Bleak Bliss: December 2019

Neil Innes

I can't let this year pass without doffing my cap to Neil Innes who died yesterday. Founder member of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, architect of the Rutles and Rutland Weekend TV and the person writing the songs for the Monty Python films. A member of an illustrious roll-call of British absurdists and arch-parody-mongers.

The list of people that I actually like just gets shorter and shorter these days.

The first Bonzo album from 1967:

Bonzo Dog Doo/Dah Band - Gorilla

Bad Kharma - Seltin

Self-released 1998 CD from Swedish painter, cartoonist and sound artist Ronnie Sundin, an early step along his path from relentless noise to lysergic near-silence. He's still using the Bad Kharma name here, though he'll drop it in a few years and then drop almost everything else to become a more conceptual Scandinavian relative of Sukora or tac. This album has plenty of sound on it, though.

Bad Kharma - Seltin

ESP Beetles - Live ESP

"Live recorded at ZOOT'S. W.D. on guitar & voice, two drummers, and the beginnings of the ELECTRIC BEAR. Includes "Portable on My Shoulder" and cover versions."

So clearly on this occasion it's not Mr D alone ... and all bow down to double drumming! Quality ramshackle noise-rock.

CDr released on time STEREO in 1999.

Live ESP

ESP Beetles - With The

Only Warren Defever gets credited for this these days but I'm not sure whether this is a solo outing or a "band". Either way, it's a rather good adventure into a warped bad acid zooniverse.

CDr released on time STEREO probably in 1996.

With

Little Princess - Song Collection

There was a comment left that reminded me of this release. It is certainly not to be confused with the Michigan project. These are "Aliens from the Planet Puchin Pring who look and sound like Japanese girls!" Well technically that's not true given that they are neither alien nor female. Presumably, it's an actual band with a single full of parody grind-blurt because they had an afternoon free.

7" released on Punch The Cheese in 1997.

Song Collection

Iovae - Untitled

Ron Orovitz was fairly active in the 00s, then seems to have hung it all up. A common trajectory, it seems. While he was recording as Iovae, he made a terrific 3" for Chondritic Sound and tapes/CDRs for Drone Disco, Skeleton Dust, Hung Like a Horse?! and other memorable imprints. This untitled thing was sent out into the world by the incomparable American Tapes label in 2003 as a 50-copies CDR.

Iovae - Untitled

Grave Eaters - s/t

The always-brilliant John Olson (Spykes, Wolf Eyes, Henry & Hazel Slaughter etc) using a one-off nom de glurp for this edition-of-10 CDR released in an LP sleeve on his own American Tapes label back in 2000. Sloppy improvised electronic autodidact gunk by the damn master.

Grave Eaters

Something to Burn - Untitled

A different untitled Something to Burn tape, also probably from around 1990 and also released on Empty Records.

Something to Burn - Untitled

The Little Princess - Your Golden

The first of the Princess outings. There was also a group of Michigan noiseheads called The Dragon-God who I have always assumed were a PDM splinter offering ... but I've never heard them.

Originally a single-sided tape from 1993, this is the CDr reissued on Time Stereo in 2000.

Your Golden

Something to Burn - Untitled

One of the first cassettes by Something to Burn, a noise-rock trio from Nurnberg formed by Joseph B. Raimond and Ralf Lexis (of Doc Wor Mirran) with someone called Gerhard Heimrath. Released on Raimond's label, Empty Records around 1990.

Something to Burn - Untitled

Bastard Noise - Recycled

More re-gifting on repurposed tape.

C22 from RRRecords in 2000 or thereabout.

Recycled

Little Princess - Recycled

As you root through the pile of unwanted gifts wondering whether you can get away with asking for the receipts so you can take them back...

C50 released on the lovely RRRecords at some point in the past.

Recycled Music

Bathtub Shitter - XMAS

Apparently. it's the most wonderful time of the year. Who am I to argue with that?

3" CDr released on tUMULt in 2005.

XMAS

Bathtub Shitter - Angels Save Us

Maybe they will but, given that they don't exist, I have my doubts.

7" released on Necro Obscure Terror and Rusted Lock in 2002.

Angels Save Us

va - Helicopter, 2004

If I understand the situation correctly, there was some mastering error with the John Wiese/Dynasty Yellow Swans "Basement Ghost/Castle EVP" 7-inch. To rectify that, some copies (or maybe every copy?) of the 7" came with this Helicopter sampler CDR inside, which begins with the two sides of the single and then includes tracks from then-current Wiese-related Helicopter projects like Sissy Spacek, Wiese & Koh, Amps For Christ, Weise & Guilty Connector, Bastard Noise and LHD, plus one track from Wiese' "Soft Punk" LP.

va - Helicopter, 2004

Bastard Noise - Doomed Expedition

This time around it's Eric Wood and Bill Nelson.

The two wise men went in search of the salvation and only found the Mole People. The moral of the tale? Stay at home at all times, it's generally safer (if you hide the knives).

One single-sided 45rpm 12" and a "proper" LP released on Skull Records in 2016. Recorded live at No Fun Fest in 2009.

Doomed Expedition

Little Princess - Catch The Sputnik

More diminutive royal fire breathing ...

CDr released on Time Stereo in 2000.

Catch The Sputnik

Brutalomania / Bastard Noise - Un Deconstructo Corto, Feo Y Violento / Desperate Actions Against The Violence Upon And Systematic Murder Of Animals

Brutalomania is a side-project of Manuel M. Cubas (who you might also know as Mixturizer (he's very good by the way). This is followed by Eric Wood delivering some righteous indignation upon the arses of people who celebrate with fridges and freezers full of the corpses of formally sentient beings. Merry Fucking Christmas!

7" jointly released on Skull Records and R.O.N.F. Records in 2017.

Brutalomania / Bastard Noise

Little Princess - Wet Beginnings

As far as I know, the smaller dragonmom was by and large Davin Brainard on his own sweet lonesome. However, this also has Chad Gilchrist and (thee) Aaron Dilloway alongside for the ride. All aboard for gorgeous gorgeous noise noise!

CDr released on time STEREO in 2000.

Wet Beginnings

Amps For Christ / Bastard Noise - Split

More of a collaboration than a straightforward split with John Wiese appearing on two of the Amps tracks.

CD jointly released on Helicopter and Kill Frank Lentini in 2003.

Amps For Christ / Bastard Noise

Noise Camp - Noise Camp

Forty five minutes of harsh bursts, tape manipulation and child victimisation straight from the Michigan noise mines.

A single-sided C90 released on time Stereo in 1994.

Noise Camp

U.N.D. / Man Is The Bastard - Split

Again it's Eric Wood and Henry Barnes holding the Bastard reins but now joined by Jonte Ekman's stuttering Unseen Noise Death.

7" released on DP in 1992.

U.N.D. / Man Is The Bastard

Noise Camp - Super Noise Camp

I seem to believe that the "Noise Camp" was the base for the time STEREO / PDM noisemongers ... don't know exactly who is participating on this recording but it's in the same vein as the other recent posts.

CDr released on time STEREO probably in 1999.

Super Noise Camp

Pain Jerk / Bastard Noise - Imminent Economic Collapse

One track from each followed by a rather good collaboration between Kohei Gomi, Eric Wood and Henry Barnes (the main figure behind Amps For Christ).

7" released on the seminal Alternative Tentacles in 1999.

Imminent Economic Collapse

Princess Dragon-Mom - The Real Folk Blues

I don't have any more PDM to offer you so I may as well end at the beginning.

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

The Real Folk Blues

Rock 'n' Roll Jackie & Pain Jerk - Super Relaxed

The RnR in question is Jackie Stewart (a key member of Smegma who also recorded as Oblivia) collaborating with Kohei Gomi in a full-on plundered sound noise absurd-fest.

This is a CD released on Second Layer Records in 2010. Second Layer was a beautiful record shop, distro and occasional label based in London. I used to buy mail order from Pete a lot but only got to go to the shop once. Presumably eleven years ago, Sonic Youth were playing at the Camden Roundhouse doing a 20th anniversary Daydream Nation thing (although everything before that would have been better). I got tickets for the third (additional) night with support from Sutcliffe Jügend. That in itself would be a great thing apart from the fact that the people on the desk did not have a clue what to do with them and turned the sound of messrs Tomkins and Taylor into mud, but at least I got to see them I suppose. Anyway, whilst down there for the weekend I eventually found the shop and put about £250 over the counter ... everything from a signed 1st edition mint Nurse With Wound LP for £12 (Pete hadn't clocked the authenticity on that one) and £20 on a boxed Jackie-O Motherfucker tour tambourine (seriously). Anyway, thanks for asking.

Super Relaxed

Princess Dragonmom - Slow Poke

My favourite of the PDM releases that I've heard. Quality all of the way through.

CD released on Insignificant in 1995.

Slow Poke

Noiseuse - Ruin Of Legend

A short-lived project form Shinichi Shikada full of extremely effective harsh noise and block-leveling Industrial pounding. Very very good indeed! This is all that I have by him ... any help improving that situation would be greatly appreciated!

3" CDr released on Misanthrope Studio in 2006.

Ruin Of Legend

Princess Dragon-Mom - Fear Of Evil

"PDM's noise tribute to Blue Öyster Cult" but thankfully you can't really tell.

CDr released on time STEREO in 1999.

Fear Of Evil

z.B.u.ä. - Buuhndahmaging

"Original cassette was 'Unformal Sound Report #5', which was released at 5/Feb/'91 and contained 2 long pieces. Each parts were reformed concerning each themes." I have no idea what Unformal Sound Report was ...

There's also a triple tape split with Das Konzentrat that I have never even smelt if anybody can help out with that>

A C56 on no apparent label from 1991.

Buuhndahmaging

Princess Dragonmom - Patches

A prolonged nervous twitch that may induce formication in the right hands.

CDr released on time STEREO in 2001.

Patches

Moke Grotton - Thoughts Remain Gruesome

Deep-underground American noise by Moke Grotton, aka Mike Pratt from Philadelphia. Discogs lists two tracks on each side of this tape, but when I ripped it I didn't hear any pauses between tracks, so you get each side unbroken. Released by the Brazilian label No Lyrics in 2006. This artist seems to have only been active between 2005 and 2007, then I guess he put the contact mics away and got a real job.

Moke Grotton - Thoughts Remain Gruesome

Princess Dragon-Mom - Haunted Tube

"Princess Dragonmom's 8th annual Haunted Tube - Halloween Night, Detroit, 2003."

3" CDr released on time STEREO in 2004.

Haunted Tube

z.B.u.ä. - P V S S

More idea-switching brain twitching harsh Alpine air fresh from Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture.

C54 released on Anomalous Records in 1993.

P V S S

Princess Dragon-Mom - Inside Haunted Tube

From what I can deduce, Haunted Tube were annual Halloween gigs / noise-blowouts that ran in Detroit from 1996 until at least 2003. These are three PDM offerings from 1997-1999.

CDr released on time STEREO in 2000.

Inside Haunted Tube

ZBÜA - From 27/Jan/1957

Suzuki Shunya appeared in the Japanese noise scene during the early 90s as "an example of non-personality". He appears to have managed this quite successfully as very little was known about him at the time and nothing at all since. There's influence from the European industrialists with a touch of Schimpfluch about it but it all stands up in it's own right.

C52 released on Sounds For Consciousness Rape at some point in the early 1990s.

From 27/Jan/1957

I'm Sore / Princess Dragon Mom - Split

PDM were Warren Defever (who is in the brilliant His Name Is Alive) and Davin Brainard (with both of them running the time STEREO label) alongside Dion Fischer (who appeared in a number of time STEREO outfits as well as garage-blues punkers The Dirtbombs). I'm Sore was Ian Masters who seems to have been in the early incarnation of Leeds shoegazers Pale Saints ... and how you get from there to the Michigan Noise Illuminati is absolutely beyond me! And the tracks were recorded in Osaka ... now there's a man who couldn't wait to get out of Yorkshire. The two PDM tracks were recorded in Holland and Detroit with thanks to Koji Tano which answers a non-existent question.

CD released on Born Horse Productions in 2001.

I'm Sore / Princess Dragon Mom

Cracked Dome & IDX1274 - Split

Double CDR of American harsh noise by two obscure artists from Oregon, both of whom were active in the 00s but seem to have slowed down (or stopped?) several years ago. I think, though I'm not certain, that both Cracked Dome (aka Gene Symptoms) and IDX1274 were also members of The Sunken. Released in 2006 by Barfing Dagger Re-Recordings, a name which must have meant something to somebody at some point.

Cracked Dome & IDX1274 - Split

MSBR / Princess Dragon-Mom / Noise Work Shop - Rotterdam Noise Feyenoord

Noise Work Shop is literally that. When Koji Tano toured he would open up / participate in opportunities to experiment with the available electronics. This example is listed as Detroit in February 1999. time STEREO have uploaded a video of such a thing in Rotterdam in September of 1999. So, erm, yeah, whatever. And you get Princess Dragon-Mom who are an excellent trio who orbited within the time STEREO universe.

CDr released on MSBR Records in 2000.

Rotterdam Noise Feyenoord

rhBand - First Tone

Three 1997 concerts from California, presented as four tracks on a CD put out by Drunken Fish in 1998. Drunken Fish was a strange and fascinating label that put out experimental and psychedelic rock, drone and noise by legends like Bardo Pond, Roy Montgomery, Sferic Experiment, Starfuckers, Birchville Cat Motel, Children's Television Workshop... run by the former bassist of the hardcore band Verbal Assault, believe it or not!

rhBand - First Tone

bloggs - Music For Multiples

Joe Bloggs aka Ralph Haxton (one half of rhBand) aka Damon Cleckler (owner of the Gyttja label). Expect "strict tape manipulation, no effects processing".

CD released on Fresnl in 1999.

Music For Multiples

Ralph Haxton - Itai Itai

Enjoyable but extremely brief harsh noise scree. It was designed to play at 45rpm, but you get it here in 33rpm as well.

Single-sided 7" released on Gyttja in 1992.

Itai Itai

Ralph Haxton - Nathicana / Ernesticide

The first track is presumably taken from the HP Lovecraft poem. Quite fitting really given that if you play it forwards you can hear the devil calling. The reverse just makes me wonder what Ernest did to deserve it.

7" released on Gyttja in 1992.

Nathicana / Ernesticide

rhBand - 12.27.01

Vinyl LP from 2003, released by HP Cycle.

rhBand - 12.27.01

rhBand - (Take One)

Self-released CDR from 2000 documenting two live concerts. Glorious!

rhBand - (Take One)

rhBand - Third Order Parasitism

Well, I wasn't intending to ... but why not? This is the first full-length release and it's beautiful.

CD released on Drunken Fish Records in 1997.

Third Order Parasitism

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