"The Life After Death Project" 2xDVD (director: Paul Davids)

Curious documentary for supernatural and Famous Monsters fans...

With the main feature here focusing predominantly on the great Forrest J. Ackerman (of "Famous Monsters Of Filmland" magazine fame, and the undeniably greatest collector of classic sci-fi and horror memorabilia of all-time), this full-length documentary examines the man's post-mortem legacy. That is to say, this is full of testimonials and evidence that "Forry" (as he was lovingly called) still maintains contact with his friends and loved ones.

As well, other famous horror writers and personalities (including Richard Matheson and Whitley Strieber) reveal their own personal "ghost stories". It's a compelling watch, with an array of literate, intelligent, and scientific folks detailing their paranormal experiences first-hand. Sometimes these experiences are Forry-related, other times not. Nonetheless, the vast archive of Ackerman-related photos and films is priceless.

The second disc is an entirely different documentary, also by Paul Davids. Subtitled "Personal Encounters", this film is a collection of paranormal experiences related by many other people. Apparently, Davids did some extensive traveling to compile this exhaustive and rich selection of "ghost stories".

Some fascinating viewing here, for anyone intrigued by the possibilities. And a must-see for Forrest Ackerman admirers.

Yellow Hat Productions

Life After Death Project site (with Forry links)

Burial Vault - "Incendium" CD

Melodic death metal, effective but ultimately generic

On their second album, German metal marauders Burial Vault unleash a torrent of melodic death metal. And it's pretty well solid work, with excellent production and a deadly double-pronged guitar attack that is both refined and sharpened. 

"Peculiar" breaks down with a section of melodic (non-regurgitated) vocals, which is quite a shock within the band's usual sound. But the following cut, "The Nightly Horror" returns to the standard speed-laced death metal, and it's quite effective indeed. And the rest of the album proves to be a more than amicable selection of epic metal sounds, too, with "cookie-monster" vocals and lightning fast guitar solos. For fans of the style, Burial Vault deliver.

Apostasy Records

Burial Vaultbook

Ayria - "Plastic Makes Perfect" 2xCD

Silly synthy-techno for teens

On her 4th album, Canadian Jennifer Parkin crafts a solid, if, well, plastic set of melodic synthpop tunes with touches of trance, industrial, and ethereal gothic sounds. Call it "futurepop" or whatever, and you're in the right realm. Parkin's melodic vocals are certainly more "pop" than anything else, and the music (which features some production and programming from Icon Of Coil's Sebastian Komor) is edgy dance pop, with plenty of hard-hitting beats and Euro-techno sequences.

Tracks like "All That Glitters" could rope in plenty of teeny listeners, if not for the heavier beats. "Games" is purely dance pop, and could be almost mistaken for a Disney radio icon, to these jaded ears. Sure, Ayria's clean and crisp pop-dance sheen is well-produced and club-worthy, but there's just not much else of depth here.

The bonus disc of remixes (included only with the limited edition box version) ups the ante with some heavy-hitting names. Project Pitchfork deliver a clubby mix of "Missed The Mark", whereas Daniel B (of Front 242)'s complex and muscular mix may be the best track here. Aaimon's mix of "Games" is nicely ethereal, tempering the beats, but the rest of the cuts are just variations on the trance/dance club vibe. Of marginal interest, I'm afraid.

Alfa Matrix

Ayria site

Famous Underground - "Famous Underground" CD

Lost in the eighties butt-rock

Featuring former Slik Toxik members Nick Walsh and Laurie Anne-Green, Canadian hard rock act Famous Underground's radio-friendly rock/metal sound is straight out of the past. With wailing, melodic vocals that are purely Sunset Strip-style, Famous Underground are certainly adept at melodic heavy rock songs. "Dead Weight", for example, could be Guns 'N Roses if Axl hadn't totally lost the plot way back when. 

There are 11 tracks here, all well-produced slabs of clean and anthemic classic rock. Famous Underground have all the right moves and attitude aplenty, but as for content? I get nothing. Insipid lyrics ("Hell To Pay" a shining example) and a well-trodden sound do not a world-class band make.

Dust On The Tracks Music

Famous Underground

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

A Secret Policeman's Ball - "Teenage Crimewave" CD

Silly name, cool post-new-wave indie

Well, I'd like these folks better if they would call themselves "Teenage Crimewave" -- much more fitting for this band's attitude. Anyway, it's a 4-piece out of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but leave the regional thing out of the equation, as you won't hear anything necessarily "Tennessee" in ASPB. Indeed, this is heavy-duty modern rock with a big city swagger. Vocalist Nikki brings a nicer, melodic new wave sound, then steamrolls it with an incisive rock shout that can hold it's own against prime Kat Bjelland or any other "chick screamer" you can conjure. "Try To Find Shon A New Hat" showcases this screamy side, with an old-fashioned hardcore noiseclot that runs for around 40 seconds. Love it!

Songs like "A Flock Of Beagles" do present a tinge of 80s-inspired shoegazey rock, while (the likewise wonderfully-titled) "A Young Stephen Dorff", smacks of Blondie fronting Interpol, if you can imagine that. ASPB have the new wave-meets-indie sound down well, and their dynamic may throw off some folks, but I like the schizophrenic nature. Excellent!

MVD Audio

A Secret Policeman's Ball

"The Phantom Father" DVD (director: Lucian Georgescu)

Superb and intelligent Romanian indie film

This Romanian indie (thankfully, in English) has a lot going for it, namely a sparklingly warm performance by lead actor Marcel Iures. His portrayal of a an American professor who's given it all up to research his bloodline in rural Romania is quite enjoyable. "The Phantom Father" is a well-done film with charm and heart.

Iures' character, Robert Traum, meets Romanian archivist/librarian Tanya, who assists him along his journey. She becomes his sort of foil, and the two find common interests along the way. The cinematography is beautiful, acting natural and instantly believable, and the story is interesting and perfectly plausible. Superb work, and easily recommendable.

MVD Visual