John Stepp - Compilation (2009 - 320kbps)

There's been an artist whose music I've been meaning to share but many factors have obstructed me. One being that the genre this project can be classified as is is not one that I have had adequate time to become intimate with.

Country music, a very broad label that constitutes many sub-genres, as it has been for the past few decades has deterred me to a great degree, but a few artists still strive to keep the old soul alive. Though there are many interpretations of what that soul is exactly, it seems rather obvious to me that a good deal of its roots lay in tales of misfortune and local folklore; hence we encounter the old dynamic that is suffering artists producing introspective and memorable works of art. This phenomena was embodied recently for me in John Stepp's solo work. Since it was an instrumental endeavor, a moment should be taken to explore his musical influences and background.

Raised primarily in West Virginia with very humble beginnings, John grew up listening to classic delta blues musicians like Charlie Patton and smooth country like Patsy Cline before moving up to harsher southern rock later in life. He had the benefit of his father's experience as a guitarist and dedicated all his waking hours to playing guitar during his younger years. John's initiation into the metal world started when he left home at an early age and joined Abdullah and Erase The Grey some time down the line.

Those experiences play out noticeably in his now abandoned solo work. The tracks have no particular order other than date of release so all we truly have to go on is the music for an interpretation of his intent. He describes his work as “songs for the forlorn patrons of the Freeway Motel” simply because he wrote most of them while staying in one.

Every song, aside from “Drowning,” is a somber journey with an uplifting accent. “Drowning” is the exception since it's an energetic stoner/southern rock song with Josh Adkins, former Abdullah member as well, playing drums and John doing everything else. There is also another small exception to this that comes in the form of the song titled “Says the Wind” which is something reminiscent of a classic western movie. The rest of the songs in this collection are acoustic guitar pieces that can be classified as country or folk music. Some other significant mentions would be the toy harmonica used in “Out of Reach” and “Ballad of the Wolf” being a, well, ballad. Personally, I recommend “Walked” and “Drowned” since they are my favorites.

Enjoy.

Year of Release: 2009
Genre: Country/folk.
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
1. Atlanta
2. Drowning
3. Out of Reach
4. Says the Wind
5. Sleepwalker
6. Sweet and Lowdown
7. Walked
8. While Away

Download: John Stepp - Compilation
Download Size: 33.5 mb

Qafas - Al Ahlaam (2010 - 320Kbps)

The more I discover new bands via the internet, the more I become aware of the fact that most music affectionados have a very Eurocentric view. This holds especially true in the metal world so it has become a mission of mine to spread word of bands that are off the radar. Today, I am exploring another project that is very dear to me named Qafas (meaning “cage” in Arabic). The one responsible is Learza, a musician from Bahrain, who has had his hand steeped in several one-man oriental black metal projects since 2004. He has taken a different approach with this one; the project is an experimentation with funeral doom as his medium. This holds especially true for Qafas' 2010 EP, “Al-Ahlaam,” which literally translates to “The Dreams.”

The motif of this release is reflected not only musically, but also by track order in conjunction with their names. Sorrow and dreariness coats this project which keeps it true to the spirit of doom metal; it is also a purely instrumental release with classical compositional elements that land it easily within the realm of despondent funeral doom. While it may be true that it lacks the undefinable “hard edge” that one expects from something that is associated with metal, the definition of “metal” has expanded to such a degree over the years that a project like this is able to fit comfortably within its ranks.

Since there is no lyrical theme to describe, I will go into some detail regarding the progression of this EP because much thought was put into it. First comes a nostalgic vision from the past in the first song with the sound of an old movie projector in the opening; it's a short and deeply wistful classical composition that faintly reminds me of Philip Glass' style. What follows it is something titled “The Reoccurring Trauma/Al-Sadma Al-Mutakerera” that treads more on the eerie funeral doom side via the presence of guitar (with Thamud's Mudamer playing backing lead guitar) and double bass/blast beats in the background. The twist with this song is that it starts out eerie but gradually progresses to a more light-hearted tone that lasts through-out it's closing.

“Between the Fangs of Nightmares/Beyn Anyaab Al-Kawabes” is the culmination of the previous tracks and climax of this project. The combination of dejection and foreboding from the first two songs elope giving birth to this beautiful monstrosity. There is a clear influence of ambient black metal that creeps through the ominous tone of this baby with two guest musicians aiding the effect, Mudamer playing rhythm guitar this time and Demon ov Darkness from BlackSpell playing the first keyboard arrangement. The songs that follow, “Ijtima' Al-Shu'ra'/Gathering of Poets” and “Al-Ahlaam/The Dreams,” draw from the EP's initial classical melancholy marking our journey through Learza's dream world as complete.

Year of Release: 2010
Genre: Funeral Doom Metal.
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
1. Mashhad Min Al-Maathi
2. Al Sadma Al Mutakerera
3. Beyn Anyaab Alkawabes
4. Ijtima' Al Shu'ra'
5. Al-Ahlaam

Download: Qafas - Al-Ahlaam
Download Size: 33.11 mb

The Mekons - Original Sin (1989)

I’ve been meaning to post something from the UK band Mekons for a while now. They took the band's name from the Mekon, an evil, super-intelligent Venusian featured in the British 1950s-1960s comic Dan Dare. One cannot pick a Mekons album as representative of their sound because each record sounds different. Their 1985 classic Fear and Whiskey is proclaimed as their best album by many critics and fans. I don’t know if it is their best, but it is my favorite from the six I have heard. While that album has been reissued and is available for purchase, what is not in print is this 1989 CD that compiles the tracks from the LP plus bonus tracks from a string of EPs that followed. I’ve found a few snippets from other sources that I will quote to help you decide whether to grab it, and grab it you should.

The music is a mess of influences united on the bones of punk music. The Mekons always subscribed to the "anything goes" rules of Britain's "Class of '77," and Fear and Whiskey is their most famous example: this was the record where they started to assimilate country music. It was a radical move in mid-80s Britain, not least because of the right-wing politics that were associated with the style. Musicologists have labelled this the father of alt-country, that bastard offspring of indie rock and country/western-- though for as much as you hear it on "Darkness and Doubt" (complete with a John Wayne reference), or the cover of Hank Williams' hit "Lost Highway," country is just one of the styles jammed in here, along with English folk, Leeds punk, and whatever else was at hand. Anyone who expects scenic Americana will stop short at the second song, "Trouble Down South," a weird mini-drama that would bring a lesser album to its knees: Ken Lite narrates some kind of a military advance over a reggae-inflected drum machine and a wheezing accordion, while soprano Jaqui Callis struggles to hit her highest notes. As far as it fits here at all, it's to force the listener to accept that the Mekons are ready and willing to do whatever they want.
-from a Pitchfork review by Chris Dahlen

"Being American was the coolest thing to be in the 20th century," said the Wales native. "It's problematic and contradictory, but at the height of the Reagan/Thatcher alliance, with market capitalism running rampage, and American imperialism having its second or third wave, there was a bunch of anarchist lefties in Leeds who were fascinated with Hank Williams and Bob Wills. "I can’t really explain it, but it really resonated with us," Langford continued. "I found country music to be a very powerful form of folk music. It was about drinking, cheating and stories that seemed to be about people’s actual lives. We thought punk rock would be like that. We thought punk could address reality in a political way. But when I heard Merle Haggard and Ernest Tubb, and hearing the simplicity of those songs? That was punk rock, and they were doing it a long time ago."
-from an interview with Jon Langford in LA Times blog

Tom Greenhalgh, one of the primary creative forces in the Mekons, commented that as he listened to a great deal of country & western music in the early 1980's, "pretty soon the difference between the three chords of country and the three chords of punk became blurred." The album closes with a cover of Leon Payne's "Lost Highway".

The album's lyrics describe a dark scenario of a community struggling to retain its capacity for joy and humanity through a devastating war. Rock critic Robert Christgau described it as "sort of concept album about life during wartime".
-from Wikipedia

You can find the liner notes here that tells who played what on each track.

Year of Release: 1989
Label: Rough Trade
Catalog #: RTDCD 105
Genre: Cow-punk, Punk Rock, alt-country
Media: CD
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
Chivalry 04:03
Trouble Down South 04:15
Hard To Be Human Again 03:59
Darknes And Doubt 05:14
Psycho Cupid 02:52
(Dancebird On The Edge Of Time)
Flitcraft 03:23
Country 02:54
Abernant 1984/85 02:21
Last Dance 03:12
Lost Highway 03:02
plus:
(A Dancing Master Such As)
Mr. Confess 06:02
Beaten And Broken 02:55
Chop That Child In Half 03:23
Hey! Susan 02:37
Garage D'Or 01:48
Slightly South Of The Border 03:42
Coal Hole 02:37
$1.000 Wedding 04:04
Rescue Mission 03:00

Download: The Mekons - Original Sin
Download Size: 150 MB

Thamud - Remnants of Time (2010 - 320Kbps)

Music can be as much an outlet for self-expression as it can be a tool to communicate with others. There is a pervasive theme with black metal bands, no matter the country, that accomplishes neither of the aforementioned goals. Most are too obsessed with the public persona of Satanism and the need to seem as evil as possible. It is rare to find bands that use the genre as a means of true personal expression. Luckily, I stumbled upon a band from the United Arab Emirates that does just that. Thamud, ironically a one-man band named after an ancient race of people in Arabia, is a project created purely as a means of self-expression. It was the manifestation of a man's desire to reach out to anyone that would listen.

The official genre label for Thamud is ambient black metal and the music stays along that path with the exception of the last track on the demo, Lost Within Mists Of Time. The last track borders on a classical composition, but stays in-tune with the general feel of the entire demo. It's hard to put into words, but what I sense from this project is eerie melancholy. “Lost Within Mists OF Time” is the star of this demo, it bleeds emotion in the rawest sense and transports me to a snow laden Lincoln Park (Jersey City, NJ – look it up, it's a dismal place on it's best day) sitting on a bench overlooking the polluted man-made lake. I used to go there to escape the chaos of family life and just reflected on things. That time of my life is what this track brings back to me. It is very rare when a song that I have no history with brings nostalgia of that kind.

The secondary focus of this project is the fourth track, Al Hajaj Ibn Yousif Al Thaqafey. What makes this so addictive, because that's what it is, is the absolutely amazing sound sample used to break up the song. It's a speech from an ancient religious figure, Al Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf, that was featured in an Arabic TV show. The man's exudes strength and confidence which combine to give way to a certain charisma that translates well in his voice. The speech is the backbone of this song and it's a little unfortunate for non-Arabic speakers that the language barrier exists. Though what he is saying really isn't of much importance as much as the authority that he gives off, the words do add an extra punch to the song. A rough translation of the last bit of the speech before the music cuts in:

I have two swords, the sword of mercy and the sword of torture and judgment. For the sword of mercy, it has fallen from me along the path so I left it. And the sword of torture and judgment, for this is it.. -sound of a sword being unsheathed can be heard-

Musically, the song has a groove to it that is refreshing despite the general absence of bass guitar in the entire demo.

The demo is sparse vocally with growls making an appearance in tracks 2 and 3 only. They add a more aggressive element beyond the music itself which gives a hard edge to the aforementioned theme of melancholy of each song.

This review was a little personal so it took some time to write, but I hope I was able to translate it into words well enough for you, the readers.

Year of Release: 2010
Genre: Ambient Black Metal.
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
1. Remnants Of Time
2. From The Womb of Peace
3. Yadheeq Al Sadir
4. Al Hajaj Ibn Yousif Al Thaquafey
5. Lost Within Mists of Time

Download: Thamud Remnants of Time
Download Size: 31.23 mb

JoyRide - We Come in Peace (2008 - 320Kbps)

Zer0_ii thought that this month we ought to highlight some unsigned artists, give them a bit o’ the old web & ear time.

Unsigned artists...shit, from my years of doing EAT POOP! ‘zine I have so many demos, self-produced cds, or independent label materials I could do a whole blog on just it alone. But not many folks are looking for one-offs or obscure tuneage from long gone bands. I get sent all kinds of new musick over at NSS with review or post-up requests, but I’m sure hundreds of other blogs get the same stuff, so I only post it sporadically at best.

However, as a way for me to start off, I’m going to offer up some neo funk from a friend of mine. I was personally involved in this disc’s genesis & I believe its story is interesting, if tragic.

I used to work my wage-slave day job with Rick ‘G Funk’ Smith, guitarist extraordinaire. He was working with some other musickians who had all been in the business for many years, playing alongside the likes of Sly Stone, Larry Graham, & other great funkateers. He had an idea for an album & needed some help to make it happen. So I signed on as manager of the project & turned over my living room to weekly practices.

The disc We Come in Peace I am presenting now is the results. Shortly after the birth of this baby, Rick’s oldest son Alec ‘Young Ace’ Smith (who does the vocal intro & outro) was killed at a local Yuba City party. Thus sounded the funereal knell for this project that sadly I gladly share with you all now.

JoyRide is: Rick ‘G Funk’ Smith - guitar & vocals; Ken Miller - bass; Dwight Hogan - bass; Doug Smith - keyboards; Jarrett Aitkens - drums; & Kym Botts - vocals.

Year of Release: 2008
Label: Self released/JoyRide Music
Genre: Neo Funk, Urban Funk

Tracklist:
Here We Come
True Passion
I’m Alright Now
We Come in Peace
Knowledge
Just a Melody
Thighland
Honesty
Coffe with Mary
The Light
You Still Have Me

Download: JoyRide - We Come in Peace
Download Size: 117Mb

Hox Vox - Marcel Duchamp (2010)

I'm long overdue for a video post, so I thought I would share this unique tribute to Marcel Duchamp with you all. This video video was submitted to me by Hox Vox, a multimedia, avant-garde artist out of Italy. Hox has given me permission to share his music here, and I plan to share a real masterpiece of an album in my next post, along with a more detailed description of Hox and his music. The video above is for a track found on Hox's 2010 album, Dada (Cabaret Voltaire), which pays tribute to many early 20th century avant-garde artists. You can find a download link to a high-definition version of the video at the bottom of this post, as well as a link to the video on Digital Meltd0wn's fledgling Youtube channel.

Marcel Duchamp was an important figure in the early 20th century avant-garde art movement, particularly his contributions to Dada. His ideas were extremely controversial at the time, and he challenged many people to reconsider the very definition of art with his works. Duchamp was highly influenced by Post Impressionist artists at a young age. His early work primarily consisted of paintings and multimedia works in the avant-garde styles of cubism and fauvism. From the very beginning of his career there was controversy attached to Duchamp's name. His first major cubist painting, "Nude Descending a Starcase No. 2," caused quite a stir at a 1913 exhibit in New York. Americans, who were unfamiliar with Parisian avant-garde and futurist movements, were equally intrigued and dismayed. Many people claimed that it wasn't art, since they found it to be lacking elements of realism, nor did it appear to require a great degree of technical ability to produce.

Although Duchamp's paintings were scandalous for their time, outside of the Parisian Avant-Garde movement, the medium he was working with was still one people were intimately familiar with. Eventually Duchamp's artistic ideology evolved a great deal. He would go on to be a pioneering figure in a few avant-garde styles, and he began to produce works that were unlike anything many people had ever conceived as art. He achieved notoriety for his controversial submission, "The Fountain," to an art exhibit. The fountain was simply a urinal that Duchamp had inverted and signed R. Mutt. Duchamp's "found art," or readymades as he preferred to call them, consisted of inconspicuous everyday items, such as the urinal; yet despite their mundane nature, these pieces became more radical within an artistic context, and proved to be polarizing within many artistic circles. The majority of people dismissed Duchamp's readymade pieces outright, and determined that they had no redeeming qualities, and therefore were were void of artistic value. However, many others, including many prominent artists of the era, believed that he was attempting to replace the image and idea associated with the urinal, and frame it within a different perspective, thus creating a new and unique personal association with the item in question. You can read more about Duchamp and his life on this website.

There was a time in my life when I also dismissed such art as simply pranks, or art for pseudo-intellectual hipsters; however, as I grew older I began to acknowledge the possibility that it could be created for a different purpose. Even if it was submitted by Duchamp as simply a gag, or or to prove a point, I finally managed to find some redeeming value in such artistic "statements." As for "Fountain" in particular, some might call me a sucker, but I like to think of it as a blank, urinal-shaped canvas for the mind, allowing each individual to create a new "thought" associated with it upon viewing it. It can be anything your mind has a natural inclination to associate it with, and the same concept applies to many other pieces of "found art." If some of you wouldn't mind taking the time to share your opinion with me, I would like to read your interpretation of Duchamp's ideas also.

If you could, please provide Hox with some feedback on the video. I'm sure that Hox will view this post, and he would greatly appreciate any comments you have to offer.

Download: Hox Vox - Marcel Duchamp
Download Size: 101MB

Youtube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcjdI10W0V8

VA - Ar-Ra'd (2010 - 320 kbps)

The purpose of thunder is sometimes an elusive one. It serves to warn us of the proximity of a storm and of the sometimes dangerous lightning when we fail to notice it ourselves. You could say that it is nature's reporter broadcasting the destruction that it has rought to all that are in hearing range. That is exactly the function of this compilation. It's name is Ar-Ra'd and it means "The Thunder" in Arabic. The compilation as described by the who made the project possible:

We extend this compilation to the world as a sign of solidarity and
admiration, moral support, but most importantly, spiritual support for
all suffering Middle Eastern peoples. Your cultural and spiritual
contributions to this Earth are a treasure to behold, and these songs
reflect the admiration for Middle Eastern art, culture, faith, and above
all, STRENGTH.
Peace be with you
-Rex The Ninth
November 2, 2010

Ar-Ra'd is a 2010 post-industrial, and a varying-in-genre compilation which was designed, written and independently released by Rex the Ninth. The content of the compilation is neither pro nor anti-political in agenda, but rather an offering of Rex the Ninth's patriotism to the middle-east and its people who are subjected to tyranny and oppression, in any shape or form. As far as I'm concerned, it was a pleasure to be musically-involved in contribution to the overall visual intent, along with the involvement of the following acts featured.
-Learza

A good deal of the tracks have a rather disturbing element to them that is hard to describe. The exceptions being Qafas', Thamud's and Satan's Scrotum's tracks. Qafas' track is a melancholic classic song that has a vintage feel to it. Thamud's track is an ambient black metal song. Satan's Scrotum's track is the only odd one to me, as much as I love the group's name, it doesn't seem to fit the overall feel of the compilation. It breaks through the pervasive emotional heaviness of all the other songs with an ironic sense of cheerfulness. Overall, it is hard to describe the disquiet and sadness that I felt while listening to this compilation for the first time last year. A word of warning for those that may not like noise: tracks 1, 2, 3, 7 and 13 will disturb you regardless of your personal preference. What makes those tracks is the combination of sound samples with utterly disquieting...music I suppose? No, more like amplified static and distortion that puts you on edge. I hope this projects touches you in some way. That you hear the thunder rumbling in the distance.

Year of Release: 2010
Genre: Mult-genre.
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
1. Hohner Comet – No Name [From Koulouna Gaza]
2. Talib Aziiz – Mein Ma In Ga 6
3. Front Sonore – Marmara Turc
4. Rex The Ninith Ft. Talib Aziiz – A Faith That Knows No Bounds
5. Barbarossa Umtrunk Ft. Schattenspiel – Sayful Islam II
6. Zebulon Kosted – Breaking The Spell
7. El-Iksir - Az-Zurah
8. IGNIIS – Tema 42
9. Barbarossa Umtrunk – Dans Les Entrailles De Moloch
10. Qafas - A'Teni Al Nay [A Tribute to Fairuz]
11. Satan's Scrotum – Egyptian Halloween Hearse Curse
12. Thamud – The Last Streak Of Reality
13. Rex The Ninth – Let The Crescent Light The Way

Download: Ar-Ra'd Compilation
Download Size: 238 mb

Shinichirô Ikebe - Dreams | Rhapsody In August | Madadayo (1990, 1991, 1993)

I watched Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams for the first time a few months ago. I have seen several of his other works, but honestly Dreams really haunts me the most. I heartily recommend it, but I know that it is not for everybody. Considering the anxiety about the nuclear age expressed in this film, and the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan, I thought it fitting to post this fantastic score by composer Shinichirô Ikebe.

Ikebe was born in Mito, Japan in 1943. He graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music with a master’s degree in 1971. He is probably best known for his work in classical music, but he has also worked in TV, film and radio. He is the recipient of a very long list of prestigious awards.

This release is mostly the score for Dreams, but tacks on about five bonus tracks from two other Kurosawa films. There is diverse range of moods explored here, expressed through classical, vocal, and traditional Japanese music. There are also some frightening and hypnotic sound effects on the Mount Fuji in Red tracks. Overall, I think the whole album is really good, but my favorite track is The Feast. It starts with some divine Japanese fue, and then brings in some interesting percussion, followed by some kind of plucked instrument. To me it imparts a peaceful fascination with the natural world, but I think it is used in the film in the sequence where a boy, paying no heed to his mother’s warning, is spying on a parade of foxes. My other favorite track is Funeral Procession, which doesn’t sound like any funeral music I’ve ever heard. It is composed of several sections characterized by percussion, wind instruments, possibly some brass, and chanting. I have no idea what the chanters are saying, but it doesn’t matter, because it is awesome.

I want to extend my deepest condolences to all the people who are dealing with the disaster wrought by the earthquake and tsunami.

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Toho Music
Catalog #: AK-0014
Genre: Soundtrack, Classical, Japanese Traditional
Media: CD
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 224 kbps

Track List:
1. Titles (1:50)
2. Sunshower (3:52)
3. Rainbow (1:11)
4. The Feast (4:20)
5. The Fields (1:00)
6. A Spirit In The Fields (1:36)
7. The Snow Woman (2:56)
8. From Behind The Clouds (2:11)
9. Requiem Trumpet (1:17)
10. Raindrops (M11, by Chopin) (2:09)
11. Raindrops (M12, by Chopin) (0:56)
12. Raindrops (M13, by Chopin) (2:13)
13. Mount Fuji In Red (M15 Temp Mix T-1) (1:59)
14. Mount Fuji In Red (M16 Working Sound Temp Mix T-1) (1:23)
15. Radiation (0:55)
16. The Town In The Castle Ruins (0:40)
17. The Crying Demon (1:21)
18. Funeral Procession (5:39)
19. Ending (Caucasian Sketches Op. 10 by Ippolitov - Ivanov) (5:59)
20. Her Grieving Heart (From "Stabat Mater" by Vivaldi) (1:45)
21. The Wild Rose (M6 From The Film) (0:41)
22. The Wild Rose (M7) (1:55)
23. A Weeping Mother Was Standing (From "Stabat Mater") (3:02)
24. Vivaldi Concerto From "Harmonic Inspiration" (Concerto No. 9, D Major, 2nd Movement) (4:23)

Download: Shinichirô Ikebe - Dreams | Rhapsody In August | Madadayo
Download Size: 95.9 MB

芸能山城組 Geinō Yamashirogumi - 恐山／銅之剣舞 Osorezan / Dou No Kenbai (1976)

The aftermath of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami has been simultaneously excruciating and inspiring to witness. With disasters of this magnitude there is so much tragedy, and so much heroism. I've been undoubtedly feeling that "Japanese Blues" mental state so eloquently described by NØ.

When Zer0_II asked for a post out of respect for Japan and their current struggle, I immediately thought of this album. This is not the first time Geinō Yamashirogumi has made an appearance @ DM. Zer0_II posted their marvelous score for Akira in August of last year. Osorezan (Mountain of Fear) / Dou No Kenbai (Copper Sword Dance) was released in 1976 as two LP sidelong tracks of mega-intensity. This album is a startling and beautiful demonstration of the creative possibilities of a collective. The experimental atmospherics, vocal freak-outs, and prog/space rock crossed with world folk thing has been executed many times, but in my opinion this album, as with all work by Geinō Yamashirogumi, stands as an incomparable experience. Every time I listen to this recording all the way through, I feel completely cleansed and reinvigorated.

Year of Original Release: 1976
Year of Reissue: 1994
Label: Victor Japan
Catalog #: VICL-23084
Genre: Experimental, World Fusion, World Music
Media: CD
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
1. 恐山 (20:00)
2. 銅之剣舞 (18:47)

Download: Geinō Yamashirogumi - 恐山／銅之剣舞 Osorezan / Dou No Kenbai
Download Size: 87 MB

World's End Girlfriend - Dream's End Come True (2002 - 320kbps)

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the people of Japan during this very difficult time for their nation. I wanted to dedicate a post to Japan the day after the earthquake and tsunami struck. However, I have found it rather difficult to put my thoughts and feelings into words the day after the disaster, and didn't have enough free time at my disposal in the days that followed to be able to dedicate a post until now.

I was up watching Al Jazeera Live late at night when the news broke that an earthquake had struck off the coast of Japan. Although a tsunami warning was issued, I didn't expect one to form. The earthquake was first described as only being a 7.8, in contrast to the upgraded 9.0 it would eventually be categorized as. A few minutes later I watched in disbelief and horror as the massive debris-filled wave destroyed everything in its path - images which I'm sure have been burned into the minds of all who watched the widely circulated footage. My first thought was of how the destruction I was witnessing was undoubtedly occurring all along Japan's coastline, and would result in a massive loss of life.

I know what it is like to lose everything and be forced to start your life completely from scratch, although my past circumstances do not begin to compare with the loss that many people are experiencing in Japan. With that in mind, the disaster in Japan affected me in a way which I never would have imagined. I feel a great deal of empathy and sympathy for the millions in Japan who have been directly and indirectly affected by this disaster. I can't even begin to imagine witnessing such a horrifyingly surreal monstrosity swallow up everything you hold near and dear to you in person, and what it must be like to attempt to pick up the pieces after you have lost everything in such a horrifying manner. It has been difficult enough to experience vicariously. To make matters worse, the rescue efforts have been hampered by countless aftershocks, a blizzard, and the ongoing nuclear crisis, thus extinguishing the possibility of being rescued for many.

As difficult as it was for me to find the words required to express my sympathy, it was even more difficult to select which album would be the most appropriate for the situation. In the end, I decided that this album by World's End Girlfriend best captured the complex range of thoughts and emotions presented by this series of disasters. World's End Girlfriend is actually the solo project of Katsuhiko Maeda, a mysterious Japanese artist who combines neoclassical elements with experimental electronic sounds. "Dream's End Come True" was the third full length album released by World's End Girlfriend, and marks a transition toward more dark and experimental music for Maeda. The dark synths and dissonant, chaotic electronic glitches remind me of the horror and confusion that no doubt invaded the minds of the Japanese people when the earthquake and tsunami decimated a great deal of the East Coast of Japan.

However, the album is not without its lighter moments, and features beautiful string movements and piano melodies throughout, which reminds me of the hope I feel for the future of Japan. Like the mythical Phoenix, Japan has risen from the ashes of destruction once before, and I have no doubt that the Japanese people have the willpower and resolve to do so again. The songs are lengthy, with each one clocking in at more than eight minutes in length, culminating in the 25 minute epic, "Imperfect Love Song," which closes out the album in dramatic fashion.

I want to close this post out by saying that I would like to extend my deepest condolences to everyone who has experienced loss of any type due to this tragic disaster. I wish the Japanese people the best of luck in the near future and far beyond.

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Midi Creative/Noble
Catalog # CXCA-1118
Genres: Experimental, Avant-Garde, Post-Rock
Bitrate: 320kbps

Tracklist:
1. Singing Under The Rainbow
2. Caroling Hellwalker
3. All Imperfect Love Song
4. Wonderland Falling Tomorrow

Download: World's End Girlfriend - Dream's End Come True
Download Size: 99MB

虚装束 Karasyozoku - Mischievous Sigyn 1923 cassette (2008 - 320Kbps)

On September 1, 1923, the great Kantō earthquake (関 東 大 震 災), struck the Kantō plain on the Japanese main island of Honshū. First hand accounts reported the duration of the earthquake at between 4 & 10 minutes, believed to be 7.9 on the Richter scale. The power & intensity managed to move a 121 ton statue of Buddha almost two feet. An estimated 100,000 to 140,000 people lost their lives. In present day Japan, September 1 is Disaster Prevention Day. Schools, & both public & private organizations host disaster drills. Because of these practices, the Japanese people were more prepared than most populations for the current disaster.

Karasyozoku’s debut release, Mischievous Sigyn 1923 is based on this natural disaster as well as the political & social events that accompanied it. This is the second release from Lust Vessel in the new wave of Japanese noise. It is a mixture of terrifying heavy electronics, de-constructed organ, tortured female vocals mixed with various field recordings. It has elements of Musique Concrète & old school industrial. It could easily be the horrifying soundtrack of past or current events in Japan. Not for the squeamish.

Karasyozoku is made up of three members: Dr. Torikabuto; Kichi; & Annoying Labia. All tracks were recorded & mixed late 2007 at Sacred Lust Studio. It was released on cassette with a A5 sized 14 page booklet with photos & lyrics, limited to 150 copies, currently out of print.

Year of Release: 2008
Label: Lust Vessel LV#002
Genre: J-noise, Industrial, Musique Concrete

Tracklist:
Side A -
Sigyn Turned the Basin Over Her Husband at Last
Strayers Seek Crowd, Even Though They Don't Have the Reason
Balm from the Crucible of Corpses
Side B -
Fact is More Horrible than Drama
To Be or Not to Be; Criminals as Existence
Die Todesfalle und die Dirnen

Download: Karasyozoku - Mischievous Sigyn 1923 cassette
Download Size: 113MB

三上 寛 Mikami Kan - BANG! (1980 - 320Kbps)

As the earthquake, tsunami, & nuclear disaster in Japan unfolds, we cannot help but feeling overwhelmed as we learn of the increasing death & injury toll, as we see the tremendous destruction. We have never before witnessed the magnitude of events taking place in Japan.

In the coming days & weeks, the Japanese people as well as many others of us around the world will be experiencing intense psychological feelings; extreme anxiety; depression; insomnia; bad dreams; flashbacks of the past horrible events; helplessness; numbing detachment; feelings of unreality; depersonalization; dissociative amnesia where a person can’t recall important aspects of the trauma; & tendencies to avoid anything or any thoughts to do with the trauma.

In other words, everybody will have the Japanese Blues.

The Blues may not be native to Japan, but there is one artist in Japan at the very fore-front of what he himself has named 'Japanese Blues'. That is the legendary 三上 寛 Mikami Kan. Mikami is a guitarist, singer & songwriter, a fixture in the Tokyo musickal underground, the master of twisted Enka Blues, Japan’s king of the surrealist aside & situationist duckwalk. Kan has been around for over four decades, playing his solo material in Tokyo live musick houses regularly. He is a mainstay of the Japanese countercultural underground, having over time worked with everyone from Shuji Terayama & his Tenjo Sajiki theatrical troupe to leading lights of the PSF Records Japanese noise psych camp via his work in Vajra with Haino Keiji & Ishizuka Toshi or the Haino/Mikami/Yoshizawa trio.

When Mikami arrived in Tokyo in 1968 he was overwhelmed with the feeling of violence in modern life as a result of American intervention in Japan. So, harnessing that universal emotion, a whole new species of Blues was born. The Japanese Blues... the 'Mikami mojo'. A unifying thread of violent emotion runs through all of Mikami's recordings. It's a thread composed of brutality tempered with tenderness, angst with empathy. It's a harsh yet graceful sonic melee sung in Mikami's singular silken rasp. Perhaps the most striking of Mikami's muses is his use of anger in a powerful homegrown blend of rustic wisdom & urban cynicism.

Most people associate the blues with depressing lyrics about loss or loneliness, but that’s not completely accurate. As the famous Bluesman Willie Dixon explains, "It's got to be a fact or it wouldn't be Blues." The Blues is about life, the good parts & the bad parts, but the Blues has always been a musick of hope & healing. It reflects humanity’s power to overcome adversity & empathize with others. Here’s hoping that Mikami Kan’s surrealist take on the Blues will ring a unifying note in these surreal days.

Year of Release: 1980
Label: Sound Marketing System SM20-4144
Genre: Japanese Blues, Folk Rock, Free Jazz

Tracklist:

Side A:
このレコードを私に下さい (wo watashi ni kudasai)
逢えてよかった (aete yokatta)
華麗なる絶望 (kareinaru zetubou)
BANG!

Side B:
密漁の夜 (mitsuryou no yoru)
なんてひどい唄なんだ (nante hidoi uta nanda)
赤い馬 (akai uma)
最後の最後の最後のサンバ (saigo no saigo no saigo no sanba)

Download: Mikami Kan - BANG!
Download Size: 109.91MB

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

Ananda Shankar - Ananda Shankar (1970 - 320kbps)

Update: Re-upped as requested on March 16, 2011

Ananda Shankar, nephew of world-famous sitar player, Ravi Shankar, never quite matched the success of his uncle, but made a significant impact in the '70s psychedelic underground scene by combining Western electronics and Indian music to create instrumental jams and moody soundtracks.The son of famous classical dancers caught the show-biz bug in the late '60s and traveled to Los Angeles, where he played with rock musicians (including Jimi Hendrix) at the pinnacle of the psychedelic movement. At age 27, he signed a deal with Reprise Records who released this debut self-titled album; a fusion cult classic that combined Hindustani music with psychedelic.

The opener, the sitar- and Moog-soaked take on "Jumpin' Jack Flash," is performed perfectly, with every choice accent milked for maximum drama. Once the novelty of sitar-dosed covers of your favorite songs wears off, you really begin to notice how excellent the performances are on this record. Ananda Shankar manages to bridge the gap between kitsch and fine art on these tracks, from the opener all the way to the cover of "Light My Fire." One minute he is playing simple notes like it was taking the place of a guitar, at other times utilizing the full reign of the sitar's sound possibilities. The originals on the album follow an equally impressive path. The dreamy, hazy bliss of tracks like "Snow Flower" and "Mamata" is both meditative and slinky -- light melodies with twisted atmospherics and tweaked Moogs. The drum breaks in the gurgling "Metamorphosis" are worth the price of the album alone. For the most part, the album rarely strays from the East-meets-West formula, with the Eastern rhythms getting the short shrift and the focus relying on Western funk and pop styles getting an Eastern makeover. This specific track guides the listener through a space/water odyssey over the course of 13 minutes. It's a slow build that gains momentum as the music progresses and flashes of acoustic guitar help the rhythm along. The final track is a great mixture of folk guitars that takes the focus away from the sitar for once, instead incorporating vocals and a chorus that manages to lock into a repeated chant that is the unexpected highlight of the album. - Allmusic

Year of Release: 1970
Label: Reprise
Genre: Psychedelic, World Fusion
Bitrate: 320kbps

Track List:
1. Jumpin' Jack Flash
2. Snow Flower
3. Light My Fire
4. Mamata (Affection)
5. Metamorphosis
6. Sagar (The Ocean)
7. Dance Indra
8. Raghupati

Download: Ananda Shankar - Ananda Shankar
Download Size: 216MB

Enos - Chapter 1 (2010 - 320kbps)

Enos, hailing from the UK, is one of the more fun discoveries that I made last year while running a stoner music page on Facebook. Their sound is a mix of space rock and stoner metal which is an almost seemless blend. The production on their album, "Chapter 1," is beautifully done. Every instrument has it's chance to shine, including vocal work. The band regularly does shows and promotions with comrades from the stoner underground scene in the UK like Dopefight and Funeralhag (also favorites of mine).

Never an easy task to describe the sound of music but, I will say that their music is very laid back. It's still aggressive enough to be in the metal family, but very classic '80s in some guitar riffs and drum beats. Bass' presence is strong, of course, and the distorted second guitar gives spacey sound effects in the background throughout the songs. The distortion isn't as overly done as what enters people's minds when they read the word "space." Very atmospheric and it reminds me personally of some of the effects on the X-Files soundtrack. The vocal work on this album is wonderfully dirty and complements the music well. Should also be noted that some well-timed sound samples play muddled in the background that stay true to this album's theme. Overall, awesome music with a great groove to it.

My favorite track is "Back to Earth" with "Floating" riding on it's heels as a close second. That being said, this album has an interesting theme:

"On Wednesday the 29th of November 1961 at 15:08, after several delays, NASA launched what was to be their final test flight. On board Mercury-Atlas 5 was Enos, a temperamental five year old chimpanzee. This was to be a full dress rehearsal for John Glenn’s historic flight just three months later.

The pressure was on at Cape Canaveral, the US was losing the space race. The Soviet’s had succeeded in getting the first satellite into Earth’s orbit four years earlier, and in the seven months since Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space another Russian, Gherman Titov, had safely returned from orbit.

Questions were being asked about the worth of this increasingly expensive and dangerous obsession with space. If NASA and America were to save face and regain some of the ground they had lost to the Russians nothing could go wrong with this mission. It was with this in mind that they launched the most highly trained chimp in the American Air Force into the history books.

Enos returned to Earth after completing two orbits and travelling 50,892 miles. The whole mission had lasted just 3 hours, 20 minutes and 59 seconds.

On his return Enos was a changed chimp. This once surly and mean spirited chimpanzee apparently jumped for joy, ran excitedly around the deck of the recovery ship and merrily shook the hands of the researchers. Many who met him after his return commented that it was like meeting a different chimp. This is his story . . ."

-Taken from their Facebook page.

This album is available free for download along with a short comic that delves deeper into Enos's story. I won't ruin it for you, it's an intriguing read. One more thing, I love the text on their CD Print:

Unathurised copying, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting of this recording is highly recommended -

They are currently working on their second album so keep an eye out for it! I would also like to thank everyone for their warm welcomes.

Year of Release: 2010
Label: The Internet (aka none)
Genre: Stoner/space metal
Media: Digital
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
1. Launch
2. In Space
3. Floating
4. Transform
5. Back To Earth

Download: Enos - Chapter 1
Download Size: 95.5 mb

The Dance of Al Qaynah

Most would agree that the arts have the power to break down our mental barriers. Perhaps the reason is that the passion that drives the creators is something we can all recognize. It is the desire to communicate thoughts and emotions on a deeper level. It goes beyond just telling someone plainly. It's the desire and power to make you feel almost exactly as they do.

If music can rend our mental defenses apart then it has already torn through our cultural barriers. Which brings me to the heart of my belief regarding music: a genre of music should never be considered exclusive to one race of peoples. In celebration of this concept, I present to you Al Qaynah.

So far this band has a demo that was released free for download on the internet in 2008. Describing their music is a little hard since it's not a genre that most people are used to. It's a genuine blend of Arabic and Indian influences within the realm of heavy metal. It's also an instrumental project. That's interesting enough but it's not the most unique thing about them. This is:

Al Qaynah is a global effort and we're composers and musicians from different cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Afghanistan thusly is our metaphorical homeland.

[....]

The collaborations for Al Qaynah are done over the internet. We exchange sound files and everything is collected in Copenhagen where cutting, pasting, mixing etc. is performed.

-From their blog post on myspace.

Truly, this project is unlike anything that I have ever come across in concept and execution. Each song on this demo was released and created on a separate year starting with "Empire" in 2003. Even so, each song stays true to the message that the band is trying to convey and they all have catchy rhythms. The band will be releasing a full-length in April if all goes well. Keep an eye out for it; I know I am.

I hope you all enjoy what I share as much as I do.

Year of Release: 2008
Label: The Internet (aka none)
Genre: Eastern Metal
Media: Digital
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 192 kbps

Track List:
1. Empire
2. Ground Zero Pilgrims
3. Coraline
4. Cihangir

Download: Al Qaynah - Demo
Download Size: 24.37 mb

Introducing Our Newest Contributor - Saturnword

I am very pleased to announce that we have a new regular contributor here at Digital Meltd0wn. Her name is Sarah, but most people know her as Saturnword. I'm not going to reveal too much information about her because I want to give her the opportunity to introduce herself to you all as she sees fit. I met SaturnWord at last.fm while trying to find out more information about music from the countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa, which have been experiencing widespread protests and revolutions. I was thoroughly impressed when she sent me back a lengthy message providing far more information than I ever expected about various bands and scenes in the Middle East and North Africa. However, her musical knowledge extends far beyond what originates in those regions. I won't spoil what she has in store for you all, but I can guarantee that she will be delivering music of the quality that you have come to expect here at Digital Meltd0wn. I'm excited to have another contributor here, as it will ensure that we can present a greater diversity of music than ever before. I believe that we may finally be able to deliver music to you on a scale not seen since 2008, when we were able to crank out 284 posts. I would like to turn things over to Saturnword now so that she can introduce herself to you all.

La Fraction - La Fraction EP (1996)

La Fraction is a punk band that formed in Paris, France circa 1992. In 1996 they self-produced this 3 song EP. All proceeds of its sale went to the EZLN. There is a very lengthy message from Subcomandante Marcos (I wonder if that is him on the cover), but it is in French. I’d love to know what it says. I have included the full album art. This EP is also known as Guerre D'espérance, the title of the first song that translates to "War for Hope".

It's another classic punk 7 inch. Every song on here, especially the first one, has the quality of being an anthem. Bands that make anthems like this hold a special spot in my heart. Part of the charm for me is in the super distortion and great reverb. Who am I kidding? Magali’s fantastically catchy vocals are stealing the show.
La Fraction has released three albums, all of them superb, and all are still available for purchase on CD or LP.

La Fraction on this recording is:
Bass - Labeflan
Drums - Boris
Guitar - Dédé
Vocals - Magali

Year of Release: 1996
Label: Fraction Production
Catalog #: La Fraction 1
Genre: Punk
Media: Vinyl
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
A. Guerre D'espérance (3:12)
B1. L'hirondelle De La Nuit (2:54)
B2. Kill Him (3:00)

Download: La Fraction - La Fraction EP (1996)
Download Size: 37 MB

Zero Hour - Zero Hour EP (1994)

I first heard this 7 inch many years ago. I remember being instantly captivated by how unique and downright chilling this recording is. To this day I have never heard anything that sounds like it. Come to think of it, I think I refused to return the record to my friend. (Sorry, Dustin. I was just trying to survive.) These four songs are dark and powerful hardcore punk with an otherworldly tinge. Part of the chill-inducing power comes from the amazing female vocals by Whisper. Let me tell you, there is no whispering on this record. The urgency and emotion of her performance is contagious. It is one of those records where you are immediately compelled to grab the lyric sheet, because you just have to find out what these people are so worked up about. The other reason for the record’s strange sound is the guitar. It’s in the way it is tuned and distorted that always gives me goosebumps I think.



Zero Hour dropped this 7 inch EP and then a split LP with a band called Apeface. After that they slipped into obscurity. I love that I get to share this amazing recording with you folks. I honestly can’t overstate how these four songs helped me cope over the years. Phenomenal stuff.

Year of Release: 1994
Label: Spiral Records
Genre: Hardcore Punk, Crust Punk
Media: Vinyl
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
A1. The Image of Man (3:02)
A2. I'll Never Forget (2:48)
B1. In Shackles of the Human Skin (3:09)
B2. One of the Living (3:41)

Download: Zero Hour - Zero Hour EP (1994)
Download Size: 33 MB

Red Dons - Death to Idealism (2007, Brazilian Press LP 2009)

UPDATE: This post was re-uploaded 04/15/2014. Enjoy, NØ 

Once upon a time there was a band called The Observers. They were short-lived and I didn’t come to appreciate them until they were no more. Fortunately, right around that time former members were teaming up with some other fine folks to bring us Red Dons. They take their moniker from a mysterious group of Cambridge University professors who were Soviet spies during WWII.

It did not take long for Portland, Oregon’s Red Dons to become one of my favorite bands. When I first heard them, I don’t think I had even finished listening to the first side of the LP before I fell in love. This comes from the out of print 2009 LP for the Brazilian tour. It sounds quite different compared to the original pressing that featured a very lo-fi mastering of the album. That lo-fi mastering is part of what endeared it to me. It went hand in hand with the lyrical topics of the album, like feelings of alienation, dying hopes, consumerism, and tyrannical fascist dictators. When I heard the Brazilian LP master though, it was like a rediscovery. It is so cool to have these two different versions of this album, one of the catchiest, most intelligent and inspiring punk records I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to, and I’ve heard plenty. There have been comparisons of Red Dons to many great punk and post-punk bands of the 1980s, but there is something about the Red Dons that makes them even more indispensable for me. The totality of their art goes right for my heart and does not let go. The urgency and passion with which singer Douglas Burns delivers his lines is infectious. The music makes me wish I was at the show jumping around in the crowd. The album clocks in at just over thirty minutes, and if you are like me you will be playing it over again immediately.

Honestly, everyone should give this a listen. If this album does it for you, I implore you to buy their latest album Fake Meets Failure, which could not be a more perfect sequel for Death to Idealism. Red Dons are gearing up for a European tour in April and May. If you live near any of the places they are set to play, I recommend you mark your calendar and GO TO THE SHOW!

Red Dons on this recording is:
Douglas Burns – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Richard Joachim – Drums, Vocals
Hajji Husayn – Bass, Vocals
Justin Mauer – Guitar, Vocals

Year of Original Release: 2007
Label: Deranged
Catalog #: DY-111
Genre: Punk Rock
Media: Vinyl
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 320 kbps

Track List:
A1. Intro
A2. Walk Alone
A3. Independent
A4. Everyday Distraction
A5. Terminal
A6. Just Write, Romeo
B1. Happiness
B2. This City
B3. Incomplete Action
B4. Haji Takes a Ride
B5. No Pain
B6. Death to Idealism

Download: Red Dons - Death to Idealism (Brazilian Press LP)
Download Size: 71 MB
MEGA decryption code in comments

Hamid El Sha'eri - Raheel (1984 - 320Kbps)

Security forces waged an escalating crackdown on protesters demanding the ouster of leader Moammar Gadhafi in several eastern Libyan cities. In the country's second largest city, Benghazi, 35 bodies were brought to one hospital Friday. These were protesters shot while trying to march on one of Gadhafi's residences, a doctor from Benghazi's al-Jalaa hospital said. Protesters tried to rally outside the Katiba, a military compound where Ghadafi stays when he visits Benghazi. Security forces inside the compound opened fire on the protesters. Dead & wounded began flowing into the hospital's emergency ward in the afternoon, in groups of five or six, many with bullet wounds to the head or chest. The doctor, who chose to remain anonymous, fearing reprisal, said he counted the bodies in an ICU unit used as a temporary morgue.

Several dozen had already reportedly been killed in the unprecedented wave of protests that had erupted the previous four days as the pro-democracy movement that has swept up the Middle East reached one of the region's most closed nations. Gadhafi has ruled virtually unquestioned since 1969. Forces from the military's elite Khamis Brigade moved into Benghazi. The Khamis Brigade is led by Gadhafi's youngest son Khamis Gadhafi, & has been called "the most well-trained & well-equipped force in the Libyan military".

"This alarming rise in the death toll, & the reported nature of the victims' injuries, strongly suggests that security forces are permitted use of lethal force against unarmed protesters calling for political change," Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's director for the Middle East & North Africa, said of the Benghazi bloodshed.

Libya is oil-rich, but the gap between its haves & have-nots is wide. The protests have flared hardest in the more impoverished eastern parts of the country, the site of anti-government agitation in the past. It is estimated that about one-third of Libyans live in poverty. Also the Libyan people are tired of the more than forty-two year reign of Gadhafi.

Abdel Hamid Ali Ahmed El Shari (Arabic:حميد الشاعري), known as Hamid El Sha'eri, is a Libyan musickian & singer currently residing in Egypt. He is considered the real father of modern Arabic music. He is the founder of the Al-jil or Jeel Musick.

Hamid El Sha'eri was born October 29, 1961 in the Libyan city of Benghazi, studied aviation in England, studied musick in Cairo, then settled permanently in Egypt in 1974, after witnessing Colonel Gadaffi's public burning of western musical instruments. A refugee from his own country’s hostile anti-modern policies, he steadily made a name for himself as Egypt’s leading champion of westernized synthesizer pop, known as Al-jil (generation musick). This style of musick is a deft blending of disparate sounds. Al-jil has all the dance appeal an array of samplers & synths can serve up, tempered by a distinctively Middle Eastern melodic sound. Although the establishment turns its nose up at Al-jil, it clearly has a wide enduring appeal.

Year of Release: 1984
Label: Çöñàr
Genre: Al-jil
Bitrate: 320kbps

Tracklist:
1. Wein Ayamak Wein
2. Ya Bonya Khashety Baly
3. Ya Ghaly
4. Ya La Yemin
5. Ya Markeb El Ghaye
6. Geit Ya Sheta
7. Raheel
8. Aatebny
9. La Ma Nasina
10. Ya Saheb
11. Reit

Download: Hamid el Sha'eri - Raheel
Download Size: 88.8MB

Cheb Mami - Meli Meli (1998 - 320Kbps)

Protests have also been taking place in Algeria, as the government meets to discuss ways of halting the rising food costs & unemployment that have sparked the unrest. The Algerian government figures show unemployment standing at about 10%, but independent organizations put that number closer to 25%.

To help with the rising food costs, Ministers were due to meet to discuss measures to limit the profit margins traders can charge for staple foods. Mustapha Benbada, Algeria's trade minister, has said urgent measures will be taken to alleviate pressure on the population. The government is expected to impose fixed profit margins on widely-consumed goods including edible oil & sugar, but Algerian journalists have stated that the protests go beyond just rising prices.

Young people said these clashes & protests are not the result of high food prices only, they think there are lots of problems in this country: educational; problems in the health sectors; in fact in all sectors of government. The government has simply ignored the people since they were elected to office. Basically now the people have come out into the streets asking the authorities to give them jobs, for them to share the wealth of the nation.

Mohamed Zitout, a former Algerian diplomat stated that it is a revolt, probably a revolution, of an oppressed people who have, for 50 years, been waiting for housing, employment, & a proper, decent life in a very rich country that is ruled by a very rich elite that does not care about what is happening in the country.

Appropriate to the political climate of the day in the area. Rai musick developed in the 1980s. It was considered the Algerian punk/rap musick. Cheb roughly translates as 'the young one'. There have been many Chebs in the Algerian Rai scene.

Cheb Mami was born Khelifati Mohamed. He became known as the 'Prince of Rai' & now is considered the 'King of Rai'.

Rai combined the traditional sounds of Spain, Morocco, France, & the Arab world to become the dance musick that it is today. Cheb Mami's music was described in a press release from the ARK 21 record label, as:

"Arabic rock & roll retaining virtues of traditional music but infused with urban urgency."

CMJ New Music Report described Mami as:

"perhaps Rai's most popular vocalist...(he) is one of the leaders of the pack, turning the genre into a futuristic dance/funk hybrid with the power to pack the dance-floors of North Africa, Paris, & New York."

A native of Saida, a small village in southwest Algeria, Cheb Mami has been attracting attention with his soulful singing since his early teens. In 1971, he placed second in a talent contest organized by Ihan Wa Chabab. Despite recording several successful cassettes in the 1980s, he made little money from their sale. Frustrated by the music industry in his homeland, he soon began to consider alternatives. Although he served a stint in the Algerian military, he relocated to Paris, France, following his discharge in 1975. With the release of his first internationally-distributed album, The Prince of Rai, in 1989, Cheb Mami reached the upper echelon of Rai music. Cheb Mami has continued to take the Rai tradition to new heights.

One of the finest records of the wildly-heralded 'Rai' movement, Meli Meli is a true vocal delight. Mami's voice is one of the most versatile & powerful in world-pop musick today. His three-octave range is truly something to behold, & his use of it on such songs as "H'Rabti" or "Parisien Du Nord" (performed with rap singer K-Mel of Alliance Ethnique ) is nothing short of phenomenal.

Year of Release: 1998
Label: Ark 21
Genre: Rai

Tracklist:
Meli Meli
Alache Alik
Bledi
Rani Maak El Youm
H’Rabti
Hada Ch’Hal
Hatachi
Bekatni
Cheikh
Azwaw 2
Parisien Du Nord
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Download: Cheb Mami - Meli Meli
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Ali Hassan Kuban - Walk Like A Nubian (1991 - 320kbps)

UPDATE: This post was re-uploaded 03/23/2014. Enjoy, NØ.

Before I begin to write about the music, I wanted to make a small announcement. A few days ago I lost all a great deal of feeling, strength and control, from my left-elbow to my fingers. I woke up and my arm was asleep, which of course I thought nothing of at first. After nearly an hour passed I started to worry that there might be a seriously problem. It has been more than three days now and my condition has only gotten worse. I went to the doctor a few days ago and was diagnosed with "Parathesis", which basically was a generic diagnosis the doctor gave because she honestly didn't know what was causing my condition. I'm supposed to go see a neurologist soon, who will hopefully be able to discover the source, and hopefully a cure. I bought a brace to wear on my left arm, but it still tires my arm a great deal and hurts to write, even after only a couple of minutes. When possible, I will try to make up for my lack of information with excerpts from relevant articles or reviews.

For those who haven't been following along recently, we have been paying tribute to the revolutionaries and protesters who are currently fighting for their freedom across the North African and Middle Eastern regions. Since my last protest, new protests and violent clashes have broken out in Bahrain, Libya and Iran. This is turning out to be a very historic month, the likes of which have not been seen since the Velvet Revolution which occurred in 1989. Although only two countries have managed to successfully overthrow their regimes up till this point, while BLAHBLAH BLAH managed to throw successful revolutions in 1989. It remains to be seen if these countries will be able to reach their end-goal, which is regime change. Political analysts were saying that an Egyptian revolution was next to impossible, due to the social and political conditions being dramatically different than those which led to the revolution in Tunisia. I find it unlikely that the regimes in some of these countries will fall. However, I am not only paying tribute to those who are most likely to succeed in their revolutionary goals. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to an oppressive regime willing to use force against peaceful protesters, especially those who have the least support behind them, and realize that their chances are slim. I want those who are participating in these protests to know that I have a great deal of respect for their courage and dedication to strengething the moral and political infrastructure of their country. Not only do you have my support, but countless others around the world are closely watching the events unfolding in your respective countries, praying for your safety and hoping you will succeed. Although we cannot be there physically, we are with you in spirit.

NØ recently shared a modern Egyptian band with Nubian roots, Black Theama, who play an eclectic blend of Nubian fusion. I wanted to turn back the clock a little to focus on one of my favorite acts from Egypt. There are a lot of uncertainties as far as what the future holds for Egypt, however the revolution has also given many Egyptians hope and a reason to celebrate. The music of Ali Hassan Kuban reminds me of the joyous atmosphere that spread throughout Egypt shortly after the announcement was made that Mubarak was stepping down. My arm has reached its limit now, so I'm going to close out this post by posting a couple of excerpts from the last.fm and Allmusic profiles for Ali Hassan Kuban.

Ali Hassan Kuban was an Egyptian musician. He was born in a small village in Nubia in 1929 or 1933 (sources differ on that point) and died in Cairo in 2001. Ali Hassan Kuban began his musical career as a child singing on the boats on the Nile. In 1942 he moved with his parents to Cairo where he learned to play several musical instruments.

He played in several traditional Nubian bands and formed his own group which combined Western and traditional Nubian instruments and incorporated outside elements in the traditional Nubian music. Kuban quickly became a star for Nubians throughout Egypt. When he began to sing Arabian texts to Nubian melodies his fame spread to the Egyptian population in general and in the 90’s he began to gain international recognition. - last.fm

Nubia is a narrow stretch of land that runs alongside the Nile River Valley south of Egypt to Northern Sudan. The region is often called "the Corridor to Africa," and its rich culture bears distinct African, Asian, and Mediterranean influences. Ali Hassan Kuban is the region's foremost musical ambassador, with a soulful, impassioned sound and lyrics that mostly deal with love. His Nubian Band mixes elements of traditional and contemporary music forms seamlessly, using guitar, electric bass, and horns in conjunction with the Arabic oud, the Nubian lyra, and traditional Middle Eastern percussion. The music on Nubian Magic is notable not only for its aesthetic beauty and undeniable visceral power, but also for its ability to incorporate the ancient influences of his native land without being limited by them. - Allmusic

Year of Release: 1991
Label: Piranha
Catalog #:
Bitrate: 320kbps
Genres: Arabic Music, Traditional Folk, African

Track List:
1. Om Schar Asmar Me Daffar
2. Habibi
3. Al Ghazal
4. Ya Waladi
5. Werwek Moshkoburungo
6. Gure Na Imi
7. Henna
8. YoYo Kilili, Annissa Kilili
9. Artasu Nartasu
10. Bettitogor Agil
11. Tamin Qalbak Ya Habibi
12. Ya Nubiyyah

Download: Ali Hassan Kuban - Walk Like A Nubian
Download Size: 140MB