Complications and Constrictions

It's a blowout! Three new reviews!
Holy stimulus!



Here's my take on the ever-fascinating, but not-quite-genius of Ricardo Villalobos's Vasco. Look at this guy (above), even his diet is minimalist.



And here I am recounting why Faust are still relevant on their latest.


Finally, a brief examination of the DVD version of Watchmen's Tales from the Black Freighter cartoon. I waxed a bit on its transgressive connection to Brecht, Genet, et. al, but fully neglected to mention E.C. Comics! E.C. perhaps shared much in common with some of these sick tales of depravity, particularly their gruesome and incredibly well-written horror tales.

Anywho, here's the kicker- Alan Moore be damned- the film's actually quite good. It'll never measure up to the graphic novel and readily missing is much of the meta-text that is comic-specific (today, a comedian- aka comic, ie. comic books- died in New York), but for a good ol' college-try Snyder pulled it off pretty well.

Underground Resistance on Current TV

All Apologies

Idolator has a post up regarding the Right Music Wrong campaign launched by the dying Virgin brand. The idea of a music "wrong" is so dogmatic and small-minded that it barely warrants mention, but Idolator's puts an interesting twist on this idea- don't we owe musicians an apology for buying all their albums and then pretending to be better than them several months later?

The comments section is very entertaining. Somebody ought to make an entire web site devoted to such musical apologies. Any takers?

Dear music industry,
I'm sorry for my stingy habits at taping songs off the radio, using BMG and Columbia House in my youth to get their free cd offers, taping songs I found at the library, burning CDs from friends, downloading music, listening to music on Youtube and Imeem, getting free promos to review, and buying local and independent music before anything mainstream. It really is sad that you are now irrelevant.
-Timh

Deeper Into Listening

I've got a new review up of the recent reissue of four works by Pauline Oliveros on Sub Rosa. Click the link to check it out.


I've had the privilege of meeting Ms. Oliveros and actually performed at her Deep Listening Space with Al Margolis (If, Bwana, Pogus Records, Sound of Pig Records) and Evan Leed (former Mr. Noise, m0dnAr, Moe Greene) (who've both recently collaborated on a great track on a compilation called String Theories)opening for the French improv group Hubbub. I thank the three people who came out that night.

Regardless, it's a great space to check out if you ever, for some ungodly purpose, find yourself trapped in the lower Hudson Valley. I have nothing but fond memories from there.

Deep Listening Institute

Invaders Must Die

A review on the new Prodigy. Surprisingly enough, it's pretty great.

Also, one I missed somehow. A review of the latest from Lowfish (1/2 Suction Records), Frozen and Broken

Assault and Confluence

Two new reviews to check out



This one on Manual's Confluence, which is gentle and quietly moving. And this one on the DVD rerelease of the original Assault on Precinct 13, which, of course, isn't either of the aforementioned.

Luomo- Convivial

A new review of Luomo's fantastic new entry Convivial

Mikkel Metal- Peaks and Troughs

After some slight technical problems over at PM this weekend, my review of Mikkel Metal's latest is up. Check it out. Some more great Echocord dub techno.

Soundtrack Music- Real and Imaginary

John Baker- The John Baker Tapes Vol. 1
new review



Xela- In Bocca Al Lupo
new review

RIP Blossom Dearie

Now at Last - Blossom Dearie

Flood Bank

I've got a new review published up at PopMatters of The Lines's second and final compilation. It's a mix of their two studio LPs, Therapy and Ultramarine. Listening to it, I kept thinking about how this could have easily evolved into a weird version of the early 4AD aesthetic (early Colourbox, the first Cocteau Twins LP). Only after reading the liner notes and doing some research, I found out that the engineers and bandleader Conning himself had actually played integral roles in the production of much of that music. Ultramarine especially seems to form a nice bridge between the guitar-based experimentalism of post-punk and ethereality of the aforementioned music.

Read the Review Here

Musical Ontology

This is old and has probably made several rounds throughout the internet by now, but it was so spot-on that I had to repost it.

The Different Stages of Musical Ontology.

As for me, I'd like to say I fluctuate between stages pretty regularly, but usually find myself drawn to one rather than a combination of several.

RIP Lux Interior of The Cramps

Pierre Bastien- Visions of Doing

A review of Pierre Bastien's latest, compiled from films he scored for Karel Doing.

See also Doing's Youtube page

Why We're Bankrupt (Morally and Financially)

Chalmers Johnson points out that the fattest free-floating source of waste in the U.S. Economy is not golden parachutes, tort, executive bonuses, or any of the other riffraff. It's something far more obvious, that far more prone to be casually overlooked.

"Many people believe that our military is the largest, best equipped, and most invincible among the world's armed forces. None of these things is true, but our military is, without a doubt, the most expensive to maintain. Each year, we Americans account for nearly half of all global military spending, an amount larger than the next 45 nations together spend on their militaries annually."