What's the sound in my headphones today? (techno, electronic, drum)

jackhammer · 11-10-2008, 02:29 PM

The only criteria I'm giving to this is that the albums or tracks reviewed will almost certainly be a first time listen on what I have recently acquired or dragging an lost gem out of it's hidey hole kicking and screaming.

Agoraphobic Nosebleed- Altered States Of America (2003)

99 tracks long and clocking in at well under 12 minutes this is certainly an acquired taste. Four vocalists, a drum machine, one guitar and endless samples and F/X create one hell of a racket. Is it a gimmick or is it a sincere attempt to make one of the most intense albums ever?

Luckily I was growing up when Grindcore first reared it's head in the late 80's over here and I have been to many all day Hardcore/Grindcore/Punk festivals so I can 'tolerate' this a lot easier than if I was reviewing my first Grindcore album.

Listening closely I can say that it is certainly not a gimmick and despite the ridiculously short length of the tracks there is plenty of imagination and variation to keep me entertained. What used to bore me after a while with Grindcore was the guttural vocals. After a few tracks I got bored. With 4 vocalists on board and only one employing this vocal technique my attention is still kept up. This along with the electronic backbone in many songs give the band a 'Cyber Grind' tag (just in case I start being corrected on their genre tag).

I thought the album was enjoyable in both concept and product. If you fancy your ears being cleaned out or an experience in just how far Music can go sonically, then give it a go brave people. It's fucking mental.

-- Official Agoraphobic Nosebleed Site --

FaSho · 11-10-2008, 09:20 PM

Just downloaded. I'm really looking forward to it. Great review by the way.

Dr_Rez · 11-10-2008, 11:39 PM

That album cover is fantastic. Looks like another one i know, just cant bring it to mind right now. Good review, will check it out.

jackhammer · 11-11-2008, 12:23 PM

King Sunny Ade - King Of Juju (Compilation released 1998)

Although my knowledge of African music is fairly limited, I regard Fela Kuti as one of my favourite artists. His pioneering of Afrobeat is an amazing genre of music. So I decided to delve a little deeper into African music. King Sunny Ade takes it roots from yoruba music but it adds guitars, banjo's, steel drums and in the 80's-synthesisers and herein lies the problem.

What I love about Fela Kuti's music is the incorporation of Jazz and deep Funk bass lines which makes the music sound timeless whereas KSA's music sounds dated in many parts and missing that deep bass that evokes the vitality and passion of Africa.

To compare these two artists is a little unfair as they play and have expanded upon the traditional Yoruba music but KSA does'nt grab me emotionally or as passionately. Sure it is very well played and not at all offensive but it is also, in the main; forgettable and on some tunes you could imagine artists such as Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel (in their African tinged output) doing very similar music.

jackhammer · 11-11-2008, 01:43 PM

Dead Machines - Futures (2005)

Never has a band name and album title been so apt. This wall of dissonant, disintegrated electronica does indeed sound like dead machines or is it the future of music? No structure but there is construction. Rambling yet precise in it's intentions. A state of technological decay or is it rebirth?

Over 50 minutes of dischord that is disturbingly listenable. Four tracks that begin in the earths core and explode into outer space. Not somewhere that I would want to live but sporadic excursions into it's lair leave you repulsed yet fascinated.

FaSho · 11-11-2008, 05:03 PM

Amazing revew. I'm definatley checking that out.

jackhammer · 11-11-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaSho

Amazing revew. I'm definatley checking that out.

Did you check out Agoraphbic Nosebleed yet? The Dead Machines album is definitely an acquired taste and is more of a reaction than an appreciation. Even my brain hurt after listening to it.

FaSho · 11-11-2008, 05:09 PM

As a matter of fact I did. It was probably the best grincore album I have ever heard. Anything else like it you would reccomend?

jackhammer · 11-11-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaSho

As a matter of fact I did. It was probably the best grincore album I have ever heard. Anything else like it you would reccomend?

I have a review brewing that may sate your new found 'Noisy' music phase

jackhammer · 11-11-2008, 07:05 PM

Fat Freddy's Drop- Roady (2005)

Stop pretending that it does'nt get your foot tapping. Music can be enjoyable too folks.

11-10-2008, 02:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	What's the sound in my headphones today? The only criteria I'm giving to this is that the albums or tracks reviewed will almost certainly be a first time listen on what I have recently acquired or dragging an lost gem out of it's hidey hole kicking and screaming. Agoraphobic Nosebleed- Altered States Of America (2003) 99 tracks long and clocking in at well under 12 minutes this is certainly an acquired taste. Four vocalists, a drum machine, one guitar and endless samples and F/X create one hell of a racket. Is it a gimmick or is it a sincere attempt to make one of the most intense albums ever? Luckily I was growing up when Grindcore first reared it's head in the late 80's over here and I have been to many all day Hardcore/Grindcore/Punk festivals so I can 'tolerate' this a lot easier than if I was reviewing my first Grindcore album. Listening closely I can say that it is certainly not a gimmick and despite the ridiculously short length of the tracks there is plenty of imagination and variation to keep me entertained. What used to bore me after a while with Grindcore was the guttural vocals. After a few tracks I got bored. With 4 vocalists on board and only one employing this vocal technique my attention is still kept up. This along with the electronic backbone in many songs give the band a 'Cyber Grind' tag (just in case I start being corrected on their genre tag). I thought the album was enjoyable in both concept and product. If you fancy your ears being cleaned out or an experience in just how far Music can go sonically, then give it a go brave people. It's fucking mental. -- Official Agoraphobic Nosebleed Site -- __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

11-10-2008, 11:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dr_Rez Registered Jimmy Rustler Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 5,360	That album cover is fantastic. Looks like another one i know, just cant bring it to mind right now. Good review, will check it out. __________________ Best chance of losing virginity is in prison crew Always Checks Credentials Crew nba > nfl crew Shave one of my legs to pretend its a girl in my bed crew

11-11-2008, 12:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	King Sunny Ade - King Of Juju (Compilation released 1998) Although my knowledge of African music is fairly limited, I regard Fela Kuti as one of my favourite artists. His pioneering of Afrobeat is an amazing genre of music. So I decided to delve a little deeper into African music. King Sunny Ade takes it roots from yoruba music but it adds guitars, banjo's, steel drums and in the 80's-synthesisers and herein lies the problem. What I love about Fela Kuti's music is the incorporation of Jazz and deep Funk bass lines which makes the music sound timeless whereas KSA's music sounds dated in many parts and missing that deep bass that evokes the vitality and passion of Africa. To compare these two artists is a little unfair as they play and have expanded upon the traditional Yoruba music but KSA does'nt grab me emotionally or as passionately. Sure it is very well played and not at all offensive but it is also, in the main; forgettable and on some tunes you could imagine artists such as Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel (in their African tinged output) doing very similar music. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

11-11-2008, 01:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Dead Machines - Futures (2005) Never has a band name and album title been so apt. This wall of dissonant, disintegrated electronica does indeed sound like dead machines or is it the future of music? No structure but there is construction. Rambling yet precise in it's intentions. A state of technological decay or is it rebirth? Over 50 minutes of dischord that is disturbingly listenable. Four tracks that begin in the earths core and explode into outer space. Not somewhere that I would want to live but sporadic excursions into it's lair leave you repulsed yet fascinated. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

11-11-2008, 07:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Fat Freddy's Drop- Roady (2005) Stop pretending that it does'nt get your foot tapping. Music can be enjoyable too folks. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”