16 posts from 2008

While the Pittsburgh-based duo Zombi have been giving the horror beat genre a much needed kick in the testicals, and kids in Brooklyn and L.A. continue to argue about what exactly Italo-disco is, I'd like to take this blog post to reintroduce a lost gem of electronic album genius: that is the work of Bernard Szajner's "Some Deaths Take Forever."

Now apparently this dude was a lighting technician for Magma, the ferverently original and prolific French prog outfit that made up their own language and music that still sounds completely out of this world today. And, when he wasn't inventing LAZER HARPS(!!!) he was making kick ass long-players chalk full of synth goodness that rival that of any kraut.

Szajner

"Some Deaths Take Forever" is an evolved concept album around the life of someone waiting on a death sentence (cheery I know) and it was composed by Szajner in 1980 after Amnesty International contacted him to make a short piece to draw attention to their cause. Proceeds of the album went to Amnesty International as well, although I doubt they saw much, and I know they didn't get anything when I spotted this bad boy in the used bin at Amoeba on Telegraph. I did make a contribution over the Internet in following weeks after listening however. So long live concept albums and AWESOME synth work!

What Allmusic says:

"Some Deaths Take Forever is a concept album that is dark, brooding, and futuristic; an inventive album firmly rooted in rock, much like other quirky recordings of the era by Gary Numan, Jean-Michel Jarre, Robert Fripp, and pre-ambient Brian Eno."

What Rev Rob Dobbs says via Amazon review:

"Bernard Szajner is clearly one of the most original and talented electronic musicians of the 20th century. 'Some Death Forever' is, in my opinion, the greatest electronic/progressive/industrial works that I own (electronic music lovers: if you haven't heard it, you certainly should!) and features a host of great musicians (Pierre Chereze, Marc Geoffroy, Klaus Blasquiz, Bernard Paganotti, Michael Quartermain, Alain Agius, Michael Rabinowitz)."

What Ryan says:

"Synth arpeggio lines with sparse drum machine patterns a la Drumulator and Roland boxes with wood paneling, spaced out chanting interruptions with a slight Zeuhl freak out flare, and guitar work as exciting as Hillage or Gottsching make this an imperative must own for fans of Zombi, Goblin, Cluster etc."

Good luck finding yours though ;)

Farleys

Down in San Jose there use to be a record store called Radio Free Records. Ethan, the shop owner, was one of those rare cats that was sooooo fucking cool, and had the best taste in music, and yet, was one of the warmest human beings, and nicest guys. Last I heard, his shop relocated to Chapel Hill where his shit was broken into, and he didn't have insurance. I really hope that last part isn't true. But anyway:

The year is 1998, I stumble into a live show at Radio Free with a friend, and we were expecting some Braid rip off. What we saw...The Wicked Farley's...was soooo much better.

If I had to describe the Farleys to someone now -- which I guess is the point of these posts -- I would say, "Think like one of those lame, super music theory-y college bands, like Piglet, that heard Don Cab once, and then made some really amazing music from an arrangement standpoint, BUT the Farleys were PUNK at the same time, and have really cool stand out vocals."

So yeah...whatever happened to these guys? That show at Radio Free was totally one of those turn-to-your-friend outside like "Man what we just saw was so great and unexpected." And go home all fucking inspired about music.

Never listened to the 2nd album. And I kind of don't want to. But if you don't have Sentinel & Enterprise. I feel sorry for you.

Next week...where Radiohead steals beats from!

And yes that was a conscious, thought-out decision.

Some interesting reading for those of you yuppies with the dough to imbibe in these outdoor music EXTRAVAGANZAS

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/news/gregg_perloff_is_the_new_bill_graham/Content?oid=807397

http://www.spin.com/articles/visit-dell-dome-outside-lands-weekend

Also...Spin had a fornt-of-the-book item on VIP package and "exclusive tents" at music festivals and how the music industry is banking on them this Summer.

Super lame....

Can someone please watch this and tell me if anything interesting ever happens? Also, what's up with Kim Deal not knowing how to work a record player? Dust cover off!

These are posts that I am doing to rediscover bands in my collection. It is an exercise in memory, and a way to compare what I’ve always thought about these awesome bands to shit that is online, which is sad, but where everyone spends there time musically these days.

Post Two. Loftus

Loftus

What Amazon User B Helfton or “Fugazi48” Says:

“I really miss the days of Red Red Meat, June of 44, and Rex. This album really brings back some of that warm feeling. There are 1 or two tracks that are a little to improvisational but the majority of this side project album is well crafted and beautiful. If you like Califone, you need this record in your collection. The cover appears to be hand made. There is sandpaper glued to the front and the jaw is screen printed onto it. The cover is of a fine paper. Perisable records really puts an effort into packaging.”

What Allmusic Says:

Side project record that was recorded by Bundy K. Brown (ex-Tortoise, Directions) and Brian Deck (Red Red Meet) after a 1995 tour with Red Red Meat, Rex, and the Grifters had a bunch of them sitting in on each others sets…sounding awesome.

What Ryan Says:

Dear Fugazi48,

I really miss the days of Red Red Meat, Rex, and June of 44 too! And yes the cover of this CD is hand made with carved sandpaper emblem and its always been one of my favorite CD packaging jobs. Why can’t these derivative Canadian indie bands learn to do packaging on this level? And why will the musicianship and recording aesthetic of visionaries like Deck and Brown continue to be unmatched? Hmmm…I guess people just lack taste and forget about magnificent achievements in sound like this album. And dude…too improvisational? WTF?

Califone and Calexico may get put in movie soundtracks and get a lot of love from the indie elite these days – but respect the architect people! And if you do not own this. I feel sorry for you.

This is so great!

Walking up to grab lunch today gave me my first Kyte video post series. First I took some footage of all the hippies and hipsters crashing their bikes on the ground for attention and the cops that had to deal with them. I think this was some sort of anti-war rally, but they weren't very organized with the presentation so it was hard to tell...

Then when I got into the mall to get my Chinese food, guess who was playing?? That's right, Skunkweed Junction. Wow, what a mall. What a performance. What a antithesis. Sing for peace Skunkweed! (Click on the player. Then click on icon towards the left to advance backwards. Weird. I know)

Ok, so The Boredoms show last night was insane. I've uploaded this picture I took of the layout. Again, they played in circular formation with the audience around them, which I guess is called "in the round," and I'm not sure who came up with that but I hope it's a lost in translation thing.

Img135

The Boredoms put out a lot of crap, and their live show is sometimes a little overwhelming. However, there were moments last night (particularly during the first song -- anyone who was there back me up here!) where I was watching three drummers playing in syncopation, and Eye beating the shit out of like a Trident made of electirc guitars (see behind him in pic) and then the bass hits from his synth and I have to say I can't not love them for getting away with this shit. It is so over the top and amazing.

So my friend helped my buy one of their rare releases last not on vinyl (Rebore remix from UNKLE) and I realized that I only have their two best recordings (Super AR, and Vision Creation Newsun) on CD.

This needs to change, so I'm enlisting the help of TokyoMango blogger Lisa Katayama, to help me track down at least one of these on vinyl through a source other than eBay. I was banned on eBay. I can't remember if that was for inappropriate chat, or for something else, but I like can't buy stuff there anymore which is lame. 

In any case, maybe we'll find a great used record webstore in Japan!

I’ve been a champion for the underdog in music since 1995. Up until that point, I had a pretty lame CD collection but I was like 12. It was comprised of like Green Day and Counting Crows – and while some really great folks at my boarding school a year prior had been spinning The Smiths, Bad Brains, Beastie Boys, Minute Men…I was way to high to take in any of the artistry.

Then one day when I was driving around listening to Live 105, Archers of Loaf “Web in Front” came on the radio. I was instantly in love with them. That led to Polvo, that lead Slint…yada yada yada.

Anyway…what I’m getting at is that my record collection is way better than yours. Actually, if you are reading this, you probably don’t even buy music. You probably torrent it, and you are most likely a huge douche bag.

You can help yourself out by reading these posts I am going to be doing to rediscover bands in my collection. I am not doing this for you. I’m doing it for me because there is simply too much good shit coming out nowadays, and this is a great exercise for me to keep certain favorites in my alcohol soaked, short-term memory.

To begin. See Saw

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What Amazon Says:

They don’t even have it. OMG I’m so underground.

What Allmusic Says:

Indie solo project from Trevor Kampmann, a former teen actor who made guest appearances on television programs including Little House on the Prairie, Who's the Boss? and Charles in Charge. He was also a pro skateboarder for a time.

What Ryan Says:

A lot of people do home recording ridiculously well. Ben Chasney, F.M. Cornog from East River Pipe, or those played out Sebadoh guys. Trevor should be placed at the front of the circle jerk for his knowledge of tape manipulation, love of weird keyboards, and all of that shit that use to make indie rock cool. Oh…and he writes amazing songs. Second project with the wife HoLLand is OK. But See Saw’s Magnetophone stands as his crowning achievement in my opinion, and if you do not own it, I feel sorry for you.

These posts will become weekly Tuesday things now.

Paul Ford is a Blogger examining Politics, Media and the social ramifications of Pop Culture through stories, recollections, rants and raves on Ftrain.

He is also a genius.

See his post for The Morning News on six word reviews for the enitre SXSW torrent file that select bands made available for scrutiny.

And scrutinze he does.

Genius.