Bleak Bliss: 2019

Mlehst - The History Of Mlehst - Chapter 3

More excellent archive originally recorded and (largely) released in 1995 and '96.

CDr released on Self Abuse Records in 2005.

Chapter 3

Blackest Ever Black - What I Learned On My Holidays

What I learned on my holidays is the person behind the Blackest Ever Black mixtapes is Kiran Sande, who runs the label. Makes perfect sense once you think about it. Chances are that he is also responsible for the Gewissen and New Private Window projects. Anyway ...

C94 released on Krokodilo Tapes in 2014.

What I Learned On My Holidays

Nina - No Observable Effect Concentration

Brooding drones that build into complex cinematic sculptures. Quite beautiful!

C90 released on Krokodilo Tapes in 2014.

No Observable Effect Concentration

Nord - LSD

Nord were one of the very first Japanese noise bands, starting at the same time as Merzbow, Hijokaidan, K2 and CCCC and yet (like Seed Mouth, Diesel Guitar and Agencement) they don't get a lot of credit. Their self-titled 1981 debut LP was reissued as a double-CD version (still available from the label, Art Into Life), but the rest is long out of print and due for some love. Here's their second record, self-released in 1984 and now going for massive amounts of money from collectors.

Nord - LSD

Mlehst - The History Of Mlehst - Chapter 2

The first track "Fishwife Futurist" takes it's name from a 1994 tape and is around 32 minutes of nightmarish electronic laudanum. How much is taken from that tape (if any) is anybodies guess. Two tracks are from the "Occasional Stimulation / Anal Dentist" tape and one from "A Cold Fuck". The other two, I can't nail to a release from that 94/95 period ... maybe ideas from the time that were floating around. Who knows?

CDr released on Self Abuse Records in 2004.

Chapter 2

va - Mafia vs. Yakuza

Organized crime themed double CDR on Koji Tano's excellent Denshi Zatsuon label from 1999. It came out in two versions: first, the CDRs came out in an edition of 80 copied folded inside some lead. Then, a second edition appeared in a normal paper-and-plastic package. The American disc, by Macronympha/OVMN, has a way-too-long collage of iconic dialogue from mafia movies. Then the Japanese disc has a track each by MSBR and Government Alpha followed by a track by the both of them.

disc 1
disc 2

Brian Not Brian - Holywell Session

This flows from the mind of Brian G. Morrison (co-founder of Going Good). The mix starts of in an understated swoony trance like way and will probably raise thoughts of "so where's the drama?". Well, that comes with time and certainly with repeated listens. It almost disappears from view in order to burrow away and find the pleasure buttons. Then it all starts to make a lot of sense.

C60 released on Krokodilo Tapes in 2014.

Holywell Session

Mlehst - The History Of Mlehst - Chapter 1

I don't know the finer detail but it seems that the Mlehst mission was pretty ruthlessly terminated at the turn of the century. His former label Bandaged Hand Produce faced a similar fate and it seems all of the masters were destroyed in 2001. Luckily for us lot there appears to have been a change of heart around 2005 and he started to record again and continues to go from strength to strength. This was the first of a series of releases that sought to pull together the archive that survived. Ali now operates the Belief Recordings label and (unless I'm ridiculously deluded) has a purchasing page on Discogs.

"The orignal mastertapes for the "Coldness" and "Sickness" cassettes are long-lost like so much of the early recordings. The mixes presented here were done in the winter of 1993 and released by Drahtfunk Prod in early 1994. "The Slappers" was never released. Track 7 was remixed at a later unknown date (possibly 1996/7?). Other unreleased material from 1993 was worked into finished pieces for the "Secret History" CD on Bandaged Hand Produce in 2000."

CDr released on Self Abuse Records in 2004.

Chapter 1

Variations of Sex - Fight, Consume and Die

I hope you like obscure Japanese noise, because that's what I'm posting now. Variations of Sex (a stupid name for a band, eh?) was the project of Koichi Maruyama. He made a handful of albums in the mid-00s and, as far as I know, called it a day. This one came out as a CDR on Dotsmark in 2005.

Variations of Sex - Fight, Consume and Die

Nzetwork Down - 1/1996/1997

Another strange album of electronic noise that I can't tell you anything useful about, other than that someone called Miki Naohiko is behind the unGoogleable band name. As far as I can tell, the Hasikamke label didn't put out anything else and neither did the artist.

Nzetwork Down - 1/1996/1997

Blackest Ever Black - Rat Needs Constant Affirmation

I've always taken these Blackest Ever Black mix-tapes to be a rotation of associated people charged with offering a window into the label's subversive aesthetic rather than a specific individual tasked with sequencing the delights on offer. Pretty smart eh? I mean what kind of middle name is "Ever" anyway ... see, nothing gets past me! The tape you say? Dunno, make your own mind up.

C98 released in Krokodilo Tapes in 2015.

Rat Needs Constant Affirmation

va - Sakura Bomber

I have no information about this Japanese noise cassette. It's not on Discogs. I don't remember when or where I got it. The only bands on the tape that I've heard of are Daruin and NP, and I can't even find information about the rest: Tal-Tal, Chikopido, Nichi-Jo, Helmar, Hyakutorimushi, Nazi, Ko-Zui, Chikopido and Meiouyanma. All I can tell you is that "Sakura Bomber" is a Japanese noise tape from the mid-1990s, probably.

va - Sakura Bomber

Techno Menses / K. Kusafuka - Requiem In The Sun / Re-Musick / Demise Symphonika

A much needed reissue of some of Kimihide Kusafuka's earliest work from 1983-4 full of space-synth semi-martial "pop music".

Double LP released on Vinyl-on-demand ‎in 2014.

Requiem In The Sun / Re-Musick / Demise Symphonika

Gewissen - Alexée Riget

I have no idea who is behind "Gewissen". Whoever it is, I doff my proverbial cap to the person/people who have created this completely absorbing mix of classically inflected world music that still disorientates and surprises. Bravo and all that!

C90 released on Krokodilo Tapes in 2015.

Alexée Riget

Kommissar Hjuler und Frau and The Kommissar Hjuler Allstar Band - Wanderup Indoor Riot

Again, the first side of the tape is a reissue of a 27 copy CDr from whenever that features Kommissar Hjuler, Mama Bär and Sascha Thomsen apparently having a dada pint in a dada pub. The reverse is just utterly fucked in the head aka genuinely brilliant ... a REVELATION style Ivor Cutler for the end of all things. Humanity is fucked anyway so why can't this be the last soundtrack?

C46 released on Green Records And Tapes in 2012.

Wanderup Indoor Riot

Control Unit - Oto Live

I truly love it when this happens!

When I posted the Burn tape, I mentioned that this was one of the releases that i was looking for and one of us sent it to me. As usual, my gain is yours also. Recorded live at the quite legendary Cafe Oto in London on June the 17th, 2012 this is some really brilliant psychedelic guitar feedback noise murk. A share that has genuinely made my month more meaningful.

CDr released on Chocolate Monk in 2012.

Oto Live

va - Contemporary Denshi-Zatsuon Vol. 2

Second compilation in this series from Denshi Zatsuon, this time featuring American and Japanese noise. From the US, we get tracks from Solid Eye (members of LAFMS), Speculum Fight (aka Damion Romero) and inBOIL. The Japanese contributions are from two legendary noise artists, MSBR and Incapacitants.

va - Contemporary Denshi-Zatsuon Vol. 2

Kommissar Hjuler und Frau / Peter Kastner / Kakawaka - Whole Lotta Love

Initially, Side A was self-released as a CDr in an edition of eleven. Luckily, Knox Mitchell was on hand to reissue it on tape so more of us could listen to the Zep "classic" get the kicking it deserves. The reverse sees each have tracks of their own and each one are great. All in all, this is one little gem that slipped under many a radar.

C60 released on Green Records And Tapes in 2012.

Whole Lotta Love

va - Contemporary Denshi-Zatsuon Vol. 1

Compilation of Japanese and Dutch music, released in 2001 on Koji Tano's Denshi Zatsuon label. Includes a track by Goem, then solo tracks by Goem's members Roel Meelkop, Peter Duimelinks and Freiband (aka Frans de Waard). The Japanese contributions are by i.d., Utah Kawasaki & Tetsuro Yasunaga (of Minamo), and Pezica.

va - Contemporary Denshi-Zatsuon Vol. 1

Penile Colonie / Prison Planet - Penile Colonie / Prison Planet

"A double A-side split of paranoid ozploitation from two career criminals…Penile Colonie (sic) is an imagined artifact from early colonial Australia…Prison Planet projects a future in which the whole earth has gone the way of Norfolk Island. Or, in their own words: a series of relics and prophecies from the arse end of the world, for the arse end of humanity."

C46 released on Krokodilo Tapes in 2015.

Penile Colonie / Prison Planet

Basket Case - Untitled

Untitled Michigan basement jazz grime by John Olson (Spykes), Lisa Colwell (The Lake Bottoms, Commune Ills) and Geoff Walker (who was a member of Gravitar), released by Gods of Tundra in 2009.

Basket Case - Untitled

Gen Ken Montgomery & Conrad Schnitzler - GENCON Duets

So, whilst we're on the subject ...

CD released on GD Stereo in 2010.

GENCON Duets

Conrad Schitzler and Gen Ken Montgomery and Mama Baer / Kommissar Hjuler und Frau ‎– GEN CON FLUX

Three of the Gen Con tracks on here are the shorter collaborations from the earlier GENCON Duets release. Not sure why there would be such a direct lift but there is also a 12 minute collaboration that I don't think has appeared elsewhere plus a 12 minute collaboration / obfuscation with Mama herself and a further long-form Kommissar Hjuler und Frau piece. All aboard!

LP released on Psych.KG in 2015.

Gen Con Flux

Techno Menses - Lazar Blade 2

A fun album of Esplendor Geometrico-ish heavy machine rhythms by the duo of Kimihide Kusafuka (K2) and Tomoya Sakashita, released in 2001 as a CDR on Koji Tano's Denshi Zatsuon label. Kusafuka had been recording music like this since 1984, and some of that early stuff was reissued on wax by Vinyl on Demand. There also, apparently, was a tape on Audiofile and a later self-released double CD that are yet unheard by me.

Techno Menses - Lazar Blade 2

Chris Farrell - No Vampire

Wonderful mix-tape of warped dub. Genuinely great ... turn it up as far as you can!

C96 released on Krokodilo Tapes in 2015.

No Vampire

Kommissar Hjuler und Mama Baer - Sicherüngskopie #13

Answers on a self-addressed postcard.

A fistful of micro-edition releases brought together for this compilation ... which came out in another tiny edition.

Double CDr jointly released on Poot Records ‎and Der Schöne Hjuler-Memorial-Fond in 2008.

Sicherüngskopie #13

Id Battery - Last Blue Before Black

Mysterious, Jewelled-Antler-related concrete rustling by Loren Chasse and Brandon LaBelle, released by Unique Ancient Tavern in 1998. If you like Small Cruel Party, Toy Bizarre, Hands To or Artificial Memory Trace, check this one out.

Id Battery - Last Blue Before Black

Kommissar Hjuler und Frau - Halluzinationalsozialismus

Everybody in the house go ... what?

CDr released on Der Schöne Hjuler-Memorial-Fond in 2004.

Halluzinationalsozialismus

New Private Window - The Desperate Hours

"Self-surveilling internet field recordings and derivative, masturbatory ambience courtesy of Leicester-based “media research project” NPW. Clear browsing history after listening."

C34 released on Krokodilo Tapes in 2015.

The Desperate Hours

Mama Bär - Melancholie, Zwiespalt und 2 Kochrezepte

This begins with the faintest pretense that this might in some way be "normal" which is even more disconcerting than the truth. It's a small planet orbiting within the Mama / Hjuler solar system. Normal rules do not apply. Rules do not apply.

Acetate LP released on Der Schöne Hjuler-Memorial-Fond in an edition of 27 in 2005.

Melancholie, Zwiespalt & 2 Kochrezepte

Alessandro Adriani - We Drift In And Out

Tribal tech-trance from the man who runs Mannequin Records.

C60 released on the Blackest Ever Black cassette only subsidiary Krokodilo Tapes in 2016.

We Drift In And Out

Kommissar Hjuler und Mama Baer & Ninni Morgia and Silvia Kastel - Two Couples

Disjointed fluxan rhythms with one couple on each side.

LP released on Ultramarine in 2011.

Two Couples

Silvia Kastel - Bibula Harena

Delightfully dark dance music for people who can't dance ... which suits me just fine!

C98 released on Id Mud, a tape offshoot of (what could be considered Silvia's rightful home) Blackest Ever Black.

Bibula Harena

Silvia Kastel - Love Tape

Coming on like a slurred Lemon Kitten, this is the signal that the hallucinatory noise will eventually crystallise into the dark-wave tech rhythms of the future.

C30 released on Ultramarine in 2011.

Love Tape

Yermo - Untitled

Solo album by Chris Moon of MCMS, and the guy who ran the excellent Last Visible Dog label. First released as a CDR, then reissued as a CD in 1999.

Yermo - Untitled

Gary Smith / Silvia Kastel / Ninni Morgia - Brand

(Effectively) Control Unit making an epileptic and delirious free country space jazz noise here alongside Gary Smith (of Aufgehoben amongst other things).

LP released on Ultramarine in 2012. There is a Brand II LP that was released on L'Esprit De L'Escalier in 2013 that I have never heard and would seriously love to dive into. Any help appreciated and all that ...

Brand

Kastel - 39

An absolutely compelling and majestic piece of work from Silvia. Just throw yourself into the well.

Single sided 12" released on Phase! Records in 2015.

39

MCMS - 1997-2000

Triple disc compilation of free noise and drones from Omaha, Nebraska, released by Last Visible Dog in 2004. MCMS was mainly a duo of Matt Silcock and Chris Moon, who started the Last Visible Dog label in order to release MCMS' recordings and those of like-minded artists from around the world. Kris Lapke, who now records as Alberich, was an occasional member. This set collects music that originally came out on their first few Last Visible Dog CDRs, one split with Yermo (aka Moon solo) on Campbell Kneale's Celebrate/Psi/Phenomenon label, and a lathe-cut LP put out by Eclipse. Fans of New Zealand freenoise, Ashtray Navigations or Pelt will likely already be on their fuzzy wavelength.

disc 1
disc 2
disc 3

Control Unit - Burn

... and now a noise-rock maelstrom where Silvia leaves nothing unexpressed.

I've never heard the Modern Duets flexi, the Complay tape or the OTO Live CDr (please help me out with that) but the rest of Control Unit's catalogue is commercially available in eithe physical or digital formats. Seek and ye shall find ... I recommend that you do.

C30 released on Fort Evil Fruit in 2014.

Burn

Control Unit - Steel Tape

In the intervening period there was some quite beautiful creative destruction that happened in the world of Control Unit and they metamorphosed into this armour plated feedback drenched noise butterfly.

C40 that has four tracks that repeat either side. Delivered courtesy of Jim's delicious Fusty Cunt in 2012.

Steel Tape

Ninni Morgia Control Unit - Ninni Morgia Control Unit

"Control Unit is the work of guitarist Ninni Morgia and the wonderfully forthright chanteuse and musique manipulateuse Silvia Kastel. It’s like Catherine Deneuve dumped two cases of post-Repulsion psychiatric notes over Pere Ubu’s Dub Housing, lit the fuse and, ahem, stood well back" Julian Cope, Vinyl of The Month, Head Heritage, June 2012. Can't improve that as an introduction.

However, that would come later. This initial release has Jeff Arnal on drums and the legendary Daniel Carter on trumpet, clarinet and occasional vocals whilst Silvia is handling the mixing. It's a very enjoyable romp through constrained free-jazz psychedelics ... similar to the more ferocious Japanese exponents but with one hand still on the steering wheel.

Double LP released on Ultramarine in 2009.

Control Unit

K2 & The Haters - Noise Tournament Vol. 1

... and is there a better to finish and start than with a doff to GX's 40th anniversary of (brain) circuitry frying?

7" jointly released on Kinky Musik Institute and Banned Production in 1994.

Noise Tournament Vol. 1

K2 & De Fabriek - Noise Tournament Vol. 2

I'm not sure that The Factory got the way that this series was supposed to roll so generally KMI didn't get that much of a mention in the pressing ... but no harm done.

7" jointly released on Kinky Musik Institute and De Fabriek Records in 1995. ‎

Noise Tournament Vol. 2

K2 with RLW - Noise Tournament Vol. 3

... and now it's Ralf Wehowsky (P16.D4, etc.). Name me a better series of singles. Not different. Better.

7" jointly released on Kinky Musik Institute and Banned Production in 1995.

Noise Tournament Vol. 3

K2 with Runzelstirn & Gurgelstøck - Noise Tournament Vol. 4

You are familiar with the script but this flips it end over end. Pairing these two is properly mind expanding. Kusafuka Kimihide reworking Rudolf Eb.er is akin to the best noise reworking of a Roadrunner cartoon working as an instructional amateur dentistry spank fantasy. The reverse is better. Totally dissected and reassembled lunacy genius. The whole event is utterly deviant and completely sublime.

7" jointly released on Kinky Musik Institute and Banned Production in 1997.

Noise Tournament Vol. 4

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