CHRISTIAN DEATH, a compilation (81/94, death rock)

Change of style.
Yes, a short"gothic" visit in the world of CHRISTIAN DEATH - inventor of the "death rock" (sort of dark punk rock). Not to be confused with the cheap and marketed gothic styled black / heavy metal you meet nowdays with such bands as Cradle of Filth, Marylin Manson etc...

Ok, recently CHRISTIAN DEATH has become one of them, in their later incarnation. But in the 80s, it was a completly different story : created by Rozz Williams, their 1st incarnation released one cult album, "Only Theatre of Pain", regarded as an absolute underground and "batcave" classic : distorted guitars (almost "ring modulated" - to compare with early SONIC YOUTH, yes!), confused drums from beyond, and this desperate voice - in comparison the saddest Robert Smith almost sounds like Sinatra.

After that, the band dissolved, Williams continuing with members of POMPEII 99 (I'm looking for the albums, if they exist, could you share them?), their leader Valor playing the guitar. 2 good albums were made, in a much softer style. This kind of "classic period" is rather dark, but not really "gothic" in my opinion.

Then, Rozz chose to leave the band, Valor becoming the main composer / singer / producer. To my ears, the 2 albums he made from this point, "Atrocities" and "The Scriptures", are 2 dark / psych / punk mixed rock masterpieces, and should be considered by every "weird rock" fans as such. Of course, everything is not good, but the music here is incredibly eclectic. It even reminds me of some krautrock bands like AMON DUUL2 who ignore boundaries in music.

At the end of the 80s, Valor and his friends made 3 contrasted albums, keeping on trying new styles : you'll find some really good things, but so many horrible tunes too... Don't try "All the Love / all the hate" first if you want to enter CHRISTIAN DEATH discography, this imitation of heavy metal is rarely successful. Then Valor stopped.
He came back in the 90s with a new band and made one inspired album, "Sexy Death God" but, unfortunenatly, turned later into black metal parody of little merit (and no interest at all), maybe because he'd gained the interest of the young goth metal fans who possibly consider C.D a godfather of the dark music. Don't loose yourself in this period.

To confuse us a little more, note that while everybody thought he was dead, Rozz Williams came back in the 90s too, with his own CHRISTIAN DEATH (there was a trial for the use of the name) that has nothing in common with Valor's. In my opinion, the 2 or 3 albums and the dozens of live and re-takes sessions of old tracks are rather pretentious and not really interesting, despite what some early fans may think - Rozz finally suicides in 1998, that's probably the reason. On the contrary his band called SHADOW PROJECT, with the same members as this CHRISTIAN DEATH incarnation, made an excellent album (their 1st, untitled) very similar to "Only theatre of pain", with some tracks composed in the early years but that were never recorded...

Ooch, sorry I was long, but it's not easy to explain. Please take a look to All Music Guide, where a very good biography has been made.

For the beginners, I tried a best of, to be heared in chronological order, with this track listing :
1. Deathwish (demo, 1981)
2. Desperate Hell (demo, 1981)
3. Spiritual Cramp (only theatre of pain, 1982)
4. Romeo's Distress (only theatre of pain, 1982)
5. The Drowning (a catastrophe ballet, 1984)
6. As evening falls (a catastrophe ballet, 1984)
7. Lament (Ashes, 1985)
8. The Danzig Waltz (Atrocities, 1986)
9. Chimère de-si de-là (Atrocities, 1986)
10. Strange Fortune (Atrocities, 1986)
11. Four Horsemen (The Scriptures, 1987)
12. Golden Age (The Scriptures, 1987)
13. Erection (sex drugs & jesus christ, 1988)
14. Climate of Violence (all the hate, 1989)
15. Angel (all the love, 1989)
16. Woman to Mother Earth(all the love, 1989)
17. Eternal Love (sexy death god, 1994)
18. Temples of Desire (sexy death god, 1994)

Don't look the povocation and the crow's style, just listen. Who can resist to such songs as Romeo's Distress, Strange Fortune or Temples of Desire?
You tell me after having downloaded this compilation here .

MONTAGE, S/T (baroque pop, 1970)

End of Micheal Browne history on the blog.
Between THE LEFT BANKE and THE STORIES, he joined this band called MONTAGE as a guest (uncredited on the original album). What is amazing is that he probably composed all the songs - what did make the other members?? I'm not sure they composed any album later...
You'll find in this album fabulous "summer" songs, the ideal for listening during your holidays. To my hears, the melodies are much more precious here than in the other albums recorded by Micheal Brown, it's the one you chould try if you're not in "baroque pop" (but what does this mean..? It's more or less like the Beatles, finally).
When I discovered this track called "Grand Pianist", in a summer morning (or was it at night?), I probably repeated it at least 10 times in the iPod... Absolutely magic!!

Believe me, once you listen to this, you'll run to find and buy it. For the moment, it's here.

THE STORIES, S/T (1972, baroque pop)

After the end of THE LEFT BANKE and a unique album with MONTAGE, Michael Brown formed THE STORIES with Ian Lloyd, but left the band just after the release of this first album.
In my opinion - but I'm not a specialist - very similar to LEFT BANKE, with some really good tracks. Nevertheless, it has not much in common with the beauty of MONTAGE's unique release...

Try it here if you already know MONTAGE - if not, download (and buy!) MONTAGE before.

THE LEFT BANKE, first 2 albums (1967/68, "baroque" pop)

I don't have much to say about this legendary band I don't know well at all (posted for a friend). They were featured teenage prodigy Micheal Brown, who will later involved in the even more interesting band MONTAGE (who recorded only one but extraordinary album) and in the first incarnation of an other influencial band of the "baroque" pop wave, STORIES (with a very first album too). Just consider that Michael Brown was 16 or 17 when he wrote and performed this music... Ouch, where was I when I was 16??

Here are the good albums before a third (last, and reputedly) bad recording.

CONSOLE, 14 zero zero / Freiburg EPs (2000, electro-pop

Back to work, with 2 funny and exciting electro-pop tunes by CONSOLE, whose albums are not so interesting (but they are ok if you're in electronica). Basically, each EP here consists in 1 track with several versions (and, for both, an original 1979 version by in a post-punk style. Very funny). As a kind of "bonus track", you'll find a promotionnal 3"CD with "the guide to make a a electro-pop masterpiece", with some de-mixed 14zerozero excerpts. Perfect to begin with.
Download these perfect electro-pop hits here

Ø, Atomit EP (1995, minimal "techno" / electronica)

PAN SONIC's Mika Vainio is under this "no name" Ø, he made many EPs and albums in this genre I think he's invented - you should buy most of them, they are all really fascinating. More information here.
Among those I have, Atomit EP may contain the track I prefer, on side A. Even if you're not too much in minimal electronica you should try!
Find the LP rip here (no artwork found).

QUICKSPACE, The Death of Quicskpace (2000, indie rock)

As I don't know much about this band I've discovered recently, here is AMG's album review : "Taking a step back from the vast scope and experimentalism of their brilliant, sprawling album Precious Falling, Quickspace's Matador debut, The Death of Quickspace, hones in on the group's precarious, invigorating fusion of giddy noise bursts and moody, hypnotic lock grooves."
You've understand this is their last album, and it was a pretty good surprise when llistening to it : for me it sounds as a mix of NEU and early STEREOLAB (but much better), with very good melodies and some interesting textures in the guitar playing.
You'll find the album here.

ULAN BATOR, S/T (1995, no-wave / avant-rock)

Another band from the french "no wave / avant-rock / post-rock" of the mid-90s, aside from DEITY GUNS / BASTARD / SISTER IODINE. ULAN BATOR are probably the less weird of those bands, but not the less interesting. In my opinion, you'll find here strong early AMON DÜÜL2 (particularly in Phallus Dei period) influences mixed with an obvious SONIC YOUTH fascination for weird distorted chords.
It's a very good album you can download here.

DEITY GUNS, Trans Lines Appointment + Loom EP (no wave, 1993)

With (but before) SISTER IODINE (you've found their live performance further in this blog), DEITY GUNS were the main band of the french "no-wave" (avant-rock?) underground music during the 90s. They only made one album before evolving and changing their name in BASTARD. This album, produced by Lee Ranaldo and obviously strongly influenced by early SONIC YOUTH, is one of the best of this genre in my opinion - listen to the opening track for example.
As a "bonus", you'll also find their EP, by far not as good as the LP, but nervertheless rather interesting.
You should absolutely try DEITY GUNS, it's here.
More information (in french) here.

CROMAGNON, Orgasm (1969, pre-industrial psych folk?)

Hard to describe in my poor english... Let's say first that the music corresponds with the band's and album's name... it's rather fascinating though not easy to listen to (really not!), it can be refered to other "hard folk" albums from the same period (like COMUS for instance), with a strong psychedelic "comune" touch. Because it's a little noisy and distorted, it can be considered a pre-THROBBING GRISTLE or EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN concept, but comparison with ANIMAL COLLECTIVE (with more craziness) is probably more appropriate.
Take the risk of listening to it by downloading it here, then buy it there.
(after SEVENTH SONS re-release, it's another reissue from the ESP label).

SEVENTH SONS, Raga (psych mantra, 1964)

What may surprise everyone about this recording is the year it was made... 1964, and listen to this! AMON DÜÜL would make the same kind of weird psychedelia in 1968 / 69.
It consists in one single long and freak track, it's surprising but also, I admit, a little boring maybe. But at the time it was played and even released (4 years later), it must have been a shock for those who were there!
Try it here, then buy it there if you like it.

KRAUTROCK TOP50 by Julian Cope

Woouuch!! Thanks to MauroFelipe76, here is a page where you'll find 50 links (!!) to download the top50 krautrock albums described by Julian Cope in his exciting book about krautrock. Of course, most of them are highly recommandable. I think there will be enough good stuff for the end of summer!

This 50 links forum is here. Enjoy!!

STEREOLAB, Miss Modular (japanese single)

Sorry not to post more things, but I really don't have time these days...
Here is a japanese version of the single CD of "Miss Modular" by STEREOLAB. In my opinion, it would not have been interesting without this outstanding remix version of "Refractions in the plastic pulse" by AUTECHRE (track 3). Even if you really don't like STEREOLAB, you may love it!
Try this here.

MIKA VAINIO, Titanik (1998, electronic drone)

The complete title is Titanikin Juhlakantaatti. Probably rather rare, though I'm not sure, a single track by PAN SONIC's MIKA VAINIO, one of his best electronic distruction / distorted drones, especially the first half, and probably palyed live with his prehistoric vintage synths that sound so warm. It still seems available on Boomkat .
If you can't buy it, try it here . Enjoy!

CODE III, Planet of man (krautrock, 1974)

Krautrock again, thanks to TURZI who has just released in second album "A" and makes me listen again and again to krautrock and "psychedelic underground" (for the moment, YA HO WA 13 and THE FLOWER TRAVELLIN' BAND, and the french AME SON too).
I wanted to upload this incredible kraut-folk-experimental album, when I realized CURVED AIR has already done it. So it's not new on music blog, but it's so good that I could'nt help sharing it too.
Hard to make any comparison for this really bizarre album, the only one by this mysterious band. A touch of FAUST, with much more eastern influence; a gloomy folk that reminds me of DOM's incredible "Edge of time" (to share later maybe?); and probably a general atmosphere that is not far from SAND's Ultrasonic Seraphim. An incredible trip you have to experiment!
Thanks to CURVED AIR you can download it here.

BRAINTICKET, Adventure (1980, electronic soundscapes)

By request.
Nothing in common with the albums BRAINTICKET made in the 1st half of the 70s, as it's virtually not the same band (this one is a solo album by their leader I think). Here it's mostly electronic (but not only). Even if it's pretty good, I share it for collectors first, it's not the most interesting thing BRAINTICKET made.
Check on TURZI's own label the upcoming re-issue of the (probably) best album, "Celectial Ocean".
The curious can download "Adventure" here .

TURZI, Live Paris Boule Noire, 28.6.2007 (krautrock)

Was it in 1971? Not at all, but it could have been and this show could have been a passage in time. Excellent performance in a vintage krautrock style (and not "absolutely new, never heard things like that", as I heard in the audience, pfff, no musical culture at all!!). Those who like Neu, Can, Ash Ra Tempel or Agitation Free, and more generally any good psychedelic music, should try this.
So download the boot here then buy the new album "A" there.

Don't forget I've uploaded a previous show sooner (Paris Point Ephemere 21/3/2006), in my opinion it's even better than their last show, and it's still available here.

TIN FOIL STARS, Mort aux Vaches (1999)

Another gift from our mysterious french friend, I had no time to listen to it yet. It's the 12th Mort aux Vaches you can download here. If any contributors want to add any other session he can...

For the french :
"Avant de s'appeler Styrofoam et de signer des albums chez Morr (d'abord plutôt bons, ensuite plutôt moins pour cause de virage pop moyennement négocié amha), Arne Van Petegen avançait sous le pseudo de Tin Foil Star. Suivant l'humeur, on sera séduit par ses dérives lunaires monochromes ou alors on trouvera ça un poil chiant. Quoi qu'il en soit, cette session contient une reprise inattendue de Nick Drake."

Download it here.

TIM HECKER, Mort aux Vaches (ambient, 2004)

I really love the first albums produced by TIM HECKER, and I confess that in his recent productions I'm a bit disappointed because there isn't really anything new. In this Mort aux vaches session, it is the same, it's good but it probably could have been excellent. Make your own idea by downloading it here.
Oh, I'm a little ashamed to propose it, as you still can buy it (or so it seems) on the Rough Trade website.

TROUM, Mort aux Vaches (dark ambient, 1999)

No particular information about the band, first I've bought the album for the object only (nice artwork). But listening to it, it appears as a rather fascinating exploration of the "dark side of the drone", with infra echoes and melodies emerging from gloomy noises. Hard to describe because of my english, but honestly it's really worth trying. It's here.