To be brutally honest, at the first two or three listening, I wasn’t quite impressed by this third installment of this tumultuous, but brilliant, experimental, whatever-core band from Sheffield, England. While their debut, 2008’s “Hysterics” shake my world and blew me away, the following, 2010’s “Cosmology” was a fair, but less shocking follow-up.
After the 2011’s departure of two of their founding members, bassist Joseph Thorpe and guitarist Joe Nicholson, Rolo Tomassi bring two new spirits into the band, guitarist Chris Cayford (current vocalist/former guitarist of No Coast) and bassist Nathan Fairweather (who plays in Brontide); and band leader James Spence stating that the new members “breathed new life” in the band, while the music was already 70% complete when they had come.
Ethereal, chill and large spaces are nicely interlaced with the bands disturbing and brutal grindings – and this seems to be the key to decoding “Astrea”. Very groovy, extremely smartly build-up and throughout tensioned, the 10 tracks of “Astrea” will keep you focused and connected. Read more Rolo Tomassi – Astrea (2012)
experimental
Birds In Row – You, Me, and The Violence (2012)
Chaotic, contorted and extremely noisy, Birds In Row sounds to me like a desperate protest. Listen throughout several times this “You, Me, and The Violence” and – honestly – still don’t came through anything else then anger and – eventually – bitterness. Without reading the printed lyrics, this raw fury seems lost in the hurricane of the noise.
The first three tracks are running through like a night train, “Guillotine” it’s their first track where they leave the tempo slower and the riffs with the screaming vocals finally making some – but not too much – sense. The following “Walter Freeman” is also a slower, but still weighty enough chaotic Hardcore piece while surprisingly, the very next “Last Last Chance” it’s an experimental dark Blues, in a very post-everything sense which blows directly into the explosive title track. One of their best butcheries throughout.
And like in a nightmare or a loop, everything comes back to rape your ears all over again starting with the slow grinding “Grey Hair”, through the fastest “The Illusionist” and the almost anthematic “Police & Thieves” (The Clash [dis]connection?). Then again, the closing “Lovers Have Their Say” it’s an escapade into smooth chords, acoustic teasing, counselor softness, being humanly gentle even when things are getting a little bit rough. It’s an almost 13 minutes long trip, a Shoegaze kind of closing with large, foggy spaces for a brutally disturbing material. Read more Birds In Row – You, Me, and The Violence (2012)
Gli Putridissimi / Luther Blissett – split tape cassette 2012
The Italian fromSCRATCH Records propose us a noiseful trip to the outer limits of experimental music, two bands, two tracks each, one tape cassette for 6 euro – shipping included -, but available for free digital download HERE.
The opening “Terrori nei boschi” (terror in the woods) delivered by Gli Putridissimi and the following “Paludi Ghiacciatissime” fits quite exactly the self-provided description: “Horns and Palms destruction for a black metal experimental jazz”. Actually, both sounds like an unstoppable Industrial fueled free-Noise-Jazz hurricane. Turbulent, but efficient, this band from Bari knew exactly how to start a riot and put the world on fire.
On the other hand, and other side of the tape, Luther Blissett propose a ride into the more experimental and darker corner of Avant-garde music. While the first “Scaffolding” keeps the spirit and the burning flame of bands such as The Fall and The Ex alive, the following “Staggering” it’s a totally abstract trip.
So, if you’re looking for something different, definitively go for it! Read more Gli Putridissimi / Luther Blissett – split tape cassette 2012
Time and Energy – Strange Kind of Focus (2012)
It’s not strange kind of focus, but rather out of focus. Time and Energy delivering a strange mixture of Afro-beats, Blues/Country/Folk roots and Beck flavored Indie vibes with some Rufus Wainwright taste-like vivid whatever. “Loop Rock”? Eventually. But pretty hard to chew being not under influence and the taste is questionable. And well, I’m quite trained to listening anything, even considering the construction site next to my building a musical revolution. When the 7th track, “Sitting On a Scale” started almost as a classic The Beatles song, it was a release. Up till then, “Strange Kind of Focus” sounded like a mixtape on acid. The very next “O’Molly” have that raw wickedness of some early The White Stripes tracks, it’s that kind of perfect menage of Blues and Indie/Garage Rock – and it’s probably the best moment of the album. And the following “Think it Through” it’s not that bad too, or simply I get used with their layered and sometimes antagonist sound. The closing “Acid Jam” it’s build upon a Latino foundation, but just as its title suggest, it’s an Acid Jam, after a few pleasant seconds the whole thing get out of control and became quite dangerous.
This is an experiment and I do respect that. The result? Well, not really sure of. “Name your price” for the digital download it’s a fair approach and listen first at your own risk. I would start with track 7 or 8. Read more Time and Energy – Strange Kind of Focus (2012)
Naive – Illuminatis (2012)
Might sound a cliche, but Naïve delivering a colourful sonic journey where powerful Metal riffs are merged with subtle sonic textures; contorted, dark and tensioned moments are combined with smoothly sparkling, melodious hooks and build-ups. It’s like a constant struggle of good and evil, light and shadow, noises and melodies. Trip Hop Metal? Eventually. Labels are unnecessary. But to have an idea, this is sound like an explosive mixture of Deftones and Prong with Massive Attack and Sneaker Pimps. Pounding IDM, hypnotic Trip Hop, dark Alternative Metal, and Industrial flavored noisiness are smartly colored with subtle texture, addictive grooves, mysterious electronic layers and at the bottom line they are all equal ingredients of the unique universe reveled by Naïve. “Illuminatis” it’s an addictive journey, it’s something Magic in there, feels a dream from which you don’t want to wake up. Read more Naive – Illuminatis (2012)
Laibach – An Introduction To… Reproduction Prohibited (2012)
Although my affection for Industrial music started in the beginning of the 90s with several American bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Ministry and Malhavoc, I can trace the roots of my affection and affiliation back to bands such as Einstürzende Neubauten and Laibach. Even further, in my humble opinion the whole Neue Deutsche Härte (“New German Hardness”) movement it’s build upon not a German, but on the edge cutter and envelop pusher work of a Slovenian avant-garde music group formed on June 1, 1980 in Trbovlje, Slovenia, at the time SFR Yugoslavia: Laibach (the German name for Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana).
After the breath taker “Monumental Retro-Avant-Garde, Live at Tate Modern”, Laibach now are back with another history lesson, a retrospective of the band’s history, the compilation released by Mute on September 3rd. Back then (July 21st) I wrote a quite exhaustive history of the band.
The rumors were that the band re-recorded these songs for the compilation, now that thing was not mentioned and the songs sound exactly as the original releases, so at most, they were re-mastered. Still, Laibach sounds massive and irresistible. Read more Laibach – An Introduction To… Reproduction Prohibited (2012)
The Locomotive Sound Corporation – We Surely End Somewhere (rough session, 2012)
As the title pointed out pretty clearly, this is a rough session of Summer 2012, five song recorded – as they say “with a donkey, an old man and a church as a neighborhood.” Available now on Noomiz and Bandcamp, The Locomotive Sound Corporation, one of my favorite bands and albums of 2011 are back with this tasty release, and even further, the “name your price” approach is very fan-friendly.
The Locomotive Sound Corporation is the French answer for the American “new Blues”, they are soul related to bands such as The White Stripes, PJ Harvey, 12 Rounds, The Dead Weather, PJ Harvey, The Raconteurs, Sonic Youth, and The Black Keys, have that raw power and healthy garage taste which brings new life in this mainstreamly-boring and burnt-out Indie/Alternative genre. This Parisian band proves once again, there are still spaces and sounds to explore, feelings to express in this area and this 5 new tracks are also a great promise for their largely expected new album. Read more The Locomotive Sound Corporation – We Surely End Somewhere (rough session, 2012)
Byzant At Sunset – No Reason To Remix This, EP (2012)
Although, officially this is considered only an EP, featuring two originals and 13 plus one bonus remixes of “No Reson”, a total of 16 tracks is still a considerable quantity of music to go through. But this is a FREE RELEASE, so, this is one more reason to get “No Reason”! – the official debut of Byzant At Sunset.
“No Reason” have a strong The Clash kind of vibe, but the sound it’s smoothly adjusted to the nowadays expectations, wobbling basses, ska fueled guitars and the tasty saxophone gives a genuine Byzant At Sunset taste to the song. This is a manifest, a statement against modern days consumerism: “No reason is a reason good enough” express both anger and disappointment.
“Wildfire” is more like an improvisation, an eruption, a race through the fire of inspiration and creation. Although Byzant At Sunset it’s exclusively an on-line, world wide collaboration creative collective, some of their members not sharing not the same room, but not even the same continent in their lives, “Wildfire” have the nerve, vibe and wilderness of a genuine rehearsal recording. It’s like someone light up a cigarette but that unleash an unstoppable… wildfire.
And then we have 14 remixes from 13 outstanding producers from the Indaba community: ALBM, @ssic@, Bluetrax, Brushvox, Carda, DaveDaG, JohnnySix, Manu, mSelv, Richard Walker, Richinmusic, The ?uestion Mark, and, last but not least, Ultraglow featuring with two tracks. Read more Byzant At Sunset – No Reason To Remix This, EP (2012)
Byzant At Sunset – Wildfire [Original Mix, B Side]
New track and upcoming remix EP (actually a hell of an LP!!) – coming up on 9th October 2012, featuring outstanding contributions from: ALBM, @ssic@, Bluetrax, Carda, DaveDaG, JohnnySix, Manu, mSelv, Richard Walker, The ?uestion Mark, and Ultraglow.
Read more Byzant At Sunset – Wildfire [Original Mix, B Side]
Enslaved – RIITIIR (2012)
The twelve studio album by Enslaved was declared both by most of the fans and critics “a classic” and a “masterpiece” even before some of them had the chance to listen it. It’s kind of comfortable and alarming simultaneously, on the other hand, yes, Enslaved is one of those bands you always can relay on, they are constantly there “to pushing the envelope” and “cutting the edge”, breaking down walls and wider the horizon. And yes, “RIITIIR” picking up from where they left off with “Axioma Ethica Odini” in 2010 and pushing things further. Some things are stay the same, this is Enslaved 100%, as well as they are still capable to generate new ideas and explore new possibilities, but staying in their own backyard, giving their fans the comfort of the modern Enslaved sounds and trademarks.
Between ferocious growls, deadly screams and cleanly sung choruses Grutle Kjellson find the perfect proportions and balance; Black and Death metal fueled riffs are switched to smooth acoustic moments; Enslaved seems to be still on a perpetual journey and not getting yet to destination and this make this journey exciting, fresh and surprising. Read more Enslaved – RIITIIR (2012)
