional "song" vibe, done the Prefuse way, of course. Good work from artist an label - a useful, addictive alternative / appendix to its much more sprawling older brother - "One Word Extinguisher". Really good fun.
Req - Car Paint Scheme Warp
Req's fantastic "Car Paint Scheme" has been in the making for a long time, pieced together and carefully compiled across 3 years of painstaking, constant work. Differentiating itself with a severe attitude, distinct from his work with Kid Acne and his previous effort for Warp "Sketchbook", "Car Paint Scheme" is a much more solid, extreme piece of work. The opening "Runout Scratches" is an abstract assembly of runout groove manipulation and obtuse turntablism reminiscent of Pure's "End Of Vinyl" work for Mego. The avante Garde approach, however, offsets itself perfectly against the relentlessly oldskool, stripped turntablism that follows. Tracks like "Ry Drum", "Worthing Line", "Cosmic Elements" and "Blimpot" reducing themselves to a tight beat structure, not unlike some of the finer battle tools, although augmented by tiny manipulations and some deft, awesomely timed scratching. "Mirror Beats" sticks to a vaguely similar formula, but stretches the boundaries to make room for some genuinely breathtaking beat/machine editing routines. Awesome stuff. "Train Jam" and "Soul Plot", meanwhile, steal the show with more uptempo expositions of tight funk sections, as good a combination as what one might expect had DJ Krush collaborated on the mighty Smith N Hack album. Brilliant, showstealing work from Req and Warp. Highly Recommended.
Richard X - Richard X Presents his X-Factor Vol.1 Virgin
Love him or hate him, Richard X has a good story to tell. A sort of musical tale of rags to riches, setting the enigma off with his fantastic Girls on Top 7"s and the pathetic bastard pop scene that followed, the man did it better than the rest and, well, before too long swapped dodgy Czech-pressed 7"s into major label deals and a queue of manufactured bands lining up to get a dose of his X-Factor. The "sell-out" was inevitable, but listening to this album you get the impression that our richard is a bloody smart little sod. There are some genuinely brilliant production touches scattered across the 15 tracks on offer but, bizarrely, the album falls on precisely those splicing techniques that got him there in the first place. Perhaps the idea that all samples have been cleared has taken something away from the buzz, for in the end the whackest r&b tunes stateside have used similar techniques for years, or maybe the popularisation of something once undeniably underground is just a tad too crass - in either case, there's nothing dangerous, daring about what's on display. With all said and done, however, it's a good fun pop album, and you just can't help but admire the man for, well, you just sense he's at times really taking the piss, having his cake and eating it like. Good on ya Rich.
A Silver Mt. Zion - This Is Our Punk Rock..... Constellation
This third full-length recording by Godspeed offshoot band Mt. Zion finds the band continuing to work as a six-piece, with guests on drums & a couple dozen folks on choral duty. The core personnel remains Efrim (guitar, piano, tapes, effects, vocals), Thierry (bass), Sophie (violin), Beckie (cello), Ian (guitar) & Jessica (violin). The new record was sketched in rehearsals through the autumn of 2002 & then extensively arranged in studio at the hotel2tango. The result is four long pieces, each in two or more sections, all featuring group and/or lead vocals. Efrim's increased vocal presence is the most obvious evolution from past efforts, yielding the most direct articulation of themes & emotions that have run throughout his work with Mt. Zion & Godspeed you! black emperor. Long instrumental passages remain however, marked by the most compositionally deliberate, complex & precise writing the band has set to tape thus far. Dense layers of strings collide, blend & differentiate against a backdrop of ragged repeating guitar figures & noise treatments. The choir assembled for the `Fasola' sing-along on the opening track sets the tone for an exuberant community-rallying protest music that constitutes the spiritual foundation of the record. Destruction of communities (foreign & local) are lamented & eulogised in the following tracks. Limited edition, with Constellation's trade-mark beautiful packaging.
M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts [Note from another source: this gets a full UK release on September 22nd, however there is limited edition of 250 copies in a playstation style slip case distributed via indie stores - so grab double quick. ]
Labels / Gooom
France's electronic duo M83 return with their second album, their first to be given a more overtly international push. Good timing, for its an adequately analogue collection of electronic pop songs mounted on a bed of fuzzy guitars and computerised vocals - hitting the zeitgeist with considerable aplomb. The tracks often contain a warm, almost romantic undercurrent, something which isnt often associated with music of this kind, and the soundscapeish scope of the composition, rather than the execution, hints at a deep love for My Bloody Valentine and their pioneering execution of electronic pioneering via acoustic means. Surprisingly moving. # posted by DJ Martian 1:46 AM
Tsukimono - Sketches
a new label MechanizedMind release an album from Tsukimono. The website, includes 2 MP3 downloads.
Title : Sketches 6-27
Artist : Tsukimono
date : 20-8-2003
length : 40:34
Medium : CD-R
Price : 5,00 Euro
The first release of MechanizedMind is this cd by tsukimono. Continuing his efforts on Garmonbozia and Fukkgod, Tsukimono again cuts and slices guitar and piano, and re aranges to form something completly new, without ever loosing the feeling of the original recordings. His music is a perfect balance between acoustic music and experimental electronics.
Tsukimono is often compared to Fennesz and the likes, a great honour ofcourse, but it�s too easy. They might share the cutting and slicing, but what is done with it afterwards is different. Sketches 6-27 might sound hectic at times, or noisy, but sit back, let the music take you on a ride, and you'll see it's really just dreamy music, made to enjoy with closed curtains, late at night and as little light as possible
Starting out with a stunning piano piece, the cd slowly builds up to the end, introducing guitar and many more (treated) sounds. # posted by DJ Martian 1:08 AM
Friday, August 22, 2003
BBC Collective interview UNKLE # posted by DJ Martian 7:20 PM
Next week's new releases are reviewed @ Norman Records # posted by DJ Martian 2:19 PM
DigitalMetal.com review the sonic extremes of Halo - Body Of Light due for release on Relapse on September 1st in the UK.
Lyrical content aside, the pure subsonic devastation on this album is unreal... I would put this alongside anything by Khanate, Godflesh, Swans, and so forth... very heavy, nausea-inducing bass, pounding drums, spit-pissed vocals. # posted by DJ Martian 1:40 PM
BBC News report on the rather pointless Kerrang Awards - the most entertaining part of the evening: step forward Jaz Coleman for big mouthing those glam hard rawk duffers, The Darkness
But The Darkness, who supported Robbie Williams at Knebworth, were booed by Jaz Coleman, of the band Killing Joke. # posted by DJ Martian 1:05 AM
Tilmann is known for his evocative digital squiggle-scapes, and Over and Through's seven tracks find him further developing his pastoral yet vaguely threatening sound. Tilmann does a lot with seemingly little; rather than muddying the compositions with too many instruments, he places his minimal melodies and rhythms carefully. # posted by DJ Martian 12:36 AM
Thursday, August 21, 2003
New edition of online e-zine Earplug packed with reviews and features:
AUGUST 21 - SEPT 3
Earplugis bi-weekly email newsletter, delivering a handpicked selection of news, sounds, videos, and original features for the international electronic music community.
This is our last issue before many people go on their end-of-the-summer holidays, but the music keeps coming � and while we're sad to see the late sunsets go, this fall is gearing up to be a noisy good time. We can't wait for the rowdy, rockin' albums coming soon from The Rapture, Adam Freeland, and Basement Jaxx, whose Kish Kash is really going to leave you wondering where your head's at. Kid Koala might be the busiest man with two turntables and a felt-tip pen, but he to
