INTERVIEW: Graham Halliday aka Funkmeister G interviewed by Skot Schtikla

Funkmeister G

AUTOreverse #14, Summer 2011
FUNKMEISTER G aka
GRAHAM HALLIDAY
interview
by Skot Schtikla

Graham Halliday is mainly known in the recording guise of Funkmeister G.



Born in Ireland and then living in Perth, Western Australia for a few years, he is Sydney-based and has lived in just about every suburb of the 'inner west' since he was a kid. He produced Chunky Yet Funky zine in the 90's when I first came across him and some of my earliest memories of G are him calling me on the phone and then not really saying much except 'listen to this' and then he would play me everything from a dictaphone or tape deck old jazz, Sun Ra, Captain Beefheart to some of what I assumed to be his own noise recordings down the phone which with the old land-line would pretty much come across as 20 minutes of distorted fuzz!

REVIEW: Dave Fuglewicz and Hal McGee - Synergistic Reconstruction - tape 2011

Dave Fuglewicz and Hal McGee - Synergistic Reconstruction, 2011

DAVE FUGLEWICZ and HAL MCGEE
Synergistic Reconstruction cassette, 2011
Haltapes - www.halmcgee.com
Here's some fresh noise by two legends of the genre. This c-60 is divided into four separate pieces. The layers were brought together on a four-track cassette recorder, which just warms my heart. This whole project is a labor of analog love, at least on the recording end. Dave's original noises and synthesizer tones were later manipulated and reassembled by Hal into this stimulating blend.
Ian C Stewart

REVIEW: Bryce Eiman - Tone Whore - download, 2011

Bryce Eiman - Tone Whore

BRYCE EIMAN
Tone Whore, Last.fm download 2011
Casio SK-5 abuse, the likes of which not seen around here since I left mine at Darrin's. This album is eight processed noise/feedback pieces. Mysterious rhythms emerge and are slapped down with a quickness. I know that the looping function on the Casio SK-5 can provide multitudes of possibilities for unique, or unusual repetitions. The permutations can be endlessly fascinating in the correct hands (i.e. Bryce's, not mine). It sounds like there are some effects being applied in real time here. I like the tremolo type stuff. Piece number three has an adagio orchestral feel, quite pastoral there. Fascinating.
Ian C Stewart

REVIEW: Auzel - "Old" -- 2011

Auzel - Old

AUZEL
Old - download, 2011
www.vuzhmusic.com
14 shortish pieces. Micro, minimalistic. Lots of samples, surrounded by rustic, homemade vocal drones. "I Remember It More Now" is a couple of rhythmic, glitchy loops beset by noise-abuse. "The Maid And The Cook" is kooky and frenetic, using some seriously high frequencies amid piano and xylophone-type sounds. Like a lost piece by Skinner Box. "Incorrect Spell" continues similarly, maybe like one of the early Rasputina album interludes. "Too True" is an all-too-brief vocal piece that sounds like some lost record on 4AD that I wish I had heard before. Wow. "Herringbone" is a whispery, breathy, trippy, heavily-processed conversation. "She Turned Into The Dog" is just gorgeous ambience, sounds like an echoey cello or an e-bow with a bit of humming on top. This album is scary and weird. I like it very much. A mighty fine release.
Ian C Stewart

INTERVIEW: Jim Santo of The Sharp Things, The Kennel Recording Studio, etc.

Jim Santo

AUTOreverse Issue #14, Summer 2011
JIM SANTO
Interview by
Ian C Stewart

Is there anything you're feeling particularly MOUTHY about at the moment?
Are you kidding? I am a non-stop bitchin' machine. I spent most of today on the phone with help desk personnel, need I say more?

REVIEW: THE IMPLICIT ORDER - FOR YOUR EYES ONLY EP

The Implicit Order - For Your Eyes Only EP, 2011

THE IMPLICIT ORDER
For Your Eyes Only EP, Bandcamp, 2011
Three-piece refresher course on Anthony Washburn's aesthetic. The title track is dark, rhythmic, Bill Nelson style atmospheric, new-agey in a good way, relatively uptempo epic at seven and a half minutes. It's a cross between gorgeous and hellish. "Kingdom Of Blood" features christian preaching-type stuff, behind reverby synth pads. I prefer the instrumental stuff, "Monsters Among Us" is pleasant little three minute bit of haze to round things out. Is this my first time hearing The Implicit Order? Maybe it just feels like it. Now I'm a fan.
Ian C Stewart

REVIEW: KNITTING BY TWILIGHT - WEATHERING - CD, 2011

Knitting By Twilight - Weathering CD 2011

KNITTING BY TWILIGHT
Weathering CD, 2011
http://www.itstwilightmusic.com
Fascinating, percussive instrumentals with art rock tendencies. It would be lazy to say Dead Can Dance with special guest Robert Fripp, so I won’t say it. The soundtrackish, professional production places this album into a category all its own. And though the song title “Harold’s Budds” may tip their hand, Knitting By Twilight is more than mere gauzy piano. The layers of hand percussion deserve a special mention, and the unique, darkly Asian tone of the cymbals. The dynamics ensure that this is not some overly-rigid MIDI new age pastiche, or something. I’m losing the plot trying to say how much I’m enjoying this. I do! I’m reminded of David Sylvian’s better instrumental pieces.
Ian C Stewart

BUY