Noise Architects

Grim. Norwegian. Immortal.

2009-10-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

Because you must... Ulver

2009-09-02T03:56:00.000-07:00

Cannot wait... seriously.

2009-08-26T07:15:00.001-07:00

Bats album launch.

2009-08-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

The eagerly anticipated album launch from Dublin's own Bats occurs this Saturday and is unlikely to disappoint. For extra fun join us and the tower crew for The Redneck Manifesto's first gig in well over a year in Whelans before the bats gig.

BATS 'Red In Tooth & Claw' Promo from Rupert Morris on Vimeo.

Some mixes for you all...

2009-08-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QCHPLQS5
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2PBLA6FC

This isn't NME... P A R T T H R E E

2009-08-26T05:28:00.001-07:00

I realise that this could probably go on for some time, but here's installment number 3 anyway...

Refused: very few bands release albums as important as Refused's The Shape of Punk to Come and then split up before they can even get the credit for the masterpiece they created. After the group disbanded they ordered all 'stupid reporters' and magazines to burn any pictures they had of them, as Refused were 'fucking dead'.
Jeff Walker, he was in Carcass, surely that's enough?Jerry Garcia: Legendary guitarist from the Grateful Dead, met a sad end but while he was here represented everything that was cool to come out of the summer of love. His death was felt across the globe.
Arthur Lee: Singer on one of the greatest psychedelic rock albums of all time, Love's Forever Changes, Lee met his end at the age of 61 in 2006 due to leukemia. Sadly Lee was in the midst of a comeback before illness struck.
Double Leopards: Tape loops, drones, mouth noise, feedback and even the odd flute. Brooklyn's Double Leopards, certainly a less abrasive variety of the 'No Fun' league replace out and out noise for more 'mystical' drones. Certainly the highlight of a crowded 'wannabe' scene.

Magik Markers: With a rather large back catalog of CD-Rs and other releases it was 2007s Boss released on Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label that earned the band respect of music press world wide. Their noise based rock and haunting vocals make them shoo ins for fans of something a little less straight forward.

Bloglovin

2009-08-26T05:23:00.001-07:00

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This isn't NME... P A R T T W O

2009-08-24T00:34:00.000-07:00

Continuing into the chasm of 'cool'...

Serge Gainsbourg: Poet, musician, actor, director, Gainsbourg has influenced countless musicians and been sampled by producers countless time worldwide. He was married to Jane Birkin, once burned a 500 Franc note as a protest against taxation and announced live on television that he wanted to 'fuck' Whitney Houston, while she was in the studio. Its hard for him not to be cool.
Keiji Haino [灰野敬二] defines the word 'experimental' and is a self proclaimed 'musical master'. His noise experiments range from psyched out rock dirges to looping drones to his on stage movement performances. He's cool, but you know that already.Ulver: hard to single out one of them, the trio have been pioneers of the Norwegian music scene for nearly two decades. From their early black metal 'trilogie' to their more experimental, current form, Ulver have constantly lived to smash all preconceptions of them and their music. As the band themselves noted; 'If this discourages you in any way, please have the courtesy to refrain from voicing superficial remarks regarding our music and/or personae. We are as unknown to you as we always were.'
Masami Akita of Merzbow: Noise merchant, frequency beast and animal activist. Has been filmed staging a musical 'performance' at an ancient temple in Korea, much to the displeasure of visiting tourists. Anyone who happily sits down to listen to one of his albums [that isn't Merzbuddha] from start to vision is deaf or demented or both.Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth: It's hard to leave any of Sonic Youth out of such a list for reasons that don't need explaining, but I'll begin with Mr Moore. And where to begin? 51 years of age, a member of one of the most pioneering and influential rock bands of our time and still going strong, releasing albums and performing. He does everything from pop to noise, how can you not like him?

Glenn Branca: Described by Kyle Gann as being of the school of 'totalist post minimalism' he's about as punk-rock as classical music can get. Certainly 'no wave' and certainly inspirational Branca coughs cool.

This isn't NME... P A R T O N E

2009-08-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Every year in the pages of NME the writers relish their roles as apparent know-alls of the music scene and inform us of their 'cool' list, a romp through every nu-rave and indie act in the UK, and as dull as it is informative. So, to counter their ineffable coolness, here are some faces I propse for the alternate 'cool' list.

Fenriz and Nocturno, aka Gylve Nagell and Ted Skjellum of Darkthrone. Long time pioneers of punk rock black metal. Their contribution to music is astounding but mostly goes unrecognised in the main stream music press.

Attila Csihar: Not only is he a member of the highly influential Mayhem, and was vocalist on that album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, Csihar has recently joined the ranks of 'funeral doom' duo Sunn 0))) and lent his vocals chords to, arguably, their greatest acheivement yet in Monoliths and Dimensions.

John Zorn, part musical genius, part complete lunatic, all jazz odyssey.

Genesis P-Orridge (born Neil Megson), of Throbbing Gristle and Psychic Youth. A [wo]man who has lent their whole life to artistic endeavour. The day Genesis P isn't 'cool' is the day mankind is fucked.

MF Doom aka Viktor Vaughn aka King Geedorah etc. So upset with the way the rap 'game' had changed in his absense, from lyrical skills to dollar bills, Daniel Dumile took on the persona of a super villain in order to out brag his hip hop counterparts, who were more concerned with money, cars and diamonds.

Morton Feldman; an inspirational composer and musician whose works and compositions are essential to contemporary classical music.

Karlheinz Stockhausen: little should need to be said about such an innovator as Stockhausen. His work has influenced every contemporary minimal artist under the sun and will continue to do so for generations.

The River - Kahlil Gibran

2009-08-20T13:42:00.001-07:00

In the valley of Kadisha where the mighty river flows, two little streams met and spoke to one another.
One stream said, "How came you, my friend, and how was your path?"
And the other answered, "My path was most encumbered. The wheel of the mill was broken, and the master farmer who used to conduct me from my channel to his plants, is dead. I struggled down oozing with the filth of laziness in the sun. But how was your path, my brother?"
And the other stream answered and said, "Mine was a different path. I came down the hills among fragrant flowers and shy willows; men and women drank of me with silvery cups, and little children paddled their rosy feet at my edges, and there was laughter all about me, and there were sweet songs. What a pity that your path was not so happy."
At that moment the river spoke with a loud voice and said, "Come in, come in, we are going to the sea. Come in, come in, speak no more. Be with me now. We are going to the sea. Come in, come in, for in me you shall forget you wanderings, sad or gay. Come in, come in. And you and I will forget all our ways when we reach the heart of our mother the sea."

2009-08-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Important black metal albums you really should own... Part 1 [In no particular order]

Emperor – In the Nightside Eclipse

The now legendary Emperor are an obvious choice for one of the most essential albums to any self respecting BM collector. Not only is Nightside... their first release, it is also one of the most influential albums to come out of the early days of black metal, as it defined the symphonic style that would continue to be a trait of much of the early Norwegian scene, something which could later be seen in the popularity of fellow Norsmen Dimmu Borgir and even their British, albeit more goth inspired couterparts, Cradle of Filth. Ask many fans what their favourite album is though, and most likely you will be met with the same reply; Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk. But in terms of importance, In the Nightside Eclipse is rarely rivalled.

Immortal – Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism

No I have not chosen At the Heart of Winter or Pure Holocaust, simply because I felt the importance of the debut albums of bands is unrivalled in what was such an early and important time for black metal. Released two years before Emperor’s debut, Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism is not Immortal’s greatest effort. In fact, at times the drums can slip slightly out of sink amidst the muddied guitars [a trait common with Immortal’s early releases]. However, it cannot be denied that Diabolical... bears huge influential significance. Only one of two of Immortal’s album’s to feature acoustic guitars, albeit sparingly, it defines the difference between black metal and the trashy Scandinavian death metal that was also popular at the time. Immortal’s debut reminds us that melody and folk influences are defining elements of early black metal.

Darkthrone – A Blaze in the Northern Sky

Its hard to pick just one Darkthrone album, especially as they are, hands down, my favourite band to emerge from the Norwegian scene, and I’m sure will feature many times in this topic, for various, logical [of course], reasons. I was tempted to begin with Soulside Journey, in keeping with my trend so far, but arguably it is not a black metal album, it is more an example of the death metal emerging from northern Europe at the time, and a good one at that. A Blaze in the Northern Sky , however, is 100% black metal and is a genre-must. Not only is it one of the bands best collection of songs; (‘Kathaarian Life Code’, ‘In the Shadow of the Horns’ and ‘The Pagan Winter’), it also embodies the the whole movement at the time. From the risque name (think arson and churches) to the corpse paint to sounding as if it was recorded in a forest, A Blaze... is a perfect example of the early days of one of the most exciting musical movements of our time.

Another Reason...

2009-08-20T07:58:00.001-07:00

ATP New York 2009 curated by The Flaming Lips & ATP - Line Up
FRIDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER

* The Jesus Lizard
* Iron & Wine
* Panda Bear (moved from Saturday)
* The Feelies - Performing Crazy Rhythms
* Dirty Three - Performing Ocean Songs
* Suicide - Performing Suicide (1st LP)
* The Drones - Performing Wait Long By The River And The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By

FRIDAY COMEDY STAGE - CURATED BY DAVID CROSS

* David Cross
* Eugene Mirman
* Jon Benjamin & Jon Glaser (The Fuggedabuddies)
* Derrick Brown and the Navy Gravy

SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER - CURATED BY ATP

* Animal Collective
* Sufjan Stevens
* Deerhunter
* Melvins
* Boss Hog
* El-P
* Dead Meadow
* Akron/Family
* Sleepy Sun
* Black Dice
* Antipop Consortium
* Autolux
* Atlas Sound
* Shellac
* Circulatory System
* Bridezilla
* Grouper

SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER - CURATED BY THE FLAMING LIPS

* The Flaming Lips
* Boredoms - Performing 9 drummer BOADRUM
* No Age with Bob Mould - Performing Hüsker Dü
* Caribou Vibration Ensemble
* Deerhoof with Martha Colburn
* Crystal Castles
* Super Furry Animals
* Boris - Performing Feedbacker
* The Low Lows
* Oneida presents The Ocropolis
* Black Moth Super Rainbow
* Menomena
* Hopewell
* Birds Of Avalon

Also...

* Cinema presented by Criterion
* All Tomorrow's Parties - The Film Screening
* Eric White Exhibition
* VBS Soft Focus Live: Ian Svenonius w/ Suicide, Melvins & more
* Games Room with Steve Albini
* Pop Quiz

A R E A SO N TO BE EXCITED...

2009-08-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Line Up:

Curated by My Bloody Valentine

* my bloody valentine
* Sonic Youth
* De La Soul
* E.P.M.D.
* Sun Ra Arkestra
* The Horrors
* Buzzcocks
* Spectrum
* Fucked Up
* Le Volume Courbe
* The Wounded Knees
* The Pastels
* J Mascis And The Fog
* Lilys
* A Place To Bury Strangers
* Witch
* Bob Mould
* Swervedriver
* Dirty Three
* Primal Scream
* Yo La Tengo
* Brightblack Morning Light
* Serena Maneesh
* The Membranes
* Ariel Pink
* Josh T. Pearson
* Lightning Bolt
* That Petrol Emotion

R E V I E W: Wind's Poem - Mount Eerie

2009-08-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

Black Metal, a genre close to my heart, has shifted continually since its birth in the early nineties in Norway. Initially black metal was a genre concerned with social upheaval, dark currents of anarchistic change and a string of arson's which culminated in a murder or two. Since such times the genre, despite the odds, has grown throughout the world. What once was an infamous sub genre of heavy metal, only popularized by its faults , spread across the globe, spurring international interpretations of this blackened art. The latest such interpretation comes from an unsuspecting source, this time in the shape of Phil Elverum of Microphones/Mount Eerie.

Wind’s Poem is not a typical trip into a black metal experience. Elverum, clearly a fan of the genre, has taken his own interpretation and committed it to tape. The opening track, the fittingly titled Wind’s Dark Poem would fit well amongst the collection of any black metal collector. The lo-fi growl of blasting guitars, typical of Elverum’s style, is as unrelenting as it is unsettling, contrasted only by Elverum’s soft voice amidst the drone of guitar noise. This theme continues throughout, Elverum’s voice offers stark contrast to the distorted instruments it accompanies.

But is Wind’s Poem a black metal album? No, not in the classical sense anyway. Wind’s Poem, however, is certainly a Microphones/Mount Eerie album, unmistakably so in fact., and is bound to please fans. Whether it will convert black metallers, on the other hand, is an entirely different question, one which must be answered with a resounding ‘no’. Thematically this is a black metal album, ask any patron of the genre and they will tell you that black metal is inextricably linked to nature and wilderness. Hence an album concerned with forests and wind ticks the boxes, but only in a thematic sense. Musically the same cannot be said, although there are moments of familiarity to the genre it is supposed to be echoing there are only vast similarities to Elverum’s previous work, even track 8, Between Two Mysteries, is a take on Twin Peak’s, leaving Elverum well beyond the realms of the darkened woods of Norway’s Fjords.

Wind’s Poem, is not a bad album, not at all, it is though a misleading one. I, who am not a particularly great fan of Elverum’s past work, was led to this album by a friend who is a staunch supporter of Mount Eerie and Microphones. Knowing my unending affection for black metal he pointed me this way, and although I feel as though I may have found a nice [sort of] neo-folk album for my collection, I certainly feel I have not found a black metal one.