Messdiener - Würmer Im Kruzifix / Klosterarbeiten Psych.KG 33, 01/2008

Label: Psych.KG, E-Klageto
Catalog#: Psych.KG 33, 01/2008
Format: CD, Limited Edition
Flexi-disc, 12"
Country: Germany
Released: 2008
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Experimental, Indie Rock, Avantgarde
Notes: Limited & hand numbered to 50 copies, 12" box set w/ CD, 12" flexi disc & 2 inserts
Tracklisting:
Würmer Im Kruzifix
1 Gehacktes (1:31)
2 Der Schaumstoss (7:39)
3 Massensterben Oder Die Unsicherheit Beim Einkaufen (5:09)
4 Rote Kanne (Anstaltsversion) (5:49)
5 Christentrick (9:03)
6 Jedes Lebewesen Lebt! (2:59)
Klosterarbeiten
7 Alter Stich (2:36)
8 Natürliches Still (Druckluftmix) (4:52)
9 Ich Liebe Dich (Schlagerversion A-Seite) (3:08)
10 Neue Vernichtung (2:37)
11 Die Unsicherheit Beim Einkaufen (5:05)
12 Christentrick (Holzmix) (12:54)
13 Grande Finale In Weiss Wie Der Tod (9:53)
Really difficult to classify...first thing which came to my mind was Fuckhead - austrian act which I have known from years even in my early years of hard core punk.
But the energy here is much more tonned down. It appears to be based on 4/4 rhythms - sometimes marching, prepared electronica is just a background to the percussive, bass, synth main themes joined by teutonic vocal manner which is sometimes really irritating and sometimes funny as it goes on...Good stuff for some theatrical shows and actor's approach singing/songwriting - it has an original kick to it.

Blue Sabbath Black Cheer Crows Eat The Eyes From The Leviathans Carcass [Sweden | 2009 | Release The Bats Records]

Compilation of older, out of print releases. Limited to 500 copies>

Tracklisting:
1. Untitled (5:03)
2. Untitled (2:23)
3. Genocide (4:57)
4. Maggot (4:57)
5. Untitled (4:48)
6. Borre Fen / Untitled (17:26)
7. Untitled (4:40)

Listening to this piece evoked a really deep and dark stuff in me as I was turning into a monster bat. A complete set of tracks which can be used a s a soudtrack for burning your skin alive. There's something interesting in it though as I look at my past years in high school makes me think of all these classic metal bands that were supposed to be terrifying and doom gloom... what appeared to be rather poor manifestation of senseless egotical plays of stupid black metal fuckers...and yet I always strived for a material devoted of stupid shitty ideology giving a real deal chance of deep and extreme sounds. Actually this is a real deal stuff where the technology is not just an excuse for doing something which may sound professional but lacks the vision. Blue Sabbath Black Cheer uses an echo of a metal riff boiling it alive in a stir fry of droney noise tumbling down like an avalanche....real deal!

Violet - Violet Ray Gas and the Playback Singers CD By Zeromoon

Jeff Surak a.k.a. Violet has been active for so many years that it's really difficult to count numerous projects he has been involved in so far. Active also as the label owner - Zeroomoon and an organiser of Sonic Circuits festival.
"Violet Ray Gas and the Playback Singers" has been released after a while of being occupied in some other projects and in life of every artist there is also a time for a solo expression.
First thing is the cover which is vintage and obscure piece of art which is a postcard from Soviet block country possibly Romania or Bulgaria. Dark and grey tone of it makes me think about my childhood and a dream trip. It also gives this extra context to Jeff's family roots.
As for the content - whatever you call it - it is revolving around drone music, using radio frequencies and light touch pad of samplers, using field recordings and pieces of composition. Dark but yet very delicate and subtle, private...boosts me up. Thanks Jeff...

available at www.zeromoon.com

Feine Trinkers bei Pinkels daheim - Vaginal Erbrechen

Tracklisting:
1 Weltseele Und Gotteslob (10:52)
2 Obsession Ist Scheisse (6:10)
3 Schimpansenbar (7:49)
4 Paradieswurst (10:22)
5 Trommelfellflattern (4:17)
6 Tiefer Scham (11:44)

German duo Feine Trinkers Bei Pinkels Daheim (Jurgen Eberhard and Oswin Czerwinski) rattled the post-industrial scene with the droning and wavering collages of found sounds and white noise documented on Kornzweig Baby (1996), particularly Papagoyenboom (1997), and almost professionally on Apfelmost Und Essig (Epileptic, 1999), and ambitiously by the 64-minute Hungerhaken's Speckrolle (2002).


By adding Swedish guitarist Chris Sigdell, also of space-doom trio Phased, the duo became NID and released Plate Tectonics (Aufabwegen, 2007) that continued their hypno-cacophonous mission.

Atmpospheric drone ambient...and that's it
doom
voices
laughter
surrealist
prepared sounds
focused

Gelsomina - Greenaway CD-R Retinascan mndr2012

Gelsomina is a finnish project behind which stands Pekka PT mastermind of Musically Incorrect Records. This material blasts a great deal. Experimental harsh noise with some narratives taken out from Peter Greenaway films which are nicely fit intervals.
The music is really great distorted layers of sound. Noise panorama which embraces so many sounds and twist that it really feels like the noise essence.
What this album lacks is a nice wrapping of the concept. Referring to Greenway's art in terms of nice music could be more developed. The context of it isn't skin deep. Harshnoise can be a vessel for many things but I guess it needs the sophistication badly to cope with such a challenge. Overall very good work.

Duozero - Esperanto by Small Voices recs

Tracklisting:
1 Prana (5:28)
Voice - Marc Girard
2 The Moving Box (5:43)
Tape, Other [Devices] - Aristide Leonetti
3 The Rhyme Of The Ancient Mariner (7:03)
Lyrics By - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Voice - Massimo Zamboni
4 September (5:11)
Vocals - Alessia Bertozzi
5 L'Uomo Precario (5:34)
Voice - Davide Bregola
6 One Single Man (6:17)
Vocals - Kalhari Bushmen
7 Slap (2:26)
Lyrics By - Dobrisa Cesaric
Voice - Milorad Sepic
8 Illogico (6:58)
Electronics - Kenko Oshi
9 The Way Life Would Be (6:24)
Tape, Other [Devices] - Aristide Leonetti
10 Killer Shark (4:48)
Voice - Gabriele Tesauri
11 Esperanto (5:20)
12 Il Cerchio (3:18)
Voice - Marco Valerio Amico
13 September (Tilomo Mix) (7:22)
Guitar [Ebow, Afrobeat Filter], Bass [Fretless], Percussion - Tilomo
Remix , Co-producer, Engineer - Tim Motzer

Hard to classify set of songs which goes on the edge of spoken word which strangely reminds me of Laurie Anderson's albums ( as for the manner of delivery but not the vocal style or english accent which is italian - makes it even more original).
Atmospheric and nostalgic sounds make a nice packaging of sometimes even a pastel tone, painter's brush.
The songs are a bit lost between new wave and technoidal aggravated rhythms. Vocals make it more of an actor performance. Finds its way as a background stuff with nice ideas to focus on from time to time.

available at www.newnihilism.com

Bardoseneticcube - Lord of Light Bardoseneticcube - Saturn Wind

from the official website
Band press-release

Bardoseneticcube was formed in summer 1998. The most precise definition of their music is surrealism: "pure psychic automatism willing to express the real functioning of the reflection either orally or written, or in any other form. Dictation of mind without any control from the intellect, outside of any aesthetic of moral considerations". During it's lifetime the project has released more than 20 albums in Russia and abroad, took part in various compilations and festivals. Bardoseneticcube was involved in several sound installations. The project's live shows are usually supported by video which is considered the integral part of the performance. This is always improvisation in which both listeners and acoustic characteristics of the space are involved. The live sound stylistically varies from techno-shamanic trance to the baffling harsh-noise and electro-acoustic experiments. Application of the original sonic "system" and psychoacoustic apparatus allows the band to achieve the unbelievably wide frequency range, from infralow to ultrahigh. The project members professionally and with dilettantish persistence extract sounds from everything that can sound: computers and contact mics, ethnic instruments and electronic processing, water and field recordings, all this happens during conducting pseudo-magickal rituals and materializes in surreal sonic pictures which don't have any relation to music, both in ordinary and "not ordinary" meaning of this term. Or maybe they are just pulling your legs...

Nice soundtrack-type kind of music based on synth drones mingled with vocal stuff. Genre? hard to say. Surrealist- yes! Ritual chants, very dense layers of sounds - soemtimes feels like you are being attacked by it - but not in a noise way.
but if you expect something Nursey it is something different. Soundtrack for taiga psychodelic trips. I am wondering why this guy hasn't been hired for some documentary about flora and fauna. Would suit very good.

available at http://www.newnihilism.com

Kouhei Matsunaga & Niko Skorpio - split CD Deserted Factory 2004

There's a really nice idea behind this split which is actually a sort of compilation at least for Kouhei Matsunaga. we ahve a great deal of his works with other musicians here Koyzeu, Frans de Waard, Raionbashi, Phroq, Lasse Marhaug, Mattin, Zenial, Carols Giffoni to name just a few. A great idea indeed which gives a good perspective of how diverse a music can be even if it goes in the same direction or genre. Temperature of this melting pot is just what it should be. And experimental style of it is also very intriguing - I don't want to fall just under one point of naming it as industrial/noise/ambient/drone labels which is a shitty thing to do. A masterclass for a bored with repetitive stuff...
as for Niko Skorpio - 5 tracks of really introspective atmosphere- spoken word mixed with speed cut-ups sampladelia which don't involve the usual analogue techniques. Reminds me of Robin Fox and Anthony Pateras improvisations but here it is more distinguishable, not dipped in noisy overloads, dense and quite raw yet very transparent. get to work Niko we want more!!!!!
available at www.newnihilism.com

G 005 : YÔKO HIGASHI, LIONEL MARCHETTI - "OKURA 73°N - 42°E" Musica Genera 2009

Une musique concrète composée par Lionel Marchetti, 2005

Tournage sonore original sur le Stubnitz - Rostock/Deutschland
Sons fixés, synthétiseurs analogiques: Lionel Marchetti
Présences vocales additives via radio CB Midland: Olivier Capparos, Eric Pellet
Remerciements: Robert Piotrowicz, Anna Zaradny, Jérôme Noetinger, Stubniz tanker team...

Lionel Marchetti works in the field of musique concrete which he personally refers to as "loudspeaker art". Various collaborations and his solo work gave a really refreshing view to what is sound and how it can be used.
Here with Yoko Higashi works out the formula of spectral collage based on the field recorded sounds and voices mingled with modulars which he crafts beautifully in 3 pieces. The material is not too long which gives this special kind of feeling that you strive for more. But it is a perfect scenario. No useless sounds, no maiming the listener with some promises which aren't kept then. Great work!

available at www.newnihilism.com

Ultra Milkmaids - 03|02|USA

Label: MNDR
Year: 2004
Tracks list:
1. New / RRD / Play So Sorry / Mer
2. Aka
3. Sloggy
4. Most / Casablanca
5. Mr Ekinox

Ultra Milkmaids was one of the groups I had contact early on in 1994. Back then there was no laptop scene.
Milkies were always in drone/ambient stuff. This one is rather surprising. Drones?
Yeah, but hellishly mellodious - seems like they are using more guitars. There's stil this Milkie feeling to it. Glitchy stuff which now seems a bit obscure. Re-issue of the material from 2002 released in limited number of 50 cdrs now back. Back from the past. Nice...

atrabilis sunrise - altered alternaive (boredom level)

It feels really that I haven't reviewed such extraordinary and unique material in great deal of time.
First thing is that the tracks counter doesn't cover the actual number of tracks which is a nice asset- gets you stay focused a little more than the usual listening experience. Officially there are 17 tracks on this CD with intruiging titles like 'Hermana Cronaline', 'Auto-erotic Y Fuerte', 'Les Poumons De Leurs Camarades', 'Tryptamine For The Soap' and 'Santa Salvia'. Makes me feel about the dada finest's! Pascal Bourdon - the man behind this project did a really good job - genuine spirit of following the pursuit of creatinfg something of his own. We have experiments here with loops and even melodies which makes the whole cd really digestive and at the same time keeping it very edgy experience. Sometimes I get the feeling that the author tried it more "conceptual" than "experimental", but the construct of the art work is really impressive. It is worth every penny in the world to get it. Released by Deserted Factory DF016 / September 2004
available at www.newnihilism.com distro

Government Alpha · Impregnable Storm CDR NN VI · April 2009

Tracklist
· Electric Sandstorm
· Venusian Dragon
· Electromagnetic Aurora
· Thorny Tornado
· Desertification
· Infinity

Yasutoshi Yoshida is a man of the hour when it comes to japanese noise and the noise worldwide. Working mostly under Government Alpha alias, he also leads Xerxes label.
His trademark is a great piece of multi-layered, feedback fueled noise wall of sound. Yet his work is not a mere soundart but also tries to get the feeling of something deeper. and this is also the case of this album. Beautifully printed cover which is actually a poster when you unfold it gives a real pleasure to dwelve the sounds. Brutal, harsh...? Platitudes. Yoshida offers a bit more - spacey squelches and open spacefeel to it. and yet if you look at the titles it gives different perspective. Reminds me a bit of these prog rock 70's bands and Ash Ra Tempel kindda thing, but as for those it was just an addition to pompous and shallow endeavours yet here there's some more...what?
Mind's journey

available at http://www.newnihilism.com/

Rez Epo "Xazau"

author's info:
37 minutes of psychedelic noise/ambient. Second full-length release of this Polish project.
DVD box, xerox covers on color paper, spraypainted cdr, inlay
Price: 3$/2 Euro/10zl
Shipment: 4$ worldwide/2 Euro /5 zl
Paypal to: konrad[dot]materek[at]gmail[dot]com
www.myspace.com/rezepo

I know Konrad since I guess 2 years almost which is a pretty good period to see how a young musician and his interest evolve. Derived from DIY noise ethos "Xazau" makes a leap into more harsh and obscure sounds. Which has its ins and outs. What doesn't encourage me to listen is the monotonous sound design which is an obstacle in dwelving deeper as you might already know what the tone will possibly be. I guess Konrad's aim was achieved more or less - which is to get the sound as natural as it is. But what the material lacks is a good piece of narrative, which I guess he will work on. Keep on sweatin' dude!!!

Arturas Bumšteinas - Uniforms BÔŁT • BR 1003 • luty 2009

1. Esperantosound 5:22
2. This Uniform 21:10
3. Glockenspiel 20:17
4. Second Sequentina 14:20
5. Visa 9:10

as we read about the artist from his bio:
Works as sound and visual artist. In sound field Bumšteinas has completed number of musical scores for different instrumental ensembles and orchestras, released 9 albums of electroacoustic music (in Lithuania, USA, Denmark, Ukraine, Canada, Spain, Netherlands), directed multicollaborative project Antiradical Opera with writer Jesse Glass and more than 20 persons from all over the world, curated collective mix event titled Mixthemixthemix, founded laptop Quartet Twentytwentyone which is devoted to performances of graphical notation scores and many more activities... Bumšteinas appears in festivals and concerts of experimental music all over the Europe (and US) where he performs his sound works via the electronic and acoustic sound medias. As visual artist Bumšteinas started to work together with artist Laura Garbštienė. In the fall of 2002, during the exhibition Parallel Progressions 3 in Vilnius‘ Contemporary Art Center they founded G-Lab duo, which was devoted to video art, audiovisual installations and performances. From the year 2002 Bumšteinas participated in a number of exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad, represented Lithuanian contemporary art together with other active artists from several generations. Besides of continuous artistic work in G-Lab, Bumšteinas also did collaborations with such artists as Simon Wickham-Smith, Jeff Surak, Jesse Glass, Borut Savski, Max Reinhardt, Rytis Mažulis, Anton Lukoszevieze, Antanas Jasenka, Antanas Kučinskas... Bumšteinas is an organizer of the first-ever serie of experimental music events in Lithuania based on the concept of open mixer and simultaneous participation. Lives and works in Vilnius and Warsaw and is represented by ANTJEWACHS gallery in Berlin.

With such experience You can expect really good work going on. And indeed the album is set to be very elaborate piece of work which amuses the listener from the first point to the the last one. Diverse yet very selective the tracks are. The album seems to have the features of a compilation which indeed it is. Glockenspiel for instance was a track ready to download on a netlabel.
What characterizes the style of Arturas is minimalism with very rich array of sounds in the background which sounds extremely well as you get the feeling that arranging the pieces takes loads of work which is well-appreciated here.
The album is quite long but I get the hunger for more...