Bleak Bliss: July 2017

Christian Zanési - Grand Bruit

Classic musique concrete recorded in 1990, released as a 3"CD in 1994 as part of Metamkine's indispensable Cinéma Pour L'Oreille series, which published 30 such little discs in ten years, starting in 1992. Every one of them is essential listening. If you haven't yet immersed yourself in this world, today is your lucky day: put on some good headphones, turn out the lights, get comfortable and let the audio movies begin.

Christian Zanesi - Grand Bruit

Gen Ken Montgomery‎ - Postcards 1981-1986

Another collection of impossibly rare early works courtesy of the wonderful Frank Maier.

Double LP released on Vinyl-on-demand in 2012.

...and you really should go and pay a visit to the Generations Unlimited site.

Post

Cards

Gen Ken Montgomery - Pondfloorsample

A great collection of studio and live material raised from the archives ... as far as I know, none of this had previously seen the light of day.

Double CD released on XI Records in 2002.

Studio

Live

Gen Ken Montgomery - Drilling Holes In The Wall

Compilation of studio and live material that shares it's name with the tape released in 1990 on Ken's own Generations Unlimited. The first track is from that impossibly rare tape, the second is from the Beyond My Ken LP that I've already posted and the other three tracks had never previously been released.

CD released on Monochrome Vision in 2007.

Drilling Holes In The Wall

va - Revue & Corrigée 80

The French music magazine Revue & Corrigée would sometimes come with a CD stuck inside, and this is one of those. Classic musique concrete by Daniel Deshays, Denis Dufour et Charles Pennequin, which appeared in issue #80 (June 2009) of the magazine.

va - Revue & Corrigée 80

Gen Ken - Greatest Hits

Whilst the title is clearly intended to be ironic, this collection of superior post-punk synthwerk (created between 1981 and 1986) should have been broadcast instead of the god awful shit that constipated the airwaves of the time.

LP released on De Fabriek's De Fabriek label in 1986.

Greatest Hits

Le Syndicat - Maximalist

By 1998, Le Syndicat had fully embraced techno-industrial beats, making "Maximalist" the friendliest record of their career by that point. It was released as a CD by Daft Records, the Belgian label run by Dirk Ivens of The Klinik and Absolute Body Control.

Le Syndicat - Maximalist

Gen Ken - Beyond My Ken

The storm clouds are gathering, prepare for the alien rain ...

LP released on Discos Esplendor Geometrico in 1989.

Beyond My Ken

Le Syndicat - Sardanapale

Like "Macisto Fuzztanz" from two years earlier, "Sardanapale" features the rhythmic side of erstwhile noise duo Le Syndicat. Released as a CD on Staaltape in 1991.

Le Syndicat - Sardanapale

Gen Ken Montgomery - Onomatopia Meccanica

Onomatopia Meccanica is the best way to describe these tape manipulation, found sound and electronics explorations ...

C46 released on Old Europa Cafe in 1990.

Onomatopia Meccanica

Roger Doyle & Manuel Rocha Iturbide - Distant Relations

Two long pieces by Mexican composer Manuel Rocha Iturbide and Irish composer Roger Doyle, who you might know from his old band Operating Theater. The CD came inside the book "Distant Relations: Irish, Mexican and Chicano Art and Critical Writing".

Roger Doyle & Manuel Rocha Iturbide - Distant Relations

Gen Ken Montgomery & Conrad Schnitzler - GENCON Duets

Ken Montgomery on electronics and tape manipulation with Conrad Schnitzler on piano creating almost incidental domesticity.

CD released on GD Stereo in 2010.

GENCON Duets

Chop Shop - Scraps

Magnificent swirling and hypnotic looped electronics from the man who I wish was still recording so that I could wake up every day hoping for more.

Self-released C46 from 1989.

Scraps

Chop Shop - Steel Plate

It's never a competition, but I can't remember an American artist getting this close to classic Japanese noise (and I mean that as the highest compliment btw).

Double 10" housed in plate steel and released on RRRecords in 1991.

Steel Plate

Chop Shop - Tension Charge Discharge

Probably atypical example of Scott Konzelmann's work as Chop Shop in that it drifts in, builds up and drifts out. Break out your headphones for this one. Gorgeous.

Released on V2_Archief in 1994.

Tension Charge Discharge

Chop Shop - Red & Buried: Chop Shop Plays Emil Beaulieau

Scott Konzelmann reworking Ron Lessard? Yep. Done.

CDr released on RRRon's Pure label in 1995.

Red & Buried

Le Syndicat - Macisto Fuzztanz

In 1989, after nearly a decade of producing many cassettes of ruthlessly inhuman screeching machine noise, French duo Le Syndicat released a tape (later reissued on CD) that might have surprised their fans at the time. "Macisto Fuzztanz" leans heavily on actual heavy rhythms, though the spirit of the band's industrial rage remains intact behind the persistent pounding percussion.

Le Syndicat - Macisto Fuzztanz

Lieutenant Caramel - La Boite De Pandore / Carnet De Chasse

When you consider that this was released 31 years ago ... and then consider what everybody else was farting around with then ... it's easy to appreciate that this is so far ahead of its time (and beyond time) that nobody will ever stand a chance of catching up.

This is how to blow a blown mind.

Singularly stunning.

LP released on Actéon in 1986.

La Boite De Pandore / Carnet De Chasse

Lieutenant Caramel - Les Bonnes Archives du Dimanche

Savant-garde disorientation from the mighty mind of the good Lieutenant!

C60 released on Old Europa Cafe in 1986.

Les Bonnes Archives du Dimanche

Lieutenant Caramel - Lieutenant Caramel

The best way to describe this is: it's Lieutenant Caramel!

However, if Philippe Blanchard ever created his own pinball machine, it would definitely sound like "Presse-Bouilles".

CD released on Metamkine in 1990.

Lieutenant Caramel

Lieutenant Caramel - La Nana

Welcome back to the splintered dream fever world of Philippe Blanchard!

C28 released on Ache in 1990.

La Nana

Christoph Heemann - Magnetic Tape Splicing

Warped and definitely twisted plunderphonic loops and broken inserts that will make you smile and scratch your nodding head at the same time ... if your coordination allows of course.

45rpm 12" released on Robot Records in 1997.

Magnetic Tape Splicing

Christoph Heemann - Invisible Barrier

Every release is a different window into the Christoph universe, and this bears no resemblance to any of the other posts.

CD released on Extreme in 1993.

Invisible Barrier

Christoph Heemann - Retrace

Prepare to be orchestrally haunted ...

Pops and crackles aplenty on this 7" jointly released on Sonaria and Bad Alchemy in 1995.

Retrace

Christoph Heemann - Time Is The Simplest Thing

More spaced out drone electronics on this tour CDr available at Christoph's gig in Austin, Texas on January the 25th, 2003.

Released on Andrew Chalk and Christoph Heemann's Three Poplars in 2003.

Time Is The Simplest Thing

Andreas Martin & Christoph Heemann - Untitled

Three collaborative pieces on a CDr that was originally for sale at the Brainwaves Festival.

Released on Christoph's Dom Bartwuchs in 2006.

Untitled

Andreas Martin & Christoph Heemann - Lebenserinnerungen Eines Lepidopterologen

Christoph and his brother Andreas (who changed his surname to give him artistic separation) had previously recorded together as H.N.A.S. (Hirsche Nicht Aufs Sofa) and Mimir. On this collection, you get two previously released H.N.A.S. tracks, two solo 10"s and four unreleased collaborations.

Double CD released on Robot Records in 1999.

Lebenserinnerungen

Lepidopterologen

Andreas Martin / William Basinski / Christoph Heemann - Untitled

Two tracks each from William Basinski and Andreas Martin with three of them reworked by Christoph Heemann.

Double 7" released on Robot Records in 2000.

Untitled

Seclusion - Yukigafuru (Parts 1-4)

Seclusion was a one-off project from Chako and Makoto Hattori collaborating with Christoph Heemann to create half an hour of atmospheric drones.

CD released on Some Fine Legacy in 1993.

Yukigafuru (Parts 1-4)

Gil J. Wolman - L'Anticoncept

Classic French sound poetry by one of the founding members (along with Guy Debord) of the Letterist International, recorded in the 1950s and 1960s, compiled into this LP and released by Alga Marghen in 1999.

Gil J. Wolman - L'Anticoncept

Jack Or Jive - Expatriation

Jack Or Jive are Chako and Makoto Hattori, who cemented their marriage by making music. As far as I am aware, this was their first release and they recorded it at home. It's important to bear that in mind when you hear the haunting and joyous sounds that they create. Or maybe I'm just feeling particularly reflective today ...

Self-released C44 from 1990 that came in an edition of 100.

Expatriation

Sten Hanson - The Sonosopher Retrospective

Collection of work spanning from the 1960s to the 1990s by Swedish sound poet Sten Hanson, released by Alga Marghen as a limited LP in 1998.

Sten Hanson - The Sonosopher Retrospective

Åke Hodell - Verbal Brainwash and Other Works

Complete text-sound compositions by Åke Hodell, recorded from 1963 to 1977. Released as a triple CD set by the legendary Fylkingen label in 2000.

disc 1
disc 2
disc 3

Åke Hodell - 220 Volt Buddha

Music recorded at Stockholm's Electronic Music Studio and Swedish Radio, 1971 to 1973, released by Alga Marghen as a limited LP in 1998.

Åke Hodell - 220 Volt Buddha

Kawabata Makoto & The Mothers Of Invasion - Hot Rattlesnakes

Kawabata Makoto, Atsushi Tsuyama and Yoshimitsu Ichiraku with a cute nod towards Zappa's Hot Rats LP.

CD released on Paratactile in 2002.

Hot Rattlesnakes

va - New Forms - Contemporary Electronic Music in the Context of Art

A double-CD set of electronic music curated by Carsten Nicolai, released jointly by Raster-Noton and Galerie Für Zeitgenössische Kunst on the occasion of the "New Forms" exhibition in 1999. Music by Disinformation, Scanner, Kim Cascone, Komet, Goem, Ryoji Ikeda, William Basinski, Pommasl, General Magic, Marc Behrens, Francisco Lopez, CoH, Pan Sonic, Richie Hawtin, Byetone, and Max.Ernst (aka Thomas Brinkmann).

disc 1
disc 2

va - 25 Jaar Nieuwe Muziek in Zeeland

A wide-ranging compilation of modern avant-garde music celebrating 25 years of music in Zeeland, a province in the southwestern corner of the Netherlands, released on Willem Breuker's BV Haast label in 1995. All the pieces were recorded in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Features Diamanda Galas, Leo Cuypers, cellist Frances-Marie Ultti performing Morton Feldman and Giacinto Scelsi, and lots more.

va - 25 Jaar Nieuwe Muziek in Zeeland

Haino Keiji & Fushitsusha - 欠片 (Unheard Pieces Of The Late XXth & Early XXIst Centuries)

This is the CD that came together (this year) with the book "Vocations de L'ombre - Haino Keiji, Une Autre Voix/Voie du Rock" by Bruno Fernandes. I really hope that there are plans to translate it into English at some point ...

欠片

Seijaku - Mail From Fushitsusha

Material recorded during the same sessions as the "Anything Happens" release.

"No overdubs, no edits, this is what happened in studio live recordings".

CD released on Doubtmusic in 2010.

Mail From Fushitsusha

Seijaku - You Should Prepare To Survive Through Even Anything Happens

"No overdubs, no edits, this is what happened in studio live recordings. Dedicated to Albert King, The Doors and Steppenwolf."

CD released on Doubtmusic in 2010.

Prepare To Survive

Vito Acconci - Waterways, Four Studies

Legendary performance artist Vito Acconci's 1971 piece, initially intended as soundtrack to his video of the same name, is close enough to sound poetry to merit inclusion in this run of posts. As you might imagine, his body-sound work was an influence of Canadian artists Christof Migone and Alexandre St.Onge, whose duo Undo performed their own "remix" version of the piece included after the original on this disc. Migone and St. Onge released this as a CD on their Squint Fucker Press label in 2001.

Vito Acconci - Waterways, Four Studies

Seijaku - 2010-2011

Live recordings released as a promo CDr on Doubtmusic in 2011.

2010-2011

va - Aerial #5 - A Journal in Sound

Released in 1992, with Gustavo Matamoros, Willem de Ridder, Philip Corner, Machine for Making Sense, Mark Hosler (of Negativland) and more.

va - Aerial #5 - A Journal in Sound

Seijaku - Last Live

Keiji Haino on guitar, vocals, flute and percussion, Mitsuru Nasuno on bass and vocals with Yoshimitsu Ichiraku on drums and vocals.

Recorded live at Akihabara Club Goodman in Tokyo.

Double CD released on Doubtmusic in 2015.

Last Live

Last Live

Seijaku - 静寂の果てに

Keiji Haino on guitar, vocals and eleactronics, Mitsuru Nasuno on bass and electronics with Yoshimitsu Ichiraku (of I.S.O., Omoide Hatoba, Nishinihon and Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso UFO) handling even more electronics.

Recorded live at Club Goodman, Tokyo on November the 21st, 2014.

Double CD released on Doubtmusic in 2015.

After Seijaku

After Seijaku

Sanhedolin - 満場一致は無効

Slight name variation but it's the same band ...

CD released on P.S.F. Records in 2005.

Manjo Icchi Wa Muko

va - Aerial #4 - A Journal in Sound

From 1991, this issue of The Aerial features work by Anna Homler, Brenda Hutchinson, Erik Belgum, and more.

va - Aerial #4 - A Journal in Sound

Sanhedrin - さあ真ん中だどんな感じ

You'ld be forgiven for thinking that the only way you could make these kinds of sounds was by playing whilst running down a steep hill. However, to disprove a pointless point, this is Sanhedrin playing live in Tokyo at Earthdom on March the 3rd, 2007 and Live Inn Rosa on June the 9th, 2007.

CD released on Breathing Bass Records in 2008 that was only officially for sale during their Japanese tour in October of the same year.

Sun Head Ring

va - Aerial #2 - Spring 1990

Second issue (duh) of this sound art journal, released as a CD by ?What Next? in 1990. Includes music by Annea Lockwood, David Dunn, Hildegarde Westerkamp, LaDonna Smith & Davey Williams and more.

va - Aerial #2 - Spring 1990

Sanhedrin - 「好」の５W１H

Keiji Haino on guitar and vocals, Mitsuru Nasuno on bass and Tatsuya Yoshida on drums. Even though you think that you are familiar with the work of these three legends, Sanhedrin will still surprise and delight. Nothing else sounds like this.

CD released on Trailights Record in 2013.

Sukino Godaburyu Ichieichi

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