Bleak Bliss: July 2020

John Wiese & MSBR - Tacks

Split mini-CDr, released by Gameboy.

John Wiese & MSBR - Tacks

Hair Stylistics - First

Don't know about you but I'm not worthy.

A CD released in Japan on the great Black Smoker Records in 2011 in a comparatively extravagant edition of three hundred.

Foremost

Jack or Jive - Prayer

The first proper album after a self-released cassette by Japanese goth-ambient duo Jack or Jive. Released as a CD by Dradomel in 1991.

Jack or Jive - Prayer

EP-4 - Lingua Franca-X

... and then, just because they can, they sprinkle a load of Sugar Hill all over the place.

12" released on Atelier Peyotl in 1084.

x marks the spot

Jack or Jive - Mujyo

Released as a CD by Dradomel in 1992, more floaty gothy ambient lullaby music from Japan.

Jack or Jive - Mujyo

EP-4 were Kaoru Sato, Ko Sakuma, Tatsuo Kohki, Tohru Sanjo, Yuji Kawashima and Yung Tsubotaj.

They were briefly creating magic between 1983 and 1985 and apparently decided that changing the face of music wasn't interesting enough and they had better things to do. There was a brief reunion about ten years ago ... but really there should be statues of these people everywhere.

This is such an awesome recording and is vaguely indescribable. Post-punk low slung PIL, The Pop Group, Talking Heads when they were actually good, LA Barrio funk, A Certain Ratio and shit that won't be invented for another 30 years all brought together? Erm. Yes.

This was released originally on as an LP in Japan on Telegraph and Skating Pears in 1985. If ANYBODY out there is sitting on some Skating Pears releases then please please please etc etc etc.

This is the incredibly welcome CD reissue courtesy of Super Fuji Discs from 2010.

Multilevel Holarchy

Jack or Jive - Kagura Live In Kyoto

Live recording of Cocteau-Twins-influenced ethereal ambience, released by Dragnet Records in 1994.

Jack or Jive - Kagura Live In Kyoto

Jack or Jive - Expatriation

Self-published debut cassette by the ambient Japanese noise-pop duo. Never reissued, to my knowledge.

Jack or Jive - Expatriation

Hair Stylistics - The Dangerous Barbarian

So, in the final installment of today's "I hope your weekend works out to be not as bad as you were expecting" ... here is some more stone cold idiosyncratic genius.

Another CDr released on Boid in 2010.

The Dangerous Barbarian

Wolf Eyes / Spykes - Cack Morology One

So in answer to the unasked question "I wonder if there was a Cack Morology One?".

The Wolf Eyes side is fucked up genius and I have been in such altered states where this would qualify as dance music ... but that just tells you things about me that you are not in the least bit interested in. Then you get 30 minutes of Spykes ... erm, you decide.

Sixty minutes of "Wolf Eyes self-released" tape from 2019 ... and there were still only 18 of these as well.

Cack Morology

Hair Stylistics - The Beautiful Sensation

... and this starts off with Masaya Nakahara chopping and looping the parts of Sweet Leaf that even my cats know off by heart ... and then gets better.

CDr released on Boid in 2010.

The Beautiful Sensation

Wolf Eyes - Cack Morology Two

There seems to be a "post-AmTapes" line of communication that I am not fully plugged into yet ... this tastes of John Olson working his mojo and possibly using some Wolf Eyes material as a base. I can't be sure but I am sure that this is brilliant.

A "Wolf Eyes self-released" C60 from 2019 that peeked out in an edition of 18 (yes, eighteen).

Cack Morology

Jack or Jive - (Dura)² Du

We may lose some readers here, but who cares. Jack or Jive were sort of in their own non-scene, not quite "noise" enough or "pop" enough, but they straddled that line sometimes. They also had a certain witchypoo "ethereal" shoegazer post-Cocteau Twins/Projekt Records quality that either is something you crave or is an instant turn-off. They did a neat collaboration with Christoph Heemann once, called Seclusion, but otherwise they seem to have kept to themselves.

Jack or Jive - (Dura)² Du

Choi Joonyong, Joe Foster, & Hong Chulki - 4387 Sec.

Busted electronics, open circuits, turntables, wrecked CDs and players from his trio of South Korea's finest. Recorded in 2004, released as a CDR on Balloon & Needle in 2005.

Choi Joonyong, Joe Foster, & Hong Chulki - 4387 Sec.

Rorschach - Autopsy

And in a word from our sponsors ... work has got in the way of important stuff recently so with some breathing room I was planning to plan stuff and then I was playing the Remains Sedate LP and thought "Oh Hello!" (works better in a Kenneth Williams voice to be honest).

So here is this ... a compilation that brings together the first two albums and a crop of single releases that includes a King Crimson cover that would sit snugly in between Electric Funeral and Hand Of Doom fifty years ago and a stunning cover of Black Flag's "My War".

It is way way way beyond genius but to be honest that is exactly what you would expect from one of the most important nameyourowncore bands that has graced our presence.

A CD released on Gern Blandsten in 1995 (a label that was run by Charles Maggio who is the person throwing his lungs at you on this very release).

it's in flac. if you have a problem with that then tell your therapist because i genuinely don't give a shit if it doesn't work out for you on a personal level

Choi Joonyong - White Disc Ver.2

There is nothing (necessarily) wrong with your CD player. Broken discs and players skipping and clipping, sounding like a series of potentially-damaging technical mistakes. Released as a CDR by Balloon & Needle in 2006.

Choi Joonyong - White Disc Ver.2

Choi Joonyong - I Am Scratching a CD in a Room

Along with Hong Chulki, Choi Joonyong was a member of Astronoise and Puredigitalsilence and is one of the founders of the Balloon & Needle label. He specializes in misused technology, like feedback run through mp3 players and broken CDs and CD players. This uncomfortable 2010 mini-album is made from skipping and broken CDs. It was released by a no-longer-active Spanish label called Reduktive.

Choi Joonyong - I Am Scratching a CD in a Room

Jessica Rylan / Can't - Terror Tapes 10

So ... there are many many things that me and Mrs Inside agree on.

There are four pertinent elements here: Jessica Rylan; Can't; David Payne; David Payne's beautifully prosyletising Middle James Co label extravaganza.

Personally, it was "why thank you Mr Payne, i will buy all of your wares today". Sometimes you are just lucky enough to be paying attention at the right time.

Buy anything on MJC. Then rip it. Then post it.

This is a C60 from 2006 and there were 27 copies. Here's a rip of one of those copies.

Terror Tapes 10

Jin Sangtae - Extensity of Hard Disk Drive

Weird thumps, shrieking feedback, roiling noise explosions and awkward tones somehow all coerced from wrecked and damaged hard drives by Jin Sangtae. Not an easy album, but a great one. Released as a CD in 2008 by Balloon & Needle. Warning: you might not want to listen to this one on headphones.

Jin Sangtae - Extensity of Hard Disk Drive

Jessica Rylan - Private Time

"One thing I really like about going to visit my grandmother Marilyn is the way she hums to herself, especially in the morning. Sometimes she listens to records and hums along, other times she just sings her own tune. Last year I saw a video Lydia Eccles made where she was playing the piano and humming under her breath, kind of like Glenn Gould. It was extremely personal, and it had a really powerful effect on me. The Private Time cassette is 30 minutes long, and it focuses on that kind of personal singing: no words and no set melodies. I recorded all the songs either when I was by myself or late at night when everyone else was sleeping."

C30 released on IRFP in 2004.

Private Time

Can't - Private Time (Part 2)

Unrestrained genius of the finest kind ...

LP released on Weird Forest Records in 2008.

Private Time (Part 2)

Jin Sangtae - Incomplete Spin

Rough and uncomfortable noise eruptions on one side, unstable percussive atmosphere on the flip, all sound generated by "dismembered or cracked hard drives". Released in 2010 as a cassette by Senufo Editions.

Jin Sangtae - Incomplete Spin

Dirty Dynamite Gang - Roach=Animal

Now you know that C. Spencer Yeh and John Olson have really made it when they get to spend fifteen minutes with Jessica Rylan.

Single-sided LP released on American Tapes in 2005.

... it's AM435 btw.

Roach=Animal

Jessica Rylan - Juliette Who Broke My Heart / Long Term Relationships

I spent ages trying to split the tracks and eventually decided it was pointless and it all sits together much better as two single tracks.

C48 released on IRFP in 2004.

Broken Hearted Relationships

Jessica Rylan & 2673 - Split

Split CDR from Jessica Rylan and 2673/Kevin Winter, released by Kitty Play in 2005.

Jessica Rylan & 2673 - Split

Generic - Primordial Soleus Beam

Dark-ambient drift by Adam Sykes, released as a CDR in 2008 on his Iris Light label.

Generic - Primordial Soleus Beam

Jessica Rylan - Goya Version 2

This feels as though Jessica has built herself a whole new set of circuits and wants to run it through all of its paces and see what it can do. I don't know if that's true but if it is then I have no idea what she thought about it (which is true) but it makes me smile my head in half.

C64 released on IRFP in an edition of 37 copies in 2003.

Goya Version 2

Jessica Rylan/Can't - Puerto Rican Boom Car

This might be Jessica Rylan's first album, though I'm not sure. Self-released CDR from 2001.

Jessica Rylan/Can't - Puerto Rican Boom Car

Can't - Vs. the World

Another early self-released CD by Jessica Rylan, from 2003.

Can't - Vs. the World

va - Ecstatic Peace! Sweet Release #2

Disc that came with an issue of Thurston Moore's art/poetry zine, with music by Awesome Color, Tall Firs, Black Helicopter, Be Your Own Pet, Mirror/Dash, MV + EE and more.

va - Ecstatic Peace! Sweet Release #2

Greh & Dom - Ramblings In the Abyss

Totally pointless waste of everybody's time. This is a ridiculous tape of Greh/Hive Mind and Dom/Prurient leaving voicemails on Phil Blankenship/The Cherry Point's answering machine. Why does it exist? Why am I bothering to share it with you? Why would you want to download it now?

Greh & Dom - Ramblings In the Abyss

Jessica Rylan - Long Slow Changes

I think it's is very safe to say that we both love Jessica's work ... people are pushing on an open door!

C20 released on Fargone Records and Icefactory in 2005.

Long Slow Changes

Anhrefn - Defaid, Skateboards A Wellies

Another band that sang in Welsh which was a bit convenient given that they are from Wales. Smart political punkers with an ear for a tune. Listening back thirty+ years later, there is the occasional track that has a bit of that Banshees' guitar shimmer that nails it in time for me. I just hope there a bunch of these young fuckers that I keep being told about still out there making proper council house music.

Either a 12" or a short LP released on the very excellent Workers Playtime in 1987.

Baahh!

Can't - Prepares to Fail Again

... there she is, sticking her head inside a electric oven. Grim humor for these grim times. Can't was Jessica Rylan, and this was one of her earliest self-released CDs.

Can't - Prepares to Fail Again

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - 20 (Singles & EP's '94-'96)

... which led me naturally to this.

Gorky's were a band from Wales that predominantly sang in Welsh but occasionally threw in the odd line of English and were another favourite of The Saintly John Peel. Maybe less obviously "subversive" than Datblygu but I get a big load of Ivor Cutler and Vivian Stanshall in temperament and The Flaming Lips (in full-on "Mom, I Gave The Cat Some Acid" mode ... and yeah, that's Happy Flowers but you'll no doubt have no idea what I am talking about anyway so who cares) and the sly sophistication of The Divine Comedy / The Duckworth Lewis Method. I think that it is extremely enjoyable and needs to be heard by people who haven't heard it before ... if you've been here for a while you'll already know that I couldn't be arsed whether you like it or not but try it ... you never know! No refunds available however.

CD released on Castle Music and Sanctuary Records in 2003.

Cheeky Mynci

Datblygu - The Peel Sessions 1987 - 1993

Many years ago, The Saintly John Peel raved about Datblygu every time they released something and that is where they introduced themselves to me. Quite randomly, I went back to listen to what I have and remembered just quite how brilliant they are. Classic dour and spirited UK post-punk. If you struggled to come to terms with the accents with The Fall and Sleaford Mods then it's worth saying that they are from Wales and sing in Welsh ... just dive in, it's proper good.

CD released on Ankst in 2008.

Peel Sessions

va - Guitarrorists

Neat 1991 compilation of short instrumental solo guitar tunes, mainly by folks who play in noisy rock bands. Includes Nikki Sudden, Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore, J. Mascis, Wayne Rogers, Steve Albini (who has the best title for his track: "Nutty About Lemurs"), Neil Hagarty, Kim Gordon, Wayne Coyne, Kat Bjelland, Helios Creed, Sonic Boom, Dean Wareham, Paul Leary, Tom Hazelmeyer and lots more.

va - Guitarrorists

Violent Onsen Geisha - Nation Of Rhythm Slaves

This is just classic bouncy and unhinged VOG ... I'm sure there is a bit of Consolidated in the first track, Japanese covers of Canned Heat interfered with, twisted easy-listening salaryman karaoke and other such senses of false security and then you hit the middle section. From there it's all "oh shit, here we go!". Just for good measure there are a range of other people contributing to the majesty such as Masami Akita, Kazuto Shimizu, Masuko Shinji and Naruyoshi Kikuchi.

This is a CD released in Japan on Rail Recordings in 1996.

There is somebody (anonymous of course) who keeps abusing me for posting things in flac. So by way of apology, here it is ...

... in flac.

Slave To The Rhythm

va - Nothing Short of Total War

The CD version of a 1989 Blast First compilation, notable for containing a Sonic Youth song with the impressive title "Come and Smash Me Said the Boy With the Magic Penis and also a song by Sonic Youth alter ego Ciccone Youth and one by Lee Ranaldo solo. Also has exclusive scorchers by Butthole Surfers (from back when they were good), Big Stick, Dinosaur Jr., Arsenal, Ut, Big Black, Head of David and Rapeman. Just to be dicks, the label decided to release this CD as all one track, which is both intentionally annoying and kinda of funny.

va - Nothing Short of Total War

Incapacitants - Ministry Of Foolishness

LLLord RRRon of LLLowell is a genius and largely responsible for giving me access to all corners of noise form all around the place (but especially Japan) for very cheap prices. A lot produced the reaction akin to "what the shit?" until I started to begin to understand the language. He's just lucky we are separated by the Atlantic Ocean because I'd hug him on a daily basis with or without permission.

This was my introduction to Fumio Kosakai and Toshiji Mikawa, so if that alone is not worthy of regular low-level molestation than I have no idea what is!

Same as yesterday, it's on Pure from 1995 and it's a big fat flac so is in two parts so combine and so on and so forth.

Foolishness

Silly Walks

Milk Cult - Burn or Bury

Third album by Milk Cult, this time the weirdos land on a major label Virgin Records. Includes contributions from such beloved unit shifters as Mike Patton, Mark Davies (Thinking Fellers Union Local 282), Masaya Nakahara (aka Violent Onsen Geisha/Hair Stylistics), Matt Heckert (Survival Research Labs), Carla Bozulich (Ethyl Meatplow) and more.

Milk Cult - Burn or Bury

Violent Onsen Geisha - The Midnight Gambler

It starts. It stops. There's part of a loungecore version of Foxy Lady. Some things get smashed up. That's just the first two or three minutes.

Flac rip of a CD released on RRRon's Pure imprint in 1996. It comes in just over 500MB so you'll have to extract both parts to the same folder etc.

Midnight

Gambler

Milk Cult - Project M-13

Fourth and final album by Milk Cult, released on the band's own label in 2000.

Milk Cult - Project M-13

Milk Cult - Bruse Lee Marvin Gaye

I don't know what is going on with the world these days! You coax the odd reptilian follower out from under the rocks and then they expect us to leave them to do the heavy lifting?

I blame stuff ... not quite thought of the appropriate thing, it might be education or blood temperature. Hmm, I've really not figured this bit out yet ...

"Album recorded by Steelpole Bathtub side project, Milk Cult, during their visit to Japan in February, 1994. Japanese collaborators include Hidekazu Miyahara (Surfers of Romantica), Yoshimura (Bloodthirsty Butchers), Masaya Nakahara (Violent Onsen Geisha), Suzuki (Korean Buddhist God), et al., in a recording of unrepeatable power."

A ridiculously slinky and cool CD released on ZK Records in 1994.

Let's Get It Off

Milk Cult - Love God

Debut album by the more experimental and electronic side project of Steel Pole Bath Tub, first released as a tape in 1992, then reissued on CD in 1993 by Boner. Recorded as the soundtrack to a film of the same name.

Milk Cult - Love God

Mike Kelley, Paul McCarthy & Violent Onsen Geisha - Sod And Sodie Sock / Studio C

HHHMMM ... where to start? Well, there's Mike Kelley who was part of the brilliant post-Velvet shamblefest that was Destroy All Monsters. Then you get Paul McCarthy who is as revolutionary and revelatory an artist as you can imagine ... and then you get Masaya Nakahara.

Seriously, just make your own shit up!

Double CD released on Mike Kelley's Compound Annex Records in 1998.

Sod Studio

Blood Stereo - I Was Tucked Up Eyeless Inside A Fish

For so long, Dylan Nyoukis and Karen Constance have stood as a beacon of hope above the UK shitscape ... and that is always a source of comfort to me.

CDr released on the conspicuously delicious Chocolate Monk in 2012

art for flux's sake

Enos Slaughter - On The Shore Of Jupiter

Double Dubz left news in the last post and I've felt it hard. Marc Orleans was a key person within the Sunburned Hand Of The Man universe and he isn't here any more. I've spent the past couple of days just listening back to some of his work. As a Sunburned fanatic, I own most of their releases and more or less everything else Marc played on. If you are not too familiar then take the hint below and listen to some of his work with them ...

From the Sunburned facebook page: "Wild Animal [is] a great example of Marc Orleans's amazing guitar playing. This was meant to be an LP but nobody remembers what happened. Marc foamed at the mouth to play, he WAS music. Our bandcamp page has just been rearranged and the top 13 releases all have Marc on them and they'll all be free (as they were, except for 2 titles) to check out or download for the rest of time... There may be more with Marc on them up there but memory is dull at the moment. Please enjoy and remember Marc. He is loved by us all."

This has Marc on guitar alongside David Shuford (aka D. Charles Speer and a member of No-Neck Blues Band and Egypt Is The Magick # amongst others) and Carter Thornton (whose collaboration with Kiyoharu Kuwayama & Rina Kijima and a bit of his work with Zashiki-Warashi I posted a long time ago).

Long-form smokey psychedelic jams on a CDr released on Sound@One in 2005 and bought by me then.

On The Shore Of Jupiter

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