Rare, Punk, Post Punk, New Wave, UK, Compilation; CD (1994) Damaged Goods Label
Spizzenergi was the second alias of the band originally formed in 1977 as 'Spizzoil' by Kenneth "Spizz" Spiers and Pete Petrol. As Spizzenergi, they were the first band to top the UK Indie Chart created early in 1980. The band underwent several name and line-up changes during their career, performing as Athletico Spizz 80 in 1980 and signing a major deal with A&M Records later that year. This rare collection is from 1994 on Damaged Goods Records (UK)
Death, Grind, Grindcore, Porngrind, German, Brutal, Gore, Rare; CD (23 tracks)
Dead is a legendary German death grind band that started around 1990, here some early recordings are remastered and put on one CD on German 'Poserslaughter' label. The tracks date from 1991 till 1995, and the blasting sound quality fits this brutality nicely. Nice guttural vocals and sawing guitars (with some leads), these songs grab your manhood and don’t let go. This album shows the way death grind was played in the 90s and without the schmuck the scene is hearing today. With sweet covers of GG Allin and Mentors tracks too....
Experimental, Jazz, Improv, Electronic, Noise, Improvised, Free, Knitting Factory; CD (1997)
The Knitting Factory was a venue in New York City that had a policy where bands were not allowed to record their own sets. They could only pay the venue to record for them. The rumor is that this album by the double-trio of Borbetomagus (truly one of the top three two-saxophones-and-guitar bands in all of New York) and Voice Crack (Swiss electronics duo + Knut Remond of 16-17 and UnknownmiX) refused to play along with that bullshit, so they discreetly recorded their own set and put it out with this puffery: "Recorded live at Carnegie Recital Hall, New York on May 26, 1994", hence the bloated faux-classical title. Which is very funny. The music is blistering as you might expect.
Noise, Experimental, Sludge, Drone, Psychedelic, Melbourne, Australia, Japan; CD
Long out of print self released limited edition CD from Melbourne noise rock legends Whitehorse. The cover lists two untitled tracks, but the CD actually features only one continuous track of around 35 minutes, recorded while on their tour of Japan in June 2005.
Jazz, Free Jazz, Improv, Improvised; CD (1995)
The first document of the intense one-on-one music created by Chicago percussionist Hamid Drake and German multiple reedman Peter Brotzmann ...and a revelation it is! The Dried Rat-Dog contains some of Brotzmann's most forceful, powerful playing, as well as his most lyrical and intimate. With Drake featured on hand drums, North Indian tabla, and frame drum, as well as trap kit, the polyrhythms and percussive ideas flow freely, and Brotzmann responds with earth-moving alto and tenor sax, tarogato, and clarinet. Brotzmann plays a host of reed instruments – including tarogato, e-flat clarinet, alto, and tenor – and Drake plays his trademark frame drum, plus tablas and a regular drum kit. 6 tracks of varying length, including "It's An Angel On The Door.
Japan, Noise, Rock, KK Null, Acid Mothers Temple, Ruins; Rare CD (1991) Public Bath Records
1991 studio release from Japanese band ZENI GEVA, who formed in Tokyo in 1987. They incorporate elements of prog-rock, hardcore, heavy metal and noise-rock in their music. The core members are KK. Null (who is also known for his solo works) and Mitsuru Tabata (who is mostly known for his work with Acid Mothers Temple), the rest of the line-up went thru several changes over the years. They reformed in 2007 after a long break and started to tour again in 2009, joined by Tatsuya Yoshida on drums, who was also a part of one of the early line-ups. Tabata left the band in 2012, so currently they work as a duo.
Noise, Experimental, Smegma, Yellow Swans, Daniel Menche, Portland, Underground; DVD Self Released
People who do noise is a full-length documentary about Portland music makers.
What is "noise" and what is "music"? And where exactly do the two meet? Or should they? Are they completely different entities, to be appreciated on separate but equal terms? Such questions are apparently the basis of a riveting documentary (see it below) called People Who Do Noise, which focuses on artists working in the experimental music underground of Portland, Oregon. To aficionados of the noise genre, Portland is akin to Liverpool, England in the early '60s, or Seattle, Washington in the early '90s. Made on a shoestring budget of $10,000 back in 2008, People Who Do Noise goes up close and personal with the musicians of this scene, profiling them in candid interviews (they're an opinionated bunch!) and working on music they fully admit isn't for everyone. And that's precisely the point. Perhaps the sounds these performers create aren't your cup of tea, either. That's fine. But the documentary is well worth watching for the interviews. Taken together, they create a fascinating mosaic of a bold, uncompromising musical movement.
Improv, Improvised, Noise, Self Released, Anthony Braxton, Fred Frith, San Francisco, Experimental; DVD
Noisy People is a feature length video documentary that opens a window into a tightly-knit group of unusual sound artists and musicians from the San Fransisco improvisational music community. Self Released DVD (2006)
Experimental, Avant Garde, Noise, Electronic, Tzadik, John Zorn, Willian Winant, Marc Ribot; CD (1997)
Pranzo Oltranzista is Mike Patton's second solo project. It is subtitled "Musica da Tavola per Cinque" (literally translated as Banquet Piece for Five Players), and is based on "Futurist Cookbook" by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, written in 1932. Following the experimental "Adult themes for voice" it contains numerous tracks linked by culinary themes and best listened to as a unitary movement. Featuring Marc Ribot on guitar, William Winant on percussion, Erik Friedlander on cello and John Zorn on alto sax, this is Patton's most technically sophisticated solo project.
