Jarboe - "Live In NYC" DVD

Stylish, dark, and enchanting former SWAN spreads her wings

For her first New York performance following her split from SWANS, Jarboe and band conjure a bewitching, elegant, and edgy presence for this 2000 show. Shot with several cameras in an intimate setting (the Knitting Factory), this 60-minute video showcases Jarboe's dark solo material as well as some re-tooled revisions of her work with Swans and (The World Of) Skin.

Opening with the esoteric art-rock of "Surrender" and "We Are The Prophecy", the band hits a crescendo with "My Buried Child". As well, "Euphoria/Demons Out" is a cathartic expression of reckless abandonment to a primal force, and features a wild on-stage appearance by the incomparable Kembra Pfahler (The Voluptuous Horror Of Karen Black). "Dear 666" is a swampy blues number that showcases Jarboe's diverse vocal stylings, while the stripped-down and mournful "One Thousand Years" is a beautiful lament, remaining faithful to the original Skin recording.

"Live In NYC" is an effective look at Jarboe's live persona just post-SWANS, and any fan of her unique and beguiling blend of weird and personal musics will be glad to have witnessed it.

Atavistic

The Living Jarboe

Jarboe presents The Sweet Meat Love And Holy Cult - "Mystagogue" 2xCD

Though it's semi-billed as a Jarboe album, this double-set is actually a selection of 28 psychedelic and freak-folk songs that only sometimes include the participation of the legendary chanteuse herself. "Mystagogue" features, for the most part, a revolving door of artists and personalities, Jarboe being just one of many.

Opening with a re-recording of Jarboe's own "Ode To V", there's also a curiously straight-forward cover of Donovan's "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" (also sung by J. herself). "First Utterance" is a realistic audio portrait of a smoky opium den, both intoxicating and mysterious. Other standouts include Antic Clay's lovely and anthemic "Take This Tongue", which in my world would be a radio "hit". Henry Derek's "The Big Mouth" is cool and charismatic haunted blues. Derek's "Ballad For Blind Joe Death" refers to, and is most certainly an homage to, legendary guitar master John Fahey, and it all closes out with the voodoo blues-folk of "The Clasping Of Hands". A solid and trippy set of tunes for end times and new world awakenings alike.

(Atavistic)

Jarboe's personal website

Swans - "Feel Good Now" CD

As a document of the band's scathing and nuanced 1987 "Children Of God" tour, this "official bootleg" was originally released in a small edition on double-vinyl and CD. This resequenced reissue omits "Trust Me", but is still quite worthy for devotees of Swans' transcendent sound and vision.

Opening with the gutteral "Intro", the band launches into "Blind Love", which  pummels mantra-like for over 20 minutes. "Like A Drug" is a bowel-churning attack, while "Beautiful Child" is a churning assault with murderous intent. There's no weak spot here, and though some may feel the 75 minutes here are far too much to endure, I  feel to the contrary, especially as the softer moments (highlighted by Jarboe's foreboding "Blood And Honey") serve to pace the otherwise bludgeoning assault of sound.

Make no mistake, "Feel Good Now" is a raw, bootleg-quality recording. It was, after all, recorded on a Sony Professional Walkman by the band's sound engineer. However, as an album and experience, it's still quite worthy for serious fans, as it showcases a particularly volatile and inspiring period for the band, right between their powerful (even threatening) early work and their more melodic middle period. The intensity is not lost on the relatively low fidelity here. 

Visceral and unembellished, "Feel Good Now" is a cathartic experience with few parallels. It's best to close your eyes and absorb. Magnificent! 

(Atavistic)

Official SWANS site

Young God Records

SWANS - "The Burning World" CD

I'm pretty certain Michael Gira didn't anticipate, nor "green light" this 2012 reissue of Swans' infamous 1989 major label album. And for collectors or fans, it offers little over the original pressing aside from a louder remastering. I'd have liked to see the single B-sides, at least, appended for a more complete experience, but that's nitpicking.

It's been well-documented before many times. Gira and company were signed to MCA/Uni, and with the addition of an outside producer, Bill Laswell, they came up with this selection of 10 folk/world songs. Coming on the heels of the bands' sprawling, scalding masterwork, "Children Of God", this mellow, moody, and melodic set was subjected to numerous declarations of "sellout". And though it produced one of Gira's most memorably haunting songs ("God Damn The Sun"), the singles "Saved" and "Can't Find My Way Home" didn't find themselves charting much anywhere. 

Years later, many still consider "The Burning World" a blemish within Gira and company's illustrious catalog. Gira himself has outright refused to reissue this, aside from some odd bits included on his "Various Failures" compilation, and a very limited handmade redux called "Forever Burned", which also sold out quickly and now fetches large sums itself.

"The Burning World" isn't a terrible effort. On the contrary, it's a strong one, but it also needs to be seen for what it is --  a turning point, a very public transition where Gira, Jarboe, and Westberg would shed their previous image. They would eventually resolve to rebuild the band's legacy several years later with the double-album epics "White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity" and "Love Of Life", and that legacy continues today, stronger than ever.

So, while this reissue may not be fully "official", newer fans unable to obtain a reasonably-priced original will find it's an appealing alternative. Let's just hope Water/Universal compensates Young God Records for this one. (Water/Universal)

Young God Records (official source for new SWANS music)

A Storm Of Light - "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" CD

This album serves as a warning, and a document of mankind's widespread gluttony and greed over our own Mother Nature, and the devastating effects of Earth tipping the scales back into her favor. And to capture that heavy-duty concept, the music needs to be grand, all-encompassing, and absolutely omnipotent. "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" comes mightily close, and in fact works quite well under that condition. Formed in 2008 by Josh Graham (ex-Battle Of Mice, Neurosis visualist) and joined by Dominic Seita (Tombs, Asea), Andy Rice (Sinking Ships), and Joel Hamilton (Battle Of Mice, Book Of Knots), this incredible combo is primed to prove themselves juggernauts of environmentally-conscious, cerebral post-metal heaviness. The titanic rhythms and thunderous riffage of the aptly-titled "Tempest" envision a future wrought with apocalyptic cataclysm. The potent storms of doomy, slow, and tortuous grind here are melodic and dynamic, though, pulsing with ethereal undercurrents that envelop the monolithic slabs of pure, primal force. Lydia Lunch herself provides effected spoken parts through three cuts, and former Swans frontwoman Jarboe also adds her considerable vocal talents to a couple of songs, but this is really Graham's child, as he contributes just about every instrument to the mix, as well as conjuring the amazingly apocalyptic artwork on the sleeve and liners. "The Light In Their Eyes" places a mournful cello as the centerpiece, with martial drums and frightening soundtrack textures providing the color to the rendering. This is an album that warns of a possible, even inevitable, global environmental catastrophe. And the music provides a sort of soundtrack -- powerful, unstoppable, and ultimately sorrowful. This is a hell of a recording, and this group will be legendary if they can keep up with a creative zenith like this. (Neurot Recordings)

A Storm Of Light website

Link to exclusive video for "Tempest", on Brooklyn Vegan website

"Of Sound Mind" compilation cassette - FREE

As I recently noticed that this release has been in semi-demand through discogs.com, so now seems a good time to make 'Of Sound Mind' available again, completely free to you, dear readers.

This is my very own compilation cassette, originally released in ultra-microscopic quantities via Godsend Productions & Magazine way back in 1993. If you like experimental and abstract noise and ambient sounds, this 90-minute collection of material from mostly fairly well-known international artists might be appealing. You can download it in 2 parts below. It got very positive reviews way back when from such mags as MUSIC FROM THE EMPTY QUARTER, E.S.T., AUDIO DRUDGE, and others. See what you think and please leave comments so I know you're out there! Did I mention you can download this for FREE with the links below? The artists were all personal friends back then, so it's all legit, too...

Here's the tracklist and bio:

OF SOUND MIND compilation tracklist
CD1
1. Psycollapse - torture lab
2. Merzbow/Arthur Potter - sub-urban
3. Amoeba - feedback study: steel
4. Amoeba - spectacle of false faces
5. Amoeba - elith
6. Beautiful People, Ltd (featuring Jarboe) - newborn child
7. PBK - totem
8. Stereotaxic Device - slash and burn
9. Illusion of Safety - inside
10. Psycollapse - burning up time
disc a
CD2
1. Robert Rich - birdsong for aleta
2. Robert Rich - circle
3. PBK - a dream
4. Konstruktivists - khos (live 1982)
5. Konstruktivists - kardboardia (live 1982)
6. Vidna Obmana - by abundant rain
7. Beautiful People, Ltd. (featuring Jarboe) - suicide song
8. Trance - the other side of silence
9. Trance - rain in hind
disc b

OF SOUND MIND compilation bios:

PSYCOLLAPSE:
This was a loose "band" consisting of Todd Zachritz, Clint Davis, and Brian Zachritz. These tracks were both strictly improvised, and show the dark, more mysterious side of their work. Besides this type of stuff, they also dabbled in many other styles and genres, from hard dance to punk rock to ambient, reflecting an interest and enthusiasm for nearly every genre of music. The band has been inactive for some time, though a reunion is always possible. PSYCOLLAPSE has left behind a catalog of over 40 cassettes of unreleased material, some of which may be compiled in the future.
Godsend Productions
(c) 1992 Godsend Productions

MERZBOW/POTTER:
"Sub-Urban" is a rare collaboration between two very respected figures in the international "post-industrial" noise scene--Japan's MERZBOW and New York's Arthur Potter. This track combines Masami Akita's brutal, grinding electronics/processing with Potter's spoken text/poetry. The result is nothing less than scalding.
MERZBOW has been responsible for an immense number of recordings internationally, while Arthur is primarily a visual designer who's done cover art/designs for numerous CONTROLLED BLEEDING releases as well as volumes 3, 4, and 5 of the seminal DRY LUNGS compilation series and an exclusive cover design for GODSEND's 18th issue.
He has also worked on music with longtime friend Paul Lemos of CONTROLLED BLEEDING fame.
(c) 1992 Merzbow/Potter

ROBERT RICH/AMOEBA:
Hailing from Stanford, California, composer Robert Rich has released an impressive number of fine solo albums of his emotive, ambient soundscapes. He has also worked on collaborations with such atmospheric music luminaries as Steve Roach, Vidna Obmana, and Brian Lustmord. The 5 tracks selected for this compilation are unreleased outtakes pointing to a variety of directions and atmospheres.
His side project AMOEBA is an outlet for his more extreme sound experiments, as presented here. He has also since released several CDs of strange ambient pop under the AMOEBA moniker. The track "Feedback Study: Steel" is based on a "prototype instrument made from a sheet of steel". AMOEBA's "Spectacle of False Faces" dates way back to 1985--an early document of his future direction. "Elith" is an electronic improvisation.
His contributions as Robert Rich include "Birdsong For Aleta", a dance piece written for a solo performance by Aleta Hayes, and "Circle", which uses an instrument Rich built in 1985 called a mallet kalimba.
Robert Rich
(c)1992 Soundscape Productions

THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, LTD:
This was a "band" consisting of Jarboe and Lary Seven. Jarboe is best recognized for her collaborations with M. Gira as SWANS and THE WORLD OF SKIN, though her solo career has been fruitful and productive as well. These songs were another outlet for her creativity, and she released a full-length BPL CD and remix single on Belgium's Sub Rosa label (now available again on the Atavistic label). She has also released several excellent solo albums, and continues to collaborate with artists like Justin Broadrick (of Godflesh and Jesu), Neurosis, and a lengthy list of innovative modern artists from all over the world.
Jarboe
(c) 1991 Jarboe Music

PBK:
PBK has become an important part of the international cassette and experimental scenes. His style of "sound painting" utilizes samples, loops, and synthetic sources to produce a very individual, intuitive type of sound. His many releases on labels such as RRR, Lunhare, and ND show a great range of directions, from the harsh noise of his early work to the near-ambience of recent releases. He has also collaborated with many other artists, including Jarboe, Vidna Obmana, Brian Ladd, Deaf Lions, M.Gira, and Chris & Cosey. PBK now works in a vaguely jazz-like context, though still quite electronic in nature, and certainly more experimental than that term may imply.
PBK
(c) 1991 PBK

STEREOTAXIC DEVICE:
On the electronic beat side of the musical spectrum was STEREOTAXIC DEVICE. Their music, which approached downright danceable at times, used varying atmospheric textures and sound collage to create a rich and layered brand of electronic music--both experimental and accessable at the same time. They released 2 full-length CDs and one single on Belgium's KK Records before disbanding around 1993. This track originally appeared as a CD-only bonus track on their "Lostland" CD single and in different form on their "100 Per Day Extinct" CD.
Recently, vocalist Daniel Williams was active in industrial-dance act THINKING MAN (on Metropolis Records) while keyboardist George Sarah has recorded electronic dance sounds with his project T.H.C. Sarah is now an established Hollywood score composer and has most notably worked on the cult TV series, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer', among others.
(c)1991 Stereotaxic Device/George Sarah, courtesy of KK Records

ILLUSION OF SAFETY:
IOS are a revolving group centered around Dan Burke. They've released a large number of releases on labels such as Staalplaat, Tesco, RRR, as well as Dan's own Complacency Productions, and they have quickly become some of the most respected crafters of experimental sound. Their vast catalog of work includes everything from ambient fields of sound to crunching noise to the beat-driven textures of their legendary (and polarizing) "Inside Agitator" CD.
Illusion Of Safety
(c)1991 IOS/Complacency

KONSTRUKTIVISTS:
This group has been making their own style of experimental music since the early 1980s. Never ones to be predictable, the group have gone from the noise of their early Third Mind LPs to the more recent neo-techno of their "Tic-Tac-Toe" and "Forbidden" CDs. Core members of KONSTRUKTIVISTS have performed with such "industrial" legends as CHRIS & COSEY and WHITEHOUSE. These 2 live tracks are archival examples of their early psycho-tronic work and date all the way back to 1982.
Konstruktivists
(c)1992 NKVD/Ouragouras Music, Inc.

VIDNA OBMANA:
Belgian composer Dirk Serries has been one of the finest ambient artists in recent times. His soundwork is serene and immaculately constructed, reflecting an atmosphere of delicate, unfolding beauty. His experimentation with nontraditional sound sources has led to some likewise interesting collaborations with other artists including PBK, Marc Verhaeghen (of the KLINIK), Steve Roach, and Sam Rosenthal (of Projekt/BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL), among others. Serries also collaborates with others in the more guitar-drone-oriented Fear Falls Burning.
VidnaObmana
(c)1991 Vidna Obmana

TRANCE:
Mason Jones, the man behind the avante/noise group TRANCE, quickly made a name for himself in international experimental music circles, both through his soundwork, and through his label. Charnel Music (which released a stream of fine CDs by such artists as CRASH WORSHIP ADRV, ZENI GEVA, GRAVITAR, and K.K. NULL, among others).
TRANCE, which was chiefly a solo venture, released several CDs and cassettes that range from grinding guitar melee to neo-tribal percussiveness to the solemn, classically-influenced work on his "Augury" CD. Mason is also active with psychedelic rock band SUBARACHNOID SPACE and continues to collaborate with a number of legendary experimental musicians from around the world.
These 2 tracks showcase some of his more percussive music,and show the diversity and subtlety TRANCE is capable of.
Charnel House
(c)1993 Charnel Music

Angelique Bosio - "Llik Your Idols" DVD

This documentary of the late 80's-early 90's New York movement now known as the 'Cinema Of Transgression' examines the reactionary/nihilist film/art/music scenes that intersected at this revolutionary time. Interviews with scenesters like Nick Zedd, Richard Kern, Lydia Lunch, Thurston Moore, Richard Hell, Jarboe, Joe Coleman, Russell Simmins, and others lend an air of credibility to the proceedings, as folks like Zedd, Kern, and Lunch were responsible for some of the most shocking and (some would say) tasteless films of our generation. The violence, gore, and sexual depravity of this period is examined and reflected upon by actors and film-makers alike, and although some can be arguably be assessed as little more than Z-grade trash cinema (or fetishistic titillation), there were some important inspirations and aspirations there. In fact, it can be noted that some of this underground cinema has infiltrated modern pop culture, with everything from fashion spreads, photography, and horror films taking cues from some of these still-hard-hitting films. Bosio does a fine job illustrating what made this "scene" tick, with plenty of excerpts and clips. The bonus bits include 2 of Zedd's films, 'Police State' (which is a horrifyingly extreme and pointed look at police brutality, starring himself as the victim), and 'War Is Menstrual Envy' (a weird and almost moving look at, eh, a burn victim, Annie Sprinkle, and Kembra Pfahler in various compromising positions). Well worth a look if this sounds like your cup of tea leaves. (MVD Visual)