Praxis - Sacrifist (1994)

The second disc of Bill Laswell and Buckethead's project Praxis is much less of a band effort and much heavier in tone. Laswell calls in some of his associates for various tracks, which makes this more a revolving-door project. Many tracks are speed/thrash metal at their noisiest. There's also a short dub interlude and a hip-hop freakout with lots of scratching and high-pitched shrieks.

P-Funkers Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell each contribute one lengthy track with Bootsy's free-form bass explorations, and Bernie's psychedelic improvisation on a distorted Hammond organ. Also thrown into the mixture are Mick Harris (Napalm Death, Scorn) and Yamatsuka Eye (The Boredoms) screaming at the top of their lungs, plus John Zorn on some shrill alto parts and game calls, the band Blind Idiot God, and lots of frightening ambient sounds, noises and samples out of Shinya Tsukamoto's cult movie Tetsuo: The Iron Man (a crazy, sick film: must see!). All this adds to the overall assault on your senses. Though this is a great disc, it will put most beginners off by its mind-numbing intensity; many advanced listeners may also get lost. Only those who feel comfortable with aggressive noise may really enjoy this. (Chris Genzel, All Music Guide)

Tracks

1. Stronghold (1:34)
2. Cold Rolled Iron Dub (6:22)
3. Suspension (2:19)
4. Rivet (5:23)
5. Death Star (9:47)
6. Hook (6:17)
7. Nine Secrets (3:16)
8. Crossing (9:43)

Praxis_Sacrifist_256.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Wednesday, March 29, 2006 7 comments

Bill Laswell - Ambient Compendium 2-cd (1996)

This 2-cd compilation brings you a collection of previously released material by Bill Laswell, most of which were created in collaboration with other people (see track lists). Only track 9 on each cd is a new release. However, quite a few of the re-releases underwent a remix. Dark Massive (cd1) contains minimal ambient soundscapes; Disengage (cd2) is more rhythm-oriented, experimenting with styles such as hip-hop, dub, jungle... Overally this is an interesting album with high quality production.

The compilation comes with "Fractint", the first great fractal program (originally developed in 1988) with which you can create pretty impressive dynamic fractal images. Read more about Fractint here. The program is included in the download, but as it's rather dated by now, you can get better programs here.

Tracks cd 1 "Ambient"
1. Descent (6:04)
2. Maps of Impossible Worlds (5:50) with Buckethead
3. Angel Tech (6:59) with Pete Namlook
4. Aion (6:46) with Jonah Sharp
5. Monochrome Existence (11:02) with Tetsu Inoue
6. Open Url (10:19) with Terre Thaemlitz
7. Distal Sonority (11:17) with M.J. Harris
8. Broken Dream (7:29)

Tracks cd 2 "Ambient Bass and Drums"
1. Tangier Space Craft (7:03) with DXT
2. Black Dawn (7:21) with Pete Namlook
3. Evil Eye (7:47) with Jah Wobble, Jeff Bova
4. Ports of Entry (11:42) with Automaton
5. Ancient Evenings (7:43)
6. Zurvan Akarana (8:55) with Jonah Sharp
7. Asiyah Dub (9:11) with Automaton
8. White Lies (6:20)

Bill_Laswell_Ambient_Compendium_256.part1.rar
Bill_Laswell_Ambient_Compendium_256.part2.rar
Bill_Laswell_Ambient_Compendium_256.part3.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Wednesday, March 29, 2006 0 comments

For Whom the Bell Tolls...

As an elect few among you may have noticed, I've added some links to the section on the right. Most of these new links are HEAVY METAL links yeah!!! I found a link to Satyricon's The Shadowthrone, one the best folk black metal albums to date (and see Wongraven below), Burzum's Aske, and loads of other metal albums between progressive melodic metal and raw death metal. Carrots for donkeys, carrots for rabbits...

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 25, 2006 4 comments

Bill Laswell & Therre Thaemlitz - Web (1995)

My karmic Zen'o'Meter always goes through the roof when I put on this album. Published on Laswell's now-defunct Subharmonic label, Web consists of three tracks, each packed with over 15 minutes of soundscapes. Their first collaboration, this album provides some of the most abrasive, industrial leaning ambient of either of these composers' careers. Dark, dissonant textures, deep bass drones and complex samples suggest dimensions where past, present and future intermingle and interact with each other. This could have been a work with a very dark atmosphere, but the final effect of all three tracks is its opposite. Most reviews I've come across (and there aren't too many) would agree with me in that this music has a deeply calming and soothing effect, especially - read my lips - through headphones. I'd recommend this to everyone, actually, unless you really hate and despise ambient. :-)

Tracks

1. Open URL (16:13)
2. Insectoidal Regression (16:04)
3. Transfer Complete (17:35)

Total time 49:52

Bill_Laswell___Terre_Thaemlitz_Web_256.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 25, 2006 0 comments

Scorn - Evanescence (1994)

Formed in 1991 by Nicholas James Bullen (founder of influential grindcore metal band Napalm Death in '82) and Michael John Harris (also ex-Napalm Death), Scorn is definitely a musical force to be reckoned with. Ambient-industrial-metal-dub (moving towards ambient-dub) define the musical boundaries. On their third lp Bullen's haunting, toneless voice (he was also writing all lyrics) and dubby bass lines form a perfect supplement to Harris' pounding drums (most of them programmed) and eerie soundscapes. Samples are meticulously handled and the sound is not aggressive as in metal, but well spread and deep, as in dub. Most tracks betray a preoccupation with time, death, decay, the past, dreams - themes often encountered in the realms of death metal. The cd booklet also mentions ambient guru Bill Laswell, with whom Michael Harris would work on several projects. And I've been ignorant of that fact for ten years now! Doh...

Tracks

1. Silver Rain Fell (7:36)
2. Light Trap (6:11)
3. Falling (4:59)
4. Automata (6:17)
5. Days Passed (4:33)
6. Dreamspace (7:43)
7. Exodus (7:17)
8. Night Tide (6:07)
9. The End (8:01)
10. Slumber (4:35)

Total time: 63:16

Scorn_Evanescence_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 25, 2006 2 comments

Starfish Enterprises - When We Fall (1993)

Debut of 4-man Belgian noise rock combo Starship Enterprises. Even though they later released their second album Sonic Symphony Number One, the band was not a commercial success and split up. Steven Lambrechts, one of the two songwriters for the band, turned more towards experimental and ambient music with Ontayso, while the other, Koen Leybaert, sought his luck in techno and electronic music. The latter is also mentioned further down this b-log in relation to a project with RIOU.

As for the album itself, disconcerting samples and stylistic influences from noise, industrial, ambient, metal and even bluesrock contribute to the strange musical experience called When We Fall. Overally, the music is minimalistic and hypnotic; most tracks exemplify a kind of rock one could call experimental, psychedelic, noisy and dark. My favourite one is probably the seventh, Expulsive: an anguished, brooding environment with some very subtle guitar playing and a brilliant combination of samples and ambient sounds. Not for everyone, but if you're open to this kind of stuff, I think you would really dig the album's dark surreal atmosphere, which is basically its greatest trump. If you liked Glenn Branca's The Ascension (see below), chances are you'll like this one.

Musicians

• Hugo Peeters: Bass
• Stefan Mertes: Drums
• Steven Lambrechts: Guitar
• Koen Leybaert: Guitar, Samples

Tracks

1. Jim Jones (6:28)
2. Anthony's world (6:33)
3. Second (2:08)
4. State of Enterprises (5:20)
5. When We Fall (5:24)
6. Sand-glass (9:21)
7. Expulsive (6:09)
8. Me, El Medahey and the Electric Entourage (5:55)
9. Third (1:05)

Starfish_Enterprises_When_We_Fall_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 25, 2006 0 comments

RIOU - Exhibition of the Samples (1995)

Belgian kk records, known for its industrial and underground electronic releases since the 80s, hosted the 2nd album of Japanese techno minimalist Riou Tomita. Exhibition of the Samples is an exploration of strange sounds combined with hard techno rhythms, and it has managed to stand the test of time quite well. The "samples" are often drones, blips, toms'n'jerries and say hi to Ms Usually very hard to pin down. This is very enjoyable music and highly recommended for people interested either in techno or in more noise-oriented areas of electronica. And it does funny things to your brain... Recorded in "Bedroom Studios Sakai City" - I wonder if this really was a bedroom!

From sonic-boom.com: "With the release of Exhibition of the Samples, RIOU has immediately shown a marked improvement over the very simplistic nature of his debut release. RIOU even goes as far as intelligently sequencing the tracks on the album in what appears to be a historical order so that the audience is gradually adjusted to the new, more complex musical arrangements. As one would expect, the music is still very subtle often requiring several listens to fully appreciate, but it is also much quicker to reward its audience with new and often unexpected rhythms. However RIOU is still an acquired taste, is only recommended to those with a broad musical tastes and a fancy for old school electronic minimalism."

Interesting side note: RIOU also jointly works on a project called Holon, with Koen Lybaert from Starfish Enterprises (experimental rock - I'll post one later) and Starfish Pool (minimalist dark techno - if only I knew how rip lps!!). I should look into this project as it's probably pretty good.

Tracks

1. Exhibition of the Samples (1:43)
2. Octave Shift (5:45)
3. P.O.Box No.67 (6:12)
4. K.E.I.I. (0:43)
5. Buffer (5:33)
6. Onoreno (5:39)
7. Asymptote (5:43)
8. Tel-10 (5:49)
9. Miss Retina (7:02)
10. 2nd (4:06)
11. Flea Pedler (2:14)

RIOU_Exhibition_Samples_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 25, 2006 0 comments

Calva Y Nada - Die Katze Im Sack [ep] (1994)

Presumably a part-Spanish, part-German band that started around 1990, Calva Y Nada were at the forefront of dark electro music, together with other bands, e.g. Skinny Puppy (see below). This release is an ep containing six tracks, in total about 27 minutes. The music is deceptively simple: a fair amount of repetition, no complex arrangements... But they do create a really cool atmosphere. It's like being in cold war era Eastern Europe, in a dark bunker that's being used as a party venue. Particularly enjoyable are the vocals here: deep, growling chants that perfectly capture the industrial mood of the time. Nice bits of airy synth, too. As for the tracks, I'm only a little disappointed by the first one, it's just too predictable and easy. The other five are great fun! The cd booklet numbers the tracks from one to six; on the internet it appears that these tracks have actual titles, too.

Calva_Y_Nada_Die_Katze_Im_Sack_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Friday, March 17, 2006 5 comments

Jimmy Degieter - Orchestra Stalls (2006)

posted by Paxjorge @ Tuesday, March 14, 2006 5 comments

The Higher Intelligence Agency & Biosphere - Polar Sequences (1996)

Tromso, 70 degrees north, in the Arctic region, in the middle of the most active northern lights zone. In summer time, land of the midnight sun. In winter, total darkness.

In October 1995, as part of the annual Polar Music Festival, Geir Jenssen of Biosphere and Bobby Bird of The Higher Intelligence Agency were commissioned by Nor Concerts to collaborate together on a musical project to take place in Geir's home town of Tromso, Norway. The brief was for them to perform three concerts, using sounds sourced from the area as the basis of the music - the machinery of the local mountain cable lift, the snow, the ice etc...

The performances took place on top of a mountain above Tromso, in a cabin reached by the cable car, in which the audience were transported up the mountain in turn. Critically acclaimed and voted as one of the best all time ambient releases by fans @ hyperreal.org, Polar Sequences stands out from other releases in this genre in being taken from one unedited live performance. You have to hear this. You just have to.

I've just listened to this again and it really is mind-blowing stuff. I don't presume you have to be an ambient fan to be able to like/enjoy this. It's that freggling good!

Tracks
1. Cimmerian Shaft (13:16)
2. Snapshot Survey (8:22)
3. White Lightning (10:13)
4. Countdown to Darkness (6:21)
5. Corona (9:56)
6. Meltwater (9:18)

Total time: 57:14

HIA___Biosphere_Polar_Sequences_256.part1.rar
HIA___Biosphere_Polar_Sequences_256.part2.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Tuesday, March 14, 2006 2 comments

Biosphere - Patashnik (1994)

At the time when Patashnik (Russian for 'scientist') was released I was about fifteen and not at all into electronic music but into 90s alternative rock and heavy metal (and some industrial). But then I heard Patashnik. I couldn't resist myself and went to the nearest cd shop and bought it. For me this was the beginning of a new dimension: electronic ambient music.

Extremely ethereal synthesisers that perfectly capture the solitude, desolation and spaced-outness of the utterly northern tip of Norway (where Biosphere aka Geir Jenssen lives and works most of the time) and eerie, almost mystifying samples make this one of the best ambient house albums to come from the 90s. I use the term 'ambient house' because Jenssen does not shy away from inserting a few dance tracks into the album. The first track, by the way, is so creepy and intense that I had to promise a friend I would never put this cd on in his presence. Absolutely superb for headphone ecstacy & a top ten list of all time!

Tracks
1. Phantasm (4:50)
2. Startoucher (5:02)
3. Decryption (6:04)
4. Novelty Waves (6:27)
5. Patashnik (6:13)
6. Mir (5:18)
7. The Shield (8:54)
8. Seti Project (5:58)
9. Mestigoth (1:43)
10. Botanical Dimensions (5:43)
11. Caboose (5:12)
12. En-trance (4:40)

Total time: 76:05

Biosphere_Patashnik_256.part1.rar
Biosphere_Patashnik_256.part2.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Tuesday, March 14, 2006 0 comments

Steve Pittis - Dedicated To William S. Burroughs (2000)

Influenced by Burroughs' 'cut-up' techniques he applies to his writing, Steve Pittis has released a very intriguing album. Sounds from everyday life, bass drones, bits of synth... What could easily be an ugly and chaotic mix actually turns out to be pretty decent work. Sometimes the tracks seem to want a proper finishing touch, but as I only paid about one euro for this cd, I don't really mind it. Maybe I'm too critical here: it did take him four years to put all this together, after all. Pittis' liner notes (included in the rar file) elucidate his motivation and provide some advice to potential listeners. If you're into experimental (noise) music, give this one a go.

Tracks

1. Steely Dan (4:00)
2. Metallic Cocaine Be Bop (12:18)
3. Welcome To Interzone (6:28)
4. The Penny Arcade (17:45)
5. Stone Cold Yage Fever (3:56)

Total time: 44:29

Steve_Pittis_Dedicated_William_Burroughs_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Tuesday, March 14, 2006 8 comments

Cold Meat Industry (Swedish music label)

Regularly staging 'Cold Meat Festivals' all over Europe and America, Cold Meat Industry is one of the oldest and most respected labels dealing with power electronics, noise, experimental and ambient music. It was founded by Roger Karmanik (mainly known for his project Brighter Death Now) in 1987. Their slogan is as follows: 'For the music lover that can sit and enjoy the evolving sound of someone else's nightmare.' I went to one of these festivals about a year ago, and what an experience that was! All kinds of subcultures gathered there: black metal, goths, techno-noise lovers, and all-round weirdos like myself. Have a few beers, then go and sit in a small cinema hall (which I did not expect) and then the drones and screams would begin, strengthened by film projections. It's the combination of sound and sight that did it, really. Normally I don't like visuals too much, but here it freaked us out. Corpses, mutations, abandoned factories... Really heavy stuff - my girlfriend at the time had to run off home in tears, she just couldn't take it anymore. Be warned.

Brighter Death Now - Innerwar (1996)
Power electronics guru Roger Karmanik's 5th full-length album is once again a work of sheer aural destruction and nihilistic brutality: total electronic abuse for those obsessed by the darkest and most evil music within the industrial underground. The imagery of Brighter Death Now's releases largely employs skulls, bones, corpses, death and decay. This is one of the most extreme industrial noise act on the scene, assaulting the listener with monstrous cacophonies and uncompromising walls of noise. His exploration of the extreme music spectrum's further reaches will guarantee that those with a sense of experimentation will be greeted with one of the more blissful hells in existence.

Tracks
1. Innerwar (6:29)
2. American Tale (5:35)
3. No Pain (4:42)
4. Happy Nation (7:50)
5. Little Baby (6:15)
6. Sex or Violence (6:53)
7. No Tomorrow (7:23)
8. War (6:05)

Total time: 51:14


Bocksholm - The Sound Of Black Cloggs (2003)
Stricktly speaking not on Cold Meat Industry, but on Nato/Tesco USA (mail order from CMI), I did see Bocksholm live at a CM festival, so I might as well place it here. The two masters of Swedish industrial/ambient music behind Raison d´Être and Deutsch Nepal (both named Peter Andersson - uncanny!) return with their second album, recorded live in 2002 at the 'God Blast America' festival in New York during their American tour. This fairly aggressive album brings you over 46 minutes of angst-filled ambience, noise, vocals and rhythms wrought from the sounds and memories of growing up in the Swedish industrial town of Boxholm and its surrounding ironworks. You can listen to some samples here.

Tracks
1. Inbreeding Politics At Boxholm Bruk (14:03)
2. The Horror Of Kisa (7:10)
3. Kommisarie Olofsson (12:29)
4. Stenbock And His Disciples (5:52)
5. Bi-Rath, The Beast Of The Forge (6:54)

Total time: 44:29

Brighter_Death_Now_Innerwar_192.rar
Bocksholm_Sound_Black_Cloggs_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Tuesday, March 14, 2006 2 comments

Tindersticks - Curtains (1997), Simple Pleasure (1999), Can Our Love... (2001) and Waiting For The Moon (2003)

Formed in Nottingham as Asphalt Ribbons in 1991, Tindersticks have been ploughing a furrow of soulful, melancholy, late-night uneasy listening for 15 years now, yet sadly the world still doesn't seem to want to listen. Which is the world's loss, as this band write beautiful, heartrending songs and are one of the most talented, imaginative live bands in the UK.


Curtains (1997)
A keyboard, string arrangements, a trumpet here and there and Staple's lush baritone voice all add to the exquisite velvet feel of Curtains. Songs of love, songs of loss, this is not a very 'happy' album: 'She said I'm such a sad man, such a jerk'. Hmm... Each song is a fine example of the Tindersticks' craftmanship, slowly moving towards a climax, but often enough suddenly falling, only to reach for that high point again. This album is not their best to date, but it's a good start if you want to get to know the Tindersticks.

Simple Pleasure (1999)
The group nearly split up after Curtains, but fortunately they decided to have a break and regroup, and in 1999 returned with their best album to date, Simple Pleasure. More focused than previous efforts, there was a new lightness of touch here, and although the lyrics still weren't likely to get everyone singng along on the beaches of Ibiza, the mood was generally less oppressive than before. Whereas Curtains sometimes appeared a bit of a mish-mash, there were no throwaway tracks or fillers, with every song being a classic. A great album!


Can Our Love... (2001)
Another 2-year break ended with Can Our Love..., an album which seems to have somewhat disappointed a lot of fans. Like Simple Pleasures, the emphasis is on simple love songs rather than the epic melodramas of earlier albums. But whereas Simple Pleasures threatened at times to drown the listener in contrived melancholy, Can Our Love... is a more mature and subtle album. The opening track 'Dying Slowly'is perhaps their most musically complex to date, ebbing back and forth like the sea on a tide of luscious violins.


Waiting For The Moon (2003)
Their sixth studio lp, Waiting For The Moon is an album of assured breadth, filled with a renewed self-confidence. After the more pared-down, soulful sound of their past two releases, Tindersticks have reinvigorated their songwriting with some of their 'old' sound, and the result straddles all that they have recorded in an impressive fashion. If you don't own anything by the Tindersticks, don't listen to this first. It is a work of maturity, and perhaps not the most accessible. Tindersticks have been making ever more concise records; their early albums were something of a sprawl and would feature up to twenty songs. Waiting For The Moon is more structured and sticks to a restrained ten. These kinds of albums are best served when working up to them. But once you get into the Tindersticks, you're going to want to hear their albums over and over again.

Tindersticks_Curtains_192.rar
Tindersticks_Simple_Pleasure_192.rar
Tindersticks_Can_Our_Love_192.rar
Tindersticks_Waiting_For_The_Moon_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Tuesday, March 14, 2006 4 comments

Lisa Ekdahl & Peter Nordahl Trio - When Did You Leave Heaven (1995)

Let's welcome another lady, this time from Sweden. When Did You Leave Heaven is Lisa Ekdahl's first English-language effort as well as her first jazz album and the first Ekdahl album to come out in the U.S. The American jazz critics weren't too enthousiastic about her "thin, very girlish voice" and dropped a couple of negative reviews. Too bad for the Yanks.

Lisa Ekdahl's frail, silk-soft voice goes beautifully together with the warm, sometimes bouncy jazz provided by the Peter Nordahl Trio, with whom she'd been working for about five years at the time of this release. Nothing avant-garde about the music, but perfect when I'm feeling a bit down - which happens often enough... Wasn't it some guy called Burton who claimed that music is a splendid antidote to melancholy? Well, in the case of this sweet little album he was absolutely right!

Tracks

1. When Did You Leave Heaven (6:04)
2. But Not For Me (3:24)
3. Cry Me A River (5:06)
4. Love For Sale (4:19)
5. Lush Life (3:18)
6. You´re Gonna See A Lot Of Me (2:29)
7. It Was Just One Of Those things (2:49)
8. The Boy Next Door (3:55)
9. I´m A Fool To Want You (3:00)
10. My Heart Belongs To Daddy (2:54)
11. Blame It On My Youth (5:18)

Total time: 42:41

Lisa_Ekdahl_When_Did_You_Leave_Heaven_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Tuesday, March 14, 2006 1 comments

Joni Mitchell - Hejira (1976)

Classic singer-songwriter - I bet most of you know her, but if you don't: check her out. Very intelligent lyrics and moody music that goes straight to the heart. Apparently one of her most subdued albums. Jaco Pastorius' fretless bass playing is fabulous on this release, it's just wonderful to hear that thick bass give weight and volume to the music.

What a little bit of research can't do! The word 'hejira' is Arabic for 'flight, departure from one's country', so it's very similar to the (Greek) word 'exodus'. The term is also applied in its more general sense to other emigrations of the faithful, e.g. to Abyssinia, and to that of Mahomet's followers to Medina before the capture of Mecca. These latter are knows as Muhajirun. And in an even more general sense it denotes 'escape, flight - the act of escaping physically'. I suspect Joni Mitchell was not a muslem. Or a christian, for that matter. Or a jew. Or a buddhist. Or a hindu. But, perhaps, mujahedin?

Joni_Mitchell_Hejira_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Monday, March 13, 2006 0 comments

Lisa Germano - Happiness (1993)

I'm glad I found this album after years of looking for it. Germano really got me going after I heard her play all by herself and her guitar one late night in Brussels. The radio station even sent me a tape recording. Which I lost. So I found this one. Anyway, the music switches between folk and rock and at moments even reaches the boundaries of avant-garde. The lyrics are often semi-playful and cynical, I like her voice, and the musical arrangement is somewhat out of the ordinary. Give it a go, I'd say. Yeah, happiness...

Lisa_Germano_Happiness_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Sunday, March 12, 2006 1 comments

Kristin Hersh - Hips and Makers (1994)

Singer/guitar player of the Throwing Muses (alternative rock), Kristin Hersh released her purely acoustic solo debut in 1994. In my opinion a very good, emotionally charged album. Beautiful voice, good musicianship, high quality sound and a she's pretty, too.

Most of you will probably know the first track where she sings a duet with Michael Stipe from REM. Can't be bothered giving you more info as my girlfriend just broke up with me. So much for the tabloids, then.

Kristin_Hersh_Hips_and_Makers_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Sunday, March 12, 2006 2 comments

Laika - Silver Apples of the Moon (1995)

This often overlooked little gem stands as one of the most interesting works to come out of the 1990s. Fiery, dreamy and intense, the combination of dense drumming by Lou Cicotelli and the whisperish but often passionate vocals of Margaret Fielder is probably unlike anything you ever have heard.

Bringing you a cross-over between pretty much any imaginable style, be it jazz, rock, funk, dance, ambient, world music, whatever - Laika's songs are lovely to listen to. Every single time I put this record on I discover new things, often minute samples or effects they blend in. And the album keeps on getting better and better! The detail in this music is mind-boggling. I love this album! I'm going to buy all their other ones, too - just haven't gotten round to it yet. They certainly get a place on my top ten list.

Tracks

1. Sugar Daddy (5:24)
2. Marimba Song (5:14)
3. Let Me Sleep (4:25
4. Itchy & Scratchy (0:54)
5. Coming Down Glass (4:56)
6. If You Miss (5:18)
7. 44 Robbers (4:15)
8. Red River (3:56)
9. Honey In Heat (4:23)
10. Thomas (3:25
11. Spider Happy Hour (1:40)

Laika_Silver_Apples_Of_The_Moon_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Sunday, March 12, 2006 3 comments

Tekton Motor Corporation - Human Race Ignition (1994)

Trance & breakbeat techno, electric guitars, female opera voice and formula 1 car samples are what Human Race Ignition is all about. Czech Branko Mirt certainly deserves acclaim for his uniqueness. And even though I have a somewhat mixed opinion about this album as a whole, as it sometimes just doesn't sound right, quite often the music is really good. The cd contains three long tracks (14', 22', 10'), each one being surprisingly dynamic: elements are being added and removed all the time. Sound quality is also very high, not what one would expect from the Czech Republic at that time. But I'm probably just an ignorant twat.

Tracks

1. TEK I - Cognitive Magnitude - Ignition - Dreams - The Horizon
2. TEK II - Interactive Turbulence - Champion 1st Part - Spiral Emotions - Champion 2nd Part - Turning Wheel
3. TEK III - Cyber Transducing - Mechanical Spirit - Alert On The Victory Ahead - Dromologic Mind

TEKTON__Human_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Sunday, March 12, 2006 1 comments

Stimmungs Hits???

So far then it's been a mixture of heavy metal, dark ambient and experimental music. I hope that some of you are inspired, intrigued, surprised, upset, enlightened or somehow affected by what you find here. Thanks a lot to those who posted a comment: it's seriously appreciated. It would be very nice if more people posted their opinion of what they heard - it's to everyone's advantage, you see! Otherwise I might as well unearth such albums as this:

or this:

or this (yarr!):

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 6 comments

Megadeth - Rust In Peace (1990)

Without a doubt one of my all-time favourites, Rust In Peace has never let me down, not even once. It's so damn fast, the technical prowess of all the musicians is so breathtaking, this is an album that's perpetually entertaining. As most of you may know, lead man Dave Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica in '83, after which he formed his own, in many ways superior, heavy metal band. On the verge between thrash and speed, Rust In Peace has about everything it needs to be an all-time classic: superb drums, brilliant bass player, great rock riffs... But what makes this album especially fascinating over and over again are the guitar gods Dave Mustaine and Marty Freidman. They're equally accomplished virtuoso players, but each has his own distinctive style. It's a real pity that Freidman later left Megadeth, as the interplay between himself and Mustaine really ensured Megadeth a top ten place in the metal annals. Rust In Peace: a musical roller coaster that will not disappoint anyone who's fond of hard rock or heavy metal.

Some people apparently have misgivings about Dave 'Donald Duck' Mustaine's voice. I can see why (quack quack!) but I don't agree. It perfectly suits the atmosphere of the music - it's actually similar to how aptly the cover art relates to the music. And another thing: read Mustaine's lyrics! Not your usual metal "Oh the world is so dark and depressing, let's go back in time or else kill ourselves" stuff, but crammed with cynical jokes and jabs towards the establishment: politicians, the army, the media. I can't help but think that things haven't changed a lot in the world since this album came out.

Tracks

1. Holy Wars...The Punishment Due (6:35)
2. Hangar 18 (5:14)
3. Take No Prisoners (3:28)
4. Five Magics (5:42)
5. Poison Was The Cure (2:58)
6. Lucretia (3:57)
7. Tornado Of Souls (5:22)
8. Dawn Patrol (1:50)
9. Rust In Peace...Polaris (5:36)

Total time: 40:45

Megadeth_Rust_In_Peace_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 0 comments

Sepultura - Arise (1991)

An absolute thrash metal masterpiece from Brazil! This very heavy, aggressive album contains among the strangest yet appealing metal guitar solos I've come across. Oh boy, I can't believe how angry these guys must have been. A superb record, brilliantly played and produced. If you like metal but haven't heard Arise yet (are there such people?), you have to do so RIGHT NOW! By the way, this is not the 1994 re-release, so no bonus track #10.

Tracks

1. Arise (3:17)
2. Dead Embryonic Cells (4:51)
3. Desperate Cry (6:40)
4. Murder (3:25)
5. Subtraction (4:48)
6. Altered State (6:33)
7. Under Siege (Renum Irae) (4:53)
8. Meaningless Movements (4:40)
9. Infected Voice (3:18)

Total time: 42:33

Sepultura_Arise_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 0 comments

Moonspell - Wolfheart (1995) and Irreligious (1996)

Moonspell was the first Portuguese metal band to break worldwide, their debut Wolfheart an immediate success in many countries. They have a unique sound that hovers somewhere between goth music and doom/black metal. Both albums here are highly recommended!

Wolfheart (1995)
Very melodic, atmospheric and consistently maintaining heaviness as dictated by heavy metal standards. The use of synth is similar to Dimmu Borgir (see below), but more subtle. Overall production quality is high. Moonspell's fascination with vampires, werewolves and wraiths is delightfully apparent in all their tracks. Fernando Ribeiro's voice swerves between doom grawling, deep, theatrical 'clean' singing and ethereal ghostly whispering. Plus they have an absolutely flawless female vocalist! I really hate albums where a singer can't keep his/her tone, but on this one she gets two thumbs up!! (up where?) 'Lua D'Inverno' is one of the most beautiful acoustic metal tracks I've ever heard, and 'Vampiria' amongst the most memorable metal classics of the ninetees. All in all, a very good, highly enjoyable album.

Tracks

1. Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade) (7:42)
2. Love Crimes (7:33)
3. ...Of Dream And Drama (Midnight Ride) (3:58)
4. Lua d'Inverno (1:48)
5. Trebraruna (3:29)
6. Vampiria (5:35)
7. An Erotic Alchemy (8:04)
8. Alma Mater (5:36)

Total time: 43' 49''

Irreligious (1996)
Released only a year after Wolfheart, Irreligious is without a doubt a more mature and refined album. Opinions are very divergent when it comes to which is the better one. I can't really untie that knot, either. Nevertheless, the two albums are suprisingly different. On Irreligious the instruments tend to focus more around the vocals than on their previous release. There's still a lot of guitar and synth, but it's all softer, friendlier. Atmospherically the music is still dark. However, if I say that Wolfheart explores fantasy/fairy tale darkness and evil, Irreligious seeks the more surreal side of darkness. It's great fun comparing these two albums - so alike, yet so different! (God I hate clichés!!)

Tracks

1. Perverse...Almost Religious (1:.07)
2. Opium (2:46)
3. Awake (3:05)
4. For A Taste Of Eternity (3:52)
5. Ruin & Misery (3:48)
6. A Poisoned Gift (5:34)
7. Subversion (2:43)
8. Raven Claws (3:15)
9. Mephisto (4:58)
10. Herr Spiegelmann (4:34)
11. Full Moon Madness (6:46)

Total time: 48' 03''

Moonspell_Wolfheart_192.rar
Moonspell_Irreligious_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 0 comments

Dimmu Borgir - For All Tid (1994), Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997) and Godless Savage Garden [ep] (1998)

Melodic and sweeping black metal from the second wave that came to fill in the momentum needed as the old school of modern black metal musicians faded into incarceration or obscurity. Heavily influenced by bands such as Emperor (see below), Dimmu Borgir receive divergent opinions from black metal fans. My sister loves them (the Emperor album was hers, too), but personally I don't like the bombast and drama of symphonic black metal. But if this is your kind of music, chances are you'll enjoy the next couple of albums.


For All Tid (Re-Mastered) (1994)
Their first full length studio album. Production isn't great and neither are the tracks in my opinion. They use the synth extensively: their first track (5:03) is probably the longest black metal intro ever. But then the guitars and drums enter stage. Okay stuff, I guess, just not my cup of tea. Highly melodic, but not containing enough raw power (Burzum, Darkthrone) or speed (Mayhem). Even on their own field, symphonic metal, they don't get close to what Emperor achieves.


Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)
This album is definitely an improvement on their last one. No more shitty intros, but immediately the real thing. The music has become more complex in terms of rhythm and harmony and the production has improved, too. Keyboard, guitar and drums are beautifully arranged, making the albums very listenable, in fact. A lot of fans claims this to be their best album thus far. It does contain a couple of really powerful tracks - great sense of theatrical drama!


Godless Savage Garden [ep] (1998)
By now Dimmu Borgir seems to be moving towards more classic metal. This album always reminds stylistically of Nexus Polaris by Covenant (1998, Norway). Many black metal fans denounce this ep for it not being 'black' enough. Fair enough. But in terms of melodic heavy metal, the band has released a pretty good album: broad guitar/synth movements and the pace has increased compared with their earlier work. And they still haven't lost their brilliant feeling for drama. Just the bass seems somewhat sloppily produced, but that could be my shitty stereo at work. Anyway, if you're into melodic heavy metal, this is what you're looking for. Ep also contains three (mediocre) live tracks.

Dimmu_Borgir_For_All_Tid_192.rar
Dimmu_Borgir_Enthrone_Darkness_Triumphant_192.rar
Dimmu_Borgir_Godless_Savage_Garden_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 0 comments

Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse (1994)

One of the most influential bands of the black metal genre, it could well be argued that Emperor lies at the footsteps of symphonic, or - if you don't mind - progressive black metal. Ultra-fast tremolo riffs, bombastic symphonic overtones, relentless drumming and speed, raw production and yet that typical majestic atmosphere - sublime - make In the Nightside Eclipse an all-time classic and a must for anyone interested in black metal.

I should note here that this kind of black metal is worlds apart from what you find further below, such as Darkthrone, Mayhem or Burzum. These last three work are extreme in their sense of minimalism. Emperor is anything but that. It's like comparing Wagner with Satie - or George W. Bush with Kofi Annan! LOL

Tracks

1. Intro (0:51)
2. Into The Infinity Of Thoughts (8:14)
3. The Burning Shadows Of Silence (5:34)
4. Cosmic Keys To My Creations & Times (6:05)
5. Beyond The Great Vast Forest (6:00)
6. Towards The Pantheon (5:57)
7. The Majesty Of The Nightsky (4:52)
8. I Am The Black Wizards (6:00)
9. Inno A Satana (4:47)

Emperor_In_The_Nightside_Eclipse_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 2 comments

Marduk - Fuck me jesus [ep] (1991/1994)

As Marduk's first release, this short ep (12' 45'') achieved instant notoriety due to the the depiction on the cd cover and the first track, a very long sample from the well known film The Exorcist. But enough of this tabloid crap, let's get to the music. To be honest, I never really took the time to give this ep a proper listen. I realise now it's a cross-over between death, doom and black metal, pretty heavy (especially in the lower frequencies: tick 'death' and 'doom') and not too bad, actually. Whereas it was originally released back in '91, this is the '94 re-release. Apart from a note by Morgan Hakansson, I'm not sure whether there are any differences (e.g. remaster).

Intellectually pretty interesting stuff, as Marduk seem to deconstruct their music into several basic elements and then twist and turn these into some spawn of their rotten imagination. Or something like that. Nice interplay between slow and fast paces, even within single tracks. Decent production. You might want to try it out if you're a metal fan. Otherwise I'd advise you to leave this and listen to Mayhem instead. :-)

Tracks

1. Intro - Fuck me jesus (0:43)
2. Departure from the mortal (3:18)
3. The Black... (4:04)
4. Within the abyss (3:38)
5. Outro - Shut up and suffer (0:59)

Marduk_Fuck_me_jesus_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Saturday, March 11, 2006 0 comments

Ancient Rites - The Diabolic Serenades (1994)

The debut album of the best heavy metal band in Belgium. Overally a pretty good album, fusing classic elements of death metal with folk influences of black metal. Apparently the reviewers like to call this 'viking metal'. I'm normally not into death/thrash/satan metal, but I think I particularly like this album because it's not anarchistic or noisy at all (as you often get with death metal, e.g. Morbid Angel). It is heavy music, though, but very melodic which makes the hearing more pleasant in the classic sense. As I'm writing this my headphones are blaring the music into my brain, and yeah, I have to say this damn good heavy metal, great drums and guitars work. Turn it up!

Tracks

1. (Intro) Infant Sacrifices To Baalberith (1:16)
2. Crucifixion Justified (Roman Supremacy) (3:54)
3. Satanic Rejoice (3:54)
4. Obscurity Reigns (Fields Of Flanders) (2:28)
5. Death Messiah (2:37)
6. Land Of Frost And Despair (4:43)
7. Assyrian Empire (3:32)
8. Longing For The Ancient Kingdom (3:43)
9. Morbid Glory (Gilles De Rais 1404-1440) (3:38)
10. Ritual Slayings (Goat Worship Pure) (3:52)
11. Evil Prevails (4:25)
12. Last Rites (Echoes Of Melancholy) (0:33)

Total time: 38' 41''

Ancient_Rites_Diabolic_Serenades_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Friday, March 10, 2006 0 comments

Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger (1994)

Darkthrone albums are uncompromisingly primitive, raw and evil works. Most fans would agree that Transilvanian Hunger is one of Darkthrone's best albums if not their best. It's low in production quality (I'd say purposefully so), minimalistic and crude, but strangely hypnotic. One reviewer even called it "one of the most relaxing black metal albums ever."

The intensity of this album is caused by several factors. Firstly, it is rumoured that the guys recorded the whole album on a 4-track and did little or no cleaning up. Then there's Darkthrone notorious minimalism: riffs and drum snares are repeated endlessly with the only variation being small tonal changes on the guitars and bits and pieces on the drums. But that's exactly what makes this such a 'nice' album. And again I must concur with the abovementioned reviewer: "All black metal fans will like this cd. If you like raw black metal that is. This is not the synthetic type of band like Cradle Of Filth (I really hate CoF, they are so pretentious and stupid)."

A small note: I've just found out that this pressing still has the phrase "Norsk Arisk Black Metal" (Norwegian Aryan Black Metal) printed on the back of the cd case, which due to the negative response of many distributors around the world, was erased in later pressings. Mind you, I do NOT share these people's ideological or philosophical convictions!!

Musicians
• Fenriz: Drums
• Nocturno Culto: Vocals, bass
• Zephyrous: Guitars

Darkthrone_Transilvanian_Hunger_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Friday, March 10, 2006 0 comments

Tristitia - One with Darkness (1995)

Beautiful is not a word one would easily associate with black metal, but this is an album that's worth the 'epitaph'. Here's what the Encyclopaedia Metallum has to say about it, I think they reviewed it very aptly:

"Doom-laden soundscapes swirl in the somberness of acoustics, otherworldly keyboards, yearning cello, and the odd gothic overtone the vocals dwell in, hanging portraits of the grandiose throughout the walls of these eleven tracks.

Keyboards are an illustrious partner to the doom, building atmosphere where there would only be the plod of riffs, and the album would bear a much different face and would be woefully generic. Amateurs to morose ambiance this three piece is not.

As an avante-garde production, One With Darkness will not be embraced as easily as most releases, which includes doom endeavors, but then most releases don't simply radiate something either diverse or special either. A sound to be heard, cultivated, and judged."

Tracks
1. Sorrow (01:46)
2. Kiss The Cross (05:55)
3. One With Darkness (06:16)
4. Winds Of Sacrifice (05:09)
5. Burn The Witch (02:48)
6. Hymn Of Lunacy (03:33)
7. Ashes Of The Witch (05:44)
8. Dancing Souls (05:13)
9. Adagio 1809 (04:15)
10. Reminiscences Of The Mourner (07:53)
11. Dance Of The Selenites (06:34)

Total time: 55:06

Tristitia_One_with_Darkness_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Friday, March 10, 2006 0 comments

Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994)

Behold the greatest black metal album in history! This ultra-heavy creation of Euronymos and Hellhammer just breathes evil. Euronymos never lived to see the release of his first full studio album, as Count Grishnackh (see below), who was at the time standing in for bass, stabbed and killed him for some bizarre reason. Go and check a wikipedia search on Mayhem: I'm telling you, it's at the very least 'interesting'. This album scores tops on all my lists: lyrics, intensity, technique, production, artwork. I mean, this album is perfect!

For 72 minutes straight you will not get a single pause longer than half a second. I'm not exaggerating. Definitely the hardest good metal album I've ever come across, and - oh yes - among the very best, too.

Tracks

1. Funeral Fog (5:47)
2. Freezing Moon (6:23)
3. Cursed in Eternity (5:10)
4. Pagan Fears (6:20)
5. Life Eternal (6:57)
6. From the Dark Past (5:26)
7. Buried by Time and Dust (3:34)
8. De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (6:21)

Total time: 46' 01''

Mayhem_De_Mysteriis_192.rar

Mayhem - Live in Leipzig, 1990 (1993/96)
This is a treat for Mayhem fans only, I guess. Quality doesn't get much higher than decent; the first minute or so is nothing but background noise and quite often you can hear German grunts and shouts. But that makes the album hilarious, but in live metal gigs it isn't really any different. I've actually come to enjoy this album (though it disappointed me when I'd just bought it!).

Tracks
1. Deathcrush (4:37)
2. Necrolust (3:46)
3. Funeral Fog (6:30
4. The Freezing Moon (7:05)
5. Carnage (4:06)
6. Buried by Time and Dust (5:28)
7. Pagan Fears (7:00)
8. Chainsaw Outstuck (5:07)
9. Pure Fucking Armageddon (3:10)

Total time: 40' 13''

Mayhem_Live_in_Leipzig_192.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Friday, March 10, 2006 0 comments

Blackend - The Black Metal Compilation Vol.1 (1995)

This 2-cd black metal compilation is a real work of art. A total of 22 tracks provide an excellent overview of what is generally referred to as the 'second wave' of black metal, very often from Skandinavia. This is the album that got me seriously interested in the genre, as I felt it definitely had something unique to offer. Radical though it may be ideologically and musically, it distinguishes itself from other extreme metal styles (such as thrash, death, gore) by fusing folk and classical influences into their music. Essentially black metal a Neo-Romantic art form, as it always tries to capture the sublime.

Blah blah anyway most tracks on this album are extremely heavy, fast-paced and intense, but here and there you get a slower, often very strange one. There's not a single bad track on this compilation. The only thing you always have to keep in mind if you really want to appreciate this music is how important your equaliser can be. I recommend decreasing the bass a little and increasing the mid-high frequencies. (I know this may seem odd to some, but try it out, it gets better the higher you put it!) If you're into heavy metal, you may come to love this compilation. I'm personally very much taken in by Fleurity, Sigh and Ved Buens Ende because they go to show just how inclusive and developed this genre of music can be.

Disc 1 (56')

1. Emperor - I Am the Black Wizard
2. Impaled Nazarene - Hate
3. Mayhem - Pagan Fears
4. Satyricon - Walk the Path of Sorrow
5. Throne of Ahaz - Nifelheim
6. Marduk - Those of the Unlight
7. Enslaved - Wotan
8. Dark Funeral - My Dark Desires
9. Samael - The Dark
10. Fleurety - Absence

Disc 2 (72')
1. Gorgoroth - Crushing the Scepter
2. Enslaved - Slaget I Skogen Brotenfor
3. Immortal - Pure Holocaust
4. Lord Belial - The Hymn of the Misanthropic Spirit of the Forest
5. Emperor - Cosmic Keys to my Creations and Times
6. Ved Buens Ende - The Carrier of Wounds
7. Dark Funeral - In the Sign of the Horn
8. Sigh - Ready for the Final War
9. Bestial Warlust - Satanic
10. Moonspell - Tenebrarum Oratorium
11. Unanimated - Silence Ends
12. Havohej - Spilling Holy Blood

Blackend_Vol_1_192_Part_1.rar
Blackend_Vol_1_192_Part_2.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Friday, March 10, 2006 0 comments

Greatful Dead - Anthem of the Sun (1968)

What can I say? They're the Dead! "Mellow out, man..."

Greatful_Dead_Anthem_Sun_128.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Thursday, March 09, 2006 4 comments

Wizards of Ooze - The Dipster (1994)

An absolutely brilliant band from Belgium, it's really sad they split up. Their music is broadly speaking somewhere in between jazz and funk, but the Wizards manage to fool around with practically any style and come out splendidly. I saw them live almost ten years ago (damn I'm getting old...): technically great, hilariously freaky and not one moment losing their sweat (even when some drunk started shouting straight at them). Wizards of Ooze get only fuzzballs from me. You can't not like this music!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM Updated link!

posted by Paxjorge @ Thursday, March 09, 2006 5 comments