Three for Thursday

Just three short ones today. I’ve been busy as hell as of late, but I know Brother Z is in transition, as they say, so I’ll try my best to carry on with some tasty musick. A change of pace from the last post. Will come up with something a bit beefier this weekend. Here are: a 12“ single; a so-called 12“ ep; & a real 12“ ep.

Cabaret Voltaire - James Brown b/w Bad Self(Part One) 12“ single

Cabaret Voltaire began in 1973 in Sheffield, England. They worked mostly with noise manipulation & processing. They were included with bands such as Throbbing Gristle at the time. Originally a three-piece with Richard H. Kirk (guitar & synthesizer), Stephen Mallinder (vocals & bass), & Christopher Watkins (keyboards & sampler). By 1984 when this single was released, Christopher Watkins had left the band to form The Hafler Trio with Andrew M. McKenzie & Cabaret Voltaire was moving toward a more commercial, rhythm-conscious dance oriented sound. The remixes of tracks from CV’s Micro-Phonies on this single are highly recommended.

On this recording, Cabaret Voltaire was: Richard H. Kirk & Stephen Mallinder along with Roger Quail (drums); Mark Tattersall (percussion); & Eric Random (tablas).

Year of Release: 1984
Label: Some Bizarre/Virgin CVS 4 12
Genre: Electro-dance

Tracklist:

Side 1 - James Brown [ We Toil to the Boil in run-out ]
Side 2 - Bad Self (Part One)[ What’s on Your Minds? in run-out ]

Download: Cabaret Voltaire - James Brown 12“ single
Download Size:33.159MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Machinations - Pressure Sway 12“ ep???

Next up is Sydney, Australia band Machinations. Although this is listed as a 12“ ep with three songs, I’ll be damned if this record has three songs. Side Two is listed as containing “Pressure Sway (Instrumental Version)” & “Push Bike”, but there is no bike, push or otherwise. So I guess this is really a 12“ single as well. Oh, well. Machinations was very popular in Australia in the indie-rock scene of the mid-80s. They also began as a three-piece with Fred Loneragan (vocals), Tim Doyle (guitar), & Tony Starr (keyboards & drum machine). They were then joined by Nick ‘Nero’ Swan on bass. After a charting single & a self-titled ep, the band signed with prestigious Mushroom Record's White Label. In 1983 the band again charted both in Australia (#21) & the U.S. (#40) with the song “Pressure Sway”. Fame was not due to follow, however, & they never really became a household name.

Year of Release: 1983
Label: A&M Records SP-12077
Genre: Electro-pop

Tracklist:

Side One: Pressure Sway (Extended Club Version)
Side Two: Pressure Sway (Instrumental Version)

Download: Machinations - Pressure Sway 12inch ep
Download Size:25.5MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Wreck - self-titled 12“ ep

Last is Chicago noise-rock band Wreck. A truly under-appreciated & overlooked band. Started by Dean Schlabowske (guitar & vocals), Keith Brammer (bass), & Bart Flores (drums). Dean later was in the Waco brothers, while Keith left after the first ep (for Die Kreuzen & Boy Dirt Car) & was replaced by Kurt Moore. The band recorded for WaxTrax! on their Play it Again Sam label, releasing two eps, a single, & one full length lp. Wreck was an oddity on Waxtrax!, who featured mostly industrial dance musick. Wreck seemed to have more in common with AmRep bands. Their sound was in a similar vein as Big Black. In fact legendary madman Steve Albini was at the production helm of all their releases.

Year of Release: 1989
Label: Play it Again Sam BIUS 3033
Genre: Noise-rock

Tracklist:

Side A
Song X
Cut Ups
Side B
Lac du Flambeau
We Know Everything

Download: Wreck - Self-titled 12“ ep
Download: 23.27MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Friction - Atsureki (1980 - 320kbps)

Following the events in Japan over the course of this past week has been distressing. How the situation has been handled by mainstream US media has been a complete failure. I would like to present two facts: a nuclear meltdown to the likes of Chernobyl is not eminent and not all of Japan was hit by the tsunami. Mostly the north east coastline, Sendai region, and some parts of the south eastern coastline was hit. While the companies get the nuclear situation under control, the average Japanese in those regions face loss of: heat, electricity, food, personal belongings, loved ones, and in some cases shelter. Although the entire nation was not hit, the coastlines were populated enough to raise the estimate of dead and missing individuals to 12,000 since the previous estimate of 4,000 some days ago.

Personally, the figure does not matter since I believe that the loss of life on any scale should always be mourned in some fashion. With that, I would like to extend my condolences to the survivors and anyone else affected by this disaster. After posting Enos, I was toying with the idea of at least making a mention of events overseas but what pushed me was a request Zero sent us [the other contributors] asking if we could post something from Japan. My words may not mean much right now and I am pretty broke so the best that I can do is share a great rock classic from Japan with you all today.

Shortly after getting into punk music in general, I stumbled upon the beauty that is no wave. The band that stood out most for me was Teenage Jesus and The Jerks. Their music and Lydia Lunch were equally captivating in their audacity and creativity. So I was pleased to learn that their bassist, Reck, reinvented his old band with Chico Hige once he returned to Japan after their time in New York.

Friction originally formed under the name Circle Triangle Square in 1971 then 3/3 in the mid-70's. This band is considered to be one of the pioneers of alternative rock in Japan. More information:

Originally formed in 1971 as an avant-garde music group by bassist Reck, saxophonist Chico Hige, and drummer Sakuro Watanabe in Tokyo, Japan. They changed the bands name to 3/3 in the mid 70s, and Reck and Chico later moved to the United States, where they would join the band Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, and later became the original founding members of James Chance and the Contortions before returning back to Japan.

Renaming 3/3 to form Friction, they recruited guitarist Tsunematsu Masatoshi, who had studied art at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music. They released a live album and single in 1979, and their first studio album, Atsureki ((軋轢, meaning 'friction' in Japanese) in 1980, produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

-From their wiki page.

Today I will be focusing on their 1980 release, Atsureki. This album is amazingly complex. It has a very classic punk feel to it that strongly reminds me of Dead Kennedys, Sex Pistols and X. But then you get certain intervals in songs that are distinctly more inharmonious than the already very dirty rock being played. The track “Big-S” is a great example of this. All throught this song is a crazy guitar riff that sounds like someone sliding an object along the strings. About 1:35 minutes into it, the misanthropic guitar riff gets it's own solo with stable rock beats being played on the drums and some very audible bass in the background. Which brings me to how audible the bass is in the entire album as is the saxophone. The former I appreciate and the latter I appreciate only in this album (I normally can not stand saxophones). The saxophone is excellently presented in the most sleazy fashion in “Cycle Dance” and “Out.” By the way, this is a very addictive album. You have been warned.

Year of Release: 1980
Label: Vivid Sound
Genre: Punk/Noise Rock
Media: CD
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
1. A-Gas
2. Automatic-Fru
3. I Can Tell
4. 1000 Years
5. Crazy Dream
6. Cycle Dance
7. Cool Fool
8. No Thrill
9. Big-S
10. Out

Download: Friction - Atsureki
Download Size: 93.12 mb

This one's for U

Unsane - Unsane

This alphabetical challenge is driving me unsane...New York City's Unsane, that is. If you’re not familiar with them, then where the fuck have you been? They play aggressive noise rock. In their earliest incarnation as a power trio, Unsane have a driving rhythm section, a screaming Telecaster howl, & distorted vocals. This line-up included: Chris Spencer (vocals, guitar); Pete Shore (bass); & Charles Ondras (drums). They began playing NYC low-life clubs in 1989. It was at clubs like CBGB's that the band developed their trademark sound.

This, their self-titled debut, was recorded 16 January 1991 at Fun City & released on Matador Records in 1991. The cover is a photo of a decapitated man lying across train tracks, which sets the tone for the seething aggression of this album. In 1992, Unsane's drummer Charles Ondras died of a drug overdose & thing would never be quite the same for the band. Before the band released their follow-up album, Matador compiled & issued a collection of Unsane's early singles/compilation tracks, called Singles: '89-'92. It is perhaps Unsane's defining moment.

Year of Release: 1991
Label: Matador OLE 009-1
Genre: Noise, Hardcore
Bitrate: 320kbps

Tracklist:

Side A -
Organ Donor
Bath
Maggot
Cracked Up
Slag
Exterminator

Side B -
Vandal-X
HLL
AZA-2000
Cut
Action Man
White Hand

Download: Unsane - Unsane
Download Size: 84.55MB (ripped at 320Kbps)

Cows - Cunning Stunts

I must apologize for my posting absence. I have recently embarked upon an intern position at NY1. Between the internship, my online job and school, I have been trying to get accustomed to the changes to my work and social life. But enough about my plight and onto something that may interest the good people at the Digital Meltd0wn community.

Through my fixation with the Melvins, I have discovered a lot of artists would have otherwise slipped through my fingers and into obscurity. One of my best discoveries was one time Amphetamine Reptile Records label mate and noise rock artist, Cows.

Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Cows possessed the raw energy and stage presence of a hardcore punk band with erratic live antics like hurling harmful objects into the crowd. But they were also complimented by their ability to sustain structure with blues rock riffs and lead singer, Shannon Selberg, belting out paint-peeling, warbling vocals and occasionally lending his talents on the bugle.

Released in 1992 on Amphetamine Reptile Records, Cunning Stunts was the Cows fifth studio album and although now, out of print, it remains one of their most successful albums. With the sound effect of a smack and a baby's wail, the album blasts off into "Heave Ho." This track embodies everything the Cows are about from the escalating vocals and rampant bugle of Shannon Selberg to the opening rockabilly riff leading into a full fledged punk rock assault that continues throughout the album.



Year of Release: 1992
Label: Amphetamine Reptile Records
Genre: Noise rock, Punk rock, Experimental, Blues rock

Track List:
1. Heave Ho
2. He Walks Alone
3. Contamination
4. Mr. Cancelled
5. Mine
6. Everybody
7. Two Little Pigs
8. The Woman Inside
9. Terrifique
10. Down Below
11. Ort

Download: Cows-Cunning Stunts
Download Size: 45.8 MB

Coachwhips - Hands on the Controls

The Coachwhips were a three-piece noise/punk rock outfit from San Francisco, California formed in 2001. John Dwyer (also of Pink and Brown, Landed, Burmese, The Ohsees, Yikes, The Hospitals) was the guitarist/vocalist. John Harlow played drums and Mary Ann McNamara played keyboard/tambourine and provided backing vocals. In their second incarnation, Val (tronic) played keyboard/tambourine, and Matt Hartman (former guitarist for Cat Power, current drummer for Sic Alps) played drums.

Coachwhips are known for their stripped-down, unpolished garage rock and completely inaudible lyrics, a sound that is similar to The Oblivians and The Gories. Coachwhips played their last show in New York City in late 2005.

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Black Apple
Genre: Noise Rock
Bitrate: 192kbps

Track List:
1. Hands on the Controls
2. Everybody Wants Some
3. The Ride
4. OK, Next Day
5. Look Into My Eyes When I Come
6. Wheelchair
7. When I Go
8. G.A.R.Y.
9. N.Y.C.L.O.V.E.
10. Mary Ann
11. This Bitch Is Gonna End Up Dead
12. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
13. We Can't Go Back To My Place
14. Sex Like A Seesaw
15. By The Way
16. These Things Belong To Someone
17. Wite Lies
18. OK, Next Day (Live)
19. That Bitch Is Gonna End Up Dead (Live)

Download: Coachwhips - Hands on the Controls
Download Size: 42MB

Himera - Zudwa

Hello everyone. Here is something realy special and rare. This is a Russian cult underground rock band -Himera. A few words about it. In Russia 90's was a really bad and very very difficult time, especially for musicians. It was a time of great economic defolt in country, it was a time of big decline and poverty. No music instruments in shops , often musicians was made an effect pedals like distortion by themselves , soldering the microcircuit. There was only one concert club in whole Saint-Petersburg city- "Tam Tam" . Of course this place was underground and forbidden. So at one evening you could see on the stage a hard-core band , then a folk music , after it some ragamuffin guys , and the right after that a nazi skin head punks. Can you imagine that mix?
Front man lead singer , guitar player, songwriter of Himera was Edik Starkov. He was a very unusual person , and like most rock genius he had a mental deviations. He also was very poor. He lived right in the "Tam Tam" . He gave a gem there than he slept there. One day Edik has not come on band rehearsal. He was hung up on the second floor of a building where the Himera has rehearsed. The band was rehearsing and not suspecting about that that their frontman is a floor above hung up. As usual Himera has not achieved popularity. They disbanded some days after Edik's death.
So give it a try. The fifty percent of Himera feature was Edik's lyrics. Its very sad that you can understand it , and I haven't much time for translating it. I've just translate a titles of songs. But other fifty percents was their unusual sound. The line up was - drums, guitar and violoncello. A guy with violoncello carried out functions of bass player. And some times Edik played a little horn. I can't describe a genre of this music. It is noise , avant-garde hardcore, alternative punk, etc. with strong shaman psychedelic shade.

Year of Release: 1994
Genre: Noise-rock, alternative
Bitrate: 320kbps

Track List:
01-Sail
02-Handle
03-Total_Jazz
04-Control
05-Karma_of_the_World
06-ZUDWA
07-Captain_Nemo
08-Delirium
09-Hord
10-Into_Heaven
11-Rubber_Plants
12-Water-Fire
13-Jirmaida

Download: Himera Zudwa

Rapeman- Two Nuns and a Pack Mule/ The Tear Garden- The Last Man to Fly

Many times musicians take a hiatus from their more well-known bands to create new musical experiences. Whether the hiatuses are permanent or temporary, these experiences can produce a lot of good music. I present to you a mix pack of albums by lesser known bands comprised of well-known band members.

The first album in this pack is Rapeman's Two Nuns and a Pack Mule. Rapeman was a noise punk band formed in 1987 by Steve Albini (of Big Black and Shellac fame,) David Wm. Sims and Rey Washam (of Scratch Acid.) The band's name is taken from the Japanese comic, The Rapeman, and has been the target of controversy. On a side note, I have read a few of The Rapeman comics out of curiosity and the story lines are some of the most disturbing story lines I've ever read.

This version of Two Nuns and A Pack Mule also contains the Budd EP. This album is definitely in the vein of the noise rock of Big Black with a more art-rock atmosphere at times. Album highlights include the hilarious Kim Gordon's Panties, Monobrow, and the cover of ZZ Top's Just Got Paid. While, I prefer Big Black as a whole, if you enjoy Shellac, Scratch Acid, or Big Black you will definitely dig this.

Year of Release: 1988
Genre: Noise Rock, Punk Rock
Label: Touch & Go Records

Track List

1. Steak & Black Onions (2:47)
2. Monobrow (3:45)
3. Up Beat (2:15)
4. Coition Ignition Mission (2:23)
5. Kim Gordon's Panties (4:17)
6. Hated Chinee (2:01)
7. Radar Love Lizard (1:50)
8. Marmoset (2:12)
9. Just Got Paid (3:35)
10.Trouser Minnow (4:06)
11.Budd (7:29)
12.Superpussy (2:12)
13.Log Bass (2:23)
14.Dutch Courage (2:40)


Download: Rapeman-Two Nuns and a Pack Mule
Download Size: 97.03 MB



PLUS






The second album is The Tear Garden's The Last Man to Fly. The Tear Garden is a band with an odd mix of psychedelic, experimental electronic, and Gothic elements. The Tear Garden was formed in 1985 by Edward Ka-Spel of The Legendary Pink Dots and cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy. They have often been labeled as industrial as well, perhaps because of the Skinny Puppy connection but industrial, they are not.

The Last Man to Fly was the second full-length album released by The Tear Garden and, in my opinion, their best effort. Key and Ka-Spel were joined by Dwayne Goettel of Skinny Puppy and The Silverman, Ryan Moore, and Martijn de Kleer of The Legendary Pink Dots for this album. I cannot recommend album highlights because this album is a sonic adventure that must be experienced from beginning to end. Imagine Jefferson Airplane or Pink Floyd from the future and possessed by Satan and you have a general idea of this album. If there is anything I could recommend you taking away from me during my guest blog time here, it will be this album. I also recommend if you enjoy this to check out The Legendary Pink Dots as well. I hope you enjoy.

Year of Release: 1992
Genre: Psychedelic, Electronic, Gothic
Label: Nettwerk

Track List

1. Hyperform (5:12)
2. The Running Man (8:22)
3. Turn Me On, Dead Man (6:37)
4. Romulus And Venus (6:08)
5. The Great Lie (4:49)
6. Empathy With The Devil (7:52)
7. Circles In The Sand (3:27)
8. Love Notes & Carnations (5:19)
9. A Ship Named 'Despair' (3:41)
10. White Coats & Haloes (2:19)
11. Isis Veiled (3:22)
12. Last Post (8:58)
13. 3-D Technicolor Scrambled Egg/ Trip Down The Hell Hole (With Canary) (7:10)


Download: The Tear Garden- The Last Man to Fly
Download Size: 120.89 MB