I’m enthralled with this MASSIVE collection of art/word/sound/power being released by Penny Ante in August. (I just pre-ordered a copy this very night, so ya know I ain’t jivin’!) 320 pages of interviews, artwork, photography, comics, etc. contributed by 80 different experimental artists, mostly veteran audionauts of the DIY, punk, noise and experimental music scenes from 1980-the present. Plus the limited edition CDs that accompany the 1st 2000 copies feature a grip of unreleased tracks by well-known bands and stuff I haven’t heard yet by avant-garde noise projects.

Check it out:

Direct Link to “Three” on Penny-Ante website

DIY publishing house, Penny-Ante has compiled what will be their third anthology, dubbed a “Mag/Book” by readers, properly titled Three, which will hit streets September 15.

Three marks Penny-Ante’s largest issue yet, 320 pages (with no advertisements), with over 80 contributors ranging from New York-based artist TERENCE KOH to prolific lo-fi artist JAD FAIR (HALF JAPANESE) to garage’s godfather SEAN BONNIWELL (of 60s garage band, THE MUSIC MACHINE). A portion of book sales will be given to Chicago-based nonprofit ARTS OF LIFE, which provides art and music programs for adults with developmental disorders.

Compiling indie icons into one forum, Three’s pages feature personal art, photographs, and written submissions from the likes of Robert Pollard (GUIDED BY VOICES), Thurston Moore (SONIC YOUTH), UK’s garage god BILLY CHILDISH (Damaged Goods), New Zealand’s CHRIS KNOX (Tall Dwarfs, The Enemy, Toy Love, The Nothing), Roger Miller (MISSION OF BURMA), Martin Phillipps (THE CHILLS), Bettina Koster (from 80s German post-punk band, MALARIA!), Kill Rock Star’s riot grrrl Allison Wolfe (BRATMOBILE, PARTYLINE), influential acid-rocker Helios Creed (CHROME), Rob Roberge (of the significant art-punk band URINALS), 4-track forefather Martin Newell (CLEANERS FROM VENUS), Mick Farren (of the 60s proto-punk band THE DEVIANTS), psychedelic electronic artist Simeon Coxe of SILVER APPLES, artist Jill Emery (previously of HOLE, MAZZY STAR), New York photographer Mark C (of 80s no wave band LIVE SKULL), and many more.

Also featured:

JIM SMITH (union organizer by day, and owner of Los Angeles all-ages venue THE SMELL by night) interviews inspiring DIY force and singer/songwriter BILLY BRAGG.

Others interviewed: IAN MACKAYE (Dischord Records, Fugazi, Minor Threat), ROBERT POLLARD, John Whitson from label HOLY MOUNTAIN, music director @ WFMU: Brian Turner, George Parsons (head of DREAM MAGAZINE), Caleb Braaten: owner and operator of New York’s SACRED BONES RECORDS (BLANK DOGS, PINK NOISE, FACTUMS), New York-based artist MAYA HAYUK, Los Angeles-based performance/artist DAWN KASPER, and more.

Paired with such indie veterans are music leaders from today’s generation: Cassie Ramone (New York’s VIVIAN GIRLS), Joe DeNardo (GROWING – Social Registry), Matt Valentine (MV/EE – Ecstatic Peace Records & Tapes), John Dwyer (San Francisco’s THEE OH SEES), In The Red Records newcomers TV GHOST, Portland’s Honey Owens (VALET – Kranky), Phil Elverum (MICROPHONES, MT EERIE – K Records), Finland experimental rockers CIRCLE, Matt Maust (COLD WAR KIDS), Stephen McCarty (DEAD MEADOW – Matador Records), Sumi Ink Club (aka LUCKY DRAGONS), Wynne Greenwood (TRACY+THE PLASTICS), ROBEDOOR (Not Not Fun), ex-Phantom Limbs frontman Loto Ball (now of Chicago’s LOTO BALL SHOW), POCAHAUNTED (Not Not Fun), ARRINGTON DE DIONYSO (OLD TIME RELIJUN – K Records), Australia’s dark rockers NAKED ON THE VAGUE and much more.

Penny-Ante also “ups the ante” in the art and lit department in issue Three bringing in well-respected New York-based artists TERENCE KOH (Peres Projects), Ukranian American artist MAYA HAYUK, Swedish artist HANNA LIDEN, and MATHEW CERLETTY. From Chicago, Gregory Jacobsen (also from LOVELY LITTLE GIRLS), Los Angeles’ Julian Hoeber (Blum & Poe), Dawn Kasper (Circus Gallery), Jed Ochmanek and Portland’s Liz Haley.

Writers include the well-loved BETT WILLIAMS (Out Magazine, Flaunt Magazine, St. Martin’s Press), novelist and short story writer LARRY FONDATION (Fictional International, Harvard Business Review, Raw Dog Screaming Press), and ANDREW POGANY (poet and editor-in-chief at Flaunt Magazine) + many more.

COMPLIMENTARY CD INFO

FEATURES MUSIC BY:

JAD FAIR, ROBERT POLLARD, BILLY CHILDISH, CHRIS KNOX (THE NOTHING), ROGER MILLER, GROWING, BETTINA KOSTER, INT’L SHADES, NAKED ON THE VAGUE, ROBEDOOR, LUCKY DRAGONS, LOTO BALL SHOW, TV GHOST, PHIL ELVERUM, ARRINGTON DE DIONYSO, WARMER MILKS and ADAM PAYNE.

PLUS:

– Unreleased track from CROCK, the brand new music project from Book #2 contributor Sam Coomes (QUASI) & Spencer Seim of HELLA.
– Music from artist Maya Hayuk’s project with Andrew Deutsch, OPEN ARMS
– An unreleased track from PHIL ELVERUM paying tribute to OLD TIME RELIJUN
– An unreleased track from Book #2 contributors and guest editors to Three, THE MOON UPSTAIRS
– From the archives, a previously unreleased track from THE CHILLS, “Find Your Own Way Home”

PREORDERS FOR THREE AVAILABLE NOW: http://www.penny-ante.net (and will ship as early as August 15th). Three is a limited edition (2000) squarebound soft cover BOOK that will ship with a complimentary CD featuring music by contributors (Robert Pollard, The Chills, Billy Childish, Jad Fair, Chris Knox + more), plus a rather large poster for a wall’s enjoyment.

DIRECT LINK: http://www.penny-ante.net/three.html

Truth is, this video is way to hippie-trippy for me. The tune is wicked and I cranked that ish as soon as i heard the bubbling synths and fidgety breaks come bouncing out of the speakers! But, I just can’t watch more than a minute of the groping hippie hands + nekkid ass hairs blowing in the wind (yeah, totally not “safe” for work among other places)… Bostonian audio/video team Zebbler “Get To The Truth” – the whole truth and nothing but the bare, naked truth:

Press play because the tune is wicked. But don’t be afraid to turn off yr monitor, close yr laptop, close yr eyes and just enjoy the audio onslaught…

([More →])

Continuing with our REWIND! of 2007, here are the Top 10 Electronic Musings on ([HearingTest]) in 2007… All but “Lion” were released this year, and most of them can be found on BLEEP.com or Boomkat.com. 2007 was also a great year for watching the magic of electronic synthesis and we enjoyed watching loads of wonderful videos. I consider myself very lucky to have attended some of the Bay Area’s hottest live electronic music performances and somewhat capture them on video. It’s all here as we REWIND! 2007’s Greatest Hits! ([More →])

Brian Chase, the drummer we all know and love, has just released a new CD for one of his jazz projects. He and Seth Misterka recorded an album with only sax and percussion that is reminiscent of works by John Coltrane or Sun Ra. Misterka is a Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist and composer who specializes in free-jazz saxophone. If you’ve read my review of the recent Yeah Yeah Yeahs concert, you know my feelings about Brian Chase becoming our generation’s Max Roach, so this new free-jazz album must be fabulous! I think the music was actually recorded in 2005, but just now released as their debut album, titled Brian Chase & Seth Misterka Duo. ([More →])

Experimental electronic noise scientists – Nate Young, John Olson and Mike Connelly, aka Wolf Eyes – added new tunes to their music $pace page plus new tour dates through Europe. Before they leave the US though, they will play four shows in northeast US: Buffalo, Brooklyn, New Haven and Cleveland. So, check out the new music, and look out for your chance to catch them live. Wolf Eyes’ live shows are fascinating crosses between metal, punk, noise, and guitar destruction. They have so much fun on freaking out on stage and they are so much fun to rock out to.
([More →])

This is a concert review of Murcof and .pig at the 2007 San Francisco Music Festival.

Last weekend featured an accidental theme of deep relaxation. Maybe it was cosmic alignment, or reaching an omega point of stress and fatigue, but everyone around me was discussing how to relax and feel creative. On Wednesday I reached a state of zen relaxation while sitting in the Artaud Theater at the San Francisco Electronic Music Festival listening to Murcof play ambient atmospheric music over a wonderfully rich soundsystem. I have a sample for you, so that you can try to create a place of zen for yourself with the beautiful song “Cielo” off of Murcof’s new album Cosmos. But first, a review of the band who started off the evening and the entire Festival: .pig an electronic noise band from Mexico City. ([More →])

Jesu has added experimental metal band Yakuza to a few of their US shows in support of the new Yakuza album, Transmutations. Yakuza’s music is described as “a metal base with progressive flair, while somehow also incorporating elements of jazz, world beat, and post-rock ambience” and “psychedelic elements alongside stretching, doomy movements and the band’s trademark jazz-influences, while also incorporating breakneck grind riffs and grooves at the same time.” With that many different elements coming together in such a fluid and evolving sound, you can see why I would refrain from trying to describe them in my own words! This one place where I will let the PR people figure it out… I really like their music though. It’s extreme to say the least, but with very classical elements. Almost like post-rock band Do Make Say Think if you played their music at 78 rpm… ([More →])

Machine Girl (End.User and Line 47) once was half of a limited edition split with 3 tracks from End.User himself on the flip side. The record was released in 2003 and quickly sold out. But, for those who are looking to plump up their breakcore/noise/electronica collection, Sonic Terror has just provided a fresh opportunity to own this gem. Meanwhile, if you can be in the SF area on September 6th, you can catch End.User, Exillon, Fluorescent Grey and more electric Circuitry live and loud! ([More →])

We’ve got two grand tours by Ipecac artists: The Melvins with Big Business and Otto Von Schirach with The Locust! The Melvins have announced a jam-packed tour of the US from mid-September to mid-October where they will be screening the new DVD they created with hipster cartoon toy designer Dalek – “Purge of Dissidents” at each show! Big Business will be opening the shows, but first The Melvins play one show with Mudhoney in LA (which will also screen the new DVD). If sludge rock isn’t your mug o’music, but weirdness is, you might want to check out the Otto Von Schirach tour with analog afficionado insectoids The Locust that is winding around Europe! Ahhh, I remember when Otto was just a lad, playing underground warehouse shows in SF and The Locust were scaring kids at The Gilman… ([More →])

Black Metal Updates Abound! Boris will again tour the US, but not with Sunn O))) this time. The tour begins in Chicago on September 30th, and features the japanese metal outfit playing collaborative sets with Michio Kurihara! They will play material off their most recent release, Rainbow plus many surprises! ([More →])

It was not so long ago that I was really digging Einsturzende Neubauten’s music. Saw them live back in the day, and it had a deep influence on the amount of noise and chaos that’s evident in my own music. I haven’t heard much from Neubauten in recent years and never looked too deeply into why that is. I’m constantly surrounded by so much fantastic music. This often deters me from looking too far for more. Well, it turns out that the reason I hadn’t heard much from Einsturzende Neubauten in recent years is that they changed their methods of releasing music. And I am absolutely intrigued by what they’ve been doing! Neubauten decided to create a new way for fans to support the band’s musical efforts directly, rather than through a record label. ([More →])

Fans of extreme music, experimental electronica, ragga and grime – I have a fantastic treat for you! There is an excellent interview with The Bug over on the french DubStep website. Kevin Martin (The Bug) talks about everything – how he first got involved in music, his time spent working with Justin Broadrick (Napalm Death, Jesu) as Techno Animal, his brief stint with Warner Brothers, and a whole lot more that has led up to him being a brilliant pioneering musician that blends ragga, breakcore, dubstep, dancehall, electronica, and extreme noise into totally original music. ([More →])

Noise enthusiasts in the EU – great news! It looks like Wolf Eyes is extending their travels round Europe in the Fall! ([More →])

Wrap your punk-deprived ears around this sound friends – Holy Molar are funtastic old school lof-fi clown punk at its very best. I think of it as Captain Beefheart in a secret rendezvous with Die Monitor Bats, but the press likens it to an incestuous relation between The Locust and Mr. Bungle. Both equally obscure and impossible to categorize, so you must listen!
Their bio reads like the screenplay for DJ Qbert’s Wave Twisters:

There is a tooth stuck in your knuckle and it is rotting from the inside out. The cavity-ridden lackadaisical cultural genocide dirty dentists know no novocaine can ease the pain or tell-tale stench on your breath that is your rotting mouth, so they just ball-pin hammer them out. Back ally dentists pocketing your gold plated teeth and molding the holes with tin foil. There is a chemical reaction in your head. Your teeth are shivering and it’s not from the cold. Because the blood of your gums is the missing ingredient for the elixir that could cure your stupid, stupid nerves, we give you Holy Molar, five dental school drop out hacks still willing to drill away at you just because there are so many obvious holes to fill.

Musicians from as far and wide as Final Conflict, Cattle Decapitation and The Oath came together to create this blasphemous noise that some dare to call music:

ron avila [drums] (get hustle, ex antioch arrow, final conflict)
bobby bray [keyboards] (the locust)
mark mcmolar [vocals] (the oath, virgin mega hore, ex charles bronson, social coma)
justin pearson [bass] (the locust, ex struggle, swing kids, the crimson curse)
gabe serbian [guitar] (the locust, cattle decapitation)

Their latest EP hit the virtual shelves today. It’s titled Cavity Search, features some amazing art by Mark McCoy, and according to the band’s label 31G, it’s “loaded with some serious metal drumming, songs about Pocahotass, and some of the strangest sitar and horn arrangements added to the bands recorded material.”

Cavity Search Tracklist

1. Cavity Search
2. You’ve Had More Kids Pulled Out Of That Thing Than A Burning Orphanage
3. The Night Pocahotass Spread Her Land O’ Lakes
4. My Saturday Night Fever Turned Into A Sunday Morning Rash
5. Der Werewolf Breath

Links

Holy Molar in the DEAF SPARROW zine
Holy Molarspace
You can buy the album direct from 31G

Sunn O))) has announced more tour dates on their artist page at Southern Lord Records! I guess the Pacific Rim and Roadburn festival were good to them, because after they play the Sonar Festival in Barcelona, they will be playing one show in the UK and then heading home to the US for some west coast shows with label mates and mentors, Earth.

Dang I wish I could have been at that Roadburn, but I would be happy to catch their performance in Belgium with Wolf Eyes. One of my very favorite Sunn O))) performances ever was with Wolf Eyes at the Lobot in Oakland. Both bands have been a huge musical influence on me. My bandmate in T113 grew up in Ann Arbor and was friends with Nate of Wolf Eyes, thus sharing some of the same musical influences and ideas. My mate first introduced me to Wolf Eyes’ brilliant chaotic noise and I was hooked. I think an ideal show for our band T113 would be with Sunn O))), Wolf Eyes and Merzbow in Japan (where they truly appreciate noise as an artform). This festival in Belgium comes awfully close! Who wants to fly T113 out to the Dour Festival to perform as well?

Also on this upcoming tour, Sunn O))) will playing shows with Wolves in the Throneroom, whom I have also mentioned as a fantastic metal band. If you get the chance, definitely catch them live. They are TIGHT, and play furiously passionate metal. T113 has played shows with them, and Wolves has honored us on a few occasions by playing on our soundsystem, including at the Autonomous Mutant Festival. In fact one of my fave live performances as T113 was with Wolves in the Throneroom at Overload in Oakland. My mic wasn’t working, but my mate and I played a killer set that included a doom metal cover of Ledbelly’s “In The Pines”. The guys of Wolves in the Throneroom are such down to earth and sweet people in addition to playing stellar, dark music. Not theatrical, like Sunn O))) but intense nonetheless.

Tour

Jun 16, 2007 Sonar Festival Barcelona
Jun 18, 2007 Meltdown Festival London, UK w/Chrome Hoof
Jul 2, 2007 Casbah San Diego, CA Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 3, 2007 El Ray Los Angeles, LA Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 4, 2007 Independant San Francisco, CA Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 6, 2007 Mt Tabor Portland, OR Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 7, 2007 El Corazon Seattle, WA Earth, Weedeater & Wolves in the Throne Room
Jul 14, 2007 SuperSonic Festival Birmingham UK Om, Mogwai, Miasma, etc
Jul 15, 2007 Dour Festival Belgium Wilco, Merzbow, Wolf Eyes

Sunn O))) has also announced that they will be releasing a 12″ vinyl record called Oracle in the US this summer. The 2 singles that would comprise the 2 sides of the record are:
1. “Belülrol Pusztít” – 16:01
2. “Orakulum” – 18:37

The jackhammer on the A side is provided by Joe Preston (Thrones).
It will be accompanied by a bonus disc:

“Helio)))sophist” – 48:17

You should be able to acquire your copy at any of the US shows. Southern Lord has not yet announced whether they will carry it in the online store, so expect a super limited edition.

Links

Sunn O)))

Wolf Eyes

Wolves in the Throneroom

Merzbow

Related posts on HT:

Sunn O))) and Wolf Eyes Play Sonar Fest
Growing Wolf Eyes On Thrones Touring Europe
Boris and Sunn O))) tour Pacific Rim 2007
Sunn O))) Adds Roadburn Festival To Tour
No Fun Noise Fest Tortures NYC 4th Year In A Row

Technorati Tags: metal, music, news, noise, Merzbow, Sunn O, Wolves, Wolf Eyes, doom, drone, guitar, tour, vinyl, album, UK, SF