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Here from BGO is another double CD reissue of Ramsey Lewis releases- bringing together four early-to-mid 1970’s albums from this highly versatile & prolific Chicago based pianist & composer. Each album gets a great recent remastering, and each highlights Ramsey flair for both approachable jazz ‘n’ fusion & creative covers.
Sound, video, and performance artist Daniel Alexander Hignell uses his creativity and passion not just for the aural pleasures of music fans worldwide, but also to further his knowledge of sound, form, and function of making art. Completing his doctorate in 2017, Hignell recorded part of the 130 page text-score as this release, Distant Animals' Lines. His sole release under the moniker, Lines is a wonderful sonic environment in which to spend some time in contemplation.
Back in 1976, The Residents changed the idea & possibilities of cover albums forever with the release of their third album Third Reich ‘n’ Roll. This album took a selection of thirty 50’s/ 60’s/ 70’s hit parade songs- put them through their avant-grade sound mangled, and squeezed out a wholly original & deranged work that blended together wonky familiarity with sonic alien-ness & un-balance-ment. For their new release I Am A Resident!- the band carries out a similar process, but instead of songs of others they use their own extensive back catalogue for influence. But to add an extra inventive turn they utilize cover versions of their work by others- all to create a truly unique & at time truly bonkers trip.
When you think of Serbian Harsh Noise Wall, then, really there are only two names that come to mind. The first is the legendary Dead Body Collection, which some time ago ended and from its ruins arose post-HNW project Kosmodrom. The second project is Dosis Letalis, which is currently the only well-known representative of the Serbian HNW underground. The project was founded in 2015 by Nemanja Nikolic, who also has couple of side projects, as well taking part in more than a few collaborations.
Through this little folk band from Glasgow we can chart the rise of two of Britain’s most successful artists, Gerry Rafferty of Stealer’s Wheel and Baker Street fame and one of the world’s most successful comedians, Billy Connolly. The band were originally formed in 1965 by Connolly and Tam Harvey as a folk duo, playing around the club circuit in Glasgow throughout the mid-1960s until Rafferty joined them in time for the release of their debut album “First Collection of Merry Melodies”. Harvey left the band shortly after the release of their debut album, whilst Connolly and Rafferty went on to record two further albums as a duo. This set brings together all 3 albums across two discs, with the addition of a 1969 single release of “Saturday Round About Sunday” and “Bed of Mossy Green”, and a series of outtakes from the sessions for third album “Open Up The Door”.
Tim Hecker’s 2nd full-length, Radio Amor, gets the reissue treatment on Chicago’s Kranky Records. Originally released back in 2003 on Mille Plateaux (and again in 2007 on Alien8), it is available once again (with a new remaster by Matt Colton) on CD, 2xLP, and digital formats.
From late last year here we have a five CDR Wall-noise box set- bringing together both classic/ older projects, alongside slightly newer denizens of the HNW/ static noise scene. Each artists offers up a disc a piece, and really the quality is high through-out- with each artists offering up their own distinct take on this most extreme of genres.
Originally appearing in the late 1980’s Zombie 3 is a classic slice of ‘bad-euro horror’. Blending together stilted acting, campy 80’s fashion, dumb-yet amusing dialog, & cheesy sound-tracking- with moments of often ridiculous gore & bad action scenes. Here on Severin we have a double disc Blu Ray & CD reissue of the film & its soundtrack.
It must be a good few years since I’ve heard anything from this Michigan based project; who creates lengthy trips into balky-yet-often fairly active walled noise. Here on Stockholm based Ominous Recordings- we have a C64/ digital releases of Vols 3 & 4 in the projects Earth’s Hum Series.
Coming three years after their debut EP, Carnation unleashes their first LP, Chapel of Abhorrence. Released by the juggernaut Seasons of Mist label, this slab of tasty, old school death pummels and pounds its way through 11 heavy tracks. Classic style with fresh production, Chapel of Abhorrence is an excellent way to thrash through an afternoon
Günter Schlienz is a German experimental musician, a member of the ambient/experimental post-rock band Navel, he also works under the alter ego Cosmic Winnetou, recording and releasing some of the finest cosmic sounds around. He is also noted for building his own modular synthesizers, which he uses in the creation of his music.
Electroplasmic Veiling serves up two hours worth of distinctively moody & creepy walled-noise from this Seattle Washington project. It comes in the form of either a double C90 box set, or as a digital download.
Sans Valeur is an extremely lengthy & totally unrelenting submersion in ultra stark, wholly empty, and abyss-like drone matter- which sits somewhere between husk-like ambience & drone based wall noise. Here on Altar of Waste, we have a CDR release- taking in 75 minutes of terminal sonic stark-ness- it extends an original two-track forty minute digital release to new heights of crushing oppressive-ness.
Albums based on just percussion instruments tend to be rather rare. Especially if the album is not ethnic music, but an experiment played by several drummers.
Norweigen accordionist and bandleader Frode Haltli, who has sporadic recordings dating back to 2002, has assembled a diverse ten person ensemble for his latest project "Avant Folk". Common string and wind instruments like saxophone and violin are paired with exotic fare such as the harmonium and goat horn, for a colorful, vibrant sound.
Death by Metal is a recent documentary about genre-defining & shaping Florida band Death, and their founding member/ mastermind Chuck Schuldiner. Here on MVD Visual is a region free DVD of the film and a good selection of juicy extras.
Originally released in 2007, RMX finds a selection of The Residents back catalog receiving often electro focused rethinks/remixes. In all the release takes in fifteen tracks, from through-out these avant-pop collectives forty-plus year career.
Here we have a recent release from AGFA- and the main/ central film here is one of the more unique & bizarre movies from the 1970’s B movie cycle. It’s a decidedly haphazard mix of weird creature feature, cowboy movie, and more than a sprinkling of 70’s quirkiness/ trip-ness. The film comes in the form of a region free Blu Ray, with a pleasing enough batch of extra oddness.
Historically, Italy is home to not only a large number of respected industrial /noise projects, but also wider experimental music in general. One such project is Capricorni Pneumatici, which has been active since 1987. This is a duet of two musicians, hiding under the names of Pazuzu and Soda Caustica. The project plays gloomy music on the verge of ritual ambient, drone and concrete music.
Mayuko Hino, the "Queen of Japanese Noise," has very much earned her reputation. As a founding member of the legendary collaboration C.C.C.C, her noisy assault and bondage heavy performances, she cemented her place in not only Japanese noise, but the noise scene worldwide. Her second solo LP, Lunisolar, is two long form tracks of wonderful, noisy bliss.
With a title like Love Songs- you’d expect an album of mawkish, overly emotional, pleasing and possible lush songcraft- instead you get the complete polar opposite of what you’d imagine. It’s dark, jarring, unbalancing & often uneasy release, that blends together brooding ‘n’ building electro sound design, jarringly cut musique concrete elements, & overwhelming feel of unwell tension.
The Nolans/The Nolan Sisters have always stood as one of top draw guilty pleasures. Though-out the 70’s & the 80’s the British/ Irish girl group released a host of campy-yet- catchy pop fare, that dripped in & out of disco, synth-pop, pop-soul, and cheesy pop ballads. On Hot Shot Records (part of the Cherry Red group) is Chemistry a double-disc compilation of the sister’s finest moments- bringing together a 79 minute CD, with a DVD of videos from the group.
Tender Flesh is one of the more recent DVD reissues in Artus Film’s series of Jess Franco films. Originally released 1997 in the twilight of this euro-auteurs career, the film is certainly problematic, never really reaching the dizzying & powerful heights of his best work in the 70’s/ 80’s- but there are flashes of brilliance here & there, making this worth checking out for fans of the mans work.
This is particularly searing & ultra-intense HNW split- which brings together Serbian based Dosis Letalis, with US-based Planet Shithead. The release presents the listener with two thirty minute seas of sear, and really there is zero let-up and zero relief through-out.