Zhanteimi

Moondog

4.25/5.00

I gave it that extra 0.25 out of shock that an MB rec was actually good.

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Zhanteimi

LetsTalkMusic

Anteater

Well at least you guys will know to trip some acid when my turn comes around again. Ozric Tentacles - Pungent Effulgent (1989)

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OccultHawk

Do we still have that list of genres? I would like to choose a genre not yet explored.

The Identity Matrix

Hey TH can you drop me from this. I'm gonna be too busy the rest of the month to spend as much time on this site as I'd like. Sorry about this.

Besides I haven't contributed much to this thread for a long time. So it's probably for the best.

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"I'm not a prophet or a stone aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman. I'm living on." - David Bowie

Psy-Fi

Moondog - Moondog (1969)

I had planned on giving this a more in-depth review but I've been crazy busy at work and home lately, so I just haven't had much time for music.
I have three of Moondog's albums in my music collection; Moondog (1956), More Moondog (1956), and Moondog (1969). Of the three, this is the most complex but it's also the one I tend to listen to the least. Not that I dislike the album but I find myself drawn to his earlier works far more often when I'm in the mood to listen to Moondog, as I tend to prefer jazz to classical. This album is very good and shows quite a change from his earlier jazz-based music to show the orchestral side of Moondog's musical imagination. As far as orchestral music goes, though, this is one of my all-time favorites even though I don't enjoy it as much as the other two albums I have by him.
8.5/10

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She's a Brick House

Trollheart

I don't think so. I deleted them a little while back I think.
Okay, will do. Let me know if you want back in at any point.

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OccultHawk

Suspiria - Miranda Sex Garden

Not sold. I don't really know the history but it sounds to me like a good singer who worked hard as hell at Berklee to tackle a dream but there's something about greatness that isn't learned. The earlier a cappella effort reveals the same weaknesses. Inferior to Jarboe and Diamanda Galas. Perhaps on par with Dead Can Dance. Better than Bjork. This album works best at it's most quiet and ethereal. If you can't rock please don't try. If you're not angry don't front. The second to last waltz was a sad low point and My Funny Valentine? Save it for your performance exam. 2/5.

OccultHawk

My next choice will be Famous Places by Goldmund

innerspaceboy

I shall preface with an apology - I’ve not slept in 24 hours, am incredibly fatigued, and obnoxiously loud movers are presently clamoring about my home moving in my two new tenants. As such I am not in a sound headspace for a critical listening session. But I shall do my best.

The title is instantly intriguing and reminds me yet again that I’ve still not introduced myself to Italian horror.

My initial response to the opening selections is similarly one of intrigue - I’ve a working knowledge of only the most essential darkwave recordings so it is interesting to hear something new to me. The hints of Madrigal instrumentation is certainly my speed, though I personally prefer a more abstract quality to my brand of music featuring vocals. Still, the early 90s ethereal wave characteristics are consistent throughout the album which makes for an enjoyable listen.

The more stripped down and beatless selection dubbed “Distance” was an instant favorite. This is more my style, with a pace, mood, and vocals leaning in the direction of Elizabeth Fraser’s work from the same time period. This is the “ethereal” I am looking for. And the dissonance and minor key stay true to the gothic texture of the record.

“Play” was an interesting effort juxtaposing gentle calm with aggressive noise. It didn’t really arrest me, but again it may be due to my headspace tonight.

The atmospheric elements bracketing the songs are quite characteristic of the genre but work well on this record.

“Bring Down the Sky” introduces a string-led piece with delayed reverberating vocals. Again nothing terrifically novel, but it effectively demonstrates one of the strengths of the darkwave / ethereal wave genre. I did enjoy the openness the band explored with tracks like this, letting it breathe and develop at its own pace. This may be my favorite track of the album. (And reexamining the tracklist, it looks like I gravitate toward the three longest selections.) “Inferno” was another stand-out track for the very same reasons.

Overall, the album effectively showcases a cohesive collection of dark and surreal music. I’m surprised I’d not heard of the band in my previous travels, but as I mentioned my knowledge is limited primarily to the fundamentals of the genre.

Definitely an enjoyable experience, even despite my circumstance tonight.

Cheers! 7.5/10

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Aloysius

Miranda Sex Garden - Suspiria

I've always been a fan of this album. Miranda Sex Garden started as classically trained singers of Elizabethan madrigals. Their first album in fact was nothing but madrigals, sung traditionally, unaccompanied in three parts. From there they morphed into an art rock band that has variously been described as Darkwave or Gothic Rock - to me those terms don’t describe them all that well. Certainly on Suspiria they still sound like madrigal singers, often with each vocal part an equally important line rather than the usual singer plus back up harmonies - Sunshine and Feed are probably best examples of their use of counterpoint. This madrigal singer aesthetic has been twisted through the lens of influences such as Nick Cave and Einstürzende Neubauten (both of whom have had MSG backing them on tours).

The drums, guitar and viola are on roughly equal footing with synth and samples, but all of these are subservient to the vocals. There are no displays of instrumental virtuosity, rather the instruments and industrial ambience are there to add texture and enhance the overall mood. While it's not a perfect album due to a couple of low points (such as the waltz) its many strengths bring its my score to:
9/10