Bleak Bliss: August 2020

Forced Orgasm - As Per Agreement (1993. 1995. 1999. 2008.)

This isn't listed on Discogs and the only reference to it that I have found is on the Forced Orgasm blog page. Anyway, this is a four disc set with four live recordings from the years suggested.

I've expressed my doubts about the veracity of the publicised background of FO ... I think it's a smirk aimed at the fetishisation of Japanese noise. If this isn't the work of Sean's husband then you can insert your own fallacy here.

As Per Agreement

Sean E. Matzus - BLJ Road Sources, Vol. 3

Source material for Black Leather Jesus live shows one would assume. I was asked for all three volumes but sorry I only have this one. However, 71 minutes of ferocious roaring lullabies is quite a consolation prize.

CDr released on his own Unlimited Drift Recordings in 2014.

An Untreated Document Of Raw Recordings

Rodger Stella - SF Versions

So to turn nearly full circle, a "collection of recordings made in San Francisco in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Deep, dark and bizarre analog excursions into the depths of an unhinged psyche with a fixation on experimental recording and mixing techniques."

C64 released on Mutter Wild in 2016.

SF Versions

Aaron Dilloway & Rodger Stella - Variations On Death Loop Cut

In the spirit of self-explanatory titles ...

3" CDr released on Hanson Records in 2006.

Variety Is The Spice Of Death Loops

Rodger Stella - Death Loop Cut

... and because it would be rude not to ... this is the earlier seven track version.

CDr released on Mother Savage Noise Productions in 2007 in an edition of twelve.

Death Loop Cut

Rodger Stella - Death Loop Cut

Two tracks of warped noise that manages to sound like somebody set fire to an orchestra whilst they were playing and they just haven't noticed yet. A reissue of a micro-edition CDr from 2007.

C72 released on Mother Savage Noise Productions in 2016.

Death Loop Cut

Puce Mary / Rodger Stella - NYC

That they have only collaborated twice is a real shame ... they compliment one another beautifully.

C50 released on Mutter Wild in 2016.

NYC

Puce Mary / Rodger Stella - PM/RS

"This tape was released while Puce Mary and Rodger Stella were on tour together. The tape consists of 2 tracks, one on each side, that Puce Mary wrote and produced and Rodger Stella manipulated on his own after."

That was the version that was pushed out to cover a small space on a mersh table. Apparently it was a very very small table because they only bothered to produce nine copies. Luckily, Rodger reissued it on his own label a short time later

C20 released on Mutter Wild in 2015. Frederikke Hoffmeier and Rodger Stella occupying a space that you can describe for yourself.

PM/RS

Rodger Stella - Zodiac SF

Damn fine rolling noise drones with a beat? Excellent gear from the former Macronymphomaniac.

C62 released on Mutter Wild in 2014.

Zodiac SF

Priest In Shit - Our Population In Ruins

In their time, Priest In Shit involved many legendary figures within Houston harsh noise circles but the core is attributed as Sean Matzus, Richard Ramirez and Tanner Garza. I really don't know who constitutes this incarnation but it is a cracking combination of tantalising drone interspersed with spurts of harsh noise thuggery jumping out of the bushes to pummel your head in.

C50 released on Cipher Productions in 2008.

Our Population In Ruins

Merzbow - Cretin Merz

This is from the other end of the Slowdown spectrum. The original tape material is from 1980 when Merzbow were Masami Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani. It was remastered (and reworked?) by the former in 2017. The cover gives you a clue to the source material that is chopped up and rinsed out ... but I swear that I hear the twin guitars of Sonic Youth in there. Mind you Masami Akita is more than capable of creating aural miracles, so who knows?

CD released on スローダウンRECORDS in 2018.

Cretin Merz

Merzbow - Kaoscitron

Masami Akita appears to have developed a somewhat beautiful relationship with Slowdown Records. In the past three years he has released lots of work ranging from remastered early (and impossible to find) tape material to new recordings. This is the latter ... it's fucked up club gloop, synth-industrial, tortured EBM all with a Merzbow twist ... and for the final 26 minutes, he lets it all hang out.

Mirthful not monolithic.

CD released on スローダウンRECORDS in 2017.

Kaoscitron

Mutant Ape - Archive 01

George Proctor offering up Six Hours Of Yorkshire Based Torment! Six hours? Do I really have time for that? Seriously ... make the time. This is just a complete masterpiece of English (or anywhere's) noise.

Three C120s courtesy of Turgid Animal in 2012.

walk like you

talk like you

I8U - Untitled

Debut CD of icy drone by Montreal's I8U, who now records under her own name, France Jobin. Released in 1999.

K. Mizutani - Transcend Sideways

"The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the spirit."

I think we're alone now, there doesn't seem to be anyone around.

Really?

CD released on Artware Production in 1997.

Lateral Movement

Kiyoshi Mizutani - Waterscape

Drone and absence tone with just enough chopped glitch to make you realise that relaxation is overrated and somebody else really is in the room.

CD released on E(r)ostrate in 1997.

Dark Waters

K. Mizutani - Millstone

If you don't know that Kiyoshi Mizutani was one half of Merzbow for a long time a very long time ago then you've not been paying attention. If you've not been paying attention then this will only make matters worse. It's pure Swiss cheese.

A CD released on Lord RRRon's Pure label in 1995.

Schimpfluch Yourself

Mothra - The Remains Of Life

Mothra are Masahiko Okubo (Linekraft and Oozepus), Jun-ichi Takahashi (Screloma), Fumihiro Kojima, and Masahito Nozu. You even get Kohei Nakagawa (as Guilty Connector) joining in the organised carnage on one track. This is a broiling pot of noise styles so take a punt on your own description. It's very good.

This is their first release, a CD on Three Plugs Records from 2002. If you like this you might be interested in the vinyl reissue of their second release Doom Patrol that has just hit the Cold Spring shelves.

Life ... huh ... yeah. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! Say it again y'all!

A.N.P. / Null - Dyspareunia

Side A is Kazuyuki Kishino, Asami Hayashi and Seijiro Murayama's brilliant Absolut Null Punkt and the reverse is just full on KK. This stands amongst any of the best noise tapes ever released. End.

C48 courtesy of Nux Organization in 1985.

Yes. Nineteen. Eighty. Five.

Dyspareunia

Wolf Eyes - Starched Calendars Vol 1

So American Tapes died when the catalogue number hit 1000. Everybody knows that's true. Don't we? Well, there is a slow but steady stream of releases that bear the signature artwork and recycled ex-library tapes. Whether it is tagged with a label name is fairly irrelevant in the grand scheme of things so maybe there is a freedom given by just sliding things out virtually unannounced into the nest of sub-underground stalkers.

I think that there is probably some sampled and manipulated contributions from the other Eyes but this tastes of Mr Olson weaving his magic. I've only had one opportunity to have a taste but didn't think he would take to it too kindly. Maybe next time. I reckon largely umami (which is obviously preferable). Everything that I say here is self-evidently true ... if you know otherwise hold yourself up to a ripple of disinterest in the comments section.

A self-released C60 that was also released in 2019 in an edition of ten.

V1

Wolf Eyes - Starched Calendars Vol 2

How to blow a blown mind.

A self-released C54 from 2019 that came in an edition of ten copies.

V2

Various - British Cassette Culture (Recordings 1975-1984)

You have to love VOD. I'm British and have long been an avid pursuer of the obscure boundary pushers that are out there. However, apart from the Pink Dots, everything here had previously completely avoided me. This is an entire world of hitherto unknown excellence ... an entire landscape of synth-industrial-electronica-dark ambient that bears no relation to the vaguely equivalent forms of music that permeated the contemporary consciousness.

Eight LPs, one seven inch single and one single-sided seven inch single courtesy of Vinyl-on-demand in 2016.

01 Those Little Aliens & This Little Alien: Recordings 1980-1981

02 Ron Berry: Where Dark Forces Meet

03 Legendary Pink Dots: Premonition

04 Stephen Cadman: Big Smith Stays In Bed

05 All The Madmen: Tape Recordings 1980-1983

06 Carl Matthews: Mirage-Tapes-Years

07 Kevin Harrison: Tape-Recordings 1975-1985

08 Ron Crowcroft: Mundane Recordings 1980-1985

It's not MP3.

Asher & Ubeboet - Cell Memory

For when you've had enough noise assault, here's a pleasantly subdued album of droning minimalism. One of the earliest CDs on Ben Owen's fantastic Winds Measure Recordings label, packaged in a stunning grey-on-white letterpress sleeve.

Asher & Ubeboet - Cell Memory

John Wiese & Caves - Split

A split CDR by John Wiese and Caves (aka Nathan Howdeshell aka Brace Paine of Die Monitr Bats, Heavy Seals and The Gossip), first released by Howdeshell's Fast Weapons label in 2002, then reissued by Troniks in 2006.

John Wiese & Caves - Split

Otomo Yoshihide, Martin Tétreault, Sachiko M, Yasuhiro Otani - Four Focuses

An album that exploded countless minds when it first landed in 1999, the "VU and Nico" of improvised electronic noise music in that everyone who bought a copy went on to start their own label or band or just fill CDRs with sine waves and feedback. It's a monster.

Otomo Yoshihide, Martin Tétreault, Sachiko M, Yasuhiro Otani - Four Focuses

Sissy Spacek - Psychic Facts

In order to get Sissy Spacek's "Psychic Facts" LP, you had to buy one of the first 100 copies of their "Scissor" LP and notice that the gatefold cover had something strange inside it. The "Scissors" record was in one side of the gatefold, but the other side was sealed shut... and had another record hidden inside of it. That's "Psychic Facts"! The husband was a Wiese fan from the beginning, so he had the foresight to buy two copies. One of them was kept intact, the other circumcised to reveal this record.

Sissy Spacek - Psychic Facts

Fat Legs & Thousand Year Frog - Split

Of course these guys made a split cassette. Two obscure noise heroes on one tape, released by Cloud Valley.

Fat Legs & Thousand Year Frog - Split

Theoretical Girls - Theoretical Girls

Barbara Ess (The Static, Y Pants etc), Jeffrey Lohn, Margaret DeWys, Wharton Tiers (who has been the producer behind a mountain of things that you can just listen to and say, yeah that's him ... I should know I bought about half of them ... even when I didn't know the band, it was "Wharton is on production? I'm in!") and Glenn Branca (legend).

This is a proto-no-wave outfit that was more referenced than actually heard which isn't surprising given that they only officially released a 7" single. This is a great collection of material largely culled from 1979 to 1981 and it's so obvious how they informed the next decade or few.

CD released on Acute Records in 2002. It's not MP3.

Theoretical Girls

Margaret DeWys - I Oh

Or Margaret Davis as her mother insisted on calling her. She was a member of Theoretical Girls and Glenn Branca's larger ensembles. This is a single 27 minute track of utterances that are multi-tracked and occasionally manipulated. What's the point? What's the point of anything?

CD released on Ecstatic Peace! (what else) in 2001.

Oh I

Fat Legs - Ripe for the Harvest

More from the deep-underground no-audience Canadian noise "scene". This is one is a favorite around our house.

Fat Legs - Ripe for the Harvest

Thousand Year Frog - Torpor

Extremely underrated underground Canadian noise by Steven Smith, an associate of Fossils and the Middle James Co crew.

Thousand Year Frog - Torpor

Master Musicians Of Bukkake - Totem Zero

... and then in 2012, the excellent Japanese label Daymare Recordings released a box set that brought the three Totems together with this fourth disc that I don't think has appeared anywhere else

It's not MP3.

Totem Zero

Master Musicians Of Bukkake - Totem One

A spectacular and spectacularly deranged recording. That is right up there in my pantheon of hyperbolic compliments. Genuinely magnificent ... and on "People Of The Drifting Houses" you even get Alan Bishop contributing vocals!

Conspiracy Records. 2009. Not MP3.

Totem One

Master Musicians Of Bukkake - Totem Two

More colossal Sun City Girls inspired shamanic psychedelia. Epic.

Released on Important Records in 2010. It's not MP3.

Totem Two

Master Musicians Of Bukkake - Totem Three

Now nobody can accuse us of not caring about our flock. Well you can if you want. However, our resident Jewel was concerned that the previous post may have coated him in filth. This seems to be an effective way to hose him down!

Important Records. 2011. Not MP3.

shampoo and conditioner

Sawgasm - Untitled

Unhealthy-sounding nasty noise by the late David Gilden, self-released as a tape in 1995.

Sawgasm - Untitled

va - Teutonik Disaster 2

Second volume of 80s German wave and disco-influenced post-punk, just as good as the first volume. Includes songs by some slightly more known groups, like Starter and Instant Music (whose 1981 albums were both reissued by Dark Entries), Camilla Motor (a real weird song from them), Die Chefs, Exkurs, Die Heteros, Fred Banana Combo and more.

va - Teutonik Disaster 2

Violent Onsen Geisha - The Erotic World

"Music from the original soundtrack" ... erm, yeah and you'd still watch it you dirty bastards! Coming in at around five minutes it's a key slice of the VOG / Hair universe.

7" released on M.O.O.D. in 1995.

given that heaven doesn't exist, who the fuck is helping us now?

Hair Stylistics - Impression Of Nasty Dread / Best Of Hair-Style In My Life

Surprisingly, I have had loads of ideas during the period where I've been capable of having loads of ideas but it never crossed my mind to imagine Jamaica as a fully fledged psychotic breakdown where Rudolf Eb.er turns up as the saviour and just makes it eb.en more weird ... or maybe I don't understand the efficacy of medication and it all worked out well in the end. To be honest, I'm glad he got there first so I don't have to worry about it too much ...

7" released on Japan Overseas in 1999.

Dread Beat and Hairstyle

Violent Onsen Geisha - Balloon Collector In The Wilderness (Who Is Totally Naked) / Real Wild Thing

The really fucked up soundtrack to a really fucked up 1971 hip-hop grindcore Giallo porno ... and you would all watch it as well you dirty bastards! Then you get a cover of guess what that would make Shockabilly reappraise their importance to human culture and then realise that Masaya Nakahara logically and technologically extended the mission. They bowed their heads and smiled ... and didn't go on to form a death cult, which is pretty good news I guess. Unless you are a fan of death cults, in which case you're not that much of a fan because if you were you'd be dead.

7" released on Japan Overseas in 1995.

Totally Naked Wild Thing

va - Teutonik Disaster

Need a break from harsh noise? I sure do. This is a compilation of obscure German synth-punk, post-punk and DIY disco-influenced neue Deutsche welle from 1977 to 1983. It's a lot of fun. Includes tunes by Exkurs, Scala, Geisterfahrer, Schwarze Bewegung, Ampzilla's Delight, Bernward Büker Bande, Reifenstahl and other bands I won't bother to list here because the only way you would have heard of them is if you were a member. Anyone following the Tape Attack blog will also like this.

va - Teutonik Disaster

Sissy Spacek & Die Monitr Bats - Split

Split 7" from 2004, released by Helicopter and Hand Held Heart. One member of Die Monitr Bats is Nathan Howdeshell, aka Brace Paine, who plays with John Weise as Heavy Seals and is also a member of The Gossip and Caves and runs the Fast Weapons label.

Sissy Spacek & Die Monitr Bats - Split

Hair Stylistics - Never Ending Fuck!

The never-ending Masaya Nakahara delivering his traditional coital bliss ... there is even a 23 minute recording of him live in Tokyo.

CDr released on Boid in 2010.

Never Ending Fuck Me!

MvvMvv Vets - O Seasons, O Châteaus!

One-off single-sided 7" by John Wiese and Jennifer Sindon, released by NuForm in 2001 in an edition of 121 copies.

MvvMvv Vets - O Seasons, O Châteaus!

EP-4 - The Crystal Monster

Considering the time it was recorded, from an Occidental perspective, you can link in with the B side and create some reference points. My advice would be don't bother ... on first listen, Side A will just leave you in a pleasant erm sorry what? no really, what? frame of mind ... and once you've played that for a few hundred times and then realised that you are still the person that you thought you were in the first place ...

This is a 12" released on Wave in 1985.

ride 'em cowboy

Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet - Another Miserable Day

Luckily there are two days on the release so I guess that covers the entire weekend! It is very difficult to overstate how much I love Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet ... I posted lots of their work over ten years ago (and whilst I'm here ... aren't the Policemen looking young these days!). In psychiatry, there are the concepts of neologism and word salad that apply primarily in psychotic conditions. Apply those principles and by the end of next week you will have Der Kränkenkabinet sussed.

LP released in 2006 on Ultra Eczema. Discogs tells you it has a six panel fold out sleeve ... but doesn't tell you that these panels build the house represented on the cover image. Very satisfying!

Another Miserable Day

... and in a sign of how much things have changed for the better, you would never get away with hitting Gretel on her househead these days!

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