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