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This first volume of computer music created by the Rosenberg Algorithmic is a wonderful heady & brain twisting journey- think a more manic & rabid take on Zappa’s Jazz From Hell, or the more abstract & dense piled-up moments from latter-day Autechre.
Sissel is a fragile, sparse, often forlorn- yet at times haunting slice of improv- bringing together the talents of English pianist John Tilbury, respected British improviser Keith Rowe, and live video artists Kjell Bjørgeengen. The release comes in the form of a CD/ or vinyl release on the Norwegian based SOFA Music label, who of late have released a few interesting titles with-in the improv/ modern composition bracket.
Here’s a double feature of trashy, campy, yet kind-of-charming 1980’s films from writer/director Rick Sloane- who is best known for his lo-grade/so-bad-it's-good Gremlins rip-off Hobgoblins. This Blu Ray/DVD set from Vinegar Syndrome takes in 1984 ’s supernatural slasher parody- based in a picture house Blood Theatre, and 1986’s The Visitants- a 50’s themed Sci-fi comedy.
The Aftermath is a cheap and cheerful entry in the post-apocalyptic film genre. Director, writer, producer Steve Barkett stars as Newman, an astronaut who returns to earth after completing his mission to find the majority of the population has been decimated by nuclear warfare.
New Italian trio Creta launches their debut LP on German label, Karlrecords. Comprising three different, but very talented musicians (guitarist Roberto Zanisi, DJ/electronic musician Luciano Lamanna, and bassist Massimo LPupillo), Creta brings forth an engaging, atmospheric bit of ambient that, despite their new formation, feels very seasoned and tight. Managing to be both Earthly and otherworldly, Creta has intricate layers and goes by quickly, so multiple listens are required in order to absorb it fully.
Panamanian-American drummer Billy Cobham is seen as one of the great fusion drummers- working with the likes of Miles Davis & Mahavishnu Orchestra. Here from BGO we have a double CD reissue of two Columbia albums from 1970’s - bringing together a studio album, and a live album featuring the likes of Steve Khan & Tom Scott.
1974’s Things To Come was the first album from this British two-piece prog-rock project. And it offered up a decidedly uneven blend of bounding, melodic & symphonic 70’s prog pop-rock, and instrumental tracks with a more experimental & moody leaning. On Cherry Reds prog sub-label Esoteric Records here we have a recent CD reissue of the album.
Thy Catafalque are an experienced Hungarian progressive rock/metal outfit. This new album "Geometria" is the group's 9th full length.
I first discovered Power Electronics genre back in 1996 or 1997. And since then this extreme electronic music has been close to my heart- as I’ve enjoyed the social/political manifestos, the sometimes quite violent and painful subjects of the genre, and of course the noise that surrounds these themes
Penny Pinchers is a 2016 documentary about low/no budget horror film production. The hour & a half feature takes in interviews with some of the big names in the genre such as Lloyd Kaufman( Troma), Tim Ritter( Truth Or Dare series), Donald Farmer(Vampire Cop), Todd Sheets( Blood Of The Undead series). Here on SRS Cinema, who of course have a history of releasing low-budget horror fare, is a recent region-free DVD release of the film
SP's "Under The Needle" was released in a run of twenty CDrs by the Ukranian label ShchYL Records in March 2017.
Fitting its name Dejection is Cory Strand's (Fantome De Sang, Lethe, Dreamless) project for his more introspective & hopeless sonic outpourings. Here from late 2016, we have a CDR severing up a selection of four ten-minute tracks. These move from doomed keyboard scaping, onto pressing & pitch black ANW, through to bleak electric guitar work-out. This release is themed around one of the bleak classics of English literature Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.
From 1979 The Sadist Of Notre Dame finds euro arty-sleaze meister Jess Franco offering up one of his more grim & bleakly moody films. It follows the exploits of a defrocked priest( played by Franco himself) killing women in the streets of ‘gay Paree’ - which (mostly) here is decidedly stark & brooding. The film has long stood as one of the rarer Franco titles, so here from Severin films we get a much needed Blu Ray reissue of the film.
Originally released back in late 2015, but shortly to be reissued - this four C90 box set brings together two French walled noise acts- the searing & total unbreakable crude-ness of Vomir, and the often more moody & creative walled noise of Trou. The set presents both solo tracks & collaborations for six-hour worth ‘wall’ attack- all in all making for a truly epic release, which switches from furnace-like intensity, onto seared-yet moodily creative, through to the very occasional dips into more atmospheric fare.
Architectonics is the 5th full length from Lilly- the ambient/ drone project of Russian noise maker Vitaly Maklakov (Light Collapse, Obozdur, etc). The album comes in two different versions- a pro-pressed CDR, and a digital download- I’m reviewing physical version of the album.
The Dead Yesterdays is a recent addition to the walled noise scene- the projects seemingly from Scotland, and has been active just this year. Happiness Is An Illusion is the projects full-length physical debut- it offers up two twenty examples of seared 'n' slightly industrial noise tinged wall matter.
Throwback thrashers and death metal disciples rejoice as Gruesome returns to Relapse Records with their latest LP, Twisted Prayers. Once again returning to the well of old school, Floridian death, Gruesome churns out eight tracks of tight, classic death that, while paying tribute to the tried and true sound, still heaves with a modern intensity and fresh feel. And, with Ed Repka's inimitable art gracing the cover, Twisted Prayers answers many metalheads' twisted prayers.
The name of Howard Phillips Lovecraft is firmly inscribed in the mass culture. The works of the great writer, the inventor of the Necronomicon and the Cthulhu Mythos, inspire filmmakers, artists, and musicians. It is difficult to say how many musical groups appealed to the work of Lovecraft and how many tributes have been made.
Different State began life as an industrial metal bands some 20 years ago, and after numerous lineup changes and various style changes during the intervening years they have become something quite unique that draws influence from a variety of different genres. The two albums in this two disc collection “More than Music” and “It Cleans My Wounds” were originally released separately as limited edition CD-Rs in 2005 and 2006 respectively. In the interest of the preservation of such rare materials Zoharum have stepped in to ensure they are preserved for those who missed these titles first time around. The project’s driving force comes in the form of multi-instrumentalist Marek Marchoff who is not only involved in all of the band’s performances and songwriting, but who recorded, mixed and mastered both discs.
Italian exploitation is renowned for ripping off of more known & popular cult films, but boy this late 80’s Sci-Fi/Horror film takes things to dizzying new heights. It basically wholesale rips off scenes, dialogue & even musical cues from both Aliens, and The Terminator- all wrapped up with a selection of rubbery lo-if effects, crappy futuristic costumes, and truly terrible acting- that moves between overacting & truly stilted
Jyotisavedanga are an international experimental metal band consisting members from India, Russia, and Ukraine. The name of the group is a slight variation of the words for ancient Indian text on astrology and astronomy Jyotisa Vedanga.
Pataphysical Electronics is a bulging crop of new sonic odd-ness from Andy Ortmann- Chicago’s finest purveyor of audio surrealisms & noisy unsettlement. The release features a fairly varied selection of Mr. Ortmann ’s distinct brand of sonic unwell-ness…going from quirky blends of surreal storytelling & off-kilter beats, through to queasy psycho ambient edged with field recordings. Onto playfully melted & dis-arrangement of orchestrated work, though to unsettling electro/ acoustic sound worlds. Onto to blends of musique concrete & old-school synth scaping, and beyond.
Vigil is an arty-yet-never overly indulgent New Zealand film from the early 80’s, that mixes together drama & coming-of-age genres in a stark rural setting. Here from the Arrow’s Academy line, we have a Blu Ray release of the film.
TSE is a suite of five modern compositions that move between doomed simmering’s, angular sourness, and wavering dread. The release comes in the form of a CD on Sheffield’s Another Timbre, and as we’ve come to expect from the label this is another of shot well conceived & perfectly recorded experimental sound craft.