Anenzephalia

re:evolution · September 14, 2018, 05:03:12 AM

They are studio recordings, and quite mellow overall which I was a little surprised at. For example 'Pulse Extension' is very laid back compared to the attacking live version on 'Funkspiele'.

The overall mood is much like the recent 'Programmatika' tape. Controlled and understated, but even so it is still very good.

FreakAnimalFinland · September 14, 2018, 04:25:15 PM

I think especially the 2nd vinyl of the set is very good. First keeps you waiting. Good, but perhaps even relaxing opposed of claustrophobic and oppressive. Front and back are fine, but horrid lay-out inside gatefold. Perhaps compressing this material to fit one LP, would have made it better, but I like it as-is.

FreakAnimalFinland · May 03, 2019, 10:57:14 AM

I don't remember when was last time I listened to ANENZEPHALIA "Noehaem" CD. Returning to this yesterday, made me think two things. 1) what a great album it is 2) almost instrumental. Opposed to ANENZEPHALIA "s/t" CD that came out couple years before (and what I listened after Noehaem) that had strong and even aggressive vocals throughout entire album. Perhaps this is the difference of Anenzephalia live recordings, and the studio work. Studio work seems less aggressive, but you get to focus on brilliant textures and small details modulated via synths.

Probably need to return to Magenta too. Perhaps Kaltwelt before it. I recall both feeling less exciting than the old material. Perhaps due less aggression. Certainly not bad ones, though.

Major Carew · May 03, 2019, 12:38:26 PM

I've been listening to the 'Live in Boras' CD a lot recently. I think the 'Task Force Terrorist' release is now my favourite on-par with Ephemeral Dawn, simply because of the track 'Vagus Death Induction' on there, bloody terrifying!

FreakAnimalFinland · May 03, 2019, 02:18:53 PM

Quote from: Major Carew on May 03, 2019, 12:38:26 PM

I've been listening to the 'Live in Boras' CD a lot recently.

That Live in Boras = self titled CD. I don't know why it wasn't just issued as "s/t" tape, but under other name. Same material.

murderous_vision · May 03, 2019, 11:33:48 PM

Still nothing beats New World Disorder 12". The claustrophobic tension that seeps from the analog synths is unbeatable by anyone in the genre. That said, I find little fault with anything in the discography.

FreakAnimalFinland · March 12, 2021, 10:03:36 AM

I was listening V/A Heavy Electronics II 4xCD compilation for couple of days, and suddenly got this ugly feeling that I had not though before. It had been long since listening this, but somehow the brilliance of the material, somehow concretized question: Will there be ever again possibility to see good live gig of power electronics. Especially in form of the originators of the genre.

Now that the old veterans such as Whitehouse, Sutcliffe Jugend, and related to this compilation Anenzephalia, Con-Dom and Grey Wolves.. gone... What would be THE gig, where one would feel urge to even travel across the continent to see it. Of course there are old bands left, GO, BDN, bunch of the more new era of PE. World situation may be that this specific era of monolithic live power electronics fest is closed chapter? Those who may have seen the best bands perform, it is way beyond just "synth oscillations and yelling" -type of approach as well as uniqueness of the groups is quite another level.

While I was not totally blown away back in 1995, this release grew to be crucial document of things. Whole packaging of this 4xCD compilation radiates the specific spirit that is not here anymore. Live gigs of duration close to one hour, that work out, due strength of material. Anenzephalia having 50 mins, with many such a classic songs that one rarely finds such anthemic quality. Schockwelle! Regime! Oh man... Songs one can not get bored!

Of course, I prefer not to be nostalgic, and I also acknowledge that there are a lot of good noise right now. Bands that are as good, or even better than many ultimate classic noise albums were. For PE, there may be violent, sleazy and ear tormenting satisfaction, but way less of this type of anthemic quality in songs and unique take one could not mistake for another artists.

cantle · March 12, 2021, 07:32:09 PM

Know what you mean entirely there. I first saw Whitehouse 21 years ago now and even then that was 20 years after they'd started... Is this the true end of the first wave of PE. I'd hate for bands to continue just to do 'greatest hits' style gigs, which certain anthemic songs could have a tendency to lean towards... better to end it when a natural conclusion has been reached... As long as bands keep coming forward and natural selection of the best makes them rise to the top as it were am sure there will be ones to take their place.

Into_The_Void · March 16, 2021, 01:12:47 PM

Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on March 12, 2021, 10:03:36 AM
I was listening V/A Heavy Electronics II 4xCD compilation for couple of days, and suddenly got this ugly feeling that I had not though before. It had been long since listening this, but somehow the brilliance of the material, somehow concretized question: Will there be ever again possibility to see good live gig of power electronics. Especially in form of the originators of the genre.

Now that the old veterans such as Whitehouse, Sutcliffe Jugend, and related to this compilation Anenzephalia, Con-Dom and Grey Wolves.. gone... What would be THE gig, where one would feel urge to even travel across the continent to see it. Of course there are old bands left, GO, BDN, bunch of the more new era of PE. World situation may be that this specific era of monolithic live power electronics fest is closed chapter? Those who may have seen the best bands perform, it is way beyond just "synth oscillations and yelling" -type of approach as well as uniqueness of the groups is quite another level.

While I was not totally blown away back in 1995, this release grew to be crucial document of things. Whole packaging of this 4xCD compilation radiates the specific spirit that is not here anymore. Live gigs of duration close to one hour, that work out, due strength of material. Anenzephalia having 50 mins, with many such a classic songs that one rarely finds such anthemic quality. Schockwelle! Regime! Oh man... Songs one can not get bored!

Of course, I prefer not to be nostalgic, and I also acknowledge that there are a lot of good noise right now. Bands that are as good, or even better than many ultimate classic noise albums were. For PE, there may be violent, sleazy and ear tormenting satisfaction, but way less of this type of anthemic quality in songs and unique take one could not mistake for another artists.

I think this is happening in a lot of older genres, metal as well for example. This argumentation can 1:1 be transported onto the metal "field", so to say, and would be valid in the same way. There are way more projects, way more people interested in it, way more possibilities to record music on its own, but the quality of the ideas is overall lower. However, this doesn´t walk parallelly with the same feeling, creativity and excitement about doing something new and revolutionary.