EVIL TWIN "The Black Spot" (UK, 1993)

One of the masterworks in Karl Blake's catalog, "The Black Spot"  was created between 1987 and 1991, when Blake's main band Shock Headed Peters was on hiatus. Blake cooperated here with David Mellor -an old collaborator from the Lemon Kittens days, and the amazing vocalist Amy Rodenburg. Practically existing as a project for the making of this sole album, Evil Twin stayed out of action... until 2006, when suddenly appeared -with original lineup plus assisting musicians- in a Paris Festival for one only performance.

"The Black Spot" CD came out (on World Seprent distribution) in 1993. A french reissue is scheduled for 2012.

Evil Twin - Approximately Empty

Australian Compilations Vol.5

The fifth part of LaFolieDuJour tribute to australian acts.

Severed Heads in flesh (v.a. Live At The Wireless, ep, 1983)
Birds Of Tin Slothy tank (ep, 1981)
Wreckery bending the bars ("Laying Down Law", 1988)
The Moodists chatter shapes ("Engine Shudder", 1983)
Naked Lunch teenage blues ("Little Too Late", single, 1986)
Crystal Set drop in the ocean (single, 1985)
Bo-Weevils illusions ("Where Particular People Congregate",1989)
Pray TV where do i get off ("Swingers Paradise", 1994)
Celibate Rifles back on the corner ("On The Quiet", 1996)
Kim Salmon & The Surrealists sea anemone ("Essence", 1991)
Tendrils Hands are tied ("Soaking Red", 1998)
My Friend The Chocolate Cake algeria ("Good Luck", 1996)
Jackson Code do you feel the pull ("Things you need", 1995)
Steve Kilbey shell ("This Asphalt Eden", single, 1985)
Not Drowning, Waving another pond ("Another Pond", 1984)

Volume 5

LEFT HAND RIGHT HAND "Legs Akimbo" (1992) / "In Mufti" (1995)

Οι Left Hand Right Hand σχηματίζονται προς τα τέλη της δεκαετίας του '80 από τη σύμπραξη των αδερφών Andrew και Tony Brown με τον Paul Ackerley από το μουσικό σχήμα Zahgurim. Οι αυτοσχεδιαστικές -στα κρουστά-  αναζητήσεις των πρώτων και οι ηλεκτρο-ιντάστριαλ κατευθύνσεις των δεύτερων καθορίζουν τον ήχο τους, ο οποίος, και με την προσθήκη πνευστών, επιδιώκει τη δημιουργία ενός διευρυμένου σκηνικού όπου συνυφαίνονται το ροκ, τα ηλεκτρονικά, οι εθνοφόλκ απόηχοι, ο tribal εξωτισμός... η βιομηχανική τζαζ.
Αρωγοί στο ενδιαφέρον εγχείρημα των Left Hand Right Hand διάφοροι προσκεκλημένοι σε κρουστά, φωνητικά και πνευστά οπως ο βαρύτονος σαξοφωνίστας George Haslam, o σημαντικός τζαζ αυτοσχεδιαστής Lol Coxhill (σοπράνο σαξόφωνο), ο πρώην Clock DVA Charlie Collins (πνευστά και ηλεκτρονικά), αλλά και ο ιθύνων νους των Shock Headed Peters, Karl Blake, (μπάσο, κιθάρες...), παράγοντας καταλυτικός της γοητευτικής αινιγματικότητας των ήχων.

Αν και οι λάιβ δραστηριότητες των Left Hand Right Hand απλώνονται σε βάθος χρόνου σε Αγγλία, Ευρώπη, Αμερική χαρίζοντας τους μια μικρή φήμη στους σχετικούς αβάν/ιντάστριαλ κύκλους, η   δισκογραφική τους παρουσία περιορίζεται στο διάστημα 1990-95 περιλαμβάνοντας κατά κύριο λόγο, (μετά το εισαγωγικό EP "Hum Drum"), τα άλμπουμ "Legs Akimbo" (1992, διανομή World Seprent) και "In Mufti" (1995, Musica Maxima Magnetica), τα οποία μπορείτε να ακούσετε μέσω των κάτωθι σύνδεσμων:

Legs Akimbo

In Mufti

MAESTRO SUBGUM & THE WHOLE: Sounds From A Fringe Theatre

Maestro Subgum And The Whole was formed in late 80's in Chicago. As an ensemble connected mostly with the musico-theatrical activities of the Curious Theatre Branch -which was founded in 1988 by multi-talented band members Beau O'Reilly and Jenny Magnus- Maestro developed an avant, weirdly performed style based on showtunes, cabaret jazz and eclectically incorporated elements from blues, pop, folk, funk-rock, alternative...

Band's sound was mainly built around voices, horns (trumpet, flute, trombone...), piano/organ and percussions, their line up hosted many musicians though, as well members of the theater company. Beside its unique live performances, Maestro created several very significant recordings, most of them self-released and now hard to find.

Maestro went defunct circa middle-nineties, when  pianist and co-composer Michael Greenberg quit. Since then Greenberg has been making music with new bands and releasing solo works, while Beau O'Reilly and Jenny Magnus continue writing, directing and performing their plays..
Maestro's latest appearance was an one-night reunion show in March 2009. O'Reilly's Crooked Mouth String Band is now the band within the long-lasting Curious Theatre Branch.

Maestro Subgum & The (nearly) Whole at reunion show (2009)

Maestro's crew:

Beau O'Reilly (a.k.a. Lefty Fizzle), Jenny Magnus, Miki Greenberg (Miki the Lip), Bob Jacobson, Kate O'Reilly (Sister Kate), Colm O'Reilly (Clem of the Bogs), Blair Thomas, Ned Folkerth (Red Ned the flame-haired messenger of love), Mark Messing, Mark Hollman, Spencer Sundell and others...

"lost lost lost", 1991

"Jiggle The Constable", 1992

"Whoopsadaisy", 1997

A Maestro Subgum & The Whole collection

01 oil slick

02 jeanie

03 funny little love song

04 old man moon

05 watermelon

06 bamboo guru

07 rainy day

08 downtown

09 prayers for the undoing of spells

10 simone

11 prairie night

12 last gasp

13 careening is a skill

14 flim flam lover

15 the no song
16 king of tomorrow

17 dreamt we were...

18 if i ever got a lover

tracks are selected from Maestro albums: "lost lost lost", "At The Wart Hog Museum", "Jiggle The Constable", "Don't Flirt"... also from lives, compilations and other sources...

Compiled by LaFolieDuJour

 Maestro Subgum And The Whole 

A Sudden Stroll

One hour in the company of the "small heroes" of 80's...

ALGEBRA SUICIDE horizon
("Big Skin", cassette, 1986)
POLISH AUGUST ten tips for beautiful nails
("No Platform For Heels", V.A., LP, 1982)
PERFORMING FERRET BAND bar room
("Performing Ferret Band", LP, 1981)
FACTION tired of love
("Faction", LP, 1981)
METHODISHCA TUNE orchestras
("Orchestras", 7'', 1981)
THE PLUGS bat brain moon man boiler boy
("Rupert Preaching At A Picnic", V.A., LP, 1981)
SCREEN 3 the dividing line
("Come Into My Jungle", 7'', 1983)
CAS CARNABY 5 death of a 1000 public houses
("Mr Morris' Funeral", LP, 1988)
INCA BABIES ramblin' man
("Opium Den", mLP, 1987)
THE LEGEND! talk open
("Some Of Us Still Burn", EP, 1985)
YEAH YEAH NOH prick up your ears [peel session]
("Fun On The Lawn Lawn Lawn", LP, 1986)
4000000 TELEPHONES we' re not coming out
("4000000 Telephones", LP, 1985)
IN EMBRACE to friends (an open letter)
("Passionfruit Pastels", LP, 1982)
THE LINES blow a kiss
("Therapy", LP, 1981)
JESUS COULDN'T DRUM frosty
("Ruttling Orange Peel & Blind Lemon Pie", LP, 1988)
SCATTERBRAINS lopen
("Musical Marriage", LP, 1983)
ZRU VOGUE do the zru
("Zru Vogue", LP, 1982)
D.J. LEBOWITZ holiday in cambodia
("Beautiful Hapiness", V.A., LP, 1988)
HAIGINSHA lusefeea
("Obscure Independent Classics vol.4", V.A., 1987)

A Sudden Stroll (19track comp. -by LaFolieDuJour )

new link!

The Female Energy Of THE TIPTONS

The Tiptons is an all-women sax quartet which features Jessica Lurie (alto, tenor, vocals), Tina Richerson (baritone, vocals), Sue Orfield (tenor, vocals) and Amy Denio (alto, vocals), with the latter -member of so many avant, rio, impro and world jazz oufits- to be the most well known name here. The line up is completed by guests percussions.

The band, active since 1988, was formerly known as Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet. Original members Lurie and Denio are the main composers. The Tiptons have released 10 cd's so far, the most recent one is "Strange Flower", (2010).

The quartet describes its music as: “... a high energy blend of ‘twisted folk’ with world music, second line, funk, jazz, and Eastern European influences thrown into the mix of mainly original material.”

Selections (2004 - 2008) 

1. Darling, please don't wake me ("Tsunami", 2004)
2. Zemrude ("Drive, 2005)
3. Hands down ("Drive", 2005)
4. Shop of wild dreams ("Laws Of Motion", 2008)
5. Sleepytown ("Tsunami", 2004)
6. Alma ("Drive", 2005)
7. After before ("Tsunami", 2004)
8. Anthem ("Laws Of Motion", 2008)
9. Mi yo mei ("Laws Of Motion", 2008)

compiled by LaFolieDuJour  

TINY TOWN Singles

Tiny Town was born in Brisbane; their former ego was the Supports. In early eighties they were transplanted to London where they made (from 1983 to 1986) four singles and the album "Little Tin God". Messthetics diy anthology have picked two Tiny Town tracks ('Know Better', 'Back To The Bow') for its prominent retrospective compilation series.

Tiny Town sound, velvety, tight, includes male-female vocals, keyboards, violin... and in spite of the obvious Go Betweens influence appears to keep its own corner in the garden of the endlessly fresh aussie essences.

members:

Peter Loveday (vocals, guitar), Geoffrey Titley (drums), Leigh Bradshaw (vocals, keyboards), Caroline Bush (vocals, violin), Cameron Allan (bass)...

discography:

Back To The Bow / Big Fish, flexi, 1983

Drop By Drop / Know Better, 7'', 1984

Living Out Of Living / Queue Up, 7'', 1984

Little Tin God, lp, 1984

No Place Like Rome, 12'', 1985

3 singles  +  album 

THE MEMBRANES Early tracks

First singles & ep's from  John Robb's subversive gang, The Membranes. The early, less noisy, less known -necessary though for a complete picture- phase of a band that opposed to trad rock... offering us exciting ugly songs of love and fury.

Fashionable Junkies (7'' flexi, Vinyl Drip Records, 1980)
a1. fashinable junkies
a2. almost china

Muscles (7'' / 12'', Vinyl Drip / Rondolet Music, 1982)
a1. Muscles
a2. Great mistakes
b1. All roads lead to Norway
b2. Entertaining Friends

Pin Stripe Hype E.P. (7'', 12'', Rondolet Music, 1982)
a1. High St Yanks
a2. Funny Old World
b1. The Hitch
b2. Man From Moscow

The Membranes existed up to 1990. Apart from mainman John Robb, Membranes for sometime were: Coofy Sid, Mark Tilton, Wallis Tadpole, Keith Curtis, Nick Brown, Mark Standing and others...

Artwork by Simon Clegg [pity never seen (?) work of his elsewhere)]

Listen to Membranes

NED SUBLETTE: Adventures In Black & White

Ned Sublette is a texan multi-talented artist, musician, photographer, producer, labelman, musicologist... Since 70s he's been living in New York, where he has collaborated with many important avant artists (Glenn Branca, Rhys Chatham, John Cage, Love Of Life Orchestra, Lenny Pickett a.o.) and also has written books about the history of american and the latin-american music.

As a performer and composer he is mainly interested to create forms where his "white" country-western roots style encounters the pulse of latin music (cuban, carribean etc.) and the voices of "black" America.

Two of his most significant works are the albums "Ships At Sea, Sailors And Shoes" (Triple Earth, 1993) and "Monsters From The Deep" (Triple Earth, 1997), both collaborations with lyricist Lawrence Weiner and the soul-vocal group of The Persuasions.

"Ships At Sea, Sailors & Shoes" (1993)

"Monsters From The Deep" (1997)

"Realisations", The Discreet Pop Signals of Mark Beer

Released on Belgium's Double Dose label in late 1980 and related to the starting days of the famous belgian Les Disques Du Crepuscule, Mark Beer's single "Realisations" offers a couple of tracks made of just the necessaries: a voice, a vanished guitar, an erased bass, a laconic synth...  These quiet, ultra-minimal pop signals rather than songs compete in tranquil simplicity the compositions of the contemporaries Young Marble Giants, and express the best way the short and  discreet passage of their own creator from music.

a. Love Dances Warm
Jean-Marc Lederman, electronique invisible
Frank Corneli, vanished guitar
Clive Pierce, percussion
Mark Beer, voice, erased bass

b. The Small Death
Thomas Dolbi, polyphonic synth
Jean-Marc Lederman, electronique
Mark Beer, funeral drum, vocals

cover by B. Hennebert (the great cover designer of Disques Crepuscule)

Realisations

Y RECORDS: Adventures In Rhythm

Y Records was one of the Rough Trade associated independent record companies, and one which paved the way for the evolution of  funk-dub-ska-jazz influences in post-punk/new wave era. The label was created in 1980 by music producer-manager Dick O'Dell and hosted several bands, specially ones derived from Bristol's indie scene: The Pop Group, Glaxo Babies, Pigbag, Mouth, Maximum Joy...
Y lasted up to mid-80s; then became part of bigger music companies.
Most well known artists: Pigbag and (early) Shriekback. A remarkable Y release: Sun Ra's legendary single "Nuclear War" (1982).

The Y Collection 
01 MOUTH take your coat off (1982)
02 MAXIMUM JOY building bridges (1982)
03 PULSALLAMA devil lives in my husband's boby (1982)
04 POP GROUP colour blind (1980)
05 SHRIEKBACK my spine (is the bassline) (1982)
06 CHRIS REEVES after the romance (1982)
07 PIGBAG six of one... (1982)
08 TESCO BOMBERS hernando's hideaway (1982)
09 MAXIMUM JOY man of tribes (1982)
10 THE VINCENT UNITS carnival song (1981)
11 SHRIEKBACK despite dense weed (1982)
12 PIGBAG dozo don (1982)
13 DISCONNECTION bali ha'i (1982)
14 SHRIEKBACK mothloop (1982)
15 GLAXO BABIES dahij (1980)
16 SUN RA nuclear war (1982)

compiled by LaFolieDuJour

Y Records  

Polish Avant Jazz, The Yass Scene

Milosc

Trytony

Jacek Olter

Mikolaj Trzaska

Yass forms one of the most interesting chapters in history of recent polish music. As a term, Yass, used  initially at the dawn of 90's by the avant-jazz outfit Milosc in order to describe the band's musical differentation to Polish Jazz status of that time. Not much after though, the term extended its meaning to manifest the innovative music direction  of many other similar bands, (activated mainly in the cities of Gdansk and Bydgoszsz)...until finally to become synonymous with a whole new avantjazz stream, a movement  that would play an influential role to the development of  contemporary jazz and the new improvised music in Poland.
Guided mostly by the free-jazz spirit the Yass musicians and their successors explore both the native origins of polish jazz and its modern position into the international field. They suggest crossings with radical rock (R.I.O., post-punk...), world music, improvisation, new technologies; even encounters with other art forms such as theatre or poetry...

A mini introduction to Yass artists and other polish jazzmen:

01 Mikolaj Trzaska serpent transparent
("Jacek Olter i 50 Artystow", 2006)
02 Tomas Gwincinski & NonLinear Ensemble fool moon august 2001
("The Moon Music", 2002)
03 Mikrokolektyw running without effort
("Revisit", 2010)
04 Meritum pieciolini
("Meritum", 2004)
05 Niebieski Lotnik spruty jak sweter
("Love Surprise", 2000)
06 NRD ojczyzna nasza dobroc, dobroc dobroc
("Sport I Religia", 1998)
07 Mazzoll ropa swietej anny
("Single 3", 2000)
08 Tymon Tymanski looking for Kusto
("Jacek Olter i 50 Artystow", 2006)
09 Cukunft utwor 5
("Itstikeyt/Fargangenheit", 2010)
10 Mazzoll & Knuth Diffusion Ensemble piesn powracajacych dzieci
("Azure Excess", 1999)
11 Leszek Mozdzer golenie glowy
("Pub 700, 2004)
12 Trytony nieudany black sabbath pod woda
("Tance Bydgoskie", 1992)
13 Gwincinski, Richter, Skolik ufologia trumn
("Jupiter, Urizen, Wernyhora, Trungpa", 1998)
14 Milosc luke the skywalker
("Milosc", 1993)

compiled by LaFolieDuJour

Yass / Polish Avant-Jazz