S.E.T.I, Knowledge (1995, electronic ambient)

My favourite Lagowski's (here under the name S.E.T.I) recording, and one of his favourite too, according to a recent interview. Pure electronic ambient, but it's quite melodic, so you can try it even if you're not into drone / ambient things. Some really moving harmonies, especially the 3 track. It's definitely THE absolute "space music" experience.
This is the CD edition; curiously, track 4 doesn't appear on the LP (on mine at least).
Find it here, ripped at 192kbps.
Or on this direct rapidshare link (I'm getting bored with the problems with MassMirror).
Later I will post another Lagowki's album, "False Dawn", released under the name LEGION 3 years before.

AFTER DINNER, S/T + Editions (1983 / 1990, Japanese "avant-folk")

Reading Julian Cope's "JapRock Sampler", it's a japanese week for me. You should read it, it's an exciting story of the japanese underground from the late 60s to the early 80s.
Here is the 1st album by cult underground band from the 80s AFTER DINNER, whose female singer is particularly known for her talented voice. Hard to describe, it's a weird folk music mixed with theatrical influences and played in a rather dadaist way.
In addition to the 9 tracks of the album, the CD offers 9 tracks recorded live between 1986 and 1990 and that curiously may be more accessible for the newcomers.
Download this album here.
(and please report when the MassMirror links don't work).

MAHOOD, Granular Sintesis (minimal electronic soundscapes, 1997)

Yes, me, my music and myself. I've finally decided to post my own music, just in case (...of what?). I've never tried to send to any record label any of my recordings : unfinished, unprofessional, not long enough to make an album, there was each time a reason to keep them home. And I didn't have time.
But then blogs and rapidshare appeared. To my surprise, it seems that some you have downloaded my live session when I opened for PAN SONIC last october in Paris, so the same people may be interested in what I've recorded on my 4 or 8 tracks recorder in the past 12 years.
Here is a recording from 1997 that has partially inspired my last live session at Paris - Nouveau Casino. But no old synths here, only my computer (Mac Performa 6200 - just before the iMac era) and a simple software called "Sound Effects". This mini-LP was created using only sine waves transformed with basic effects (excepts the cymbals in the 1st track). I don't like the 1st track, a too basic drone that doesn(t evolve enough, but I'm particularly proud of tracks 3 and 4. It was mixed on the very basic 4 track Porta3 on a simple tape, which explains the sound quality - you have to play it a little louder than usual MP3 and CDs (thanks).
You can download these lo-fi electronic pieces here. Each comment will be appreciated, if any.

LE COIN PROMO

C'est sympa d'écouter de la musique gratos, mais parfois c'est pas mal non plus d'acheter ses loisirs. On fera donc de temps en temps l'éloge ici des choses qu'on a achetées - et aimées.
Jean-Paul Bourre, donc. Le "Guerrier du Rêve", comme il se décrit dans son extraordinaire et épique autobiographie - et qu'importe si son sens du roman l'emporte sans doute parfois sur la vérité. "Guerrier du Rêve" est l'histoire d'une vie abandonnée sans compromis (et jusqu'à un constat finalement plutôt amer) à l'aventure dans son sens le plus large. Où JP, donc, débutera l'aventure à jouer aux cowboys et aux indiens, pour se trouver aujourd'hui acteur-figure d'une contre-culture radicale et plus ou moins rock'n roll. Entre temps, il aura fait la route avec le Grateful Dead, dormi dans les rues avec les hippies de l'époque, tenté de s'acheter une conduite avec une conversion mystique dans un monastère catho, tenu des messes rouges ou noires au Père Lachaise, erré seul dans les bois sur les pas du Grand Meaulnes, parlé avec les Marsiens et les anciens en se branchant sur des pylones électriques, laissé parler des néo-nazis dans son émission sur Ici et Maintenant et à cet occasion défié le CSA, fait le nègre pour quelques ouvrages politiques (dont un de Dominique Baudis qui fit polémique), fait copain copain avec David Tibet de Current 93 (ce qui nous fait plaisir ici) et beaucoup d'autres... Génial et émouvant, il faut absolument l'avoir lu, c'est un grand récit.
Pour le compléter, on peut s'attaquer au plus récent, plus anecdotique mais guère moins puissant "Quand j'étais blouson noir", ou l'histoire plus détaillée de sa période ado, qui eût été "yé yé" chez certains, mais simplement "blouson noir" chez lui. C'est le récit toujours aussi épique d'un voyou d'Issoire qui vit l'aventure rock en grand, en vrai, sans faire semblant. Crevage de pneus et tirage de juppes sur fond de vintage rock (période "Chaussettes Noires", quand même...). Perturbant pour nous qui écoutons du rock rebelle au casque sur nos iPod.
Franchement, vous pouvez y aller banco pour l'un des deux livres, son écriture a la dynamique d'un grand roman d'aventure, on est constamment emporté et souvent touché, personne ne sera déçu. On doit les trouver chez le libraire, sinon, Amazon, ici et là
Et à bientôt pour un prochain coin promo.

ORAL CONSTITUTION, Piss Preik (1993, weird folk)

A kind of CURRENT 93 early follower from Norway, who had recorded before a excellent EP called "Bibel Preik" (limited edition of 600, but you can find it on the web).
In this first LP, there is this strange dark psych folk (and sometimes almost industrial) feeling that had seduced in spite of some ridiculous "gothic" tendencies. The compositions are not as good as in the EP, but the neo-psychedelic production is convincing, and could almost be considered as a pre-ANIMAL COLLECTIVE style (a band I don't really like though).
Download this curiosity (limited edition of 1000 CDs) here.

BEN'S SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA, live Paris Pop'In, 17.12.2004

Repost.
Best french pop band of the 2000's in my opinion, I don't understand why they are not more known. Everyone should have their 2nd album "Drifting" (you can purchase it for cheap on french Amazon). Their beautiful melodies are obviously strongly influenced but teh Beach Boys and the Beatles, they probably do it better than many other contemporary bands.
This live recording, a good performance but badly recorded, is only for those who have the album. DON'T DOWNLOAD IT before listening to the albums!!
Anyway, it's here, and probably not for long...

AIR, live L.A, The Mayan, 12.7.2001

After Sebastien Tellier (sorry for the comments in French, just consider that his live shows are strongly recommended), french psych pop again.
It's a live performance found on the P2P network when on Napster, I don't know if it's rare or not; but it's pretty good, particularly for those who consider that AIR were at their best in the "10.000 Hz Legend" / "Virgin suicides" area.
Tracklist : Electronic Performers / How does it make you feel? / Talisman / Radio #1 / Luck and unhappy / Bathroom girl / Playground love.
192kbps, sound quality is ok.
Find it here.

SEBASTIEN TELLIER, 3 concerts

En photo, Sébastien dans 30 ans, aka Jean-Pierre Dupire, que les parisiens qui prennent le métro connaissent bien.
Re-post opportuniste de 3 concerts déjà posés en ligne à 2 reprises ici, cette fois à l'occasion du succès médiatique massif du dernier album "Sexuality", auquel on préfère ici, infiniment, le 1er "Incroyable vérité" (pas le même niveau de compo quand même - pour les fans de la prod electro-cheap du dernier, on recommandera les futures sections "kraut décadence", ou le kraut progressif synthétique des années réputées les pires, 76 à 79!); à l'occasion, aussi, des concerts complets, comme celui donné à Paris le 30 avril à La Cigale.
Les 3 shows sont enregistrés au mini-disc, avec son moyen forcément, mais recommandés pour les versions, notamment, des titres de "Politics", meilleures que sur l'album.
Paris New Morning 20.1.2004.
Track list : Broadway / Ketchup vs Genocide / Wonderafrica / League Chicanos / Universe / Black Douleur / Benny / Fantino / Bye-Bye / La Ritournelle. 160 kbps (me semble-t-il).
Le meilleur des trois, formation piano / synthé (envolées psyché grand cru de Prophet 5 à 2000E joué par Rob en blaser blanc...) / guitare (Rickenbacker à 5000 effleurée 10 fois dans le set) / basse / batterie (Tony Allen) / choristes (sous-mixées). League Chicanos touchant et tellement mieux que la version album.

Paris New Morning 29.4.2004 "Cabaret".
Track list : Broadway / Black Douleur / Fantino / League Chicanos / Universe / Ketchup vs Genocide /4 covers (Luna Parker, Elsa, Isabelle Adjani, C. Jérôme) / La Ritournelle. 128 kbps je crois.
Formation minimale piano / synthé / basse / guitare - manque un peu de batterie, notamment dans une Ritournelle soudain très pauvre. Reprises sincères, le Luna Parker en serait presque émouvant si le public forcément ironique et complice ne hurlait pas de rire à chaque refrain.

Paris Café de la Danse "Back to rythm" 6.6.2006.
Track list : Bye bye / ? / League Chicanos / Wonderafrica / Universe / Broadway / Une Heure / Black Douleur / Ketchup vs Genocide / Kissed by you / Oh Malheur chez O'Malley / La Ritournelle / La Dolce Vita / Fantino. 192kbps si tout se passe bien.
Formation piano / synthé / basse / guitare / batterie, mais dans une forme plus convenue qu'au-dessus. Versions plus fidèles aux albums. On préférait le côté foutraque du groupe avec le sympathique Rob en 2004, dommage. "Une Heure" en avant première, 18 mois avant la sortie de l'album "Sexuality", et sans voix; on était déjà sceptique. + un inédit à ce jour, à ma connaissance en tout cas. Très beau "Kissed by you" par ailleurs.

Ce que j'aime chez Tellier, c'est qu'on a droit à des choses assez différentes à chaque fois. Si quelqu'un a un enregistrement des 1ers premiers concerts, période guitare + theremin (extra!), on prend évidemment.
Qui se charge d'enregistrer le show du 30 avril?

DAVID SHEA, Mort aux Vaches (1998?)

Posted by ∞, to end this series.
A good overview of early SHEA's works, from ambient and ethnic sounds to electronica and collage.
Find it here.
Thanks ∞.

SCANNER, The Garden is full of metal (1997, electronic soundscapes)

Derek Jarman's word put into music by Robin Rimbaud aka SCANNER, in one of his good albums of the late 90s. Probably not his easiest work, for those who don't know him.
Try it here.

DAVID SHEA, Satyricon (1997, electronica / ambient)

By request.
Following "The tower of mirrors", it's the other great electronic work by D.SHEA, who was better know then for his sounds collage and concept recordings such as "Prisonner". Beautiful work here, but less various and less successful than "Tower...". Nevertheless it's an essential recording, you can still buy it here, after having listened to it there.
Two different artworks seem to exist, the original being the blue one.

DAVID SHEA, The Tower of Mirrors (1996, electronic soundscapes)

One of the best albums DAVID SHEA made in my opinion. It's the typical "electronic soundscapes" SHEA, SCANNER and some others were producing between 1995 and 2000. Honestly, I have not kept on buying them, the best things seemed to have been produced in their early years, but I may be wrong.
For those who don't know him, it's an "electronic journey", with collage and sounds produced from various sources, from ethnic / fields recordings to basic electronica. This one is probably the most ambient album he produced. It can be compared to a score for an imaginary film.
Try it here (ripped at 192kbps).

PSYCHE, Tales from the darkside (1987, dark vintage electronics)

Released in 1990, this compilation CD is a collection of early songs of this rather mediocre electro new wave band from the 90s, recorded between 1982 and 1987. Actually a very good surprise, it could be described as the gap between early CABARET VOLTAIRE and (very dark side of) early JEAN-MICHEL JARRE, at least on some tracks. Sometimes it sounds distorted and really industrial with scary voices, sometimes it's just good old synth music from the 80s (sounding as if it had been recored it 79). "Another billion eyes" or "a threat" are the highlights of the album, begin with these 2 tracks. Those who, like me, are fascinated by the old japanese machinery (Korg / Roland synths and rythm box) will certainly love this.
Don't be scared and download it here (ripped at 192kbps).

SILVER APPLES, live Paris Nouveau Casino 6.3.2008

Only live performance in France by this classic "minimalist psych rock" band (actually, leader Simeon alone with his sound and wave generators) for its come-back.
A good example of "psych-pop experimentation" : it sounds like pop, it's sung and there are some melodies, but Simeon uses all this electronic trickery that could have been much more experimental and reminds me SUICIDE (but in a funny version).
Of course, there wasn't much to see : just this cool old guy with his samples and wave generators. But that was fun!
Recorded with my own mic and MiniDisc, the sound is ok for a bootleg, and ripped at 192kbps.
Download it here, and don't forget the 2 albums have been beautifully re-edited - on Amazon for instance.

CURRENT 93 (1997, drone / ambient)

Having uploaded the album, I realize that i've already posted it last year - with comments in french.
But, what an outstanding album, I love it!! In my opinion it's the best music produced by the Tibet / Stapleton team, though it sounds much more like the ambient NURSE WITH WOUND than CURRENT 93.
It consists in one long floating ambient tone / drone, divided in 4 parts - only the first one, with its low analog frequencies loop, is a little boring, you'll probably skip this track.
And from the 2nd track to the end, it's nothing less an extraordinary journey in floating sounds : you'll hear analog synths, some kind of flute, bells, voices (and some spoken words by Tibet).
I don't understand why such an album was first issued in a very limited edition of 1000 (sold with a book by Ligetti). It was re-edited in 2002 without the book, you can still buy it here (more than 100 euros on Amazon!).
Before this, download it here (192kbps).

STAPLETON / WAKEFORD (1993, industrial ambient)

Curiously not far from the TAZARTES' style, posted sooner, NURSE WITH WOUND's Steve Stapleton and SOL INVICTUS' / ex DEATH IN JUNE Tony Wakeford in their only collaboration. Actually, the album sounds much more like NWW's albums than SI' - an easy version of NWW. For this reason, it's not only a really good ambient / industrial and quite melodic album, but also a very good entry to those who don't know NWW's world or find it "cold" and hard.
I'm not sure it's been re-released since 1993. Find it here (at 192kbps).

GHEDALIA TAZARTES, Transports

Another good record by TAZARTES, "recorded in Paris, 1977 & 1997"; indeed, it seems to have been recorded from various sessions and sources, but once again a brilliant editing gives a splendid unity to the whole. More various instruments than in "Une éclipse...", and some rythmic patterns help this album to be an easier entry to TAZARTES weird and unique musical world.
Be curious and try it here.

GHEDALIA TAZARTES, Une éclipse totale de soleil (1979, experimental?)

For once, a beautiful french title - for a marvelous album. It's difficult music and in the same time, deeply poetic and easy to listen to if you are "in the thing".
Tazartes' work at the time was mostly based on voice basic manipulations, sometimes it sounds tantric, sometimes it screams, and this editing is brilliant, the whole forms a "poetic journey". Everyone should try.
Be warned that the original album consists in the 1st two tracks; the last track, not good at all in my opinion, comes as an addition for the digipack CD re-issue.
Listen to it here (at 192kbps) or buy it on ForcedExposure.com.

RYOJI IKEDA, 1000 Fragments (1995, minimal electronic / soundscapes)

Obviously one of the most convicing examples of minimalist electronic music, created almost only from digital sine waves frequencies (the sound is to be compared to its analog partners PAN SONIC). It's by far my favourite IKEDA's album. It's divided in 3 parts : "Channel X" consists in 9 short parts of sample / cut up sounds; "5 zones" is an extraordinary music soundscape you absolutely must play loud, a kind of classic to me; "Luxus" is a repetitive single tune that has no real interest in my opinion.
Released in 1995, this CD appears 13 years later as an absolute classing (remember how many followers there were in the next years!).
Find it here (192kbps).

MORSEL, Noise Floor (1994, "no-wave" / "avant-rock")

I've seen this unknown band (undistributed in France I think) in 1994, when in Dayton, Ohio. I was there to see this incredible band called CIGAREHEADS I was following in Ohio, in this bar where we were probably less than 20 people in the audience.
They played a very good performance, I bought the CD, and here it is. It's simple to describe it as a mix of SONIC YOUTH / NIRVANA / bands of the Chicago scene of the era, but it's probably more than that. Some tracks are really excellent, the last one is a moving instrumental that you may remember for a long time.
Try it here.
You can hear good tracks from other albums / EPs on their MySpace page.

Question : does anyone have any recording of CIGAREHEADS? Any 45rpm, LPs or live performance are welcome. Thanks!