Bleak Bliss: January 2015

Maeror Tri - Archaic States

Maeror Tri were Helge Siehl, Martin Gitschel and Stefan Knappe and generally used heavily processed guitars to create gorgeous dark ambient / drone works. Side B of this tape stands as source material for the Stuhlgangblockade N! LP by Runzelstirn & Gurgelstøck (and i'll be buggered if I can figure out where it turns up). It always struck me as odd that Maeror Tri material was part of the Stuhlgangblockade project as they occupy different universes. Then again, what do I know?

Martin Gitschel and Stefan Knappe now record as Troum whilst Helge Siehl now records as Tausendschoen.

C60 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1993.

Archaic States

Telepherique - Chaos Theory

Telepherique at their core were Klaus Jochim, Danijela Jochim and Rene Jochim (who also recorded as Das Konzentrat and Technostria) but also included many others due to the mail-art / collaborative nature of their work. This tape is is a strange beast mixing noise cut-up, sound-art and squat techno...

C46 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1995.

Chaos Theory

Hyware - 2 Tracks

Radboud Mens' harsh noise project on a C40 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1995.

2 Tracks

Princess Dragon-Mom - The Real Folk Blues

Princess Dragon-Mom were Davin Brainard, Dion Fischer and Warren Defever. The latter brought His Name Is Alive into the world and this tape couldn't really be further away from that ...

C44 composed of live and studio material released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1994.

The Real Folk Blues

Allegory Chapel Ltd. - Demimonde Voices

Elden M. delivering glimpses into the inferno with orchestral blackened noise as an accompaniment.

C44 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1993.

Demimonde Voices

va - German Noise By Animal Art

The noise art underground scenes in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Cologne get lots of attention, but 1980s/1990s Darmstadt was full of activity too. This compilation cassette from 1990 collects music by Marc Behrens (who released it on his Animal Art label), Ho. Turner, Loops and Lah-Lah's, Boche, Lsdap, and Musical Minorities. The tracks were hard to separate, and I don't like doing things that are hard, so I did not separate the tracks.

va - German Noise By Animal Art

Human Art, Factor Psy-D, Animal Light - Compilation

A very interesting compilation/collaboration cassette from 1992 by three German artists who straddle the imaginary lines between sound art, electro-acoustic composition, industrial noise and proto-techno. Animal Art was an early band name used by composer Marc Behrens, and also the name of his cassette label. He shares this tape with Ho. Turner and Lukas Ernst (Human Factor). They present a three-way collaboration on one side and sort pieces by Ernst and Behrens on the other. Years later, Ernst would venture firmly into techno music, Turner would continue to embrace visual art and abstract noise until his death in 2012, and Behrens would produce a significant body of work in both. This tape came in large envelope that unfolds into a poster. The Behrens pieces seem to run together, so I did not separate them into individual tracks.

Human Art, Factor Psy-D, Animal Light - Compilation

Xper. Xr. - Recycled

Hong Kong's bizarre Xper.Xr. turns in a collage of screaming noise, saccharine pop records, karaoke destruction, fast-forwarding tapes and distorted crunch, but never any one of those for very long.

Xper. Xr. - Recycled

The Haters - The Subsequent Rip

Again, this is only two minutes in total. Whilst there are 13 years distance between this tape and the Vomir tape below, they are inextricably linked.

Released on Banned Production in 1995.

The Subsequent Rip

Vomir - Subsequent Wall

This stands as Romain Perrot's tribute to the The Subsequent Rip tape by The Haters. Whilst only two minutes in total, this little beauty still delivers maximum impact.

Released on Central Dynamo Room in 2008.

Subsequent Wall

Jessica Rylan - Lush Life

Self-released c20 from 2006.

Jessica Rylan - Lush Life

Jessica Rylan - Long Term Relationships/Juliette Who Broke My Heart

Hushed ditties on tape self-released by the artist, comes with a little book with circuit diagrams and background about the music.

Jessica Rylan - Long Term Relationships/Juliette Who Broke My Heart

Jessica Rylan - Long Slow Changes

Released as a tape by Fargone in 2005.

Jessica Rylan - Long Slow Changes

Jessica Rylan - Goya Version 2

This cassette has no information on it, but the internet tells me that it's called "Goya Version 2", and that it Rylan made 37 copies of it for her IRFP label in 2003. The "cover" (such as it is) is a recycled bag for Goya brand ground coffee. No track titles are listed. Most of the music is made with synthesizers, but Jessica sings on some tracks and plays guitar on at least one. I get the impression that these recordings were rehearsals or tests that weren't at first intended for inclusion on an album. We are lucky listeners that she eventually decided to share these diary pages with us.

Jessica Rylan - Goya Version 2

Jessica Rylan - Tying Up Loose Ends

A very long (90 minutes!!!) tape of roughly recorded improvisations and sketches, mostly Jessica Rylan's voice and home-made synthesizers playing harsh and dense noise, but there are some spacious passages and a couple of guitar-based songs as well. It came out in 2004 in an edition of 59 copies on the artist's own IRFP label. Rylan offers a bit of self-depreciating advice in the liner notes: "A cassette always represents two positions in time. If you don't like one side just flip it over. Also, just leave it on in the background, by the end you've killed 1 hour 1/2".

Jessica Rylan - Tying Up Loose Ends

Blitter - Blitter EP

While on the topic of Brian Alexander Whitman, here's his only other extant release, a 7" EP. Less "irrevocably overdriven" than most Hrvatski it still traffics in the same territory: disjointed beats, ambient passages, and the occasional squall of static.

A 7" released on Reckankreuzungsklankewerkzeuge in 1997.

Blitter EP

Blitter Vs. Hrvatski - Heaven And Earth Magic

This was recorded Nov 21, 1998 at The Space in Worcester and is a live performance soundtrack of Harry Smith's film "Heaven And Earth Magic." Blitter (aka Brian Alexander Whitman, KFW's brother) processed the original audio from the film's score in real time while Hrvatski (KFW) provided ambient sounds and effects. If you're feeling ambitious you can watch the film here while playing the soundtrack to recreate the entire experience!

Released on CDR by Reckankreuzungsklankewerkzeuge some time after 1998.

Blitter Vs Hrvatski

Various - What's Your Function? (A Tribute To Franco Battiato)

Franco Battiato is an Italian composer, singer/songwriter and filmmaker that has covered miles of ground from experimental electronics, musique concrète, prog and synth rock through operatics to poignant pop music.

This compilation is a homage to the man released on Sillyboy in 2004 featuring the likes of Volcano The Bear, Kinski, Hrvatski (aka Keith Fullerton Whitman), Zu vs. Økapi, Jennifer Gentle, Circle, Los Natas, Oneida and Acid Mothers Temple SWR.

What's Your Function?

Id M Theft Able - Alice The Camel

Skot Able is responsible for the crack in the wall of the universe that is Id M Theft Able (and the many reorganisations of the letters involved). Words often fail ...

Magnificent CDr released on Skot's Mang-Disc in 2002.

Alice The Camel

ID M Theft Able - The Xylophoning Of Dirges

Have you ever tried to describe ID M Theft Able?

How did you get on?

CDr released on Beniffer Editions in 2005.

The Xylophoning Of Dirges

Id M Theft Able - Crispy Hexagons

Deliriously broken cut-up...

CDr released on Mang-Disc in 2006.

Crispy Hexagons

Club Skull - The Origins Of...

Club Skull was a one-time-only supergroup comprised of Akifumi Nakajima (Aube), Fumio Kosakai (Incapacitants, CCCC) and Hiroshi Hasegawa (Astro, CCCC).

Club Skull - The Origins Of...

Sshe Retina Stimulants - Kusa'i

Sshe Retina Stimulants is Paolo Bandera (who was also a member of Sigillum S).

C46 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1994.

Kusa'i

Aube - E-Power

This Aube tape of oscillator squall from 1994 was not included in the massive "Tapes" 20xCDR set.

Aube - E-Power

Smegma‎ - Clitoridis / Praeputil

Warning: Take your medication at least one hour before taking this on!

C46 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1997.

Clitoridis / Praeputil

Hands To - Turn Back The Sun

Jeph Jerman's Hands To project with a disorienting and disturbing little number ...

C46 released on G.R.O.S.S in 1993.

Turn Back The Sun

Crawl Unit - Terminal Absolution

It's Joe Colley's Crawl Unit and it's great.

C46 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1994.

Terminal Absolution

Mortal Vision‎ - Nacht Musik

The impeccable Hiroshi Hasegawa ... what else do you need to know?

C50 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1993.

Nacht Musik

Loop Circuit‎ - Sound On Sound

Loop Circuit were Akifumi Nakajima & Dub Murashita and also appeared on three compilations as Hyper Ventilation.

C42 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1994.

Sound On Sound

Trance / Macronympha‎ - Audio Image Assault

Trance is the early work of Mason Jones whilst Macronympha at this point were Joseph Roemer and Rodger Stella...

C46 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1993.

Audio Image Assault

Taint - Strange Feeling, Shit Coming

This is another tape that I posted five years ago (have I really been doing this for so long ... gulp). The magnificent Keith Brewer who now records as Mania. Everything Keith does is essential...

C48 released on G.R.O.S.S. way back in 1993.

Strange Feeling, Shit Coming

Mark Solotroff - In The Mind Of A Monster

Mark Solotroff is a bit of a legend when you weigh it all up. As Super Eight Loop and a member of the likes of Nightmares, The Fortieth Day, Intrinsic Action and BLOODYMINDED as well as running BloodLust!, it's probably fair to say that he's got the T-Shirt.

Rumbling power electronics with a hint of wall on this C44 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1996.

In The Mind Of A Monster

Skin Crime - Genital Modification

I originally posted this five years ago and the link has been dead for a long time. As an example of the work of Skin Crime and the work of G.R.O.S.S. in taking occidental noise back to Japan, this should be kept alive forever...

C46 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1995.

Genital Modification

The Cherry Point & Foutredeu!!! - Split

Yet another split tape with The Cherry Point's sandblasted squall on one side. Montreal's Foutredeu!!! fills the other side with a gauzy psychedelic dust storm.

The Cherry Point & Foutredeu!!! - Split

The Cherry Point & Lap Dancer - Mugshots Vol. Five

Split tape released on Fargone Records in 2005 in an edition of 38 copies.

The Cherry Point & Lap Dancer - Mugshots Vol. Five

The Cherry Point & Vikkkings - Split

Oh, did you think that Badgerstump and I had posted all the Cherry Point split cassettes already? We have not. There are many more of these things. In a sense. The Cherry Point (along with his friend and collaborator John Wiese, with whom he played as the accurately-self-described "double flamethrower unit" LHD) acted as an ambassador for the international 00's noise sub-underground. Some of the bands with whom they split a 7", tape or CDR seem to have very little other evidence of their existence. I'm thinking of Aeon Eon, Jetstream Panic, and a noise-rock/industrial-ish unit with the improbably hilarious name of Vikkkings. (Q: What's the worst kind of Viking?) This c20 came out on Knife in the Toaster in 2005 in a numbered edition of just 24 copies.

Knife in the Toaster, I am proud to say, is a Canadian label from St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador. It started in 2001 and is apparently still going strong! They've released new (and still available) tapes by Fossils, Filthy Turd, Kommissar Hjuler, Sleeping Police, many others, and they even have a Bandcamp page. Support them!

The Cherry Point & Vikkkings - Split

Monde Bruits - Purgatory

Shohei Iwasaki in full on Blast Off! mode. Absolute classic!!!

C46 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1992.

Purgatory

Monde Bruits - Psychosomatic Performance

Shohei Iwasaki captured live during two performances at the legendary Bears in Osaka in '91 and '92. Majestic!

C42 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1993.

Psychosomatic Performance

Deisel Guitars X Sian - Double Minds String

Deisel Guitars (the duo of Shougo Ogawa and Youki Noseyama) turn in something that is completely different to the previous tape. Yes, the drones are still there but they are framed in industrial shamanism and man does it ever work! Sian were a (regrettably) short-lived collaboration between Akifumi Nakajima (aka Aube) and Shohei Iwasaki (aka Monde Bruits). Their side simmers away at the ambient end of the noise spectrum and builds all of the way through its 20 minutes...

A spectacular C40 released on G.R.O.S.S. in 1994.

Double Minds String

Deisel Guitar - Maria

Youki Noseyama had previously been in Deisel Guitars with Shougo Ogawa. In going solo, he dropped the "s" to focus on the types of sculptured drones on offer here.

C40 released on Akifumi Nakajima's G.R.O.S.S. label in 1995.

Maria

The Haunting - Face Blindness

Whilst we're on the subject ...

C18 released on Nurse Etiquette in 2009.

Face Blindness

The Haunting & Failing Lights - Devaluing a Mind

One side of Mike solo, one of Mike & Tara Connelly as The Haunting.

The Haunting & Failing Lights - Devaluing a Mind

The Haunting - Organ

Another one-sider of desolate howls by the Connellys, issued as a cassette by Gods of Tundra.

The Haunting - Organ

The Haunting - Chamber Maid

One-sided tape by Mike & Tara Connelly, aka Clay Rendering. Mike, of course, also goes the name Failing Lights, is a member of Hair Police, and was 1/3 of Wolf Eyes.

The Haunting - Chamber Maid

Spykes - Live Frying

As you well know Badgerstump and Mrs Inside have a seemingly inexhaustible supply of obscure gems from American Tapes. I can't claim to be on that staircase, or even in that ballpark. However I figured over time I'd share some of the spoils from my last visit to a Wolf Eyes merch table, starting with this rather mysterious Spykes release. Yes, astute observers will correctly point out that this is but one of at least 23 with the same title. This one errs on the side of crunchy with some excellent piercing high frequencies.

This CDR is labeled AM Tour. Edition of 9.

Live Frying

JLIAT - Noise

I figured I'd begin my participation on this fine blog with a bang, quite literally. These recordings, allegedly culled from the archives of someone who produced early films of them, are said to be of four nuclear tests conducted by the United States in the 1940's. They were assembled by the enigmatic UK drone/noise provocateur James Whitehead aka JLIAT. While I can't vouch for the legitimacy of the recordings (watch one of those videos taken from a boat offshore of an island volcano erupting on youtube and you'll see what I mean), the sheer ferocity of this noise is astonishing, especially given the recordings may be half a century old.

Released in a tiny CDR edition on the now defunct Edition... label in 2002.

Noise

Verdenskang - And It's There

Nigel Jacklin must have been a visionary (or at least a splendidly precocious and subversive young man)! Whilst a student at Oundle School in Peterborough, he managed to convince his music teacher to book Throbbing Gristle to play at his school. Imagine the look on the teacher's face when he realised what he had agreed to! That gig (on the 16th March 1980, stands as a classic bit of live TG). Nigel went on to start Alien Brains, switched briefly to recording under the name Verdenskang and then appears to have disappeared from our timelines. Whilst uncredited, this also contains David Jackman, Meat Means Bloody Murder (aka Philip Rupenus and Richard Rupenus who you will also know as founder members of The New Blockaders) and Philip Sanderson.

Cheers Nigel!!!

C60 released in 1985 on the Italian ADN label (who were also responsible for the classic Out Of Standard!! series of tapes).

... and tomorrow, everybody say hello to perezprado!

And It's There

Various - Snatch Paste - An Assortment Of Snatch Tapes

Philip Sanderson's Snatch Tapes stand as a beacon of the late 70's / early 80's UK underground (and I mean the real underground). David Jackman (aka Organum), Phil and Steve Ball's Storm Bugs, Mannequin Moves, Anthony Clough, The N4s, the fluid membership of Nigel Jacklin's Alien Brains, Claire Thomas & Susan Vezey (which is actually Phil again) all invite the New Wave to kiss there collective arses and beg that they may have an original thought...

Inevitably, for such treasures, this an LP released on Vinyl-on-demand. In 2006.

Snatch Paste

Hong Chulki ‎- Without Cartridge, With Cartridge

If you were going to manipulate a turntable to deliver quality noise, how would you go about it? Yes, you guessed it! GX nods his head in approval ...

Double 3" CDr set released on Hong Chulki and Choi Joonyong's Balloon & Needle in 2007.

Without Cartridge, With Cartridge

Choi Joonyong, Hong Chulki, Sachiko M, Otomo Yoshihide - Sweet Cuts, Distant Curves

Occupying the space where nothing happens ... depending on your definition of "happens" or "nothing".

Stellar line-up creating aural sculpture before your ears. Released on Balloon & Needle in 2008.

Sweet Cuts, Distant Curves

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)