CD Releases: March 2004 updated:01/03/2004
MENTAL ILLNESS 1.03 Various CDR
(04748455 Records)
File Under: NZ Music
MICDR-02
Mental Illness is a subsidiary project of 0474:8455 Recordings, dedicated primarily to turntable / electronic / sequenced music outside of Drum'n’Bass, as a repose and an outlet for Databass Network to provide an opportunity for affiliated producers to showcase the best of their experiments in other genres. With Drum'n Bass, the consistently high standards expected of producers and performers can be stifling creatively, while Mental Illness puts out unique music from our producers that celebrates a whole different set of musical values. The most exciting thing about Mental Illness is the idea of just putting the music out there, no faffing about.
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY The Earth is Not A Cold Dead Place CD
(Spunk)
File Under: Explosions in the Sky / Rock
URA126
Texas guitar band Explosions in the Sky have been building themselves a reputation over a slow-burning three years of intense and single-minded music making. Associated loosely with And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, and Lift to Experience, they have more in common with that US tradition than with the GodSpeed! and Sigur Ros who are more often cited in their praise. Mark Smith and Munaf Rayani play guitar; Chris Hrasky drums; and Michael James plays bass. It’s very simple really. There are one or two effects pedals and very few (if any) overdubs. The sound is ringingly clear with as much dynamic range as it’s possible to get from the classic guitar band line-up. The music is heart-rendingly optimistic and patient. The basic shape is a restrained drums and bass, with two guitars swapping and entwining lead passages and sometimes swirling in background sheets of chords or effects. The mind follows the lead guitar, the heart moves with the rhythm section. Listening evokes images of a journey, with a landscape that constantly changes but never breaks. All along the way there are melodic delights. Volume levels build up steadily, with plateau’s for thought. And even as the thunderous parts rage, the clear tune on one guitar continues to sing out. The result is that you either concentrate hard, completely drawn-in, or you’re not listening at all. A vocal track would utterly break the spell. Compared to earlier work, this album is crisp and confident. They seem to be a band who have come into their prime, with the fullest possible expression of what their current musical ambition could want. Highly recommended!
WEIRD WAR If You Can’t Beat Em, Bite Em CD
(Drag Cirty / Spunk)
File Under:
URA118
The sophomore album from these Washington, DC rock'n'roll radicals comprised of Ian Svenonius (Nation Of Ulysses, Make-Up, Scene Creamers), Michelle Mae (Make-Up, Frumpies, Scene Creamers), and Alex Minoff (Six Finger Satellite, Golden, Scene Creamers). The band formally known as Weird War that became the Scene Creamers who became yet again Weird War. Or so the story goes as such. But names aren't really what matters here; for we're talking more about revolution. Revolution through dance. Revolution that thrives off the collective spittle of the thrashing masses, who sing to the knowledge of love, of rock, of passion. This record is a statement. Get off your ass, get on the floor, and make rock 'n' roll your burning desire. Eleven liberating tracks of get-down, soul-fired, sexed-up rocking. A thousand flocks of garage-infused funk anthems can't lead you wrong.
in music releases are available at all good record stores nation-wide