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Z'EV
Z'EV is a highly respected & influential percussionist, sound-artists, conceptual artists, scholar and poet - his work blurs the boundaries between different experimental genres, and it’s really difficult to even attempt to pigeon hole his work into a single one. His lengthy & highly prolific discography stretchers back to the early 80’s- with his work over the years touching down in early industrial, noise, percussive improv, dark ambient, avant grade compositions, sound-art, experimental ethnic percussive sound-making dark ambience, doom jazz and beyond. In his lengthy career he has collaborated with many artists from many different genres & sonic disciplines, taking in names such as: Genesis P-Orridge, Francisco López, KK Null, Chris Watson, Lydia Lunch, Nick Parkin, Charlemagne Palestine & Boyd Rice. So it’s a great honor to present the following lengthy & fascinating interview with this truly unequal artist’s & experimental legend.
Propast
I’ve taken a huge interest in Propast since I discovered Věstnik Preispodnji, the band’s debut EP, at the beginning of this year. From the majestic, hateful, and undeniably powerful opening riffs and the first blood-curdling shrieks of “... u Plamenu” to the final, drawn-out chord of “Thurisaz” I was hooked. The way the band manages to create a unique sound while still remaining completely black metal (which, given the sheer number of releases is quite a feat in and of itself) is superb. I recently had the opportunity to do an email interview with vocalist/guitarist and front man kasapin where we talk about the band and black metal on the larger scale.
Nightsatan
Nightsatan are a Finnish three piece who create a decidedly retro focused, cinematic & often tongue-in-cheek brand of synth based music they self classify as ’Laser Metal’. The projects sound references late 70’s & 80’s soundtrack work of the likes of: Goblin, Tangrine Dream, John Carpenter, Jan Hammer, and the genreal vibe/feel of chessey 70’s/80’s low budget sci-fi, horror, & fantasy soundtracks. So far the project has put out two full length releases: 2011’s Midnight Laser Warrior, and this years Nightsatan and the Loops of Doom- which saw the band creating the soundtrack for their own self staring short movie, which was a surreal & cheesy tribute to the 80's Italian post apocalyptic cinema. The whole band: Wolf-Rami- Muscles & Synths, Mazathoth-Brains & Synths, Inhalator II- Heart & drums, kindly agreed to give M[m] a email interview.
Static Goat
Static Goat are a Southern California based two piece who summon-up an often dense & extremely overloaded, hellish & psychedelic take on harsh noise. I tracked down the projects founding member Izedis for an email interview.
Julien Skrobek
Frenchman Julien Skrobek is one of the more interesting & thought-provoking figures to appear from the European HNW scene. Firstly the sound of his many projects is often anchored in a progressive setting( be it edging his work with none ‘wall’ elements, or producing his ‘walls’ in a creative manner). Secondly he’s often picks unusual & varied themes for his releases such as :French surrealist poets & writers, Italian directors & philosophers, 1980’s sleazy slashes, art & artists, voodoo/African culture, etc.
Adam Sykes
In March 2014 respected British dark ambient/ noise label Iris Light resurrected it’s self after four years dormancy. In it’s original existence (between 1996 and 2008) the label released thirty seven releases, putting out work by acts such as German drone trio Maeror Tri, EMB innovators Front 242, noise & glitch bound drum ‘n’ bass merchants Ashfelt, & chilling English dark ambient project Band Of Pain- but the label is most known for their releases by celebrated Japanese noise-meets-ambient project Aube( aka Nakajima Akifumi, who sadly pasted away in September 2013). I caught-up with the labels owner Adam Sykes for an email interview discussing Iris Light past & future, his own sonic work, and to remember the unequal talent that Aube was.
Inanition
Inanition are mysterious & anonymous project who summon up a dense, sometimes subtly shifting & mostly compelling take on walled noise- the project also weaves in elements of drone based noise, and horror sci-fi singed ‘n’ slow harsh noise texturing into thier sound. Inanition keeps both it’s location in the world & it's number of members firmly under-wraps. The project started at some point in 2009, and so far has released around sixty or so releases, which have taken in a lot of digital releases, some strand alone CDR releases, and a host of splits. I managed to get in contact with the entities(?) behind the project for an email interview
Cynic
Existential fusion jazz / metal band Cynic have had a long, strange trek since the release of their inestimably influential debut statement, "Focus". After a long 13 years of silence, the band reformed in 2006, and, over the course of 4 releases (2 full lengths and 2 EPs, beginning with 2008's "Traced In Air"), the sophisticated and detailed sound of a new millenium Cynic has emerged. With the newer material came a lighter sonic touch, more openly soulful songs and spacious, comfortable compositions with a greater presence of ambient elements. Though the sound has strayed far from the original 'death metal', the relentless existential quest at the root of the music, as well as guitarist/songwriter/vocalist Paul Masvidal's expanded sense of consonance, has remained fully intact, and the music is full of feeling and detail. Masvidal was kind enough to discuss the latest full length, "Kindly Bent to Free Us" via email interview.
BL’AST!
A newly resurrected BL’AST! have been on quite a tear as of late, after more than a decade of dormancy. They’ve released archival material on the Blood album in 2013 and more recently released an alternate version of their classic LP The Power of Expression, called The Expression of Power, both out on the Southern Lord Records imprint. With a new line up they’ve just hit venues across the U.S. and Europe. Founding member and guitarist Mike Neider kindly took some time to talk to me about BL’AST!’s early days, their recent archival albums, and what the future holds for BL’AST!.
Robert Rich
Along with Steve Roach, Robert Rich is one of the pioneers of the America ambient music- his discography stretchers over 30 years, and he’s credited as influencing & helping create the dark ambient form, as well been one of the first ambient artists to create a more minimal & slower ambient sound. Over the last year or so there’s been a series of reissues of his early works, and one of the most recent of these reissues is the four vinyl Lp box set Premonitions 1980-1985, which collects together rare and unreleased material from his formative years as a ambient artist. Robert kindly agreed to give M[m] a email interview discussing his early work & releases, his infamous 1980’s sleep concerts, and the new Premonitions boxset.
Jussi Lehtisalo
Jussi Lehtisalo is a respected bass player/songwriter, founding member of celebrated Finish experimental rock/ multi genre band Circle, and he also started & runs the always rewarding/ quirky Ektro Record label.
Fantome De Sang
Fantome De Sang produce a darkly seared ‘n’ intense mixture of blacked harsh noise, bleak ambience & HNW, which is themed around the work of French underground black metal/ dark ambient collective Les Legions Noire. Behind the project is highly prolific Minneapolis based ambient and harsh noise wall artists Cory Strand- and as any long time & constant readers of M[m] will know we have a lot of time for the work of Mr Strand, and all the releases on his excellent label Altar Of Waste. But I think is fairly to say Fantome De Sang is one of the most consistent, rewarding & effective of his many projects- it also offers up one of the most compelling & re-playable takes on the whole blacked noise, or noise/blacked metal cross genre. Cory kindly agreed to give me an email interview to discussing this most intense, grim yet highly compelling project.
Clive Henry
Southampton based Clive Henry is with out doubt one of the most rewarding & original HNW/ANW artists working in todays world wide wall scene. He only started releasing walled noise work in 2010, but he has so far created a creative & thought provoking back catalogue. Clive kindly agreed to give M[m] an email interview.
Lethe
Lethe (aka Japanese sound artists, subtle improviser and uneasy mood-setter Kuwayama Kiyoharu), creates a very distinctive & original sound art that sits somewhere between: manipulated field recordings, natural ambience, subtle improvising, and minimalist compositions. Many of the project recordings are base purely around the sounds of specially selected abounded factory spaces- and really what Kiyoharu creates in very unique with in the cannon of experimental music/sound craft. He kindly agreed to give M[m] an email interview to discuss the project.
ST PETE HNW Fest and the Return of Wallkeeper
On April 29th, 2014, 7 artists got together to present an evening of focused wall noise. The venue of choice was the Suncoast’s go to anti-art establishment the Venture Compound. The event was the brainchild of HNW enthusiast Sisto Rossi. Transplants from Germany, Sisto and his wife Mariela made home in Florida, then Portland and back to Florida again. Since his return, he talked about organizing a HNW only fest. Unfortunately, it was only after word that the Rossis’ were departing back to Deutschland that the Wall Fest became reality. According to Sisto:
Nighttime In The Abyss
Columbia Missouri based Nighttime In The Abyss are a dense, dark & disorientating sonic project that are difficult to put under one genre label. It’s clearly influenced by blacked noise, power electronics, disturbing spoken word, black metal, and dark ambience- but really you can’t label this project- you just have to experience it!. The project was started in October 2012 by one Alocer Christus( real name Christopher Ropes), and has so far amassed around 7 or so releases on various underground experimental labels. Christopher kindly agreed to give M[m] an email interview, and what follows is a fascinating trip into the world of this most disturbing & unique of projects.
Savage Cross
Baltimore, Maryland based Savage Cross brew up a stumbling, brooding & extreme mixture of noised-up black metal, blackened noise, and HNW. Behind the project is one Evan Craig- who has been involved with-in the underground noise scene since 2008, and is behind projects such as: creative HNW project Ritual Stance, dark ambient meets power electronics project Frailty Of Angels, and Reaching. which mixers together elements of noise, power electronics, dark ambience & field recordings. Evan kindly agreed to give M[m] a email interview regard Savage Cross, and it’s dark, distinctive & brutal sound.
Black Leather Jesus
Black Leather Jesus are one of the longest running & respected of US harsh noise collectives. The projects crude & perverse sound is often very dense & noise jam based, with a heavy use of junk metal. The collective is now in its twenty firth year, and at present features 13 members- at the centre of the project is Texas noise couple Richard Ramirez (the projects founder) & Sean E. Matzus. Both Richard & Sean kindly agreed to give M[m] an email interview from the project base in Houston Texas.
Irene Moon
Katja Seltmann, better known by her alter-ego Irene Moon, has been an active figure in the experimental underground since the early 90's. An entomologist by trade, she’s known for melding her entomology lectures with performance art. Recently she is featured on a split album with Pod Blotz, as a member of the noisy, absurdist theatre group Auk Theatre. One of my favorite releases of 2013, their side of the split is a wild ride of spoken word, wind instruments, and electronics, that sounds noisy yet folksy at times. Ms. Moon kindly took time to answer some questions regarding her projects and the new(ish) split album.
irr. app. (ext.)
When Musique Machine had the pleasure of interviewing Matt Waldon, the West Coast surrealist known as irr. app. (ext.) in the Summer of 2005 he had just been recruited to join Nurse With Wound’s new live configuration. Since then he has helped to ensure their deliriously potent live performances are a regular fixture in key cities across the globe, while maintaining a resolutely singular approach to his solo work, both audio and visual.
Best Of 2013
2013 was another rewarding year for all forms music, sound & noise. Below you’ll find lists of releases that really meant something to our writers over the last 12 months, and fitting M[m] sonic ethos these span many different sonic genres.
Carach Angren
Carach Angren are one of the more interesting & rewarding Symphonic black metal project to appear in the recent years. The Dutch three piece started in 2003, and so far have released three albums: 2008’s Lammendam, 2010’s Death Came Through a Phantom Ship, & 2012’s Where the Corpses Sink Forever – the first two albums ghost themed concept albums, and the last album saw them expand out into ghost & horror fed story telling based around World War I & II, and the Vietnam War.Their sound mixers together symphonic textures with memorable yet dramatic black metal, with elements of horror metal,horror fed prog rock, and darkly theatrical or musical like hints. The project kindly agreed to give M[m] a email interview, and the questions were answered by Ardek (keyboards, arrangements, backing vocals, Orchestra) & Seregor (vocals & guitar
Cannibal Ritual
German based Cannibal Ritual is one of the most intense & unforgiving HNW project to have ever existenced, and it is some what of a legend in the worldwide walled noise scene. Behind the project is Italian Cannibal movie obsessed Ruggero Lenzi, & it initially existenced between 2007 & 2010- then it mysteriously disappeared. In late 2013 it reappeared again with a strew of new releases on various respected HNW labels, and Lenzi also set-up a new net based label Meat Hook Butcher. Lenzi kindly agreed to give M[m] a rare email interview from his jungle hide-out
Jozef Van Wissem
Dutch born, but now New York City based Jozef van Wissem is one of the most respected & known modern exponents of the lute. Over the last five or so years he has released a series of albums on the respected mixed genre/ experimental US label Important records, and each release has seen him playing this most ancient of instruments in a highly skilled manner to create enchanting pieces of music which embraces both modern & time-less melodies. Jozef kindly agreed to give M[m] a email interview, discussing his career thus far & up-coming soundtrack work, etc.