VITAL WEEKLY #9 Week 35 Number 9 BLOWHOLE- STAPLES (7" by Apraxia) Blowhole I find a strange affair: they have quite a large output on many small labels, all in the USA. Their music is a kind of free-jazz, with rock influences and a touch of industrial music. Leading member is Jeph Jerman, also known from his solo work as Hands To. 'Staples' was intended to be a large project (2x 7" and a 10" vinyl set), but now is only a 7" with separated music on the left and right channel. So you can play this 7" at least 6 times. ..The Blowhole sound is kinda hard to describe: distorted guitars, rumbling strange percussion. Improvised stuff played at maximum volume and maximum intenseness. Even though the concept of channel separation is not very new, it fits well with the improv music of Blowhole. Address: apraxia@apraxia.seanet.com MERZBOW/TEACULTURE (7" by Oska) One could say: now look here Mr. Merzbow: enough is enough, but then: you wouldn't hear me saying this. With this new 7" Merzbow is collaborating with an unknown UK band Tea Culture. Each band works on material supplied by the other. Tea Culture lays out a heavy rhythm to which the Merzbow material is mixed in (or maybe the rhythm is sampled from Merzbow?). Merzbow makes rhythmical cycles from the Tea Culture material. It is interesting to see that Merzbow uses more and more rhythmical elements in his music, thus keeping new elements in his music. And that's why I still say: too much is not enough. Address: Oska -40 Dale Crescent -Patcham -Nr. Brighton -West Sussex -BNl BNU - England GASTR DEL SOL -THE HARP FACTORY (CDEP by Table of The Elements) David Grubbs (once from Bastro) and Jim O'Rourke (world famous for lots of things) run this as duo. They started out by playing 'songs' , guitar, voice and accordion but on their latest CDEP 'Mirror Repair' (by sin Graft) it was clear they moved into different territory: classical instrumentation (piano, clarinet) in sober harmonies, stripped down, yet powerful. This new work sees the two in what is called 'an orchestral composition' .Backed up with guest musicians, such as the complete Brise Glace line up (Jim's 'rock'-band) , this 17 minute composition is a strong collage, played with acoustical elements. Sometimes the wind instruments play long and continuous tones that built in intensity, around 10 minutes in the piece a piano motif comes in, with the voice/vocals. When that has disappeared a drone takes over. Though it sounds electronic, it probably isn’t. This really is a CD to play over and over again, to reveal it's complete beauty. Design is also superb. Address: T.O.T.E. -P.O.Box 5524 -Atlanta, Georgia, 30307 -USA TONY CONRAD -SLAPPING PYTHAGORAS (CD by Table Of The Elements) After his initial involved with La Monte Young and Faust, he is around again. Two years ago his almost 30 year old recording. Outside The Dream Syndicate' was released on CD, now here is a new piece, in two parts. Written by Conrad, who plays violin and bass. Other instruments were played by Jim O'Rourke (who also did the production) and (again) Gastr Del Sol and Brise Glace. A lot of guitars and violins. The sound of those two main instruments can be heard very well on this recording, without adding too much electronics (if at all!) .The first piece consists of drones being played, scraping sounds on the violin. The second piece starts out being a continuation of the first piece, but stops abruptly, and a short interlude is played (the sound of a wind instrument becomes apparent) and after that the micro-tonal scraping starts again. This is not minimal music in the traditional sense (read: Steve Reich, Philip Glass c.s.) but of a more radical nature. Not quite easy listening music, but in a way quite intense. Address: as above CHOP SHOP -PLAYS EMIL BEAULIEU (CD by Pure) On the fastest growing label in the world with the lowest prices it i hard to keep track of 'm all. But here's one I like particularly like. As I am quite fond of Chop Shop's experiments with speakers, and the decaying sound that comes from it, he treats the noise from our friend Emil into a continuous stream of noise. Although Chop Shop's sound may be easily characterized as 'industrial' it maintains interesting aspects, whatever the input may be. Address: Pure- 151 Paige St. -Lowell, MA 01852- USA JOHN WALL -ALTERSTILL (CD by These) As far as I know Walls second CD and the man is a sampler freak! On each of the 5 tracks on this CD he samples the hell out of classical music. Many violins, percussion and sometimes stretched out vocals. On some occasions interrupted by heavy guitars and (very few) electronics. The samples are brought in staccato, with many changes (at certain times one is reminded of Stravinsky or Bartok) and interruptions. That this is not just a gimmick, but actually quite good compositions. makes this into quite an enjoyable CD. Address: 367 Wandsworth Road -London SWB 2JL -UK TWIST (Compilation CD by T&B) With so many new house acts around, and as many styles, the question for the pioneers become more and more actual. Cleopatra jumped on the bandwagon by re- issuing the total Kraftwerk back catalogue. Now another pioneer are Chris & Cosey. The technopop in the early eighties built upon the 014 Kraftwerk style, but sounded less cold and far away. This compilation sees 9 remixes from the C & C back catalogue, by seven current dance acts, plus Coil and C&C themselves. Don't be fooled by some of the house names included here, such as Carl Craig, Vapourspace, or u-ziq. Most of this remains close to it's original, except that the tempo is more up to date. Virtually all tracks remain on the more experimental side of house music, which is a good thing. This is a great tribute album to, indeed, great electronic pioneers. Address: 5/6 Broughton Place Lane, Edinburgh, EHl3RS THE SQUARE ROOT OF SUB -ZONG (CD by KK Records) This is a solo project by one member of The Self Transforming Machine Elves, who delivered a great ambient dance on KK Records earlier this year. Here is a solo work, with 6 tracks, one representing the female aspect of life, one the male and the 4 seasons. The music has nothing to do with the sort KK normally releases, but it is a fine 90s work, rooted firmly in electronic music, musique concrete and more 'industrial' (without the harsh over tones normally found overthere) edge. Added are the sound of a violin and flutes to round it off. No rhythm passages to be found here An excellent CD of well balanced, very modern and experimental ambient music. A pity that the credits can be read. Address: kknz@kkrecords.be Vital Weekly is published by Frans de Waard and submitted for free to anybody with an e-mail address. If you don't wish to receive this, then let us know. Any feedback is welcome at . Forward to allies!