Built on a Weak Spot

Took me awhile to actually find a place I could order this album from Sister Iodine without it having to be shipped over a large body of water. Thankfully I eventually stumbled across it in the NY based Other Music online store and had it here within a few days. Aside from being troublesome to find, it has also been a bit of a pain to get recorded on to my computer as well. I was in the middle of doing that when I realized that my computer was in the middle of going belly up in which I lost whatever I had already recorded. However, the whole ordeal left me with multiple listens to Flame Desastre, which apparently is the bands fourth album. Seems like there is more than that, but I’m not certain. Anyway, Sister Iodine’s latest effort here was more than fitting for the situation. It sounds like mechanical or structural failure…a really bad one at that. It’s almost like listening to a suspension bridge with its wires snapping and flying everywhere as it eventually collapses sending a deafening rumble that can be heard for miles. That’s Flame Desastre over its ten tracks of violently played style of twisted metallic noise. It’s extremely harsh and it doesn’t waver a bit from the path it sets forth from opening track “You/Lacerate” to the cold robotic noise of finale “Chromata Vein”. There is almost a sense of determination within the record, with the tracks somehow documenting a struggle to reach an apex that they won’t see…cracking and devolving into a mess of guitar/electronic distortion only to loop right back and try it all over again. For the listener it can be challenging, but as with any horrifying spectacle you want to see how it plays out and Flame Desastre is no different. For the most part it succeeds in being able to draw upon that sick interest inside all of us.

Sister Iodine – You/Lacerate [MP3]

Currently Flame Desastre is only available on vinyl through Premier Sang, however it was recently announced that the album will be released on CD this coming November. I don’t know where it will be available though, it’s supposed to have some bonus tracks as well. Anyway, in the meantime I think Other Music still has copies. Otherwise, you can try the many overseas distros that seem to have it by simply Googling the album. Enjoy!

It should come as no surprise that the new PRE album Hope Freaks just out recently on Skin Graft is something of interest around these parts. I enjoyed their debut Epic Fits when it was released and as it appears Hope Freaks is keeping right in line with their frenetic vision of no-wave noise making. At least for me, when I think of an album as grower it usually applies to an album that is much longer and is an exhaustive listen to take in the first time. PRE might be an exhaustive listen if this isn’t your type of thing, however the band definitely doesn’t wear out their welcome in terms of time with an album that once again ranges in the 20 minute range. So how is Hope Freaks a grower? Well, at such a pace in which PRE force the listener to digest the complexity of their music, it almost becomes a blur of darting rhythms and high pitched yelps courtesy of Keeks Matsuura that multiple listens for the band become mandatory. As it expected however, it reveals itself for much more than I can simply describe.

PRE – Haircut Tacos [MP3]

Hope Freaks is currently available through Skin Graft for those that are interested. Definitely pick it up if you’re enjoying what you here.

I imagine this is one of the last new releases for this year that will end up on the blog before it’s time start focusing on some of the fine releases that are sure to come in the coming year. This is a pretty solid way to start capping it off though with Guerillaton, the second album from quirky post-punk/no-waver’s Made in Mexico.

It always seemed weird seeing a couple of their tracks on the popular Guitar Hero games. Although I doubt I’ve played that thing more than a couple times, it’s usually kind of fun to see friends play that song and watch their facial expressions as they begin to hear the music. It’s usually one of disgust and a bit of confusion. I guess it’s just not as fun to rock out to as maybe something like “Carry on Wayward Son” or “More Than a Feeling”. I’m thankful it’s not, as that was never the intended idea for the bands music anyway. That goes double for their follow up Guerillaton, which borrows heavily from Latin inspired beats and dub intertwining it with a pulsing post-punk rhythm and guitars that screech and claw their way around the incredibly catchy bass work. In fact, according to the band a lot of the influence behind the albums sound and overall theme is derived from Cesar Chavez. It’s definitely a bit different than their debut Zodiac Zoo; however in the end I think Guerillaton turns out to be the better record and allows the band to shed some of the comparisons to Jeff Schneider’s previous outfit Arab on Radar. It’s not often that a band sees their vision through as clearly as Made in Mexico have on their latest. It’s definitely worth checking out.

Made in Mexico – Mundovision [MP3]

For those interested in picking up Guerillaton, then head on over to Skin Graft to do so.

I’m squeezing in an update today before some post-season baseball gets started. I can’t be missing any of that.

Today I bring you what I assume is the debut from the NYC based Five Dollar Priest out on Bang! Records. I think one of the easiest ways to give an idea as to what this band/album sounds like is to just let everyone know who makes up this group because it’s quite a collective of musicians and guests. You’ll either know if you want to proceed or not after reading it. This is the way the label approached it, so I see no reason to divert from that. Anyway, Five Dollar Priest is Ron Ward (Speedball Baby) on vocals/harp/percussion, Norman Westberg (Swans, Sulfur, Heroine Sheiks) on guitar, George Porfiris (Heroine Sheiks) on bass, Patrick Holmes on clarinet, and Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Chrome Cranks, Knoxville Girls, Pussy Galore, Bewitched) on drums. So yeah, expect plenty of bluesy garage rock smashed together with a hint of early NYC no-wave and you kinda sorta got an idea. No matter what it may be, this record is pretty excellent if this is your cup of tea. The right amount of noise, the uneasy vocals from Ward, and a clarinet thrown in for good measure. Sign me up. And like I previously mentioned it features a number of guests also, like Jon Spencer, Cristina Martinez, Matt Verta-Ray, and James Chance all adding to this delicious mess. Check out the tune below for more.

Five Dollar Priest – Fingered [MP3]

For those interested in picking up the self-titled album from Five Dollar Priest, then head on over to Bang! Records to do so. Well worth it.

I’ve found that there is generally a nice debate to be had whenever mentioning what was the best era of Live Skull. There isn’t a real big preference for me; however I do tend to lean more towards the Thalia Zedek period. Really the only reason I say that is because my favorite record from the band comes from the very beginning of that portion of the bands life. Dusted was simply one of those records I put on and then found myself putting it on again, and again, and again. However, it was almost like I was doing it unconsciously, as I never really found myself being like, “this is an amazing album; I need to listen to it more”. There really haven’t been too many albums like that for me that just click after a certain amount of listens. I am generally of the type that either likes it right off the bat or doesn’t. It’s hard for an album to grow on me; however Dusted falls into that small fraction of albums that eventually did just that.

While there were many great bands that emerged from the NYC avant-rock scene, Live Skull is probably my favorite. Yes, I am taking them over Sonic Youth. While it took me ages to really come to appreciate what this band did, it was suddenly more apparent at one point that I preferred the more dissonant and dreary side of that movement as opposed to the more experimental side of things and Live Skull were practically perfection in that department. Their music was riddled with dark subject matter and shrieking but amazing guitar work. The album Dusted served as pretty much the turning point for me with the band, being the atmospheric and mood driven piece of work to do so. While their back catalog is arguably as equally amazing as their later material, the more focused approach to the vocals courtesy of Zedek completes the package in my eyes.

Live Skull – Cavity [MP3]
Live Skull – W/ The Light [MP3]
Live Skull – 5-D [MP3]

Unfortunately, like the rest of the bands catalog, Dusted is long since out of print. It would be a wonderful thing to see any of their albums reissued at some point, especially the earlier material that I believe was released only on vinyl. Until then it’s searching through the likes of used record stores and online. Sorry folks. In the meantime though, check out Thalia Zedek’s MySpace to have a listen to her solo work following her stints in Live Skull and Come (also worth checking out!). Enjoy!