Sigur Ros supporting Music Matters with short film

With Sigur Ros vocalist Jon Thor Birgisson's new solo album as Jonsi, entitled "Go", on the imminent horizon, Sigur Ros themselves have created a short film to show their support for "Music Matters". It's a lovely video to accompany a beautiful song, and with an important message. Give it a couple of minutes of your time here.

Music Matters - Sigur Ros (22-3-10) from Music Matters on Vimeo.

Marty Willson-Piper's Noctorum reissue, free tracks

Though he is often seen as a guitarist and sideman in Aussie psychedelic rock legends The Church, Marty Willson-Piper has emerged as a world-class songwriter in his own right. Aside from his 30 years with The Church, he's released 5 solo albums, 4 live albums, toured and recorded with too many artists to list, and worked on a pair of collaborative albums with Dare Mason, under the name Noctorum. These wonderful Noctorum albums received limited distribution, and are quite difficult to find.
To remedy this, 2006's "Offer The Light", is being re-released via Second Motion Records (USA) in June 2010. It'll be housed in a tasteful deluxe softpack CD with booklet. And to help promote it, Second Motion are offering a 2-song free download as a taster. Remarkable, melodic, and well worthy of your attention.

Noctorum free tracks

In other related news, expect a comprehensive set of Church and Steve Kilbey reissues (including an 8CD box set of Kilbey's past works) from Second Motion in the coming months.

Second Motion Records (source for all things Church)

Psycho - "The Grind Years" CD

This Boston group's 1990-1994 output is re-released on this fine 52-track collection, and it's packed with fast and fun furballs of noise, grunts, and riffs! Ranging from scuzzy gutter punk to ultra-blast grindcore, Psycho's over-the-top thrash and spittle-covered punk exhibit a wicked sense of humor and some superb musical chops. Fans of everything from classic punk rock to early Napalm Death will find plenty to chew on here. Production is hit-and-miss (invariably due to the numerous recording conditions and time periods), but the mood (?) here is of reckless abandon and good, heavy aggression. It's hard to single out tracks, as the majority of them run about a minute apiece, and some log in at as little as 11 seconds, but suffice to say there are plenty of gnarly and fun blasts here. "The Grind Years" is perfectly-executed old-school grindcore/punk with attitude, poise, and spirit. I dug it instantly! (Selfmadegod Records)

Psychospace

Burzum - "Belus" CD

Easily among the most influential and controversial bands in the Norwegian black metal circuit (look it up, I won't go into the gory and sensational details here), Burzum's first album in 11 years doesn't disappoint. Opening with the atmospheric "Leukes Renkespill", Varg Vikernes (who seems to be the sole member) descends into atmospheric (and surprisingly melodic) black metal on "Belus' Doed". But his palette isn't as monochromatic as or stifling as that genre has become. "Glamselens Elv" is an epic 11+ minute Viking-style romp that is as much classical in style as it is metallic. "Kaimadalthas' Nedstigning" is just under 7 minutes, but manages to range from dark Norse chant to more traditional black metal wailing - effective and unusual. "Keliohesten" is an unwavering blitzkrieg of rolling drums and thunderous, almost industrial-style riff, while the closing, "Belus Tibakekomst (Konklusjon)" is an almost SWANS-like mantra, with building guitar textures and drones. With "Belus", Vikernes and Burzum proves that he is moving beyond the traditional black metal sound that he helped to instigate, and (shady) politics aside, this is a powerful and triumphant return. (Byelobog Productions)

Varg's personal Burzum site

Unofficial but relevant Burzum site

Burzumspacel

DBR Daniel Bernard Roumain - "Woodbox Beats And Balladry" CD

Wholly unique in music, Roumain's experimental violin work traverses across genre boundaries effortlessly. From the opener, "Spaceships Over Haiti", he merges jazz, classical, and electronic sounds together into a sometimes-dizzying, always evocative mix. The second track ("Sonata For Violin and Turntables Part 4") brings in drum & bass rhythms for a modern classical-meets-techno hybrid. "Simone" is more reflective, which gives way to the hype of "Armstrong" -- a busy jam with Roumain's effected violins joined by a full band and some mad scratching. If this sounds like overload, it can be. "Sonata For Violin and Turntables, Part 2" is a trippy psychedelic journey, which contrasts nicely with the stately, lovely tones of the proto-classical "JMDL", which brings little more than piano and violin into the fray. It's a bewildering mix, and proves DBR to be a world-class composer and musical chameleon. Superlative and inventive work. (Thirsty Ear)

DBR website

DBR blog

Sectioned - "Purulent Reality" CD

Hailing from England, this is the debut full-lengther from Sectioned, and their classic death metal roots are all showing here. With an unabashed affinity for old-school Florida-style death/thrash, Sectioned's dual guitar attack brings smoking leads, solos, mighty thumping kick-drums, and growly-vomit vocals. It's a hearty and potent mix, with tracks like "My Love Of Decay" standing out, does the raging "Village Of The Sun". It all ends with the melodic and reflective acoustic intro of "Purulent Reality (Outro)". This interesting bookend is evidence that Sectioned may yet have another side waiting to come out. That said, if death metal by the numbers appeals to you, there's a lot worse out there, and Sectioned know how to make a serious racket. I like this one. (Paragon Records)

Sectionedspace

"Ceremony - A New Order Tribute" 2xCD compilation

Featuring a host of artists who, for the most part, I'm unfamiliar with, this extended-length double-album is a tribute to one of the most influential electronic/pop acts ever, and is dedicated to famous Factory Records founder/New Order manager Tony Wilson. A portion of the proceeds from sales go to the Salford Foundation Trust's Tony Wilson Awards, which benefit the education and nurturing of school-age artists. So you get a good cause, and a good set of tunes! That aside, the moody dance-pop of New Order's classics emerge fresh and re-imagined here, with a selection that balances comfortably between indie rock and club techno (both of which New Order pioneered back in the early 80's). Standouts include Yes But No (consisting of 10-and-13-year old sisters Brianna and Skylar Ward) and their splendid and faithful version of  the resonant "Ceremony", The Dark Romantics' U2-like "Crystal", Christian Webb & Adam Knowles' lovely "Run" (what an amazing song), The Sheaks' dusky Western-shoegaze take on "Ceremony" (Can you tell this is one of my favorite New Order songs?). Other notables include Light Yourself On Fire, who shockingly convert  "Chosen Time" into a growly metal monster, Xoxo's solemn "Every Little Counts", and Win Win Winter's plaintive piano-driven "Regret". And that's not to mention a spoken intro from Peter Hook (of New Order) himself. So, you have some radical reinterpretations, plenty of (true?) faithful covers, and plenty of reverential and respectful tributes. A superb set for any New Order fan, and plenty of solid material for novices just as well. (24 Hour Service Station)


24HourServicespace

New Order tribute page