Exploring the audible outer realms of outsider electronics, strange computer games and exquisite and thrilling movies from the past and beyond.
torsdag den 30. november 2017
Vaginal Pentagram - Lets All Just Give Up
Hell, let´s just end November in style (Before we enter Xmas!). To do this, I randomly picked a noise-wall treat on Bandcamp. I enjoyed the title of the release, and I enjoyed the artwork as well... so here goes!
Vaginal Pentagram has been churning out noise in about a year or so, and this one is one of his many exploits which was released back in Juli last year.
According to Discogs, the project has been described as dark-ambient/drone/doom act. And according to Bandcamp, it is further described as death-industrial and power-electronics. Hear me out, this one doesn't fit any of this sub-genres (if you please).
It´s a pure noise-wall treat, you are basically being surrounded by hundred televisions churning out white-noise. Hence the title, Let´s All Give Up. There are minor dusty clicks in the sound (Like from a record player), and there is a kind of hidden buzzsaw in the background (I think). There´s is no doubt about it, it is a truly nihilistic sound-wall for the fetish isolationist. Did I enjoy it?. Yes, I did, in a sort of negative-positivism and using chaos-as-a-shelter sort of way. There are no physical releases only pure digital ones.
If you are thirsty for some more angst-ridden post-punk fits, then this latest first single from Beatastic might do the trick. It has been released on their Bandcamp, which also includes an extra track called the Midad Curse. Mind you, that this track will not be included on their upcoming debut double album called 40 Moons Project. This album is gonna be released the 3rd December. Take a good look at their album-cover artwork for this double album, looks REALLY interesting! It will be released on Shore Dive Records.
What kind of band is Beatastic?. The band name didn´t give me a clue, sounded like some sort of Ska/punk kind of band. Or someone doing some sort of upbeat stuff which u can dance to, mind you... this is NOT the case here!. According to their official Facebook page, they take inspirations from the likes of stoner-rock pioneers Kyuss, u.s indie-rock acts like Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service, 90s stuff like Smashing Pumpkins and NIN. And later British stuff like the Foals and the Horrors. Described as something which lurks between shoegazer, indie, electronica, and grunge. Not the usual Kalteldur dose (I Know!), but give me a chance here!.
The first track (Blood And Moonlight) is quite a spacy and psychedelic thing, with hints of classic kraut-rock here and there. Lots of warped and reverbed guitars, heavily distorted bass-guitar, trippy instrumental sounding ambient/space-rock drums, trippy synths with additional looped sound effects (Guitars I think?). I have also been informed, that the track also contains a sample from an exotic instrument called a sea organ (from Croatia). Last, I will mention the music-video which have been for this. A slightly sexual and disturbing one if you should ask me. Could be something Cosey did back in the performance days with Coum Transmission/Throbbing Gristle. The performance-video have been made by a Virginie Atherton. Have a go and see it!
Next track (Midah Curse) takes you once again in the fields of classic kraut-rock, reminds me a bit of Amon Duul II and Neu (reversed guitars) Excellent kind of dream-rock aesthetics here, excellent vocals and excellent raw distorted guitar work. And those weird instrumental (almost electronic-based) kind of drums, with a touch of analog 80s synth on top. Any lover of kraut-rock fan would love this. Although I must admit, the inspiration-source are hard to hear. But that doesn't matter, it´s good indie-rock based kraut-rock... End of story!. I fuckin love it.
Post-Punk/Cold-wave are slowly getting more frequent here on Kalteldur, and this time we´re dealing with an Italian bunch called Kill Your Boyfriend. Rumours are that they sound like an act which never came to be, which was the one Genesis P. Orrdige (Throbbing Gristle) mentioned regarding his friendship with Ian Curtis (Joy Division). They were (As Genesis mentioned) disillusioned by their bands and wanted to quit them, and then start their own. That of course never came to be (As we all known), someone took a swing on a string (R.I.P)...
So! So what does that mean, it means that we are dealing with an electronic and guitars based post-punk band. Having elements of harsh industrial music, pulsating post-punk and with occasionally and dreamish shoegazing elements. They have been in existence since 2011, released 2 albums and 6 singles/eps. And this one if the latest single release, out on seven itch via Other Voices Records.
The single/7" offers two tracks, on called Ulrich (like the single title) and the other is called Werner. Who these two lads are, I don´t know. Boyfriends, who need to be killed maybe? Good thing we are not dealing with an all-girl band cause then I would have been frightened!. It´s desperate and aggressive stuff. If White Lies did it right and dropped their Coldplay comparison and focused on punk/industrial aesthetics, then it could sound like this. Or if She Want´s Revenge focused on being challenging and authentic?. Nonetheless, the single has made me more thirsty. I want to check out their two released albums, give it a spin on this dreary Monday morning!.
Two people from Italy (Stefano & Elenora) have gone together and created a strange and interesting thing for your ears. Stefano is a groundbreaker in using sounds to tell stories, he has a degree in Multimedia Art and works as an audiovisual artist in several fields of communication. He takes care of cello, prepared guitars, objects, mics and electronic devices. I think that Elenora is delivering the vocals on the album (and among other things)... Maybee it is her on the cover, quite a mysterious eyecatcher of a photo. The two are also being accompanied by Emanuele Magni, who does her share of Buchla music ease and other electronic devices.
This CD album was released on the 8th of November via Manyfeetunder/Concrete and Grotto records, limited to 160 copies. And is also available as a digital version. More releases by Stefano are available on Bandcamp, while other physical releases can be headhunted on Discogs (some of them are not on the Bandcamp site).
We´re in the fields of mysterious and highly evocative drone music, using real recordings as sound sources.Accompanied by seriously excellent and beautiful folksy and shamanistic female vocals. The sound quality is exquisite and authentic, but not losing that mysterious edge to it! Raw and mysterious ear/head sound-candy, a real gem of pure ritual glitchness!. For fans of Nurse With Wound, Zoviet France and Hybryds!
Sumthing new on Kalteldur here today, examine those strange and unspoken b-sides of one of the most successful synth-pop bands.
I may not be the biggest Depeche Mode fan, and I'm not one of those proclaiming that Depeche Mode is just a gloomy version of Wham either. BUT, I do have a certain fetish for their early recordings. My favorite album with them are A Broken Frame from 1982, and I think that some of the lost gems from their early singles are absolutely brilliant!. Some of these singles contain instrumental versions and tracks not being on their albums as well. So yes, there is more to Depeche Mode than Personal Jesus and Just Can´t Get Enough!.
For any lover of early analog synths, would absolutely love the sound of this. I know of course that this has been written by Vince Clarke (not Martin Gore) who would, later on, start Yazoo and Erasure. Any Second Now was included on the B-side of the Just Can´t Get Enough single. Beautiful, rough and simplistic crystal-clear analog sound. A cold, slightly metallic and melancholic piece.
Another piece of the Speak And Spell era (debut album fra 1981). This track was from the B-side of their first released single Dreaming of Me. Excellent melody, ice-cold (but also warm) synths, brooding vocals. A piece worthy of anyone's attention.
Another favorite which came on the B-side of The Meaning of Love single. A truly moody and beautiful haunting piece, just imagining a sunrise and a sundown over a small and lovely village in the frosty wintertime. I´m still finding Depeche Mode listeners getting surprised in hearing this "hidden" side of Depeche Mode.
Another "weird" kind of an outsider track, nonetheless quite interesting. Sounds like something from one of those cute manga inspired cartoons (or RPGs like Final Fantasy). A strangely dandy and merry electronic piece with touches of something dark here and there. John Carpenter fans would enjoy it I think.
More for the Carpenter fans here, synth-based (almost horror) kind of soundtrack piece here. B-side for A Question of Lust. A dramatic, apocalyptic and mesmerizing treat for the ears. As a diehard fan of the industrial-ambient label Cold Meat Industry, I can almost sense how this track may have inspired some of the artists on that label (in the early days!)
In my conclusion to those who dare not touch Depeche Mode, I would recommend their first 5 albums. Too much? then collect some of their singles between 81 to 85. The first three boxsets collecting these early singles have also been released on Mute (see link below). Happy hunting!
There has been a lot of (talk and posts) on the web about this mysterious act called Skag Arcade. I haven´t seen/read anything about meanwhile.in.texas (yet). But they have nonetheless made this 1-hour long album together. So who are these 2 mysterious acts?.
Skag Arcade has been in existence since 2015 and has made several physical cassette releases via Craneal Fracture, Orb Tabes and this latest from Luce Sia. Skag Arcade contains one member who is Paolo Colavita, who is somehow connected to the Insect Worship Collective. A collective of various acts combined into one act, includes members from Blacksheet Servitude, Stone Wired, Bonechurch and more. Whatever Skag Arcade means is up to the listeners, I think it works like a pseudonym for the artist.
Meanwhile.in.texas have also been around since 2015. And have also made several cassette releases via Craneal Fracture and Orb tapes. I think both the acts originate from the southern parts of Europe (Italy, Spain). And share a similar interest in industrial drones and harsh atmospheres. Meanwhile.in.texas is Angelo Guido (if you should ask). The albums start off in the desert, can´t help thinking of a test site for an atom bomb. Sounds of wind blowing in the desert (Or is it wind through pine trees?), heavily distorted noises, metallic and machinelike drones, occasional mysterious radio recordings and Wells reading up from War of the Worlds. As others might call it, a post-apocalyptic start. A mesmerizing 15 minutes moody intro, and well made!.
The next piece (almost 10 min), works in a similar fashion. Distorted and slightly reverbed rumblings, atmospheric-looped and hypnotic string-like drones and eerie chopped and repetitive tones. As you can read, the mysterious tension is building almost like reading a book. The third track, 22 seconds?... A nice and slithering intermission of sound. Next one, the longest track on the album (maybe the harshest one), kicks off with an even higher distorted drone (which almost sounds like screaming). Gives you that feeling of levitation, this album makes you float a bit higher the further on you get. Filled with lovely and organic industrial multilayered drones and again with those (slightly disturbing and dramatic) post-apocalyptic radio recordings. A sound of your own personal nightmare to enjoy and meditate to! Fifth track drones you in the heaviness of sleep, with crackling and psychedelic elements. Right now, you are probably on mescaline in the most isolated parts in the desert!. In the company of Williams S. Burroughs in the movie Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas?. Not far from it. The last and final 12 minutes track called Road Runner, is not about that cartoon with Wile E. Coyote. If the testing of the atom-bomb is done, completed and over, then this piece works like a conclusion to that. Whatever hypnotic state you might be, this track makes you slowly (in a pleasant way!) wake up from that. An absolutely beautiful way of ending this album, you are gonna have to hear this album from the start to the end to fully understand what I mean. Perfectly executed (and VERY completed) dark-ambient/drone album with a serious and cool theme!. Highly recommended!.
Our mystical entity behind Erdig (former review), is out at it again with a new dungeon-synth driven project called Fåntratt. I tried to research this name Fåntratt, and came up with words like imbecile or jerk (in English). And regarding the charming title Tut i Luren, that means someone is blowing an ancient kind of Viking trumpet (see picture below).
And I love the drawn picture, which clearly illustrates some kind of goblin´ish gnome (of dwarfish stature) blowing some kind of Lur while carrying a shortsword. Notice the shoes and the hat which gives the small fellow a sort of jester kind-of look, hence the word Fåntratt. A jester dwarf with a sword and a lur, means trouble!. If you wanna know what I mean, then Read the Poe story called Hop-Frog.
About the music now!.
It´s unique dungeon synth. Slowly built, filled with personal warmth and gloominess. Gives me that feeling of relaxing by the fire, while some mythical and ancient being is working on some tunes.
One of the great things about it is that it has that 100% Northern Europe/Scandinavian kind of sound. It´s dungeon synth for trolls!. And no, it doesn't sound like your epic and majestic king of goblins (Mortiis). It sounds way more ancient than that, more folklore´ish and primal. Kind of music that makes me wanna believe in all the mythical beings of European folklore. Listening to this while enjoying the paintings of Thordor Kittelsen, or maybe reading children-stories with the Tomten by Astrid Lindgren could also work. It´s a fantastic journey and a fantastic release!. Available as a digital release on Bandcamp, and (sadly) already sold out on cassette.
Cephalopagus Records is a new net-label in Bandcamp town which has been active since (early) 2017. Started by Gregg Stockdale (Hag of the Tattered Vestments) and dark-ambient musician Araphel. Haven´t given it too much attention, I stalked and tasted some of their digital releases and came upon this little scary treat.
Ghost Empty is a horror-inspired dark-ambient act from Ukraine. Behind this act, we have Vladislav Maltsev, who have made several releases as Ghost Empty (See Discogs and Bandcamp link below). This mini-album/EP was released July 15 2017, so it´s one of his latest achievements.
It´s one of those post-CMI creations. Fans of Desiderii Marginis, New Risen Throne, and Atrium Carceri will dig it. Slowed-down and drone´ish dark-ambient with a hint or two to modern horror movies. Good sound quality and nicely done atmospheres. BUT... I am in need to be scared and disturbed!. I´m not finding any edge in it (apart from the Bandcamp artist picture).
The album starts really good with some good samples/recordings, best track are the first track Cold Architecture which pleased my ears mostly. Blood dripping (and slowed down) acoustics, drone´ish synth strings, stretched wind sounds, slowed down (maybe) human monstrous voices and crows chirping to give you that horror intro.
Next track Bloody Hunter has been made in the same fashion, just with less drama. And the last Dark Age is a slowed down drone-track being 17:26 minutes long.
I hate being harsh, but this release really bored me. Sounded like sumthing being made (first), and then lastly the whole recording was just slowed down... just to make it sound like dark-ambient. I know It´s just a matter of taste, and I must be honest in this... I Just don´t like this polished kind of slowed down drone stuff, but again... If you do like your fix from labels like Cryo Chamber and Cyclic Law, then it will please you. An old (nearly 40) fan of the early Brighter Death Now, MZ.412 or Ain Soph is in dire need of that extra coldness and edge in sound.
Making the sounds, recordings or samples scary by slowing them down isn´t always the trick. It´s good to use it sometimes, just don´t use them through an entire album. End of story.
First Kalteldur interview is with our favorite married couple from the British Colombia (read the former review). A duo which has managed to create a modern industrial sound, with a hint or two to the old post-industrial ritual sound (Coil, Konstruktivists. PTV, C93 etc). And as you can imagine, I was curious about Haag and was then determined to do an interview with them. So here goes!.
Q: How and why did Haag emerge in the first place?
A: My husband Martin and I had been working on separate projects a lot but hadn't really made too much music together. We sat down together one weekend and made our first album and it actually turned out really well, so HAAG was born. It took us awhile to get on the same page musically, Martin was more into progressive rock and spacey type stuff, and I was making ambient and soundtrack type stuff. I've always loved Industrial and goth and really wanted to make something in that genre. Our sound is still evolving, I recently got a microphone so we can do vocals.
Q: The project name Haag, mean anything?
A: The name is actually a reference to a Saint Vitus song, called HAAG. It stands for "Hell Ain't a Game"
Q: How is the interest for this kind of music in the British Colombia?
A: It's not particularly popular around here, as far as I know, but the great Skinny Puppy is also from BC, and I know there is a bit of a goth and metal subculture here. We live in a small town so it's hard to get exposure.
Q: Your sound is very old-school industrial wise, what´s that your goal to maintain that aesthetic?
A: We love bands like Coil, Psychic TV, Zos Kia, etc, as well as a lot of other types of music, but we don't listen to much modern stuff. Our whole set-up revolves around recreating old school technology and sounds and we'd like to eventually
experiment with using tapes and even more archaic technology to keep everything raw and ancient sounding.
Q: Do you think that the interest in creating this kind of music (and listening to it) will prevail? And why?
A: I hope so, I know it's always been very underground and will probably remain so, but I make the music because I love making music, not because it will be popular. If even just one person likes it then I am happy.
Q: Are you interested in esoteric occultism, and why?
A: Yes, very much so actually. I (Mandy) got into occultism about 10 years ago, I started off with Crowley and reading all the books on the A.:.A.:. reading list, then eventually moved on to Gnosticism, as well as Eastern esotericism. I worship the goddess Kali and am enamored with death, reincarnation, and "the other side". It has a huge influence on my work.
Q: Plans on doing live concerts?
A: We would like to eventually get to the point where we can do live performances. We record most of our music live and improvise a lot of it so we would love to be able to do a show where most of the music is improvised.
Q: Plans on doing physical releases?
A: Yes actually, we are planning on making our own tapes soon if there's enough interest. Q: Just 2 round it up a bit... Last question: What can we expect from Haag in the future? A: We will be working on new albums soon, and we will probably be introducing vocals to our project. Our main goal sound-wise is to rotate between more heavy industrial albums and to also put out some more atmospheric and folkish type stuff, similar to late Coil, early Death in June or Current 93. Bandcamp: https://haagwitch.bandcamp.com/
