"The Cat Piano" (directors: Eddie White and Ari Gibson)

Something rather interesting here, and unlikely to make it to America anytime soon. Meantime, you can watch the whole award-winning short film here, as a gift from directors Eddie White and Ari Gibson, two Australian filmmakers who somehow got a certain Mr. Cave to narrate a poem by White...

The Cat Piano from PRA on Vimeo.

For further info on "The Cat Piano", visit their site here.

To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie - "The Man With The Shovel Is The Man I'm Going To Marry" (director: Tristan Allen)

A lovely, dark little official video for this track from the duo's last release, though new to me. Their new CD, "Marlone", is due this month from Kranky, which I look forward to...Meantime, check this out.

Visit the band's site: Riley Bushman Recordings And Archives

Ben Neill - "Night Science" CD

Ben Neill's trademark creation, the "mutantrumpet", takes center stage here, on this predominantly electronic release. Initially studying with folks like La Monte Young and working with John Cage, Neill, since the 90's, has skirted the edges of both jazz and electronic music, inhabiting a realm somewhere in-between. "Night Science" utilizes plenty of dub/step beats and sequences, with Neill's late night trumpetings taking the smooth club sounds into a more subtle, almost romantic, and decidedly nocturnal arena. On cuts like "Hearthrob", it's a floating, almost ambient techno journey with strings and distant vocal samplings. Otherworldly, to be sure. but pleasant. "Night Science" is soft, lilting, and lovely trip to a night-time world of electro-jazz -- not too "out-there", but unique nonetheless. (Thirsty Ear)


Ben Neill site

My Own Grave - "Necrology" CD

I had to scour the label's website in order to figure out WHO the hell this CD was by! Seriously, these awful, stereotypical death metal fonts are well overdone, aren't they? Anyhow, that aside, this is a Swedish death metal horde that manages to kick some serious ass. Innovators they aren't, but the band's Swedish-meets-American death metal is everything you could hope for -- the vomited vocals, hyperspeed riffage and drummage, and a pinpoint-perfect production that leaves space for each instrument, and gives "Necrology" a crisp, clean, and deliciously thunderous whomp. "Exhumed To Be Buried", for example, is wicked, intense, and dense, but clear. Well-done, guys! (Pulverised Records)

My Own Gravesite

The Few Against Many - "Sot" CD

Hmm. This is a Swedish act (comprised of members of Scar Symmetry, Dark Tranquillity, and Katatonia, among others) who mine the territories between classic thrash, death, and maybe a little gothic metal (at least with the little underlying keyboard melodies). To their credit, it's a crisp and thumping release, with lightning solos, almost prog/symphonic electronics (though sometimes it's pretty cheesy), and cookie monster vocals. "Blod" gallops along convincingly enough, and their genre-blending is refreshing, amidst a sea of soundalikes. Good metal, but not quite great yet, though the potential is there. I'm just not blown away or convinced over the course of a full-length. (Pulverised Records)

Few Against Manyspace