Music Reviews

Wolf Eyes / Blank Hellscape [coll] – [12XU]

cinder   2/10/2021   12-inch, A Library

Two sidelongs each from Wolf Eyes and Blank Hellscape. Sludgy, dark, ominous, dirgy, muddy and ghostly. The Wolves sound like a sad horn trying to make its way through an industrial damp warehouse, stuck in a mucky mess. Pulsing sets in about halfway through, before the horn is devoured under the lava and words arise from the molten. But alas, the horn returns. Blank Hellscape brings has more of a sizzling rhythmic cacophony of sound. Effected vox lay inbetween layers and twisted wires, also pulsing with disastrous intentions.

Music of The Andes [coll] – [Aymuray]

aarbor   2/10/2021   CD, International

A beautiful collection of instrumental music from the Andes. You’ll hear the zampona or siku, a traditional Andean panpipe, other flutes like the quena and stringed instruments like the charango a kind of lute and guitars. Most of these tracks are dances: the cueca, huayno, trote and morenada. AArbor

Newberger / Mazzy / Thompson – "Men They Will Become, The" – [Stomp Off Records]

aarbor   2/10/2021   CD, Jazz

Eli Newberger is a pediatrician and a musician whose undergrad studies were at Juilliard. In 1999 he wrote a book called The Men They Will Become and was inspired to get his Dixieland outfit together to record a companion album to the book looking at issues in the book with a musical lens. This could be a trite rehash of well-known old tunes, but it isn’t – there are some absolute treasures here. The 3 musicians (tuba, piano, clarinet and voice) recreate these tunes with love, expertise and a slight edge which make them well worth playing. (love the tuba!) Tracks 5 and 20 are instrumentals. AArbor

Graves, Robert – "Reads From His Poetry and From The White Goddess" – [Caedmon]

aarbor   2/10/2021   12-inch, A Library

Robert Graves (1895-1985) was a British poet, historical novelist, critic and classicist. He wrote more than 140 works, a few of which are presented here. The White Goddess, his study of poetic inspiration has apparently never been out of print. To listen to him with his very posh British way of speaking you would think he was wealthy or an aristocrat – certainly that he went to the “right” schools. He was actually from a middle class family – but did go to the “right” schools. Play this and get the education that you didn’t get at school. AArbor

Borghi, Andrea – “VHS” – [Misanthropic Agenda]

cinder   2/5/2021   12-inch, A Library

Andrea Borghi (Italiano!) graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara and studied electronic music, piano and composition at the Giacomo Puccini Music Conservatory in La Spezia. His work focuses on creating sound from inanimate things such as sculptural objects, installations, obsolete media and electronics. This album consists of audio recordings that were produced through an open VHS Recorder using manipulated videotapes. Most of the sounds you hear were taken from background parts, edited from old tapes of obscure and underground cinema. It’s scratchy, creepy, noisy, static-y, weird, strange and very analog in sound. Looking at the album art, I can image watching this & other ideas he’s created, performed live would be so intriguing – a totally unique auditory sensation. Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi, limited to 100 copies on LP!   

Sissy Spacek & Smegma – “Ballast” – [Gilgongo Records]

cinder   2/3/2021   12-inch, A Library

A live recording of sorts from home and Los Angeles radio station Dublab. This round, Smegma consists of Ace Farren Ford, Dennis Duck, Ju Suk Reet Meate, John Wiese and Rock N Roll Jackie, among a few others. Sissy Spacek is coming from both John Wiese (og member) & Charlia Mumma, a member since 2008. Two side longs of twisted sound collage. Effected guitars, pedals, wires, strings, crashing cymbals, random vox pop up like a groundhog in Spring. Rolling, crunching industrial noises. Spazzzzstic & skittering. Sounds akin to a Teleki-NotoMotors Noisehaus improv sesh!

Ensemble Morkos – "Cedre Arabo-andalusian Muwashshah" – [Harmonia Mundi France]

Hemroid The Leader   2/3/2021   CD, International

Released 1999, Morkos Ensemble is a small group feat. vocalist, zither, violin, tambourine, and oud. The instrumentalists often double as chanters, following the vocalist. 17 tunes in all, 14 <3min.
Tracing roots in the music of the Arabo-Andalusian empire, Muwashshah (MYU-wuh-shuh ) refers to both a classical Arabic poetic form, and the music which takes it for lyrics.
Incipient sounds- after the Moors were expelled from Spain, their musical influence dispersed across the Greater Mahgreb region (western part of the Arab world, or northwest Africa- Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco).

Fortress City Armenian Songs From Nagorno Karabagh [coll] – [Pomegranate Music]

Hemroid The Leader   2/3/2021   CD, International

Armenian Choral Works, recorded in Shushi, Aug-Sep 2004. Armenian Chant is one of the oldest branches of Christian culture, introduced after the Christianization of Armenia in 301 AD. The music goes back further, composed in an indigenous notation called khaz. Recorded in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, these were composed between the 10th and 20th century. Mostly short: 20 of 27 don’t crack 3:00.

Pantha Du Prince – "This Bliss" – [Dial Records]

aarbor   2/3/2021   A Library, CD

Pantha Du Prince is Hendrik Weber, a Dj and producer from Germany. This Bliss is his second release from 2007. There are no vocals and unlike his first release Diamond Daze, there are no guitars. The sound palette is entirely electronic: there are soft Detroit synths, swelling strings, and washes of chimes not distant from the post-rave ambient music made by the likes of The Orb. Throughout, from the photos in the booklet to the track titles and the sounds themselves is the contrast between nature and machine, the natural and the manmade. AArbor

Harakami, Rei – "Opa*q" – [Sublime Records]

aarbor   2/3/2021   A Library, CD

Rei Harakami only lived about 40 years but his 4 solo releases showcase his talent well. This is his second release from 1999 in contrast to the gentle techno of Unrest his first album, here there are no vestiges of techno. It’s diverse tones and rhythmic patterns alongside sound processing along with 2 fine remixes. A great talent who departed too young. Arbor

Soft Shoulder “Not The New One” [Gilgongo Records]

SlartiBartfast   2/3/2021   12-inch, A Library

Some great noisy, fuzzy, distorted punk-improve from Tempe, AZ’s own Soft Shoulder. With James Fella at the helm, this 2020 release “Not the New One” out on Gilgonggo Records is a collection of unreleased material recorded between 2015-2019 with various line ups. Sure to appease any and all noisy itches in your ear canal. Ranging from hard driving, rocking punk noise (think The Fall) to noisy improve, “Not the New One” will leave your ear drums ringing as you bathe in the beautiful insanity. 

Dr. Goldfoot and The Girl Bombs [coll] – [Tower Recordings]

aarbor   2/3/2021   12-inch, Soundtrack

This is the soundtrack to a 1966 Eurospy comedy film. It was shot in Italy and released in an English version and an Italian version which are notably different plot-wise. Vincent Price is the mad scientist (Dr. Goldfoot) who is working with the Chinese government to use exploding female robots to disrupt a scheduled NATO war-game by blowing up the various generals involved in the exercise (one of whom looks exactly like Goldfoot, and whom Goldfoot later impersonates). Fabian is the hero who works to thwart the plot, that is, when he is not busy chasing women. The film ends with an extended frantic chase through the streets of Rome, and Goldfoot attempting to start World War III between Russia and the United States by dropping a nuclear bomb on Moscow. The music is 1960s pop music by a variety of artists you’ve probably never heard of, but it’s fun. AArbor

Moore, Ted – “Bruit” – [Carrier]

mickeyslim   2/2/2021   A Library, CD

awash in confusion

anxiety-ridden space flight

tunnel vision gasping for air

godzilla licking a sandpaper-dipper brillo pad

lascivious tinnitus

skronk ‘n’ roll

improvised harsh noise electronix and jazz improv from Ted Moore & friends…

Anderson, Brad – “Darwinian Playground” – [Self Release]

mickeyslim   2/2/2021   A Library, CD

rugged, murky,

chirpy thunder

squelches.

chaotic oases

amid vast,

ambient,

timescapes,

lost among glacial spaces,

stuck inside the ice,

in between the screaming atoms

trying to escape.

does it begin at the beginning,

or follow all life’s sweet

evolution?

who knows?

who cares?

it’s just a single buzzing

in the swarm,

one grumble in the fog,

a typewriter rotting

away in a storm

Spiral Galaxy – “Spiral Galaxy” – [Lion Productions]

cinder   1/31/2021   12-inch, A Library

Spiral Galaxy is the project of flautist/painter Sara Gossett and guitar/machines manipulator Plastic Crimewave (of Plastic Crimewave Syndicate/Galactic Zoo Dossier magazine/KFJC artist hoodie designer!). Cosmic voyages through the galactic sun drenched desert temples. Special guests include Kawabata Makoto of Acid Mothers Temple giving some chants and spoken word in Japanese, Alisha Sufit of UK 70s eastern-folk band Magic Carpet also with some words… Ryley Walker plays a guitar backwards, Taralie of Spires that in the Sunset Rise on Terry Riley-ish circular sax, sitar-player Hands of Hydra, Moog-maestro Will MacLean of Protovulcan, and Christian Luke Brady of meditative cosmonauts, Fargon. A rhythmic pulsing ritualistic beat on track 2 with some effected French words, puts you into a hazy trance. Side B starts with a super krauty mellow prog excursion with a folky flute and Neu/Cluster/early Kraftwerk looping rhythms. The final track ends with a darker, mysterious feel. Trek across Death Valley and trip on this!

Speech After The Removal of The Larynx – “Speech After The Removal of The Larynx” – [Fantome Phonographiqiue]

SlartiBartfast   1/31/2021   12-inch, A Library

Speech After the Removal of the Larynx is exactly that, recordings of people learning to speak again after having their larynx removed. Originally recorded in 1964 by speech pathologist Harm A. Drost of the University Hospital, Leiden Netherlands, this re-release of a ’64 Smithsonian Folkways LP is full of linguistic and auditory gems. The original inspiration for these recordings was to document and convey the progress of speech pathology techniques for helping patients of laryngectomy learn to speak again. Speech chronicles the advancements made in the early days of speech pathology to address the physical obstacles for laryngectomy patients to talk again. The recordings cover everything from early, physically crude methods of speech to the development of electronic devices to help people find their voice once again. For those of you lucky enough to have the liner notes, take a minute or two and read about each track and how speech pathologists and patients worked together to develop new speech techniques to give voice to the voiceless. A true auditory gem. Mind that side a only has 7 cut tracks on the vinyl and the jacket lists 8. 

O’Sullivan, Daniel – “Electric Maya: Dream Flotsam and Astral Hinterlands”; – [VHF]

cinder   1/29/2021   12-inch, A Library

First in a series of 3 LPs of Library Music from composer and multi-instrumentalist Daniel O’Sullivan (Æthenor, Ulver, This is Not This Heat, etc). It’s not the cheesy, lounge-y type of music you’d think when you hear the term Library Music (although that stuff is super fun!), these are newer sounds… lush, pretty, dreamy and sort of cinematic in feel. Synths, piano, softness. 18 tracks, specifically made in shorter lengths (longest is about 3:30 long). Drifty, optimistic, thoughtful and sublime.  

Ka-Spel / Stapleton / Potter / Rollet – “Man Who Floated Away / The Closer You Are to The Center, The” – [Bisou]

cinder   1/28/2021   A Library, CD

From 2018. Surprisingly, this is the first ever collaboration between Edward Ka-Spel (The Legendary Pink Dots and Tear Garden) and Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound). They’ve been wanting to collab for years, and Bisou, the record label this is out on, gave them that chance. The second track features Colin Potter and French sax player Quentin Rollet (The Red Krayola, Mendelson, Nurse With Wound, Prohibition, David Grubbs, Thierry Müller, Ilitch). As you can imagine with these heavy names, it’s full of experimental sounds and mind trips that take you on lofty dreamy voyages. Creepy tendrils of sounds interweave your brain by Stapleton, while Ka-Spel whispers a haunting tale on track 1. The second track has cray cray sax, skittering percussion, a distracted piano, distorted words, sizzling wires and other intriguing sounds and echoes. Both excellent! 

Lee, Tim “Love” – “Confessions of a Selector”; – [Three Sixty Records]

cinder   1/27/2021   A Library, CD

Funky and sexy downtempo grooves from English producer, Tim “Love” Lee. I believe this is his first release, back from 1997. The perfect era for this type of electronic sound in my opinion. Full of samples, cut-ups and lots of sick, velvet, polyester & shag influenced dance vibes. A few cocktails and a smoking jacket are required for full listening pleasure. Last few tracks include poor Billy and his disciplining pervert parents.

Opensource.code [coll] – [Source Records]

aarbor   1/27/2021   A Library, CD

An excellent collection from Heidelberg’s Source Records c. 2002. Source was created and run by David Moufang (Move D) and Jonas Grossman. There are tracks by Jan Jelinek, Robert Lippok, Sutekh, Thomas Brinkmann, Move D and Monolake who’ve been in the KFJC library for years, as well as less well known artists. Definitely worth playing. AArbor My picks are: tracks 1,5,7,9,10 and 11