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The Hysteria Continues
The Hysteria Continues are a slasher loving transatlantic foursome who do both a regular podcast, and record commentary tracks for slasher film reissues- and these can be found on the releases from such companies as Arrow Video, Vinegar Syndrome, and 88 films. They’ve been active since 2011, and have so far amassed 170 plus podcasts, and recorded over twenty commentary tracks- all making them one of the most known & respected figures in slasher-fandom. The collective brings together British writer & slasher expect Justin Kerswell- who wrote one of the few books on slasher films Teenage Wasteland; as well as running & writing for the hysteria-lives, a renowned slasher focused website. Irishman Erik Threlfall- who is a lifelong fan of slasher films, & who also writes for the hysteria-lives. And Tennessee based Joseph Henson & Nathan Johnson- who have also been lifelong horror & slasher fans. All four members of the collective kindly agreed to give M[m] an email interview.
She Walks Crooked
Californian based She walks Crooked create a fairly original blend of walled-noise & drone. The project started in 2013 , and it has been slowly, but surely releasing a quality bound selection work, which is often themed/ focused around British/ French actress & singer Charlotte Gainsbourg. I caught up with the man behind the project Scott Kindberg- who also runs the Petite Soles, for an email interview- where we discuss She Walks Crooked, his label, and his other noise projects.
Richard & Sean Ramirez-Matzus
Richard & Sean Ramirez-Matzus are of two of the noise genres most known, influential & respected figures- both within the HNW, and the wider American noise scene. With their discographies going back to the late 80’s/ early 90’s- jointly they’ve released a huge amount of work, which must add up into the hundreds. For many years the pair lived in Houston Texas, but a few years back they decided to move to rural Pennsylvania- I caught up with the pair for an email interview- discussing how the move has impacted their work, their influence on HNW/ noise, and recent sonic developments from the pair.
Andy Ortmann
For the last twenty-five years or so Chicago based Andy Ortmann has been creating all manner of audio surrealism and noisy unsettlement- under his own name, with collaborators, and under the banner of Panicsville, with fellow sonic un-settlers Jeremiah Fisher & Anthony Janas . Recently he released three vinyl album set Pataphysical Electronics- which stands as one of his varied & unbalancing works of his career thus far. Andy kindly agreed to do an email interview with M[m]- where he discusses his career thus far, the new releases, and future work
Mick Sussman
Mick Sussman is an New York-based avant-garde composer- who over the last few years has created a truly huge body of complex, varied, yet playful work via the Rosenberg Algorithmic - a computer music generator designed by himself. I became aware of his work this year with the release of The Rosenberg Algorithmic Music Generator: Selected works Vol 1- which to be frank is a truly brain twisting & unpredictable sonic ride, which will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys their musical diet both playful & brain scrambling. I tracked down Mick for an email interview.
Viva Italia- Cris X / Lorenzo Abattoir
On June 18, two magnificent Italian noise artists, Lorenzo Abattoir (Nascitari, Satanismo Calibro 9, Mare Di Dirac etc) and Cristiano Luciani (Cris X) performed to cerebrate the release of Viva Italia - a Russian language book by Dmitry Vasilyev dedicated to the experimental, industrial and noise music of Italy, covering the period from 1955 to present time. It was the last concert of planned three. Unfortunately, I could not get to the first two shows, which I very much regret.
Unboxed, Watched & Reviewed
Armchair film critics are ten-a-penny on youtube, and more often than not it’s the same ‘classic’ films that are been reviewed over & over again. But there are a few channels covering the more transgressive/ edgy fare, and one of the most satisfying & amusing of these is the Unboxed, Watched And reviewed. This sees the channel's host Tanner James covering all manner of unsettling, perverse & plain deranged fare, in his campy, dirty quip ridden, at times surreal & often OTT manner. Recently after two years silence the channel has relaunched, so it seemed an ideal time to caught-up with Tanner for an email interview.
Vomir,Black Leather Jesus, & Rien
On the 3rd of May 2018 French experimental venue Instants Chavirés once again offered up an evening of ‘walled-noise’/ extreme noise. With line-up taking in Frances king of HNW Vomir, US noise-jam project Black Leather Jesus, and Swedish HNW project Rien. Sadly none of M[m] staff could make the event- but lucky Johan Strömvall Hammarstedt( of Rien, and the excellent label Ominous Recordings) kindly agreed to do the below report/ review/ day diary...
Eric Mcnaughton
When it comes to books or magazines focusing in on the horror film form it’s always great to have a blend of informative, yet never stuffy text and lots color stills. And that’s exactly what you get from We Belong Dead magazine, and it’s related books. I first became of the output of the collective with 2016’s Unsung Horrors- a 448 page glossy & colorfully, yet informative book focusing in on lesser-known horrors films. And have since eagerly looked forward to each new release from them. Below is email interview I did with Eric Mcnaughton who is the editor/ one of the key figures behind the collectives releases.
Hardy Fox
Early on this year, Hardy Fox revealed himself as one of the key songwriters behind avant pop collective The Residents. He had left the project in 2015 due to ill health, going on to 18 release worth of solo material under the pseudonym of Charles Bobuck. Recently he’s released the first album under his own name- Hardy Fox(or Heart) this offered up a selection of emotional & at times quite fraught electronica/ minimal synth pop; which are very much of a departure from the sound he did with The Residents. Hardy kindly agreed to do an email interview.
Geisst
Seattle Washington based Geisst (Geißt) create decidedly moody & creepy take on walled-noise- with their ghost & spirit themed releases. The project is one of sonic ventures of long time noise maker/ experimental artists Peter Keller- Condo Horro, Bacillus, Dirac Sea, PTRKLLR, & Unser Verhängnis. Geisst started in early summer of 2017, and its first release was Unstable Spirits- a 3CDR set on Altar of Waste. This stood as one of my highlights of last year- with each of the ten tracks offering up fairly varied sounding selection of textures that perfectly blend together taut tension with unsettling/haunting mood. Peter kindly agreed to give M[m] a email interview.
Vinegar Syndrome
Of all the genre film reissuing labels / film distribution Vinegar Syndrome is one of the most prolific, respected, and varied in its output. Since 2012 the label has released a host of rare/ thought- lost films, with often impressive scans/ re-mastering, and extras. Moving from hard-core & soft-core porn, horror, various types of exploitation, the odd comedy, and often quirky genre cross-blends. This year is the labels 5th anniversary, and they're still going as strong as ever with its release schedule. I tracked down co-founder Joe Rubin for an email interview- discussing the labels beginning, highlights over the label's existence, favorite films released, their forays into soundtrack releasing, and more
The Rita
The Rita will need no introduction to fans of HNW & the wider noise genre - as since 1996 the project has earned both respected & influence wide & far within the greater noise genre and it’s sub-genres. Behind the project is Canadian based Sam Mckinlay, though in 2016 long running Canadian harsh noise artist Arlo Doyle also began working with McKinlay, and via the project's large discography THE RITA has moved through various themes / obsession - going from horror / creature feature B movies, Giallo films & black-gloved killers, sharks & scuba divers, and in more recent years nylon tights, female feet & legs, women's make-up & the ballet. Sam kindly agreed to give M[m] an interview discussing his recent obsession with classical ballerina physicality, his recent tape box set release Toe Cleavage, & his influence & thoughts on today’s HNW/ static texturing scene.
Robert Rich
To anyone who is even vaguely familiar with the ambient genre, Robert Rich will need little or no introduction. Since the early 80’s this California artists & composer has created a respected & influential body of work- his early work often had more of a darker & brooding tilt, though as his career progressed his work embodied lighter, ethnic, and world music elements. Over the last few years he’s once again returned to the dark side of things- so I caught-up with Robert late last year to discuss this return to darker ambient waters.
Intervision Picture Corp
Over the last few years, Intervision Picture Corp has released a great crop of obscure & odd films to DVD – mainly focusing in Short On Video/ Z budget films from the past- taking in horror, sci-fi, soft-core, and comedy genres. It started up as a sub-label of Severin films- the LA-based film production and distribution company but has very much grown to take on its own beast- with the type of films it releases, the package presentation, etc. It’s fair to say over the last year the labels become one of my favorites, and I’m always keen to see what great obscure item they’ve un-earthed & put-out. I tracked down one of the key minds behind the label David Gregory, for an email interview.
The Residents
For nearing a quarter-of-a century the collective known as The Residents have created a wholly unique & distinctive back catalog of work. Their recorded work has blended & dipped into many genres over the years- taking in elements of pop, avant-garde composition, rock, electronica, musical theater, ethnic- ambience, and beyond. 2017 saw the project release of their 34th studio album The Ghost Of Hope, it also saw the release of a four-CD anthology entitled 80 Aching Orphans, and they’ve also managed to fit in a tour too. The collective never give interviews direct- so I tracked down the project's manager Homer Flynn & last remaining member of the Cryptic Corp for an email interview.
Best Of 2017
It’s that time of year again- best of the year lists- below you’ll find lists of releases that made 2017 special for our writers. And in keeping with our sites focus they span a large and varied selection of different musical & non-musical genres. On a few lists you’ll see the addition of a film list, and this is in-line with us featuring more film reviews on the site…. And in 2018 we hope to expand this even more.
Carrion Black Pit
2017 saw the welcome return of Brazilian project Carrion Black Pit- one of the more creative & progressive projects with the worldwide HNW/static noise/ walled noise scene. The project's return came in the form of Cupio Dissolvi - a C60 release on Swedish noise label Ominous Records, and simply put it was one of this years scene highlights. I caught-up with Elias C- the man behind the project for an email interview- discussing this new release, the projects past work, and the future
Borbetomagus
For nearly forty years Borbetomagus has created a searing & distinctive sound that has really stood apart from any one genre label. The project is primarily a three-piece featuring Jim Sauter on Saxophone, Don Dietrich also on saxophone and Donald Miller on Guitar. The projects sound sits somewhere between dense avant jazz, noise, and intense improv- all to create a sound that is wholly their own. 2017 saw the DVD release of Borbetomagus-A Pollock Of Sound( on MVD Visual), the first every documentary about this most distinctive & extreme of sonic projects. Below is an email interview with Jim Sauter- discussing the projects career thus far, their unique sound, and the new documentary
Ominous Recordings,Rien & Gamiani
Founded in April 2005 Ominous Recordings is a Stockholm, Sweden based tape label. When it first started it was releasing primarily harsh noise, but also dipped into other experimental genres such as free jazz, death ambient, drone, & noise rock. In the last few years, the label has started to focus in more & more on HNW releases, becoming one of the main labels releasing releases from the scene. I tracked down the label’s owner Johan Strömvall Hammarsted for an email interview to discuss the label's history, as well as discussing his two walled noise projects Rien & Gamiani.
Simon Reynell
Sheffield based improvised and contemporary music label Another Timbre is now in its tenth year. And over this time it’s slowly, fairly quietly, yet consistently released a slew of quality bound sonically experimental fare- going from creative & sub-bass lined improv, though to fragile & angular piano compositions, onto changeling-yet- creative chamber works, and beyond. It’s fair to say it’s now one of the most respected labels in both improvised and contemporary fields- and with each new batch of releases from the label, it’s building on its impressive sonic legacy. I tracked down Simon Reynell the label's owner & curator for an email discussion- discussing the labels ten-year existence, present releases & its future.
Trepaneringsritualen
For those unfamiliar, Trepaneringsritualen is the moniker of Swedish noise terrorist Thomas Ekelund. Also sometimes referred to as T × R × P, Ekelund’s project has been rather prolific since it’s inception in 2008, with a number releases on such labels as: Hanson, Harsh Head Rituals, Malignant, Release the Bats, and now U.K. mainstay Cold Spring. Through TxRxP Ekelund explores religion, the occult, and other esoteric themes through a caustic blend of death industrial, power electronics and industrial noise. I’ve been a fan of the project for quite some time, so I appreciate Thomas taking the time to share some of his insights.
Frederick R. Friedel
It’s fair to say much of exploitation cinema has little depth, memorability, or flare- as a genre exploitation does pretty much what it says box it exploits, be it horror, sex, race, etc. Frederick R. Friedel is one of the more note-worthy, creative & distinctive directors to come out of the 1970’s exploitation scene- releasing just two films in this decade- Axe & Kidnapped Coed ( aka Date With A Kidnapper)- both of these where thoughtful, well-conceived films- taking exploitation genre traits & twisting them to create memorable & often haunting cinema, that stands head & shoulders above run-of-the-mill exploitation. In 2015 Severin Films released both films( and their soundtracks) in a two disc Blu ray & CD release, so hopefully, both films will now get the praise & appreciation they truly deserve. Mr Friedel kindly agreed to give M[m] a rare email interview- discussing his films, influences, and of course the Severin reissue.
Dosis Letalis
Dosis Letalis is one of the up & coming names in the worldwide walled noise scene. This Serbian project started in 2015, and since has released around 50 releases. Sound-wise they moved from standard-though- entrancing wall craft, onto more creative textural compositions. And much of the project's output thus far has been themed around anti- capitalism/ anti- system rhetoric. I tracked down Nemanja Nikoliæ- the man behind the project for an email interview.