GULTSKRA ARTIKLER / LANTERNS, Berezka/Monkey Lament (2008, psychedelic tones)

"In the woods" again with a very good surprise. The GULTSKRA... side is good, but nothing good prepare to this outstanding side of psych folk tones recorded by LANTERNS. A fascinating fog of sounds, sometimes with melody.
Strongly recommended. And it's here (192 kbps).

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, The Effects of 333 (2008, drone)

Dead and re-burried
and born again.
With the surprising and excellent drone album by BRMC (don't believe the fans who's rated it 1.88 on RateYourMusic). Certainly not for their fans, who won't find here any melody nor guitar riff. No, you'd better look for some Experimental Audio Research / drone rock influence, and then you may love the dark mood of "The effects of 333".
Unfortunately, it's been released only in digital format ) what a piety considering the promissing artwork.
here it is.

MASTER MUSICIANS OF BUKKAKE, Totem One (2009, psychedelic tones)

Back "in the woods"...

From RateYourMusic :
"Cool shit. Pleasant listen overall, with a sound of its own - and it has a couple standout tracks ("Schism Prism" and "Eaglewolf"). It's like they gave the Sun City Girls a jungle of instruments and top-notch production and told them to be less bizarre, more focused and more "tantric"; so it's a good starting point. Ideal for communal dope-smokin' reunions."

And I could not say it better - the trip is quite fascinating.

Try it here, then try to buy it (as I did).
(waiting for "Totem 2", to be released in May).

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

By request (at last...).
2 albums + bonus (live session). No particular comments, sometimes I like them sometimes I don't. "Paradise of Replica" may be better composed, but the production choices are weird sometimes, like if 2 versions of some tracks were recorded one after the other...
Sorry for being so long to repost...
Link on Mediafire

DER NEBEL NUR IN KLARER LUFT, Gezeiten des Lebens (?, dark folk)

What's this? If someone has any information about the band... The only thing I've found is the artwork, on a japanese web site.
I don't remember where I have downloaded this, but from time to time I listen to it as a curiosity and let's say each time is surprising. A kind of very dark electric folk, with voices that seem to be posessed. The production is not far better than a demo but is clean, it's well composed but certainly too repetitive in the style. But believe me : you should really try! If you don't find it ridiculous you may adore it!

ADD N TO (X), Loud like nature (2002, electro rock)

Last recording and last post for this essential electro-rock band. This is probably the most "punk" oriented album they've made (not especially for the music, more for the attitude), I wonder what they would have become if they hadn't split. Some excellent tracks here, though most of them seem to be composed in 3 minutes (does it matter?).
Try it here (before buying?)

ADD N TO (X), Add insult to injury (2000, electro rock)

There's probably some hits missing to like this 4th album more, but whereas almost half tracks from "Avant Hard" were really disappointing, there's nothing bad here. "B.P Perino and "Death of the Black Regent" are the highlights in my opinion - they were absolutely magic played live!
Here is the album - if you buy it, there's a surprise if you smell it, And of course you should buy!

ADD N TO (X), Avant Hard, (1999, electro rock)

Problems with Sharebee, I've decided to move on MediaFire.
Here is the next album (the 3rd one) recorded by ADD N TO (X). You'll find here sharp contrasts between some of their best hits (the singles "Metal Fingers in my body" and "Return of the Black Regent" and some very repetitive and useless tunes. Nevertheless, It sounds like the electronic orgy that every basic vintage electronic fan should know. I prefer the retro-futurist "On the wire...", but I must admit that the "electro-punk rock" orientation they've tried with "Avant Hard" is quite interesting.
Check it here and tell me.

ADD N TO (X), On the wire of our nerves, (1998, electro rock)

Those who've been reading this blog for a long time know how fan I am. In the late 90s, they were one of my 3 or 4 favorite bands, I've probably seen them each time they've come in Paris (I had posted their last live show here before the band broke up).
Reading some reviews and seeing the ratings on RateYourMusic, I was surprised they don't seem so famous as I thought. Their exciting formula - electro rock played with a vintage synths army and a vigorous drummer - was probably not new (see the classic THE UNITS, who have just released a compilation of interesting material from the early 80s). But a kind of charisma, in the music, the artworks, the live shows, make me regret they couldn't last more. Recently you have LADYTRON with more pop oriented songs, but the charisma is obviously not the same.
It's the reason why I've decided to share their albums (except their first release, I don't have the digital material), though I don't like to propose albums you find so easilly. So please be kind to play the rule "you like it you buy it"!

I've discovered the band with this album (the second they've recorded), at this time the artwork was quite entertaining and exciting ; B-movies culture mixed with electronic music! And the music was (and still is) absolutely fascinating. I've listened to it hundreds of times. I hope you'll enjoy it. Most of you probably have it, but if not, here it is (192kbps).

RAMASES, Space Hymns (1971, cosmic psych rock)

En lisant le blog de Joseph Ghosn, ces derniers temps on trouve un lien YouTube pour écouter un titre de de "Space Hymns". ça m'a immédiatement rappelé que j'avais eu un bon flash en découvrant l'album un peu au hasard, suite au téléchargement sur un blog psyché. Certainement pas parfait, l'album détonne plutôt au milieu du psyché anglais plutôt convenu et souvent trop prog à mon goût (pour ce que j'en connais), et ne dépareillerait parmi les bons albums kraut qu'on aime ici (Amon Düül 2 ou Brainticket surtout).

Bref, on va se passer dans commentaire in english et se contenter des notes de RateYourMusic, qui sont du genre à forger une micro légende qui n'est pas pour nous déplaire...

From www.rateyourmusic.com :
"Ramases (born Martin Raphael, sometime in the 1930s) was a central heating salesman until he was allegedly visited by the spirit of the Egyptian pharoah Ramses, who apparently informed Raphael that he was the reincarnation of Ramases and gave him the cosmic secret of the universe. Martin promptly changed his name to Ramases, and with his wife Dorothy, who renamed herself Selket, he began writing songs and working toward a record contract in order to spread his cosmic message. He got one with noted progressive rock record company Vertigo in 1970 and recorded Space Hymns in Strawberry Studios in England. Strawberry Studios was run by a group of musicians who would later become 10cc, and in essence 10cc provides the music on Space Hymns, although Ramases' album sounds absolutely nothing like 10cc. Ramases' music could best be described as a kind of spiritual, psychedelic space-folk with references to his own mythological beliefs. In spite of an impressive cover by Roger Dean, Space Hymns did not sell well. Ramases resurfaced in 1975 with the far more folkish Glass Top Coffin. He and Selket then dropped out of the music business, and Ramses moved to Felixstowe to care for his aging mother. He then dropped completely from sight. Sadly, he was reported to have died by his own hand sometime in the early 1990's."
Find this curiosity here.

EDWARD KA-SPEL, Inferno / Illusion (1993, dark ambient)

Hard to define this recording by LEGENDARY PINK DOTS member Edward Ka-Spell. I'm afraid many things he's made is really underated, maybe because he's made too many recordings. If you like dark experimental ambient, mixed with a foggy sound (that some could compare to early TANGERINE DREAM / ASH RA TEMPEL), this one is certainly for you.
2 tracks, 20 minutes, LP Rip.
And it's here.

THE ONES, Music for Hippies (1966, psych pop)

THE ONES is the band just before TANGERINE DREAM (created by Edgar Froese), a kind of "sunshine pop" immitating the american bands of the 60s. 2 short tracks only, side A is good, side B is so so... A very short post, and it's a LP Rip.
Try it here.

AND : thanks very much for your comments, I'm sorry not to come more often on this blog, but each I read and appreciate them.

Turzi - Buenos Aires

From the outstanding "B" album by TURZI.
An absolute hit for sure!!!

Et puis le LP, mes amis, vaut son pesant de cacahuètes : 2 galettes, vinyl brun opaque (mais légèrement transparent à la lumière, marbré!), beau carton avec verni sélectif pour la pochette, bref, un pur objet de collection en plus de la zique qui est à mon goût ce qu'on fait de mieux ces derniers temps.
Et un bon tube pour commencer l'année.

PROMO : FRANCE MUSIK

FRANCE MUSIK!!!!!!!!

PROMO : THROBBING GRISTLE "Gristleism"

The ideal toy for Christmas - I want it.
What is it? A small plastic sample box containing 13 samples of TG's sound, that you can play and detune. Absolutely useless, that's the reason why you'll need it!
More information on www.throbbing-gristle.com.

CHRIS & COSEY, Heartbeat + Trance (1981/1982 - electronic prehistoric future)

Re-up, higher bit rate (192 or 256, I can't remember).
Extraordinary debut albums by ex THROBBING GRISTLE members, also refered as CTI ("The Creative Technology Institute!) at the time. Their sound is a kind of experimental KRAFTWERK, same precision and balance in the production.
I prefer by far these albums to what they would produce later : as their sound became more complex, it was more common too.
The two albums are here on one link.

THROBBING GRISTLE, Heathen Earth (industrial / vintage electronics, 1980)

Probably the last TG album / performance I post - I'm not sure the 25CD boxset "TG+" is required, except for the absolute fans (who already have it).
"Heathen Hearth" shows the perfect mixture the band was creating in their last days: an ambient feel, raw electronic sequences announcing what Chris & Cosey would make the next year, and still "industrial" sounds. That's why I think it's the last TG album for beginners. And it seems to be one of the fans' favourite, so...
Try it here (before buying it for Christmas?)

THROBBING GRISTLE, CD1 / GiftGas (industrial, 1980 / 1975))

Re-post of CD1, 2 tracks (on the official CD there's only one track for the 2 "songs"). 128kbps only, I'm sorry, I've lost my CD and I can't rip it again. But CD1 is by far the best recording of the band, in my opinion, it's a perfect mix of hypnotic ambiant and industrial sounds, it's uncompromising and easy in the same time, if you need one only TG's album it should be this one. No specific information about when it was recorded (it was release after the band split) but the sound makes me think it was recorded the last year, in 1980.
You'll find "GiftGas" too, one of the many unofficial albums released in the last 20 years and, from those I know, the most interesting one. Long improvised tracks, with rough synths and distorted guitar textures. If you like their sound, you may love "GiftGas".
The two albums on this link.

THROBBING GRISTLE, 2nd Annual Report / D.o.A (industrial, 1977 / 78)

By request.
It seems everyone doesn't know well these 2 classic albums by the founder of "industrial music" - at this time, basic electronic equipment + guitar & bass treated by echoes and distortions, with more or less improvisation.
In my opinion, the "2nd Annual Report" (their first "official" release) is their best effort, the 1st side is outstanding - listen to the sound they've created from the guitars! D.O.A contains more various sources and styles, is considered as an absolute classic, but it lacks the basic shock you feel listening to "2nd Annual Report"
Well, find them here.

"SYNTH BRITANNIA" documentary

Very interesting doc about how "micro synths" (in comparison with early Moogs and ARPs) have defined the sound of electropop in the late 70s / early 80s in GB, with such bands as OMD, Human League, Depeche Mode, The Normal, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle etc...
Links taken from http://www.surrealmoviez.info


http://rapidshare.com/files/297799233/snth_brttnia.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/297810574/snth_brttnia.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/297846792/snth_brttnia.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/297846794/snth_brttnia.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/297865916/snth_brttnia.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/297865921/snth_brttnia.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/297878228/snth_brttnia.part7.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/297878230/snth_brttnia.part8.rar

TANGERINE DREAM, The Vintage Years

Not an album, more a "collection" of 4 tracks, recorded between 1972 and 1980. The most interesting tracks date back from 72 and 73, very similar to the "Alpha Centauri" sessions and thus, in my opinion, quite fascinating. But side B, with 2 tracks recorded in 79 / 80, are very good too, what is more surprising.
The LP comes from a LP box set containing a replica of the single "Alpha Centauri" and the only single recorded by the first band Edgar Froese played in, "THE ONES" - I may post this too, later.
It's an LP Rip.
And it's here (VBR, 256kbps).

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS, Alchemical Playschool (2006, psychedelic tones)

NEW LINK (Sharebee)
Very surpising album by one of the major psychedelic / pop band of the 80s and 90s, less successful (in my opinion) in the 10 past years. After some psych pop albums typical of their style, this is an absolutly weird psychedelic tones album, recorded with a very "vintage" sound, that will probably bring you very far if you accept the trip.
Here it is - and don't forget the artists need your money, IF YOU FIND THE ALBUM BUY IT (maybe for this one it may not be easy...). Thanks for them.

PROMO : SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE- Luminous Night

Wonderful "return to form" by my favourite band / artist of the 5 past years. This "single" is a great example of how moving he can be. All the albums he made (or so) will probably become "classics", and as for the others you have to get this one.

J'ajoute que j'ai rarement été aussi dégoûté, question occasion manquée, que pour celle-ci ; le concert à Paris la semaine dernière... Si quelqu'un a l'enregistrement, pour compenser un peu...

ELLI & JACNO, Boomerang (pop, 1982)

Yes, again.
There are reasons for re-posting this great album :
> some tracks were missing on my previous post, so here they are;
> it's an LP-rip again, but with a advanced sound card, and ripped at 320 kbps.
> and, most of all - all the french guys here know that - JACNO has passed away last week, at 52 years old. Sad sad news...

Et d'ailleurs on se demande bien comment il n'y a pas eu d'hommage plus appuyé sur cette disparition d'une figure rare de la scène française, dont la présence parfois fantomatique manque déjà. Alors on ré-écoute en boucle "Je t'aime tant", "Pour toi" ou "Roulette russe", les classiques de ce 2è album, dont la tonalité, appuyée par la photo intérieure, avait ce côté "hymne à la jeunesse" mi triste propre au début 80s. Et en attendant, toujours, une ré-édition propre en CD.
Enfin, comment faut-il comprendre le titre de son (bon) dernier album, celui de 2006 : "Tant de temps"?

Find "Boomerang" here.

RUDI ARAPAHOE, Echoes from one to another (2008 - ambient))

Not quite 'in the woods" this time. But not far. Beautiful ambient tracks, based on piano, harp and some eletronics. A bit too "new age" probably, but it's obviously the ideal music for cold nights.
Try it here and buy it if you can.

LUNAR ABYSS DEUS ORGANUM, Snovidenie (2006)

"In the woods" again. This time, with a music that goes far beyond what my english could describe. Just be warned that you should not expect any melody nor recognise precisely the instruments, it's a floating ensemble that typically seems to come "from the woods". Everything seems to appear randomly though, obviously, the music is not really improvised. Maybe it could be compared to some of the best NURSE WITH WOUND album, with more sensuality and sweetness. The ideal album for day dreaming. And here it is (192kbps).

PLANKTON WAT, Dawn of the Golden Eternity (2009, psych folk)

To be back or not to be back?
Well, there are so many things posted on music blogs - a small part of them are listed on TOTALLY FUZZY - that I really wonder if keeping on posting some albums here is not totally useless... particularly if you consider that from this point I may (or I would) post my favourite discoveries on other blogs, rarelly specific material of my own collection...

Well, thanks to "Microphone in the trees" blog and, initially, thanks to SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE - the best psychedelic folk "band" I know - and, always, thanks to some krautrock ancestors (particularly in the DOM / AMON DUUL I vein), I'm in a "in the woods" mood. The music you find is sometimes referred as "american primitivism", though I don't know what it means exactly. Understand : more or less psychedelic folk, often recorded with a very basic production, sometimes more ambient, sometimes more electric, often with a tribal feel.

Here si a good example, with this album by PLANKTON WAT . If you like SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE, this is for you.

PS : and of course you buy it if you find it - and of course again, you've bought the beautiful last album released by SIX ORGANS, a return to form after two albums that were not as good as I hoped when they were released.

ALAN LAMB, Primal Image + Night Passage (1995, drone))

So I'm back, probably not with the funniest music. First : with some drones I like.

Honestly, I'm not sure how ALAN LAMB have recorded those dark electric drones, it seems he has captured the sound of electric wires...
But it doesn't matter : the results consist in 2 great drone recordings, that one could compare to NURSE WITH WOUND's "Soliloquy for Lilith" with more tension.

Here is Primal Image, and here is Night Passage (at 192kbps).

MAHOOD, Granular Sintesis (drone / electronic soundscapes, 1997)

I was proud to discover that some of you guys have asked for a repost of my "Granular Sintesis" work, recorded 12 years ago (how can it be so far..?).
More or less 4 tracks (20 minutes), with the exclusive use of a basic software on my Performa 6200, called "SoundEffects". The only source of the sound is sine waves, transformed / cut with the effects of the software (particularly with the most complex, called... "granular synthesis") - except the sampled percussions on track 1 (the only track I really don't like, it's of no use).
I'm particularly proud of the 3rd and 4th tracks (and the transition between), the 4th track was one of my favourite at the time - very hypnotic if you're not irritated by the repetition.
Be concious that it's a really lo-fi recording : 11.000khz, 8bit, recorded on a basic 4 tracks tape recorded, transfered on MiniDisc etc... So if you try play it loud!
Here it is.

ITHACA, A Game for All Who Know (psych pop, 1973)

Excellent album discovered thanks to another blog, and I've finally found the CD (the original LP seems to be one of the rarest...).
I put it in the same category as english psychedelic pop masterpieces like MONTAGE or FUCHSIA - but ITHACA are probably darker, more mysterious, like a Brothers Quay's movie (or even a Burton). Very well composed, with a rich instrumentation, the only thing that can disturb is the girl's voice, bery weird (and very goth!).
Don't miss it! It's here.

The band has recorded one album 3 years before under the name AGINCOURT : same elements, but with a folk sound and not such a success in the result. I may post it if anyone is intersted.

LA DUSSELDORF, 3 albums (1976 / 1981, krautrock / new-wave)

Upon request #2
What can I say? I have no explanation for the reputation of these albums except that they follow the NEU albums.
In my opinion, whereas NEU4 had probably some qualities, the official albums released by Klaus Dingerunder the name LA DUSSELDORF after Michael Rother had left certainly didn't contain the same charisma and mystery as the NEU material. Instead, you hear some kind of pre-new wave music, very basically produced (in comparison NEU sounded almost deep), with voices that I often find ridiculous.
But these days I don't have time to find more interesting things to share, so ok for answering the request. Nevertheless, honestly I prefer by far the albums released by ROTHER under his own name - maybe for a later post.

3 albums :
"La Dusseldorf" is here.
"Viva" and "Individuellos" are there.

NEU!, Neu 4 (19.., krautrock)

Upon request #1
About when the album has been recorded, I'm not sure. Maybe between 1982 and 1986, after the LA DUSSELDORF episode.
Though far less interesting than the previous official recordings NEU, DIE2 and NEU75, NEU4 has its moments. But it's mainly for its historical interest that you'll download it.
here it is.

STEREOLAB, Margerine Eclipse Separate Mono versions (2004, pop)

Probably only for STEREOLAB freaks.
But it shoudn't.

As I told in my previous post, this pop masterpiece recorded in 2004 was mixed in "DUAL MONO", not in stereo, which means that each instrument is recorded on one channel only (left or right). In the end, it's definitly one whole new album on each channel.
I've made the job for you to make it easier to listen on you 2 speakers the 2 versions : there's the "left album" and the "right album", 2 mono albums that are radically different, although it depends on the tracks (am I clear enough?). Of course, the more obvious effect is that some parts are 100% instrumental now, one other is the absence of the classic Stereolab organ on one version - on the contrary it's almost too present on the other - etc... Some moments become absolutely beautiful now, with a kind of minimalism that is new in some way in their music. It allows to hear how talented they are too.

Take this experience as a re-discover of the album.

The 2 versions are here.

STEREOLAB live (2000 / 2006)

4 live shows that I may have already posted last year.
Listening again to their albums "Sound Dust" and "Margerine Eclipse" this afternoon made me want to share something about them, but I don't really want to share the original albums - everyone should buy them! Unlike many STEREOLAB fans, I really consider this pair as their best work to date, and as some of the best pop albums of the 2000 years.
And there's another thing : I've read that "Margerine Eclipse" was recorded in "dual mono" : one mono mix on each L/R channel. That means that there's virtually a different album on each channel - try if you can, that's absolutely true! Maybe I'll separate the channels and share each one later, as "2 alternative versions" of the official album - for the fans of course!

In the meanwhile, find 4 live performances here : the first two recordings were found on the web, their quality is good (they may be radio broadcast). The Paris live shows have been recorded by myself, the 2004 one being much better recorded (smaller theatre, new battery in my mic?) and very interesting, the best one in this selection in my opinion.
Click on the link to download.
Denver, Spring 2000
Munich, Muffathalle, 18.8.2001
Paris, Trabendo, 17.3.2004
Paris, La Cigale, 13.5.2006

DUMP, A Plea For Tenderness (1997, indie pop)

Same comment as for the other DUMP album posted here.
This one is even better though probably too long and not as various in the instruments and production as "That skinny...". In my opinion, it contains major pop hits that everyone who is in BEACH BOYS / BEATLES / BELLE & SEBASTIAN etc... will love.
here it is.

DUMP, That Skinny Motherfucker With The High Voice (2000, indie pop)

It becomes hard for me to post things more often than I do and be sure I'm sorry for this. I don't have as much time as I'd like to for the blog, and as I've said before I'm not sure I've got so many new good and "rare" things to share...
Well, here is an excellent "low-fi pop" album recorded by DUMP. DUMP is the side project of James McNew of Yo La Tengo.
It really has its own sound, with strange synths and low-fi production. You'll find a good collection of easy melodies and interesting covers. I'll post another DUMP album very soon.
For this one, here it is.

BEN'S SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA, live Paris Pop'In, 17.12.2004 (french pop)

Re-up / extraordinary french pop band / pop side of AIR with more energy and without the synths.
Buy the albums somewhere here on Amazon.

à la demande de je ne sais plus qui, qui avait bien raison.
Le son est franchement pourri, le public (des potes?) couvre assez largement la musique, mais n'empêche des chefs d'oeuvre pop comme "From Hull to Hawai" (track 5) d'être aussi bouleversants que sur l'album ("Drifting", impératif dans toute CDthèque qui se repsecte).
On attend - on prie pour? - le troisième album.
ça se passe là (160kbps)

MASSTISHADDHU, Shekinah (1988, dark ambient)

I'm not sure I should have posted this : even it's a really good dark ambient (no electronics, only bowed instruments and percussions, or so it seems), it's certainly not very different from many other dark ambient albums of the area. The most known I think about is the exceptional CURRENT 93's "Nature's unveiled" (re-released this year on vynil and CD, buy it!!), and this "Shekinah" is obviously less intersting.
But... I don't know, I really like it - for dark moods.
Try it here.

MITTELWINTERNACHT, Mittelwinternacht '71 (1971, experimental krautrock)

"Krautrock" because it's german, it's certainly not the case in the music. Even if this only album made by the band (is it a band?) is probably more for the fans of early CLUSTER / KLUSTER and proto-industrial music made in the early 70s, it's not the hardest way to enter the genre. The world you enter is plenty of self-oscillating ring modulators, echoes and darkness, and it's quite beautiful if you accept it - very "good" trips if you're in it. TANGERINE DREAM made some tracks like this in their early years - those I love the most.
Perfect for my "drone area". Please try it here.

PI CORP, Lost in the cosmic void (dark psych, 1973-1976)

(Awful artwork)
Why haven't I posted this album sooner?? It's quite an essential album for those who love the darkest side of psychedelia. It's american, but I could largely compare it with some of the darkest krautrock albums posted here (SIDDHARTA, PATER NOSTER, AMON DÜÜL 2 in some aspects...). And it's very experimental in many ways, there are not so many "conventional" rock songs in it. It's also surprising to discover that it's a compilation made with demos assembled recently, because it really sounds as an full album (except some tracks maybe).
One would say that the recording suffers of basic and amateurish production. It's not false, but we've heard so worse elsewhere!
It's one of the 5 best albums I've discovered thanks to other bloggers, I hope you'll enjoy it.
And it's here.