MuhMur Radio Broadcast : SoundArt Radio : 29/09/2016

A programme celebrating September the 29th. Checking back on events, the Final Academy started in Brixton (at The Ritzy Cinema) on this day in 1981. (Not 1982 as I mention on the broadcast …. an honest mistake). Performances from Psychic TV, Last Few Days, Cabaret Voltaire and 23 Skidoo along with readings from William Burroughs and film by Derek Jarman were all recognised here … The same and Throbbing Gristle's "Greatest Hits" was released by Rough Trade US as well as the import 45 "We Hate You Little Girls" on Adolescent Records. I have played this single on earlier broadcasts so I didn't include it here - I don't like repeating tracks if I can help it. Dangerous Girls "Man In The Glass" 7" was also released on this day in 1982 but I couldn't find room … maybe later. In 1978 999 released their second LP "Separates", one of my favourite albums. I remember going to see them on the "Separates" tour in 1978 (supported by Razor - whatever became of them? I think they had one 7" out called "Death To Disco", but I have never seen a copy) in Lincoln. September 1978 saw 999. Ultravox!, Skids and The Stranglers all play a variety of venues in Lincoln. A defining moment in my youth.
Also on the playlist is the new cassette from Bulgarian project Deffektegg. A momentary slip pushed a set of headphones on to the "mute" button and 23 seconds of the track is lost in silence. Amateur Hour at the start of the programme … I apologise and will play more from the excellent "Nadir" album in a later programme.

Please take a listen : https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-broadcast-29092016/ (Copy + Paste).

Playlist :
01: Deffektegg : "Stamina" (Amek) 2016.
02: tbc : "The Birth Of Gods : Insecta (Mark 2) (Monochrome Vision) 2012.
03: Psychic TV : "Pirates" (Vinyl On Demand) 2011.
04: Joachim Nordwall + Ryan Martin : "Endless Questions Inside The Approach" (Ideal
      Recordings) 2016.
05: Joachim Nordwall + Ryan Martin : "Ricochet Around The Triptych" (Ideal Recordings)
      2016.
06: Throbbing Gristle : "Hot On The Heels Of Love" (Rough Trade US) 1981.
07: Monte Cazazza : "Kick That Habit Man" (Industrial Records) 1980.
08: Joke Lanz : "Except For The Cows" (Ideal Recordings) 2016.
09: Cabaret Voltaire : "The Set Up" (Rough Trade Records) 1978.
10: Last Few Days : "Too Much Is Not Enough" (7" Version) (Touch) 1985.
11: 23 Skidoo : "Last Words" (7" Version) (Fetish Records) 1981.
12: John Duncan : "Final Solution" (Ideal Recordings) 2016.
13: Copley Medal : "Pijor Dolor" (Joy De Vivre) 2016.
14: Throbbing Gristle : "Hamburger Lady" (Rough Trade US) 1981.
15: 999 : "Homicide" (United Artists Records) 1978.

Maurizio Bianchi

M.B. Maurizio Bianchi is one of those artists who I like what I have heard but have not heard enough … 

I first came across the name M.B. back in the early 1980's when I bought a copy of the Leibstandarte SS.MB 12" "Triumph Of The Will". 99 pence, secondhand in the Notting Hill Gate Record + Tape Exchange. I bought it for the name / title alone not realising it was the work of Steve Stapleton, Whitehouse or M.B. 

But back in the early 1980's, in Lincoln, it was very hard to get to hear or purchase releases by M.B. There was no immediate outlet, it was even hard to get hold of the magazines to get contacts to write away for the releases. A certain amount of effort was required and a lot of releases / artists / projects got missed. Last week I bought the latest 7"EP by John Duncan and I certainly throw him in to this category, releasing a multitude of "must hear / must have" vinyl + tapes but either missing the release altogether or spending money on more obtainable stuff. Taking the trip to Selectadisc in Nottingham. 

Pre-Internet days and I only ever saw one M.B. album in the racks of my local record store. I bought a copy of "Industrial Murder/Menstrual Bleeding" from Red Rhino Records in York. 1992. And now the whole M.B. cannon is available on the world wide web, direct from labels or secondhand through sites like Discogs … but where do I start? Like John Duncan, I would love to hear and have it all .. but where do I begin? 

My knowledge of Maurizio Bianchi is pretty slim. Italian noise maker who was involved in the aforementioned brilliant Leibstandarte SS.MB 12" and had a cracking track on the Broken Flag compilation "Neuengamme" (1982). "Industrial Murder/Menstrual Bleeding" is still industrial noise - quite lo-fi but mesmeric. There were articles declaring he was part of an Italian Fascist Movement, there were reports of him being a born again christian and denouncing his past, and he has retired more times than Frank Sinatra. A man of mystery. 

Last week I managed to get a copy of the latest M.B. release, the CD album "Mikromusicha" on Belgian label EE Tapes. I had no pre-conception towards its' sound. No idea what M.B. sounds like in 2016. 

Preface:
The term MIKROMUSICHA means that branch of the sound world that deals with infinitesimal molecules interact with the neuronal apparatus of the individual fully aware of its limitations. For its characteristic developing sound within the membranes of the linear modulation experimental, MIKROMUSICHA fits nicely with the deepest emotions and the intimate passions.I wanted to transfer the same feelings through five sections, finely machined, so as to bring the listener into the world of the most visceral spirituality, to his eternal benefit. - M. B.

Five pieces in just over an hours worth of sound. Starting with "Infinitesimo" starts the journey with a recording of spaces and echoes in a grand room. An orchestral choral drone floating around. Other noises interject - a great cracking of static electricity for example cuts right through the air. The sound is dramatic, religious and dramatic. 

The album moves along with a mechanical pace, factory production line sounds, high speed rattles. "Membrane" is what I imagine tinnitus to be like with treated high pitch bird song, and "Intimita' E Passioni" having a menacing three dimensional sound of dark empty streets, a ghostly atmosphere is built with a "what lurks beyond"? feel. "Spiritualia Viscerale" ends the album. The "mellowest" piece over the past fifty minutes. Muted sound that puts you listening from the inside of some glass container. 

A very pleasant listen that sets the mind and ears thinking. "Mikromusicha" is limited to 100 copies only and available through EE Tapes. Website is eetapes.be Easy. Certainly easier than it was in 1982. 

Now I want to hear "Symphony For A Genocide" and the collaboration with Cheapmachines ….. 

Alfarmania

Released this month is a new cassette from Swedish industrialists Alfarmania. "Vid Sōmnens Sista Tråd" (which could mean "the last thread of sleep") is a single sided C60 (ish) tape on Styggelse. Styggelse being the label of main Alfarmania pragmatist Kristian Olsson.
The tape is a collection of rare tracks from Alfarmania released in 2015. Kicking off with three tracks from the lathe cut 7" released by Spanish label 8EMinis. 20 copies only and very hard to come across. I know as I tried to get one on release …. "Vid Sōmnens Sista Tråd" has a compulsive and dramatic chord / drone that morphs in to buzzing irritation, a scraping of scrap metals that transform in to angular feedback and distorted and distressed vocals. It's all subterranean, like sticking your head in to a deep deep well and hearing the sounds of Hades. "Kvick I Jord" is a swirl of souls, their slow heartbeats and pulses lost in limbo. "Lomsk" ("Sly") features fellow Swede Tommy Carlsson on "backing cock". Who are the members of Alfarmania these days? They were a duo once, a long time ago. A guy called Tony used to appear. No mention of him here … "Lomsk" is the cream of the cassette with its' wall of untuned radios, their frequencies riding a rollercoaster in a post apocalyptic theme park.
To have the lathe cut 7" must be an honour. The tape is grateful.
"En Otrampad Stig" ("An Uncharted Path") is more Survival Unit than Alfarmania. Sounding like a late 20th Century Genocide Organ, no surprise it was released by Unrest Productions on a compilation to celebrate Alfarmania's live UK debut.
There is an unlisted piece on the tape … a real "edgy" piece, a sound that is straining against the wire, almost reaching the point of collapse mixing clicks and hums against an assured force. One of those tracks that, when finished, made me rewind the cassette and want to play again and again …

Essential.

The Alframania web site hasn't altered in three years, so try the Facebook page or failing that Cold Spring (in the UK).

MuhMur Radio SoundArt Radio Broadcast 15:09:2016.

Back on the air after 4 weeks away, and playing a lot of sounds that have appeared over the summer. New 7" singles from Contrastate, Dale Cornish + Phil Julian and Louie Rice and new cassette releases from Alice Kemp and Amalthea.
The Robert Rental single was originally released in early 1978 on Regular Records, and on 15th September 1978 Lincoln based label Company Records re-issued the single along with "Private Plane" by Thomas Leer. The Company Records HQ wasn't far from where I lived, and I often walked past their address; Fort Barnes, Rookery Lane, Lincoln (opposite Boultham Park) but it was just a postal address. A warehouse. I still held hope for a chance of spotting Robert or Thomas or one of Fatal Charm or The Cigarettes. The folly of youth. I haven't got a copy of the Company Records re-issue so I played the Regular Records version, I don't know if there is a difference. I don't think they went for all that "remastered by" business back in '78.
Please take a listen. (Copy & Paste) :
https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-15092016/

Playlist:
01: Amalthea : "The Red Flag Of The Dragon" (Cloister Recordings US) 2016.
02: Amalthea : "The Dark God Of Revolution" (Cloister Recordings US) 2016.
03: Mollusk : "Two Petalled" (Reverse Allignment) 2016.
04: Alice Kemp : "Doll (A)" (SoundArt Radio) 2016.
05: Militia : "A Kite Of Glass In A Blood Red Sky" (DPRK) 2008.
06: Contrastate : "The 10/40 Window" (Dirter Promotions) 2016.
07: Dale Cornish & Phil Julian : "Laughing Out" (The Wormhole) 2016.
08: Louie Rice : "45" (Organized Music From Thessaloniki) 2016.
09: Leif Elggren : "DasB1" (Fragment Factory/Rekem Records) 2016.
10: Vit Fana : "Antoniuseld" (Styggelse) 2014.
11: Nocturnal Emissions : "It's Your Mother" (Regelwidrig) 1992.
12: Tarkatak : "Skärva" (Drone Records) 1998.
13: Robert Rental : "Paralysis" (Regular Records) 1978.
14: Broken Lights : "Inadvertance" (Posh Isolation) 2016.
15: v./Ultra Milkmaids : "Load" (Zeromoon) 2002.
16: Troum : "Zayin" (Transgredient Records) 2001.

Next programme will be on September 29.

Secondhand Record Shops #23 : Falmouth

About five or six (great band) years ago I had crossed the border in to Cornwall to go discovering the town of Liskeard. There I saw a shop with the sign "The Only Second Hand Record Shop In Cornwall", so since then my trips to the deep south have been limiting - what's the point?
The sign proved to be a lie, as I was in Falmouth the other day and discovered "Sounds OK", a secondhand record shop that has been operating for 20 or so years.
A small two roomed affair focussing mainly on 60's / 70's / 80's rock and pop but with a healthy and diverse Punk section. I managed to pick up a mint copy of "E(gg)clectic 1" the Fried Egg Records compilation from 1980 for £15. Most LP's seemed to run between £10 + £15. A small selection of Punk singles  - The Clash, Madness, Lene Lovich - standard fayre.
The shop is on Arwenack Street, virtually opposite the Maritime Museum and well worth a visit if driving through these parts.
Now I have to rediscover Bodmin, Truro and Penzance … see if there are any shops there (Can any one help)?