Vanessa Van Basten (2009) Psygnosis EP

A un discreto lasso di tempo da “La Stanza Di Svedenborg”, i Vanessa Van Basten, band genovese capitanata da Morgan Bellini, tornano con un Ep di due tracce, “Psygnosis”. Maggiormente ricercato in cura del suono e composizione, il loro capolavoro si fregia prima di tutto di un significativo apporto di gruppo, che ora comprende anche i musicisti live (Roby alla batteria, Matthias Pandora all’elettronica e Claudio Parodi agli effetti, oltre al fido Stefano Parodi a basso e synth e alla chitarra e ai sampler del leader).

“Tuttoavantiall’indietro” è un’orgia free-form di 9 minuti che ritmicamente si contrae fino al thrash-speed e si espande fino al death e al super-doom, e armonicamente incrocia frustate industriali degne dei Godflesh, miasmi electro, immani cappe shoegaze e sterminate volte celestiali.
La title track (14 minuti) è un poema zelante di folk progressivo concepito su un’idea di saltarello gotico e quindi trascinato a furia di rigurgiti distorti e rincorse massicce. Attraverso interferenze cosmiche, il suo epos perviene infine a una visione classicheggiante eterea, dapprima oscura quindi rilucente.

I referenti spaziano, al solito, dai tardi King Crimson, ai Neurosis, ai GYBE, ma paradossalmente “Psygnosis” pone la band più vicina che mai ai Soft Machine della maturità, nello spirito e nella sostanza. Morgan Bellini sta stringendo accordi con il rock totale, o ne ha fatto comunque piena conoscenza.

Recensione di Michele Saran

Artist: Vanessa Van Basten
Title: Psygnosis EP
Label: Consouling Sounds - SOUL0003
Format: CD, EP, Limited Edition
Country: Italy, GE
Released: 15 Jan 2009
Genre: Rock
Style: Post Rock

Songs:
1 Tutto avanti all'indietro [9:00]
2 Psygnosis [13:37]

Credits:
Morgan Bellini - Guitar, Synthesizer, Sampler, Mastered
Stefano Parodi - Bass
Roberto Della Rocca - Drums
Morgan Bellini - Artwork
Sidney Sime - Illustration
Vanessa Van Basten - Music
Mathias Pandora - Band Photo

Notes:
Recorded by Bernardo Russo at Studio K, Genoa, Spring 2008.
Comes in a 13 by 15 cm folded cover, which shields the actual CD inside a protective plastic sleeve with regular 16page CD booklet with illustrations and info.
Limited edition of 500 copies.

Vanessa Van Basten (2009) Psygnosis EP

Bardoseneticcube (2005) Blood of Green Colour

Bardoseneticcube was formed in summer 1998. The most precise definition of their music is surrealism: "pure psychic automatism willing to express the real functioning of the reflection either orally or written, or in any other form. Dictation of mind without any control from the intellect, outside of any aesthetic of moral considerations". During it's lifetime the project has released more than 20 albums in Russia and abroad, took part in various compilations and festivals. Bardoseneticcube was involved in several sound installations. The project's live shows are usually supported by video which is considered the integral part of the performance. This is always improvisation in which both listeners and acoustic characteristics of the space are involved. The live sound stylistically varies from techno-shamanic trance to the baffling harsh-noise and electro-acoustic experiments. Application of the original sonic "system" and psychoacoustic apparatus allows the band to achieve the unbelievably wide frequency range, from infralow to ultrahigh. The project members professionally and with dilettantish persistence extract sounds from everything that can sound: computers and contact mics, ethnic instruments and electronic processing, water and field recordings, all this happens during conducting pseudo-magickal rituals and materializes in surreal sonic pictures which don't have any relation to music, both in ordinary and "not ordinary" meaning of this term. Or maybe they are just pulling your legs...

Artist: Bardoseneticcube
Title: Blood Of Green Colour
Label: Blade Records - wmda065
Format: CDr, Album, Limited Edition
Country: Russia
Released: Nov 2005
Genre: Electronic
Style: Dark Ambient, Experimental, Industrial

Songs:
1 Untitled [5:54]
2 Untitled [8:42]
3 Untitled [5:41]
4 Untitled [10:25]
5 Untitled [9:06]
6 Untitled [6:14]
7 Untitled [21:44]
8 Untitled [2:35]

Band:
Igor Potsukailo (soundconstructor)
Sergey Matveev (keyboards)
Vladimir Manevtsov (sampling)
Igor V. Petrov (ghost voice on track 3)

Notes:
Limited to 150 hand-numbered copies in a fold-over sleeve.
Recorded using: Korg Poly-800, Altair-231, Polyvox, Akai S2000, Atari 1040FT, Rubikon 03C-1, Lel CZ, Profi-503 Distortion.
Track 7 from this album was re-released on the album "Illness Of Green Colour" along with a track from "Disease".

Bardoseneticcube (2005) Blood of Green Colour

Phurpa (2009) Mu Ye [CDr, EP]

Phurpa is a Russian musical collective and performance group, recording and playing authentic ritual music of Bon, the oldest Buddhist tradition from Tibet, using ritual instruments and special tantric singing technique.

Alexei Tegin, a founding member and leader of the group, started exploring and experimenting with traditional and ritual music in the middle of the 1990s, at a legendary Cardinal Art Factory (Фабрика Кардинального искусства) in Moscow, led by Vladimir Epifantsev, controversial actor, director and propagator of trash-culture. Of crucial importance was his introduction to the spiritual tradition of Bon and Dzogchen and his meeting with singing masters of Gyumay and Gyuto tantric colleges.

Phurpa was formed in 2003, and the project is named after Phurpa Drugse Chempa (phur pa 'brug gsas chem pa), one of the five tutelary deities of the Father Tantra in Bon tradition (this unique deity has a lower part of his body shaped in a form of phurpa, or kīla, three-edged peg/knife, widely used in tantric Buddhist rituals).

Phurpa line-up includes Alexei Tegin, Dmitry Globa, Eduard Utukin, Anastasia Tomskaya, Pavel Selchukov. Band members are constantly studying ancient Tibetan liturgical practices and ceremonies of Bon tradition, both theoretically and practically.

The trademark style of the band is based on a special type of tantric overtone singing/chanting, called gyukye (rgyud skad), from Tibetan words 'rgyud' (tantra) and 'skad' (sound of the voice). This singing is based on the principle of practitioner's transmogrification during chanting meditation. This technique is achieved through an extensive training, including both meditation and physical, breathing and vocal exercises. Special training includes standing on your head while rehearsing (in the inverted position, lungs and vocal cords works more efficiently) and also drinking black tea with chili pepper and cream – hot pepper is irritating your vocal cords, so they are swelling up a little, while cream (or any other kind of grease or oil) acts as a lubricant.

Phurpa uses ritual Tibetan instruments to perform their music, which includes dungkar (horn made out of huge seashell), dungchen (three-metre-long horn/trumpet), silnuyen (flat cymbals), nga (double-sided drum), damaru (drum, made out of human skulls), kangling (human thighbone trumpet), shang (bon tambourine), rolmo (other type of cymbals), etc.

Artist: Phurpa
Title: Mu Ye
Label: S und S Records - SS-2009-009-01
Format: CDr, Mini, Limited Edition
Country: Russia
Released: 2009
Genre: Non-Music, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Tribal, Religious

Song:
1 Mu Ye [20:47]

Notes:
Limited to 50 copies.
Recorded live at GazGallery, Moscow, Autumn 2008.

Contains a note:
Внимание! Диск предназначен для прослушивания на PC, на других приводах возможно некорректное звучание. Приятного прослушивания!

This disc is intended for a playback on PC, other CD-drives may produce an incorrect sound).

Attenzione! Il disco è stato progettato per l'ascolto sul PC, sulle altre unità può sembrare non corretto. Buon ascolto!

Phurpa (2009) Mu Ye [CDr, EP]

Fire! with Jim O'Rourke (2011) Released! [10", EP]

Artist: Fire! with Jim O'Rourke
Title: Released!
Label: Rune Grammofon - REP 2120
Format: Vinyl, 10", 33 RPM, EP, Numbered, Limited Edition
Country: Norway
Released: 09 November 2011
Genre: Electronic, Jazz, Rock
Style: Free Jazz, Noise, Psychedelic Rock

Songs:
A1 Certainly Those Older And Released... [6:27]
B1 Particular, Local And Plastic Wrapped [5:07]

Fire!:
Mats Gustafsson - Baritone Saxophone, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Electronics [Live Electronics]
Andreas Werliin - Drums, Percussion
Johan Berthling - Electric Bass
with
Jim O'Rourke - Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, Harmonica

Mixed and Mastered by Hakan Åkesson
Music by Fire! and Jim O'Rourke

Notes:
Recorded at SuperDeluxe, Tokyo, 12th and 13th September 2010.
Mixing and mastering at Nutidstudio, winter 2011.

Impossible without: Mark Rappaport, Danielle Oosterop, Andreas Berthling, Mikael Werliin, ass, Mike Bubeck at SuperDeluxe, Conny C. Lindström, Max-Måns Wikman.

Limited edition of 500 numbered copies.

Fire! with Jim O'Rourke (2011) Released! [10", EP]

Akira Sakata & Chikamorachi (2009) Friendly Pants

Artist: Akira Sakata & Chikamorachi
Title: Friendly Pants
Label: Family Vineyard - FV66
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 22 September 2009
Genre: Jazz
Style: Free Jazz

Songs:
1 Friendly Pants [11:30]
2 Un [12:03]
3 In Case, Let's Go to Galaxy [8:38]
4 That Day of Rain [9:13]
5 With Saigyo Path [5:21]
6 Yo! Yo! Dime [10:43]

Band:
Akira Sakata - Alto Saxophone
Darin Gray - Double Bass
Chris Corsano - Drums

Credits:
Ayumi Sakata - Cover, Artwork [Inside Art]
Heiko Purnhagen - Photography [Photos]
Jim O'Rourke - Producer

Notes:
Recorded at Magnet Studio, Tokyo, August 9, 2006.
Mixed at Steamroom, Tokyo.
Mastered by Atsushi Mohri at Columbia Mastering.

Akira Sakata & Chikamorachi (2009) Friendly Pants

The Album Leaf (2004) In A Safe Place

Artist: The Album Leaf
Title: In A Safe Place
Label: Sub Pop - SPCD 640
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 22 Jun 2004
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Post Rock, Ambient, IDM

Songs:
01  Window
02  Thule
03  On Your Way
04  Twentytwofourteen
05  The Outer Banks
06  Over The Pond
07  Another Day (Revised)
08  Streamside
09  Eastern Glow
10a Moss Mountain Town
10b Untitled

Credits:
Artwork [Leaf Image] – Hulda Vilhjalmsdottir
Artwork [Paintings] – Tim Reece
Bass – Jimmy LaValle (tracks: 2, 6, 8)
Cello – Gyda Valtysdottir (tracks: 1, 6, 8, 9)
Design – Jesse LeDoux
Drums – Orri Pall Dyrason (tracks: 4 to 7)
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Jimmy LaValle (tracks: 2 to 5, 7, 9, 10)
Electronics – Jimmy LaValle (tracks: 3 to 5, 7)
Glockenspiel – Kjartan Sveinsson (tracks: 3, 5, 6)
Guitar – Jimmy LaValle (tracks: 3, 5, 7)
Keyboards – Jimmy LaValle (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
Organ – Jimmy LaValle (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 10)
Producer, Mixed By, Arranged By [Additional Tracking] – Jimmy LaValle
Producer, Mixed By, Recorded By, Arranged By [Additional Tracking], Mastered By – Birgir Jon Birgisson
Synthesizer [Moog] – Jimmy LaValle (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 6, 10)
Violin – Maria Huld Markan Sigfusdottir (tracks: 5 to 7, 9), Matthew Resovich (tracks: 2, 4, 10)
Vocals – Jimmy LaValle (tracks: 3, 6, 9)
Written by Jimmy LaValle

Notes:
Recorded at Sundlaugin Studio, Mosfellsbaer, Iceland in August / September / October of 2003. Mixed, Produced and Additional Tracking done in January / February 2004. Mastered in February 2004.

Moss Mountain Town ends at 3:26 and an untitled uncredited track starts at 4:14 and ends at 8:15. At 8:57 some voices start talking and they finish up the last half-minute of the track.

The Album Leaf (2004) In A Safe Place

Constants (2004) Nostalgia For The Future

Artist: Constants
Title: Nostalgia For The Future
Label: Radar Recordings - RDR-107
Format: CD, Album
Country: Boston, USA
Released: September 2004
Genre: Rock
Style: Post Rock, Ambient, Emo, Metal

Songs:
1 In Medias Res [1:17]
2 Entering Exeter Pt. 1 [3:03]
3 Entering Exeter Pt. 2 [5:53]
4 The Perpetual Morning Subsequent [5:04]
5 A Blur Of Trees [5:52]
6 Hypnopædia [6:06]
7 Return To Inevitability [4:12]
8 And The Future Of Beginning [5:09]

Band:
Constants:
Duncan Rich - drums & electronic percussion
Ben Fowlie - bass & keyboards
Will Benoit - guitar, voice, & programming

Credits:
Daryl Rabidoux - Producer

Constants (2004) Nostalgia For The Future

Pombagira (2011) Iconoclast Dream

Fuzz drenched psychedelic heaviness, alternating between the intense heaviness of Acid King/Electric Wizard/Sunn O))), and a mellower 60s style psych trip; with Satan on vocals. 42 minutes of bone-rattling psycho-sonic doom.

Artist: Pombagira
Title: Iconoclast Dream
Label: Mordgrimm - GRIMM21, Black Axis Records - BA004
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 30 July 2011
Genre: Rock
Style: Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Doom Metal

Song:
1 Iconoclast Dream [42:33]

Credits:
All titles written and arranged by POMBAGIRA
All titles published by BLACK AXIS RECORDS and MORDGRIMM
Recorded and Mixed between January and March 2011 at EARTHWORKS RECORDING STUDIO, London
Music Production by C. HAMILTON-GILES, P. HAMILTON-GILES and J. ELTON
Engineered by J. ELTON
Front Cover Artwork by W. RALPH WATERS
Back Cover Artwork by C. HAMILTON-GILES
Concept by C. HAMILTON-GILES, P. HAMILTON-GILES, M. DOUGHTY and W. RALPH WATERS
Photography by P. PETROCELLI and P. HAMILTON-GILES
Layout by N. HARDING and W. RALPH WATERS

Pombagira (2011) Iconoclast Dream

Gudgeguh (2007) Gudgeguh [CDr, EP]

Artist: Gudgeguh
Title: Gudgeguh
Label: Red Light Sound - RLS001
Format: CDr, EP, Limited Edition
Country: US
Released: 07 September 2007
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Noise, Experimental

Songs:
1 Suffocation [1:17]
2 Last Breath [0:58]
3 Ectoplasm [1:30]
4 Deep Freeze [1:24]
5 Eternal Tomb [6:26]
6 Live Excerpt 1 [3:17]
7 Live Excerpt 2 [3:19]

Credits:
Jared Russell - Electronics, Samples, Performer, Producer
Gentry Densley - Guitar, Electronics, Performer
Ed Rodriguez - Guitar, Drums, Electronics, Performer

Notes:
Recorded live in the Red Light store basement.
Originally released as limited edition of 23 CDr's.

Gudgeguh (2007) Gudgeguh [CDr, EP]

Shipping News (2010) One Less Heartless to Fear

Artist: Shipping News
Title: One Less Heartless To Fear
Label: Africantape - AT016, Ruminance - RUM044
Format: CD, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 09 Nov 2010
Genre: Rock
Style: Post Rock, Indie Rock

Songs:
1 Antebellum [3:07]
2 This is Not an Exit [4:43]
3 (Morays or) Demon [4:19]
4 7s [2:57]
5 The Delicate [3:30]
6 Axons and Dendrites [5:23]
7 Half a House [4:35]
8 Bad Eve [3:49]
9 Do You Remember the Avenues? [3:01]

Band:
Todd Cook - Bass
Kyle Crabtree - Drums
Jeff Mueller - Guitar, Vocals (tracks: 6, 8)
Jason Noble - Guitar, Vocals (tracks: 1 to 6, 8, 9)

Credits:
Dan McCarthy - Artwork
Jeff Mueller - Design [Letterpress Cover]
Kevin Ratterman - Engineer [Live Sound] (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 9)
Brian Lueken - Engineer [Recording Engineered By] (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 9)
Shipping News - Layout
Kevin Ratterman - Mastered
Mixed by Brian Lueken, Kevin Ratterman, Shipping News
Recorded By, Engineer [Live Sound] – Tim Iseler (tracks: 6, 7)

Notes:
Recorded live in Louisville, Kentucky at Skull Alley on June 19th, 2009 - except for "Axons and Dendrites" and "Half a House" which were recorded live at the O-Nest in Tokyo, Japan on April 2nd, 2006.
Mixed and mastered at The Funeral Home, Louisville, Kentucky.

Shipping News (2010) One Less Heartless to Fear

Alan Sorrenti (1974, Remaster 2005) Alan Sorrenti

Artist: Alan Sorrenti
Title: Alan Sorrenti
Label: EMI - 7243 8 60268 2 8
Format: CD, Album
Country: Italy
Released: 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Progressive Rock

Songs:
1 Un Viso D'Inverno [7:45]
2 Dicitencello Vuje [4:00]
3 Ma Tu Mi Ascolti [7:38]
4 Sulla Cima Del Mondo [4:53]
5 Poco Piu' Piano [4:05]
6 Microfoni Assassini [4:33]
7 Incrociando Il Sole [4:51]

Band:
Alan Sorrenti - voci, chitarra acustica e elettrica, synthi AKS
Antonio Esposito - batteria e percussioni
Nero Limone - basso, fuzz basso, chitarra elettrica
Enzo Castella - chitarra acustica e mandolino
Mark Harris - piano acustico e Fender piano, chitarra acustica eminent, synthy AKS

Alan Sorrenti (1974, Remaster 2005) Alan Sorrenti

Yuri Gagarin (2013) Yuri Gagarin

Artist: Yuri Gagarin
Title: Yuri Gagarin
Label: Levande Begravd Records - LBR01WEB
Format: Web, Flac
Country: Sweden
Released: 04 Oct 2013
Genre: Rock
Style: Space Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Songs:
1 First Orbit [9:09]
2 Sonic Invasion 2910 [7:40]
3 Za Kosmosom [8:35]
4 The Big Rip [10:28]

Notes:
Available on LP on Levande Begravd Records.

Yuri Gagarin (2013) Yuri Gagarin

Souvenir's Young America (2006) Souvenir's Young America

Artist: Souvenir's Young America
Title: Souvenir's Young America
Label: UndeRadar - UR08
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: Apr 2006
Genre: Rock
Style: Post Rock

Songs:
1 Thirteen For Centaurus [8:26]
2 Still Like The Hummingbird [4:25]
3 Letters From The Earth [5:39]
4 The Palantir [3:29]
5 Twilight Of Steam (What The Thunder Said) [11:10]
6 Sagan's Equation [6:20]

Band:
Graham Scala - Drums, Keyboards [Casio], Guitar, Programmed
Jonathan Lee - Synthesizer [Korg, Alesis, Roland], Xylophone, Accordion
Ken Rayher - Guitar, Programmed

Credits:
Jonathan Lee, Ken Rayher - Artwork
Katie McBride - Artwork [Layout, Design]
Recorded October 2005 and February 2006 at Minimum Wage Studio by Joe Mager
Mastered at Bonati Mastering Co.
Chris Carroll - Cello (songs 1, 5)
Tim Carroll - Banjo (song 5)

Souvenir's Young America (2006) Souvenir's Young America

Candiria (2001) 300 Percent Density

Artist: Candiria
Title: 300 Percent Density
Label: Century Media - 77349-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 30 Apr 2001
Genre: Jazz, Rock. Hip Hop
Style: Hardcore, Experimental, Fusion, Jazz-Rock, Math Rock

Songs:
01   300 Percent Density [6:06]
02   Signs Of Discontent [3:00]
03   Without Water [3:53]
04   Mass [1:45]
05   Constant Velocity Is As Natural As Being At Rest [4:26]
06   Words From The Lexicon [4:43]
07   Channeling Elements [5:43]
08   Advancing Positions [2:12]
09   The Obvious Destination [4:21]
10   Contents Under Pressure [6:31]
11a  Opposing Meter [5:43]
11b  [no audio] [3:00]
11c  Untitled [12:42]

Band:
Michael Macivor - Bass
Kenneth Schalk - Drums [Drumset]
Eric Matthews - Guitar
John Lamacchia - Guitar
Carley Coma - Vocals [Vocalizations]

Credits:
Artwork [All Art Was Visually Conceived And Digitally Executed By] – Coma Graphics
Engineer – Franci D., Kenneth Schalk, Michael Barile
Lyrics By [Except Where Noted] – Carley Coma
Mastered at Masterdisk by Roger Lian
Mixed at Purple Light Studios by Candiria, Michael Barile
Music by Candiria
Photography By [Band] – John Lamacchia, Kenneth Schalk
Producer – Candiria, Michael Barile

Candiria (2001) 300 Percent Density

Souvenir's Young America (2007) An Ocean Without Water

Richmond, VA's cinematic instrumentalists SOUVENIR'S YOUNG AMERICA present their second full length, "An Ocean Without Water," which will be released through Crucial Blast on both CD (on July 24th) and LP (shortly thereafter). The album was recorded with John Morand (Labradford, Sparklehorse, 4 Walls Falling) at Sound of Music. "An Ocean Without Water" comes in a 6-panel digipack designed by Sasha Barr.
Lush, shimmering guitar ambience and hypnotic, propulsive instrumental heaviness wind through the dusty highways and burnt twilight skies of "An Ocean Without Water," the sophomore album from Richmond's Souvenir's Young America. Divided into six flowing movements, "An Ocean Without Water" is filled with intensely beautiful melodies that drift on lonesome harmonica strains and sparkling, celestial electronics, shot through with mystic, western slide guitar, passages of crushing angular riffage, rolling tribal drumming, and transcendent blues. Through their intricate song arrangements and moody textures, Souvenir's Young America has created an epic, emotional narrative. The sound draws from the collected DNA of forebears like Popul Vuh, Earth, Labradford, and Neurosis, yet they form a powerfully evocative instrumental language all of their own. Features collaborations with Aughra (Magic Bullet Records) and Nick Forte (Sublight Records, ex Rorschach / Beautiful Skin).
The band has developed their sound even further with this new album, and we couldn't be more stoked over the epic, moody sounds that onfold over "An Ocean Without Water's" 40 minute running time.

Artist: Souvenir's Young America
Title: An Ocean Without Water
Label: Crucial Blast - CBR 61
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2007
Genre: Rock
Style: Post Rock

Songs:
1 Mars Ascendent [6:12]
2 Blood Alone Does Not A Father Make [8:10]
3 Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground [5:31]
4 The Sheltering Sky [7:33]
5 Invocation In The Caldera [6:25]
6 Coragyps Atratus (Ego Te Absolvo) [6:18]

Band:
Graham Scala - Percussion, Guitar, Electronics
Jonathan Lee - Keyboards, Electronics
Ken Rayher - Guitar

Credits:
Artwork by Sasha Barr
Mastered at Visceral Sound by Scott Hull
Recorded and Mixed at Sound Of Music by John Morand
Noah Saval - Harmonica (songs 1, 2, 5)
Chris Carroll - Cello (songs 2, 4)
Brent Eyestone - Electronics (songs 3, 4)
Carrington Martin - Tambourine (song 5)
Nick Forte - Electronics, Remix (song 6)

Notes:
Song 3 is based on a song of the same name by Blind Willie Johnson.

Souvenir's Young America (2007) An Ocean Without Water

Made Out Of Babies (2006) Coward

What are you afraid of, coward?

There’s something taunting and downright intimidating about the sophomore album
by Made Out of Babies that befits its title, Coward. Like that well-worn catcall, it’s every
bit a menacing challenge.

And, by all rights and means we should be intimidated by this NYC quartet that looks
like a composite of every schoolboy/schoolgirl crush and sounds like a ferocious hybrid
of PJ Harvey, Jesus Lizard, Babes In Toyland and Big Black.

On stage, caterwauling front-woman Julie Christmas paces the floor, yelping with a
bewitching intensity that defies her charming beauty and (occasionally) cherubic
whispers. Meanwhile, towering guitarist Brendan Tobin coolly strangulates leaden
sheets of guitar strata from his battered six-string, bassist Cooper lunges in time as his
instrument rumbles and slithers around Matthew Egan’s relentlessly churning rhythms
and blood-splattering drum fills. There’s no rock machismo in the sounds of Made Out
of Babies, which just might be what makes it so unsettling and unique. Instead, the
group bears a mysteriously unified all-out visual and aural aesthetic assault reminiscent
of mid-period Black Flag. And yet, there’s a certain curious glamour to MOoB that gives
it a monolithic appeal.

MOoB’s sophomore Neurot Recordings album was recorded with the equally
intimidating Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago, which could only be described
as a match made in… loud. Where its previous album Trophy condensed its songs into a
single psychotic impulse, Coward blasts its sound inward as well as outward, like a
cathartic supernova from a band driven beyond any point of being rational. Does that
sound like hyperbole, coward?

Take a listen: from the very first throat-searing yowl that opens the album, Coward is,
quite simply, bigger that you. “Proud To Drown” lurches with Cooper’s staccato bass line
tugging at Matt’s pulsating 6/8 drum pattern while Brendan’s Middle Eastern tinged riff
winds it all up to erupt. While “Fed” temporarily cools the band’s frenetic energy to
greasy throb, it seems primarily to highlight the fact that Julie can really sing – not that
any of us are likely to coax a sweet lullaby out of her anytime soon. But, her vocal
acrobatics -- leaping effortlessly from a demure whisper to a note-perfect murderous
scream -- are in finest form here, reminiscent of Leslie Rankine of Silverfish and/or a
more demented Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Throughout, the album Made Out of
Babies remains evocative, intimidating, brutally frank and -- as the International rock
press shouted with glee over the band’s stunning Neurot Recordings debut Trophy – by
far the label’s most unabashedly rocking outfit.

Artist: Made Out Of Babies
Title: Coward
Label: Neurot Recordings - NR046
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2006
Genre: Rock
Style: Hardcore, Noise, Post Rock

Songs:
1 Silverback [3:33]
2 Proud To Drown [4:55]
3 Fed [4:32]
4 Mandatory Bedrest [4:50]
5 Death In April [4:34]
6 Out [4:49]
7 Lullaby 03 [1:36]
8 Mr. Prison Shanks [3:39]
9 Gunt [4:58]

Band:
Bunny (aka Brendan Tobin) - guitar
Cooper - bass guitar
Julie Christmas - vocals
Matthew Egan - drums

Notes:
Recorded and mixed at Electrical Audio, Chicago, Illinois by Steve Albini
Mastered at Golden Mastering, Ventura, California by John Golden
Photography By [Cover] – Norbert Gariety
Written by Made Out Of Babies (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 9)
Song N°5 "Death In April" Words [Poem] by Penny Geoghan

Made Out Of Babies (2006) Coward

the nocturnes (2011) Aokigahara

Artist: the nocturnes
Title: Aokigahara
Label: The Errant Child - none
Format: CDr, Album
Country: US
Released: 31 Aug 2011
Genre: Folk, World, & Country, Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Shoegaze, Post Rock

Songs:
1 Aokigahara [4:54]
2 London Town [6:56]
3 Love [5:07]
4 The Cradle [4:06]
5 The Road [5:30]
6 Hello Neighbor [4:45]
7 Craving [3:44]
8 Grandmother Make A Steeple [5:57]

Band:
Dave Clifford - Drums
Julian Rifkin - Voice, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Tambourine [Tambo]
Paris Gulbro Patt - Voice, Bass, Bass [Bass Vi], Guitar [Baritone Guitar]
Emma Ruth Rundle - Voice, Electric Guitar, Guitar [Tenor Guitar], Flute, Tambourine [Tambo]

Written by the nocturnes
Producer - Marty Rifkin, the nocturnes
Recorded by Marty Rifkin

Notes:
Released in a Picture Cardboard Sleeve

the nocturnes (2011) Aokigahara

Rob Mazurek Octet (2013) Skull Sessions

"Mazurek finds a challenge irresistible, and this is one of his most exciting projects" – The Wire

A major force on Chicago’s singularly inventive music scene for two decades, cornetist Rob Mazurek has recorded with high profile artists such as Tortoise, Jim O'Rourke, Stereolab, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and is an intrepid sound explorer.

Skull Sessions combines two of Rob's groups: Sao Paulo Underground and Starlicker with additional personnel. The band is an international cast of masters, including drummer John Herndon (of Tortoise), vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz and flutist Nicole Mitchell, (both DownBeat poll winners on their respective instruments), Guilherme Granado on keyboards and electronics, Carlos Issa on guitar and electronics, Mauricio Takara on percussion and cavaquinho (Brazilian ukulele), and Thomas Rohrer on C melody saxophone and rabeca (a rustic Brazilian viola associated with the northeast). The fusion of these musicians ignites a beautiful cosmic burst!

The big bang that led to Skull Sessions detonated when the We Want Miles exhibition at SESC Sao Paulo requested that Mazurek devise a presentation related to his deep affinity for the music of Miles Davis. In characteristic fashion, he decided against recreating any of Davis’s music, instead composing new pieces and rearranging earlier works for the Octet’s particular personalities and unusual timbres. The resulting album is a exploratory album that puts great musicians and compositions together and trusts in them enough to simply let them go!

Artist: Rob Mazurek Octet
Title: Skull Sessions
Label: Cuneiform Records - Rune 349
Format: Web Flac
Country: US
Released: 29 January 2013
Genre: Jazz
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Improvisation

Songs:
1 Galactic Ice Skeleton [17:20]
2 Voodoo And The Petrified Forest [15:00]
3 Passing Light Screams [15:58]
4 Skull Caves Of Alderon [13:02]
5 Keeping The Light Up [4:23]
Plus:
6 Galactic Ice Skeleton ["Radio Edit"] [8:07]

Band:
Rob Mazurek - cornet
Nicole Mitchell - flute
Jason Adasiewicz - vibraphone
John Herndon - drums
Thomas Rohrer - C melody saxophone + rabeca
Carlos Issa - guitar + electronics
Mauricio Takara - percussion + cavaquinho
Guilherme Granado - keyboards + electronics

Notes:
Song N°6 isn't present in CD format, but only in Web Flac download by Cuneiform Records bandcamp page

Rob Mazurek Octet (2013) Skull Sessions

Active Ingredients (2003) Titration

Since moving to New York from Chicago, where he performed regularly with the Chicago Underground, drummer Chad Taylor has found a niche with a group of like-minded musicians affiliated with Brooklyn's Jump Arts collective. Altoist Jemeel Moondoc, another Chicago transplant, has been a pivotal figure in New York's loft scene since the early '70s. Trombonist Steve Swell is best known as the trombonist in Joey Baron's Barondown trio. And bassist Tom Abbs is making a name for himself anchoring many groups affiliated with the collective. Titration is the quartet's debut recording, and it features special guests Rob Mazurek and David Boykin.

Artist: Active Ingredients
Title: Titration
Label: Delmark Records - DG-547
Format: CD
Country: US
Released: 2003
Genre: Jazz
Style: Jazz

Songs:
1 Song For Dyani [7:44]
2 Velocity [5:39]
3 Slate [4:24]
4 Visual Industries [8:17]
5 Modern Mythology [7:45]
6 Absence [3:43]
7 Titration [9:16]
8 Dependent Origination [4:54]
9 Other Peoples' Problems [13:52]

Band:
Chad Taylor - drums
Jemeel Moondoc - alto sax
Steve Swell - trombone
Tom Abbs - bass, hi-hat
David Boykin - tenor sax
Avreeayl Ra - percussion
Rob Mazurek - cornet

Active Ingredients (2003) Titration

Chicago Odense Ensemble (2011) Chicago Odense Ensemble

A unique project with Tortoise, Isotope217 and Causa Sui musicians.

Chicago Odense Ensemble is a unique collaboration that came together in the winter of 2008 while danish musicians Jonas Munk and Jakob Skøtt stayed in Chicago. Through mutual friends a studio session was arranged for the two to improvise and lay down ideas with some of Chicagos finest improvisers, including members of Tortoise and Chicago Underground Collective Improvisation is not unfamiliar to the two danes, however, as they are more than accustomed to working from spontaneity and freeform structures in psych/kraut/prog unit Causa Sui in their hometown of Odense. During the Chicago studio session hours of loose ideas, grooves and atmospherics were recorded, ranging from loud, intense musical outbursts led by cornetist Rob Mazurek, to delicate, colourful ambiences.

Later, the finest moments were edited, re-arranged and mixed by Jonas Munk in his studio in Odense, doing a great deal of cutting and pasting, and adding an occasional dreamy and dubby vibe to the soundscape. The result is something quite unique: a musical blend that exists somewhere in between the aesthetics of impro jazz, hypnotic rock and electronica. The closest reference for this kind of music is probably early 1970s proto-fusion jazz that strived for a similar synthesis of jazz improvisation, psychedelic rock, eastern and african sounds and the use of the studio as a musical tool instead of merely a recording facility.

Conceptually this album therefore seems more related to Miles Davis' ventures into electric music in the late 1960s that culminated in the early 1970s with albums such as "Live Evil", where improvisational jazz meets funk, psych and percussion driven world music. Even though Chicago Odense Ensemble is undeniably modern sounding in some ways, it also reaches back to an era in music where the fusion of jazz and elements of rock were still regarded with optimism, and where musical spontaneity and freedom seemed a vehicle for cosmic beauty rather than esoteric formalism.

Artist: Chicago Odense Ensemble
Title: Chicago Odense Ensemble
Label: Adluna Records - AR004CD
Format: CD, Album, Limited Edition
Country: US
Released: 11 Apr 2011
Genre: Jazz, Rock
Style: Jazz-Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock, Free Improvisation

Songs:
1 Parallel Motions [9:52]
2 Emanuelle [9:23]
3 Spirals [1:37]
4 Glide Path [4:32]
5 Soup [6:17]
6 Spine Dots [3:22]
7 Delivery [11:57]
8 Pretty Nice [6:38]

Credits:
Bass - Matthew Lux
Cornet - Rob Mazurek
Drums, Percussion - Dan Bitney, Jakob Skøtt
Guitar, Electronics - Jeff Parker
Guitar, Electronics, Keyboards - Jonas Munk
Percussion - Brian Keigher
Recorded By – Matt Fusello

Notes:
CD comes in a special rectangular shape gatefold cardboard sleeve. Limited edition to 500 copies.

Recorded in Matt Fusello's Studio in Chicago, February 2008.
Mastered at Audioboxing.

Chicago Odense Ensemble (2011) Chicago Odense Ensemble

Coalesce (1998) 002 • A Safe Place [EP]

Originally released on the once formidable Earache Records, Coalesce re-recorded the 002 EP to insure its continued survival and availability. To that end, the two-song A Safe Place seven-inch was added to further sweeten the deal. The re-recorded offerings lead off this bludgeoning and benefit from their updating. Not as chaotic or eclectic as future Coalesce releases, these three songs are massive, ferocious and overwhelming. Coalesce's trademarked indomitable riffs are everywhere, as are the chaotic breakdown/freak out parts that beg for broken equipment and injured spectators. Also present are the noise/feedback-inflected runs, Sean's vile tortured throat abuse and the inspired playing that constantly straddles the line between technicality and unmitigated hostility. Not to be overshadowed, A Safe Place's two contributions ring of immediacy, combining all of Coalesce's strengths with an urgency and desire to continually redefine their abilities. Taken as separate entities, 002 & A Safe Place are indeed formidable offerings, combined they are nearly impossible to withstand.

Artist: Coalesce
Title: 002 • A Safe Place
Label: Second Nature Recordings - SN011
Format: CD, EP, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1998
Genre: Rock
Style: Hardcore

Songs:
1 73-C [3:48]
2 Grain Of Salt [3:04]
3 Simulcast [5:03]
4 A Safe Place [2:54]
5 Blend As Well [2:34]

Band:
Sean Ingram - Vocals
Jes Steineger - Guitar
James Dewees - Drums
Nathan Ellis - Bass (Songs 1, 2, 3)
Stacy Hilt - Bass (Songs 4, 5)

Coalesce (1998) 002 • A Safe Place [EP]

Converge (2013) Pound For Pound : The Wolverine Blues Sessions [EP]

Artist: Converge
Title: Pound For Pound: The Wolverine Blues Sessions
Label: Not On Label (Converge Self-released) - none
Format: 5 × File, FLAC, EP
Country: US
Released: 23 May 2013
Genre: Rock
Style: Heavy Metal, Hardcore

Songs:
1 Wolverine Blues w/ Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom, etc)
2 Wolverine Blues w/ Jacob Bannon (Converge, Wear Your Wounds)
3 Wolverine Blues w/ Kevin Baker (APMD, The Hope Conspiracy, etc)
4 Wolverine Blues w/ Nate Newton (Converge, Doomriders, Old Man Gloom, etc)
5 Wolverine Blues w/ Tompa (Disfear, At The Gates, etc) and Kurt (Converge, etc)

"Pound For Pound: The Wolverine Blues Sessions" Digital EP from Converge features our rendition of "Wolverine Blues" originally written and performed by Entombed, presented as five different tracks.

Each vocalist recorded a full version of the song which we used to compile into the final version included on the Converge and Napalm Death Split 7"EP. This Digital EP is the complete mixes of each guest vocalist who contributed to the final track, presented as five unique versions of the song.

If you like what you here, please support all of the artists by purchasing our music and apparel.

released 23 May 2013

Converge (2013) Pound For Pound : The Wolverine Blues Sessions [EP]

French Toast (2006) Ingleside Terrace

Artist: French Toast
Title: Ingleside Terrace
Label: Dischord Records - DIS154CD
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: Oct 2006
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll, Post Rock, Indie Rock

Songs:
01 The Letter
02 Protest Sign
03 Take Me All The Way
04 Secrets
05 Treason
06 Settle In
07 Brejnev
08 Train's Leavin'
09 Wasn't He Great
10 Took You For Strong
11 U.S.S.B.S.
12 Fork In The Road

Band:
James Canty - vocals, guitar, organ
Jerry Busher - vocals, guitar, bass, drums, tapes, keys
Ben Gilligan - vocals, guitar, bass

Special Guest:
Brendan Canty (Songs 02, 09 & 12)

French Toast (2006) Ingleside Terrace

French Toast (2005) In A Cave

Artist: French Toast
Title: In A Cave
Label: Dischord Records - DIS148CD
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: Mar 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Post Rock, Experimental, Indie Rock

Songs:
01 Float Away
02 Pattern
03 New Dub
04 What I See
05 Lion's Den
06 Seen Me
07 In My Room
08 Off Center
09 Back Off Or Els
10 Anger In Your Eyes
11 Insane
12 Nobody Knows

Credits:
Artwork – Jerry Busher
Mastered By – T.J. Lipple
Photography By – Marc Roman
Producer – Bill Skibbe, French Toast, Jessica Ruffins
Recorded By – Bill Skibbe, Jessica Ruffins

Vocals, Bass, Drums, Keyboards – Jerry Busher
Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Keyboards – James Canty

Notes:
Recorded July 2004 at Key Club Recording Studios

French Toast (2005) In A Cave

Fugazi (1995, Reissue Remastered 2007) Red Medicine

Artist: Fugazi
Title: Red Medicine
Label: Dischord Records - DIS90CD
Format: CD, Album, Reissue Remastered
Country: US
Released: 1995, Reissue Remastered 2007
Genre: Post-Hardcore
Style: Hardcore, Indie, Alternative

Songs:
01 Do You Like Me
02 Bed For The Scraping
03 Latest Disgrace
04 Birthday Pony
05 Forensic Scene
06 Combination Lock
07 Fell, Destroyed
08 By You
09 Version
10 Target
11 Back To Base
12 Downed City
13 Long Distance Runner

Band:
Ian MacKaye - vocals & guitar
Guy Picciotto - vocals & guitar
Joe Lally - bass
Brendan Canty - drums

Credits:
Cover – Fugazi, Jem Cohen
Cover [Cover Mechanic] – Jason Farrell
Engineer – Don Zientara
Mixed By – Fugazi
Photography By – Fugazi, Jem Cohen, Joey P.
Producer – Fugazi
Technician [Live Sound] – Joey Picuri

Notes:
Recorded at inner ear 1.95 except 'Version' recorded at Guilford House 4.94 and incidental pieces recorded at practice.
Sticker on front jewel case: "Remastered at Silver Sonya, 2005".
Track durations taken from computer.

Fugazi (1995, Reissue Remastered 2007) Red Medicine

Dälek (1998) Negro Necro Nekros

Artist: Dälek
Title: Negro Necro Nekros
Label: Gern Blandsten - gern038
Format: CD
Country: US
Released: 1998
Genre: Experimental, Noise, Hip Hop, Electronic

Songs:
1 Swollen Tongue Bums [3:42]
2 Three Rocks Blessed [7:45]
3 Images Of .44 Casings [10:27]
4 The Untravelled Road [4:39]
5 Praise Be The Man [12:01]

Credits:
Artwork [Front Cover Graffiti] – Marco Burbano
Engineer – Alap Momin
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Will Brooks
Engineer [Premastering Engineer] – Dan Marino
Layout, Design – Pete Murphy
Photography By [Inside Photo] – David Leto
Photography By [Other Photos] – Timothy Nazzaro

Notes:
Tracks 1, 3, 5 recorded at Sweetwood Sound, mixed at Mix-O-Lydian, August & September 1997.
Tracks 2 & 4 recorded and mixed at Sweetwood Sound, September 1997 & January 1998.

Dälek (1998) Negro Necro Nekros

Lanterna (2002) Sands

Artist: Lanterna
Title: Sands
Label: Badman Recording Co. - BRCD 978
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2002
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Folk Rock, Downtempo, Ambient

Songs:
01 West Side Highway [4:58]
02 Sands [9:58]
03 Windward [3:11]
04 Fields [3:28]
05 Greek Island [6:12]
06 1975 [2:46]
07 Atlantic [7:07]
08 Early August [5:50]
09 Lonely [4:44]
10 Grey [12:06]

Credits
Design – Gino Woo
Drum Programming, Computer – Steve Day
Guitar, Voice, Claves, Recorded By – Henry Frayne
Mastered By, Edited By – Jon Schoenoff
Mixed By – Brett Sanderson (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 10), Garenne Bigby (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 10), Henry Frayne
Photography By – Kevin Salemme
Producer – Henry Frayne, Steve Day
Technician [Mechanical Assistance] – Andy Lund, Jon Schoenoff, Jon Pines*, Karl Bauer, Kevin Merrifield, Kris Bauer, Mark Rubel, Scott Wyatt

Lanterna (2002) Sands