Bleak Bliss: June 2017

The Birthday Party - The Bad Seed

To mark another inauspicious day in Badgerstump Towers, I thought I'd post the greatest 12" ever created. It's remarkable to think that this was released 34 years ago.

The Bad Seed

They say it's better to give than to receive (although that clearly depends on what's on offer) so I thought I'd throw in some things that I posted in 2010ish: Kousokuya and the Live At Shinjuku JAM dvd; the Kawabata Makoto post (and I've added the Pulsating Electric Force cdr that was the fifth installment in the Private Sound Drawing series); YBO²; Vajra and Hanatarash.

José Luis Castillejo - The Book of I's

The sound poet José Luis Castillejo is a fascinating guy. Apparently, he was born into Spanish aristocracy and served as ambassador to Hungary in the 1960s, during which time he was also writing and distributing privately-pressed books of his concrete poetry to friends. This piece, recorded in 1997 and 1998 and released as a very small-run LP by Alga Marghen in 1998, features Castillejo reading from one of those books. It's a challenging listen for sure, but I think you can handle it.

José Luis Castillejo - The Book of I's

Olivia Block, Seth Nehil, BusRatch - Untitled

Collaborative performance by American composers Block & Nehil with Kyoto's turntable destroyers BusRatch, recorded in 2000 and subsequently remixed and edited by the artists. Released as a limited CDR in 2001 by PARA Disc, the house label of the Parallax Records shop in Kyoto.

Olivia Block, Seth Nehil, BusRatch - Untitled

Olivia Block & Petra Klusmeyer - Oil and Water/Pandora's Box

Classic exchange of source material by Olivia Block and Petra Klusmeyer, released as a limited CDR in 2001 by BOXmedia.

Olivia Block & Petra Klusmeyer - Oil and Water/Pandora's Box

Margaret De Wys - I OH

The only solo album by Theoretical Girl Margaret De Wys, and it's a scorcher. When you first play the album, you might be tempted to turn the volume up to better hear the faint mouth sounds and breathing, but don't do it. Trust me.

Margaret De Wys - I OH

Bernard Heidsieck - Derviche/Le Robert

A very long sound poem comprised of 26 pieces, one for each letter of the alphabet, written between 1978 and 1986 and recorded between 1982 and 1986. While a few tracks appeared on sound poetry compilation cassettes in the 1980s, this is the entire work on three CDs with a 200-page book, released by Al Dente in 2004.

disc 1
disc 2
disc 3

Bernard Heidsieck - Respirations Et Brèves Rencontres

"Each piece is name after a poet that Heidsieck is having an imaginary conversation with. In each case he uses the sounds of that poet breathing which have been taken from recordings of that person reading." Improbable but true.

Three CDs that were included in a book published by Al Dante in 1999.

One

Two

Three

Bernard Heidsieck - Poème-Partition X

Two recordings of Bernard Heidsieck's sound poem "Poème-Partition X", both recorded in 1960. Released as a very limited edition LP by Alga Marghen in 1996.

Bernard Heidsieck - Poème-Partition X

Vertonen - Return Of The Interrobang

This is probably just me ... but ... this is the sound of a party in a club in an alternate dimension that is so close to you that only a particle physicist could get you admission. What do you mean "that makes no sense"? You won't be saying that when I'm sitting at the bar sipping on my Piña Colada!

CD released on Blake's Crippled Intellect Productions in 2005.

Return Of The Interrobang

Vertonen - Orchid Collider

On this release, Blake Edwards delivers so much variety and covers just about everything you droneheads could possibly want. Just dive in.

CD released on his own Crippled Intellect Productions in 2005.

Orchid Collider

Vertonen - Rogyapas Bath

Beautiful drones that are perfectly attuned to the landscape on the cover ...

C20 released on What We Do Is Secret in 2007.

Rogyapas Bath

PCRV / Vertonen - Deep Time

Matt Taggart and Blake Edwards creating sublime dreamscapes before finding the ear next to the white picket fence and showing us what lies beneath.

CDr released on Power Silence in 2009.

Deep Time

PCRV - Day / Night

Two live tracks captured in Seattle on June the 12th, 2005.

3" CDr released on Misanthrope Studio in 2006.

Night and Day

Bernard Heidsieck - Canal Street

The poem "Canal Street" was written between 1974 and 1976, recorded in 1976 and then self-released as a 3LP boxset ten years later. This reissue from 2001 came out as two CDs with a book, published by sound poetry label Al Dente's Collection Niok subdivision in 2001.

disc 1
disc 2

Pop Culture Rape Victim - Carbon Monoxide Therapy

Fifty minutes of quality immersive gear-switching noise courtesy of Matt Taggart.

CDr jointly released on Scrotum Records and Recordings For The Summer in 2005.

Carbon Monoxide Therapy

Bernard Heidsieck - 50/70

Four recordings of French sound poet (and bank manager!) Bernard Heidsieck, recorded in 1957, 1977 and 1979, released as an LP by Alga Marghen in 1998.

Bernard Heidsieck - 50/70

P.C.R.V. & Goat - Present Mano Isquierda Del Camino

Now this is my kind of heaven. Andy O’Sullivan and Matt Taggart recorded live in July 2002.

C52 released on Philosophy Shop (probably) in 2003.

Present Mano Isquierda Del Camino

Double Leopards - Untitled

An untitled collection of four-track recordings from 1999 to 2001, released as a CDR by Polyamory in 2002.

Double Leopards - Untitled

Goat - The Satyric Passion

Truly extraordinary tape courtesy of Andy O’Sullivan (aka Mr. Goat) with "Dorbo" on Stun Guitar and "Bill F" with the occasional vocals.

Ridiculously great C40 released on his own Philosophy Shop label in who knows when.

The Satyric Passion

Infirmary - Room Of Nightmares

One side of fierce and one side of brooding ...

C60 released on Enemata Productions in 2008.

Room Of Nightmares

Infirmary - Black Hole Reflection

Rick Winn. Wall Noise. Every one wins.

Single-sided C80 released on Enemata Productions in 2008.

Black Hole Reflection

The Rita & Wilt - Werewolf In The Black Space

This is one for the ultra-nerds like me! This is the analogue glory of the tape (without the C10) ... and there were only 15 of these released.

C20 released on The Institute For Organic Conversations in 2006.

Werewolf In The Black Space

The Rita + Wilt - Werewolf In The Black Space

Sam McKinlay with the mighty Wilt. This was originally a C20 tape released on Wilt's The Institute For Organic Conversations in 2006. There was an initial 10 copies that also has a C10. This reissue has both tapes as well as a 12 and a half minute track that was previously unreleased.

CD released on Cipher Productions in 2008.

Werewolf In The Black Space

Moribund - Mens Rea

Shawn Royal giving the world pulsing noise with a slice of power electronics.

C48 released on Barbarian Tapes in 2007.

Mens Rea

Double Leopards - A Pebble of Thousands of Unmapped Revolutions

Their second album, released as an LP by Eclipse Records in 2001. Band member Marcia Bassett went on to record solo noise as Zaimph and would play in noise/bliss/noise groups The Hototogisu (with Matthew Bower, of Skullflower), the lower-key GHQ (with Pete Nolan, of Magik Markers), and Zaika (with Tom Carter). Jon Chapman would vanish from the Leopards, but would record with New Zealand outfits Rory Storm and the Invaders, Eye, and Sinking Infinities. Chris Gray later played drums in an early line-up of Endless Boogie.

Double Leopards - A Pebble of Thousands of Unmapped Revolutions

Double Leopards - The Axe Helve

The debut album by Double Leopards, this contains the group's earliest recordings from 1998 and 1999, self-released as an LP on Heavy Conversation in 1999.

Double Leopards - The Axe Helve

Grain Belt - Grain Belt

... and here we have Sam Stoxen (aka Baculum), Oskar Brummel (aka Willful) and Wince all at the same time!

CD jointly released on Small Doses, White Centipede Noise and Phage Tapes in 2010.

Grain Belt

Wince - Buried Rage

This was self-released right at the start of the Willful project and probably accounts for the difference in sound quality when compared to the previous post.

C30 released in 2008 in an edition of 30.

Buried Rage

Wince - Mushed Down Retardation

Seriously fucked up smile on your face broken noise from Oskar Brummel.

C20 released on Joy De Vivre in 2011.

Mushed Down Retardation

Willful - 1982

This is the only thing that I have heard by Willful. It's extraordinary and I love it.

3" CDr released on Small Doses in 2009 in an edition of 61.

1982

Baculum - Wood

... and this time with whirring blades. Sam Stoxen also records as Knife Attack and POTR and is a member of White Plague, ...Massacre and Grain Belt amongst others. Everything that I've heard is mighty fine and you should chase all of it down.

3" CDr released on Phage Tapes in 2007.

Wood

Baculum - Crumble

Straight up in your face harsh noise.

3" CDr released on Degenerate in 2008.

Crumble

Baculum - When The Fallout Comes

Broiling oxyacetylene noise attack from the hands of Sam Stoxen.

3" CDr released on DumpsterScore in 2009.

When The Fallout Comes

Baculum - Heavy Machinery

Fierce sounds from inside the noise factory.

3" CDr released on Corrosive Art Records in 2010.

Heavy Machinery

Svartvit - Untitled

Kevin Jansen's Wall Noise project on a C60 released as part of the 12 Months Cassette Swap series in 2012.

Tape Swap

MX Nihil - Cock Is Master

MX Nihil is the work of Matthias Mützlitz (aka Die Reitenden Leichen and a dozen other projects) delivering up two sides of Harsh Noise Wall inferno.

C42 released on World Nihil in 2008.

Cock Is Master

Paniek - Brethren

Paniek (aka Panic) released a series of WWII themed HNW tapes on War Story with all of them only being available as single copies. The seventh (Atlantikwall) is a huge four C90 boxset ... gutted to say that I've never heard it ...

C20 released on War Story in 2011 in an edition of one copy.

Brethren

Paniek - Normandy

Excellent Wall Noise with a static kick.

C62 released on War Story in 2011 in an edition of one copy.

Normandy

Murder Book - Revenge Initiation

Pulsing noise with a touch of the doom metal about it.

C30 released on Turgid Animal in 2007.

Revenge Initiation

Murder Book - Blood Stains The Paint

Twisted noise that wouldn't feel out of place as the incidental music in a 1950's Sci-Fi B-Movie.

C46 released on Turgid Animal in 2007.

Blood Stains The Paint

va - The Great New World in Environment and Acceleration

The opposite of yesterday's compilation, here is some austere sound art! One of my most-played compilations of this type of music, "The Great New World..." was issued by Dutch multi-media art organization V2_Archeif (same people who brought us the just-as-essential "CD For the Unstable Media" compilation) in 1993. Music by Small Cruel Party, The Haters, Ron Kuiliva, Illusion of Safety, Lt. Caramel, Kapotte Muziek, Pedro Bericat, and more.

va - The Great New World in Environment and Acceleration

Mutant Ape - Women Of The S.S.

George in spectacular form ... release the beast!

C20 released on Nurse Etiquette in 2006 in an edition of 66.

Women Of The S.S.

va - The Beast 666 & The Archangels of Sex

The best tracks from two cassettes of industrial ritual music originally released in 1985 by Nekrophile Rekords in Austria, reissued on CD by Staalplaat in 1992. A pity the complete tapes weren't reissued, but it's nice to at least be able to hear some of this stuff. If death-obsessed occult dark ambience is your thing, here are some creeps banging on bones in basements. Music by Korpses Katatonic, Sleep Chamber, Coil, Hunting Lodge, Metgumbnerbone, Ewald Spiss, Ain Soph, Toy Muzik and Zero Kama.

va - The Beast 666 & The Archangels of Sex

Mutant Ape / Karst - Split

Two George Proctor projects on one tape. Wonderful.

C60 released on Phage Tapes in 2008 in an edition of 41 copies.

Mutant Ape / Karst

va - X-Rated-The Dark Files

Obscure compilation of mostly gloomy ambient music released in 2006 by the Dutch label Steamin' Soundworks, with one hell of a lineup: Nurse With Wound, Threshold Houseboys Choir, Scanner, Black Sun Productions, Monoton, Aural Rage, Coil, Raison d'Etre, Markant, KaH, and the Legendary Pink Dots!

va - X-Rated-The Dark Files