Bleak Bliss: September 2017

Stretchheads - Barbed Anal Exciter

Andy MacDonald on guitar, Steven MacDougall on bass, Jason Boyce on drums and P6 (aka Phil Eaglesham) on shouty business. Brilliant Glasgow / Paisley based noiserock "psych ward hardcore" outfit with a sly sense of humour and a firmly placed tongue between your cheeks. Think Heresy meets Trumans Water and then think again.

10" released on Blast First in 1991.

Barbed Anal Exciter

Silverfish - Fuckin' Drivin' Or What...

Andrew Duprey on guitar, Chris Mowforth on bass, Stuart Watson on drums and Lesley Rankine on bellows. Cracking band that I never got to see live, I even wrote to them asking them to get their arses up to Manchester ... not saying I'm bitter ... but ...

Silverfish released on Creation Records in 1991.

Fuckin' Drivin' Or What...

Techno Animal - The Brotherhood of the Bomb

Another great one by Martin & Broadrick, "The Brotherhood of the Bomb" came out on Matador in 2001 and fully embraces in-the-red noisy hip-hop and dub in a way that foreshadow's Martin's work as The Bug. Anti-Pop Consortium, Vast Aire, El-P, Dalek and Rob Smith contribute to several tracks.

Techno Animal - The Brotherhood of the Bomb

Silverfish - T.F.A. e.p.

Feedback spiked buzzsaw noiserock from the London quartet that barely left my turntable during '89/'90 ...

12" released on Wiiija Records in 1989.

T.F.A. e.p.

Techno Animal - Radio Hades

More successful than their "Ghosts" album were Techno Animal's singles and compilation tracks, many of which were released by minimal techno/house label Force Inc. Several of those stand-alone songs were collected into this album, which is (to my ears) the most enjoyable thing the duo did in its lifetime. Released by Position Chrome in 1998.

Techno Animal - Radio Hades

Terminal Cheesecake - Angels In Pigtails

Terminal Cheesecake existed between 1988 and 1994. This is rightly seen as their stone-cold classic. It's a sprawling, mindbending psychedelic noiserock masterpiece.

... and then, out of an apparently clear blue sky, in 2015 they re-formed (or at least started to record again). Better that that, the frontman is now the one man tornado (and former Gnod vocalist) Neil Francis. You should check out Cheese Brain Fondue: Live In Marseille and Dandelion Sauce Of The Ancients and the split 7" with Anji Cheung. I saw them live 2 or 3 weeks ago and they were great ... the support was from Blown Out and Cattle ... if any of these people play near you, you really need to go and see them.

CD released on Kevin Martin's Pathological Records in 1990.

Angels In Pigtails

Techno Animal - Ghosts

In 1991, the same year that Godflesh came out with their masterwork "Pure", Kevin Martin and Justin Broadrick made this strange album of unentertaining industrial beats. Released on Martin's Pathological Records label.

Techno Animal - Ghosts

Terminal Cheesecake - Bladdersack

The mighty Bladdersack is a damn fine way to introduce yourself to the unsuspecting world ...

Inaugural 12" released on Wiiija Records in 1988.

Bladdersack

Terminal Cheesecake - Johnny Town-Mouse

The Terminal Cheesecake history is long and convoluted with tendrils that stretch into GOD, Skullflower and Head Of David ... so let's keep it to the practical information: this is monstrous acid-fried English noise rock!

This is their first LP released on Wiiija Records in 1988.

Johnny Town-Mouse

GOD - Possession

In 1992, major labels Caroline and Virgin thought it was a wise idea to release a mammoth slab by Kevin Martin's industrial noise jazz orchestra, GOD. This album, their final full-length, includes more notable musicians sitting in: John Zorn is one of the four sax players here and jazz weirdo Gary Smith plays guitar alongside Justin Broadrick. Peter Kraut (of Albolth!) plays piano. The usual arsenal of three bass players is accompanied by two drummers. If that seems like an unnecessary amount of people, that's because it is.

GOD - Possession

GOD / Terminal Cheesecake - Meathead / Car First

Each band covering the other's song ...

7" released on Clawfist (as part of their wonderful Clawfist Singles Club series) in 1990.

Meathead / Car First

GOD - Loco

A heavy live album by Kevin Martin's triple-bass big band, this time including Eddie Prevost (of AMM) on percussion. Released by Martin's own Pathological Records in 1991.

GOD - Loco

GOD - Appeal To Human Greed

A set of GOD tracks remixed by Lumberjacks, Bill Laswell, Justin Broadrick, Kevin Shields and Kevin Martin.

CD EP released on Big Cat in 1995.

Appeal To Human Greed

GOD - Breach Birth

A vinyl-only EP released by Situation Two in 1990.

GOD - Breach Birth

GOD - Consumed

Apocalyptic hypnosis recorded live at Rote Fabrik, Zurich, Switzerland on March the 28th, 1992.

CD jointly released on Sentrax and Blazer Corps. in 1993.

Consumed

GOD - The Anatomy of Addiction

First full album by GOD, the big industrial/metal/jazz band led by Kevin Martin (better known these days as The Bug) on tenor sax and vocals. The band also included Justin Broadrick (of Godflesh), improv bassist John Edwards, saxophonist Tim Hodgkinson (of Henry Cow) and more... a lot more! This record includes a total of three bass players, two drummers, bass clarinet, saxophone, two guitarists, a viola player and other folks contributing to the godlike din. Released on Big Cat in 1994.

GOD - The Anatomy of Addiction

AMM - Laminal

Across the years, you get Christopher Hobbs, Cornelius Cardew, Eddie Prévost, John Tilbury, Keith Rowe and Lou Gare. The release is dedicated to Evan Parker ...

Triple CD set released on Matchless Recordings in 1996.

Recorded in Aarhus, Denmark on the 16th of December 1969

Recorded at Goldsmiths' College, London on the 20th of February 1982

Recorded at Context Studios, New York on the 3rd of May 1994

AMM & MEV - Apogee

On the first disc, you have three collaborations with AMM (Eddie Prévost, John Tilbury and Keith Rowe) and Musica Elettronica Viva (Alvin Curran, Frederic Rzewski and Richard Teitelbaum) ... if that doesn't thrill you with delight them you have already stopped reading this ...

Double CD released on Matchless Recordings in 2004.

Collaboration

Split

MEV / AMM - Live Electronic Music Improvised

The very definition of "it does what it says on the tin".

LP released on Mainstream Records in 1970.

Live Electronic Music Improvised

AMM - Before Driving to the Chapel we Took Coffee with Rick and Jennifer Reed

Recorded live at Rice University in Houston, TX in 1996, released as a CD by Matchless Recordings in 1997.

AMM - Before Driving to the Chapel we Took Coffee with Rick and Jennifer Reed

Musica Elettronica Viva - Friday

Alvin Curran, Frederic Rzewski, Gunther Carius, Richard Teitelbaum and Franco Cataldi. A release so far ahead of it's time ... what the hell did people even begin to make of it 48 years ago?

Initially released on vinyl in 1969, this is the CD reissue on Alga Marghen from 2008.

Friday

AMM - From a Strange Place

Live in Japan in 1995, released as a CD by PSF in 1996.

AMM - From a Strange Place

Musica Elettronica Viva - Leave The City

Birgit Knabe, Ivan Coaquette, Patricia Coaquette, Nona Howard and Stéphano Giolitti offering up some weird old transcendentalism.

It is probably this release that Alvin Curran (a co-founder of Musica Elettronica Viva) refers to when he says "a couple of French kids [which] we just took [...] in [the group] actually stole the name of the group and put out their own record". Good on 'em!

Initially released on vinyl in 1970, this is the CD reissue on Spalax2 from 1997.

Leave The City

AMM - Combine + Laminates & Treatise '84

A recording of the "classic" trio line-up of Keith Rowe (guitar and electronics), Eddie Prevost (drums) and John Tilbury (piano) live in Chicago in 1984. The "Combine & Laminates" LP was released by Pogus in 1990, then reissued five years later on CD by the band's own Matchless Recordings with an added track of AMM playing some of Cornelius Cardew's notorious "Treatise" graphical score.

AMM - Combine + Laminates & Treatise '84

Musica Elettronica Viva - The Sound Pool

Sixteen strong collective that take you (metaphorically) through Dante's 9 circles of hell.

Initially released on vinyl in 1970, this is the CD reissue on Spalax2 from 1998.

The Sound Pool

AMM - The Crypt (12th June 1968)

Unparalleled classic of English free improvised music, recorded in 1968 and first released by Matchless Recordings as a double LP in 1981. It's been given several double CD reissues, one of which is what this post is. The line-up for this version of the group was Keith Rowe on tabletop guitar and electronics, the legendary Cornelius Cardew on piano, Eddie Prevost and Christopher Hobbs on drums and percussion, and Lou Gare on saxophone and violin.

disc 1
disc 2

4g - Cloud

Four Gentlemen Of The Guitar formed in mid-2004 to perform a series of shows in Europe and Canada. Three of these are contained here.

Keith Rowe and Oren Ambarchi on guitar and electronics, Christian Fennesz on guitar and computer and Toshimaru Nakamura on no-input mixing board.

Double CD released on Erstwhile Records in 2005.

All Erstwhile links removed on request: go straight to the rather splendid Bandcamp page.

cumulo

nimbus

Hüsker Dü - Eight Miles High

Grant Hart was the drummer in Hüsker Dü. The news of his death was announced today ...

Hüsker Dü are one of the most important bands in my life ... whilst I silently reflect, here's a wonderful and poignant cover of The Byrds' Eight Miles High with a live version of Masochism World on the reverse.

7" released on SST in 1984.

Eight Miles High

Keith Rowe / Sachiko M / Toshimaru Nakamura / Otomo Yoshihide - Untitled

Keith on tabletop guitar and electronic manipulation, Toshimaru Nakamura on his no-input mixing board, Sachiko Matsubara (a legend in her own right as well as being a frequent collaborator with Otomo Yoshihide including as a core member of Ground Zero) on "sinewaves and contact microphone on object" and Otomo Yoshihide on guitar and turntables. This is every bit as great as you have the right to expect.

Triple CD set released on Erstwhile Records in 2005.

one

two

three

Keith Rowe / Toshimaru Nakamura - Weather Sky

Recorded at Le Chok Theatre, Saint-Etienne, France on June the 11th, 2001 and mixed and mastered back in Tokyo.

CD released on Erstwhile Records in 2001.

Weather Sky

Keith Rowe / Toshimaru Nakamura - Between

You won't be surprised to know that the same people are using similar set-ups to the previous post but these are studio recordings from 2005.

Double CD released on Erstwhile Records in 2006.

Betwixt

Between

Keith Rowe / Toshimaru Nakamura - Untitled

Keith Rowe on tabletop guitar and electronics with Toshimaru Nakamura on no-input mixing board recorded live at Kid Ailack Art Hall, Tokyo on September the 21st, 2008.

CD released on Erstwhile Records in 2009.

Untitled

Keith Rowe / Taku Unami - Untitled

Keith on tabletop guitar and electronics with Taku Unami on his laptop. A study in concentration recorded live on September the 19th, 2008 at Kid Ailack Art Hall, Tokyo.

CD released on Erstwhile Records in 2008.

Untitled

Evan Parker / Keith Rowe - Dark Rags

Keith Rowe (co-founder of AMM and a member of MIMEO and The Scratch Orchestra amongst others) on tabletop guitar and electronics with Evan Parker on saxophones recorded live during two concerts at Pannonica, Nantes, on December 31th 1999 & January 1st 2000. What a way to see in the new millennium!

CD released on Potlatch in 2000.

Dark Rags

Evan Parker, Keith Rowe, Barry Guy, Eddie Prévost - Supersession

Killer quartet recorded live in 1984, released by Matchless Recordings as a CD in 1988.

Evan Parker, Keith Rowe, Barry Guy, Eddie Prévost - Supersession

Evan Parker / John Edwards / Chris Corsano - A Glancing Blow

Evan on tenor and soprano saxophone, the double bass of John Edwards and the Kali of the drum kit that is Chris Corsano.

CD released on Clean Feed in 2007.

A Glancing Blow

Evan Parker / John Wiese - C-Section

Evan Parker's improvised and dislocated sax skronk accompanied by John Wiese's electronics and crunching tape manipulations. All recorded in real-time ... oh, to be a fly on the wall.

CD released on Second Layer Records in 2009.

C-Section

John Tilbury / Evan Parker - Two Chapters And An Epilogue

Evan on tenor and soprano saxophone and John on piano creating exquisitely insular and expansive improvised free jazz soundscapes.

CD released on Matchless Recordings in 2000.

Two Chapters And An Epilogue

MIMEO / John Tilbury - The Hands Of Caravaggio

So, what do you do if you are a group of legends about to perform another exquisite set? Of course, you add another member of AMM: John Tilbury on piano. Recorded live at Angelica, Festival Internazionale Di Musica, Bologna, on May the 20th, 2001.

CD released on Erstwhile Records in 2002.

The Hands Of Caravaggio

MIMEO - Wigry

Another extraordinary live recording that unfolds and envelopes. In this waiting room, patience is the key.

Double LP jointly released on Bôłt and Monotype Records in 2011.

Wigry

MIMEO - Electric Chair & Table

Given the roster of players here, you might expect it to sound like too many cooks all blasting at once. That's not what this is, though. Large group improvisations recorded in 1998 and 1999, edited in 1999 and released as a double CD that same year by a label called Grob. For this album, the band was Kaffe Matthews, Marcus Schmickler, Peter Rehberg, and Christian Fennesz on laptops; Gert-Jan Prins and Jerome Noetinger on electronics and tapes; Keith Rowe and Rafael Toral on guitars; Cor Fuhler on piano; Markus Wettstein on "amplified metal garbage"; Thomas Lehn on synthesizer and Phil Durrant on violin and electronics.

disc 1
disc 2

MIMEO - Queue

This is a series of live recordings from 1997. A group of incredible individuals making beautiful improvised (largely) electronic music.

CDr released on GROB in 1998 before being released as Music In Movement Electronic Orchestra on Perdition Plastics in 1999.

Queue

MIMEO - Lifting Concrete Lightly

A staggering album of very large-group improvised electro-acoustic noise (amazingly, excerpted from an even longer performance) recorded at Serpentine Gallery and released by the gallery as a triple CD set in 2004. The band includes luminaries from all over the world: Marcus Schmickler (of Pluramon, Wabi Sabi, more) and Peter Rehberg (aka Pita, head of Editions MEGO) on laptops, Jerome Noetinger (head of Metamkine Records) playing tapes and electronics, Rafael Toral and Gert-Jan Prins on electronics, Keith Rowe (of AMM) on tabletop guitar, Thomas Lehn and Cor Fuhler on synthesizers, Phil Durrant on violin and synthesizer, and the whole project was directed by Kaffe Matthews, who also plays sampler and theremin. It's far too much to listen to in one sitting, but I suppose when you go through the trouble of bringing so many busy people together at one time, you may as well be efficient about it and record as much music as possible. The liner notes explain that the players were placed throughout the gallery space and could come and go throughout the performance, so this is not the free-for-all it might have been in less capable hands.

disc 1
disc 2
disc 3

Hair Stylistics - Forever Shibuya HMV

An unlikely homage to Masaya Nakahara's favourite record store complimented by his loathing of it's competitors ... he really doesn't like them.

CDr. Boid. 2010.

This is the last one for now, we're getting a bit twitchy and need to move on. We'll return to the theme soon and will be re-uploading all of the dead Stylistics links and will resurrect the Violent Onsen Geisha posts for good measure.

A short while ago, we re-drifted past the Hair Stylistics discogs page to find that the number of releases had doubled. At the last count, we have sixty seven of them and we were missing quite a few. Then "all of a sudden" it turns out that we are missing at least one hundred and sixteen. Sincerely brothers and sisters, we shed a tear! Actually, I cried a lot. The problem is that we have virtually nothing that was released after 2010 ... maybe three releases (and the two on bandcamp) and that's it! If anybody has any of these Holy Grail items that they would be willing to share we would be forever in your debt. It's more than fair enough if they aren't for posting, me and Mrs Inside are Masaya Nakahara fanatics and every new thing would bring us copious amounts of joy!

Forever Shibuya HMV