Bleak Bliss

Taint

Keith Brewer (aka Taint) is a Texas-based power electronics artist. Keith Brewer is old school. The name might not ring any bells, but if you had your ear to the high-end harsh noise and power electronics underground during the 1990's, you'll have heard of Taint, the notoriously sleazy electronics project that Mr. Brewer was operating under since way back. A kind of juiced up, pure-hate version of Whitehouse on steroids, Taint discharged a vicious stew of screaming high-end feedback, grinding distorted scrape, and caustic ranting vocals that are overlaid with sheets of white noise across a prolific output of cassettes, 7"s, CDs, and LPs. These hostile, antagonistic noise outbursts always came with interesting packaging but the visuals and themes that Taint explored were disturbing to say the least, filled with psychosexual violence and grim, hateful observations on humanity, and the combination made for some of the more intense hardcore noise coming out of the American electronic underground.

This isn’t your average run-of-the-mill power electronics assault though; rather than bludgeoning the listener with totally unbearable noise and excruciating
digital whine, although these elements are there, he creates a subtly unnerving and discomfiting effect, using minimalist and sparse instrumentation combined with voice samples and distorted vocals. It’s the sonic equivalent of the quiet twinkly-eyed next door neighbour who gives sweets to kids and helps out in the community but who actually turns out to be a twisted sadistic serial killer who has a dark secret in his basement....

Keith now operates as Mania and keeps on releasing awesome PE/noise ... including some stellar collaborative work with Sam McKinley (aka The Rita). Keep your eyes open for this stuff and buy it all....

The Misogynistic Lust cd uses the original tape as source material to turn it into a different beast altogether. There are no decent vids of Taint out there as far as I can tell.

1993 - Smell & Quim - Taint - Split (7'') [red stream inc]
1993 - MSBR & Taint - Scopotophilia (7'') [msbr records]
1993 - Taint - Killing For Company (C90) [open wound]
1993 - Taint - Strange Feeling, Shit Coming (C50) [g.r.o.s.s.]
1994 - Black Leather Jesus & Taint - Sex Acts On A Child In A Full Body Cast (cass) [deadline recordings]
1995 - Taint - Indecent Liberties (lp) [praxis dr. bearmann]
1995 - Taint - Justmeat (C45) [slaughter productions]
1995 - Taint - Piece-Meal Dissection [taint entertainment]
1996 - Taint - Perverse [taint entertainment]
1996 - Taint - The Untimely Silence (C45) [sounds for consciousness rape]
1996 - Taint - Whoredom [praxis dr. bearmann]
1997 - Taint - When You Meet A Stranger (7'') [self abuse records]
1997 - Taint & Strict - Split (7'') [the ajna offensive]
1998 - Taint - Misogynist Lust (C45) [taint entertainment]
1999 - Taint - Dau Ghter - Victimilogy 2 [freak animal records]
1999 - Taint - Where Are The Whores (7'') [spite]
2001 - Taint - Harmed Live 2000 [biteworks]
2001 - Taint - Harming Obsession [freak animal records]
2001 - Taint - Vice (lp) [self abuse records]
2001 - Taint & Skin Crime & Sickness - Behind The Smile [self abuse records]
2002 - Nicole 12 & Taint - Candyman [freak animal records]
2002 - Taint - ...I'm A Whore (bcard) [pacrec, troniks]
2002 - Taint - Hel-lo (bcard) [pacrec, troniks]
2004 - Taint - Misogynist Lust (CD) [freak animal records]
2003 - Taint & Grunt - Schoolyard Bruises (lp) [antihumanism records]
2007 - Taint - Sex Sick [the ajna offensive]

Taint - Recycled Music (cass) [rrrecords]

Mono

Mono are a post-rock group from Tokyo, Japan formed in 1999. The songs, all of which are instrumental, are usually focused on layered guitar melodies. Strings and pianos are also prominently featured in some songs. They are known for their powerful live shows and their complex guitar work.

The band's style of instrumental rock music is influenced by the genres of experimental rock and shoegazing, as well as by both the classical and contemporary classical periods of classical music, and also by noise and minimalism. Mono's sound is characterised by the lead and rhythm guitars of Goto and Yoda respectively, both of whom make extensive use of reverb, distortion and delay effects. The band's live performances are noted for their intensity, both in the playing and in the dynamics.

The video below is a (brilliant) performance of 'Ashes In The Snow' recorded on the bands 10th anniversary at the NY Society For Ethical Culture in Manhattan on May 8th 2009.

'New York Soundtracks' is actually a compilation album with various artists performing a selection of Mono's songs, but the release was credited as Mono's.

Music:
2000 - Hey You. EP [Forty-4, 128]
2001 - Under The Pipal Tree [Tzadik, 320]
2002 - One More Step And You Die [Music Mine Inc., VBR 233~320]
2002 - Session, 02 [Medicom Toy Corporation, 192]
2004 - New York Soundtracks [Human Highway, VBR 207~320]
2004 - Peel Session 2004.09.11 [128]
2005 - Split (w/ Pelican) [Temporary Residence Limited, 320]
2005 - Palmless Prayer/Mass Murder Refrain (w/ World's End Girlfriend) [Human Highway, VBR 192~224]
2006 - Live At The Triple Rock 2006.06.09 [VBR 160~320]
2006 - Live At The Great American Music Hall 2006.05.31 [Bootleg, VBR 210~224]
2006 - Memorie Dal Futuro [Vinyl Films, 200]
2006 - You Are There [Human Highway, VBR 204~224]
2007 - Gone - A Collection Of EPs 2000-2007 [Temporary Residence Limited, 320]
2007 - Live At 40 Watt Club 2007.10.02 [VBR 224~256]
2007 - Live At First Avenue 2007.10.21 [VBR 197-256]
2007 - Live At Richards On Richards 2007.10.24 [VBR 197~224]
2007 - The Phoenix Tree (Travels in Constants Volume Twenty-Two) [Temporary Residence Limited, 320]
2009 - Hymn To The Immortal Wind [Human Highway, VBR 189~224]
2009 - Live At Corporation 2009.03.24 [VBR 236~274]
2009 - Live At Ebisu Liquidroom 2009.03.14 [VBr 196~320]
2009 - Live At Patronaat 2009.03.28 [VBR 208~320]
2009 - Live At Stereo 2009.02.23 [224]
2010 - Live At Doornroosje 2010.03.21 [183~320]

Couple of side projects here, Left is more nice instrumental post-rock and DSCO is more electro-based music, not the usual stuff you'd expect from Mono.

Left - ???? - I Could Stand Alone Here [VBR 160~256]
DSCO - 2001 - Indian Winter [192]

DVD: (You need to download all parts and extract together for it to work)
2008 - The Sky Remains The Same As Ever [Temporary Residence Limited, AVI]
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

2010 - Holy Ground - NYC Live With The Wordless Music Orchestra [Temporary Residence Limited, MP4]
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Daniel Menche has established himself as a musician with a sense of focus and determination uncharacteristic in a genre known for its randomness and chaotic structure. Rather than creating "noise," he strives for order and cohesiveness. His presentation of sonic structures is similar to the way a writer depicts a story, an allegory seems to arise, which uses confusion as a symbol for the imaginative process of total sound purity; aural intensity is not a representation of confusion or the chaotic, but a concerted effort to provoke and stimulate the listeners imagination by generating intensely powerful sounds and music.

Subtle and patient compositions rely on long, dense layers of droning sounds, while abrasive pieces rely on sounds amplified and processed to extreme levels, pushing the full spectrum of frequencies to the most threshold of limits. Other explorations are intense percussion work that resonates primal chaos displayed gracefully without ever being just "noise".

The video is the Dissonanze 2006 Live Set music by Zbigniew Karkowski & Daniel Menche with live visual art by Philipp Geist.

MEA CULPA! Hands up...I fucked up!!! Really should have done my research. I've removed a load of links that are available on the label sites or are available here or here. Go and buy them!

1994 - Daniel Menche - Dark Velocity (C40) [banned production]
1994 - MSBR & Daniel Menche - Multi Layering Termination (7'') [msbr records]
1995 - Daniel Menche - Vulgar Scratch (7'') [gender-less kibbutz]
1996 - Daniel Menche & Small Cruel Party - Split (7'') [msbr records]
1996 - John Hudak & Daniel Menche - Husher (10'') [flenix]
2002 - Daniel Menche - White Wing [poweracoustics.org]
2004 - Daniel Menche - one hour as The Sky's painted red: the Earth's painted black and She's painted white

Black Boned Angel

Black Boned Angel are Campbell Kneale (Birchville Cat Motel, Our Love Will Destroy The World, Ming, With Throats As Fine As Needles, etc) and Antony Milton (Mrtyu, With Throats As Fine As Needles, The Stumps, etc) and James Kirk (Sandoz Lab Technicians and The Stumps). To say this is doom metal or black metal is lazy lazy lazy...it's all about the drone. Ecstatic!

I've included "You Should Have Slain Me" because it appears all over the place as BBA. It's not. It is Campbell Kneale tho'. Taken from the name of a Hammers Of Misfortune track...it takes the riff on a wild loop ride...drops in the drums and leaves...brilliant!

Buy everything there is on Celebrate PSI Phenomenon and (sister label) Battlecruiser. Support our Kiwi brothers and sisters. It's the law!

OBEY THE LAW!!!

2003 - Black Boned Angel - Supereclipse [celebrate psi phenomenon]
2004 - Black Boned Angel - Eternal Love [battlecruiser]
2005 - Black Boned Angel - Heavens Blaze Forth The Death Of Princes [battlecruiser]
2005 - Black Boned Angel - Live at Instal, Glasgow, 2005
2006 - Black Boned Angel - Ashes (3xcdr) [celebrate psi phenomenon]
part 1 part 2
2006 - Black Boned Angel - Eternal Hunger [battlecruiser]
2007 - Black Boned Angel - Dashed Upon Stones [celebrate psi phenomenon]
2008 - Black Boned Angel - The Endless Coming Into Life [20 buck spin]
2008 - Black Boned Angel & Nadja - Christ Send Light [battlecruiser]
2009 - Black Boned Angel - Verdun (cd version) [riot season]
2009 - Nadja & Black Boned Angel - Self Titled [20 buck spin]
2010 - Black Boned Angel - The Witch Must Be Killed (lp) [conspiracy records]

2004 - You Should Have Slain Me - You Should Have Slain Me (3''cdr) [battlecruiser]

Out now on Quagga Curious Sounds!

QCS_023-suburban howl / taklamakan: split s/sided C60, edition of 12
Both artists deliver lovely and varied lo-fi textured noise on this excellent split! Cassette is packaged in custom made purple or yellow card packaging with vivid full colour artwork Each copy comes in a hand-stamped brown paper bag.
UK/Europe: £3.90
Worldwide: £4.90

To buy items via paypal please email Mike:
mike-ridge@hotmail.co.uk
All prices inlcude p&p
Trades are also welcome

http://www.myspace.com/quaggacurioussoundsandoddities

Crank Sturgeon

MSBR

M.S.B.R. (Molten Salt Breeder Reactor), aka Koji Tano, was one of the most respected noise artists to emerge from Japan's vibrant noise/experimental music scene of the 1990's. He played with countless other musicians and toured on 4 continents (Asia, Europe, North America and Australia). Much of his material was self-released on his own labels, one of which was dedicated to the production of limited edition cassette releases. Like Merzbow, MSBR's crushing wall of noise managed to tap into a post-human territory of pure absolute volume that seems to have more in common with the unstoppable forces of nature than any form of music.

Koji Tano died on 31 July 2005 at the age of 44. Cancer took him quickly at a young age and at the height of his power. If you have any doubt how respected and loved Koji was (and is) within the community, then you should go here. Within only 23 days Steinklang gathered support from 154 artists from 31 countries to pay tribute to Koji. The personal testaments recorded there are genuinely moving. The homage takes the form of a 10 disc tribute that is free to download.

Greatly respected and sorely missed...

1993 - MSBR - Structured Suicide (C60) [msbr records]
1993 - MSBR & Taint - Scopotophilia (7'') [msbr records]
1993 - Telepherique & MSBR - Amalgam (7'') [msbr records]
1994 - MSBR - 2,000 Thousends Contaminate Electronic Acid (C60) [old europa cafe]
1994 - MSBR & Daniel Menche - Multi Layering Termination (7'') [msbr records]
1994 - Telepherique & MSBR - Geplünderte Leichen (cass) [drahtfunk-products]
1995 - MSBR - Collapseland [heel stone records]
1995 - MSBR - Destructive Locomotion Dedicated To Chizuo Matsumoto [pure]
1995 - MSBR - Fracture Of Silence (cass) [sounds for consciousness rape]
1995 - MSBR - Metal Stricken Terror Action (cass) [banned production]
1996 - MSBR - 303 Holy Mountain Electronixx (C52) [cling film-records]
1996 - MSBR - Final Harsh Work #1 (cass) [robotomy tapes]
1996 - MSBR & Merzbow - Destructible Foundation / Drain (7'')
1996 - Telepherique & Contagious Orgasm & MSBR - Contact #1 (lp)
1997 - MSBR & Blazen Y Sharp - Mass For Dead Insects [msbr records]
1998 - Aube & MSBR & Koji Marutani - 3 Cadavres Exquis [e(r)ostrate]
1998 - ERG & MSBR & Das Synthetische Mischgewebe - Geosynclines [flenix]
1998 - MSBR - Euro Grappling Electro [msbr records]
1998 - MSBR - Final Harsh Work #2 (C30) [spite]
1998 - MSBR & Government Alpha & Notchnoi Prospect - Japanoise Action In Russia [insofar vapor bulk]
1998 - MSBR & Kengo Iuchi - One [alien8 recordings]
1998 - MSBR & RoboChanMan - Australian Sunshine Madness [msbr records]
1999 - MSBR - The Final Harsh Work #7 (C60) [ultra]
1999 - MSBR - The Final Harsh Work #22 [spatter]
1999 - MSBR & K2 & Magmax - Split [msbr records]
1999 - MSBR & Spastic Colon - Live Electronics At Matsuyama (lp) [flenix]
1999 - MSBR & Speculum Fight & AMK - Damkbr (cass) [banned production]
2000 - Government Alpha & MSBR - Live In Moscow (7'') [rrrecords]
2000 - MSBR - Ultimate Ambience 2 [20city]
2000 - Sudden Infant & MSBR - Split [msbr records]
2001 - Birchville Cat Motel & MSBR & Eso Steel - Droop Drone Drops [denshi zatsuon]
2001 - MSBR - Space Lab Green [celebrate psi phenomenon]
2001 - MSBR - The Final Harsh Work #18 [blade records]
2002 - MSBR - Euro Grappling Electro 2 [msbr records]
2003 - MSBR & RoboChanMan - Final Electro Acoustic Work 1 [msbr records]
2004 - MSBR - Mental Dissolution [denshi zatsuon]
2005 - MSBR - Metal Stricken Terror Action - Dedicated To Richard Rupenus [denshi zatsuon]
2005 - MSBR & Government Alpha - Planet Of Fluctuation [xerxes]

Fuck, The Retarded Girl

Jazzfinger

It is with honour and wonder that we offer up the majesty of Newcastle's mighty drone-noise-dream-scuzz-improv legends (drum-roll please) Jazzfinger. If ever a band's 'sound' was simultaneously hauntingly pastoral yet at the same time grindingly industrial then it would be Jazzfinger. You need Jazzfinger in your life, even if you don't know it yet! Buy everything you can find. Without hesitation, the people who hold the world together. Feel their power, and be comforted.

2001 - Orrin Deforest & Jazzfinger- Split (lp) [traqueto]
2003 - Jazzfinger & A Way - EP [mallard lake]
2005 - Jazzfinger - Live @ Barden's Room 2, London (05 Aug 2005) 2005 - Jazzfinger - Live @ The Sage, Gateshead, UK (22 May 2005)
2005 - Jazzfinger - This Small Space Where The Salt Glitters (12'') [classic english womb]
2005 - Jazzfinger - Ugly For A Living [gold soundz]
2006 - Jazzfinger - Autumn Engines [rebis]
2006 - Jazzfinger - Iron Age Credentials [spirit of orr]
2006 - Jazzfinger - Los Band Magicos [low point]
2006 - Jazzfinger - Slowed By The Grace Of Water [alcoholic necrolepsy]
2006 - Jazzfinger - The Glass Key [classic english womb]
2006 - Jazzfinger - Winter's Shadow Between Two Worlds [curor recordings]
2007 - Jazzfinger - Listen And Vanish [cut hands]
2007 - Jazzfinger - Low Level Cloud Fucker [chondritic sound]
2007 - Jazzfinger - Orange Sauce (8'' lathe) [altvinyl]
2007 - Jazzfinger - Tour Of The Moors Volume 1 (C60) [heavy tapes]
2007 - Jazzfinger - Wixxon Flag Bearer [dnt records]
2007 - Jazzfinger & Lanterns - Untitled (C60) [sick head]
2008 - Jazzfinger - Grief To Grind The Fire [blackest rainbow]
2008 - Jazzfinger - King Murnam (cass) [jk tapes]
2008 - Jazzfinger - Mole And The Morning Dew (lp) [spirit of orr]
2008 - Jazzfinger - Self Titled (7'') [short forest]
2008 - Jazzfinger - Wooden Women Will (C60) [middle james co]
2008 - Jazzfinger and Culver & Fordell Research Unit - Split - (lp) [blackest rainbow]
2009 - Jazzfinger - Live @ Cafe OTO, London (02.05.09)
2010 - Jazzfinger - Gates Of Failure (C60) [gods of tundra]

Fossils

Fossils are a rarity in any music scene: staggeringly prolific artists who, by and large, fail to produce subpar music. They're not devoid of ideas, either. From the typical grating metal clangor, lurking murky subterranean drones and psychedelic spiraling voids to super fried, paint-splattered jams that sound like they were born out of junkyards and garbage cans and every sort of droning instrument ever made. Every Fossils release I own sounds distinct. There are two split releases with Sick Llama in J's earlier Llama post. Also, don't have release info for the Blue Tape, I think it's a tape that is...erm...blue. Dive in.......

2005 - Fossils - Fossils (C60) [fag tapes]
2006 - Altar Of Flies & Fossils - Split [hästen & korset]
2006 - Fossils - A Green Ha [middle james co]
2006 - Fossils - Code White [middle james co]
2006 - Fossils - Empty Can Blues (C30) [midori records]
2006 - Fossils - Fossils [fag tapes]
2006 - Fossils - Infected Tissue [maggotapes]
2007 - Fossils - All the Homicides (C30) [jk tapes]
2007 - Fossils - Dug (cass) [middle james co]
2007 - Fossils - Fly By Night (s-sided cass) [ley line magnetic tapes]
2007 - Fossils - Morbid Chicken [middle james co]
2007 - Fossils - The Dehumanization Of Art (C90) [knife in the toaster]
2007 - Fossils - Uhl [cut hands]
2007 - Fossils & Head Boggle & Sick Llama - Brain Mash Potatoes [fag tapes]
2008 - Fossils - Dagobah [knife in the toaster]
2008 - Fossils - Super Silver Fossils (C30) [middle james co]
2008 - Fossils & Sick Llama - Split (lp) [no label]
2008 - Mike Khoury and Derek Rogers & Fossils - Terror Tapes Vol. 35 [middle james co]
2008 - Sick Llama & Fossils - Split (lp) [no label]
2009 - Fossils - Deep Sea Fossils (2xC30) [middle james co]

Fossils - Blue Tape

New CDr out on Quagga Curious Sounds!

QCS_021-Utnapishtim / Bruital Orgasme: "The Breathing" Split CDr, edition of 15 copies
Hypnotic, beautiful and captivating mixture of noise, drone and experimental music between these two talented projects.
Spraypainted CDr comes in a PVC slip case with handmade artwork also included is an A4 information sheet/poster and multi coloured feathers packaged in a blue and white striped paper bag

SOLD OUT

http://www.myspace.com/quaggacurioussoundsandoddities

To buy items via paypal please email Mike:
mike-ridge@hotmail.co.uk
All prices inlcude p&p
Trades are also welcome

These aren't going to be around long so don't hang about ;)

Steel Hook Prostheses

Gotta admit, SHP were a new one to me. J sent me a sneaky request from his current sabbatical (he's doing a short prison sentence for interfering with farm animals btw).

Expect power electronics with a dark ambient/death industrial twist...

All gone by request. SHP material is going to be officially distributed digitally. Check here.

Heavy Winged

Heavy Winged regularly lock into relentless motorik grooves, super repetitive, the guitar slowly building momentum, with sheets of high end, streaks of feedback and a wall of buzz lifting you ever higher. Imagine a deranged lysergic-fuelled scientist taking a lost Fushitsusha jam and slowing it down in the lab to examine it more closely...a time lapse film of a 'psych jam' captured in the wild. For most of their releases, the trio set up in a room and play. Totally improvised and recorded to 4 track. Wildly ecstatic...and the "song" only finishes when it feels right for it to finish.

The Wire reckoned one release sounded like "...a vast blank wall of a monolithic windowless tower block, seemingly featureless from a distance, but so rough up close that it tears skin from flesh and flesh from bone." Fair enough, I reckon, if you like that kind of effusive review! This ain't Explosions In The Sky! This is some serious psychedelic heaviness, blissfully blown out and weirdly hypnotic.

I've followed this band for a few years now. Even so, I nip to the shops to find out they've sneaked out another ridiculously limited release...and it's sold out! The last 4 of the posts have no release date or label info...any help out there?

2006 - Heavy Winged - A Serpent's Lust [foxglove]
2006 - Heavy Winged - Echoes Of Silence [deep water acres]
2006 - Heavy Winged - Hunting The Moon [ruralfaune]
2006 - Heavy Winged - Taking The Veil [students of decay]
2007 - Ashtray Navigations & Cold Solemn Rites In The Sun & Heavy Winged - Split [ruralfaune]
2007 - Heavy Winged - Blacc Stork [students of decay]
2007 - Heavy Winged - Enough Rope [cut hands]
2007 - Heavy Winged - Feel Inside [archive]
2007 - Heavy Winged - On The Marble Cliffs [trensmat]
2007 - Heavy Winged - The Very Eye Of The Night [whistle along records]
2007 - Heavy Winged - We Grow (lp) [not not fun records]
2007 - Heavy Winged & Blues Control - Split (7'') [not not fun records]
2007 - Heavy Winged & Taiga Remains - Split (lp) [not not fun records]
2008 - Heavy Winged - A Blanket Of Ash [no label]
2008 - Heavy Winged - Alive In My Mouth [three lobed recordings]
2009 - Heavy Winged - Shaking, Waking (lp) [aurora borealis]
2009 - Heavy Winged - Spreading Center [release the bats records]
2009 - Heavy Winged & Inca Ore - Ring Mining (lp) [not not fun records]
2009 - Windy & Carl and Heavy Winged - Monolith Earth [music fellowship]

Heavy Winged - 1st
Heavy Winged - Katrina
Heavy Winged - Mojito
Heavy Winged - Split Lip

Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet

There are very few bands who truly baffle. Who confuse and confound, both musically and conceptually. Sure, plenty of bands are weird, or strange, or hard to describe. Some might even be described as fucked up or damaged, but very very few truly baffle. Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet is most definitely one of those bafflingly confusional elite. . .Hans Grüsel and his Kränkenkabinet create a bizarre cacophony of sound. Theatrical, dramatic, noisy for sure, but weirdly melodic and playful and more than anything, confounding. A brain melting chunk of avant "what-the-fuck?" Weird and wonderfully damaged. It's not so much like staring into a funhouse mirror, it's more like smashing your head against it over and over and over until it shatters and you can finally see and hear exactly what strange things exist on the other side.

Had to remove some, sorry.

2001 - Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet - Das Boot [no label]
2002 - Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet - Ein Haunted Sommerplatz [no label]
2006 - Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet - Live On WFMU (04-11-06)