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

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Friday, September 30, 2005

 

New Kayo Dot Album

A new Kayo Dot album will be released on January 10th, 2006 titled Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue

Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue -- Kayo Dot -- Rate Your Music

HXCMP3.com to listen to a 3 minute sample of a track: Aura on the Asylum Wall

Musicwise think Radiohead meets Explosions in the Sky meets Neurosis meets Swans meets The Dirty Three meets Ahvak meets The Boredoms plus vintage jazz fusion.

# posted by DJ Martian 9:53 PM

 

New Nils Petter Molvaer Album

Nils Petter Molvaer releases a new album: ER

Nils Petter Molvær, Norwegian trumpet player, composer and producer, connects stylistic extremes - jazz, ambient, house, electronic and breakbeats - and effortlessly melts them into convincing soundscapes of deep intensity

Nils Petter Molvaer: More European release dates for ER including UK: October 10th

[alerted via itsatrap.com]

# posted by DJ Martian 7:59 PM

 

Blabbermouth.Net report MOONSPELL To Record New Album In November

# posted by DJ Martian 6:00 PM

 

Next week's releases reviewed @ Norman Records

# posted by DJ Martian 5:52 PM

 

Barcode review BOARDS OF CANADA - The Campfire Headphase

# posted by DJ Martian 4:28 PM

 

The Guardian review Manu Katché - Neighbourhood

# posted by DJ Martian 4:18 PM

 

The Guardian on The taste-makers

So you think you decide what goes into your music collection? Wrong. Alexis Petridis speaks to the people who control what you hear, like and buy

A Media Studies case study on how certain key people in the UK, exert control & influence on the music listening and ultimately consumer behaviour of the masses.

Extra:

Related theory: The Psychology of Consumers: Consumer Behavior and Marketing

Introduction to the psychology of consumer psychology and consumer behavior. Teaching material by Lars Perner.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:07 PM

 

Kate Bush Profile & Tracklist for Aerial

Today The Guardian profile: Kate Bush

After 12 years the enigmatic singer-songwriter prepares to break her silence with a 'properly eccentric' new double album

via ILM Sweet Jesus, when will Kate Bush release another album?

The tracklist for Aerial

Disc One: A SEA OF HONEY(Audio)

1. King Of The Mountain
2. Pi
3. Bertie
4. Mrs. Bartolozzi
5. How To Be Invisible
6. Joanni
7. A Coral Room

Disc Two: A SKY OF HONEY(Audio)

1. Prelude
2. Prologue
3. An Architect's Dream
4. The Painter's Link
5. Sunset
6. Aerial Tal
7. Somewhere In Between
8. Nocturn
9. Aerial

# posted by DJ Martian 3:49 PM

 

Kayo Dot's Toby Driver releases album on Tzadik

Tzadik will release the debut album from Toby Driver next month.

Toby Driver is a member of Kayo Dot and previously Maudlin of the Well

Toby Driver: In The Li Li Library Loft [#8019]

A beautiful collection of modern compositions by the brilliant young mastermind of Maudlin of the Well/Kayo Dot, a cutting edge band combining a classical ear for structure and orchestration with the power and immediacy of heavy and black metal. Featuring several of his band mates in key roles, and a number of special guests, this is music of great detail and searing passion. Years in the making, this is a CD that will surely catapult Toby into the eyes and ears of an exciting new audience. Four moody masterpieces of magic and horror.

# posted by DJ Martian 3:41 PM

 

ILM 80s Poll - Voting has started

So the nominations have been assembled and you can now Vote in the ILM 1980s poll - albums and singles: ...THE ILX 1980s POLL NOMINATIONS LIST AND VOTING INSTRUCTIONS THREAD

Upto 100 albums and singles can be voted for.

# posted by DJ Martian 3:36 PM

Thursday, September 29, 2005

 

Issue 53 of Earplug

SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 12

Earplug is a twice-monthly email magazine, delivering a handpicked selection of news, sounds, videos, and original features to the international electronic-music community.

# posted by DJ Martian 8:49 PM

 

Aborym - Generator

Blabbermouth.Net report ABORYM Announce New Album Title, Track Listing

The new album titled: Generator due on Season of Mist before the end of the year.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:25 PM

 

AngryApe report Ulrich Schnauss Live In London

Ulrich Schnauss + Malory + Sennen + Sleepless

Club AC30
Kings Cross Water Rats
October 21st
7.30pm

# posted by DJ Martian 1:17 PM

 

Piero Scaruffi Update

Music Historian, Piero Scaruffi provides the following:

New Chapter: The History of Avantgarde Music: post-jazz music [from a forthcoming book]

Revised Chapter: The History of Rock Music: The ambient avantgarde in the digital age

Revised Chapter: The History of Rock Music: Glitch music and Digital minimalism

# posted by DJ Martian 1:11 PM

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

 

Burst 2 Tracks from Origo

HAS ONE OF THE KEY METAL / ROCK ALBUMS OF THE YEAR even [Decade] ARRIVED ?

Burst - Origo (Relapse)

Relapse E-card featuring two tracks from the album. EXPERIENCE this supreme music NOW !


BLOWN AWAY ! this is A+ grade sublime !

complex
commanding
epic riffs
multidimensional production
explosive energy
stunning dynamics and twists
cathartic intensity
hypnotic engulfing and evolving power
versatile vocals

sure you can hear varied vintage sound inspirations: Neurosis, Killing Joke, Botch, Tool, Cave In, Paradise Lost and Isis .... but who else in 2005 can match the complex dynamics and musical ambition of Burst?

When music this brilliant comes along - you just know it ! you experience it !

Burst have once again reached out, experimented and delivered.

UK release: October 17th
Rest of Europe: October 24th

Reminder for America and Canada - Relapse have delayed the release till 2006. You will have to import it from the UK if you want it this year ! e.g. try amazon.co.uk

# posted by DJ Martian 5:44 PM

 

Stylus interview David Keenan

The name David Keenan is well known to musicians, writers, and music obsessives alike. As one of the most descriptive and evangelical writers for The Wire, a member of improvisational act Taurpis Tula, and the co-owner (alongside partner and solo recording artist Heather Leigh) of Volcanic Tongue (a UK-based mail-order for underground music and record label), he’s made a huge quantifiable impact on underground and experimental music culture.

# posted by DJ Martian 3:46 PM

 

Stylus review Between the Buried and Me - Alaska

# posted by DJ Martian 3:24 PM

 

GIGWISE.com report Goldfrapp Announce New UK Tour for February 2006.

# posted by DJ Martian 3:15 PM

 

Blabbermouth.Net report CELTIC FROST: New Album Mastered

# posted by DJ Martian 3:13 PM

 

Cocteau Twins Singles Box Set

Via ILM: What's all this about a Cocteau Twins box set, then?

LULLABIES TO VIOLANE: REMASTERED COCTEAU TWINS SINGLES BOX SET FEATURING ALL THEIR SINGLES FROM 1982 TO 1996

For the first time all the non-album tracks from across the Cocteau Twins� entire career have been compiled together and offer a unique view of their musical journey from the perspective of all their single / EP releases which incorporate most of their best known tracks.

CTBOX 2
This is an unusual de-luxe package containing all 4 CD�s that will be available November 21 (UK / Europe) and November 22 (USA) in a worldwide limited edition of 10,000. The discs are contained in a fold-out package made of a material that itself sounds like a Cocteau Twins title � Curious Soft Touch Milk. It�s all very tactile, minimal and v23.

DAD 2513CD and DAD 2514CD
These are the regular versions of the box set which will be available early 2006. Each package is a digipak with 2 CD�s. Volume One covers the 4AD era (1982 � 1990) and Volume Two the Mercury / Capitol years (1993 � 1996).

The 4AD material was previously available in a 10 x CD box set which had a CD for each single, though this set features alternative mixes of "Pearly-Dewdrops� Drops" and "Aikea-Guinea". Volume Two has never been anthologised and has tracks that were limited as singles as well as the Christmas tracks "Frosty The Snowman" and "Winter Wonderland".

CD1
LULLABIES (1982)
Feathers Oar-Blades
Alas Dies Laughing
It's All But An Ark-Lark

PEPPERMINT PIG (1983)
Peppermint Pig (7-inch version)
Laughlines
Hazel

SUNBURST AND SNOWBLIND (1983)
Sugar Hiccup (12� version)
From the Flagstones
Hitherto
Because of Whirl-Jack

THE SPANGLE MAKER (1984)
The Spangle Maker
Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops (alternate version)
Pepper-Tree

AIKEA-GUINEA (1985)
Aikea-Guinea (alternate version)
Kookaburra
Quisquose
Rococo

CD 2
TINY DYNAMINE (1985)
Pink Orange Red
Ribbed and Veined
Plain Tiger
Sultitan Itan

ECHOES IN A SHALLOW BAY (1985)
Great Spangled Fritillary
Melonella
Pale Clouded White
Eggs and Their Shells

LOVE�S EASY TEARS (1986)
Love's Easy Tears
Those Eyes, That Mouth
Sigh's Smell of Farewell
Orange Appled

ICEBLINK LUCK (1990)
Iceblink Luck
Mizake the Mizan
Watchlar

CD 3
EVANGELINE (1993)
Evangeline
Mud and Dark
Summer-blink

SNOW (1993)
Winter Wonderland
Frosty the Snowman

BLUEBEARD (1993)
Bluebeard
Three-Swept
Ice-Pulse
Bluebeard (acoustic version)

TWINLIGHTS (1994)
Rilkean Heart (acoustic version)
Golden-Vein (acoustic version)
Pink Orange Red (acoustic version)
Half-Gifts (acoustic version)

CD 4
OTHERNESS (1995) Mark Clifford remixes
Feet-Like Fins
Seekers Who Are Lovers
Violaine
Cherry-Coloured Funk

TISHBITE (1995)
Tishbite
Primitive Heart
Flock of Soul
Round
An Elan

VIOLAINE (1996)
Violaine
Smile
Tranquil Eye
Circling Girl
Alice

# posted by DJ Martian 1:36 PM

 

Kultureflash - Headlines from London [No. 137 / 28.09.05]

This week's Kultureflash - Headlines from London

KultureFlash is a free, weekly newsletter covering contemporary culture in and around London. Each week we track down some of the more unusual and interesting events taking place in the Capital and deliver them straight to your inbox. Featuring art, gigs, films, talks, clubs and more -- we are committed to bringing you an eclectic mix of the most stimulating events in London.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:32 PM

 

Blabbermouth.Net report HEAD CONTROL SYSTEM: ULVER Mastermind's New Project Changes Name

# posted by DJ Martian 12:12 AM

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

 

Drowned in Sound review Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites

# posted by DJ Martian 9:56 PM

 

Pitchfork review Vibracathedral Orchestra - Tuning to the Rooster

# posted by DJ Martian 7:47 PM

 

Music blog to check: Chemistry Class

# posted by DJ Martian 7:44 PM

 

Fertilizer Festival - London - October 20th - 23rd

Fertilizer Festival is coming to London, the theme German Music.

Fertilizer Good Shit from Germany – Music Festival

A super-concentrated four-day festival of the finest new music from Germany today…The good shit that fertilizes the mainstream. Music that inspires. Music that redraws the map. Music from beneath the radar. A fertile mix of music, artists and cultures you won’t find anywhere else.

Events: Fertilizer Festival – what’s happening and when

Fertilizer Feeds – links to all things Fertilizer related

Find out more about the artists who are part of Fertilizer ...

17 Hippies
Bernadette La Hengst
Bus
B. Fleischmann
Carsten Jost
Chicks on Speed
Eddy Temple-Morris
Enders Room
Fauna Flash
Fiona Talkington
FSK
Jan Jelinek
Kevin Blechdom
man'sbestfriend
Markus Stockhausen
Michael Sauer
Mocky
Munk
Nick Luscombe
Phon.o
Seeed
Sonarkollectiv / Jazzanova
T. Raumschmiere
Trickski
Von Spar

# posted by DJ Martian 5:45 PM

 

This week's flavourpill LONDON [Issue 101 - September 27th - October 3rd , 2005]

flavourpill LONDON is an email magazine covering a hand-picked selection of music, art and cultural events — delivered each Tuesday afternoon.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:11 PM

 

CMJ present CMJ NEW MUSIC REPORT: 25 Years Of CMJ Music Marathon: 25 Most Influential Artists By CMJ Staff

# posted by DJ Martian 2:02 PM

 

From The Guardian: David Peschek talks to pianist Brad Mehldau

In a rare interview, pianist Brad Mehldau tells David Peschek how jazz is devouring every other kind of music - making it more vital than ever

# posted by DJ Martian 1:33 PM

 

musicOMH.com interview Opeth

# posted by DJ Martian 1:27 PM

 

London Jazz Festival 2005

Radio 3 - London Jazz Festival

Details of this year's festival which features McCoy Tyner, Archie Shepp and Tomasz Stanko among others.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:20 PM

 

BBC Music review Julian Priester - Love, Love

Long awaited CD issue for former Herbie Hancock trombonist's early 70s fusion masterpiece.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:16 PM

 

BBC Music review Simple Minds - Black And White 050505

# posted by DJ Martian 1:13 PM

 

The latest The Breezeblock show on Radio 1 includes a DJ Set from Warp's Jackson.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:05 PM

 

Pitchfork interview Boards of Canada

# posted by DJ Martian 12:52 PM

 

DOTSHOP.SE profile Free Fall - Amsterdam Funk featuring: bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, reedist Ken Vandermark, and pianist Haavard Wiik.

# posted by DJ Martian 12:29 AM

Monday, September 26, 2005

 

indieworkshop.com present 100 Albums that Changed Our Lives - Part 1

To be continued...

# posted by DJ Martian 11:19 PM

 

Cultural critic Michael Bracewell interviews Siouxsie Sioux in The Guardian

Growing up in the suburbs, Siouxsie Sioux realised she wasn't like everyone else. Then she discovered music and clothes ... and became a punk icon. She tells Michael Bracewell how she did it

# posted by DJ Martian 10:37 PM

 

new noise review Skalpel - Konfusion

# posted by DJ Martian 3:55 PM

 

new noise review Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites

# posted by DJ Martian 3:51 PM

 

New release on Pi Recordings: Fieldwork - Simulated Progress

Hailed as one of today’s truly original and groundbreaking ensembles by publications as diverse as The Wire, Mojo, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Village Voice, Fieldwork sets forth a dynamic, high-impact group sound that’s unlike anything you’ve ever heard. Simulated Progress, the band’s second release, brings together three of creative music’s most exciting young composer-performers – Vijay Iyer on piano, Steve Lehman on alto & sopranino saxophones, and Elliot Humberto Kavee on drums & percussion – who use the collaborative organizational model of a rock band to advance a unique vision of 21st century music.

Their music is informed by underground hip-hop, electronica, contemporary classical music, polyrhythmic ideas from African and South Asian music, and the American jazz tradition – but it avoids sounding like any of these musics; it just keeps sounding like Fieldwork.

All About Jazz review Fieldwork | Simulated Progress

The greatest compliment that can be paid to Simulated Progress is that there is nothing else out there that sounds like it. This is difficult music. In its risk-taking, fragility, and fearlessness, it’s also very thrilling.

# posted by DJ Martian 3:27 PM

 

music blog to check: inuit bikini scarlet carwash

# posted by DJ Martian 3:18 PM

 

New Vector Lovers Album

DOTSHOP.SE profile the new Vector Lovers album: Vector Lovers: Capsule For One

Due for release October 24th on Soma

# posted by DJ Martian 3:17 PM

 

All About Jazz review Hardcell | Feign

Personnel: Tim Berne: alto saxophone; Tom Rainey: drums; Craig Taborn: piano.

Style: Modern Jazz/Free Improvisation

# posted by DJ Martian 3:14 PM

Sunday, September 25, 2005

 

The June Brides - Every Conversation: The Story Of The June Brides And Phil Wilson

Darla provide news of a retrospective double compilation album for The June Brides a mid 80s jingle-jangle melodic guitar pop band from London.

June Brides were from South London and had considerable success in the Independent Charts in the mid 1980's. The band was built around lyricist, guitarist and vocalist Phil Wilson. They were unusual at the time as although they operated in the independent sector they had a brass section. Their album, 'There Are Eight Million Stories' was No 1 for four weeks in the Independent Chart in September 1985 and stayed in that chart for a total of 38 weeks. This is a double album which contains all the June Brides tracks ever recorded including the BBC Radio I sessions with John Peel and Janice Long, plus the solo work from Phil Wilson which followed the break up of the band. This definitive double album 41 track package includes very detailed sleeve notes (6,000 words), rare pictures and complete discography.

# posted by DJ Martian 9:57 PM

 

This Week's New Releases @ Boomkat [Week Commencing September 26th]

This week's new releases @ Boomkat include:

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Vladislav Delay - The Four Quarters
Huume

Vladislav Delay continues to mine his much loved seam of dub fragranced minimalism, with a sound that seems to have really hit pay-dirt on new album 'The Four Quarters'. Divided into four extended pieces, this full length has lightness of touch that genuinely defies belief; with Delay allowing the music to unfurl like an aural orchid in both the broadest of strokes and the finest of detail. Opening with (you guessed it brains!) 'The First Quarter', Delay initially shuffles into view through a gorgeously rousing blush of diffused atmospherics, onto which he slowly needles bubbling synths, star-bursts of fractured (but in no way imposing) vocals and a spectrum of beats that mine the tradition of his Basic Channel past perfectly. All that and we're only four minutes in. Continuing in a similarly jaw-dropping style, Delay seems to have returned to the pinnacle of his Chain Reaction excursions, encouraging the listener to submerge ever further by offering half glimpsed aural edifices (some distant crowd noise here, a clutch of Arabic indebted instrumentation there) whilst always littering the foreground with enough pronounced intent to guarantee even the most casual listener will remain enraptured. Somehow massaging the best elements of people like Jan Jelinek with the deep soundscaping of Mark Nelson's fabulous Pan American, 'The Four Quarters' is a record whose beauty and absolute depth really cannot be overstated....

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Piana - Ephemeral
HAPPY

Listening to Piana's exquisite 'Ephemeral' (the follow up to 2003's similarly stunning 'Snow Bird') I was struck by the parallels in terms of mood and outlook with the author Haruki Murakami; a drifting lightness of touch that is utterly captivating and apparently uncontrived which leads you to a dewy-eyed destination they had planned all along. I then read an interview with Naoko Sasaki (aka Piana) where she said much the same thing, making me look like a press-release plagiarist... well I oughta! So BEAUTIFUL it more than deserves caps lock, 'Ephemeral' is the kind of record that makes you look on the world in a different fashion; utterly beguiling and iridescent, albeit given a healthy dusting of pathos. Whilst Piana's last album was a genre-defying tract of glitch-pop that erred on the side of the former, 'Ephemeral' flips the tables and unashamedly embraces the latter, liberally dousing the soaring soundscapes with a grade-A vial of friable pop acumen. Opening with 'Something Is Lost', Sasaki eases the listener in through a blossom fall of rustling clicks and diffused melodies that frame the vocals to perfection. Similarlily, 'Early In Summer' takes you by the hand and reveals a swelling thicket of Puccini strings that soar with such grace you'll be left breathless, whilst lazy beats build a crystalline foundation for Sasaki's honey-dipped voice; resultant in a sound reminiscent of Mum's 'Green Grass of Tunnel'. Elsewhere, 'Little Girl Poems' ups the glitch for a composition that drips with grace and unconstrained radiance, 'Mother's Love' strips it back to the basics (guitar and piano) for a heart-wrenching nugget of aural gold, whilst the album closes with 'Beginning', a brief but eminently powerful burst of muted rectitude. If that all sounds like we're gushing; it's because we are, and on the off chance you're still undecided we'll reiterate; THIS RECORD IS AMAZING. Never mind the hyperbole, it's Piana....

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Porn Sword Tobacco - Explains Freedom
City Centre Offices

Let's not beat around the bush here; 'Explains Freedom' is jaw-droppingly beautiful. Whilst it's cripplingly easy to become hyperbolic about such things, I don't think it would be overly stretching credibility to suggest that Porn Sword Tobacco's debut full-length proper may just invoke a similar rush of profound acceptance as watching a crimson sun-rise or glimpsing a shooting star. Alright; that is hyperbolic bollocks, but 'Explains Freedom' is almost indescribably good. Recorded in the heart of a Swedish forest, it's easy to imagine Henrik Jonsson (aka Porn Sword Tobacco) somehow channelled the dust speckled sunlight into his equipment, with songs such as 'Praying With Benny' and 'Old Booze, New Friends' possessing an emotionally clamorous quality that remains teasingly out of sight. Broadly comparable to artists such as Marsen Jules and The Boats, Jonsson nonetheless sounds absolutely nothing like either, combining warm analogue melodies and rain-fall one moment ('Naturens Kraft Och Klang') before coaxing you in on bleached piano and Badalamenti synths the next ('Soft airgun&electric'). So lovely it makes your teeth hurt, 'Explains Freedom' takes on Harold Budd and Eno at their own game... and wins....

Chessmachine - Live In Los Angeles
Line

Accompanying the release of Steve Roden, 'Live In Los Angeles' is another high art concept from L-NE that you kind of wish would fail for being so ball-achingly pretentious... However the briefest of encounters with Chessmachine proves that any preconceptions are thoroughly unfounded. A collaborative performance project conceived and delivered by Richard Chartier and Ivan Pavlov, Chessmachine is "an austere and chilling tête-à-tête over the chessboard that reconstructs the somber milieu of a bygone Europe..." Riiiiight. Yet for all its wordy justifications, 'Live In Los Angeles' happily exists on its own merits with a sound that matures before your ears. A single 40-odd minute composition, 'Live' opens with such fragility you doubt it's even there; a state it sporadically returns to throughout. Yet just as you can't have light without dark, nor can you comfortably construct complex bouts of near silence without providing a textured juxtaposition; in this case ranging from crackling clicks and cuts through to modem-ripped detonations of white noise. Fragmentary in practise, 'Live In Los Angeles' doesn't however feel fractured, with Chartier and Pavlov weaving a firmly delineated sense of cohesion and thematic intent that guides you through the piece in a manner that appears totally organic....

Global Communication - 76:14 (New Edition With Bonus Cd)
Sanctuary

Considered by many to be one of the key Ambient releases of the last 20 years, listening to 76:14 again now im struck by how it hasn't dated as much as I thought it would have by now. These tracks work best when their at their simplest and most ethereal, and complete with a bonus cd of Single tracks and exclusives this is a pretty essential release for anyone who has followed electronic music with any interest an any point between Eno, Artificial Intelligence and the re-emergance of minimal soundscaping in more recent times. Lush....

Mitchell Akiyama - Mort Aux Vaches
Staalplaat

Second essential Mort Aux Vaches of the week is from Mitchell Akiyama. A 40min+ untitled composition focussed around a glitch to harmonius drone transition with guitar notes, ratting micro percussion, heavy bass passages, white noise all melted into a wonderous semi classical framework. Warning, the packaging of this CD is crazy - the wrap around is made out of a soft sheet copper substitute with the artists name embossed into the front. Please keep the sharp edges away from any soft fleshy areas. We cannot be held responsible for your hospital bills if you treat this CD incorrectly, but if you do at least you'll have Mitch's ace soundtrack to help you through your recovery. Ace!...

Steve Roden - Airforms
Line

Are you sitting comfortably? Then let's get chatty. Steve Roden is (as you may well know) a knob-on sound and visual artist who first presented his 'Airforms' project at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Arizona. Inspired by a group of experimental house designers in the 1940's (led by Wallace Neff) who sprayed concrete onto inflated balloon structures, their intent was to examine the relationships and aesthetic possibilities offered by air in an attempt to create organic living spaces. Phew. So where does Roden come into this? Well, using an old wooden organ pipe and his formidable lung capacity, Roden set about recording his (for want of a better term) emissions, then digitally sculpting the results into a single hour long composition. If you're thinking this errs on the side of self-indulgent aural masturbation, you might well be right (The Wire love him after all), but I guarantee that a couple of minutes in and you'll have forgotten any pretentious caveats you initially placed on the record. Broadly comparable to his own exquisite 'Light Forms' or the ever present William Basinski, Roden really does conjure up a sense of scale and efficaciousness that isn't readily describable. At times little more than muffled soundscapes ameliorating towards a cloaked conclusion, Roden sporadically introduces new elements (static fizz, crackling digitalis) which serve to sharpen the contrast even further. Beatific from start to end, 'Airforms' is an hour off from the real world....

Goodiepal - Mort Aux Vaches
Staalplaat

Always defying categorisation, heres the press release for Goodieapl's latest - see if you can make sense of it! "The music of Goodiepal is often described as emanating from playgrounds, fairgrounds and other surreal locales, yet that image is wrong. The significance of his music is found in other places : it is the sound of death, though death in the form of play. Modern anthropology tells us that neolithic inhabitants of Northern Europe were unable to see their own faces. In a time of no mirrors, in a land of moving waters, one could only see what an other looked like.Some accepted this fate, but for others this grew into madness. Scientists have discovered that many even killed themselves, hoping that when their souls left the body they would get a glimpse of their face in passing. Hovering over the dead body, seeing their face for the first time, they heard sounds like these made by Goodiepal. They are the remnants of a form of life in which only the signs are preserved. The things for which they stand are gone, never to be rediscovered. If this is folk music, it is the music of an extinct, unknown culture.Only their sounds linger on, sounds that do not belong anymore. Worldless music, speaking only of death.". Erm, okay! Strictly limited edition housed in custommade rubbery foam, 35 minutes....

Bochum Welt - Elan
Fuzzy Box

Bochum Welt is back! Elan offers nine spacious compositions ranging from ambient soundscapes to synthesized electro-pop - all computer-generated by Gianluigi Di Costanzo and Brian Salter. "The project began in 2001," says Gianluigi about Elan, "with Brian and me working on interactive audio content at Beatnik Inc. We realized that we could complement technological strengths with our fascination for timeless electronic music. After a fast start, we had to slow down because Brian moved to Tokyo, and at the same time I was focusing on new mobile audio projects at Vodafone in Milan." The end result of this long distance collaboration is Bochum Welt's most inviting work to date, at points abandoning the robotic determination of his early material in favour of something much more at home under the banner of imaginary Soundtracking. Fans of his Rephlex material and largely ambient last album for the Device imprint will find much to sink their teeth into here, as will followers of electronic shoegazers like Ulrich Schnauss - especially on the closing strains of "Blue Part 3". Lovely....

Marclay / Tone / Wolff - Event
Asphodel

How's this for a threesome; in the red corner we have Christian Marclay with a box of records and his trusty turntables, in the blue corner it's twinkle-toes Yasunao Tone and his prepared CD's and players, whilst in the, erm, green corner stands Christian Wolff and his one man band of bass, percussive stuff, radio-cassette recorder and melodica. FIGHT! Recorded live way-back-when in 1998 as improvised accompaniment to a Merce Cunningham Dance Company performance, 'Event' is a single 50 minute piece which sees the performers involved in an aural tug-of-war in which we are the ultimate winner. At times suffocatingly intense, before breaking free with glowing strings and carpel-tunnel scratching, 'Event' is an intriguing recording that twists and turns in a manner that guarantees it will infuriate as many as it will delight....

Cage - Hell's Winter
Def Jux

While he was on Eastern Conference either in solo mode or wrecking shop with emcees like Tame One the man like Cage was a dangerous emcee whose diss powers scared half the sh*t out of anyone in his sights. It was with a slight underwhelment that I greeted the news that Cage was now a Def Jukie, the label that has not hit classic must own album status since Lif's I Phantom joint in 2002 even though Rob Sonic's 2004 offering came damn close. The preview hype for this album has been unbelievably strong, many sites claiming this to be one of the best hip hop albums of the 21st century never mind this year. It's with great excitement that I agree whole heartedly. No emcee in recent years attacks with Cage's intent, a classic Def Jux flow, in places touching on Aesop's madness, no compromise. If that wasn't enough the production squad assembled for this album is scary - El-P (back on massive skyscraper rocking form), RJD2, Camu Tao, pAWL and Blockhead. Shock out instant bomb is the DJ Shadow production track 'Grand Ol' Party Crash' an incredibly amped track with drums of death and a manic Jello Biafra ranting and apping the true character of Dubya unwrapped. Believe this album is truly scary, as politically sharp as Botanica Del Jibaro mixed with the danger you associate with late eighties Ice T. It's so rare that any album could hit this hard, an unreal quality that sticks like glue on all fourteen tracks. The bassist from Yo La Tengo, James McNew even adds that authentic low end to many tracks. Too needed!...

Harold Budd / Brian Eno - The Pearl
Virgin

With the beatific noises currently wafting from the window of labels like Type and artists such as Marsen Jules, Hauschka and Deaf Center, this is one heck of a timely reissue! Originally released in the Orwellian depths of 1984, 'The Pearl' sees the coming together of two visionary musicians whose influence on current musical trends really couldn't be over-stated; ladies and gentlemen be upstanding please for Harold Budd and Brian Eno. Presuming you won't need any background on this pair, we'll instead focus on the fruits of their collaboration, and what a bumper-crop it is! Taking the piano as a starting point, Budd and Eno then weave ethereal webs of melody around the gorgeous keys, allowing rich and creamy soundscapes to submerge you completely. With florid treats too many to mention, 'The Pearl' is brimming with the kind of glistening music that could see a bumper-sized thesaurus pissed up the wall in futility. 20-odd years ahead of the game, Budd and Eno here prove why they demand such unbridled reverence. Sublime...

Earth - Hex
Southern Lord

Initially seen as something of a curate's egg on Sub Pop, Earth have gone on to be one of the most influential bands of recent years, spawning the entire dronecore / death metal scene (Sunn O))) etc.) as well as helping to mould the likes of Mogwai, Jim O'Rouke and (if their reverential appearance on the recent 'Legacy of Dissolution' LP is anything to go by) even Autechre. Back with their first proper album for 9 years ('Hex; or Printing In The Infernal Method'), Earth seem eager to discard the overly distorted sound that has come to stereotype them, preferring instead to embark on a journey through "black Americana"... Woooh. Possessing an almost bluesy feel, tracks such as 'Land Of Some Other Order' and 'The Dire and Ever Circling Wolves' whilst sounding like chapter titles in a Stephen King novel, are nowhere near as skull crushingly intense as Earth's reputation may have you fearing. Referencing Merle Haggard, Duane Eddy and Roy Buchanan, Earth seem to have hit on a fertile seam, with the overt optimism of the harmonica layered 'An Inquest Concerning Teeth' and the bourbon twang of 'Lens Of Unrectified Night' testament to their confidence and talent. Unwilling to rest on their laurels, 'Hex...' is the sound of a band reshaping their legacy....

Lichens - The Psychic Nature Of Being
Kranky

As Jack White once gurned; "I know I've said it once, but it bears repeating", a phrase that applies to the superlative nature of the Kranky imprint. They just keep getting better! The latest hunk of gold to spill from their vault is the subterranean album 'The Psychic Nature of Being' from Lichens, otherwise known as TV On The Radio and 90 Day Men's Robert Lowe. Borrowing heavily from drone (in terms of structure at least), 'The Psychic Nature of Being' opens with a flood of windswept noise on the truly haunting 'Kirilian Auras', wherein Lowe ferments an overcast soundscape of growling low-ends with incremental splashes of colour. These range in shade from rattled percussion to Deep (spaghetti) South acoustic tracts, all sharing a strangely ominous predilection which is brought to the boil by an animalistic howl on Shore Line Scoring. The kind of record which leaks an ambience similar to drawing heavy velvet curtains on a sunny day, it is nonetheless full of broiling music which will heighten any mood; beautifully done....

Andrew Pekler - Strings + Feedback
Staubgold

This latest excursion from Andrew Pekler (for Staubgold this time) deconstructs his full-bodied soundscaping into a much more subtle paint pot of piano and string samples carefully assembled into a minimal tapestry of evocative textures and open-ended lullabies. "Strings + Feedback" is one of those rare albums that successfully manages to tread the line between conceptualism and openness without falling flat onto either side. "Ongondok" creates a Gamelan template and turns it upside down : the sounds and patterns are recognisable - the end result manages to sound like an anachronistic juxtaposition of disciplines that were somehow always meant to be. "Pluck'd" is more cinematic in scope, a beautifully reverbarating piano setting the tone and pace for two minutes of aural bliss that's almost immeasurably beautiful. Strange and rather wonderful....

Boduf Songs - Boduf Songs
Kranky

Although initially recorded at home as preliminary demos for Kranky, the good folk at the label saw that there was a special something contained within the guitar, violin, toy piano, field recordings and computer compositions produced by Mat Sweet (aka Boduf Songs) that they feared could be lost in a more formal, re-record set-up. And you know what? I think they were well on the money. With a low-key charm that is only accentuated by the hissing state of the self-titled debut, 'Boduf Songs' is a consummate straddling of the singer-songwriter/home recorder/psychedelic boundaries. Intimate without becoming overbearing, songs like 'Claimant Reclaimed' and 'This One Is Cursed' share a predilection with Elliot Smith, Matt Elliot and even Adem, taking a hushed approach to songwriting which belies a concealed intensity. Sketchy in the most complimentary fashion imaginable, 'Boduf Songs' closes with the string pepped 'Vapour Steals The Glow', proving that you can be quietly epic without a six-figure budget propping you up. The musical equivalent of a friendly whisper. Highly Recommended....

Tape - Mort Aux Vaches
Staalplaat

Tape, Andreas and Johan Berthling with Tomas Hallonsten are the crown jewels of the Hapna label, we've sadly not yet fully realized the sales potential of this incredibly talented trio of musicians due to some early glitches in Hapna's UK distribution setup. This will change come late October when their third album 'Rideau' arrives. Until then we have this latest edition of Staalplaat's occasional Mort Aux Vache CD's series. To recap each packaged in a way that defies any kind of sane logic and each session recorded at the VPRO radio studios in Holland, this CD wrapped inside a plastic hole peppered wrap bound together by Tape tape!. Recorded September 2004 this six track, half hour album finds the trio successfully exploring alien world drone and harmonic glitch. An incredible fusing of live instrumentation (acoustic guitar, harmonium, vibraphone, melodica and rustic percussion) with the kind of grainy noise you love from the 60's and 70's. Check 'Reversed Frames' which is like Baden Powell jamming with Pierre Henry and 'Summonspipe' which feels like what La Monte Young's Theatre Of Eternal Dreams might have summoned up if they let more sunshine into their hearts. This CD is sadly very limited, 500 only for the world - be extra quick. A massive recommendation....

As Mercenarias - The Beginning Of The End Of The World
Soul Jazz

In the game of obscure record collection Top Trumps, this album from the all female Brazilain post-punkers As Mercenarias will take some beating. With audible references traceable back to The Dead Kennedys, The Slits, PiL, Liquid Liquid and even Joy Divsion, As Mercenaries are nowhere near as abrasive as you might imagine, mixing some truly sepulchral bass into their needle guitar work. Very much aware of their home nation's musical heritage, songs like 'Lembrancas' and 'Imagem' reference samba and Bossa Nova as much as they do James Murphy's record collection. Credited with having a hand in the development of Peaches, M.I.A. and just about every other independently minded female musician you care to think of, 'Brasilain Post Punk 1982-88' is a poised musical document that has more than it's fair share of thrills..

Fire Engines - Codex Teenage Premonition
Domino

Featuring a great reproduction of their first NME appearance back in 1981 (replete with accompanying microphone advert: "Starmaker Series, a new look for the 80's"), the Fire Engines are one of an increasingly burgeoning set of bands (see also Orange Juice, A Certain Ratio etc.) whose true influence is only being fully realised in double decade hindsight. A collection of songs recorded live at their first ever show (Leith Town Hall no less) and bolstered by some rare studio cuts, 'Codex Teenage Premonition' is as scratchy and level dipping as you'd expect; yet it's a testament to the music on show that it still shines despite the wall of fuzz. Sharp and jerky, songs like 'Sympathetic- Anaesthetic' and 'Everything's Roses' bristle with their post-punk posturing, displaying a sound that has since been 'borrowed' by everyone from DFA and Blur through to Franz Ferdinand and Bis (you heard!). Even managing to introduce Ye Olde cowbell without a negative reaction, 'Codex Teenage Premonition' is much more than a mere aural time-capsule....

Various / Output - Channel 4
Output

Output could oh-so-easily have gone the way of Mo' Wax; the odd flash of brilliance, backed up by a lot of nothing wrapped in cutting edge design. Thankfully label boss Trevor 'afro-man' Jackson seems to back his Photoshop skills up with some honed A&R aptitude, with 'Channel 4' featuring "new, exclusive and unreleased" music from stalwarts Colder, Mu and Circlesquare, as well as upstarts like Loneshark and George Demure. With a broader remit than Output is often credited with, 'Channel 4' opens with the art-school electro rabble of 'Dog Machine' by Von Spar; a song whose digital bass and chorus of "it's a bloody nightmare" is surprisingly sprightly, even when the high-pitched robo vocals kick in. From this they plunge straight into the computer-noir of Colder and 'All The Pretty Girls', where Nguyen gets all dead-pan over an irresistible industrialised breed of digitalis that proves he was worth all the hype bandied about a few years ago. Think Junior Boys on absinthe. Elsewhere, Mu fashion a punk-funk-cross-pennine-electro-argey-bargey with 'Tigerbastard', Pankow cover Prince's 'Girls and Boys' with a European robo-prediliction, whilst Ruede Hagelstein go for the high-heel falsetto whilst allowing you a glimpse of their 'Sweaty Balls'. Kids these days, eh?...

# posted by DJ Martian 9:09 PM

 

Last Week's New Releases @ Boomkat [Week Commencing: September 19th 2005]

Last week's new releases @ Boomkat include:

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
The Boats - We Made It For You
Moteer

Last year's 'Songs By The Sea' from The Boats was undoubtedly one of the albums of 2004. This year's 'We Made It For You' by The Boats is undoubtedly one of the albums of 2005. Released on, and featuring members of The Remote Viewer (and Hood) curated Moteer label, 'We Made It For You' is an absolute delight from start to finish, possessing a gentle charm that quietly instils itself deep within your core. Made up of skeletal fragments (dusty piano through to scuttling electronica), The Boats then allow the various elements to grow incrementally until you're waist deep without having noticed you'd even got your feet wet. With each track a dedication, songs such as 'Sarah Alice' and 'Darren' could easily have taken on the guise of eves-dropping a private conversation and it is to The Boats formidable credit that instead you feel as though you're amongst friends. Lacking the vocal focus of 'Songs By The Sea' allows the gently ebbing loveliness of 'Sarah Alice' and 'Chris Elaine and Lucy' to become expansive well beyond their limited foundations. Flecked with Jen Jelinek, flirting with Satie, Michael Nyman and Ryuichi Sakamoto, 'We Made It For You' is an album you'll want to fully submerge in again and again. Amazing music....

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Hauschka - The Prepared Piano
Karaoke Kalk

Having graced the recent Karaoke Kalk compilation with one of its undoubted highlights, Hauschka (aka Volker Bertelmann) returns with his second album 'The Prepared Piano'; a daringly candid musical letter to his obvious one true love... the grand piano. Although willing at times to allow other instruments into the relationship (most apparent on the percussive masterpiece 'Traffic'), Bertelmann never lets them overshadow the ivories. Evidently enthralled to the likes of John Cage and Henry Cowell, 'The Prepared Piano' seems to revel in the dusty, careworn sound of a much used steed prepard with all manner of object affecting the sublime sound, with the opening 'La Seine' a rickety marriage of clockwork sensibilities and deceptively simple playing. This sound continues throughout, with the driving rectitude of 'Fernpunkt', the lazy honky-tonk of 'Two Stones' and the quixotic marriage of glitch and piano on the closing 'Morning' of particular note. Absolutely beautiful piano music....

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Broadcast - Tender Buttons
Warp

It's been a long time coming, but Broadcast have made sure it was worth the wait. With a rotating membership that even the most ardent of Warp heads must be struggling with, Broadcast are renowned for tortuous sessions that go right round the houses before making it onto record; but this might just be their special ingredient. From the opening cascade of electronically numb melody and the first glimpse of Trish Kennan's bewitching voice, 'Tender Buttons' is a breathtaking achievement that is positively drenched in considered arrangements that are intricately plotted without ever losing the all important spark of spontaneity. Moving closer to their Slowdive/Kevin Shields roots than ever before, songs such as 'Black Cat' are classic Broadcast with a drum machine fuelled twist, combining a driving electro soused beat with ethereal vocals and shoegaze guitar. Elsewhere, 'Tears In The Typing Pool' strips the production right back to reveal a beautiful vocal veneer, 'America's Boy' sees them getting all political, whilst 'Goodbye Girls' is what electroclash should have sounded like all along. Good enough to eat, positively their best album to date....

Funckarma - Refurbished One
N5MD

The first in a proposed series, 'Funckarma - Refurbished One' sees the N5MD label releasing an album of remixes by Don and Roel Funcken's aptly named Funckarma project. With the digital scalpel reigning down on the likes of Plaid, Funkstorung, Mr Projectile, Jaap Boots and Blamstrain, there's a relatively broad palate of work for the brother's Funcken to tackle here. Opening with their filtered interpretation of Speedy J's 'Hayfever', things certainly appear to be all accounted for, with brittle electronics clashing with sunset IDM; creating a sound that might remind you of something else. Moving on, the refit of RA-X's 'Korrupted By Power' sounds not unlike Bola, Shingetsu Ensemble's 'Nipponnized' casts a Yokota sized shadow over the musical environs, whilst Mr Projectile's 'Love Here' is given a queasy Jenkinson rub-down - made all the more acute by the choral backdrop. Closing on the textbook Plaid of 'Cold' (massaged enough to make it pleasingly tougher than the original), Funckarma galvanise the belief that a remix can exist for more than filthy lucre....

Jackson - Smash
Warp

Lock up your daughters; Jackson's here and he's wearing a dinner jacket... The product of 26-year-old Parisian Jackson Fourgeaud, 'Smash' is a spasming ram raid of lop-sided beats and shattered electronic noisiness that does to pop and indie what Prefuse did to hip-hop; i.e. gut it then f*ck with it. A long-time cohort of Mr Oizo, Fourgeaud has a similar weak-spot for rubbery electro, forcing it face first into a fleet of oncoming digital AT-AT's. Hyperbolic maybe, but 'Smash' is one of those records that's difficult to lexicalise, with the opening track 'Utopia' jack-hammering 'Girls on Top'-style bastard pop, Scott Herron shattered sensibilities and punked-up electro into a wholly successful proposition. Continuing a gold run with the Mike Ladd guesting 'TV Dogs', the Cornelius ADD of 'Tropical Metal' and the strangely melancholy pop-shrapnel of 'Fast Life', 'Smash' is all over the place, but thanks to the undeniable talents of smooth operator Jackson, it's a glorious mess as opposed to one that needs cleaning up.

Marc Hellner - Marriages
Peacefrog

Do you like Telefon Tel Aviv? If the answer is yes; then you'll love this. If the answer is no, there's still a good chance 'Marriages' will have something for you. Honest. Having toiled away as half of Chicago's "revered" Pulseprogramming, Marc Hellner has adjudged the time to be right to go it alone... Well, apart from the stellar line-up of guests he's drafted in. Featuring John Herndon (Tortoise), Fred Lonberg-Holm (Boxhead Ensemble) and Josh Abrams (Town & Country), it is Joshua Eustis and Charles Cooper (aka Telefon Tel Aviv) who make the biggest impact. Producing the whole album as well as making an actual appearance, the sound brought to fruition on last year's 'A Map Of What IS Effortless' is again released from its Pandora's Box to suitably grand effect. Yet whilst this may suggest 'Marriages' is somehow a Telefon side-project, it most resolutely isn't. Hellner has a hushed predilection which juxtaposes joyously with the often orchestral backing; lending a huge sound some priceless personality. Thoroughly indebted to the classic shoegazers, songs such as 'Mine Is Made Of' and previous single 'Asleep On The Wing' inject the kind of effervescent atmosphere last seen on Ulrich Schnauss or Manual, drawn spiralling down like a moth to Hellner's out of reach voice. Really beautiful in places, 'Marriages' is like an aural hot-water bottle......

Safety Scissors - Tainted Lunch
Scape

The Scape label will no doubt benefit hugely from having the colourful personality and maverick skills of Matthew Curry at their disposal - serving to answer all those critics who have accused the label of being a bit one-dimensional when it comes to its rosta. Safety Scissors is one of those artists that remained largely overlooked despite delivering an utterly sensational debut album for the Plug Research label all the way back in 2001. With his blend of hiccup funk, micro House and, above all, a large dollop of pop styling, Curry stood out from a largely faceless crowd by virtue of his willingness to sing over the type of music that was intended for geeks hiding behind laptops. This blend of pop and innovation continues on this new album, though the balance of power has ever so slightly shifted towards exubarence and melancholic fun. Featuring contributions from the usual Berlin suspects : Erlend Oye, Kevin Blechdom and even Vladislav Delay, this is a Safety Scissors album through and through, with Matthew's brilliantly touching delivery managing to completely move you even at those times (and there are a few) when he sounds a bit like Nik Kershaw. The closing "Where is Germany and How Do I Get There?" is most moving of all - matthew desperately trying to get back home to rekindle his love life : "...This small boat that bobs and floats , I paddle and it hardly goes, with an oar to row it's super slow, how much further? Well, I don't know." and you immediately think of the cover artwork to his last album, a hero stranded at sea. Brilliant....

Mike Boo - Dunhill Drone Committee
Alpha Pup

Alongside his like minded artist friends D-Styles and Ricci Rucker, Mike Boo is shaking up the scratch composition scene. With Ricci Rucker, Mike delivered what upto that point was the definitive statement 'Scetchbook' from 2002, an album that even today I still can't quite fully comprehend. Now in 2005 Ricci has already brought us the future classic 'Fuga' and now we have Mike's solo joint. A ten track suite of dusted future blues, again blurred lines between straight sampled and scratched, looped, layered music making evoking a mood similar to the Express Rising album on Memphix. A wide range of emotions hit you while listening to this album - peaceful contemplation, noir'esque fear of the unknown, through ancient blues, righteous modal jazz and spaced low down funk - a deep chilled mellow trip. This album would make an excellent surrogate soundtrack to many thoughtful movies, instantly coming to mind is 'The Hired Hand', check the windswept 'Resolution', incredibly haunting music. 'Laid in Soyetyland' brings to mind Yusef Lateef's 'Eastern Sounds' album. If DJ Shadow became more introspective rather than bombastic after his early singles then he may well have made an album like this one, but he didn't which gives you even more reason to check out this awe inspiring album now. A behemoth sized recommendation. ...

Johann Johannsson - Dis
The Workers Institute

Ditching the orchestral manoeuvres of his last album, Iceland's wondrous Johann Johannsonn has instead embraced the more traditional song structure for 'Dis'; a kind of soundtrack project, but for what I'm not sure. One moment as happy as Larry, the next pondering the fragility of mankind, 'Dis' sees Johannsonn's mood-ring flashing like a disco. Opening with 'Bangkok Nordursins', Johannsonn approaches with a gleaming (if not pathos dusted) smile, taking a healthy leaf from the books of Hermann & Kleine and Mum, before dredging indie-fried riffs for '10 Rokkstig'. After this bucolic opening, the first real taste of a darker Johannson comes on the stunning 'Ja, Hemmi Min', wherein a muted exuberance leads to a sound reminiscent of Vladislav Delay collaborating with Sigur Ros. If you're not sure how that would sound, let me summarise; it's an unqualified success. Elsewhere, both 'Jardarfor' and 'Flugeldar' tickle the ivories in a fashion that will please anyone recently bewitched by Hauscka and The Boats, whilst 'Efripides Og Nedripides' makes real the intriguing spectre of a Mum/Supergrass hook-up. Featuring members ofReykjavik bands Funerals, Slowblow and Trabant as well as renowned Icelandic guitarist Hilmar Jennsson and one of Iceland's most beloved singers, Ragnheidur Grondal, this is a very different and wholly unexpected album from one of our favourite producers of the moment - check it immediately....

Capitol K - Nomad Junk
Faith and Industry

Released on his own Faith & Industry label, 'Nomad Junk' sees Capitol K's Kristian Robinson further exploring the sound last seen on 'Happy Happy'. With a warm, analogue/instrumentation sound that is in some way comparable to Four Tet ('Hong Kong') or Caribou ('Barcelona'), Robinson draws on his formidable heritage to create an album which is able to gradually illicit a multitude of emotions from a deceptively limited aural palate. 'Nomad Junk' opens with the creamy and swirling (Chi-lites sampling) orchestration of 'Jamboree', which on first glance is nothing more than a pretty, 4hero-style concoction. However, delve in further and (when placed in context) it becomes apparent that the superficial breeziness of 'Jamboree' is in fact underscored with a formidable depth; drawn into stark contrast by the queasy electronics of 'Taipei' or the Dick Dales' influenced breaks of 'Pan Continental'. Broadly textured and eminently listenable, 'Nomad Junk' is a proper variegated treat!...

Jullander - Phobos In Funkytown
Sunday Service

Nearly ten-years old, and Jullander's post-rock origins haze ever more pleasingly into the background as the Hamberg-quartet seemingly discover jazz, electronica and the more esoteric fringes of pop. Having cut their teeth at a slew of labels (Twisted Nerve, Beau Rivage and Stupid Cat), their 3rd LP 'Phobos In Funkytown' is released on Sunday Service and comes with a bag of catchy hooks... gratis! Sounding not unlike Gorky's Zygotic Mynki, or SFA on 'Der Tragödie Erster Teil' as they freely trade languages, Jullander also seem engrossed by the overt pop of 80's bands, lacing their work with knowing allusions that remain tantalisingly out of sight. By no means as boringly conventional as many of today's 'experimental guitar groups', Jullander pepper what at first seem traditional surroundings (see the folktronica opening salvo of 'Undo History (Der Tragödie Dritter Teil)') with mid-sections that thoroughly defy expectation (in this case; Elliot Smith harmonies and ACR/Orange Juice/House stylings). If Badly Drawn Boy had continued in the vein of his early EP's, he may well have sounded like this by now......

Black Dice - Broken Ear Record
DFA

I love the fact that thanks to DFA this record is on a Major label. Picture the scene - EMI's A&R department scratching their heads.."..but..but...we thought this label was disco!". Major label or not, Black Dice continue to show a complete and utter lack of regard for any kind of generic categorisation, jerking from crushed beats one minute to absolute cacophanous chaos the next, only to head straight over to guitar strumming oddball loveliness. How can you fault a band that refuses to compromise in any way and STILL manages to roduce music you can just about dance to? Brilliantly original....

Alex Under - Dispositivos De Mi Granja
Trapez

After 2 successful Trapez 12"'s, hugely well received by all the usal suspects, and several eps on his own label imprint Cmyk, Alex Under has rapidly become one of the best known top techno house producers in Spain. A reputation actually rising all over europe, as his psychedelic acid, tripping techno and druggy, minimal house is the sound of now for many people. His productions are based on construction and deconstruction, hypnotic melodies over blunt electronic rhythms, jacking beats and fine basslines. "No prejudices and no frontiers". "Dispositivos de mi granja" is Alex Under's debut lp, and includes an explosive version of his hit "las bicicletas son para el verano" from his first Trapez ep. Ranging freely between playful minimalism, deep techno to the most psychedelic track "el establo queado", which is produced in the vein of his remix of oliver hacke's subject carrier on trapez 054, still dogging many a wants list nationwide. The track balances hypnotic techno with a plastikman flavour against dan bell's chicago magic. Under is playing live twice a week in european clubs, and all the tracks speak of sweet, riding rhythms and nights full of action. Quality assured. ...

# posted by DJ Martian 7:42 PM

Saturday, September 24, 2005

 

Kate Bush - Aerial

Kate Bush News & Information provide the front cover of Aerial:

# posted by DJ Martian 2:16 PM

Friday, September 23, 2005

 

Next week's releases reviewed @ Norman Records

# posted by DJ Martian 5:12 PM

 

Top 100 Albums of 2005 @ rateyourmusic.com has once again been updated.

Some highlights/ comments:

Still holding on to top position: Pitchfork poster-boy Sufjan Stevens.

In the Top 10 art-rock from

3 Opeth
4 Sigur Ros
7 Porcupine Tree
9 The Mars Volta

also: most surprising
6 Macca [Biggest MOR tosser in the Top 100]

Hot Molten Metal

12. Dark Tranquillity
16. Strapping Young Lad
27. Nile

Top Climbers:

15 Pelican
19 Animal Collective
31 Dredg
41 Ulver
63 Broadcast

Still Performing Well:

25 Red Sparowes
38 Jesu
39 Jaga Jazzist
50 Dälek
65 13 & God

Nice New Entry:

83 Port-Royal {Italian post-rockers}

Spot the Pitchfork Influence:

30 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Never Heard Of:

60 Dane Cook [Who the heck is this?]

Holding on to a Top 100 Slot:

98 Colleen

Coldplay Watch:

86 Coldplay - X & Y - Sliding Down from 59 to 86 [Ha, oncourse to get kicked out of The Top 100 ! yes ! what a snivelling dull album.]

In the Real World the NME has NO Influence:

still NOT in The Top 100... NO Kaiser Chiefs ! ...hooray

Most Pretentious Album Title Award:

35 Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness

The Future:

With the busiest month for releases still to come: [October] and for people to still rate and listen to this month's releases, I would estimate the bottom 20 to 30 places currently in the Top 100 are under threat of being kicked out of the Top 100 albums of 2005 on rateyourmusic.com come the end of the year.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:43 PM

 

New Richie Hawtin Mix Compilation

Mute.com provide news of a new Ritchie Hawtin mix compilation.

Richie Hawtin - DE9 : Transitions

From tinkering with his father's electronic equipment to religously taping The Wizard's mix shows on local Detroit radio and trying to get to grips with pal John Acquaviva's small home studio, Richie Hawtin is dreaming of the future yet again. More than 15 years after he began exploring new frontiers in electronic dance music, he is redefining the idea of what a DJ can be. From his stark techno tracks on the Plus-8 label to the spectral acid minimalism of his releases as Plastikman, Hawtin has always been, as he puts it, "searching for what’s next". Now his new mix album, DE9: Transitions, has made another quantum leap of the imagination.

DE9: Transitions has been realised in 5.1 surround sound, using the latest recording techology to create an immersive sonic experience: 95 minutes of altered perception. Hawtin has used Abelton Live and DigiDesign ProTools software to strip apart then reassemble his component tracks to make completely new compositions, combining multiple elements simultaneously into a constantly shifting collage of sound. Technique aside, DE9: Transitions is a powerful and compelling trip.

....
DE9: Transitions combines everything from original Hawtin productions to unreleased tracks straight from the studios of cutting-edge producers like Ricardo Villalobos, Marc Houle, Daniel Bell, Alex Under et al and adds flashes of classic techno moments including Robert Hood, K. Alexi, Sahko, Pan Sonic etc, which inspired him when he was a young clubber. But most of the tracks are fundamentally transformed from their original states. Some fade in and out over a period of minutes, others are reduced to one single sampled note. The on-screen read-out on the DVD version of DE9: Transitions illustrates that its smoothly shape-shifting outline, this is a remarkably complex project. In fact the tracks are so close to becoming entirely new compositions that Hawtin has made the decision to give them his own names.

“It’s taking a chance, doing a mix CD and giving the tracks my own titles representing what these pieces have become,” he admits. “But I believe it’s gone far enough that I can do that. Some people might get pissed about it; we’ll see. The CD artwork plays with that, it’s a picture of my face which is totally made up of these track names, so it shows you that although this is made by me, I’m no greater or lesser than the information I’m using.”

In 2003, after leaving Canada to spend a year in New York, he moved to Berlin – which has been the world’s second techno city since the fall of the Wall opened up creative spaces in derelict buildings left abandoned by the march of history. It’s an environment he’s found genuinely inspiring.

“I’d always wanted to move to Europe,” he says. “I needed somewhere that was inspiring and where there were like-minded musicians and artists, somewhere you could still experiment with music and with life. Berlin is so liberal in so many different ways; there’s an amazing club scene, there’s a great development software tech scene, there are so many resources here for people who think different.”

Hawtin has sometimes been portrayed as some kind of scientist-intellectual figure within techno culture, partly because of his innovative use of music technology. And yet there’s also something of the night about him. Berlin has amplified that, too. “I think I’m a little crazier now, perhaps I’ve let my hair down,” he says (with a grin). “I’ve been dancing a lot, listening a lot, going to crazy parties with a bunch of really good friends – being part of the scene and really enjoying what I’m hearing.”

Hawtin was the force behind some truly twisted warehouse parties in the Detroit area in the 1990s, until a local clampdown cooled the ardour. He now does his own club nights in Berlin, although much of his time is taken up crossing contintents to play anywhere from 10,000-strong raves to tiny sweatboxes for 300 people.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:31 PM

 

Supersilent 7

www.supersilence.net has a new look to promote the new Supersilent dvd concert film, Supersilent 7

www.supersilence.net
an unofficial site of the norwegian group supersilent

# posted by DJ Martian 2:14 PM

 

Brainwashed Releases A listing of recent & upcoming electronic/experimental/etc. releases brought to you by feedback monitor and Brainwashed has been updated.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:08 PM

Thursday, September 22, 2005

 

Blabbermouth.Net report on Norwegian art-rock band Winds: WINDS Mastermind Offers Update On New Album

# posted by DJ Martian 11:03 PM

 

The latest The Breezeblock show on Radio 1 includes a Broadcast session.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:51 PM

 

The latest One World on Radio 1 features:

Traum Schallplatten, Jah Wobble & Fat Freddy's Drop
Show broadcast on Radio 1
Monday 19 September 2005: 0100-0300 [Available on Listen Again]

On this weeks One World we have a label showcase from Cologne Based Techno label Traum Schallplatten. The label was started in 1998 by Jacqueline Klein and Riley Reinhold. They started the label after a trip to Buenos Aires when they put out their first CD, 'Elektronische Musik aus Buenos Aires'.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:49 PM

 

musicOMH.com review Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites

# posted by DJ Martian 4:32 PM

 

The Wire - October 2005 Issue

Boards of Canada are on the front cover of the new issue of The Wire magazine.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:27 PM

 

Knut - Terraformer

Swiss avant metal/noisecore band KNUT announce a new album: Terraformer

Terraformer is now scheduled for a november 8th release in the states through hydra head, while conspiracy will be ready to unleash the beast on november 21th in europe. vinyl lp should come as well - at least in europe and probably a little later stateside. the new album features 12 tracks

# posted by DJ Martian 12:04 PM

 

Carl Craig selects tracks for Fabric 25 Compilation

Via ILM details of Carl Craig - Fabric 25

01 Yang Yang Twins / Wait [The Whisper Song] / TVT Records
02 Carl Craig / Angel (Caya Dub) / Planet E
03 Trickski / Sweat / Sonar Kollektiv
04 Kerri Chandler / Bar A Thym / Nite Grooves / King Street Sounds
05 Just One / Love2Love [Phlash Edit] / Neroli Productions
06 Megablast / Jupita [Stereotyp Remix] / Luv Lite Recordings
07 Scott Grooves / The Journey / From The Studio Of Scott Grooves
08 Africanism / Imbalaye / Yellow Productions
09 Blaze Presents UDA Ft. Barbara Tucker / Most Precious Love [DF Future 3000 Instrumental] / Nite Grooves/King Street Sounds
10 Rayon / The Panther [Rubber Re-Edit] / Crosstown Rebel Music/Rebelone
11 Soundstream / 3rd Movement / Soundstream
12 Dark Comedy / Good God / Art Of Dance Records
13 D'Malicious / Alive / Wave Music
14 Pasta Boys / Limit / Disco Inn
15 DJ Yoav B. / Energize / Wabi Sabi / Nomorewords
16 Nick Petty & Shamus Coghlan / Crushing / Missing Unit
17 Carl Craig / Darkness / Planet E
18 Tokyo Black Star / Blade Dancer [Dixon Edit] / Sonar

# posted by DJ Martian 12:20 AM

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

 

Kranky Records - New Releases for Autumn 2005

Reminder Kranky releases this Autumn:

Sound samples and images are now available for all fall 2005 releases from kranky:

krank085 - Boduf Songs, 'Boduf Songs' CD - September 19: USA / September 5 UK
krank086 - Lichens, 'The Psychic Nature of Being' CD - September 19: USA/UK
krank087 - Christopher Bissonnette, 'Periphery' CD - October 10: USA / October 3: UK
krank088 - Brian McBride (of Stars of the Lid), 'When the Detail Lost its Freedom' CD - October 31: USA /UK
krank089 - Dawn Smithson, 'Safer Here' CD - October 10: USA / October 17: UK
krank090 - Windy & Carl, 'The Dream House' - November 7: USA / November 14: UK

# posted by DJ Martian 11:17 PM

 

SightSonic 2005 October 14th - 16th

[Christain] Fennesz will be appearing @ SightSonic 2005 festival, on Saturday 15th October at the National Centre for Early Music, York, England as part of SightSonic 2005 - York International Festival of Digital Arts.

# posted by DJ Martian 8:37 PM

 

Folie - Eyepennies

Check out the brand new Folie video by Anders Weberg at mitek [from the new Folie album]

Folie is Stefan Thor, and this album has been mastered by fellow Swede Andreas Tilliander. It's a superb slice of glitchy dubby electronic music.

"Eyepennies" is the long anticipated second album after Folie's 2002
debut "Misspass", which got overwhelming response from international press (rated second
best album of 2002 by german magazine de:bug). A long wait indeed, but his new album
will leave no one disappointed, and for sure build on his reputation as one of the
most talented artists from Scandinavia.

Folie delivers 12 stunning tracks of swirling electronica with
undeniable pop appeal.

His slightly surreal constructions of melancholic melodies, funky
little beats and laid-back harmonies create a flow for easy afternoons as well as
intense club nights.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:34 PM

 

Robert Wyatt - Radio 2 Documentary

Radio2 - Documentaries details of a Robert Wyatt documentary this Saturday:

SOUP SONGS - THE ROBERT WYATT STORY

Saturday 24 September at 8.30pm

Presenter Phil Manzanera talks candidly and humourously to Robert Wyatt about his time in Soft Machine, the art rock band of the era, his solo work, and collaborations in the music business.

# posted by DJ Martian 3:30 PM

 

Now that's what I call John Peel Music !

John Peel – A Tribute, A 40 track double album celebrating the music that John Peel championed, through the late 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s.

Xfm report John Peel Tribute CD Announced

Also NME.COM report John Peel tribute CD to be released on October 17th, titled: John Peel – A Tribute

The full tracklisting is as follows:

CD1

01 Lonnie Donegan "Lost John"
02 Tyrannosaurus Rex "Deborah"
03 Pink Floyd "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun"
04 Jim Hendrix Experience "Spanish Castle Magic"
05 Van Morrison "Sweet Thing"
06 David Bowie "Life On Mars"
07 The Doors "Five To One"
08 Tim Buckley "Song For A Siren"
09 Rod Stewart/The Faces "Stay With Me"
10 The Misunderstood "I Can Take You To The Sun"
11 Country Joe & The Fish "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine"
12 Fairport Convention "Meet On The Ledge"
13 Captain Beefheart "Big Eyed Beans From Venus"
14 Loudon Wainwright III "Be Careful There Is A Baby In The House"
15 Roy Buchanan "I Am a Lonesome Fugitive"
16 The Bonzo Dog Doodah Band "Mr Apollo"
17 The Ramones "I Don't Want To Walk Around With You"
18 The Clash "Complete Control"
19 Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
20 New Order "Ceremony"

CD2

01 The Undertones "Teenage Kicks"
02 Altered Images "Happy Birthday"
03 The Smiths "How Soon Is Now"
04 The Cocteau Twins "Pearly-Dewdrops Drops"
05 Jesus & Mary Chain "Sidewalking"
06 Blur "Song 2"
07 Culture "Lion Rock"
08 Billy Bragg "New England"
09 Robert Wyatt "Shipbuilding"
10 The Wedding Present "Brassneck"
11 PJ Harvey "Sheila Na Gig"
12 Pulp "Common People"
13 The Fall "Theme From Sparta F.C."
14 Super Furry Animals "Something For The Weekend"
15 Nina Nastasia "Bird Of Cuzco"
16 The Delgados "Pull The Wires From The Wall"
17 Belle & Sebastian "Lazy Line Painter Jane"
18 Laura Cantrell "Two Seconds"
19 Orbital "Chime"
20 Elmore James "Dust My Blues"

Proceeds of the album will go to various charities: The Salvation Army, East Anglia's Children's Hospices and The Kariandusi School Trust.

# posted by DJ Martian 3:15 PM

 

New Grandaddy Album

Billboard report Grandaddy Finishes Up New Album strangely titled: Just Like the Fambly Cat

Expect an early 2006 release date.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:58 PM

 

Pitchfork review Jason Forrest - Shamelessly Exciting

# posted by DJ Martian 2:54 PM

 

Satyricon Album Set for Spring 2006

Norwegian Black Metal band Satyricon provide a news update:

Sorry for not keeping touch lately, but we've been busy working! We are in middle of pre-production for our new album and we will start recording October 17th in Puk Studio in Denmark where we did most of "Volcano". We aim to finish the album in January followed by a late spring release. This means we should be ready to do a big festival run throughout the summer and hit the clubs in the fall. Things change and they can change fast too in this industry, but this is what we plan to do as it looks now. We'll keep you posted about this and other projects we are working on too , throughout the fall

# posted by DJ Martian 2:49 PM

 

Kultureflash - Headlines from London [No. 136 / 21.09.05]

This week's Kultureflash - Headlines from London

KultureFlash is a free, weekly newsletter covering contemporary culture in and around London. Each week we track down some of the more unusual and interesting events taking place in the Capital and deliver them straight to your inbox. Featuring art, gigs, films, talks, clubs and more -- we are committed to bringing you an eclectic mix of the most stimulating events in London.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:40 PM

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

 

sonomu review the black dog - silenced

# posted by DJ Martian 4:22 PM

 

This week's flavourpill LONDON [Issue 100 - 20-26 September, 2005]

flavourpill LONDON is an email magazine covering a hand-picked selection of music, art and cultural events — delivered each Tuesday afternoon.

including: CD REVIEW: Jackson and His Computer Band, Smash

# posted by DJ Martian 3:31 PM

 

New Look NME Magazine

This week the NME magazine has yet another redesign, this time to compliment the new look website.

Those pop rock poseurs The Killers are on the front cover.



Marketing blurb..New Look NME! More Reviews! Bigger Radar! All new sections!

Free 14 track CD:

[Advertised in last week's issue, includes tracks from The Arcade Fire, The Editors plus 12 other artists, mostly NME type bands that I don't rate.]

# posted by DJ Martian 2:08 PM

Monday, September 19, 2005

 

Pitchfork review Broadcast - Tender Buttons

# posted by DJ Martian 2:28 PM

 

yahoo dotmusic report John Peel day is shaping up with various events across the UK.

Including a triple treat: New Order, The Fall and the Super Furry Animals - at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:20 PM

 

An Official Kate Bush website is now in place.

However a full web launch will be activated on November 7th.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:10 PM

 

New Biosphere Album Dropsonde

I have just listened to one of the finest tracks [Birds fly by flapping their wings] of the year from Norwegian electronic artist Biosphere [via Nick Luscombe's Flo-Motion show on Xfm]

The track has a microhouse sound meets deep spacey electronic jazz. The sound is streched out, pulsing, flowing, hypnotic. If the track is representative of the album we could have an A+ Grade album ready to experience !

You can order the LP Vinyl version of the album @ TouchShop now. A CD version will follow later in the Autumn, probably October / November. [In Norway the album will be released on the Beatservice label]

Widely regarded as one of Norwegian electronic music's most important artists, Biosphere's [Geir Jenssen] career spans nearly two decades, several albums, lots of remixes, various sound installations, commissions, soundtracks and even the odd Himalayan summit.

You may recognise his work without knowing it, so frequently does it crop up on TV trailers and idents. In the early 1990s he was a pioneer of so-called 'Ambient Techno', but since then, he has refined his sound into something more magnetic and enduring.

Dropsonde' isn't a soundtrack like the interwoven 'Substrata' nor an episodic journey in the way that 'Autour de la Lune' is. Here Geir Jenssen is pushing new directions towards the jazz colours of Miles Davis and Jon Hassell, whilst re-invigorating the pulse and projection of his signature sound: a hypnotic combination of pleasure and dread.

The spatial aspects some have dubbed "Arctic sound" but it summons strong feelings, or as Exclaim from Canada put it, "in order to climb higher, you must first go deeper". Jon Savage adds: "As with all of the Biosphere albums, the music draws you in and makes you want to listen and feel. Jenssen's work acts on a very emotional level, one that encourages you to drift away into a haze of images and scenes brought to you by the music, where spectacular beauty hides unseen danger. Intense and moving, but comforting and soothing at the same time."

[A 'dropsonde' is a weather reconnaissance device designed to be dropped from an airplane or similar craft at altitude to take telemetry as it falls to the ground. It typically relays information to a computer in the dropping airplane by radio. The fall may be slowed by a parachute. Information collected by a typical dropsonde may include wind speed, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure.]

This is Biosphere's 5th release for Touch, after "Cirque" [Touch # TO:46, 2000], "Substrata 2" [Touch # TO:50, 2002], "Shenzhou" [Touch # TO:55], and "Autour de la Lune" [Touch # TO:62, 2004]. He has also contributed to various Touch compilations, including "Spire - Organ Music, Past, Present & Future" [Touch # Tone 20, 2004), and more recently to the Storr walk on Skye, Scotland, a guided tour through stunning landscape accompanied by illuminations and sound recordings.

Sweden's DOTSHOP.SE - Biosphere: Dropsonde states:

Biosphere's best album ever. Godlike ambience, spiderweb details, angelic lushness with nice hints of uneasyness. Take a dive!

# posted by DJ Martian 12:13 AM

Sunday, September 18, 2005

 

music blog to check: Rottenmeats

# posted by DJ Martian 10:47 PM

 

Confutatis Album on Ai

ePM provide a press release: Confutatis - Built In Anger - AI

Artist - Confutatis
Title - Built In Anger
Label - AI
Format - CD
Catalog No. - Ai011
Release Date - 10/10/2005

Once again this eminently collectable London label keeps up its album release schedule with yet another fine musical product, this time by long standing DJ/producer Bernhard Pucher. This time under his Confutatis alter-ego Bernhard gives us a musical album of electronic nuances, guitars, saxophones, melodic chords, lo-fi atmospherics, glitch-house, crunchy hip hop beats and distorted vocals for a journey along the outer edges of the night time world. Taking his name from the opening line of Mozart�s Requiem: confutatis maledictis (when the wicked are confounded) �Built In Anger� is a dark and beautiful soundtrack, brooding with unseen menace and salvation.

Mr. Pucher has been actively DJing and producing for almost ten years under various alter egos including Brian Aneurysm, EchoPilot, and for this outing, Confutatis. After originally producing progressive house and trance he experienced a completely different environment for electronic music when he moved from Vienna, Austria to Dallas, Texas in 1998. His influences then grew into a much bigger realm, reaching from industrial (Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails) to hard techno. But as the production quality increased, he slowly but surely stuck with the techno sound as people around him introduced him to minimal and the growing tech-house phenomenon. After increasing his reputation with his Iron Box Music imprint other labels including Poker Flat, Traum, Spectral, Onitor, Ware Records and Sub-static started picking up on his musical talent.

This is Bernhard�s second release on Ai after the well received �Light Reflects Sound EP� last year opened the world to the sound of Confutatis. Now with �Built In Anger�, Confutatis delivers his dark and brooding style over a whole album�s worth of material. From the opening sax filled glitch house of �Faith� and hip hop inflected beats and vocals of �Just Ask� to the rolling bass filled tech-house of �My Statement� and the title track�s melancholic soundtrack, �Built In Anger� is an album made for the head, heart and dancefloor.

WWW.AiRECORDS.COM

�One of the most collectable labels in the world today.�
WARP RECORDS
�Slick, emotive and more than just a pretty face. Electronic music has never sounded nor looked as seductive as this.�
CLASH MAGAZINE
�If you�ve ever heard a record by Drexciya, Boards of Canada, Carl Craig or Richard D. James you�ll have a good idea of what Ai have to offer.�
VICE MAGAZINE

# posted by DJ Martian 10:37 PM

 

OMM review Manu Katche - Neighbourhood on ECM [reviewed by Stuart Nicholson]

"This is music that grows on you - the beautiful, sensual sounds of Tomasz Stanko's trumpet and Jan Garbarek's saxophone weave melodic shapes while Marcin Wasilewski's piano provides the perfect counterpoint with elegant musical inventions of his own."

# posted by DJ Martian 8:48 PM

 

SEEFEEL

Debut album ‘Quique’ re-issued for d'load

Formed by Mark Clifford, Sarah Peacock, Justin Fletcher and Daren Seymour (some of whom would go on to form Scala) Seefeel released their debut album, 'Quique', on too pure in 1993. A constant source of inspiration to those experimenting on the fringes of ambient pop and electronica (Aphex Twin remixed the bands 'Time To Find Me') the long out-of-print album is now being made available as a digital release and can be purchased from iTunes..

via Too Pure email

See Too Pure News section for download link.

# posted by DJ Martian 8:38 PM

 

Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel now has a UK release date of October 31st. [Previously slated for October 17th]

[Confirmed at both Amazon.co.uk and HMV.co.uk]

# posted by DJ Martian 8:26 PM

 

musicOMH.com review John Cale - blackAcetate

# posted by DJ Martian 8:16 PM

 

Pendulum present the Essential Mix on Radio 1 [Now on Listen Again]

Pendulum
TX Date: 18/09/05

This week we hand the decks over to one of the hottest drum n bass acts of the year, Pendulum

The Australian trio who have dominated the scene for the last 12 months and broke the national charts make their debut on the show

# posted by DJ Martian 8:10 PM

 

OMM review Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase [Reviewed by Simon Reynolds]

# posted by DJ Martian 8:03 PM

 

Speakers Push the Air review Jackson and His Computer Band - Smash

# posted by DJ Martian 7:43 PM

 

Speakers Push the Air review Murcof - Remembranza

# posted by DJ Martian 7:39 PM

 

The Nurse With Wound List

In 1979 Nurse With Wound released their debut album: Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table of a Sewing Machine and an Umbrella.

The album came with a recommended list of experimental music artists: THE NURSE WITH WOUND LIST...

I doubt that any of Nurse With Wound realised it at the time, but the list that accompanied the first Nurse With Wound album, (and also the revised version, included with their second) has become almost like a bible for the intrepid musical adventurer. Sporting the enigmatic text: "Categories strain, crack and sometimes break, under their burden - step out of the space provided..." it has become legendary, as a reference list of revolutionary music, and a challenge to Nurse With Wound collectors around the world, who curious enough to want to hear all the music on it. Of course, this is not an easy task, as the full list nears 300 artists, and many are extremely obscure! As Steve once pointed out, some artists are listed for obvious reasons, some less-so, some are there just for one track!

Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music just mentioned that a forthcoming Freak Zone show will feature music from some of these artists.

email suggestions to Stuart: 6 Music - Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone

# posted by DJ Martian 7:23 PM

 

New Order Singles

Saw the visual ad of the all the singles in today's Observer Music Monthly magazine.

Reminder, yet another New Order Singles Comp on the Way released on October 3rd in the UK.

Disc One

Ceremony
Procession
Everything's Gone Green
Temptation
Blue Monday
Confusion
Thieves Like Us
Perfect Kiss
Subculture
Shellshock
State of Nation
BLT
True Faith
1963
Touched By the Hand of God

Disc Two

Blue Monday-88
Fine Time
Round and Round
Run 2
World in Motion
Regret
Ruined in a Day
World (Price of Love)
Spooky
Crystal
60 MPH
Here To Stay
Krafty
Jetstream
Waiting for the Sirens' Call
Turn

Latest New Order information: New Order Online

# posted by DJ Martian 6:40 PM

 

John Peel's Record Collection

Paul Morley in The Observer explores John Peel's record collection: Peel's box of secrets

A privileged glimpse of the most prized seven-inch records of the late DJ tells you all you need to know about pop..

# posted by DJ Martian 5:49 PM

 

Almost Cool review Tujiko Noriko - Blurred In Mirror

# posted by DJ Martian 2:45 PM

 

Almost Cool review Safety Scissors - Tainted Lunch

# posted by DJ Martian 2:42 PM

Friday, September 16, 2005

 

Next week's releases reviewed @ Norman Records

# posted by DJ Martian 7:34 PM

 

Playlouder interview Warp's Jackson

# posted by DJ Martian 7:31 PM

 

Is Yahoo Blog Search Coming Soon?

Yahoo's blo.gs notice:

Search has temporarily been disabled

tracking 19190755 blogs [i.e over 19 Million blogs in the system] - this figure has continually jumped up since the Yahoo acquisition of blo.gs earlier in the Summer. New blog feeds are being added to the system every minute.

Back in July Micro Persuasion blogged Yahoo Testing Blogs and RSS Search

More Backend Evidence of a Yahoo Blog Search including comments regarding Yahoo RSS spidering activity this week.

Yahoo are definately working on a blog / RSS search. How soon for the launch of Yahoo Blog Search ?

I reckon that Yahoo will systems integrate the tech-infrastructure of blo.gs to a Yahoo search interface for blogs. Now that Google have launched their blog search, maybe the pressure is on the Yahoo search technology team - to launch a competitor service fast - that's why they have taken down the basic search function on blo.gs?

So watch out for Yahoo blog search !

# posted by DJ Martian 5:47 PM

 

The Independent review Capitol K - Nomad Junk

# posted by DJ Martian 2:04 PM

 

The Guardian review Echo and the Bunnymen - Siberia

# posted by DJ Martian 12:59 PM

 

The Guardian review Global Communication - 76:14 a reissue of one of the finest ambient / electronic albums of the 1990s.

# posted by DJ Martian 12:58 PM

 

The Guardian review Broadcast - Tender Buttons

# posted by DJ Martian 12:55 PM

 

Debut Album from Judith Juillerat

Artist: Judith Juillerat

Title: Soliloquy

Label: Shitkatapult

Cat No: STRIKE 067

Release date: 11/08/2005

In early 2005 Judith Juilleratopened her music to the public for the first time, when she won a remix contestfor Bjorks "Army Of Me" put on by Unicef, leaving 600 othercontestants in the dust. Now she presents her impressive debut album, fittinglycalled "Soliloquy." For those quick to compare one can alreadyname her in same breath along with Barbara Morgenstern (Germany) or Gustav(Austria), without taking away from the original artistic expression of thesethree ladies.

Judith’selectronic songwriting feeds off of a rich repertoire of whimsical musicalfigures and fancy tousled sounds. But in its perfect aesthetical balance itresembles imaginatively superposed calligraphies in which every single sweepand stroke, each twist and turn, on the different layers of its notation leadto an inspiring, meaningful expression. "Soliloquy" arrests attentionwith a paradoxical casualness that develops an irresistible attraction. Analmost compelling voyeuristic element can hardly be dismissed while listening.You become an ear-witness attending an unexpected occasion of intimate andstirring moments. Melodies composed with little bugs, a mature composure intempo, the intertwining free flow, plus freely interfering fragments unfoldingan oppressing yet unrestrained beauty, all beckon to question the back-breakingoverly styled pettiness of daily routines. And it turns out that Judith'ssupposed soliloquy is nothing less than a tricky elaborate artifice thatominously engages the listener in a debate with their own soul from a magicallytwisted "third" perspective.

Judith finds her musical expression through improvisation and spontaneity, and sheinfuses her compositions with intuition and morals quite audibly. Listening tomusic is her daily food, she says, admitting a fondness for German cooking whenshe quotes bands like Can, Amon Duul, Einsturzende Neubauten, Tarwater or Apparatas sources of inspiration. It should not go unmentioned that"Soliloquy" was produced without a computer. For ten years now JudithJuillerat has been making music in her home studio in the dinky town ofBesançon near the Jura mountains. She has been playing with old and new analogand digital synthesizers and beat boxes, a mini sampler, effect machines and amicrophone as well as with acoustic instruments such as the piano and guitar.Track by track, she puts her songs and sound-scapes together using amulti-track recorder. Whether this kind of old school production technique canbe understood as the reason for the maturity of her music remains to be seen.In her mid-thirties and as a mother of two children (6 and 8 years old), Judithis definitely a genuine gain for our label plus a late and solid gift for ascene that is known to be predominantly younger, male, and geeky.

Shitkatapult

Source:FE Publicity Email

# posted by DJ Martian 12:28 AM

 

New Thomas Brinkmann Album

Artist: Thomas Brinkmann

Title: Lucky Hands

Label: Max-Ernst

Cat No: MAXE 009

Release Date: 11/08/2005 [November 8th]

Germany's legendarylabel-owner, remixer and experimentalist Thomas Brinkmann returns with hislucky number 13 -- another full-length release of unmatchable, patentedisolationist dub-inspired techno. “Lucky Hands” is the culminationof action, will, coincidence and two lucky hands. With its easily charmingappeal and intellectually-accessible funkiness, this release is both frivolousand heavy, and one of the best semi-pop productions of the nearest past."Maschine" is a very diverse clash of light and murk that summonsboth Kraftwerk and Rammstein, sliding from straight dance to melodic vocal dub,then marching into the dark German woods. But sometimes even Mr. Morrissey canbe heavier, as in "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get," the Smithstune here augmented and darkened by lovely vocals from Tusia Beridze (aka TBA). Even "Lucky Hands" stumbles upon Talking Heads skronky angularitybetter than the band itself. The album finishes with a stunning contributionfrom Marco Palmieri, who combined some of the drums taken from"isch/ROW" with the optimistic and timeless sounds from '20s swingand gypsy jazz musician Django Reinhard. Truly, it is not only luck, butexperience and talent that make things happen for Mr. Brinkmann.

Source: FE Publicity Email

# posted by DJ Martian 12:23 AM

 

New Jan Jelinek Album

Artist: Jan Jelinek

Title: Kosmischer Pitch

Label: Scape

Cat No: SCAPE 032

Release Date: 10/25/2005

Back in the heyday of Krautrockpeople often talked of ‘Cosmic Music’ – even then, the term‘Rock’ was approached with plenty of caution. In the early 70s,Kosmische Kuriere spawned the Cosmic Jokers whose songs flaunted extravaganttitles like “Galactic Supermarket”, a more than apt description oftheir sound. While bands like Popol Vuh began to experiment with early Moogsynthesisers, Holger Czukay’s Can claimed to aspire to a ‘plasmaticsound’. This era was all about sound blurring, flow, a musical hazinessof sorts, perceived as a transcendental moment, with the pioneers of electronicmusic on a quest for liberation. And the fact that these musicians, all bornand bred in post-war Germany, decided to repair to imaginary outer space topursue their aims, should most certainly be considered a political statement:everything they did was about escaping the confines of their own country.‘We want to create beautiful music’, Tangerine Dream explained,‘far removed from all those expressions of hate, aggression anddespair’. And yet, this outlook had nothing to do with escapism, butrather with disconnecting themselves from formal constraints. Airy vibrationsinstead of earthy rock. Although the obvious parallels to Sun Ra’s spacediaspora might seem uncanny, they hailed from an entirely different context andvery different experiences.

Jan Jelinek’s new album „Kosmischer Pitch“ (Cosmic Pitch)holds plenty of allusions to this era. While “Lemminge und Lurcheninc.” (Lemmings and Amphibians) might seem to refer back to AmonDüül’s 1971 double album “Tanz der Lemminge” (Dance of theLemmings), “Planeten in Halbtrauer” (Planets in Semi-Mourning) isreminiscent of Arno Schmidt’s “Kühe in Halbtrauer” (Cows inSemi-Mourning) and thus cites yet another relentless chronicler of post-warGermany who refused to carve himself a cosy niche in his native country.Nevertheless, you will be hard-pressed to find any direct references orconcrete quotes to, for example, Can or Cluster. Jan Jelinek merely extractstiny fragments to serve as loose associations. Back in 2001, his“Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records” had staked out a similar referenceframework without actually making it audible: although these recordings weresourced from old jazz records, the resulting music – to paraphrase aformer INTRO author – consisted predominantly of “minutely atomisedsounds, extremely freely woven crackle and snap noises exuding a shimmeringsense of calm”.

For “Kosmischer Pitch“ Jan Jelinek decided to work with loops andlayers. In a way, the outcome really does sound ‘plasmatic’ andties in with the drifting sounds of the early seventies – not by way ofrecycling, but at the most by reconstructing a certain mood. This album is allabout tranquillity, submersion in sound, and tracks that might just as wellextend to twenty, thirty minutes or even a whole two hours. In this,“Kosmischer Pitch” draws on the rationale of those variants ofmodern music deliberately unconstrained by the song format: whether La MonteYoung’s minimalism, psychedelia or deep house – all these auralforms of expression were and remain about circumventing any conventional senseof time, thus creating, by means of carefully placed modulations, a sense ofendless intensity. Naturally, even these tracks come to an end eventually, butonly because great beauty can also trigger exhaustion. The “Pitch”referred to in the album title exploits this premise of rising above time andrefers back to the arrangement idea of “wild pitch” deep house,thus pursuing a two-fold consolidation process: of tracks resp. layers andintensity.

By transforming this basic principle of drifting into something audible - hismusic, albeit blurred, has always been transparent, hiding nothing – JanJelinek forges a new connection: from Conny Plank’s studio, the masterconsole of early 70s Electronica, to Detroit and back. Moreover,“Kosmischer Pitch” is the exact opposite of retro, deliberatelyforgoing references to a specific time or place for vibrations that defylocalisation. In 2006, Jan Jelinek will take this principle to the stage: notas a laptop solo artist, but together with guitarist Andrew Pekler (Scape) andHanno Leichtmann (Static, White Hole, VSQ) on drums.
(Martin Büsser)

Via FE Publicity Email

# posted by DJ Martian 12:04 AM

Thursday, September 15, 2005

 

New Simon Fisher Turner Album

Mute release Simon Fisher Turner - Lana Lara Lata album on October 3rd

# posted by DJ Martian 11:17 PM

 

New 2 by Bukowski Album

Greek post-rockers 2 by bukowski release a new album: Yzordderrex on September 26th on Very Friendly.

Check website for MP3 track.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:09 PM

 

BBC collective review Broadcast - Tender Buttons

# posted by DJ Martian 10:18 PM

 

Issue 52 of Earplug

SEPTEMBER 15 - SEPTEMBER 28

Earplug is a twice-monthly email magazine, delivering a handpicked selection of news, sounds, videos, and original features to the international electronic-music community.

# posted by DJ Martian 7:54 PM

 

New 65daysofstatic album: One Time For All Time

Virtualfestivals.com interview 65DAYSOFSTATIC:

look out for the new recording ‘One Time For All Time’ by 65DAYSOFSTATIC, which will be released early October 2005.

Official website: 65daysofstatic

# posted by DJ Martian 6:46 PM

 

Mew Xfm Session Tonight

| MEW | provide a news update:

Mew have recorded a session for London alternative radio station Xfm, which will be broadcast tonight (September 15th) on the Claire Sturgess show, which begins at 9pm.

You can tune in on 104.9fm in London, or on the internet at www.xfm.co.uk.

Xfm

# posted by DJ Martian 6:23 PM

 

BW&BK New Website

Respected Canadian Metal publication/website BW&BK [Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles] have a new look website @ Bravewords.com

RSS available:

3 RSS Feeds are available: News, Hardwares [Reviews] and Features

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is an XML-based format for content distribution. Bravewords.com offers several RSS feeds with headlines, descriptions and links back to Bravewords.com for the full story. You are free to use these feeds as long as you do not post our full-text stories and provide proper attribution to Bravewords.com.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:49 PM

 

Blabbermouth.Net report KATAKLYSM: New Album To Be Mixed By TUE MADSEN titled 'In the Arms of Devastation' will be released worldwide February 20, 2006 on Nuclear Blast Records and is guaranteed to blow your mind!

# posted by DJ Martian 5:33 PM

 

Blabbermouth.Net report PARADISE LOST: New Album Gets U.K. Release Date on October 17th via Century Media.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:28 PM

 

Ephel Duath - Pain Necessary to Know

Fantastic news supreme Italian Experimental Art-Metal band, Ephel Duath provide a news update. Their last album The Painter's Palette is widely recognised as one of landmark rock / metal albums of the decade so far.

Ephel Duath announce an October 17th release date for the new album: Pain Necessary to Know.

Hello everybody, we're back again and with a lot of good news. Pain necessary to know will be released in Europe and also in the States on the 17th of October on ELITIST/EARACHE Records.

Around the end of October we will leave for our UK headliner tour.

UK Tour Announced

These are the dates, some are still be confirmed:

oct 28 London Underworld (tbc)
oct 29 Birmingham Barfly (tbc)
oct 30 Southampton Joiners
oct 31 Cardiff Barfly
nov 2 Edinburgh Subway
nov 3 Coventry Jailhouse
nov 4 Hull University
nov 5 Sheffield Corporation

The drummer who will join us on tour is the twentysix years old Andrea Rabuini, ex Infernal Poetry.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:23 PM

 

Anathema Update

Blabbermouth.Net report ANATHEMA Talk About New Lineup, Songwriting Process

# posted by DJ Martian 5:12 PM

 

Lacuna Coil Plan Karmacode for Early 2006

Blabbermouth.Net report LACUNA COIL Enter Studio; Announce New Album Title - Karmacode, due for release early 2006.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:08 PM

 

The Young Gods - Double Compilation

The Young Gods have a new website to promote their retrospective compilation: XXY: Twenty Years 1985-2005

The Young Gods :: XXY

The double CD called "XXY" 20 years 1985-2005 will be available in all good record stores in Europe the 3rd of october 2005 and in Switzerland the 19th of september 2005.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:00 PM

 

Blabbermouth.Net report KATATONIA Complete Work On New Album

Release date, album/song titles and artwork to be announced and presented in one of the next updates.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:52 PM

 

Cave In - Perfect Pitch Black

Reminder the new Cave In album: Perfect Pitch Black can be streamed at the mo.

Released this week in the US. Available in the UK next week, you can order at Amazon UK

# posted by DJ Martian 4:20 PM

 

An interactive ecard for Between the Buried and Me

Complex chopped up math-metalcore mixed with progressive rock dynamics. The missing link between Mastodon, Meshuggah and The Mars Volta if they went Metal OTT ?

# posted by DJ Martian 1:32 PM

 

Playlouder review Elbow - Leaders of the Free World with a top 5/5 rating.

# posted by DJ Martian 12:59 PM

 

Kultureflash - Headlines from London [No. 135 / 14.09.05]

Kultureflash are back from their Summer break.

This week's Kultureflash - Headlines from London

KultureFlash is a free, weekly newsletter covering contemporary culture in and around London. Each week we track down some of the more unusual and interesting events taking place in the Capital and deliver them straight to your inbox. Featuring art, gigs, films, talks, clubs and more -- we are committed to bringing you an eclectic mix of the most stimulating events in London.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:29 AM

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

 

1980 FORWARD - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF 4AD

Eat Your Own Ears are promoting a series of 4ad concerts in London in November to celebrate 25 years of 4ad.

1980 FORWARD - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF 4AD
POSTED - 14/09/2005
-------------------------------
TV ON THE RADIO - Thu 17 November The Scala

MINOTAUR SHOCK / MAGNETOPHONE - The Luninaire - Fri 18 November

THE BREEDERS - Blackheath Halls - Sat 19 November

THE BREEDERS - Blackheath Halls - Sun 20 November

KRISTIN HERSH - The Scala - Mon 21 November

KRISTIN HERSH - The Scala - Mon 22 November

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS - Bush Hall - Wed 23 November

CELEBRATION - Water Rats - Thurs 24 November

MOJAVE 3 / MARK KOZELEK - Conwall Hall - Fri 25 November

BLONDE REDHEAD / JOHAAN JOHANNSSON - The Scala - Sun 27 November

Tickets from: www.ticketweb.co.uk Tel: 08700 600 100 www.seetickets.com Tel: 08701 201 149 and Rough Trade, Covent Garden, London Tel: 0207 240 0105

# posted by DJ Martian 11:03 PM

 

NEW Susumu Yokota & Rothko Album

Details of a new collaborate album:

Susumu Yokota & Rothko - Distant Sounds of Summer

If this album doesn’t melt your soul then nothing will. This
collaboration between avant rock pioneers Rothko and Japanese electronic genius
is nothing short of astonishing.

It’s mixture of the sublime voice of Caroline Ross with loping beats,
resonant bass and wide open spaces creates an epic widescreen tour de
force that oozes quality and beauty.

Sometimes the deep twanging tones sound like a deep sea Ry Cooder
soundtrack whilst the pure and fragile tones of the voice suggest an elegiac
English folk sensibility. Other times the broken beats and world music
ambience collide to form a supernatural kind of funk reminiscent of Mad
Lib. And yet never is there a sense of disparity or confusion. At all
times Yokota’s masterful production coheres the music into a tangible
whole that makes one feel completely enveloped and lost in a wonderful
world of sound.

Out on Lo Recordings in October.

Source: email by lo recordings via sonomu

# posted by DJ Martian 4:40 PM

 

New Kate Bush Single Radio Premiere on BBC Radio 2 on September 21st

Kate Bush News & Information report

Kate's New Single To Get BBC Radio 2 Premiere on Sept 21st

13th September 2005: We can confirm that Kate's single King of the Mountain will be played for the first time on BBC Radio Two's Ken Bruce show between around 9.30 & 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 21st September (thanks to Krys at HomeGround). The 12th September issue of Music Week has described the song: 'This rhythmic gem grows and grows from an almost electronic-sounding start to suggest that the wait has been well worth it.' They report that the album will be a double set, one disc made up of a single track, lasting more than half an hour, the other comprising around seven tracks. It also says that 'the Bush project is the diamond in EMI's schedule.' The single is also listed under their 'key singles' in their chart pullout. (thanks to Ian on the forum)"

Reminder, Radio 2 shows are available on Listen Again via BBC Radio Player @ BBC Radio

# posted by DJ Martian 3:10 PM

 

indieworkshop.com review Port Royal - Flares

# posted by DJ Martian 1:59 PM

 

NME.com Site Redesign

So NME.COM has a new look.

First off, the style top navigation bar is very similar to another rock mainstream music website: Q4music.com - a direct competitor.

The NME music coverage of the website is still far too narrow, no need to give a lecture on this again.

Creatively the content strategy of the NME website is also poor and could be improved. At the mo:

- no forthcoming releases section
- reviews are poorly indexed
- hardly any historical content / context of music [e.g they could create a NME end of year archive, something similar to www.rocklist.net ~ NME Index]
- no links section [typical of a commercial PLC, deliberately creating a gated online experience.]
- no cross promotion with Uncut magazine, i.e [Uncut]
- no media guide to music radio & television
- the news page has a useless information design
- the search at the the top could include a kelkoo music search option [owned by yahoo]. [ i.e Kelkoo - Music ]
[Kelkoo search is available elsewhere on the NME website to compare some CDs]
- the Yahoo web search option also doesn't seem to work for 2 or more words at the mo.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:40 PM

 

Google Blog Search

At last Google have launched in Beta: Blog Search also with a Google style interface @ Google Blog Search

[You can also search via the top navigation bar on this blog!]

All the info @ Blog Search FAQ

All types of blogs indexed, not just Blogger:

Your results include all blogs, not just those published through Blogger; our blog index is continually updated, so you'll always get the most accurate and up-to-date results; and you can search not just for blogs written in English, but in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese and other languages as well.

Content from June 2005:

Since Blog Search indexes blogs by their site feeds, it will only include items that have been posted since it started indexing a given blog. For most blogs, that will be around June 2005, or the time at which you submitted your blog for inclusion. We are working on ways to include older posts as well.

Expert Reaction:

Search Engine Watch report Google Launches Industrial Strength Blog Search

Implications for bloggers: now that Google are indexing specific posts it is important to create effective metadata i.e clear, descriptive and relevant headings / titles / initial keywords for each blog post.

Blog Pinging:

A reminder if you want your blog to be indexed faster across the various RSS / Blog search services, use one of these tools:

King Ping
Ping-O-Matic
or this new tool:
pingoat

# posted by DJ Martian 12:56 PM

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

 

Stylus review Elbow - Leaders Of The Free World

# posted by DJ Martian 10:10 PM

 

Blabbermouth.Net report THEATRE OF TRAGEDY Sign With AFM RECORDS

# posted by DJ Martian 9:53 PM

 

Terrorizer - Issue 136

New issue of Terrorizer has Arch Enemy on the front cover. On sale [September 15th], this Thursday.

FEATURES

ARCH ENEMY EXODUS CATHEDRAL ATHEIST PARADISE LOST HYPOCRISY SKINNY PUPPY CAVE IN BLESSING THE HOGS MUNICIPAL WASTE EVERY TIME I DIE

POWER METAL SPECIAL
STRATOVARIUS
US POWER METAL
POWER METAL LABELS
POSTER: JUDAS PRIEST
POWER METAL ARTISTS

STUDIO REPORT: 1349
STUDIO REPORT: PRIMAL FEAR
BEECHER
THE ACCUSED
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
HARD OF HEARING: GWAR
BAR-BARIAN WRATH: MESHUGGAH/IN FLAMES/BEHEMOTH

Album Reviews
Arcturus, Cathedral, Cave In, Desaster, Earth, Fear Factory, God Forbid, Khanate, SUNN0))), Yob � harmless tremors or straight off the Richter scale?

Fear Candy 20 CD

AKERCOCKE 'Verdelet'
1349 'I Am Abomination'
EXODUS 'Raze'
PRIMAL FEAR 'Seven Seals'
CANNAE 'Rats, Snakes And Thieves'
GOD FORBID 'The End Of The World'
CAVE IN 'Trepanning'
AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED 'Panic Gasp'
BEECHER 'Function! Function!'
LAZARUS BLACKSTAR 'Defaced Photograph'
CURL UP AND DIE 'Anti-Depressants Are Depressing'
TERROR 2000 'Cheap Thrills'
CO-EXIST 'Teeth Meet Fist'
DOOMRIDERS 'Black Thunder'
THE FALL OF TROY 'We Better Learn To Hotwire A Uterus'
BLESSING THE HOGS 'Botched Messiah'
OBTEST 'Paskutine Akimirka'
METHODUST 'The Numbing Victory'

# posted by DJ Martian 2:03 PM

 

This week's flavourpill LONDON [Issue 99 - 13-19 September, 2005]

flavourpill LONDON is an email magazine covering a hand-picked selection of music, art and cultural events — delivered each Tuesday afternoon.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:51 PM

Monday, September 12, 2005

 

Forthcoming The Breezeblock shows on Radio 1

Sept 13th
Exile Mix
D Bridge

Sept 20th
Broadcast - live

Oct 4th
Jackson mix
Pier Bucci mix

Nov 1st
We Love Aphex
A homage to the great man

Coming Soon
# A.I
# Iggy Pop
# Boards of Canada

# posted by DJ Martian 10:32 PM

 

This week's One World presents Bestival 2005

Show broadcast on Radio 1
Monday 12 September 2005: 0100-0300 [Now on Listen Again]

# posted by DJ Martian 10:28 PM

 

SONIC CATHEDRAL - October 13

Sonic Cathedral pay tribute to John Peel at their next event.


Get ready to party like it’s 1991 to classic
shoegazing sounds from the Velvets to the Valentines
to Ulrich Schnauss as the SONIC CATHEDRAL opens its
doors for worship on JOHN PEEL DAY, Thursday October
13. Appropriately, there’s a very rare live outing for
JIM REID, former frontman of Peel favourites The Jesus
And Mary Chain, plus one of the first UK appearances
from Australia’s THE MORNING AFTER GIRLS. On the decks
are THE TELESCOPES, who have promised some Peel
treats, and some very special SURPRISE GUESTS.

SONIC CATHEDRAL
THE NIGHT THAT CELEBRATES ITSELF

THURSDAY OCTOBER 13
THE LEGION
348 OLD STREET
LONDON EC1

JIM REID (live)
THE MORNING AFTER GIRLS (live)
THE TELESCOPES (DJ)
SURPRISE GUESTS (DJ)

7pm-1am
£5

Source: via email Blisscent Yahoo Groups.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:18 PM

 

CMJ.com report Cave In Launch US Tour

# posted by DJ Martian 10:01 PM

 

CoC review Drudkh - The Swan Road

# posted by DJ Martian 3:31 PM

 

AVERSIONLINE.COM review Between the Buried and Me - Alaska

# posted by DJ Martian 3:29 PM

 

Pitchfork review Sigur Rós - Takk

# posted by DJ Martian 3:26 PM

 

Dense Promotion, Berlin - Dense 061

Reformatted @ Chain D.L.K. - Dense News details of forthcoming releases:

>>> >>> >>>

Contents:
AVIA GARDNER - More than tongue can tell [CD Intr-version]
BOOKS ON TAPE - Dinosaur Dinosaur [CD Alien8]
DÉSORMAIS - Dead letters to lost friends [CD Intr-version]
FILFLA - Frame [CD PLOP]
GILLES GOBEIL - Trilogie d'ondes [DVD-A empreintes DIGITALes]
GREG DAVIS & SEBASTIEN ROUX - Paquet Surprise [CD Carpark]
HANNA HARTMAN - Longitude / Cratere [CD Komplott]
MIWON - Pale Glitter [CD/LP City Centre Offices]
PAUL DOLDEN - Délires de plaisirs [CD empreintes DIGITALes]
SECRET MOMMY - Very Rec [CD Ache Records]
SIGHTINGS / HRVATSKI - split div/orce Series [7“ Ache Records]

>>> >>> >>>

# posted by DJ Martian 12:15 AM

Sunday, September 11, 2005

 

soundgenerator.com review Elbow - Leaders of the Free World

# posted by DJ Martian 11:20 PM

 

Brain Damage report Pink Floyd inducted into UK Music Hall Of Fame 2005

# posted by DJ Martian 11:11 PM

 

This Week's New Releases @ Boomkat [Week Commencing: September 12th 2005]

This week's new releases @ Boomkat include:

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
DJ Koze - Kosi Comes Around
Kompakt

For our money this is by far and away the best album Kompakt have released in their illustrious lifespan, enjoying heavy, nay constant rotation in our office and subject to the kind of adulation rarely seen round these parts for a genre that's almost exclusively geared towards and for 12" releases. Koze has done something extremely rare with this album - carefully assembling a tracklisting that's perfectly tweaked for primetime warehouse abuse alongside music that's hand carved into the most delicate homespun niche you could possibly imagine. The immediate destroyer here is the almost unacceptably good "Don't Feed The Cat" - a classic jack-track full of the most spannered synth mutilations you'll hear this year and the kind of simple, pure perucssive construction that rarely sounds as effortlessly good. All you Audion fans out there take note - this is unquestionably one of the tracks of the year. The ability to contrast each mood from its surroundings is Koze's greatest achievement here, the sweet sweet progressions of "My Grandmotha" managing to sound like a cross between Jan Jelinek. Lawrence and the soundtrack to your childhood in one go, while the closing "Chimnea" may as well have been written by Calexico on a leave of absence from the Mariachi's, hanging under the dusky palm trees of some impossibly glamorous location. Albums are rarely given this much love and attention when constructed and compiled, and the result is a record that spreads its wings without ever losing focus, coherency or complete and utter charm. Essential purchase....

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Made - Track Title
SCSI

Mike Williamson has been part of Manchester's well known electronic network for well over 10 years now. Having been a musical cohort, recording partner and DJ for the Skam label and its most revered unnamed operators, Mike has also penned work under all manner of aliases that have appeared on some collectable and hard to find releases on the world's most elusive imprint. This 14 track album is, amazingly, the debut full-length from Made and will be the first release of any kind from this artist widely available for public consumption. Opening track "Fonda" sets the pace while strutting itself around a dusty tapestry of samples and squashed hip hop archetypes - a natural successor to the hip hop modifications previously spawned by labelmates push button objects and gescom at their most sonically inebriated. "aroh" has been heavily pounded and rewound amongst close pre-listeners and dj's, featuring regularly as one of the build-up tunes on autechre's current world tour. this is just vintage territory for made, all staggered beats and neon vapor-trails that anyone who's been following electro or idm in the last 10 years will get attached to before its slim four minutes are up. "on/off", by contrast, is much more playful and glamorous, a poppin shuffle-light that will appeal to fans of Kompakt and Dial's fabulous Lawrence. Killer wares from artist and, once again, from the mighty Scsi....

D OF THE WEEK!
Specialten - Issue 11
Specialten
Mag // £ 4.99

Issue 11 is finally here!!! This issue features the fabulous Coco Rosie interviewed in beautiful parkland, the Anticon crew in conversation taken from a forthcoming film by The Listen Collective, lots of inspired features / rarely seen video material from Antony and The Johnsons, Smog (featuring Chloe Sevigny!), Bonnie Prince Billy, Keepintime, Black Mountain, Test Icicles, Ladytron, Supreme Vagabond Craftsman, Clor, DJ Format and the fabulous Nina XXX - a Short film about a woman who has created an alter ego who in this case is an adult film actress, plus lots of short films and a limited edition art print from Yoko Kondo. With a running length of 2 hours, check the video clips here and get thisin your crate immediately. Y'hear?!?...

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Cocorosie - Noah's Ark
Touch & Go

How good is this? With a set of photos that look as if they're destined for a passport, CocoRosie are glumly detached on the album artwork, a framework which permeates throughout 'Noah's Ark'. Yet whereas people are all too often moody-as-you-like, resulting in introspective bollocks, CocoRosie have turned their tarnished side to much greater things. Having toured here, there and everywhere with the likes of Devendra, Bright Eyes and Antony and the Johnsons, CocoRosie are predictably grand and unbeleivably intimate in their output, with songs such as 'K-Hole' existing in a charmingly run-down Mum-meets-Moldy Peaches-meets- Joanna Newsom side street. Putting their connections to good use, 'Beautiful Boyz' features the fabulous Antony (of the 'we won the Mercury' Jonsons), putting in a suitably octave defying performance alongside the lovestruck (Bjork-esque) warbles and oaktronica shuffling in the background. Elsewhere,'South 2nd' is a classic Devendra Banhart Cut featuring the great beard himself, 'The Sea Is Calm' shares that special breed of diffused piano based electronica that's impossible to adequately describe whilst the opera/beats of'Bisounours' is that pretty your ears will melt. This will end up on countless end of year lists, and for good reason, being as it is one of the most spine-tingling, beautifully intimate album's you will hear for quite some time. A Huge recommendation....

Various / Merck - Aurora 2
Merck

Follow up to the rather excellent ambient showcase 'Aurora' from a good 5 years ago, 'Aurora 2' sees the good ship Merck releasing a shimmering shoal of ambient tracks into the post 'Selected Ambient Works' harbour. More associated with brown-bread IDM, artists such as Deru, Sabi and Twerk put forward gently panegyrical pieces that wouldn't look out of place on Leaf. Ranging from the scattered beats of Ginormous and the mealy clicks of Twerk, through to the roiling soundscapes of Max Spransy and elongated scope of Cepia, 'Aurora 2' is a lambent delight which will snag the ear of all but the most battle hardened....

Folie - Eyepennies
Mitek

When an album gets voted 2nd best of the year by Germany's De:Bug magazine, you'd be well advised to take notice... Having received that very accolade for his 2002 debut 'Misspass', Folie (aka Stefan Thor) has now rustled up a worthy follow-up in the shape of 'Eyepennies'. Enthralled to the 'crisp & dry' school of electronica, 'Eyepennies' sees Thor take sturdy beats and garnish the, with all manner of analogue blushes, bleeps and cellophane soundscapes. Opening with 'Ellatre', Folie establishes a lurching sound which crackles along to a most pleasing conclusion, before 'Strum' takes over with a dubby fingered take on clunktronica. Elsewhere, 'Felicia' wouldn't have looked out of place on Mille Plateaux,'Stain' will have you glancing over your shoulder for the ethereal voices in the wires, whilst 'Mnogo' is an after-hours jaunt through an echo-fed hall of electro tarnished grandeur....

Flanger - Spirituals
Nonplace

What with Uwe Schmidt's relentless output as Atom TM and a million other guises its often easy to forget that the first album he released under the Flanger moniker with Burnt Friedman was about as innovative and influential as the post-jazz-glitch movement has ever produced. Beautifully microscopic emissions, percussive lines made out of bits of static and white noise, skittering beats and deep Rhodes keyed in for that late night jazz club effect. The two albums that followed on from this amazing debut failed to recapture the same fresh spark, instead settling for a less daring approach to largely familiar material. It's nice to see, then, that for their fourth album (the first for Friedman's own Nonplace imprint) the duo have drafted in a whole host of contributors and have radically altered their sound - delivering a rather bizarre but refreshing take on 1920's charleston with minimal digital intervention. The vocals of Riff Pike III do for the jazzclub what Jamie Lidell has done for funk - straight delivery that's only ever so slightly given the traditional flanger treatment - consciously at the other end of the spectrum to what this duo have delieverd in the past. A cockle-warming, feelgood excursion from two undisputed masters....

Pest - All Out Fall Out
Ninja Tune

Pest are one of those bands who epitomise Ninja Tune; a multi-talented bunch of varied stock musicians, who come together and produce a cultural crucible of music which happily defies any succinct pigeon-holes. A five piece collective of classically trained cello player, hippedy-hop DJ/MC, trombonist, techno head and Gibson-affiliated guitarist, Pest chuck everything into the mix and more often than not come out with a Heston Blumenthal rather than a curry Pot Noodle. Opening with the cut-up guitar and Fingathing bass of 'Delucid' (a song which teeters on the brink of The Grid's 'Swamp Thing'..eek), Pest set about firing off regiments of horns and wah-wah pedals until they end up sounding not unlike their Herbaliser label mates. Yet just as you're beginning to think 'so far so plastic-funk', Pest go and burn the schematic on the stretched hip-hop and swirling rock/funk of 'Click Bitches' and deliver a down-tempo gem in the shape of 'Downward Steps'. Elsewhere, 'Try Again' is a breakcore flecked thunder of acid-electro, 'Pat Pong' is a breezy amalgam of breaks and cussing, whilst album closer 'Learning Curve' is a tear-in-your-eye Brit Hop ode that details a snowman's suicide via the hand of anti-freeze....

T.Raumschmiere - Blitzkrieg Pop
Novamute

Featuring what looks like the Sega Pirate TV mascot (you remember!) on it's cover, T.Raumschmiere's (aka Shitkatapult boss Marco Haas) new LP continues his convergent route to becoming the electro Marilyn Manson... Firmly declaring his intentions to make the "loudest pop record in history", Hass certainly gets off to a spirited start, with the brash sloganeering and electro-metal clash of previous single 'Sick Like Me'. Yet following this knee-in-the-nuts of megaphone vocals, 'All Systems Go!' and it's sub-Goldfrapp bounce make for an oddly muted next chapter that is neither loud nor groundbreaking, whilst 'Diving In Whisky' wears its drunken Futurism tattoo with considerable pride. Elsewhere, the title track comes across like NIN albeit viewed from the opposite side of the electronic/metal boundary, 'A Very Loud Lullaby' recasts Roxette (you heard!) for the post-electroclash generation, whilst 'An Army Of Watt' has the potential for chart success amongst its rubbery bass and foot stomping beats....

Derek Bailey - Carpal Tunnel
Tzadik

Quite literally one of the most original and influential guitarists on the planet, Derek Bailey has completely revolutionized the language of guitar music in the twentieth century. His work has been championed by almost every cutting edge guitarist: Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, Buckethead, Jerry Garcia, but his influence reaches far far beyond the insular world of guitar freaks, to classical composers such as Brian Ferneyhough and Karlheinz Stockhausen, creative musicians Anthony Braxton, George Lewis, Leo Smith, jazz players Dave Holland, Steve Lacy and Milford Graves, rock bands Sonic Youth, Fantomas and so many more. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, his first solo recording since the best selling Ballads album of 2003, finds Derek again in a wistful romantic mood, and these three musings for solo guitar are some of his most soulful and emotional documents ever. Essential late recordings by a man who has helped improvisation change the world....

LMNO - P's & Q's
Up Above

Thoughtful LA rapper follows up his wicked 2004 'Economic Food Chain Music' with this new album 'P's & Q's'. Where the last album featured a whole host of guest producers like Oh No, Discreet Merchants, J-Rocc, Evidence and Liferexall, this album focusses on LD alongside guest tracks from KeyKool, J Thrill, Polyhedron & Liferexall, Dubb, and DJ Khalil. The voice of LMNO has a certain monotonic Paris vibe about it suiting his original rhyme flow perfectly. Just check the sparse title track with the killer sample drops, tune! Guests include Supernatural, Chali 2na, Chase Infinite and 2Mex. Sixteen tracks of solid hip hop with a soulful feeling, very nice!...

Sleep - Christopher
Up Above

N.Ireland 1 England 0 - what a load of crock! You can guess what I've just been watchin' while preparing to write about this new album from the foremost member of Seattle's Oldominion uberposse. Xtralove for the Oldom' crew has recently come from areas like Rhymesayers and Camobear, the latter being the home of Sleep and Josh Martinez's Chicharones, Josh Martinez also guests here. Now west coast label on a mission Up Above bring you Sleep's best album to date. Sleep's rhymes and approach feel like early Anticon, when they still stood by their 'ruining hip hop' moniker when they were actually moving hip hop forward - a blast of Sole's aggression with a mindsight like a less abstract Dose. This album bumps which is down to the superbad production from Pale Soul, Vitamin D, Maker and Smoke himself. DJ illness provided by canada's Scribble champion of champions the Skratch Bastid, probably my current fave deejay. Elsewhere Abstract Rude and Masta Ace give their all on 'Cant Be Touched' and 'The Heat'. Sixteen tracks without any sign of slack even when he goof's like on the Black Sheep vibed 'I'm So Techno'. Highly recommended....

Herbert Henck - John Cage : Early Piano Music
ECM

We all know that the piano is the new black in this year's musical landscape, so it comes with some clever-clogs timing that the early work of John Cage (i.e. before his 1948 'Sonatas and Interludes') has been given a dust off at the hands of Herbert Henck. Playing with a robust self assurity that verges on the aggressive, Henck instils the likes of 'The Seasons' and 'Quest' with a profound level of clarity which allows Cage's compositions to shine through unabated. Considering the work contained within 'Early Piano Music' was written between 1935-1948, it is astonishing how prescient it still seems and proves that Cage was an actual-factual visionary who has gone on to influence everyone from the likes of Nyman through to Gonzales. Get it....

Deus - Pocket Revolution
V2

With their 1996 single 'Little Arithmetic's', dEUS made one of the most overlooked classic guitar pop songs of the 1990's. However based on first impressions from new album 'Pocket Revolution', they could be a different band... Whilst they used to veer dangerously close to the very worst kind of twee Evening Session endorsed quirkiness (see the dreadful 'Poodle Rocking'), 'Pocket Revolution' suggests that their 5 year hiatus has been spent drinking JD and listening to Dream City Film Club. Far tougher in sound than you could have ever imagined, dEUS have gone through an entirely welcome metamorphosis, with 'Pocket Revolution' sounding loud, proud and assured from the off. So whilst songs like 'Bad Timing', 'If You Don't Get What You Want' and 'Cold Sun Of Circumstance' sound at turns like Janes Addiction, the Stones and even Neil Diamond, it is the slower cuts which highlight fully the bands increased maturity. Undoubtedly an influence for countless contemporary singers, Tom Barman's voice is rendered utterly fragile by the graceful musings of 'The Real Sugar' and string-lashed 'Nothing Really Ends'. Yeah it's traditional to the nth degree, but so is cricket and you're all liking that......

Fra Lippo Lippi - Best Of...
Rune Grammofon

Founded by Rune Grammofon label head Rune Kristoffersen back in the Middle Ages (well, 1979...), Fra Lippo Lippi were a veritable hit machine during the 1980's and early 90's, with a sound that went on to influence the likes of Fleetwood Mac and much of the mainstream. Deceptively breezy, 'Best Of...' is fit to burst with classic pop songs that wouldn't look out of place in the cream of the 1980's cinematic output, whilst retaining that all important pathos which bruised the best of the decade. Opening with songs like 'Shouldn't Have To Be Like That' and 'Angel', Fra Lippo Lippi produce diamond tooled electronically founded music which sounds not unlike A-Ha might have done... were they not a creatively-vapid one hit wonder of course. Whilst that may sound a flippant comparison, it genuinely isn't intended as such, with 'Best Of...' as good an aural document of the pristine pop that permeated the post-disco/pre-grunge landscape so forcibly for the best part of a decade. Thoroughly enjoyable from first to last, Fra Lippo Lippi are here to remind you why pop didn't use to be a dirty word......

Hototogisu - Ghosts From The Sun
Important Records

The word epic is flung around these days with such wild abandon that soon a once lexical heavyweight will be completely neutered. But now and again it's use is thoroughly justified... 'Ghosts From The Sun' is one such occasion. Spread over 2 cds, 'Ghosts From the Sun' is a journey to the very heart of avant-bred drone, with the resultant 2 hours of sound divided into 7 distinct, but inclusive, movements. As ostracized guitars and malleable rhythms clamour for attention, 'Ghosts From the Sun' takes on an almost trance-like quality, further enhanced by the tempered vocals which stay just out of reach throughout. Far less militant than the likes of Sunn O))) or Earth, Hototgisu have discovered a breed of drone which will be just as palatable to ardent completists as it is to those who just like a flutter now and again..

Vibracathedral Orchestra - Tuning To The Rooster
Important Records

Previously released through a hotchpotch of limited edition vinyl and gig-only CD's, the Vibracatherdral Orchestra have pulled themselves together and studio mixed the album into its intended form. The first time they've ever been let loose on a 24 track mixing desk and Vibracathedral Orchestra have set about using each and every one of these available tracks with a Richard Formby (Spaceman 3 engineer) LP that positively bursts with noise. Comprised of four extended pieces, 'Turning to the Rooster' is a psychedelic dipped affair that references the likes of Don Cherry in it's intense, immense and multilayered emissions. Flocculent in a good way, what at first may seem improvised soon reveals itself to be an intricately plotted set of machinations, all writ large by the bewildering array of instrumentation drafted in to flesh out their vision. So whilst guitars squall and solo, horns explode and rhythms are marched to the top of the hill and back down again, the Vibracathedral Orchestra will still find room for strings, piano and god-knows what else. Like a music shop being dropped from a plane then happening to land in aural unity....

Barbez - Insignificance
Important Records

Barbez count amongst their ranks "the single greatest living Theremin player on Earth"... Interested?! Seven years in the making, 'Insignificance marks the debut album from the Brooklyn-based Barbez and what a strange record it is. Bringing together metal riffs, Eastern European vocals, thrumming instrumentation and complex time-changes a-go-go, Barbez seem to delight in making the juxtaposed bedfellows, with 'Strange' managing to pack the whole lot into seven dizzying minutes. Wanting to be considered part of the apparently burgeoning 'punk-cabaret' sub-genre, 'Insignificance' really is of the Marmite school of music, with the highly strung manoeuvres of 'A Melancholy Picnic' or the jaunty Mersey Beat/Haunted Fairground of 'The Portrait' likely to enthral and irritate in equal measure. Not half as art-school as you may imagine, Barbez seem to be having a great time and you're wholeheartdly invited to join in..

Clue to Kalo - One Way, It's Every Way
Leaf

Written and recorded in Adelaide, Australia, during a two-year period of great personal change, and finished on a four-month sojourn in Brooklyn, USA, "One Way, It's Every Way" is Mark Mitchell's second album as Clue to Kalo. Designed as a musical palindrome, the album is an unashamedly ambitious, surprisingly celebratory meditation on mortality. Instrumental contributions from friends old and new, along with elements of folk, rock and electronica, are recontextualised as a ten track set thick with overloaded melodies, multi-part harmonies, and literate language. "One Way, It's Every Way" is a good development for Clue to Kalo both musically and lyrically. Mitchell applies a lo-fi aesthetic to pristine computer-based production in which the technology is the means rather than the end. Recommended....

Cocorosie - Noah's Ark
Touch & Go

How good is this? With a set of photos that look as if they're destined for a passport, CocoRosie are glumly detached on the album artwork, a framework which permeates throughout 'Noah's Ark'. Yet whereas people are all too often moody-as-you-like, resulting in introspective bollocks, CocoRosie have turned their tarnished side to much greater things. Having toured here, there and everywhere with the likes of Devendra, Bright Eyes and Antony and the Johnsons, CocoRosie are predictably grand and unbeleivably intimate in their output, with songs such as 'K-Hole' existing in a charmingly run-down Mum-meets-Moldy Peaches-meets- Joanna Newsom side street. Putting their connections to good use, 'Beautiful Boyz' features the fabulous Antony (of the 'we won the Mercury' Jonsons), putting in a suitably octave defying performance alongside the lovestruck (Bjork-esque) warbles and oaktronica shuffling in the background. Elsewhere,'South 2nd' is a classic Devendra Banhart Cut featuring the great beard himself, 'The Sea Is Calm' shares that special breed of diffused piano based electronica that's impossible to adequately describe whilst the opera/beats of'Bisounours' is that pretty your ears will melt. This will end up on countless end of year lists, and for good reason, being as it is one of the most spine-tingling, beautifully intimate album's you will hear for quite some time. A Huge recommendation....

Sigur Ros - Takk
EMI

The eagerly anticipated major-label album debut of Iceland's Sigur Ros - a beautifully glacial, majestic, often epic affair that should keep them in good stead with their ever-expanding fanbase. No doubt keeping in mind that the uber-stripped minimalism of their work for Merce Cunningham's Dance Company's 50th gala performance, "Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do", would probably fail to capture the imagination of their target stadium audience, "Takk" is unashamedly grandiose in design and construction - and, yes, the oft-mentioned comparisions to U2 certainly hold true across a number of the tracks here (most notably "Gosoli" with its echoes of "With Or Without You"). The scale of these songs, though, barely manages to disguise the miniature intimacy of this band's songwriting, nor their interest in sounds that are out of the ordinary, perfectly complimenting the vocals in their beautifully strange native tongue. Recommended....

Black Dice - Broken Ear Record
DFA

I love the fact that thanks to DFA this record is on a Major label. Picture the scene - EMI's A&R department scratching their heads.."..but..but...we thought this label was disco!". Major label or not, Black Dice continue to show a complete and utter lack of regard for any kind of generic categorisation, jerking from crushed beats one minute to absolute cacophanous chaos the next, only to head straight over to guitar strumming oddball loveliness. How can you fault a band that refuses to compromise in any way and STILL manages to roduce music you can just about dance to? Brilliantly original....

Richard Youngs - The Naïve Shaman
Jagjaguwar

I must confess that on first listen I thought the opening song on Richard Young's seventh album was about runner beans... Needless to say it isn't. Snapped in a bigfoot-style pose on the cover of this month's Wire, Young (who has been making music for well in excess of 20 years) kicks off 'The Naïve Shaman' through the hypnotic manoeuvres of 'Life On A Beam'; wherein a deep and highly addictive cyclical electric-bass thrums away as blistered spasms of percussion underwire the multi-layered, 20/20 vocals. Whilst on paper this may sound a little too obtuse and purposefully cerebral, on record Young pulls it off a treat with a sound that isn't a million miles from Important's The Birds. Forming the central spoke of the album is the sprawling 'Sonar In My Soul' in which Young really does take on a shamanic air through his fractured chants and state-altering bass, whilst elsewhere 'Summer's Edge II" closes proceedings through a octave infused jumble of free-flowing drums and untethered vocals. Human sacrifice optional....

Songs Of Green Pheasant - Songs Of Green Pheasant
Fat Cat

With nothing more than a bag of ear-achingly sweet melodies for sustenance, Sheffield lad Duncan Sumpner set out in search of the fabled Hunters Bar musical spring which, going on his debut LP, he seems to have found. Based around gorgeous homespun compositions that seem to flicker in and out of being like a draft tickled candle, 'Songs of Green Pheasant' are diffused without lacking focus, tender without losing their bite and bloody irresistible on first listen without losing their charm later down the line. Opening with 'I Am Daylights' (whose opening melody is lifted straight from the BBC'S Restoration show), Sumpner reveals a wandering predilection with label mates Aoki Takamasa & Tujko Noriko (in spirit rather than sound) that is as ethereal as a spiders web yet as solid as a rock. Moving on, 'Nightfall' is a far more varied beast, with Sumpner's vocals sounding not unlike Damon Albarn over a Shellac-tooled mob of acoustica that builds to a distortion ripped finale... Woo-haa! Elsewhere, 'Hey Hey Wilderness' recalls a muted Adem, 'Soldiers Kill Their Sisters' crossbreeds Hood and Sigur Ros, whilst 'From Here to Somewhere' takes a Wickerman meander through plucked acoustica and hiss drowned landscapes. Lovely....

Hystereo - Corporate Crimewave
Soma

Possibly the first release to challenge Viatlic for the 'dance music that'll do well down the indie disco and all' crown, 'Corporate Crimewave' is the product of Dublin's Hystereo and comes courtesy of some cheque-book A&R by the bonny folk over at Soma. With tracks that literally buckle under the weight of both their ten-storey sound and crossover potential, Hystereo open 'Corporate Crimewave' in an oddly muted fashion. Recalling the synth escapades of Vangelis, 'Opening Bell' appears to be a cold-water synth epic, content to swoop gracefully around rain-lashed neon high-rises... until, that is, the jackhammer house beat kicks in and it morphs into a feet twitching colossus that would be churlish to bad mouth. Elsewhere, 'Validity Revision' sounds much how a Prodigy/Richard X collaboration might, 'Executive Memo' cadges some twitchy electo funk off Jacques Le Cont, whilst 'Let's Do It' is 'Discovery'-era Daft Punk in all but name. Closing with the synth heavy, hands-in-the-air anthem of 'Winters In The City', Hystereo have made an album that, whilst decidedly unsubtle, will nonetheless be a dancefloor filler for many people this autumn....

Misc. - Like Morning In Your Eyes
Sender

Misc are Christopher Bleckmann and Hannes Werner and their last album "crunch time" sent rave shockwaves through impact hungry techno dancefloors. Hold tight for "like morning in your eyes" - there's a similar sense of exhilaration to the last album, the large fuzzy basslines and sequences remain, but do we detect a slight, and admittedly welcome softening? There's a smoother glide, some calmer moments, euphoria rules okay, but some respite is needed and here Misc prove they can layer an album whilst retaining their original audience....

Phon.O - Burn Down The Town
Shitkatapult

Heavy handed digital crushment in 4/4 from Carsten Aermes, taking up his longstanding Phon.o project several notches with an album released in Europe by Shitkatapult and in the States by Tigerbeat - robustly straddling the divide between shuffling techno and the sexed up edge of electropop in fine style. Featuring the contributions of Kit Clayton, Gold Chains, Sue Cie and Kevin Blechdom - the man's padded production manages to steer this clear of the nastier platic pop of some of his peers, instead delivering a heavy BDSM workout for the floor. Check!...

# posted by DJ Martian 8:53 PM

 

Last Week's New Releases @ Boomkat [Week Commencing: September 5th 2005]

Last week's new releases @ Boomkat include:

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Shadow Huntaz - Valley Of The Shadow
Skam

How do you follow 'Corrupt Data'? That's the question that's evidently been keeping the Shadow Huntaz awake at night. Having redefined a genre through their crossbreed of hip-hop and Funckarma's deliciously mashed up Acid-tinged production, Shadow Huntaz differed from their Anti-Pop peers by using the digitalis in a way that seemed entirely natural as opposed to being there for the generic sake of it. Admitting themselves that 'Valley of the Shadow' should be seen as more of a continuation than a distinct evolutionary leap from 'Corrupt Data', Skam know when they're onto a good thing and have left the Shadow Huntaz MC's and Funckarma production mob to get acquainted all over again.'Valley of the Shadow' is fit to burst with head-nodding classics like the tongue-twist of 'Radically Necessary' or digital brooding of '2020'. Elsewhere, 'Do What I Want' grafts some Erasmus quoting Aesop-style thump-hop over a B-movie soundtrack, 'Pelvic' gets all ch-o-p-p-y , whilst 'Rulez of Engagement' gamma-bursts melancholic atmospherics over an almost literary rhyme. Oh and the Funckarma guys have put together an 8 minute edit for the website jukebox (split here into 3 parts) spanning the whole of the album so make sure to give it a listen without haste! Ace....

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
American Analog Set - Set Free
Morr Music

There used to be a long-running urban musical myth concerning The American Analog Set being a front for Elliot Smith to release work that he felt didn't sit right on his albums... Utter bollocks of course, but given the untimely death of the gargantuanly talented Smith, there is likely to be room in many people's collection for 'Set Free'. Having been together for ten years, The Set have perfected their sound over six LP's and countless singles/EP's, combining an undeniable Smith-style sweet melancholy with fragrant acoustic guitar and mutli-vocal harmonies. Opening with 'Born on the Cusp', we're immediately in classic AmAnSet territory as singer Andrew Kenny shows off the vocal chords that have made him so in demand in recent years. In possession of that rare ability to make hushed delivery seem unreasonably powerful and all consuming (reminiscant of Ben Gibbard), Kenny allows his etiolated style to gently dominate the Teenage Fanclub-esque 'Immaculate Heart 1', whilst conveying a fragility so poignant you'll be grafting in the Kleenex. Elsewhere, 'She's Half' is a heartbreaking ode in the style of Low, whilst 'F*ck This... I'm Leaving' dabbles in some post-rock brouhaha with blinding results. Their best album by a county mile. And a half.....

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!
Sawako - Omnibus
Community Library

A mainstay of Tokyo's art-scene, Sawako was inspired by the 'community-without-geography' ethics of Portland's fabulous new Community Library label to assemble a massive collage of source material (collaborators include Polmo Polpo and Yuichiro Fujimoto) then wrestle the results into a cohesive aural document. As ethereal as smoke but with a firm predilection that enraptures from the off, 'Omnibus' is an avant-hearted journey which can't help but feel reminiscent of a Haruki Murakami novel. Comprised of contrastingly defined aural filaments, Sawako allows the background noise to dominate one moment, before gently introducing a glitchy acoustica the next ('Datam'), whilst elsewhere she chooses to let the music resign completely ('Good Morning') or dominate entirely (the electrocuted spasm of 'Lapon'). Although lazy, comparisons must be made with Susumu Yokota, combining as she does the diffuse and the defined, and in doing so giving the nod to artists as diverse as Jelinek, Oval and Basinski. A massive recommendation....

Softland - War Againstt Error
Spezialmaterial

With a spell-check debilitating title, 'War Againstt Error' is the latest missive from the far-too-talented-for-his-own-good Christof Steinmann. As well as recording under the Softland moniker, Steinmann is a well worn fixture on the Zurich arts scene and studies audiovisual arts in Amsterdam, placing him in the perfect position to produce unlistenable avantronica. Thankfully he declines. Based around six extended "experimental vocal pop songs" (bolstered considerably on the CD by a shed load of field recordings), 'War Againstt Error' plays not unlike an electroacoustic meets minimal lo-fi soundtrack LP... Opening with the glitch-folk of 'Please Confirm The World', Steinmann strikes an intriguing pose that sees him landing somewhere between Roman, Boy In Static and label mate HP Stonji, with infectiously successful results. Elsewhere, 'All The Nows We've Had' goes for that epic "everything churning" sound, and comes of an awe-struck treat, 'Huch' sounds not unlike a male version of Michaela Melian seasoned by 'Kid A', whilst 'Mlle.' manages to combine Cornelius, Mike Patton and Ol' Dirty Gainsberg to moreish effect. Closing with 'Envers' (an Isopropanol laced 6 minutes of sweeping electronica and half heard solipsism), 'War Againstt Error' consummately proves why the Spezialmaterial collective demand such widespread and thoroughly deserved praise....

Vorpal - Incomplete Guide To Vorpal Music
Cock Rock Disco

As anyone who has ever visited both cities will know, Sheffield and Pittsburgh are almost identical in every respect; from the steel industry scars pock marking the landscape, through to the electronically founded arts/music scene they share. It is therefore no surprise to discover that Vorpal (aka Andy Kozloski - an NYPD name if I ever heard one) is from Warhol's home city, bearing an uncanny resemblance as he does to the output of one of Sheffield's finest, Warp. Dealing in the kind of digital pile-ups that characterized Squarepusher's 'Go Plastic', 'An Incomplete Guide to Vorpal Music' is not however a mere facsimile, even if the dub-grazed shattertronica of the opening 'Track 13' would have you thinking otherwise. Undercut by an obvious love of heavy beats and grimey basslines, Kozloski instils the likes of 'Hip-hop Wabisabi' and the Satie-sampling 'Gymnopedie v.1.01' with a rose-scented aural wash that casts the iron-clad beats into stark (and highly effective) contrast. Similar in style to The Flashbulb, Vorpal seems accutely aware of the need to puncture any leaden tract of overcast beats with the requisite shards of refreshing sunshine that makes such music so rewarding. Elsewhere, 'Crash Up Against the Inevitable' mixes in some swirling post-rock drums, 'Irrevocable' shimmers towards its epic conclusion, whilst 'November-014' wades fearlessly into Tigerbeat territory. Now all he needs to do is sort out those song names......

Enavomi - Vinden Blaser Bakat
Lampse

Only the third release on the lovely new Lampse label and the first in their "Light" series, 'Vinden Blaser Bakat' continues along the same general route established by Nacht Plank. Packaged in a medical inspired (Spiritualised-esque) case, 'Vinden Blaser Bakat' (translated as 'The Wind Is Blowing Backwards') suggests a close affinity with the micro scene, as opening track 'Reflections of Light Blue II' rustles into life. Sharing a crackly jazz infatuation with Jan Jelinek, 'Reflections...' and the following 'Red Spots' succeed in coaxing a low-level of avant-ambience out of a deceptively sparse pallate which incrementally reveals more with each listen. Elsewhere 'Whistling' recalls Oval, 'In The Gray Mist' would sit happily amongst a Tzadik convention, whilst 'Calm' is a beatific fog of soaring soundscapes and snotty bass guitar. Recommended....

Joel Tammik - Eluline
U Cover

Making no effort to hind the well thumbed pictures of Vladislav Delay tucked in his wallet, Estonia-based Joel Tammik deals in clotted-cream clicks and cuts that more than hints at a youth spent obsessing over Mille Plateaux. Often based on a deeply buried dub frame, Tammik then coaxes distortion bled clouds of static and spacey percussion into the open, allowing it to float about in a seemingly random pattern. Yet just as Jan Jelinek revealed more with every listen, so Tammik's mealy compositions draw into sharper contrast the longer you spend in their company. Diffused and blanket in their intent, the ten pieces on 'Eluline' coalesce into a single entity full of uncontrived peaks and languid conclusions that can't help but suck you in completely. If you like Oval, Gas et al, you'll be wanting a piece of this....

Skipsapiens - Eco
Mutek

The first of a proposed series focussing on artists of Latin American origins, Skipsapiens' 'Eco' belies its contents through the politely rendered, 'graphic design 101' cover. Squelchy, clicky and dripping with analogue blips and squiggles, Daniel Neto and Pier Bucci (aka Skipsapiens) have produced an album that could cohesively tuck into the slip-stream of Ricardo Villalobos, Vladislav Delay or even SND. As such, you won't be hearing anything ground-breakingly new, but on the flip-side of this, what they do they do very well indeed. Opening with the waterlogged couplet of 'Abstracciones En Reversa' and 'Rastafari Droids', Skipsapiens stake a firm claim to the warmly hued end of the clicks/micro sound paddock. Featuring chipped vocals on 'Macrosecuantico', IDM backwashes on 'Mucha Latencia' (in the mould of Magnetophone) and slow-build compositions that revel in their extended gestation ('Vida Zencilla'), 'Eco' will delight minimal-sound dabblers and those with 'ardcore Mille Plateux/Scape predilections alike......

Sao Paris - Movimento
F Communication

Debut album from the (you guessed it player!) Franco-Brazilian duo of Leticia Maura and Thomas Ferriere, under their joint moniker of Sao Paris. Housed in a fancy digipack that includes a better-than-normal booklet, 'Movimento' is a refracted prism of Gaelic vocals, textured electronica and well placed samples which casts pleasing aural rainbow on your wall. Citing Tarwater as an influence, Sao Paris are broadly comparable to Lippok and Jestram in that they take relatively clinical beats as a framework then drape them with a velveteen shawl of warm instrumentation and folk-inflected vocals. At times sounding very close to Mum and even Björk ('Butterfly'), Sao Paris also share some DNA with the likes of Styrofoam in their indie-informed compositions of 'Ange Di'. Just as happy to fuse abstract/foundsound collages and jazz ('Rue de Rivolia') as they are to dabble in sparse micro-sound ('Rio'), Sao Paris have a commendably broad remit which they manipulate with relaxed ease. Musically verbose - Lovely....

Baikonour - For The Lonely Hearts Of The Cosmos
Melodic

Emerging from Brighton and with not a single smiley face in sight, Baikonour (known to his folks as Jean-Emmanuel Krieger) is the latest string in Melodic's increasingly formidable bow and marks one of the labels most interesting signings thus far. With musical foundations built on "Pink Floyd from Dad and Marvin Gaye from Mum", Krieger is a musical magpie, picking elements from his record collection and incorporating them seamlessly into the whole. So whilst 'Coltan Anyone?' is an Anglo-Saxon take on the !!! sound (albeit with a dash of Television thrown into the mix) and 'Proto' brings together ethereal electronics and Gang of Four propulsive bass, it's 'Oben Beg (Mk 2)'s cross-breed of Sparks, Ten Benson and Mogwai that is most intriguing and surprisingly successful. Yet even with Simon Raymonde flourishes creeping up all around, 'For The Lonely Hearts of The Cosmos' is very much Krieger's own sound and whilst unashamedly referential is in no way plagiaristic, leading to an addictive and piquantly original album....

Nina Walsh - Memo's
CPIJ

If you're one of those folk whose brain soaks up music trivia like a box-fresh sponge, there's a fair chance the name Nina Walsh may seem familiar... Having worked with the likes of Andrew Wetherall, Primal Scream and The Orb, Walsh has taken a Goldfrapp-esque route to solo recording, with 'Memo's' her debut album despite knocking around the fringes for years now. Sharing a dreamy predilection with St. Etienne, Walsh's songs combine a lyrical immediacy with quite bouncy instrumentation that conspires to lend a very tacit sense of pop-rock to proceedings. Songs like 'Darkest Light' (think Drugstore collaborating with Psapp) and 'Love Leech' (honky-tonktronica) rattle along with an infectious glee that happily references Delia Derbyshire and Petra Jean Phillipson. Memo to self; have a listen!...

Donna Regina - The Early Years
Gustaff Rec

Ahead of the undoubted flood of platitudes which will accompany the truly supine 'Slow Killer' LP, the folk over at Gustaff Records have kindly collated a treasure trove of early material from Donna Regina, so all those who need to cheat on their homework know where to look... Comprised of material recorded between 1992 & 1998, 'The Early Years' is heaving with unavailable gems (see the beatific 'Driving In Your Car') and curios (their only duet on 'Make My Heart Happy' alongside Pete Barany'), all accompanied by a blow-by-blow commentary in the sleeve notes. With a sound that was undoubtedly influenced by Slowdive et al and has gone onto shape the likes of Rosario Blefari, Emiliana Torrini and even Lali Puna, Donna Regina manage to make utterly beguiling pop songs which adhere to none of the rules normally associated with the genre. In possession of a gorgeous voice, Regina's lyrics may at times be nonsensical (the friendly fish narrative of 'Water So Blue'), but thanks to the melancholy tinted quality of both her voice and the accompanying instrumentation, it never once strikes you as twee. Lushly arranged and unassailably catchy, songs such as 'A Paris', the bucolic Sugacubes-esque 'Planet Me' and Pulp-sampled 'Clouds In Your Eyes', make a damn fine case for Donna Regina being one of the premier bands of the past decade. Gorgeous pop music....

Grooves - Issue 18
Grooves
Mag // £ 3.99

Latest issue of this U.S. quarterly, featuring features on Fennesz, Merzbow, Alias, Pita, Minotaur Shock, Malcolm Kipe, Eight Frozen Modules, plus shedloads of reviews and Gear tests over 110 pages....

Venetian Snares - Meathole
Planet Mu

With Planet Mu finding some serious form recently through the likes of VEX'D and Exile, relative veterans like Aaron Funk (aka Venetian Snares) are finding the need to keep quality sky-high an ever more pressing concern. Thankfully 'Meat Hole' suggests that the Venetian Snares desk won't be cleared anytime soon. Eschewing the symphonies of his last album 'Rossz Csillag Alatt Szuletett', 'Meat Hole' is a return to the dank and disturbing breakcore of classic Snares work, with a record apparently made under a leaden sky of "devil worship and murder". Oh my. Opening with the rotating razor beats of 'Anguish', Funk really chucks everything into the pot, with a result that'll take your face off. As fierce as Hrvataski and with the mischievous claustrophobia of KarlMarxStadt, Funk continues with the knee-capping hot coals of 'Choprite', wherein the whole thing thrashes about as if trying to buck the rampant beats from its back. More relentless than a virile bout of Leishmaniasis, Funk doesn't readily provide respite; but that's not what you listen to the Snares for. Elsewhere, 'Contain' is like Star Wars as seen through the eyes of a beat demented nutter, 'Szycag' ropes some Plastikman into the equation and 'Sinthasomphone' goes for the jugular...via the cochlea of course. Whilst some may say it's a step backwards from his recent work, 'Meat Hole' is best enjoyed as a sensor f*cking descent into a beat ruptured Armageddon....

Metope - Kobol
Areal

And so the Metope man ventures boldly into full length territory. There's seldom any unwelcome surprises with the Areal posse - blorty jams for scuzzy warehouse shenanigans, sounds messed up within an inch of their lives, then brought back into line by a relentless 5.30am drive running off something other than cherry cola. "Nashville" has on the surface little to engage the country fans amongst you, instead wellying the distortion, slowing it down with some outside keys, then wading it back in. And perhaps that describes this album in large part, on, off, then really most certainly on. We guess you probably know what you're getting with Areal by now, and for the cognoscenti and the stay up forever crew, this is prime german booming material....

# posted by DJ Martian 7:35 PM

 

Futuresonic 2006

Advance notification: 10.futuresonic.com an international festival of electronic music and arts. Venues across Manchester July, 2006. Now taking expressions of interest.

Independence - the '10 Years of Futuresonic' theme

Celebrating collaborative cultures and independence movements - from independent labels to peer-to-peer culture, from free parties to free networks, from locative media to local food

The Futuresonic 2006 festival will explore the theme of Independence, looking at collaborative cultures and independence movements in art, technology and culture. Futuresonic was formed 10 years ago at a time when there was a emergent musical and digital culture that was outside the mainstream, collaborative and peer-to-peer. Today a centre of gravity has shifted towards the world of hackers, bloggers, free networks, open source, social software and civic technologies. What has remained constant has been the emphasis on social autonomy and independence of creative practice. Futuresonic 2006 will explore the state of independence today, and showcase independent music, arts and technologies that are open, emergent, collaborative and ad-hoc.

If you wish to propose a project the deadline for initial expressions of interest is Wednesday 5 October 2005.

# posted by DJ Martian 6:15 PM

 

New Blog Analytics Tools

Two new blog analytics tools for bloggers will be launched soon, you can leave your email address with both to be notified when they launch:

blogbeat

Measure Map [developed by San Francisco User Experience consulting company: adaptive path]

Wikipedia explains Web analytics

# posted by DJ Martian 5:32 PM

 

My Forthcoming 2005 Albums list @ rateyourmusic.com has been updated.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:02 PM

 

Coming soon: POST ROCK.US

The Best in Post Rock, Avantgarde, Prog, Experimental Underground Rock, News, Exclusive Mp3s, Reviews, Interviews & Forum

# posted by DJ Martian 3:34 PM

Saturday, September 10, 2005

 

Front cover of the new Arcturus album: Sideshow Symphonies -- Arcturus @ rateyourmusic.com

# posted by DJ Martian 4:06 PM

Friday, September 09, 2005

 

Multi-Search Interfaces

3 useful tools to search information faster: [all 3 also have a blogs section]

MrSapo is back ! [briefly in the Summer they changed to SearchScanner]
trovando [also search for tags: [e.g music] can be searched in over 30 tagging websites. Useful for tracking interesting new webpages/ websites.]
TurboScout

# posted by DJ Martian 5:25 PM

 

marillion.com has a new look.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:20 PM

 

Next week's releases reviewed @ Norman Records

# posted by DJ Martian 3:54 PM

 

TrusttheDJ interview The Black Dog

[interviewed by Jonty Skruff]

# posted by DJ Martian 3:40 PM

 

Pitchfork review Luomo - Vocalcity with a high rating of 9.7

reviewed by Philip Sherburne

# posted by DJ Martian 3:36 PM

 

Fields of the Nephilim have announced a new album: Mourning Sun

Due for release November 11th on SPV.

The album is said to evoke the atmospherics of the classic Elizium album, combined with a "powerful new aural sound dimension" and Carl McCoy's unique vocals.

SPV.de provide brief samples @ Fields of the Nephilim

# posted by DJ Martian 3:00 PM

 

musicOMH.com review Simple Minds - Black and White 050505

# posted by DJ Martian 1:36 PM

 

Splendid review Numbers - We're Animals

# posted by DJ Martian 1:33 PM

 

The Guardian review Ladytron - The Witching Hour

# posted by DJ Martian 1:28 PM

 

New Sigur Rós album now streaming @ myspace.com


The Guardian review Sigur Ros - Takk...

# posted by DJ Martian 1:18 PM

Thursday, September 08, 2005

 

Karl Hyde of Underworld is presenting the One Music show on Radio 1 tonight.

11pm - 1am [British Summer Time]
Also available on Listen Again after broadcast for 7 days.

# posted by DJ Martian 11:13 PM

 

Songs Of Green Pheasant

FatCat Records release the self titled debut album from Songs Of Green Pheasant next week.

"A lazy ear might peg the album down as another in an ever-burgeoning line of modern folk releases, yet in honesty its sphere of reference lies closer to an uneven lineage of singer/songwriters and dreampop imagineers that would include Butterfly Child, Talk Talk / Mark Hollis, Simon and Garfunkel, Flying Saucer Attack, Jewelled Antler Collective, Richard Youngs, and Galaxie 500 "

# posted by DJ Martian 4:19 PM

 

AngryRobot has announced his retirement from music blogging. Mentioning that there are not enough readers and active comments.

AngryRobot will be missed, definately one of the top tier music blogs.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:03 PM

 

Tiny Mix Tapes review Alias & Ehren - Lillian

# posted by DJ Martian 2:59 PM

 

MIC Norway profile Serena Maneesh

Following strong domestic reviews and an applauded appearance at this year’s Øya Festival, Norwegian melodic noise masters Serena Maneesh are ready to take on the international stage. The band’s international campaign is off to a head start with a strong Pitchforkmedia.com review.

Pitchfork review Serena Maneesh - Serena Maneesh

# posted by DJ Martian 2:55 PM

 

Soundgenerator.com report Simple Minds announce European tour with UK & Irish dates for February 2006.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:41 PM

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

 

Daylight Dies - Dismantling Devotion

BW & BK report DAYLIGHT DIES Name New Album; Further Details Revealed

# posted by DJ Martian 3:16 PM

 

Siouxsie Sioux on 6 Music: Tom Robinson show tonight.

On Wednesday's show Tom will be chatting to the first lady of New Wave Siouxsie Sioux about life in The Creatures.

# posted by DJ Martian 3:11 PM

 

New issue of MOJO Magazine features Led Zeppelin on the front cover.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:48 PM

 

BW & BK report VIRGIN BLACK Hard At Work On New Material

# posted by DJ Martian 2:45 PM

 

As you should know Antony and Johnsons win Mercury as reported by the BBC.

This must be one of the most unusual winners, however I don't like his dramatic vocal style.

Thankfully those plebs The Kaiser Chiefs didn't win !

# posted by DJ Martian 2:44 PM

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

 

This week's flavourpill LONDON [Issue 98 - 6-12 September, 2005]

flavourpill LONDON is an email magazine covering a hand-picked selection of music, art and cultural events — delivered each Tuesday afternoon.

# posted by DJ Martian 2:31 PM

 

musicOMH.com present Simple Minds: interview with Jim Kerr

# posted by DJ Martian 1:38 PM

 

BW & BK report OCTAVIA Confirmed For In The City 2005 in Manchester on October 3rd. Plus details of a UK tour.

# posted by DJ Martian 1:24 PM

 

BW & BK provide a studio update on Katatonia

# posted by DJ Martian 1:21 PM

Monday, September 05, 2005

 

Sylvian / Jensen / Friedman - as - Nine Horses

davidsylvian.net report on a new project: Nine Horses

The new album of David Sylvian, Steve Jansen and Burnt Friedman will hopefully released on 10.10.05 as Nine Horses with the title 'Snow Borne Sorrow'.

[alerted via it's a trap who mentions Stina Nordenstam also appears on the album]

# posted by DJ Martian 6:45 PM

 

themilkfactory.co.uk present THE BLACK DOG Interview

# posted by DJ Martian 12:04 AM

 

Vandermark 5 - The Color of Memory

New Vandermark 5 album on Atavistic: Vandermark 5 - The Color of Memory - due for release September 12th [UK] and September 13th [US]

International new music stalwarts, The Vandermark 5, return with their first studio double-album- and their last with trombonist Jeb Bishop.

THE COLOR OF MEMORY, recorded & mixed in Chicago by Bob Weston (SHELLAC, MISSION OF BURMA) feels like a postcard from the edge... a series of mysterious sonic signs and mileposts reflecting and recounting the band's incredible journey over the past half-decade during the Vandermark/Kessler/Bishop/Rempis/Daisy era.

The V5 hid the road in North America & Europe in support of THE COLOR OF MEMORY this Fall, too!

# posted by DJ Martian 12:02 AM

Sunday, September 04, 2005

 

Front cover of the new album by The Fall: The Fall Head's Roll -- The Fall @ rateyourmusic.com.

Due for release October 3rd.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:24 PM

 

BW & BK report ARCTURUS Confirm European Live Dates for October.

# posted by DJ Martian 10:03 PM

 

themilkfactory.co.uk ISSUE #71 September 2005: Summary

themilkfactory.co.uk deliver another fine selection of reviews. [The summaries below are from themilkfactory.co.uk e-mail/website, to see the full reviews go to the link above]

ALBUM OF THE MONTH

BROADCAST - Tender Buttons
Broadcast return with their third album. Now a duo following the departure of their guitarist, the band swap their lush soundscapes for a much grittier sound.

REVIEWS

THE BLACK DOG - Silenced
Over ten years after Ken Downie went his own way, The Black Dog is a trio again. Silenced builds on the Dog’s impressive legacy while introducing some new flavours. A welcome return.

CLUE TO KALO - One Way, It's Every Way
For his second effort for Mush and Leaf, Clue To Kalo’s Mark Mitchell adds plush psychedelic orchestrations and vocals to his melancholic electronic tones.

GREG DAVIS & STEVEN HESS - Decisions
Greg Davis and Steven Hess team up for a sonic experiment built entirely around Hess’s percussions and processed on Davis’s laptop.

EVGENIY DROOMOFF / SOUND MECCANO / DELRAY - Volokno
Multi-media-based project, Volokno is the collaborative effort of sound artist Evgeniy Droomoff, electronic musician Rostislav Rekuta, AKA Sound Meccano and visual artist DelRay.

GOLDFRAPP - Supernature
Pop-world upper-class darlings Goldfrapp return with a third album that finds them stalled.

THE HAFLER TRIO & AUTECHRE - aeo3/3hae
Second collaboration between the legendary Hafler Trio and Autechre, this album explores once again the connections between drone and glitch in two monolithic compositions.

MARC HELLNER - Marriages
A tireless activist of the Chicago experimental Pulseprogramming’s Marc Hellner finally collects for the first time his solo work on an album that constantly surprises and intrigues.

HIMURO - Mild Fantasy Violence
Fourth album for Japanese musician Yoshiteru Himuro, Mild Fantasy Violence is quirky and hectic, yet shows enough control to retain the attention all the way through.

MURCOF - Remembranza
With his second album as Murcof, Fernando Corona gets to work with real instruments and investigates more sombre musical territories.

ODD NOSDAM - Burner
Best-known as one third of cLOUDDEAD, Odd Nosdam creates here a series of impressive atmospherics moments built around a vast array of sound sources.

PART 2 - Live From The Breadline
After years spend in the shadow of others, Part 2 finally steps into the limelight. Announced as the UK’s urban music’s best kept secret, Part 2 delivers on all fronts. Do believe the hype!

AOKI TAKAMASA + TUJIKO NORIKO - 28
Despite being dressed in clicks and glitch, this collaboration between Aoki Takamasa and Tujiko Noriko exults of humanity and proves to be one of the freshest things around.

# posted by DJ Martian 9:55 PM

 

Issue 18 of Grooves Magazine now on sale.

Issue # 18
Available Now!

» Merzbow
» Fennesz
» Peter Rehberg
» Alias
» Hair Police
» Minotaur Shock
» Eight Frozen Modules
» 100+ reviews

# posted by DJ Martian 6:18 PM

Saturday, September 03, 2005

 

APESHIT interview Ulver

# posted by DJ Martian 2:50 PM

Friday, September 02, 2005

 

The Guardian review Elbow - Leaders of the Free World

# posted by DJ Martian 5:39 PM

 

Next week's releases reviewed @ Norman Records

# posted by DJ Martian 4:56 PM

 

Dusted spotlight the listening interests of Richard Davis

Richard Davis

Richard Davis has been compared by some to Arthur Russell. Rather high praise, but not completely unwarranted. Davis moved from England to Berlin in the late 90's and released Safety in 2002, an excellent dish of contemporary house. Like Russell, Davis manages to balance club music with hushed intimacy. He started worked on Details in 2003, then put it on hold to tour with Swayzak as a guest singer throughout Europe, the U.S. and Japan. Whereas on Safety his singing was sort of creating a wall of sound, on Details he goes a step further and expresses his idea of pop by focusing on his vocals and using rather classic songs-structures. Songs like "Honest," "Sometime" and "Common Sense" show his concrete lyrics and complex arrangements in an impressive way.

# posted by DJ Martian 4:43 PM

Thursday, September 01, 2005

 

BBC collective review elbow - 'leaders of the free world'

# posted by DJ Martian 5:43 PM

 

Issue 51 of Earplug

SEPTEMBER 1 - SEPTEMBER 14

Earplug is a twice-monthly email magazine, delivering a handpicked selection of news, sounds, videos, and original features to the international electronic-music community.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:31 PM

 

Enslaved @ POPKOMM, Berlin

BW & BK report ENSLAVED To Headline POPKOMM Showcase In September on Wednesday, September 14th

Will the Berlin Based, Geeta [The Original Soundtrack] attend this Metal showcase event ?

# posted by DJ Martian 5:27 PM

 

New Callenish Circle Album

BW & BK report CALLENISH CIRCLE Finish Recording New Album

The European release for [Pitch.Black.Effects] is scheduled for November 14th through Metal Blade Records.

# posted by DJ Martian 5:14 PM

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