I know there are tons of skullflower topic on internet, but why not one more. This morning I extended my arm forward, grabbed as much 7"s as I can fit in my hand, and start to put them on turntable. One after another, some giving few extra spins. And just basically by accident, a lot of them happened to be Skullflower 7"s.
Slaves / Satany my black ass, steve albini = jim steinman 7" on forced exposure is a bit let down. Despite being pretty old 7", it's somehow doesn't really get the drive or focus like other 7"s have. Well, I guess "drive" and "focus" are pretty relative terms. Thinking how sloppy and stagnant some of the material is. And how loosely the screech of feedback driven noise rock goes. Anyways, you hear the difference when something like Rift / Avalanche 7" hits the turntable. Lots of dense layering, lots of feedback, sloppy drum beat and charming distorted rubbish of electrified strings on top. Some delay effected yelling too. 1990. Stepping couple years forward and Evel Knievel / Teenage Lightning Diamond Bullet introduces nicer heavily reverbed drum sound, wahwah treated guitar noises, distant vocals, crunchy bass lines. B-side from different session, perhaps more in your face sound, but very much in same methods. Fast wahwah guitar noise on top, some nice movie samples kind of reminding me of glory days of Cosmonauts Hail Satan. Just perfect.
Rotten sun / Spook Rise 7", seems more sludgy works of 1990. Tempo is very relaxed, simple distorted bass lines and drum beat and nice effect treated guitar wandering on top of everything, with distorted vocals. 7 minute song goes with same style/tempo like drug crazed jam, with vocals delay being manipulated into psychedelic effects. Track two goes back in 1988. Clearer sound, dense and heavy. Very nice.
WhiteFang #2 / Glassy Essence on freek is already 1994 release, and first release ever of Freek Records in UK. Noisier, more chaotic lo-fi sound than older stuff. B-side goes on full on brutal noise walls create with instruments. It's like Slugbait or Hijokaidan or whatever these noisers who abuse guitar, bass, drums, to create massive wall of noise. Line-up includes Philip Best, Bower, Dennison, Smith..
Release recorded same month as above mentioned 7" came out is Choady Foster / Spent Force. Well, 6th in line of skullflower 7"s, listened straight away, one can say it might not be as noisy as Glasy Essence. It may not reach the superiority of Avalanche or Evel Knievel, but it's a must have 7" for those who like this era of Skullflower.
I really liked when they have those early albums. LP's on UK labels and the phenomenal CD on RRRecords. I like all the 7"s. Never regretted buying any of them. But the later works.......... when they started to... ehm.. suck? There are pretty decent later discs as well, but hardly matching the superiority of the old works. But some are also plain horrible.
The sound of these 7"s is part of the charm. They have none of the modern qualities of "tough guy music". No "heaviness", no "ultra bass", no "in your face loudness"... It's just sloppy, screechy, spontaneous, raw... Was these 7"s ever compiled on CD? Kind of would hope that it would bring the goodies to ears of new crowd in affordable format, but that basically means one misses the great presentation which is equally clumsy, equally directionless and surprising. You get 7" and it might have whatever in artwork. And that brings the good wibe of spontaneous & personal crafmanship.
The one Skullflower release i return to the most seems to be Exquisite Fucking Boredom. RRR album is great as well.
Haven't heard many of the early releases, a collection of the best 7"s would be nice (if it hasn't already been made?)!
As for newer stuff, i think the Second Layer album was great, esp. Drenched In Moonsblood.
Apart from 3rd Gatekeeper and the odd track here and there one of the most overrated bands of our time.
I think the charm of Skullflower, to me, in all those qualities what makes it probably overrated on eyes of many others. One can always say that you can seek something like best of the kraut rock bands or the best of the feedback driven industrial bands a'la Godflesh to get much better results, but for "punky" and "junky" basement feedback rock filth with no tightness or music business appeal, I think these are great. When that approach was abandoned in favor or something else, I didn't get much out of later works.
Skullflower were of their time. That time was 1989/90. I remember getting their first LP "Form Destroyer" and falling in love with it. I got it because it was on Broken Flag Records. I was unaware of what sound as on the disc, but I saw the LP, liked the title, liked the label so bought it. The sound of heavy drums and distorted power chords came as a complete surprise, but I loved it. It sat well with Ramleh's "Grudge For Life" LP. The next hearing for me was "3rd Gatekeeper" which ran out of steam at around track 3. Sub Glitter Band stuff. "Blues For H.M."?? Around this time there was a lot of these sub-metal groups like Pitchshifter and Godflesh doing the rounds and Skullflower were fitting in nicely. I do think "Bad Alchemy" and "Choady Foster" are good little slabs of vinyl, but the title "Spent Force" kinds of sums it up for me for Skullflower around this period. I think the year was 1994 and I bought "Adieu, All You Judges" CD, the split with Ramleh - and that was me with both bands. A dire release, both bands devoid of ideas and just seeming to say "how long can we get away with this shite".
I witnessed Skullflower live last year for the first time ever. I was just 20 years too late!!
I love "Form Destroyer" LP - Just a shame they didn't pack it in and changed name after that album.
I brought a copy of the "Evil Kneaval/Diamond Bullet" 7" in the 90's based on what I had read in the local zine. Found it very disappointing; to my ears, a kind of lo-fi standard issue grunge. Haven't been that interested since.
The newer recordings really does it for me. Taste The Blood Of The Deceiver , Pure Imperial Reform etc. Same goes for newer less hippie Hototogisu records like the split with Prurient and the Under the Rose LP. Totally piercing guitar walls! Like some horrible trip gone bad
I felt truly honored to be able to share a record with Skullflower when we released the Skulflower/Limepit split lp. Just yesterday listened to the Xaman lp, totally blown out rock-jams sometimes even reminding me of Butthole Surfers
I think "Form Destroyer" is one of the greatest albums of all time. Maybe the people on this forum would be most impressed with "Pure Imperial Reform" - an amazing harsh guitar noise album. Matthew Bower is, to me, one of the greatest artists of all time, and someone who's entire catalog I enjoy.
One thing that has surprised me, is why has Matthew Bower ressurected the Skullflower moniker as the sound he is producing now - and I can only go by the sound of their live show last year in London - is no different to the other monikers he has been using, stuff like Total, or Sunburned Hand, or Sunroof! etc, etc, there are more I am certain. I can only be cynical behind the reasoning. Same goes for Ramleh too!
I did wonder this too. Since there doesn't seem to be good logic why something is "total", something "sunroof" and something "skullflower". And when all projects progress / regress slightly loosely, you can't really tell why certain project name is chosen, which it actually sounds like it could have been the other...
Just like for example works of Mark Solotroff often is. You listen to SSS, I.Action, Bloodyminded, 14th Day, Terre Blanche, Super8loop, Mark Solotroff solo works, Bloodyminded recycled works,.. and in the end you wonder how many different names you need to play with pretty much same synth? Occasionally other members, of course, but....
(Of course one could blame myself as well, since there is definite overlap with side projects I may have done, but I would like to believe it's not going to THAT extent, and for artistic reason separation can be once in a while necessary)
I would state that your output as Alchemy In the 20th Century (the very little I have heard - Kaos Kontrol tape + Bawler 7") is very different from your output as Grunt or Nicole 12. You are exonerated Mikko!
I have never understood the appeal of skullflower their performance supporting whitehouse in london was very under par! seriously i have tried but i just dont get it
One of those bands who seem willing to release anything, anywhere and all the time as well. Not that I've heard everything from the last few years shitstorm of releases but that is very often a good indicator of a band who've lost the fucking plot.
I had "F.Destroyer", "Xaman" LPs & a bunch of the 7"'s but sold everything. I liked most when I got'em but repeated listens would disappoint me minus the "F.D." LP. I'v enever heard the first 12". Is there a reiss cd of the first 2 releases? I'd like to hear that but not the rest. The 'vibe' about them back then was interesting (reviews of how dirty, dirgy, etc).
I use to pick everything up from Ramleh too but all but a couple things were good for repeated listens ("Careful what you wish for", "Works III"). Alot of the 7"'s sucked for the most part.
I keep trying. It's fun when I'm in the mood. One of those few artists I don't mind investing time with, again and again, though I never get them. And if nothing else, the repeated tries, with no positive outcome, make it especially funny when the feeding frenzy occurs with a new, limited release. One or two of the Total albums got repeated listens. I need to stop borrowing them and find my own copies.
EDIT: also one of those artists who strikes me as easier to appreciate through their body of work rather than through any particular release.
Just got the new 2xCD on Neurot, and can't understand how anyone who loves noise wouldn't think Skullflower is as good as it comes. This blows 99.9% of the noise I've heard out of the water.
perhaps it is more about the expectations and how it is. From something than stands out, to something which is seems quite routine job. Good, but routine job with little if any intent to go forward? While some bands success in that, others don't do so well.
I agree. I think it's the "more of the same" type sound that people object most to. I can understand that in a way but when it sounds this good; I personally, will take all I can get. I have gotten to know Matthew really well in the past year or so and his dedication to his sound and craft is very much an inspiration for me. Each of the newest releases may follow a similar path but I think the subtle differences, the instrumentation, the mood and overall concept of each release give it all an air of genuine intrigue and with the 'black metal' aesthetics of nowadays Skullflower; a really perfectly evil vibe that is absolutely unmatched in the genre.
For those who don't know I just released a Skullflower/White Medal split 7". The Skullflower side has plenty of buried sounds that you have to listen carefully to unearth. I think both tracks on the split actually compliment each other really well, even though Skullflower is "experimental" and White Medal is obviously Black Metal. I honestly believe it's worth a punt and reckon that this is actually the best sounding (as in closest to the master) 7" release I've done so far and it certainly looks the part too.
That is fair enough, my "beef" (for want of better phrase) is why has Matthew reverted back to the Skullflower name? The sound that he is producing now is closer to other projects such as Total and Sunroof! (I have not heard Sunburnt Hand and other names he has been trading under) so why switch back to using Skullflower? I can be cynical about this and ask the same question of a handful of other noise/PE projects that existed in the late 1980's only to turn up again years later when their name became "in-vogue".
You have a product to sell, and I wish you well.
Any opinions on Fucked On A Pile Of Corpses? Been on constant rotation here the last week, very much into it. Again a bit different from recent outputs, yet maintaining the Skullflower sound of the last couple of years. Very noisy, with parts of somewhat monotonous riffing here and there. Shorter tracks than usual i would say. Some of the more noisier parts are dragging at times, though side by side with the more driving parts the "boring" sections make perfect sense. Overall very solid album!
Due to playing tomorrow I was planing tonight to be a quite one with weed and asian cinema. But the boneheads living above me is apparently hosting a fucking rave in their apartment.
What else to do than crank my Skullflower LPs at ten till dusk!
I find the latest incarnation of Skullflower to be unlistenable noise wankery. No mention yet of "Last Shot at Heaven", my personal favorite album which was released in 1993 between IIIrd Gatekeeper and Obsidian Shaking Codex.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ1S8vu_tJE
I've seen Skullflower play live twice this year, once as a 'rock' style four-piece which sounded amazing but all too brief, and recently as a harsh guitar trio. I'd agree that the recent latter style makes for records that are difficult to listen to, although live at the excellent Supernormal Festival against a dark night sky it was magnificently fierce, inhuman and cold.
One of the better recent releases which uses the rock/riff style is the obscure Matching Head tape 'Thou Shalt Not Suffer A Witch To Die'.
I can only echo ProgeriaYouth's post above about Matthew Bower's dedication and sincerity. Not everything he does works, the different names for various projects make sense only in his own brain, and judging from the moans of some of his ex-collaborators I've heard he is clearly a world-class egomaniac - but also one of the most genuine and driven artists working in experimental music today.
Recently listened to "Form Destroyer" that I d/l'd & it was pretty good; I hadn'theard it in a really long time. I use to have a ton of their work but sold it all off. Is there a reiss of the early stuff? I know I've seen mention of a couple multi-cd sets but never looked to see what was included.
Title of the new one is just dumb. I think I gave a listen to a sample song & it didn't sound anything like what they use to be known for. I think "Xaman" was the last LP I had.
Quote from: Steve on February 07, 2010, 10:28:58 PM
I have not heard Sunburnt Hand and other names he has been trading under
Sunburnt hand has nothing to do with Bower.
Quote from: SKY BURIAL on August 13, 2011, 03:50:40 PM
No mention yet of "Last Shot at Heaven", my personal favorite album which was released in 1993 between IIIrd Gatekeeper and Obsidian Shaking Codex.
2nded. LSaH is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. Album is best enjoyed on drugs.
Quote from: Peterson on September 16, 2011, 12:51:30 AM
I think the title of the new one is terrible and would send anyone running.
this. sounds like something that someone just starting out doing BLACKENED P.E / NOISE would use...
Quote from: Nyodene D on October 06, 2011, 07:16:17 PM
Quote from: Peterson on September 16, 2011, 12:51:30 AM
I think the title of the new one is terrible and would send anyone running.
this. sounds like something that someone just starting out doing BLACKENED P.E / NOISE would use...
I think that's the point?
Quietly, unexpectedly and very belatedly an official Skullflower website has appeared, and I must say the esoteric ramblings on there are MUCH more interesting than 'our new release is ---, our next show is at ---'. http://skullflower-skullflowertruth.blogspot.com/
Tip-off for anyone interested, cheap SF things available from http://skullflower-skullflowertruth.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/selling-stuff-for-nemos-vet-bill.html - my parcel just arrived safely.
I'll modify topic name to be all MATTHEW BOWER related things.
(It started as Skullflower topic 10 years ago.)
TOTAL "Sky Blue Void" CD
Freek
started previous night, but due 73 minute duration, had to finish this next morning. Starts slightly odd, and evolves constantly into more feedback and noise oriented. I like the gutter sound of the early tracks, yet from perspective of noise listening, last few tracks are the best. Perhaps the most massive Lift Every Voice track is the highlight. Metal sounds and guitar feedback. All tracks are stripped down to very bare bones. Usually just two things going on, and seemingly no edits, no utmost processing. Very hands-on sessions.
TOTAL "Exploded Star Sad Servant" CD
Self Abuse
still these days available from Self Abuse, and bunch of other distributors. Fierce, really fierce noise/feedback album. Despite they do use guitar too, it could be would actually compared to early 90's Incapacitants noise. No bass. Almost at all. Just screeching feedback and perhaps one could mention "droning" as quality of slow flow of noise, but it is really noise album. And really good in that. I think it is not very common style in current noise to have this type of painfully screechy high & mid frequency only - and still be murky and dark! A lot of treble-only noise is crisp or digitally, artificially sharp. This is just fairly lo-fi, but just amplifiers produced most of all feedback and high pitch noise as opposed to rumbling and crunchy. Very good!
TOTAL "Classy Warhead" cd.
Pure/RRR
Way more bass frequencies here, especially monstrous 2nd track has fairly rare usage of pitch effect. This would is perhaps most leaning towards harsh noise? 3rd track with unusual blend of classical music and piercing harsh noise and totally punishing high pitched feedback. If someone known know what and who this is, track could probably pass as early 2000's Prurient feedback works. 4th and final track howling feedback-guitar and screech of noise.
I feel like I need to check out availability of Total CD's I don't have. I think at least one Freek Records disc is missing from my shelves. Perhaps also re-listen the later days Skullflower stuff. Production-wise I have preferred the 80's and 90's, but lets see with fresh ears... Recommendations and such, very much welcomed!
I also appreciate mr. Bower keeping active at his personal website.. or lets say blog:
https://skullflower-skullflowertruth.blogspot.com
As usual these days, most things updated in bandcamp. Plenty of guitar/synth/feedback psychedelia digital only releases to be found..
https://skullflower.bandcamp.com/
I got a fairly recent album off Stoic Strength that is called Purity and really rated it.
https://turgidvermin.bandcamp.com/album/purity
On Facebook, I have picked up a lot of 'he hasn't done a decent album in years' type talk,but tbh, I like anything new they have done as much as the older stuff, I don't get where it comes from. In my Heathen Harvest glory days I favourably reviewed Fucked on a Pile of Corpses and was told off saying I did not know what I was talking about, but to me it was an impressive album. I do like what he does a lot.
TOTAL "Sutra" tape, 1987 self financed. I recall there was talk that this -could be- reissued? But that must have been decade ago. A-side is a lot of drum machine patterns and guitar noises, but somewhat industrial type. B-side way darker, and if it was done now, I guess someone would even dare to say "black-noise", due pretty much black metal esque vocals?! From this angle, his slightly BM influenced later releases are in quite different light. Just doing something he had been doing already long before there was "bm influenced noise".
Quote from: Lazrs3 on April 15, 2021, 12:58:49 PM
I got a fairly recent album off Stoic Strength that is called Purity and really rated it.
https://turgidvermin.bandcamp.com/album/purity
My listening habits and relationship to noise are a lot different than most participants here but Purity helped me reevaluate my relationship to noise during a major pivotal point in my life. I love the pure solar ejaculation that Skullflower is in its current iteration... The sound of a couple folks simply doing The Work.
I've been digging into Skullflower a lot lately (maybe it's in the air given the resurrection of these topics) and although I don't care much for "noise rock" I am blown away by Obsidian Shaking Codex and keep returning to other albums from that era. Somehow they balanced a lot of elements that usually turn me off to noise and psych rock. The only era I am not too keen on is the stuff on Cold Spring, but my taste rarely aligns with that label anyways. I find it kind of amusing how everything on Bandcamp sounds like the same artist regardless if it's posted as Skullflower, Sun Roof!, or Yllustrious Forger of Dreams or whatever. Dude is living his best life and couldn't care less about anything else from the looks of it. Just magick, noise, and some fine ponies.
Between "Strange Keys to Unlock..." 2CD and the Eidola of Set artbook that Timeless recently put out, I have yet to discover a living artist in this vein that communicates other realms as lucidly as Skullflower. Very similar to Coil in my opinion but less chaotic and more at home with their demons.
Quote from: Lysergikon137 on June 05, 2021, 05:36:38 PM
Quote from: Lazrs3 on April 15, 2021, 12:58:49 PM
I got a fairly recent album off Stoic Strength that is called Purity and really rated it.
https://turgidvermin.bandcamp.com/album/purity
My listening habits and relationship to noise are a lot different than most participants here but Purity helped me reevaluate my relationship to noise during a major pivotal point in my life. I love the pure solar ejaculation that Skullflower is in its current iteration... The sound of a couple folks simply doing The Work.
I've been digging into Skullflower a lot lately (maybe it's in the air given the resurrection of these topics) and although I don't care much for "noise rock" I am blown away by Obsidian Shaking Codex and keep returning to other albums from that era. Somehow they balanced a lot of elements that usually turn me off to noise and psych rock. The only era I am not too keen on is the stuff on Cold Spring, but my taste rarely aligns with that label anyways. I find it kind of amusing how everything on Bandcamp sounds like the same artist regardless if it's posted as Skullflower, Sun Roof!, or Yllustrious Forger of Dreams or whatever. Dude is living his best life and couldn't care less about anything else from the looks of it. Just magick, noise, and some fine ponies.
Between "Strange Keys to Unlock..." 2CD and the Eidola of Set artbook that Timeless recently put out, I have yet to discover a living artist in this vein that communicates other realms as lucidly as Skullflower. Very similar to Coil in my opinion but less chaotic and more at home with their demons.
Couldn't agree more, Bower is an absolute monster
Quote from: Lysergikon137 on June 05, 2021, 05:36:38 PM
Quote from: Lazrs3 on April 15, 2021, 12:58:49 PM
I got a fairly recent album off Stoic Strength that is called Purity and really rated it.
https://turgidvermin.bandcamp.com/album/purity
My listening habits and relationship to noise are a lot different than most participants here but Purity helped me reevaluate my relationship to noise during a major pivotal point in my life. I love the pure solar ejaculation that Skullflower is in its current iteration... The sound of a couple folks simply doing The Work.
I've been digging into Skullflower a lot lately (maybe it's in the air given the resurrection of these topics) and although I don't care much for "noise rock" I am blown away by Obsidian Shaking Codex and keep returning to other albums from that era. Somehow they balanced a lot of elements that usually turn me off to noise and psych rock. The only era I am not too keen on is the stuff on Cold Spring, but my taste rarely aligns with that label anyways. I find it kind of amusing how everything on Bandcamp sounds like the same artist regardless if it's posted as Skullflower, Sun Roof!, or Yllustrious Forger of Dreams or whatever. Dude is living his best life and couldn't care less about anything else from the looks of it. Just magick, noise, and some fine ponies.
Between "Strange Keys to Unlock..." 2CD and the Eidola of Set artbook that Timeless recently put out, I have yet to discover a living artist in this vein that communicates other realms as lucidly as Skullflower. Very similar to Coil in my opinion but less chaotic and more at home with their demons.
I have been digging in a lot recently, I blasted out Form Destroyer, the jams and gutar work on that are coming from somewhere else. I also played Purity and really feel it uses the Orange Canyon Mind sound as a springboard to go off from. Orange Canyon Mind and Malediction was my introduction to them. I have been lucky enough to see them playing live twice now.
TOTAL "clear factory" LP
Majora
As mentioned few times, this year been listening more Bower stuff than for long time. A lot of releases somehow clicked more in my brain. This one, felt like with simple and easy things, there is good results. 1996 release, available very cheap and perhaps because of large pressing and it ain't as good as two former LP releases on Majora label.
TOTAL "Here, Time Is Space" 2xLP
Majora
1994 double LP. Between this, and clear factory, was Exploded Star Sad Servant (Self Abuse) and Glassy Warhead (Pure), and while Here, Time Is Space is not as noisy as those two CD's put out by noise labels, this one has more density, tastier noisescapes. Feedback, echo, synth/keys droning with howl of guitar/feedback and so on. Theoretically, you could say Clear Factory can be described with same words, but something on this is just much better!
TOTAL "Beyond The Rim" LP
Majora
1993 release, and probably kind of "comeback" of Total. Before this was Hard+Low on Broken Flag (1986) and Sutra (1987) and this marked the return under this name. Skullflower had done IIIrd Gatekeeper, Obsidian Shaking Codex and on top of such sound. Perhaps the era & technology was so favorable to get perfect sound quality for this type of drone. Psychedelic vibrating keyboard/drone/efx, screech of guitar noise on top. Seemingly easy to do, but when you really start to think who'd be doing harmonic-noise-drone this good, there ain't that many! It is almost mindblowing to think, nearly 30 years later, you could grab this for 10-20 euro from discogs. Worth it? Well check out this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4IeAKQqVPw
That last Total track is some top notch stuff. I agree that harmonic-noise-drone is much harder to find good stuff than you would think... Been listening to the Black Sun Roof album Four Black Suns and a Sinister Rainbow.... very similar and among the best of his material that I've heard. Really cannot get enough of the stuff this guy has done. The new stuff from the last couple weeks is still killin it, I swear I'm out here just trying to make it one more fucking day before the other shoe drops in whatever hellhole the USA is at the moment and he's just handing out Grade A Audio Vril left and right.
Might sound trite but if one demonic acidhead can find his peace and noise out on a farm with ponies and cats safe from the tendrils of the NWO it fuels my grind.
I have almost exclusively been buying Matt Bower releases this year, and I have reevaluated my opinion on the Cold Spring releases: They absolutely fucking rip.
Fucked on a Pile of Corpses Probably the most straightforward "noise" release I've heard under the Skullflower moniker, but there are a few collaborators on this album including LS of Culver. Relatively short and less dense than I've come to expect from MB but is exceptionally crafted. It's almost comical how "hard" and flesh-focused the art and themes of this one go compared to the usual corporeal shimmerings. Very crusty and cadaverous.
Draconis Absolutely beautiful, mind-meltingly lysergic visions of cosmic intelligence and splendor. I believe this release is where MB has said they were unleashed to traverse the stars as they are today. Part of me is amazed this release is almost never mentioned anywhere, but I also cannot imagine who this would specifically appeal to. This release in particular really makes me appreciate MB's tip-toed balance between traditional psychedelia and traditional left-hand path theatrics.
The Spirals of Great Harm I haven't gotten to spend a lot of time with this one, but it is another very honed release in the vein of the Black Sun Roof - 4 Black Suns and a Sinister Rainbow double CD that was put out on Handmade Birds. Hissing, crackling, focused "sonic acupuncture". Makes sense why he'd drop this and retire from the music industry.
I've also picked up Tribulation, Total's Exploded Star Sad Servant, and both Voltigeurs releases on Turgid Animal. I can't get enough of the forward momentum in all this material. No matter how much clattering, cacophonous, swirling is howling around, almost every one of MB's tracks has this piercing push ahead, which is maybe why a lot of it gets categorized as "drone", but while a lot of other drone/noisebient artists can get stale every Skullflower/Volt/Total track is just bristling with life and energy. This shit is my audio orgone.
Well said, mate. I feel quite similarly!
Quote from: Lysergikon137 on October 27, 2021, 06:36:30 PM
Draconis Absolutely beautiful, mind-meltingly lysergic visions of cosmic intelligence and splendor. I believe this release is where MB has said they were unleashed to traverse the stars as they are today. Part of me is amazed this release is almost never mentioned anywhere, but I also cannot imagine who this would specifically appeal to. This release in particular really makes me appreciate MB's tip-toed balance between traditional psychedelia and traditional left-hand path theatrics.
I also listened this. I somehow considered it to be "recent". It always felt like this is something I recently got and will check soon. Now seeing that double CD came out 2014! It is surely stand out release among the new-ish releases of Skullflower. I like the way the tracks seamlessly jump into next one. It is almost like continuous journey, rather than single stand-out "songs". Transitions are fast, though. It is not like slow mix-fade from atmosphere to the next, but usually fast cut where song changes to the next, without need of having silence between. Two CD's listened one after another goes fast. Before review above, I have heard one Finnish friend compliment this double CD among the greats, and due his comments it was actually in my CD player last week.
I`ve bought a lot of Skullflower releases this year. I`m going to write small takes on them all. First I`ll start with...
Obsidian Shaking Codex
Bought this RRR release same time with 20 other cd`s. In the pile I had some 00`s forest folk from the States, Sun City Girls, Jandek and whatnot.
This CD gets easily lost in the shelf because of the covers being this cd-r type of plastic envelope.
I guess this release is a some sort of classic and shows whats to come. Has a lot in common soundwise to the upcoming Skullflowers VHF releases, rock stuff ya know. Feels less improvised though. I can`t say if thats a good or a bad thing in my books. I like the way the sounds are layered. The drums being really low in the mix kind of gives me the feel of true volume. Repetitive melodies on bass and guitar remind me of my favorite band The Dead C. Damn good record. Basic stuff, but not so. A noise rock ritual. Listened to it like 7 times in last 6 months.
Fucked On A Pile Of Corpses
Bought it from Ektro Records alongside with Spirals of Great Harm and Dragonis CD`s.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this album. Especially the track "Viper`s Gang". The song has this charming interface between racket and something else. Bursts of guitar notes cutting the noise, giving the track good dynamics.
The album feels slightly too monotonous in the end. I think all in all the record has it`s moments, but not the first one in line when somebody asks me to recommend a Skullflower record. I do like the length. To me, 36 minutes of this compact noise sounds more intriguing and something to come back to, than - let`s say 70 mins of this stuff.
The Black Iron That Has Fell From The Stars, To Dwell Within (Bear It, Or Be It)
Nashazphone LP containing vibrant and epileptic arpeggios with synths and some guitar abuse. Psychedelic entity. The kind of record that needs to played really loud to get the "heady" experience. This album reminds me a lot of Vibracathedral Orchestras tunes. Average stuff, but I have to admit that I have some problem with how the synths sound on this one. They feel a bit plastic sometimes. I feel that one second I`m really inside the record thinking "this is the best shit ever" and the next second "anybody could do this".
Skullflower has yet another digital release out ("Strayed Gods", with Bower stirring things up again with an interesting cover, hehe), and I really wish Bower/labels would release some of these 10-30 min. works instead. They tend to be a lot more mellow in the Sunroof! vein with a lot of similarities to "Orange Canyon Mind". A lot of understated/minimal melodic loops, even Göttsching style simple synth/guitar work.
But as it is, Nashazphone just released "Ophidian Vibrations" LP, more in the minimalistic noise/drone style and I´m really not into it.
One key release that sticks to my mind would be "The Golden Laughter of Abraxas" - I don´t really buy digital stuff but got it along with a shirt I ordered. Or, depending on your time/interest, just go through them all. Oh yes, the stuff repeats itself, but I find myself from time to time immersed in the man´s own musical continuum.
https://skullflower.bandcamp.com/album/the-golden-laughter-of-abraxas
Looks as though Bandcamp has pulled Strayed Gods over the cover image.
I would not recommend anyone, who has even moderately spicy images or song titles to rely on bandcamp. That cover, as innocent as it was, is not something you can "talk with bc staff". Wouldn't be surprised if it was just matter of time when entire account is shut down without prior warning or possibility to complain.. So maybe its good time for people into these recordings to purchase and download when still possible...
I think its more easy just to delete the stuff there rather than trying to figure out if its actually against guidelines, the same thing as with Discogs blocking some recordings. Well... it is what it is I guess. After all its their platform. If I remember correctly even Uton has one "india period" record that has swastika on it... Heh.
It's indeed a shame if all this material goes down the digital drain. Bower is clearly baiting and pushing it a little bit. There's still the Pepe the Frog artwork on the "Halloween" release there...
Bower's put up another friendly looking release on BC. Household gods, with a couple of housecats. So one presumes he's not going to take things down himself just yet.