1. Half Japanese - No More Beatlemania
2. Citizen O - Manic
3. Bloated Subhumans - The Money Will Roll Right In
4. Throbbing Gristle - Industrial Introduction + Slug Bait (Live At The ICA)
5. Screamers - I Wanna Hurt
6. Half Japanese - Calling All Girls
7. The Yolo Boyz - The Morning Bus
Half Japanese - "No More Beatlemania"
Off the "1/2 Gentlemen / Not Beasts" album released on Armageddon records in 1980 and 50 Skidillion Watts records in 1979.
The first Half Japanese long player hosts alot of strange things - 3 12"s that play at 33 1/3rpm, two 20 minute live sets, a song about Ann Arbor and another about Patti Smith, Half Japanese cemented their reputation as contemporary, "counter-cultural" legends. Half Japanese here sound like The Residents after selling their equipment for amphetamine, lo-fi, experimental and noisey to the most possible extent.
Here is "No More Beatlemania," the most up front loud and atonal mess from the whole album. Ear piercing feedback and a message against public fanaticism towards mainstream music groups, as witnessed by mid 60's "Beatlemania."
Citizen O - "Manic"
Off the "Citizen O" self titled album, released on Valentines day, 2015 on Orange SLS records.
Citizen O's first full length effort (having released a single in 2013) is a 30 minute noise release containing 7 tracks. Somewhere between Power Electronics and Harsh Noise, Citizen O has been in search of finding a completely unique sound, despite the saturation and expanse of the noise community. The self titled release has found itself set apart from most noise albums I've listened too. The 2 opening tracks (Manic and The Sounds Of The Sea) are upfront noise that aren't horribly dynamic, but do sonically progress to the point that it isn't wall noise or rhythmic noise. The 3 track, Bad Decisions, is a surprisingly suspenseful and forceful dark ambient piece that progresses through stages of fluctuating tones and drones, and easily my favorite track, but it's 8 minutes so that's why it isn't here. Human Survival is an extremely distorted and sloppy rendition of the United States anthem, and the most "rockin" track on the album. Collapse sounds like playing a Flipper track backwards in the middle of a battlezone so that's cool. "See You Soon, Friend" is some sinister sounding collage of varying noise and sound with some strange samples (?) thrown in. "All (Great) Things Must Come To An End" is an out of place guitar piece which bares resemblance too "Bun" by The Deviants.
You can stream the album here.
You can purchase the album here.
You can rate it 5/5 stars here.
Bloated Subhumans - "The Money Will Roll Right In" (FANG cover)
Off the "The Money Will Roll Right In" single released on bandcamp in March of 2015.
You guys must think I hate you, and that's because I've decided to throw whatever the hell this is into the show. Bloated Subhumans are from Wilmington, Delaware and are either a solo project or a duo, I can't quite tell. Me and a friend found Bloated Subhumans through the Fucked By Noise blog entry on them. We were specifically searching for a band that mixed Noise Rock with Power Electronics, and I'm not too confident Bloated Subhumans are exactly what we were looking for; but here it is! An atonal mess (which is pretty much the central theme of this specific show) mixed with Power Electronics synth work and screeching guitars. It's hard to even notice the resemblance toward the original song, but so goes life.
Throbbing Gristle - "Industrial Introduction" and "Slug Bait - Live At The ICA"
Off "The Second Annual Report of Throbbing Gristle" released on Industrial Records in 1977.
Chances are you're familiar with Throbbing Gristle. I just wanted to add in this great bit from their first full player to make the show longer, hah! Honestly though, great album here. The takes of Maggot Death, Slug Bait and even the ambient piece on the B side are all great. If you're unfamiliar with Throbbing Gristle and their influential sound, look them up; finding info on them is easy.
Screamers - "I Wanna Hurt"
Off the "Demos 1977-78" LP, bootlegged at an unknown date.
While Throbbing Gristle were making a living off of playing in basement venues and recording improv tapes, something very different was taking hold in Los Angeles. What is now known as "Synth Punk," The Screamers strange, forceful yet disconnected sound has become one of the most influential in the world of 70's/80's punk. This is their 7 minute industrial punk drone, "I Wanna Hurt." 2 wacked out synths emulating guitar while another one drones; it's strangely beautiful. The lyrics are silly, yes, but you gotta admit this stalker fantasy is a bit odd.
Watch you wash your hands.... see you turn out the light!
Half Japanese - "Calling All Girls"
Off The "Calling All Girls" EP, released on 50 Skidillion Watts records in 1977.
I am well aware it's a bit antithetical to put 2 songs by the same band on the same show, but whatever. This song is over before you even realize it's on. More skeletal musicianship and strange behavior from Michigan's finest. Calling All Girls!
The Yolo Boyz - "The Morning Bus"
Off "The Morning Bus EP" released independently in 2015.
Here it is, the track that's long as shit! Also, the track that is shit! 10 minutes and 1 second of strange, clearly improvisational sound coming from this EP. There's also a reverbed and phased out "Dance Remix," just to make you even more scared. I remember finding this band completely through accident - searching up for bands around my area (Southern Minnesota) to find this weird as Noise band from Janesville, MN. A town of around 500 people, so they better be proud to have their own noise act!
The band claims to be "Feedback Rock" but I say this is far too removed from any kind of rock music, even Trout Mask Replica. From yelling about down syndrome and an "advertisement" for Coca-Cola, this a band to keep an eye on.
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