The intention is to promote people who make beautiful music.
The intention is to introduce you to the people who have been carving their own path...with no care for what anybody thinks.
We try not to post things that are still for sale but sometimes post things that are not easily available. If you like what you hear, then find these people and tell them how great they are.
Better still, tell them and then seek out their new releases and buy them. We add links, when they are reliable and active, so that you can keep track if you so wish.
Always go straight to the artist or the label where possible. That way, the money goes straight to the people responsible for this art. These people rely on our support to keep going and make more quality releases!
Please feel free to leave comments as you go along...at least then we know you appreciate this stuff (or otherwise) and you're not just a bunch of freeloading file collectors.
If you made this music and we have pissed you off by posting any of this, please leave a comment in the post and the offending articles will be removed.
A while back I was going to drop an ASC post. On my travels, I found an absolutely brilliant blog that had posted quite a few already. I have a lot more that aren't there but decided to give that blog some props and move on to something else instead.
But I forgot to give the blog the respect it deserves. Anyway...
Check out Flashing Light Will Blind Us and you will find a good healthy dose of ASC and a lot of other gems. Check out the Tokyo Flashback series she/he/they have up there! I was gonna post it but checked to see if it was already up somewhere (that's how I found the blog). Looks like I was beat to the Wheels Of Confusion post as well but I didn't lift it from there, it came from my own collection...great/simple minds think alike I guess! I might return to ASC and fill in the gaps...but might not.
Astral Social Club is the work of Neil Campbell by the way. Probably best known for his work with Vibracathedral Orchestra, he is a prolific solo artist, contibutor and collaborator. You really should check out his work! A lot is still for sale and he releases fresh material regularly and you can keep in touch here. Neil also uses Discogs to sell his gear here and is always helpful and takes time to answer any fanboy questions you might have.
In a world full of information overkill, Violent Onsen Geisha is a rare and mysterious thing! As in...there's very little info out there. Basically, Violent Onsen Geisha is the work of Masaya Nakahara although for years he created a history of VOG as a group whose members mysteriously died one by one (Spinal Tap drummer style, if you prefer). I suppose this provides the key to his work as Violent Onsen Geisha...sly and ironic, bizarre and sarcastic...creating a history which cloaks him in mystery so that he can enjoy himself in relative anonymity. Basically what you get is kitsch soundtracks and hippetty hop and blasts of disco and found sound and field recordings and spoken word and noise. You can see the smile all over his face...well I can! He has since moved on to work as Hair Stylistics which is more straight ahead blistering noise but with the same cheeky sensibilities leaking through.
What you get here is all that I have. There were two different versions of Otis (naturally you get both here), check Discogs for info. The U.S. Tour cd contains live collaborations with Smegma, Trumans Water and Thurston Moore respectively. Zashikionna Remix is half of a double cd by Minetaro Mochizuki & Violent Onsen Geisha that came with a magazine apparently. I have never seen that or I would have bought it and posted the full deal...if anyone can sort me out with the 1st disc I will love you forever (or at least for a bit). Sod And Sodie Sock comes with an additional disc...same deal. Dada Junk Spew! is a bootleg of the original tape on Chocolate Monk from 1995 which appeared from somewhere last year. It also includes the collaborative track 'Silver Afro Funeral March' which appeared on the 'Studies For Postal Orgies' cassette (which came with 50 copies of the first Prick Decay LP). Shocking Early Works 83-85 Vol. 1...who knows?
Throbbing Gristle. Progenitors. Transgressors. Wreckers Of Civilisation.
Lifted this from discogs as it tells you all you need to know at this point:
"The first real industrial group, the founders of Industrial Records and one of the most important electronic music innovators of all time. Growing out of the extreme performance art group COUM Transmissions, TG redefined music and laid a large part of the groundwork for all electronic music that followed. From their first performances in 1976 to their last gig in San Francisco in 1981 (recorded and released as "Mission Of Dead Souls"), they challenged and threatend so-called "normal" society - denounced from the floor of the House of Commons as "Wreckers of Civilisation" as the Coum Transmissions "Prostitution" art show in London's ICA (at which TG played their third show) came close to causing riots and set the stage for the punk revolution. Musically, they were extreme and uncompromising, using technology to make anti-music, which redefined music for all time. Their experimentation led them to pioneer sampling and looping techniques adopted by many of those who came after."
This material was originally released in 1980 as a set of tapes in a limited edition of 50, complete with a natty little briefcase. It was 49 really as Mike Wilkins of Industrial Records made #50 for himself. Staggeringly expensive at the time, but an essential document in that it catches Throbbing Gristle (and the attendant riots) in full on attack mode. Re-released on cd in 2002, this is the 25 disc version that was only available on pre-order from Mute. Whilst expensive, this was hoovered up by speculators so they could offer it back to you for five times the price.
Still staggers me that these were recorded 30+ years ago ... Throbbing Gristle were truly ahead of their time. If you want further info on Throbbing Gristle and Coum, there are two fantastic books out there (this one and that one) that I highly recommend.
As an aside, when I bought the Twenty Jazz Funk Greats book from Waterstones, a bosomly matriarch scanned the book and proclaimed "Ooohhh, Throbbing Gristle" at a volume that reverberated right across the shop ... still warms me cockles to this day!
I have heard that there is a theory doing the rounds that there is such a thing as too much Wolf Eyes. Then again, some people believe in god and fairies at the bottom of the garden. Bah! Lunatics all!
Asylum Style is a series of 10 seperate releases on American Tapes dropped between 2003 and 2005.
Have you ever felt that you have bitten off more than you can chew? This post has given me indigestion that you wouldn't believe.
"Identity Amnesia" seems kind of appropriate (although it's a recent Ramirez solo release ... but the picture's cute)! More prolific than you can imagine. The better known Black Leather Jesus and Werewolf Jerusalem have already been been featured here before. Here are some of his other issues. Master of the Harse Noise Wall but there is much more differentiation than the casual observer would imagine. Some have appeared elsewhere...some definately haven't.
Demons are Nate Young (Wolf Eyes, etc) and Steve Kenney (Hatred, Isis & Werewolves). Demons use synthesizers to explore near-epileptic fits of droning synth textures that elicit comparisons with earlier European electronic pioneers (such as Stockhausen and Cluster) whilst simultaneously bludgeoning forward with the grating and scraping atonal complexities of Whitehouse and Throbbing Gristle. Subterranean atonal analog rumblings compete with laser-sharp extraterrestial blasts and hums. Since forming in late 2005, Demons have evolved from a synthesizer duo to include video artist Alivia Zivich into a "Visual Music" trio to produce discomforting psychedelic multi-media performances. Working under the name “Video Madness” she often uses the music of Demons as soundtracks to her analog video experiments.
Most Demons output is released via Nate's AA Records (which you can reach here). The site appears to be in hibernation at the minute but you can still grab a few of their releases at Fusetron. You can also grab some of their fantastic dvd releases here.
Demons are touring with Sick Llama soon, so hopefully there will be new output in the near future.
Before you get too excited...the Life Destroyer box only has the audio rip of the dvd (with the cd and tape of course) and 080206 doesn't include the (extremely limited) 1-sided lathe cut locked groove 5".
Bark Haze is primarily a guitar duo of Andrew Macgregor (who also records as the wonderful Gown) and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth etfuckingcetera). They are occasionally joined on drums by either Pete Nolan (Magik Markers, Virgin Eye Blood Brothers, Spectre Folk, GHQ, etc) or John Moloney (Sunburned Hand Of The Man, Howlin' Rain, etc). Their name came from a mis-hearing of theradical early 70s R+B group the Bar-Kays and from that moment the concept of mis-hearing and allegiance to presenting the mis-hearing as some open-ended musical course became The Bark Haze's identity. Their debut gig in the UK was at the 2006 Nightmare Before Christmas ATP event that was curated by Moore.
You should know what to expect: open ended effects pedal drenched free-guitar blow outs.
This is the post that, without a doubt, gives me the most pleasure to give to y'all! Dick Flick is the pseudonymous main brain behind the crazed kalaidoscopic world of the BPO. Hailing from Seattle, he is regularly joined by various incognito waifs and strays (especially live) to create delirious, crazed, perverted and sacriligious soundscapes.
Imagine a cartoon cut-up assault filled with rapid-fire samples, vertiginous switchback edits, lightning bolts of noise, loops spun inwards, outwards and upside down, and gratuitous FX abuse. Imagine Uncle Meat/Lumpy Gravy style Zappa/Mothers Of Invention, harsh electronics, porn flicks, televangilists, sex instruction manuals and public information docs shredded and turned inside out. Got it? You're not even close! I listen to BPO a lot. I find myself laughing my face off or dancing around the room or curled up in a corner, gently rocking, trying to convince myself "everything is gonna be OK". And that can be during just one track. It's a wildly ecstatic and nauseating ride!
It's live where the true hypnotic and hallucinatory genius works best of all. Check the dvdr that comes with Fuck Rockin' In American Airspace. The video cut-up meshes with the sound collage perfectly. And, check the 6 man "Fear God" dance troupe towards the end (...yup...you read that right). Absolutely hilarious!
Special thanks to Herr Flick for getting me into this in the first place a good while ago. And for ocassionally sending me the odd tape and vinyl treat. But especially for being so enthusiastic about me posting this. He's a good human! They definately put some crazy drugs in the water in Seattle...I wish I lived in Seattle!
Stimbox is the work of Tim Oliveira, and was one of the more established names in the American harsh noise scene. Oliveira was also the founder of the Hebi Like a Snake record label, and co-owner (with Bob Scott of Xome) of the Harsh Noise label. The Harshnoise label was active from 2002 through 2008. During those years, the label released some excellent (invitation only) harsh noise releases from some of the best artists in the field. Initially, it was operated by both Tim Oliveira (Stimbox) and Bob Scott (Xome) but eventually Tim took over the whole operation while Bob concentrated on other endeavors.
Stimbox's work is noted for its' dense, psychedelic harsh noise, usually made with closed feedback loops run through a huge range of effects pedals with a trademark blend of grating harsh and synthesized textures. There's a short mini-doc at the bottom...he can tell you better than I can.
Ages ago, somebody requested a Stimbox post. Didn't act on it at the time because I hadn't actually heard that much...but it was enough to set me off. Thanks, whoever you are. There are dozens of releases going back to the early 1990's...but they are really hard to get hold of and this is all I have. Tim seems to have folded his operations a couple of years ago. If anybody knows what he is up to these days give us a shout!
Initially, Nautical Alamanac were a Michigan based duo consisting of James Twig Harper and the seemingly omnipresent Nate Young (Wolf Eyes, etc). Owing much to the Michigan noise scene, they started out as a rouge 'crash and smash' terror band, playing anywhere possible using confrontational tactics. With the addition of Sol Meltzer on percussion they realigned under a non-traditional "rock" motif. In 2001, James and partner Carly Ptak relocated to Baltimore and from this point the (floating) membership centred around the duo with the addition of Max Eisenberg on percussion. In Baltimore, they refurbished a three-storey building themselves and dubbed it Tarantula Hill. It quickly became an essential lynchpin for art, music performance, and the backbone for Baltimore's experimental scene and clubhouse for all traveling noise artists and experimentalists passing through the area. They spent years constructing and hot-wiring countless pieces of found materials and creating fantastic recycled homemade instruments: gutted electronics, rewired circuitry, metal...you name it, it was all thrown into the mix.
In March 2006, whilst Nautical Alamanac were in New York for the No Fun Fest, Tarantula Hill burnt down. In a crushing blow, James and Carly lost years of work and instrumentation, but more importantly, their cats died as well. Their musical community ralleyed around in impressive style, raising funds to help get the couple back on their feet. From here, apart from occasional live performances, I'd thought that the Almanac had folded. James and Carly started putting out solo works...Twig in particular is busy building up a substantial body of excellent releases. Recently, I realised that in the past year or two, Nautical Almanac had been putting out a series of sneakily released lathe-cuts in editions of about 15. I say sneakily because, I was sleeping and missed the lot. Here's hoping for some cdr rereleases!
Nautical Almanac’s sound is somewhere between analog improv and improv comedy. What results from these colliding philosophies is a carefully considered chaos born of technological refinement and cannibalism. In gradually becoming more accessible in form, it seems that the ideas had to be pushed further so the focus of the band was on creating an unpretentiously fucked-up and poetically damaged sensibility.
With Harper and Ptak constantly wiring gear in new configurations and adding new devices to its arsenal, each release is different. They may tinker strictly with machines, but aside from the hardware, Nautical Almanac have far more in common with the free-folk movement than the anti-music industrialists of the noise scene. Beneath the tinnitus tones, broken pitch bursts and malfunctioning oscillator currents, it's the same freeform flux as The Sunburned Hand of the Man, No Neck Blues Band or even Sun City Girls. Only it’s been corroded beyond recognition.
John Olson, Mike Connelly and Nate Young with John Wiese. Naturally, these four people should need no introduction. A series of 6 cdrs, split between American Tapes and Gods Of Tundra and released in 2006. Apparently recorded in the van while touring the East Coast of the USA in October 2006.
Sunroof! is the work of prolific, Bradford-based guitar-abuse legend Matthew Bower. What is it about Yorkshire that produces so many incredible outsider artists? He's probably better known for his work as Skullflower and Hototogisu (with Marcia Bassett). Although some Sunroof! releases only feature Matt, it is far from a purely solo outing. The project has included collaborators such as Richard Youngs, C. Spencer Yeh (Burning Star Core), John Moloney (Sunburned Hand Of The Man), Ben Jones and Hasan Gaylani (Jazzfinger), Lee Stokoe (Culver), Mick Flower (Vibracathedral Orchestra; Flower-Corsano Duo), Neil Campbell (Vibracathedral Orchestra), Phil Todd (Ashtray Navigations) and Spencer Clark and James Ferraro (The Skaters).
Sunroof! specialise in high-pitched, airy, shimmering drones, reminiscent of some of Vibracathedral Orchestra's work, filled with flute-like tones, soft feedbacking guitars and restless, metallic percussion. However, Sunroof!’s trajectory shifts from bubbling, transcendental pulses to coruscating feedback, jerky freeform soloing to sweet-shimmering dream-haze, traces of acid-damaged British folk to brain-blitzing high-pitched psychedelic drone. This shimmering, restless fluttering is filled with a holy chaos, a cacophony that incorporates any background noise, no matter how harsh, into part of the music.
I haven't included Delicate Autobahn Under Construction (a stunning piece of work btw), Silver Bear Mist, Bliss, or Cloudz. The superb VHF Records finally have them in print again after years of unavailability. They are very cheap...$12 for the double cds!!! I think you should support the label and buy them.
The Crippled Rosebud Binding double lp is included in the previous Mouthus post.
Yep...I'm gonna be keeping the blog up and running! J and (latterly) I put 1 hell of a lot of work into Bleak Bliss and it seems a shame for it to disappear. Not sure which direction it's off in but the discog style takes a shitload of time and energy, especially for one person. Most likely that a discog style post will drop followed by a series of single or themed releases to keep things rolling whilst I'm working on the next discog stylee. Between discog types, will be trying to post stuff that doesn't appear elsewhere. We'll see...
Gonna be using Megaupload for now for 4 main reasons...I've already got an account; you get a downloadspeed of 300+ on one download; their download manager is pretty ace (and you can use it for rapidshare as well); and I've never had an issue with it when using it for downloads. Things may change...but please, let's not start the filehost debate again because it's dull dull dull. Would rather talk about music tbh...Will reup J's files as they start to drop out if peeps request.
Due to a deadly combination of Rapidshare turning into a sack of wank and me not having the time due to my job and my label, i'm packing this blogging deal in. I'm not going to delete it, i'm going to leave it here so you can download everything til they expire. Badgerstump might carry it on, it's his call really. Either way i'm not deleting it.
Our Love Will Destroy the World is a psychedelic / noise project from Featherston, New Zealand by Campbell Kneale after disbanding Birchville Cat Motel. It forced through and came to life as the artist's sort of "second birth" in 2008.
Personally I much prefer this to most BCM, even tho they're not that different =/
Phil Todd has been recording as Ashtray Navigations for over 15 years now. Originally a solo project, it gradually evolved into a group effort, although recently it's been the duo of Phil and Melanie Delaney. Phil also appears under numerous pseudonyms, and in a swarm of groups and collaborations. He has also appeared as an occasional member of Vibracathedral Orchestra and Sunroof! in some of their best work. His major achievement, however, is his ongoing project Ashtray Navigations. Releasing a cascade of cassettes, LPs, CDs and CD-Rs, Todd has refined a singular take on modern sound construction that references the dynamics of rock, the emotional evisceration of blues and the white-light intensity of noise. For more than 15 years he has blazed his own trail with a unique dedication and passion. Passion is in fact, the first word that comes to mind listening to this music where (over)driven effects drenched acid guitar riffs, concrete sounds, delicate acoustic passages and vintage warm electronics, live in absolute symbiosis. Power to the imagination, breaking down the walls between song and improvisation, structure and freedom, melody and noise. Just like looking inside a kaleidoscope, this will be the perfect soundtrack for your daydreams!
Mr. Todd was the head of the gloriously esoteric, now defunct, Betley Welcomes Careful Drivers label and now runs the equally sublime Memoirs Of An Aesthete. Ashtray are staggeringly prolific but i have only included a selection of earlier works. Phil is up on ebay and discogs as randomrevivalzzz, putting out damn fine new releases on a regular basis alongside rereleases and old stock. Go there immediately, metaphorically shake him warmly by the hand, and give him all of your money! He is officially the nicest man in Leeds...he deserves your fullest support!!!
Thirdorgan is the noise music project of the Japanese musician Akihiro Shimizu (pictured right). Since 1986, Akihiro Shimizu under his Thirdorgan moniker has been a constant presence in the Osaka underground scene and a major player in the international 'noise' arena. Along with Government Alpha, Contagious Orgasm, Dissecting Table and Guilty Connector, Thirdorgan is one of the more prominent acts from the "second wave" of Japanoise acts in the middle to late 1990s. His works have been finely honed over the many years and now stand alongside the refined power electronica surges of artists found on the Mego label, mid-period Merzbow or even early Sahko pulse & crunch overload. Shimizu also runs the record label Alienation Records. He has worked with Masonna and Solmania and is most frequently now found collaborating with original Zeni Geva guitarist NP. Expect incredibly digitized blurts, static washes and glitchy mayhem.
Corrupted is a Japanese sludge/doom metal band, formed in 1994. Their sound is characterized by incredibly downtuned guitars and bass playing slow, minimalist riffs under deep layers of feedback. The vocals are harsh guttural grunts, and the music alternates between long instrumental sections and sections with vocals which go for long periods of time without rest. They are considered by most familiar with the genre to be one of the heaviest and darkest doom metal bands of all. However, they sometimes have long acoustic sections, spoken-word interludes, and other breaks in the style, even other instruments, as on their album El Mundo Frio, a 71-minute song which contains long sections of harp. To this effect, they recently added a keyboardist, Takehito Miyagi, to their lineup, which had previously consisted only of guitar, bass, drums, and vocals.
Corrupted has a few notable idiosyncrasies which seem to create an air of mystery around the band. Although they hail from Japan, and their members on most releases are all Japanese, they sing almost exclusively in Spanish, though some songs contain sections in Japanese or English. In addition, the band has never taken promotional pictures nor do any of the albums contain group photos. The only known existing photographs are taken by fans at concerts, and they refuse to give interviews.
Corrupted’s albums typically contain extensive liner notes in the form of bleak black-and-white photographs, which add to the gloomy atmosphere of the music.
Sissy Spacek is a side project of noisician John Wiese and often includes Corydon Ronnau and Jesse Jackson. Based out of LA, Wiese often describes them as grindcore though thier work more often features rapidly spliced samples and blistering noise. Live their performance is more closely related to grindcore utilizing bass/guitar/drum machine in rapid, heavy metal and hardcore inspiried bursts with screamed vocals.