Last night:
V/A -- Neue Deutsche Post Avantgarde LP (Audi Plex, 1988)
Someone wanted me to make a list of ten "essential" releases, a quest that I should have laughed at and ignored right away, but I was obviously not thinking straight. Making lists take time. At least when you try to compress several years of listening into a mere ten releases. Oh well, the good thing is that it gives you an excuse to go through the collection to find, and re-evaluate, those releases that you remember as being great, but haven't listened to recently. This comp LP is one of them, compiled by Asmus Tietchens in 1986-87 it gives a pretty good view of German experimental music from that time. Some tracks are absolutely amazing still, but some of them sound dated, and some of them I must have winced at all the time but forgot how bad they were. Cranioclast are great, as they tend to be, Graf Haufen's track is a weird field recording track that sounds like a mic rubbing against a windbreaker jacket -- possibly my favourite track on the whole comp, Werkbund does a good job also. H.N.A.S. sound very dated and the track is mainly bass guitar + electric guitar with a much too clean and boring sound, and Gerechtigkeits Liga is pretty much unlistenable rhythmic constipated industrial cliche stuff. Not one for any top-ten list, but still a decent comp that made more of an impact on me back then than it does when I listen to it now.
Narwal -- The Album LP (De Fabriek/Artware, 1991)
Damn, I like this album. Versatile ambient synthetic and acoustic free-flowing and constantly shifting layers of sound that make up two massive tracks on the (approx 50 mins.) LP. Lots of "traditional" psychedelic moves -- there is even a sitar on there that put a big smile on my face. Ambient stuff that never sits still long enough to make you restless. Beautiful all the way, from the handprinted poster sleeve all the way through to the end groove.
Today:
V/A -- Für Ilse Koch LP (Come Organisation, 1982)
This was one of the first true (trve) power electronics albums that I heard. Got it on tape from an older acquaintance when I was 14 I think... So needless to say it has always been a formative experience of great importance to me. Listening to it now, it is kind of funny that it manages to squeeze together so mamy of those names that are usually connected with "industrial cliches" -- Manson is here, some Himmler speech, Jim Jones is sampled, even Aleister Crowley (doesn't feel really Come Org, does it?), etc. The NWW track is sheer brilliance, Etat Brut is absolutely killer, Consumer Electronics, Whitehouse, MB, Club Moral (oh, I mean Wiking DDV), and the rest of the gang all contribute with great tracks. Absolutely essential heavy-weight comp, very well put together.
Joe & Joe -- s/t LP (LAFMS, 2006)
Holy fuck, someone is selling this on discogs -- asking price €150... weird. Not much I can say here, I think this is a great LP (but hardly €150-price-tag-great), very understated and pleasant tape collages, more or less stays in the same mood all through the LP. Murky and obscure, I would advise you to turn up the volume to enhance the listening experience.
Controlled Bleeding -- Knees And Bones LP (Psychout Productions, 1985)
Not the first CB I heard, but the one that will always be number one for me. Supreme heaviness all around. Bits of this are very close to current US noise blast + screaming style power electronics. The most arousing bits are the extreme metal destruction on the b-side, true ear candy. Could definitely be a contender for that damn list.
Zone Nord -- Marche Noir/Denrees Diverses LP (private, 1983)
The word that comes to mind is ROUGH. The HNW freaks would probably dig this one a lot, with it's heavy crunchiness and delightful single-mindedness, hellbent for sonic destruction. The sound does not appear to be layered, but rather a pretty "simple" recording yet with undeniable power. Hard to find pressing of 286 copies. Why hasn't this been reissued yet?
