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Barely even heard these guys, didn't get my hands on that 10", so I headed over to the myspace, the track from the Skulls comp is pretty catchy and insane, the guitar tone is completely weird. In general, they're really pushing the limits of the echo. There's a knob that needs to go to 11. Don't know the FNU Ronnies, but the drum machine is a nice frantic metronome addition I'm sure. It keeps this whole mess moving at top speed. Organ chords, static, stutters of vocals, half talking...it's the kind of thing that would drive you insane if you weren't the one blasting it already on the stereo. It's a little like that track 'I'm in jail dad!' from Was (not was) ??? They did that? What? The track from Pump up the Volume? I respect them????
Anyone in the hall within earshot is thinking, 'How the fuck is this music?' because you take something this far off the radar and throw a few layers of sheet rock between your ears and this and it's going to seem like you're the one that needs to be institutionalized.This single is perfect for young adults who want to piss off parents or nearing middle age adults who think they still got it...and better yet have no one to answer to. Oh yea! Your music is shit! Go call the cops! It's fighting music.If you're going to live under my roof then you'll listen to the Chickens! I don't care if Idol is on! "Debut vinyl outing from Kyle & Mike (2/3rds FNU Ronnies + drum machine) following a cassette on Fan Death as well as a track contrib on last years Skulls Without Borders 10" comp. Cant say for certain where Chickens mine the toxic ore to forge their urk, but they uncannily tap into similar staub once snuffed by prime Euro movers such as early Dieter Meier & Geisterfahrer not to mention channeling the nascent vibe of Amphetamine Reptile (think Halo Of Of Flies Insecticide Stomp in particular). 4 tracks, 1 time edition of 400, no repress." - Roland Woode, Professional writer
I can't say I'm sure there are even any left of these...Siltbreeze followers are a rabid bunch, (myself included, but I'm late telling you guys....on purpose?) and it's been almost 2 weeks now (what a dick!), but you can try at: Paypal - sltrx (at) pil.net
Picked this up last night at the TNV show at Mercury Lounge with the Axemen...my friend Pat told me to look out for a tour only single at the merch table, and there it was.Does a band with the power of Matador behind it have to press a split single, hand color the xerox sleeve and inscribe the inner label for their US tour with the Axemen? HELL NO.But they did it anyway.I have to admire this.Plus they set out to educate an audience to a NZ band that probably deserves more due that I've never come across before, I'm always up for that.Didn't know anything about the Axemen before they went on other than the brief mentions at Siltblog after their reissue by Tom of a huge part of their back catalog. I stood there watching thinking, 'I'm sure these guys are important' especially to the first few rows. I've been reading about their protest albums/accident (crash) into some government office in NZ, they weren't in it for the money obviously. I can respect anyone touring 20+ years later etc...but it just wasn't my thing. The one time they got me was an insane hardcore blast, but honestly they didn't seem happy about it. Have to dive further into the Siltbreeze catalog.They cover each other on this thing which I wasn't expecting at all. The Axemen track on the single 'SIcKh & TYRED' is a great interpretation of the track from the TNV Stay Awake EP. I'm into it when they replicate the back and forth Beth Adam vocals. Sounds good. They have to feel pretty cool that these guys covered one of their tracks for this. I honestly had no idea until I played it this morning.Times New Viking on the other side cover 'Rocks in my Heart' by the Axemen. Which includes the lyric 'Sick and Tired' also I noticed...weird. They make this song fit into their catalog, emphasizing the pop chords and immediacy, all with just a touch their special fuzz. Excellent...can't believe this really. I am honored guys. It's too much.Here's Jared working on the covers...
As soon as I saw this on the Siltbreeze blog an immediately ordered it. The things on Siltbreeze are my kind of graduate school... between that and Terminal Boredom...it's a whole era, an underground punk etc time period that I missed. It's like reading the People's History of the US or hearing from the losing side of WWII.
Of course throughout music history there's the usual bands everyone heard of that were marketed with the sole purpose of making someone money...and then there's everything else...
Beyond the Implode, who I just barely scratched the surface of, was a bedroom project from 1979 with:
The original line-up included Eddie Smith on guitar and vocals and Frank Hughes on bass, then expanded to include Ian Gardler (later Wild Weekend, Flesh Impact) on ‘second’ bass and minimalistic electronics, and the latter’s brother, Mike Gardler on lead guitar (who left before their first single came out). This line-up recorded (in Hughes’ and Mike Gardler’s bedroom) the songs that ended up on the band’s first vinyl release, on the band’s own label (Diverse Records), in September 1979.
There were only two singles of 250 copies each that ever existed....and now this one on Siltbreeze.
It sounds like Suicide, tons of echo, inhuman mechanical echo, droning electronics, some kind of Joy Division thing going on as well....I just don't have any idea what this might have been like to hear now...but for me it has the same kind of importance as Suicide. Completely out there, for reasons unknown entirely unique, untouched by an kind of scene...a weird beacon of nothing. But also the most honest, sincere document from 1979. It's like a mundane photo of your grandparents hanging out on 42nd Street. It's just another day in the world, but at the same time so specific and unlike any other.I think that's what was happening here a little.I used to think it was so ridiculous that CBSFM and other radio stations my Dad listened to would play the same hits day after day, the same exact playlist, from the top 20 of the day. I always thought like today, there must be a million bands out there, maybe presing stuff for themselves, maybe only ever playing live...why wouldn't they play any of them? Take a year like 1966 and do some research....what other kind of music was out there, unknown bands with something just as good as the hits. You could spend a lifetime examining the minutae of the decade, the year, drawing new conclusions....but no, you play the same songs that have been played to death. Do the people want it? Or is there no other choice.Well there is now and it's this Beyond the Implode single.This is one hell of an essay about DIY vs Punk, the late 70's english DIY weirdo music ...real underground stuff...Beyond the implode is #2. Go listen to 'Escape thru levitation' Incredulous as it may seem, Siltbreeze is proud to announce the release of a super limited 7" ep from the legendary Beyond The Implode; 4 tracks recorded (at home) by the band in 1979. Tracks 1 & 3 ('This Atmosphere' & 'Steel Car') were originally issued on the band's 1979 debut ep 'Last Thoughts' while tracks 2 & 4 ('Disperse The Clouds' + 'Mid Ad Version') have remained unheard & unreleased lo these many years. Astute fans will no doubt hear 'Mid Ad Version' & perhaps "see" it as an alternate take on 'Midnight Adventures' (found on Last Thoughts) & if so, count yourselves among the lucky ones. This project was sanctioned by BTI head honcho Eddie Smith who also provided the master tape & as such making this 100% legit, i.e., NOT A BOOTLEG. Released in a one time edition of 300 copies, this ep is solely available from this site; no distro's, mail-order or blackmail. Not yet anyway. Once it's gone, it's gone.
Prices are as follows;
USA-11$ ppd Canada-12$ ppd Europe-13$ ppd Elsewhere-14$ ppd
There is no limit to the number you can order, but there is no discount either. This is it. Paypal to; sltrx@pil.net
I lucked out and bought this single from Hank at the Los Llamarada show at the Charleston...not realizing it's sold out at the source from Plastic Idol...I'm just sad I missed them play before Los Llamarada.Apparently this girl pictured on the sleeve is the one in the song 'wearing a dirty poncho'. That's not exactly what I pictured her to look like at all. The song is kind of driving guitar-centric heavily chorused jams. There's a lot of people singing along, extra layers of tracks yelling 'Dirty Poncho!'. It's kind of garage, scummy rock and roll. You can hear the smoke and cheap beer cans. They play real trashy bars and fall over drunk before they go on. Jesus, where do I come up with this stuff? It's catchy guitar rock, but not super fancy, like you couldn't get a beer with these friends of friends. The picture above however is like some model who posed with her bottle of heroin and cigarettes. After hearing the song I picture someone more like this:
They have a nice set available on WFMU I've been listening to this afternoon. HANK IV-Dirty Poncho 7” (Plastic Idol) $5.50 First time in stock? New Siltbreeze album out soon. “"Dirty Poncho" b/w "Symptomatic" is the first 7-inch single from San Francisco, California's HANK IV (members of ICKY BOYFRIENDS, LEATHER UPPERS, RESINEATORS, etc.). The title track is destined to be a classic Hank IV tune; a gripping narrative and locomotive-like pace hypnotizes you, and then a catchier-than-the-clap chorus knocks you on your ass. Brilliant! "Symptomatic" is a toe-tapper that boasts wicked dueling guitars and awesome lyrics. Pressed in an edition of 500 copies; 400 on black vinyl and 100 hand-numbered copies on opaque yellow vinyl with goldenrod dust cover and resealable sleeve (sold at record release show only).”Is it on SS records? I don't think so, but the full length is.
Sic Alps can go right up there against the great duo's, especially in the low/no-fi category...it's kind of blues influenced, like the black lips, loosely based, but all rock... in that it's not so much noise based, they do have a sense of rhythm and melody, it's just hidden under a lot of other sounds.
Really looking forward to catching this live since their recent NYC tour was canceled after some arm breakage on a bike, they're coming to my favorite, Death by Audio and Union Pool.
They've released tons of limited cassettes, 12"'s and 7"'s, completely No Age style.
This is my favorite video of them playing live. The perfect combo of pure sound and melody, the in between place of low and no fi. The shitty audio on that one is probably how it actually sounded that night.
I love the idea of the combo like this and they really stripped down the drum kit, who needs all that shit, and then they can tour with practically nothing...it's how I would want to do it for sure, no wonder they turn everything up.
You can get it from Parasol distro
They have a full length coming out on siltbreeze.....soon
Sic Alps
United
PS, US This merch table gem is a one sided 7" limited to 1000 copies. 500 on blue, 200 on red, 200 yellow and 100 on green. Contained on this thick piece of love is a rockola version of Throbbing Gristle's track United. This will be gone fast and won't be repressed.
Important-192
45
$5.50
