Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Nightmares - Update - 7/7
The tracks for The Nightmares 7-inch have been edited and mastered and they will be heading to the pressing plant this week, after a last couple of "test runs." Jonathan has completed the artwork for the sleeve, so this release is on track for a mid- to late-August release.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Blacklist, BLOODYMINDED, Mother Russia
The esteemed Gothic Rock Russia webzine just published an intense interview with Josh from Blacklist, in which he places Wolf Eyes and BLOODYMINDED in an interesting context. The interview is extremely engaging, in general, and it can be found here.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Brainwashed Covers The Golden Sores
From Brainwashed
The Golden Sores, "A Peaceable Kingdom"
Written by Creaig Dunton
Sunday, 05 July 2009
Along with the likes of label mates (and fellow Chicagoans) Locrian, The Golden Sores have taken a modernized approach to drone, away from the traditional academia of La Monte Young and the like, but also diverging from the metal leanings of Sunn O))) into its own realm of ambience and electronic sensibilities.
Like Locrian, The Golden Sores lean heavily on synthesizers and electronics, though the two projects are quite unique in their own way. For the most part, even with the occasionally harsher moments of this disc, it never leads into metal riffing, and when it does begin to encroach on harsher sounds, there is usually a softer ambient underpinning that keeps the dissonance reigned in.
Opener "Double Gyres" begins with organ-like opening tones that slowly drift on, an opaque wall of sound that stays static as shrill guitar feedback cuts around. The guitar tone and texture is extremely raw, but not overly harsh or aggressive, but instead provides a great counterpoint to the otherwise peaceful electronic ambience. "The Awful Rowing Toward God" is similar in its presentation with the jagged guitar shrikes, though here with lower end buzzing amp noise and a simple, but buoyant bassline that keeps the song drifting along, occasionally resembling the more electronic dub oriented Main tracks, though here the guitar slides into raw noise territory about midway though before retreating back to a more purely ambient coda.
Living up to its title, "Klonopin" is a more subdued affair. There is the cutting guitar buzz here, but it is more mellow and a bit lower in the mix. It never fully disappears or becomes ignored, but it definitely allows for more of the ambient textures to shine through, and is at its core a more subdued work than the previous two, but never falling into overly boring or mundane territory. "Ondine" also keeps the fuzzed out guitar noise reigned in, focusing instead on slower gentle notes and slow-motion sheets of sound.
The closer, "A Vision," distills much of the album down for an appropriate conclusion, combining the brittle guitar shriek with drifting synthetic ambience, though here it remains a relatively sparse mix that, while not harsh, instead has a cold, dark sense of isolation about it. The guitar swells to a buzz-saw level of noise before retreating, closing the album on a somber, restrained note.
This duo has created one of those kind of works that manages to maintain that tenuous balance between reflective ambient soundscapes and grinding, coarse guitar noise in a way that never feels like an unnecessary contrast, but instead mutually inclusive extremes that captivate for both the whisper and the roar that appear.
samples:
* Double Gyres
http://brainwashed.com/common/sounds/mp3/golden_sores-double_gyres.mp3
* Klonopin
http://brainwashed.com/common/sounds/mp3/golden_sores-klonopin.mp3
* A Vision
http://brainwashed.com/common/sounds/mp3/golden_sores-a_vision.mp3
The Golden Sores, "A Peaceable Kingdom"
Written by Creaig Dunton
Sunday, 05 July 2009
Along with the likes of label mates (and fellow Chicagoans) Locrian, The Golden Sores have taken a modernized approach to drone, away from the traditional academia of La Monte Young and the like, but also diverging from the metal leanings of Sunn O))) into its own realm of ambience and electronic sensibilities.
Like Locrian, The Golden Sores lean heavily on synthesizers and electronics, though the two projects are quite unique in their own way. For the most part, even with the occasionally harsher moments of this disc, it never leads into metal riffing, and when it does begin to encroach on harsher sounds, there is usually a softer ambient underpinning that keeps the dissonance reigned in.
Opener "Double Gyres" begins with organ-like opening tones that slowly drift on, an opaque wall of sound that stays static as shrill guitar feedback cuts around. The guitar tone and texture is extremely raw, but not overly harsh or aggressive, but instead provides a great counterpoint to the otherwise peaceful electronic ambience. "The Awful Rowing Toward God" is similar in its presentation with the jagged guitar shrikes, though here with lower end buzzing amp noise and a simple, but buoyant bassline that keeps the song drifting along, occasionally resembling the more electronic dub oriented Main tracks, though here the guitar slides into raw noise territory about midway though before retreating back to a more purely ambient coda.
Living up to its title, "Klonopin" is a more subdued affair. There is the cutting guitar buzz here, but it is more mellow and a bit lower in the mix. It never fully disappears or becomes ignored, but it definitely allows for more of the ambient textures to shine through, and is at its core a more subdued work than the previous two, but never falling into overly boring or mundane territory. "Ondine" also keeps the fuzzed out guitar noise reigned in, focusing instead on slower gentle notes and slow-motion sheets of sound.
The closer, "A Vision," distills much of the album down for an appropriate conclusion, combining the brittle guitar shriek with drifting synthetic ambience, though here it remains a relatively sparse mix that, while not harsh, instead has a cold, dark sense of isolation about it. The guitar swells to a buzz-saw level of noise before retreating, closing the album on a somber, restrained note.
This duo has created one of those kind of works that manages to maintain that tenuous balance between reflective ambient soundscapes and grinding, coarse guitar noise in a way that never feels like an unnecessary contrast, but instead mutually inclusive extremes that captivate for both the whisper and the roar that appear.
samples:
* Double Gyres
http://brainwashed.com/common/sounds/mp3/golden_sores-double_gyres.mp3
* Klonopin
http://brainwashed.com/common/sounds/mp3/golden_sores-klonopin.mp3
* A Vision
http://brainwashed.com/common/sounds/mp3/golden_sores-a_vision.mp3
Wholesale Update
The July 2009 Wholesale Update has been sent to the mailing list. If you are a distributor, a mail-order distro, a store, etc., and you wish to be included in wholesale updates and new-release notifications, please send an e-mail to bludlust@mindspring.com with "distro" in the subject line.
Mark Solotroff Archive Series Announced
Work has finally begun, in earnest, on a series of re-issues of my mid-1990s solo cassette releases. The task of compiling and re-mastering the tracks (and in some cases, re-mixing bonus material) is ongoing, but the process of presenting this long-neglected material has finally taken shape, following the strong interest in the two related Mark Solotroff + Sshe Retina Stimulants CDs that were released last year. The following release sequence will be initiated this summer:
--------------------------------------------------
B!131 Mark Solotroff "Archive01" CD
(Part one of re-release of and remix from “Instrumental Demonstration of Death-Noise” - C-90 - 1995 - BloodLust!)
--------------------------------------------------
B!132 Mark Solotroff "Archive02" CD
(Part two of re-release of and remix from “Instrumental Demonstration of Death-Noise” - C-90 - 1995 - BloodLust!)
--------------------------------------------------
B!133 Mark Solotroff "Archive03" CD
(Re-release of “A Venom in the Blood” - C-60 - 1996 - Old Europa Café)
--------------------------------------------------
B!134 Mark Solotroff "Archive04" CD
(Re-release of “Evidence to Suggest Postmortem Sexual Assault” - C-60 - 1996 – Slaughter
Productions + "Blood Room" from "Extreme Pleasures Vol. I" cassette compilation - 1995 - Slaughter Productions)
--------------------------------------------------
B!135 Mark Solotroff "Archive05" CD
(Re-release of “In the Mind of a Monster” - C-46 - 1996 - G.R.O.S.S. + “Blood Rush” - Unreleased track recorded in 1995 for Beast 666 cassette compilation)
--------------------------------------------------
B!136 Mark Solotroff "Archive06" CD
(Re-release of “Sexual Homicide” - C-60 - 1996 - BloodLust!)
--------------------------------------------------
B!137 Mark Solotroff "Archive07" CD
(Re-release and remix of “The Biology of Rape” - C-46 - 1996 - Less Than Zero + “Raped To Death” from “Original Soundtrack” cassette compilation - 1996 - Less Than Zero)
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
B!131 Mark Solotroff "Archive01" CD
(Part one of re-release of and remix from “Instrumental Demonstration of Death-Noise” - C-90 - 1995 - BloodLust!)
--------------------------------------------------
B!132 Mark Solotroff "Archive02" CD
(Part two of re-release of and remix from “Instrumental Demonstration of Death-Noise” - C-90 - 1995 - BloodLust!)
--------------------------------------------------
B!133 Mark Solotroff "Archive03" CD
(Re-release of “A Venom in the Blood” - C-60 - 1996 - Old Europa Café)
--------------------------------------------------
B!134 Mark Solotroff "Archive04" CD
(Re-release of “Evidence to Suggest Postmortem Sexual Assault” - C-60 - 1996 – Slaughter
Productions + "Blood Room" from "Extreme Pleasures Vol. I" cassette compilation - 1995 - Slaughter Productions)
--------------------------------------------------
B!135 Mark Solotroff "Archive05" CD
(Re-release of “In the Mind of a Monster” - C-46 - 1996 - G.R.O.S.S. + “Blood Rush” - Unreleased track recorded in 1995 for Beast 666 cassette compilation)
--------------------------------------------------
B!136 Mark Solotroff "Archive06" CD
(Re-release of “Sexual Homicide” - C-60 - 1996 - BloodLust!)
--------------------------------------------------
B!137 Mark Solotroff "Archive07" CD
(Re-release and remix of “The Biology of Rape” - C-46 - 1996 - Less Than Zero + “Raped To Death” from “Original Soundtrack” cassette compilation - 1996 - Less Than Zero)
--------------------------------------------------
Locrian LP Final Tally
After packing up the last of the Locrian orders this weekend, all copies of my stock were accounted for and I will not have any of the records to release to anyone on the reservation list that I announced. My apologies go to anyone who I was not able to furnish with a copy. Please check with Locrian via e-mail [locriannoise@gmail.com] to see if they can provide you with one of their copies. Or, if you live near one of their tour stops, please support them in person...
Locrian 7/13 on Flavorpill
From Flavorpill
Critics who praise doom-drone noiseniks Locrian for evoking "elemental human dread" are missing the mark. To be sure, the local duo can cast dark, foreboding, ominous structures with the best of them. But Locrian trade mostly in disconsolate melancholy, coaxing funereal dirges out of a controlled cacophony of minor-scale guitar lines, mountains of feedback and distortion, and droning waves of sound. There's an anguish, an existential sadness, underlying the discord — a welcome respite from the doom-for-doom's sake that drives much of their metal-offshoot scene. Tonight, the outfit ends its cross-country tour with a free show at the Empty Bottle — and celebrates the vinyl release of their elegiac LP Drenched Lands.
– Suzanne Niemoth
Critics who praise doom-drone noiseniks Locrian for evoking "elemental human dread" are missing the mark. To be sure, the local duo can cast dark, foreboding, ominous structures with the best of them. But Locrian trade mostly in disconsolate melancholy, coaxing funereal dirges out of a controlled cacophony of minor-scale guitar lines, mountains of feedback and distortion, and droning waves of sound. There's an anguish, an existential sadness, underlying the discord — a welcome respite from the doom-for-doom's sake that drives much of their metal-offshoot scene. Tonight, the outfit ends its cross-country tour with a free show at the Empty Bottle — and celebrates the vinyl release of their elegiac LP Drenched Lands.
– Suzanne Niemoth
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Time Out on AoH
From: Time Out Chicago
The bleeding cymbals and deafening feedback produced by local drone group Locrian are often juxtaposed with gentle, introspective harmonies. Tonight's a release party for the new Drenched Lands (BloodLust). Brooding noiseniks Anatomy of Habit support in their universal premiere. Led by Bloodyminded's Mark Solotroff, the new group continues the damage begun in short-lived Animal Law. Earplugs recommended.
The bleeding cymbals and deafening feedback produced by local drone group Locrian are often juxtaposed with gentle, introspective harmonies. Tonight's a release party for the new Drenched Lands (BloodLust). Brooding noiseniks Anatomy of Habit support in their universal premiere. Led by Bloodyminded's Mark Solotroff, the new group continues the damage begun in short-lived Animal Law. Earplugs recommended.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Pharmakon Update
The Pharmakon CD EP test arrived today and it looks and sounds right on the money. Barring any unforeseen delays, this limited edition release will be available at the Locrian, Anatomy of Habit, The Human Quena Orchestra, Pharmakon show at The Empty Bottle on Monday July 13.
Locrian LP Sold-Out
Pending a couple of distro/store orders that are awaiting payment, the Locrian "Drenched Lands" LP+3-inch CD is sold out from me. I have started a reservation list with the names of people who still want a copy, so feel free to send me an e-mail (bludlust@mindspring.com) if you wish to be added to the list. If the aforementioned distro/store orders remain unpaid past a certain point, then I will release those copies to people on the reservation list. You can also check with the band after they get back from their tour, mid-month, to see if they still have any of their copies. My thanks go out to everyone who supported this release!
- I just returned from the Post Office and all of the international orders (individual/distro/store) have now been shipped. This means that all paid orders (domestic and international) are in the mail
- I just returned from the Post Office and all of the international orders (individual/distro/store) have now been shipped. This means that all paid orders (domestic and international) are in the mail
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Locrian Mail Pt. 1
All paid USA orders (individuals, stores, distros) for the Locrian LP, received by noon today, have been mailed out. Thanks a lot! I will start packing up overseas orders now...
Locrian Pizza Party
It was a long evening/night, but Andre, Terence, and I assembled the complete edition of the Locrian "Drenched Lands" LP. They left with their copies to take on tour tomorrow, which is an unexpectedly great thing. I will begin mailing out paid copies tomorrow afternoon... And we will officially celebrate the release of the LP on Monday July 13th at The Empty Bottle. In the words of Shane Slut, "Good."
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Status - 7/1
- All of the paid pre-orders for Super Eight Loop T-shirts were indeed mailed out last night. We are okay on larges and extra-larges, but the smalls and mediums went quickly and we only have one of each left right now. As with all of the shirts, we will try to keep a full range of sizes in-stock, as best as we can, based upon demand, etc. There may not be a new BloodLust! shirt in August, as funds are really tied up with the Locrian LP and upcoming Nightmares releases, etc., but Anatomy of Habit will have shirts ready in time for our debut show on July 13:
(click image to enlarge)
- LATE BREAKING NEWS: UPS just dropped off the Locrian vinyl, roughly two weeks earlier than expected. Hooray for United Record Pressing! Paid orders will start getting mailed out tomorrow. The best news is that the band will have LPs to take with them on their tour, which starts tomorrow:
July 2nd - Frankie's Basement / Toldeo, OH w/ Hive Mind & Jason Zeh
July 3rd - STALAG IX / Lucky Cheng's Fortune Cookie Cabaret / NYC, NY w/ Sleep Museum, Lussuria & Shallow Waters
July 5th - Show No Mercy Presents / Public Assembly / Brooklyn, NY w/ Anal Cunt, Fuck the Facts, Gwynbleidd & Copremesis
July 6th - Velvet Lounge / Washington, DC w/ Teething Veils, Our Brother the Native, Kohoutek & Religious Girls
July 7th - Nara Sushi / Richmond, VA w/ Wrnlrd, Head Molt & Twilight Memories of the Three Suns
July 8th - Talking Head Club / Baltimore, MD w/ The New Flesh & Nocnitsa
July 9th - The Khyber / Philadelphia, PA w/ Woe, T.O.M.B. & Panther Modern
July 10th - Garfield Artworks / Pittsburgh, PA w/ Requiem, D.O.T.S. & Casual Approach
July 11th - Skylab / Columbus, OH w/ The Human Quena Orchestra & Day Creeper
July 12th - Dayton Dirt Colelctive / Dayton, OH w/ The Human Quena Orchestra, Envenomist, Teeth Collection + John Moloney
July 13th - The Empty Bottle / Chicago, IL w/ The Human Quena Orchestra, Anatomy of Habit & Pharmakon
(click image to enlarge)
(click image to enlarge)
- LATE BREAKING NEWS: UPS just dropped off the Locrian vinyl, roughly two weeks earlier than expected. Hooray for United Record Pressing! Paid orders will start getting mailed out tomorrow. The best news is that the band will have LPs to take with them on their tour, which starts tomorrow:
July 2nd - Frankie's Basement / Toldeo, OH w/ Hive Mind & Jason Zeh
July 3rd - STALAG IX / Lucky Cheng's Fortune Cookie Cabaret / NYC, NY w/ Sleep Museum, Lussuria & Shallow Waters
July 5th - Show No Mercy Presents / Public Assembly / Brooklyn, NY w/ Anal Cunt, Fuck the Facts, Gwynbleidd & Copremesis
July 6th - Velvet Lounge / Washington, DC w/ Teething Veils, Our Brother the Native, Kohoutek & Religious Girls
July 7th - Nara Sushi / Richmond, VA w/ Wrnlrd, Head Molt & Twilight Memories of the Three Suns
July 8th - Talking Head Club / Baltimore, MD w/ The New Flesh & Nocnitsa
July 9th - The Khyber / Philadelphia, PA w/ Woe, T.O.M.B. & Panther Modern
July 10th - Garfield Artworks / Pittsburgh, PA w/ Requiem, D.O.T.S. & Casual Approach
July 11th - Skylab / Columbus, OH w/ The Human Quena Orchestra & Day Creeper
July 12th - Dayton Dirt Colelctive / Dayton, OH w/ The Human Quena Orchestra, Envenomist, Teeth Collection + John Moloney
July 13th - The Empty Bottle / Chicago, IL w/ The Human Quena Orchestra, Anatomy of Habit & Pharmakon
(click image to enlarge)
Weblog Freak-Out
I have no clue what happened to this blog, earlier today, but the background dropped out and I decided that after over seven years, it was time to take advantage of the opportunity to refresh it. This could take a while, so please bear with me...
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