Pax Diero Hierusalaam

TAGC - Burning Water Soundtrack (1994) - REPOST

2007-03-16T18:04:00.000+01:00

Burning Water is the soundtrack to a film by The Anti Group/TAGC. I haven't been able to see the film, but I presume it may be somewhat similar to Geoffrey Reggio's Qatsi series. The original idea for The Anti Group was devised by A. Newton of TAGC and S. J. Turner of Clock DVA as early as 1978, "with the intention of the formation of a multi-dimensional research & development project active in many related areas. They also claim to be "free from the erroneous problems of Ego."

The music itself consists of two long pieces, each about 26 minutes. 'SO36' is a grand windswept synthesiser movement upwards. The title refers to a German venue that first opened in 1861, but got famous in the 60's and after for hosting provocative bands and, moreover, for opening their doors to the first Atonal Music Festival, as their website claims. The second piece 'ARS electronica' is more complex and variable, the mood is dark and claustrophobic. It's filled with all kinds of sounds, very often human beings or machines. And DAMMIT I just noticed that track 2 is not supposed to break off after 26min but after 33. So miss out on that. But that doesn't take away the fact that this is intense, powerful music.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

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Sentridoh - The Original Losing Losers (1990)

2007-03-08T18:17:00.001+01:00

Sentridoh's Lou Barlow has done many things, and this album is one (relatively unknown) of them. Only for hardcore lo-fi fans, it contains 40+ tracks, some shit (which is fun), some hilarious (which is fun) and some emotionally quite touching (which is nice). My favourites by far are King of the Dull Thump and even further Beyond the Barbwire. The latter could well be interpreted as a mad trip into the Great War's trenches of France and Flanders. Lovely to turn up disturbingly loud while having some friends for dinner. Hehe. Suffer, friends!

I have to note that something went wrong with the naming of the tracks: my system must have bumped over one somewhere. So you'll either have to add or substract a number... Sorry.

I found a funny dramatic anecdote about the album on rateyourmusic.com - you can check it out in the comments section if you want.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

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Laika - Good Looking Blues (2000)

2007-03-07T20:50:00.000+01:00

Well, here's the third release by the sublime band Laika! A great album, though not as good as Sounds of the Satellites in my opinion (but I can't ever really make up my mind), it's nonetheless filled with great, truly superb tracks. Just make sure you turn up the bass. And if possible, try to skip a night of sleep and then listen to it, wow... Laid back, pleasant vibes -- much more so than their first release. It's always hard to decide between Sounds and Blues, because both reach out for outer space! Check tracks two and three, with its lovely sine synths and African rhythms: if you don't like that, why not try Mariah Carey's cheapshit techno album, like my sheep-faced neighbour upstairs? There's one track that really pisses me off, and that's the unnecessarily prosaic "Bad Times"; I really do not understand what that is doing on this album. Apart from that, I love this music. Hope you do, too!

My final note on the Laika trilogy: I didn't bother ordering their fourth release, as the reviews I read on that one didn't give me the idea it was on a par with their previous work. If any of you can change my point of view here, shoot... Moreover, they were to release a fifth album in 2005 (I think) but I never heard of Laika after Wherever I Am I Am What Is Missing (2003). Not even their quaint little website gives us any relevant details. Too bad, too bad...

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

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Laika - Sounds of the Satellites (1996)

2007-03-03T15:15:00.000+01:00

I'll keep it real short - Laika has become one of my all time favourite bands by now. Sounds of the Satellites is their second release and in my opinion their best of three. I couldn't get it here in Belgium, but my dearie wee sister in London got it for me. I posted Laika's debut on this blog a very long time ago; this release is a lot softer, dreamier, more pleasing to the ears... Superb music, it's been on my mp3player for weeks now & I just don't get bored of it. Hope you don't either!

The album cover shows an actual, real snowdome - now sold out, unfortunately. What a brilliant piece of merchandise!

By the way, sorry for the recent sparseness of my posts, but I tend not to enjoy sitting in front of a pc screen after doing so for most of the day. Less gobbledygook from me to you though!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

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Lisa Germano - Happiness (1993) - REPOST

2007-01-24T22:04:00.000+01:00

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

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Troubadours and trouvères - REPOST

2007-01-08T21:56:00.000+01:00

Dante and the Troubadours

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), the author of the Divina Commedia, closely studied and imitated the troubadours (from Occitan "trobar" = to find). He also wrote a treatise on achieving poetic perfection in the vernacular, De Vulgari Eloquentia, wherein he expounds upon the qualities and characteristics of individual poets who lived several generations before his own time. The pieces provided on this release are all based upon the selections Dante made in his treatise.

Aimeric de Peguilhan (c.1175-1230): En amor trob alques enque'm refraing (voice, harp, fiddles). As a late and expatriate troubadour he helped keep the tradition alive by transplanting it to the new and fertile environment of Italy. This song abounds in poetical devices (e.g. rhyme on "Amor") and word-play, yet its high style and somewhat formal interlude points to a performance mode of a festive courtly entertainment.
Arnaut Daniel (c.1180-1200): Lo ferm voler qu'el cor m'intra (voice). Dante's favourite poet of love, who was moreover placed in Purgatory for his lustfulness and sensuality. This song is an example of the sestet, a form that uses the same set of six words to end each of the six lines of each of the six strophes of the song.
Bertran de Born (c.1140-1215): Rassa, tan creis e monta e pola (voice, fiddles, symphonia). Whereas track 2 deals with love, this one deals with war. Dante placed this poet in the Inferno for his warlike ways. The theme of strife is further pointed out by the two fiddlers combined with the robust voice of the warrior-singer.
Peire d'Alvernhe (c.1150-1215): Dejosta'ls breus jorns e'lsloncs sers (voice). It is argued that this is the only melody attributed to Peire d'Alvernhe which has come down to us. It fluctuates between the dark and inward-looking and the light and hopeful. It should be noted that the whole is performed by a single unaccompanied voice.
Guiraut de Bornelh (c.1138-1215): Non posc sofrir c'a la dolor (voice, fiddle). Guiraut was held to be the master of the troubadours by his contemporaries. This song recounts a dream, an alternate reality therefore, in which hopes and disappointments are more vivid than in daily life.
Arnaut Daniel (fl. 1180-1200): Chanson do'ill mot son plan e prim (voice, fiddles, harp). Sent to Purgatory by Dante for lustfulness, and lauded by Ezra Pound for being the greatest poet who ever lived. This song shows how the troubadour worked to control the sentimentality potentially created by refined or courtly love.
Folquet de Marseilla (c.1155-1231): Tant m'abellis l'amorospessamens (voice, harp). Allowed entry into Paradise for all eternity by Dante, Folquet changed to the strictly spiritual life, away from courtly pursuits, later in his life. The singer accompanies himself on a small romanesque harp.
Improvisation on melodies of Folquet de Marseilla (fiddle, harp). This performance is brought into structural form according to the principles set out by Arnaut Daniel (see #6), and translated into the particular idiom of the medieval fiddle.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

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French Troubadour Songs

The northern French trouvères flourished somewhat later than the Provençal troubadours; initially they adopted thematic material from their southern confrères. The theme adopted most of all, having initially come from Arab poetry, was courtly love - a more accurate term, however, is fin'amor, perfect or refined love. The art of love is raised to an ethical standard, a code of conduct.

This release is framed by two anonymous songs both light-hearted in tone. The first of these is an example of the reverdie, a genre native to northern France. The reverdie celebrates the arrival of springtime and the renewal of love. The second (track nine) is a pastourelle: a genre, though of troubadour origin, which was particularly favoured by the trouvères. It represents the seduction of a lady, usually a sheperdess, by a knight who does not hesitate to use force where persuasion fails. This genre is intended to entertain, but is often used as a vehicle for satire of the knightly class or even courly love itself.

Placed against these songs are the grands chants of Gace Brulé (tracks 2 & 8). The grand chant originated with the troubadours; it celebrates fin'amor in all its infinite variety. Gace Brulé was one of its foremost practitioners. Both songs bring into play the pain of inaccessible love and constancy of desire.

The next layer includes two songs by Moniot d'Arras and Colin Muset (tracks 3 & 7). Both exhibit the indeterminacy of genre characteristic of some trouvère songs, no longer courtly and reaching out for new forms of expression. Track 3 mixes themes from the pastourelle and the chanson de rencontre. In the latter a meeting occurs, but there is no thought of seduction. Track 7 bears resemblance to a reverdie in its springtime setting, to a fratrasie, a kind of nonsense song, and to a pastourelle.

At the center of the program (tracks 4, 5 & 6) are three songs by Thibaut de Champagne, one of the greatest trouvères. He was a direct descendant of the first known troubadour, William IX. Thibaut also took part in the Crusades. Track 4 has as its guiding image the unicorn, metaphor for the poet fatally attracted by a lady whose cruelty causes his death. Track 6 is a grand chant courtois, differing from the grand chant by the use of refrains. More often than not, this genre uses intertexuality by "borrowing" refrains from other songs, thus granting the singer greater flexibility and virtuosity. At the center of the program (track 5) is the only piece performed without instruments. It is a serventois, a political song, over which presides the image of the pelican, setting the theme of evil and salvation. It is a powerful critique of the Church, possibly an attack on Pope Gregory IX at the time of the prolongation of the sixth crusade (1236-39). The term "papelart" refers to religious hypocrites who lead into a hell from which only the Virgin can save mankind.

Volez Vous Que Je Vous Chant (Would You Have Me Sing for You), Anonymous
Les Oxelés de Mon Païx (The Birds from My Native Land), Gace Brulé (circa 1160 - circa 1212)
Ce Fu en Mai (Once in the Month of May), Moniot d'Arras (fl.1213 - fl.1239)
Ausi Conme Unicorne Sui (Like the Unicorn I Am Lost in Wonder), Thibaut King of Navarre (1201 - 1253)
Deus Est Ensi Conme Li Pellicanz (The Lord Is Like a Pelican), Thibaut King of Navarre (1201 - 1253)
Chançon Ferai, Que Talenz M'En Est Pris (I Will Fashion a Song), Thibaut King of Navarre (1201 - 1253)
En Mai, Quant Li Rossignolez (In May, When Nightingales Sing Clear), Colin Muset (circa 1200 - 1250)
A La Douçor de la Bele Seson (In the Fragrance of the New Season), Gace Brulé (circa 1160 - circa 1212)
Quant Voi la Flor Nouvele (When I See Fresh Blooms Appear), Anonymous

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Part 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Part 2)

Sorry this one happens to be split: I must have made some error while rarring it. Nevertheless, enjoy!

Air Liquide - Air Liquide (1993) - REPOST

2006-12-31T12:00:00.000+01:00

This is the second full-length album by a great duo from Cologne, Germany. It completely blew us away when we were teenagers back then, and I still love it. I'm pretty sure that two guys in Holland, Cromcrauch and Larve, do so too. :-) Somewhere between acid house, trance and ambient, this is one of the trippiest, most psychedelic electronic albums I know. Bound to enthrall your little human brain. Happy journeying, you psychonauts out there!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

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Sorry for the delay, by the way (rhyme!) - and other requests for reposts will be answered when I find the time. Patience, as ever, is the key...

Recent Re-ups

2006-12-01T23:21:00.000+01:00

- Buckfunk 3000 - First Class Ticket to Telos

- Jet - ok

Arnold Schönberg - Pierrot Lunaire op.21 and Erste Kammersymphonie op.9

2006-11-16T17:57:00.000+01:00

I'm posting this release, not for the Pierrot Lunaire, but for Schönberg's First Chamber Symphony (track 22). If you do wish to find out more about the former, you can follow this link.

Now, about the Chamber Symphony... I've been listening to this 21 minute piece of disturbing, yet immensely beautiful music for several years, and it really gets much better at every hearing. One of the first major works of modernist classical music, it can be well positioned besides Satie or Debussy. A big difference, however, is that this piece has a much harsher, more 20th century feel to it. On May 7th 2005, BBC radio aired an interesting 30 minute show about it (basically a musical analysis) which you can listen to in stream format here. I'll also post an mp3 recording of it shortly, in case you'd want to keep it for the future.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

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Musique de la Grèce antique

2006-11-10T22:57:00.000+01:00

riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodiero vicus of recirculation back to Pax Castle and Hierusalaam.

Even though music was an essential part of ancient Greek life and culture, as numerous literary and artistic references indicate, practically nothing remains of it today. However, thanks to extensive scholarship (commencing with Atansius Kircher in the Renaissance) and a shrewd use of the imagination, it appears to have become possible to approximate the music that was played at the time of the great Greek tragedies and comedies. Do give this release a try, as it really is some pretty interesting material. More info is provided in the rar file itself. Hope you like it...

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Track 2 (MIR)

Track 13 (MIR)

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Dorks - Buggah Mi La Ti (2006)

2006-09-29T18:20:00.000+02:00

May a million curses rain on the monopoly-bedridden country that is called Belgium! Once again I have reached upload limit!!! So there's no way I can help you bills and gulls in getting old posts reposted and new ones upped. And all that because I torrented the first 9 episodes of Robot Chicken. Well, at least it was worth it... You'll hear from me again after October 19th. Until then, frogs from the skies in this gurgle-doomed frog country!

Front 242 - Tyranny For You (1991)

2006-09-15T22:00:00.001+02:00

This is Front's last "old style" album before they took off on a different, more militaristic style of industrial music such as 05:22:09:12 Off. One of my favourites of the Belgian crew ("Maastricht Vlaams!!"), this album is highly melodic, danceable; however, I can't help experiencing this deep melancholic mood underlying the whole thing. "Gripped By Fear" is probably the one track I like most, especially how it starts out... And then, of course, there's the title track: a stupendously forward-pounding motion of modern death-in-life! Gotta love it... Thanks to Larve, by the way! (And my regards to cucumber-girl, of course)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Pass=paxdiero.blogspot.com (probably)

And I've just noticed that track 7 is uncannilly similar to a track on the Klinik Live album. Hmmm....

Dorks - Uppers for the Fans (2006)

2006-09-15T20:08:00.000+02:00

I've re-upped two albums For a Few Fans, namely Front 242's Mut@ge Mix@ge and Future Sound of London's Lifeforms. You can find the new links in the appropriate posts - enjoy!

Facial Expressions - Emoticums (2006)

2006-09-08T19:30:00.000+02:00

An illustration of research at the School of Psychology - 3-D model faces accentuating (right) or diminishing masculine face shape. Researchers at St Andrews have used computer graphics to study facial attributions. Unexpectedly, women were found to prefer slightly feminised male faces. CREDIT: Professor David "The Pink Shirt Collar-Flippin FAG" Perrett

No seriously (as far as possible): a friend of mine called Larve, who is by the way the big brother of the smelly Dutchman, is the artist formerly known as Jesus, and also the man responsible for all the Andyman mandyterial that some of you may or may not have come across while criss-crossing (Jump!) through this b-log. This artist formerly known as etc etc has preppy-arsed a number of images with which he would like to create emoticons - however, he doesn't have a clue what the script (aka technical) background is to these dynamic images.

So my question is: is there anybody out there........ who can help him out? Links can be copy-pasted (see earlier post on this notorious topic) in the cumments sexion. Stanks.

The Electric Mothers Of Invention - Neuro # Project (1993)

2006-09-08T18:29:00.000+02:00

A rather obscure release on the Liverpool "Three Beat" record label, I think this paints a rather nice of what the house/techno culture of the early 90s was all about: bouncy, fast beats with uplifting and trippy melodies - quite different from what happened near the turn of the century, when techno became harder and colder...

Thick, dubby basslines are combined with melodic sine synths and tingling samples, to which are added numerous voice samples that at times take you on a dreamy journey and at times just make you laugh (because it's funny, not because it's crap - "Jack didn't know how to do anything! Jack was a dropout"). Not my all time favourite, but nonetheless a very enjoyable, particularly chilled out electronic album. I think my problem with this album is that it's sometimes too lengthy, that I'm just too impatient... But it must be said that some of the tracks on this cd are really damn good tracks... I'd like to know if you think about this the same way - unless of course you like to flip up you pink shirt collar and need to light up a FAG every hour or so!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2)

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Jet - OK (1998)

2006-09-08T18:22:00.000+02:00

Jet give us with "OK", their second full length album, a set (oooh rhyme!) of delicate, minimalist electro-house that is deceptively simple, but after several listenings you're bound to hear the depth of all the sounds. This is the kind of electronic music where a beat is never merely a beat: it's always made up of several layers of basses and pads. The same goes for most of the sounds on this album. They all have this plastic feel to them (xtc?), warm and lush and unusually melodic, sweet and soothing to your ears and your mind if you still have one. Great production value, this release, you can surely hear that! Some tracks are chilled out, others heavier and faster; in my opinion, this is superb party album and a late night chill out album. It's even nice for a rainy Sunday afternoon playing backgammon. Intelligent love music with a very positive vibe, highly suitable for low and high level playing, and as I just remembered, really nice for driving a car, too.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Updated link!)

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RAC - Diversions (1994)

2006-09-08T18:18:00.000+02:00

Here's my last one for the day. If you've ever made music yourself, you will recognise a lot here: delays, reverbs, flangers and the like, but they're all well arranged and the songs are intelligently composed. There's something really spacy about these songs, in the sense of other-worldly, alien vegetation tribal electro-cannibalism... If I listen to a track for a minute, I often feel like turning it off, but if give it a go, I tend to listen to the whole album. All in all, this is pretty good, melodic & pounding dance music. One to be turned up nice and loud...

The 22nd release on the now defunct Warp label, I feel it fits there perfectly: somewhere in between Autechre and early Aphex Twin/Polygon Window. Classic mid-ninetees electronic music - enjoy!

Which reminds me: I once owned Surfing on Sine Waves by Polygon Window, but some twat nicked it. Would any of you b-log visitors happen to be the culpitrator?

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2, RapidShare)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2, MegaUpload)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2, FileFactory)

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Generation CTRL-X

2006-09-08T17:55:00.000+02:00

Most of you will have heard of Douglas Coupland's Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, a visual-literary "novel" about the meaninglesness of our blessed consumer culture. But the people of this "accelerated" culture were mostly born in the sixties, whereas myself and most people I know are born in the late seventies and early eighties. My manifesto relates not to Generation X, but to Generation CTRL-X: the cut'n'paste culture, or if you wish, the copy-paste culture.

Now, what suprises me is that so many of you, especially the Mac-usurers who seem to have too much money on their hands, have certain difficulties controlling their ability to copy-paste. Why is this? One important factor in correctly copy-pasting is that one should not drag the mouse arrow from the beginning of the term to the end, but back to front. It's comparable to how women wipe their backsides (smellask your girlfriend). That way you can eliminate the chance of accidentally carrying over an unwanted "space", which in the case of passwords is antithetical to success. That being said, I advise you to get some CTRL-X training in an advertising agency or a military database or something.

Buckfunk 3000 - First Class Ticket to Telos (1998)

2006-09-08T17:21:00.000+02:00

This is probably the finest example of electelectriceclecticism I can think of. DJ and producer Si Begg (aka Simon Begg) is claimed to have produced three full length albums and as far as I know this is the only one under the name Buckfunk 3000. He also runs a record label with Christian Vogel, of whom some great material is to follow later on - thanks again to the smelly (and now sleepy) Dutchman. Zaaaten Hollaaander!

Now, backfunk 3000 to the music: at the same time highly danceable and listenable, it's crammed with sounds, synth movements, rhythm changes, mood swings (don't we love that!), psychedelic sound journeys etc, taking influences from freakish funk, acid house, dark ambient, D&B, and hell, probably more than I can think of. What's cool about this guy is that he seamlessly flows between all these styles as if it's nothing. It is, by the way, possible that the album as a whole, though not particularly heavy-sounding, can be a little to much to bear for some people. Annie's dead, a very interesting release that has remained interesting throughout the years.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Updated link!)

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Model 500 - Deep Space (1995)

2006-09-03T12:20:00.000+02:00

Deep Space is Juan Atkins' first full length album under the name Model 500. Earlier I mentioned Kevin Saunderson and Carl Craig - well, here's the true godfather of techno music. It is even said that Juan Atkins (who likes giving gigs in extinct volcanoes and such) is the man who actually coined the term "techno", taking as inspiration the works of futurist and author Alvin Toffler, from whom he borrowed the terms "cybotron" and "metroplex", words he used as names for electronic music ventures. More info about this extremely interesting musician can be found here (All Music Guide). Deep Space was released on the sublime but now defunct Belgian R&S label - and trust me, there's no title more apt than this. One of the finest electronic albums I have EVER heard, I'm ashamed to say I don't own it on cd; but that won't be for much longer. As it's Sunday today, unfortunately the shops are shut. But listen to this record: it's superb.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2, RapidShare)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2, MegaUpload)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2, FileFactory)

pass=eclecticelectelectric 3.14159265

Klinik - Live (1993)

2006-08-30T19:54:00.000+02:00

Klinik is a Belgian band (on the Brussels Subway-Antler label) that was originally formed in 1982 by Marc Verhaeghen, its only constant member throughout the years. The band has released an impressive number of albums, but this is the only one I can present to you. The music is dark, cold and harsh electronica that swerves between industrial and EBM, and has a unique touch to it in that Verhaeghen often plays the trombone combined with synths and samples. At times some tracks may seem a bit too similar to each other, but they're nevertheless all great examples of early (dark) electronic music. And even though this is a live recording, the production quality is definitely good. Enjoy!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2, RapidShare)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2, MedaUpload)

Oskar Fried conducts Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre (1927) and Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique (1937)

2006-08-25T22:41:00.000+02:00

Well, it's frustratingly difficult to find even the slightest amount of information regarding the classical music conductor Oskar Fried (1871-1941)... I'll have to move down to the library, which has reached near-obsoletion since the advent of the internet! Anyway, I found this disc at the local library and considered posting it after another b-logger posted Saint-Saëns' Carnival des Animaux. What you get on this release are actually two productions from two different eras.

The first is a rare recording from 1928: the Danse Macabre by Saint-Saëns. If you've never heard it, you must - and if you like it, try to get hold of a modern (clean) recording. After all, a 20's recording is more of historical (i.e. relative) value than of actual aesthetic worth. I also remember a book from my music classes at school which depicted bar by bar the movements of a number of skeletons. I can't remember its name, but it was definitely fascinating.

The second part (tracks two onward) are a 1937 recording of Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique. To be honest, I'm afraid I've only listened to it once, so I will forbear giving my remarks. Nevertheless, Berlioz is one of the great masters of classical music and this is a recording from Germany in the 1930s so let's shout Heil Hitler and wave our arms about and all that and build up our military resources... Or not, of course. :-)

Anyway, do check out part 1 of this split archive, as that is where the Danse Macabre is in its entirity; part 2 contains the rest of the Berlioz' symphony (I presume that's for the fans). All that being said, I'm going for a beer now. Or two.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2)

Trimetrick - Infestigations (2004)

2006-08-25T22:31:00.000+02:00

Exactly two years ago I was in a bar here in Antwerp, and this guy walks in carrying a bag full of promotion cds of his own music. A friend of mine who knew the chap told him I was into industrial and that's how I got my hands on one of 'em. Very heavy and dark electronic music - not for feeble hearts! It's industrial, all right, but not the kind I've posted earlier (cfr. Front 242, Skinny Puppy, etc) - nope, this gets closer to extreme repetitive music such as the stuff from the Cold Meat label (Brighter Death Now, Bocksholm). And to boot, the cd contains hi-res wav files which you can use if you like to make your own music; these are contained in the second file I'm posting here. So don't download the second file if you don't want wav sounds and I hope you like it!

Tracks

Externaliser (10:07)
Utopia Deletion (5:41)
The Rage (5:41)

Extra tracks

Infestigations (4:31)
mstr01nv (5:47)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (music)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (wav files & artwork)

Anthony Rother Presents Electro Commando 1 - Welcome to Psicity [2 cd] (2002)

2006-08-24T18:48:00.000+02:00

Even though I'm not a huge fan of this genre called electro, I have to admit that this double cd is one of my favourites when it comes to dark electronic music with a futuristic edge to it. Taking the bleepy, melodic stuff we all know from Kraftwerk and combining it with dark 90s techno music, as well funky beat structures from hip hop, Mr Rother from Frankfurt ("Frankfurt? Ja ja ja ja jaaaa...") paradrops a number of his own tracks, a bunch of remixes, and lots of other German electro music. Unfortunately, I don't have proper speakers, but right now I'm listening to it with my headphones (which are of high quality) and I have to tell you: the bass makes me wish I had a pair of boobs. Who just said that? Man? Machine? Hell, the older I'm getting and the more mind-operations I'm going through, the less I'm seeing a difference! Komputersimulieren und Robotte assistieren - Simulationszeitalter!

Stanks for informinging me abouturd the rapidshitty kaiserwording: keep meagre informaggot pliss!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (CD 1 Pt 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (CD 1 Pt 2)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (CD 2 Pt 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (CD 2 Pt 2)

Clatterbox - Eazy Does It (1996)

2006-08-24T17:58:00.000+02:00

David Kempston aka Clatterbox brings us with Eazy Does It his second release on the London-based Clear label. With influences ranging from hip hop, funk, electro and techno music, one might expect a 'collectio-cacaphonos', but in fact all fourteen tracks on this album are gorgeously minimalist. To quote from All Music Guide, "Clatterbox's sound is reliant on a sort of refined, left-field minimalism, with tracks often composed of only three or four loops judiciously arranged." A really great album, filled with bouncy basses, humorous arrangements - and no lyrics!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Primus - Tales From the Punchbowl (1995)

2006-08-11T18:47:00.000+02:00

Definitely heavier and more towards the psychedelic/progressive spectrum of rock than Pork Soda and its predecessors, but also less of the "cool" funk, Tales From the Punchbowl was not at all what I expected when I bought it back in '95. Yet I can't say this is a bad album, not at all! It's just not quite easy on the brain, which -to me- Pork Soda can be. Very heavy 4/4 structures, atonal guitars (add a dash of redneck country), drawn out psych-melodious vocals and overall weirdness, that is my personal definition of this rather strange release. And a number of tracks on this disc are without a doubt brilliant freak rock tunes! Give it a go, it's interesting to say the least.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Otyg - Älvefärd (1997)

2006-08-11T18:28:00.000+02:00

Otyg brings you quality folk metal from Sweden. They started out in 1995 as a celebration to old Scandinavian folk music. Vintersorg, the main songwriter, combined his talents with a highly accomplished bassist and violin player and created this album. As a sidenote, there's also a mouth harp featuring on this release. I must say that at my first hearing I wasn't too impressed with the music: it came over as a chaotic, mish-mashy wall of sound. But, as my friend had warned me before he lent me his disc, it needed a few listenings before I could reach full appreciation. Maybe it's due to the sound production, maybe it's due to the fullness of the music, or maybe it's just complex folk music, although I don't feel it's overly complex. I don't know really, but it sure needed more than two listenings before I could say it's actually quite a good album - they do capture the right atmosphere, which is very important in folk metal. So, if you like folk metal in the way Storm brings it (see earlier post), I bet you'll like this one, too. Superb front cover, by the way...

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Rotting Christ - Non Serviam (1994)

2006-08-11T18:11:00.000+02:00

Rotting Christ is a Greek death/black metal band that was formed in Athens in 1987. This release shows nicely why I use the slash in the previous sentence, as the guitars and drumwork are typical for death metal, using a highly distorted melodic thrash sound with ample bass, whereas the vocals use the more black related high-pitched, more expressionist sound. And then there's the discerning touch to Rotting Christ, something you can clearly hear in an album I posted earlier (Diabolos Rising): their very economic yet effective use of an ethereal synthesizer. Their music as a whole is fairly simple, I guess, but it stays interesting nevertheless, probably because they're good at keeping a steady rock rhythm combined with a great atmosphere. I really like this release, it's heavy without being too dark.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Question for Mac Users

2006-08-11T18:01:00.000+02:00

I've had some posts relating to the fact of Mac users not being able to unpack my compressed files. They claim it's due to the password not working, but after a double check I had to concluded that cannot be the case. Could it have something to do with encryption? Any clues or solutions to this issue?

William Ørbit - Pieces in a Modern Style (2000)

2006-08-08T09:23:00.000+02:00

William Orbit (aka Ørbit) is a British musician and producer who has throughout his lifetime received much critical acclaim, notably for his production work with Madonna. When Pieces, Orbit's sixth solo release, came out in 2000, I was intrigued by the idea, but also a little wary: more often than not, digitalized classical music verges dangerously close to kitsch (if you've seen A Clockwork Orange, I'm sure you know what I mean!). Nevertheless, Pieces is a meticulously crafted album, very warm and beatifully touching. You'll mostly hear deep synths, little blips and an acoustic guitar here and there, all merging very nicely. I think it would be fair to say that this is a masterpiece in the genre (most other similar attempts reaching back to the 1970s). If you're into soft, lush ambient music or possibly if you're a lover of classical music, I think you'll like this. And I'm quite interested in your opinion here!

Tracks

Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings (9:34)
John Cage - In a Landscape (2:57)
Erik Satie - Ogive Number 1 (6:44)
Pietro Mascagni - Cavalleria Rusticana (3:19)
Maurice Ravel - Pavane pour une Infant Defunté (6:11)
Antonio Vivaldi - L'Inverno (3:57)
Ludwig van Beethoven - Triple Concerto (5:32)
George Frideric Handel - Xerxes (4:42)
Henryk Górecki - Piece in the Old Style 1 (5:06)
Henryk Górecki - Piece in the Old Style 3 (5:49)
Ludwig van Beethoven - Opus 132 (6:14)

Total time: 1:00:02

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

And for the citizens of South America (where in my opinion live most beautiful girls and women in the world!), here's a RS uppie of this album:

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (RS Pt 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (RS Pt 2)

Primus - Pork Soda (1993)

2006-08-05T13:40:00.000+02:00

Now here's an album that has profoundly influenced me! Ever since this pandora's box of freak insanity came out, life became a rollercoaster of madness. Oh why did Les Claypool have to bring out an album like this? Apparently it's politically correct to claim that Sailing the Seas of Cheese is a better release, but to be honest I like Pork Soda way more, I guess it simply suits my mind. I will presume that I don't need to introduce you to Primus, but if you've never heard Pork Soda: it's extremely nutty alternative rock that skates the thin line between funk and metal. The musicians (bass, guitar and drums) are all highly gifted and when combined provide an explosive recipe for great, albeit pretty weird, 90s classic alt rock. My favourite is probably "The Hamburger Train", it just gets me laughing madly all the way through. Prepare for an audio rollercoaster!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Ned's Atomic Dustbin - God Fodder (1991)

2006-08-05T13:03:00.000+02:00

Quite a number of you will probably know Ned's Atomic Dustbin, but just in case you don't... The Ned's bring you pure power-pop as only the ninetees could deliver. God Fodder is their debut album, and the band members were only 17 or 18 years old when it came out. Apparently they got slagged off a lot at the time, I read often because of their ridiculous image (ah yes, that's it: "You look like a bum... You look like a goddamn girl.") - but luckily they didn't care the least and just made really good music with a super positive vibe to it. They're quite unique in that they use two bass player: one for the typical undercurrent, and another for extra melody. This is done really well, as the bass lines are kept very neatly apart. Great music, a 90s classic alternative rock album! Their later work is supposed to be even better, but unfortunately I can't tell you whether that's true or not.

"Ned" is a derogatory Scottish term for a townie. There is some overlap with terms used in England, such as those listed as synonyms in , all with similar meaning, although some of these have a racist connection (esp. "", since it referred to Romanys) which may not be intended in use. The terms "schemy" and "casual" were used in Scotland in the early 1990s, although the first could apply to any age, and the second normally to football thugs.

By the way, this album reminds me of another album I've been looking for lately: Eat and their debut album Sell Me A God. So, if any of you should have this album, please let me know, as it's another great 90s alt rock album.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Underworld - Second Toughest in the Infants (1996)

2006-08-04T23:06:00.000+02:00

After their '94 smashing Dubnobasswithmyheadman, Underworld released a heavier, more dance-oriented 2-cd album in 1996. Many of the tracks have a higher bpm rate and tend to move closer to the trance music of the time. However, they still use their typical mellow bass drums and the songs are intelligently written, quite unlike much of the abovementioned trance music. Some may find the lenght of many tracks a tad tedious -boring even- but fans of Underworld or dance music in general won't be disappointed with this. It's not all fast paced, though: the album is nicely balanced, all in all. I used to own this double cd, until some dude with the surname "Himmel" stole it from me. Not a very heavenly act, indeed. I'd like to thank Mr. Struktur for upping this for us. And don't forget to delete the files when you're halfway through listening to it, or else stick to North Korean ancient sayings... It didn't lay them wind-eggs, as we say in the lower countries!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Uncanny Similarities, Pt 3

2006-08-04T22:53:00.000+02:00

I had never ever heard of the guy until I almost accidentally surfed onto a really weird site called http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.com/ Please don't ask my how I got there; only the smelly Dutchman has a faint idea. The point is that I came across another uncanny similarity, this time between the fictional bird Tweety and the not-so-fictional David Gest:

So who is this guy? Well, I google-defined him and came across the following definition: "David Gest (born 1953) is an American event and concert producer who married Liza Minnelli on March 16, 2002. Sixteen months later they separated and in October 2003, he sued her for $10 million, accusing her of being abusive to him in their marriage."

Well, well, well, joke of the three wells, wasn't that interesting? Moreover, this ugly duckling was born the same year as my mom! Geez, the tricks existence can play upon a well-meaning person these days...

Dorks - The Brave New World of Work (2006)

2006-08-02T17:51:00.000+02:00

Hello, gays and gulls, sorry for the pause lately, but I'm afraid the music stuff will be getting somewhat dampened from now on, as I am officially no longer unemployed. What this means b-log-wise is that I won't be too keen on sitting in front of my pc screen after being exposed to near-X-ray flatscreens for 8 hours. Hope you all understand...

Mind! I'm not stopping this! This b-logging company has given me so much pleasure that not even a Stalinist government (cfr. Bush admin.) can stop me. I just wanted to say it's going to be somewhat less from now on. Don't forget to check the house/techno music links on the right, though: they'll continue bringing fresh high quality releases.

But on a positive note: now that I'm working, the inevitable consequence is that I will have more money at hand - and more money means more new music! (Hell, and who knows, maybe one day my boss will realise what kind of a destructive personality I am possessed by, and the danger I present to the general workforce, so that he'll have to "dismiss" me - effectively pushing me back into b-log marginality!).

And thanks for all the great remarks so far, it's been really kind and helpful throughout the tough period I've had to go through the last few months. After one loses one's job and girlfriend and candy-buddies and all that, it's not easy trying to convince oneself that one is either sane or insane or none of the above, you see. ;-)

For all you other b-loggers, take heart from an ancient North Korean saying:

It may be wlong to falsely copy what is light,

but it is celtainly light to tluly wlong what is copylight.

"swo wloneley swo wloneley..." (Kim Jung Il)

Paris - Unleashed (1998)

2006-07-22T14:35:00.000+02:00

Paris is a rapper originally from San Francisco, who with the '98 release Unleashed, his fourth studio album, was criticised for selling out, as it was his first venture into the G Funk sound (Gansta Funk, a reference to the P Funk influence, which in its turn is compound name for two bands, Parliament and Funkadelic). Paris' release history is riddled with notoriety: MTV banned his "The Devil Made me Do It", and he had great diffulties finding distributors for most (if not all) of his albums, mainly due to his explicit contents and artwork. His lyrics concentrate on social and political themes and are generally aggressive but nonetheless well written. Musically, his work is founded on fat, funky basslines, good samples and sine synths and strings, and of course your necessary share of hip hop beats. Recommended if you're open towards rap and hip hop.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

The Prodigy - Experience (1992)

2006-07-22T10:22:00.000+02:00

Experience is without the slightest doubt my favourite Prodigy album. From the first second till the last, you'll be bombarded with wonderfully complex dance beats & breakbeats, cool synths and mad hyperspeed samples. Bound to get you up and dancing, and if you're feeling down, it'll get you up! I would find it hard to imagine you've never heard this album, and if you really haven't yet - fie on you! To be played very loudly, by the way. Please discard your neighbours' opinions and ignore their pounding on the walls. You have an original human right to listen to this release in its one-hour entirety and as loud as you desire. At least, that's what my copy of Thomas Paine's The Rights of Man tells me...

By the way, I just read in a review about Liam's "Dirtchamber Sessions". Can anybody tell me what they exactly consist of? I'm in the dark here. (Well, there's nothing new about that!)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1993)

2006-07-22T10:07:00.000+02:00

One of the great dance classics of the 90s, Dubnobasswithmyheadman is Underworld's debut after their switch from a rock combo, and it can be fairly said that it was an immediate and smashing success. Rightly so, I would argue, as the album is filled with great, laid back melodic electronic music. I bet most of you will have heard this release, but for the few who may have never heard Underworld's music, this is some highly recommended stuff. A key album of the 90s that brought electronic dance closer to the apprecation of the masses. Later on Underworld moved towards harder and more abstract techno, such as their superb double cd Second Toughest In The Infants, which I once owned but some prick nicked. Anyway, enjoy!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Male or Female - Recalled Moments (2002), And Failed Destruction (2002), Invented Scenes (2003) and Naked (2003)

2006-07-21T13:26:00.000+02:00

Male or Female consists of two guys from Front 242, Daniel B. and Patrick Codenys, and Elko Blijweert from Dead Man Ray, a Belgian rock band. The music they make reflects this mix of industrial/electronic and rock, effectively culminating in pounding electro-pop and/or weird, rather subdued ambient soundscapes. I would advise you to play these rather loud, as on normal volume levels the music doesn't come through as it should. Zpider upped these albums for us, so once again thanks go out to him!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (RM)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (AFD)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (IS)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (N)

Dorks. (2006)

2006-07-21T07:26:00.000+02:00

I would appreciate it if the dork who took too much amphetamine last night forbore posting 200 fucking meaningless comments. It's stupid. If I ever meet you on the streets of Antwerp, I will kick in your balls, punch in your larynx and destroy your solar plexus. Then I will make sure I find a dead pigeon and push it down your throat. I will then drag you to "Rue de Vaseline" and allow anyone willing to pound your backside with a crowbar or their own hard chocolate bar. You are a fucking twat. Goddamn spammer. Get a fucking life, get over your Oedipus complex and start living in your own flat instead of sticking your filthy tongue in your mother's punani, ignorant peasant. What you did is neither funny, nor interesting (which truly immoral things always are- - there's absolutely nothing intriguing about sending me 200 bits of pure nonsense. I can't believe I'm spending more than a minute slagging you off, you moron. I hope your children die of blood cancer or something. Idiot.

Bryan Ferry - As Time Goes By (1999)

2006-07-20T10:03:00.000+02:00

I knew neither Bryan Ferry nor Roxy Music before an ex-colleague of mine once put on this album at the office. I was immediately enthralled with this very special release. Ferry delivers fascinating renditions of the musical standard of the 1930s and '40s - and never allows these to descend to kitsch, which I presume is more than possible with a project like this. He manages to preserve the musical essence and quality that was accomplished with the original recordings from that era, and though his vibrato voice could have been irritating, it actually serves this "style" perfectly (well, it's not really a style, nor is it a genre, but I don't know the word for it). A delightful little album containing 15 gems.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Kevin Saunderson - Live in Belgium

2006-07-20T00:58:00.000+02:00

Okay, I won't hold any bars about this one: this is pure drug music... In order to fully appreciate this bootleg (at least I think it is), it is imperative you imbue xtc with a few friends, turn the volume right up to maximum, and ask yourself, "Can you dance to my beat?" This is the most drug-induced live release I've ever come across - and believe me, I've heard a lot of stuff ranging between a lot of musical genres (house, rock, classical, whatever) . Heavy beats, trippy samples, hardcore house. I will rest my case here. Too bad I don't take drugs anymore, coz this is some serious shit. Really, take an E when turning this stuff up. It's sublime. I'm listening to it right now and man, I don't even NEED drugs to feel the high!! Goddamnit this is soooo cool!!! Super trip heavy......... Really, turn this up!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Carl Craig - More Songs About Food & Revolutionary Art (1997)

2006-07-19T07:48:00.000+02:00

Carl Craig is another important second-generation Detroit techno producer (see Kenny Larkin, below). I've just noticed that he hasn't released a lot of studio albums, and the few he has have not been received as warmly as could be expected. To be honest, I have certain misgivings about this album, too. It contains a number of really great tracks (e.g. "Televised Green Smoke", "Dreamland", "Butterfly", "Dominos" and "As Time Goes By") but others are too depressing (e.g. "Goodbye World", "Red Lights"), mediocre (e.g. "Frustration") or even downright irritating ("Attitude"). What this effectively means is that I tend to select certain tracks or skip over the ones I don't like. But I'm the kind of person who either listens to a whole album or leaves it on the shelf. So, unfortunately, I don't tend to put this album on too often. Pity about the good tracks, really.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

FSOL - Commercially Unavailable Music (1990-2005)

2006-07-19T07:28:00.000+02:00

In the comments section of my post on FSOL's Dead Cities, Chardman provided us with a link to commercially unavailable music by FSOL. So finally I get to listen to that VPRO radio ISDN broadcast! I'm listening to it right now, and I would recommend it to all you FSOL fans. You can hear the ISDN album in it, but it's also different, so it is of great interest if you want to compare the album with the "live" version. Apart from this VPRO broadcast, you get tons of other material: radio mixes (e.g. "Essential" mix), Peel sessions, even videos (e.g. interviews), and much more... Thanks, Chardman!

fsol.disenchanted.com

Cant or Cunt? (I can I can't...)

2006-07-19T00:19:00.000+02:00

As to Don Juan, confess - confess, you dog (and be candid), that it is the sublime of that there sort of writing. It may be bawdy, but is it not good English? It may be profligate, but is it not life, is it not the thing? Could any man have written it who has not lived in the world? - and tooled in the post-chaise? In a hackney coach? In a gondola? Against a wall? In a court carriage? In a vis-à-vis? On a table - and under it? I have written about a hundred stanzas of a third Canto, but it is damned modest - the outcry has frightened me. I had such projects for the Don, but the cant is so much stronger than cunt nowadays, that the benefit of experience in a man who had well weighed the worth of both monosyllables must be lost to despairing posterity.

From Letter from Lord Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, 26 October 1819

Diabolos Rising - 666 (1994)

2006-07-18T13:50:00.000+02:00

Diabolos Rising is an industrial metal project set up in 1994 (I think) by Mika Luttinen from Finland (Impaled Nazarene) and Magus Wampyr Daoloth aka George Zaharopoulos from Greece (Necromantia, Thou Art Lord, ex-Rotting Christ). Both also formed another industrial project called Raism.

I rediscovered this release at my old neighbour p'Thoelen's place and it brought back some pleasant memories, as I used to have this on tape. It's somewhat similar to Impaled Nazarene, but more mechanical, closer to industrial than to heavy metal. At points the music reaches out to progressive structures; an interesting choice for both industrial and metal lovers. But be ready for some ultra-fast and aggressive stuff here!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Covenant - Nexus Polaris (1998)

2006-07-18T11:18:00.000+02:00

I'd been looking for this sublime work of metal art for years, until finally last weekend I dropped by my old neighbour (p'Thoelen!) at my parents' house to discover that he owned it. Oh the chirps and jollies that came out of my throat! I immediately had to run off home and change my underwear, as I had soiled it... Well, all good things in life have their price, I guess. Anyway, this is great music: cosmic, trippy melodic (black) metal. Don't be dismayed by the term "melodic" - I know what you're thinking. Nowadays when I see the term MDM (melodic death metal), I cringe in disgust: most of that stuff is crap, kitschy fagot metal (KFM). Not this album, however. I love it and I can listen to this over and over and over. The whole album is filled with superb tunes, you can clearly hear influences from classical baroque and the romantic era, probably due to the synth player. Simply one of the best metal albums EVER. Highly recommended for metal fans!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Faith No More - Angel Dust (1992)

2006-07-18T10:45:00.000+02:00

I wasn't too sure whether or not to post this album, but after listening to it again I made up my mind. It's just such an interesting release. It's quite hard to define the music: alternative metal with a lot of funk in it, sometimes even touching cheesy pop or kitsch. As a critic at allmusic.com tells us, Angel Dust is "one of the more complex and simply confounding records ever released by a major label." And he's quite right, it really is a confounding record. I imagine that most of you will have heard this album, but for those who haven't yet: listen to it and listen to it again and you will almost certainly come to appreciate this. And what a sublime cover, by the way. Possibly among the finest delivered in the 90s...

Concerning their other albums, I've heard The Real Thing, which is still alternative metal with a lot of funk in it, but it doesn't strike the "interesting" chord as Angel Dust does. I haven't listened to their later stuff; maybe I'll have a look in the local library. Enjoy!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Final Dream - The Future Is Dark (2000)

2006-07-18T10:26:00.000+02:00

Here's another one for the smelly Dutchman. Epic new-wave acid house, heavy and dark - and it appears that Final Dream means it: both the name and the title are expressed by the mood of the music. If you don't like acid house and its corollaries (808s and the like), stay away from this. If you do like all that, you should give this a try, as I'm beginning to enjoy this album better on each hearing. But as I just said, it's pretty dark and heavy-going.

For the interested few, Final Dream is the working name of Frenchman Phil Klein, who also calls himself Bass Junkie.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Anthony Rother - Popkiller (2004)

2006-07-18T10:11:00.000+02:00

This must be one of the shittiest covers I've seen in months, but the music counters it, thank diddly. If you've never heard any work by Rother, you should give it a try. He weaves together repetetive house beats, harmonic synths and vocoder-transformed vocals to create a kind of funky electro, usually with a darkish mood. Well written songs that do not bore me after three hearings - something which electro sometimes tends to do (personal taste).

I'm posting this for that smelly dude from Holland who was stupid enough to leave his external music HD on the train. Didn't your mommy ever warn you about alcohol abuse? :-P

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Front 242 - Official Version (1986-1987) and Front by Front (1988-1989)

2006-07-18T09:54:00.000+02:00

I found these two cds in the local library and they're crammed with great 80s industrial tunes by Front 242. I'm posting both of them under one heading, as they serve beautifully as a neo-classical diptych tripdish.

I presume that most of these tracks will be unknown to many of you. At least I didn't recognise too many (which basically means: none - I'm training to go into politics in order to abolish copyright - might go and live in China instead, saves me the bother). And you get a lot of tracks on these discs: Official Version contains 13, Front by Front 16. The music reminds me somewhat of what Skinny Puppy (see earlier post, March if I'm not mistaken) were doing at the time and during the early 90s. So if you like 80s melodic industrial music, you'll probably love this. It's a lot better than I originally expected and I personally don't think it feels dated at all!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (1986-1987)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (1988-1989)

Uncanny similarities (again)

2006-07-17T22:01:00.000+02:00

Kim Jong Il in a well-known feature film.

Kim Jong Il featuring on last week's Economist front cover.

Kim Jong Il featuring in this week's Economist cartoon.

I just wanted to share these with you all.
Too bad there's no North Koreans to laugh along with us...

Front 242 - Pulse (2003)

2006-07-17T20:07:00.000+02:00

Wow, what an album! Industrio-psycho-punk-house, I don't know where to start and where to end. Check it out and BUY the fucker. The first five tracks, each respectively titled with one of the letters of "PULSE" are simply mind-blowing: a weird but brilliant combination of heavy industrial beats, trippy acid house synth thingies and that typical Front 242 dark mood ensure that from the start onward you're sucked straight into the album; the rest follows nicely and becomes a bit of an eclectic mix of electronica. Very, very different from any of their previous releases, Pulse (Front 242's latest album) proves that the guys at the forefront (oooh witty!) of the sound wars are not dead yet, no matter how old they are! Really, you have to hear this. And, once again, I take off my hat to good old zpider for upping this for us. (PS Use 'em if you got 'em - headphones, I mean...)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)
IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2)

Timothy Leary - How to Operate Your Brain (1992)

2006-07-17T19:48:00.000+02:00

Nothing too special really, but interesting to see once or twice - if you can bear it till the end. This video presents flashing images with old school acid house and spoken words by Mr Leary himself. I posted this video for Chardman, on whose b-log here he posted a few videos about the history of LSD. I wouldn't touch it for a million dollars. I wouldn't not touch it for a million dollars. Luckily, money has nothing to do with it. Anyway, the link below provides access to the avi file. You can also watch it through streaming here.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Storm - Nordavind (1995)

2006-07-17T19:35:00.000+02:00

Nordavind is in my eyes the best folk metal album produced thus far. Fenriz (Darkthrone) and Wongraven (Satyricon, Wongraven) got together to combine Norwegian/Nordic classic folk and modern black metal; when the songs were finished, Wongraven "discovered" their female vocalist, Kari Rucslätten: a rather pretty girl with a voice that's perfectly suited for this music. Now, even though we have to use the epithet "black metal" for this release, it's more folk than "black". To be honest, this is a pretty laid back and emotional metal album. No fast drumming, no screaming or grunts - nope, you get some proper harmonious singing and just steady rock drums. Really great stuff & highly recommended. You won't be disappointed, unless of course you hate folk melodies.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

FSOL - Dead Cities (1996)

2006-07-14T09:41:00.000+02:00

Their last release under the name The Future Sound of London, and also their last "true" electronic one, Dead Cities is a demanding piece of work. It starts out with the aggressive "Herd Killing", and continues through dark urban soundscapes, haunted abattoirs, eerie alienations and an unsettling void, before settling down with another aggressive (punk) track containing the only explicit reference to the album title. As I said, it's a demanding album, but it's also very rewarding. It poignantly shows that machine music can be emotional - and touch upon a wide range of feelings. You may be a little overwhelmed at a first listening, but Dead Cities is definitely worth the purchase. I bought it yesterday for the second time, as the disc has a horrible crack in it (not a scratch, but a crack). My friend's copy simply snapped in two. I think we should sue the manufacturers. And while we're at it, sue the trolls for making immoral amounts of money off the backs of hard-working and deeply suffering artists. Sorry, can't help romanticising them...

By the way, the guys from FSOL have not stopped working; they've merely changed their gist. Nowadays using the name Amorphous Androgynous (which is actually their original name, first used in the early 90s), they tend to make a kind of music that's very much aligned to 1960s psychedelia, of course with added electronica. I'm going to check out their stuff out next month; lovers of that kind of music would probably like it, too. Their latest release is the 2005 Alice in Ultraland. Well, I'm off for the weekend to visit "les parents", enjoy yours (I mean the weekend, not the parents) and keep away from dark 'n' dingy bridges. ;-)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Artwork)

Pass is at the top right of the page in the panzy-pink box:
eclecticelectelectric 3.14159265

(Well, it's not really pink...)

Bad Joke of the Well (399 B.C.)

2006-07-13T23:33:00.000+02:00

Well, well, well... So the trolls seem to be crawling from under the bridge, eh? Hmm, gets me thinking - just like a lot of other b-loggers - that I need to do some trimming. A bit like the Andyman on Muscle Beach... So I guess I'll have to go through the tedium of encrypting these rar files and putting a password on them. Sepulchre, sepulchre in the ground, who is the most morbid of them all? Still, I was thinking the other day, I don't believe I am doing anything "wrong" as long as I'm not making money out of it. Hell, this blogging shit even got me BUYING cds again! That's something I hadn't done since I graduated four years ago. Damnclit, I re-bought FSOL's Dead Cities just today. So the big ugly troll needs some toll coins to let me pass over the bridge? A goat is what I'll be on the lookout for - that's something I learned as a little boy playing King's Quest II... (Bah, trolls...)

Tee-hee! I've decided what the password will be in the future, you can find it at the top of the page:

eclecticelectelectric 3.14159265

Now if that isn't clear... :-)

FSOL - ISDN (1995)

2006-07-13T21:27:00.000+02:00

September 9th, 1994. Surely someone had died that day, but I couldn't care the least as that Friday night I was eagerly waiting for The Future Sound of London to come through to the Dutch VPRO radio via ISDN - something highly exceptional those days. The duo from London hardly ever turned up on stage, but they were all the more willing to show up in your own bedroom as invisible but definitely audible realities. Or as they wistfully hoped themselves, "to turn it into a death of rock 'n' roll statement." For over an hour, FSOL spewed unbelievable soundscapes over the ISDN cables, through the VPRO airwaves and then through my cheap stereo cables out of my speakers, through a few metres of air into my ears and brain. It wasn't the most pleasurable of evening hours for my dad, but the "gig" surely made my day.

If you're acquainted with FSOL's Lifeforms, be ready for something different. If, on the other hand, you know their Dead Cities, you can expect something more subdued, less aggressive. For the fudge-packing pigeonholers: ISDN consists of jazzy trip hop with ambient sugar glazing and a psychedelic cherry on top. Well, perhaps "mushroom" is more apt? Personally, I think this release is the most accessible of the three; though I guess not everybody would agree.

Most of the tracks on this album are taken from live sets via ISDN to Holland, the U.K. and the U.S. As can be expected from FSOL, all the tracks flow smoothly into each other, effectively turning the album into one big journey through whatever your mind is willing to provide. One of my all-time favourites and highly recommended! And as for headphones, use 'em if you got 'em - seriously, it raises the experience to a whole new level...

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Death of the Soul

2006-07-13T12:15:00.000+02:00

Oh, back in the old days... I just found these pics on my pc - it's me with my sister and two friends! Boy did we have "fun" that night, prowling around the streets with torches, swords and corpse-paint...

"They who, deluded by no generous error, instigated by no sacred thirst of doubtful knowledge, duped by no illustrious superstition, loving nothing on this earth, and cherishing no hopes beyond, yet keep aloof from sympathies with their kind, rejoicing neither in human joy nor mourning with human grief; these, and such as they, have their approportioned curse. They languish, because none feel with them their common nature. They are morally dead. They are neither friends, nor lovers, nor fathers, nor citizens of the world, nor benefactors of their country. Among those who attempt to exist without human sympathy, the pure and tender-hearted perish through the intensity and passion of their search after its communities, when the vacancy of their spirit suddenly makes itself felt. All else, selfish, blind, and torpid, are those unforeseeing multitudes who constitute, together with their own, the lasting misery and loneliness of the world. Those who love not their fellow-beings, live unfruitful lives, and prepare for their old age a miserable grave."

From P.B. Shelley's preface to "Alastor: Or, the Spirit of Solitude"

Andy Gainsbourg and Muscle Beach

2006-07-12T22:36:00.000+02:00

“Ugliness is in a way superior to beauty because it lasts.”

"My body is like breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I don't think about it, I just have it."

Uncanny similarities between the Andyman and the Pandyman

2006-07-12T22:24:00.000+02:00

"A Belgian court convicted Andras Pandy, a now-retired protestant preacher, of killing six family members and dissolving their bodies in chemical drain cleaner. He was sentenced to life in prison. His daughter, 44-year-old Agnes Pandy, received a 21-year sentence for being an accomplice in five murders and one attempted murder. Pandy, who is Hungarian but moved to Belgium to escape Communism, was found guilty of murdering two wives and four children, one of which, a daughter, he also was convicted of raping. Not the cornerstone in family values, he was convicted of raping two other daughters, the oldest of which, helped him with the killings."

Front 242 - Geography (1982/2004)

2006-07-12T20:21:00.000+02:00

With this album we are -or rather Front 242 is- writing history. Originally released in 1982, it surprises me how fresh the music still sounds today. The "2004" tag in the title refers to the re-release of Geography as a 2-cd edition, the second disc providing extra tracks and recordings of live performances (both of which are actually good, which is not always the case with such "bonuses").

Back then synths and drum machines often had a particular metallic sound: I guess nowadays you either like it or you don't. Personally I'm very fond of it, so this album is a treat. Great bass lines, real fun synth pad stuff and dark-sounding vocals: that's early Front for ya (someone tells me the lyrics are dark, too, but I haven't been able to check that yet). Okay, this might be yer olde style electro-punk industrial, but you need not fear that it is dated, as it simply isn't. Astonishing! Before today I had never heard the debut of Front 242, and I must say I'm positively surprised. A real gem, this... I am a born-again industrian!

Oh darn-diddly, I almost forgot to mention that this is another uppie from zpider. So we should all nicely say in unison, "Thank you, mr & mrs zpider." :-D

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Disc 1)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Disc 2)

Arsenal - Outsides (2005)

2006-07-12T11:44:00.000+02:00

Arsenal is a Belgian band formed in 1999 by Hendrik Willemyns and John Roan, the latter originating from Brazil - something which is quite audible in their music. Their first EP Release received high critical acclaim and some track remixes even became dance club hits across the world. In 2004 they released their first full length album Oyebo Soul, which unfortunately I do not know.

On Outsides Arsenal's music is interesting to say the least: it provides a mixture of indie rock, dance, hip hop and Brazilian bossa and samba. Now that's something you don't come across every day. Their lyrics are in English, Portuguese, French and even Chinese (yes, that's strange). As their album title suggests, many of their songs are about being "outside", especially the cultural contrast between Europe and South America; others touch upon dreams, love, etc . Highly listenable, filled with warm, pleasing, well-written songs, this is an album I would recommend to anyone. You won't be disappointed, so give it a go. I've also heard that their live acts are good, so if they ever come near you...

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Front 242 - Angels Versus Animals (1993) and Mut@ge Mix@ge (1997)

2006-07-11T12:44:00.000+02:00

Firstly, I would like to thank zpider -on behalf of Your Royal Highness the Queen- for his continued dedicated efforts towards the Commonwealth of Free and Liberal Audiophile States. That being said, here are two more releases for the Front 242 fans. Stay low, lock the door...

Angels Versus Animals was released in 1993, the same year as 05:22:09:12 Off and 06:21:03:11 Up Evil. The album contains mostly remixes of the former album, except for track nine, which is a 17-minute excursion into ultra-minimalist sound (I don't think you can get more minimal than that). I don't know whether I like that track or not, but it's definitely interesting. If you tell a girl, "I don't know wheter I like you or not, but you're definitely interesting," would she be flattered or insulted? Please call 0800-555-6459. Synthed guitars with a lot of distortion, heavy industrial beats and aggressive lyrics is what this album is all about. What I really like about this release is the high quality of production - which means it's super-suitable for headphone paranirvana... Front 242 at the forefront of civil sound wars!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Mut@ge Mix@ge is a very different piece of music. On this release well known artists such as The Orb, Underworld, The Prodigy (3, 2 and 2 tracks, respectively) and others provide remixes of Front 242 tracks - mostly from the "Evil" cds that were posted a little while ago. It also contains "Junkdrome" wich is perhaps one of my favourite "floating trip" electronic bits of all time... This album has a warmer mood than the '93 one, with the typical exception of The Prodigy - suprise, surprise. I love what The Orb and Underworld managed to do here, it's definitely worth a listen. Even if you're not a Front 242 fan (see picture above), chances are you might like this album.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Updated link!)

pass=paxdiero.blogspot.com

Kenny Larkin - Metaphor (1995)

2006-07-11T11:54:00.000+02:00

Together with such notables as Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Derrick May and Richie Hawtin, though less widely known, Kenny Larkin is is one of the chief innovators of Detroit's so called 'second wave' of techno producers. Hawtin was a good friend of Larkin's, whereas Craig has done a fair amount of work together with him. Larkin's debut Azimuth, on Warp Records in U.K., was an instant success. I've never heard it, so I can't say anything about it myself. Then in November 1994 in Detroit he was shot in the abdomen by two unknown assailants - a shocking experience that nonetheless did not stop him from releasing Metaphor (R&S Records in Belgium, now defunct) a short while later, and beginning a massive touring project only two weeks after his release from hospital.

Metaphor is filled with beautiful, soulful synthpad sounds, funky basslines and great drum programming. I gave this album to a friend for his birthday years ago, and I still hit myself on the forehead for not having kept it myself. :-D Even after ten years, the music is lovely to listen to, so warm and luscious. An ultimate feel-good techno release, it counters much of the mechanical, emotionally "hard" techno that was -and still is- being created across the globe. Metaphor was nominated for best electronic album of the year in Keyboard Magazine. In his hometown, Metro Times voted Larkin ‘Best Techno Artist of The Year’ at its yearly music awards. Without a doubt one of the finest techno/house releases of 1995.

Kenny Larkin has also released albums on his own Art of Dance label under the “Dark Comedy” moniker. Moreover, he is supposed to release another great techno album somewhere this summer (2006), called Keys, Strings, Tambourines. If I can spare myself a few euros next months, I think I'll be on the lookout, prowling the night streets for that hmmm warm bass beat...

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Atheist - Unquestionable Presence (1991)

2006-07-09T12:38:00.000+02:00

Death comes in many forms and many disguises. Coincidentally, so does death metal. On one end of the spectrum there's the thrashy style, as exemplified by Cannibal Corpse. Then, as we move towards the other side, we encounter such genre-defining bands as Deicide or Death. And finally, blissfully so, we arrive at the ultra-technical progressive side of the spectrum, and lo! we bow before Atheist. I found this release on the net a few months ago, and it's really grown on me. As I couldn't retrieve the source, I felt I should repost it myself.

This is not what most would expect from a band that's tagged with the death metal label. Sure, it's heavily guitar-distorted and overally fast, but the songwriting here is simply brilliant: incredible technical prowess combined with loads of highly surprising changes and swerves within each song. Anyone interested in progressive (rock) music must give this one a listen. Just try to look beyond the heaviness and speed... The only thing quite a lot of people really dislike about this band are the vocals. They're also much unlike most death vocals, ie the demonic grawls and grunts that put off the "decent" folk in our beloved society. No, these vocals have a murderous psychotic quality to them: something I can relate to! Erm, seriously though, I believe the vocals perfectly match the erraticism of the music as a whole, and we should all realize that true art is founded upon the maxim that all the parts should relate to the whole as the whole to the parts. But I'm not dogmatically minded, anyway. Give it a go and let it grow on you for a while before you judge this.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Infectious Grooves - Sarsippius' Ark (1993)

2006-07-09T12:27:00.000+02:00

Hilarious funk-metal is what you get from Infectious Grooves. The band consists of Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir and guitarist Dean Pleasants, and The Vandals drummer Josh Freese, as well as Metallica's current bassist Robert Trujillo. Truly an enjoyable album, this is a must for anybody into either funk or metal. Or the crossover, of course. The album contains two cover tracks: "Fame" by David Bowie and "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Tosca - Suzuki in Dub (2000)

2006-07-09T12:05:00.000+02:00

Tosca are Austria-based Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber, the former better known as one half of Kruder and, well, you know who. I never got into Kruder and the other one, their music didn't capture my being as I expect music to do. (Admittedly, K&D is technically good music, so I must say it's purely a matter of taste.) Not so, I would say, in the case of Tosca.

The rhythm section strikes a fine balance between house, hip hop (or trip hop, if you're a fudge-packing pigeon holer) and funky jazz. To that are added chilled out or bouncy bass lines and bits of samples and synth. Even though the musical lineup is similar to The Orb's, the effect is very different: not psychedelic, just really laid back tunes, perfect for a sunday afternoon barbeque, or an evening in with a glass of wine. Or a bottle of whiskey, for that matter. But always in moderation, lads n lassies!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Front 242 - 06:21:03:11 Up Evil (1993)

2006-07-09T11:54:00.000+02:00

The companion piece to Front 242's 05:22:09:12 Off, both released in 1993. If you like Evil Off, you'll like Fuck Up Evil: similar use of synth-scapes, drum work is somewhat different, but still heavy dance-directed industrial. I even seem to recognise some samples that are used on both. I'm currently in the process of undergoing the album, but I'm a little afraid there are no more female vocals on this. Pity, that. I also wonder... Is that a devil's face on the front cover of this album, whereas there's an angel on the other one?

A million thanks to zpider, who uploaded the music for us!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Air Liquide - Air Liquide (1993)

2006-07-08T14:07:00.000+02:00

MP3 Peak Normalization

2006-07-07T15:32:00.000+02:00

I reckon that some of you may find the following information quite useful. In the past, if I created a compilation of mp3s or albums and put them into my mp3-player, I'd often get really pissed off when the music volume suddenly soared or sunk. It's just super irritating. Well, it's a fixable problem and the solution is called mp3Gain. It "analyzes and adjusts mp3 files so that they have the same volume" - easy to use, totally free and you can get it right here.

Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies (1994)

2006-07-07T12:11:00.000+02:00

I found this little gem of an album floating around the net, so I thought I'd do a post on it, as I couldn't find it on another blog. So, about the music: if you know any of Alice in Chains' other albums, you will know they make pretty heavy guitar rock that is technically of high quality and of course Layne Staley's lyrics and vocals are unforgettable. But their 1994 EP Jar of Flies is something quite different. Mainly accoustic, slower of pace and rather bluesy, but still keeping the surreal mood they're so good at invoking, this album is one I would recommend to anyone, except if you're a die-hard acid raver. Really superb, chilled out music, do check it out.

The file is split into two as the bitrate is at 320. Shouldn't stop you from trying it out, though.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)
IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2)

pw: geop

I also hope that the person who upped these files doesn't mind me doing a wee article on them. Praise be to the unknown soldier...

Life of the Recluse

2006-07-07T02:46:00.000+02:00

Look here chaps, I'll be quite honest with you all. Ever since I stopped playing games [:-p] with my friends (I won't place that word in quotation marks out of respect of the past), I've been working every so often on this music b-log - which is more or less since March. I hardly see anyone these days except random people in the pub or on the street; usually interesting people, though. But I would like this activity to remain interesting, too. So, you see, I'd really like every now and then some of you (not all, I can't ask that) to notify me and other visitors across the globe (coz that is what all this is really about) what your opinion is on all this music. If you like it, please tell us, if you don't, idem. Ot if you've got andything else to mention, don't bar any holds or hold andy bars. Well, do hold out Andy's chocolat bar. Out of respect for the worms in our society, ok? Cheers and have a few more beers. Everything that rhymes is holy. Thanks, wanks... :-)

Btw, I'm not the kind of person to threaten with quitting this b-log (morning wood - can you control it?) as some other morning wooders do (Chris, piss), but I might get into a fit at some point and get fedEx up or cumthing. Just so you swallow... (Joke of the three wells...) I see it as a miniature suckciety: if you can't beshave propanely online, how can you be honey with yusuf undur's behaviour when in real madrid? The tittynet serves perfectly as a prelimination of modern date suckcietit. There now, so be nice...

I hope musk of youth can decypher my bush-it. Stanch you.

Tinky Winky? Andy Wanky!

2006-07-06T20:08:00.000+02:00

Front 242 - 05:22:09:12 Off (1993)

2006-07-06T19:54:00.000+02:00

Formed in Belgium in 1981, Front 242 were a huge influence on electronic music and industrial in particular during the 80s and 90s. 05:22:09:12 Off is by far my favourite: it's way ahead of its time, it never ever bored me even for a bit, it's got female vocals on a lot of tracks, and it's a brilliant concept album to boot. You may find it interesting to know that the numbers stand for letters, thus spelling "EVIL". This is simply great industrial dance music!

By the way, if any of you should possess or be possessed by 06:21:03:11 Up Evil, I'd love to give it a listen... ;-) And as they're still touring, go check em out live if you can (I haven't yet - doh).

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Unit Moebius - Bunker & Life Mood 1-8 (1996) and Status (1996)

2006-07-05T12:47:00.000+02:00

From The Hague, The Netherlands, please welcome the conglomerate Unit Moebius. They'll provide you with some brilliant minimalistic pounding fast-paced acid house. Bunker & Life Mood 1-8 is a live album, but you can't hear that this is the case. The first two tracks are "Bunker" tracks remixed by Starfish Pool, who of course is not unrelated to Starfish Enterprises, the experimental rock band I posted an album of a couple of months ago. Unit Moebius managed to build up a very strong reputation due to their appearances in their home-based squatters scene and with their do-it-yourself releases on obscure labels like Acid Planet, Referenc and their own label Bunker. They have also released successful albums on Germany's Disko B and Belgium's Kk Records. This release creates an image of what a Unit Moebius gig is like: non stop up-tempo grooves with constantly changing moods - from good old acid style to real experimental, minimal stuff.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Then there's Status, Unit Moebius' Kk Records debut release which is significantly slower of pace, uses more harmonic and melodic devices, and even -at times- has a distinctively Detroit sound to it. If you're new to Unit Moebius, I guess Status is where best to begin, as the tracks have a wider range and therefore is probably more accessible. A few of the tracks also occur on their Life Mood album. Both are nowadays as good as impossible to get, so if you're somewhat open-minded towards house music, definitely give it a go!
N.B. Apparently they split up, too... Such a pity...

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Troubadours and trouvères

2006-07-04T11:11:00.000+02:00

Dante and the Troubadours

I will re-up these albums on January 7th noon, Brussels time zone

If I fail to do so, please bollock the hell out of me!

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), the author of the Divina Commedia, closely studied and imitated the troubadours (from Occitan "trobar" = to find). He also wrote a treatise on achieving poetic perfection in the vernacular, De Vulgari Eloquentia, wherein he expounds upon the qualities and characteristics of individual poets who lived several generations before his own time. The pieces provided on this release are all based upon the selections Dante made in his treatise.

Aimeric de Peguilhan (c.1175-1230): En amor trob alques enque'm refraing (voice, harp, fiddles). As a late and expatriate troubadour he helped keep the tradition alive by transplanting it to the new and fertile environment of Italy. This song abounds in poetical devices (e.g. rhyme on "Amor") and word-play, yet its high style and somewhat formal interlude points to a performance mode of a festive courtly entertainment.
Arnaut Daniel (c.1180-1200): Lo ferm voler qu'el cor m'intra (voice). Dante's favourite poet of love, who was moreover placed in Purgatory for his lustfulness and sensuality. This song is an example of the sestet, a form that uses the same set of six words to end each of the six lines of each of the six strophes of the song.
Bertran de Born (c.1140-1215): Rassa, tan creis e monta e pola (voice, fiddles, symphonia). Whereas track 2 deals with love, this one deals with war. Dante placed this poet in the Inferno for his warlike ways. The theme of strife is further pointed out by the two fiddlers combined with the robust voice of the warrior-singer.
Peire d'Alvernhe (c.1150-1215): Dejosta'ls breus jorns e'lsloncs sers (voice). It is argued that this is the only melody attributed to Peire d'Alvernhe which has come down to us. It fluctuates between the dark and inward-looking and the light and hopeful. It should be noted that the whole is performed by a single unaccompanied voice.
Guiraut de Bornelh (c.1138-1215): Non posc sofrir c'a la dolor (voice, fiddle). Guiraut was held to be the master of the troubadours by his contemporaries. This song recounts a dream, an alternate reality therefore, in which hopes and disappointments are more vivid than in daily life.
Arnaut Daniel (fl. 1180-1200): Chanson do'ill mot son plan e prim (voice, fiddles, harp). Sent to Purgatory by Dante for lustfulness, and lauded by Ezra Pound for being the greatest poet who ever lived. This song shows how the troubadour worked to control the sentimentality potentially created by refined or courtly love.
Folquet de Marseilla (c.1155-1231): Tant m'abellis l'amorospessamens (voice, harp). Allowed entry into Paradise for all eternity by Dante, Folquet changed to the strictly spiritual life, away from courtly pursuits, later in his life. The singer accompanies himself on a small romanesque harp.
Improvisation on melodies of Folquet de Marseilla (fiddle, harp). This performance is brought into structural form according to the principles set out by Arnaut Daniel (see #6), and translated into the particular idiom of the medieval fiddle.

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

French Troubadour Songs

The northern French trouvères flourished somewhat later than the Provençal troubadours; initially they adopted thematic material from their southern confrères. The theme adopted most of all, having initially come from Arab poetry, was courtly love - a more accurate term, however, is fin'amor, perfect or refined love. The art of love is raised to an ethical standard, a code of conduct.

This release is framed by two anonymous songs both light-hearted in tone. The first of these is an example of the reverdie, a genre native to northern France. The reverdie celebrates the arrival of springtime and the renewal of love. The second (track nine) is a pastourelle: a genre, though of troubadour origin, which was particularly favoured by the trouvères. It represents the seduction of a lady, usually a sheperdess, by a knight who does not hesitate to use force where persuasion fails. This genre is intended to entertain, but is often used as a vehicle for satire of the knightly class or even courly love itself.

Placed against these songs are the grands chants of Gace Brulé (tracks 2 & 8). The grand chant originated with the troubadours; it celebrates fin'amor in all its infinite variety. Gace Brulé was one of its foremost practitioners. Both songs bring into play the pain of inaccessible love and constancy of desire.

The next layer includes two songs by Moniot d'Arras and Colin Muset (tracks 3 & 7). Both exhibit the indeterminacy of genre characteristic of some trouvère songs, no longer courtly and reaching out for new forms of expression. Track 3 mixes themes from the pastourelle and the chanson de rencontre. In the latter a meeting occurs, but there is no thought of seduction. Track 7 bears resemblance to a reverdie in its springtime setting, to a fratrasie, a kind of nonsense song, and to a pastourelle.

At the center of the program (tracks 4, 5 & 6) are three songs by Thibaut de Champagne, one of the greatest trouvères. He was a direct descendant of the first known troubadour, William IX. Thibaut also took part in the Crusades. Track 4 has as its guiding image the unicorn, metaphor for the poet fatally attracted by a lady whose cruelty causes his death. Track 6 is a grand chant courtois, differing from the grand chant by the use of refrains. More often than not, this genre uses intertexuality by "borrowing" refrains from other songs, thus granting the singer greater flexibility and virtuosity. At the center of the program (track 5) is the only piece performed without instruments. It is a serventois, a political song, over which presides the image of the pelican, setting the theme of evil and salvation. It is a powerful critique of the Church, possibly an attack on Pope Gregory IX at the time of the prolongation of the sixth crusade (1236-39). The term "papelart" refers to religious hypocrites who lead into a hell from which only the Virgin can save mankind.

Volez Vous Que Je Vous Chant (Would You Have Me Sing for You), Anonymous
Les Oxelés de Mon Païx (The Birds from My Native Land), Gace Brulé (circa 1160 - circa 1212)
Ce Fu en Mai (Once in the Month of May), Moniot d'Arras (fl.1213 - fl.1239)
Ausi Conme Unicorne Sui (Like the Unicorn I Am Lost in Wonder), Thibaut King of Navarre (1201 - 1253)
Deus Est Ensi Conme Li Pellicanz (The Lord Is Like a Pelican), Thibaut King of Navarre (1201 - 1253)
Chançon Ferai, Que Talenz M'En Est Pris (I Will Fashion a Song), Thibaut King of Navarre (1201 - 1253)
En Mai, Quant Li Rossignolez (In May, When Nightingales Sing Clear), Colin Muset (circa 1200 - 1250)
A La Douçor de la Bele Seson (In the Fragrance of the New Season), Gace Brulé (circa 1160 - circa 1212)
Quant Voi la Flor Nouvele (When I See Fresh Blooms Appear), Anonymous

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

The Amps - Pacer (1995)

2006-07-04T09:50:00.000+02:00

With Pacer Kim Deal (Pixies, Breeders) has created a quaint little album that is still somewhat underappreciated by the hoi polloi. None of the tracks are bad and some are positively good, if not great fuzzed out indierock pop songs. More gritty than releases by either the Pixies or the Breeders, Pacer may appeal to a wide range of listeners. Whenever I put it on, I can't help thinking the musicians must have been very drunk, very stoned or both while recording. As one reviewer sweetly wrote, "Kim Deal is the most charming drunk of 90's alt-rock. And she sounds charmingly drunk through this odd album of hooky and colorful mini-songs. " Really good for the summer months!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Peter Pan Speedrock - Lucky Bastards (2003) and Speedrock Chartbusters Vol. 1 (2002)

2006-07-03T19:08:00.000+02:00

Peter Pan Speedrock consists of three crazy guys from Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Their music is fast 'n' heavy rock that really sets you going. I haven't put these albums on in a while now, but they're still pretty cool. The Chartbusters compilation is interesting on its own, as the speedrock collective provides cover songs by, e.g. Led Zeppelin, The Cult and The Butthole Surfers. And if you ever get the chance to see them live, grab it because they're absolutely great live!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Speedrock Chartbusters Tracklist

Goofy's Concern (The Butthole Surfers)
Can't Stop Me (The Loved Ones)
Sailer Man (Turbonegro)
Bad Fun (The Cult)
Live Fast Die Young (Elvis Hitler)
Attitude (The Misfits)
Beer For Breakfast (Blood on the Saddle)
The creeps (Social Distortion)
Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Orbital - In Sides (1996) and In the Middle of Nowhere (1999)

2006-06-30T13:05:00.000+02:00

Two superb albums by Orbital. I'll probably write more of a review later, but right now the weather is too nice to stay in sides (oooh witty!). Enjoy the music and enjoy the summer... Come to speak of that, both these releases actually fit really well to this season!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)
IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

The prodigal son returns from Alba!

2006-06-28T11:01:00.000+02:00

The Scottish winds have blown the dust off the tattered coat that is my soul. Saw my lovely sister and her lovely toy boy again, visited the Edinburgh botanical gardens, went for a drive up north and came across a really eerie, abandoned church in Cloonie near Glamis. That's where I took the picture of the winged fellow above. And of course I had to pass by St Randies and its ruins of a cathedral - a very apt metaphor of my mind!

Orbital - Snivilisation (1994)

2006-06-17T03:28:00.000+02:00

Less fresh than their previous release but definitely more mature, I really like this album. Even though some think this is "dated" music, I like it and I don't mind dates either. I haven't had one in ages. So this is good stuff. Once again, intelligent and most enjoyable electronic music, but less techno-based than Orbital II. There's only one track I really don't like, which is their obviously hardcore attempt: they should really stay away from that stuff. More about that very soon... Listen closely to this one: if you have a pair of decent headphones, use them! Or if you have extremely tolerant neighbours (ie if you are Australian [What happened to Shane?] then sing a song) crank it up and enjoy the finely-tuned basses... Har har who can tell me the name of the king who tried to stop the waves of the sea?

Very highly appreciandied! (king, soul, andy album)

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)
IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2)

Orbital - Orbital II (1993)

2006-06-17T03:00:00.000+02:00

"There is this theory of the Moebius... A twist in the fabric of space where time becomes a loop" (Star Trek)

"Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day" (Withnail and I)

These are a few of the sublime samplandies used by the techno-duo Orbitlandy in their Orbital II release, also denoted as the "Brown Album". I originandy tried to get this albandy because of their ultra-boring video that was shown on the ultra-boring channel MTV: "Lush 3-1": a bunch of adolescents being forced to attandy a sundandy thrift-market - andy oh boy could I connect to that! Andyway, enough andolescyent expression for now; this is one of the great early electronic albums of the nandynetees! Nice, crispy techno sounds is what you get with this cd. Don't tell me it's lousy or I'll send the Andyman to the underside of your bed; andy if that doesn't scare you, I'll send himher to the underside of your physical bottom.

Uhm, to attempty a serious note tonight: Orbital use intelligent and often funny methods of creating electronic dancandy music. Very innovative and great fun. Once againdy (god how mandy more?) an album to be turned up REALLY LOUD - especiandy the "Lush" series. Have fun andy make sure you drop an E - even though I don't do that andymore!!

Oh andy by the way: if you candy ever get your handies on the movie "Withnandy and I", do see it: it's superbandy!!!!!

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM

Alec Empire - Generation Star Wars (1994)

2006-06-11T12:00:00.000+02:00

FIGHT the imperial forces! That is what Alec Empire, the German electronic wiz-kid who features in Atari Teenage Riot, commands us to do on the booklet of this strange, chaotic, pretty heavy techno rampage release. I don't put this on too often, but it's quite a journey nevertheless. The first track is by far my favourite: in the beginning there was darkness, and then hell broke loose! Generation Star Wars is one of those albums that break all barriers between punk, techno, drum n bass and noise. I guess the track names can give you an idea of what to expect: utter immoral anarchy!! Be warned, therefore, you may not get into this on just one listening. Great material, especially on a quiet sunday afternoon tee-hee haw-haw! By the way, the inside of the sleeve serves perfectly as your desktop wallpaper if you cut it out and save it as a separate file... FIGHT the imperial forces!

Tracklist
1. Lash the 90ties
2. Stahl and Blausäure
3. 13465
4. Maschinenvolk
5. Sonyprostitutes
6. Blutrote Nacht Über Berlin
7. Pussy Heroin
8. New Acid
9. Smack
10. N.Y. Summer I
11. Konsumfreiheit
12. N.Y. Summer II
13. Microchipkinder
14. Sieg Über Die Mayday-HJ

IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 1)
IFNKOVHGROGHPRM (Pt 2)

Goddamnclit!

2006-06-11T04:49:00.001+02:00

Fuckin peasants! If you ain't got the energy to drop a commenturd, you might as well suck my G.W. Bush biyatch!

Praxis - Metatron (1995)

2006-06-10T11:37:00.000+02:00

As I'm feeling lazy (for the Dutch-speaking among you, read: lees-ie) today, and as I haven't even listenened to this (third) release by Praxis (I'm into Renaissance, Curved Air and Darryl Way's Wolf these days), I'm just going to professionally copy-past ctrl-c/ctrl-v a review from the omniscient All Music Guide. You can also find a list of alternative names for Metatron in the comments section, wehey!

For the third manifestation of Praxis, Bill Laswell returned from the cut-and-paste trash metal of the second album, Sacrifist, to a band approach, as on the first, Transmutation. Concentrating on the core band of Buckethead, Brain and himself, he created an album which is close in spirit to the first one, but covers very different ground, and is also much weirder. From the touching opening ballad "Wake the Dead," we are in for a ride through everything Praxis has done before and much more: slow death metal riffs with damaged soloing on "Skull Creek," dub explorations on the relaxed "Cannibal" and the creepier "Warm Time Machine/Low End Transmission/Over the Foaming Deep," or mind-blowing shred guitar on "Turbine" and "Triad (The Saw Is Family)" -- the latter track toying, just like "Meta-Matic," with the listener's expectations by employing one killer riff after another without ever developing the way one expects. Calm interludes like "Cathedral Space" (hints of Colma) and the haunting "Double Vision" are included, as well as mysterious voice samples ("We Are Not Sick Men!") and some doses of Buckethead's typical silliness -- "Armed (TSA Agent #5)" has him playing the melody of "Jingle Bells" with a hilariously distorted sampler guitar, while "Warcraft (Bruce Lee's Black Hour of Chaos)" features kung fu screaming (an interesting connection to Yamatsuka Eye's performance on Sacrifist). On "Inferno/Heatseeker/Exploded Heart," Buckethead switches to electric bass and delivers a fascinating duel with Laswell. Throughout the album, Buckethead is awe-inspiring, playing not only with lightning speed and enormous precision, but also with dangerous intensity. The other two musicians are excellent as well, but the spotlight is clearly on Buckethead. The production, however, is the record's second star: there are interesting sounds abound (drilling sounds, oscillators, wind etc.), and each track (and virtually every guitar part) has a sonic identity of its own. Metatron is an incredible album (although beginners should start with Transmutation) and easily one of Buckethead's best showcases. ~ Chris Genzel, All Music Guide

Many thanks to Chardman for this post!

Erratum: I've just listened to this, and it's great fun! More listenable than Sacrifist, in fact.

Praxis_Metatron.rar (updated link!)

How to give and take simultaneously

2006-06-09T23:14:00.000+02:00

aka the shitty chicken69 paradox

CottonAndy Magazine - Fuzzy Peeps

2006-06-08T14:57:00.000+02:00

CottonAndy is a monthly magazine of news, reviews and research on strange phenomena and experiences, curiosities, prodigies and portents, all of them related to a Belgian eccentric widely known as "the Andyman". Having first appeared on a television show in Belgium about three years ago, he achieved instant notoriety with his famous slogan, "A girfriend's miscarriage is a blessing for life." Religious and political institutions were appalled at the seemingly immoral stance of the (at the time) 25 year old male, but the public was wild about him. Why? They loved the "breath of fresh air" he brought to the lame Flemish tv environment; he was "so honest, so spontaneous"; elderly ladies faint-heartedly claimed him to be "the ideal son-in-law".

In the months following the show, he made numerous other appearances on television, even venturing as far as Holland and Germany. Teenaged German girls in particular were extatic about the young lad. "Wir lieben sein Kopf" one could often see printed under his cranial experiments (see picture below). After several years of petitioning and lobbying at the Belgian federal government, a law was finally passed which allowed the thousands-strong fanclub to publish the monthly CottonAndy, which is translated into several languages, such as German, English and Afrikaans.

The next step, the Andyman claims, is to enter the lucrative business of private manned spaceships. He is not daunted by such names as multi-billionaires Paul Allen, Jeff Bezos or Richard Branson. "My head is bigger than theirs," he jests, "and I don't think they've ever given any." However, one is never quite sure if the Andyman is telling the truth. For example, he has been heard to wish to overturn the Belgian and Dutch monarchies, to give aid to Iran's nuclear ambitions, or even to attempt the murder of the myriad of little boys who hold their thumbs in the Dutch sea dykes to keep Holland from flowing under. Well, I guess it is fair enough to state that his girlfriend's miscarriage was a blessing, after all.

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - Post Historic Monsters (1994)

2006-06-07T09:09:00.000+02:00

When I first heard this album, I hated it. The vocals reminded me of the Pet Shop Boys (don't ask me why!) and the music seemed just plain silly. Over the years, however, I really came to like it - so much so, that my good friend Dave ("Dave, is that you Dave? Where's your toilet, Dave?), who owned the album, gave me his cd. And ever since it has been in MY possession hahaa!

Post Historic Monsters provides you with hilarious indie pop rock, at times bordering on punk or garage rock, at times sweet and touching. Overally this is a really fun, enjoyable album. As I haven't heard any of Carter USM's other albums, I have no way of comparing it; although most reviews I've come across claim this is one of their weakest releases to date. Nevertheless, I still recommend it. If you don't like on your first hearing, give a couple more tries, as in my case that's what was needed to appreciate it. Give it a go, I'd say.

Tracklist

2 Million Years B.C. (0:40)
The Music That Nobody Likes (4:27)
Mid Day Crisis (3:55)
Cheer Up, It Might Never Happen (4:05)
Stuff The Jubilee! (3:54)
A Bachelor For Baden Powell (3:55)
Spoilsports Personality Of The Year (5:03)
Suicide Isn't Painless (1:18)
Being Here (2:04)
Evil (2:50)
Sing Fat Lady Sing (3:34)
Travis (3:03)
Lean On Me I Won't Fall Over (3:40)
Lenny And Terence (3:56)
Under The Thumb And Over The Moon (3:43)

Total time: 50:15

Carter_USM_Post_Historic_Monsters.rar

Mercury Rev - Boces (1993)

2006-06-07T08:36:00.000+02:00

Mercury Rev was formed in late 80s by several film students in Buffalo, NY. Initially, they simply composed soundtracks for experimental student films. Their academic mentor, minimalist composer Tony Conrad however, encouraged them to further their music.

1991 saw the release of their debut album, Yerself Is Steam. Their music, sprawling, noisy and psychedelic, found high critical acclaim, although the record sales were modest. The group members were fighting with one another due to substance abuse and musical differences, their live shows were also unpredictable. Thus the band's microclimate was very intense. Boces (1993) was an even more ambitious set of music than its predecessor. I once owned See You on the Other Side (1995), released after the ousting of their singer David Baker, but found it disappointing. No idea where it is at the moment...

The music here is wild, eccentric and experimental, at times moving into pure noise. Some tracks reach incredible levels of loudness (this is the band who got kicked off that oh-so-famous music tour for being too loud) with layer upon layer of instruments gradually being added. Oh yes, yet another album to crank up your system to. The lyrics are particularly strange - I suspect this album influenced my adolescent development into surreal weirdoness, and I guess that's a-okay. :-) Highly recommended dreamy psychedelic freak guitar pop!

Tracklist

Meth Of A Rockette's Kick (10:28)
Trickle Down (5:03)
Bronx Cheer (2:49)
Boys Peel Out (4:28)
Downs Are Feminine Balloons (6:29)
Something For Joey (4:05)
Snorry Mouth (10:54)
Hi-Speed Boats (4:00)
Continuous Drunks And Blunders (0:48)
Girlfren (4:41)
Total time: 53:45

Mercury_Rev_Boces_192.rar

King of Snakes

2006-06-03T23:41:00.000+02:00

Thus, at the age of thirty, or thereabouts, this young Nobleman had not only had every experience that life has to offer, but had seen the worthlessness of them all. Love and ambition, women and poets were all equally vain. Literature was a farce. [...] Two things alone remained to him in which he now put any trust: dogs and nature; an elk-hound and a rose bush. The world, in all its variety, life in all its complexity, had shrunk to that. Dogs and a bush were the whole of it.

Virginia Woolf, Orlando (1928)

Yankee B - Mucho Dinero (1998)

2006-06-03T13:57:00.000+02:00

Well, even though most reviews I've come across denounce this album, I'm actually very fond of this dancehall-hip hop crossover. Juicy, aggressive beats are combined with forward-bearing reggae vibes. Okay, so the lyrics are not particularly intelligent - whatever! This is an album to be cranked up and enjoyed in its raw power. But if you don't like either the heavier side of reggae or pumped up hip hop, then don't go for this one. Otherwise, enjoy! By the way, there's a remix (can I call it a "riddim? no idea...) of "War" by Bob Marley and a remake of "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye. Dig it or dish it, I guess...

Yankee_B_Mucho_Dinero_192.rar

Alexander Scriabin - Piano Studies

2006-06-02T13:42:00.000+02:00

Many of Scriabin's (1872-1915) works are written for the piano; the earliest pieces resemble Frédéric Chopin and include music in many forms that Chopin himself employed, such as the etude, the prelude and the mazurka. Later works, however, are strikingly original, employing very unusual harmonies and textures.

Previously interested in Friedrich Nietzsche's "übermensch" theory, the Russian composer also became interested in Theosophy, and both would influence his music and musical thought. In 1909-1910 he lived in Brussels, becoming interested in Delville's Theosophist movement and continuing his reading of Hélène Blavatsky. (Numerous artists and thinkers were influenced by Theosophy [theos=god, sophos=wisdom, intelligence] at the time, e.g. the Russian painter W. Kandinsky and the Irish poet W.B. Yeats - both of whom I greatly admire.)

Scriabin in 1894: "During such nights, the mind is silent, that dreadful, analysing, critical and destructive intellect and it allows me, even if only for a brief moment, to abandon myself to reflective contemplation and peace. How much peace is necessary for today's spiritually exhausted and morally depleted human beings. And it often seems that it is nature herself, the gentle mother of mankind, who is in command of making sure that humans find rest. It is as if she were whispering: come to me, poor lost creature; cast the false cloak from your shoulders, give your soul the space it needs to breathe calmly and peacefully. I still have miraculous tales for you, I shall douse weary times with enchanting dreams."

And in 1897: "In the commotion of unchained elements, the soul struggles as though it were possessed by a real state of intoxication. From the depths of Existence rises the powerful voice of a demigod, whose song of victory is reverberated in a triumphant echo! But the soul is still too weak and before it reaches the top, it falls back down into the immeasurable depths of nothingness."

This collection of etudes is one of the first to be released in this kind of completeness. It brilliantly shows the high level of contrast between his early and late periods (harmony vs atonality). For the more interested among you, the internet provides more than adequate information on this extremely fascinating pianist and composer. Highly recommended!

Scriabin Vitaly Samoshko.rar

Zita Swoon - I Paint Pictures On A Wedding Dress (1998)

2006-06-01T17:47:00.000+02:00

Essentially the same band as Moondog Jr., only now with another name and a slightly different cast, Zita Swoon has released several highly acclaimed albums since 1997. I Paint Pictures On A Wedding Dress is their second release under their new name, and it follows the same musical path initially taken by Moondog Jr. If you like their early work (see below), you'll more than probably enjoy this album. I don't think I need to tell you much more, as you can find most information about this band in my post below.

Zita_Swoon_Pictures_Wedding_Dress_256.rar

Moondog Jr. - Every Day I Wear A Greasy Black Feather On My Hat (1995)

2006-06-01T17:19:00.000+02:00

Moondog Jr. is a Belgian band led by the incredibly versatile and talented Stef Kamil Carlens. In august 1996 he left dEUS in order to concentrate more fully on his own work. In 1997, the group was compelled to change its name because an American blues artist called Louis Hardin (who performs in Germany under his artist name Moondog) had some complaints about the similarity of their names. The band changed it to Zita Swoon, of which I'll post an album pretty soon. When the "original" Moondog died in 2000, Zita Swoon didn't change their name back again.

In the reviews the parallel with dEUS gets mentioned quite often, but it's in fact more accurate to address similarities with Tom Waits. It is probably no coincidence that the album was produced by Michael Blair, who earned his fame through his work with Elvis Costello and Tom Waits. Influences clearly range between jazz, rock, blues, avant-garde and classical music. Complex arrangements and high level musicianship ensure that Every Day I Wear A Greasy Black Feather On My Hat is a very interesting and overally good album, albeit not the easiest of listenings. I don't often put it on, but nevertheless I do recommend it -- especially if you like Tom Waits' music (which I generally don't).

Stef Kamil Carlens: guitar, vocals, piano, percussion
Tom Pintens guitars: piano, harmonium, clarinet, vocals
Benjamin Boutreur: saxophone
Aarich Jespers: drums, percussion, pipes
Thomas De Smet: upright bass

Moondog_Jr_Every_Day_My_Hat_256.rar

John Cage - Music For Prepared Piano (Sonatas & Interludes For Prepared Piano) (1946-1948)

2006-06-01T13:27:00.000+02:00

John Cage is one of 20th-century America’s great musical innovators. He experimented with prepared pianos, unusual percussion instruments, electronics, weird notation and even silence, as well as introducing the element of chance into the performance of his music. Schoenberg described him as "not a composer, but an inventor of genius." His most notorious work consists of 4'33" of silence, written in 1952. It was inspired by Cage's visit to Harvard's anechoic chamber, designed to eliminate all sound; but instead of promised silence Cage was amazed and delighted to hear the pulsing of his blood and the whistling of his nerves.

John Cage was undoubtedly the composer who put the "prepared piano" concept on the world map, and coined the term. He credited Henry Cowell and (to a lesser extent) Erik Satie for contributing to the idea. Cage first prepared a piano when he was commissioned to write music for "Bacchanale", a dance by Syvilla Fort in 1938. For some time previously, Cage had been writing exclusively for a percussion ensemble, but the hall where Fort’s dance was to be staged had no room for a percussion group. The only instrument available was a single grand piano. After some consideration, Cage said that he realized it was possible “to place in the hands of a single pianist the equivalent of an entire percussion orchestra... With just one musician, you can really do an unlimited number of things on the inside of the piano if you have at your disposal an 'exploded' keyboard.” Cage would often quip that by preparing a piano he left it in better condition than he found it.

In Cage's use, the preparations are typically nuts, bolts and pieces of rubber to be lodged between and entwined around the strings. Some preparations make duller, more percussive sounds than usual, while others create sonorous bell-like tones. Additionally, the individual parts of a preparation like a nut loosely screwed onto a bolt will vibrate themselves, adding their own unique sound. By placing the preparation between two of the strings on a note which has three strings assigned to it, it is possible to change the timbre of that note by depressing the soft pedal on the piano (which moves the hammers so they strike only two strings instead of all three [the soft pedal is traditionally called "una corda" on a grand]). Other prepared piano sounds can be reminiscent of mbiras, marimbas, bells, wood blocks, Indonesian gamelan instruments, or many other sounds less easily defined.

"Wherever we are, what we hear is mostly noise. When we ignore it, it disturbs us. When we listen to it, we find it fascinating. The sound of a truck at 50 m.p.h. Static between the stations. Rain. We want to capture and control these sounds, to use them, not as sound effects, but as musical instruments."
Cage on the future of music - from a lecture given in 1937

John_Cage_Music_Prepared_Piano_256.rar

The Sundays - Reading, Writing & Arithmetic (1996)

2006-05-30T12:32:00.000+02:00

Now here's an album that will probably last me a lifetime or two. This is their debut album, but originally I got to know The Sundays from their second release (Blind) via a girl I was madly in love with at the time. Ah, what a girl! she came from Wigan near Manchester, hmm how I cherished her accent and gipsy-like beauty! So whenever I hear Blind I can't help but think of her... Luckily, though, this pax-post album does not direct my mind to her! And perhaps equally fortunate, this release is --personally speaking-- a better one than The Sundays' second one: the tracks are generally more up-beat and also less "rain-swept England oh crap let's feel sad". Anyway, Harriet Wheeler's vocals are absolutely unique --ethereal, beautiful-- the guitar work sounds great and the production value is supreme (i.e. all the instruments are so well arranged that it's a joy merely to hear the sounds). Even if you're not into UK indie rock, chances are that this album will enter your heart and soul. If you believe in either of these, of course. The music is sad and happy at the same time, true UK melancholia -- it's no wonder that Robert Burton was an Englishman... Super-recommended, this one! (But make sure you get your equaliser settings right, it's quite important for albums of this kind.)

Sundays_Reading_Writing_Arithmetic_256.rar

V.A. - Headz 2A & 2B (1996)

2006-05-24T12:45:00.000+02:00

Mo' Wax is a UK-based record label owned by James Lavelle, who founded it in the early 1990s. The label is most famous for being a purveyor of the "Trip-Hop" sound, although many artists dislike the term, or prefer the broader "abstract hip-hop" tag, if the music must be labeled at all.

Mo' Wax released records by many artists over its years of existence, the most notable being by DJ Shadow, DJ Krush, Andrea Parker, Luke Vibert, Air, Dr. Octagon, Attica Blues, Money Mark, Malcom Catto, Nigo (of Bathing Ape fame), David Axelrod, South, Blackalicious, and Lavelle's own UNKLE. Lavelle made a deal with A&M Records in 1996. Currently, Mo' Wax is part of the Beggars Banquet Group, but there are rumors that the label itself has folded and is no longer putting out new releases.

Quite a number of reviews I came across weren't too enthousiastic about these four cds, but personally I've never been disappointed with having bought them when they came out in '96. Neither do I mind the tag "Trip Hop" - what's in a word...? This compilation brings you about five hours (I think) of pleasant, chilled out electronic music. As far as I'm concerned, I don't recall there being one bad track on the whole set. I don't think you'll be disappointed with these.

By the way, I've long been on the lookout for the original Headz, which nowadays is no longer available. So if any of you know where I can get it, or if someone would be so good to upload it for the world, that would be - sweet!

Oh yeah, I think I bungled up A1 & A2 (i.e. gave the folders the wrong names), but you can easily double-check and correct this by consulting the artwork which is provided with the "extra" file. Sorry.

Headz_II_A1_192.rar

Headz_II_A2_192.rar

Headz_II_B1_192.rar

Headz_II_B2_192.rar

Headz_II_extra.rar

Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli

2006-05-23T13:11:00.000+02:00

Jean Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt was born into in the open air, rambling lifestyle of his gypsy parents on January 24th, 1910 in Liberchies, Belgium. At the age of eight, his mother's tribe settled near the belt of fortifications that surrounded the old Paris, near the Choisy gate. He never wore a suit or lived in a real house until he was twenty years old. These French Gypsies or Manouches were a world unto themselves, medieval in their beliefs, and distrustful of modern science. Django grew up in this world of contradictions, one foot in the bustling big city of Paris and the other in the age-old life of the nomadic gypsy. Though born into poverty Django had the soul of a nobleman and this natural elegance of bearing and attitude expressed itself in his music.

At the age of 18, Reinhardt was injured in a fire that ravaged the caravan he shared with his first wife. He almost lost a leg, and the third and fourth digits on his left hand (his fretting hand) were burned badly. Reinhardt focused on the guitar and developed an original style of playing that emphasized his undamaged fingers. He was still able to use these two fingers for playing chords, but was unable to use them for playing solos.

In 1934, Louis Vola formed the "Quintette du Hot Club de France" with Reinhardt, violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Reinhardt's brother Joseph and Roger Chaput on guitar, and Louis Vola on bass. As World War II was declared, the quintet was on tour in the United Kingdom. Reinhardt returned to Paris at once, leaving his wife behind. Grappelli remained in the United Kingdom for the duration of the war, and Reinhardt reformed the quintet in Paris with Hubert Rostaing on clarinet in place of Grappelli's violin.

On May 16th 1953 Django suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and died, leaving behind his wife Sophie and son Babik. His music remains as vital and exciting today as it was when he lived, a legacy of joy to all future generations that rediscover the genius of the Belgian gypsy Django Reinhardt.

You can watch some great contemporary film footage of Django Reinhardt here.

Stéphane Grappelli was born on January 26th, 1908 in Paris, France to Italian parents. By the time he was twelve years old, he had acquired his first violin - just one of several instruments he learned to play. He began professionally with theatre bands (including silent films), eventually being introduced to jazz music. Originally self-taught as both a violinist and a pianist, he nevertheless attended the Conservatoire de Paris between 1924 and 1928. Grappelli was a pioneer jazz violinist who founded the quintet of the "Quintette du Hot Club de France" with Django Reinhardt. It was the first all-string jazz band.

They hit it off musically from the start even though their lifestyles (Grappelli was sophisticated while Django was a gypsy) were very different. Together as Quintet of the Hot Club of France (comprised of violin, three acoustic guitars and bass) during 1933-39 they produced a sensational series of recordings and performances.

When World War II commenced, Grappelli and the band were touring Britain. While the others returned to Paris Grappelli decided to stay. During the next six years he became a popular figure in London with habitués of nightlife in general and in musical entertainment in particular, working with local musicians in the local clubs. In 1946, he returned to Paris, renewed association with Reindhart, but the magic of their pre-war days did not reappear too often.

Stéphane Grappelli died aged 89 on December 1st, 1997 in Paris after undergoing a hernia operation. When asked on his 85th birthday if he was considering retirement, Grappelli replied: "Retirement! There isn't a word that is more painful to my ears. Music keeps me going. It has given me everything. It's my fountain of youth."

Souvenirs_Reinhardt_Grapelli.rar (Thanks, sister!)

Reinhardt___Grapelli_Swingin_With_Django_CD1_256.rar

Reinhardt___Grapelli_Swingin_With_Django_CD2_256.rar

Reinhardt___Grapelli_Swingin_With_Django_CD3_256.rar

Jamaican Riddims

2006-05-23T12:44:00.000+02:00

A "riddim", as Jamaican jargon uses it, is a song track of which different vocalists (singers, "toasters) make their own version, each with their own lyrics and vocal melodies. Stricly speaking, a "version" is the naked form of a riddim, containing no vocals. The end of which is, of course, in order to sing along - a bit like the Japanese and their karaoke versions. Whereas most reggae subgenres conceive the riddim as a bass loop combined with a particular drum pattern (exluding the vocals or melodies), others see the (original) melody as also pertaining to the riddim. This is especially true in the case of new-roots reggae.

In the reggae culture there are album releases called "one riddims". These usually contain about a dozen vocal versions and one instrumental. This allows each vocalist to tell his own story. Moreover, each version often contains slight production differences, particularly regarding the beats or rhythm section.

My good friend The Alsomighty Jah-roen has provided me with a fine collection of such riddims. I'll post two albums here, the first being a number of tracks Jah-roen added together himself, the second being a "real" release called Riddim Driven - Hot Gyal. I'd advise you to turn on "shuffle play" for the former, as it doesn't have a numerical order. Enjoint!

Here's a review about Riddim Driven - Hot Gyal: One of VP’s latest releases in their Riddim Driven series is the Hot Gyal riddim. This is pure dancehall niceness with performances to inspire dancing. Several tracks have been burning up the place and creating great excitement for the release of the riddim album. Key tracks include “Vibe With Us” by Brian & Tony Gold featuring Bounty Killer, “Hall Of Fame” by Vybz Kartel, “Hol Gal” by Anthony Malvo featuring Capleton and Jah Thunder, and “Marijuana” featuring Sizzla and Jigsy King.

Reggae_Riddims_256-320.rar

Riddim_Driven_Hot_Gyal_320.rar