MuhMur Radio Broadcast 29/11/2012

Thank you for listening - I will give a full playlist & report and "Mixcloud" upload details when I return from the Schimpfluch-Gruppe weekend in Bristol .... if I ever get there! How does the song go?...."Outside the trains don't run on time" ... 

Goodnight.

Turbulent Times

Just received the latest edition of the fanzine "Turbulent Times". This is issue #9, issue #8 came out fifteen years ago! Good job I didn't get a 5 issue subscription, eh?
The 'zine is essential reading. It has a kind of "Idwal Fisher" attitude and a "toilet reading" air. Not irreverent and not snooty - "I know more than you do" - like some 'zines I could name just a damn good read. Easy, informative and not that serious as "Eraciator's History Of Harsh Noise" proves. That piece made me laugh. There's a recent interview with Nigel Ayers and Libbe Matz Gang...I've seen their name pop up a few times now in various 'zines and internet boards, might be time to dip the toe so to speak. There's a piece by Jupitter-Castrol GTX on revolutionary noise anthems and the obligatory record reviews .. also some live reviews, which is coming uncommon in the printed 'zine....good to see. The cover did promise knitting, but I have scoured the 'zine from cover to cover and there's no mention of knitting! As a subscriber to "The Knitter" and "Yarn Wise" I was very disappointed. 
I am saving some of this fanzine to read on the train to Bristol this coming weekend ...
"Turbulent Times" is A5 sized (pocket porn) and about 50 pages..and like I said at the start...essential. It costs £2.50 postage paid in the UK from www.uncarved.org/blog

The back cover features an excellent picture of a guy trying to shove his shirt in his ears at a Rehberg & Schmickler gig at Cafe OTO.

John Court At Spacex #2

Plans to spend time at the John Court eight performance were ruined by the weather today. Public transport between Torquay and Exeter was not good so I had to ask Tamsin to drive me through storm conditions to get to the Spacex Gallery. I experienced around thirty minutes of an eight hour performance. The performance marked the end of John's first UK exhibition; "The Work Between The Lines" which I reported on in September. Silence filled the Spacex as John slowly rotated clockwise supporting an absurdly and surreal sized table with his right ear, occasionally writing on his arms. Compelling.
Another triumph for the Spacex and I just wished I could have spent longer in the atmosphere.....

Psychic TV "Live At Thee Ritz" 1983

This release is a great "album as memory" for me. The full and complete recording of Psychic TV live at The Ritz in Manchester, 6th of November 1983. There is (of course) a vinyl version of the gig...the first Psychic TV live gig EVER!...it came out as part of the live series of albums, but this is the full gig spread out over two compact discs. I have the live vinyl (of course) and it is a great album - not as good as the "NY Scum Haters" of "Gottingen" LP's from the same series ... but still a great album. I don't play it as much as I should - perhaps because it is edited? I don't know..but now Northampton based Cold Spring Records have put it out in a warts and all stylee and Thank E for that.
"It was a rainy day in Manchester". Probably was, I can't remember...I can remember a lot about this night, this unforgettable night. I travelled from Lincoln via Hulme to get to The Ritz. Sean (my Dark Companion) and I were first there. The demonstrators were just setting up, getting their chants and placards ready .. probably waiting for the coaches from London, but Sean and I just flashed our tickets to the lady on the door and walked in. Members of Psychic TV were sat across two tables drinking cans of Carling Black Label (white tins with a black stripe back then ... always reminded me of the Crystal Palace away strip, but I digress). A passing smile and nod and we headed straight to the bar.
Originally the first ever Psychic TV live gig should have been at Prestwich Mental Hospital with Nico as support, but local council complaints meant it was hastily moved to a nightclub just off the Oxford Road. With my warm pint of lager in a plastic pint pot in hand I spent the evening front centre. The stage makes a good table and the monitors a great place to throw the coat. No Nico at The Ritz. Looped footage of Jim Jones in action on a makeshift screen stage right. The place slowly filled, the coaches from London arrived. Members of Test Department came to check the on stage equipment. Anticipation. There was a strange climbing frame on the stage, Genesis used it during the performance.
"Don't Forget Ken, Make It Hurt". I have never forgotten those words. The sound quality on the CD's is crystal clear. The performance is magnificent. It hits a lull in the middle, and if I remember rightly this was down to failing equipment. Gen's bass guitar and Sleazy's Emulator...but the power of the performance of the material is still quite stunning. "Roman P" and "Oi You Skinhead" shine on CD1. During "Oi You Skinhead" Gen leapt from the stage and started accosting the audience. Frightening moment. Do you remember going to gigs and being scared, scared of the performance and the unknown? Great days.....There are Genesis's stream of conscience poetry bits that are a little cringeworthy. Moments where he tries to embarrass John Gosling for wearing a leather skirt and rambling on about straining "for a poo"....Alex Fergusson's sub Velvets guitar meanderings in the background...but these moments pass and the power builds. CD2 ends with a cracking "Unclean" into "In The Nursery".
A great release for us old T.O.P.Y. heads and fits in nicely with the recent Psychic TV four album release by Vinyl On Demand. Would have been nice to have this as a double LP (vinyl) but cheggars can't be boozers.
Once again there is no mention of Paula P-Orridge who on the night played vibes, percussion and flashed her breasts to those lucky enough to be stood front centre even though there is a small stamp sized picture of her in the accompanying booklet. Forget about the shite ramblings from a guy called Simon, just look at the pictures. Cover by Val Denham is poor too - reminds me of an old Splintered record for some reason. But do not let that put you off....buy this CD.

After The Ritz I must have seen Psychic TV a dozen or more times (not quite 23 though) and they always did great / powerful performances in Manchester. I would love to hear (crystal clear) recordings of the Guy Fawkes gig at The Hacienda in 1984 and when they appeared at The Royal Northern College Of Music a year later.

Thank You Dad. 

Suomi Sounds #2

Have just spent a pleasant while listening to the latest release from Finnish independents Record Deals. After their excellent Kanttoripoika / Re-Clip split from 2010 comes this three way split seven inch EP from Kanttoripoika, Nesa & The Nestikles and Iltasyntsa. The latter two being completely new names to me.
Nesa & The Nestikles provide "Salamanteri"  ("Salamander"), a quite little laid back number with sluggish cocktail lounge drums and a melancholy (lazy) casio tune and space invader type electro bleeps. A lovely intro to the EP and to the sound of Nesa & The Nestikles. Kanttoripoika bring us "Menestystarina" ("Success Story"). A deep Finnish newscaster's voice is spliced in with randon percussion that suddenly makes complete sense as the last beat is the final piece of the (audio) jigsaw and the piece moves into a sound that is somewhere between Aavikko and Renaldo & The Loaf. It is fantastic - oddball motorik electronica (OME). Iltasyntsa is a name new to me but they've already released material on Finnish labels cdrl and Tajours-Edit. Their track "Totti" is a style, a genre called Chip Tune. Bleep and Booster electronics. A spastic with a stylophone. A style that I have heard before and always reminds me of very early acid house - around the time 808 State started (1987/8) and were producing stuff like the "Newbuild" LP, back then the sound left me in disbelief. "Totti" has an annoyance and just doesn't "go anywhere" and ends on a lock-groove. It is a shame as after repeated plays of Nesa & the Nestikles and Kanttoripoika this EP was becoming the finest 45 of the year (only it plays at 33rpm).
A single that is worth having for side A alone. Limited to just 200 copies the single is available via Discogs or by contacting Plaa at Hyster Tapes.  

Notes From The "Popside" #2

Back at Plainmoor, home of Torquay United FC to see them get thumped 4-1 by Southend United. My son Oscar was invited by the club's Community Football coaches to spend a day with Torquay United .. he plays football for his school. It was a great day out, especially for me the football mad dad. It may surprise some to know that I did use to play a bit back in the day (that day being the 1970's) and that I even made it to play at county level. But this was Oscar's day and he fully enjoyed the trip round the ground, the meeting the players and coaches, watching TV on the big screen in the VIP bar etc.
Last time we visited Plainmoor we stood in the freezing cold of a January afternoon, this time we were granted a seat (near the bar)! Joy. The match itself was entertaining for the neutral (me). Southend United were in the lead within ten minutes, an impressive goal by ex-Torquay United striker Gavin Tomlin. For Torquay it was downhill from thereon in, they were in all honesty bloody awful and quite appropriately playing "schoolboy" football. Kick n' rush. Southend United on the other hand were a well organised unit who seemed to have a game plan. It was easy to tell that they were managed by a top (and seasoned) coach in Paul Sturrock. Although (and indeed despite) losing heavily two of the best players on the pitch were Torquay United defenders; Brian Saah and John Osatler, but the Torquay United right back Kevin Nicholson had a 'mare of a match.
Oscar and I shall return again when the weather gets a little warmer ... it's great fun!

Pictures.
1: Oscar with Brian Saah and Damon Lathrope. (Pre match team talk)!
2: Torquay United warm-up.
3: The Mascot - it's a seagull...not a chicken.
4: Oscar has a half time read.     

Dieter Muh Live In Berlin. Feb 15. 2013.

I have just discovered that the Dieter Muh / Feine Trinkers Bei Pinkels Daheim live performance has its' own Facebook events page. Link:  www.facebook.com/events/422889221092683/
Looking forward to the evening ...