I got fired up when seeing the before-mentioned SCP 3CD set on Harbinger being announced, so I digged up my whole SCP collection (mostly all the vinyls) and will digest them during the coming week. I was always very intrigued to hear new (to me at least) works from Key. Even if I did not always really understand them or even like them, I feel very connected to the soundworlds he produced. I remember getting almost aggressive from listening to the "Do you believe in a pencil?" CD because it was so minimal and boring, hope it does the trick again!
Any favourites and why?
good listens:
In Thicket PD10"
Unroof the Houses of the Fishes C-46
Urgent Tube 10"
Aube/Small Cruel Party 12"
Small Cruel Party/Toy Bizarre 3"CD
never could get into these:
Stercoranism C-60
Islands of Sleep LP (wasn't this the one on 250gm vinyl that sounds terrible?)
Stain on Pure Glass LP (remember liking one side and not the other)
I believe my SCP indoctrination was with the Howard 31 CD comp. Key's style works well on compilations, and it isn't because I like it in limited doses. He seems to often compliment the tracks around his. Maybe his music just plays well with others. I don't have a good explanation for it. Sometimes it is smart track sequencing by the label, but SCP maybe lends itself to others in ways most projects do not. Did Jeph Jerman and Key every collaborate? If not, that might turn a great result.
His half of the split LP with Kiyoshi Mizutani was what had me forever captivated. It's serene yet bristling with power.
I also really like the Chop Shop split 10", but then I say that with the benefit of having an un-split copy.
Obviously, the mentioned SCP box has been out for long time now. I have yet to listen box entirely, but so far even 1st disc, (including pretty much just stuff I already have in my shelves) is great reminder of versatility of SCP. Even if one could perhaps associate him with more quiet and subtle sounds, it's merely half of truth. Some really raw and noisy sounds there too! Innovative use of sources to create neat experimental noise soundscapes.
Set looks nice too. DVD sized triple panel digipak in slipcase with track infos and liner notes. Nice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTA8GaoV_JM
from: "Every Force Evolves A Form" 2x7"
some weirdness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKErlXK_NyQ
youtube supply seems to be small and hardly good presentation of good SCP works..
Just got a test pressing for the new Harbinger Sound LP ... thinking of giving SCP the full 2 hour radio programme ... beautiful stuff!
Quote from: Steve on June 29, 2013, 08:15:01 PM
Just got a test pressing for the new Harbinger Sound LP ... thinking of giving SCP the full 2 hour radio programme ... beautiful stuff!
Is that newly recorded material?
I am late on the train, but i discovered Small Cruel Party trough the box set on Harbinger. Fantastic stuff!
It is a re-issue of the 1993 cassette "Unroof The House of The Fishes" that G.R.O.S.S. Tapes put out. Proving to be essential!
The more box is listened, it reveals to be utterly great. Also shows how headphones listening may work in some cases very well to make super distinctive stereo image of sound. And is good reminder how sucky the youtube samples of same work sound compared to well done CD release...
Haven't seen this one being mentioned anywhere, but the 'Three Simple Eyes Of The Insect Ancestor' CS on Apraxia was reissued on CD by the french label Kaon in 2012. Been picking up lots of SCP stuff the last months and this is one of the very best in my opinion: http://www.kaon.org/small-cruel-party-three-simple-eyes-of-the-insect-ancestor/
Aye, a magnificent work that one. Reminds me a tiny bit of Hands To's 'desert' recordings. Great atmosphere and masterful composition. I only wish the reissue came in digipak instead of digisleeve as the latter can sometimes be a rather frustrating type of envelope.
Could anyone provide a little more insight on "Do You Believe in a Pencil" and "Stercoranism", please? I'm kind of on the fence regarding whether spending 20+ euros on a second-hand copy of either is reasonable given the current economic situation here.
I've always skipped on SCP for i don't know what reason (i guess the name ..?). But thanx to this thread i'm discovering real gems in the discography, starting with 'Unroof the house of the fishes', which is great! Now i have lots of catching up to do.
Here's my review of the boxset: http://existest.org/ee_v3/?p=6690
Spinning finally LP this morning. I got the tape version for decades, so was not in hurry:
Small Cruel Party "Unroof the house of Fishes" LP
Harbinger
Really nice LP re-issue of GROSS tape. Together with tape on SFCR (fra) label, this was last tape SCP released, and after this just vinyl and cd's. You can sense clear development of sound from early stuff. Which is, utterly amazing, but this one shows further advanced skills of layering, picking up very clear - but sometimes also noisy sounds. Never blurring into mess, always several layers of sound remain clearly audible, without sounding totally separated from eachother (like some computer sound collages with zero saturation). A-side is more subtle and calm, screeching sounds of b-side probably hit the sweet spot of those who love Ferial Confine kind of stuff. Of course this is different from that. But lots of painful high pitched metal object screech - like grinding against grinding stones and moving on top of aluminium plates. Never aggressive noise. Just disturbing manual craftsmanship. B-side has great flow too. While some core sounds remain quite similar, it slowly flows to new things all the time. Epic droning electronics what emerge on latter part of piece, is like Daniel Menche a'la "Hymns For Sliced Velocities" would be arriving from distance, heh..
Pressing of LP is good. I won't be so anal that would start to compared GROSS chrome tape vs. LP, but it appears very good cut. Some surface noises here and there simply as vinyl appears to be kind of dirty even coming straight from the sealed cover. But while GROSS perfect tape dubs may win in sound a bit, I think LP simply is format to last for several lifetimes... Cover design here is completely different from original tape, but I'd still recommend people to pick LP instead of waiting for tape. Seems like at least in discogs last time it was for sale was 3 years ago for higher price than this LP now.
I just got the recent Islands of Sleep CD reissue of an LP from 1998. It's captivating stuff. While musically it's not complex, Ransone undeniably has an ear for interesting, beautiful, and often almost sensual sounds, probably made by careful manual manipulation of various objects. The CD is available for ridiculously low prices (granted, the material is only appr. 29 minutes long), so I highly recommend it to anyone into SCP or wanting to check it out.
Will have to get the recent LP reissue of Resin, Parched, Chthonic, too.
Quote from: acsenger on February 03, 2019, 07:58:06 AM
I just got the recent Islands of Sleep CD reissue of an LP from 1998. It's captivating stuff. While musically it's not complex, Ransone undeniably has an ear for interesting, beautiful, and often almost sensual sounds, probably made by careful manual manipulation of various objects. The CD is available for ridiculously low prices (granted, the material is only appr. 29 minutes long), so I highly recommend it to anyone into SCP or wanting to check it out.
Will have to get the recent LP reissue of Resin, Parched, Chthonic, too.
Just got the 'Resin, Parched, Chthonic' re-issue, having never heard the original release I was quite surprised, pleasantly, at how much more rough around the edges it sounds in contrast to other SCP works. A lot more 'noisy' than I expected - really fucking good. Need to play it again ASAP.
I have and reviewed the Three CD Box An Accident in Substance https://heathenharvest.org/2013/03/21/small-cruel-party-an-accident-in-substance/ and like it a lot, that's a well presented ,good collection and intro to their work. I have Unroof the House of Fishes too which is good.
Oddly got into Spoils and Relics over the years who have vague parallels to SCP going on there too.
Quote from: Lazrs3 on February 22, 2019, 10:34:12 PM
Oddly got into Spoils and Relics over the years who have vague parallels to SCP going on there too.
Somewhat, yes. Especially in earlier works I guess, but more recently they've headed into far more electronic music territory. I'll probably always love this group but I do prefer the more tapey early stuff to the synth heavy modern sound. Can't fault them for progressing though. I'm sure SCP is an influence on those guys.
Not much else to add besides that x3 cd set is essential if you can get a hold of it. I'm always struck by how simple SCP is every time I listen to it. There really isn't a lot going on most of the time but by gum it works well. Feel like I'll maybe never get a full grip on exactly what he's trying to do and I like it that way?!
I haven't heard any recent Spoils and Relics stuff. The last I heard was the album on Harbinger Sound and a tape around the same time. Will check out their newer stuff.
Quote from: Lazrs3 on February 23, 2019, 01:06:53 AM
I haven't heard any recent Spoils and Relics stuff. The last I heard was the album on Harbinger Sound and a tape around the same time. Will check out their newer stuff.
Really loved the most recent tape box on Second Sleep. Stands as some of my favorite Spoils & Relics material!
Quote from: eyesofsatan on March 10, 2019, 10:07:54 PM
Quote from: Lazrs3 on February 23, 2019, 01:06:53 AM
I haven't heard any recent Spoils and Relics stuff. The last I heard was the album on Harbinger Sound and a tape around the same time. Will check out their newer stuff.
Really loved the most recent tape box on Second Sleep. Stands as some of my favorite Spoils & Relics material!
My mate is or was in them, will check with him. That box looks tasty, I just had a peek on discogs.
SCP has always shared some ground with Zoviet France, and this new one, Ἡσυχασμός, is right there. Has that urban decay ambient feel. Organic rustling is absent.
https://fernsrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/-
This is new on vinyl, but formerly already tape on Banned prod.
I think Banned prod ran into some trouble with his tape deck? I managed to order one big wholesale order years ago, then trying new big order and never succeeding to finalize deals. I think he was dubbing 1:1, one copy at the time, and putting out so many title. And then problems with tape deck...
Most were short, C-10, C-20, some C-30. Would be curious to know how many copies were actually dubbed of some of those tapes.. Good thing that SCP came out on vinyl so reaches more ears!
whoops
Quote from: Matthias on March 25, 2014, 08:52:53 PM
Haven't seen this one being mentioned anywhere, but the 'Three Simple Eyes Of The Insect Ancestor' CS on Apraxia was reissued on CD by the french label Kaon in 2012. Been picking up lots of SCP stuff the last months and this is one of the very best in my opinion: http://www.kaon.org/small-cruel-party-three-simple-eyes-of-the-insect-ancestor/
Recently picked this one up after "discovering" SCP just within the last couple of months. Absolutely obsessed with the project now. I've quickly grabbed some easy-to-find CDs like the Harbinger 3xCD collection which is absolutely essential for anyone into this area of music.
Listening to Three Simple Eyes now and it's quite good and maybe my favorite album from the project so far. The first track consists of slowly developing sounds of grinding and scraping metal with beautiful undertones of oscillating low end that complements perfectly. The second track has beautiful rainlike droplets of electronics and interesting contrast of crashing or booming sounds in the backdrop. Each is meticulously crafted.
I've also particularly enjoyed Island of Sleep and the first track of Cervorum Simulacra. Do You Believe in a Pencil? is great for the first track or 26 minutes (depending on the format you have), but then doesn't really progress and gets a little stale. Going to come back to that one and see if it grows on me.
I really want to get some of the LP reissues mentioned in this thread like Resin and Unroof, but looks like it's pricey, and will have to purchase from overseas. If anyone has knowledge of stateside distributors that have these, please let me know.