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If there’s one musical instrument that synonymous with the 1980’s it’s the Saxophone- it popped up all over the genre map in the decade, from light rock, pop, soul, world music, R & B, and of course jazz/ fusion. One of the more respected, versatile, and popular Sax players of the decade was Grover Washington Jr, who is also seen as one the originators of that most quintessential late seventies-to-early 80’s sub-genres Smooth Jazz. Here on Cherry Reds sub-label Soul Music Records is a five-disc box set bringing six albums that were originally release Columbia Records- the set highlights both Mr. Washington’s ability to write memorable and varied music that touches down in R&B, jazz funk, soul, populous fusion and straight-ahead Jazz.
In the mid-nineties, there was a respected Russia Epic Doom band called Scald, which, in addition to the demo record, released the only one full-length album Will Of Gods Is A Great Power. Over the years, this album acquired cult status and been reprinted several times. Due to the tragic death of vocalist Agyl, Scald ceased to exist in 1997. Some of the original members organize the band Tumulus, focused on progressive and folk metal. In 2016, three musicians from the original Scald lineup - Ottar, Velingor, and Harald - reunited and gave birth to a new band called Intothecrypt, stylistically close to Scald's music. According to the information I found on the Internet, since 2016, Intothecrypt have recorded several demo songs.
Slow Heat is a long-form, yet subtle shifting desert-themed example of ambience from US ambient legend Steve Roach. This is a 2018 CD release of an original 1998 work- it appears on Roach’s own label TimeRoom Editions, in an edition of 500 copies- which takes in a digipak case, taking in decidedly moody pictures of the Arizona desert.
Emanuelle and Francoise is a revenge fuelled & extremely liberally sleazed mid 1970’s thriller from infamous euro B movie director Joe D'Amato. It’s one of his lesser-seen/ known pictures, and here on Severin is the films first-ever fully uncut US release- as either Blu Ray(with or without ltd slip) and DVD.
Shot in gritty 'n' grimy 16mm black & white Night Owl is an early 1990’s vampire film set in the backdrop of NYC’s Lower east sides nocturnal pizza shops, house music clubs, and grimy apartments. From Vinegar Syndrome here we have a recent duel Blu ray/ DVD reissue of this grimly distinctive and fairly original take on the vampire genre- the set features a new print of the film, directors commentary, and a few other extras.
Strawberry Flavoured Plastic is a more thoughtful, philosophical, and largely talky take on the serial killer genre, in a found-footage/ mockumentary setting. This 2019 film is very much in the low-key indie vein, and aside from some quite powerfully reserved acting, and one or two whole successful scene- the film is decidedly hit & misses, and at points downright disappointing- coming off often more snug & trying to be clever, then in anyway shocking or pulse bounding. Here from Break Glass Pictures is a region one DVD of the film-it features a cast and crew commentary, original trailer, and trailer reel.
Originally released in 2009 The Nylons of Laura Antonelli is one of the cornerstone releases of the textured noise/ walled noise genre. The four-hour work sees genre master/ originator The Rita( aka Canadian noisemaker Sam Mckinlay) offering a selection of detailed, highly skilled, and craftsman-like static studies based around the source material of women’s tights- hence the title. Here is the third pressing of this classic release- appearing this time on respected Italian noise label Urashima- in the form of a four-CD box set.
Three years after 2016's Eulogies of Putrefaction, Los Angeles' Pestilent Death is back with their follow-up, Chapters of Depravity. Old-school to the core, Pestilent Death bring their riffs, fuzz, and horror movie samples to the masses via Blood Harvest and Rotted Life. Available on CD, vinyl, and, ugh, cassette, Pestilent Death's sophomore effort arrives just in time to darken one's summer days.
Windfell is an example of extremely sparse, episodic, yet at times decidedly haunting-to-oddly playful modern classic composition/ sparse improv for a single violin and fleeting vocal elements. The 2017 piece was penned by up and coming British composer James weeks, and is sonically realized by Canadian Violinists Mira Benjamin. The release comes in the form of a CD on the always dependable Sheffield based label Another Timbre, coming in the labels house style white gatefold packaging.
Kirk Markarian is an American musician, artist, and designer living in Arizona. Since 2010 Kirk has created his experimental electronic music with the help of digital technologies. In 2017, he started Neuro ... No Neuro (NNN), which to date has released eleven releases- the most recent I'm review today
Gruesome Implement is the second in the series of double-wall noise split from German label Meat Hook Butchery. The double CDR offers up two album-length selections of wall craft- which moves from the terminal bleak drone walling of Sloth, onto the shorter & cruder wall attacks of Cannibal Ritual.
Appearing on Mexican noise label Moral Decadence here is a fetish focused wall noise split. The C20/digital release takes in two examples of kinky themed wall matter, with a track apiece from Canadian wall legend The Rita, and Swedish project Gamiani. The release appeared back in February of this year in a physical edition of 100 copies- these have unfortunately have all gone now, so ones only option (other than hoping for a discog sale) is a digital download.
Originally released in 1977, The Uncanny is a portmanteau in the style of the Amicus classics Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror. In addition to those similarities the film was co-produced by Amicus supremo Milton Subotsky in conjunction with The Rank Organisation and Astral Films (Canada). The film was directed by Claude Héroux and starred an excellent ensemble cast including horror stalwarts Peter Cushing and Donald Pleasance alongside Ray Milland. For those who love their classic 1970s and 80s horror it is also worth noting that the cinematography comes courtesy of The Wicker Man’s Harry Waxman, and the screenplay was written by Michel Parry who would go on to write the underground classic Xtro.
Øyvind Torvund is a Norwegian composer and guitarist, with sparse recordings to his name since 2003. His latest recording for Hubro is titled The Exotica Album. As far as I can tell, his guitar does not appear on the album, the album being instead an outlet for Torvund's composition and orchestration.
Here we have the first-ever release of the full soundtrack of the classic 1980’s Canadian slasher film Prom Night. This recent thirty four track CD release brings together both the original score, and the films often disco focused songs- but on top of this, you get a selection of both un-used score cues, and un-used disco tunes for the film. All making this release on Perseverance Records the ultimate and definitive release of the film's soundtrack.
With a film title like Stranger In the House, you’d be expecting maybe a home invasion thriller, or proto-slasher. But instead, it’s a little-seen British film from the 1960s, which blends together swinging 60’s teen drama and murder mystery plotting- with themes of age, addiction, and loss. As part of BFI’s Flipside series here’s a dual-format Blu Ray/ DVD release of the film- featuring a new High Definition print, commentary track, and some choice extra relating to films southern English setting, and the swinging 60's.
Appearing in the late 1970s, around the last gasps of British horror genre, The Legacy is a lesser-known addition to the genre. It’s a moody-if-slightly plodding occult tinged thriller/light horror film, that features some rather daft moments & deaths. From Powerhouse films here we have a recent Blu Ray release of the film- offering up both English & American cuts of the film, a new commentary track, and a few other extras.
Putney Swope is considered something of a lost classic of the 60s counterculture. Robert Downey Snr’s film has just arrived on Bluray for the first time in its history from cult American DVD/Bluray distributor Vinegar Syndrome, and what an awesome package they have put together for this forgot classic. The Bluray print is taken from the recently struck 4k restoration that was undertaken by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and The Film Foundation, with funding from the George Lucas estate. Putney Swope is a satirical look at the issues that were affecting America in 1969, racial tensions, political unrest and pop culture all combine in a social commentary that is very much of its time, but still manages to offer a reminder to modern society on the pitfalls we need to avoid in the 21st century.
Talented producer, engineer, composer, and member of Triple Sun, David Chalmin had yet to have his music as a solo act released. Thankfully, Ici d'ailleurs saw this hole in his repertoire, and came to the rescue with the release of La Terre Invisible. A wondrous mix of dance and ambient, Chalmin's solo debut is an eye opening electronic composition that moves, dodges, and defies categorization. Is it a soundtrack? Is it IDM? Is it future/retro/whatever wave? It doesn't matter, because it's smooth, lush, and supremely enjoyable.
Accord Ouvert is the debut album from Belgium based elector-acoustic/ acousmatic/ musique concrete Composer Sophie Delafontaine. The CD album/digital download servers up six tracks that dart between mysteriously unsettling, playful & bizarre, and inventive & daring- all to create a real sonic roller-coaster ride of a release.
Lettres et Replis is a piano-based album that shifts between elegant harmonics and often discordant angularity. The release comes in the form of the six-track album- that’s available as either a mini gatefold packaged CD( ltd to 500 copies), or a digital download- both can be purchased from Elsewhere’s website.
The Other World is the first release from Sihir- a new project from highly prolific & multiple projects linked French noise maker Julien Skrobek. The release is presented in the form of a C20, which Julien self released himself- it takes in two side-long tracks, and the best description of what we have here is minimal/ stark noise with elements of lo-fi ambience. So really somewhat of a departure from the more wall/ static noise sound Mr Skrobek is known for- through there are still some textured noise elements present here.
Collaboration albums in the genre of experimental music have always been interesting proposition, as the blend between different sonic approaches-often create a distinctive one-off sound. Even though Dark Ambient, as a genre, is widespread and a huge number of projects work in this style, there are a certain number of the most respected artists whose work always deserve the close attention from fans of this genre. The Russian project Bardoseneticcube, working at the junction of Dark Ambient and Industrial, headed by Igor Potsukaylo, is one of such respected projects.
Lighting Strike Scars is a lengthy submersion in thick, whipping & battering storm like walled noise from this Portland, Oregon project. The release, a pro pressed CDR or digital download, appeared in April on UK wall label Void Singularity Recordings- it came in an edition of ten copies, and as of writing the label still, have copies which can be purchased from the labels Bandcamp.