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Just for argument’s sake, there might exist a divide within the field recordings genre (assuming there is such a genre), between the ethnographic and the musical. In the first instance are those practitioners who chase the authenticity tail and try to bring their acoustic “discoveries” closer to those listeners who are at some remove from the source material. What else would merit a listen? This makes establishing any critical language around such work incredibly difficult, if not downright fatuous. In the latter category, on the other hand, are works like Pablo Discerns’ Turning Porous, an album full of in situ documentation and musical acumen.
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a South Korean found footage film from the late 2010’s, regarding a group of internet ghost-hunters who hope to get lots of views/ hits from visiting said asylum, but get much more than they bargained for. Over the years there have been more than a few haunted asylum/ hospital films released- and I’d say this stands as one of the better additions to the genre- with a likeable/ believable enough cast, a neat location, subtle touches of humour, and some general chilling/ terror-inducing moments in the films last quarter. Here from Second Sight Films is a new reissue of the film- either in a Ltd edition with a seventy-page book & six art cards, or a standard Blu-Ray edition.
Here’s a two-CD set bringing together the first three 1980 albums of US funk/ R&B/ Soul artist Jesse Johnson, whose early work has a very Prince-like sound/feel- though he did start to step outside of this. Featured here are Jesse Johnson's Revue (1985), Shockadelica (1986), and Every Shade Of Love (1988) plus bonus tracks- which all first appeared on A&M Records.
Bitter Conclusion To A Frail Youth is a just over ten-minute example of searing ‘n’ rushing walled noise from this India-based project, which as far as I can gather is a relatively new venture.
Beads of Mercury is a recent slice of buffeting ‘n’ bothersome bass-bound walling from Berlin’s Sebastian Tomb. The release features just a single ten-minute track.
Time is a new two-track release from this highly prolific US wall noise, and I must say it’s somewhat of a departure. Both of the twenty-five-minute tracks sit more in the dense ambient/ almost formal ambient side of things.
Mute Witness is a mid-90s De Palma-like thriller- which is both rewardingly engaging and at points very tense. It regards a mute female effects artist working on a film in Russia- who believes she’s witnessed the filming of a snuff film. The film blends humour in with its trills & light horror tropes- this largely works, but on a few occasions it does tonally unbalance itself. Here from Arrow Video- both in the UK & stateside- is a new reissue of the film.
Nightsiren is an early 2020 Slovakian/ Czech production that attempts to blend light folk horror & mystery elements into a feminine lead small town drama. It’s certainly a well-shot affair, with an effectively captured woodland setting, as well as a largely decent enough cast, with subtle touches of moody/ lightly unease atmospherics. The thing is it’s more of a slow/drawn-out drama than anything else- it often plods, and at points downright drags. Here from the folks at UK’s Arrow Video is a Blu-Ray release of the film- taking in a commentary track, and a few other extras.
If one checks the intersection of dark ambient and industrial, Titanoboa's Seth will be proudly on display. Slithering forth like the massive serpent namesake, Seth mixes elements of dark and light, noise and quiet, war and peace. All these flavors mix together deftly to become a very solid and engaging whole, one that allows the listener to drift away into their own mind as well as being commanded to listen to stark, abrasive sounds.
From the late 70’s Blue Rita (aka Das Frauenhaus) is a pulpy ‘n’ fleshy spy film- with light touches of cheapy conceived sci-fi & horror. The film was directed by ultra-prolific Euro cult director Jess Franco. Here from the folks at Full Moon Features is a dual disc DVD & Blu-Ray release of the film- taking in a few extras.
A Knife In The Dark is a murder mystery set amongst a clan of bickering & back-stabbing vampires. The film is a recent production from one of the more (usually) distinctive modern low-budget horror/ sci-fi directors Oregon’s Joe Sherlock (Odd Noggins, Channel 99, Drifter, etc). His work normally features the following tropes- bizarre chatty dialogue, self-referential moments, Tattooed larger ladies taking showers, reappearing cast, and lo-fi-at-points-wacky effects. This film really is a major departure from Sherlock, being more of a dialogue-heavy mystery.
Here’s a CD boxset bringing together the late 70s to early 80’s albums from first-wave British punk band U.K. Subs. It charts the band's sound shifting from its rough ‘n’ ready pub rock-tinged punk beginnings to slightly more refined/ tuneful fare. The five-CD set takes in the following albums- Another Kind Of Blues (1979), Brand New Age (1980), live album Crash Course (1980), Diminished Responsibility (1981), and Engaged Species (1982)- with each disc taking in a fair selection of bonus tracks.
High Noon Kahuna are a tight three-piece (guitar, bass, drums) and their second full-length, This Place is Haunted, certainly showcases their musical skills as they genre hop with reckless abandon. It is not entirely clear if aping the styles of 90s noise rock is a stated aim of the group, but there it is. Like so much that revisits earlier musical precedents – post-hardcore, AmRep debauchery, etc. – the production often gets in the way, rounding the edges and churning out something more akin to popular radio than indie rock. The vocals on the anthemic “Good Night God Bless” are a case in point, echoes and slick recording taking the place of an otherwise direct delivery. Maybe this is the only way to put their influences from and center?
The Moon , an epic space survival thriller from South Korea is released on Blu-ray, DVD and 4K UHD/BD Steelbook as well as digital platforms in the UK and Ireland from 27 May 2024.
When Tim Baxter (Greg Hobbs) returned to the marital home after 22 years in the military, he brought with him a lot more than he, wife Elaine (Diane Ellis) and stepdaughter Mindy (Jade Callender) bargained for in this 2021 British flick The Devil Came Home- which is getting a digital release on Miracle Medis
Rafal Zapala is a Polish composer/improviser whose work blurs the lines between modern classical composition and avant-electronic sound. Futility offers up five pieces from him dating from between 2018 and 2021, and each mixes formal classical instrumentation with electronic elements.
Reflections In Repose is a recent two-CD/116-minute album from US ambient master/ pioneer Steve Roach. It features five long-form tracks- which sees him stripping down his sound using just a single instrument — the Oberheim OB-X8 — the modern equivalent of the iconic Oberheim OB-8, which he used 40 years ago to make his classic 1984 album Structures From Silence.
First released in April of 2022, and having several reissues since, Avraham is yet more proof of how talented, versatile, and creative Pittsburgh-based noise project Yotzeret Sheydim is. The project started off as a more straight-ahead wall noise venture- but has since gone onto genre mix ‘n’ blur with great skill/ flare- this nine-track release pulls together elements of noise, synth core/ punk, electro-industrial, etc.
Passed Out Behind The Puppy-Mask is an example of brutally galloping to intensely cluttering walled noise from this US project. The single thirty-five-minute track is themed around S&M, and one does feel like they are wrapped tightly & still in an all-over bondage suit when playing the track.
Well-known and well-respected artist, producer, mixer, general Jack of All Trades, Steven Wilson, has rekindled his experimental project, Bass Communion, after 12 long years. The Itself of Itself sees the audio whiz kid bringing forth dark and brooding ambient with noisy flourishes, a grim outlook, and great distance between Steven's current other projects. While this material varies greatly from his more well-known projects, it is definitely a large part of his inner being and the experimental nature is well suited to one with such a strong creative drive.
Since the sad passing of legendary folk singer/ songwriter Sandy Denny in 1978 the world has been in mourning for new material. There have been umpteen posthumous releases of alternative takes of classic Denny material as well as previously unreleased demo tracks and various other stuff. None of it seems to have truly satiated that lust for new material until perhaps now.
I, the Executioner arrived to me as a promo disc, so I can’t describe the accompanying booklet, nor the packaging which I guarantee you will be in line with Radiance’s high standards. I was perhaps late to Radiance, but they’ve been steadily releasing some real gems, smartly designed and padded with interesting extras. I’d never heard of this film before Radiance added it to their catalogue, but it’s a very worthy addition and one with historical and aesthetic value.
Asunder is a rattling ‘n’ rickety take on the walled noise from UK’s Death To Dynamics. The single thirty-two-minute ‘wall’ feels booth crudely aged and worn down in its attack- with the whole thing nicely set out into an entrancing-if-slightly wavering/ loose flow.
The Church is a late 80’s Italian horror film that blends the atmospheric and gothic with the gorily creative and brutally deranged. The film shifts from the medieval times to the then present day- being largely set/ focused around a huge church built on the burial ground of the damned dead. Here from Severin is a classy three-disc set, taking in a UHD disc, a region A Blu-Ray, and a CD soundtrack. The release features a wonderful bold & well-defined print, hours of extras, a colour inlay booklet, and a glossy card slip.