REVIEW: Vocabularinist – Monkey Brains Controlling Robot Arms CD, 2006

Vocabularinist – Monkey Brains Controlling Robot Arms CD, 2006

VOCABULARINIST
Monkey Brains Controlling Robot Arms
CD, 2006
Funky, mechanized grooves with miles of vocal loops. And funk. It's not Meat Beat Manifesto, but it's also not Perry Como, it's not a lot of things. Rhythm and melody. "All Refelctions End Here" is kind of like the bastard offspring of Gary Numan and early Nine Inch Nails, but better. Dark electronica. Have I said Skinny Puppy enough yet in this issue? In the early 1990s, we called this stuff 'industrial,' just meaning that it's dark and girls could dance to it. "Getting To Thou" gives those headphones a workout, all the elements jumping across the stereo spectrum. "It's A Dull Ride" is like drum & bass Pop Will Eat Itself. Monkey Brains Controlling Robot Arms is fun, funky and futile to ignore.
Ian C Stewart

REVIEW: Mekigah - The Serpent's Kiss CD, 2011

MEKIGAH The Serpent's Kiss CD, 2011

MEKIGAH
The Serpent's Kiss
CD, 2011
This CD is many types of metal, all at the same time. It's like a cross between My Dying Bride and Dead Can Dance. It's heavy and epic as a motherfucker. The production lends itself to headbanging and air-piano playing, or so I've been told. They have the male/female vocal thing down. The music of "In The Garden" sounds like Mercyful Fate crossed with Enya. It's the kind of unique plot twist that heavy metal needs to keep my attention. This album requires repeated listenings. Dream Theater meets Yanni? Wait, there is some saxophone, so maybe King Diamond plus Kenny G? Gothic jazz metal. Absolutely unique.
Ian C Stewart

INTERVIEW: Paul Caporino of M.O.T.O (Masters Of The Obvious)

M.O.T.O.

AUTOreverse #14, Summer 2011
PAUL CAPORINO
M.O.T.O.
(Masters Of The Obvious)
interviewed by
Ian C Stewart

Let's talk about your musical influences. Who are your biggest influences and why? Who were your early musical influences?
PC: Mostly recordings of popular music of all genres dating back to.......

Where do you see your music heading?
Not sure, but it's getting there.

REVIEW: Squeegeed Clean - Synchronised Fucking Up And Pre-Emptive Flashbacks CD, 2011

Squeegeed Clean - Synchronised Fucking Up And Pre-Emptive Flashbacks CD, 2011

SQUEEGEED CLEAN
Synchronised Fucking Up And Pre-Emptive Flashbacks CD, 2011
http://squeegeedclean.bandcamp.com
This CD compiles two previous releases of this Aussie posse, which includes Skot, Graz, amd Funkmeister G, I think. This is the cleanest and most polished avant garde noise free jam love I've heard in a while. Guitars, synths, drum machines and percussion, often with tons of echo and delay. The first nine tracks date from 2005, the last four were made in 2009, but the sound is coherent, cohesive, tight and professional as far as this type of thing usually goes. Meaning no huge volume spikes or anything else that will blow out your eardrums and/or speakers.
Ian C Stewart

REVIEWS: C. Reider - "Formerly Sine Drones" and "Owning Extinctions" 2011

C. Reider -  Formerly Sine Drones, 2011

C. REIDER
Formerly Sine Drones download, 2011
http://www.vuzhmusic.com
Oh, they're still drones, don't you worry. The first piece, "59 Hz," is 3:22 of what sounds like a ground hum. If you're expecting the guitar to plug in and this humming sound to go away, well, that doesn't happen. The noise is the star. And so on across the album. It's minimalistic and easy to talk over. Sounding alternately mechanical and organic, somehow.
Ian C Stewart

C. Reider - Owning Extinctions, 2011

C. REIDER
Owning Extinctions download, 2011
http://www.vuzhmusic.com
The other one is more like smooth peanut butter. This one is crunchy. Now I'm hungry for Jif. Track one, "Clathrate Gun Hypothesis," sounds like an echoey underwater chamber, an alien life form beside some stalactites. Beside the white chickens. Oh wait, that's "Underwater Plume," I'm thinking of, which certainly does have a dewy vibe about it. "Apologies And Capitulations," sounds like a spaced-out Skinny Puppy breakdown. Several rhythmic elements operating independently, with that tension in the middle. This one is prettified chaos.
Ian C Stewart

REVIEW: Mass Debate - "Shun" CD, 2011

mass debate - shun

MASS DEBATE
Shun CD, 2011
Funky hiphop with large beats, fat basslines and an Aussie female MC/singer. The production is clear and thumpin'. The lyrics are all questioning governmental politics, racism and sexual politics. The more overtly sexual lyrics remind me of Lady Sovereign and Princess Superstar. The songs are sharp, snappy, quick in and out. I haven't heard a combination of political energy and pop music this smooth since Chumbawamba. Catchy pop rap that probably sounds great on the radio. Beats and production by Skot, Ernie and Meagan D, who also did the rhymes. Consolidated, remember them? "if you fuck up, just sit on your hands," nice hook.
Ian C Stewart

REVIEW: 'kirchenkampf' + Pixyblink "Nevermore and Nevertheless" CD, 2011

kirchenkampf' + Pixyblink - Nevermore and Nevertheless CD, 2011

KIRCHENKAMPF + PIXYBLINK
Nevermore And Nevertheless CD, 2011
Cohort Records
John Gore and ambient cohort (get it?) Pixyblink bring the massive, exhaling whoosh on this one. Drones, arranged to decay, and not. There's a looping, high whooshy thing on opening piece "Affair De Coeur" that is quite something else. "Enfant Terrible" vacillates between quiet beauty and obnoxious aggression. Hellish soundtrack music. Or, soundtrackish hell music, take your pick. "Profanum Vulgus" is a cool title for one of the more understated pieces on this album. The quiet moments in general are terrifying and beautiful. "Mal De Mer," I like the way the synths are being tweaked and freaked in both speakers. "Laborare Est Orare" ends the album on quite a majestic note, literally. Awesome.
Ian C Stewart