Various Artists - Filter... killing music

Filter FILT010CD. 1998

Inoffensive collection of DnB-ish technosity.

I think I'll start adding links to allmusic for entries from now on. Why not eh? From now on the catalogue no. and date will link to allmusic.com.

4hero - Creating Patterns

Talkin Loud. 2001

I kept hearing Les Fleur on the pub jukebox, and eventually got off my lazy arse to see what it was. So I went out and bought this (no, I didn't just download it! We're not all like that).

I wish I had. Apart from LF this doesn't do much for me. Nu-jazzsoul electronica in a similar style to some earlier mentioned Cinematic Orchestra.

I'm just not bothered.

NUMPTY

I accidently deleted a comment left on the Milestones entry instead of publishing it, but the general theme of it was that I'm obviously not a musician, I know nothing about music, and I should revist Miles Davis in 10 years when I grow up.

I'm pushing 40, I've played guitar for 22 years, I've had several records released (albeit noisy ones). I can appreciate talent and artistry. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

I just don't really like much Miles Davis. Get over it.

I may be a dilettante (is that supposed to be an insult??!) but you, Mr Comment, are a prick.

Louis and Bebe Barron - Forbidden Planet (Original MGM Soundtrack)

GNP Crescendo GNP01. 1956

Super space sounds, but hard work in one sitting.

French Frith Kaiser Thompson - Live, Love, Larf & Loaf

Demon Records FIENDCD102. 1988

Diverse collection of controlled madness. Very listenable supergroup. A bit like Beefheart meet Primus fighting with Stump in a room full of Peter Hammill lookalikes.

Highlight: Fred Frith's frantic Where's The Money?

Four Tet - My Angel Rocks Back And Forth (CD and DVD pack) (Single)

Domino RUG169DVD. 2004

Probably my favourite Four Tet moment. A gentle lullaby to sooth my blackened soul. 

Track 2 is anything but soothing, but still amongst his better efforts.

The rest is a bit ho-hum, even as a background to making roast sweet potato and squash soup.

F-Space - Preliminary Impact Report

Mobilization MOB501. 2003

I was camping with these guys at the 2004 Burning Man festival. They did a set every night, and were pretty good. Scot plays a self-built instrument called Volatile that shoots flames from each end and sounds like children screaming in a tin box, but you don't get any of that on CD.

It's pretty good though. Veers from dronescapesville to clanking guitar (thanks Ethan - Mr Savage Republic) and tribal drums (courtesy of Aleph). 

Buy it here: mobilization.com

Hey Scot J, hope you're well and all's cool in San Fran.

I just realised I'm wearing the same Vans polo shirt right now as I had on in some photos I was looking at the other day, taken in Death Valley just before heading up to Burning Man. Well whadayaknow?

Funkadelic - Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On

Westbound Records CDSEW040. 1974

...and the continued the good work here. Back to basics funk.

Great stuff.

Hey baby won't you be my dog and I'll be your tree and you can pee on me.

Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop

Westbound Records CDSEW035. 1973

They ditched all that string and horn shit for this one, and made their best album since Funkadelic.

Funkadelic - Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow

Westbound Records WBOXPD1 (4 CD box set). 1970

Once they get the noisy shite out of the way for the first couple of minutes this funks.

Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

Westbound Records WBOXPD1 (4 CD box set). 1971

Not as outright funky as Funkadelic, but ok.

Mother earth is pregnant for the third time - we have all knocked her up.

Funkadelic - Funkadelic

Westbound Records WBOXPD1 (4 CD box set). 1970

Now this is the funk.

I still play the riff from Mommy, what's a Funkadelic almost every time I pick up my guitar.

I used a slowed down version of the drums from I bet you as the backing for a Random Felch track, played just the once at our last ever gig.

If you will suck my soul I will lick your funky emotions.

Funkadelic - America Eats It's Young

Westbound Records WBOXPD1 (4 CD box set). 1972

I prefer slightly earlier Funkadelic stuff. There's way too much in the way of horns, strings and piano on here.

Some of this gets a bit Sesame Street, and some is just plain rubbish (Everybody is going to make it this time / We hurt too - shit the bed!)

Then they go and throw Loose Booty at ya! God bless the funk.

Mostly bloody awful this one.

Klaus Flouride - Light Is Flickering

Alternative Tentacles VIRUS95CD. 1991

I don't really get it, or like it.

Jad Fair and Yo La Tengo - Strange But True

Matador OLE309-2. 1998

Imagine Yo La Tengo in lazy/slightly silly mode with Jad Fair singing/talking.

I like Yo La Tengo. I'm starting to resent Jad Fair's presence in my music collection.

Did I mention Jad Fair stayed at my house? I should have took him out when I had the chance.

The Lucky Sperms (Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston) - Somewhat Humorous

Jagjaguwar JAG34. 2001

I picked this out of the rack as I have a great 7" by The Lucky Sperms (Ecstatic Peace, 1987). On closer inspection it's a different Lucky Sperms (t'other one being Sonic Youth and Mike Watt), but I bought it anyway since it's Jad and Daniel.

What a ghastly racket this is. Really, I don't care if the lyrics are funny or clever if they're sung over inept, cack-handed thrashing.

Jad Fair stayed at my house once, but I've already banged on about that here.

Family - The Peel Sessions

Strange Fruit SFPSCD061. 1973

Not too bad, though a bit more R'n'B than Doll's House.

I don't need to listen to this again.

Family - Music In A Doll's House

See For Miles SEECD100. 1968

I'd been putting off starting the next shelf as this was the first CD thereon. I remembered Roger Chapman's really annoying over-emphasised vocal vibrato and I just couldn't bare it. But it wasn't going to go away, and surely I've sat through worse over the last few months.

As it turns out, once we're past the first track he calms it down a bit and the rest of the album is actually quite good. Not nearly as proggy as I remember. Phew.

Another disk bought during NF's big CD clearout many years ago.

Duane Eddy - Bonnie Came Back / Movin' 'n' Groovin' 7"

London American Recordings 45-HLW9050. Can't see a date, but it says recordings first published 1958/9

A twaaang version of My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean???? Fair enough. B-side is a twangy 12-bar which is pleasant enough.

I've no idea where this came from, or any memory of having played it before.

Was I really drinking that heavily?

The Hard Ons - Surfin On My Face 7"

Waterfront DAMP34. 1987

Ramones meet the Beach Boys.

The other three tracks remain surf-free, and punk their thrash into your face.

The Hard Ons - Just Being With You / Growing Old 7"

Waterdront DaMP94. 1988

I think the guys must have found love by this release, as they get all mushy (in a noisy way).

Still good.

The Hard Ons - The Girl In The Sweater / I Heard her Call My Name 7"

Waterfront DAMP27. 1986

More Ramones-y output from the hirsute, unwashed antipodean thrash-monkeys.

It all gets a bit twee on Sweater, but it's alright.

Big Black - The Model / He's A Whore 7"

Blast First BFFP24. 1987

Both tracks are absolutely stupifyingly good. They've managed to take two great songs and make them both completely different but just the same, and just as good/possibly better in both cases.

Better than that, the cover is pretty funny too. You have to look twice to notice it isn't the originals. Only having three people in each image gives it away a bit, but it's a lovely touch, and the photoshoots probably cost more than the recording.

Big Black - Il Duce / Big Money 7"

Homestead Records HMS042. 1985

It's Big Black. It's great.

Brutal Glockel Terror - Lasch / Ganzlasch 7"

Snoop Records SR002. 1989

Back before the interweb and mp3s destroyed our ability to write with pens and use stamps, we used to send tapes and records across the globe, stuffed with flyers received from other people's packages of tapes and records, until the whole thing came around full circle and you'd end up with some of your own flyers back that'd covered 506,000 miles over the course of a year.

I received this from someone, don't know who. I hadn't ordered it. I hadn't paid for it. But here it is.

More unsolicited noise on my shelves. I couldn't really say if it was good or bad noise. No tunes. Just thrashing and shouting.

Ah, the good old days.

The Dickies - Banana Splits 7"

A&M AMS7431. 1979

Oh come on, I was only 9. Despite the novelty aspect this is quite good. The two tracks on the b-side are nice slabs of punky goodness as well. Lovely yellow vinyl.

They played Newcastle last week but I wasn't on the guest list and I'm too tight to pay to see a band I only sort of kind of like a bit.

Butthole Surfers - Flaming Lips / Declaration of Love 7"

Red House Records exp001. 

This claims to be recordings from their first ever gig, but I wouldn't know. I've no idea what one side is, but the other is a rendition of The Shah Sleeps In Lee Harvey's Grave, so the sleeve is at least 50% wrong.

Good quality recordings, but where and when are they from?

Seven Minutes of Nausea - Our Culture Is Boring 7"

TNT&R 22/02 (copy no. 114 of ?). 1988

This is on the same label as my first Stench of Corpse release, so I assume Matthias (the label guy) sent it to me. I didn't really listen to much noise stuff, I just made it.

This is just two guys - drums and guitar/voc - banging it out. 1 or 2 second thrashes that seem formless and random. Then, would you believe, I came across the title/lyric sheet!

Not something I would put on for pleasure, but it has a kind of nostalgic value as we were all making a right old racket at the same time, to the same people.

Reverb Motherfuckers - LSD 25 7"

Vital Music Records. 1991

Not nearly as good as the memory. Side A is just a freeform psych workout with some spoken samples over the top. Side B is more of the same with less guitar but more squeaky noise.

Not what I'd chose to listen to on acid.  No sir.

Nice-Up! DJs - Skankin in the way 7"

Nice Up! 004. 2008

I can't remember where I heard this, but it's one of the best mash-ups I've heard. Beth Ditto's vocals sound completely different detached from that annoying shit Gossip churn out, and you'd swear they'd been recorded specially to go on top of this ska backing. Cheers me up every time.

B-side is Skee-lo's I wish over a cut-up, jerky ska track that doesn't really work for me. Never mind.

Lefside and Esco - Tuck In Yu Belly 7"

Young Legends. 2008

A nice slab of sexist dancehall ragga. Nice instrumental riddim on the backside - Throw Back Giggy.

Should keep the booty swayin' all night.

Another round of 7"s at the end of row 3hree...

The Fall - White Lightning (Single)

Phonogram/Cog Sinister SINCD6. 1990

Floor stomping version of the Big Bopper tune.

Three other tracks are ok.

The Fall - This Nat-ion's Saving Grace

Beggar's Banquet BBL67CD. 1985

And here we have it. The one Fall album I really like.

Decent yet still slightly shoddy production. A good proportion of songs that aren't that one grating riff. Real tunes.

Chuck in a Can pisstake (I am Damo Suzuki), which even makes a Can-ite like myself smile, and we have a winner.

It's all good, but Spoilt Victorian Child, L.A., Gut of the Quantifier, Bombast, actually I'll stop there or I'll end up just typing out the track list.

My new house.... you should SEEEE-EEEEE my new house! Keep AWAAA-AAAY from my new house.

The Fall - The Light User Syndrome

Trojan/Jet JETCD1012. 1996

They lose a lot of their charm with lavish(ish) production.

It shows how poor the songs actually are.

The Fall - Hip Priest and Kamerads

Situation Two BBL13CD. 1988

The non-live tracks are canny.

Just goes to show you don't need to be a musician to be in a successful band.

If anyone can sit through the whole 15:20 of And This Day without a break there's something wrong with them.

The Fall - Perverted By Language

Cog Sinister COGVP104CD. 1998

Unlike a lot of people, it isn't Mark E Smith's voice that bugs me about The Fall. It's that most of the songs are one short simple riff banged out over and over, and that riff is normally written specifically to agitate whoever is listening to it.

I do quite like this one, even though Eat Y'self Fitter is exactly as described above.

It's just as well Brix was a sexpot as she can't sing at all.

Can't argue with the quality of song titles though. I Feel Voxish. Hexen Definitive/Strife Knot. Class.

£4.99 in J.G. Windows' sale.

The Fall - Oswald Defence Lawyer

Receiver RRCD213. 1996

I'm quite picky with The Fall.

This is all live.

I'm even pickier with live stuff.

Bad combination.

Though this has some great songs on it, the live thing just doesn't do it for me.

Flux of Pink Indians - Strive To Survive / Neu Smell

One Little Indian. 1997

I suppose I'm just not angry enough for this nowadays.

Annoying after a while.