Dub, Experimental, RIP

Wild At Heart – David Lynch R.I.P.

Born in Missoula, Montana, on January 20, 1946 – Died Los Angeles, January 15, 2025.
Best known for directing the films “Eraserhead” (1977), “Blue Velvet” (1986), “Wild At Heart” (1990), the TV series “Twin Peaks” (1990-91, 2017) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001).
David Lynch was one of the great artists dabbling in the worlds of the bizarre, abstract and subconscious and dared to be different with varying success but true to his artistic visions. His influence in music and arts was immense as his sense in expression a wide range of emotions without compromising.

For anyone who cares, song being played is an altered version of Far Away Chant by African Head Charge.

Anarcho, DIY, Electronic, Experimental, Reissues

Transgerman Mind Configuration – Solanaceae Tau


[Berlin Wall, pictured by Tomas Val, London]

25 years ago one of the most tumultous phases in German history reached one of it’s highlights with a call for Unity in East Germany (GDR) shortly after the Berlin Wall was open.

It took less than a year (November 9th, 1989 to October 3rd, 1990) until the German Democratic Republic dissolved – one year which caused plenty of emotions; the fear of German Third Reich fantasies, strong right-wing tendencies and the prediction of heartless capitalism, loosing wealth and security and more. 1990 was a very intense year for all, the feeling of living in historical times paired with big question marks. Many promises where made concerning a bright future for all.
Many decisions where made hastily and from some of them we still suffer today.
In June Solanaceae Tau released this tapework, now available in a new redesigned and remastered edition by the talented hands and mind of Maurizio ‘Noisebrigade’ Pustianaz.

Solanaceae Tau reflected most of these themes from Fascism, Opression to Industrial Production vs. Individual Human Needs (not for the first or last time) in their 1990 album including historical quoatatios and unfiltered lyrics and the imminent feeling of pressure and change.

Nihilistick Noise Archive proudly combined this reissue – which still feels very current concerning various global incidents and trends – with a 3 track single, featuring an exclusive edit and an L.H.D. Remix.

Electronic, Nostalgia, Pop

History Repeats Itself – The Lebanon 1984

I recall hearing this the first time, a very unlikely Human League single showing once more a different angle after the 1983 summer hit synth funk of “Fascination” which kept the audience waiting until they lost any well, Hysteria in 1984.
The guitar driven 80’s pop and the less polished nearly alt rock appeareance of one of the prime players of electronic New Wave was a shock in April 1984. It showed a successfull group on the road into nowhere which would lead to the statesided successfull Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Production “Crash” and the pairing down to the core of Philip Oakey, Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall.

Also the blatant political message coupled with an minimal cover artwork (?) was a first and to my knowledge last for The League. Now, 40 years on the Lebanon conflict started all over again. It’s so sad seeing the news ….Will there ever be a peaceful solution for Palestina, Israel and the Lebanon?

Dub, Findings, Gothic, Post Punk

Spaghetti Western Dub

As I really can hardly remember when a review led me to record buying in the last few years contrary to my own research I think it’s worth to share this discovery I stumbled upon thanks to post-punk monkr’s feature. After reading this you need no more words added, just listen to yourself.
Here is the video to the 2nd single “Blood, Tears & Thunder” which I clearly envision on ltd. colored 7″ on RSD in a few years.

Find a chance to order your copy direct from Ratchet Blade Records at the Heathen Apostles bandcamp. The singer is Mather Louth from the Apostles, Scott Choper Franklin’s main project of southern goth rock.

Bu if you can’t get enough of this style I advise to get hold of the heavily instrumental ‘Return To Gringo’ by Mutant HiFi & Prince Fatty from a few years back which sadly beared never a follow up until now…

Coil, Electronic, Experimental

Looking Backwards & Further

The last year was the year I finally gave in and accepted that I’m getting older. I listened as usual to a lot of music in all formats, but what excited me most with only a bunch exceptions where lost & found reissues actually with some current releases of old names thown in.

DVA

The year started quite promising with a Sign from Adi Newton as Clock DVA, together with his recent partner in crime TeZ and affiliates Rizosfera the first new DVA album since an eternity after various singles and remixes spread into the world since reactivation ca. 2014. ‘Neosis’ came in various formats, CD was my choice as it beared more content in form of 4 extra tracks. Marketing was on spot this time arround, various limited packages and appeareances accompanied this event and I had quite high expectations. In the long run I listened to it only a few times, musicwise it was exactly what one can expect from Clock DVA, the sonority of Adi’s vocal, semi Kraftwerkian coldness and dark hints between tech and occultism. Actually a solid but not surpsrising album I would have listened more often if it hadn’t gone lost due it’s unhandy A5 digipak folder ArmComm settled on as standard with it’s releases so they need to be stored somewhere other than in a current pile.
Besides he also released solo compositions and various collaboration, check adinewton.bandcamp.com , Spectral Unit (with Enrico Marani), Psychophysicst (without A. McKenzie) and The Anti Group with some more elusive stuff from the archives via a subsription option.
On a sidenote : BEF’s “Music For Stowaways” feat. Adi on one track was finally reissued with all tracks included that where on this and the “Music For Listening To” issues on CD/LP/DL via Cold Spring.
After years of silence a hell of activity, but at least some new material after VOD most likely published every single tape recording from the beginnings in three boxed LP sets starting from 2012-2019. Sorry Adi but this was too much for my bank account so I gave up in completing DVA/TAG.

Another band I gave upon collecting after years was COIL, there where just to much reissues, remasters, half-legal attempts and color variations with few new tracks I obviously had to have. As much as I welcome their music and legacy being widely available I felt amibigious about “Queens Of The Circular Library” being forced on Vinyl. This was always meant to be listened to as a whole as I understood it and not split in sections. To a lesser degree the same applies to ‘Tunnel Of Goats’ from “Constant Shallowness Leads To Evil” but imho this was best experienced live anyway. Coming in March via Dais is “Moon’s Milk (In Four Phases)”, the compilation of their 4 solstic EP’s published (of course in various variations) throughout 1998 together with the 2002 appendix of the bonus disk added to the Eskaton 2CD Reissue. This might be one of the last offerings as all releases when Drew McDowall and / or Thigpaulsandra (excluding the live ones) where involved are available now again. Danny Hyde seems to have published all his outtakes and mixes too so the big question is still open : Will their 80’s releases and early Albums up to “Love’s Secret Domain” ever be reissued ?
As of now VOD announced a John Balance 8LP Box Set in a woodcase with t-shirt and whatever determined to be a collectors item containing earliest recordings and collaborations and earliest Coil (solo & with Sleazy) in two editions, regular version 666 copies + 133 extra limited ones which can’t be purchased without the other. Most likely this is the last of his Vinyl endavours as the gobal postage and economical pressures took his toll. We’ll see, as next project he’s announced CD Box Sets already and if they’re made with the same care they can’t be bad.

Photo: VOD

At least David Kenaan’s English Hidden Reverse Book on Current 93 / Nurse With Wound and Coil got finally a repress via Strange Attractor with some expansions now and hopefully a little more Coil and less C93 content now but as far as I read it’s only already published material about artists who interesected with them originally as Furfur. But of course it’s not over with Memorabilia to be plundered, Timeless Editions published a facsmile collection of pages from John Balance’s notebooks. See for other items in various editions for your pleasure if interested.

Drew McDowall, who had left Coil and the UK after “Musick To Play In The Dark I”, published a 6CD Box Set including his 4 solo Albums with added Live and Outtake Recordings via Dais. Just after I completed getting his 4 Vinyl / digital only Albums. I was still tempted, especially after his strong Lamina LP from 2020 and finally seeing him live in 2020 (post Covid restrictions) with his Time Machines interpretation.

While looking after the whereabouts of ex-Coil members there was also a remarkable release by Stephen Thrower with David Knight in the ongoing Modulism Series as digital only release in the guise of UnicaZürn. As all parts of the series linked to an extensive interview and additional photos. If you dig deeper you’ll find Thighpaulsandra there too with another exclusive release.

Electronic, Experimental, ffwd, Klappstuhl Records

2023 Activities : “View From Nowhere” ..

Self promotion is not really what I would call my strenght. Anyway, there is a need to sum up what happened since the last Klappstuhl releated post now.
Anyway, here is a slight look back on another year Klappstuhl & releated Activities:

January started with a compilaton of loose tracks from MIK@ issued via con area Hand Made which is for now a PWYW release.

February and May saw the next remastered reissues of Frankfurt’s cyber goth Project Solanaceae Tau on nihilistick noise archive .Each Album accompanied by a free digital single. The next release sadly came to an halt due to the untimely death of singer Katmaina this Autumn. Shocked and sad we will continue to present the legacy as good as possible, also in memory of Axaxas who left earth the year before.

On Klappstuhl April and June where highlights unearthing an unpublished Siegmar Fricke electro EP, recorded back in 1999 and the definitive Version of the Pharmatrance Album by his and Heike Böhm’s project A:M:B, both freshly mastered , licensed from the ever evolving pharmakustik both featuring original artworks by Siegmar Fricke.

A radio show featuring among others Siegmar Fricke, D.S.I.P. and A:M:B by Mr. Ebu from FFM (who still has a wide open heart for the Casssette Culture and more). Follow on Mixcloud is now listenable online at:

August came and with it my personal favourite – ‘View From Nowhere’ which is a great double album documenting the recent sound developments of ungarian electronic dub maestro OhmikRon following 2022’s ‘Pandemic Dub’ also on Klappstuhl and ‘Broader Spectrum’ (via ODrex Music, Berlin. Toying with an AI image Generator for the design gave it an extra fitting and futuristic touch. More can also be found at ohmikron’s page.

In Autumn all I could do was reworking the early Walt Thisney album ‘ThisContinuum’ for an reissue. Thanks once more to Maurizio for his work beyond the call of duty which gave this retro futuristic collection a fresh neonlike sound.

Thiscover more recent works by Walt via his site which seemed dormant for a while but got recently updated with new releases.

On a releated note Marco Milaneso of DsorDNE also deep dived into his archives and published two soundtracks, commissioned for original theater productions MARAT SADE and RED by Nevio Gambula back in the mists of time.e 8 tracks extracted from soundtracks specially made for theater works in 1989 from the Acqualuce Studio tape archive and remastered, two tracks have also been remixed from the original tapes, at O.F.F. Studio, Torino.

As far for now, I wish all a better year than the last one.

Electronic, KLF, Reissues, Trance

Avoiding Reissues [More Or Less] with THE KLF

Trying hard to keep their artistic vision intact and their promise intact not reissuing the KLF COMMUNICATIONS back catalouge still more than 23 Years after they where a big household name the music can only be streamed and now the Videos & Footage can be seen once more, “including The White Room (1989), The Rites of Mu (1991), narrated by Martin Sheen and the previously unreleased Krash (1992). Also included are the world famous music videos for the hit singles 3 A.M. Eternal, What Time is Love? and Justified & Ancient”.

KLF

Extras include A Chance to Play with the Big Toys (2023, 41 mins): director and producer Bill Butt is interviewed by Mick Houghton, publicist for The KLF, KLF: Unfinished (1992, 29 mins): Robert Milton-Wallace’s fly-on-the-wall documentary about the making of The KLF’s music videos & This Is Not What The KLF Is About (1991, 15 mins): a short film not directed by The KLF, capturing the making of Stadium House Trilogy which was available on VHS an Age ago (and I should still have somewhere while not even having an player for it at hand).

DIY, Dub, Electronic, Findings

Take Off with Sumac Dub

Sumac Dub is a project of Tom Dorne from Grenoble, France I stumbled upon already a few times while digging the French Electro Dub, Future Dub, Steppa and Modern Reggae releases. Promoted by the very interesting and active ODG Productions (On Dub Ground Prod.), Subsquad Prod who release a.o. an excellent City/Area themed compilation series not to forget the brilliant Mareé Bass label which also dives into bass music / drum and bass or many smaller ones or self-released Productions (thanks to the interwebs). Besides his collaborations which are common allover this scene with Ishiban, Full Dub, Kandee, Kanka and The Maucals to name just a few. He released already three full length albums and at least 4 EP’s since 2015. Very melodic stuff and a pleasure to discover. Also on soundcloud and youtube to find easily.

This is his latest single – live recorded while paragliding – Enjoy.

Video credits:

Artist: Sumac Dub
Venue: Lans En Vercors
Produced by: Yapouss Production and ODGPROD
Realization: Traym Production
Cameramen: Panot Prod, Arya Audiovisuel, Théo De Framond (Pastek Studio), Guilhem Sauvage, Gabriel Boulay.
Drone pilots: Théo De Framond (Pastek Studio)
Pilots: Etienne Lavarenne, Mélanie Forestier, Pierre Augier
Production team: Killian Hallier, Etienne Lavarenne, Tom Dorne
Bénévoles: Adrien, Antonin, Corto, Dean, Dorian, Emelieke, Louis
Partners: Alto, Arturia, Lans en Vercors

Mastering: Olo
Special thanks to Camille, Paul, Simon, Xris, La Tangente, Vercors Experience

Anarcho, Post Punk

Savage Republic – Exodus

While Bruce Licher’s Independent Project Records jumped back into live during the last years with impressive actions involving all social media channels and publishing new material in famously handcrafted and printed designs the 2nd incarnation of Savage Republic which started back in 2002 after regrouping to promote the Complete Studio Box Set Reissue of the Albums and Singles up to Customs seems to be fizzling out now.. a mere 20 years and and another 4 Studio Albums later.

A new live album is annocunced via Gustaff Records from Poland recorded during their last European tour which ended as recent as of this January while a recording of the first incarnation as Africa Corps was already issued via IPR in late 2022.

Alongside this video of the title track from their most recent album Thom Fuhrmann announced that he quit in early August.

This leaves Ethan Port of Mobilization and F-SPACE as the longest serving member (since 1985) together with Kerry Downling and Alan Waddington most likely in an unfortunate position as Thom F. had taken over most lead vocals and guitars during the last years.
We’ll see if there will be more to come or not. Any incarnation of the band had a good run and an impressing output over the years so for now: thanks a lot guys.

lost in musick II