Exploring the audible outer realms of outsider electronics since 2016.
mandag den 20. november 2017
Depeche Mode -
The Early Instrumental Alternatives
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/
It´s Halloween! (31´rd Oktober), and on that special occasion let me introduce you to (yet) another pumpkin synth treat. This was actually the first act I stumbled upon who did that sort of synth music. They were also the first who used the term, pumpkin synth. So what is pumpkin synth anyway, it´s basically scary and eerie synth-based Halloween-themed music.
In this case with Pumpkin Witch, we´re caught in a strange dimension between raw, "horrible", adult-horror B-movies on VHS and the eerie soundtracks for children soft-core "horror" series like Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark?. Sort of, campy children-themed horror-soundtrack for adults if you please!.
It is in fact quite dark and weird!. And experimental, some of their synths takes me back to early Italian industrial music (Maurizio Bianchi), or just ... John Carpenter on crack!. Or if just, that Maurizio Bianchi was to do a soundtrack for a Dario Argento flick kind of. Can just say, that the soundtrack lies between trashy U.S horror flicks and the progressive and acid-drenched synths of the Italian horror flicks (Chk. the band Goblin or the soundtrack for Susperia!). It´s campy beyond any description and filled with the kind of sounds that any horror fan would love and laugh at. BUT (as I said earlier), it is STILL a unique and strangely experimental treat nonetheless. Way more dark and disturbing than any Halloween party. Ever been to a spookhouse as a kid and u just wanted to get out (BUT CAN´T!), that´s the feeling of listening to this act. Childhood fears and horrors are being stirred up again in your adult and reasonable mind!
The release is also QUITE obscure. No info on either Youtube, Facebook or Discogs. The release has been made by three individuals; The Disgraced Scientist, The Vampire Tyrant and Haunter of the Darkened Forest (so BEWARE!). The physical cassette release has been sadly sold out, I was one of the lucky ones to get it. And as you can see in my photo, Skeletor is pleased beyond description. The package which the ordered cassette came in also contained spiders-web, 2 spiders being orange and black and a small bouncy eyeball!.
Take my advice and give this a spin 2night. Bound to make you (and the small ones) shiver with fear of the unknown.
On a dreary and cold Monday morning, it can be hard to find something decent to review... BUT I managed to find something! I´m not a HUGE fan of EBM/Electro-industrial, but I don´t mind whatever came out of the 80s. Huge admirer of Fad Gadget, Portion Control and the early Front 242 without a doubt! What I cannot stand and listen to are trashy 90s electro-industrial like Læetherstrp, Wumbscutt, Funkervogt and the rest of the cybergoth-bunch feeling trendy with aggro-tech and all that drama bullshit. But our time with cool minimal-wave/post-industrial acts with danceable and catchy tunes (good taste) is looking promising, and Black Cell is one of them.
In a matter of few seconds, I fell in love with this act and their sound!. Perfectly executed, cold and machine-like (almost 8-bit/c64) synth-keys gives you that robotic and analog feeling, lush and atmospheric John Foxx´ish dark melodies and decent sounding grim Klinik´ish vocals. These two gents (in nice outfits) may look like decent chaps doing future pop, and being into the likes of Covenant and VNV Nation BUT DONT LET IT FOOL YOU!. They practically know WHAT sounds cool and what doesn't!. It just sounds bloody right, modern minimal wave/synth-pop with a truly grim post-industrial aftertaste.
As for the information about this act, they are actually WAY older then I thought they would be. Formed in 1996, and have had several releases (4 physical released albums and 1 EP) on Backwards Records based in Denver. And the latest thing is these 2 independent released cassettes, Phase 6 vol.1+2 which are just amazing. For me, it is a must-buy!... Give it a try and lighten up your Monday!. Also worth checking out is the article published by Bandcamp, about the industrial/dark-wave scene happening in Denver (see link below)
Here it is ladies and gents, the uncompromising and essential guide to the early sound of Cold Meat Industry. THIS IS an attempt at representing (my own) personal taste and guidelines to this cult label of old. Which means that some early (and essential) releases have not been represented, so bare over with me. Alphabetic listed!
First classic in my CMI alphabet .. 37 minutes of truly grim Norwegian witch hauntings. An interesting fusion of ideas combining ritual-ambiance, industrial harshness being put in the middle of the cold and dark forests of Scandinavian. Still, scares the shit out of me!.
From Aghast to black-ambient masters of satanic esoteric mysticism Archon Satani!. An excellent CMI release, a compilation containing most of the tracks submitted to various compilations, the entire 12" EP Beyond All the Sickness plus not-released material. A true gem!
Since I don´t own a record player (Right Now) I´m gonna have 2 go with the CD release. Another CMI landmark; the debut of Brighter Death Now´s Pain In Progress was first released on tape (1988) and then on LP (1990) via Unclean Production. It was then re-issued on CD in 1998. If anyone should ask me, then I can reply that this represents the sound of true death industrial. Prima materia!. In accordance with notes from the artist himself, I will not include a "free" Youtube clip with this post. You want to hear it, seek this underground industrial cult gem out yourself!
Consono was a different breed, not being comparable to either death-industrial or dark-ambient. Working in the fields of mystical folklore and esoteric writings. Esoteric and gloomy folk-inspired industrial-ambient?. A classic nonetheless, released as a compilation of sorts back in 1995. Limited to 1000 copies.
Another landmark, another CMI classic. The first Deutsch Nepal album on CMI, after the first cassette release on Sound Source (pre-CMI-tape label). Surreal and hypnotizing industrial moods, nothing sounds like Deutsch Nepal. The man behind this cult act is also a co-founder of CMI. This album/CD I bought from the man himself, at a Death In June concert in Aarhus, Denmark. Around 1997? Thanks again Peter Andersson!
"...And Also the Wolves Hid Their Teeth" was the very first CMI compilation I bought and gave a thorough introduction to the bands of the label. It was also marketed through the US label DarkWave (side label of Projekt) with different tracks by the same bands. It was a magnificent introduction to Cold Meat Industry, every cool band from that best era of the label could be found here...
CMI x2 CD compilation compiling all the GREAT early achievements of their early cassette-only label named Sound Source. The not released material was also being show-cased here also. True treasures taken from the tombs. Made in the cooperation with the German label Vuz. Interesting side projects as well, Un-Core (In Slaughter Natives side-project), Deaf Machine (Megaptera side-project).
Not entirely through with the CMI compilations yet!..Ltd. 4000 copies. Back then in 1993, there was an overwhelming demand for information and band photos, so the label decided to release The Karmanic Collection. A VERY non-typical compilation (which is ALOT of ways) didn´t show what the sound and future of CMI would be. Kickstarts withs XXX Atomic Toejams´s multilayered (and slightly psychedelic) industrial rock, further on with the technoid outsider-craziness of En Halvkokt I Folie, raw and primitive electro/EBM-industrial with Systema etc. Then you also had the moody classics like Deutsch Nepal, BDN, Raison D´être, Mental Destruction, ISN etc, which more or less laid down some of their best tracks. All rounded up with ambient atmospheres with Archon Satani, Consono, Atomine Elektrine and Morthond. And again, one of the best tracks by Archon Satani is one this comp, that also goes for Morthond! ... One of my favorite CMI comps!
Ildfrost (like Consono) was also a different and unique band on CMI, from the icy fields of Norway. The first non-Swedish band on the label released this magnificent debut in 1995. Aghast (And maybe Nico) fans should check it out. Cold, atmospheric, haunting and beautiful "gothic" dark-wave/ambient...
The label CMI also had side-labels. One of them was called Death Factory (taken from TG maybe?). ´A side-label for international artists in the same vein as the CMI bands, with the emphasis on dark industrial music´ (taken from the booklet of the Absolute Supper) ... One of the releases on here was a side project to U.S industrial pioneers Controlled Bleeding called In Blind Embrace. Orchestral, apocalyptic, sacred hymn of darkness and despair. With a guest appearance by Rozz Williams of Christian Death. Quite an underrated and ambitious release. BEST release on Death Factory, and one of the true greats by the guys behind Controlled Bleeding!
CMI.13.The second release from this apocalyptic proto-martial industrial act. A classic CMI release, also having a tape out on Soundsource. This one was a cooperative release between CMI and Staalplaat. The title came from a Hellraiser comic. For me, it is, without doubt, the BEST with In Slaughter Natives. Sure to give you a smell of burning heretics on the cross!
Think the photo effect burlesque, fitted this kinky and sexy cult release. Limited to a 1000 copies, or whatever Roger Karmanic was doing in his younger days before the necromantic carnage of Brighter Death Now. A compilation of sorts, Collecting split tracks, unreleased, compilation tracks, Undead 7inch and from the Älskar Dig cassette. Released in 1993. And again with my respect to Roger Karmanic, I will not post a free stream from this album. Raw, minimal and moody old-school industrial.
Soo many good bands on CMI starts with the letter M. First one is Swedish death industrial monoliths Megaptera. An excellent introduction/release for curious ears!
Limited edition of 2,000 copies. Released in an 8 panel Digipak
CD1 is a reissue of Songs From The Massive Darkness (Megaptera's first LP). CD2 is a remixed version of Beyond The Shadow (Megaptera's first CD) with two new versions of tracks from The Curse Of The Scarecrow CD.
Memorandum was one of the great dinosaurs of CMI, having the perfect sound and vision. Again, a unique sound. Apocalyptic tribal industrial at its best!
Reissue of the whole Memorandum discography plus unreleased material.
1-3 from the Ichor 12" (CMI.08). 4 from the Projekt Neue Ordnung LP (TESCO 002). 5 from the Karmanik Collection CD (CMI.20). 6-13 from the Aux Morts LP (CMI.05). 14 from the Ecstasy By Current LP (SCH 8801). 15-16 and 18 previously unreleased. 17 from the In The Shadow Of Death 7" (CMI.02).
Track 18 contains a uncredited track after 55 seconds of silence. Total duration of track 18: 7:12
For the first time, the Christian-themed picture behind suits the CD! .. Swedish Mental Destruction was called ´Christian Orthodox Doom Industrial´.. Were they Christians, hell yeah. The nasty apocalyptic types .. Were they Doom?. Never heard anything as DOOMish as these guys!. Industrial? .. Machine grinding, metallic percussions... Heavy shit. One of my favorites of the early CMI bands. They released 3 albums, this is their first CD release on CMI .. CMI.11 released in 1991.
First CD release with Morthond, before that there was a tape out on Sound Source (Death Time). 1991. An amazing release, one of the best regarding the early days. Ancient and esoteric ambient, almost kind of dark middle ages at times (Proto dungeon synth?). One of the few CMI releases which I could imagine listening to when I get REALLY old! ...
MZ-412 - In Nomine Dei Nostri Dei Satanas Luciferi Excelsi
From the Christian moods of Mental Destruction to infernal gravings of MZ.412. ´True Swedish Black Industrial´. A mythic band with a background in metallic percussive industrial and EBM (Pouppée Fabrikk), they then head-crashed into a satanic image. This is their first CD release on CMI and their first "satanic" album. Industrial-ritual music with percussive and dark ambient elements. A VERY influential band/Release. True Swedish Black Industrl
Ordo Equilibrio - Reaping the Fallen ... The First Harvest
The debut of Ordo Equilibrio, and as some called it ´The true continuation of Archon Satani, carrying on their spiritual legacy´... To me, this is the best album by Ordo Equilibrio. As you might expect, I´m more into their ambient-ritual orientated releases then the latter pop n´ neo-folk stuff. Still finding this releases highly enjoyable! .. Infernal, erotic and spiritual stuff... It still holds to this day!.
What is 2 day about Raison d^ëtre Which haven´t been said?... This isn´t the first release, but the first CD on CMI released in 1993. A grand and truly classic act, which is clearly still loved 2 this day. It´s almost possible 2 this day, 2 hear the influence of Raison d^ëtre in most modern dark-ambient acts! As you might notice, this is the first pressing of this magnificent release. The cover-art is WAY cooler than the later (and cheaper looking) computerized version. As quoted from the CMI compilationThe Absolute Supper ´A historical masterpiece!´.
Italien Tombstone has been in existence since 1993, and this is the only CMI release (Released on the side label Death Factory like In Blind Embrace). A collection of the tracks previously released on cassettes. Sacred, classical horror themed gothic death-ambiance. Fuckin love and still do, nothing sounds like Tombstone!. Almost works like a tribute to the classic Italian horror movies!.
U.S Black-metal inspired youngsters trying their best at doing Scandinavian death/black-industrial. The debut of Valefor released on CMIs side-label Death Factory. If you look away from the pseudo-gothic/doom metal kind of cover art (and the awful band photo!) BUT we´re actually dealing with a REALLY good death-industrial album. Sort of a minimal version of Brighter Death Now´s Necrose Evangelicum!. I´m still listening 2 it 2 this day.
