Loading
Memory Scale (aka Bordeaux-based Arnaud Castagné) is a fascinating project, that on And All Things Begin to Drift has managed to create a deeply reverential record that feels like something we know without the normal baggage of mere repetition.
Deadly Care was a 1987 drama directed by David Anspaugh (Hoosiers, Rudy and Little Red Wagon), starring Cheryl Ladd (best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the original TV series of Charlie’s Angels) and Jason Miller (best known for his iconic performances as Damian Karras in The Exorcist and The Exorcist III). It’s a solid little film that didn’t exactly break box office records and sadly disappeared into the ether, so it’s nice to see its score by the legendary Tangerine Dream being released on CD, albeit in a limited edition of just 500 copies. This is the latest in a run of Tangerine Dream’s 80s scores getting a reissue from BSX Records, who it has to be said are doing a sterling job of putting these underappreciated scores out there into the marketplace to be bought, listened to and discussed among fans of the band’s music.
Here UK-based label PowerHouse/Indicator has released a limited edition Blu-ray (3,000 copies) of the great director Josef von Sternberg’s late and only colour film, ‘Jet Pilot’ (1957).
A sprawling paean to a bygone era of art, music, and inspiration, 400 Lonely Things' latest, Mother Moon, has the duo paying homage to the art movement that went on at the Banning Mill many years ago. Now defunct, the mill and its portait (Richard Scott Hill's "Minotauress," also the album's cover) serve as a wonderful starting poing for Varian and McCall to construct a dark, sample-based work that not only encourages listeners to start new artistic journies, but also allows them to revel in the beauty of the past and rekindle what has shaped their hearts and minds.
At The Stake is a CD set bringing together the three major label albums put out by The Melvins in the early 1990s- after the success of Nirvana/ all things grunge. And very surprisingly for major label releases- there is still very much a spark of invention/ quirkiness running through all three records. As well as a rather timeless quality/ distinctive edge, which you certainly don’t find in a lot of releases of the early ’90s that were lumped in with grunge. All three albums featured here first appeared on Atlantic Recordings- and featured are 1993’s Houdini, 1994’s Stoner Witch, and 1995’s Stag- with each disc featuring a few bonus tracks.
Thunderbolt is a crime thriller-come-proto noir from the late 1920s. The pre-code film blends in elements of romance, revenge, and light touches of humour. With the plot focuses on a wanted career criminal, his moll, and her lover. Here from Powerhouse is a Blu-ray release of the film- featuring a HD print of the film, and a selection of new & archive extras.
Twilight (aka Szürkület) is an early 90’s Hungarian drama-come-crime mystery regarding the murder of a young girl in a small rural village. The monochrome-scoped film crawls along at a slow and extremely moody pace- nodding towards filmmakers such as Béla Tarr, and early Werner Herzog- though there are also moments of creepy unease and even the occasional jump scare- which within the context of the films pace are even more nerve-jangling. Here from Second Run is a region-free release of the film- featuring a new 4k scan of the movie, new interviews with crew members, and a selection of appreciation interviews.
Uncle Sleazo's Toxic and Terrifying T.V. Hour is a 2022 horror anthology, which is alive with creepy flair, chilling invention, and a few dark laughs. It’s helmed by up & coming underground horror director Lucky Cerruti. This New York state-based film-maker made quite an impression on me with his 2019 debut Kindness Of Strangers, and I must say this anthology lives up to & exceeds the promise of his debut- with three well-conceived stories, and some darkly amusing fake ads in between them.
Gloria Swanson In The Rubble is a single-track affair from this New Jersey wall noise project- which themes all of its releases around female models, cinema and glamour of the 1920s to 1940s.
Our Love Is A Warm Goodbye is a two-track wall-noise release from Japan’s Kigurumi Fetish. One track slides in at just shy of the nineteen-minute mark, and the other nearing nine & a half-minute mark. Each track. Both tracks are examples of brain-battering wall matter- with a fetishised kinky theme/ vibe running through the release.
Rosie Kelvin is a recent project from respected American noise maker Sean E. Ramirez-Matzus (theNIGHTproduct, Thewhitehorse, Black Leather Jesus,[Untitled]). Sonically the two tracks featured on this C32/ digital download blend together atmospheric textured noise/ wall craft with an underbelly of eerie ambience- which sounds like it ordinates from manipulated field recordings.
Like a black hole swallowing any semblance of light, Christina Giannone’s Reality Opposition proceeds by enveloping its sound sources in such a way that they never turn into something we might recognize as a musical form.
Necessary Intercourses by Amplexus comes on a pro-pressed CD in a plastic-wrapped jewel case, so it’s a professional-looking release from Karo Productions; there’s eight tracks making up over 70 minutes of harsh noise, and it barely lets up.
Here we have a two-CD set bringing four reggae albums produced by Joe Gibbs- a respected Jamaican producer/ DJ. As the release's title suggests these albums date from between 1977 & the year 1980- moving between Dancehall & Roots reggae, with a few darts into Dub,
The Spiral Road is a 1962 adventure movie directed by Robert Mulligan (To Kill A Mockingbird, The Other and Summer of 42) and starring Hollywood legend Rock Hudson (Ice Station Zebra, Pillow Talk and Giant), Burl Ives (Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, The Big Country and Day of the Outlaw), and Gena Rowlands (Night on Earth, The Notebook and A Woman Under The Influence). Originally released in 1962, the same year as Mulligan’s masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird, it has always had to live in the shadow of that film and therefore is probably due a re-evaluation on its own terms.
Back in the VHS days of the 1980’s there was an awful lot of content passing through the shelves of the video shop. And in that classic exploitation fashion- more often than not the write-up on the back of the box was all hype with little payoff. One of the few names you could always rely on for at least great effects ‘n’ creatures, good campy horror/ sci-fi fun, and general entertainment was Empire. The label was set up by B-movie producer Charles Band- and it operated between the years 1983 and 1988. Releasing a total of forty-eight films- going from known B-movie/ classic 80’s fare like Re-Animator & Ghoulies, to more obscure-though-no less entertaining pictures such as Creepozoids or The Caller. Here from Arrow Video- both in the UK & Stateside- is a new five Blu-Ray boxset- bringing together a varied & largely consistent selection of films from the company's output.
Slowly stomping and pounding forth like a horde of zombies, London's Eternal Rot summon more death metal carnage with their third full-length, Moribound. Mixing death, doom, and vileness, this newest release continues Eternal Rot's rise (from the grave?) as a grimy powerhouse ready to blast filth through your speakers. A product of both Momento Mori and Goz Ov War, Moribound is available on all formats and even a few colors of vinyl.
La Petite Mort II is a torture porn/ faux snuff film- with a fair bit of spit, bite and unpleasantness about it, as well as a few sly touches of dark humour. The German production is from the mid-2010, and mixes torture with reality show banter ‘n’ bitch in an often effective & shocking manner. Here from Unearthed Films- those seekers of extreme cinema around the world- is a recent Blu-Ray release of the film.
Beneath The Old Dark House is a recent horror anthology with a very retro VHS vibe to it. Featuring an 80’s synth-scaping soundtrack, fake video tape glitches, a fair bit of female nudity, and brief flashes of gore. Here is a region-free release of the Blu-Ray Scream Team Releasing- taking in a director's commentary track, and a behind-the-scenes documentary.
CATalysis 猫媒 stands as one of the first albums of new material from Merzbow in a year or so. It’s a five-track CD affair- taking in four (CATalysis) connected tracks, and one twenty-two-minute standalone noise workout. And I must say there are some rewarding moments of experimentation & sonic engagement present- though equally there are a few moments of rather grating-to-pedestrian noise making on offer too.
Private Desert is a 2021 Ghosting/ Catfishing drama that brings together fly-on-the-wall moodiness, unfolding mystery, and insightful character study, with moments of emotional impact & insightful self-discovery. The Brazilian/ Portuguese production features a great & naturalistic cast, a wonderful eye for urbane atmospherics, and slow-but-captivating unfold. Here from Peccadillo Pictures- one of the key labels in LGBT World Cinema is a DVD release of the film.
The Tunnel to Summer, Exit of Goodbyes is the latest film from Tomohisa Taguchi (Akudama Drive, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna) and is based on the light novel of the same name by Mei Hachimoku. The film follows the blossoming romance of a two high school students, the new girl Anzu Hanashiro (Marie Iitoyo) and the stoic Karou Tono (Oji Suzuka), as they discover a mysterious disused tunnel which allows them travel back in time. The more time they spend in the tunnel the more they lose in the present as time accelerates in the outside world, however they both want to reclaim something lost from their pasts.
When Hamburg-based Marc Richter isn’t busy with his Black To Comm project he can be found paying homage to sound pioneers and avant-garde artists through his sundry side endeavors, residences, and exhibitions. Sundry feels right when hearing the latest of these experiments cum album, Coh Bâle, which over eighteen sketches, manages to never really coalesce into a fully formed work. And for the record, I don’t think it was ever meant to. Grab bag could fit too: a random collection that only sounds arbitrary because we’re missing the code to decipher it.
Binge & Purge is an early 2000s SOV horror/ thriller focusing on a series of cannibalistic murders. The film is at the more polished/ pro-end of the SOV genre- with it featuring a fair bit of gut-chewing ‘n’ gore, gun-bound action, some passable acting, and fairly engaging mystery. Here from SRS Cinema- those resurrectors of low-budget horror fare from the past- is a new DVD of the film taking in a new/ archive commentary, and a few other extras.