Six Organs Of Admittance - "Shelter From The Ash" CD

Six Organs' Ben Chasny is a very busy fellow indeed. In between his gigs as guitarist in psychedelic-rock-mavens Comets On Fire, and his work with such folksters as Current 93, he records solo under the nom-de-plume Six Organs Of Admittance. Taking elements from 60's hippie psyche-folk, avante-garde guitarists like John Fahey, and freeform noise, this project sums up Chasny's headspace better than any of his other involvements. 'Shelter From The Ash' is his 10th studio LP, and it seems to inch a mite closer to actual songs than his past, more experimental offerings. Tracks like 'Strangled Road' or 'Jade Like Wine' are very accessable pop/folk songs with sinister/spooky twists, whereas 'Coming To Get You' is a focused and dynamic assault that grinds and churns with restrained animosity. Overall, this may be Chasny's most satisfying recording to date, and it's already gotten multiple spins on my CD player. So far, one of my top picks of the last year. (Drag City)

Flipper – Live Targetvideo77 1980-81" DVD

Flipper were an essential anomaly in the early American punk scene. Nihilistic and dirgey, their noise-damaged music anticipated the hardcore scene, predated grunge, and even could be seen as a starting point for (some) industrial rock. This classic video, finally reissued in digital format, presents Flipper in all their sloppy, drunken, and chaotic glory. Taken from a pair of shows, this rough (but more than watchable) document shows both a more spunky side (a headlining gig from Berkeley) as well as a more cathartic and intense side (their 1981 Frisco show opening for Throbbing Gristle). Vocalist/bassist Will Shatter mumbles and grunts his way through fan favorites like 'Sex Bomb' or (my favorite) 'Life', while his band tumbles headfirst into characteristically messy, nearly-tuneless abandon. Flipper took punk and turned it upside down, and in the process inspired too many bands to list. This is the real deal. (MVD Visual)

"$100 And A T-Shirt: A Documentary About Zines In The Northwest US" DVD

As an old-school zine-maker myself (19 issues, thank you very much), this documentary serves as a wonderful summation of what drives certain people to create their own indie press publications. Focusing on the Portland-Seattle scenes, '$100 And A T-Shirt' was created on a shoestring budget by indie filmmaker Joe Biel, and it features a wealth of interviews with various publishers and writers from all walks of life and interests, resulting in a sort of symposium on the 'hows' and 'whys' of small-press publishing. It's really an enlightening and inspiring mix of subcultures who share a belief in the power of individual freedom and interpersonal relationships through art. It's great to see that this mode of expression is alive and well, especially in this era of impersonal blogging and mystalkerspace. This may well be the definitive portrait of this phenomenon and subculture. Long live zines! (Microcosm Publishing)

"Bikini Bloodbath" DVD

Delivering everything the title promises, this one really can't lose, right? Sadly, yes it can. A tale of a grisly murderer (the cleverly named Chef Death) stalking some nubile young womanflesh (often with bare boobs) isn't exactly a new idea, and this film fails in nearly every way. With tongues firmly in cheek, the directors create a not-so-classic B-slasher that succeeds only in annoying the viewer. Horrific more for its' awful overacting than for its' tension or murders, 'Bikini Bloodbath' is truly a potent stinker, and even an ample bosom (or six) can't save this one. Bleah. And what's with the hottest girlie being deemed the 'nerd' of the bunch? (Blood Bath Pictures via MVD Visual)

Christopher Bissonnette - "In Between Words" CD

Sweeping, cinematic urban ambience from this Canadian composer, 'In Between Words' utilizes field recordings (including bits of orchestral work) and electronic processing to dazzling effect. Initially inspired by both visual sound and the legendary Detroit electronica scene, Bissonnette's compositions effectively synthesize these influences into floaty, glacial seas of static, drone, and pulse. 'The Colonnade' is an especially effective track, plunging into a dark swath of melodic strings both sad and strident. The closer, 'Jour Et Nuit' sounds like a late-night cityscape re-tooled into chunks of tonal ambient sound. Beautiful and wonderful work here, tailor-made for inobtrusive reading or solitary reflection. (Kranky)

"Captive Files 1" DVD

Here we have another 'pink' movie (Google or wiki it if you don't know) from Japan. And this one's a full-lengther (as in 1:40). As it goes, 'Captive Files 1' (directed by Kim Tae-gwan) depicts a lonely postal worker whose obsession for young teenage girl results in his abduction of said girl. He gradually tries to 'train' her to love him, and resorts to bondage and confinement! Well, suffice to say that things don't quite go as well as he plans. It's not rated, and there's plenty of savage sex and some disturbing plot twists along the way. It's fairly well-acted and scripted, and even the subtitles are well-done. An enjoyable little movie here, and certainly memorable, in a darkly-twisted little way. It may go on a tad too long (the epilogue is dodgy and unnecessary, though maybe it somehow is an attempt to justify the brutality and possible charges of sexism that could be levied against the film), but I kinda liked 'Captive Files 1'. (MVD Visual)

What Is It?

So I finally got a chance to see Crispin Hellion Glover's fabled (and reportedly rare) film (the first of a proposed trilogy) called 'What Is It?', courtesy of my longtime comrade in crime, Pauly R. (thanx brother!), and wow! Imagine a hallucinogenic, surrealist mixture of Jodorowsky and Fellini, with a hint of Korine, and maybe even a dash of Lynch, too. This one is beyond description (too fucked-up/beautiful for words), but I see it as a tale of a young man (with Down's Syndrome, no less), who loves snails and has a wickedly troubled inner dialogue, and some pretty hideous demons to be confronted. That said, it's also a really dark comedy. I knew there was a reason I always liked Fairuza Balk (who portrays the voice of a screaming snail, believe it or not, as well as a predatory praying mantis), and the respected Adam Parfrey is also in it, as well as 'appearances' by Shirley Temple (I think they were phoned in, hah!), and music by Charlie Manson AND the mighty Anton LaVey. Oi vey! It isn't easy to find, but if these names mean anything to you, Glover's artistic vision may be something you need to invest in. Definitely NOT for the squeamish, as there's some graphic stuff here (which I won't go into). Open minds only, please! Check Glover's site for more info.