Picked up the Ultra "Delirious Elaborations" box set, and don't really have anything to say, except that it's some of the only stuff I've bought twice. Fairly significant, I suppose, and just one of those classic bands that totally transcends genre and any contemporaries they might have had. I really hope Dom America does another one, containing, say the extra stuff from the Roman Holiday reissue plus the "2nd Incarnation" ("carnal" from Latin being the key syllable in that term) discography (which, as far as I can tell, is only 2 CDs, a 7", and a few compilation tracks). I'm going to grab "Lifestyle" fairly soon, but I'd still double-up with another box set when the time came.
Speaking of 2nd incarnation-Ultra, also finally got "Stain." It was only $2 on the Dom website, which might speak a bit to the value Mr. Taylor places on it, and yeah, I suppose it isn't anywhere near as good as initial-phase Ultra, but it's still Ultra to me, and I really enjoyed it. With the folk and traditional Latin music influences, especially due to the use of Spanish, it sort of gave me similar vibes to Death In June, but more emotionally perverse than emotionally...self-absorbed..., and firmly staying within sonic territory I enjoy and am comfortable in (I am fairly ambivalent to Death In June). The Spanish lyrics and vocals on the album for the most part were pretty enjoyable, as well, and the lyrics reminded me of Georges Bataille or someone equally poetic. Listening to this while reading about Mr. Carlson's journey to find the gravesite of Jane Bowles also really nicely added to the mystique, and it dawned on me that this would be a really good album to listen to whilst vacationing somewhere.
Also resorted to downloading Dr. Pi Li-Khan "Dropoutdrama" after checking out some HNAS and other Ultra-related projects. This is "Achim Flaam" under a different name. Definitely wouldn't normally listen to this sort of thing, but this album is fairly addictive for me. It's largely synthesizer-and-effect-based experimental electronic music, some of which borders on electronica, but is still really entertaining and moving. The female vocals are obviously from whomever the woman is (Nicole?) who sings on some Ultra tracks, which is a nice Easter Egg. With some repeated listens, I'm beginning to understand how the composition worked for Ultra, and what roles each members would play, etc. I seriously recommend this to anyone who has a more open mind to traditional electronic music than I do, because if it grew on me so quickly, I know so many others would feel it's the kind of record they've been waiting to hear.
Next is more HNAS and solo Christoph Heemann.
