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NYC's Marc Gartman has pieced together a one-offensemble to complete the pictures on his first full-length CD. Thepackaging that showed up at my door had the disc housed in a paintedtyvek sleeve with plastic printing and a hand-printed image of afactory looking thing, a neat fastener was glued onto the back to keepthe sleeve closed when not in use, but it sure is uncomfortable in theCD collection next to everything else. The music itself could easily bea session of seasoned jazz musicians playing a tribute to Louisville.Improvisational while introspective in nature, not afraid to play quietand meaningful. Instruments showcased include violin, melodica anddouble bass alongside acoustic guitar, drums and piano. LookoutRachel's! Through more investigation, I find out this ensemble as itexists on this disc will most likely never happen again. It's a shameas I would love to hear this incarnation live. The production isastonishing for a homemade release. Added effects on certain tracksinclude crickets and possible gunshots in the distance. Hard to believethis is a NYC based collective, as it could easily be music conceivedwhile sitting on a back porch at twilight, staring out into the fields,watching fireflies in the sunset! I'd love to flood this issue withmore sound samples, but hopefully three will be enough. For moreinformation (including how to get your very own copy), check out www.pushpinmusic.com.samples:
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Remember listening to what was to bethe final Skinny Puppy insult, 'Last Rites' for the first time, andthat incredible piece called Download that at the end drifted off intoelectronic drones you wished could go on forever? Whether they'reconscious about it or hate Skinny Puppy, I finally feel like this hopehas been somewhat fulfilled with this album. Precious electronic dronesand soundscapes wash over this disc, and unlike other discs of dronea'la electronique, these songs start and end without going on way toolong. Sublime and dreamy, chimes and echoes play wonderful tricks withyour mind late at night with all the lights off. The titles make mecurious, however, with all of them sharing titles with popular classicrock hits of the 70s. It leads me to wonder if the originals providedinspiration or sound source... Drop an email to samples:
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Christopher Ewen createsthe wonderful OMD-styled bouncey music, which blends quite nicely withStephin's hopelessly romantic words and voice. Claudia Gonson is alsoon this release, adding a nice variety to the EP by singing solo in thesong "Cafe Hong Kong" and backing Stephin in the remake of "Hopeless(remix)," which was previously on the last Future Bible Heroesfull-length, "Memories of Love." For fans of the Magnetic Fields, orheavily synthesized music, with a humourously depressing twist. Picturethe Pet Shop Boys meeting Leonard Cohen, but with smirky lyrics like"There's no use even trying, because it's hopeless. All of our dreamsare dying of overdoses."Read More
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samples:
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You ever trust alabel given everything they've released you've really liked? Have youever come home drunk, checking email and seeing an announcement of newreleases from an online store and chose things without thinking much?Well, here's a perfect case. This CD single has me confused whether Ithink it's the next big thing or it's so fucking awful I think I willstart peforming stress and endurance tests on it. Loads of 14 year oldsare making music like this in their parents house, although I've heardlots of teenagers making music less weak and cliche than this shit. Ithas some weird enjoyable element to it, all the same... Maybe I justdon't get it. To me,it sounds like discount kitsch, with predictablesimple beats and trashy lyrics. Then again, people do indeed buyterrible music. (Cylob fans will enjoy this.) As for myself, morelistens and I'm more confused. Listen to the sound samples and decidefor yourself.samples:
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Number 5 is a full-length collaborationbetween Kim Gordon, DJ Olive and Ikue Mori. The chosen language of thisseries is, of course Japanese, but unlike volumes 1-3, this one comeswith translations. (Sell-out!) From the first minutes of the release,it feels as if the magic is back: the noise, the experimentalism that aguitar band always wants to do. 60 second sound samples do this albumno justice as each song has a multitude of parts and sounds, allentirely wonderful this time around, utitlizing Gordon's voice andguitar work, alongside electronic Japanese fuckery with environmentalsound sources and samples. Leave the pop records behind and exploresome Musical Perspectives today!samples:
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Next to each track on thedisc, the artist has listed their favoritecomposer/director/actor/film—whether it is related to their compilationsubmission is unknown by me at this time. I can hear influence forexample in 310's cut on here which gives the nod to Badalamenti/Lynchand the film "The Sheltering Sky." At over 74 minutes, this collectionof instrumentals from 16 excellent artists is worth having for acollection and for study-hall time music this year in school.samples:
- Susumu Yokata - Fancy Flavour
- 310 - St Mesa Substation
- Rothko - Suddenly Becomes Light
- Bass Communion - Quantico
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I can't say I've heard of any of these bands but they sure dorock a lot more excitingly than a lot of the post-kraut-rock to surfaceover the last couple years. This isn't to say that stuff is bad oranything, but there's more to German rock than noodling at keyboardsand bass guitar, keeping your mouth shut. I'm now interested in findingout more about various bands on here like Tocotronic, whose openingsong just jumps out of the speakers with a pop style almost ready forprime time and an electronic element faking skipping sounds, all inrhythm. The energy continues with entertaining interpretations of TheJams' "That's Entertainment" and a 7-banjo cover of Kraftwerk's"Autobahn" by Fink. Look for it, hunt for it and if you give up, harasswww.lado.de.samples:
- Tocotronic - Jackpot
- Jonas - Grubby
- Fink - Autobahn
- Ostzonesuppenwürfelmachenkrebs - Von Haus Aus Allein
- Workshop - I Wish I Had You
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Imagine if the tubist and drummer from a high school band got togetherwith a teenage guitarist and decided to record whatever came to mind,and there you have Drums & Tuba. Somehow I get reminded of theKLF's "Fuck the Millennium" ending and three guys running behind themtrying to catch up. The tunes are fun and I'm sure this is a great bandto see live. Box Fetish collects the original 1999 record plus threenew tracks exclusive to this CD release. It starts out high schoolish,but towards the end, the songs become more adventurous with use oftrumpets and other percussives.
Volume 2 of the Water Damage Re-Issues is The Flying Ballerina,recorded in 1998. This disc seems to have more of a jazz influenceright off the bat while rocking out a little more. The formula'sbasically the same yet I find it more charming and variable. Thesediscs are ideal for those students who have to commute on busses ortrains. Certainly some great morning cup of moccaccino-blast heldwithin...samples:
- Carrots (from Box Fetish)
- Curtains (from Box Fetish)
- Fists of Spaghetti (from The Flying Ballerina)
- The Flying Ballerina (from The Flying Ballerina)
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Since then, I've often wonderedwhat ever became of them. Being in Boston, I never heard of themplaying, but I guess I've simply been missing out. 'Full Negative,' isa solid chunk of a well balanced diet of organic rock instrumentsworking together for the sake of sound, not show, with little need forvocals. From the first song, the sound is inviting and captivating,with dynamics that echo mid 80s Sonic Youth, 70s Wire or even earlyMogwai.samples:
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You might recognize his name from the Psychic TV days of the 80s orsome remix works he did in the 90s, but try and clear your mind forthis release. This time around, Fred's been working with samples andsources, pulling together tremendous soundscapes for release.'Telepathic Romance' consists of two tracks named Contemplation. Part 1totals just over 30 minutes and incorporates some uneasy low rumblingsblaneted over by comforting lush strings. A perfect soundtrack to athunderstorm on a Sunday afternoon. Part 2 runs just over 12 minutesand can easily be the stunningly beautiful clearing after the storm.Choral samples, low drones clash with heartbeat-esque pulses. Too badthese sound samples are only 60 seconds. Hunt for this one.samples:
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