ESP Medium Dischord
Different Noises 58
The disconnect between mainstream populism which infests the global music industry and the wide underground of music featured on this edition is perfectly captured. Towards the end of the show I feature something from the early 80s which exemplifies music written about local issues by a local band. The village that is featured in that track attracts a huge covers band festival every year which seems completely out of sync with what went on 40 odd years ago in that place. Is there any hope when the industry is continually dumbed down by focus on a handful of musicians? This show demonstrates that yes there is still a healthy scene out there, unfortunately it does not get the attention it deserves.
SHOW AUDIO
PLAYLIST
The Parasite "(Having A) Rave-Up" from Marbles
Carol Martini "Oh These Feelings" from Pirate On The Bus
PIG "Volcano" from Sinsation
Bill Leeb "Demons" from Model Kollapse
Electric Hero "Yesterday's Tomorrows" from Another Time
The Giraffes "Pipes" from Cigarette
Evidence of a Struggle "Keep It" from Evidence of a Struggle
Godspeed You! Black Emperor "GREY RUBBLE - GREEN SHOOTS" from "NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD"
The Armoires "Snake Island Thirteen" from Octoberland
Steve Wynn "Santa Monica" from Make It Right
Dave Graney 'n' the Coral Snakes "I'm Just Havin' One Of Those Lives" from Night of the Wolverine (2019 Version)
Chalice King "Black Cat, Snake Eyes" from Black Cat, Snake Eyes
The Okmoniks "Ain't Comin In"Mfrom Afterparty Fever!!!
Tim Brady Instruments of Happiness "Slow,SImple" from Imagine Many Guitars
The Peawees "The Wolf" from One Ride
Raffa, Kulcha Ites, Ammoye "Jah Crush" from Amped
Nyctronix "Neon" from Minimum Viable Product
Chiffon Magnifique "Witches Falls" from Anxieta
Föhn "Persona" from Condescending
Toc & Paulina Owczarek "Flapjack Octopus (Excerpt)" from Psychedelic Jelly
The Fall "Psykick Dancehall" from Dragnet
The Fatima Mansions "Blues For Ceausescu (LP Version)" from The Only Solution: Another Revolution
SHOW NOTES
The Parasite - my ongoing project with Ian “Fourcandles” Moss, our 24th release on Half Edge Records. A dozen offerings which touch on a variety of subjects and are couched in a mesmerising melange of post-punk-kraut rock/and electronica/dance (plus a first attempt at dub reggae). Targets are focused on and dreams are shared. Both introspective and outward facing at the same time.
Carol Martini - This prolific songwriter from Orange County, California has just released her 9 th CD titled, Pirate On The Bus. This CD of 23 songs reflect her eclectic style and covers such genres as rock, pop-rock, folk-rock with an edge, adult-contemporary. Carol has been performing throughout Southern California for several years. Her performances feature acoustic singer-songwriter versions of her original songs as well as her warm rapport with audiences.
PIG - On the trail of his 'Red Room' album, industrial legend Raymond Watts aka PIG presents his seminal 'Sinsation' album via Metropolis Records (digital, CD) and Armalyte Industries (vinyl). Out of print for decades, this record makes a fine resurgence, re-remastered at Abbey Road. 'Sinsation' was originally released in the mid-1990s on Trent Reznor's Nothing Records. Recorded and mixed with Helen Woodward 'Sinsation' also involves Underworld’s Karl Hyde, KMFDM's Steve White, The KLF's Jimmy Cauty, among others.
Bill Leeb - Metropolis Records has also unleashed 'Demons', the second taste of Leeb’s debut solo album 'Model Kollapse' which was released September 13 . The mastermind behind the highly influential electro-industrial band Front Line Assembly and ambient-pop duo Delerium, Bill Leeb got his start with Skinny Puppy.
Electric Hero - Electric Hero is the nom de plume of bass player and producer, Chris Clarke; erstwhile Holy Roader (Indie Legend Peter Astor’s ‘90’s outfit), Rockingbirds (North London country-rockers), Lost Son of Littlefield (cult country outlaws), one quarter of Horse Latitudes (90s Camden janglers) and Champion of the World (multi award-winning Americana). Among his extra-curricular activities, Birmingham-born Chris has also played bass, produced and worked with diverse acts such as nocturnal chanteuse Sukie Smith aka Madam, greasy rock sensations The Jim Jones Revue and New Heavy Sounds (Too Pure’s Paul Cox latest label); film soundtrack - In The Land Of Blood And Honey (written, produced and directed by Angelina Jolie) with Dado Dzihan; showman and gypsy legend Donald Byron Wheatley; the funky instrumental pedal steel of Henry Senior Jnr and all-round heroes BJ Cole and Martin Stephenson. A long-time member of London’s finest bluegrass band, Foghorn Leghorn, Chris has run their club at The Betsey Trotwood for the past 12 years, while for the past three decade he has played bass, engineered and produced hundreds of recordings for others, mainly in his very own ‘North London Stax’ recording complex, Reservoir Studios. After being one of the driving forces behind Danny and The Champions of The World for the past decade, he decided to cut loose and make his own solo album. With the intention of a fresh start, he assembled a group of younger musicians to come along for the ride including his nephew Elliott on drums and guitar maestro Jamie Alex Pope, with Celina Liesegang and Steve Huddleston on backing vocal duty.
The Giraffes - the Brooklyn alt-rockers furious protest anthem written in response to the Flint water crisis. Frontman Aaron Lazar shares, "I suspected it was going to become a more commonplace thing everywhere. Hate to say I was right. I grew up in a place much like Flint - Youngstown OH, a former steel boomtown in the rust belt that is slowly crumbling due to population loss and divestment by the government. The feeling of invisibility that hits you when you realize you depend on an infrastructure that hasn't been maintained or thought about in a few generations and that now everyone you know may be poisoned by a few peoples contempt and negligence is something else."
Evidence of a Struggle - Chicago-based artist Evidence of a Struggle presents the frustration-laden single 'Keep It', featuring vocals in a truly powerful spoken-word meets post-rock clash. The accompanying animated video was created by fellow Chicago visual artist John Airo. Centred around the musings of multi-instrumentalist Rev. Billy Simmons, Evidence of a Struggle creates lush, cinematic, beautiful and sometimes chaotic compositions, having released his 13-track debut album 'Evidence of a Struggle' in 2023.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - a new album from the post-rock giants. The promo is bereft of information other than they are touring North America extensively at the end of this year into the next and the line-up remains as -
Thierry Amar – electric bass + contrebasse
David Bryant – electric guitar + tape loops
Aidan Girt – drums
Timothy Herzog – drums + glockenspiel
Efrim Manuel Menuck – electric guitar + tape loops
Michael Moya – electric guitar
Mauro Pezzente – electric bass
Sophie Trudeau – violin
Karl Lemieux + Philippe Léonard – 16mm film projections
The Armoires - the much-anticipated new album from the California indie rock quintet. The band's fourth full-length release debuts October 11 on Vinyl, CD and Digital. A watershed work blending revved-up chamber-pop hooks with literate lyrical world-building to explore a timeless musical landscape that's rich in detail and completely inviting.
Steve Wynn - another track for Steve’s new solo album which accompanies his new memoire. Here’s Steve in Walthamstow last Sunday courtesy of Bob Auster South.
Dave Graney 'n' the Coral Snakes - Dave in full ballad mode from this stand out album.
Chalice King - lives and works in Birmingham, UK. His day job as a landscape gardener leaves evenings and weekends free to work on crafting tunes in his home studio, the Bowl of Bounty. Chalice King has previously worked with Nug Run, MargoMargo, and Hands//Worth as well as remixing several tracks for Klaus Hertz.
The Okmoniks - Comprising of Helene 33 on organ and vocals, Sammy on guitar, Jason on bass, and Pascual on drums, The Okmoniks blend early punk and garage rock influences into a sound that's as raw as it is infectious.Formed in Tucson in 2000 and now based in the Bay Area since 2009, The Okmoniks have made a name for themselves with their energetic live shows and a string of self-released EPs along with one LP on Slovenly Records. Their music captures the essence of their proto punk roots while injecting a playful nod to their influences.
Tim Brady Instruments of Happiness - Award-winning Montréal-based composer-guitarist Tim Brady has established himself as a singular and crucial figure in contemporary composition.Once hailed by Guitar Player as one of the 30 most important guitarists for the future of the instrument, his vast and varied oeuvre, which encompasses opera, orchestral and chamber pieces as well as various incarnations of his variable-size guitar ensemble Instruments of Happiness has been praised everywhere from Gramophone to the Wire and DownBeat Magazine to New York Times.
The Peawees - Six years after Italian rock 'n' roll band The Peawees gave us their critically acclaimed album Moving Target, they’ve finally returned with their 7th studio album, One Ride. Their new platter appears worldwide on digital and vinyl formats via Wild Honey Records on September 6th, 2024 with exclusive license to Folc Records in Spain and Spaghetty Town Records in North America. It's been a long wait, one that includes line-up changes, divorces, lost loved ones, job troubles - whatever hardship was thrown at The Peawees, One Ride makes it clear that it only made them stronger. This album seethes with the rock 'n' roll swagger of a bygone era, and the band shows the rare ability to wear their influences on their sleeves with a sound that feels unique. The mix of rock 'n' roll, soul, punk, and garage spins on the record like it came straight out of a blender: one part The Sonics, one part Link Wray, two parts The Clash, a splash of Stax shaken over Phil Spector and served like it was thrown straight in your face.
Raffa, Kulcha Ites, Ammoye - a 2007 album Amped, originally released under the moniker DJ Ironbelly, given a fresh look and brought back under the Dubmatix name
Nyctronix - Jed Stephens back with a new single
Chiffon Magnifique - aka Jed A. Walters. Anxietika is the debut album from this very versatile and enigmatic artist. This compelling collection of gothic rock, post-punk, minimal wave, and dreampop tracks is a raw and deeply personal exploration of Jed's battle with generalised anxiety disorder.
Föhn - Greece-based avant-garde funeral doom outfit with their debut double album. Their sound transcends traditional boundaries, rooted in funeral doom, drenched in atmosphere, and interwoven with elements of the avant-garde. Drawing from a breadth of influences such as Mournful Congregation, Esoteric, Swans, and Bohren & Der Club Of Gore, the result is a dense, achingly beautiful experience, steeped in the essence of midnight and the whispers of urban life. Their music evokes an enchanting hush, creating a haunting journey for the listener.
Toc & Paulina Owczarek - featuring Paulina Owczarek: alto saxophone, Jérémie Ternoy: Fender Rhodes, Piano Bass, Ivann Cruz: guitar, and Peter Orins: drums. From Peter’s Circum-Disc label - a wonderful marriage of jazz, improv and psychedelia
The Fall - there was a Psychic Dance Hall in Prestwich. This opening track from second studio album “Dragnet” is a perfect demonstration of the Mike Leigh era version of the group.
The Fatima Mansions - Cathal in full on rage mode for this outstanding track.