Various ‘Créer le Monde ou le Détruire’

01 A. D. Eker Ain’t That Funny (4:51)
02 Adamczyk Psychologue Cités (3:56)
03 The Drum Fondu Too Much Smog (4:02)
04 Andreas Bick Pinke Zweimal (3:35)
05 Brume Armaghedon (3:48)
06 Mike Shannon Und (5:18)
07 Daas Thar (4:37)
08 La Contrariante Une Journée Bête (2:16)
09 Jeremy Clarke The Mad Man (2:13)
10 Wunderlich Ausgang Défaillances (7:19)
11 Charles Rice Goff III People Make the World Go Round (5:32)
12 Voodoo Muzak Blood, Meat & Flesh (5:11)
13 Rwa Différemment (2:00)
14 In Zhe Gaza Megakitsch Smash (2:10)
15 Dark Star Disaster Area II (4:48)

Total time 60:00
Cassette released by Ensemble Vide, Bordeaux, France, 1992

Radio host and writer Laurent Boyer created his Ensemble Vide Editions imprint in the late 1980s in Bordeaux to release zines, journals, chap books and cassettes. During the mid-1990s, he was the editor of Hello Happy Taxpayers magazine and ran various shows on local radio, including ‘La Vie au Grand Hertz’ and ‘La Bouche’ shows. On Ensemble Vide, he published rare writings by Stendhal, Céline, De Sade or Noam Chomsky, but also translations of Joy Divison’s lyrics [+]. Through a large network, he had connections with many bad boys of the French underground, such as controversial mail artist and collagist Philippe Pissier or scatological songwriter Jean-Louis Costes, but also with people abroad like Lloyd Dunn of Photostatic fame. ‘Créer le Monde ou le Détruire’ (for Create the World or Destroy It, after Cioran) is an international compilation of artists Boyer used to play in his radio shows and got connected with through mail. As this compilation tape also illustrates, Boyer was fond of Nihilist writers like E.M. Cioran, Nietzsche or Céline, a fondness he associated with uncompromising music and grating sounds. Most artists here contribute songs in one form or another, often with heavy-handed drum machine (like opener killer track by A. D. Eker aka De Fabriek), some with acoustic guitar and vocals (like the extraordinary Jeremy Clark song), some with elaborate synth programing (Wunderlich Ausgang). There’s also a bunch of experimental tracks in rapid succession by Brume, Mike Shannon and Daas. Download link includes 20pp booklet scans.

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General Strike ‘Danger in Paradise’

01 Interplanetary Music (3:42)
02 The Fatal Glass (2:46)
03 Next Day (1:28)
04 Babycart to Hell (2:38)
05 Snowdrops (3:44)
06 The Barkless Dog (4:23)
07 Guided Missiles (4:17)
08 My Other Body (3:50)
09 Bamboo House of Dolls (3:26)
10 Interplanetary Dub (3:02)
11 We Travel the Spaceways (3:25)
12 Friendless Animals (1:04)
13 Sea Hunt (4:09)
14 Danger In Paradise (3:15)

Total time 45:00
Cassette released by Touch, TO:02, UK, 1984

While the CD reissue of this cassette has been posted on a dozen or so blogs, the tape itself offers a different experience, as original artwork, tracklisting and Richard Cook’s liner notes all provide a different context to the music. Steve Beresford and David Toop were frequent collaborators during the 1970s, either on the Obscure label or on Toop’s own Quartz label, with such releases as Steve Beresford’s cassette Three Pullovers in 1975 ; Beresford, Eastley, Burwell & Toop Whirled Music, in 1979 ; or Alterations (incl. Steve Beresford) Up Your Sleeve LP, in 1980. A classically-trained piano player, Beresford got involved with the British improvisation scene in the 1970s, especially with the Company group and festival (many records on Incus). In the early 1980s, Toop and Beresford were members of David Cunningham’s band the Flying Lizards, whose 1984 LP Top Ten on Statik, was entirely made of covers. As General Strike, the duo crafted elaborated miniatures from dub-like bass-lines, exotic keyboards and toy instruments, throwing in many references to dub, film music, Riuychi Sakamoto’s neo-classicism (on #3 Next Day), Sun Ra on 3 covers (where Lol Coxhill contributes saxophone). The Sun Ra covers are minimalist and playful – the Shy Ones play Fire Music, sort of. The track My Other Body, is probably a remix of General Strike’s first 7” single My Body, produced by David Cunningham, and definitely sounds like a Flying Lizards’ outtake, hence its choice as the opener for the CD version on Cunningham’s own Piano Records in 1996. #12 Friendless Animals sounds like a Pierre Bastien track out of the first Mecanium 1988 LP. Jon Wozencroft and Panni Charrington designed the booklet in a decidedly Cold War mood which is a little puzzling compared to the music but adds another dimension to the tracks.

Download [incl. 24pp booklet + postcard scans]

General Strike discography
1979 My Body, 7”, Canal 01
1985 Danger In Paradise, cassette Touch TO2
1985 ‘Reach For N’ on Myths 2 LP, Sub Rosa

See also:
Steve Beresford, Kabuki Kore CD, kkcd11, 2002 >
David Toop/Max Eastley New and Rediscovered Musical Instruments >

Penguins In Heat ‘Victim of the Times’

01 Victim of the Times (2:57)
02 No Place Like Home (3:29)

Total time 6:26
7in released by Risqué Records, HAK 6-88, USA, 1988

Howie Kestell: guitars, keyboards, vocals
Joe Pasteris: drums

Exquisite pop-rock single from 1988 by Penguins In Heat, the duo of Howie (Howard A.) Kestell and Joe Pasteris, out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Appears to be Penguins In Heat’s only recording and the 2 musicians only output, for that matter. Pasteris played drums while Kestell played everything else and composed the songs. The A side is a classic, catchy pop-rock number with energetic guitar parts, think Rik Ocasek’s The Cars, for instance. #2 No Place Like Home is a melancholic, New Wave-y song reminiscent of The Stranglers’ La Folie – French lyrics included. A personal favorite from way back when.

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Robert Hollis/Christopher Swartz ‘ISO’

01 Clockwork (4:02)
02 Since The Begining Of Time (5:16)
03 Shining (4:42)
04 Faith And Reason (2:27)
05 Pedestrian (5:00)
06 The Greeting (5:00)
07 Crosstalk (3:48)
08 Lagoon (4:52)
09 Riot (3:25)
10 Out Of The Fog (3:54)

Total time 42:15
LP released by Perimeter Records, P-001, Atlanta, GA, 1986

Perimeter Records was founded by Chris Swartz and Robert Hollis in 1986. Between 1987-1993, they released annual free promotional Christmas cassettes documenting the Atlanta underground scene, as well as compilations like the 1987 ‘Nine Underground’ LP, the latter including Swans’ singer Jarboe. Most of the material published by Perimeter was apparently recorded by Doug Hughes’ Solar Wind studio in Atlanta. The duo of Chris Swartz and Robert Hollis released 3 full-length LPs in the 1980s (see discography below). Both men were trained drummers and were known locally as instrument builders. Swartz designed the instruments, some made out of PVC, like this WNYC show demonstrates with an excerpt from their 2nd LP (mp3 here, from46:45 on). Self-build instruments were probably more apparent on Music for Homebuilt Instruments, than on ISO, their first release. The latter is still infused by New Wave-y keyboards and 2-notes bass lines, though the duo cleverly stays clear from easy songwriting – vocals are recited/read, not sung, for instance. Most (but not all) percussion is played by Swartz, while synths are played by Hollis. The use of library and documentary recordings add depth to some compositions. The last 3 tracks particularly stand out on this album: #8 ‘Lagoon’ has soft and mysterious maracas and wind chimes on a background of waves breaking on a shore. #9 ‘Riot’ superposes drums, synth and demonstration recordings, not unlike Heiner Goebbel/Alfred Harth’s famous ‘Berlin, Q-Damm 12.4.81′. The last track, ‘Out of the Fog’, is a mystical conclusion with drums a la Ummagumma and long-held synth notes. Chris Swartz also played drums with King Kill 33, Pineal Ventana or Broken Symmetry, amongst others. I wish I could find a copy of Music for Homebuilt Instruments one day.

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Chris Swartz and Robert Hollis discography:

• ISO (LP), Perimeter Records, 1986
• Music for Homebuilt Instruments (LP), Perimeter Records, date?
• 11 x 2 (LP), Perimeter Records, date?

Luciano Margorani ‘Home Recording Is Killing Studios’

01 Hop-Frog! (2:52)
02 Contrattempi (1:07)
03 Man with a Million (2:23)
04 Binocolo (3:14)
05 La meccanica dei fluidi (2:06)
06 Cappelli di carta (to Charles Ives) (2:08)
07 Il mondo nuovo (1:14)
08 1919 (:50)
09 Ridens (1:11)
10 Orbiston Parva (2:49)
11 Nodi (2:03)
12 Dirigible Nobile (3:25)
13 Focke Wülf 190.D (3:22)
14 Barbara Sukowa (2:15)

Total time 31:00
LP released by AYAA, France, 1989

After the first two La 1919 albums (his duo with Piero Chianura) in 1985 and 1987, Milanese Luciano Margorani, born 1961, went on to release his first solo album, ‘Home Recording Is Killing Studios’ on French label AYAA. His solo output retains some of La 1919’s characteristics: elaborated guitar parts with drum machine and keyboards, plus extraneous noises and found sounds. Thanks to the A.D.N. label and a few others, the worlds of industrial rock and avant-rock started to mingle a little, though I’m not sure the audience of the mid-1980s was actually ready for this kind of crossover. On ‘Home Recording…’, Margorani collected poetical sketches on guitar and Casio CZ 101 he recorded in 1987. The tracks are more focused than La 1919’s and the sound more polished, closer to the Fred Frith/Henry Kaiser duos. Like the former, Margorani is able to bring new ideas and surprising twists in his guitar playing, and to keep it exciting throughout. Both Margorani and La 1919 resumed publishing discs in the 21st century with several new releases each.

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Luciano Margorani solo discography:
1989 ‘Home recording is killing studios’ LP, AYAA
2002 ‘Solo concert’ CD-R, BoZo
2003 ‘Dopotutto’ CD-R, BoZo
2004 ‘My favorite strings’ CD, Isinaz
2005 ‘ ;-)’ CD-R, BoZo
2008 ‘Pseudocanzoni’ CD, BoZo

E ‘Live’

01 PRIOR (3:36)
02 ÚAN (Malá zkouška, Nastupiste, Absolutni Trenažér) (5:32)
03 Jen vyvlíkam hlávu z kruhu (2:17)
04 Uvnitř žárovky (1:27)
05 Nevzpomenu (1:32)
06 A on zde je a krmí tĕ (2:05)
07 Jeď (2:27)
08 Ať jsi nebo nejsi mluvím s tebou (4:11)
09 U váhy (3:42)
10 Marnost (5:17)
11 Cizí vize (4:22)
12 Žnec Kosí (3:02)

Total time 39:30
LP released by Aske Globus International (aka Globus), Praha, CR, 1990

Vladimir Kokolia: voice, lyrics, dance
Josef Ostřanský: el. guitar, hi-hat
Vladimir Václavek: bass, snare drum, drum

Moravian avant-rock trio E consisted of two members of Dunaj – a band that also included Iva Bittová and Pavel Fajt – teaming up with painter and poet Vladimir Kokolia (see official website). Josef Ostřanský and Vladimir Václavek possibly wanted to escape the more formated Dunaj song format to venture into art rock and performance territory. That E liked risky configurations can be seen in the fact this disc, their first LP, was recorded live (Brno, Feb. 15th, 1990) and each member played various instruments at the same time – remember this when you hear the first track: there’s no drummer. The interplay between guitar and bass is faultless, from elaborate melodic counterpoints to noisy guitar walls. Their style displays the usual Czech trademarks, with angular, Cubist patterns and melancholic mood. Detailed information on E here.

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Out Of Standard !! France 2

01 Denier Du Culte Au carrefour des directions infinies (3:24)
02 Déficit Des Années Antérieures Idée pour 6 guitares (14:00)
03 Moly Assassins d’eau douce (4:14)
04 Die Form Oltre (3:40)
05 Aversion Sonore Entity (3:24)
06 Orient Express Théorèma (3:14)
07 Toupidek Limonade Margot ( 4:24)
08 Société des Timides à la Parade des Oiseaux Sans titre (1:31)
09 Société des Timides à la Parade des Oiseaux Décompte (2:06)

Total time 40:00
Cassette+booklet released by ADN, #CC5, Italy, 1987

Another issue in the Out Of Standard !! series from ADN Tapes (see previous post of Italy 2), this one features French bands from the post-industrial rock scene as well as a few French luminaries who happen to be personal favorites, like DDAA, La STPO and Toupidek Limonade. DDAA contributes an unusual, massive guitar trio, apparently a track from a live performance including the 3 members on guitar, each duetting with a video of prerecorded guitar parts. I’m told this was the live set up of a few performances at the time. Toupidek Limonade starts with sad, detuned piano notes before their usual mysterious guitar parts and Pataphysical vocals (a grotesque love song) take the lead. The track was added to the CD reissue of ‘Il Y A Des Nuits’ cassette, on In Poly Sons. Interestingly, both Die From and La STPO use German language in their tracks. Nice surprise from Orient Express, a band I’m unfamilar with, with a mix of decent new wave, exotic synth loop and cute female vocals. On the other hand, a few contributions do sound like some Dungeons & Dragons soundtrack to me, but this is OK. Scans of the booklet included.

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Ron Anderson ‘Fever Dream’

01 Fever Dream (4:39)
02 The Point (6:35)
03 Three Friends Remembered (1:27)
04 Eastern Blues (5:48)
05 Closed Door An Open Door (7:04)
06 Visions Of Sand And Eyes (2:33)
07 Rainwater (9:48)

Total time 37:45
LP released by Tragic Mule, NY, 1987

Ron Anderson: guitars, bass, synths, percussion, drum, programming, vocals
Ken Clare: alto & soprano saxophones
Ed Rollin: oboe, english horn, tenor saxophone
Kathy Life, Oren Bloedow, Toby Crocket: vocals

Ron Anderson lived in New York from 1982 to 1989 before relocating to San Francisco to launch his famous power trio The Molecules (see discography). In NY he played in no wave bands Rat At Rat R and Yellow Tang, while helding improvised music sessions in his Brooklyn studio. Tragic Mule was Anderson’s own label, later to release the first Molecules CD in 1991. His first solo LP, ‘Fever Dream’ can be compared to Robert Horton’s early releases (see previous post) or Marten Ingle’s Tago Mago cassette (see here). It actually sounds like a lost classic, with its highly creative use of synth and reed instruments, clever synth and drum programming, a jazz sensibility, Asian and Middle-East music hints, and guitar solos a la Fred Frith ca ‘Cheap At Half The Price’. The music has ‘avantgarde’ written all over, though with a decidedly relaxed, West Coast flavor thanks to its clear-cut guitar parts, exotic keyboard sounds and great horn section throughout.

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