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Having quite a prolific background, either separately or as collaborators, singer/multi-instrumentalist Kiki Bohemia (aka Karla Wenzel) and electric cellist Sicker Man (aka Tobias Vethake) are joining forces once again. Waiting For Wood finds them venturing deeper into their collective sound exploration of slow-paced and transcendental experimental music, atonal and fused with secluded oriental elements, spicing the whole outcome!
Translucence is a four-track example of the improv from bringing together highly prolific Belgian-based Dirk Serrries – acoustic guitar, London-based Tullis Rennie- Trombone, and also London-based Cath Roberts-baritone Sax. The album is often tight and edgy, yet at the same time playful and at points quite boisterous.
In the wake of the eruption of new cinema emanating from Australia in the 1970s (Cars that Ate Paris, Mad Max, Long Weekend, Patrick and Wakes in Fright to name, but a few) New Zealand had gotten left behind a little but felt the need to get in on the Ozploitation trend. The result of this was the release of Strange Behaviour aka Dead Kids or Smalltown Massacre, a 1981 slasher film that fell foul of the UKs video nasty hunt, even though it was never included on the DPP list. Written and directed by Michael Laughlin, the film remains underground, never receiving the furore that surrounded films like Cannibal Holocaust or The Evil Dead, however it remains an effective and at times brutal underground gem.
Strangely I’d never heard of The Blockhouse (1973) before, given its setting and themes which are definitely in my interests, so I’m pleased to have crossed paths with this blu ray. I’m reviewing a promo disc so there’s no booklet, but, having purchased releases from Powerhouse before, I’m confident it will be well-designed and informative.
Requiem For A Vampire is a Wellingborough, UK-based wall noise project- which seemingly started back in 2021. And Untitled 2, is as its title suggests its second release. It’s a digital release, that takes in a single spot on twenty-minute wall, which has a subtle atmospheric edge to the ragged rumbling ‘n’ grit bound wall.
Suočavanje Sa Duhovima( translated to Dealing With Ghosts) is a wonderfully tight ‘n’ constantly consisting slice of walled noise from this Bar Montenegro noisemaker. It’s a digital release, which is the equivalent of a 3in- as the single track comes in at just over the twenty-minute mark.
Here’s a two Blu-Ray release of brutal ‘n’ nasty killer clown slasher films 2017’s Terrifier, and its 2022 sequel. It’s a fairly barebones release on the extras side, as we get two making-offs/behind-the-scenes featurettes…but boy do you get a lot of brutal ‘n’ intense gore/violence over the two films' runtime.
This is Gwar is a 2021 documentary charting the nearing forty-year career of shock horror punk/ metal project Gwar, who are known for their blood, semen, and general goo-soaked shows that blend together OTT sci-fi and horror themes. Here from Acorn Entertainment is a Blu-Ray release of this Shudder channel production- taking in commentary tracks, and some other extras.
Audrey Rose is one of the lesser-known, but well-acted and engaging enough supernatural family dramas-come-light horror films to appear in the 1970s. It focuses on reincarnation- where a middle-class New York family are been harassed by a stranger, who claims his daughter tormented soul is trapped in the body of their pre-teen daughter’s body. The film shifts from supernatural-often-emotional drama, darts into troubled child horror. Then moves into a decidedly wacky courtroom drama, before going to a rather down-beat-but new-age resolve. Here from Arrow Video, both in the UK and in the US, is a new Blu-Ray release of the film- and as always with Arrow- we get a great extra packed release.
Here is a CD bringing together three John Cage pieces recently played by the highly respected and versatile modern ensemble Apartment House. Two tracks are later works"Two" & "Hymnkus", and in between them is "Thoreau Drawings" from the 1970s.
From the early 1970s, The Last Romantic Lover is a decidedly un-fleshy, straight, and often rather charming romantic drama by French director Just Jaeckin- whose more known for mainstream erotic films like Emmanuelle and Story of O. The film revolves around the cynical editor of a women's magazine, who organisers a competition in Paris to find the perfect romantic man. From Cult Epics, here is a Blu Ray release of the film- taking in a commentary track, and a few other extras.
Controlled Death aka Osaka-based noise maker Maso Yamazaki –also of Masonna, Space Machine, Rin, emerges once again, delivering a new aural profanity. Dirge For The Departed appears in the form of a C30, and has recently been released by the infamous Deathbed Tapes
Following 2020's Unending Futility, UK death merchants Live Burial are back with Curse of the Forlorn, an invigorating romp through doomy, mid-paced death. Expanding the scope and style of previous efforts, this latest LP shows a progression in technicality, songwriting, and overall performance. Channelling the old-school aesthetic, but merging it deftly with modern flourishes and arrangements, Curse of the Forlorn is a ripe slice of fist-pumping death metal.
Crucifixion: The Early Years is a three-CD boxset focusing on the early 1990’s Roadrunner Records released output of satanic-focused death metal ballbusters Deicide. It brings together their first two albums- 1990’s self-titled and 1992’s Legion, and 1993’s demo compilation Amon: Feasting the Beast.
The British toytown pop sound was birthed in the late 60s, being mainly influenced by the more quasi-classical instrumental-edged and quirky-to-mundane character songs themed of The Beatles. Here from Grapefruit, Cherry Reds 60’s psych-pop/ rock sub-label, is a recently released three-disc/ eight seven-track compilation celebrating the toytown pop sound- with a blend of known and more obscure names.
Ele'abyssus is a raw ‘n’ raging black metal EP split- bringing together the barbarically gunning BM punk of Seattle, Washington’s Kūka'ilimoku. And the cluttering malevolence and harshly baying vocalising of Chile’s Aarkanne.
Here we have a CD pulling together three creepy-to-horrifyingly bombastic scores from the early 1970s. We have two Les Baxter penned works, the score for the TV film An Evening with Allan Poe (introduced by Vincent Price), and the gothic ‘n’ gory period horror film Cry Of The Banshee (also starring Mr Price). And one work penned by John Cacvas- the score for the train-based horror/ sci-fi movie Horror Express- which featured Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing.
Sam Prekop and John McEntire have been working together for about as long as I can remember, from the still extant brilliance of the Sea & Cake to their collaborations on one another's solo endeavors – McEntire's film score for Reach the Rock is a standout, as well as Prekop's sundry solo releases.
Slaughter Day is a manically paced early 1990’s Shot-on-video film. It blends together elements of limb-hacking gore, demonic shenanigans, rapid fighting, and dizzying action sequences. Here from Visual Vengeance- the savouries of SOV/ ultra-low budget genre fare is a new Blu-Ray release of this lesser-seen SOV film- with a nice selection of bonus features.
The Kindred is a late 80’s mad doctor sci-fi thriller meets horror-fed creature feature. Its first half is a medical mystery thriller, then the second half is a whipping tentacle-bound and gooey monster movie. It’s an entertaining if slightly derivative film featuring some good moments of tension and neat practical effects. Here from Synapse Films is Blu Ray release of the film- featuring a new 4K scan of the picture, as well as a few extras too.
Brutalismo is the fourth full-length album from this harsh noise project, which brings together USA’s Joe Roemer of PE project Macronympha, and Ecuadorian Leonardo Sabatto( solo & D.A.F.O.S.M.). It’s a CD album that severs up eleven slices of thick, nastily messy, and searingly shifting noise craft.
Female Female Female is a recent(ish) four-track album from British project Mlehst. Sonically we move unease and oppressive drone blends, onto sinisterly jittering-to-whistling atmospheric electro texturing, through to sparsely choppy ‘n’ discordant ambient electronica.
Brian And Charles is a wonderful celebration of English eccentricity and awkwardness. The film is a cosy and often heart-warming blend of rural fantasy, light ‘n’ cringe-inducing comedy, and bumbling romance. It tells of coming through a difficult time middle-aged inventor, who decides he’s going build a robot- to help him around his cluttered countryside cottage, play darts, and oh eat cabbage with him. Here from Mediumrare Entertainment, is a Blu-Ray release of the film.
Bringing together many pieces and patterns of electronica and experimental music, Jacek Sienkiewicz's latest album, Pristine, is a light and lively foray into the fracturing of music into tones and textures. Often stripped down to start, with elements cascading in and out to add dimension, this album showcases Jacek's vision of what is at the core of his vision and how this can be manipulated and shaped to form intriguing and engaging patters and structures. The spaces left in between help to complement the varied, sparse tones on Pristine, and the lighter approach to composition allows for greater and varied interpretation for the listener.