PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[Yrjö-Koskinen]

I've behaved like a serious human being for once and finally sat down with the Broken Flag: A Retrospective 1982 - 1985 box my wife got me about a year ago. Hoop-de-boop, this is some great stuff. Somehow I now finally get some older projects I've never had that much interest in, possibly because I've projected my attitude towards black metal unto the industrial scene (I don't care at all for 80's metal, except for Maiden and Priest, and to me the whole BM thing begins with Darkthrone, early Immortal and Burzum). Controlled Bleeding's material is absolutely awe inspiring, as is Maurizio Bianchi's, Ramleh's and most of the whole box set. Hardly news to most people here, but I've missed out on much of this stuff for various reasons. One amusing detail is that many of these projects used stereo in a very drastic manner. Several compositions have almost completely different tracks for the right and left speaker, which unfortunately haven't worked that well for me given that I've been listening to all this stuff in headphones. I suppose playing it through an actual stereo might change things up, but at this point I'm reduced to a (very nice) Panasonic discman on account of both my CD player and vinyl player giving up and falling apart. Either way, a brilliant release that's got me pining a bit for more old industrial cassette culture.

[Scat-O-Logy]

to me the whole BM thing begins with Darkthrone, early Immortal and Burzum

You need Bathory. Honestly, the early albums have that sinister sound which was perfected by the second wave bands.

[Yrjö-Koskinen]

to me the whole BM thing begins with Darkthrone, early Immortal and Burzum

You need Bathory. Honestly, the early albums have that sinister sound which was perfected by the second wave bands.

Bathory is a special case. I don't get the dumb-ass vibe I get from most other first wavers, and actually enjoy listening to it, but I have never owned an album or really got into any of it. The Bathory track I've spent the most time listening to by far is Demoniac's cover of "The Return of Darkness and Evil". I did buy Quorthon's Album like five years after it was released though, if that counts towards something other than an indication that good music and me aren't always on the same page in life.

[NaturalOrthodoxy]

One amusing detail is that many of these projects used stereo in a very drastic manner. Several compositions have almost completely different tracks for the right and left speaker, which unfortunately haven't worked that well for me given that I've been listening to all this stuff in headphones.

M.B. uses that effect so well. Feels like being trapped in a rusting machine slowly turning out of sync with itself as it falls apart. I tend to love hearing that sound in older industrial/P.E., though maybe that's cos subconsciously it sounds "retro" to someone like myself who wasn't alive for it

[david lloyd jones]

I've behaved like a serious human being for once and finally sat down with the Broken Flag: A Retrospective 1982 - 1985 box my wife got me about a year ago. Hoop-de-boop, this is some great stuff. Somehow I now finally get some older projects I've never had that much interest in, possibly because I've projected my attitude towards black metal unto the industrial scene (I don't care at all for 80's metal, except for Maiden and Priest, and to me the whole BM thing begins with Darkthrone, early Immortal and Burzum). Controlled Bleeding's material is absolutely awe inspiring, as is Maurizio Bianchi's, Ramleh's and most of the whole box set. Hardly news to most people here, but I've missed out on much of this stuff for various reasons. One amusing detail is that many of these projects used stereo in a very drastic manner. Several compositions have almost completely different tracks for the right and left speaker, which unfortunately haven't worked that well for me given that I've been listening to all this stuff in headphones. I suppose playing it through an actual stereo might change things up, but at this point I'm reduced to a (very nice) Panasonic discman on account of both my CD player and vinyl player giving up and falling apart. Either way, a brilliant release that's got me pining a bit for more old industrial cassette culture.

yeah, glad you enjoyed this.
got my cd copy at the broken flag 30 year bash a few years ago.
lot of it holds up as strangely out of it's time rather than old.
would recommend various harbinger sound releases of ramleh etc broken flag stuff.

[Duncan]

I've absorbed shamefully little of the Broken Flag set given how long I've had it but what I always get from the bits I've listened to most is how diverse the sounds and approaches are in there.  There is plenty going on over the entire box which dates it back to the time it was made and the recording quality is totally lofi but within all of that is a lot of variation.  There are things scattered throughout which would easily pass as moments from old, obscure tape music rarities in a blind listening test. 

Agree about the Controlled Bleeding stuff though I just get nothing whatsoever out of M.B....guess I'll keep trying.


Been listening to shedloads of Graham Lambkin today.  Never really bothered digging in before but took in a good 2 or 3 records while at work.  Could just be the mood I was in but it was all such a pleasure to listen to.  Perfect, mellow music for totally reflective, silent listening.  Takes a lot to get away with incorporating such massive long and untreated sections of other people's music into your work but I'll be damned if he doesn't get away with it.

[Yrjö-Koskinen]

All in all, it's interesting how useless the idea of progress is when discussing artistic pursuits, once the technical bit is taken care of that is. I.e.: Broken Flag would be impossible without certain technical innovations, but once those are in place, shit from the 80's are or can be way more diverse, more dedicated and more creative than - or at least AS diverse, dedicated and creative as - anything created since. Yet we all keep trying, bitch about things not being cool enough, or too cool etc...  Kind of like how we must all at least tip our hat to the British (I guess) middle-aged men who once invented nominal hygiene, but can still feel pretty depressed about ourselves and the world for various secondary reasons.

Whatever. Still on my Broken flag trip, but I've now also discovered something called Glitch Hop, which is excellent for work and also for the 25 minute walk to and fro work. I'm probably out of the loop, but the combination of absolute stupidity and a funky beat is irresistible to me (for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL8CyVqzmkc)

[Duncan]

edit -  I got rid of this because I don't think I really understand what you're getting at.

Today: SODOM - AGENT ORANGE

[totalblack]

Ramleh - Grudge For Life

Really like this one, real dope rock vibe

[Yrjö-Koskinen]

All in all, it's interesting how useless the idea of progress is when discussing artistic pursuits, once the technical bit is taken care of that is. I.e.: Broken Flag would be impossible without certain technical innovations, but once those are in place, shit from the 80's are or can be way more diverse, more dedicated and more creative than - or at least AS diverse, dedicated and creative as - anything created since. Yet we all keep trying, bitch about things not being cool enough, or too cool etc...  Kind of like how we must all at least tip our hat to the British (I guess) middle-aged men who once invented nominal hygiene, but can still feel pretty depressed about ourselves and the world for various secondary reasons.

I remember writing this, and the general sentiment behind it, but after losing several points of blood alcohol level I no longer find it fully comprehensible. In other words, if anyone wonders what I'm on about I won't be able to help. Looks clever, though.

edit -  I got rid of this because I don't think I really understand what you're getting at.

[Edit] Missed this. The more I try to reconstruct my line of thinking, the more I think I didn't have a coherent point to begin with.

[Bloated Slutbag]

All in all, it's interesting how useless the idea of progress is when discussing artistic pursuits

Incapacitants – No Progress
is all I've ever needed
and all I'll ever need

[Deadpriest]

Catching up on some Aphex Twin, Drukqs is still achingly beautiful and reminds me of wondering the streets alone at night in my teens, evocative for sure.

[Peterson]

^New B-SS-M sounds great, but weirdly "simple." I need to pick that one up.

Full Service Available C90 (Fusty Cunt, 2017)
          Label description is basically field recordings of brothel visits in Merzland layered with synthesizer drone. That's what it is. Cool stereo panning effect on the drones, too. Allows to switch between ambient and attentive listening if you have the time. It's great stuff, I wish more people would layer collages of field recordings, interviews, and so on with tasteful, subtle drones or loops. I would like to see more field recordings of this nature from another location if there will be another release from this project.

Edward Sanderson "Beijing 2016 - 2017" CS (Zoomin' Night, 2017)
          Straightforward single-track field recordings of a handful of locations around Beijing, obviously. Surprisingly listenable, even during parts with street calls/chatter. Not as long or as diverse as I'd prefer, but still great.

Viridiplantae CS (Fusty Cunt, 2017)
           Field recordings of insects, birds, and some wood knocking in the background at some points. Nearly noisy, static textures presumably from insects in earlier parts. Disappointing - not as diverse, detailed, or as cut-up as I'd hoped. Listenable but too familiar. Traffic noise in background killed the mood on B-side.

Stuart Chalmers "Poetry of Decay" CS (Strange Rules, 2016)
          This is like if something like My Bloody Valentine or The Jesus & Mary Chain wasn't rock and instead abstract tape music - really "musical" with a noisy psychedelic quality. In the same way that it has a limited appeal 'round here, it also might really hit the spot for some. Very rough, crude loops of what I sometimes have a hard time believing is entirely "found sound," as in there are some too-convenient (synth?) drones alongside looped vocals, chimes and metal clatter, conversations, kids playing, natural sounds, and so on. All very warped, saturated, and damaged, with a noticeable "dragging" sound from what sounds like rough, crude, sloppily-made tape loops. Great stuff, but too happy for regular listening around here.

[Yrjö-Koskinen]

During my latest night shift I needed something hysterical (not necessarily funny, but literally hysterical) to keep myself alert. Since I work in a factory, any type of noise would make no sense what so ever, so I decided to search for stupid electronic dance music genres. And, lo and behold, I found Glitch Hop. Most of it works fine to stay on your feet producing high quality goods for the commercial life of the great nation of Finland, but I actually found two instafavorites, which will remain on my mental playlist for years: Fat Rat - Jackpot, and OMFG - Hello (Will & Tim Remix). If I didn't need to feel special and extreme, and hence need harsh noise and P-E, this is the shit I'd spend my time listening to. In fact, I'm listening to it right now.

Also, I just utilized the recently legalized possibility to buy beer with a higher alcohol content than 4,7% at my local supermarket. Vapaus...

[Johann]

Reijo Pami: Please Stop Breathing: Choc.Monk: Finnish jokester, crudest of the crude. Retarded vocalizing, pause button maddness. field recordings of unknown origin and location, off the street or television? Speuaked, squeezed and rubbed, close up mic squawking like fake bird calls. Changez style metal clutter and Donald Duck doing Slayers vocals, Duferene in a portapotty as people stumble drunkenly about outside. Sounds go short and long, are here nor there and begin and end in no time at all. Was this straight to Walkman or edited on a 4 track, no clues, no-fi but just what I needed.

"It's like someone took a Slowscan lp and gave it a good wirebrush scrubbing, a bit of a soak in an unknown liquid, then left it to dry next to a radiator." - label description, perfect description