Couldn't see a thread.
Just spinning 'Black Magic Pond' (Blossoming Noise) for the first time in years and it is really hitting the spot. My plan is to spend today revisiting the little work of his I have but I want to hear about your recommendations.
The impressions I've gotten is that his more recent work has veered into more musique concrete/electroacoustic territory which is fine with me and, of course, present in much of his older more noise based recording too. I'd be particularly keen to hear what people think of newer stuff?
He is also an excellent live act too. At this stage in life (hah!) I don't give a fuck what the performer is doing onstage so long as the sound is interesting, however Wiese remains a bit of a go-to when the boring laptop vs not laptop argument rears its head. His approach seems very tactile while totally focused and you can tell that, for the most part, he is mixing sounds live rather than just scrolling through things on his macbook. I recall with fondness/bitterness watching him, Cheapmachines and Dieter Muh (though perhaps not in that order) one after the other at the Rammel Club weekender in 2012 and there was a feeling among several of us in attendance that there might just be no fucking point in making our own music after such a series of great sets.
I'm a fan - I particularly like the Deviate From Balance DLP. It's a genuinely interesting "album" with a lot of variance, interesting collabs and a really bananas ending thing with tons of cool folk. I've gone back to it over and over again.
Mirror is great too. Pretty sure this had a different title and was reissued from a previous recording, but it's a great listen. Super harsh. It sounds a lot like the Sissy Spacek album "Wreck" on Phage Tapes.
The collabs with Evan Parker and Dave Phillips are also really cool.
My other go to Wiese records are Seven of Wands, Circle Snare and Black Magic Pond.
His split with Merzbow is one of my favourite Merz albums at times, very ecstatic.
Quote from: Deadpriest on May 11, 2017, 05:13:34 PM
His split with Merzbow is one of my favourite Merz albums at times, very ecstatic.
They got a great timbre and texture on that album. Merzbow's best computer era work? I hope I included it in the collaboration album thread, because it deserves to be there.
Wiese was kicking ass with Sissy Spacek last year. I believe two albums on my favorites of 2016 (that I still haven't finalized and posted).
Quote from: Zeno Marx on May 11, 2017, 06:39:22 PM
Quote from: Deadpriest on May 11, 2017, 05:13:34 PM
His split with Merzbow is one of my favourite Merz albums at times, very ecstatic.
They got a great timbre and texture on that album. Merzbow's best computer era work? I hope I included it in the collaboration album thread, because it deserves to be there.
Wiese was kicking ass with Sissy Spacek last year. I believe two albums on my favorites of 2016 (that I still haven't finalized and posted).
I always thought Bariken was really excellent laptop era.
Was SS's (ha) pure grindcore album last year? Because that was some really innovative stuff.
If we're talking SS as well Duration Groups and Reversed Normalization are about as perfect two records can be. I loved the grindcore record but the other two, goddamm were those excellent. The addition of more of a free jazz structure plus the Ace Farren Fords sax contributions were incredible. It's almost a shame they were CD only just because not as many people will buy them.
I was able to get 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6 of those limited tapes too, but somehow not 5. I'm beginning to think it doesn't exist. There was so much SS material last year it literally blew my mind trying to track it down.
I didn't get tape #5 either. Very strange that the other ones were readily available but #5 was only available for their east coast tour I believe.
I feel like SS fans buy their cds. I love cds so its not a problem for me. They do a ton of 7"s too. Waiting patiently for more releases this year.
Booked SS as headliner at Vancouver Noise Fest 4 years ago. Their set was perfect and it was a great way to end the night. I love Charlie. John and Charlie (as Unexamine) played solo at the fest the year prior. Always enjoy getting decimated by Wiese's live mixing assaults, but have to say I don't listen to the recorded output and don't really own anything these days.
Barring Rogue Astronaut era, Wiese was part of some of the best Bastard Noise material as well.
They played with Mike DuBose on vocals last time I caught them and wow man it was like total Fear of God type stuff. It was hands down, one of the best things I've witnessed in a decade.
I'm almost relieved to hear no one else has gotten #5. The other 5 in that series were fucking brilliant. When I got that package with everything it was one of the best mail days ever.
Quote from: holy ghost on May 12, 2017, 08:33:27 PM
They played with Mike DuBose on vocals last time I caught them and wow man it was like total Fear of God type stuff. It was hands down, one of the best things I've witnessed in a decade.
I'm almost relieved to hear no one else has gotten #5. The other 5 in that series were fucking brilliant. When I got that package with everything it was one of the best mail days ever.
I was only able to score 1 of the tapes... Charlie didn't even end up with copies. Hoping to track the others down at some point...
Quote from: absurdexposition on May 12, 2017, 07:26:58 PM
Barring Rogue Astronaut era, Wiese was part of some of the best Bastard Noise material as well.
True. The Sound Engine CD for example is some of my favorite BN.
I only have Nerima CD collaboration with Pain Jerk and Teenage Hallucinations collection from Wiese but both are good. Especially Nerima. Very energetic HN.
I've been wanting to get into Ss but frankly don't know where to start. I heard the last years grindcore album which was great though.
Quote from: yosef666 on May 13, 2017, 12:59:12 PM
Quote from: holy ghost on May 12, 2017, 08:33:27 PM
They played with Mike DuBose on vocals last time I caught them and wow man it was like total Fear of God type stuff. It was hands down, one of the best things I've witnessed in a decade.
I'm almost relieved to hear no one else has gotten #5. The other 5 in that series were fucking brilliant. When I got that package with everything it was one of the best mail days ever.
I was only able to score 1 of the tapes... Charlie didn't even end up with copies. Hoping to track the others down at some point...
All I heard from John is that it was a noise tape, and not a noisecore tape. Would you say this is accurate Yosef?
Quote from: Deadpriest on May 11, 2017, 07:37:15 PMWas SS's (ha) pure grindcore album last year? Because that was some really innovative stuff.
Disfathom = grindcore https://sissyspacek.bandcamp.com/album/disfathom
Reversed Normalization = noisecore https://sissyspacek.bandcamp.com/album/reversed-normalization
Quote from: Zeno Marx on May 16, 2017, 03:52:43 AM
Disfathom = grindcore https://sissyspacek.bandcamp.com/album/disfathom
Reversed Normalization = noisecore https://sissyspacek.bandcamp.com/album/reversed-normalization
What about this?
https://sissyspacek.bandcamp.com/album/contretemps
Oblique No Strategy with T. Mikawa is one of the harshest damn things I've heard, from either of them. From anyone. A single(?) live session remixed and mastered by Wiese with supreme emphasis on the scorching-est extremities. This operates for me as tribute to Mikawa/Incaps, taking all of the elements I like best from the banker buds and compressing them into four white-hot hole cleansers. Feel all pink and squeaky clean in the rather deafened aftermath.
Quote from: jaysidetracked on May 16, 2017, 01:40:54 AM
Quote from: yosef666 on May 13, 2017, 12:59:12 PM
Quote from: holy ghost on May 12, 2017, 08:33:27 PM
They played with Mike DuBose on vocals last time I caught them and wow man it was like total Fear of God type stuff. It was hands down, one of the best things I've witnessed in a decade.
I'm almost relieved to hear no one else has gotten #5. The other 5 in that series were fucking brilliant. When I got that package with everything it was one of the best mail days ever.
I was only able to score 1 of the tapes... Charlie didn't even end up with copies. Hoping to track the others down at some point...
All I heard from John is that it was a noise tape, and not a noisecore tape. Would you say this is accurate Yosef?
"I know a guy" who has number five. So it's out there. The search continues.
Not a lot of SS releases lately but I've picked up a ton of recent Wiese 7"s. The Marhaug one is great, and I still need to spin the recent lathe and Thurston Moore collab.
Quote from: Bloated Slutbag on January 29, 2018, 07:36:25 AM
Oblique No Strategy with T. Mikawa is one of the harshest damn things I've heard, from either of them. From anyone. A single(?) live session remixed and mastered by Wiese with supreme emphasis on the scorching-est extremities. This operates for me as tribute to Mikawa/Incaps, taking all of the elements I like best from the banker buds and compressing them into four white-hot hole cleansers. Feel all pink and squeaky clean in the rather deafened aftermath.
The collab with The Cherry Point blew my tits off too!!
I'll second the collab with T. Mikawa is great. It was in my pile of stuff but hadn't checked it out until I saw this thread. Really intense stuff. It was a thoroughly enjoyable listen.
I picked up the record he did at GRM but I have only had a chance to go through it once. GRM is something I am really interested in and that's a great sounding record.
I also really like the collab with Dave Philips who I also really like. That 7" really sets the bar high in terms of presentation.
Just checked out Reversed Normalization and Disfathom by Sissy Spacek. Dunno what I expected but this is fucking banging, no other way to put it. Never been a fan of noisecore generally (it often feels like it's more fun for the person playing than listening) but Reversed Normalization has a clarity, sharpness, and urgency to it that I've not come across before. The balance of noise and drums reminds me of the Unsustainable Social Condition & Ted Byrnes material- never a consistent mix level (i.e. as in traditional music) but rather each element violently staggering in and out of focus.
I'm new to Wiese's work so this thread is helpful. I picked up his RRRecycled tape (and the aforementioned USC & TB tape) from Thousands of Dead Gods on a recent holiday to NY which was excellent but I understand it might not be an accurate representation of his body of work.
Looks like a Sissy grindcore LP/CD on Nuclear War Now this summer.
Sissy Spacek LP on New Forces this summer. A-side at 45rpm, crazy noisecore, B-side at 33rpm, total noise assault. Really the best of both worlds.
Both of these LPs sound fantastic. Pretty cool to see SS on NWN, it's a pairing that I didn't see coming but makes a lot of sense.
I guess here's hoping for a giant SS flag?
So excited for the upcoming albums on New Forces and NWN! It seems they've got new releases coming out on Helicopter and Mistake by the Lake this summer too. Their output is impressive to say the least.
I've been a huge fan of Sissy Spacek since I took a chance on buying a copy of Wastrel Projection a few years back. I've picked up just about everything else I can find by them since and have yet to be disappointed. Currently stuck on the RIP boxset that contains a bunch of live tapes from about 10 years ago. Awesome sounds and packaging on this one!
Does anyone want to sell a copy of either the Gate 7" or the newest Blear cassette? Please PM me if so.
Lots of SS activity this summer (records, shows) due to it being the 20th anniversary. The next issue of the New Forces zine will be all Sissy Spacek with a history of the band / interview with John and Charlie, among other things.
Quote from: New Forces on April 25, 2018, 05:52:30 PM
Lots of SS activity this summer (records, shows) due to it being the 20th anniversary. The next issue of the New Forces zine will be all Sissy Spacek with a history of the band / interview with John and Charlie, among other things.
This is all GREAT news!!!
When Helicopter dropped that last batch a few summers back that was like a flurry of activity trying to grab it all, this summer I will be prepared!
Quote from: holy ghost on April 25, 2018, 05:22:20 PM
I guess here's hoping for a giant SS flag?
You little Nazi, you.
Quote from: New Forces on April 25, 2018, 05:52:30 PM
Lots of SS activity this summer (records, shows) due to it being the 20th anniversary. The next issue of the New Forces zine will be all Sissy Spacek with a history of the band / interview with John and Charlie, among other things.
Most excellent. Can't wait for Trash Staging.
Quote from: absurdexposition on April 25, 2018, 08:58:55 PM
Quote from: holy ghost on April 25, 2018, 05:22:20 PM
I guess here's hoping for a giant SS flag?
You little Nazi, you.
"For one brief second, I became a NWN edgelord....."
Two new SS CDs up for order on the Helicopter site. One has ensemble groups from the last tour, the other has two sessions with Don Bolles of The Germs, Mitchell Brown from GASP, and Joseph Hammer.
Now that I am interested in.
https://harshtruthspodcast.wordpress.com/2020/08/22/episode-21-john-wiese/
It could have been another hour or two. It can sometimes be too much about the interviewer, but I'm not on board with not liking his style. I'm fine with his part of the conversation; only that it could be less so someone as interesting as Wiese could share more.
This was most definitely the best Harsh Truths for me. It had all the Harsh Truths conceptual things, hardcore, veganism, progressive mindsets, dislike of PE, hehe.. but all were somehow differently dealt with and more emphasis was on getting faster and more directly to noise talk.
Also, I think I said it in the playlist, John Wiese / Skin Graft CD, is totally great. It instantly became one of my more listened harsh noise CD's of 2020. While it has elements what I do not always like (utmost digital clarity for example), this album shows unusual strength - that it is so good in doing things I do not often like, that it just convinces to change your mind. Shows that all these things can be done well, almost fresh, and tools or gear is not really the issue. It is mostly difference of fact that some guys are good in things, others not so good.
Wiese talks in interview how every recording can be basically cut half shorter, and it improves material. I am very satisfied that this session wasn't cut into 5 minutes. It just works out so well in full length album. Yet, I have been checking out possibilities of pressing 7"s again. Its format I have been listening A LOT in 2020, so regardless of being among least wanted formats for noise, I do share opinion of Wiese about greatness of that particular format!