BIZARRE PLAYLISTS TO PISS OFF YOUR NEIGHBORS – CHAPTER I

(Attempting to sum up what’s coming in the following article would be a daunting task. So we’ll just say that it’s the work of Axel Stormbreaker and his musical guests, and like the title says, it’s bizarre [but cool]. There’s at least one other Chapter coming too,)

Oh, hi there, it’s your annoying neighbor, again. Here’s my recent list of muzick that has been terrorizing folks who live nearby. True story that, I once fell asleep while digging sounds, only to find notes such as ”TURN IT DOWN” delivered to my doorstep.

Now, I informed NCS it’s best to maintain a certain consistency among styles and I think I sort of got it, yeah, or whatever. Even without the other half of my original list, it still looks too bizarre. So, just chin up and enjoy, life’s too short, or time’s not enough to indulge in all the cool music that’s out there.

 

 

Sisyphean – Colours of Faith

NCS did promote them heavily at the time of its release, but I arrived late at the party. Laugh at the old goat, yeah, yeah, point your finger too if it helps.

Now, those Lithuanians draw significant influence from bands in the vein of Dodsengel, Svartidaudi and Blut Aus Nord. But they do dig deeper to unearth Cloak of Altering’s The Night Comes Illuminated with Death, or just albums faithful to the said perception of biblical tidal waves. You know, that overwhelming strain they provoke when crashing one after the other, leaving you speechless in nature-fearing-awe.

Yet, Sisyphean’s guitar work ends up as more “traditional” in essence, no matter the overuse of avant-garde distortions. Which means they should normally appeal to a significantly larger crowd, at least compared to their present state. I am guessing the fact they ain’t the same “hyped”, or “trendy”, as other relative bands only points out to their country of origin. Just ‘cos “Lithuanian” ain’t a selling point that’s hot for current black metal.

https://sisyphean.bandcamp.com/album/colours-of-faith

 

 

Sleeping Bodies – The Composition of a Dead Star

Alluring, astral raw black metal from the U.S., or just another 2022 release that fell under my radar. Sleeping Bodies is all about fueling its electrified riffage with ethereal melodies that storm their way through its vast, stretchy structures. It’s pretty much Paysage d’Hiver mixed with Foudre Noir, or any such point of reference you might correctly assume so.

Meanwhile, even if zero information is provided on its background, a Bandcamp picture points out the entire endeavor is led by a one-woman-show. And I do mention it, because it’s an aspect half of you shall deem as “exotic”, the other half might dismiss it as “flat-out hipster”, but since y’all are so curious now I’ll leave it to your itchy impulse pushing that “play” button.

https://sleepingbodies.bandcamp.com/album/the-composition-of-a-dead-star

 

 

Animosity – Demo 1994

 Now this is great Hungarian death metal I’d never heard of. You’ll even discover early traces of Katatonia and Anathema here and there. It’s crunchy, heavy, juvenile, just like the spirit of those times.

May I say here, I get all the conflicting reasons as to why some of you may disregard such demos. But their aesthetics conceal magic that’s just impossible to replicate. Best to leave the old goat roaming free among their tall grasses.

 

 

Gille’ Loves  – Barairo No Kyuuketsuki

Quick change of scenery with some breathtaking Japanese post-punk in the vein of Siouxsie and The Banshees. Even if Barairo No Kyuuketsuki may not be Tinderbox, or Hyæna, I never compare any band to Siouxsie, thus Gille’ Loves were extraordinary in their way. I’ll even admit I occasionally sit and ponder what Siouxsie Sue herself would think of them, but I guess I’ll neither know, nor does it matter in the grander flow of time.

Lucifer Luscious Violenoué (their singer’s side-project) has also kept me good company these past dew days. Their first album under that moniker (released in ’94) should be right up your alley, albeit I’ve been equally absorbing her latter dark pop works.

 

 

Go Flamingo! – Go Flamingo!

Cult Italian post-punk released in 1986. So good I suspect it’s widely known to their locals. One of them posted this YouTube comment of how their interloping accents sound unusually decent and I must agree. Especially, when other relative bands from the same era showcase a plethora of “maccaroni vocals”.

Additionally, their vigorous aesthetics point out to small traces of rockabilly, or even the pop-rock side of Wipers fused into a blend that’s snappy, tuneful, or even surprising to most. All without degrading the needed obscurity stemming from their post-punk backgrounds. Even if I was driven to unearth its flaws by some hypothetical obsession, Go Flamingo! strikes as so unequivocally pristine. Up to the point it may even compete for the genre’s “dark horse classics”.

 

 

Letherique – Enter My Lair

 Now this one’s cool, a bit of an amalgam of rotten late ’80s industrial and techno / deep house vibes. Definitely among 2023’s most interesting releases, at least to odd freaks like me. Even if its cover art may be gathering clouds of dark doubt on whether Letherique’s “just another e-goth band”, its aesthetics are too artistic in a bizarrely decaying fashion. Talking about a grainy, thick atmosphere here, reddish to the very bone, like a razor’s sharpened edge, or a vampire’s nighttime hunting.

It did remind me of Marvel’s Blade now, didn’t it? I love that first movie. If you dig red fangs, or dark industrial, the tape is still up for grabs.

https://dearsoil.bandcamp.com/album/letherique-enter-my-lair

 

 

Solar Fields – Reflective Frequencies (Remastered/Expanded Edition)

You know, there’s been some heavy debating on whether this new master degraded any expansive qualities. But given the circumstances, I think it’s a different take all around. As if Solar Fields conceived the idea of reinventing themselves with this new approach. Yes, it’s grainy, moody, or even mellow. The original take on Reflective Frequencies suited great a CD pressing, while this expanded edition fits as a glove for its vinyl release. My point is: both editions are necessary, as long as you keep in mind it’s only a matter of perception. It’s all downtempo electronics man, just dig deep and cherish the vibes.

https://solarfields.bandcamp.com/album/reflective-frequencies-remastered-special-digital-edition-24bit