\ / | ----- /\ | \ / |== |== | / | \ / Week 26 \ / | | / \ | \ /\ / | | |/ | \ / Number 86 \/ | | / \ |--- \/ \/ |__ |__ |\ |__ | PAIN JERK - SPITFIRE (LP by Harbinger) Probably the rising band from the land of the rising noise. Gradually Pain Jerk is finding a place next to stars as Merzbow, Aube, Masonna or any other I may forget right now. This UK release is a re-issue of a cassette that was released last year. The LP is packed in a xeroxed DIY cover which adds nicely to the total. The record divided in two sides (hey that not something new), is also divided in two musical parts. The two tracks on side A roughly cutted noisy, rhythmical tracks of sounds, synths, noise, metal crsuhing. These are looped and has the Pain Jerk touch (which is more rhythmical then his Jap noise brothers). The other side has also tracks, and are like monochrome drone/noise paintings. A hugh wall of sound with minimal changes throughout. If Merzbow and Aube are a pain in your wallet but of sonic interest, then check Pain Jerk out, as he hasn't had much releases and provides a likewise sonic assault. Address: 55 Crossman Street - Nottingham, NG5 2HL - UK AKITA/AZUMA/SAKAIBARA/HASWELL - ICH SCHNITT MICH IN DEN FINGER (12" by Mego) Oh no, Merzbow (the first three names of the people who worked on this), teamed up in a viennese studio a year ago with bloke named Russell Haswell, of whom I never heard (but I figure is important, since he made to the Blast First Merzbow remix CD). The four recorded directly onto hard disc 6 improv tracks, using 'devices, dd1100, theremin, su 10, stuff, vocals and jews harp'. The title was given because Reiko Azuma cut her finger will recording. The result is a highly monochrome affair. In each track the theremin, with it's electronic farting sound, takes the lead and noise is faded in. Rather then a usual Merzbow record, this is much more a collage of sounds being faded in and out, carrying nevertheless Masami Akita's signature all over. There is a certain lo-fi quality to this, despite the fact that it is recorded to hard disc. Although there is low end rumbling here and there, that may take the shape of a rhythm, it never turns anywhere close to a dance record. And that is probably the most daring about this record being released on a 'dance' label like Mego. Merzbow fans know what to do: run to the record store and get it, as it is different from the usual Merzbow stuff. (FdW) Address: BRUME - DRAFTS FOR COLLISIONS (CD by Crowd Control Activities) Brume has been around for many years and looks at an extensive discography. But things have been quiet on his part for some time. Over the years Brume developped his own style: his multi-track is stuffed with sounds of all sorts, environmental and electronic, aswell as acoustic. While mixing the multi-track tape, and adding sound effects, the Brume sound is full of abrupt changes, strange intervalls, telling a story. The opening piece of this CD is such track: fire sounds, outdoor sounds and strange voices. But yet as of track two something new is happening. Most the following tracks take drones as a starting point and the sounds are more sequenced. It seems as if Mr. Brume is more into composing track as opposed to sketching out a track of loosely recorded sounds. Next to the drones, percussive sounds play an important role on this CD. Mostly highly drenced in reverb, but it gives the whole a more accessible character and hints at times to, say, Muslimgauze. As a total result, Brume steps forward, so if you hven''t been following his steps for a while, it is time to renew your interest. (FdW) Address: LIFE GARDEN - PLUTONIAN DUB (7" by Drone Records) I am not sure if I ever was a hugh fan of Life Garden. Their music was too much a cross-over of gothic reverb in combination with new agey sounds. 'Plutonian Dub' start out with simple rhythm and reverbed female vocals chanting while doing the dishes. Half way through nothing seems to be happening but then hell breaks loose. 'Chaos Lullaby' has wordless vocals, and swirling synths resulting in pounding drums and feedback guitars. Maybe twice the same idea employed... and two tracks seemingly not going anywhere. Or maybe just not my cup of coffee. (FdW) Address: THE TASSILLI PLAYERS - AT THE COWSHED (miniCD by De Konkurrent) The Cowshed is a legendary recording in Amsterdam that has firm roots in punkrock. It is closely linked to a distributor called De Konkurrent, who sells (too?) much guitar music, but with firm eyes open for new music. Now they are hosting a series of mini CD's of acts they like and happen to be around for recording at the Cowshed. The Tassilli Players are neither guitar nor new music, but they are well to my liking, so some nice words are in place, I guess. The Tassilli play nice digidub with firm roots in classic dub music. The first three are nice laid-back rhythm doodlings with horns all over, and the fourth (and last track) is down right dub with sounds swirling in and out of the mix. This last track features the skills of Hyware/Technoise on the knob-fiddling. Summer sounds for this rainy evening looking good. (FdW) Address: SUBMERGED 2 (CD by Incoming!) CEE-MIX - LOW FLYING FRAGMENTS (CD by Incoming!) More summery sounds from the label that pushed digidub into new areas. On Submerged 2 they compile their non dub stuff however. Many of the artists grab their interest from jungle, break-beats and techno. But most of them in laid-back atmospheres (or is that called intelligent - I never could figure that one out). Some of my favourites are Avatar, Dwarf Electro, Trigger and Kong Fu. Names that are entirely new to me (as the rest of them!), but leaving a good mood behind. Cee-Mix's second disc for Incoming! is a move forward from their previous CD. This moves away from the classic digidub too, and Cee-Mix comes up with a pretty varied disc of sounds, ranging from easy tuned dub (in Drive By) to sampled horn blowing in 'Cocobong' and breakbeats. My favourite is 'Interlude 1' with it scratchy sounds. Most of the stuff is laid-back and suited for late night listening, (FdW) Address: BERNARD GUNTER - IMPOSSIBLE GREY (miniCD by Metamkine) And Bernard... well, he points the microphone down to the ground, as if he is listening through a microscope the inaudible worlds. 'Grey' as the mixture between white and black, not one nor the other, is a good colour to note the music of Gunter. It is a far away world were sounds twist your speakers (or in my case headphones). Sometimes bearily audible, and suddenly a crackle or hiss, or maybe even something that is an instrument. This music can't be listened to while doing something else, as you just won't note all the microscopic changes. If you do take your time it is a rich world. And the format (being a small disc with a length of 18 minutes and 34 seconds) is o.k. I forgive you if you want to play Merzbow right after it... (FdW) Address: <106547.3446@compuserve.com> ARCHON SATANI - THE RIGHTEOUS WAY TO COMPLETION (CD by Cold Spring) Mikeal Stavostrand divides his time between Innana and Archon Satani, the latter just delivering a new CD of material recorded last year. This is a continuation of his usual dark style, with large washes of synth sounds, pounding drums and creepy sound above and below. Not cheering you up, but the bare essence of life (and death, looking at the skulls) itself. Frightenly dark. (FdW) Address: 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 . 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