Bleak Bliss: 2019

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

rhBand - 6.20.98

I love everything that I've heard by rhBand, but don't know much about them. The duo was comprised of Mike Trouchon and Ralph Haxton (aka Joe Bloggs), and they created a seriously narcotic drone that was in a class with very few others. If you like Double Leopards, Pelt, Birchville Cat Motel (with whom they split a lathe-cut 8" in '98, yet unheard by me) or Surface of the Earth, rhBand will provide the deep-tissue brainstem massage you crave. This album documents a concert in San Francisco in (obviously) June of 1998. Released on wax in a run of just 300 copies by Klang Industries back in 1999. If you know anything about the group, please leave a comment! Better yet, if you have any Haxton solo material or rare rhBand to share, get in touch with us and we'll be forever grateful.

rhBand - 6.20.98

John Wiese / MSBR - Untitled

An entirely extraordinary little disc. If John's work wasn't so exquisitely varied, I would quite happily say that his track is the best thing that he has ever done ... so lets just say that I think it's right up there.

3" CDr released on Gameboy Records in 2001.

John Wiese / MSBR

MSBR & Blazen Y Sharp - Mass For Dead Insects

Sinister subterranean echoes of malevolent machinery.

Originally released on MSBR Records in 1997.

Mass For Dead Insects

Sunshine Super Scum - Two Reactions

This was recorded in 1995 and it feels a bit like the label was late on the deal. Not complaining but it looks as though the band had left the building by this point.

I don't have a rip of the "Thrown Into Your Circle" single just in case anybody could help me out with that one?

7" released on Siltbreeze in 1997.

Two Reactions

Sunshine Super Scum - Sunshine Super Scum

I'm feeling the drift again ... before I forget, someone asked for Sunshine Super Scum. This is much more of an EP than an album but who cares. They appeared very briefly and recorded almost nothing ... think Tragic Mulatto with a KillLizarddozer bassline.

A brief CD released on ZK Records in 1993.

Sunshine Super Scum

MSBR - Structured Suicide +

One track of reworked source material from the original "Structured Suicide" tape followed by the thirtieth installment of the Final Harsh Work.

CDr released on Denshi Zatsuon in 2003.

Structured Suicide +

The New Blockaders - History Of Nothing

The aforementioned ...

CD released on Siren Records in 2001.

History Of Nothing

MSBR - Metal Stricken Terror Action - Dedicated To Richard Rupenus

This is largely a remastered and re-sequenced version of the tape that was released on Banned Production in 1995. It also comes with 13 minutes of reworked source material from The New Blockaders' "History Of Nothing" that had been released in Japan in 2001.

CD released on his own Denshi Zatsuon in 2005.

Metal Stricken Terror Action

MSBR / K2 - Split

I can't tell you anything about the dates of the recordings, or frankly anything else for that matter. It just appeared.

A "no label" release from 2008.

MSBR / K2

MSBR / K2 / Magmax - Split

Some classy live stereotype destroying work from Koji Tano's MSBR, two classic junk metal tracks courtesy of Kimihide Kusafuka and Koji's Magmax project that sounds like the goings on in a techno club run by Whitehouse.

CDr released on MSBR Records in 1999.

MSBR / K2 / Magmax

Guilty Connector / Bastard Noise / MSBR - Split

It does what it says on the decorative tin.

CDr released on MSBR Records in 2000.

Guilty Connector / Bastard Noise / MSBR

MSBR - Final Harsh Work #1

Lovely tape of MSBR remixed by Mr RoboChanMan.

C56 released on Yasushi Tahara's Robotomy Tapes in 1996.

Final Harsh Work

MSBR / RoboChanMan - Australian Sunshine Madness

A split production for sale during their Australian tour of the same year.

CDr released MSBR Records in 1998.

Australian Sunshine Madness

MSBR with RoboChanMan - Final Electro Acoustic Work 1

Collaboration between Koji Tano and Yasushi Tahara. When I posted the MSNP Japanoise tape, I said that amongst those artists that I knew nothing about was Moletown Crew ... who were, in part at least, the work of Yasushi Tahara. I should have joined the dots on that one a bit earlier. Ah well ...

CDr released on MSBR Records in 2003.

Final Electro Acoustic Work

MSBR - 303 Holy Mountain Electronixx

... and nine and a half years since I last posted this. Fully saturated noise. It's beyond excellent.

C46 released on Cling Film-Records in 1996.

303 Holy Mountain Electronixx

MSBR - Fracture Of Silence

It's been three years since I last posted this, but why not again? Let's face it, there should be more tapes released encased in giant Yorkshire puddings.

C54 released on Sounds For Consciousness Rape in 1995.

Fracture Of Silence

MSBЯ - 2,000 Thousends Contaminate Electronic Acid

Three tracks of blissfully contaminated electronics on this C48 released on Old Europa Cafe in 1994.

2,000 Thousends Contaminate Electronic Acid

Omoide Hatoba - Vuoy

Jump to 1997, "Vuoy" came out on a Japanese major label, Polystar, co-released by Cornelius' Trattoria label. As you might expect, the sound is more more accessible than Hatoba's earlier albums but it's still solid and fun. For fans of Yamamoto's other band, Rovo.

Omoide Hatoba - Vuoy

MSBR - Structured Suicide

Extraordinary full-on engine roar coupled with his sense of humour via ultra-warped minimal techno.

C54 released on MSBR Records in 1993.

Structured Suicide

Omoide Hatoba - Livers & Giggers

A single, 37-minute track that collages all sorts of live recordings from 1987 to 1993. Released on CD by Japan Overseas in 1994.

Omoide Hatoba - Livers & Giggers

MSBR - Euro Grappling Electro

Of course this was next...

CDr released on MSBR Records in 1998.

Euro Grappling Electro

Omoide Hatoba - Mantako

The first Omoide Hatoba album to be released outside of Japan, 1994's "Mantako" was released by Public Bath, an American label (and now, book publisher) dedicated to underground Japanese rock, punk and noise music.

Omoide Hatoba - Mantako

MSBR - Euro Grappling Electro 2

Recorded live at Namba Bears on the 23rd of March, 2000.

CDr released on MSBR Records in 2002 in an edition of 100.

Euro Grappling Electro 2

Omoide Hatoba - Suichi-Joe

My favorite Omoide Hatoba album, a truly inexplicable experience that mashes together styles of music that shouldn't be in the same room. Don't try to make sense of it. Just enjoy the ride. Released in 1992 by Alchemy. Your eyes are not lying to you: that is an image of someone with the world's worst belt buckle playing golf on the cover. This album might have been made to intentionally irritate people. I love it.

Omoide Hatoba - Suichi-Joe

MSBЯ - Ultimate Ambience

Now this is way to tell the rest of the world that they were wrong and he was right. He's still right.

LP released on MSBR Records in 1992.

Ultimate Ambience

Omoide Hatoba - Black Hawaii

Second album by Seiichi Yamamoto's schizophrenic psych/funk/noise/punk ADHD-inducing rock (?) band. Released by Alchemy in 1992.

Omoide Hatoba - Black Hawaii

Molten Salt Breeder Яeactor - Ultimate Ambience 2

A belated complement to Koji Tano's opening gambit ...

CD released on 20city in 2000.

Ultimate Ambience 2

Omoide Hatoba - 大音楽

Debut album by Seiichi Yamamoto's indescribable Omoide Hatoba, as hard to pin down as Yamamotor himself. The guitarist is known as a member of the legendary Boredoms, of the techno/trance band Rovo, as the owner of the Namba Bears live house, for his writing and art, for solo albums that range from soft rock to Derek Bailey-esque free improvisation to John Fahey-style acoustic music, to recordings of noise, jazz, psychedelic rock, to collaborations with Solmania, Acid Mother Temple, Anla Courtis, Phew, KK Null, Jojo Hiroshige, Michel Henritzi, Chie Mukai and on and on... the man does it all. On this album, he seems to be trying to do everything simultaneously. Released in 1990 by Alchemy Records.

Omoide Hatoba - 大音楽

MSBR - Collabodestructivists

Joint work with Crawl Unit, Daniel Menche and Basic Noise.

CD released on Isomorphic Records in 1997.

Collabodestructivists

1/3 Octave Band - Fading Light from Distant Suns

Following a lathe-cut single in 1999 (yet unheard by me), this is the debut album of New Zealand drone/noise duo 1/3 Octave Band, released as a CDR by the legendary Celebrate Psi Phenomenon label. The title is an accurate description of the sounds contained inside.

1/3 Octave Band - Fading Light from Distant Suns

MSBR / Government Alpha / Notchnoi Prospect - Japanoise Action In Russia

It does what it says on the tin.

CDr released on Insofar Vapor Bulk in 2000.

Japanoise Action In Russia

1/3 Octave Band - Irregardless

Their 2nd album, self-released as a CDR in 2000.

1/3 Octave Band - Irregardless

Various - Japanoise

And here is a roll-call designed to drop jaws ... Government Alpha, Pain Jerk, MSBR, C.C.C.C., KK Null, Mo*Te, Incapacitants, K2, Masonna and a harsh blurt courtesy of Melt-Banana.

CD released on Little Mafia Records in 2003.

Japanoise

Various - Japanoise

Good old fashioned Japanese harsh noise. The only name here that survives the test of time is Government Alpha ... with others being the likes of UR‹S›GE, Moletown Crew, Creation Of Nation and Shibireru Amagu (yep, me neither).

C90 released on Mother Savage Noise Productions in 1996.

Japanoise

1/3 Octave Band - Navigation By Light

2005 is a wonderful vintage for New Zealand drone music. This particular ambient apocalypse, by the massive guitar/electronics duo 1/3 Octave Band, was recorded live and issued on Campbell Kneale's dependably stellar Celebrate/Psi/Phenomenon label. Soak it in, but be careful. There are sharp edges hidden beneath those sunset tones.

1/3 Octave Band - Navigation By Light

1/3 Octave Band - Festerville

I've updated the download link for this, 1/3 Octave Band's fourth album, released as a CDR on Freedom From in 2002. New Zealand drone that threatens to veer into noise abandon but never quite does.

1/3 Octave Band - Festerville

Various - Show 会 Volume One

The excellent Omoide Hatoba, Folk Tales (the brilliantly sloppy collaboration between Masahiko Ohno and Shinji Uemoto), Ohmiya Ichi's Daihakase (which is the slightly sunnier aural equivalent of Gasper Noe's "I Stand Alone"), 15 minutes of Dub Squad (which is a strangled diversion from Hasegawa Chew marking his transition away from Omoide Hatoba and Boredoms and into Corrupted), enjoyably sprawling demos from Soap-jo Henshi and the admirably forthright demo of The Goonzees (and where the fuck did they not go and why?). Well that was a long sentence wasn't it.

A marvelous pair of C90+s that came with the Show-Kai Volume One fanzine in 1992 courtesy of fantastically evangelical Public Bath.

Superb Superlatives Я Us

1/3 Octave Band - Apocalypse Now and Then

Third album of serrated-edge drone bliss by the duo of Bill Wood & Jules Desmond (who was also an auxillary member of Campbell Kneale's ultra-slow doom metal band Black Boned Angel, and several pop groups of no distinction). Released in 2002 as a CDR on the band's own Stinkbuzz label.

1/3 Octave Band - Apocalypse Now and Then

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