Reviews 2005 - 2006/ Reviews 2004

777 / Rank Sinatra CD split (System Corrupt; PO Box R420 Royalexchange 1225 N.S.W. Australia; www.systemcorrupt.com; sevenuy@hotmail.com; maladroit666@hotmail.com)
If it is fair - I think, that both of these project as a matter of fact are the creation of one person by name Guy. Besides that, he is suspected in participation in the band Maladroit, in management of the label System Corrupt, in release self-made (total DIY!!!) the extremely provocative and causing zine and in authorship of mad design of all these creations.
The fright of the first seconds has passed very quickly!
Though such music you will not hear in discos (at least I speak about Russia), it is very rhythmical and melodious music. Noise! Well, it is like if to cross Merzboy with the top ten from MTV: rigidly, dirtly and at the same time it is possible not only to dance, but also even to sing. (A severe distortion "Unkytown" added fashion and urgency! Benny Benassi waits for his turn!)
As the last track a half-hour collage theatre goes wonderfully supplementing the general sensation of absurdity and madness.

Aiden "Our Gangs DarkOath" (Dead Teenager Records; www.aiden.org; www.deadteenagerrecords.com)
Aiden - five young people playing fast, rigid and melodious music. If they hardly go too far in a major - it would be fucking pop-core (does anybody still play it?), if they muffled and smooth the guitars - anyway - it would be pop-punk.
And so - it is noisy enough, dirty and loudly to draw attention of not spoilt by various punk-hc-marginals listener.
For me - it is too "sweet and smooth"...

Akala "The End Of the Beginning" (Fin De Siecle Media; Box 388, 114 79 Stockholm, Sweden; www.findesieclemedia.com; rcik@one.lt)
The project of one person - Rolandas Cikanavicius. The first ophinion about this album was as about the next, hundred-thousandth noise embient. Well, you know such pathbreakers for certain, and not one band!
So you were wrong! He has artfully subtilized everything here that I became puzzled a little - in the middle of 13-minute song "The Beginning" Zorn's saxophones appear, and the end of this composition discourages and bewitches simultaneously (when the electroguitar behaves violently).
Meeting in the following two tracks ("Of" and "The End") significant sound collages, unexpected percussion, guitar excesses again and even something like vocal (-!!!), strong conceptual content and... the ending of the album (I shall not tell - what is it there!) force me to speak about this disk as about the most interesting event on a vanguard stage!
Latvia rules!!!

Chris Allen "Rock Machine" (The Chris Allen Power Trip, 350 Mass. Ave. Studio 217, Arlington, MA o2476, USA; www.thechrisallenpowertrip.com; imback@comcast.net)
Not frequently so unusual releases come across me!!!
On this compact disc there are 4 instrumental compositions in execution of virtuoso-guitarist Chris Allen - 20 minutes of magnificent hard-and-heavy-guitar solo accompanied by the programmed drums - I already hear your envious cries!... The maestro, both on a cover of a disk, and in addition given photo, looks as Arnold Shvartsneger's younger brother with a guitar - incredibly sexually!
To tell you the truth, I wish something more experimental or radical, than banal rock even in incredibly beautiful and aggressive execution.

All Girl Summer Fun Band "2" (K Records; www.krecords.com; promo@krecs.com)
The majority of young men come in wild delight from female bands:
- Look, - one speaks to another. - New punk-band, there are only chicks!
- Wow, cool! - another guy says. - I'll take it!
Probably, it is the same reaction when men meet a female pilot or car mechanic or the football judge (-isn't it funny?)
The second album, in comparison with the debut one, is maximum fast, loud and absolutely deprived even hints on pacification or anything snotty - very hit female pre-punk/post-rock - very good!
I don't wonder about the choice of the label - it is not clear only how do they get on together with Kill Rock Stars Records in Olympia - with their practically identical publishing policy...
It was a little strange to review the album which was released more than 2 years ago. (Well, the girls themselves have sent me this disk, it is a shame to complain. And on the label they've frankly said that they send nothing to Europe, because they don't consider it as commercial partner. It is a pity, I could send a balalaika and almost new bear skin in the answer...)

All Scars Orchestra "New Scars 2004" (Into My Bed; http://space.virgilio.it/ashpool@tin.i; ashpool@tin.it; www.ludmila.it; http://www.danielebrusaschetto.com)
A radicaly experimental project consisting of stars of the first value of italian underground: Mirco Rizzi, Daniele Brusaschetto, Luca Valisi, Paola Bianchi, Paul Beauchamp, Oscar Mucci, Maurizio Suppo, Massimo Cordaro, etc.
The music presented on the disk can't be named "noise" (in the majority of the musical editions All Scars Orchestra is called so), it is mostly improvised music close to RIO movement of the end of '80.
Aggressive rythms remind Elliot Sharp during period of "Terraplane", gloomy tunes, rich instrumental palette (from time to time it is difficult to recognize wether instruments are "live" or electronic) and almost Throbbing Gristle's cynicism and coolness...
Conceptually all 12 tracks have no titles - at least it is honestly!
(I was impressed most of by the 10 composition in which during nine minutes we hear rather cruel reconsideration of blues canons).

Ana Dies "Formamentum" (www.anadies.com; webmaster@anadies.com)
I was very much irritated by attempts of many metal bands of the middle of '90s to turn into Gothic bands. He-he, certainly, for young guys who doesn't know anything about Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cure and yet one hundred of bands known in the '80s, all these modern features with devils, death and whores looked very considerably and cool. Then all this brotherhood has taken a great interest in public critics of christianities and in search of true in pagan and satanic public rituals (though, as it seems to me, in any Michael Jackson's show there is much more satanism than any metal clowns have).
The debut album of sextet from Colorado Springs doesn't seem so disgusting thanks to significant prevalence of Gothic spirit (- I speak about "our" gothic style) above heavy-metal inserts (- metal moments looked really as inserts here). It is necessary to note a strong and expressive vocal of charming Christy Lumberg, and completely unexpected presence of the piano (Taila Hoit), adding in the sound of the band really unique smack.
To become their addicts - listen to the first song - "In the Fold"!...

Angry For Life "Shakin' In My Boots" (Vinehell Records; PO Box 36131 San Jose, CA 95158, USA; www.vinehell.com; trallpunk@aol.com)
The quartet consisting of brothers Rob and Dave Frazer, Michelle Budziak on bass-guitar (she played in Red #9 before) and Gary Tinney the drummer (H.B.A./Krupted Peasant Farmer). It is their second album, quite allowing to create high-grade opinion of the band.
At once the interesting combination of rigidity typical for modern "traditional" punk-bands and energy with melody in a spirit of Lawnmower Deth, without any curtseys to pop-punk or something similar is evident. Amusing, sometimes simply strange texts ("Smash Your Car and Use Your Feet" - the American group calls us!) sing by vigorous, pure voices with powerful choruses in refrains. (The song "Angry For Life" would honour any old-school-band!!!)
A qualit album. In my opinion, it would be necessary to add some madness (as in the strangest song "Sharks and Roachers")...

Ankylym "Instruments" (Stauropygial Plates; R.A.Pavlov, p.o. 429, St.-Petersburg, 191123, Russia; http://stauropygial.spb.ru; mail@stauropygial.spb.ru)
The hand does not rise to write about this nice band something like "the NOM followers"! Undoubtedly, it is possible to find (-and even it is not necessary to search!...) a set of traces from NOM here in Ankylym, however there is enough their own features to talk about creation of their own musical style (direction). As against the previous album we've got to review, "Instruments" was recorded with very high quality and it's sound reminded me both Moral Code / Megapolis of the beginning of '90s and NOM's first album (with "Queen-gadina" and other hits...). Yeah, if we started talking about their sound, it is necessary to mention vargan actively present (- a very popular instrument among punks, isn't it?), a pipe (from which there is a sensation of Chimera's spirit presence), goffered hoses (I don't know wether they sang in them or something else...) and a bayan, which wonderful solo is in "Suomi Finland Perkele".
From musical and text components of this album there is a sensation that some undergraduate-humanist student has from Timur Shaov's songs! Except for pleasure from knowing latent signs and citations, I felt real delight from that ease with which the Ankylym musicians play both with text and intonational senses and implied senses... Fuck!!! It is necessary simply to listen to it, and all at once everything becomes clear!
One of the most interesting Russian collectives.

Apollo Quartet "The Eleventh Hour" (www.apolloquartet.com; apolloquartet@apolloquartet.com)
A surprising combination of grunge with emo-features a la Fugazi. From time to time the band calms down up to a condition of almost post-rock ("Looking Glass", "The Last Great Holdout"), however in the most part of the album music is enough noisy and vigorous (to tell you the truth, for me this music it is NOT ENOUGH noisy and vigorous!). It is necessary to note high mastery and very difficult arrangements even for emo-music.
For a debut album - the maximum rate. In the future it would be desirable smaller grunge and more speed and rigidity.

Ashtool "Electrosoundphaseinth(ou)gh(t)s" (Into My Bed; http://space.virgilio.it/ashpool@tin.it; ashpool@tin.it)
Ashtool - a personal project by Mirco Rizzo, in the last ten years cooperating with: Blackened, Daniele Brusaschetto, All Scars Orchestra, Ich Niente, Krankheit Der Jugend, Sikhara, Jackson Uulvas, Origami vs. Manipura, Switch Off, (r), Ludmila, Ripit, Atrophy, Sandblasting, Ascolie and DJ Daddy (the impressive list, isn't it?).
It is necessary to note, that basic Mirco Rizzo's instrument is the guitar, therefore in all 12 compositions of the album it takes rather important place: an insinuating micro-jazz (recollect micro-sound) "Cameriere", apocalyptical landscapes "Mu" and "Nulla Mi E Dovuto", Scorn-shaped "Saleccia5" and "Ridolini/Th(ou)gh(t)s", post-rock "Meeting A Friend" and "Sexes3", noisy improvisation "La Vite" and the most magnificent, meditative, with lot of intonational underlying ideas "Overflownguento LR". Despite of so various style range this album sounds as whole on mood and spirit - something romantic-decadent-apocaliptical rather close to Daniele Brusaschetto's work (assisting, by the way, Mirco Rizzo in this project).

At Dusk "Heights"(Popping Open Music; www.atduskmusic.com; atduskmusic@aol.com)
Music of nuances and semitones.
In a basis - noisy guitar Indie (take everything from guitar Indie of the '80s, everybody played like that those days), besides that it is plentifully flavoured with an elaborate no-wave and sugary melodism of the pop.
It is interesting that musicians assert that in their music influence of Romanian / gipsy music can be noticed - oh... Well, it sounds sometimes like a hybrid of Peter Gabriel and Sonic Youth, but it is not like the gipsy. I do not know. All songs are very melodious and complicated in arrangements more than any math-rock. They play rather softly, without hysterics, managing to create in instro-moments heavy pressure and drive.
Periodically entering keys and various horns only strengthen disappointment at attempts to identify this band. Without any doubts - nice and noteworthy.
(Pay attention on Fripp's combination of two guitars in "Tired Eyes").

Autodramatics s/t (autodramatics@yahoo.com)
A debut album of the band from Iowa. Five person - three young men and two girls - not only because of this but spirit of B-52 didn't leave me during all 20 minutes that the disk lasts!
Yes, they are like B-52 - noisy, cheerful, hardly chaotic (here I would give as an example something from modern interpretators of "no wave" like The Quails or Deerhoof) and not smoothed... Unfortunately, without the "kid's" synthesizer, but with aggressive rythm-section and the guitar in permanent attack!
Yes, the band's drive can argue with other hardcore-bands - I'd would be great to find there "live" concert!...

Autumn Picture "Fait Maison" (Hill Billy Records; PO Box 82625, San Diego, CA 92138-2625, USA; www.hillbillystew.com; xhillbillx@hotmail.com; www.autumnpicture.iuma.com; autumnpicture@hotmail.com)
I do not know, what sense was to name the album which entirely has been recorded by the author and the executor without anybody's appreciable participation? (well, to tell you the truth, sometimes there is a little help to him...). And so, Hubert Taschereau, the Canadian, (all have recollected "South park"). 15 songs of slow acoustic rock with strong influence of dead Elliot Smith and Kill Rock Stars spirit in general. It touches... But! Most of all 16-th track is allocated - a strange, to put it mildly, composition in a spirit of Da-Daistic pre-industrial - "Shut Off The Light" (we'll dream of an album made in such way).
Yes, not to forget - a penultimate song ("The End" - something like that was already, wasn't it?) - almost 9-minute Indie-hymn with noise guitar, reminded to me about the best days of 4AD.
Promises a lot...

Bahntier "Revulsive" (Rustblade; www.rustblade.com; info@rustblade.com; www.bahntier.com; info@bahntier.com)
I shall not be afraid to put forward the following thesis: all the most significant and interesting in industrial music (if to overlook Throbbing Gristle and Faust) is in two Ministry's albums of the end of '80. Therefore, industrial, in my understanding, should be fast, aggressive and hooligan. Pseudo-intellectual hand-made things by Trent Reznor and his clones, activators of leg muscles such as Front 242 and absolutely ugly satan-gothic-esoteric clowns from all over the world are not from here!
Bahntier - the project of Italian multiinstrumentalist Stefano Rossello, despite of some absence of too obvious originality, it pleased me both by high speeds, powerful energy and cheerful and healthy hooliganism.
Rejecting some absolutely indigestible tracks, I'll recommend"Fast Corrosion", "Immanent", "Entrapvoices", "Inauguration Of Doom" and "Pigled" - center of pig's nightmares!
In my opinion, the album does not have enough cynicism, and the composer's nonsense wouldn't be so much... As Punch shouted on rehearsals: "It is enough to put on airs - not Pink Floyd!"

Christophe Bailleau "Cosmet Nihil" (Le Cri De La Harpe; 271 rue de Belleville, 75019 Paris - France; info@lecridelaharpe.com; www.lecridelaharpe.com)
The Frenchman, tried and changed set of bands and various styles (find Glyth, La Chiesa or Neven) from the middle of the ninetieth. In his present solo works Christophe Bailleau makes music somewhere on crossing of guitar noise, almost space grandiosity of ambient and so-called microsound fashionable for the last years.
Mixing sounding of musical instruments (guitar sound is masterfully processed - but in some tracks it sounds very extremely!!! Want blues in a noise-album - listen to the last or sixth track!!!), almost toy sounds in spirit of Gary Butler (sometimes percussion is superfluous to which in the given context a prefix "micro" will approach. There are the clicks scattered in the disorder, scratches, knockings and all sounds obligatory for microsound) with powerful, very emotional background electronic inserts - he-he, especially impresses when low frequencies enter - Christophe achieves very interesting result: this music really causes the whole scale of feelings and emotions! Not so often thing recently...
This emotional mood of the album just upsets a little - hardly melancholic, with smack of sadness and grief, with rare "gleams" of something warm...

Aidan Baker "At The Base Of The Mind Is Coiled A Serpent" (Le Cri De La Harpe; 271 rue de Belleville, 75019 Paris - France; info@lecridelaharpe.com; www.lecridelaharpe.com; www.listen.to/aidan)
Aidan Baker - musician living in Toronto (Canada), released a pair of tens solo albums on small labels of all world (including Drone Records, Sonic Syrop and Taalem Records) for the last some years. In his native city he stirred up water since young years, having changed a heap of every possible bands from punk-hardcore up to pop-rock. Then he has plunged into a jungle of experiments and quickly won popularity on electro-experimental stage. It is necessary to note his joint projects with such groups as ethnic-ambient-trio ARC, post-rock Mnemosyne and noise-metalists Nadja.
(Except for directly musical activity, Aidan it is known for the two books of verses and as the author of various prose, poetry and essay in various literary and academic magazines).
Classical education on a class of a flute and almost punk approach to his manner to play guitar - this combination give very unusual result - not ambient any more, but also not noise yet, though there are enough elements of them in his music. Magnificent if not to tell - grandiose, wavy, ambient landscapes are contrasting and unexpectedly highlighted by frequently sharp and aggressive guitar (well certainly, I speak about reasonable aggression!). And the sound of the guitar is capable to stump even the most skilled sound designer! Interestingly, but Aidan's manner of playing guitar has reminded me the sound of the last albums of The Haters - it would seem - the sky and the ground... In general, while listening this disk I've noticed with delight not hidden ANALOG noise during each track - it is so unusually, that seems even suspiciously! Well, and the head is twisted from such music - some wavy levels with a guitar flying across all, and, moreover, some obvious and latent levels of noise - my brains flow!...
After that it is no wonder the presence of joint releases of Aidan Baker with various noises on such labels as Kolorform and Noiseusse!

Beyond Your Eyes "Foreshadows Of the Past" (www.beyondyoureyes.com; rjrrx@yahoo.com)
Wow!!! On the moment of recording of this disk (April, 2004) all participants of the band were 16-17 years old!
Even without taking into account their age and that it is their first release, I shall tell that it is a great an album (- mini. On the disk there are, unfortunately, only 6 songs): fast, powerful hardcore-punk with magnificent vocal of Rikki Bernado (something reminded Bikini Kill to me. Well, may be more heart-rending) and powerful choral back vocal of other musicians (Jonathan Ramirez, Rod Richenberg and Tim Montalban). Very much close to hardcore and absolutely far away from pop-punk and other cheerful styles. There are some deviations (however, very insignificant) to rigid emo ("My Scars" for example), however even they are not capable to bring down from galloping rate of the album.
The technics of musicians, also quality of recording and, that is the most important - splendid, heavy sound is magnificent.
Well, I'd easier to believe that it is a joke of any known hardcore-band, than an album of four real teenagers!

Bickle's Cab "The Power Of TV... ...The Power Of Greed" (c/o Rich; 12 upper valley road, Sheffield S8 9HB, England; bicklescab@blueyonder.co.uk; www.bicklescab.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk)
The remarkable name of the album, isn't it? On the cover the broken TV with a brick inside is represented - a worthy example for imitation.
The band from the English city of Sheffield, the native land for some known punk-bands! Music of the band - fast, aggressive punk-rock, almost on crossing with hardcore. Rigid, critical texts ideally approach to musical support - is not pop and not skate-punk!!!
Very dense sound - it is possible due to magnificent work of two guitarists (I always spoke, that in the band except for the bass player and the drummer there should be two guitarists!), choral refrains (hardcore-bands of the end of '80s are recollected, different old-school...) and a furious manner of singing of the vocalist Lee - if you need good punk-rock - it is here!

Bickle's Cab "...Only Darkness Waits" (c/o Rich; 12 upper valley road, Sheffield S8 9HB, England; bicklescab@blueyonder.co.uk; www.bicklescab.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk)
Not often in design of compact disc or plate you meet the citation from George Oruell! It seems to me, that it is much more effective decision on the way of changing the WORLD, than to frighten inhabitants with Vatti's muzzle covered with ear-rings!
In comparison with previous album the band became more played-together and music became more malicious and more furious (it is already practically hardcore!!!)! Texts are on envy to any anarchical band - fierce criticism of modern western society and orders! (With habitual already, it is necessary to recognize, objects of attack).
The package of the compact disc is made as 7" plate, with effective black-white design. It is necessary to notice, that Bickle's Cab are consecutive supporters of DIY, that does not prevent them at all to release remarkable albums both in musical, and in the visual plan.
PS: I can imagine delight and amazement of Black Sabbath fans listening to this disk!!!

The Big Huge "Crown Your Head With Flowers, Crown Your Heart With Joy" (Secret Eye Records; www.secreteye.org)
After the disintegration of the Baltimore instrumental embient band Sonna (received honour to release albums on Temporary Residence, and two of them have been recorded by Steve Albini!), Drew Nelson has made a decision to work in his favourite genre: accoustic psychodelic-folk. After short solo-performances he invited Michael Lambright, playing on accordion, Hawaiian guitar, bandjo, etc. After year concerts in vicinities of Baltimore, in Chris Freeland parental bedroom this first album of the band The Big Huge was recorded (except for Drew and Michael, in record Chris Freeland and Jim Redd participated as percussion).
Probably, it is possible to consider such music as retro already - sensation, that you appeared in a commune of hippie of the end of '60s doesn't leave you during all album. Except for his personal songs, Drew Nelson sings also two national songs, which aren't allocated from the general sad-melancholic spirit.
The machine of time!

Birds Of America "Current Carry" (Isota Records; 1442a, Walnut st. #230, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA; isotarecords@yahoo.com; www.isotarecords.com; www.thisishowwedo.com)
The next brilliant from Isota Records holder! The leader of the band Nat Russell, in the past was the participant of Robot Rainbow and Robots vs. Birds - the bands practically unknown in our country. (By the way, he made out those mad covers of 7" series "The Isota Records Singles Club").
On the disk there are 10 quiet songs with an easy lo-fi spirit. The songs differ radically from every possible acoustic rock by their mood and extraterrestrial melodism!
Certainly, except for acoustic guitar, percussion, both bass and various horns and keyboard are used - however all this are in homeopathist dozes!
"To sit down" on Birds Of America - by all means listen to "I Am In Love With An Ocean", and then finish yourself with Barret's spirit in "Sleep" and "Son Of A Man"!

Bizzaros "Can't Fight Your Way Up Town From Here" (Clone Records; P.O.Box 6014 Akron, OH 44312 USA; www.thebizzaros.com)
Strong, incredibly hit punk-rock with strong influence of "new wave", differing radically from several "mainstream" directions in punk nowdays. A manner of the vocal (reminding Lou Reed), the construction of every song, unusual emotional "message", psychodelic elements - all is extremely unusual! (Nevertheless - touches up to bones!!!)
No, they aren't from Mars.
Simply they are those Bizzaros which "ruled" since the end of '70th years! They were friends with Devo, Pere Ubu! About them validly responded Greg Shaw (Bomp!) and Robert Christgau (Village Voice)! They occupied almost first places (- second...) in alternative British charts (Sounds magazine, 8/26/1978)!...
Nowdays (2004) the vocalist of Bizzaros Nick Nicholis is 52 years old! I hope very much that it is not that usual trick with the revival of "old band", when it is necessary for musicians to get new money! Their music and those feelings that it causes are too good.

bLevin bLectum "Magic Maple" (Praemedia; 460A Waller Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 USA; www.praemedia.com; praemedia@yahoo.com)
Trying to not pay attention to the ugly name for Russian ear, with huge interest I began to listen to the first release of a promising label Praemedia Records from San Francisco - the third solo-album of well-known in the West electronic musician Blevin Blectum (the founder Blectum From Blechdom and the participant of improbable project Sagan).
It is really a mix of improbable components! In the basis there is electronic music in spirit of the Sleazy Listeners with real prog-rock refinements. It sounds more likely as incredibly confused, deprived aggression advance-guard electronics.
On the album there are rather courageous manipulations with sampling vocals of Dina Emerson (Meredith Monk Ensemble) and Jonathan Segel (Camper Van Beethoven - ten years ago very popular in Russia).
Last track consists of parrot's chirping on the background of low-frequency noise - the real find for the noise-fan!!!

Blimey! "When She's In Your Head" (Partners in Crime: PO Box 7573, 5601 JN Eindhoven, Holland; www.partners-in-crime.nl; www.blimey.nl)
A new disk from the Master of pathetic Indie - Martien van Bergen.
If to compare this album to his previous work - "Less Summer Than Some", first of all I was impressed by the absence of foolish dadaistic songs (which hooked me last time) and the general mood of all songs (more desperate and hysterical) was evident. The disk, by the way, is very smart!
The header composition simultaneously reminds The Fall becoming incredibly sexual and punky Velvet Underground. Following her "My Baby" - a guitar meditation with a heart-rending voice part. "So Great (she's coming)" - a powerful "the Fall-like" punk (you finely know its signs - a hit reef, a monotonous, shaking rhythm and melodies taking for soul). "La Maschera Del Demonio" - a gloomy erotic-cabaret - no analogues... Velvet's "Flow" (with a hypnotic rhythm and magic keys!) is followed by a taking for soul blues (I think, it is a blues) "Train" with not less fantastic keys... The album comes to an end with open and sincere "I Don't Mind" (- a worthy example of ascetism) after which it would be desirable to do something good.
It is the music closest to me in the emotional plan. Probably, before the death I'll ask to switch on this disk (-a naive men!).

Bloody Crackdown "...The End Of The Beginning" (Valiant Death Records; 1913 Wallace St., Richmond, VA 23220 USA; www.valiantdeath.com; www.bloodycrackdown.com; mail@valiantdeath.com)
In this band there is someone even from GWAR (everybody stand up and take off your hats.)!!!
It can be noticed in their music - powerful and a little trash punk in a spirit of such groups, as MDC, Meatmen and the same GWAR. Nowdays even on extraordinary motley background of the modern punk-stage this style, unfortunately, practically doesn't meet.
Decent speed (without a thresher), low and rigid sound, severe vocal in a combination to militaristic attributes (in design of the album and in suits of the musicians) - it is necessary only to wish to the band to add a little humour and self-irony in the music.
(I've listened to this disk with my comrade who is not very much understanding in punk-rock. To the middle of the album he has asked me: "It that a sort of Oi!?". "No, - I was surprised. - And what?" "Each song is like a hymn!")

Brindle "Catch/Candles" CD-EP (www.brindle.com.au; brindlemail@yahoo.com.ua)
A quartet from Australian city Brisbane. Three songs, first of which - very hit Indie-rock with magnificent guitars, enviable melody and drive. The next song "Candles" - a 6-minute (have shuddered?) slow composition, hardly reminded a guitar gothic style of the middle 80s to me. The last song - "Mine" - semi-accoustic, with the same gloomy intonation...
All three compositions are united by the magnificent, open voice of vocalist Deb Suckling and, inherent to late albums of Siouxsie and the Banshees, decadent mood adjoining to hopelessness.

Brindle "Fight You For It" CD-EP (www.brindle.com.au; brindlemail@yahoo.com.ua)
The release of 2004. It is necessary to notice Deb Suckling's more unchained manner of singing (sometimes goes to voice balancing act). The second track - "Undress Me Slowly" - except for its excellent arrangements (Indie-funk - how often have you heard the same?) can be pointed because of powerful drive and magnificent guitar sound (inherent to all songs of this collective, however).
Well, and intonations of post-punk gothic style have not go anywhere - to mine pleasure, however, - who now plays so?!!!...

The Broken Human Machine "S/t" (PsychForm Records; 9792 Edmonds Way #130 Edmonds WA 98020 USA; www.psychform.com; info@psychform.com)
This is a real "supergroup" - in it's structure there are participants from The Broken Penis Orchestra, PLETHORA, WaZu, komafuzz, The Dropout, and also on recording of albums or concert performances other musiciants are also invited. This disk is the first sound release of the group (before there were a pair of 3'' disks (one of them in circulation of 31 copy! Rigidly!). It was recorded "alive" in October 2004.
The most magnificent work!!! Rejecting from own attention any postmodernist features, I have been simply impressed by atmosphere of the album - gloomy, with romantic mysteriousness, and also the richest sound palette - probably, the number of participants and their musical experience influenced it.
Probably, I'll warm someone's heart, but it is very close to Residents (well, who doesn't miss fresh Residents now?!!!), taken a great interest in improvised music and sharply grown gloomy ("Shit Talking Foreigners", "Deseption", "Drop Felt"). Presence of semi-instrumental "Salt In the Eye", "Popcorn Apricot Tree" almost hypnoticaly withdraws from reality, and the moments similar to a set of the bass-guitar in "Violence and The Brain 2" or guitar in "Drop Felt" deliver rare pleasure from listening this music - how frequently do I mention such words in my reviews?!!!
In the design of the disk the piece of x-ray picture of someone's backbone is used. Rock on the bones...

The Broken Penis Orchestra "Organ Failure" 7" (PsychoChrist Productions; www.psychochrist.com; www.hypnogogia.org.uk; bpo@psychochrist.com)
The cover of the plate has not less strange design (it very much to put it mildly!), than the name of this nice project. It is, probably, time to explain that PsychoChrist Productions is a high-grade division of PsychForm Records, with all consequences following from this fact (if you are already familiar even with some releases from PsychForm Records, you will understand what I'm talking about). As for me, it is a praise already...
Four collage tracks sated beyond the limit, reminding sometimes a radio theater in a spirit of Jarikov's DK, sometimes John Oswald's "Plunderphonics 69/96", with gloomy, oppressive atmosphere.
To tell you the truth, I don't have enough patience to decipher pseudo-culturelogical delirium accompanying any information about this band - listening to their music gives much more pleasure and is the real emotional stimulator..

The Broken Penis Orchestra "Oral Copulation" (PsychoChrist Productions; www.psychochrist.com; bpo@psychochrist.com)
A new release, this time on the 3''. While listenning it you won't do without excellent knowledge of the English language - a performance-collage consisting of 6 plays with mad semantic component (-very, very hot!).
As well as in the last works, this album is mixed and produced by Dick Flick - the participation of the invited speaking stars is reduced to ugly hooligan manipulations with their voices.
Five points!

Daniele Brusaschetto "Bellies/Pance" (HAX Records, HHETHH, RRRecords, Snowdonia, Soundbuster, Zona Libera; http://www.danielebrusaschetto.it; http://www.danielebrusaschetto.com; brusaschetto@supereva.it)
As well as the majority of interesting modern musicians, Daniele Brusaschetto before the beginning of his solo career has played in various bands. Then in the middle of '90 he started his own label (ZZZ... Productions) and released a debut album "Bellies/Pance." (the Album was released in 1997 by joint efforts of six labels from Italy, Germany and the USA).
The basic contest: aggressive destruction in spirit of early the Swans and Psychic TV; a gloomy atmosphere of the British post-punk of '80; an amazing guitar - from time to time really noisy and sometimes fondly/deliberately "avanguard" ("Ancora Scatole"); rhythmic power flashes a la Foetus in the end of '80 - the beginning of '90 and shouting desperate vocal (Daniele sings in Italian, however in the booklet there are translations into the English language).
It is necessary to mention a slow rhythm almost in all compositions (energy thus whips too much!!!) and enough unchained percussion (in rigid frameworks of minimalism of this album).
Certainly - the main advantage of this album - the unique mood, its spirit reminds about some cult bands of '80. But due to the Italian color or because of originality of the author's own musical thinking, the album leaves deep and extremely unusual impression after listening.
From the category "Rarities and Beauty".

Daniele Brusaschetto "Bluviola" (Radon Studio; www.radonstudio.com; http://www.danielebrusaschetto.it; http://www.danielebrusaschetto.com; brusaschetto@supereva.it)
After the extremely successful start of solo career (the album "Bellies/Pance"), Daniele Brusaschetto has released not less impressing disk "Mamma Fottimi", which attracted attention of the American labels (isn't it a dream of any independent European musician...). It is necessary to notice, that in release of the first album the authoritative American label RRRecords took part, in whose catalogue there are such names as Merzbow, the Haters, Massona and Thurstone Moore. A quite good company for the young European...
This time new Daniele's album was produced and released on the well-known Radon Studio - consider it as an attempt of impudent expansion on the American market (not on the contrary, of course...).
Certainly, from the first sight changes are appreciable: the sound became much more transparent - each instrument "is" on it's place, all very much is thought over and is verified technically - may be this correctness force to recollect with melancholy anarchy of "Bellies/Pance"?... Gloom was transformed to easy grief and melancholy, only occasionally broken through by emotional splashes ("Saliva In Raduno", "L'Uomo Nero")... Refined guitar perversions became similar to post-punk/post-rock plays... Electronics doesn't dominate but is present persuasively in some places...
Last track - "Blu/viola" - five-minute instrumental composition consisting of several sets of magnificent on sound guitars. It comes to the end with two-second background noise of a cord pulled out from the guitar - here it is, a small detail in a corner of a picture!... The highest point!

Daniele Brusaschetto "Poesia Totale Dei Muscoli" (Bosco; Bar La Muerte; D.S.K.; O.V.N.I.; Radon Studio; www.barlamuerte; www.oggettivolanti.it; http://space.virgilio.it; www.radonstudio.com; http://www.danielebrusaschetto.com; brusaschetto@supereva.it)
Last on time solo work of the Italian musician in which release, as in case of his debut album, some known labels have taken part. One of them - Bosco Records - a personal label of the musician on which among other things he releases such projects as: Lime (electro-harsh-noise), Diononesiste (black metal), All Scars Orchestra (experimental noise-avantguarde), Ich Niente (rock-free-jazz).
Well, I'll begin from the fact that all instrumental sets of the album are played by Daniele - may be due to this mad rhythmic courses have appeared (he-he, as for the drummer it was very unusual for me to listen to it! Not Pixies, certainly, but...) and strange arrangements. Practically in each song there are very unusual combination of instruments both on their sounding and on sets executed by them...
In the style range, the album changes from the most powerful avanguard punk (the first song - "Canzone Per Il Disagio" - real hit!!!, "Dondolo Il Cervello") up to almost initial lo-fi-indie ("Matilda", "Utopico Drink", "Arrancione, D'oro E Marrone") with magnificent guitar sets characteristic for Daniele's works in each track.
The present instrumental compositions are extremely sated with electronics, and in my opinion they are somehow needless pluralistic and are sewed to a sleeve with the most unexpected place...
Eric from Vialka, having seen Daniele Brusaschetto's disks on my shelf, stared and validly shook his head!...

Don Campau "Where's The Water?" (Lonely Whistle Music; http://lonelywhistle.tripod.co; www.kkup.com/donc.html; campaudj@jps.net)
First there are some quotations: "... longtime champion of home recording artists", "... the father of all hometaping radio shows" - infrequently you will hear such about alive actor!...
This person did so much for independent music, that his marginal little-popularity hardly detunes me. I shall try a little to correct this situation.
Don was born in 1952. In 1969 has based legendary subsequently band The Roots Of Madness playing avantguarde-psychodelic rock. In 1976 he based parody punk-band The Desmonds. Since 1981 he has been recorded solely on his own four-tracks studio. From the same time he conducts his own program on the radio - "NO PIGEONHOLES", devoted to home-taping and independent music.
Besides that he is the founder and the ideologist of such project as Pen Pals - on music sent by mail interested persons put vocal with texts then it can be released as compilation.
The disk "Where's The Water?" represents the compilation of non-realized tracks, alternativee versions. He-he, more stronger my amazement by this material was - as by the quality of playing (recording quality is on the highest level - it does not smell Lo-Fi here...) and by the contents - touching, very sincere punky samizdat-pop. If your imagination is well developed - try to imagine the combination of Sid Barrett and Mark E Smith - it is already interesting, isn't it?
Don's numerous friends and colleagues have taken part in recording - Dino DiMuro, Ken Clinger, Chris Campau, CR Goff III, R. Stevie Moore, Tommy Auerbach, and also his wife - Robin O'Brien.
Any normal music fan should necessarily know this name.

Don Campau and Tom Furgas "Marching On" (Lonely Whistle Music; http://lonelywhistle.tripod.com; www.kkup.com/donc.html; tfurgas@cisnet.com; campaudj@jps.net)
Team working of two venerable hometapers with engaging in pair of the tracks Yoko Machido (Japanese) as the vocalist.
As Don Campau is already a little known for us, a pair of words about his partner.
Tom Furgas has taken a great interest in hometaping in the early childhood, and the first tape with talks of members of family, sounds of water tubes and environing noise has recorded in 1969. Nowdays, except for playing music, Tom writes articles about the musical theory and research tendencies in modern hometaping.
The album consists of five rock compositions and four avanguard free-improvisings.
Rock is a very conditional term - most of all it has reminded me hardly funky and even punky Morphine (including even the last practically dancing track).
Avantguarde in this case unambiguously supports on Cage's and Stockgauzen's traditions. And the fact of it's "diluting" with more "thoughtless" rock music I'd consider as an artful course promoting the best perception and assimilation of the material.
It is necessary to mark the most magnificent instrumental work of the musicians (Don Campau has played practically on all the instruments, and Tom Furgas has played on the synthesizer).
Yes, songs with Yoko Machido as vocalist have reminded Lydia Lanch of the times of "Queen Of Siam" - with orient deviation and Can-like wobbly gait of the end of '70.

Carrion Crawler "Rot Crumble Collapse" (Rawker Records; www.carrioncrawler.com; www.swampofpus.com; japanasonic@hotmail.com)
Having seen a cover of this disk I was horrified - this picture would be an ideal visual expression of what my comrade Valik ("Posadil Derevo") disrespectfully names "meat, brains and guts"! Fortunately, inside - in music - nothing similar was detected!!!
It is not the first album of grindcore-trio Carrion Crawler. The bass player/vocalist of the band Todd (Fish Man) together with guitar-player Justin Kelly "control" the experimental label Swamp Of Pus and realize their avant-guard-noise ambitions in the project NOVA-SAK.
Yeah, have I written that it is grindcore? Technically faultless, with contrive arrangements (no, I do not mean levity of Locust and An Albatross) and crazy drive which lasts the whole album.
Closer by the end musicians hardly "play" with noise ("Bitch Shifter3"), and in the last track there is a ghost of late Neurosis ("Lorde Of All Maggots").
The best tracks: "Track #2", "The Downs Syndrome Nazi" and "Rippin' Dippin' Set Trippin'" that forced me to recollect fucking morrons S.O.D.
The best alternative "to addict" your comrade on grind!

C.D. (Christian Dergarabedian) "Un piano en la garganta" (Drone Records; www.dronerecords.de; yovibro@hotmail.com)
The native of Buenos Aires nowadays living in Barcelona, Christian Dergarabedian is known for the participation in Argentina project Reynols. Now he started to work solely, one of the first results of his creativity has been released on remarkable German label Drone Records.
Six compositions, practically flowing one in another, made in style of gloomy noise ambient - it's sound monumentalism remind Glenn Branka's early solo albums, and wavy meditative influence - remind the Haters.
Do not forget to note disturbing, oppressive atmosphere and almost storm noise splashes a la the Hafler Trio.

Chainsnap "Hollow" (www.chainsnap.com; chainsnap@yahoo.com)
When I once again hear the band bravely experimenting in the field of metal, hardcore and near religious subjects, I start to doubt in my own adequacy.
So, five courageous guys who are not afraid new and unusual, execute gloomy (read - Gothic) metal-core with all style attributes: metal vocal (terrible!!!), the guitars fussy beating medium-rate themes, mad rhythm-section (the drummer in a T-shirt "the Misfits") and the general hopeless-constant sensation of senselessness of the present!
But!... There is hope! In a song "Lost" couplets sing by normal human voice, that really sounds very unusually and attractively (but it is not for a long time, to tell you the truth, refrains again are shouted heart-rending, terrible cry and spoil all).
Yes, one more plus - no rap!!!

Cisfinitum "VS (Curve / Curse)" (Drone Records; www.dronerecords.de)
Well known in our country muscovites Cisfinitum have made an attempt of expansion on the West - very successful, it is necessary to recognize!
The post-apokaliptical landscapes extremely sated with every possible sounds - as the electronic and also alive analog origin, impregnated with emotions dreadful and inspiring despair (these are very powerful tracks in the emotional plan!) - smart work!
The sounds arising from time to time reminding voices of people or some animals, with the intonations touch up to a shiver...
Brrr!

Cum Sock s/t (cumsock@hotmail.com)
The canadian quartet playing noisy, dirty, someplaces even chaotic grind-punk. Some compositions, after creation by musicians the determined conceptual background, could apply for determining as "avanguard" or "experimental".
In general it is difficult to name Cum Sock music banal or any one-scheduled - despite of disgusting recording quality it is possible to hear a lot of stylistic nuances and unexpected motions. I think, that if the reviewers will not break off these guys, hereafter we can wait for very interesting and non-standard albums! (This album is very interesting and unusual - but the recording quality and execution (it is rigid careless) do not allow to evaluate it to the full!)
It would be desirable very much to read their lyrics.

Danger Free Animals "Neocortex" (www.dangerfreeanimals.net; oscardfa@ritmas.net)
Hardcore-trio from Spain. The charm of such groups is in their cardinal dissimilarity to what we usually name "classical" and "standard". Or in general - "American hardcore"...
Measured rhythm-section, guitar with heavy-metal solo, passing sometimes in something Albini's, and the most important - vocal! Nobody sings like this in hardcore: the vocalist simply reads the text like any terribly slowed down recitative (rap-core sucks!) and only occasionally other participants join him and all together they shout so quietly something... The common vocalist, from some fucking Crew is out on the second minute, and here we have discouraging and intriguing restraint.
A riddle.

Danger Free Animals "Demo-Xtraccion" (www.dangerfreeanimals.net; oscardfa@ritmas.net)
More fresh 4-songs mini-album.
The arrangements become more complicated, technics - is excellent within the limits of the style, and style itself has undergone little changes: music became much more rigid, and the same insinuating vocal became louder a little. The unusual to an ear feature which on the first album has drawn my attention was kept.
Very non-standard record for punk-hardcore.
Yes, on both disks songs are in Spanish, texts are in the booklets.

Dead Chretiens "Hated In Canada" (spunkzine@yahoo.com)
Cum Sock "Fresh and Dead" (cumsock@hotmail.com)
CD-split of Dead Chretiens already known to us and the band with a lovely title Cum Sock new to us.
As I've written earlier, Dead Chretiens very much remind early The Meatmen - the dirty, crude punk with charmingly rough low vocal. Despite of brutally poor quality of recording (even more reminded the first The Meatmen's EP "Now We'll Make Lotsa Pals") - extremal drive. And a pair of concert tracks presented on the CD marvellously are played and recorded even better than studio ones!
Cum Sock, as well as Dead Chretiens are the Canadians. In music there are much more differences: they play dirty, almost noisy punk-grindcore with characteristic low gurgling vocal (on a pair with which the high falsetto sometimes enters). Sometimes music starts to sound like almost experimental grind (well, on an extreme case, on something like Locust or An Albatross - is it considered still experiments or not?), that could please me.
Unfortunately, texts of songs in the booklet are not sited, therefore the contents of songs can be guessed under their titles (such as "DICKBUSHDICK", "Beastvsbeast" or "Tom Peeping is looking at you pee").

De Kiko C. Esseiva "Musiques Pour Haut-Parleurs" (Manufracture Records; Kiko C. Esseiva, Rue Des Cretes 2, 1018 Lausanne, Suisse; kikomasid@hotmail.com; http://noiseweb.com/manufracture)
A really magic on quality of recording and level of execution album of the regular sound technician of the band Vialka. Being well familiar with Vialka's creativity, I didn't expect any unexpectedness from this disk, however listening appeared completely unpredictable for me!...
Practically each composition balances on a thin side between a sound sketch of surrounding space and almost noise instrumental avant guarde played with the help of set of the most fantastic tools and sounds: a sliding glass (- you don't know how terrible this sound can be!), a deep sigh of the author (- Kiko, I've learned you! The second minute of the second track!), voices, sounds of percussion, rustle of gravel, hours, a scratch of a door... But above all this - the magnificent melodic lines executed by usual instruments (keyboard and horns) and not giving to the listenners any emotional relax: everything is gloomy, intense and completely not cheerful. Even, "Un Jour" begun as the joke (almost entirely constructed on circus kaleidoscopical change of voices), quickly passes in something thoughtfully-hard (the end as mockery is similar to agonal winking of the clown).
In general, it is like if Tuxedomoon in the middle of the '80s sharply got unwell with minimalism and have invited Zev and G.X.Jupitter-Larsen on back-vocal (- then it is better on back-dancing! - editor).
The disk is released by Eric Boros's label - Vialka guitarist - Manufracture Records. There should be a lot of such music - it is necessary to check it up!!!

Dino DiMuro "Sleeping Highway" (A DiMurotapes Release; http://lonelywhistle.tripod.com; www.kkup.com/donc.html; campaudj@jps.net)
I think, as well as in a case with Don Campau, it is better to start with the quotation: "Dino's music has been described as "Zappa-esque," "precise and infectious," and something akin to a "Walt Disney on acid" experience" - who will stand from acquaintance with this musician after such announcement?
In '70-years he played in the band BERTH. Since 1976 started to work solely. Now Dino has tens of releases of his own producing. Besides he works as the sound assistant in Hollywood, participated in creation of such films as "Gladiator", for example.
"Sleeping Highway" is one of his last albums devoted to his wife - Julie and included 13 compositions.
In attempt to describe Dino DiMuro's music I can't help again not to use the term punky samizdat-pop - as well as in the review on his comrade Don Campau. Some things touch very much - "What RU Doing In My Life?", "Regrets", "My Other Marriage", "Gerard Wrote Tears Of A Clown " - in some places Dino is very similar on David Thomas, kind but with strong emotional surface and touching openness.
He-he, probably right now after Dino DiMuro I am "keen" on Zappa...

Downtown Brown s/t (Chocolate Staine Records; http://www.dtbmusic.com; info@dtbmusic.com)
Trio from Detroit, belong to the not so extensive category of "musical humorists" (we'll forget Zappa's academism, the question is about the level of Lawnmother Deth, Starzy Singers and even Green Jelly).
Juggling with elements of various musical styles reminded me fussy Murphy's Law; plentifully submitted funk - a curtsey aside Red Hot Chilli Peppers and, partly, Mr. Bungle - what about such cocktails?... There were spittles aside ska and pop-punk (I am not going to mention DB's objects of sneers here) and, what it is absolutely wonderful - severe joke above heavy metal (enjoy "Leadaz of ROKK"!) - why is this asshole style so deride a little?!!!
An excellent album, with rock-press amazing responses which has accepted all this provocative uproar for a pure coin!...

Ensemble SP "Live At laipeda 2004.03.09" (Perineum Producnions; Armantas Geciauskas, Po Box 3, Jonava Lt-55002, Lithuania; kachifugetsu(at)yahoo.co.uk; http://www.swampofpus.com/rbc.html)
Again smartly designed compact disc, again rigidly limited edition, again interesting, non-standard music!
It is difficult to distinguish somehow concert sounding of such bands from their studio recordings - the matter is that it is impossible to separate every possible noises originating at living execution and noises that are scheduled and specially played by musicians. Therefore, in "live" recordings of similar music I like to listen and monitor imagination of musicians, their capability to improvising and skill to interact with each other.
Not very radical noise with light flavor of embient and improvised music (my attempts "to isolate" sounds of analog derivation are funny!), with some elements of voice eccentrics and very strongly pronounced own mood. There are not much bleak places, and they practically do not cut hearing and permanently present in the sound embient component creates almost tangible voice landscapes - even the industrial plan...
It is very interesting to watch such concerts!

Entrelacs "Cynorrodhon" (Drone Records; www.dronerecords.de)
A joint project of high-efficiency, but not enough released musician Yannick Dauby and "organic-drone-master" Michael Northam.
The first track represents a typical micro-wave-track, overflowed with thousands of smallest sounds, scratches and rustles - it is enough to listen even to one composition of this style to understand, what I'm talking about. One nuance - in this case is the whole micro-orchestra, occasionally frightened by low powerful rumble unexpectedly arising from the second plan.
The second track has other character - more dark, aggressive-gloomy, with the soloist high-frequency wavy sound. Very significantly!...
Such tracks should be 30-40 minutes long!

Er France "Petites Filles Back In Town" (Tennis-Schallplatten; c/o Andre Tebbe, Wissmannstrasse 25, D-40219 Dusseldorf Germany; www.erfrance.de; er.france@freakmail.de; www.tennis-schallplatten.com; jens.auster@tennis-schallplatten.com)
The French-German duet (as it is now terribly fashionable! - I mean duets!), consisting of charming French vocalist Isabelle Frommer and German guitarist (and at the same time the bass player, the keyboard player and the drummer) Andre Tebbe.
The very first associations: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Le Tigre, Elastica (who still remember this name?) and practically each second band from Kill Rock Stars Records catalogue.
Already by the end of the first listening this sensation passes!
A wonderful band - not similar on anything earlier heard, easily taking place on a tangent on several styles: certainly garage rock (half of songs - "Please Smile", "Too Bad To Be", "Petites Filles Back In Town" and the most powerful "I Can Boogie"), the most hit disco-punk ("Go Your Way" - reminds a mix of the Blondie with Carter USM), mega-erotic weighted Indie (in spirit of Miranda Sex Garden or L7 becoming heterosexual and terribly dissolute: "Fais Le Pari" and "Too Bad To Be"). Mocking "Mr. Canon" and "Watching My Heidi On TV (When Bjork Had Her First Punk Band)" - the name does not require translation stand independently.
Resume: Miranda Sex Garden play garage punk!
(the Producer of this album - Max Stamm - remember his work with Mouse On Mars!!! Here are - sticking out ears!!!)

Etat Des Stocks "Beyond The Wall Of Pain" (Red Neon; Patrick Parent 66 Avenue Albert Elisabeth, 1400 Nivelles Belgium; http://users.skynet.be/redneon.html; redneon@skynet.be)
A project of Patrick Parent who is the chief of small Belgian label Red Neon.
Despite of obvious minimalist sound, amazingly reminded to me first experiences of Suicide. This music suggest a lot of extraneous associations casts and creates an unusual emotional background: some intense, disturbing feeling half-and-half with grief and sometimes anger and fury. More often as instrumental component the extremely primitive inherently sound loop creating rhythm and the basic motive is used, and on its background a dreadful guitar solo can appear or in general something that cannot be identified with any musical instrument (I don't know with the help of what he buzzs in the song "Fight"! Try to understand it yourself!)
The manner of Patric vocal sounds like many of industrial-avanguard bands of the beginning of '80s, well, for example P-Orridge in Psychic TV or in Throbbing Gristle.
Texts have thrown me into confusion: the guy writes how it is cool - to go in fight with his comrades, to beat for justice and to gain victories over nasty enemies (- in Belgium?). Go to Chechnya!!!

Folie "Eyepennies" (Mitek; www.mitek-web.net; mitek@mitek-web.net)
I'm always impressed by the term IDM! I cannot imagine the company of sober intellectuals (this condition is necessarily!) who listen to Autechre, Mouse On Mars or Boards of Canada! If they are drunk - another talk, and the more drunk they are, the more awful their musical preference will be.
And now, listening to Folie, except for the term IDM I also can't find any other term!
Supersaturated percussions, funky rythms, melancholic tunes touching for soul (by the intonation this album has reminded me Coil's "Love Secret Domain") and complete absence of profanity and levity!
It is already the second album of the Swedish actor Stefan Thor hiding under the mask of the band Folie. The first album "Misspass" released in 2002 has done a lot of noise by the appearance in the musical press. Also, it is necessary to mark, Thor is the member of the project "Minimalistic Sweden" (also released on the label Mitek).

Fullstop "2001 Fullstop Odyssey" (Condor Records; Jean-Christophe Buob, PO Box 237, 1260 Nyon 1, Switzerland; www.condor-records.com; jay-c@condor-records.com)
The collective of five musicians was formed in 1995 and, successfully having recovered from a skate-punk virus for this time, finally ratified on the Swiss hardcore-stage.
This second album in discography of the band consist of 13 songs made in a very rigid frameworks: high-speed aggressive old school hardcore in a combination with metal riffs - nobody speaks about metal-core!
Squall of energy! The highest technics of execution (especially rhythm-section) is on decent speeds (- won't keep up!) and worthy texts.
The most powerful song - "Won't Fall Down" - with change of rhythms and mad drive, start to listen to the album with this song!

General Khaki "Live @ the Comedy: Give Us The Bullets and We'll Shoot The Suns" (www.generalkhaki.com; generalkhaki@trailofdisgrace.com)
The British trio which is leading up the fashion on "military" on the punk-stage to irrationality. Judging from the photo they look as captured Romanian cavalrymen, are represented as: Wing Commander Tommy Mack (vocal, guitar), Lance Bombardier Kat Stevens (vocal and bass) and Grenadier Roland McKennan (vocal and drums). They play so unique and amazing music that it is possible to talk about a birth of new style: incendiary punk-ska (no "third wave"!!!) with jazz-circus arrangements on hardcore-speeds - and all this is given in the way as if it is executed by a gang of fucking demobilized sergeants!...
Each song - a potential hit ("theme" of the band is played some times): "Animal", "45 Not 33", "Jetage" (- it is a bomb!), "GK Stomp", "Good Guys and Bad Guys", "Beer Is An Energy Drink", etc. Fantastic concert recording!!! I would give much to visit it!
Yeah! What melodies do they have!!! For the whole week already I go, singing under a nose "Jetage" and "Animal", hardly, to tell the truth, being kept, from temptation to shout them in all throat!...

General Khaki "3 song's demo" (1234 Records; www.generalkhaki.com; generalkhaki@trailofdisgrace.com)
Militarism, together with circus equilibration in arrangements and punk-ska-hardcore-and-something-else - here are the basic features of this London trio - not often mix... They sound actually very unusually - for me it is already a big plus - it is difficultly even to think up something similar.
They play rather refined compositions easily and valiantly. It impresses much.
In comparison with their concert demo - energy of "alive" execution is lost, but there is much less spoilage and flaws. (I prefer their concert recording more).

Gert-Jan Prins "Noise Capture" (X-OR; www.gjp.info; info@vacuumboys.com)
In the middle of '70 Gert-Jan Prins being a teenager has taken a great interest in radio - he collected radioreceivers, soldered senders and built antennas. During the '80 and in the beginning of the '90 Prins participated in various improvised projects as the drummer while he has not applied his knowledges of electronics engineering and electronic music to the project Quartetto. Since 1998 he has completely turned to electronic sound, having involved both the past experience of the drummer, and his hobby of radio. At present Gert-Jan Prins is one of the most interesting modern improvised musicians, participant of MIMEO (does everyone remember Keith Rowe - AMM guitar player?), and also E-RAX (with Lehn, Van Bergen, Dolleman), The Flirts, the Vacuum Boys, played together with Lee Ranaldo, Pita, Fennesz, Anne la Berge, Domenico Sciajno, Luc Houtkamp and Misha Mengelberg.
The given work - the recordings which were made up in 1996-1998, well shows talent of the musician and his capability to involve all possible reserves in creative process.
Unequivocally this is an improvisation with rigid rhythmical grid (sometimes artificially damaged) at which background every possible electronic scratches, noises and crashes solo. Closed loops twist one on other not creating any chaos or porridge (we shall not forget his past as the drummer), and it is emotional close to love experiences of the young-growth transformer.
The most sweet moments - something hardly perceptible on the hearing, waving on a background in the composition "SUB 4".

The Gold Standart "Square" (www.tgsband.com; ntoupsl@lsu.edu)
My first impressions - that this is a disk with easy, simple music, appeared to be categorically incorrect!!!
Positioned themselves as pop-prog-band, participants of this quartet are over-modest or simply dissemble - it is a plate full of musical finds and openings, oversaturated with citations from every possible styles of modern music!
Certainly, the basis - pop, melodious prog-rock on which such refined combinations of styles are already strung that even within the framework of one song you are lost and come in delight from imagination of musicians (as an example I recommend the last composition "Secret"). Yes, and one more thing: superb coping with soft, not aggressive moments, from time to time The Gold Standart give such heat, that different hardcore and about that collectives come om mind!

Gone Bald "Exotic Klaustrofobia" (Narrominded Records; www.narrominded.com; info@narrominded.com; www.gonebald.net; info@gonebald.net)
Trio from Amsterdam, consisting of: Razorblade Jr. (guitar, vocals), Stanley Disko (bass) and Bubba de Vries (drums). Since 1994 the band was released on various European labels and has passed through permanent change of the members. And of course they assert that exactly to this album the structure of the band was stabilized and has accepted the best form. We'll believe them.
The first, that has confused me, was a track-list - five songs, first four songs are for 20 minutes and the last, the fifth, is 16 minutes and a half. It is already an intrigue, isn't it?
Listening has shown, that there is a real brilliant in my hands, so rare and remarkable!...
Most of all Gone Bald's music has reminded me the Ex with addition of diversified hardcore - from emo and up to screamo - I speak not only about a manner of singing, but also directly about music. The arrangements bribe with their complexity and unpredictability - a classical couplet-refrain are simply ridiculous in this case... Yes, by the end of the album the composing talent of musicians is opened in full force - in the main instrumental composition.
And so, the last track - "Exotic Klaustrofobia" - the most magnificent punk-jazz with improbable arrangement and powerful groove during the whole composition. Probably, it is necessary to notice, that the musicians from Gone Bald got help from the participants of Pink Noise Quartet and somebody Wiechert Warntjes (owning the instrument known under the name "teremin"), they have sated the sound up to limit and added bright and new paints in the band's music. For 16 minutes and a half the composition varies from sharp punk-jazz (something reminded late the Ex or Les Halmas flown into a rage) up to melancholic launge - with real "blue" chords and magic solo on the piano after what, being gradually shaken, the band leaves in powerful and long drive with raving horns a la Zorn and extremely unchained guitar (the guitar set is magnificent with it's variety). The rhythm-section, by the way, "does" all those "punk-jazzes" such as Nomeansno!...
It is impossible to miss such albums - it will be shame and insulting then!!!

The Good Time Charlies "It Ain't Rocket Science" (Zerocontrol Records; zerocontrol@club-internet.fr; http://zerocontrol/propagande.org)
10 tracks of the modern garage rock - or punk if you want! Have listenned recently all the albums of Electric Frankenstein in one day, I was afraid, that I get a long resistant allergy on garage... Not at all! The reason is in a content!
In the whole days without a break I can listen to the same the Felchers and Zoomen, and from the Good Time Charlies I got such pleasure!...
Excellent sound (dual guitars haven't harm to anybody yet), remembering tunes reminding the Devil Dogs, quite good arrangements (it was a large surprise to hear live piano in "Satisfi"!) and power drive - the basic components of The Good Time Charlies music. Besides that, it would be desirable to mark soul and sincerity in their songs, in a combination with garage sounding they make a strange combination...
Excellent work of the band and the label!

Grillhaus - S/T (PsychForm Records; 9792 Edmonds Way #130 Edmonds WA 98020 USA; www.psychform.com; info@psychform.com)
The first release of new project by Frank Rowenta and Gregor Jabs well-known on the modern experimental-noise stage.
The summary in the press release is funny: "... post modern elevator music for post modern people". At all my disrespect for the term "postmodern", I have to recognize, that it is difficult to give more capacious and exhaustive definition in this case.
As a matter of fact this music (-by the way, it is easy to argue - whether it is music!) is possible to compare to punk-hooliganism of Alien Sex Fiend - I speak not about the form but about the maintenance. The same provocative adjust in relation to the listenners (very hit compositions with discouraging rhythmic stumbling and magnificent sound distortions) which, nevertheless, doesn't reduce general rather powerful power of the album.
Yes, even if one of the basic ideas of plunderphonic consists in stuffing compositions with plenty of recognized citations, here the purpose is to make noble disfigurations of citations and to construct their own monsters from the turned out freaks.
The best composition - "Duelling Partys" - the punk of a new millenium!

Happy Mothers Day, I Can't Read/Nova-Sak split a CD (http://www.geocities.com/happymothersdayicantread; www.swampofpus.com; japanasonic@hotmail.com)
One more split by high-duty Nova-Sak and Happy Mothers Day, I Can't Read not well known in Russia (- yeah, do you think they are very popular in America?) .
Combining noise with avantguarde and improvised music (though, there is not much improvisings), Happy Mothers Day, I Can't Read achieve the most interesting results - it is easy to listen to their compositions (take into consideration the complexity of their material!) and it is really interesting.
Nova-Sak - again cruel rhythmical noise with strange instruments solo in the foreground (not always. But when it happens - sounds great!). Very close to Drone Records production, unless only without apocalyptic intonations inherent to her.

Harry Merry "Well... Here's Another Nice Mess You've Got Me Into" (Tocado Records; PO Box 3092, 3003 AB Rotterdam, The Netherlands; records@tocado.com; http://www.tocado.com)
A very courageous act for a label, specializing on punk-rock and hardcore - to release such a plate!
The author and the executor of his own songs Harry Merry was born in Holland in 1971. As he asserts in the biography, since the childhood he has been fascinated with music and since 1979 started to take lessons of playing the piano. At the end of 90, after many years of study, inspired with music of the '60s, he began his first independent musical experiences (Harry very critically responds about them, though he promises to release them in the future). In 1996 Harry Merry has reached the final of one of festival of the authors-executors (the Singer-Songwriter-Festival in Rotterdam's Rotown), that has extraordinary inspired him and has opened a way on the stage (during the following 5 years the musician has gone with concerts round practically all Europe).
This album - a wonderful alloy of madness and touching, extraterrestrial romanticism.
All music is executed on keyboard Roland, with rare blobs of alive instruments (such as a lip accordion in "Hi-B-Bye") and electronic drums. The style range - a similar mix is not stacked in a head: rock'n'roll, blues, beat, ballads, latino, chansons and appreciable elements of Balkan and turkish folk!
In general: Sid Barret conducts joint project of the Beatles and Residents. Haven't you fallen down?

Hestons "Strange Sounds" (Ostrich Music; gristled@yahoo.com)
Firstly, when I began to listen to this disk, I have precipitately perceived Hestons music as rather simple, even the unsightly garage punk.
I listen further.
Fuck, intonations strange for garage start to appear, the speed increases so decently and general atmosphere is a little atypical for garage music.
And then I understand - they are the real Pere Ubu in garage reincarnation!!! Certainly, they are easier and without voice perversions (who else could so spoil the sound as Pere Ubu!) but nobody treat so close and at the same time with such original treatment to creativity of David Thomas and his company!
Well, certainly, first of all you note a vocal - simply 100% hit!!! Wriggling, incredibly expressive falsetto touches up to bones!... Music - typical garage punk (now I have enclosed in this word-combination only the best!), fast and rigid.
The sound is close to Lo-Fi, that also adds bonus to the band (I am fuckin' tired of these gloss Electric Frankenstein, New Bomb Turks and some hundreds more bands that name themselves garage punks!). It is a little similar to underground recording of some punks of the '70s.
(This situation has very much reminded me my opening of such band as Circus Lupus - I always was PIL's fan, therefore I was greatly touched...)

Hot Boogie Chillun "15 Reasons To R'n'R" (Drunkabilly Records: Postbus 87-9050 Ledeberg 1 - Belgium; www.drunkabilly.com; www.hot-boogie-chillun.com)
By the way, this trio is already more than 12 years old!!! After the big pause in the middle of '90 ended with their 10'' in 2003, this year the band released an album and plans a great tour to the USA and Europe.
"Do not call it retro!" - musicians warn in press releases. No retro here! Extremely impudent mix of blues, rock'a'billy and very garage rock (from it there is impudence and relaxedness of performance) with magnificent, really pure sound and ideal execution (involuntarily, all these uncountable "new garage bands" from major-labels, spending huge money on imitation of dirt and trash, come on mind!). Here we got very free manipulation with musical styles. Musicians easily pass from blues in rock'a'billy, not going in cycles on one (that is absolutely not typical - from songs to a song the bass-guitar is changed by contrabass - and the difference is appreciable!) though, in a basis of every song it is possible to find out easily a blues skeleton. Active presence of the horns (-!!! Unexpectedly!!!) and harmonics (-I've said already - a blues!) pleasantly decorate the sound of the band, and in some moments - the same as in "Butterfly" - gives powerful drive and energy to the song!
As the back-vocalist Martine from Sin Alley is invited!!! Though, in my opinion, her contribution could be more significant.
Some instrumental tracks only add power to the album (I wouldn't hasten to name them surf-compositions - it is too rigidly for surf!) and in addition open performing talents of the musicians.
"Call it "the evolution of Rock and Roll"! " - it is from the press-release again. It can be so, though it sounds pathosly up to horror...

Hum "Ether Rider" (Drone Records; www.dronerecords.de)
One more representatives of the Russian noise-stage on the cult European label - it is an INTRUSION!!! (- Russians really go!)
After series of self-made CD-Rs, from the diverse sides showing maximum thoughtful and intellectual noise, here comes the moment when ambitions of musicians have demanded more serious realization - 7" in circulation of 250 copies (Not much, but good, - my comrade says).
The first side - "Ether Rider" - meditative (insert somewhere here an adjective "tantric") noise without sharp corners and movements. On listening it is like if to put a head into a beehive, where the bees buzz wavy and so pleasantly.
The second composition - "Crucible" - is more traditional: well processed industrial roar made in loops, and on it disturbing, frightening sounds are imposed - sounds monumentally!
We've made them!...

Ich Niente "Ri-Tagli" (Into My Bed; http://space.virgilio.it/ashpool@tin.it; ashpool@tin.it)
Draft Ich Niente - a duet of two italian musicians, participants of many projects, Mirco Rizzo and Daniele Brusaschetto. Despite of obvious rivalry of two guitars on this disk, music is very full and rather interesting: living, improvised, with very strong blues beginning a-la early Captain Beefheart and, simultaneously, with very noticeable noise influences (not without reason one of the projects by these musicians is brutal-noise All Scras Orchestra).
Dazzling "classical" broken parties, with a powerful "walking" low bass going on the second plan ("Lunga 01", "Lunga 02"), ideally can be determined as "improvised blues", and such tracks as "Chiamala" or "Baigon" would decorate an album of any noise-avant-gardist!
If you are not frightened of Sid Barret's "distortion", Captain Beefheart's blues perversions and oppressive, even the chilling atmosphere from Swans albums - then Ich Niente unconditionally is for you.

Inade - "The Axxiarm Plains" (Drone Records; www.dronerecords.de; http://hp.ic.ru/achtung/inade/; loki-found@t-online.de)
Reprinting of the plate which has been released in 1995.
Intensive industrial noise with periodic improvisation on metal percussion. Sometimes it reminds an amusing version of industrial - like if Ministry are engaged in meditation! Some trouble is with ideology - it is usual, the more muffled music musicians play, more mess is in their heads...

In Jullia's Mind-Scene "S/t" (Bonte Koe Records; www.injulliasmindscene.nl; www.bontekoerecords.nl; info@injulliasmindscene.nl; info@bontekoerecords.nl)
For some reason, when we talk about psychodelic rock everybody at once recall Pink Floyd... Somebody even concretize - times when Pink Floyd were adicts together with "Crazy Diamond". Recently I have been excluded from one community in Live Journal when I have stated that listenning to Pink Floyd is a bad habbit and it is not a psychedelia!
In the In Jullia's Mind-Scene there are five musicians (on their concerts they invite two more persons)! A debut album about which I try to talk is so interesting and polyhedral, that merits the separate article!
Naturally, in a base of everything "classical" psychodelic rock of the '60 (I hope, you understand it as well as I do?). Besides that, the musicians safely go in such directions as post-rock (as it seems to me, it is a sin, playing psychedelia "not to touch" post-rock!), jazz rock, folk rock and even kraut. Despite of apparent softness (the guitar, in the majority of songs plays acoustically, the vocalist sings in classical art-folk-manner). In the songs there are also very powerful and energetic moments ("And I Trembled On", "Quest", "Sun"). One thing has absolutely confused me, it is almost complete absence even a hint on any guitar solo!!! Instead of it there is solo on the piano, pipe, violin, saxophone, flute! I can imagine what they do on "live" concerts!
By the way, the penultimate track - "Trust In Wealth" - has reminded me much from modern embient and noise. All is played only by real people and on real musical instruments!)

Jeffrey Novak's One Man Band "Jungle Beat Stomp" (Sonic Assault (Hit Or Miss) Records; Jeffrey Novak 402 North Ave. Henderson TN 38340, USA; jeffreynoval@charter.net)
Letov, Letov...
Two high-grade albums for a year! Jeffrey plays on a guitar, drums and sing. Certainly, it's a pity there is no bass-guitar (and in general low frequencies), Lo-Fi-sound and Jeffrey's often mistakes and flaws... No matter! I grew up as audio-fan under compilations "Back To The Grave", awful quality cassette copies of albums Thee Headcoats, Fireworks and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion! Try to surprise me now!...
Now about music: the unequivocal garage punk very close to early works of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, only dirtier and more rigid. Magnificent guitar play, mad rhythm and heart-rending, constantly shouting vocal - drive is higher than a roof!
On the disk there are two covers: "The Crusher" (The Novas) and "Whistle Bait" (The Collins Kids) made in "initial" versions.

Jeffrey Novak & His Fabulous One Man Band "To Hell In A Hand Basket" (Sonic Assault (Hit Or Miss) Records; Jeffrey Novak 402 North Ave. Henderson TN 38340, USA; jeffreynoval@charter.net)
This is a debut album (and at the same time it is the first release of the label) by the most interesting musician Jeffrey Novak. He plays on guitar, on drums and sings, and without any technical shifts records magnificent albums! Well, certainly, on a quality it isn't Pink Floyd - but it is, generally, garage rock in which cleanliness of the sound and correct balance of frequencies more likely a sign of unsuccessful record.
In general, it is clear - Lo-Fi quality. Powerful drive (practically no "quiet" songs), an excellent guitar (you can estimate solo in "Jungle Beat") and constant SHOUT!
The covers: "Here I Am, I Always Am" (D. Van Vliet-!!!), "Chantilly Rocks (and Pony's Tail)" (Jeff Evans) and memorable thanks to the Cramps "The Way I Walk" (Jack Scott).
A mad version of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion!
As well as the subsequent disk, this is released by the limited circulation with manual numbering. It seems to me, such music should be SPREAD!

The Jigsaw Seen "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" (Vibro-Phonic Recordings; www.vibro-phonic.com; www.thejigsawseen.com; contact@vibro-phonic.com)
And again new names... I feel ashamed a little, that I have opened for myself this band only now!
In general, not the most often music - psychodelic rock with electro-sitar. Very similar on They Might Be Giants - that is already remarkable! The first composition - "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" - a remix on the original track released in 1989. The following composition - "Jesus Of Hollywood" - a remix on the same composition from the debut album of the band. Further the same composition goes but only in accoustic version, plus "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" in two more variants - instrumental (with the most magnificent solo-duel of sitar and vibrophone) and the variant from the original single (may be for the comparison?).
I wanted to replay this disk and to listen to it on a circle up to madness! (To tell you the truth, for some days already I do so!)

John Wayne Shot Me "The Purple Hearted Youth Club" (62 TV Records; Thijs Van Den Broek, Advocatenlaan 22, 5324 Al Ammerzoden, Holland; www.62tvrecords.com; www.johnwayneshotme.nl; jwshotme@hotmail.com)
My expectations (-and I really very much wanted to hear this album!) have not been deceived: to tell you the truth, after the CD-ep "Let Sleeping Monsters Sleep" intrigued me I liked very much the new album of these Dutchs beforehand (- well, what to hell the musical critic am I?!!!). I was right as it appeared.
The leader of the quartet - Thijs Van Den Broek, being as well the author of almost all songs (in the booklet applied to a disk there are amusing summaries to each song where participation of the invited musicians in this or that composition is marked also) - one-man management is very appreciablly - on especial, easily remembered melodics and strongly pronounced specific "handwriting" in arrangements.
Yes, and all of them play the same magnificented Indie with a significant share of madness almost in each song (there is no absolutely "correct" and already fairly fucking-bothered "alternative" songs!) - such approach was inherent almost to all "new wave" bands of the end of '70s, and hardly later when Neu Deutche Welle has begun to sound...
I shall not open all surprises of this disk, I'll say only, that it comes to an end with smart instrumental - a synthesizering winking to German Trio (in general, I advise you to pay a steadfast attention to the sound of keyboard tools at John Wayne Shot Me - where else you will hear something like that!...)

Kandyss "Two Faces" (Condor Records; Jean-Christophe Buob, PO Box 237, 1260 Nyon 1, Switzerland; www.condor-records.com; jay-c@condor-records.com)
So-called hardcore-fusion from Switzerland, really one of capitals of the European hardcore!
Here fusion is in the following: except for normal (- he-he!...) hardcore the musicians have mixed a lot of styles: from rap (vocal practically everywhere is recitative, that, however, isn't a rarity for hardcore) up to metal. Yes, I know, that from such mix many feel nausea already, however... who knows - may be their European origin influences so - Kandyss absolutely is not similar to sickening americanized hardcore-metal-core-rap or something like that...
Ridiculously, but, as well as in all Manu Chao projects, this album is simply impregnated with any left-anarchical aura (- but only not in music!!!). And such tracks as "SOB" (with use of elements from hip-hop and some Russian melodies - guys will be surprised!), "Heroin" (a slow gloomy thing with some mad inserts) and "Two Faces" force to recollect their fantastic fellow countrymen - Cwill.
Aggressively, unexpectedly and places rather non-standardly.
On the disk there is bonus: a videoclip. Pleasantly!

Kid Koala "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" (Ninja Tune; www.ninjatune.net)
Oversaturated with intellectual component the album of this cult band (in 1995 they have done a lot of noise by their "Scratchcratchratchatch"), unequivocally falling under the category "Humour in music". (For some reason, this expression unequivocally associates with Frank Zappa for me. You'd laugh!...). It is interesting, that the album was recorded with the help of two players and mixer board without any samplers and other modern features. Knowing it - you listen to the disk with amazement and delight! Each track, except for the basic theme, contains set of sound details, creating as a whole a little bit surrealistic effect. And the disorder of the musical themes used as bases, is incredibly great and unexpected, that only emphasizes a certain mad effect!
What is absolutely not clear for me is ranking this band to electronic music - the uttermost absurdity!!!
The huge booklet-comics with the story about adventures of the small music fan is applied.

Kid Koala "Some Of My Best Friends Are DJs" (Ninja Tune; www.ninjatune.net)
One of last releases of the band being, as a matter of fact, the project of one person - Canadian Eric San. Humour and puzzled, kaleidoscopical balancing act with the sound fragments, inherent to the previous albums, have given up the place to more constrained, but not less fascinating games with various emotional intonations and moods.
Again the hugest disorder of musical styles! As a whole, despite of some too allocated moments (down to SKA!), the album flows in soft trip-hop-jazz with appreciable intonational skew aside grief and sadness. If to add more anguish and melodism - it would turn into Whitey On The Moon UK, if to add more erotic madness - Sleazy Listeners.
As well as in the last time, the disk is accompanied by the solid booklet with comics.
It is interesting, how frequently does Eric San listen to John Oswald?

�omafuzz vs. PLETHORA "Lo Fi Performance Gallery, Seattle" (PsychoChrist Productions; www.psychochrist.com; bpo@psychochrist.com)
This 3" disk with 18-minute "alive" track, recorded during performance of the cult command PLETHORA with participation of not less cult and well-known �omafuzz.
Surrealistic, exciting sound performance - even if Salvador Dali decided to sound his pictures, it would hardly turn out better! It is impossible to make any analogies - it cardinally differs from everything heard before (and, it is lisstenned on one breath!).
It is very interesting to learn how all this looked.

Lacuna "Nuee Ardente" (www.enjoylacuna.com)
Two years ago in the review on their first album, I scoffed at adherence of musicians to grunge... It is time to apologize or to arrange unreal promotion to the band among my readers.
Yes, grunge didn't disappear even on a drop. As well as adherent, tenacious, heavy psychedelia and measured, slow punk (the first part of this frase should call an association with the band Spore from Taang Records, and the second - with something like Godfathers times "the Birth. School. Job. Death."). The guitars make the same power wall, arrangements become more difficult, not so sweet for me lyrical moments have appeared...
Well, for some songs the band should be praised: "Bitter", "Going Down Low" (- here the band comes nearer to the "top"! Butthole Surfers would sound so if they got interested in grunge. Yeah, the guitar player in some places "plays" practically as Paul Leary!!!), "Lava".
A desire of critics to put Lacuna in "alternate metal" puzzles me a little - it is nonsenses!...

Litmus "You Are Here" (Space Music; www.spacemusic.biz; www.litmusmusic.co.uk; litmus@litmusmusic.co.uk)
He-he, listening to this disk, I've recollected one moment from my childhood: my senior brother had bought for mad money a plate Yes "Tormato" and put it on the table. When I entered the room, saw it and first of all I began to clear pieces of tomato from the cover...
And so. Litmus - hope and pride of a modern progressive-stage. "You Are Here" is their debut album which has been recorded in the summer of 2004. Unique music nowdays - well, can you name even one band with the drummer, the bass player, the guitarist and three keyboard players!!! (Zodiac is not counted!)
Don't be frightened - nothing like Jean Michel Jarre or a crowd of Philippe Glass! It is absolutely another, interesting and modern music.
Except for inherent to all progressive bases of Litmus music, it is necessary to note rigidity and even aggression of some compositions ("I Can't Be Sane"), giving to songs a certain post-punk charm.
Well and, as the ghost, during the whole album the same Yes looms somewhere near with the song about UFO (No, Litmus vocal isn't so unpleasant).
Last track lasts for 21 minute (and what do you want - the album was recorded for 8 months!!!) - "Stone Oscillator (Static Ritual)" - a grandiose hymn with powerful heavy guitar drive and sound perversion a la Pere Ubu (but, certainly, better than at Ubu). The scale impresses!

Long Search For Pegasus "Beyond The Bone Fields" (Red Brick Chimney; Armantas Geciauskas, Po Box 3, Jonava Lt-55002, Lithuania; kachifugetsu(at)yahoo.co.uk; http://www.swampofpus.com/rbc.html)
This cd is issued in the magnificent design in edition of 33 copies!!!
The label released this disk - Red Brick Chimney - a child of Armantas Geciauskas under whose management Perineum Producnions is found (see reviews on Ensemble SP and Seism).
The music has a little reminded me creativity of such bands as Death In June and Legendary Pink Dots: gloomy themes with a Middle Ages aerosphere, fast romantic spirit and a strong raid of classical music. It is interesting that LSFP have preferred to play without any vocal, so that it is an instrumental album.
In some moments embient component starts to predominate and absolutely occasionally real noisy flashes appear...
More often very much qualitatively recorded half "live", "half" electronic music sounds. It can be quite worthy named "decadent prog-classics" (using the word "decadent" in this case I want to describe general mood and spirit of the album...).
The last composition - "The Hills Are Alive", continuing the whole 16 minutes, is very similar to the soundtrack to "Twin Piks" by Angello Badalomenti - it is difficult to shed a few tears...

The Melancholics s/t (http://www.melanchoholics.de; melanchoholics@deafborn.de)
It is the personal project of Deafborn Records chief - I can be mistaken but if it is so - then he is right to hold his music "on a distance" from noise-terrarium of the label.
The name of the band is 100-percent corresponds to the music!!! Melancholics! Melancholics! Melancholics! More adequate transfer of feeling of depression or melancholies by musical means you'll never find!
He-he, it is necessary to talk about music, in this case it is simply remarkable! From the first steps for myself I've defined it as the sad version of "3rd Gatekeeper" by Skullflower - as much as possible sated with sadness and melancholy and not deprived the same energy and power as Skullflower's music.
Though already it is possible to speak about practically whole direction in post-rock - slow, sad, guitar meditative music, but I would not put Melancholics in this heap - there is something alive and real in them...
Guitar... Here the guitar is so tasty, that despite of radical ascetism (probably, it it is necessary even to tell a word "minimalism") of the solo sets (by the way, it looks very much interesting - on the background of several levels of "guitar walls" incredibly emotional solo sounds, periodically covered with noise guitar wave). It is possible to listen to this band only from desire of really beautiful and pure guitar - I'M WRITING ABOUT NOISE-BAND, pay attention!!!
It is interesting what the continuation will be?...

Mentals "Oh Well" (P.O.Box 4450 Austin, TX 78765 USA; www.thementals.com; Steve_oo_7@yahoo.com)
Trio from Texas (it sounds already promising, doesn't it?), under Steve Tobin's leadership - suspiciously familiar surname...
Well, what to tell? There are not too much Nirvana fans remained in this world (I am always amazed by disappearance of many thousands armies of fans after disintegration of their favourite band! I remind my friend Farit in the given context, who tries to do something with a huge tattoo EinsturzendeNeubauten on his hand), however those who still remembers Cobain and appreciates his creativity will come in delight from this disk.
Music of The Mentals simultaneously very much reminds Nirvana (close to abstruse, pulling intonations, so disgusting to my ear... I hate grunge!) and some fucked up (read - punk) version of progressive-rock. I haven't found any analogues. And what did you want - it's Texas...
It would be better to add more speed and madness a la ST37 or Butthole Surfers...

"Miaow Tape" (Stauropygial Plates; R.A.Pavlov, p.o. 429, St.-Petersburg, 191123, Russia; http://stauropygial.spb.ru; mail@stauropygial.spb.ru)
Extremely-empty release: for a half an hour some persons shout "Mew" in bad voices and with application of things deforming sound. An attempt to find a semantic component of this record has resulted me in impasse. My cat (it is a real demon!!! Everything up to what it can get, will be torn or eaten! Some kind of Jacoues Oui from the film "Newcomers" with Jean Renau) in the first night fall down this cassette from the table, pulled out the booklet and gobbled up a half of it.

Muck "Roc" (Pax Recordings; www.paxrecordings.com; info@paxrecordings.com)
The incredible recording!!! In my life I've never heard anything like this! (it would be desirable me to write concerning this disk, as one critic wrote: "What to make of this one? A typical Pax Recording release")...
Slow, tenacious (honey, resin, imagine something like that...) rythm, permanent low frequency "drones" (a lot of low frequencies. Fuck, here are practically only low frequencies!...) and thunder, a magnificent instrumental set: guitars, keys, electronic drums, modulations with tapes, bass, acoustic guitar, vocal loops, difficultly classified sounds... Above all this there is Albert T. Carmichael's vocal (aka Ability to Communicate) - monotonic, frightened-hypnotic text reading by his girlfriend Tina...
Effect is fantastic! Music (if, it is music - here doubts are possible) touch with monotonic rythm and for a long time stays in a head - all these lower frequences and strange sounds fill in all attention and the only way is to give heed to mad texts... I like it.
It is very strange music...
... Excites...

Napalmed / Recalcitrant / All Scars Orchestra - 3 way split-CD (ZZZ... Productions; http://www.danielebrusaschetto.com; brusaschetto@supereva.it)
Three cult experimental bands on one compact disc: czech Napalmed with three minimalistic plays (I want to pay your attention on 14-minute noise-performance magnificent by way of direction "... Scars..."!), dutch Recalcitrant, nowadays known as the Industrial Wiping System - real feast of industrial noise, and already known to us Daniele Brusaschetto's rather constant project - All Scars Orchestra - three parts of christmas audio-session of 1997 - magnificent Swans'like improvising plays with improbable for the given style melody (do not overlook - the question is about Noise!) and a gloomy romantic atmosphere in spirit of Bergman's "The Seventh Seal"...

The New Blockaders / The Haters "Zero is The Journey" (PsychForm Records; 9792 Edmonds Way #130 Edmonds WA 98020 USA; www.psychform.com; info@psychform.com)
The magnificent split of two gurus of the modern extreme noise-stage, being the logical answer to compact disc New Blockaders / Merzbowof released on the British label Hypnagogiain the beginning of 2004.
Right at the beginning of the review I've made a big mistake it is not a split but a teamwork of Richard Rupenus (The New Blockaders) and GX Jupitter-Larsen (The Haters - I was lucky enough to listen and review his two albums already). For this reason both 30-minute tracks submitted on the disk ("Zero Is" and "The Journey") look very harmonious.
In general, it is a strange album: with some dramatic art, plentiful flavoured with certain romantic spirit (I write about The Haters and The New Blockaders!!!) and, in general it is impossible to imagine, it is perfectly perceived even by not prepared listenners - who beat whom on hands - I don't know...
To the middle of the second composition something industrially-roaring, in a spirit of GX Jupitter-Larsen's classical works begin to sound, however in the end a motley pseudo Morse alphabet and dense low-frequency embient noise win.
The booklet of the disk spotted with GX Jupitter-Larsen's mad letters (picture's belong to him also) for which decoding you will spend a lot of time.

New Mexican Erection "Innuendo" (Nasty Cactus Music; www.nastycactusmusic.com; http://zianet.com/nme; nastycactus@zianet.com)
Oh, these caressing hearing names of the musical-freaks of '90th years that: Mexican Power Authority, Genital Deformities, Gerogerigegege...
Having read this name - New Mexican Erection - I put this band in the same gang first... I was mistaken.
This quartet plays not very much usual music: the most complicated, adjoining to prog-rock, heavy rock with appreciable influence of punk, hardcore, funk and metal. The whole album is sustained in equal melodious gloomy tones and rather homogeneous energetically (well, may be in the middle of the disk in "Rise and Shine" musicians hardly reduce rate, but already by the end of the song the begin to play again in the "cruiser" speed (not very much high, by the way)). It is necessary to note the humor present in the texts - estimate "Wanna Be A Cop" or any other song, and also high performing technics.
Definitely: not typical, unusual and little bit intriguing music.

Nova-Sak "Signs Of An Unhealthy Relationship" (Perineum Productions; www.swampofpus.com; japanasonic@hotmail.com; kachifugetsu(at)yahoo.co.uk; http://www.swampofpus.com/rbc.html)
Magnificent noise, full of unexpected surprises and unusual musical finds (- not so often you read such words in the review of noise music!).
Nova-Sak - Todd Novosad's project (Fish Man), the head of grind-core Carrion Crawler - absolutely a rarity - to meet such combination of tastes for one person.
So, the disk was released on Lithuanian experimental label Perineum Productions already known for us (keywords are: amazing hand-made-design and atrociously limited edition. In this case - only 40 copies!). It consists of five compositions: from chaotic-improvised rustle/knocking (analog!!!), up to rhythmical frying noises on a background of plain sweet buzz quite worthy to be released on Drone Records... They go up to disco rythms!!! The fourth track - cool rhythmical drive which especially advanced visitors of disco-clubs can enjoy (nevertheless, it is noise!).
I strongly recommend!

Nova-Sak/Odal (www.swampofpus.com; japanasonic@hotmail.com)
CD-split of Dutch avanguard noisers Odal and American Nova-Sak.
Odal - sometimes amusing, sometimes touching avantguarde with decent noisy component. Sounds are non-standard and it is impossible to define their nature. A kind of Frank Zappa in noise.
Nova-Sak - rigid, probably, here it is necessary to write brutal noise in spirit of The Haters but with somekind of solo and obvious rhythmical pattern during the whole composition, that is not typical for this music (he-he, do not through anything in me, ��?)...
Probably, this is the best of noise that is possible to find now.

Panophonic "Todo es Azul: Lo mejor de mi" (Pateticrecordings; Alison Records; http://www.pateticorecordings.com; theflow_99@yahoo.com)
The leader of Stellarscope - Tommy Lugo has his solo-project Panophonic. Under this name he has already issued nine sound albums, full of guitar noise, electronic loops, romanticism, decadence and melancholy.
On this, the last album, Tommy Lugo has not changed to himself: the same post-punk style and also the dazzling guitar - from time to time aggressive and noisy, and sometimes crystal-clear, reminding the Cure in the middle of '80...
Tommy's vocal - I think, he is very proud of this feature - is very non-standard: in such manner sang unless on the boundary of '80-90. On my mind come something from 4AD Records and different "new romantics"...
It is necessary to find "Las Dos" on the album - lie down and die during such songs with complete trousers of happiness, snotty and with teardrops... Oh, my God!...

Tim Perkis "Motive" (Praemedia; 460A Waller Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 USA; www.praemedia.com; praemedia@yahoo.com)
The legendary musician known both by his solo works and cooperation with Fred Frith, John Zorn (it is difficult to find any interesting musician who has not played with Zorn!!!), Wadada Leo Smith, John Bishoff, Chris Brown, ROVA. He has high authority on the modern so-called "new music" stage.
The album was recorded in 2000, despite of this it hasn't lost it's urgency and is capable to give very rich entertainment for inquisitive mind.
In the foreground of almost each song there is complex rhythmic design consisting from fashionable now puzzle under the name of microwave (it is amusing, but some sounds reminded me albums of the band Knife Fur Frau Muller fifteen years old!), each time made in unpredictable figure. And on this background, at some distance - somewhere on the second plan, the melodic line cold a little on the intonation is developed (some mad tools - from drops of the water to almost guitar noise).
The album is made very much wholely though, appreciating talent of the author, up to the end of a disk it is impossible to predict theme and set of elements of the following track.
The last composition - "Code" - a masterpiece of schizophrenic embient! The first minute represents a rhythmic puzzle then a powerful bass groove with rhythmical crackling/percussion begins, and on the second plan periodically there are loops from choruses or any improbable tools! On my columns, and on limiting loudness!... Fantastic!

The Pocket Gods "Green Fairy Tales" (thejacula@hotmail.com; http://thepocketgods.com)
The Pocket Gods is real home-tape project by Mark Christopher Lee - the guitar player of Belgian psychodelic band Zaam. Home-tape in this case means only a place of recording of the albums not their quality - it is on a very high level.
It is difficult to mark out the style of this music: acoustic blues ("You Are My Frankenstein"), then driving post-punk ("Godless In My Wormwood"), after it some kind of distortion above modern pop music, then a blues again, but already electrical ("Opal Dreaming"), Fall-like "Fonder" and, forgive me please, half-acoustic eight-minute "The Decadents".
Having recorded 8 albums for the last year, so eclectic as "Green Fairy Tales", the group hasn't managed to slide in self-repetition but only consolidated their own style: mostly short songs, without any binding to the determined musical styles, made up in the best traditions of Syd Barrett and Mark E. Smith.
Probably, modern indie-music should be like this!

The Pocket Gods "Plan Nub From Our Old Fridge" (thejacula@hotmail.com; http://thepocketgods.com)
Three-song minialbum from extremely productive indie-home-tapers The Pocket Gods. The first composition - "Devestation Duvet" - somewhere on crossover of post-punk and indie-rock. The sound is very pleasant - a little Lo-Fi, but not repelling with gloss (listen to everything that is positioned as very cool indie today...). Approximately in the same spirit "Nub Country Life" is made - unless some kind of Fall-like mood has appeared. The last composition - "I'm The Ed Wood Of Indie Pop" - a real hit (with dazzling solo on keys)!
For some reason for Americans such things are seldom received! I can't recollect anything similar...

The Pocket Gods "Song Of Accountants and The End Of The World" (thejacula@hotmail.co; http://thepocketgods.com)
This time the leader of the project, Mark Christopher Lee, play on all instruments (drums, synthesizers, guitars) himself. I don't want to say that is has somehow cardinally changed the sound or something else in music, however, if listenning to this disk you keep in head the fact that one person plays - it directly impresses!
In a style this album balances on the verge between Sida Barret's creativity and The Fall: Mark �. Smith lacks drive inherent to his many compositions. A lot of things could be named decently sounding (i.e., no sugar and glamour) indie-pop (sometimes even without a prefix "indie"), if the spirit of light madness didn't fly from song to song (I know, you like mad things!).
Closer by the end of then album there are more blues themes (Mark Christopher Lee as I have noticed is indifferent to blues), that is why there is a certain ghost of Beck. Fortunately, it lasts not for a long time and The Pocket Gods stay themself...

Daniel Patrick Quinn "Ridin' The Stang" (Suilven Recordings; www.suilvenrecordings.com; info@suilvenrecordings.com)
A new album of the musical erudite and educator Daniel Patrick Quinn - I always take his "lessons" with pleasure!
The melancholy mixed on some decadent romanticism (decline, decline...) expressed even in the smallest melodic nuances... Here you won't hear laughs and shouts of delight... As always for this author - a lot of strange hybrid of Velvet Underground and Mark E.Smith - you did not know that they can be so easily crossed?!!! Intonations and voice of Daniel (- Have I already said about The Fall?), a hypnotizing monotonicity of the instrumental moments (Velvet Underground for hundred times!!!), folk moments (nothing, that it would be possible to name abomination!) and even something from progressive and rock-avantguarde a-la Gong - the dish is so delicious and rare!
A couple of tracks are instrumental - very similar to Zvuki �u of the album "Simple Things" epoch - such magnificent minimalism...
As always, on all the instruments Daniel Patrick Quinn has played himself - he-he, and where he should find musicians "conformable" with his thinking! Well done!

Rinaldi Sings "What's It All About?" (Tangerine Records; www.rinaldisings.com; www.tangerinerecords.com; info@tangerinerecords.com)
As it is indicated in the booklet: "Rinaldi Sings is Steve Rinaldi..." and seven more musicians. Besides in the recording of this disk so-called The Rinaldi Sings Orchestra - more than ten persons participated! It is necessary to recognize, presence of such number of assistants is notable - from time to time the real orchestra sounds...
Yeah, they play very unusual music - real pop-rock of the 60's with elements of pseudo-jazz and rock'n'roll, with noticeable influence of intellectual pop of the '80s a-la Elvis Costello. The British flavor dominates: halftones and melodic nuances which have nothing in common with modern dominant from which we have already weaned...
Magnificent arrangements with power horns, violins (-!!!) and choral refrains, a little bit reminding late, so smartly sounding The Rubinoos, irony and self-irony, excellent power of the album and, I'll be repeated, exotic and unusual material (it isn't garage rock of the '60s!!!) make this album extremely attractive to the amateur of qualitative and "not outworn" music.

Robin O'Brien "Ilsanjo" (Lonely Whistle Music; http://lonelywhistle.tripod.com; www.kkup.com/donc.html; campaudj@jps.net)
Gloomy, semiaccoustic album of the greatest hometaper Don Campau's wife released after 8-years silence.
Robin O'Brien was born in 1958 in Chicago. Since her childhood she was keen on songs writing. In '80s she began to make own domestic recordings (together with keyboard player David Mitros). In 1995 she has married Don Campau and left to California.
Naturally, in the album recording her husband and practically all his surrounding has helped. The more surprisingly the result is - completely not similar to Don's creativity: a melancholy which wasn't dispossessed, however, an intrinsic energy, softness of sound and great execution.
I can not listen similar music for a long time - I'm too impressionable and I catch this mood...

The Rockdoras "s/t" (Ostrich Music; gristled@yahoo.com)
The fast, rigid punk-surf. The fans of the Ventures and the Shadows will feel uncomfortable here.
The songs are rather long that is not typical for surf-music, he-he, but don't be afraid - there is no time to bother! Besides - a rare case for surf - there is no well-known and familar themes here! The musicians play (there are three of them) simply perfectly, successfully combining faultless technics with punk power and drive. The last composition - "Punch Fight" - on speed and pressure comes nearer to hardcore! Also I'll note similar to a shot "No Sign Of Life (In The Deli)" and a sketch with spanish flavor "La Llarona".
Interesting and very original music - how often do you read something like that about surf-albums?!

Rubbermiilk Orchestra "When In Rome (Revolution)" (Chocolate Staine Records; http://www.dtbmusic.com; www.rubbermiilkorchestra.net; info@dtbmusic.com)
Sometimes it happens so: on the one hand - I cann't listen Primus because of their fussiness and convulsiveness; on the other hand - Shellac seems to me too serious if not to say - gloomy... (Don't think anything superfluous - I like Shellac for a long time and seriously! Like the adult...)
Well. I switch on Rubbermiilk Orchestra and fall in great excitement!!! Can you imagine what it would be if Albini produced Primus? Moreover they would take somebody from RHCP - for a dense funk!...
The most surprising is the fact that only three persons play in the band!!! The sound is the most dense and the most powerful. Except for already listed influences I'll note some post-punk of half of the songs and even no wave (estimate, for example, "Freaked Out Freaks"), play - as monsters (Jerry Strizzo - drums, Donn Jizzo - guitar, Manny Mizzo - bass and vocals), arrangements - real puzzles which it would be desirable to be solved...
Yes, Patton can envy their vocal perversions!
In the press release it is noted: "Recommended Tracks:....." - very modestly, isn't it?... This disk - a bomb from the beginning and up to the end, and such disks it is necessary to present to the best friends on their birthdays...
PS: occasionally I have decided that Chocolate Staine Records release only such funny guys, for example Downtown Brown (the band, without any talks, is excellent!). And they, as you can see, are engaged in so serious things!

Saints Of Eden "Overload" (Metech recordings; http://www.metech-recordings.com/; info@metech-recordings.com)
The British project showing interesting results of crossing Gothic music (Sisters Of Mercy, Cure and etc.) with industrial. The vocal is in traditions of death-metal, that certainly sounds not so tempting...
Vigorous electronic rhythms, characteristic guitars (from traditional metal riffs up to vast typical Cure solo), infinite sintethizer effects reminding of "Golden Age" of industrial music - first half of the '90s... Not the most original band, however - musicians have an excellent feeling of taste (read - measure) and rather unusual for nowdays set of "influences".

Sean Smith (Isota Records; 1442a, Walnut st. #230, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA; isotarecords@yahoo.com; www.isotarecords.com; www.seansmithlives.com)
A debut album of the 23-years old guitarist, playing in 3-manual style in the spirit of John Fahey (www.johnfahey.com).
A lot of blues and country. Not those to what you have got used. All album is impregnated with gloomy tones and sensation of any solemn grief (-?!!!), that creates inexpressible impression while listening!... Very heavy and simultaneously touching feeling...
John Fahey loved death too, its paints and intonation, and he transferred them masterfuly. Hardly this is banal imitation or copying - touches too much...

Secret Annexe "What Is About This Place?" (Ocelot Records; http://secretannexe.net)
Isn't it enough the bands similar to Velvet Underground? He-he... Not enough for me.
The band has been formed as a duet of the vocalist and guitar player Rob Mulhearn and his wife, Tammy - the drummer. The glory of White Stripes didn't give them rest and the band has grown up to six person. I do not know what music they played together, but on this debut album, there is presented rather interesting mixture from psychodelic rock a-la Velvet Underground and romantic, nobody-says-the-word-"pop" indie.
Completely unexpectedly I have seen a name of guitar player Shelby Rushing as the member of the band - the leader of prog-rock The Gold Standart - whence have appeared complicated arrangements and so magnificent instrumental line (it is necessary to "taste" his party in "The Fatal Glory Of Steamboat Racing"...).
Rob Mulhearn himself sing in lou-reed manner, more correctly even to name it as recitative, very pathetic and expressive. A certain elitism in the band sound add Kelly Stone's violin, and smart piano parties are played by Jessica Gaboury who has classical education.
Very beautiful, "live" music, with expression carefully masked ("Red Letter Day", "A Way To Be Sure", "Song About Leaving Part 1") and some touching sincerity...
As the "hidden" track a 5-minute very beautiful madness goes - it would be desirable to listen to such album!

Seism "Dstermjeg" (Perineum Producnions; Armantas Geciauskas, Po Box 3, Jonava Lt-55002, Lithuania; kachifugetsu(at)yahoo.co.uk; http://www.swampofpus.com/rbc.html)
The experimental project founded by Canadian Jason Campbel in 1996. The band have made some tens of various format releases, one of which - was issued on the remarkable Lithuanian label Perineum Productions (nowadays it is Red Brick Chimney Records) in ammount of 42 CD copies. First of all I'll say about it's design: all disks received from this label are real art works!!! They are pleasant for keeping in your hand, it would be desirable to show them to friends and their contents however correspond with love and diligence to their made up design!
Damn, in fact, all so-called DIY-releases should be made up this way instead of standard plastic stampings and brainless gloss inserts!!!
Striking combination of noise (good for listenning, it is necessary to recognize!) with embient and improvised avantguarde. Two half-hour compositions made up without any loophole on one subject - soft overflows lead us from one sound-collage to another, bypassing acute angles but, nevertheless, it is not pacific recording at all - energy will suffice on a pair of punk-albums, and imaginations in arrangements - to good prog-band! I don't know, may be it is worth to talk about real dramatic art?
Actually - very interesting and inventive avanguard noise, capable to touch even the most exacting listenner.
Magnificent design and so magnificent contents!

Sick 45 and Higgins++ "New Day New Enemy" EP (JSNTGM Records, p.o. box 1025, Blackpool, FY3 OFA, UK; www.jsntgm.com)
New release of the label JSNTGM Records (the name is translated as Just Say NO to Government Music) - 7" split of the real brilliant of the label - the band Sick 45 and Andy Higgins' solo project (he is a chief of JSNTGM Records and also the editor of the "Blackpool Rox II" zine.
The first track - "Losing The War" - in Sick 45 execution - classical British polit-punk with powerful expression and excellent anti-war text. Dense, rigid sound (advantage of two guitars in the band is very visible here!) and magnificent performing technics. It has reminded me an extremely hard version of Citizen Fish (without any ska, certainly).
The next two compositions are executed by Higgins++ (it is Andy Higgins himself and Sick 45 accompanies to him).
"Einsatz" - a short (only half-minute), ideologically and conceptually made in spirit of CRASS, political melorecitation.
"Got A Revolution" - UK Subs should sound like this today if not become fat... Powerful, fast, incredibly fascinating rock-and-roll punk with choral refrains, the text where it would be desirable to subscribe under each line and sincere, without any wriggling, submission.
Fuck! Thanks to such recordings I really believe in power of punk-rock, in that it is really necessary to �Make the PUNK threat again!� and that in this world it is still possible to change something by music and word!
The most fair songs on my horizon!

Signal To Noise Ratio "Demo 2" (http://snr.rockmetal.pl; dodiabla@rockmetal.pl)
From the very beginning of the '90 I was impressed by the level of developing of the Polish scene - in some times advancing Russian. Unfortunately, expansion of Polish bands to the West (unless not for that the majority of east-european musicians have taken guitars in their arms, haven't they?). One thing prevents them (as Russians) - the language intolerable for a western ears. Rare aesthetes like the sounding of Polish language (such as me, he-he). And they only underline total marginal of Polish music in Russia.
So, it is already the second demo of the quartet "pasturing" on a field of psychedelia, folk and progressive. I think, you agree with me, that for playing in these styles decent skills in instruments is necessary - that's all right with it for STNR. The bass, the guitar, keys, drums and a flute (the vocalist who has sung only in one composition - was engaged) - all batches are played on the highest level.
The first composition is constructed on a "duel" of the flute and keyboard. The following track - "Entropia" - a guitar improvisation with orient flavor, here we can hear voice of Ola Jaromin. The next "Kruk" - jazzy improvisation on the piano with almost heavy-metal guitar and smart rythm-section. The last track is almost post-rock "Opium" with same orient colour and light taste of the '60.
Very promising collective, whose creative development should be traced very attentively.

Skooshny "Zoloto" (Vibro-Phonic Recordings; www.skooshny.com; www.vibro-phonic.com; contact@vibro-phonic.com)
The retrospective disk of pioneers of the psychodelic pop, for some reason called by the Russian word "Are boring" in translation (an accent on the last syllable). Love to Dostoevsky's native language (and whom else they should know there if only they aren't students-Slavists?!), except for the title of the band, it was expressed also in the title of the album (is it necessary to translate it?) and in its design: bourgeois came from "ROST's windows" like Scrooge McDuck (this is more understandably and closly to you!) bathes in a pile of golden coins...
Skooshny have started to play at the end of '70 when times of The Birds have already passed and REM were still small... By the way, it were not the best times for a psychedelia, weren't it?
(It is interesting that early tracks - "It Hides More Than It Tells" and "Ceiling Changes Everyone" I have involuntary selected at the first listenning).
Music which Skooshny play is difficult to name very much original: psychodelic pop with elements of folk, rock of the '60 and garage rock. A little similar to The Kinks, a little to Green Pajamas, there is also something from The Birds and REM. They touch not by it but by sincerity and fairness. Improbably complicated arrangements, masterly execution and the most interesting texts (no, they are philologists!) only reinforce positive impressions of listenning - more than 70 minutes of excellent, high-quality intelligently-saturated music!
The best, in my opinion, tracks are: "Clickin' My Fingers" (the last in this albumis is simply a bomb!), "Beautiful Bruise", "Private Jokes" (almost post-punk), "Angel With A Devil's Heart", "I Never Change My Mind" and "Crossing Double Lines" (pay attention to a tune!).
The actual opening for the real music fan!

SMP "Crimes Of The Future" (Music Ration Entertainment, LLC; 1426 Harvard Ave #339 Seattle, WA.98122 USA; promo@musicration.com; www.smphq.com; www.musicration.com)
SMP - it is deciphered as Sounds Of Mass Production; as a matter of fact it is the project of one person - Jason Bazinet. In 1992 together with Sean Ivy he has based SMP (it is terrible to imagine a degree of self-confidence of this person - Seattle, 1992, and he creates a cyber-punk band!!!), and since then he has released five albums on various labels.
The next, sixth release at last has reached us, and it is necessary to regret only for so long way...
Strongly pronounced electronic sounding (without any attempts of imitation of "live sound" than so frequently many industrial collectives use), completely unexpected in the given context magnificent melodies, a rich palette of used styles (in the frameworks of this style) - punk, metal, rap, techno and even disco! In some moments obvious attempts of stylization to the music of '70-80s (-electronic music) are noticed. That very much recovers the album and gives a lot of associative impressions to the listenners.
The most great things: a driving cover of "Bloodstains" Agent Orange (surf-core in the cyber-punk - there was nothing like that!) and hysterical "I'm Tired Of Life" T.S.O.L.
Aerobatics!

Soleilkraast "Choresonic Preludes To A Dark Cycle" (Drone Records; www.dronerecords.de)
Debut from the French Nantes, as a matter of fact being the project of one person.
The first track ("Zoyd Kraast") begins with the pacifying, almost meditative rumble gradually passing in a sound squall - with mad power and significant with rich intonations implied senses on the second plans.
The second side of the plate - a composition "Eesdaia" - more mysterious/surrealistic: on the background with gloomy, apocalyptical landscapes the melancholic piano sounds - it is unreally wildly and vividly in the given context!!! An amazing mix!
Fifteen minutes it is not enough!

Soular System "Big Bang" (Own Release; http://www.soularsystem.com, soular@aol.com)
As far as I have understood this is a project of one person - multiinstrumentalist Cory Morgenstern.
Not the most "fashionable" music on this disk, may be for this reason it is of interest for the serious listenners.
Power-pop, understood literally - he-he. Actually - songs directly alternate - pop (if not to tell fairly - a snotty thing) is replaced by songs powerful and interesting by the construction ("Big Bang", "Keep Walkin'", "Wacko In Disquise", "Spinnin' My Wheels" (- very close to "new wave" of the end of '70s) and Ted Nugent's ultimate hit "Journey 2 the Center Of the Mind" - I have listened to it up to solo and hasn't shed a few tears nearly...).
Magnificent melodies and masterful arrangements... If to remove from this album a half of frank pop-songs, SIMPLY BOMBING disk it would turn to be!

Stabat Mors "Ich bin so wild nach deinem Erdbeermund" (Drone Records; www.dronerecords.de)
The noise-project from Germany, once again trying to cross a donkey to a hedgehog - to enclose under the music a serious philosophical lining.
On this plate the autobiographical text of legendary actor Klaus Kinski is used which is read in a monotonous female voice simultaneously with a squeal reminding sounds of driving guitar. (Later the disfigured accordion joins!!!). On the second plan constantly there is a low-frequency rumble, adding a lot of implied senses by different gurgles and roars.
Too cleverly for me.

David Stalling and Anthony Kelly "Underclocker Audio ep" (Aphasia Recordings; http://aphasia.ear.ie; aphasia@ear.ie)
Two musicians, David Stalling (Germany) and Anthony Kelly (Ireland), living in Dublin, work together for the last two years. Except for participation in every possible art-festivals, the musicians release their products on compact discs (by good tradition - with manual registration and the extremely limited edition). The given promo-disk consists of four minute compositions which can be downloaded from the site of their own label (http://aphasia.ear.ie)
It is not difficult to note, that roots of their music are from the end of the '70 - the beginning of the '80: The Residents with their "The Commercial Album", the whole assemblage of minimalistic European groups, "musique concrete"... From present times I would mark the following signs: soft, I can say even delicate noise (very delicate!), bounding with a microwave, post-rock and constrained voice collages.
Yes, as it seemed to me - they have real live guitar to which sounding Fred Frith would envy!!!

David Stalling and Anthony Kelly "Small Audience" (Aphasia Recordings; http://aphasia.ear.ie; aphasia@ear.ie)
This 4-song ep is released in two versions - on CD and on DVD. The CD I got on reviewing, though released in the limited edition (denomination, in my opinion...) and originally made out (the cover of the disk is made as the booklet in which the colour photo of a certain rectangular abstraction is possible to find), maintains only 4 audio-tracks. Whereas on DVD, except for them, there are present both photo- and video-works of the musicians. Well, I had to enjoy their description in the booklet enclosed to the disk (it not the first time to read about films as well as to look films about books or to listen to stories about music)
The musical component is rather modern (I don't abuse now!): the post-rock mixed on minimalistic noise and hometaping, with some elements of embient (well, something in the Coil's style).
The best and the most long track (almost for 4 minutes - but it is not enough!!!) - "Sweetwater" - ideally will approach in the capacity of policy statement of this duet.

David Stalling and Anthony Kelly "Radios Silent!" (Aphasia Recordings; http://aphasia.ear.ie; aphasia@ear.ie)
The 14-minute composition balancing on the verge of embient, noise, voice collage and minimalistic avantguarde. (Isn't it much?...)
As I have noted, these musicians dazzlingly manage to create for the listenner the determined adjust and during the whole track to manipulate it. Some voice levels (from the guitar solo on the foreground (if only it can be named solo!), up to bass re-rolls somewhere behind) create some emotional contexts at once, in addition exciting the imagination. (I count as the most natural way of listenning to this music lying in earphones in a thick darkness).
The minimalism intercrosses with restraint (I think, it is not one and the same), softness does not become snotty. And the composition ends thirty seconds later, than you have realized it... (-?!!!)
As always - the design - the highest points! Manual design (a-la 7") with dazzling photos and personal signatures of musicians. The limited edition - 100 copies - very cruel...

Stars Like Fleas "Sun Lights Down On The Fence" (Praemedia; 460A Waller Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 USA; www.praemedia.com; praemedia@yahoo.com)
The basis of this Brooklyn avant-electro-improvised project are: Shannon Fields - the composer and multi-instrumentalist, not only accepting active participation in the life of improvised and electro-noise stage of New York, but also engaged in producing of various musicians, and also being sound-art-editor of literary and art magazine Diagram. He is the author of all musical part of the album and it's producer.
Second half of the basis of SLF - Montgomery Knott - veteran of the Texas stage (for a long time he worked with Stars Of The Lid), nowadays is envolved in various sound, video and art - projects. In the booklet exhaustive definition of his participation in the project "Montgomery Knott: sings his words" is given.
Organised the group of musicians-assistants consisting of one and a half ten of participants of such bands as No Neck Blues Band, Papa M, At The Drive In, Mercury Rev, The Silent League, TEST, etc., Fields and Knott arranged improvised sessions lasting for many hours result of which (it's "extract") turned into this album.
The richest sound palette (except for numerous horns and traditional instruments for rock music, various electronic effects and devices, violins, acoustic guitars are used, the piano, etc.), changing from song to song, does not influence on the general intonation - a little weakened, with smack of lounge, schizophrenic psychedelia. It is necessary to remember Dufus, playing louder, faster and more chaotic...
Plentifully used folk motives make up additional melancholy and texts force to scratch a head for a long time ("I've Pumped Your Stomach and Broken Through Your Skin")...
They should stand between Dufus and Birds Of America from Isota Records.

Stellarscope "Fingerpaint the Colour of Sound" (Pateticrecordings; Alison Records; http://www.pateticorecordings.com; theflow_99@yahoo.com)
This band was formed in 1995 by the guitar player/vocalist Tommy Lugo. Ideal determination for this music - space-pop (and earlier I thought what does it mean!). Full of surrealistic half-words, noisy and simultaneously abstract-transparent music with added post-rock and post-punk elements.
The real Cure-like guitar sounds during all album, a vocal - admitting some overindulgence with intonations (total depression and melancholy is playfully replaced by banal decadent mood and sensation of complete hopelessness. A feast of sensations!) it is practically constant - "not on style", pure and "noble". Heroic romanticism in tunes and mood is blanked by dazzling noise guitar and it doesn't keep sensation of excessive sweetness or falseness.
Despite of all aforesaid, on this disk there are two real hits: "Serenity" and "Something Delicious" - fast aggressive space-post-punk with elements of noise-rock - how often do you meet such combination?!...

Stoma s/t (Tocado Records; PO Box 3092, 3003 AB Rotterdam, The Netherlands; records@tocado.com; http://www.tocado.com)
The duet consisting of bass player Bruno Ferro Xavier da Silva and drummer Wonter van Wijk who played in known Dutch collective DooDoo's Coffe before.
(After the announcement of the structure of the band recollect Swiss Les Halmas and Canadians Sabot).
Music - something rigid, certainly avanguard (both on construction and on technics of playing - bass-guitarist Bruno uses different receptions of game and effects, except for that - keyboard, percussion and some tools which can't be easily identified (somewhere vargan has seemed to me - "Geile Kikker")), with very strong improvisatory beginning, with effective melodies and powerful emotional pressure.
They begin to sing only to the fourth song, then "power up", and in the last 12-minute composition they sing rather melodious on rigid and gloomy musical theme.
If to remove all soft and quiet moments - it will turn out very similar on Vialka (though the last has guitar instead of bass).
Don't forget, that Tocado - very authoritative European punk-label! Good fellows!!!

Suilven007 (Suilven Recordings; www.suilvenrecordings.com; info@suilvenrecordings.com)
Four instrumental compositions, first of which is a solo-work of multiinstrumentalist Daniel Patrick Quinn already known to us, and other three - his experiences with Beano Jameson. As against his previous work - "Severed From The Land", Daniel Patrick practically completely departed from use of rock music elements and switched on appreciable avanguard embient.
He-he, embient with use of a violin, a pipe, a violoncello, percussion and synthesizer! Not the most traditional instruments for this style! Probably, due to use of "live" in all senses instruments (I speak about violin, pipe and violoncello) such powerful and unique effect of both solemn (if not to tell grandiose) and at the same time gloomy mood is reached (enjoy in plenty these feelings in "The Sun Rises"!). And here already all very much and very close approaches to the emotional background of the first albums of VU...
Very much thoroughbred music!...

The Surfacers s/t (Green Cookie Records; PO Box 50501, 540 13 Thessaloniki Greece; www.colorcookies.moonfruit.com; www.thesurfacers.com.ar; greencookie@hol.gr)
Here is a surf-trio from Argentina released on the Greek label. How do you like it?
By the way, Green Cookie Records has quite good reputation, and it would be silly to expect from them something ARTIFICIAL. This time - 11 tracks of excellent, practically classical surf without any risky experiments and innovations.
Without any doubt - the best songs of the album are "Wild Rider" and "Snackie", and also lyrical "The Last Wave".
In the booklet, in the list of thanks, the bass player of the band Santiago thanks Pixies among others for "the rendered influence". I've listened to the disk for a long time and very carefully - and I haven't found even a trace of it to my deep disappointment!...

Susan & The SurfTones "Night In Old Town" (ACME Brothers Records; Susan L. Yasinski 12390 NW Barnes Rd. #294 Portland, OR 97229, USA; www.susanandthesurftones.com; surftones_2000@yahoo.com)
Anywhere but in surf it is difficultly to surprise somebody. Probably it is due to insatiable Ventures and Shadows who have played almost EVERYTHING! Probably - because of rigid frameworks of the surf style, an exit from which is represented for the majority of musicians as something awful.
On such background a phenomenon of this band from Portland, Oregon (USA), seems so amazing. They have already released almost ten albums and forced to go mad not one fan of surf-music.
Remembering love of Susan Yasinski to unexpected cover-versions, I expected with an anticipation for this album and, it is necessary to recognize, I was not deceived!
And again the generous portion of "sign" songs for rock-erudites ("If Not For You", "Chinese Rock", "Over You", "For Your Love"), except for that - practically each song contains elements of "adjacent" and not so styles (garage, blues, jazz, punk...), without any loss of her really unique style.
Unconditional hit - "Deathmobile" - the gloomy surf-punk with traditional hypnotic Susan's solo and organ magic on sounding.
If you search for something worthy on the modern surf-stage - this album is for you!
(the best guitar is also here! - he-he...)

Things Fall Apart s/t (Crustacean Records; http://www.crustaceanrecords.com; thingsfallapart@earthlink.net; www.thingsfallapartmusic.com)
Due to such bands I have not time to be disappointed in modern hardcore - as far as I listen to some albums of shit then there is a remarkable thing such as Things Fall Apart appear!...
Oh, they also have mixed a lot: well, certainly, hardcore. In every song there are emo moments, good emo (the native land of good emo I consider Dischord Records - well, you can stone me!)! They shout franticly, often chorus (they shout all the time), therefore refrains will hook even the deadman! The guitar player creates an impression, that he want uncontrollably to play something chaotically-noisy, but someone from the band shows him the knuckle when he tries to...
I should say about unusual, very non-standard tunes - estimate "Searching" or nearly gothic "Bound By Myth".

Thunderlip s/t (Lucid Records; www.lucidrecords.com; chris@lucidrecords.com; www.thunderlip.com)
A debut album of very unexpected group on the garage scene. As it is indicated on one of the band's sticker: "Thunderlip - we put the cock back in rock". Very much promising, isn't it?!...
Actually, something is...
First of all they have reminded me famous Halo Of Flies - they also created monster-like hybrids from garage and metal/hardcore (they had such a guitar!). For Thunderlip the scheme is approximately similar: the power garage punk-rock is mixed with the real "old school" hardcore (Minor Threat, Black Flag (Rollins's "TV Party" answers to him!) and very heavy "southern" rock - something like SSD in the moments when they were similar to AC-DC.
Texts escape policy. It is a pity, it would be interesting to listen to criticism of Bush-junior's politics or reasons of so destructive aftereffects of hurricane Cathrine under rigid and aggressive rock'n roll.
Rock with balls, he-he...

Twenty Ripped Angel "Days Full Of Night" (Lime Records; PO Box 12294, Baltimore, Maryland 21281, USA; www.twentyrippedangel.com)
Ministry for poor: heavy punk-metal riffs, gloomy atmosphere and deformed vocal. Despite of my scepticism the album is listenned magnificently though rhythms could be more variously (their drummer is "live"!).
Really, both the sound and some ideas very much remind "Psalm 69" (not the worse disk, by the way). But, fortunately, from above there are some Gothic things (the question is about "correct", guitar gothic style) and punk simplicity - on performing variety and stunting Twenty Ripped Angel are very close to merry fellows Jesus and Mary Chain.
Good, not often nowdays music.

Unconditional Loating "Cornholecopia" (Breathmint Records, Ignivomous Records, Little Mafia Records, SunShip Recprds; www.breathmint.net; www.ignivomous.org; www.littlemafia.com; www.freenoise.org/sun)
During several years (the end of '90 - the beginning of 2000) this band occupied one of leading places on the experimental stage (having received a rank "The Kings of the Minneapolis "noise" scene"! Type this name in any web search system). After their disintegration numerous ex-members have created set of projects on all western coast, and records Unconditional Loating which have stayed in the inheritance draw huge attention till nowdays.
This disk is an excellent sample of creativity of Unconditional Loating, and contains 19 tracks which, in turn, are easily divided on two groups: noise experimental electronic music and desperately unsuccessful attempts of rehearsals of "usual" rock-songs. So ingeniously, however fondly and vividly!
It would be quite good to begin acquaintance with modern music with similar masterpieces!
PS: do not miss "That Girl Down The Street"!!!
PPS: the most close associations - ZAiBI

Uniting The Elements "Adrenaline" (22 Portia Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, SA1 6XW, UK; dawn@uniting-the-elements.com; www.uniting-the-elements.com)
A band from Munich got over to England. Already suspiciously, isn't it?
The press release is full of delights and comparisons with such names, as Garbage, Guano Apes and Doro Pesch. To my shame I've never listened to these bands, and to tell you the truth - I'm not going to (the last woman I remember from the posters at my friend-metalist at the end of 80). Therefore my review will differ...
In general, rather pop and cowardly music: in the basis - hard-rock on which electronic effects or Gothic singsongs are wound. From something radical there are only rare guitar attacks helpless on the general background, but they are too correct and predicted...
The moments when the group walks somewhere in hard-rock/gothic-rock area ("The Final Break") and really wonderful voice of vocalist Dawn is opened in a full measure are most pleasant to ear.
Not Plasmatics!!! It's a pity...

Urdog "Garden of Bones" (Secret Eye Records; www.secreteye.org; parmaleedog@yahoo.com)
The second album of a fantastic trio (David Lifrieri - guitar, pedals, vocals; Jeff Knoch - organ, pedals, vocals; Erin Rosenthal - drums, percussion, vocals) erasing all possible borders between progressive and post-rock.
Really, to whom the idea earlier would occur to make parallels between Tarantula Hawk and ELP? (I mean their early period of creativity. Forget about the 80s!).
Meanwhile, listening to this disk, you wholly receive heavy, meditative (indefinitely repeating and changing circle from circle) riffs. Abundance of solemn and not only keyboard, puzzle constructions of the songs (generally, it is already difficult to name them songs!) and a lot of other things giving work to brain and imagination. (Sometimes I seriously marvelled - how is it possible to create such abundance of noise and sounds connected one with another). Vocal manners of the trio clearly send us to art - rock and every possible avant-progressive things, giving a lot of associations...
Ideally unexpected nowdays music, capable to surprise and admire!

V/A "Breeding Disloyalty. Campfire Songs For The Disruptive Element" (Householdname Records; www.householdnamerecords.co.uk)
The promo-compilation of the London punk-label perfectly showing a condition of this part of modern punk-stage.
The most part of the bands submitted on the disk (17) play optimistical fast punk-rock in this or that variation. There is some ska and very little hardcore (but what names: John Holmes (-!!!), One Fine Day, Leftover Crack...).
I've remembered: Leftover Crack - a combination of modern metal gothic with hardcore. Grandiosely and hysterically simultaneously.
G.A.S.Drummers - a pop, worthy MTV song.
Ye Wiles - like ska-punk with imperceptible spirit of Citizen Fish. A very unusual song!
Lightyear - ska-punk very close to Citizen Fish again. The most powerful pipes in the refrain.
Redlightsflash - a punk variant of Bauhaus. In the refrain they are dumped in mad drive that spoils everything. It is interesting to listen to the whole album.
It is not enough.

V/A "Deafness Is Not A Gift" (Deafborn Records; www.deafborn.de; info@deafborn.de)
A great collection of electronic noise-bands - 16 commands from ten countries are released by the young German label Deafborn Records. I think, as well as me you suspect that this stage is incredibly great and various, in addition a lot of known musicians anyhow pass the period of interest in noise in their creativity (KK.Null, Lee Ranaldo, etc.). By the way, not less interesting are the results of penetration of noise-musicians on adjacent territories (recollect disco from Murnau or the Australian movement "Beanbag Aesthetics" that left marks on all modern styles and directions of music.
The bands submitted on this disk show practically all spectrum of modern electro-noise-scene: from the slow, mercilessly deformed and overflown with disturbing advantage march of Cazzodio up to storm, emotionally oversaturated shake-up of Grunt, from almost industrial landscapes of Anemone Tube (very close to the Haters!) up to heart-rending cries of Death Squad, from almost Zev's early roar of Macronympha up to machine-gun disco from Murnau, from... You are probably tired already from reading? I shall simply list the most interesting, ��?
Irikarah - rigid guitar (if it is a guitar!!!) noise with magnificent vocal inserts.
Lefthandeddecision - classical "wall of noise", hardly highlighted with unexpected inserts.
Government Alpha - classics of style! Incredibly rigidly and with some invention!
Satori - ambient noise, nevertheless, decently giving on head and ears. For some reason the mix of ambient and noise became very popular recently.
Skalpell - for a long time I've heard the most positive responses on this band! The powerful play reminding a stage from science-fiction performance. It is masterfully staged and recorded! One of the best tracks on the disk, believe me.
It is the last, by the way.
In general, if something even latent sits in you - this disk will let all your demons outside! Probably, you even begin to play something similar. It is cool, isn't it?

V/A "Goulburn Poultry Fanciers Society" (System Corrupt; PO Box R420 Royalexchange 1225 N.S.W. Australia; www.systemcorrupt.com; sevenuy@hotmail.com; maladroit666@hotmail.com)
As well as with Split 777 / Rank Sinatra all the bands on this compilation differ considerably one from another only with intricate names (7U?, Scruts With Guns, Toecutter, Maladroit, Null Object, 556A and so forth), that reminds the magnificent Australian compilation "Beanbag Aesthetics" almost entirely made by Amin Javanmard's hands (aka DJ Minster).
Very similar on disco version of Merzboy or any other adherent of severe noise crossed with the latest pop-hits.
The vocal meeting occasionally sounds like Satans God (he-he, to sing pop-songs with such voice! It sounds unique!), the abundance of fragments of the famous songs and themes reminds the ideas about John Osvald's influence and his "Plunderphonics". And the general extremely cheerful and mad mood can be characterized as pop-noise-cabare.
Extremely unusually!

V/A "International Live Electronic Music Incorporated" (X-OR; Field Recordings; www.gjp.info; info@vacuumboys.com)
Five compositions, presented on this disk, will give a good possibility for a neophyte to meet a state of affairs in improvised electronics, and the experienced listenner will be pleasured from audition of music of adjudicated wizards of the given genre (in this way, probably, it is necessary to write about Cossack songs?)
The first play - "Red Five Purple" - team work by Luc Houtkamp and Gert-Jan Prins. Powerful, very much driving noise in a spirit of late The Heaters. Very close to production of Drone Records.
The next - "Deck Pulse" - a duet of two gurus of modern electro-improvisation - Tim Perkis and John Bischoff. Dazzling dramatic art (if, certainly, I can speak about it in the given context) and a magnificent kit of expressive means for one 10-minute composition.
"White Yellow Nine Grey" - a real feast of sound! Tim Perkis, John Bischoff, Luc Houtkamp (tenor-saxophone), Gert-Jan Prins, Lori Freedman (bass clarinet) and Kaffe Matthews (computer violin). Very constrained, almost free-jazz performance (a constrained free-jazz?), reminding me Guenter Schroth's project Six And More.
"Two Green Seven" - again the duet of Luc Houtkamp and Gert-Jan Prins - the sampled saxophone fights with contrive and furious radio-noise.
The last composition - "Sonate 1970" - is recorded in 1970 - is played by the musicians: Annelies Dieudonne (piano), Gilius Van Bergeijk (cor anglais - do not ask me what is it!) and Dick Raaijmakers (live electronics) - magnificent, almost theatrical play with a light spittle aside classical music.
It would be desirable to listen to the last collective more and more!

V/A "Nasty Cactus Compilation vol.1" ((Nasty Cactus Music; www.nastycactusmusic.com; nastycactus@zianet.com)
The two-disk collection giving an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with almost three tens of worthy bands. You won't hear any concrete stylistic definition such as "punk", "hardcore" or "metal": all is extremely confusing and difficult to classify (I don't know where it was possible to find so much such bands!).
Heating my soul post-punk a la the Fall from Blastamottos, with pleasant vocal and fine shitty sound; gloomy metal-grange-blues from Sky Across Dark with very impudent guitar solo; crazy on a sound acoustic-metal-gothic-something-like-that in Cruces Cult execution; hypnotic minimalism of acoustic guitar by Aaron Lewis; rock'n'roll hit from Bad Billies (here, perhaps, a place for classics); New Mexican Erection with punk-metal operetta "Drag"; the classical British three-accord punk-hit from the Answer Lies (- where they have taken it?!!!); a terrible female blues "Love To Me" from the Liars (the female blues always should be only like this. And any blues too...) - the song would become a decoration of Kill Rock Stars and Off The Hip Records compilation simultaneously! Mad mix of styles and directions in comic "Chupa Cabra" by the Impaled Goats In Heat - such songs are called foolish...
Ideal place for new opening - not very radical, and, at the same time, not causing an emetic reflex with bored forms and receptions.

V/A "Praeface" (Praemedia; 460A Waller Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 USA; www.praemedia.com; praemedia@yahoo.com)
The compilation of the musicians anyhow connected to label Praemedia. Some names are known to us: uniquitous Shannon Fields (one of the founders of the Stars like Fleas) is submitted in every possible combinations, Stars like Fleas, Tim Perkis, Italians Mou, Lips!...
Despite of the broadest disorder of the musical directions present on the disk, the compilation allows to receive rather integral representation about one of the most interesting segments of modern stage, and also to put in virtual turn some new names for subsequent more detailed acquaintance.
(I was hooked by the sound landscape "Mama" in execution of the Quiet American - I'd wish such thing on one hour and a half!!!!)

V/A "(Si Ka del Ik) Volume One" (PsychForm Records; 9792 Edmonds Way #130 Edmonds WA 98020 USA; www.psychform.com; info@psychform.com)
The fantastic compilation released under number 1 in the label's catalogue! Eight tracks - eight bands, most of them have faultless reputation on modern experimental stage and whose names would honour to the most known sound recording companies.
Contagious Orgasm - the cult name agitating listenners from '80s! Soft embient noise with some kind of sound collage.
Noggin - a crazy duet of violinist Michael Griffen and guitarist Eric Ostrowski - explosive improvised noise-set. I can only imagine how it looks alive!!! (by the way, I am the happy owner of the ORIGINAL cassette with the compilation "Everybody Knows (that) This is Nowhere, Part Two", released by Union Pole Records!!!).
John Wiese - unchained and not very sharp embient-noise.
Rowenta/Khan - a motley, kaleidoscopical track with an abundance of sound inserts. Vividly and interestingly.
Christian Renou - is similar to John Wiese. In comparison with other executors he is more static and strict.
Grillhaus - later on the same label the solo album of this band was released. Meditative noise, smoothly flowed into amusing sound loop-puzzle.
The Haters - legendary The Haters - read GX Jupitter-Larsen - the God of modern noisy stage! Moderately rigid and very much listenable!
Mixed Band Philantropist and The Broken Penis Orchestra - a track with a secret. The excellent beginning (length of all composition - 45 minutes!), reminding an enraged radio theater then completely mad continuation follows... I shall not tell you more about it!
Very much powerful start. Hold on!!!

V/A "Sound In A Vacuum. Volume One" (Atomic Mouse Recordings; http://www.atomicmouserecordings.com)
The concept of the collection is not absolutely typical: groups of this disk are united by that all of them are friends to guys from Atomic Mouse Recordings or - friends of friends. In my opinion - it is an excellent idea!
Variety of styles is huge: hip-hop and acoustic rock, punk-rock and experimental music of the most unexpected formats.
I'll note:
Matt Moran's Contra Band - mad punk-avantguarde (Pere Ubu plays Beefheart).
Zodiak - without comments - is only to hear!!!
Liam Idiot - alcoholic noise-country.
Naked and Shameless - the most powerful alcoholic hymn! Oi!-bands should note!
Deviant & the Clones - heart-rending noise-rock with the rhythm-machine.
Six Inches - hit punk'n'roll "Pillsbury Doughboy"!
Pimmel - the most mysterious and exciting an imagination track on the disk.
Hedonists, Maybe - noise-punk-jazz with a female vocal.
Mary - gothic hardcore-noise (- it happens so!).
Bionic Rat - rigid "alive" post-rock.
Due to wide style disorder of the submitted songs the disk is listened perfectly well, and as I think, the main task of this collection - to interest listeners in new names on the DIY-stage - is carried out. Well, it is cool.

V/A "The Bone Tickling Nightmare Pig" (PsychoChrist Productions; www.psychochrist.com)
The smart release giving to the listenner a magnificent opportunity to learn - who is who on modern improvised noise-stage. Except for loud names (oh, my God - I bravely exaggerate... - In all sincerity!) such as WaZu, PLETHORA, The Broken Penis Orchestra, komafuzz and already known to us from the compilation "(Si Ka del Ik) Volume One" Mixed Band Philantropist (the track by Richard Rupenus of 1983), there is some unknown names: almost Resident-like track from Italians Cybercantautores De Mierda, driving rumba in a noise-frame from Forms Of Things Unknown and one more example of worthy use of nurseries keyboard in a composition "Silk Nose Trot" by the project Gate 33 and DKD Girl.
Most listenned music by me lately!

V/A "The Isota Singles Club" (Isota Records; 1442a, Walnut st. #230, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA; isotarecords@yahoo.com; www.isotarecords.com)
The compilation from the label, deserved the highest reputation in the underground world for the very short time and rised on one level with such giants as Kill Rock Stars and K Records.
In the beginning of '90s two comrades - the founders of the label - Joseph Finlaw and Michael Saltzman - have begun release their well-known series "The Isota Singles Club". There were 7", stylishly designed by the regular artist of a label and also the musician Nat Russell, 7" of persons absolutely unknown for that moment to anyone: neo-psychodelics Birds Of America, politized Chris T-T, mad country Colin Michael Gagon and Nixon's Nikon, industrial blues-trip-hopers Low Flying Owls, guitar noise-Indie The Capsules, perverted post-punk Uberhund, avanguard geniuses Whitey On The Moon UK, punk-jazz-klezmer-cabare One Ring Zero and some other collectives...
The limited circulation of all plates gave an additional aura of elitism, and more than favorable reviews and support of radio stations (including BBC Radio 1) have helped these plates to scatter all over the world.
On the compact disc there are two more bands from the label Alive Records, which isn't less authoritative, but already on the garage stage: The Black Keys and Boyskout released 7" in this series.
Certainly, it is necessary to listen to it!...

V/A "The Ugly Truth About Blackpool Vol.1" (JSNTGM Records, p.o. box 1025, Blackpool, FY3 OFA, UK; www.jsntgm.com)
For a long time I didn't hold in hands such remarkable compilations! Notwithstanding (and may be even due to this!) that it is a so-called local compilation - this disk can be named "a history of punk-stage of Blackpool" (since 1977 till our days) - I haven't found anything weak or not worthy on it. The style pluralism of the composer - the chief of JSNTGM Records Andy Higgins cause respect: except for classical punk-rock (which, it is necessary to notice, is not so much on the disk!) the post-punk in its every possible displays, punky indie and even the garage punk (Monomen-like driving The Phantom Creeps) are well submitted.
I shall note the tracks most touched me: Razor Dog ("Torched") - driving, fascinating punk with magnificent vocal, The Pink Torpedos ("Time To Be Alone") - terrible, hardly reminding a hybrid of the Meatmen and Dead Kennedys punk-rock. And garage The Phantom Creeps ("Bad Place") already mentioned by me.
In the zine "Blackpool Rox II" there is the most detailed story about each band, that also raises an information value of this release.
I can't kept and not to tell, that the song "An-ti-co-cial" by a little known that times Skrewdriver opens the compilation - even great assholes have light stains in their biography...

V/A "To The Bitter End - International Punk/Hardcore Compilation" (Vinehell Records; PO Box 36131 San Jose, CA 95158, USA; www.vinehell.com; trallpunk@aol.com)
The compilation of 29 punk-hardcore-bands made by Rob Frazer - chief of the label Vinehell Records and participant of Angry For Life. The geography amazes with it's breadth: the USA, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Slovakia, Israel, Brazil, Finland, Mexico, Australia and even Russia not often met on the western labels (I won't tell you - who it is!!!).
Rather equal disk in the musical contents - all songs (generally, there is a selection!) represent fast, hit punk-hardcore without maneuvers to metal or pop-punk. There is some ska that is already much nowdays. I was impressed by:
Konflikt - Slovakia, a sad accordion and mood songs (with lovely slavic vocal).
Crispy Nuts - mad punk with female vocal. Barny from Incognito Records likes such bands!!!
Estonian Psychoterror - aggressive punk-n-roll forcing down from legs! (I recently have downloaded in SoulSilk a heap of early Estonian punk! Envy me!).
An excellent design of the disk: except for all texts translated into English language, there are also contact addresses and Internet-pages of each band.

V/A Valiant Death Sampler #2 (Valiant Death Records; 1913 Wallace St., Richmond, VA 23220 USA; www.valiantdeath.com; mail@valiantdeath.com)
Eight-songs compilation starts with the long composition of Doug Cheatwood - the unusual musician from the USA, already released a lot of solo albums. A mix from electronic modern features and daring rock (Featus in the light-version).
Strap-ons - hit punk'n'roll with smack of the punk of '70s and modern punk a la Blanks 77.
Lee Lewis - the unique musician, within the framework of project Lee Lewis and His Orchestra records mad albums with a kaleidoscope of styles: rock, acoustic, punk, folk, bluegrass, dark rock, ambient, noise, jazz... This song, "Spaceman", reminds crazy Lux Interrior.
The FUX - punk-rock simultaneously reminding Iggy Pop and Social Distortion. For amateurs of Alive Records production.
Joe Jack Talcum - ex-guitarist from Dead Milkmen. One song from the disk containing 24 songs from 1984 till 1997. The most interesting variant of home-taping, capable to present not one opening to the attentive student. The guys from Kill Rock Stars missed him!!!...
Moral Minorithy - the fast and strong punk, reminded to me a lot of punk-bands of the middle of '80s (beginning from MDC and so on, down to Meatmen).
Bloody Crackdown - the same as I've told about Moral Minorithy, but only faster and more variously. Guitar solo in the middle of the song sounds like a parody on heavy-metal...
Battle Royal - a little bit chaotic punk-rock. They have too subtilize with arrangements or got confused. Punk'n'roll in a minor.
The resume: I wouldn't name any of 8 songs common. The most interesting label which production it would be very much desirable to learn attentively.

Vacuum Boys "Space Break Dance Challenge" (Takashi Mobile; http://www.vacuumboys.com)
The provocative project consisting of four real stars of modern underground: iceland musician Heimir Bjorgulfsson (www.bjorgulfsson.com), cult electronician Guy Amitai (www.pivotaudio.com), Gert-Jan Prins - the Dutch musician-experimenter (www.gjp.info) and Dan Armstrong - the guitar player, rock component of Vacuum Boys (www.preg.org/~dan/).
As well as it is necessary to any provocation, under this work the considerable ideological base is brought: to the listenner the alternative of not known events of 1984 is offered (no, not Orruel), when aliens have made an attempt to capture the Earth. Glorious Vacuum Boys, of course, countered to them, with their break-dance. Do you want to know who has win?
Yes, on the disk it is possible to hear real break-dance resurrecting in memory the film "Courier" and the whole atmosphere of the middle of '80 (four musicians, aren't too much?!!!)... Well, certainly, there are some perversions: the guitar almost similar to Frith occasionally emerges, noisy affairs mixed up with electronic radio-samples, sound is very rigid and dense for such music...
The most interesting - knowing "hallmark" of each musician, trying to find his contribution to this music - I've listenned this disk for thirty times, every time finding new levels in each composition... Here it is nothing to do for robots!

Vybro Elvis Band / Ankylym split-cassette (Stauropygial Plates; R.A.Pavlov, p.o. 429, St.-Petersburg, 191123, Russia; http://stauropygial.spb.ru; mail@stauropygial.spb.ru)
Shock and trembling!!! Vybro Elvis Band - real garage punk in spirit of v/a "Back From The Grave" and "Garage Punk Unknown"!!! Remarkable sound, violent saxophone ("Wild Thing" - completely not initial version!), stylish keyboard and powerful, low vocal ("Crusher" - compare to the original). It is pleasant that Vybro Elvis Band differ from "real garage bands of '60s" because they like and are able to play long tool improvisations (the last track - "Sicodelica" - is without the text in general).
Without disputes - the most unexpected find of year!!!
On the second side there is a home concert of Ankylym. It forces to envy people, which were on it. It sounds like mad musical theatre which has taken a great interest in punk-rock. It is much more radical and more interesting than studio record.

War Sausage "Untrue Power Electronics" (Ostrich Music; gristled@yahoo.com)
The very strange tape release: the label which I for myself classed as garage releases TERRIBLE noise!!!
Certainly, they are far up to Merzbow, but to the unprepared listenner here is nothing to do: strong improvised beginning, the dazzling creaking-squeaking guitar (I adore noise with real guitars!!!), schematical rythm-section (some claps and percussions simply designate it) and a heart-rending, atrociously vitiated vocal!
It seem to me, this recording was made simultaneously with picking in a nose - even if it was so - anyway it is great!
(Others spend years to create similar sound and atmosphere).

Water School "Break Up With Water" (Water School/Morphius Records; www.morphius.com; www.waterschoolband.com; waterschool@waterschoolband.com; simeon@morphius.com)
This dish, on my taste, is too sweet.
Something from The Kinks, something from Television, almost Beatles vocal harmonies, and too much melodious "sugar"!
Ideal quality of recording, highly professional arrangements and melodies, worthy often use; for a debut album they, certainly, good fellows - have tried.
In the following works it would be desirable to hear something more dynamical and aggressive.

When My Authorities Fall/Argument 5.45 CD-split (PO Box 64, Moscow, Russia; www.oskrecords.com)
The main mistake of publishers of this split was the decision to place in a booklet the texts of the band with their translation into Russian. I shall quote now.
"in this world everything is done to alienate us from our desires. it is expected that we accept our lives as something that is just going on, something we can not affect... and we accept that. we just stare at the images of our lives passing by, images not even created by us. is it all we are capable of? cant we really free ourselves from all predetermined stories of our lives? isnt there any blank sheet where we could write our own lives?"
This is the full text of the song of latvians When My Authorities Fall. My God, did you achieve the sovereignty and how the First channel asserts, for 15 years your contry humiliate former Soviet "guerrilla" with Government Sequrity ears, just to write SUCH texts? Sad, shrill-loud emo with ugly texts - this is your answer to calls of today? It is a shame, guys...
With the last song they gived salute to famous feminist movement, transformed into advanced sexist whore-lesbian group of man-haters (greetings to Volgograd whores!).
The second part of the disk begins with suspiciously aggressive hymn "the Dead season, 2004" by the moscovities Argument 5.45. Reading the text - in general like crazy Savinkovs!
Basically, it is very unexpected for me (here, in Volgograd, we are torn a little off club Moscow party, therefore news we learn from lips of witnesses or from an ether...) - practically no emo (well, most a little), but a lot of punk and all together it reminds aggressive marching Oi!-hardcore. The texts - revolution in general!!! The God, the president (well, not so strong), and in general everyone bad are touched.
By the way, history of the name of the band might be interesting? Is it an appeal? Did someone from musicians served in the army? Questions...

Whiskey Sunday s/t (Vinehell Records; PO Box 36131 San Jose, CA 95158, USA; www.vinehell.com; trallpunk@aol.com)
Daring punk-rock in execution of five, not so young already Americans. A successful combination of strength and melodism: I remind examples of Leatherface, Naked Raygun and even late Ramones. Texts do not cut eyes with sharp social orientation, and narrate mostly about women, booze and other important things about which it is so cool to shout in all power of low hoarse voice.
If to add some sensitive rock'n'roll it would be very similar to Devil Dogs, and if to add humour and self-irony we would receive Meatmen.
By the way, this disk - release � 1 in catalogue of Vinehell Records!

Zoomen vs the Felchers (Zerocontrol Records; zerocontrol@club-internet.fr; http://zerocontrol/propagande.org)
Armour-piercing on power split of two excellent bands: Dutchs - the Felchers and French - Zoomen.
In Zoomen there are ex-participants of Taxi Killer, Human Flies, Space Beatnicks, Chatterbox play, etc. The quartet was derivated in 2001, and up to this split has already independently issued 2 demos. Music? Mad, extremly driving punk-and-roll, with cleaner sounding than Flying Over, but not less capturing! As it is accepted for the majority of bands of the given style (it is nonsense...), the voice is vitiated by the midfrequency plugin, the sound is incredibly tight and general sounding of the band is very aggressively.
the Felchers - were derivated in Amsterdam in 1999 from wreckage of Brezhnev, Satans Sluts, Nitwitz, Yamp! and Momphert. A debut album have been issued in 2004. Style - the same punk-and-roll, with strong heel in garage punk in its American version (recollect tonns of bands since middle '90 and till our days!). In my opinion, unique lack of this direction - excessive expression of the vocalists, becoming already a real stamp! (the Felchers aren't an exclusion) Except for their things, on the disk there are recorded covers of Dead Moon ("54/40 Or Fight") and the Kids ("This Is Rock'N'Roll"), And the Felchers end their part with three concert tracks perfectly opening living energy and power of the band.

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