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Here’s the 4th volume in the ‘Gruesome’ series of double-disc wall noise split’s from German label Meat Hook Butchery.This time around the focus is on a lot more loose/ at times jam-like wall making, which drifts nto wallish harsh noise territory.As with the other releases in this double-disc CDR series-each artists offer up a disc of material- and this time featured here are two German projects- Azoikum, and Cannibal Ritual.
1984s Decoder is one of only two films directed by talented underground German film maker Muscha, the other being Humanes Toten, the tale of a young butcher’s assistant who experiences feelings of alienation from those who he comes into contact with. Feelings of alienation and societal difference feature strongly in both of Muscha’s films along with a strong sense of his own personal identity. Muscha identifies with societies individuals or outcasts, those who dance to their own beat as opposed to following the societal norms. This instantly makes for a much more interesting filmic experience, as Muscha is not afraid to challenge regular perceptions about society as a whole.
From the early 1980s Beyond Evil is decidedly campy cinematic strew of gothic horror tropes & demonic possession fun- sprinkled with a seasoning OTT often green colored visual effects, lots of synthetic & flared attire, and Omen like death scenes. The film features cult film favorites John Saxon & Linda Day George - with a dramatic-to-eerier score from Pino Donaggi- from Vingure Syndrome here we have a duel Blu Ray/ DVD presentation of the film featuring a new 2k scan, and a few extras.
Equally sleazed, perverse and at times ridiculous/ some what dull - The Beast In Heat stands as one of the most controversial of exploitation films of the 1970s with it’s leering & depraved blend of sex & violence in a nazi setting. From the folks at Severin here is an uncut Blu ray release of the film- with two great extras – an hour & a half documentary about Nazisploitation, and half-hour featurette about the film/genre from the always worthy Stephen Thrower.
Back in 1970, Birmingham rock band, Black Sabbath released their debut self-titled album. This album, as well as several subsequent ones, became the basis for a new style of heavy music called Doom Metal. Subsequently, many sub-genres of doom appeared. Many bands present their vision of Doom Metal, combining traditional sound with other styles. However, the closest to the original sound are the Doom / Stoner bands, which focus on guitar work, dense and heavy sound and clean vocals.
A collaboration between B.S.s of Common Eider, King Eider and Arexis of La Breiche, Égrégore captures the darkness and spirit of May 2018's New Dark Moon. Recorded live using electronics and various natural elements, Common Eider, King Eider captured this essence in a cabin in the Pyrenees in France. Given four tracks with which to spread its majesty, Égrégore is a dark, brooding, ambient ritual capturing the might an magic of the dance between the Earth and Moon.
RTM t1/2 is a recent CDR box set from Tetsuo- the tight & tense electro drone ‘n’ sine wave project of well thought-of French noisemaker Julien Skrobek( Ghost, Gesis, Ruine, Sumbru & many other projects). The set takes in six discs, and just over six hours of sound- and I’d guess you'd describe this as a logical extension of the release Gabber DNA/ Empty Warehouse mix- a 3 inch CDR where Skrobek offered up an original then remastered track- but instead of each track been around the ten minute mark, they are hitting the thirty-minute mark- which does have both it’s plus & negatives.
Here’s a C90/ digital split that brings together two lengthy submersions of building falling ’n’ bone crushing brutal walled noise- the release brings together French projects vide médian and Black Matter Phantasm.
With a title like Hussy- you may be expecting that this 1980’s British film, is either a cheesy soft-core venture, or latter-day sex comedy. But in reality what we have here is a drama, with romantic elements that later develops into a crime thriller. The film follows high-class prostitute Beaty(Helen Mirren) as she gets involved with shady American lighting technician Emory( John Shea), who works in the cabaret she peddles her wares. The film features fleeting nudity, some from Mirren- but the focus here is very much character study with later relatively tense thriller action. On Powerhouse here’s a new Blu Ray of this lesser-seen film from celebrated actress Mirren, with a new scanned print, and a good selection of extras.
Originally released in 1977 Annie In Wonderland was the first solo album from English singer Annie Haslam, who was most known for her work with British prog band Renaissance.The eight-track album not only highlights the wonderful strength, power & versatility of her voice- but also shows the musical genre blending skill & prowess of her backing band. Over the albums playtime we move from showy & grand pop balladeering with prog edges, onto shimmering guitar show tunes with a distinctive Spanish flavor, through to folk-rock funk 1970’s pop that shifts into African ethnic vibes. On Esoteric Recordings- Cherry Reds prog sub-label- here’s a much-deserved CD reissue of this overlooked solo album, which is both daring & creative, yet often memorable & approachable too.
Crepuscule In Nickelsdorf is a true head-trip of a release- it brings together a dizzying-to-dream like a blend of cascading & vivid Sax work, snaking double bass- with electronics, turntable textures, and bird ‘n’ insect field recordings. It’s a release that straggles various experimental genres, and really is one of the most multi-layered & heady records I’ve heard this year.
Today, I'm reviewing, a rather interesting EP-split from two American experimental projects - Gridfailure and Feel Happiness. The New York based project Gridfailure, founded in 2016 by musician Dave Brenner, is a rather interesting representative of the experimental music scene, combining elements of Ambient, Power Electronics, Noise and Industrial in its sound. To date, Gridfailure's discography has 20 different releases, some of which have already been reviewed on the pages of M[m]. Feel Happiness is a very young experimental project by the Dalasian musician Lane Oliver. To date, this project has released just one debut mini-album, self released in July of this year. So, split with Gridfailure is the second release of Feel Happiness.
From Arrow Video here’s a classy bells ‘n’ whistles reissue of The Prey- one of the more contentious films of the golden age of the slasher. The early 1980’s film is a backwoods slasher- which finds a group of teens going out into forest, and eventual getting killed off by a tall, lumbering & burnt killer. The films decidedly slow, and laden down with way too much nature footage, though on the positive side the campy teens are likable enough, when the gore comes it’s good, and there are some creepy stalking scenes and a nicely downbeat ending. This new reissue is a double-disc Blu Ray set- bringing together a new commentary track, a good selection of new interviews, outtakes, a longer international cut, and a host of other stuff.
Slam legends, Devourment, are back after six years with their follow up to 2013's Conceived In Sewage. Returning to Relapse Records with the lineup that blasted out Molesting the Decapitated, Devourment unleash Obscene Majesty on a hungry audience. Crushing, slamming heaviness, this chunk of death metal mayhem will darken even the brightest of days.
We Could Die Here is an alias of Tokyo based Rob Orme, better known for his dreamy hip-hop and R&B produced under the name Submerse. Bludhoney records - who appear to be taking a hiatus in 2019 - have previously put out a range of material drawn from the Vaporwave fall-out, as well as a couple of editions of Merzbow's old Pulse Demon record. This eponymous debut album takes Orme's 80s inflected chillwave and R&B sound and passes it through Vaporwave's gauzy dissimulator.
Hell Comes To Frogtown is a light and fun-if-at-times frivolous take on the popular 1980’s Sci-Fi sub-genre of Post Apocalyptic adventure. The 1988 film features wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, as Sam Hell one of the last fertile men in the post-nuclear landscape- it’s a pacey-if-uneven blend of subtly cheeky/ sexual humor, tacky one-liners, the odd action scenes/ set-ups, and big-headed humanoid frogs. From the folks at Vinegar Syndrome here we have a dual format Blu Ray & DVD release of the film- offering up a new commentary track & a good enough selection of extras.
Close| Quarters is a seven-track slice of often compacted & angular improv for Viola & prepared chamber- this release is part of a series of seven CD’s put out by Belgium label New Wave Of Jazz.
Originally released in 1972, Connolly’s first solo album after the breakup of the Humblebums is an interesting mix of his earlier career and the stand-up comedy that would become his stock and trade. This blending of folk music and Connolly’s ability to make people laugh makes the album feel like the end of one era in his career and the beginning of another.
Ensemble neoN is a CD release that brings together two great examples engrossing & often mind expanding modern drone craft. The release features two respected American figures from the scene- drone legend/pioneer Phil Niblock, and tonal blurring composer Catherine Lamb.
This educational recording aims to document the unique form and psychic fury of traditional Javanese horse dances. To quote the liner notes, "Kasenian réak is a genre of performative art from the Priangan area of West Java, organized during hajatans (life-cycle celebrations) and nowadays primarily held during weddings and circumcisions." The style includes not only music but trance dancing and incredible feats involving bricks and blades.
Knurl should little or no introduction to noise fans, as Alan Bloor- the mind behind the project has been releasing raw, merciless, brutal noise creations for almost 25 years now!. With each new release, I feel he has successfully increased the intensity of his art, not only sound-wise but also conceptually.
Hypertide Over Kiribati is a decidedly fiery and mind-warping blend of Avant jazz/ electro-acoustic improv. This CD release appears on UK’s Not Applicable, & offers up a four-track album that in equal measures unbalances & manically stimulates-as it moves between Intergalactic playfulness & brood.
Following on from their (relatively) recent ultimate edition’s of Maniac, and Zombie here we find Blue Underground offering up another classy three-disc reissue of another 1980’s extreme classic- Lucio Fulci’s NYC based grimy 'n' sleazed Giallo The New York Ripper. This new edition brings together a Blu Ray, DVD, and CD - the film gets a wonderful crisp new scan, there's a great selection of mostly brand spanking new extras, the soundtrack, new inlay booklet- with the limited edition coming in a Lenticular 3D cover.
Don’t Drink The Water is the latest release from Adelaide based wall-noise project Visitation, and it severs up two around thirty-minute examples of densely textured wall-craft. The album comes in the form of either a CDR or digital download- which appears on British wall noise/ noise label Void Singularity Recordings.