Artist: v/a  label: American Composers Forum Title:  Sonic Circuits IV

Rob Nugen  #71 18 April 2001

Playlist!

This CD totally embodies experimental electronica.

All are // in their own unique way.  Preview the first 30 seconds of each song to get an idea of its sound.  The liner notes give great background on each piece.

 

1. 2:00  Takashi Harada untitled 1 The instrument Flossie & Unicorns use?

2. 10:20 David Claman '70 reverberations in one's head after a punk show (according to the liner notes, it's supposed to be played loud, so do it!! ;-)

3. 7:32 Pamela Z Geekspeak computer discussion sampled and looped.

4. 15:00 Marc Ainger Dreaming Hills from out of nothing and back to nothing floats an electronic choir.

5. 3:48 Paul Higham Duck Spindle Trilogy looped electronic sampling.  Starts and stops then goes then repeats.

6. 14:35 Francis Dhomont Lettre de Sarajevo a lot like Frankenstein Symphony

   (soundscape of a spooky spooky amusement park ride)

7. 2:30 after 10? Erik Belgum Life's Big Dream Home Odd spoken word says "Goddamn" at the end

8. 5:50 Steve Wadhams Harley Spoken word about the awesome Hogs

says "hell"

9.  9:00 Dan Moses Schreier Exotic (short version) spy movie theme repeats endlessly. (thank goodness it's the short version)

Artist: Climate  label: Hot Link Records Title:  Swallow All Letters

Rob Nugen  #70 18 April 2001

//+, //, //-, /+, /, -       rec: playlist

 

A lot of the lyrics focus on death and murder.  Most of the lyrics that I can understand are quite bizarre.  www.therockandrollband.com/swallow

1. // 2:46 sally's on the phone Peppy with flute and wack lyrics

2. //- 2:57 maybe some time Driven intro, bouncy wack lyrics with slow bits

3. // 2:11 show me your fingers Rockin' love song to someone with 9 fingers

4. //- 3:08 fashion! Groove intro repetitive "fashion"  WTF?

5. // 0:49 take me home now Slow organ, slow horns, fantasy beach day

6. // 2:27 to-morrow may be the day Twisted lyrics encourage us to enjoy life.

7. // 2:04 nineteen ninety-nine Countryfied pop lamenting the length of 1999.

8. // 1:52 happy birthday to me Road trip!  with horns and castanets

9. // 4:12 julie's clothes Haunted caliope with echos and falsetto.

10. //? 2:55 hitting costs nothing ...since kissing isn't free anymore.

11. // 3:06 in the harbor Slow accoustic weird lyrics horns, harmonica

12. //+ 4:56 the executive spouse Bouncy, catchy: life of crime makes them rich.

13. // 3:33 somewhere toward the back Peppy, about killing a random person

 Spanish(?) guitar solo, electronic bells

14. //- 5:06 they rolled up the rug Dramatic piano and damn annoying tea kettle.

Am I too old or is this song too weird?

15. /+ 6:37 grey and black unswitched tracks Droning rock.

16. // 3:18 to-day is the day Relaxed watery sound.  More lyrics about killing

17. // (hidden at the end of track 16) Dallas rock jam with 16 false endings.

Artist: Elevator  label: teenage USA Title:  A taste of complete perspective

Rob Nugen  #72 18 April 2001

All songs //(+)     recommend: playlist

 

Layers of sound tie the whole album together.  Each song has its own signature.

Quite amazing variety.  Songs all overlap (except 9 & 10)

 

1. 5:55 Driftwood rain, bottles, birds, church bells intro guitar jam repeated w/ background vox over soundscape

2. 3:22 My Library in the Weeds fem vox then heavy guitar jammin

3. 1:51 Balance crow, electronic helicopter, high hat jazzy riff.  m/f vox.

4. 2:50 Oh Traveller Beyond drums by overwound windup monkey

5. 4:43 A Taste of Complete Perspective jammin' electronic bass,  smeared vox

6. 3:40 I'm a Radio Station accoustic with ghost electronic waves, a buzzy middle, and birds at the end.

7. 4:07 The Animals fast then slow almost whispered lyrics. Heavy & ominous

8. 3:11 Two peoples Driven heavy guitar with slow bits and faster bits.

9. 2:34 Remember me, Serenity accoustic with speedy hand drums and m/f vox

(silence between track 9 and 10)

10. 5:52 Flying birds, hard rock, light vox, hard rock, light vox, hard rock

11. 3:06 Uncover road-trip accoustic guitar, shaker, whispery voices, odd outro

12. 2:28 The Leaf casio, buzz beat, whispery singing, sudden ending

13. 15:01 A Taste of the Great Beyond wobbly first half w/ some shouted lyrics.  Birdsong decorates middle, then rockin' roadtrip with slightly distorted vox. Really long outro of birds by highway then distorts into an echo chamber.