Still alive, here's some tunes
I had a largish post queued up about the COVID-19 quarantine period and how it compared to the worst aspects of cyberpunk fiction but decided not to keep polishing it up because it didn't say anything that wasn't blatantly obvious. World is fukt, capitalism is consuming us, and there's no will among elected leadership to escape or combat our nightmares. What else is new?
Here's some stuff I've been listening to to pass the time.
World Goth Day is a relatively recent tradition but I reckon a multi-decade movement that shaped music and culture warrants its own day. Goths isn't a goth album stylistically most of the time -- it's a Mountain Goats album -- though we do find occasional musical callbacks to folks like Sisters of Mercy just as we hear nostalgic recollections of goths both here and long gone. They have a new one out too.
Irisarri's music, while ambient by design, isn't really something that sits
in the background and acts unobtrusive. The North Bend has hooks and motifs
and a clear structure; I've never been to the Pacific Northwest, but it feels
like it really evokes the spirit of this place.
He has a new album which I
haven't listened to yet; also, if you like his work, you'll also be into
Loscil, also born from the Pacific Northwest.
The Origin Of My Depression is meticulously assembled, I guess you could call it noise? Probably not as harsh as you'd expect, and simultaneously more harsh, it's a harrowing and fascinating listen with a lot of variation. Uboa has a new release out which I need to check out.
Also uneasy listening, that draws heavily from neo-classical influences and choral/hymnal sounds, Caligula is described by its author as retribution music. Absolutely compelling righteous fury. Up there with the best of Diamanda Galas.
Solid evolution of Jamie Brooks' previous work. main pop girl 2019 tells fascinating stories in a heartfelt, joyful way.
Video game music created at a time when it was considered to be a disposable frill around the edge of the main product, yet proved to have reach far beyond it.
How good is nü-metal? If you do decide to go outside, put this on in your car and terrify your neighbourhood.
recovery girl is by muso/sound designer Galen Tipton who's I've never got around to listening to until now. Didn't really expect this to be so upbeat and so brutal, but this is next level stuff. You probably need this and don't know it yet.
I've been listening to fragments of Rainbow Bridge since about February? Even though the whole thing's out now I feel I'm yet to digest it. Bigger metal influence than Field Whispers -- feels like I have to engage with it a bit more, but it's big and beautiful and complicated.
Been meaning to talk about this one. Caught me completely by surprise, not just cos I didn't know it was coming, I didn't expect it to be so brilliant. If we must have an anthem to this tedious nihilistic cyberpunk bullshit era, U-Void Synthesizer should be it. The sound of a burning police station, of an unjust empire dying, of being pissed off and being right, of never giving up.
Directly related to Machine Girl, this is the other weird stuff they do with Bonnie Baxter. Sink into the gunge.
Look At Us Now Dad tells a lot of short stories and vignettes of everyday life, that fit together really well to produce a heartfelt and melancholy and triumphant whole. Excellent production as well.
I've been watching too many YouTube videos of people sneaking into Chernobyl, and I haven't even finished watching Stalker the movie yet. Even if it didn't have these pre-existing inspirations, this would still be a fascinating exploration into places that shouldn't -- or perhaps couldn't -- be.
These beats are all ten years old but you need this one for I'm God alone.
Hey! You probably haven't seen this yet cos I stuffed up the dates. Whoops.
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