WE HATE YOU: A SMALL TRIBUTE TO THROBBING GRISTLE (CD by Jazzassin)
Strictly speaking for myself now, Throbbing Gristle were one of the bands
(if not the) that changed my view of music completely. Through them I found
out a lot more. Again strictly speaking for myself, I can’t remember the
last time I played a TG record. However when I glanced at this package I
could easily hum along very track that was covered here. Not that many
stayed close to the original. In Illusion Of Safety’s “Weeping” we
recognizze the original, and his acid version of “Discipline” is hilarious
and close. Others go about the material more freely, or take the TG idea
into something new. Like Aube using computer sounds to re-create IBM or
Kapotte Muziek speeding up the “Cease To Exist” soundtrack, just as TG sped
up “United” on D.O.A. The final category are free homage tracks to
inspirators. Famlende Forsok have a cranky analog old sound, and Eugene
Chadbourne has improv drumming in “Jungle Gristle”. In all this is a more
varied tribute compilation then the one RRRecords put out last year, and
has a tasty package. (FdW)
Address: <lmarhaug@online.no>
REGENERATION DEGENERESCENCE (2 CD by Kaon)
In the two ages that the Industrial Revolution is going, only to find it
self lately transforming into a communictation revolution, a lot of factory
sites have been abonned, and they form the perfect setting for films and
music. This particular set of recordings is inspired by such sites (to be
located in mid-France). All the participants were send a DAT with sounds
recorded at an old factory that produced tennis balls, soles, gloves and
other latex. The artists were asked to give a sound interpretation of the
place. The original sounds where put after each track for about 30 seconds.
Needles to say that many of the tracks (which are all around 4.30 minutes)
have an industrial character, even though many take the idea of decay in
them. A rotten conveyer belt. Some people take just the offered sounds,
others (like Maeror Tri) seem to be adding musical instruments. Asmus
Tietchens scratches the DAT against a drony backdrop, and ORA has the usual
Organum bowing sounds. The set reads a like a who’s who of industrial
music: Small Cruel Party, Illusion Of Safety, Achim Wollscheid,
Cranioclast, Hybryds, Inanna, Aube, John Watermann, Crawl Unit, Hands To,
Kapotte Muziek, Brume: they are all included and should be bound to sell a
few copies. But act fast, as they only made 500 copies.
The cover is carton sleeve with a piece of metal glued on it and adds to
it’s industrial character.
The only negative point might be that the tracks are put on the CD in
alfabetical order, rather then in an order where it might sound better, but
hey one can always programme the player! (FdW)
Address: Kaon – 5, Impasse Des Mineaux – 87100 Limoges – France
BALAAM GALANG – WE RAN OUT TO (CD by La Charrue Par Les Cornes)
Mysterious stuff coming from Canada here. Under a different name also
present on the Batarr compilation we reviewed in Vital Weekly number 1.
This CD is subtitled “12 Movements about escaping”, which made me raise an
eyebrow (why do I expect new age when I read something about escaping?).
Luckily this is a varying affair. There are washes of synths to be found
here, but it never gets tacky or ambient cliche. There some technoish
rhythms to be found here and there, but they stay on the minimal side (and
less noisy then the Panasonic side of minimalism). An interesting CD which
was a pleasent listening throughout. (FdW)
Address: P.O.Box 494 – Lac Carre – J0T 1JO – Canada
SUBARACHNOID SPACE – ETHER OR (CD by The Unit Circle)
I can be short about this one: tons of fuzzy guitars, tons to psychedelic
drumming and no vocals. That what made F/i ages sounding outdated, but is
totally cool nowadays: space rock. These girls and boys jamm their brains
out and are on a far away astral trip. And I even like it!
Address: The Unit Circle – P.O.Box 20352 – Seattle, WA 98102
TELEPHERIQUE – TRANSZENDENZ (CD by Noise Museum)
Telepherique is a prime example of a prime example of band with a slowly
growing reputation. More and more they seem to be getting out of the
cassette scenery and have various LP’s and CD’s out. Telepherique uses a
lot of synthesized sounds and sequences to create an unsettling atmosphere.
There is a nice continous flow throughout as thick masses of sound swirl
into each other. Maybe unfortunally there is no track that stands out above
the rest, and makes this CD into a good but average affair. (FdW)
Address: <n.museum@infonie.fr>
HAZARD – LECH (CD by Malignant)
Malignant never ceases to surprise us with totally unknown names and
totally no info on who these people are. Sometimes these bands turn out to
be a disapointment, but here is a nice surprise. Actually Hazard is a new
name, but an old acquitence: Benny Nilsen recorded 3 fine CD’s as Morthound
for Cold Meat Industry, but decided to do something new. All of these track
breath a deep dark ambient industrial atmosphere, with in some tracks a
slow groove of clicking sounds and slowed down gamalans. Hazard takes you
on a cold trip in the snow covered areas, and through empty woods. Dark
clouds with rain dropping. Evocative music! (FdW)
Address: <mlgnant@earthlink.net>
DELPHIUM – HOW CAN YOU HIDE FROM WHAT NEVER GOES AWAY (CD by Outsider)
Long awaited – at least by me. Delphium has released a whole bunch of 7″s
on a whole bunch of labels – some of them really limited (my favourite was
a 7″ released in an edition of 50!). What I like about Delphium is the
mixture of beats (which are dubby, trip hop-like) in combination with
synths and guitars (the background of Delphium can be found in the UK
guitar noise scene). The opening track is dark synthi affair, to which you
expect drums coming in – but they don’t. The bass riff in “There Is Nothing
Than Other” seems to be lifted out of a Joy Division record, but the guitar
plays a melody that sticks immediatey into your head. There are dark, moody
tracks in combination with more up-tempo beat songs. Some tracks go into
the direction of dance music, but it never will be totally techno and that
is what gives this CD that something special. A varying CD which never
bores (taking almost 78 minutes!). So if you missed out on the 7″s, here is
chance again, don’t miss out now. (FdW)
Address: Outsider – 10 Yarborough Road – Lincoln, Lincs – 1N1 1HS – UK
STEINBRUCHEL – ONZ END (7″ by Stockwerk)
Interesting obscure little record by some guy from Switzerland. One side is
a low end throbbing sound, with a slowly envelopping pulses on top. The
other side is continuation of the other side, and the beating is more
intense, but still rumbling in the low end. A sort of austere version of
Panasonic. Really odd, and underground thing. (FdW)
Address: distribution These: fax: + 44 171 582 5278
SLPINTERED/ASP (10″ by Fourth Dimension)
Keep supporting small labels! More then ever they need you. Fourth
Dimension is one of those very sympathetic ones that go through rough
times. Even though they still release nice underground records. The two
tracks by Splintered go with a too long story to repeat here, but
especially the first track is a great thing. Feedback guitars, pounding
drums and repitive solo guitar to which a voice loop and shortwave sounds
are added. “Blood Orchid” is a more up-tempo track that more or less takes
the same inputs, but synths and/or effects bring on the juice in this piece.
ASP is a sort of Splintered side project. Steve and Richard on guitars and
loops. More primitive then the Splintered side, this track ‘Albatross” (not
a cover of Fleetwood Mac I suppose) builts in three parts around the loops
with drony guitars.
Probably limited, so grab them while they last (FdW)
Address: Fourth Dimension – P.O.Box 63 – Herne Bay – Kent CT6 6YU – UK
FREQ 63 (12″ by Noise Musuem)
The second release in the Oblique Soundscapes – a new series by Noise
Musuem. They release white sleeve 12″ with the sort of dance music that
would never make it to the dance floor, and is well enjoyable at home. Freq
63 is produced by Batchas – who emerged some time ago with their odd
mixture of dance and industrial music. This 12″ opens with a long pulsing
sound and bass to which far away synths are added. The short track on this
side are high end synth sound with deep pulsating bass sounds. The drones
that open the b-side are really really low end to which slowly pitched
synths and Ovalesque scratches are added. No swing mood here. The second
piece of side 2 is a slowed sample of exotic sounds, and eerie synth and
the basspulse. Quite a nice record, and added to the first 12″ on Oblique
(by Ultra Milkmaids who never made it into Vital Weekly, but which should
certainly not be ignored) a most promising start of experimental listening
music (read: experimental dance music). (FdW)
Address: <n.museum@infonie.fr>