Bleak Bliss

Demons

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".

2006 - Demons - Untitled (s-sided C30) [aa records]
2007 - Demons - Evocation [no fun productions]
2007 - Demons - Frozen Fog [aa records]
2007 - Demons - Invisible Darkness [aa records]
2007 - Demons - Life Destroyer (boxset) [aa records]
2007 - Demons - Live @ Les Instants Chavirés, Montreuil, France (10-8-07)
2007 - Demons - Live at No Fun Fest 2007
2007 - Demons & Dilloway - Demons Dilloway (C30) [aa records]
2007 - Demons & Thames - Split (C60) [wintage records & tapes]
2007 - Demons & Vertonen - Split (lp) [scratch & sniff, crippled intellect]
2007 - Demons with Zac Davis - Untitled (cass) [fag tapes]
2008 - Demons - Live @ Yoga studio, Northampton, MA (May 13, 2008) (flac)
2008 - Demons & Hatred - Split (lp) [troubleman unlimited]
2008 - Demons & Zac Davis - For Joy Rd [maim & disfigure]
2009 - Demons - 080206 [green records and tapes]

Bark Haze

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.

2006 - Bark Haze - Live & ATP, The Nightmare Before Christmas, UK (10th Dec 2006)
2007 - Bark Haze - Macannabis (C30) [arbor]
2007 - Bark Haze - Total Joke Era [important records]
2007 - The Bark Haze - Self-Titled (lp) [important records]
2008 - Bark Haze - Basement Psychosis (cass) [ecstatic peace!]
2008 - Bark Haze - One For Merz [three lobed recordings]
2008 - Bark Haze & Traum - Monolith Jupiter [music fellowship]
2009 - Bark Haze - Wild + Free [self released]
2009 - Bark Haze & Our Love Will Destroy The World - Split (7'') [krayon recordings]

...with John Moloney...

...with Pete Nolan...

The Broken Penis Orchestra

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!

2003 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - 3 Inch Dick (3'' cdr) [psychochrist productions]
2004 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - Oral Copulation (3'' cdr) [psychochrist productions]
2004 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - Organ Failure (7'') [hypnagogia]
2004 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - Plays With Itself [hypnagogia]
2004 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - Testicle Difficulties [psychochrist productions]
2006 - Crank Sturgeon & The Broken Penis Orchestra - Split (C20) [psychform records]
2006 - Nurse With Wound & The Broken Penis Orchestra - Natal Moonies [united jnana]
2006 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - Live @ The Electric Heavyland (R.I.P.) (04-15-06)
2006 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - Psychedelic Sex Show (C40) [enterruption]
2006 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - Vienna Sausage (3'' cdr) [psychochrist productions]
2006 - The Broken Penis Orchestra & At Jennie Richie - Split (2xC1) [psychform records]
2008 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - ...Sex & Drugs &... (C20) [enterruption]
2009 - Dick Flick - Cocktales From The Cutting Room Floor, Volume I... (C40) [soccer mom ebonics]
2009 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - Fuck Rockin' In American Airspace [debacle records] cdr dvdr
2009 - The Broken Penis Orchestra - Live @ Debacle Fest, Seattle (09-26-09)

Stimbox

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!

1996 - Stimbox - Recycled (cass) [rrrecords]
1996 - Stimbox & A.U.M. & Death Squad - Enjoy Happiness
1996 - Thirdorgan & Stimbox & Death Squad & Acerrimamente - Four Ways Of Penetration [bizarre audio arts]
1997 - Disposable & Stimbox - Commitee-For-Public Safety (C60) [hebi like a snake]
1997 - Stimbox - Meltdown (C46) [spite]
1997 - Stimbox - Powerrr Dump (C90) [labyrinth]
1998 - Stimbox - Caveat Emptor [solipsism]
1998 - Stimbox - Patrick Purdy (7'') [self abuse records]
2002 - Stimbox - Impulse [sewer records]
2002 - Stimbox - Lupus Tuberculoso [tabula rasa]
2003 - Stimbox - Bogul Bogul [hebi like a snake]
2003 - Stimbox & Armenia - Split (cdr) [bizarre audio arts]
2004 - Stimbox - Inner Turmoil [fargone records]
2004 - Stimbox & The Cherry Point - Split (C20) [troniks]
2004 - Xome & Stimbox - Split [negatron heavy industries]
2005 - Torturing Nurse & Stimbox - Cowfish Plus Vermilion [shasha records]
2006 - Stimbox & Ronez & Lasse Marhaug - 3-Way Split [doufu records]

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.

1996 - Nautical Almanac - Nautical Almanac (lp) [hanson records]
1999 - Nautical Almanac & Wolf Eyes & Rubber O Cement (tour cdr).rar
2000 - Nautical Almanac - Transcriptedivisions (lp) [hanson records]
2002 - Nautical Almanac - Rejerks Vol. 1 [heresee]
2003 - Dead Machines & Nautical Almanac - The Twilight Zone (C69) [american tapes]
2003 - Jessica Rylan & James Twig Harper - Rejerks Vol. 2 [heresee]
2003 - Nautical Almanac - Cisum (lp) [heresee]
2003 - Nautical Almanac - We Want War (tour cdr) [heresee]
2003 - Nautical Kites - Herculoids (C30) [unskilled labor]
2004 - Nautical Almanac - Handcut Record Transfers [heresee]
2004 - Nautical Almanac - Live @ No Fun Fest
2004 - Nautical Almanac - Rejerks Vol. 3 [heresee]
2004 - Nautical Almanac - Rooting For The Microbes [load records]
2004 - Nautical Almanac & Vertonen - Split (12'')
2005 - Nautical Almanac - Cover The Earth [heresee]
2005 - Nautical Almanac - Live @ WFMU on Brian Turner's Show 10.25.05
2005 - Nautical Almanac - Rejerks Volume 4 [heresee]
2005 - Nautical Almanac - Something (Euro Tour) [8mm records]

Nautical Almanac - Live In Montreal (2 shows_2 bars_2 nights)

Live @ Santo's NYC 09/21/09

Wolf Eyes with John Wiese - Wheels Of Confusion

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.

Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
Volume Five
Volume Six

Sunroof!

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.

1999 - Sunroof! - Peach Fuzzz (7'') [betley welcomes careful drivers, giardia]
1999 - Sunroof! - Slipstream [giardia]
1999 - Sunroof! - Studio Ks (cdr) [self-released]
2000 - Sunroof! - Found Star Sound [vhf records]
2001 - Sunroof! - Reborn In Jets Of Rainbow Water (lp) [giardia]
2002 - Sunroof! - Temple Music Volume 1 & 2 (2xcdr) [rural electrification program]
Volume 1 Volume 2
2003 - Sunroof! - Rock Power (euro tour cdr) [rural electrification program]
2003 - Sunroof! - Splat! [u-sound archive]
2003 - Sunroof! & Vibracathedral Orchestra - Wings Over America [vhf records]
2004 - Sunroof! - USSA [vhf records]
2004 - Sunroof! & Double Leopards - Live @ The Buffalo Bar, London [flac bootleg]
2005 - Sunroof! - Rainbow Electric Sabbath (cdr) [nature tape limb]
2006 - Sunroof! - Goldfoxradianthowl (s-sided lp) [melted mailbox]
2006 - Sunroof! - The Ocean Rooms, Brighton, UK (12 Nov 2006) [flac bootleg]
2007 - Sunroof! - Panzer Division Lou Reed [vhf records]
2007 - Sunroof! - Spitting Gold Zebras [bottrop-boy]
2008 - Kemialliset Ystävät & Sunroof! - Split Series #19 (12'') [fatcat records]
2008 - Sunroof! - Sufi Hate Crime/Zen Atrocity [self-released]

Hai

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.

Sunroof! coming on Saturday...

Bai

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.

Corrupted

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.

1995 - Anciano [Japan Overseas, 192]
1995 - El Dios Queja [Tag Rag, 192]
1995 - Nadie [Third Culture, VBR 128~160]
1995 - Split (w/Grief) [HG Fact, VBR 192~320]
1997 - Split (w/Enemy Soil) [HG Fact, 160]
1997 - Live At Fandango [Bootleg, 192]
1997 - Live On KJFC [Bootleg, 192]
1997 - Live On WFMU [Bootleg, 192]
1997 - Paso Inferior [Frigidity Discos, 256]
1999 - Dios Injusto [Frigidity Discos, 192]
1999 - Driven To Kill/Existence (w/Scarvers Calling) [Gouge, 192]
1999 - Llenandose De Gusanos [HG Fact, 128]
2000 - Split (w/Machetazo) [Frigidity Discos, 192]
2000 - Split (w/Sloth) [Not On Label, VBR 256~320]
2001 - La Victima Es Tu Mismo [View Beyond Records, 192]
2003 - Live @ 20,000V 3.24.03 [Bootleg, 128]
2004 - Se Hace Por Los Suenos Asesinos [HG Fact, VBR 160~320]
2005 - El Mundo Frio [HG Fact, 224]
2007 - An Island Insane [HG Fact, 320]
2007 - Vesana [HG Fact, 320]

Sissy Spacek

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.

The video below is from No Fun Fest in 2007.

2001 - Hair Control [Helicopter, 192]
2001 - Sissy Spacek [Helicopter, 256]
2002 - Phys Ed (w/Panicsville) [Helicopter, 192]
2002 - Scissors [Helicopter, 224]
2002 - Skroo Spacek [Helicopter, 256]
2003 - Remote Whale Control [Gameboy Records, 192]
2004 - Split (w/Die Monitr Bats) [Helicopter, Hand Held Heart, VBR 192~256]
2005 - Nice Gems [EET, 192]
2006 - Devils Cone And Palm [Misanthropic Agenda, 222]
2007 - Poling [Static Aktion, 192]
2008 - California Ax [Helicopter, VBR 224~320]pt.1 pt.2
2008 - DDT [Chondritic Sound, 192]
2008 - French Record [dualpLOVER, 192]
2010 - Agathocles/Sissy Spacek (w/Agathocles) [Ultra Eczema, VBR 234~320]

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

Hair Police

Hair Police were formed in Lexington, Kentucky, in January of 2001. The original line-up included Matt Minter and Ross Compton, but the group soon settled on Mike Connelly (guitar, vocals, tapes, noise), Robert Beatty (electronics), and Trevor Tremaine (drums, vocals, tapes).

Working with the traditional rock trinity of guitar, bass and drums, as well as power electronics, tape manipulation and oscillators, Hair Police build a demonic wall of sound straddling the boundary between thrash metal and industrial noise for a result reminiscent of Throbbing Gristle, early Black Dice, and Wolf Eyes. With a dose of Black Flag. Fuck the hyperbole, they really are that good!

”It’s not necessarily about technique, but it’s about attaining this kind of emotional high and sustaining it, sustaining it, sustaining it. Once you sustain it for a certain period, it becomes something else entirely. Hair Police just build and build and build and build, and it’s undeniable at some point. It’s not a put-on, it’s not bullshit. … They put themselves out there.” - Peter Kolovos

I'm pretty sure all of this is out of print. I've not included some of the more recent stuff...you need it! Go and buy it!

There is so much great Hair Police footage out there (including Hair Police on stage with Sonic Youth and Wolf Eyes) I couldn't resist posting two of them. The first is Hair Police at Florence American Legion in Florence, Ma on 08.01.08. It's basically a full set running at nearly half an hour. That will give you something to do whilst your waiting for your nails to dry! The second is a 10 minute part of a gig at the Savage Garden in Toronto (08.07.08) that is more straight into your face.

2001 - Hair Police - History Of Ghost Dad [gods of tundra]
2002 - Hair Police - Blow Out Your Blood [freedom from]
2002 - Hair Police - Mortuary Servants (7'') [freedom from ,gods of tundra]
2003 - Hair Police - Movies (Live '01 - '02) (C30) [animal disguise]
2003 - Hair Police - Probe Cutting (C30) [gods of tundra]
2003 - Hair Police & Crystal Fantasy - Split (10'') [liquid death records, hello pussy records]
2003 - Viki & Hair Police - Split [load records]
2004 - Hair Police - Dune Sores (C30) [rampart tapes]
2004 - Hair Police - Obedience Cuts [freedom from]
2004 - Hair Police - Rattlers Echo [chondritic sound]
2004 - Hair Police - Your Skull In The Gutter (C30) [gods of tundra]
2004 - Hair Police, Kites, Prurient - Live @ Edinburgh Castle, San Francisco (04-09-04)
2005 - Dead Machines & Hair Police - Illegal The Raw Live [fag tapes]
2005 - Dead Machines & Hair Police - Speech Of The Eyeless Infants_The Hills Have Eyes (lp) [american tapes, gods of tundra]
2005 - Hair Police - Beyond Leech Pit (C60) [fuck it tapes]
2005 - Hair Police - Constantly Terrified [troubleman unlimited]
2005 - Hair Police - Drawn Dead [hanson records]
2005 - Hair Police - Live @ Victoriaville, Canada (21.05.05)
2006 - Hair Police - 030505 (C10) [mountaain]
2006 - Hair Police - Live In Lex [american tapes]
2007 - Hair Police - Blind Kingdom (1-sided lp) [ultra eczema]
2007 - Hair Police - Live @ No Fun Fest (17.05.2007)
2007 - Hair Police - Live at the Asylum Inn (7'' & CDR) [american tapes]
2007 - Hair Police - New Mutations (euro tour cdr ) [gods of tundra]
2007 - Hair Police - Strict (7'') [troubleman unlimited]
2007 - Hair Police - The Empty Quarter [harbinger sound]
2007 - Hair Police & Pengo - Virus Thoughts (1-sided lp) [gods of tundra]
2008 - Hair Police - Our Minds Problems Vol. 1 [gods of tundra]
2008 - Hair Police - Our Minds Problems Vol. 2 [gods of tundra]
2008 - Hair Police - Our Minds Problems Vol. 3 [gods of tundra]
2008 - Hair Police & Dead Machines - ''Snow Front'' Live At The Half Ass [american tapes]

John Wiese

John Wiese is an artist and composer from Los Angeles, California. His ongoing projects include LHD and Sissy Spacek, but is known for his collaborations with many artists as diverse as Sunn O))), Wolf Eyes, Merzbow, Smegma, Kevin Drumm, Cattle Decapitation, and C. Spencer Yeh as well as his work as a solo artist. He has toured extensively throughout the world, covering Europe, Scandinavia and Australia as a member of Sunn O))), the UK as part of the Free Noise tour (a tentet including Evan Parker, C. Spencer Yeh, Yellow Swans, etc.), the United States alongside Wolf Eyes, and recently performed in the 52nd Venice Biennale with artist Nico Vascellari. While releasing albums on a variety of international labels, Wiese often releases work on his own label, Helicopter.

Video was filmed in Rotture, 2007.

1997 - Cat Woman Is A Cat Vampire [Helicopter, 160]
2001 - Split (w. Lefthandeddecision) [Troniks, 320]
2001 - John Wiese/Aeon Eon (w/ Aeon Eon) [Sir-C/X-Sar, 320]
2002 - Pyramid Suites (w/The Cherry Point) [Troniks, 320]
2002 - Guilty Connector/John Wiese (w/Guilty Connector) [Ataxie Disques, 320]
2003 - Ghost Call [Hardisty Disk, 192]
2003 - Bubble Pulse [Kissy Records, 320]
2004 - Foret [Chondritic Sound, 192]
2004 - Magic Crystal Blah [Helicopter, Kitty Play Records, VBR 231~320]
2004 - Pyramid Suites Vol.2 (w/ The Cherry Point) [Troniks, 192]
2004 - Split (w/ Thurston Moore) [Troniks, 192]
2005 - Free Piano (w/ Merzbow) [Misanthropic Agenda, Helicopter, 320]
2005 - Multiplication (w/ Merzbow) [Misanthropic Agenda, 320]
2005 - Arrhythmia Wave Burst And Panner Crash [Helicopter, 192]
2005 - Magical Crystal Blah Volume 2 [Helicopter, Kitty Play Records, 192]
2005 - Magical Crystal Blah Volume 3 [Helicopter, Kitty Play Records, 192]
2005 - Spectral Hand [Meudiademorte, 320]
2005 - Teenage Hallucination 1992-1999 [Troniks, 192]
2006 - ...Trick Satanism (w/ Hive Mind) [Chondritic Sound, 192]
2006 - At A Loss For Words (w/ Dave Phillips) [Blossoming Noise, 320]
2006 - Exoteric (w/ Metxlux) [Load Records, 160]
2006 - White Gold (w/ The Cherry Point) [Troniks, 320]
2006 - Haas Campaign [Troniks, 256]
2006 - Fronts (w/ Bruce Russel) [Helicopter, 256]
2006 - Live @ No Fun Fest 19.03.2006
2006 - Soft Punk [Troubleman Unlimited, 256]
2007 - Live In Nottingham (w/ C Spencer Yeh) [What The...? Records, 192]
2007 - Hzcollective - Richmond, VA 23.10.2007 (w/ C Spencer Yeh)
2007 - Terrazzo (w/ Pain Jerk) [Harbinger Sound, 320]
2007 - Mental Peace Liberation Front (w/ Pain Jerk) [Meatbox Records, 224]
2008 - Dramatic Accessories [Ultra Eczema, 256]
2008 - Inside And Out (w/ Ju Suk Reet Meate & Olivia) [Helicopter, 160]
2008 - New York/Atlanta (w/ C Spencer Yeh) [Helicopter, 128]
2009 - Cincinatti (w/ C Spencer Yeh) [DroneDisco, 320]
2009 - The Void (w/ C Spencer Yeh) [DroneDisco, 160]

Zebra Mu

I'm hopeless at writing bios n stuff but it seems to be how things go now so i'm gona take a stab at it, so with a little ctrl+c...

Like the Dada artist Kurt Schwitters who used found objects to build up his Merz works, Mike Ridge utilizes and modifies unwanted consumer items in the creation of noise and sound based recordings. This project is heavily centred on circuit-bending and hardware hacking: the creative modification of existing items to produce the unexpected from the familiar. Other items such as glass, metal, contact mics, tape heads and simple handmade electronic devices are also used as part of this project.

(Info stolen from here)

Mr Ridge is also the bloke behind a certain DIY noise label i'm sure i've made you all familiar with, Quagga Curious Sounds.

The video at the bottom is from some noise show back in March '09 with Gokkun.

2007 - Childhood Destroyer [Catch23 Recordings, VBR 128~224]
2007 - DDDD-77 [Dadaist Audio, 192]
2007 - Glass Material Action [Catch23 Recordings, VBR 128~320]
2008 - Analogue Anal (with [unitauf]) [Sewer Records, 320]
2008 - Cock Gallop! [Quagga Curious Sounds, 192]
2008 - Lavatorial Hardware Bondage [Love Torture Records, 64(!?)]
2008 - Unfold / Enmushubi [Smell The Stench, 320]
2008 - Unreleased Curiosities Oddments And Piffle [Super Terror Z, 192]
2009 - Antitheoretical Manipulated Kaleïdoscope (with Bruital Orgasm) [CNCCR, 192]
2009 - Split (with Boar) [Hoarse, 320]
2009 - Extinction Vol.1 [Quagga Curious Sounds, 192]
2009 - Extinction Vol.2 [Quagga Curious Sounds, 320]
2010 - Extinction Vol.2 Remix (by RedSK) [Not On Label, 320]
2010 - Exticntion Vol.3 [Feeding Cotten Records, 320]
???? - Small Talk [Catch23 Recordings, 192]

Daniel Menche

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

LIKE MINDS

Crate Diggers

Demons

Bark Haze

The Broken Penis Orchestra

Stimbox

Nautical Alamanac

Wolf Eyes with John Wiese - Wheels Of Confusion

Sunroof!

Hai

Bai

Our Love Will The Destroy The World

Ashtray Navigations

Thirdorgan

Corrupted

Sissy Spacek

Taint

Mono

Hair Police

John Wiese

Zebra Mu

Daniel Menche

Search This Blog

TWITTERFACE

THE PAST