Speed Guru Solo #1

Band: Kawabata Makoto

Album: Mizu Naranu Ao Ni Sae: Guitar Solo 1

Origin: Japan (Osaka)

Genre: Experimental, Psychedelic Noise/Drone

Year: 1998

Another Kawabata Makoto release (Acid Mothers Temple). This time it's solo, and I think (based on the name and the year it was released) that it's his first solo record. It has only two tracks, both about 17 minutes long and both are improvised pieces of droning psychedelic guitar noise. I found this at Bleak Bliss, a fantastic blog, were you'll find more information on this release. Enjoy!

Kawabata Makoto - Mizu Naranu Ao Ni Sae: Guitar Solo 1

He was fond of potatoes...

Band: Mike IX Williams & The Southern Nihilism Front Presents

Album: That's What The Obituary Said/Ten Suicides 7"

Origin: U.S.A. (High Point, North Carolina)

Genre: Noise, Poetry

Year: 2009

As you might have noticed, things have slowed down to a glacial pace on this blog. This is mainly because The Whale has migrated to Antarctica in order to study for his exams. Still, I should try to post something once in a while, so let's try that out. Because I'm busy (and lazy) I'm just going to copy the label's information on this release. Enjoy!

"Mike Williams, vocalist for Eyehategod, Outlaw Order, Arson Anthem and author of "Cancer as a Social Activity: Affirmations of World's End" delivers anti-social misanthropic spoken word and power electronics on this limited edition 7". 

Side Zero: "Thats What the Obituary Said" a spoken prose piece with ambient backing by Ryan (The Guilt Of...) McKern, The other Side Zero: "Ten Suicides"' originally a Bloodyminded track with vocal by Mike IX Williams and now newly re-mixed by Mark Solotroff (Intrinsic Action/Bloodyminded)."

Mike IX Williams & The Southern Nihilism Front Presents - That's What The Obituary Said/Ten Suicides

Won't you come...

Band: The Heavy Friends

Album: Black Hall Sun

Origin: Japan (Tokyo)

Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Noise, Shoegaze

Year: 2011

I got to know this band through Trippy Jam and I absolutely love it. The Heavy Friends is, despite the name, a one man band from Tokyo and the man behind it, Takashi, is not afraid to show his influences on his sleeve. Let's just do some namedropping: Boris, Les Rallizes Dénudés, My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, Jimi Hendrix, etc. Expect long jams with a repetitive rhythm section and noisy psychedelic guitar outbursts supported by some melancholic vocals. Since his name is taken from the first track on Heavy Rocks (Boris), I wonder if the title of this record comes from Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden). Not that it matters, this is the kind of awesome psychedelic noise rock one should indulge in. Enjoy!

P.S.: Since he offers this record and a lot more of his music for free, I decided to directly link to his blog.

The Heavy Friends - Black Hall Sun

God I love Autumn

Band: Various Artists

Album: Paradigms Recordings - Autumn Sampler 2011

Origin: Various

Genre: Electronic, Drone, Noise, Experimental, Black Metal, Jazz, Psychedelic Folk, Metal

Year: 2011

I stumbled upon this free label sampler without ever having heard about the label and only knowing one of the artists, Aidan Baker (Nadja), and I have to say, there is quite some awesome stuff to discover on this compilation. Paradigms describes itself as 'a boutique record label based in London, England specializing in exclusive mailorder editions from the esoteric music underground'.
If you like experimental music, then this is definitely worth checking out. Enjoy!

...To launch this Autumn's carefully curated selection of upcoming releases, we're very pleased to unveil a FREE download sampler compilation today featuring one exclusive track from each of our new and upcoming releases this season...(Label Description)

1) Rashomon - Jigora
2) IXTAR - Amulet
3) Kinit Her - Mosaic Of The Hyacinths
4) Tele.S.Therion with Wilderness Perversion[Mortuary Drape] - Grimoire XIII
5) Aidan Baker - Loop Study Six
6) Owlfood - End Of Distance
7) Yr Iliad - Grow In
8) A Sending Service - Toward It's Ideal
9) Iron Forest - Wintermute
10) Höhlenmusik Ensemble - Xibal
11) The Slaves - Angel
12) Heinali And Matt Finney - Tinderbox

Paradigms Recordings - Autumn Sampler 2011

Destroying Angels

Band: Merzbow

Album: Protean World

Origin: Japan (Tokyo)

Genre: Noise

Year: 2008

When it comes to Merzbow, I'm mostly in to his collaborations (like with Boris or Porn). Having said that, I have to admit that I quite like this one. Now, as with most of his records, this is very loud free form noise. It's a massive 35 minute blast of noise (divided in two tracks), but the most interesting part is that it has live drumming (by Masami Akita himself). It's not an easy record, but if you like noise, you might just like this. Enjoy!

Merzbow - Protean World

A quickie...

Band: Oren Ambarchi
Album: Der Kleine König 7"
Origin: Australia (Sydney)
Genre: Noise, Experimental
Year: 2002


A small introduction to the Australian king of the drone guitar. Limited to 500 copies, this is admittedly not his best work ever, but it might still be interesting for fans. It's a bit different from his other works in that it is more noisy guitar mutilations than waves of drones. Enjoy!

Oren Ambarchi - Der Kleine König 7"

Schwarzer Sabbat Für Dean Martin

Band: Bohren & Der Club Of Gore/Wald

Album: Schwarzer Sabbat Für Dean Martin (Split EP)

Origin: Germany (Mülheim an der Ruhr)

Genre: Jazz Noir, Noise, Metal, Experimental

Year: 1995

My exams are almost over after which I promise to post more often. In the meanwhile some more Bohren & Der Club Of Gore. This is a split EP with Wald. I can't find much information on that artist except that it is a certain Mark Sikora who is a german videoclip director (Midnight Black Earth and Prowler For Bohren) and graphic designer (covers for Napalm death). He has six short tracks ranging from noisy metal outbursts to mesmerizing droning guitar loops. Bohren has only one track (as long as all of Wald's tracks combined), which sounds very different from their later output (mind you, this was only their second release as far as I know). It has more of a metal sound than a jazz vibe to it and it reminds me of Ennio Morricone or latter day Earth mixed with some doom. They seem to have had that very deep bass sound from their beginning though (I just love the contrabass). Enjoy!

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore/Wald - Schwarzer Sabbat Für Dean Martin

In the meanwhile...

Band: Destructo Swarmbots
Album: The Mountain EP
Origin: U.S.A. (New York City)
Genre: Drone, Noise, Experimental
Year: 2004

I just discovered that my exams will last a few more days extra, so I decided to post something small to chew on while I study some medieval philosophy. I have just discovered this guitar/bass duo and I'm really enjoying this EP. Still, I'm tired and whatnot so I'm taking the lazy route, this is what the label writes about it:

A 3" CD packaged in a standard jewel-case, "The Mountain EP" finds Destructo Swarmbots (Mike Mare and James O'Brien) exploring a more delicate and subtle space than previous releases. The two man guitar and bass team, known for it's abrasive sonic attacks, take their layers of manipulated dissonance and situate them in subtle ambient landscapes. The tracks range from "36 beautiful songs" which plays like an condensed and intensified version of Fripp and Eno's "An Index of Metals." to the somber "saving grace on an 8 hour connection" which finds the group delving into more traditional melodic structures.

Destructo Swarmbots - The Mountain EP

absoluteGO!!!

Yes, it has been a week ago since I announced to post again, but my provider is run by idiots so I couldn't do anything. Now on to the post. This was send to me by GrayChild and he described it like this:
It's just a Dronevil type mixdown of Absolutego and Super Roots 5 I made (because of their similar length and noisy approach). It's not official in any way. 

So if it isn't clear for anyone, he took Absolutego by Boris (which I posted here) and mixed it with Super Roots 5 by Boredoms. This means that this is a slab of ultra noisy and drony destruction. Enjoy!

Boris with Boredoms - absoluteGO!!!

Sonic Brain Burst

Band: Melt-Banana
Album: Dead Spex 7"
Origin: Japan (Tokyo)
Genre: Punk, Noise, Experimental
Year: 1998




I decided to post some singles since that doesn't take much time (and I'm still busy studying for my exams). Kicking off are Melt-Banana with their trademark frantic noise punk. Four tracks (totalling up to 4 minutes) of squealing female vocals, strange noises and hardcore punk. Enjoy!

Melt-Banana - Dead Spex 7"

I want to see the sun blotted out from the sky

Band: Skullflower
Album: Rotten Sun 7"
Origin: Great Britain
Genre: Noise, Drone, Experimental, Psychedelic Rock
Year: 1990



My exams are over so I can finally get back to posting here. Since I'm expecting the newest Skullflower (Strange Keys To Untune Gods Firmament) in my mail soon, I decided to post this single. It was limited to 500 copies and contains 2 tracks. Rotten sun is a different version from the same track on IIIrd Gatekeeper. It's shorter and has a more bass heavy sound like on the Birthdeath EP (find it here). Spook Rise is a bit smoother but still fuzzed out. Enjoy!

Skullflower - Rotten Sun 7"

Sometimes I need what only you can provide, your absence.

Band: Melt-Banana
Album: Initial t.
Origin: Japan (Tokyo)
Genre: Punk, Noise, Experimental
Year: 2009



I'm going to make up for my absence by trying to post a load of EP's and singles starting with this one. It's the newest Melt-Banana single, Initial t. You know the drill, it's fast, it has high pitched vocals and screeching guitar sounds. Enjoy!

Melt-Banana - Initial t.

Drowning in sound...

Band: Skullflower
Album: Birthdeath EP
Origin: Great Britain
Genre: Noise, Drone, Experimental, Psychedelic Rock
Year: 1988

Fuzzed out, feedback drenched, bass-heavy, droning noisy stoner rock. That's how I would describe Skullflower. I discovered this band because they were invited by Neurosis to play Beyond The Pale at Roadburn. This is their first release which explains the very minimal and basic production. It's very hypnotic, with lots of delay and feedback, tribal like drumming and almost hidden vocals. The song structures are provided mostly by the bass and the drums while the guitars just freak out. Enjoy!

Skullflower - Birthdeath

Requiescat In Pace

Band: Boris
Album: Absolutego+ ]Special Low Frequency Version[
Origin: Japan (Tokyo)
Genre: Drone, Doom, Noise, Experimental
Year: 1996

This post is dedicated to my cat Boris, who died last sunday at the age of 17. That's why I deemed it fitting to post this monolith of a record as a tribute to my wonderful feline friend. Enjoy...
(I'd review this amazing record myself but I'm not really in the mood, and it has been a while since I posted something. I also decided to use the Southern Lord artwork because this is the southern lord version, but you can find the original artwork over at stonerobixxx)

"OK, the glorious beginning (LP-wise, anyway). Earth`s Dylan Carson called this album the "sound of two slugs fucking," and he ain`t wrong. Not wholly unlike Electric Wizard`s "Supercoven" (the track, not the album), although it`s broken up a bit more structurally. While the frequencies are quite powerful, this is a low fi recording, particularly in relation to the drum sound. They`re really wearing their Melvins influence on their sleeve, although the super dry sense of humor isn`t in evidence (at least, not according to Western ears. If my Japanese was better, I might have a different take). 65 minutes of grunt and duh.

OK, that`s the first (title) track, which on the 2000 Southern Lord reissue is followed by "Dronevil" (not to be confused with the 2000 LP of the same name). This is maliciously ambient, kind of like the sound of a killer robot`s mind. A six-minute comedown." (stonerrock.com)

Boris - Absolutego

SatanOscillateMyMetallicSonatas

Band: Various Artists
Album: Legacy Of Dissolution
Origin: Various
Genre: Drone, Experimental, Noise
Year: 2005

This tribute album features remixes of tracks by Earth. Dylan Carson has handpicked some obvious followers of Earth's droning singular sound and a few suprising choices for a remix collection that shows how wide these slow motion riffs have hit.

First up is Mogwai who add layers of guitar and feedback to Teeth Of Lions Rule The Divine. This is followed by Russel Haswell his noisy take on Tibetan Quaaludes. Next up is Thrones And Dominions as remixed and stretched out by Jim O'Rourke. The fourth track is the most suprising one. It's Autechre's remix of Coda Maestoso In F(Flat) Minor. They strangely enough deliver the most 'rock' like track by barely deviating from the original. They remix it in the most literal sense, brightening the guitar and bringing the driving bassline up front and center. After that, industrial brummie Justin Broadrick treats you with his Jesu-style shoegaze rework of Harvey. Ending this tribute are Earth's loyal adepts Sunn O))). They take the same track as mogwai (they named it Rule The Divine(Mysteria Caelestis Mugivi)) but bring it into the dronedoom territory for which they are well known. Enjoy!

Earth - Legacy Of Dissolution

Expert Texpert Choking Smokers, Don't You Think The Joker Laughs At You?

Band: Boris With Merzbow
Album: Walrus/Groon
Origin: Japan(Tokyo)
Genre: Noise, Psychedelic Rock, Experimental
Year: 2007

This 12" is another collaboration between Boris and Merzbow. It's recorded in 2001 and released in 2007 on Hydra Head Records (limited to 2500 copies). The A side is a cover of I Am The Walrus by The Beatles. The B side(Groon) has the same name as a King Crimson improvisational piece. The artwork seems to be a tribute to Close To The Edge, a record by Yes. Enjoy!

Boris With Merzbow - Walrus/groon

In Another Dimension, Jackson Pollock Buys Me A Shot Of Bourbon.

Band: Boris With Merzbow
Album: 04092001
Origin: Japan(Tokyo)
Genre: Stoner Rock, Noise
Year: 2004

04092001 is a collaborative live album between Boris and Merzbow. It was recorded on 04-09-2001 at Milk Tokyo and released in 2004 on Inoxia records (limited to 500 copies). Though most other sites name the two sides as "Side A" and "Side B," it's clear this recording consists of live renditions of five songs from Heavy Rocks accompanied by Merzbow's noise.

Track Listing:
Side A (Heavy Friends, WaReRuRide, Koei)
Side B (Death Valley, Dyna-Soar)

Boris With Merzbow - 04092001

Chain Shot To Have Some Fun.

Band: Melt Banana
Album: Cell-Scape
Origin: Japan (Tokyo)
Genre: Punk, Experimental, Noise
Year: 2003



Melt Banana. What can I say. Shrieking vocals, noisy hardcore punk, lots of effects, perpetual bass lines, and did I mention they are Japanese? The album opens and closes with some electro noise with in between Melt Banana's trademark fast paced punk. It's funny, it's fast, and it will blow your speakers. Enjoy!

Melt Banana - Cell-Scape

To All Tomorrow's Parties...

Found this on Radical Riffage. The blog owner Poostick recorded these live sets at All Tomorrow's Parties 2008 curated by My Bloody Valentine.

Growing

Wooden Shjips

Harmonia

Om

Lightning Bolt

The Existence Of The Sea Means The Existence Of Pirates.

Band: Boredoms
Album: Seadrum/House Of Sun
Origin: Japan (Osaka)
Genre: Experimental, Drone, Noise
Year: 2004




I read somewhere that this album was recorded on a beach, with the drums on wooden platforms playing until the tide came up. True or not, it wouldn't suprise me by a band like Boredoms. First song is Seadrum. It starts with eerie female vocals after which the tribal drumming starts. After a while a piano starts to play over the drums and the vocals come back to haunt you. It reminds me in a way of Flood (by Boris), but that might be because of the sea references. Second song, House Of Sun, is like the come down to Seadrum. It's not as energetic or upbeat. It has some sitar, some guitar and a lack of beats (highly in contrast with Seadrum). It's a droning peace of music and reminds me of Acid Mothers Temple.

Boredoms - Seadrum/House Of Sun