Bulldog

It's official - this album is amazing. Probably the best album I've picked up from this thread (although I'm yet to give Korai Öröm a listen just yet).

Keep up the good work mate.

Zarko

Well, good that I chose to re-review it then.

Short hiatus til I get the bulk of the Dead Can Dance stuff done.

Might chuck one or two reviews in...

Zarko

Sunday’s Slave

That one decent song from that one album…
I get mighty pissed off when I download an album after listening to one decent track on youtube only to be let down by the rest of the album.

Either way, gonna chuck up a few weekly now just to do something.

(In)voluntary Emotional Response – Infidel?/Castro!


I should have seen the warnings really. With a name like that in its entire pedantic glory, surely I should have known not to waste my time? (Ala Godspeed) But no, a half decent ‘dark’ post rock affair in this one track is just an annoying grindfest for the only 2 friggin’ CDs. Maybe if you’re a noise/grindcore fan its worth a check out, but from a bit boring/interesting to insanely average noise isn’t my sort of thing.

Cheefproduction – Phonosapiens


I really like this track for what it is. Some nice scratching/mixing hip hop and sampling makes it an interesting affair, if not terribly unique. Alas, the rest of the album is just meh.

beszpilman

From the little I've seen from the videos posted, I'm afraid I'll be feeling the same.

It's funny, I have only just written in my journal that it's gonna be some time since I interest myself in instrumental records again, but you know what? Program Music I has just made into my wishlist, just like that.

Zarko

Well most of this journal is instrumental, so I hope you find a few things that spark your interest

Zarko

Soundpool – Dif Juz (1999)

(Love this album cover)

GENRES – Rock, Ethereal, Alternative (Terrible allocations sorry)

Tracks
Hu - 2:54
Re - 4:28
Mi - 6:05
Cs - 5:02
Heset - 6:44
Diselt - 2:39
Gunet - 5:24
Soarn - 4:04
No Motion - 4:49

Dif Juz were a small time band from the early 80’s, and were one of the early bands on soon to be legendary alternative label 4AD. The group only released one full album. That album is not Soundpool. Soundpool is a ‘compilation’ of two EPs they released in 1981 under 4AD, before they changed labels (To subsequently go back to 4AD in two years time). Their first EP is ‘Huremics’, stretching out for 19 minutes over 4 songs (Hu, Re, Mi and CS). The other EP was ‘Vibrating Air’, also at 19 minutes in length over 4 songs (Heset, Diselt, Gunet and Soarn). The final song on this compilation is from another compilation of songs from bands under the 4AD label (No Motion). Despite their limited output, they are probably the most underrated 4AD band (Probably because of their lack of output). Although they do have another compilation of the 2 EPs, this in my opinion is the best mix and production, making it a worth listen. The styling is best described as dream pop/rock.

Hu kicks off proceedings, appropriately indicative of the bands style. Strong bass lines shine through (The band was heavily influenced by dub music), assisted by some intense drumming. Although it is loud in a sense, it is thick with atmospheric sounds and tones, almost celestial. At only 2:55, its pace makes this feel even shorter, but it is an almost perfect introduction to the band. Re follows similar form, with a slower base, best showing off the bands dream pop/rock approach, the song is calm and relaxing whilst maintaining its interest over 4 and a half minutes. The layering of sounds is fantastic.

Mi is the longest song from Huremics at 6 minutes, and it is the ‘sparsest’ creating a clean sound and ethereal nature, and sounds reverberate throughout the song. Cs starts out a bit darker and offers a more sporadic and intense beat as well as offering some downright amazing sounds and riffs. These four songs signal the end of Huremics, and it’s hard to pick just one favourite. Each offer something different that makes it worth listening to, however, in the same vein they are a terribly difficult band to review because it is hard to describe their music.

Heset kicks of part deux from the EP Vibrating Air, and whilst similar, offers a more haunting atmosphere, similarly sparse to Mi, but with a greater tempo. It has some amazing guitar work that breaks through the drumming/bass occasionally is sharp attacks. Diselt is almost more rock-ish, with few elongated bass notes that symbolise most of the bands work. Gunet is the most standout sound-wise. It’s laden with dark atmosphere in comparison to much of the album, and it is extremely deep layer wise. It is probably my favourite track from Vibrating Air.

Soarn is a quiet reflection piece to end the send EP, with the occasional touch of Eastern influence; however it is nothing to marvel at. A nice way to end an album normally, it doesn’t quite work when there is a follow up song. No Motion ends the album, and is off the 4AD compilation ‘Lonely Is An Eyesore’. It is fair to say that it tops off the album superbly. Offering a more aggressive base, the contributions by each member are not overshadowed in a crowning track (Unfortunate that it was a standalone recording), offering a spatial atmosphere that is amazing.

I thinks its obvious by the lack of writing that it is hard to describe exactly what Dif Juz do. I have really wasted your time here, because the only way you will get any semblance of an idea about the band is to experience them yourselves. It is a shame that the group released such a little catalogue and are generally unknown, as they definitely embody the 4AD sound and style, and match wits with some of the more lauded groups from the label, such as close friends the Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil. Any fan of early 4AD stuff, or Dub-Rock in general should definitely check it out.


– No Motion

Apologies for lack of posts in both this and the DCD thread, been a bit busy and been crook for a week and a bit now, not to mention the fact I just plain wasn’t listening to music. I am still clogged up and loopy, so the review might sound a bit weird/repetitive.

Bulldog

I'm liking the sound of these guys, judging by the video (obviously). It's probably just me, but they remind of a kind of cross between the Triffids and Died Pretty, with the energy of what I've heard of the Laughing Clowns thrown in. Sounds like quite an extraordinary album, even more so if it's all instrumentals. If I didn't have 2 MB comps to listen to and give feedback on, I'd be pestering you for a link right now

Thanks for the review. It's great that you're keeping this going.

Zarko

Grains’ Cranes is a debut release that roughly falls into the aesthetic of gloom folk. Sometimes it becomes more psychedelic in its nature; however, everything leads back to a nice, basic, folk sound. The album is pretty much made up of strumming. Often though, it becomes so intense that the resultant sound of the strum means nothing – only the actual strum itself finds itself into the music, and I quite like that touch.

The actual album may be a bit repetitive to some. Perhaps it is the best for the gloom label, as it stops itself from developing in its nature – The whole way it is Rob Williams on his acoustic guitar strumming along, not deviating much from his low tempo sounds and notes. Due to this, it can be difficult to grab hold of, even when you are giving it your most undivided attention. However, in the right atmosphere the light will simply turn on and you will find yourself within its grasp. It probably won’t hold you for too long, and can possibly become a forgotten note in your musical collection, but its well worth experiencing once. It’s a shame if you never get dragged into Williams’ melancholic world.


I’ve mentioned this around the place, and it deserves to get mentioned once again. Forseti is a neofolk/apocalyptic folk project hailing from Germany. Erde, whilst sometimes feeling ‘similar’ between each song, is an amazing piece of work. I can’t make high nor low of the lyrics (Being sung in German), but this doesn’t detract from the overall atmosphere or the music itself. The songs are led by a relatively simply acoustic guitar strum most of the time with an assortment of random instruments, such as flutes and violins, as well as Forseti’s vocals, with the occasional guest in to help him. His voice perhaps personifies the German language in my opinion – Harsh and aggressive, but in this context it is near perfect.

This is pretty standard fare for neofolk – However, it manages to do the simple stuff so well that there is little else to do but enjoy the music. Sometimes the songs feel a bit redundant due to the similarities between songs, though despite this there are some amazing songs. Das Abendland, the final song on the album, can match it up to any other song out there when it comes to album finales. This album is more for already fans of the genre, though I have no doubt that some may find themselves swayed to find more in the area after listening to Erde.

jackhammer

I love that Dif Juz track. I gotta get me a link for that! Kinda reminds me of Durutti Column who are perhaps a little more minimalistic and without much percussion, you should give them a listen if you get the chance.

__________________

Zarko

Well after 25 years of obscurity, Raffaele Cerroni's project Mushroom's Patience has been put to rest. A shame IMHO, given some of you know the adoration I have for the bands music. My first introduction was obviously Roma,Wien., which I have loved to death since first hearing it. Despite this, I have neglected to mention some of their other work which has been great in their own regard, such as Split (A collaboration with another middle-European artist, outofsight), Water, The Spirit of the Mountain, and other works.

However, there are times when bands should be put to rest. I can't complain, they have blessed us with some terrific songs/albums. Just a random selection from youtube...


Blues Infected The World


Eve And The Plastic Apple


Hostaria Disco Dance


Lucifer Sam cover


Roma,Wien.

Fortunately Cerroni is continuing his work, under the guise 'Dither Craf and The Lifeless Orchestra'. Self described as post-atomi9c folk/blues, I have hope for the project, and wish him the best with his future endeavours. Some Dither Craf vids on youtube...


Du hast sugo auf der wange


Easy - (I'm guessing this is the direction he will go)