EIC's 10Q's w/ Textbeak

"..a pleasing amalgam of Micro-Clubesque Electronics, Witch House-Industrial, & other bizarre/quirky dark atmospheres.. .."

Textbeak

Sinister Synaesthesia

Textbeak Bio:

Mike Textbeak has a long history in electronic music with his releases on labels such as Tundra Dubs (San Francisco), Lasergun (Berlin), Post_Religion, Bleak (Vienna), Pale Noir (Madison, WI), Vaatican Records (France), Xynthetic (Canada), 21/22 Corp, Swishcotheque (UK), Colin Johnco (France), and many more. He co-owns the Philtre Com imprint with co-conspirator Claus Muzak aka Lucas Kuzma of The Strange Agency (musical instrument iPhone iPad app company). He was commissioned for mixing the Precarious mix for Disaro Records, a mix for Ritual Chicago, Tamara Sky's L1L DE4TH in LA, Hip Hop Break It Radio out of Houston, the official Grim Harvest Halloween 2012 Mixtape for Мишка with actor Omar Doom (Inglorious Basterds), XLVR for the clothing company NVR MND, the massive 5 hour 3 part COVENFVCK mix, mixes for Pulse Radio (UK), PBS (Australia), Clan Destine Records (UK), and AMDISCS label in the Czech Republic among many others.  His band Bath was featured on the “Why Be Blake When You Can Be Bleak?” compilation on the Bleak label with industrial legends Coil, Attrition, Sleepchamber, Nocturnal Emissions, and Portion Control. He has just finished a major 2 month tour and has opened for artists like Larry Tee, Designer Drugs, ∆AIMON, Nitzer Ebb, Light Asylum, Test Department, Skintown (Nick Turko of Zola Jesus), Meat Beat Manifesto, David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets), Daniel Myer (Haujobb), and the Legendary Pink Dots.  From the early ‘90s Columbus, Ohio electronic music scene, when Mike was a member of Body Release with Titonton Duvante (Residual Records), Todd Sines (Frankie, Planet E, Peacefrog, YORE, Seventh City), and Charles Noel (aka ARCHETYPE, ARCH_TYP…21/22 Corp, Bag Pak), through the mid ’90s early 2000’s with his band Bath, to his current endeavors, he has always pushed the envelope with his compositions, visual artwork, text collages, and genre-blasting DJ sets.

Hello, how are you?

Mr. Textbeak forgot to answer this one, we'll assume he's doing swell;]

What are you currently listening to?

//Tense// "Disconnected Myself (Kkoee Remix)" before that I was listening to Sandwell District.

What's with the name, is there a story behind it?

Back in the early '90s I drew a picture of a bird and a crayon and wrote "TEXTBEAK" on it. I put it on the wall next to my bed. I guess I sort of bonded with that image and name. Started using it officially around 2000 after I did a 12" as TXT.

Which do you prefer; writing music or DJing?

Tough call. I really like writing because I like the process of constructing. I see music as a multidimensional object and therefore making songs as process of constructing an audio sculpture that moves through a set point in time. I like DJing because I love the energy and the flying by the seat of your pants feeling. I also love doing mixtapes because I love to construct a giant flow of tracks and how they interact.

Care to shed some light on your EICV7"; theme, favorite track(s), etc?

The 3 tracks "Location Detect," "Interceptor" and "Conquered" represent an alien invasion. It's a reference to Stephen Hawking's statement on trying to contact alien life; "I think it would be a disaster. The extraterrestrials would probably be far in advance of us. The history of advanced races meeting more primitive people on this planet is not very happy, and they were the same species. I think we should keep our heads low."  "Location Detect" focuses on growth and movement towards a specific goal and, upon recognizing that goal, closing in on it. "Interceptor" represents conflict and thus the conflicting sonic themes. "Conquered" is a lazy grinding distorted dirge to represent the lack of necessity of haste in the completion of a task. It symbolizes the requiem of a struggle. The three remixes represent three very different takes on these sounds of oppression. H3X3N (LIL DEATH) takes "Interceptor" and jumps the tempo double-time into a sort of tech-step thrash. Apollyon's Visage takes "Conquered" in a whole new direction by rewriting the song in a slow witchy dancefloor format with a great talking sample. WMX from Bestial Mouths did the final remix of "Interceptor" and it's bass heavy with nutty overlayed edits creating a sort of mesh of sound. H3X3N's mastering perfectly pulled it all together. The artwork is a collage by Calla Donafrio of gavials, gharials, and river dophins which is a reference to a strange dream I had being on a wooden raft that breaks apart and falling into muddy river water surrounded by strange beaked creatures.

Will you be performing these tracks live?

I actually have performed these tracks in their infant stages at the last couple Bath performances. Working on a new stripped down and polished performance of them.

Got any other projects we should know about?

Working on an album for Bath for release on Bleak.at out of Vienna and an EP for ZOA ZOA with Paul from Zex Model. Also just finished a remix for "Earth" from Bestial Mouths' new release on ClanDestine Records. In the process of remixing a song from Daniel Myer of Haujobb's new 'Architect' release, and a remix for the beast known as 3 TEETH. My TXTBK's CHVяCH XV BяXK3N 7ANGvAG weekly mixtape series is nearing its 3rd year anniversary in January and I was asked to curate the new NVR MND NVR MIX mixtape series which is off to a great start. Mixes so far by BlackBlackGold, SINS, BLVCK CEILING, and Alex Wolf of Post-Religion. The next mix in the series is by Light Asylum.

What movie would work best on mute while listening to your music?

For this release, 2001: A Space Odyssey

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?

Coil's 'Horse Rotorvator'

Are you living your dream?

I am working on it. I feel close to it and am very happy with many things in my life at this moment. I try to have high aspirations for my art, but not needing much materialistically to be content. I have some neat things in the works.

Thanx Mike!

Textbeak & EIC have something very special for you tomorrow right HERE..;]

EIC's 10Q's w/ Castratii

"..bleed heart and knowledge.."

Castratii

Dark Tales From Down Under

Castratii Bio:

Wind. Rain. Mist. Whispers. Secrets written in blood. Sliding doors in parallel universes. Castratii are a paradox, a wonderful vision of a life that might have been, and still could be. Enveloping shrouds of ambient musical strands, woven together into a swinging bridge that hangs over a chasm of endless possibility.

    Hello, how are you?
Great, how are you?
EIC: Fine, just fine, thanks for asking!;]

What are you currently listening to?
Over the last couple of months we've been listening to a lot of music. Here's some that have been on high rotation; Coil 'Horse Rotorvator', Silent Servant 'Negative Fascination', Dead Can Dance 'Anastasis', Peter Murphy 'Deep', Tricky 'Pre Millennium Tension', Morricone 'The Mission', Goreck's 'Symphony No 3.', Bowie 'Outside', Talk Talk 'The Colour Of Spring', Xasthur 'Portal Of Sorrow', Vatican Shadow 'Kneel Before Religious Icons' and more.. Recently we picked up the latest Andy Stott record, which we love.

Whats with the band name?
We take our name from 16 century soprano males, the Castrato or "Castrati" as they were known. Basically it's a male that has been castrated before puberty to retain a pure soprano voice. The horror of such an act, purely for music is insane and pretty special at the same time.

When did this project come about?
We have been writing and producing music and art for a long time. We self-released some early material in 2009, 'The Music of Chance EP'. Following this releases we spent a solid 2 or so years writing and recording 'Eora'. We wrote about 25 tracks for the album but felt that the 7 that make the album best represented what we set out to do which was capture our ideals of the Australian landscape, it's history and the vast expanse we call home... most of the time.

Care to tell us a little bit about 'Eora', themes/personal favorite track(s)?
The idea was to create a record that reflected our country, the landscape and the history. Not so much a concept record but an album that felt like the soundtrack to a place. We don't want to single out tracks as we hope the album works as a whole but there are certain parts that we like best, the ending of "Monolith", the middle 8 in "The Hanging", the guitar break in the title track. Liela's voice is also a part of the record that we love.

Any plans to tour for said release?
We are currently recording a follow up release in LA, probably an EP. We will then hopefully begin playing live in the later part of 2013. We're talking about it now. It should be good but we will work on some lighting and additional things to make it worthwhile.

Got any other projects we should know about?
We worked on this great TV show called 'Watch With Mother'. We did the soundtrack with our good friend Jack Ladder. Check it out here: http://www.watchwithmother.tv  We also contributed some beats and drones to an Australian Contemporary Opera called 'Confined'. Our friend Barton Staggs, who is this fantastic Australian composer asked for some abrasive beats and guitar drones so we happily obliged. Check it out here: http://confinedopera.com  There is also something that we'll be working on next year that is going to be strange and extreme. It is a subliminal art project, working in socially disaffected areas of Australia. We're working again with Jack Ladder but that's about as much as we can say about that at this point.

What movie would work best on mute while listening to you music?
We tend to work as though we're making the soundtrack to an imaginary film. There are very distinct images that we try to write against, but seeing as that film only exists in our heads we'll say 'Wake In Fright'. It's an Australian film from 1971 that shines an unfavourable light on rural Australia.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
That is a tough question but we'll say 'The Downward Spiral'. That album continually offers new ideas and sonic landscapes that no one has really come close to touching.

Are you living your dream?
Not so much living our dream, maybe just living in a dream. We sleep very little so most of our day to day is pretty surreal. It's been a great year and we're completely filled with gratitude that our music means something to people. It's beautiful and inspiring. Thanks for taking the time to listen.

Thanx Tim & Castratii!

Castratii are currently laying low/working on a follow up EP/possible tour, til' then...

Good (FREE) music laying around the interwebs..

 Why Be - Link Ting (Why Be Lisbent Martian Attack)

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 Ulfur - So Very Strange

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 Twos - Feel

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 The Threshold House Boys - Part Two: Intimations Of Spring.

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 Raus - I Wish I Was Frank

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 National Park System - Flying Penguin

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 Golden Brown - High Tide At Gold Beach

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 Ditt Inre - Din Röst

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Coil - Red Birds Will Fly Out Of The East And Destroy Paris In A Night

~njoy.

Good (FREE) music laying around the interwebs..

 Thousand Foot Whale Claw - Ganymede

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 Moonshine Blues - Through

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 Mo Kolours - EP2: Banana Wine

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 f〇fㄚ - Bioluminescence

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 Corners - We Were Teens (Demo)

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 Coil - Teenage Lightning (Surgeon Remix)

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 Atem. - Grey EP

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 AriaRostami - Peter

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Agonidaeline - Loving Foolishness With A Degree Of Hope

~njoy.

If only I lived here..(!)

Wishful Thinking: In Remembrance of Peter Christopherson (1955–2010)
Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson was best known as a founder member of Throbbing Gristle and Coil, a designer at Hipgnosis, and a videomaker for Greenback Films. In summer 2010, AV Festival commissioned him to compose a work for the 2012 spring Equinox, to be staged at Durham Cathedral, where his father was University Vice-Chancellor from 1960–1979. Christopherson died in his sleep at home in Thailand on 24 November 2010 before completing the work.

This music, film and performance event is a celebratory remembrance of his life and work. It includes the premiere of three performance sketches with Christopherson‘s original collaborators for the commission: visual artist Alex Rose, sound recordist Chris Watson and vocalist Attila Csihar. Special guests Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti premiere live remixes from Throbbing Gristle’s nascent, and final, studio album: a 'cover' of Nico’s Desertshore, preceded by a rare screening of Philippe Garrel’s The Inner Scar for which Desertshore was soundtrack and inspiration. The evening comes to a poetic close with Derek Jarman’s The Angelic Conversation, with a soundtrack by Coil, Christopherson considered the film “truly, a timeless work of art”.

We miss ya Peter:..(

REVIEW: Water Borders - Harbored Mantras

9.25 out of 10

Find it here.

For such a young label Tri Angle really has done a lot to change the game. First there was Balam Acab with their version of Moody Electronic Drag (which I heart), then there's the "Witchy"/Sample Driven o0o00 (whom I also LOVE), a few other (really awesome) acts in-between, and now Water Borders (my new favorite Tri Angle artist). Water Borders, like many of the other bands on Tri Angle seem to share the same "modern dark" thinking state of mind. However, unlike most of the acts on this bewildering label, Water Borders take cues from a few older artists as well; think Coil meets Tuxedo Moon. (stop drooling on your keyboard/fantasizing about how amazing that pairing sounds, go get this NOW.)

'Harbored Mantras' sounds emit the titles theme quite genuinely. There are lots of organic/"other worldly sounds" mixed with aural nirvana landscapes within these hypothetical lush walls. There are elements that can definitely be thrown into the Witch House/Drag genre, there are also a few No Wave (see: Tuxedo Moon) and Experimental Industrial "moments" (see Coil). What more can I say? The mood is gloomy, the sound is currently unrivaled, Water Borders fit perfectly in Tri Angles elite circle,err-umm "Triangle".

For people into dismal sound architecture, and most importantly, (maybe) for people interested in transformative states*. (*also, for people with good taste in music:) RE-COMM-END-ED/one of '11's best offerings.

Standout Tracks: What Wiwant, Feasting On Mongeese (sooooo very perfect), Seed Bank (I would love to hear an entirely new "concept movie score" made from this one song--so good.)

REVIEW: Br'er - City Of Ice

8 out of 10

Find it here.

I'll admit I didn't know much/anything really about Br'er prior to about a few months ago, but I'm certainly kicking myself for it. 'City Of Ice', the "group's" second full length is a tribute of sorts to their homeland and it's many woes. It is an album filled to the brim with dark, drenching emotional/fairly incoherent noise and Industrial soundscapes. To be honest, it sounds a lot like Xiu Xiu, only more "Industrial" kind of like Swans..

'City Of Ice' may not be for all, but for the rest of us with a morbid curiosity for melodramatic sounds it feels/sounds perfect. Equal parts accordion, synth, drum pads and a few live ones too (I think), ominous strings and precarious horns, "weird noises", sparse plucky guitars, and "theatrical" (seems like the best way to describe these kind of) vocals, 'City Of Ice' is a beast that is driven mostly by beauty, it is dark, it it s a bit perplexing, but it's damn artistic and pretty to me. Seems like a decent soundtrack for these grayer days ahead of us.

Recommended. Go get this and go see the band, introduce yourself to Ben (he's a cool guy). We need more artists as daring as he is.

Standout Tracks: I've Forgotten Nothing, Sea Of Doubt (shouldn't end), City Of Ice, The Kissing Glove, Coercion (poifect), Safeword (would fit nicely on a Coil album), Oestrus (perfect opener/ender kind of album)

REVIEW: Dream Boat - Widow

8.75 out of 10

Find it here.

I (everybody actually) talk(s) a lot about Witch House/Drag/Ominous Electronic Atmospheric artists these days, recently I was thinking about why this genre is so perfectly engineered for me.. My adolescent beginnings with music were a bit more aggro/angsty mixed with (always) dark & weird. I maintained my love for the dark and weird part, but I've since then mellowed out a lot (quite a bit actually). Probably my teen years exiting my body while my grumpy/tired old man years enter..(you kids stay off my lawn!) ::ahem:: soo Witch House/Drag just makes sense, being that most of it is indeed "dark and weird" but also mostly mellow and hallucinogenic. One of my favorite artists of all time (probably mentioned about once a week around these parts:) is Coil, and to me this ever growing "Drag circuit" is a product of them specifically. That's going on a whim I know, there are a lot more "Experimental Electronic Dark bands" before Coil, yes but there were none that did it better. And now, because of Coil's ginormous impact on my life, music's life, and many more (I'm sure of it) today's Arcane Atmospheres are tomorrows adored nostalgia morphed into something all its own..

I'm not gonna pretend like I know a lot about the enigma that is Dream Boat, all I can tell you is that this band (two people; Lucy & Sina) were indeed "built" for my ears. Up until this point Dream Boat have only released a handful of (mostly FREE) EP's. I was intrigued by said albums, but it wasn't until 'Widow' that I knew how much potential this group truly has. 'Widow' is more than just one of the best Drag album's of all time, it's transcending another universal platform through Gothic parallels. As dark as you leave your earthly realm is as dark as you will voyage into a surreal ambient (sort of) bleak vortex.

This is one of those albums where the artwork speaks miles for the music. Witch House coven have been soaking this one in for a bit now, now it's your turn. 'Widow' is hands down one of the best albums of 2011.

Standout Tracks: Widow, Poppies, Imissu, Southern Down (sounds like a "Gothic Grouper" (kind of)), What You Saw

EIC'S10Q'S w/∆Aimon

"..dark & perplexing technophobic sexuality.."


∆Aimon
Foreboding Concupiscence

∆Aimon Bio:
Sorry, no bio:( ..yet:) ∆AIMON is a bit of mystery shrouded in dark electronic sexuality.


Hello, how are you?
We are very well, thank you. We've definitely been busy but it's all towards a constructive end.

What are you currently listening to?
As ∆AIMON is the product of two halves, we approach music from vastly different backgrounds and current interests. Personally, Foetus and COIL are constant selections in my playlist. I’ve also been enjoying Ulver's new album "Wars Of The Roses" as well as fellow Tundra Label releases like the recent I†† "The Greater Keys EP" and Funeral "Marae EP". The material from Mara5 and the crew on Pale Noir Records has consistently been amazing. We're heavily into RΛIN who released a great cassette called "215.Mhz" as a split with Slow Head and I have to admit we've been following the whole Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All phenomenon as well. Lately we've also been really into some great local projects, specifically Raw Moans, Jeans Wilder and The Shaolin Signal.

What's with the name?
We definitely identify with artists that use symbols as a visual representation of their style, especially while at the same time utilizing it's abilities to remain more elusive and perhaps selective. When it came time to choose a name for the music we were creating, we really wanted to keep that aspect. Especially in relation to sigilism in magic.
The name we chose was presented to us almost synchronistically as an appropriate collection of symbols and purpose in a combined ritualized image. There is no correct pronunciation of the name and we've purposely obfuscated the assumed phonetic definition through use of various derivatives such as naming the EP "Amen" and the site domains "Aaimon". As a sigil it was designed with the Venus imagery for sexuality and the triangle as used especially by the hermetic orders as a symbol of inner light. The inverted cross inferred in the Venus symbol also has a strong significance.
The name itself is a reference to the Greek meaning of the word daimon or daemon which has now been corrupted and connected negatively with malignant spirits. Prior to the teachings of Plato and Xenocrates, the word instead denoted divinity and "genius" in the spiritual sense similar to the word "inspiration" as coming from an intervening force. It is still used commonly to this end in occult circles as an initiation of inner purpose or True Self. I see it as fundamental work towards wholeness and sincerity invoked through sexuality, pleasure and fear.

What kind of music would you classify ∆AIMON as? Were you going for a particular sound when you began this project?
Generally ∆AIMON is considered as either "Witch House" or "Drag" and despite the much derided connotations of those names, we must comment that the genre followers and artists have been extremely welcoming and supportive. Personally I feel that the Witch House movement exists as a fruition of a collective unconscious shift towards a new spiritual paradigm. The resurgent interest in the occult has steadily permeated through fashion and art as a growing steadfast movement. Its ideals and perspectives are more than a random encounter of fads, I think it's a whole new awakened level of belief and identity. I feel that there is a very real change occurring in our lifetime and the fact that so many like minded artists are finding and supporting/inspiring each other in a synchronous movement portends its importance.
So in that sense we are definitely proud to be a part of such a revolutionary movement.
As far as a particular sound, we actually try to remove ourselves from any expectations. We started ∆AIMON with the goal of incorporating our vast and varying tastes in music together. We had been inspired to write music together for quite a while, and once we started, it just became fairly obvious that the Witch House genre was producing some of the same aesthetics we wished to convey. The 'Amen' EP hopefully has a great deal of diversity in styles though and lends itself in many directions outside of what is generally deemed as Witch House.

What (if any) is the theme for "Amen"?
Sex and ritual.

What's next/upcoming for you guys?
We've been steadily preparing for a new 7" release along with some local live shows. A special cassette edition of the 'Amen' EP is being released in Europe through Klangverhältnisse Records soon and we've definitely got a full length release somewhere on the horizon. We also have a few more remixes and collaborations in the works for the next coming months.

Your sound would work best with this movie: on mute because?
I like the ritualism of Jodorowsky's films like "Holy Mountain" and "El Topo", but musically I think we fit in better with a more bleak vision of liturgy as in John Carpenter's "Prince Of Darkness" or Tarkovski's "Offret". Andrzej Zulawski's "Possession" is a better fit though not nearly sexual enough. There's a distinct lack of erotic horror in my library…. Any recommendations would be fantastic, actually.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
Definitely can't select a single album. We're just not the the type of people who could be content with only one type of music for the rest of our lives. That doesn't mean that we don't enjoy music with sincerity and depth but that it would be impossible to narrow any one album down. Our fluidity of interests is hopefully in part what gives us the ability to be open to composing unconventional sounds unrestrained… I can say on my own behalf that one of the only albums that has never left my playlist would be COIL's "The Ape Of Naples" though that's not necessarily even my favorite of theirs, just the one that fits my mood most often… Honestly we couldn't pick one.

Are you living your dream?
We are, and we dream often.

Thanx Brant!

∆Aimon are currently working on their debut full length as well as a plethora of remixes and singles, til' then GET THIS NOW!...

REVIEW: ∆Aimon - Amen

9 out of 10

Find it here.

While surfing the internet one day (like I do every once and a while) I stumbled across an online record label called Tundra Dubs. This "up & coming" label is filled to the brim with unexplored/unappreciated talent. Mostly in vein of Dark Electronic and/or Witch house vibes. One of the bands that hooked me right away was ∆Aimon. Their debut release "Amen" is a 6 track peak into dark & perplexing technophobic sexuality, it's also one of this year's best releases.

"Amen" begins with a faint/distant drone which morphs slowly into a murky Gothic carnival. Slowly from there the "dark rave" begins. Your still in the "quieter" tent next door, but your mind grows wild with curiosity from the hypnotic demonly sounds. Then it happens, you walk over to the dark side. Welcome to track two, "Amen", quite possibly (one of) the best "Witch House/Drag" tracks I have ever heard. Very sinister and sexy. ∆Aimon reminds me of o0o00 a lot, only more Industrial and certainly more "Gothic" (kind of "Coil-y I guess?). In-fact, up until this point I may have said my favorite Witch House/Drag artist would've been o0o00, but now I'm not sure.

(This is) My favorite piece of darkness from 2011. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (ж▲└♂†).

Standout Tracks: I love them all, Amen, Maasym (prob my f∆v tr∆k), Exu Rei

Riveting Videos..

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REVIEW: Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise

9.25 out of 10

Find it here.

Meet the newest Electronic prodigy on the block, Nicolas Jaar. You've probably heard of him by now? At the young age of 20 he's already mastered what's taken many of his influences years to accomplish. His debut full length (about 6 years in the making) is wowing reviewers left & right and is guaranteed to be on many year-end lists (..probably somewhere in the top 20). So what does his music sound like?

OK, I'm gonna mention three artists that Mr. Jaar reminds me of. You should know, these artist I'm gonna mention tend to have obsessive fans. You either obsess over these bands or you just don't care for 'em. "Space Is Only Noise" is of it's own sound, but when comparing it to contemporary leaders in the same field, it could easily be placed next to Matthew Dear, Coil, and/or DJ Shadow. Now that you've heard those names (and you've possibly widened your eyes at the thought) you should probably know what to expect. If those names (unfortunately) mean nothing to you... Nicolas Jaar makes Electronic Pop music mixed with hints of Jazzy seduction, Classical sampling, and a few very weird tones. In-fact, if you pay close attention to the title "Space Is Only Noise" you may know what to listen for, is it the space between his noise, or the noise between the space? Every second on Nicoals' debut is filled with an interesting/pleasing note, sound or beat. I don't know, I just don't see how there could be a better Electronic album this year ..is that crazy to think?

Fans of the Kompakt or Ghostly family will definitely swoon over this. Actually, everyone should get this, I'll buy your copy if you dislike it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. One of the year's best albums (maybe THE).

Standout Tracks: ALL especially; Colomb, To Many Kids Finding Rain In The Dust (sounds exactly like Coil -- :), Keep Me There (love the horn samples at the end), I Got A Woman (can't get this song out of my head), Problems With The Sun (sooo catchy), Balance Her In Between Your Eyes (LOVELOVELOVE the vocals on this one), Specters Of The Future (sounds like an "Endtroducing.." b-side)

R.I.P. Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson

R.I.P. Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson
1955 - 2010

Last night (between 2am & 6am), November 25th, Peter Christopherson aka "Sleazy" aka 1/2 Coil aka 1/4 Throbbing Gristle aka one of the most influential musical heroes in my life passed away peacefully in his sleep. A few TG shows were cancelled this past Summer amid rumours of a "possible illness". Not the best way to cap off the year.. this really sucks.

REVIEW: White Car - No Better

8 out of 10

Find it here.

To anyone overly frustrated with the current state of "Industrial" music, you can let your guard down now.. There is a glimmer of hope for lovers of artsy/dark Post-Punk/"(anti)establishment/political" themes mixed with post neo-modern Electronic/mechanistic backdrops. One of the leading bands in this "Re-Revolution"; White Car, hale from Chicago. Hmmm, Chicago? Isn't that the home to the late (great) Wax Trax Records/"Industrial Capital" of America?

"No Better" is a terrific EP with a serious nod towards the Golden Age of Industrial music. Growing up I listened to Dance Pop music, then Kraftwerk, then Wax Trax, etc. From the ages of (about) 12-22 everything I listened to/loved/knew I could "depend on" was Industrial music. It worked for me then, and still (the old stuff anyways) to this day works for me now. For the past 10 years or so Industrial music has changed quite a bit. For one thing it made a huge left turn towards Club/EBM music, secondly people began confusing/crossing it with Metal and Rock music (this is mostly a horrible idea that makes me sort of sick to my stomach sometimes) ..most of it all sounds the same OR to put it kindly; I hate it. I miss the crunchy/cheesy/dark & artsy Industrial sounds of yesterday. Bands like; Ministry (pre 90's), Front 242, Skinny Puppy (pre 00's), Revolting Cocks, The Young Gods, Coil, etc., these were my childhood's soundtrack. (Side note: Interested in Industrial music, but don't know where to start? Start here.) Anyways, outside of the Metropolis monopolized world of "Industrial" music today lays this small uprising which is a direct nod to the bands that got this genre off of it's feet. If you wanna pay an homage to something that completely molded me into the music obsessed junky that I am today than I'm OK with you as a person. White Car is Industrial music before guitars & rock music got in the way. More than just music though (and most importantly) White Car is a rare/lost art form, the very kind that has been missing from much of today's Electronic music. I implore you, please treat yourself to some White Car.

To: White Car, and all the other projects that share similar sounds... Thank you. All we can do now is hope that this isn't just a short "fad" and that it doesn't just fade back into obscurity where it all started. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Standout Tracks: ALL