CHARLIE PARKER – 1 SIDED LP (LP by Oldgold)
Not the Charlie, but a similar group of free & improvising musicians from
Atlanta. Really a lo-fi free jazz improv recording – as it seems all
acoustic rumbling, no feedback or electronics. Apperently this kind of
music, certainly the underground side of business, is more popular in the
USA, and attitude wise this is very similar to say Blowhole or Project W.
As I usually say in cases like this (and something that is certainly valid
for this): a limited portion of this kind of music is certainly most
welcome, but I am not sure how to react after a full evening of this. (FdW)
Address: <oldagolda@aol.com>
STICK IN THE MUD – JUST AN OLD MAN HIDING UNDER AN AUTUMN LEAF (LP by B.O.H.)
At least… I think it’s a release by Bureaucracy Of Hope – you can’t tell
with these glued on papers and no inserts. All the untitled cuts are played
by J. Penis (mellotrone, e-bow, ring modulator) and Ustad (arp, solina and
frequency analizer). It is not easy to explain this, but I would classify
this as a cross-over between space rock synthesized and industrial music.
The whole package as such reminded me of Kangaroor Kourt or Mauve Sideshow,
should this be of any help. There is a certain element of improvisation
here, which makes it altogeter not very sophistacated and for me adds
something to the album that I like. It’s the roughness that gives it a more
appealing character.
SAN AUGUSTIN (7″ by Oldgold)
More conventional jazzy outings here, which vinyl nicely crackles. Drums,
bass and piano play on one side a more subdued tune. The other side (let’s
say the one that has no label) brings the guitar more the foreground in the
first half, to bring out later a drum solo and a return of a sad guitar. As
said maybe more conventional in it’s jazzyness, but two very nice tunes are
played. Apperentely released as a souvenir for a tour they did with Loren
Mazzacone Connors – so grab them while they last. (FdW)
Address: as above
SUPERSILENT – 1-3 (3CD’s by Rune Grammofon)
Oh well why not. Three CD’s in a small carton sleeves, spaning over 3
hours worth of music. This new group is a collaboration between a free jazz
improv trio from Norway called the Cicada Ensemble and ‘industrial sound
manipulator’ Death Prod (who is most known for his ever coming CD on
Micheal Gira’s Young Gods label). This is quite an exciting release, but
also one that requires a lot from the listener. Three hours is just a very
long sit. The music elegantely shifts between free and jazz, with the
industrial mmanipulations that only at precise times come to full action.
The electronic manipulation is luckily kept to a minimum – the four players
seems to play equal parts here. As with many jazz inspired things,
everybody gets to play a solo, so the third track on disc 3 (apptly called
‘3.3’) is an electronic freak-out a la Merzbow in Khabarosvk (in case
somebody recalls that LP). There is fun in here for both the lover of true
noise and free improv music.
Address: <rune@grappa.no>
COMPILATION – SCREW (Double CD by Entartete Kunst Recordings)
“Compilation albums are merely scams to receive dozens of free DATapes for
future projects.”
This is the title of one of the two tracks that Lesser have on this
compilation. Both very good!
Screw is not a musical tribute. It’s a double CD (screwed together between
two cartons with a hologram on top) that contains over 30 international
noise and experimental artists of which about half is from Canada. This is
a very divers compilation; some noise-music from Japan (Merzbow, Hijo
Kaidan) , Europe (Expose Your Eyes) and USA (Cock.E.S.P.) Very noisy
drum’n’bass-like stuff from Canada (Space City USA) and USA (Lesser)
,experimental guitar music, sort of industrial, improv (Nihilist Spasm
Band) undsoundso…
Bellchamber has 3 small tracks on this thing and I like them very much,
some things I will play/use on my radio-show. Like ASM, Singularity and all
the noise tracks.
Sleeve quote: “Have you noticed that the second dimension is more exciting
than the third? Does this mean that reality is dulled by the sublime nature
of the unknown? Is existence mundane? NO!” (RM).
Contact: www.bellchamber.org
THO-SO-AA – Epoch Part 1 (CD on Art Konkret)
Here’s a CD that still has me slightly confused. It could be music made by
a buncha Belgians with enormous reverb units and a loop or two. At first it
left me quite unconvinced, hovering as it still seems to do in a space
recently vacated by Bobby Rich, Little Stevie Roach and that obvious fake,
Viddy Obmana. However I decided to give it another go and played it while
drifting off to sleep the other night (well, morning really, but do you
care ?). Guess what ? I had the most outstanding dreams and at one point in
it’s 59’00 length, I was woken by, yep – you guessed it this time – choirs
of angels etc, etc…the usual stuff. Most of the music on here sounds like
it was sourced from the same sounds with some juicy effects added. Huge
drones from anywhere drift and float, always with some force and never
without direction. Deep bass body (not in the usual appaling gothic
senselessness of the word) music which probably has effective
interdimensional potential. (There are those who will know what I mean, and
those who will require an explanation !) It’s divided into five (count ’em)
sections, but who gives a fuck. Nothing harsh or dissonant here at all.
Very good for those nights when the crawlies creep. (MP)
GHEDELIA TAZARTES – TRANSPORTS (CD on Alga Marghen)
I discovered the music of Ghedelia Tazartes a few weeks ago when I heard a
copy of ‘Voyage
a l’ombre’ on the label Demosaurus, which immediately made it to my Top Ten
of Ninety-Seven. I usually don’t go for music with voxes, but was
sufficiently disturbed by the overwhelming scope of this man’s musical
ideas and vocal ability to start foraging in his back catalogue. I found
one other, and now there’s this CD which is a combinattion of works begun
in 1997 and completed in 1997. Whether any of it has been released before
is unclear, nor does it really matter because this is music which capably
stands the test of time, no worries mate.
In many way this particular CD reminded me of the works of David Shea (
whose CD ‘Tower Of MIrrors’ on Sub Rosa etc, etc, etc), who may well be
familiar with Mr Tazartes’ outputment. The music does not stay in any one
particular area for very long ; just long enough, in fact, to leave my
speakers yearning for more. All good music or sonic constructions (hey,
let’s get sirius here) should do this. Saturation is such a tiring thing.
Instruments range from analog burps to pipes and gongs and stuff, often
interjected by his voice, which is sped up, slowed down, reversed,
dissected, digested and regurged and is never normal. I read somewhere that
his voice is the voice of angels and demons, shamans and newborns – it’s
true. Chilled spines and resonant spire. Glowing skin which we’re not
always in. Dig it in your dug-out. (MP)
Address: fax + 39 270300689