The review section is updated each month! SONNA "(WE SING LOUD) SING SOFT TONIGHT" CD
From Baltimore comes SONNA chasing the later efforts of Scotland's MOGWAI. There's a lot of stuff out now that I'm more into than this, but if you like things dreamy and sweet, this CD will probably make you happy. Six lazy songs recorded with Steve Albini.
VARIOUS "ALPHA MOTHERFUCKERS"
25 bands from all over the place are playing homeage to Norway's mighty TURBONEGRO. Norway's best rock band broke up in 1998 leaving us with 5 albums including the critically acclaimed "Acocalype Dudes". My favorite favorites were the songs by QUEENS OF THE STONEAGE, SATYRICON and SCOT FREE. Other bands include NASHVILLE PUSSY, HOT WATER MUSIC, AMULET and SUPERSUCKERS. This one is essential.
BLACK FACTION "INTERNAL DISSIDENT PART 1" CD
Electronica workouts over spoken samples and some beat action as well. Depressively unamzing.
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY "THOSE WHO TELL THE TRUTH SHALL DIE" CD
Very stylish rockish stuff, reminded me of the later MOGWAI stuff. Music goes from total silence to total violence. There is really not much more to say. Damn it. This shit rocks.
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN "TRIP TO THE CORE" CD
No information to reveal who THE FLYING DUTCHMAN is. But the listener is shocked with an atmosphere of funky, minimalistic bass beats and sounds and beams. Hmmm. Probably a very good soundtrack to masturbate to.
SUBARACHNOID SPACE "THESE THINGS TAKE TIME" CD
SUB. SPACE once again offers us some great hallucinatory space music. Their approach is kinda noisy, but with an sense of melody. This is sounding like SONIC YOUTH teaming up with SKULLFLOWER. I'd really like to see this live.
DAVID FESSETTE CD
If you came looking for punk, you ain't gonna find it here! What we got here is a three song EP based on acoustic guitar and deep soft vocals. This is music you would listen to while driving through the desert. The songs are well-composed, though I find the production a little sterile.
DONNA ROSE CD
Three song EP. Very pop (as in pop music). Laid-back radio-friendly pop. 1st song is some fucking latino (the aids of music!), but I can like "So Sad" and "Greater Than Life". But it's not my "thing".
VARIOUS "MERCILESS CORE" CD
This compilation features SOCIAL DEFORMITY, NEEDFUL THINGS, CUNT N' BANANAAZ (the ultiate bandname?), and a few others. All bands included play some pissed off grindcore. Although the bands aren't recognizable to my eye, they do just as well as today's superstars. The only thing I can say about the sound is that its raw.
MINMAE "VONSACHIANG" CD
The "band" is 28-year-old named Sean Brooks. They play indie/lo-fi music heavily salted with some cool noisy parts. I'll say that this sounds like a cross between SONIC YOUTH and FLYING SAUCER ATTACK, only more lo-fi. I highly do recommend this.
BONNY BILLY "MORE REVERY" CD
Fucking christ, Will oldham aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy aka Palace must be busy these days (hey Will, when do you sleep?). Here, on this little 6-song EP, he covers the likes of The Renderers and PJ Harvery the Will Oldham way; warm and personal. It's all very nice and comfortable. Now, where is my Johnny Cash record?
SCOT FREE "DEMO 2001" CD
Well done and enjoyable poppy punk rock from Berlin. Not too rough, not too pretty, not too slow, not too fast. These guys are great and they want to play in your town.
DISCO VOLANTE "PENIS ENVY DEMO" CD
A four piece with female vocals. The music is in the punk rock vein. No lyrics and I can't make out the words but they're probably not bad. I like the vocals. This is catchy, powerful shit. Minus for bad song titles ("Hans big dick").
ANGEL SELF DESTRUCT "THE BASEMENT" CD
The French duo Angel Self Destruct play electronic goth with guitar a la BAUHAUS and early SISTERS OF MERCY. I'm just not sure? Electronic goth is allright, but this needs something to keep me interested throughout... Best song: "The Saw".
LUMEN "THE MAN FELT ON IRON" CD
Out of San Fransisco comes LUMEN. They're playing music a la MOGWAI, PAPA M and the alike and they're not bad - think acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards and spare drum sounds. If you are into this kind of music check it out. Features members of A MINOR FOREST and TARENTEL.
GABOR CSUPO "LIQUID FIRE" CD
Tone Casualties label-owner Gabor Csupo offers 35 tracks on 2 cds. Music goes from world beat, free jazz and ambient, to dance and hip-hop. All done with a certain exotic flavour that I just can't explain (Gabor Csupo was born in Hungary so that may be a point). Extraordinary, but boring in the end, sorry...
VARIOUS "PSYCLONE SINPHONIES"
A Greek totally do-it-yourself sampler of underground death/black/goth metal bands. The few DIMMU BORGIR clones and the weak demo tape sound quality aside this is mighty fine. Best bands? TWILIGHT (atmospheric black metal) and MIND REVOLT (melodic DM but sadly with bad vocals!).
VIEW "ALL LOVE IS LOST FOREVER" CD
I don't think I could compare this to anything. Maybe Mazzy Star or Nick Drake (if I really wanted to). There are some cool bits, some distorted vocalwork, weird noises, people talking... Not bad at all.
THE CUMSHOTS "LAST SONS OF EVIL" CD
Fucking heavy and powerful Norwegian craziness. At times they sound like Entombed or Motorhead, but The Cumshots are heavier. The vocals, courtesy of Max Cargo (not his real name), are the popular growl/scream. I like parts of this ("No, Nothing, Please Die" is a good song"), while other parts I could do without. (P.S. I state, these guys are very destructive)
EARTH MOTHER FUCKER "LET HIM GO UP" CD
Extremely dirty rock-madness with yell-vocals. Sound quality = totally shit. The songs are angry. Fuck and shit and fuck. Listen to at your own risk.
SUPER-NOTE! "DEMO" CD
An Japanese grunge band influenced by Foo Fighters? It appears to be true. All well done and enjoyable, but the whiney vocalist really makes me puke.
KUROI MORI "DAWNING" CD
Trip-hop, electronics and some random noises... and some funky trumpet bits too! Combine this with the fact that the music is also quite good, and you end up with a very good record.
DJ KOMIKON "WORLD BEATERS" CDEP
Oh please. Five simple minimal techno songs that are very boring. Sounds like something taken off the fucking Game Boy. I'm glad this review is over.
REMORA "SOME PAST'S FUTURE" CD
Down-to-earth drone repetition, from quiet to to noisy, and screaming... Obviously this 666 guy are early in his teens and into all things evil. Anyway, this is just Brian playing around with his twelve string guitar. Very simple. Very raw. Fucking great.
PETER ALDRICH "LESS VISIONAIRY THAN EXPECTED"
Alrdrich play some fuzzed guitar rock + ambient guitar drones = pretty cool stuff here. Thumb.
VARIOUS "SONGS FOR AMERICA"
Lo-fi compilation that goes all the way from noise to pop. Michael J. Bowman (hippy-folky type of pop), Landing (dreamy pop) and The Undermasks (desperate guitar riffing) are the highlights. Nice package and vomule two is probably on the way?
NIGHTLY GALE "...AND JESUS WEPT"
Five highly original doomy songs with some black influence from Poland. At times I was reminded of the earlier records of MY DYING BRIDE (holy mother of Satan, what a great band they were!) but not as beautiful. Worth checking out if you're really into MY DYING BRIDE type stuff. |
