Bleak Bliss

Dislocation - Inter/view

Improvised reeds and electronics sizzle, released by Contagious Orgasm's SSSM label as a CDR in 2000, with a lovely vellum cover.

Dislocation - Inter/View

Dislocation - Carve Another Notch

Dislocation occupied a strange in-between space in the world of late 1990's Japanese underground music. They had one foot in free improvisation, one in gallery art/film performance, and a third foot in the noise underground. Band member Keishi Kiyokawa produced no sound at all; he was only credited with visuals and performance. Yoshinori Yanagawa's alto shrieks slice through the air in a manner that echoes his contemporary, Masayoshi Urabe, and recalls their shared saxophonic ancestor Kaoru Abe. The synth and "electronics" players lay down a bed of low-level chatter that seems more in line with David Tudor, Hugh Davies, or Brian Doherty than with noise monsters Merzbow or Incapacitants. Dislocation might be thought of as a free improvisation unit, descended from East Bionic Symphonia or Taj Mahal Travellers. There's a lot of strange empty space here, though, not the cathartic wail one might expect. Still, it's terrific stuff. The fried electric improv skree on "Carve Another Notch" was recorded in 1990 and 1993 and released in 1994 by Scatter. It features a subdued Shohei Iwasaki/Monde Bruits playing samplers on the first two tracks.

Dislocation - Carve Another Notch

Skönhet‎ - The Girl Who Stole The Eiffel Tower

Skönhet‎ is the same person (KT) that is responsible for Självhat. Clearly, Audrey Hepburn inspires his wall noise ... and that is a good thing!

C30 released on Utmarken in 2009.

The Girl Who Stole The Eiffel Tower

Skönhet‎ - The Princess And The Newsreporter

C20 released on Waterpower in 2010.

The Princess And The Newsreporter

Självhat ‎- Skönhet Part 3

A while ago, I posted parts One and Two which were self-released CDrs from 2008. They were re-released on HarshFuckedForLife Records on cassette in 2009. At the time I didn't have Part 3 ...

C90 released on HarshFuckedForLife Records in 2009 in an edition of 15.

Skönhet Part 3

bloggs - Music for Multiples

bloggs is Joe Bloggs, a member of ur-drone monsters rhBand and/or a pseudonym for rhBand's Ralph Haxton. "Music for Multiples" doesn't sound much like rhBand, though. These obtuse organic crumplings are more similar to the prosaic mystery of Small Cruel Party, tac, or Yeast Culture.

bloggs - Music for Multiples

Social Junk - Champs '06

This is a CDr released on Ranky Tanky at the tail end of 2005.

Social Junk were (presumably) at their core Heather Nicole Young and Noah Anthony. Their history is a mystery but there were obviously other people involved.

I'm rather shamefaced about not posting Social Junk before ... thanks to Tom for posting the Give Up tape and asking for some more Junk to be made available. I have a mountain of Social Junk so maybe this will be the start of me pulling my finger out (?).

Oh, and I meant to say that whilst the Junk journey is apparently over Spleencoffin have recently re-released the Renewal tape on vinyl!

Champs '06

Social Junk - Champs 08

C42 released on Night People in 2008.

Delirious (in the true sense of the word) tribal noise!

Champs 08

Social Junk - Born Into It (Special Edition)

Wonderful motorik shaman grooves released on Digitalis Recordings in 2009.

This is the edition that includes the bonus C20 "Champs 09".

Born Into It (Special Edition)

Merzbow‎ - Samidara

Don't ask me how Masami Akita keeps on delivering such wonderful things. Simply file this under "Genius".

This was released as a vinyl work of art in an edition of 250 and a single sided tape in an edition of 100 on Placenta Recordings in 2013.

Samidara

Aihiyo‎ - Aihiyo

In recording terms, this was a short-lived "covers" band featuring three absolute legends. Masami Kawaguchi on Bass, Ikuro Takahashi on Drums and Keiji Haino on Guitar and Vocals. Their material focused on pop tunes from the 1950s and 1960s. You would never recognise them as the three utterly dismantle the originals and create something completely unique!

This is a CD released on J-Factory in 1998.

Aihiyo

Aihiyo ‎- ライヴ [Live]

Stunning live CD released on P.S.F. Records in 2000.

Live

Toshimaru Nakamura‎ - No-Input Mixing Board

Toshimaru Nakamura creates great improvisational work generated solely from his manipulation of the internal feedback within his mixing desk and drops some really great hallucinatory technoise.

This was released on Zero Gravity in 2000.

No-Input Mixing Board

Toshimaru Nakamura‎ - No-Input Mixing Board 2

CD released on A Bruit Secret in 2001.

No-Input Mixing Board 2

Toshimaru Nakamura - No-Input Mixing Board [3]

CD released on Alcohol in 2003.

No-Input Mixing Board [3]

De Fabriek - Music For Zelftapers B

And now, the exciting conclusion!

De Fabriek - Music For Zelftapers B

De Fabriek - Music For Zelftapers A

Calling all home-tapers! This 1989 chunk of ugh is for you.

De Fabriek - Music For Zelftapers A

De Fabriek - Enz Enz

A c90 (!) by De Fabriek from 1984. This ought to keep you busy for awhile.

De Fabriek - Enz Enz

De Fabriek - Members Only

All-over-the-place 1982 tape that gathers everything I like about De Fabriek in one place! You've got some rough low-fidelity noise collage, synth bleep, industrial clatter, people muttering to themselves (?), and some charmingly inept punk blurt.

De Fabriek - Members Only