Saturday, January 23, 2010

Blistering Light on Locrian LP

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Two mentions:
Here
and
Here

Locrian "Territories" Pressing Update



The forthcoming Locrian LP - "Territories" - is currently at the pressing plant. This co-release from At War With False Noise (Scotland), Basses Frequences (France), BloodLust!, and Small Doses (USA), has an anticipated early March release. As announced, the record release show is scheduled for March 18 at The Abbey Pub, with Harpoon, Anatomy of Habit, and Sun Splitter.

Event links
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/ygr88p9
Last.fm: http://tinyurl.com/ygdkod7
MySpace: http://tinyurl.com/ydeav8h

Ruido Horrible on "Phases : Three"

With great thanks to Sergio Sanchez!
From: Ruido Horrible

Friday, January 22, 2010

BLOODYMINDED "PHASES : THREE" Cover

Bloodyminded - Phases: Three (Rococo Records, RCC-0030, 2009)

"Phases: Three" constituye la documentación en directo de dos trabajos de la etapa más reciente de Bloodyminded, "Magnetism" y la serie "Phases." Esta última viene a complementar el ciclo de abuso de feedback y oscura, maquinera violencia en sintetizadores -desprovista de líricas de ningún tipo- de la etapa presente de la banda.
El primer corte se llama "Phases: Three (Part One)" y es una furiosa improvisación que se vuelca al abuso del feedback en micrófonos tan habitual de Bloodyminded. Esta pieza no tiene un tema; se trata de puro ataque directo y certero, de chillidos puntiagudos de micrófonos al tope. Por si hiciera falta explicarla tras la lectura del mero título, "Girlfriend Attempts to Explain Schizophrenic Episode by Revealing Childhood Sexual Abuse," tema emblemático de su más reciente trabajo, el ya mencionado "Magnetism" permite ver una decadencia sónica abusiva, con sus oleadas de síntesis oscura. Más brutalidad y descontrol en frecuencias altas llega a través de "Shotgun Held to Face by Severely Crosseyed Addict While Attempting to Physically Remove from Know Drug House" (siempre me ha encantado ese título). La descarga de ruido de la catártica "Visiting and Ex-Girlfriend in the Hospital - Psychich Ward - 24-Hour Observation - Suicide Watch" es escueto y agonizante, durando apenas un par de minutos y complementando con gritos furiosos la escena de febril devastación. "Visiting an Ex-Girlfriend in the Hospital - AIDS Ward" es un sólo zumbido, como un canal de ácido y rugidos que circundan a través de su eje. Furioso y perturbador. Eso sin contar la delicia del coro de la audiencia al completar el anuncio del título por Solotroff. La segunda parte de "Phases: Three" cierra el disco completando así el ciclo de perturbación y abuso ruidístico al que Bloodyminded somete a sus escuchas con sus actos en vivo. Esta última improvisación es la más cercana al harsh noise en forma; su libertad y espontaneidad es abierta y sus descargas tan elevadas que acaban por devorarse unas a las otras.
"Phases: Three" fue grabado en vivo el 8 de Agosto de 2006 y se trata de un concierto particularmente memorable, ya que conjunta a la banda en su versión más extensa, reuniendo a Mark Solotroff con Nicole Chambers, Xavier Laradji, Pieter Schoolwerth e Isidro Reyes. La presentación del trabajo, como una caja de tres discos de 7 pulgadas en vinil blanco, hace esperar que la siguiente entrega de la banda, "Within the Walls," también cuente con un lanzamiento en vinil, pero, ahora sí, como un lp total de doce pulgadas. (S.S.)

Friday, January 22, 2010

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Gloomy Sunday - Update

Andrea from Rabid Rabbit sent me a rough, unmixed version of "Gloomy Sunday," which I recently recorded with them. Even in this preview version, I got goosebumps. I cannot wait to hear the final mix, and to sing with them on February 15th!



Event Links:
Last.fm:
http://tinyurl.com/yer3ckd
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/ybplxdj
MySpace: http://tinyurl.com/ybg2h92

Dummy on Cold Wave

An interesting article that looks at the history of cold wave, minimal synth, early industrial... up to the current era, Pieter's Wierd label/night, etc. Blacklist, though, not Blackout!

http://www.dummymag.com/features/2010/01/20/the-dummy-guide-to-cold-wave/

AoH on Acid Marshmallow - Embedded

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Xeno and Oaklander on Motherboard

Excellent! Those synths!!!

My page seems to be cutting off the right side of the video, so please check it out here, too:
http://www.motherboard.tv/2010/1/20/electric-independence-xeno-and-oaklander--2

2010 Live Moments

Well, every time that I read peoples' year end lists, I sort of get freaked out. The idea of reducing a year of non-stop music listening - recorded and live - is daunting. So, instead of stressing myself out, I put some thought into what my most exciting, meaningful, and satisfying live performances were. And it did not take that much deliberation. These came to mind very clearly...

In no particular order:

Anatomy of Habit
July 12, 2009
The Empty Bottle
Chicago, IL
Sort of a no-brainer here. It might be at the true #1 spot. After over nine months of isolation, preparation, practice, and planning, we finally played our debut show. It felt so good to perform in front of an audience. And what fine company we were in: Locrian, The Human Quena Orchestra, and Pharmakon. None of the AoH shows have been anything short of IMPORTANT to me, but this being our first, it really meant a lot.

BLOODYMINDED
November 7, 2009
Northeast Noise & Power Electronics Festival
O'Brien's
Boston, MA
Another obvious top choice. An over-the-top BLOODYMINDED set at an over-the-top festival. Exhibiting the type of poor judgment that I am so good at, I decided that we would perform "Trophy" in its entirety, minus the 20-minute track, "Overdrive." Good idea? Definitely. It was a challenging show on many levels. On my memory. On my body. On the crowd. Lots of blood and broken bones. And none of it was mine this time. The festival went by in a blur but I saw/heard tons of great stuff and I particularly enjoyed hanging out with so many great people. Hats off to the TDSOGF boys for such an amazing weekend!

Nightmares
August 29, 2009
Fairchild Chapel
Oberlin, OH
While this might have been a more sparsely attended show, compared to some others on the tour, the setting and the atmosphere could not be beat. And after a quick, desperate PA switch-out, the sound was as good as the vision - and we have the crystal-clear recording to prove it. I still get a smile on my face when I see how our red lights lit up the high stone wall at the back of the altar. The whole tour with Mr. Reed and Mr. Canady was easy-breezy and artistically satisfying, but this one was a notch above. Thanks again to Mr. Dilloway!

Brutal Truth
March 21, 2009
Double Door
Chicago, IL
Recording synth tracks for the latest Brutal Truth album, "Evolution Through Revolution," at Volume Recording with Sanford Parker and Kevin Sharp, in late 2008, was pretty damned cool, but getting to play live with the band - and with Bruce Lamont (who I have performed and DJ'd a lot with the last few years) in the mix too - was killer. I saw Brutal Truth play at the Marquee in NYC, shortly after I moved there in 1992, and I have been a fan ever since. This show was insane. Two Brutal Truth sets. One to play the entire new album and one to play the "hits." Fast, loud, and in your face. Yes!

BLOODYMINDED
June 5, 2009
Matchitehew Assembly
Co-Prosperity Sphere
Chicago, IL
Another pretty insane show - at a ridiculously fun - I mean grim - black metal and noise festival, with bands like Bone Awl, Sword Heaven, Air Conditioning, Marblebog, Burial Hex, Maledicere, etc. We had to follow an astounding Sword Heaven performance. Fuck. We played a marathon set. I fell off of a tower of speakers. Mr. Jason Schuler of Cadaver in Drag joined us on "Ten Suicides." Lots of great sets and lots of good hanging out with friends.

Consumer Electronics
November 8, 2009
Northeast Noise & Power Electronics Festival
O'Brien's
Boston, MA
Having played a couple of shows in 2008 with Mr. Best, I knew what I needed and wanted to do, so things flowed really easily for me at this show, and I was able to watch the audience demolish itself. The sound and the energy were blistering and brutal. Excellent! My apologies to Mr. Sotos for blocking his projections for far too much of the performance.

The Fortieth Day + Sshe Retina Stimulants + Terence Hannum
November 29, 2009
"Something Else"
WLUW 88.7 FM
Chicago, IL
It is always a privilege and a pleasure to play with Paolo, and this radio session - the only live performance by The Fortieth Day in 2009 - was no exception. And while holiday travel kept Andre, thus Locrian, out of the picture, it was fantastic to still have Terence in the mix.

No doubt, the Locrian boys have played a big part in my music life over the last few years, and one show into 2010, they are already in the thick of things with me, with more to follow...

And just for the record, and in no particular order (except that the top two were probably the most frequent), the 2009 albums that I listened to the most were:

The Horrors "Primary Colours"
Alice in Chains "Black Gives Way To Blue"
Yoga “Megafauna”

Circle of Ouroborus
“Tree of Knowledge”
Envenomist "The Helix"

Klinikal Skum “Chosen Powerless”

Blacklist "Midnight Of The Century"
Halflings "Self Esteem"
Aluk Todolo “Finsternis”

Josh Hydeman
“Chiaroscuro”
Zoroaster
“Voice of Saturn”
Consumer Electronics
"Crowd Pleaser"
Locrian "Drenched Lands"
Sshe Retina Stimulants "Souls And Waltzes From The Telegraph Frontier"
Wolf Eyes "Always Wrong"
Laudanum
“The Coronation”
The Flaming Lips "Embryonic"
Sonic Youth "The Eternal"
The Human Quena Orchestra "The Politics Of The Irredeemable"
Xeno & Oaklander "Sentinelle"
Manic Street Preachers "Journal for Plague Lovers"
The Church "Untitled #23"
Slogun "Bloody Roots"
Sunn O))) "Monoliths And Dimensions"
The Warlocks "The Mirror Explodes"
A Place To Bury Strangers "Exploding Head"
Burning Image "Phantasma"
Led Er Est "Dust On Common"
Bear In Heaven "Beast Rest Forth Mouth"
Greymachine
“Disconnected”
Sunshine "MGKK Telepathy"
Slayer "World Panted Blood"
Headdress
“Lunes”
A Storm Of Light "Forgive Us Our Trespasses"

The top two live shows that I was in the audience at, which towered above everything else... and, no doubt, I saw a ton of shows:

Tindersticks
March 12, 2009
Epiphany Church
Chicago, IL

Amebix
May 29, 2009
Reggie's Rock Club
Chicago, IL


The two shows that I saw by The Horrors were damned good, too, especially with their album being the thing that I listened to the most last year.

I am sure that I have left out some things that should be included, and I am probably pissing someone off right away... so, sorry... that is part of why I dislike these lists in the first place.

So there, I have contradicted myself.

Again.

AoH - March 18, 2010 - Poster - Sneak Peek

Poster for March 18, 2010 Show

Trophy T-Shirts Mailed

Before an early afternoon Kuma's date -- the spicy Italian sausage patty completely makes the January special Bloodhorse burger -- I got all of the BLOODYMINDED "Trophy" T-shirt orders in the mail. Thanks to everyone who already supported the new design!

Monday, January 18, 2010

BLOODYMINDED "Trophy" T-shirts In-Stock

I had not looked at my calendar and anticipated that the Post Office was going to be closed today due to MLK Day. Paid orders for shirts, including special-order sizes, will be mailed out tomorrow. I am sorry about the minor delay...

BLOODYMINDED "Trophy" T-Shirts