Broken Flag Festival reviews

[HongKongGoolagong]

A thread just for discussion of this festival. I only went to one night, will be interested to hear what happened the other two evenings.

KLEISTWAHR - Ten minute or so set of ultra-harsh voice and feedback pedal noise in the 'Arsonicide' style, shockingly loud and piercing

LETTERA 22 - Set up in front of the stage in the 'chess game' position of noise, with a mass of pedals and cables between them - a great nod to the real noise underground to have this act on, sounded excellent to me

MTT - A great start with booming echoing crashes but then it drifted into more ambient soundtrack music which didn't hold my interest too well

JFK - Three-piece noise rock with drum machine and backdrop of 'Caligula', I think they played both sides of the Fourth Dimension 7", nostalgia in a way but very enjoyable set

BLACK SUNROOF! - Gordon from Cindytalk in usual barmaid outfit vocalised over guitar and violin skree from Voltiguers, he got some trancey verbal rhythms going, as odd a performance as you could hope for

GRUNT - The most stylised and perversely 'conventional' industrial/PE act of the night did as brutally as could be expected, with masks and grim backdrop film, a hugely well-received set

ESPLENDOR GEOMETRICO - I was not expecting to be dancing at this night! Great infectious squelchy hard techno rhythms, I really loved this

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS - A four piece with Gary, Sarah and Frank on synths and feedback making the set live while the grand master did his wonderful nipple-tweaking, drooling, scrapbook-licking thing repeatedly bellowing 'Sex Offender Boyfriend' - I was glad to see things got a bit lively at the front during this

Hugely enjoyable night and very nice to see so many friends and enemies old and new. Does anyone know the story behind the guy who had carved a bloody 'X' into his head? In a room full of nuts (the bands most certainly included) this man won the prize.

[bitewerksMTB]

Who the hell is LETTERA 22?

[HongKongGoolagong]

Who the hell is LETTERA 22?

Some young Italian (I think) noise duo, they were good.

[STREETMEAT]

Who the hell is LETTERA 22?

for as much time your on the internet how could you not see this name being thrown around...

this project has been doing really great stuff. http://letteraventidue.bandcamp.com/

[Tenebracid]

the lettera 22 cd on ljud & bild is excellent.. one of the duo is also behind kam hassah and label second sleep.

going back to the topic.. anyone knows if the audio of the sets is being recorded by the organization? I can imagine harbinger sound releasing a few chosen ones on vinyl or maybe a cd boxset retrospective of the fest... would be nice.

[SiClark]

Does anyone know the story behind the guy who had carved a bloody 'X' into his head? In a room full of nuts (the bands most certainly included) this man won the prize.

Ha ha, he certainly stood out. His tinted glasses made him look even creepier. It looked pretty nasty deep cut as well.

I won't go through every act as there were quite a few. These are some that I liked-

SEWER ELECTION / TRERIKSRÖSET - superb way to start the evening. Short set but lovely brutal noise, I need to buy some albums from these two.

CON-DOM - haven't heard loads from this project but really enjoyed it, the last track when Mikko was helping out was the best.

RAMLEH (power-electronics set) - Great end to the first day, very impressive set.

KLEISTWAHR - Hadn't heard anything from this project and was very pleasantly surprised as it was amazing. Would have bought the two re-issued LPs but spent all my money on the Ramleh boxed set.

LETTERA 22 - I was really looking forward to these guys and they didn't disappoint.

GRUNT - my favourite act of the whole festival. Mikko with help from a friend (forgot to ask which artist he is), good video made up of filmed sections of collages (like the Special Interests #7 cover). Great vocals with the other masked man scratching the hell out of some sheet medal. Such a good set.

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS - I remember seeing them back in 2007 I think supporting Wolf Eyes and me and my brother found it very amusing then and it's still quite amusing now. I just can't take it seriously when Mr Best is licking his fingers and rubbing and tweaking his nipples.

TOMMI KERÄNEN - Quite a short set but he didn't need much time to show that he is amazing at what he does. Need to get more releases from him.

RAMLEH (rock set) - I've heard the Switch Hitter and this set sounded much better and they started with the last track from Valediction which I love. Mr Best on vocals for a couple of tracks which worked really well as they weren't so over the top and he didn't keep putting his hand down his pants.

Overall a great few days which was made even better with the superb Unrest night the day before.

[SiClark]

going back to the topic.. anyone knows if the audio of the sets is being recorded by the organization? I can imagine harbinger sound releasing a few chosen ones on vinyl or maybe a cd boxset retrospective of the fest... would be nice.

Don't know about audio being recorded, I hope so. There was one guy who was filming a lot of the sets (just one stationary camera on the side of the stage).

[STREETMEAT]

Consumer Electronics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o8bg4LUEr0

Esplendor Geometrico
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVRmAsmXwZU

[Ashley Choke]

Does anyone know the story behind the guy who had carved a bloody 'X' into his head? In a room full of nuts (the bands most certainly included) this man won the prize.

GRUNT - my favourite act of the whole festival. Mikko with help from a friend (forgot to ask which artist he is), good video made up of filmed sections of collages (like the Special Interests #7 cover). Great vocals with the other masked man scratching the hell out of some sheet medal. Such a good set.

Everybody I've talked to has championed Grunt as the best act of the weekend. Sounds like something I'm sad to have missed, the "helping-hand" was Mr. Jaakko Vanhala

[Ashmonger]

Hugely enjoyable night and very nice to see so many friends and enemies old and new. Does anyone know the story behind the guy who had carved a bloody 'X' into his head? In a room full of nuts (the bands most certainly included) this man won the prize.

Wasn't on the festival, didn't read the thread yet, but I saw this guy also on the Anenzephalia gig last year in Gent. Think he's Dutch.

[SiClark]

the "helping-hand" was Mr. Jaakko Vanhala

Ah right, he was very good. Thanks.

[Ashley Choke]

OT but be sure to obtain the recent CD Album on Freak Animal, it's fantastic. Noise at it's finest

[SiClark]

OT but be sure to obtain the recent CD Album on Freak Animal, it's fantastic. Noise at it's finest

Feral Earth? If so, yes I have the tape and it's superb! I need to get the 3-way split tape that's out but need to wait until I get paid as I spent a lot of money this weekend.

[tiny_tove]

Hugely enjoyable night and very nice to see so many friends and enemies old and new. Does anyone know the story behind the guy who had carved a bloody 'X' into his head? In a room full of nuts (the bands most certainly included) this man won the prize.

Wasn't on the festival, didn't read the thread yet, but I saw this guy also on the Anenzephalia gig last year in Gent. Think he's Dutch.

yes he is, really nice guy indeed.

[ARKHE]

How many in the audience, and what capacity did the venue have?