The Young Gods - "Knock On Wood - The Acoustic Sessions" CD

Swiss electronic-rock act the Young Gods are destined to confound and royally piss off many of their 'fans' with this release. Initially tarred with the 'industrial metal' brush back in the late 80's, vocalist Franz Treichler and keyboardist/programmer Al Comet have since dabbled in ambient techno and richly-orchestrated Chanson (their album of Kurt Weill covers was an early move that paid off handsomely in differentiating them from their more meatheaded peers).
Here, in a completely unexpected and unprecedented move, 'Knock On Wood' sees the group recreating some of their early classics with purely acoustic guitar, drums, sitars, kalimba, woodblocks, etc. These are completely reinvented songs, and amazingly, it works quite nicely. 'Our House' opens with a lovely tapestry of nylon and metal string guitars - sonically flowing and natural. In it's earlier form, this song was a locomotive of tension and aggression. Here, it's sedate, calm, and relaxing. And a music-box style melody is revealed. Impressive! 'Gasoline Man' is country-tinged, rollicking, and rocking - an American road tale as if visualized by Wim Wenders, perhaps. The (originally) explosive guitar shrapnel of songs like 'Longue Route' or 'Skinflowers' are rendered almost folky, yet still bold and melodic.
The extended cover of Suicide's legendary 'Ghost Rider' is lengthy and droning, but somehow maintains the hypnotic vibe of the original, though it lacks the unhinged manic quality of Rev & Vega's original.

Having been a fan of these guys for a long time ('Envoye' was a revelation of sorts in it's day), and knowing that Franz, Al, and company always sought to inject a real organic feel to their machine-driven music, I approached this with curiosity, and was rewarded with their finest work in years. They write songs with soul, and in that context, this project is a success. Just where they will go from here should be an exciting trip, and I look forward to being along for that journey. (PIAS Europe)

Young Gods site

A recent live acoustic video for 'Skinflowers', as featured on this album:




The 'Lucidogen' promo video from 2000:

tBH - "Book Of Salms" CDR

This brief (26-minute) release of strange electronic improvisations sprung forth from late-night jam sessions involving ex-members of obscure UK industrial outfit The Brainhole. First off, the cleverly hand-made and recycled packaging is tactile and interesting, and gives these abstracted alien soundscapes an air of terrest-reality. Jumping into the music, we have 'Alumni 2' - a short slice of atmospheric static and texture that (almost) approaches a melody, though that may be a by-product of some repetitive motifs, rather than a preconceived plan. 'Untitled 1' devolves into a series of annoying sound-globs and ear-testingly shrill tones - ominous at times, but overall patience-trying. The brief 'Prescopate' is an early industrial-sounding mix of cutups, electronic blips and samples - reminding me slightly of very early Cabaret Voltaire. 'Preu' continues with this vibe - shrill tones, blasts of noise/sirens, random environmental sounds, and electronic tensions. Good, solid avante-industrial work. The final track, 'Seething Sours', is another tense bit of random sounds and glitchy static - effective and nicely atmospheric. Overall, some solid and surreal audio work - rough and raw in spots, but ultimatly rewarding in it's unpredictability. (Noecho)

Marc Almond - "Live At The Lokerse Feesten 2000" DVD

Captured live in Belgium in a festival setting on his 'Open All Night' tour, the suave and flamboyant Almond here treats the audience to a fine cross section of his tunes, from some then-new ones all the way back to his Soft Cell days. And he was certainly in fine form that night - the theatrical and Latin-tinged 'Love To Die For' is stylish and dramatic. Almond's voice has never been sharper and well-honed, and his blend of red light district tragedy and tortured torch-diva fits in nicely next to his heartfelt sincerity and dark irony. From his pop-star days, he's morphed into a classy and debonair cabaret vocalist - but with a sinister bend. He's a logical heir to the throne held by Jacques Brel or Scott Walker, and this live DVD encompasses his entire career well. 'Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart' is epic, symphonic, and stirring, while Brel's Chanson 'Jacky' is bouncy and passionate. His hit 'Tears Run Rings' is here re-envisioned as a sweetly bitter dance cut, and 'Say Hello Wave Goodbye' as always been a gloriously moving song, and still is. Wow.
Marc Almond is an immensely talented and charismatic singer and enduring songwriter, and this 16-song concert is a must for fans. (Charly Films via MVD Visual)

Marc Almond site

And here's a clip of one of the more rocking cuts from this DVD, featuring guitars by Neal X (formerly of Sigue Sigue Sputnik).

Sigur Ros with Bjork - Gobbledigook at Nattura

To celebrate the ever-nearing general release of the Sigur Ros 'Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust' deluxe DVD/book/CD edition, and to celebrate the election of a more responsible and forward-thinking (not to mention less destructive!) American presidency, here's a nice live recording of Sigur Ros performing 'Gobbledigook' live! Taken from the Nattura Concert on June 28, 2008 in Reykjavik and featuring fellow Icelanders Bjork (!!!) and Amiina (!!!!!), this percussive party-song is full of celebratory spirit - something we all need more than ever. Thanx to AaronC for showing me this clip!



Visit Sigur Ros website

Or Bjork's website

I will feature more on the Nattura cause and concert soonish.

Ginger Leigh - "Merchant Of Death" CD

Seemingly a 'best of' selection, this 71-minute set from the prolific composer once again infuses some offbeat sounds into a generally harsh and unforgiving musical climate. Beginning with the dour industrialisms and martial drums of the title track (fans of In Slaughter Natives or Cold Meat Industry take note), the set heads into the wild, feral screams and even elegant classical/Middle Eastern vibes of 'The Charcoal Man'. Confused yet? Good. Predictability is overrated! Ginger Leigh has been producing his own off-kilter melding of disparate elements for some years, and his unusual pairings of frivolous surf/go-go music ('This is Ginger Leigh', 'Get It Right!'), harsh, noise-laced industrial, and exotic ethnic theatricalities ('Love Letters', the Joujouka-ish 'Black Rainbow') - and often in the same song - is uniquely his own. And check out the virulent Sabbath-trib, 'al-Ironman', that closes this disc out. It's huge and mean and threatening in such a marvelous way. 'Merchant Of Death' is a compelling selection of avante-experimental-electronic-noise-pop that deserves far more attention. Get this weird and eccentric mix for only 6 bux through his website...and pick up some free mp3s while you're there. (Ginger Leigh)

Brainwaves 2008 Festival

If you are reading this and are to be anywhere near the Boston, Massachusetts USA area later in November, you definitely need to get your tickets for this upcoming festival put on by the massively wonderful Brainwashed family of websites and headmaster Jon Whitney...

The list of announced performers is incredible, and this assemblage is not likely to happen again. Support independent music and the arts and check out these shows!

Pasted directly from Brainwashed:

The following is the schedule of performers. Set times and order will not be posted until the day of the event. Be sure to arrive when doors open to find runnning order and set time schedule.

Note: DJ Steven Stapleton will be spinning between sets all weekend long.

Friday, November 21, 2008 - doors at 7pm, music begins at 8pm
Meat Beat Manifesto
Silver Apples
JG Thirlwell's Manorexia
Marissa Nadler
& a special Greater Than One video presentation

Saturday, November 22, 2008 - doors at noon, music begins at 1pm
His Name Is Alive
Gary Wilson
Rivulets feat. Jessica Bailiff
Major Stars
Nmperign feat. Jason Lescalleet
Glenn Jones

Saturday, November 22, 2008 - doors at 7pm, music begins at 8pm
Matmos
Threshold HouseBoys Choir
Little Annie
Reformed Faction (Mark and Robin of Zoviet France, Rapoon, Dead Voices On Air)
Andrew Liles & Jonathan Coleclough

Sunday, November 23, 2008 - doors at noon, music begins at 1pm
Stars of the Lid
To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie
Boduf Songs
Lichens
Nudge
Strategy
Windy Weber (of Windy & Carl) & Thomas Meluch (of Benoit Pioulard)

Ticket prices for the day passes is as follows and will only be available direct from the Regent Theatre:
Friday, November 21st, 2008: $20
Saturday, November 22nd, 2008: $45
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008: $20
(restoration and online transaction fees are NOT included in this price)

For more information and details (including individual artist info), direct yourself here.

Brainwashed podcast

Like to hear some of the music featured here? There are some wonderful podcasts that play it, and other similar sounds...check out my friend Jon Whitney's Brainwashed Radio here:

Brainwashed podcast page

You will not be sorry. Jon spins everything from Kranky Records artists (who have their own podcast, linked from the above page as well) to electro-glitch to ambient/drone to first-wave industrial classics.