Boris – Pink

Boris have released a whole bunch of albums since 1996, and I have to admit that I don’t know that much about their other works. They are known to switch their musical style pretty often. Their repertoire reaches from psych to hard rock, from drone to sludge, from electro to pop.

There is one particular full length of the Japanese combo that is still charming me for a few years now: Pink, from 2005.

Farewell lulls you into a sense of security, being a very doomy and post rockish song. After relaxing 7 minutes and 33 seconds Pink carries you away like a thunderstorm. The sound of this album is just awful. It sounds like a garage concert with the amps turned to maximum volume. And that’s just what makes those 11 tracks so awesome.

Woman on the Screen is like a vicious dog which won’t release its prey. This one is sure to stick in one’s head. Boris is uncompromising and stereotyped to the maximum knowing that there is no other way to milk this cow.

Blackout offers us a drone-break before the rumble continues. The hard rock parts mixed with an omnipresent wall of scruffy sound runs like a pink thread through this massacre. Afterburner lets the Indians sing about the desert and freedom. My Machine takes us on a melodic journey on a river which leads to Just Abondoned My-Self, which closes the album with the last bit of energy that’s still left. The amps suffer one last time. You can listen to their final screams for over 10 minutes, if you like to.

Recommendations: Farewell, Pink, Woman on the Screen, Just Adondoned My-Self.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WkaeBZ1kGU]

Christmas Special – The Little Nazi

The older I get, the more I dislike Christmas. Seems like I lost my “emotional bond” to this over-commercialized orgy of hypocrisy during the last 7 years or so. We are enchanted by this magic contemplation, whilst ignoring all the misery happening around us, but let’s be nice to each other, even just for the next 2 days. I might kill you next week, but hey; today is THE day and I have to get along with you!

But hey; even though I sound like a dick; it does not mean that one cannot have a good laugh for Christmas.

So what about a shortie of a random german family celebrating Christmas, where things couldn’t go any worse from minute to minute? Let’s take swastikas and a demented grandmother and shit will hit the fan, for sure.

Enjoy!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My_fj5B2VC8]

Eric

PRE-CHRISTMAS with the Ornette Coleman Double Quartet

So, as I don’t want to rank behind as far as the boasting with early Christmas presents is concerned, I proudly present to you my new flatmate.

She’s already an older lady but still as fit as a fiddle. Her name is Sansui FR-5800 and my dad bought her in the mid-1970s. Now junior has his fun with her. It just feels great listening to LPs with her, especially because her brothers, the receiver and the speakers, also still work nearly perfectly.

As lady Sansui always thirsts for new food I bought her a new LP a few days ago: Free Jazz by the Ornette Coleman Double Quartet (in a red coloured vinyl edition). I picked it out of sheer curiosity. In fact I do not know very much about Free Jazz, so let me try to write just a few lines about how it feels to me.

So as a total newbie, what can I say about this? At first listening it is pure chaos, and I loved it. When listening to it a few more times you will realise that it is not as chaotic as it seems. Free Jazz is 37 minutes long and a totally improvised song, except for just a few pre-settings. It was recorded in only one take and put on vinyl as soon as they finished playing it. There are lots of things to discover in it, and it is highly remarkable that such a work was already being done in 1961. The two quartets never play against each other, on the contrary. Every member gets his stage and the others perfectly understand how to step back without disappearing and without giving up their own styles.

I guess this could be my entrance door to Free Jazz, let’s see what the future holds.

Kraton – Ker


There is one typical excuse Luxembourgish people use to explain our bad football results. This sentence always refers to the amplitude of the country. When our national team loses 5:0 against Timbuktu again, the media just as the inhabitants note that the result is not that bad if you consider that Luxembourg is such a small country. When it comes to music, it is exactly the same. A shitty record, a fucked-up live sound or the inability of playing an instrument is often referred and excused by the fact that the country is small and that it isn’t so bad for Luxembourg. Bullshit!

I doubt that Bördie and co. will save our badly crippled red lion and the Luxembourgish football nation (HAHA) but when it comes to metal music, it looks very different. Unfortunately I have to tell you that in our national metal scene quantity predominates quality. There are only a few extreme bands which are worth listening and I am not even talking about records. But since the 8th of december there is one EP which certainly raises the level again! It was that day Kraton (Guitar:Jacques Zahlen, Guitar: Jason Brink, Drums: Véronique Conrardy, Bass: Joël Reiter, Vocals: Mike “Bördi” Bertemes) released their first demo record called Ker. I won’t pussyfoot around now, Ker is (beside Midnight’s Satanic Royalty) my personal record of the year 2011!

I haven’t been to a lot of concerts recently and I only have heard some of their live stuff on the Band’s youtube channel before, but that’s why Kraton simply doumbfounded me. Ker kicked me right in the face without warning. The music is a perfect composition of groovy mid-tempi, modern black metal riffs covered in a cold and doomy atmosphere served on an traditional death metal plate. At the beginning I didn’t want to describe the music with the help of metal subgenres because Ker feels so fresh, so new and diversified that it deserves more. But you know what? I simply didn’t find the words. And if the excellent music wasn’t enough there is that voice. I personally think that Bördie has one of the most varied and interesting voices in the whole extreme metal genre. The recognition value of the death metal growls is outstanding and the black metal screams are pure evilness and kick every little grim trve black metal wannabe in his pale ass. I think I don’t have to explain that the music and the voice perfectly fit together, do I?

Ker is one fucking hell of a record! Download it at the Band’s Bandcamp or Homepage and tell El Gore what you think!

Pre-Christmas

I really don’t like the whole Christmas stuff but I am always very happy about some really cool presents and that’s what I got. First of all Eric gave me these 2 posters:

I simply love the Ilsa, She wolf of the SS Artwork. No I am not a Nazi and I don’t care about politics. I like what I like and I don’t want to explain myself. By the way, El Gore wrote a review about this classic (Nazi) exploitation/sexploitation movie, which you can check out HERE. The second one is a Giant Claw (1957) poster. This movie is, besides King Kong (1933) and Them! (1954), one of my all-time favorite classic b/w monster movies. The story is incredibly fucked up, just as I like it. El Gore also reviewed this masterpiece. Check it out HERE.


Furthermore I got this one.

This book tells a story of these heroes (Editor: “Ringo”, “Django” and “Sartana”) and their companions, “Gringo” and “Rocco”.(…) In any case, however, this book is a unique, ostensive, and essential work of reference on the Spaghetti Western, and western film lovers and those who want to become fans of the western genre are going to enjoy it.

The book is written in German and English, is limited to 500 copies and comes with the movies: Pistol For A Hundred Coffins and Vengeance. I’m not through it but it seems to be very interesting.

Yesterday while I was searching for the Portuguese short movie I’ll see you in my dreams (Review is coming soon) at my local DVD seller’s, I found The UH-OH Show Ultimate Uncut Version by Herschell Gordon Lewis. I don’t have to introduce this luminary and godfather of gore. If by any chance you should not know him, check out his wikipedia. I only have seen this movie once but I wish I would do some sick stuff like The UH-OH Show at the age of 82 too.  

P.s. Lloyd Kaufman is great, as always.

Thx for the posters and for the book! Happy Holidays and Fuck Off.

The end of CDs – a personal commentary

Rumours are being spread for months now, you may have heard of it: the major labels are planning to give up selling mediums like CDs or Vinyl LPs in the near future. So-called insiders guess that the music album as we have known it until today will have disappeared within the next 2-5 years, except for special editions and stuff like that.

Personally I can’t be really surprised about this idea, looking at the time we live in. Things have changed. The economical situation legitimates such a step because producing CDs is expensive. It seems logic to concentrate on the digital spread of music that has to be sold to the internet-generation.

I am not a naïve person, I honour scientific progress and of course I am a supporter of the internet, but I also do not have to favour everything at any price. Let us may call it a pessimistic and “postmodern” view on certain things. In my eyes the loss of a physical medium in the music business is typical for the loss our perception of reality.

We pay things with cards made of plastic. Our money is protected by the bank. I know it is there. Really. I look up the amount, just wait a minute, I‘ll show you as soon as I’m logged into my online banking account. There you see.

How are my friends, what are they up to, when is the next party and where is it? Let’s see what Facebook tells me about it. When did we meet each other for the last time? Must be months ago, but hey, I know everything that happened in your mind and your life. You are my best friend. Sorry that I missed your birthday, my internet was down.

Terrible things happened in the Near-East. Seriously, so many dead people, I felt so shocked and I’m so sorry for them. Really, I felt like I was there, I saw everything on TV.

Get in touch. Social networks. CNN-reality. The number of dumb boneheads is overwhelming these days, and the last thing they remember is what it means to get really in touch with somebody or something.

I know, when it comes to music, the most important thing is that you hear it. But touching an LP is not as unimportant as it may seem in the 21st century. People who still appreciate reading a real book know what I mean. For me, listening to an album is like reading a book. Going to a shop and buy a vinyl (or a CD), also order it through the internet, waiting for the day it arrives, opening it, studying the cover, the artwork, the art behind,  taking out the disk and putting it on, that’s what I call listening to an album even before a single note is being heard.

You may now say that I am being too romantic. Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. Perhaps you’ll change your mind when we’re all going to the next good concert. There will probably be a cinema around who will broadcast it. And the best thing will be that you don’t have to desperately record your emotions with a god damn digicam like you used to when visiting real concerts. I know, it has become hard to retain your feelings during a concert of your favourite band without having your bloody mobile phone directed at the stage from the first second of the performance. The DVD will be out within a few weeks. Or rather the digital download of the concert. Ah, memories!

Don’t just stay in touch. Know how to touch.

Mr. Oizo – Stade 2

First off, if you’re into “cheap” electronic music and think David Guetta is an angel sent from heaven, you should not read any further. Just go to McDonalds and enjoy your Happy Meal as it is easily digestible. Thank you.

Quentin Dupieux a.k.a. Mr. Oizo did it again. He released another banger of a record named Stade 2. But how does it sound like? It’s system overload, busta! Stade 2 is THE soundtrack when accidentally getting the wrong hole at your girlfriend’s and, awkwardly enough, she’s enjoying it. This is no music you get to hear in your wannabe stylish lounges or clubs. The sounds are way too unconventional to fit everyone’s taste and a lot of people will not enjoy this record. These people are more used to standard 4/4 timed electronic pop with Usher whining about how sad his life would be without you (who is this you person anyway?). But really; who fucking cares? The only thing that matters is that there’s one french bastard who puts a smile on my face each time he releases a new record. It may not be as fucked up or “dancy” as Lambs Anger but I’d rather stick to Mr. Oizo craftsmanship than to Skrillex’ bullshit music. Wouldn’t you as well?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1xTQ9pHOb8]

RIP Chuck Schuldiner

I am not a big fan of Death Metal and I am that kind of guy who never knows what to say when someone is feeling bad or died. Chuck Schuldiner died 10 years ago today and with him did the only Death Metal band I really enjoy listening to. I never knew this guy personally but when I watch his videos or listen to his songs I feel some kind of strange. He often made me smile and I even can’t say why. His music simply makes me feel good. Chuck seemed to be a very charismatic and down to earth dude with a brilliant talent.

It’s a real shame that you have gone but your music is still here and never shall be forgotten!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSxwe98QFiQ]

This video was displayed on Chuck’s funeral and it’s made by his mother with her choices of music.

                                                 R.I.P Chuck Schuldiner!

Kirby’s Adventure

Every single one of us has got his ultimate favorite videogame. When I talk to my friends about their favorite game, classics like Mario Kart, Rock’n Roll Racing, Mega Man or Zelda come up.

Given the fact that I never owned a Super Nintendo as my parents knew that this would worsen my mental labilities, I had to stick to my beloved old Nintendo; a gift from my uncle Sergio when I was 8 years old. (thanks man!!)

But as I never was a fan of complex, gruesome and scary games I preferred playing more childlike games, the likes of Super Mario Brothers, Ducktales or Chip’n Dale – Rescue Rangers.

But if there’s one game that changed it all for me it has to be Kirby’s Adventure.

Yes, KIRBY! The tiny pinkish cuteball whose appetite is more insatiable than a bulimic’s.

What I mostly love about this game is Kirby’s ability to transform into a vast number of objects after sucking and digesting his enemies. I adored the broad spectrum of choices this game had to offer, something I had never experienced in a videogame before. Just keep in mind that this cute little creature devours it’s enemies with ease. No blood, no traces of violence; and yet this adorable little fucker couldn’t be more cruel! I wonder why PETA did not come up with an Anti-Kirby campaign yet, considering Kirby’s gluttony towards poor, innocent creatures… Oh, how I love this game!

Some people may complain that the Kirby franchise is just too easy to play. So what? It’s the overall gaming experience that matters. This game is soooo enjoyable and cute. Simply, the best time waster on a rainy Sunday afternoon, trust me; I spent a lot of Sundays playing the whole game in 2-3 hours and I could never get enough of it. This is one of a few timeless NES classic that deserves an 11 out of 10.

And the best for last, I’m not even the owner of this game. Some bloke at primary school loaned it to me and forgot to claim it back… Dude, whoever and wherever you are; THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Another big Kirby fan undoubtedly is Destructoid’s Jim Sterling who couldn’t be more right with his National Kirby Day video. You should totally follow him on twitter and destructoid.

(Long video loading time is long, sorry…)

 

-Eric-

Immigrant Song – Karen O with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Trent Reznor joined forces with Atticus Ross and Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontlady Karen O to record a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song. The song will be part of the official soundtrack (created by Reznor) for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The heavy industrial beat keeps pushing and Karen O’s singing reflects the psychedelicoriginal in a modern way. Good cover in my eyes, what do you think?

Immigrant Song – Karen O with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross by Fluke Hawkins