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.

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.