LES ENVAHISSEURS (CD by Batarr)
Interesting compilation from Canada with 4 bands, of which I find Katharsis
out dated rhythm music not interesting. But the contributions by Balaam Galang,
Plug-in City and Vromb are quite good, with noise and rhythm combinations. Not
really innovative but nevertheless quite an interesting CD, with an excellent
package (and limited to 500 only. ..)
Address: Batarr -5090 Baillargeon -St-Hubert -Quebec -Canada -J3Y 2A7
ESPLENDOR GEOMETRICO -NADOR (CD by Daft)
Some people prove that they never have to change their sound, and still can be
original (or to be more accurate: don’t sound outdated). Esplendor Geometrico’s
new CD still has that driving, pounding harsh rhythm stuff, with
nasty sounds.
They don’t make any step towards house music, yet people with that sort of
musical interest will like it.
Address: Daft Records -Stationstraat 116- 9120 Beveren -Belgium
BAD SECTOR -AMPOS (CD by God*Factory)
In some musical areas their cassette ‘ZE’ is well-known and well~received and
this is their first CD (on a relatively small and obscure label) .Bad Sector
make nightmarish music, crafted with dark synthesizers and even darker
voices. The overall atmosphere reminds me a little bit of the old Cold Meat
Industry releases.
No address given
RANDY GREIF & DAN BURKE -FRAGMENT 56 (CD by Complacency & Swinging Axe)
Two long time veterans in what some still call industrial music team up for a
collaboration CD of utterly high class. Both of these guys have used sampling to
a wide extend, ranging from song structured music to fields of sound. All
aspects of their previous work can be found here. All of the tracks seem to
be carefully constructed, using many (sampled) sources, rhythms and spoken word
(in ‘Utter Black Fields’) .As said: excellent!
Address: Complacency -P.O.Box 1452- Palatine, IL 60078- USA
VIDNA OBMANA & ASMUS TIETCHENS – (CD by Musica Maxima Magnetica)
Another collaboration, yet a little different. The CD opens with ‘Hydrophonie
13′ a solo piece by Tietchens in his series of water sounds, which are given a
studio treatment. The CD ends with a tinkling bell (sampled. ..) by Vidna
Obmana, recorded circa ‘Memories Compiled’ (Vidna is now again in a different
ambient state with more ethnic instruments) .In between these two you’ll find 3
collaborations tracks, Tietchens treating Vidna sounds. Rather monochrome
compositions, which seem to evolve only slowly. Quite a good CD, but not the
best collaboration I’ve heard.
Address: L. Dari -P.O.Box 2280- 50100 Firenze -Italy <l.dari@agora.stm.it>
INDICATE -WHELMD(CD by Touch)
Hey, the first Vital weekly is all about collaboration works: this one being Jim
O’Rourke (who collaborated with virtually anybody) and Robert Hampson (probably
best known from his work with Main) .The two worked together last year and this
resulted in three compositions using extensive field recordings and electronic
manipulations thereof. Much alike Illusion Of Safety’s ‘Probe’ (on which Jim
played his part) , as you will soft droning stuff in combination with sudden
outbursts of (not very harsh) noise parts. Interesting, yet not easily
accessible CD.
Address: Touch- 13 Osward Road -London 5W17 755- UK
LE FORBICI Dl MANITU -QUADRIVELOGUE (CD by Disturbance)
Vittore Baroni, known mail artist and former publisher of TRAX cassettes, is
now back with a new band. Don’t ask me to say what kind of music Baroni used to
make, as it was different kind of stuff all the time: from Residents like
poptunes to industrial noise. Tpat’s why this comes as a total surprise, as
Mr. Baroni (and two friends) are now into ambient dance music. And good one!
The 4 tracks shift all the time, and they have added some mean sounds in there.
And that too is surprise in these musical areas. A pleasant surprise.
Address: Disturbance -via G. Fortunato 8/n -70125 Bari -Italy
IMPACT TEST -MAP, NOT WORDS (CD by Damned Ship Works)
Impact Test was founded by former Boy Dirt Car member Darren Brown and has
released to date some CD’s and one LP. From what I remember from those works, I
thought Impact Test was a band along the same lines as Boy Dirt Car: drums,
guitars and bass that play songs in a rock way, with occasional added collage
like soundscapes. But listening to this CD, it is the other way round: the
big (first) part of this CD is made up with rough edged sounds (sometimes one
hears water for instance), metal being scraped and in the second, smaller part,
we get some rock songs. The first part holds my attention better, because
tension is really built over there. So luckily that is a majority. Also I really
like their no-budget cover.
Address: Damned Ship Works -P.O.Box 712- Elm Grove, WI 53122-0712- USA
PSYGRAM- VISION OF SHADOWS (CD by Play Loud)
As far as I know first full length CD from this German duo (after their
shared CD with Mengrad on Flabbergast three years ago) .Their music is mainly
built from synthesized sounds, samples to create dark, atmospheric music. At
times this may sound bit gothic (because of all the reverb used on the voices) ,
but nevertheless quite an interesting CD.
Address: Play Loud -Apartado 93 -2806 Almada Codex -Portugal
MAGAZINES
Electric Shock Treatment #6, featuring interviews with John Oswald, Hildegard
Westerkamp (taken from Vital), Barbed, Ralf Wehowsky, Elliott Sharp, Nicolas
Collins, Phill Niblock, John Wall, plus background stuff to Jungle Music. And of
course tons of reviews
Address: EST- 182 Cavendish Road -Balham -London SW12 ODA -UK <BD1@mm-
croy.mottmac.co.uk>
31 Paris -Le Passage Du Nord-Ouest