Bob’s 2019 Poopings…
Well, this past year was pretty stressful, no? 2020 looks to be even more so, but at least we have all these listening objects to take off some of the existential onus.
Here’re 2019 releases (and one overdue re-release) that made life a little less onerous for me…
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Sleaford Mods – Eton Alive (Extreme Eating Records)
Jason and Andrew can still deliver the goods, ever expanding on what some thought was a limited sonic palette. Somehow, they keep mining a little deeper each time, with more melodic singing on some tracks, and a lighter touch on the grooves. Yes, the Mods get compared (lazily) to the Fall, but to paraphrase John Peel (I think): “Aways the same, always different.”
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Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Tim Story – Lunz 3 (Curious Music)
The collaboration that keeps getting better. Following on projects like the first Lunz recording and the Roedelius Cells installation, Achim and Tim provide another set of piano and electronics which never settles into a sub-genre like ambient or new age, or even experimental, yet flirts with the girls and boys in those neighborhoods, enticing them to pick up the ball they threw into Achim’s back yard. Grumpy old men they are not.
Buy via Erototox
Schneider TM & Jochen Arbeit – RA (Erototox)
A wonderful collaboration between Dirk Dresselhaus (better known as Schneider TM) and Jochen Arbeit (of Einstürzende Neubauten). Brooding, loose, meditative music that is most certainly more than the sum of the parts.
Buy via Erototox
Ilpo Väisänen – tietoisen siirtymän oletettu toiseus (Erototox)
Pan Sonic member and composer goes deep here with a set that incorporates electronic and acoustic sources, creating a Nordic soundscape where NWOFM is but a distant shadow. Dedicated to Väisänen’s mother, the title of the disc translates as “The Supposed Otherness of the Conscious Transition”, or words to that effect.
Buy Severed Heads – Living Museum via Bandcamp
Severed Heads – Living Museum (Sevcom/Nilamox)
Live reworkings of classic-era tunes (‘80-‘85) from this Aussie band, now sadly yet rightly defunct. Sevheads were always a bit more humorous in their approach to “industrial music”, which made them the awkward cousin in that scene (admittedly a difficult task!). Some of the tracks here are a little thin time-wise compared to the originals, almost as if they couldn’t quite admit that they just want to do a medley and get it over with. Still a fun visit before they shut down the shop.
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Stephen Mallinder – Um Dada (Dais)
Ex-Cabaret Voltaire singer and bassist’s second solo record (the last one was released over 35 years ago). Groove heavy in a mild EDM sort of way, and cleaner production than I’ve heard from Mal in years. Not as demanding as his first, nor as rewarding. I dug it, but am more excited about the new release from his group Wrangler, due out in February.
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Noah Creshevsky – Sleeping Awake (Open Space)
Hyper-realist gets real. What happens when you take acoustic instruments (strings, piano, trombone, voice), slice and dice to create a palette of virtual extended technique, and reassemble into some of the most enjoyably challenging and rewarding modern music. Kudos to local label Open Space for releasing this (along with giving us Dorothy Czerner’s vocal talents).
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Moosmann, Tunnell, Clark – Horatiu Radulescu: Works for Organ & for Cello (Mode)
Romanian spectral composer Radulescu’s work has always been an engaging yet daunting and unsettling proposition. For me, his piano work sounds like Throbbing Gristle on a particularly cranky day, and his string quartets are a tough slog as well, mainly due to his techniques being a bit heavier on upper partials than his French counterparts. This CD focuses and individual instruments – here Organ and Cello, where this focus on the upper spectrum makes sense. If you’re expecting monolithic structures, you’ll be disappointed. The sounds here are of a much more delicate variety. “Immersed in the Wonder II”, for Cello and trombone is a highlight, with two instruments not normally paired engaging in subtle counterpoint of line and timbre.
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Test Dept – Disturbance (One Little Indian)
After an absence of I dunno (other projects and illnesses sidelining the band), these yahoos decide the time is right for a return. Political and Industrial as ever (Industrial here meaning banging of metal objects, in the best Oysterhead Newbottom fashion), finally integrating their love of the beat and orchestral bombast in a way that truly engages both activism and ass-shaking. “Landlord” deserves to be a New Paltz anthem – Deny Existence, Expect Resistance!
Buy via Earwaker
Various Artists – Quiet Village …have you ever tried to hear all the sounds around you? (Earwaker)
Yeah, I put this out. A compilation of artists who partook in this year’s Quiet Village anti-festival of ambient electronics. Local and more distant acts stretch the bounds of environmental and ambient sound, from straight up Tangerine Dream-like motion to the sounds of whirring mechanisms and everything in between. Featuring yours truly, and local gumps 4 Airports and Cowboy & Indian, among others. Limited edition of 100 for collector scum.
Buy via Armcomm
Soon – Noise (Anterior Research Media Communications)
One of my personal joys has been the re-emergence of Adi Newton and his ARMC label. This is the first salvo in a spate of upcoming releases and collaborations (Clock DVA, TAGC, et al.). Soon consists of Newton and Jack Dangers (of Meat Beat Manifesto) going full on modular and ambisonic. Unlike a lot of collaborations that sound good only on paper, this one SOUNDS. Beautiful textures with ample ebb & flow, plus a brief visit from WSB, this release has a depth and clarity lacking in other contemporaneous recordings. I’m looking forward to Mr. Newton’s full on reactivation and DVAtion.
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Basil Kirchin – Worlds Within Worlds Part 1-2 (Trunk)
An impossibly rare LP gets an affordable new life, reissued with the usual love and care by Jonny Trunk. Taken along side the recent reissue of parts 3-4, this gives a solid overview of the radical visionary side of jazz drummer, library and film composer Basil Kirchin (as opposed to his other work, which is “merely” visionary). Two sides of my kind of nightmare music. Scott Walker had he been REALLY out there. Not for the faint of heart.