Strange Tapes – none
Friday, March 6, 2020
Controlled Bleeding - (2007) Songs From A Sewer Of Dreams 4xLP
Vinyl-on-demand – 047.B
A box featuring unreleased music from CB's very early days to today. One
side from a long lost Knees and Bones session, one side of
pre-industrial music, live at CBGBs supporting Suicide 1979, one side a
25-minute live piece of ancient, very good material from 1977 (sounds
like John Cage/Penderecki), one side of free jazz live improvisation
with Borbetomagus, one side new total noise, etc. This is one of those
very very extreme (if not most extreme) VOD releases and VOD rates it
'PG18.'
Tarantüla - (2018) The Very Best Of Sex And Violence 7''
Deranged Records – 313
Second 7” from Chicago’s Tarantula, and it continues in the vein of their excellent first record. Tarantula are exploring a space that not a lot of bands are interested in these days… if the words didn’t have such terrible associations I would call this “melodic hardcore,” i.e. music that has the speed and the gritty sound of early 80s hardcore but relies on the more traditional pop song structure of classic punk rock. The only band I can think of off the top of my head who is doing something similar is Night Birds, but Tarantula is a lot tougher and meaner-sounding. While one might consider the idea of catchy, song-oriented hardcore to be completely played out, Tarantula toe the line between poppy and aggressive so perfectly that their music feels fresh. You can hear the influences quite clearly—the snotty, aggressive punk of bands like the Angry Samoans and Zero Boys, the earnest drive of early 80s midwest hardcore like Articles of Faith and early Husker Du, and a dash of Devo / Geza X-style irreverence—but they’re swirled together in a way that’s just different enough from anything I’ve heard before to be noteworthy.
Geography Of Hell - (2018) Hiroshima 1945, Nagasaki 1945 2xLP
Hospital Productions – 585
After a series of cassette-only releases detailing the major natural and
manmade disasters of the world, Geography Of Hell, a mysterious
collective with an international cast of members completes their debut
and arguably most immersive work yet, Hiroshima 1945/Nagaskai 1945.
While their refusal to answer questions or make their identities known,
the dedication to familiar subjects presented without explanation makes
this band and their debut live performance in New York City in the fall
of 2017 (as one of the highlights of the Hospital 20 Years Festival).
Members were concealed behind bizarre homemade masks while frantic and
mesmerizing multi-screen videos played of drawings and footage pre- and
post-atomic attacks on Japan. This tragic and controversial moment is
explored on two LPs ranging from insane martial loops to the most
distant rumblings and shore breeze. Hailing in reverse order, the
intensity and rhythmic sequencing on this LP defines expectations by
slowly reducing and eliminating its compositions as the album closes
with sub ambience. The anticipated vinyl release following the
collectible and scarce nature of a series of tape releases, Hiroshima
1945/Nagaskai 1945 is the master work of one of most true contemporary
industrial collectives, in that it is a group effort with accreditation
or compromise. It easily fits into cinematic compositions as well as
contemporary avant-garde electronics and even the nether regions of
neoclassical punk. Prepared and mastered for vinyl by Kris Lapke
(Alberich).
Linekraft / Alberich - (2019) Shock Industrialization 10''
Hospital Productions – 637
the two modern masters of the industrial noise and cacophony collide on
this crushing 10” intersecting at the little known and largely forgotten
cold war crossroads of the cambodian civil war and the some could argue
its deep predecessor of the korean war. 2 decayed and corrupted tracks
from each artist spreading rotten winds.
The Kiwi Animal - (1985) Mercy LP
DIGITAL REGRESS – 041
Digital Regress's foray into the fabled NZ underground hops over to the
North Island for two exquisite pieces of acoustic DIY and shadowy,
cracked pastoralia. After a few years spleen venting at the front of
Wellington art brutes SHOES THIS HIGH, BRENT HAYWARD struck out on his
own, self-releasing a few EPs as SMELLY FEETt before forming THE KIWI
ANIMAL with JULIE COOPER in 1982. The duo released their first album,
Music Media, on Massage Records (their own imprint) in 1984. With the
addition of PATRICK WALLER on cello and sundry other instruments, 1985's
Mercy finds an augmented Kiwi Animal trying on what at first glance is a
more refined, melancholic sound. But the group's experimental bent,
largely restrained on Music Media, soon shows its hand. Pinprick ur-folk
guitar themes, blinking on and off, buffeted by radio interference and
toy piano; woozy bedsit slow-burns; the arresting croak of Hayward's
penpal, William S. Burroughs; even a foray into dosed synth-pop: MERCY
presents a unique yield of fraying, autumnal DIY songcraft. The music of
The Kiwi Animal, moody and intelligent and often abruptly gentle, works
subcutaneously, propelled by guitars that churn and weave – no jangle
here – and a his 'n' hers vocal delivery for the ages. Digital Regress
is happy to make these essentially perfect records available again.
Sutcliffe Jugend - (2019) Relentless 4xCD
Death Continues Records – 015
After the announcement they are no more, the final Sutcliffe Jugend recording is ‘Relentless’. Approximately four hours of ecstatic extreme expressionism. Do not file under easy listening. It’s brutal, violent unforgiving and unapologetic art. It is definitely not for the average noise or industrial music listener. A brutal and violent unjust world makes for brutal, violent and some would say ‘unjust’ art. We say let the world see itself before it drowns in its on shit.
With the exception of two tracks ‘Relentless’ was recorded in five sessions primarily using analog synthesisers, guitar and vocals. Part written, part improvised the aim was to capture the relentless intensity of their incredible late period live shows.
These are the last scheduled studio recordings of Sutcliffe Jugend, testing the listeners and indeed their own endurance limits. After this release there is nowhere else left to go. Kevin pushes his voice to the limit one more time and Paul matches him every step of the way. Both using their standard live set up plus three analogue and one digital synthesiser, the musical interplay is as brutal and vicious as ever, perhaps even more so. This is the sound of a band not going quietly and collapsing in on itself, they clearly new they only had a short time left. You have been warned, ‘Relentless’ lives up to its name and it’s intensity has no equal. ‘Relentless’ is clearly not for the faint hearted.
Do not miss out on this limited edition 4CD Digipak release. It’s an experience like no other. As Kevin screams on the opening title track, ‘THIS IS FUCKING RELENTLESS!’
Moonbeam Terror - (2019) Comfort Knife LP
Hospital Productions – 650
“a startling and confrontational document of sheer noise textures from the immortal corpse or the corpse you can’t get rid of. the unstable and disturbing currents of riverbed noise clattering across the rocks of silt cliffs bubble up before receding again down the reverse side of the waterfall. super crushing heavy electronics - ophelia has risen from the creek and will bring shame to her admirers. be sure not to miss moonbeam terror this year at hospital fest 12/7 in nyc! mastered by r. mason (autoerotichrist/enemy soil).”
Pain Jerk - (2019) Mission Invisible
Hospital Productions – 656
hospital productions is proud to announce the unreleased would be
classic from japanese noise hero painjerk. originally recorded
immediately after the canonical ‘gallon gravy’ classic, this is pure -
definitive - loop heavy noise energy and dynamism that would become the
signature of kohei gomi’s electronic studies having influenced two
generations of underground electronics since. hailing from a background
of japanese punk, kohei gomi stayed true to the fierce ethos of
independence and experimentation that reached its peak in japan in the
late 90’s. but make no mistake, mr. gomi never stagnated into a single
platform, having worked with such diverse labels as as alternative
tentacles, relapse, editions mego and so on. composed with a mysterious
configuration of constantly flowing noise hardware - always recorded
live without overdubs, gomi went on to risk taking computer explorations
into the roots of avant garde compositions inspired by the likes of pan
sonic and david tudor.
having reached cult status and maintaining an air of mystery after an onslaught of now classic and highly collectible tape only releases such as the monstrous ‘cacophony of a thousand pleasures’ 3xcs which has been cited as an influence for mika vainio.
never settling for stale genre collaborations, kohei gomi further went on to such divergent ends as the insane collaboration with russell haswell, psychedelic commune pioneers smegma, and power violence royalty bastard noise. we are blessed to finally have such a critical document unleashed onto the world of what 20 years on can easily sit alongside the classics of its day. raise a fist in solidarity for the inimitable punk noise of painjerk!
having reached cult status and maintaining an air of mystery after an onslaught of now classic and highly collectible tape only releases such as the monstrous ‘cacophony of a thousand pleasures’ 3xcs which has been cited as an influence for mika vainio.
never settling for stale genre collaborations, kohei gomi further went on to such divergent ends as the insane collaboration with russell haswell, psychedelic commune pioneers smegma, and power violence royalty bastard noise. we are blessed to finally have such a critical document unleashed onto the world of what 20 years on can easily sit alongside the classics of its day. raise a fist in solidarity for the inimitable punk noise of painjerk!
Prurient - (2012) Colonialist Nature And Misanthropy
Hospital Productions – 167
Originally a cassette boxset released in 2007, 'Colonialist Nature And
Misanthropy' features Dominik Fernow inciting a maelstrom of blistering
synth wave noise pop. These seven tracks could be viewed as a
prototypical, rudimentary form of the more polished styles heard on his
'Bermuda Drain' LP, revolving as they do around pulsing synthlines,
bludgeoning beats and desecrating black metal vocals and atmosphere.
We'd strongly recommend checking the detached ambience on 'Mask Of
Roses', and the dank, clangorous torture chamber vibes of 'Mask Of
Ropes' for starts, and then the bone-crushing Vatican Shadow style
Technoid Breakbeats of 'Mask Of Arches'. Ace.
Prurient - (2019) Garden Of The Mutilated Paratroopers
Hospital Productions – 645
Limited 2x FAN CD EP of Airborne Electronics for the 75th anniversary of
Screaming Eagles Radio and 82nd Neptune Death Row. Adrenaline drones,
memorial distortion, windy feedback, loud speaker vocals with a heavy
influence from the naked and neither fact-nor-fiction black humor drama
forgotten style of Aquifer Sodality and Slaughter Productions.
Prurient - (2019) Noise For Halloween Night
Hospital Productions – none
“Halloween speaks to the deeper psyche in us all,” he explains, “the
curiosity of the unknown, about overcoming fear, which despite its
frightful iconography is ultimately a positive celebration. Unlike other
holidays Halloween doesn’t have much traditional music. It is mostly
affiliated with films, characters, and overarching abstract atmosphere.
He continues, “To create original music that would reflect this atmosphere that is contemporary yet somehow familiar was a true challenge. It was an opportunity to respond to music that has influenced me since childhood but was confined mostly to specific settings outside traditional venues — movie theaters and temporary outdoor haunted houses and fairs. This project was an opportunity to bring the sounds of those settings inside to a club or car stereo for late night drives around town.”
He continues, “To create original music that would reflect this atmosphere that is contemporary yet somehow familiar was a true challenge. It was an opportunity to respond to music that has influenced me since childhood but was confined mostly to specific settings outside traditional venues — movie theaters and temporary outdoor haunted houses and fairs. This project was an opportunity to bring the sounds of those settings inside to a club or car stereo for late night drives around town.”
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)