Bleak Bliss: March 2020

The Plague Bells - Hyfrydols One

Ding. Dong.

A CDr released on American Tapes in 2004 ... it's AM349 btw.

Hyfrydols One

The Plague Bells - Hydrofils Two

John Olson only recorded twice under The Plague Bells name. Eventually it was bound to become prescient ... unless he knew something? No obviously not, it's just another completely singular and brilliant insight into his velvety interior

CDr released on American Tapes in 2004 ... it's AM 361 btw.

Hydrofils Two

Henry & Hazel Slaughter - Demo

Another demo? Yes, sort of ... it's the same as Demos A except for the first track that is 16 minutes of self-styled primitive techno that is well worth having on its own.

CDr released on American Tapes in 2011 ... it's AM903 btw.

Demo

Noise-Maker's Fifes - Legnica

Another archival recording, "Legnica" contained a live recording of the group from 1997. It was released in 2006 as a CDR in an elaborate aluminum foil package by the Polish label Impulsy Stetoskopyu.

Noise-Maker's Fifes - Legnica

Noise-Maker's Fifes - Cruelty Has A Human Heart & Marumares

Noise-Maker's Fifes were a Belgian multi-media group that existed from 1990 until 2006, when founding member Geert Feyton died. Three members of band continued as Onde, including Timo Van Luijk (aka Af Ursin) who also collaborates with Christoph Heemann (as In Camera), Andrew Chalk (as Elodie) and Raymond Dijkstra (with Asra). This CD collects two early NMT works. The first came out on cassette in 1994 and the second is an exclusive collage of material from 1993 and the soundtrack to a dance performance.

Noise-Maker's Fifes - Cruelty Has A Human Heart & Marumares

H & H Slaughter - Live Frying: Demos A

Sorry, given that I am utterly predictable, no prizes for guessing this was next.

It is still tour mersh on American Tapes but for the sake of variety it's 2011 this time around.

Demos A

H & H Slaughter - Live Frying: Demos B

... and back in the real world. Genius is what genius does.

It is still tour mersh on American Tapes from 2012.

Demos B

Spreading The Love ...

Let's face it people. These are pretty terrible times for all of us. We really need to reach out and think of those less fortunate than us ...

H & H Slaughter - Live Frying: Demos C

More crunchy disco biscuits ...

It is still tour mersh on American Tapes from 2012.

Demos C

H & H Slaughter - Live Frying: Demo = D

As I said previously, the Permanent Collection set partly comprised of the three Live Frying tour CDrs. The Live Frying Demo series are completely different collections of loveliness ...

It is still tour mersh on American Tapes but is from 2012.

Demo = D

Wolf Eyes & Hair Police - Live!!!

Rotten-sounding fake bootleg on a fake label called Purple Stuff in a fake edition of 42 copies (every copy was #26/42). I think these are audience recordings of the bands at Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville in 2005. The Wolf Guys' side features the legendary Anthony Braxton (who isn't credited anywhere here), and was released in much better quality as an actual CD later. Hair Police's side is, as far as I'm aware, exclusive.

Wolf Eyes & Hair Police - Live!!!

H & H Slaughter - Live Frying: Attaker

In my time, I've been to a lot of "weird" clubs ... but where were Henry and Hazel when I needed them?

American Tapes tour mersh from 2012.

Live Frying: Attaker

H & H Slaughter - Permanent Collection

Or Henry And Hazel Slaughter if you will, which turns out to be John Olson again. It's a collection of CDrs that appeared as volumes of AmTour Live Frying ... at least the first three are, I've not figured out what the fourth is yet. Anyway, all aboard for scree-driven noise-rock techno?

A four CDr set released on American Tapes in 2011 ... it's AM913 btw.

Permanent Collection

Sissy Spacek - Pow Pow

An early 7" by John Wiese' avant-grindcore collage unit, released in 2002 by Rhystop.

Sissy Spacek - Pow Pow

John Wiese & Jetstream Panic - Split

One of John Wiese' earliest appearances, a two-minute track on a one-sided split 7" released in 1999 in an edition of 100 copies. I probably don't need to tell you that a one-sided split 7" is the second dumbest format in the world. The first dumbest is, of course, the compilation biz-card CDR. I've no idea who Jetstream Panic was and I have no pressing need to find out.

John Wiese & Jetstream Panic - Split

Evening Spyked - Upheaval

Miles Haney who recorded as Evenings and John Olson who recorded as Spykes. Oh, you already know that. You should have said. It would have saved me a bit of time. Crack on then.

C60 released on Tapeworm Tapes in 2006.

Upheaval

The Dead Machines - Every Minute Of Every Hour

Maybe it's because I had been trying to hear this for over a decade that I really like every note of this. Maybe it's because it is just brilliant from the start to the end. Make your own mind up.

A six CDr set released on American Tapes in 2007 ... it's AM651 btw.

Every Minute

Every Hour

Dead Machines & The Cherry Point - Untitled

A great collaboration between Tovah, John and Phil Blankenship ... as good as the names would suggest.

C30 released on the great and missed Enterruption label in 2008.

Dead Machines & The Cherry Point

The Residents - Live at the Snakey Wake

Download-only album from the band's moribund RSD (Robot Selling Device) label: "...Snakefinger died July 1st, 1987, while on tour. In August, The Residents as well as other San Francisco friends joined in a celebration of his life and music called The Snakey Wake. The group had not performed live without Snakefinger as a musical companion since 1983. The only way they saw to do so was to perform with the computer. They quickly developed a stylized sound to use for the short performance which is featured here. They felt uncertain about the performance enough that they have previously only released a studio version of that night. This is a recording of the actual live event. It is their first use of a computer for music and opened the door for CUBE E live and a world of recordings. It launched their new career with RYKO and the release of God in 3 Persons in 1988. In many ways this recording is the dividing line between the old Residents and the new Residents. This event forced the group to rethink their direction and plans. Joining the tribute at the end of The Residents section was a brief appearance by The Mysterious N. Senada, also included in this recording."

The Residents - Live at the Snakey Wake

Tovah D-Day / Invasion Status - Soundtrack For An Actual Size Gachnar

I don't know what any size of Gachnar is. Anyway. Both parts of Dead Machines separated by a cassette. Tovah just levels the block whilst John has a pleasant skronky wander to avoid the collateral damage.

C60 released on American Tapes in 2008 ... it's AM760 btw.

An Actual Size Gachnar?

Uncreated - Live At The Human Trials Meeting, South Branch

... and this is great as well.

C30 released on Gods Of Tundra in 2009.

Live At The Human Trials

Uncreated - Giants Of Circumstance

I've been listening to this so much recently. At the risk of contradicting myself tomorrow, I think that I might have found my favourite of John Olson's work (that I have heard ... and that covers a lot of ground). It's genuinely awesome.

C60 released on American Tapes in 2010 ... it's AM885 btw.

Giants Of Circumstance

John Wiese & Failing Lights - Southern Swamp

Lathe cut 7" released by Helicopter in an edition of 30 copies back in 2007. If you like this (and you will), support the artist by buying something from John Wiese's Bandcamp page.. or perhaps this one... or even this one here!

John Wiese & Failing Lights - Southern Swamp

Uncreated - Characteristic Caramel Interiors

Uncreated was another pseudonym used by John Olson and as far as I know he only released three under that name. If I had to finally make my mind up, Uncreated would sit very high in the Olson pantheon. There is a fascinating Schimpfluch Onsen Geisha thing going on that fascinates me ... well that's what happens inside my brain.

A four CDr set released on American Tapes in 2010 as part of the AM Upset Prisoners splinter group ... it's F btw.

Caramel Interiors

Sad Policemen - Uninvolved, And We Are The...

A mammoth exploration of John Olson's imagination ... choose your own descriptors.

C94 released on American Tapes in 2009 ... it's AM834 btw.

And We Are The ...

The Residents - ERA B4-74

Download-only compilation of pre-Residents goof. A lot of this (maybe all of it?) has since been polished up and released on physical media, but completists may want it anyway.

The Residents - ERA B4-74

Frozen Alive Men - Untitled

The idea of a subunderground supergroup is surely the definition of a contradiction in terms. However. The first tape is Mike Connelly, John Olson, Dan Dlugosielski and Sam Hooker and how do you improve on that idea? Well ... on the second tape Mike, John and Dan are joined by Andrew Coltrane, Nate Young and Heath Moerland.

C80 and C50 set released courtesy of Michigan Underground Group in 2012.

Frozen Alive Men

The Basket Case - Word To The Reacher Vol 1

More inspirational compositions that remind me that life is full of creativity and warmth.

A CDr released on American Tapes in 2011 ... it's AM893 obviously.

Word To The Reacher Vol 1

Whilst you're here, the lovely human who runs a blog that has been linked here since forever has just dropped a link for a soundboard recording of a 1993 Psychic TV gig in Eugene (naturally) into the comments of the Genesis post. I'm listening to it now and it's great ... go and get it whilst it's there!

The Residents - 1997 - The Missing Year (Scattered Unfinished Music Sketches)

Another mop-up of music for "Disfigured Night", which never got an official studio recording.

The Residents - 1997 - The Missing Year (Scattered Unfinished Music Sketches)

The Basket Case - Word To The Reacher Vol 2

I bought this during those (retrospectively) fondly remembered innocent times. I never thought for one second that the gold standard would be replaced by toilet rolls ... and that was my mistake. However, I still have four rolls left! So I reckon that if I don't wipe my arse for a while I'll be a Duchess by the end of the month. Frankly, it's not before time!

It's a CDr released on American Tapes in 2011 ... it's AM894 btw.

#prayforbadger

Abe Sada - Original Body Kingdom

First and only document of a postal collaboration by Merzbow and Timm Williams (aka S.M.U.T., Pee 69 Deflower, Rougeux). Released as a 7" on Stomach Ache in 1994.

Abe Sada - Original Body Kingdom

Failing Lights & Basket Case - A Vanishing Breed

Mike Connelly's crunching electronics partnering up with Basket Case (aka John Olson, Geoff Walker and Lisa Colwell).

CDr released on Gods Of Tundra and only available on the Wolf Eyes European tour in 2006.

A Vanishing Breed

Failing Lights & Religious Knives - In The Cove

Monstrous and gorgeous.

C20 released on Gods Of Tundra in 2006.

In The Cove

The Residents - 1997 - The Missing Year (Adobe Disfigured Night)

The Residents had no major album between 1994 (Gingerbread Man) and 1998 (Wormwood). The interceding years were spent on stillborn CD-Rom projects (like I Murdered Mommy), commissioned soundtracks, and "Disfigured Night", a performance piece that they did a handful of times, including once at the headquarters of the Adobe company. Released as a download-only album by RSD (Robot Selling Device) in 2009 and taken down in 2012.

The Residents - 1997 - The Missing Year (Adobe Disfigured Night)

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge

I'd not been awake long this morning before I found out that the former Mancunian and citizen of nowhere had shuffled off h/er mortal coil and transcended. A person who throughout at least 30 years of my life has filled me with fascination and indifference, confusion and clarity and joy and fear. Sometimes at the same time.

A unique human and the world seems a bit smaller without h/er in it.

Throbbing Gristle - The Second Annual Report

Throbbing Gristle had terminated their mission just before my time so I never had a chance to see them live. I was left to buy the Mute vinyls and then wonder what the fuck they were doing inside my head ... sometimes pleasure takes some perseverance.

I totally recommend the Wreckers Of Civilisation book ... it's a great thing that is now more accessible given that there was a recent-ish second edition. When I bought the original book, I went to the counter and a matronly lady scanned it in, looked at the display and very loudly said "OOHH!! Throbbing Gristle". As is well known in Catholic circles, you can't take the boy out of the man and all I could think of was Kenneth Williams ... Carry On Throbbing indeed. It still cheers me up.

This is the double CD remastered reissue from Industrial Records in 2011.

The Second Annual Report

Psychic TV - Force The Hand Of Chance

The first time that I saw PTV was at Manchester Polytechnic (as was). These were the pharmacology years so somewhere around 1988/9 feels about right. Just as the Microdots started to peak, they came onto the stage and about 10 of the audience took off their clothes, clambered on stage and danced around for the entire gig. Presumably they were the amateur wing of the TOPY sex magicians (they really exist). All of the blokes had a Prince Albert obviously which doesn't make it any better when it's waving in your face (admittedly a personal perspective). Anyway. It was a complete sensory overload and I stood right in front of the stage transfixed with an entirely probable what the fuck is going on facial expression. For what still seems like forever, Genesis stared right at me with a look of disgust and screamed the lyrics into my face. Emotionally, I still have all of it but the memories of the gig hit like a rapid series of static frozen moments. It was exhilarating and horrific. When I saw them after that I took less acid beforehand.

This is the Japanese double CD reissue that includes the bonus 12" that came with initial copies of the 1982 vinyl release.

Part 1

Part 2

Zodiac Mountain - Live In America, Summer 2006

A series of live recordings from different places that at points are collaborations with either / or Nate Nelson (who you have met recently if you have been paying attention), Robert Beatty (who also recorded as The Three Legged Race) and Maya Miller (yes, her).

A very small edition (and completely undervalued) CDr released on 23 Productions in 2007.

I thought that I had bought their "Butte Des Morte" on Skulls Of Heaven but for the life of me I can't find it in my haystack ... any help on that would be nice.

Live In America

Zodiac Mountain - Lake Winnebago (Demos)

The music we will be forced to make when the people currently panic buying toilet paper become a self-fulfilling prophecy and society dissolves.

CDr released on 23 Productions in 2007.

Lake Winnebago

Zodiac Mountain & Religious Knives - Split

On this release, Zodiac Mountain is Clay Ruby (Burial Hex, member of Davenport etc) and Wooden Wand (aka James Jackson Toth). Imagine if the Velvets and Spacemen 3 took loads of drugs (erm, OK that doesn't quite work ... right then, even more drugs) and jammed together before gouching. Yeah, it's kind of as good as that although for legal reasons I am sure that no pharmaceuticals were harmed in the making of the track. Religious Knives are ineffable.

CDr released on Heavy Tapes in 2006.

I Know You Rider / The Train

The Residents - Santa Dog '92

The Residents periodically re-record their first song, "Santa Dog", radically changing it each time. This version from 1992 was a CD sent to members of the Uncle Willie's Eyeball Buddies fan club.

The Residents - Santa Dog '92

Religious Knives - RK1

A twenty minute hallucination from outer space.

CDr released on Heavy Conversation in 2005.

RK1

The Residents - CUBE-E Dynasone 3EZ

Another limited-availability download-only album from the Residents' RSD (Robot Selling Device), described by the band thusly: "Undeniably one of The Residents optimal work was CUBE E, but as can happen when a project covers so many different media types and recordings, there has never been the recording - the album - that brings the project into a whole. Some time ago I had run into a recording experiment where the group had compiled an album that represented the various aspects of this very sophisticated and complex project. Unfortunately not only was the album never released, but the CDR they had burned of the project had become corrupted during storage and was not playable as it stood. One thing that set this experiment apart was the fact that they had tested a new piece of software (new in 2000, no longer made) called Dynasone. Dynasone was a mastering program that used complex digital calculations to enhance and restore recordings. I had long written off the collection of recordings as worthless. Until last week. I ran into a disk of working files used in the creation of the damaged CD. The disc was marked "Dynasone 3EZ" so I checked it and found pristine mixes from the work. Not all the recordings were there, so it was a bit of a disappointment, but I have attempted to restore the missing pieces. The recordings draw on all aspect of the CUBE E era. However it is more than a compilation, it has an astounding sound that should be heard on headphones or in surround. CUBE E project started in 1989."

The Residents - CUBE-E Dynasone 3EZ

Religious Knives - RK2 - Dog Tongue Suite

Perhaps a more abrasive and confrontational approach (which isn't in anyway a bad thing) that is still drenched in psychedelics (which in almost every way is a good thing).

CDr released on Heavy Conversation in 2005. Yeah, that's not the cover but I would definitely go to church if that reflected a current state of mass hypnosis rather than the present versions ... but only to clean the litter tray you understand.

our feline who art in heaven

The Residents - Mole Suite

According to a Resident: "Just one of those oddities. Mole Suite, named by me because I don't know what else to call it... Age unknown, but probably late Eighties, early Nineties." Released online by the band, taken down in 2012.

The Residents - Mole Suite

Religious Knives - RK3

The sound your brain makes when you are not paying attention and it has it's own party.

A double C20 set released on Heavy Tapes in 2005.

RK3

The Residents - Oh Mummy Oh Daddy Can't You See That It's True, What the Beatles Did To Me I Love Lucy Did to You

From 2009 until 2012, The Residents ran a website/label that sold download-only albums and EPs of otherwise unreleased bits and bobs that hadn't yet been collected onto any physical-media albums. The RSD (Robot Selling Device) ended up offering a total of 44 titles. If they did it today, it'd be ideal for Bandcamp. Unfortunately, they took all the material down in 2012 and it remains (ahem) not available. That's a shame, because it's pretty good stuff, and a lot of it is historically significant. For example, this full recording of an early Residents performance: "Oh Mummy! Oh Daddy! Can't You See That It's True, What The Beatles Did To Me I Love Lucy Did To You" was a special show put on for the 5th anniversary of Rather Ripped Records on June 7th, 1976. The Residents were joined by Snakefinger, Arf and Omega, Peggy Honeydew, Zeibak and others in this live performance at the Longbranch Saloon in Berkeley California. The Residents appeared as mummies and Snakefinger dressed as a giant chicken".

The Residents - Oh Mummy Oh Daddy....

Religious Knives - RK4

Q: Would you like motorik sunburned hands?

A: Yes please!

CDr released on Heavy Tapes in 2006.

RK4

GOD - Leif Sundstrom

A clever idea for intentional confusion, maybe? The title of the album is the name of one of the band's members. Released as a CDR by Collective Jyrk in 2005.

GOD - Leif Sundstrom

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