Grey Park

Got a package through from Hyster Tapes yesterday. Always a pleasure. A batch of Grey Park CD's, a couple of Hyster Tapes releases and a Jan Borno CDr. With a break in work I settled down to the CDr "Live In Mielikuvia 2" recorded live in Jyvaskyla January 2009. The performance took place inside the Ilokivi, a small studio theatre situated in the University grounds. An excellent venue. I know - I have played there too back in 2000, the year I met Grey Park.
Here's what the letter says: It pretty much sums it up:
There are four people on the stage: One sits on a chair alone with acoustic guitar wearing hat and sunglasses. Three other people sit around table that has all sorts of electronic gadgets on it. People around the table start to play the gadgets, they play for 23 minutes of improvised drone-noise-ambient and then quite suddenly stop - then the guitar player, that hasn't done anything yet, been just sitting there, starts to play immediately after the drone -noise has withered out. The three people leave the table and the stage, guitar player continues to play for some 10-15 minutes and then stops and leaves the stage. Applause.
Rather like the Hyster Tapes release of Grey Park live at Ko-Ko the actual meat of the sound - the Grey Park live bit is excellent. Low hums and drones, punches, sequencers, shortwave radio etc all build and veer off in to different tangents, cracking stuff indeed. But the last ten or so minutes of solo acoustic guitar is just awful. Nice idea - badly executed.
It is like one of those parties I used to go to way back when. Not a party I would have chose to go to but that's where the evening was ending up and it was where the wine, women and whizz was. Let's say (for instance) a party at Itchy Dave's on Robert Adam Crescent....The host denies the existence of punk and the night is spent either in one room listening to Asleep At The Wheel or Joni Mitchell or in the other room where a twat in a hat is slumped in the corner with an acoustic guitar he cannot play but insists on letting everybody know it. That is how the CDr ends. Well done for getting the applause!
The Grey Park section reminds me of Contagious Orgasm.
If I was ever to be asked to curate an evening at the ICA or do one of those Meltdown things at a Butlitz on the South-Coast (and let's face it chances range between 0 and -1000,000) Grey Park would be the first name on my list.
If you are unaware of them, Google them, write to them, buy their stuff!
Pics:
1: Grey Park CDr.
2: Inside Programme Notes for Grey Park.
3: Concert Programme Cover.

Beequeen, Haytor & The Birthday Party (well picnic actually.....)

Late 2000 or early 2001 I bought a copy of "Long Stones And Circles" by Beequeen. A 3" CD on the Staalplaat label. I got it in the sale at These Records in London. They were closing down. The first Beequeen release I bought was the "Nouen" 7" Flexidisc, I got that from Bad Records in Leeds. It was in the sale...they were closing down. Both items cost me a pound. A shame these shops closed really as in both cases I had just discovered there whereabouts. I found Bad in 1991 whilst I was living in the Vale of York, cracking shop where I bought cheap (in the sale) Smell + Quim, Intrinsic Action and Merzbow stuff. Just as I moved to York (in 1990) the Red Rhino Records shop closed its' doors. (Die Form 3LP Box Set for £3.00)....Bad timing. Then in 2000 a friend in London says "Meet you in These Records near the Elephant & Castle". I never knew it existed. The next visit I made and they were having a closing down sale.
Anyway. For a pound I bought the Beequeen 3" and fell in love with it. Encased in some leathery type sleeve sewn together with black thread - I had to unpick it to get at the disc - with passages of text written by Richard Long on the sleeve. Track 1 is a reading of "100 Tors" where a Dutch vocal reads 100 tors of Devon. The sound swirling about is organic drones - sounds of insects, birds, church bells. Clever stuff. I love the vocal. All these names meant nothing to me (Vienna) until in late 2001 I moved South to Devon. Firstly Exeter and as of now Saint Marychurch.
Dartmoor is about 15 miles West of where I live, and from where I work and from my (works) window I can see Haytor. I have watched Haytor (almost) daily now for the past seven and a half years. To me it is like a visual magnet. I also have to see the sea every day (which makes travelling and staying inland non-temptful). I haven't seen more than half of Dartmoor but of all the Tors, Haytor is my favourite. Stand on top of Haytor rock and you can see the sea, killing two birds with one stone there - take a telescope and you'll see Hartop Towers-by-the-Sea!
To celebrate the first birthday of Isabel Frances we decided to take a picnic on Haytor. Cheatin' Turkey sandwiches, Mozzarella and cucumber sandwiches, Hula Hoops, bananas and lashings of Coca-Cola. (And veggie Spag Bog in a jar for Isabel). Crackin' stuff. This was Isabel's first visit to Dartmoor (OK we camped in Lustleigh last August when she was 4 months, but this was Dartmoor proper - the wind chill factor taught us that) and she smiled and chatted the whole time, hopefully it will enter her blood as it has Tamsin's and seems to be entering mine.

13 years after it's release and being limited to only 500 copies I see that the Beequeen 3"CD is still available for £3.50 - £4.00. My advice to all is BUY IT!

Pics:
1: Beequeen "Long Stones And Circles" (Staalplaat) 1997.
2: Haytor Rock, Dartmoor.
3: Oscar, Isabel & Tamsin prepare for the feast.
4: Isabel post-picnic.

Andreas Brandal

Just got a package through from the excellent German label Licht Und Stahl, amongst the tapes and CD's was "Shipwrecks" by Andreas Brandal. Spun this one first as Andreas is a new name to me and after reading his biog. I see that I am (as ever) a little behind the times. Andreas being active for about 20 years and COE of the Twilight Luggage label. (Of whom I have heard but posses nought).
Recorded towards the end of last year, what we have here is a concept / ambient album. There is no story or reason why Andreas has recorded an album based on shipwrecks enclosed, but ... the sounds are evocative of the sea. With distant bells and the sound of creaking wood and sea-lapping shores all in the mix it does become pretty obvious. The Camberwell Now did a similar thing with their "Meridians" EP. But I played this very loud this afternoon and it is a pleasant listen, the title track itself being a long acoustic guitar loop with shifting sounds coming to the fore and retreating to swill around the room, quite cosmic stuff.
Another fine release from Licht Und Stahl, a label that is becoming highly collectable due to quality of their output. I shall keep an eye out for further Andreas Brandal releases.....
Recommended.

Pics:
1: "Shipwrecks" sleeve.
2: Andreas Brandal.

factor x

Towards the end of last year I was asked by Steve Underwood if I knew anything of Exeter based artiste Shaun Robert A.K.A factor x. He was wanting to contact Shaun in relation to releasing a limited 12"ep of old material on his Harbinger Sound imprint.
I must admit that the name drew a faint recollection, I do have a couple of compilation cassettes with factor x contributions - I think they are both editions of "Impulse" tapes that used to come free with "Impulse" magazine but in this house of boxes with myriads of old tapes I can't put my hands on them. I remember factor x cassettes used to get reviewed in that old "Goth" magazine "Music From The Empty Quarter", but like I said...faint recollections. I certainly couldn't hum a tune.
So, wearing my private detective hat I set out trying to find Shaun. (I must point out that I do not live in Exeter - I live 23 miles down the coast, but I have family and friends there). I put up questions on the Cavern Club forum, and asked my brother-in-law Michael. Michael came up trumps, he actually used to know Shaun in the 1990's. Shaun used Michael's Eeriephone Studios to record, even sharing a cassette release on the German Maljugin Musik label. (Michael was part of the Cheesemen - before becoming bass player with Appliance). The cassette was called "Gestalt"/"Strong Enough To Care". Michael had seen Shaun in Exeter in 2008 selling "The Big Issue" on Sidwell Street. I called the local Big Issue offices - but they don't give out information on their vendors. Bastards! Notices were posted out to homeless charities and refuge centres in Exeter - "Do you know this man"? I also contacted Zan Hoffman of ZH27 label in USA who released a series of factor x cassettes.
All was quiet until last month.....
Steve alerted me to a factor x bootleg LP of an old cassette release called "Directions". Ultra limited and no information on how to get one mail order, I now had to keep the private dicks hat on and hunt down a copy of the LP. The LP, allegedly on Excrete Music comes out of Greece, I found a copy in Berlin (Tochnit Aleph) going for £15.
With Michael giving me his copy of the split tape and the LP coming through last week I am now collecting factor x releases. The tape is OK, 45 minutes of speeded up and slowed down guitar(s) through effects being the main theme, the LP is excellent.
Side One is guttural. The sound of factor x deep throating a microphone, as well as humming spliced with speeding tape rewinds and what sounds like an interview with Shaun himself. Side Two is more "musical" in a sense that instruments are being used, from synth drones and keyboard noodles to guitar plucks and radio interference. It all has a sense of being recorded live whereas Side One is studio based. Side Two reminds me of early Nurse With Wound.
The LP lasts 60 minutes.
A couple of days ago a member of The A Band told me he had been in touch with Shaun through Facebook. I've given him Steve's contact - hopefully Harbinger Sound'll put out that 12"ep.

Control

Saddened by the news of the passing of Larry Cassady I spent a few hours listening to Section 25 and that led me to listening to other Factory Records acts and dig out the DVD "Control".
I have no amusing anecdotes, or any anecdotes whatsoever about Section 25. When I went to see them live I held them in great reverence, I wouldn't even talk to them at the bar at the Porterhouse. In my eyes they had already attained god like status.
When I got to see them at The Porterhouse (Retford, Nottinghamshire) they were being supported by Crispy Ambulance and promoting the "Key Of Dreams" LP. On arriving at the venue we walked to the monitors to see if the "set" had been written and taped to the monitors. Section 25's set had been taped to the monitors and they were doing a new song called "Twat". Not a surprise for a group who had already released "Wretch" and "Girls Don't Count" we thought. As an aside I have never thought "Girl's Don't Count" as a misogynistic track. Full of humour and for a guy who got his first girlfriend (proper) at the age of 23 a kind of way of life!!
As myself and my mate Tim got front stage to hear Section 25 open with the new song "Twat", they began with "There Was A Time".....told you there was no amusing anecdotes.
"Control" is a good film. It kept me entertained for 117 minutes (approx). I think it is historically / factually incorrect but then again I've not read Debbie Curtis's book neither am I/was I a big Joy Division fan. I bought "Factory Sampler" EP for the Cabs tracks and fell in love with The Durutti Column through that, but then I became a collector of Factory Records and therefore had every Joy Div. release. (I collected Fast Product releases too, still have "Earcom 2"). I never saw them live although I had the opportunity on many occasions. I made up for it by seeing almost every UK gig by New Order;1981/83.
The film is well acted and I am to believe that the actors played the instruments and were Joy Division. Impressive stuff. If it comes on TV watch it!

Pics:
1: SXXV set list from Retford Porterhouse (thanks Tim).
2: "Control" promo poster.

Sevan_Oh/Systemlaw Violator

Just listening to a CDr given to me by Sean Rorke. The latest "beat less" recordings of Sevan_Oh. Sean records under the name of Sevan_Oh. He's still one half of Stray2, but his solo outings are as Sevan_Oh.
The CDr, compiled last month in his studio in Manchester, is fine work indeed. Layering of spoken word loops and "readings" to create an atmosphere of calm. chaos and uncertainty. I am reminded of three things here - the work of Column One, the Clock DVA track "The Discussion" that appeared on a Les Temps Modernes comp' LP in 1985 (I think) and the 23 Skidoo track "Just Like Everybody". But mainly Column One which is strange because I know Sean has never heard (of) them. Sevan_Oh has a MySpace site - but whether or not these tracks are up there or will end up there is up to you to find out!
Sean Rorke may be a new name to a few of you. In 1983 he helped start the project IBF before moving to Manchester and starting Carnifex Recordings and the project Sonic Death Hypnosis which morphed in to Systemlaw Violator in 1985. Systemlaw Violator were a favourite of mine too. A trip comprising of Sean on bass guitar/voice, his brother Greg on guitar and Andy Wright on drums/percussion. Their music - a freeform noise that today would put the likes of Borbetamagus (or whatever they're called) and John Zorn to shame - was way way way ahead of its' time. A sonic wall of strings set against erratic rhythmic beats with a vocal that nobody could comprehend. Systemlaw Violator were the first cassette release on Carnifex Recordings with the C60 "Mirabilia". With a translucent cover with a picture of a "sun face" and a sleeve made of metal - recycled Holsten Pils tins...."Mirabilia" was an instant classic. I was there at one of the sessions in William Kent Crescent, Hulme, Manchester when they were recording for the release. It was chaos as Brendan Sheridan and his 4 Track Fostex portastudio was trying to get a decent snare sound for the track "Knee Deep In The Shit Of It". Sean (as producer/musical director) was always the perfectionist. I think I left after two hours of hearing just snare drum. Brendan wasn't far behind.
Systemlaw Violator played two gigs. 1985 at The PSV in Hulme. I have a recording of this and it sounds like Soviet France. The second and final SLV gig was at The Solemn Bar in Manchester University in 1986. I was fortunate to be part of this gig line up on reel-to-reel tape machine loops. The gig was a benefit for the North West Hunt Sabs as well as supporting the "peace" camp that was set up outside Manchester Uni demonstrating against animal experimentation that was going on inside.....
Two of the acts on the bill demanded extra "soundcheck" time leaving SLV without one. The PA mixer said "It's all OK, I know what you want, a kind of Throbbing Gristle Cabaret Voltaire sound". Sean was furious and at one point refused to play - we were on stage in front of a modest sized audience at this point. I just played my reel-to-reel loops as the arguments and reconciliation ensued. Classic stuff, we ended up doing one song - "Primeage". After the gig Greg had had enough and that was the end of one of the greatest bands Manchester has ever produced.
In between forming Muhviertel Sean created N.T.R.A. A solo project. There was one cassette release on Carnifex Recordings called "From Force To Will" (A C45), but no live gigs.

Sevan_Oh is worth a listen, it really is good stuff, and when I can find the time I'll continue with the story of Muhviertel.

Pictures.
1: L-R: Andy Wright, Myself and Sean. Hulme. 1984.
2: Flyer for Systemlaw Violator gig at Manchester Uni.
3: L-R Myself, Sean and Greg Rorke. Sampford Courtenay (Devon). 2010.

Subklinik

Browsing the forum boards a couple of weeks ago and found the cassette "Musik For Dekomposition" being advertised. Troniks / I Heart Noise forum board thingy. Something struck a chord in the sub conscious and I put pen to paypal and ordered a copy. It was whilst going through some LP's a couple of days back that I realised that I had a Subklinik track on the "Natural Order" compilation set that StateArt put out in 1997. (White Box copy). Damn good track too - so that information must have been sat there in the dark recesses of....for 13 years and the name pops up again.
Research time. Subklinik is the project name of Chad Davis (what is Chad short for)? from Mass. USA. The cassette (a one-sided C30) comes packaged in a 7" single sleeve with a transparent cover. Reminded here of the Controlled Bleeding cassette "Distress Signals" that Broken Flag put out in the mid 1980's. Infact the whole package has a sense of mid 1980's. Style and content. All "C"'s are replaced with "K"'s : "Extraktion Procedure" + "Final Dekomposition" as exhibit A + B. Back in the mid 1980's I flirted with a couple of solo projects / releases as A:A:K + The Streetcleaner. "D.M.P.K. - Dead Meat Packaging Korps" being an album title of The Streetcleaner with "Konvulse Kontrol" + "Produktion" being a couple of tracks. It was a sign of the times. S.P.K. and Nekrophile being shining lights to us all back then. Even Michael DeWitt gets a "thanks" in the credits on this release.
It is good stuff. It is damn good stuff. All the sounds, the dark swirling electronic sounds come from 20+ year old machines. It created a fog whilst I was listening to it and it all ended too soon. Apart from a couple of Zero Kama reissues I have nought from the Nekrophile catalogue anymore, this is a great reminder of those days. (1985/6). Strangely European for an American - file alongside Praying For Oblivion.

Pictures.
1: Flyer in "Natural Order" Box Set. 1997.
2: Subklinik Cassette Sleeve. 2010.
3: Flyer in "Musik For Dekompostion" 2010.