PRESENT (ABO#407)

PRESENT

THANATOPRAXIS

(1981-2009)

Sorry, I'm late. A little problem while uploding this file. Finally I made it!

I hope this wait was worth today's post. Present is like a twin brother of Daniel Denis' Univers Zero. Founded by ex UZ member Roger Trigaux, Present's life was a bit chaotic... After only two albums, the band had seemed to be vanishing but in 1993, Trigaux and his son, Reginald, reformed Present with an album, C.O.D. Performance, which is more a "Trigaux & son" one than a true Present one.

Present identity differs from Univers Zero one by a more agressive sound, more percussive and much darker. Their music can be considered as a missing link between Univers Zero and Magma. That's why some people like much Present to the other two bands : it's a more arty Magma or a much stronger Univers Zero.

Back in 2009, Trigaux and his band were joined by Daniel Denis' band for a memorable union gig. This kind of reunion was a major event in Avant-Garde music.

This year the fusion of the 2 bands is replanned with the adjunction of a third avant-garde band : Aranis.

I hope this (and UZ's) Baistophe will convince you to be the witness of this great union !

wait if it's temporary unavailable

GUAPO (ABO#375)

GUAPO

DE PROFUNDIS

(1997-2008)

There are 2 Guapos. Thes are the same band but both took another direction from another. The first one (1997-2001) was a noisy rock band whose music was incredibly dismantled. The second one (2003-2008) had a more strong strcuture and a cleaner sound, even if still dark. However the major influence of that band was Magma (ABO#002). Witness their first EP "Guapo vs. Magma". There's nothing much Zeuhl in that EP but as the years went by, Guapo's music became more and more like a new Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh weapon. This is that second life of Guapo I decided to point up in this BAISTOPHE. You'll also find then a few old songs.

In order to put the more songs as possible, I had to edit some tracks and I think these do not disturb the listen.

My Guapo TOP 3:

1. Black Oni (2005)

2. Five Suns (2004)

3. Elixirs (2008)

My Guapo BOTTOM 3:

1. Dukes And Drakes Of Cerberus Schoals (2003)

2. Great Sage Equal The Heaven (2001)

3. Death Seed (2000)

MOUSE ON MARS (ABO #362)

MOUSE ON MARS
SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

.

Mouse on Mars is a duo from Germany (Jan St. Werner, from Köln, and Andi Toma, from Düsseldorf) who have been making electronic music since 1993. Their music is a sometimes quirky blend of techno, trance, disco, and ambient with a heavy dollop of analog synth sounds. Their music also utilizes live conventional rock instruments such as drums, bass and guitar.
This compilation, summing up their 15 years long career is not a best of, more of an introduction to the band peculiar and entertaining form of electonica. I put it together like a mix, editing some tracks so to blend them all together nicely. I hope you'll enjoy the result.

RIYL :
Matmos, To Rococo Rot, Autrechre, Prefuse 73

FRENCH TV (ABO#335)

FRENCH TV

WHOOF!!

(1984-2006)

Don't be afraid. Just don't be afraid... French TV, contrary to what their name may signify, is an american band. Their is absolutely nothing in common with France, at the exception of a "French Medley on their 2004 album Pardon Our French. Especially in that track you may understand how not french they are!

Don't be afraid too with this artwork. French TV is one of those bands who have the ugliest artworks. We couldn't have betrayed their tradition.

To be honest, French TV's music is also a terrible mess, so that's why this very first expression, don't be afraid, really fits with them.

Listening to any of those songs may require a hard effort of concetration. But if you successfully digest this, you may find it very interesting.

It's up to you to decide.

My French TV TOP3 :

1. The Violence Of Amateurs (1999)

2. Intestinal Fortitude (1995)

3. Yoo-Hoo (1997)

My French TV BOTTOM3 :

1. The Case Against Art (2001)

2. After A Lengthy Silence (1987)

3. Virtue In Futility (1991)

THE RESIDENTS (ABO #332)

THE RESIDENTS
BACH IS DEAD

Over the course of a recording career spanning several decades, the Residents remained a riddle of Sphinx-like proportions; cloaking their lives and music in a haze of willful obscurity, the band's members never identified themselves by name, always appearing in public in disguise — usually tuxedos, top hats and giant eyeball masks — and refusing to grant media interviews. Drawing inspiration from the likes of fellow innovators including Harry Partch, Sun Ra, and Captain Beefheart, the Residents channeled the breadth of American music into their idiosyncratic, satiric vision, their mercurial blend of electronics, distortion, avant-jazz, classical symphonies and gratingly nasal vocals reinterpreting everyone from John Philip Sousa to James Brown while simultaneously expanding the boundaries of theatrical performance and multimedia interaction.
Here's a double cd displaying some of The Residents most breathtaking material, a perfect introduction to this weird but essential band cooked by our collaborator Diod.

THE RESIDENTS Top 3
1 - God in Three Persons (1988)
2 - Eskimo (1979)
3 - Wormwood: Curious Stories from the Bible (1998)

THE REDIDENTS Bottom 3
1 - The King and Eye (1989)
2 - The Tunes of Two Cities (1982)
3 - Our Finest Flowers (1992)

RIYL:
Captain Beefheart, Snakefinger, Tuxedomoon

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART (ABO#323)

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART
THE BOOGLARIZER
(1966-1984)

The Army must have put something in the water. The Sixties were an era of unconventional music, and one small town in the Mohave Desert produced two of rock's most unusual musicians.

Don Vliet (rhymes with sweet) showed an early talent for painting & sculpture but his parents saw little future in an art career. Possibly as a means to prevent him from pursuing his interests, they moved from a suburb of Los Angeles into a smaller community of Lancaster, California. It was there in high school that he found a sympathetic companion in Frank Zappa. The name Captain Beefheart was born from a movie that the two had attempted to create. They collaborated many more times throughout their careers.

The first 'Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band' was formed in 1965. Most of the members took on stage names at this time, and Vliet became Van Vliet. Don had a strong interest in the blues, and it was a popular niche following the rise of the Animals, Rolling Stones and others. The band released a fairly conventional sounding single in 1966, but they already had some odd ideas about what kind of music they wanted to make. Their first album was rejected as too strange and the label dropped them. Fortunately, the Sixties were about to explode; soon everything was possible.

'Safe As Milk' was finally released in 1967, as well as a follow-up album. They were fairly conventional, and weren't big sellers. What's worse, Van Vliet felt that someone was once again trying to clamp down on his artistic vision. Frank Zappa had just formed a new label, and he offered them more control over the outcome. Those sessions produced "Trout Mask Replica' in 1969, and things were never the same again.

Much of Captain Beefheart's music is simply bizarre to new listeners. Although it has strong roots to the blues; it is most easily described as sounding like Free Jazz. Van Vliet's surreal poetry is laid atop a cacophonous base, and his gruff vocals frequently recall Howlin' Wolf. According to All Music Guide, he has a four-and-one-half octave vocal range. He can sing, but more often he is shouting over the din of the orchestration. There were attempts in the mid-Seventies to make him more commercial, but the results sound like the band in a hotel lounge. Pick up Elton John if you want love songs.

Trout Mask Replica is the band's most well-known and highest rated album, but I advise new listeners to start with 'Clear Spot' or 'Shiny Beast'. You can also check out their collaboration on Zappa's 'Bongo Fury'

-BURNS-

Captain Beefheart ~ I'm Gonna Booglarize You Baby...
envoyé par JackXK7. - Regardez d'autres vidéos de musique.

Captain Beefheart - This Is The Day
envoyé par Craven84. - Cliquez pour voir plus de vidéos marrantes.

Burns' Captain Beefheart's TOP3 :
1- Clear Spot (1972)
2- Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (1978)
3- Safe As Milk (1967)

Burns' Captain Beefheart's BOTTOM3 :
1-Lick My Decals Off, Baby (1970) [*]
2-Mirror Man (1971)
3-Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974)

[*] many say this is Beefheart's 2nd best, but I find it difficult

ALBERT MARCOEUR (ABO#301)

ALBERT MARCŒUR

ENFANTILLAGES

(1974-2008)

Albert Marcœur is one of the strangest person in french musical history. Known as the 'French Zappa' (maybe for is cynical lyrics) his sounds remind much of a mixture of Robert Wyatt and Henry Cow. His particular voice and singing gives more scale of this strangeness.

I discovered Marcœur's music not long ago and really discovered a new world. A bit like if he sang the world around through the eyes of a child.

Extract :
La Dame Qui Est Assise A Côté De Moi

My Albert Marcœur TOP3 :

1. Armes Et Cycles (1979)

2. Album A Colorier (1976)

3. Plusieurs Cas De Figure (2001)

My Albert Marcœur BOTTOM3 :

1. Sports Et Percussions (1994)

2. Ma Vie Avec Elles (1990)

3. Albert Marcœur (1974)

THE ART OF NOISE (ABO #292)

THE ART OF NOISE
BE HAPPY OR DIE

Art of Noise were an avant-garde synthpop group formed in 1983 by producer Trevor Horn, music journalist Paul Morley, and session musicians/studio hands Anne Dudley, J.J. Jeczalik, and Gary Langan. The group's mostly instrumental compositions were novel melodic sound collages based on digital sampler technology, which was new at the time. Inspired by turn-of-the-century revolutions in music, the Art of Noise were initially packaged as a faceless anti- or non-group, blurring the distinction between the art and its creators. The band is noted for innovative use of electronics and computers in pop music and particularly for innovative use of sampling.
The name of the group alludes to the essay The Art of Noises by noted futurist Luigi Russolo.
Another great selection by Diod.

RIYL:
Yello, Thomas Dolby, The Orb

EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN (ABO #286)

EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN
KEIN ROST KEIN RUHM
(NO RUST NO GLORY)

Einstürzende Neubauten is a German avant-garde music band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld (lead vocals, guitar, keyboard), Alexander Hacke (bass, guitar, vocals), N. U. Unruh (custom-made instruments, percussion, vocals), Jochen Arbeit (guitar and vocals), and Rudi Moser (custom-built instruments, percussion, and vocals).
The band is often classified as industrial music. One of their "trademarks" is the use of custom-built instruments, predominantly made out of scrap metal and building tools, and noises, in addition to standard musical instruments. Neubauten has always experimented with sounds, originally in noise music and recently in very diverse styles.
This is the first compilation from Baistophe's new collaborator Diod Dioderies, let him be thanked for his great work.

RIYL:
The Young Gods, Throbbing Gristle, Skinny Puppy

ALAIN MARKUSFELD (ABO #259)

ALAIN MARKUSFELD
L'ENROULEUR DE GALAXIES

Another great lost talent of rock history. Alain Markusfeld is a marvelous guitarist who made several albums in the seventies but dropped out of business in the early 80s due to a lack of interest to his music. The man didn't even found his audience in his home country, France. His albums are great and gained cult status among most litterate music connoisseur.
From his very beginning with his band Trust (not to be mistaken with French hard rock band Stefan have baistophed some months ago), everyone had witnessed his great talent as an instrumentalist. From electric to acoustic, the guitar seemed to be one with the man. With albums like Platock or Contemporus which feature some great instrumental tunes and great suites like Mike Oldfied could (or should) have done, Markusfeld seems to have a second chance in the blogosphere. Like Gentle Giant for England, Alain Markusfeld may be one of the most underrated French musicians of all time.
Sadly, I've been unable to find any sample of his music so, you'll have to trust me and download this very best stuff to judge for yourself, I'm quite sure you will not be disappointed.

My Alain Markusfeld TOP
1. Platock (1978)
2. Contemporus (1979)
3. Le Désert Noir (1977)
4. Le Son Tombé Du Ciel (1971)
5. Live (1981)
6. Le Monde En Etage (1970)
7. Le Mutant (1970, w Trust)

(another great post by Ayah!)

ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT (ABO #220)

ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT
SYVÄSATAMAAN IKSUVASARAT

Fourth opus of Baistophe's Progressive Music Month, it may be argued that Alamaailman Vasarat are not really progressive which could lead to a long and sterile discussion as to what progressive music is. I think they are but you have every right to disagree with me...
Anyway, The avant-garde Finnish band Alamaailman Vasarat, which translates to "the Hammers of the Underworld" in English, create music influenced by Klezmer and other forms of European folk music and play it with the ferocity of a punk or metal act and the theatrical dimension of progressive rock. Abandoning major keys for the most part and guitars all together, the group performs on such instruments as a pump organ, saxophone, and distorted cello. Although the basic rhythms the band uses are conventional polka and bossa nova, by speeding them up and adding primal drumming, their intense music has been known to even inspire stage diving.
The attempt, for this compilation, was to try building something that would ressemble an actual album hence the unchronological tracklist, the short edits at the end of some tracks and the sound adjustments that had to be made so to create an harmonious whole. The title would translate something like "Deep Sea Hammers" (sorry if I mistreated the Finnish language, I had to use google translator) and the selection aims to be an imaginary soundtrack, it's up to you to create your "mental movie" but, just for information, mine consists in a journey in marine life with hammerhead sharks as the main character. I sincerely hope you'll like the work and the band and that it'll make you want to check more of their unique sound on either of their four albums (and to avoid at all coast their collaboration with Finnish folk singer Tuomari Nurmio which is just not good).
Enjoy and don't be shy, give me your opinion.

My ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT List
1 - Käärmelautakunta (2003)
2 - Vasaraasia (2000)
3 - Mahaan (2007)
4 - Huuko Kolkko (2009)
5 - Kinaporin Kalifaatti [with Tuomari Nurmio] (2005)

NEU! (ABO#204)

NEU!
PUNKTIERT
(1972-1986)

While little known and relatively unheralded during its brief existence, the Krautrock duo Neu! cast a large shadow over later generations of musicians and served as a major influence on Punk music, Cold wave, Avant-Garde or even Electronic music.
Neu! formed in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1971 after multi-instrumentalists Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger both split from Kraftwerk. Recorded in the space of four days with Can producer Conrad Plank, the duo's self-titled debut appeared early in 1972 and quickly established their affection for minimalist melodies and lock-groove rhythms.
After that german acclaimed first LP, times were hard for the duo. The couldn't spare enough money to record new albums so disbanded and reunited each time they could. Only 4 albums were recorded, the first 3 ones in a lap time of 3 years, the last more than ten years after its predecessor.

My Neu! TOP :
1. Neu! (1972)
2. Neu! 1975 (1975)
3. Neu! 2 (1973)
4. Neu! 4 (1986/1996)