ZIPPER SPY – WATCH YOUR DAMAGE (CD by Vinyl Communications)
For me a newcomer to the world of noise, or at least that’s what Zipper Spy
says: “all noise was recorded, sampled, arranged and decomposed…”.
Samples play an important in the first couple of tracks. Waving sounds,
almost like a conveyer belt, with lots of high end sounds and sampled
machine mania. The second half are more industrial rock inspired. ‘Election
Day’ with it’s back drop of screaming sounds, could have been recorded at a
live show of The Haters. And other tracks are inspired by the sounds
falling (with or without echoes) and have quite a live character. Not a bad
CD, although some tracks are a bit lenghty, and could have been cut
somewhere in the middle. (FdW)
Address: <www.vinylcomm.com>
THE SPACEWURM – ARMY OF GOD (CD by Vinyl Communications)
First of all: this is a good CD, more on that later. I am a little put off
by the cover remark: “experiments in intelligent gabber”. How come people
think that music can be something as intelligent? I haven’t learned
anything by listening to music – I better read books or talk to people.
Another assumption: why is it that dance music in its various forms need
the classification ‘intelligent’? Intelligent jungle, techno, ambient and
now gabber? Is there some sales tag that reads: dumb jungle etc.? Or is
just (quasi-) intelliget people who happen to like dance music, but who are
ashamed to say so, because dance music is for the masses, and the mass is
stupid?
Leaving all questions aside: this is a good CD and it’s not gabber. The
hardstomping, over 200bpm beats are not here, nor silly samples. Instead
this is more up to Esplendor Geometrico’s alley, with hard driven rhythms
and triggered synths. Definetly more techno inspired then industrialist
kids, but fun of playing. And I am still nothing more intelligent then 40
minutes ago when I started playing this CD. (FdW)
Address: as above
PROJECT DARK – IT’S D.A.R.K. AT NIGHT (7″ by Outsider)
Project Dark spent much time releasing extra-ordinary records – not
necessary following vinyl or hand cut plastic – but also chocolade or
biscuits. This record – on vinyl – is a documentation of various live
actions by Ashley Davies and Kirsten Reynolds were they play their own
releases and mix them with lockgrooves of other records. A particulary
noisy affair they put on, these noisy DJs. Two minor points: with records
like this, I think it’s silly to state ’33 rpm’ as the fun lies playing it
at any speed, and lockgrooves could have added more fun to the total. (FdW)
Address: 10 Yarborough Road – Lincoln – LN1 1HS UK
EXIT – SET (CD by I Records)
Second CD for the guy that fucks around with the six string instruments and
apperentely spent 47 minutes on recording this CD, as it lasts that long
and it is recorded live. ‘Am Nil’ starts out with almost flute like sounds
– lots of overtones are created with occasional feedback. In some way I
reminded of Phil Niblocks blocks of sound. This is were post-rock goes
ambient and it has no drums at all. ‘Idiot House’ opens with the guitar
beig strummed and then the feedback is being controlled. Gradually the
feedback comes a trance inducing tone that slowly changes pitch and colour.
As a follow-up to the first, which was maybe a bit too static noisy, a well
made CD. (FdW)
Address: <irec@cheltd.demon.co.uk>
THE NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS – SUNSPOT ACTIVITY (CD by Soleilmoon)
The Nocturnal Emissions is a band always to check. Many of the more recent
CD’s may not appeal to those come from the true early industrial days or
the following ambient style, but among the recent one there are some not to
be missed. Last years ‘Autonomia’ was one, and this most recent is another.
Apperently a concept album, with fourteen relativly short tracks. The known
low resolution samples come up with an almost cosmic album, with maybe to
some, nostalgia to the Nocturnal Emissions at ‘Stoneface’ areas. As the
tracks on this album flow into eachother, there is no particular favourite
of mine. As a whole, this is a very good CD. (FdW)
Address: <soleilmoon@aol.com>
STILLUPPSTEYPA & IRR.APP.(EXT.) – TPITH & TTAPTH (CD by Fire)
The odd trio from Iceland (who are usually mentioned at the same with
People Like Us and Stock, Hausen & Walkman – but does anyone know why?)
come up with an album recorded with a band I am unfamiliar with:
Irr.App.(ext.). Apperentely a US group, and this album was recorded in
their respective native countries and in Japan. The sounds on this album
are treated to great extent into hissing drones, with raw cuts for that
necessary sense of collage. Sometimes far away things to be recognized,
such as a melody line towards the end of number nine (which has no title –
just like the rest). But overall the tone is experimental and if anything
like that is needed, this CD is more in veins of Hafler Trio, and shows
which directions that trio could have taken also. (FdW)
Address: <sfs@isholf.is>
PRINTED MATTER
Too many magazines come in. Sometimes with the request to write about them,
but somehow we fail… Anyway here is recent round-up.
The first few are all in German – which is a pity for most of our
subscribers, but luckily I watched enough German TV to catch up on the
language. A lot of German magazines are really well written.
Auf Abwegen Number 22 contains interviews with John Duncan, Organum, CM Von
Hauswolff and something about ‘apocalyptic folk’ (wether or not being
nazis, which is apperentely a hot issue in German). Furthermore tons of
reviews in a wide area of styles.
Address: <aufabwegen@aol.com>
Bad Alchemy number 30 comes with a 7″ with the sound of shellac – great
stuff to DJ with (if only I was one). Not really a lot of articles, but
many intelligent reviews and more and more Bad Alchemy left the improv
field to re-orientate in the electronic music. Definetly one of the best
around.
Address:
Buzz Number two is more dance music oriented, and printed in a large run on
news paper. Many interesting articles (Ritchie Hawtin, Love Parade) and a
seperate part with just reviews.
Address: www.buzz.de
Absurd 3/4 is a publication by that crazy greek guy that goes by the name
of Nicolas Genital Grinder and basically sums up all the news in industrial
music around. This time the magazine is printed, and for free (so send in a
few IRC’s to cover postage). All in English.
Address: P.O.Box 62140 – 15201 Chalandri – Athens – Greece
Also for the lovers of true noise is Freak Animal number 10. People
interviewed have also a track on the 7″: Aube, Bastard Noise, Maconympha,
Richard Ramirez and Black Leather Jesus. Plus reviews.
Address: P.O.Box 21 – 15141 Lahti – Finland
CEM bulletin is published by the CEM studio – an electronic studio in
Amsterdam with strong educational purposes. Their magazine sums up
projects, electronic gear and news from people who worked there (like
Francisco Lopez).
Address: <cem@netcetera.netcetera.nl>