KIM CASCONE, Cathodeflower (space ambient, 1999)

You'll find now 3 albums from the "Ritornell" series released by Mille Plateaux, a electronic label that unfortunatly does not exist any more and that was probably important for me.
KIM CASCONE's is a very spacy affair, a sound interpretation of cosmos, if it means something. Personnally I love it!
Download it on Rapidshare here .

STILLUPPSTEYPA, Interferences are often requested (industrial ambient, 1999)

STILLUPPSTEYPA made many albums of weird industrial / electronic ambient. From those I know, this one is one of the most electronic and "modern" they made. Very intelligent constructions and warm sounds. Try it here.
No artwork found (same as A. RABELAIS, different color)

AKIRA RABELAIS, Elongated pentagonal pyramid (industrial ambient, 1999?)

Beautiful minimalist and almost melodic piece by AKIRA RABELAIS. From the 3 albums I have, this is the best one by far. Nice textures in this ambient album Nothing more to add, except that you have to try it here.

VILLAGE OF SAVOONGA, Score + Philipp Schatz (1998?, avant-rock)

Nothing special to celebrate the 100.000 visitors since the beginning of this blog last year... I'm really sorry, no time to prepare anything. Thanks for your support, and be conscious I ALWAYS read your comments and try to follow what they say.

This time I share the first 2 albums by the german band VILLAGE OF SAVOONGA, a band that should have been much more reputed in a period when GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR met success. They share with them similar sounds and atmospheres, but their tracks are shorter, more various, and probably stronger (not as boring, symphonic and repetitive as GODSPEED).
"Score", is particularly good and sounds as a classic "avant-rock" album for me. You should begin with it before listening to "Philipp Schatz".
If you read AMG's review you'll see a 3rd album is mentionned. I don't have it, anyone maybe will share it..?

Thanks for your attention. Enjoy VILLAGE OF SAVOONGA's music here.

THE SERPENTS, You have just been poisoned by The Serpents (1998, psych / avant-rock)

Why isn't this album the absolute masterpiece it could have been? Maybe the vocals... maybe useless tracks. I don't know, but be sure you'll find there an incredible mixture of folk, space rock, experimental tracks, somewhere between GODSPEED YOU MY BLACK EMPEROR, NURSE WITH WOUND, FAUST and the likes, and even maybe, BROADCAST. Too eclectic maybe?
Those who love GODSPEED may have been seduced by the kind of supergroup they are (how many members? 10?)... THE SERPENTS are an impressive list of more than 30 names! Jon Savage, who wrote so many books about punk rock, is one of them. I don't know the others.
It's not a surprise Julian Cope wrote something about them. Read his review here and download the album there.
Comments are always welcome, request and demands too!

COLD SUN, Dark Shadows (1970, pop-psych)

Not an upload of my own, but as I've been listening almost only for this album for one week I wanted to share it with friends of my blog (about this, thanks for the encouraging words by Leon).
I really know nothing about the band, to my ears it sounds like a weird mix of retro-pop-psychedelia, with magnificent rhodes (probably) lines and fine guitar works. An album full of surprise, with beautiful melodies. Today I've listened to the 1st track a dozen times, I hope you'll do the same! The only problem maybe : most songs seem to sound the same at first glance. But be patient!
Download it on BLACK ACID.
And what about a cover of this track!? Well, maybe I'll try for fun next week.
About covers : I will post in the next weeks a AMON DUUL 2 cover and a SAND cover I made this year - remember I'm a huge fan of kraut, I could spend years covering all my favourite tunes!

BRISE-GLACE, When in Vanitas (1994, avant-rock)

At last, I'm back - the blog is not abandonned yet! But I had problems with Mass Mirror where it's seems to be impossible to upload files...
BRISE GLACE is a typical "supergroup" you could have met in the 70s in prog / space rock, but actually it's from the "avant-rock" scene of the 90s. Who in the supergroup?
> Jim O'Rourke (before his SONIC YOUTH adventures),
> Dave Grubbs (GASRT DEL SOL),
> Gene Coleman (from the jazz / improv scene),
> Henry Kaiser (guitar imrpviser to compare with Fred Frith),
> Christoph Heemann (HNAS),
> and the album is produced by Steve Albini! Wouch!!
Listen carefully to the 1st two tracks, they are outstanding!
You can download it on this Rapidshare link.

AUTO-PROMO

Some of the covers I like to make, music for my own pleasure.
I listen to the very lo-fi covers of 80s hits I made with a friend of mine, and I confess that I'm proud of some of them. If you are curious or / and interested in the exercice of covers, listen to them on MySpace, and dont't hesitate to rate them and tell which one is good and which one is shit.

On MySpace you'll hear my proposition for :
> a-Ha : I've been losing you
> Duran Duran : A view to a kill
> Madonna : Live to tell
> Modern Talking : You're my heart...

Thanks for your comments / support.
AND : if you make covers too, don't hesitate to tell, and post the links where we can hear them!

SIGNAL, Waves+Lines (1997)

End of my minimalist series - maybe I'll post more recordings later.
This EP's name is a pretty good description for the music, though this short CD contains tracks that are not as minimalist as NOTO's album (previously posted). Indeed, the first track sounds almost as a kind of minimalist BOARDS OF CANADA.
"Signal is Olaf Bender aka Byetone, Frank Bretschneider aka Komet, Carsten Nicolai aka Noto, all raster-noton core. This cd is not a fully official release and quite rare." (says http://www.discogs.com)
Download it here.

NOTO, Kerne (1998)

I'm sorry, no time for a good description.
This recording will probably interest a minority of "frequencies" addicts, as it is only made with sine waves (like all the NOTO albums I think). Very cold music! But it's really good. Can you imagine a minimalist version of Ryoji Ikeda or Pan Sonic? That's it. NOTO has become ALVA NOTO for his next recordings (with a more complex but less interesting sound).
For your next party, download this album urgently " here!

FAKESH / ESTERMANN Beta EP + DE LUCA M.A.S EP (electronica)

2 EP rips.
In 98 / 2000 I really loved FUNKSTORUNG, whose "Disctruction" seemed for me to sound as a real "electro-pop revolution", as a melodic adaptation of the abstract world of AUTECHRE. At this time I bought these two EPs, that contain some of their best work, each member of the band by his side.
"Beta" is a collaborative picture disc EP between André Estermann and Michael Fakesch (from FUNKSTORUNG). I don't know much about ESTERMANN, let's say that I confess I've discovered that he had his own side only when I've ripped the EP several days ago. Both sides are a really good examples of "breakbeat pop" with fine melodies, far from the last incarnation of FUNKSTORUNG (no rap here).
Same coment for the DE LUCA EP, that has nothing in common with his own album "Deadly with za disko" (I sell this one to anyone interested).
Find this 2 fine "abstract breakbeat" EPs here.
You'll have to wait for the artwork - I must take pictures of them.
Thanks for your comments.

KOSMOS S/T E.P + PHILUS Kolmio EP (1996 / 1998, electronica)

2 vinyl EP rips.
KOSMOS is Mika Vainio+Jimi Tenor. An interesting mixture of their musical worlds : minimalist and rather cosmic. Not a must have, but a surprising and refreshing LP.
PHILUS is one of the many side projects by PAN SONIC's Mika Vainio. Minimalist techno with some really good hypnotic ideas. A CD was released later, it was more experimental and non-rythmic. So begin with this EP. Sorry, my vinyl is slightly dammaged, you"ll hear it.
Download these 2 EPs here.

If you don't read french again, you may not have noticed that I've uploaded here the good but maybe too "cold " performance by PAN SONIC in Paris last week here (Paris, Nouveau Casino, 22.9.2007).

I performed before them as PUZZLE KIT, the curious will find here the audience recording, and there line mix. I define my live music as "psych electronics", somewhere between synth music, industrial sounds and drones, but describe it as you want. I only use anallog synthetizers : Korg MS20 and Polysix, Roland SH5 and JX-3P, Sequential Circuits SixTrak. Almost nothing is programmed. In my opinion it's funniest to feel that everything is played live, when you don't only puch buttons on a rythm box or a laptop. So there are mistakes too! You'll tell me.

Thanks for your attention and support!

PAN SONIC / PUZZLE KIT, live Paris Nouveau Casino 22.9.2007

D'abord en Français :
Voilà les enregistrements de la soirée :
> ici le set de PAN SONIC, pas facile à écouter. Le son bien gras n'est pas du genre à rentrer correctement dans un micro de 1,5cm, ça donne un truc très sourd. Bon témoignage quand même. On mesurera la différence par rapport aux concerts enregistrés en 98 et 99 : plus bourrin et plus froid, mécanique, aussi. Donc moins bien à mon goût, mais vraiment très fort quand même. Pour qui s'y intéresseraient, leur boîte à rythme est une Korg Electribe SX, dont le transfo perdu dans l'avion, a été remplacé in extremis par une fabricatio n maison du Nouveau Casino - quel talent. Sinon le concert sautait, et moi avec.

> le set de PUZZLE KIT, mon set quoi, au cas plaisant où il intéresserait du monde, en 2 versions : version "audience" avec le même matos que PAN SONIC, et version direct 8 pistes, où en entend mieux les fautes - mais son direct vraiment meilleur bien sûr.
Commentaires / regrets :
- piste 2 : le son en saccade aurait dû être beaucoup plus sec (mauvaise gestion de l'écho, qui aurait dû "spatialiser" au lieu de "réverberer"), des sons qui ne sortent pas, et 2 fausses notes dans la montée. ça ne commençait pas très bien.
- piste 6 : à trois reprises c'est pas du tout le bon son qui est sorti du JX, donc pour moi c'est tout faux mais on m'a dit qu'au contraire ça faisait "riche". En tout cas ça explique pourquoi la rythmique est si longue.
- les parties sont enchaînées un peu vite : pistes 4 et 5 auraient durer un peu plus (non?).
- piste 4 est la 2è partie de "Triceratops" qu'on entend sur MySpace, piste 5 une interprétation de "LoFi Sintesis" joué en 97 avec des fréquences d'ordi 8bit mixées sur 4 pistes (cf. MySpace aussi). Pas certain qu'on reconnaisse.
Voilà, j'espère que ça vous a plu.

AUTO-PROMO : Qui veut proposer une date est le bienvenu, prière de laisser un message dans les comments.

AUTO-PROMO (dernier rappel)

Voilà, le concert est passé, les 2 sets seront bientôt en ligne. Merci à tous ceux qui ont témoigné leur soutien ou leur goût pour la chose, toute la préparation n'aura pas été vaine (malgré quelques bosn ratés).
En attendant la mise en ligne les plus curieux qui veulent écouter mes extraits "studio" (8 pistes ou GarageBand donc) ça se passe toujours sur MonEspace ici.

Le KIT était pour l'occasion :
> ROLAND SH5
> KORG MS20
> KORG POLYSIX
> ROLAND JX-3P
> SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS SIX TRAK
> effets Kaos Pad et rack Boss (pour guitare) en complément.
> mixage en direct sur 8 pistes

WHAT IS YOUR LIVE STYLE?

A LIVE RECORDINGS REMINDER

All the Paris events are recorded by myself - variable quality.
No new recording here, it's only a compilation of the live performances I've posted from almost a year now.
PLEASE REPORT DEAD LINKS IN COMMENTS

PAN SONIC Paris Le Garage, 26.6.1998 - extraordinary performance.

PAN SONIC, Unknown live 1999

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE Live at Gladtree Festival, Amherst 9.4.2004

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE Live at Fernwood, 20.5.2005

BROADCAST, Paris Café de la danse, 29.9.2003 - quality ok, not so interesting in my opinion.

TURZI, Paris Point FMR, 21.3.2006 - excellent show, not recorded from the beginning - krautrock for everyone!

TURZI, Live Paris Boule Noire, 28.6.2007 - excellent too, but check the previous one before

ELYSIAN FIELDS, Paris Café de la Danse 3.5.2006 - rather good but a little boring on the long run.

ADD N TO (X), Paris Nouveau Casino, 25.10.2002 - last show in Paris before the band split, Ann Shenton had left.

STEREOLAB, Paris Trabendo, 17.3.2004 - very good show.

DANDY WARHOLS, Live Paris Locomotive 28.10.2005 - music is ok but the sound is not realy good.

BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE, Paris La Cigale, 26.6.2006 - same comment.

MELLOW, Paris Café de la Danse, 3.2.2004 - really good retro-pop, good recording conditions.

BEN'S SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA, Paris Pop'In, 17.12.2004 - extraordinary retro-pop, but really bad sound!! What a pity the audience was so noisy! DEAD LINK - I try to fix soon.

SEBASTIEN TELLIER, Paris New Morning 20.1.2004 - best of the 3 recordings here - if you do not know this melancolic pop / folk / vintage electronic music, download it!

SEBASTIEN TELLIER, Live Paris New Morning 29.4.2004

SEBASTIEN TELLIER, Live Paris Café de la danse 6.6.2006 - with a different band, interesting to compare with the 2 other recordings.

DAVIDE BALULA, Paris, Café de la Danse, 29.9.2003 - one of my best picks, fabulous minimalist folk + slight electronic device - if you're in FENNESZ and / or COCOROSIE you have to try it, very good recording conditions.

CHRISTIAN FENNESZ Paris, Nouveau Casino, 17.12.2001 / Paris, La Villette, 22.9.2004 - each FENNESZ live show is like a new album, except "Nouveau Casino" with tracks from "Endless Summer".

FENNESZ + PATTON, Live Paris Trabendo, 8.6.2007 same comment, very good recording - too short.

FENNESZ / TIM HECKER, Live in Nanterre, Maison de la musique, France - 1.6.2007 - 2 separate performances.

SPARKLEHORSE+FENNESZ, Paris Café de la danse, 9.9.2003 - an interesting mix of their different music.

LEGENDARY PINK DOTS Live in Nantes, Le Floride, France, 2.12.1992 1st part and 2nd part - from the desk.

FAUST, Paris Nouveau Casino 7.11.2006 - not recorded from the begining. Not really interesting to listen to at home.

COMETS ON FIRE, live Paris Point Ephemere, 23.5.2007

COMETS ON FIRE, "Bon Voyage" live

ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE, Paris Batofar, 30.11.2002 - not so extraordinary as we could think.

SISTER IODINE Paris Blues du Nord, 26.3.1991 historical interest only for fans of the band.

SISTER IODINE St Malo 27.11.1994 - very good quality, a very good performance influenced by the weirdest SONITH YOUTH.

SISTER IODINE Paris Le Garage, 2.1997 (Q : 3/5 - ici ré enregistré, qualité plus fine) - good too, nothing in common, in 3 years their music has considerably changed - influenced by JIM O'ROURKE of the same area (maybe...)

SISTER IODINE Paris Mutualité, 8.2.1999 - historical interest only, no rock'n roll instruments any more here, just computers! DEAD LINK - I try to fix soon.

SISTER IODINE Paris Maroquinerie, 20.6.2005 - back to weird rock. rather good.

SISTER IODINE Paris Point Ephémère, 2.11.2006 - back to waeurd rock - much better.

NURSE WITH WOUND, live Paris Trabendo 8.6.2007 - good quality - first show in France ever.

EARTH, Paris Point Ephémère, 17.2.2006 - good quality, but they've released quite the same thing since this recording, with "Hibernaculum". Still really intersting!

SUNN O))) Paris, Point Ephémère, 17.2.2006 - extraordinary live show, but problem with my mic around half the recording (no battery any more, the quality in sound changes - but it's ok).

SUNN O))) Paris, Nouveau Casino, 7.4.2005 - really good too, though not so varied.

WHITEHOUSE, Paris Nouveau Casino 11.12.2003 - fabulous industrial show - but you should have been there!

THE GOD MACHINE, Scenes From The Second Storey (1993, indie rock)

Listening to ISIS, a band recommended by a friend, the sound and style of their good music reminded me those (even better) of THE GOD MACHINE, a band I really loved in the 90s. The wall of guitars, coming typically from the noise / grunge area, are subtly combined with accoustic instruments (guitars and piano) to create various emotions, from rage to despair. Maybe a bit too long, with some tracks in the second half not as good as the 1st halof of the album.
(Re-)discover this important album here.

PAN SONIC, Live 1999

Once more, it's related to their live performance coming soon in Paris, where I support my favourite electronic band - how lucky I am.
This live performance recorded in good conditions in 1999 comes from the Napster period, I don't remember precisely when and where it was recorded. Very powerful stuff here! For those who don't know PAN SONIC well, don't forget all the music you hear is played absolutely live, there are no laptop nor sampler (well, maybe a sampler, but I'm not sure), each live performance is different from the previous they made.
Even if it won't be enough to wait for their live show in your town, you can download this one here.
And don't forget to buy their incredible new album, on Amazon (here in french) or in your favorite records store.

CHRISTIAN DEATH, All the love / All the hate (1989)

BY REQUEST
Nothing special to say about this double concept album, written, composed and played by Valor almost alone (the other members left just before). Indeed, you may feel that it's typically a studio album, that there's not a whole band playing the music.
It's also the first try of Valor in "heavy metal", particularly in "All the hate" (as you guess, "All the love" is softer). Some good tracks are not enough to save this rather bad double-album. For fans only - download it here : ChristianDeath.zip

AUTO-PROMO

CHRISTIAN DEATH, Atrocities (1986, death rock)

First C.D's album composed by Valor after Rozz Williams left the band, "Atrocities" can be considered the best album they made, to compare with their debut and all time classic "Only theatre of pain" (but in a different and much more various style). Furious distorted guitars, dark or sweet ballads, you'll find many things to be satisfied with in the recording. Thus, what a pity the typically 80s production is not better on some tracks, where (I find) the snare drums are much too loud!
Find this dark classic album here.

NB : if I share this one, it's partly because of the awful artwork Cleopatra made for the re-edition, it's a shame (why do they change the artwork???). The original one was another thing! More information on their complete discography here.