Instrumental albums

Instrumental albums are pretty dull. They usually consist of endless 'twiddly twiddly' guitar solos, followed by a keyboard solo followed by another guitar solo. And each track lasts about 20 minutes. Dull. Just listen to a 'Yes' album.

So just be thankful that people like Brandon Duncan aka Sterilizer exist. The debut album 'Sterilizer' is brutal,intense. It grabs hold like a rottweiler, shakes you violently from side to side for 25 minutes then spits you out, but wanting more of the same. A lot more.

Thumping drums, abrasive riffs and a great use of samples all go to make this a great record. Head over to the website Expiring Sun for more info. Can't wait for the follow up.

 

It's amazing what you find....

...when you're having a rummage through things. Back in the 90's, I spent a few years in Japan. I saw a number of bands while I was there - the Massive Attack all night show in Shinjuku (新宿）will always be remembered as a damn good night, and Mark Stewart and the Mafia for being so loud I couldn't hear for what seemed like weeks afterwards.Then there was Lee 'Scratch' Perry.....
Anyway, I just found this..

 1992 - Nakano Sun Plaza (中野　サンプラザホール） - Nirvana. I think I'd been in Japan for about 3 months. One of my work colleagues lent me 'Nevermind' and asked if I'd like to go and see them. One of the best decisions I've ever made. I don't remember too much about the show, but I do remember them trashing the stage after about an hour and disappearing. I believe there's an audience recording of the show floating about on the interweb somewhere. Here's some Nirvana...

'Tis the season part 2

I know all this Xmas nonsense can really be a pain in the arse but the thought of people being homeless and sleeping rough right now is sobering to say the least. The good people at Failure By Design records have released a compilation of wonderful music to purchase and all the proceeds go to Crisis - so that less people end up on the streets this Xmas. You can get the compilation here. Great music and good cause. What's not to like?

Compilation 3

Check out the FBD Records Facebook page. Tells you all you need to know.

Find out more about what Crisis does here

Crisis

'Tis the season....

At this time of year, every time I step outside my house I have to endure endless Xmas songs and carols. It doesn't matter where I go - they are always there, along with the shop staff wearing Santa hats and tinsel around their necks. And then there's the office party.Please - these people are not my friends.I do not wish to go drinking and eating with them.January cannot come too soon.

As an antidote to the endless Xmas drivel and carols/devotional stuff, here's some Breaking Point

Monstorous album. If this doesn't get you bouncing off the walls, then nothing will.Do the boys a favour  - listen.Buy.Share.

Baah humbug....

 

Black Friday

Black Friday is a recent introduction to the UK and, I believe was introduced by Amazon. The sight of people fighting over what they perceived to be bargains probably shouldn't shock or amaze I suppose,given the horrible materialistic state of the society we are part of. Anyway, if you want a really good Black Friday deal that doesn't involve getting into a fight, get yourself over to Count Your Lucky Stars Records where you can get 20% off goods from the web store or even download a whole load of jolly good music for free (or pay them what you can).

More vinyl

Thank you, thank you,thank you to the good people of Banquet Records in Kingston (UK) for getting the vinyl versions of 

and

to me pretty damn pronto.I feel a visit to the shop coming on......
If you've not heard LP3 yet, then it's well worth a listen.

Smith and.....

Every now and then a band reaches your ears that makes you really sit up and take notice. I present to you now The Smith Street Band. This is how they describe themselves

"We are a shitty band from Melbourne who enjoy mock meat and alcohol. We play heaps of shows and tour lots because it's fun. We have two albums out on Poison City Records, "Sunshine & Technology" and "No One Gets Lost Anymore" and a 7" out on Jackknife called "South East Facing Wall". If you want us to play anywhere/time we will (do our best to). Love you". 

A couple of inaccuracies in that description. The band is anything but shitty. In fact, they are f**cking top notch. Catchy, sing-along punk rock tunes with lyrics that ring so true. And you know what? They sound (and look) like they are having FUN. Music needs more bands like this.
The other slight inaccuracy is that there is no mention of the new record "Throw me in the river". If you live in the UK, order it from Banquet Records  , play really loud and sing along.
If you're still not convinced how good The Smith Street Band is, watch this 
or
this

 

Godflesh mmmmm.....

It's arrived. I am happy.The vinyl version of the new Godflesh album is here. I first saw Godflesh supporting The Revolting Cocks in London in about 1990. I'd heard the Peel Session that they had recorded and felt it was quite unlike anything I'd heard in a long time. I went out and purchased 'Steetcleaner'.The chance to then see them live with RevCo was too good to ignore. If my memory is correct we were expecting Godflesh to be the 2nd of 3 bands on stage. In fact they played first. Unfortunately it's not the Godflesh performance that I remember most vividly about the evening - rather the strippers that accompanied The Revolting Cocks on stage and having to sprint to catch the last train home from London Waterloo station. 

Fast forward a number of years and 'A World Lit Only By Fire' arrives direct from the band.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the best part of 25 years between Streetcleaner and this album would have seen the band mellow a little (especially listening to JKB's other project, Jesu). No. Not one bit. Call this industrial or metal or whatever, Godflesh have produced one of the finest, heaviest albums I've heard in a long time. From the opening thunderous baseline in 'New Dark Ages' to the closing,slower paced 'Forgive Our Fathers', there is no let up form the bass and riff assault. It's good to see them back and on form. 

Something I like, or more accurately, a website that I like enormously is Bandcamp

There is so much great music on here from so many talented musicians. Put aside a couple of hours, sign up and browse. No doubt as this blog develops, I shall be posting links to bands/albums/tracks from Bandcamp. Really - do your ears a favour and follow the link

In the beginning

I have no idea where this will end up or what will appear here. Google was kind enough to give me this site, so I thought I may as well use it and just see what develops. The likelihood of it being important, intellectual, artistic or even slightly valuable is small. It'll probably end up containing the things I like, the things I hate and the things that keep me amused in a world that can be so depressing at times. A tiny place in cyberspace......