Milligram - This Is Class War

Artist: Milligram
Album: This Is Class War
Release: 2002
Label: Traktor 7

Tracklist:

1. Let's Kill
2. Jeff's Flag
3. Let's Pretend We Don't Know Each Other
4. +2 Charisma
5. Thousands And Thousands And Thousands And Thousands
6. Get Fucked Again
7. I Know, I'm Sorry
8. Summer Of Lies
9. Nice Problem
10. Winner Versus Loser
11. Saturation Emission
12. She's A Prostitute
13. The Resentinel
14. This Is Class War

We've already established the sheer awesomeness of Only Living Witness here on ICDT. Singer Jonah Jenkins has one hell of a set of pipes, and here uses them in some rougher ways than in OLW. His bandmates, on the other hand, are dipping their instruments in large vats of swamp sludge, kush nugs, and punk vitriol to whip up jams equal parts hardcore roar, stoned heaviness and wry sarcasm. With that said, This Is Class War isn't just some My War-esque romp through slowwwwwed-down hardcore punk. There are grooves. There are total two-steps. There are occasional stabs of vocal melody. There are mangled wah-pedal guitar solos. There is some suh-weet bass distortion. Get into it! Get fucked again!

-Asa

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Locust - Morning Light

Artist: Locust
Album: Morning Light
Release: 1997
Label: Apollo/Sony Music Distribution (Japan)

Tracklist:

1. Your Selfish Ways
2. Morning Light
3. Just Like You
4. I Am The Murderer
5. Jukebox Heart
6. Folie
7. One Way Or Another
8. No-One In The World
9. Clouds At My Heart
10. Summer Rain
11. Ancient Hometown
12. The Girl With The Fairytale Dreams
13. Let Me Take You Back
14. Some Love Will Remain Unsaid
15. Shadow Play
16. On The Horizon
17. The Daydream Girl From Sealand
18. Touched On Every Side

This one goes out to the808state! After Locust (A.K.A. Mark Van Hoen) released the intense, beat-driven ambient excursion of Truth Is Born Of Arguments, he changed up his style a little and created what is essentially the Locust's pop album: Morning Light. This is not to say there aren't ambient sounds here, as there are four intermissions interspersed throughout, but this is a much more structured album than his previous one.

Overall, I would call this an electro-pop album and one that spans many different sub-genres. What does this mean exactly? It means that half of the songs are brilliant and the other half aren't really all that great. Actually, some of it is straight cheesy and dated. However, these duds are overshadowed by some brilliant pop moments, such as the jazzy "I Am The Murder," the shimmering "Touched On Every Side," and lovely pop gem of "The Girl With The Fairy Tale Dream." Additionally, Neil Halstead (of Slowdive and Mojave 3 fame) lends his voice to "On The Horizon."

This album isn't exactly for anyone. Even if you enjoyed Truth Is Made Of Argument, you might not even like this. However, I think there's a lot to appreciate and even fall in love with on Morning Light and, overall, Van Hoen's experimentation with pure pop pays off, you just need to have an open mind and accept the 90s for what they were.

Download Here

P.S. This is the Japanese release of the album, as the two bonus tracks featured on it are awesome and I wouldn't want you to be without them!

-Adam

Rainer Maria - Atlantic

Artist: Rainer Maria
Album: Atlantic
Release: 1999
Label: Polyvinyl

Tracklist:

1. There Will Be No Night
2. Atlantic
3. Soul Singer

Rainer Maria were always one of my favorites of the whole 90s indie emo thing. Their first two LPs (especially Look Now Look Again) are fantastic, even if most of everything they did afterward was a complete turd. The only exception to this rule was the Atlantic CD-EP, which is as good as their early albums, if not better. Bear with me here.

These three songs are classic Rainer Maria. They all include Caithlin De Marrais' pseudo-poetic lyrics, strong guitar and bass interplay, and lots of soft-loud dynamics. The first track, "There Will Be No Night," is the softest moment on the album and, while it doesn't really go anywhere, is still solid. It's the next two tracks, however, that are what make this release what it is.

The title track is so triumphant in its slow climax, eventually dying down into twinkling and hypnotic guitars, all before rising up once more. This is definitely one of the bands most powerful moments. Before the listener can catch their breath, "Soul Singer" comes bursting through the speakers and rarely lets up until the last 45 seconds, culminating in one of their most beautiful endings. Both of these songs rival anything on their first two LPs and possibly best them. It's unfortunate this band got so fucking terrible after this release, but at least there is their early material to be able to fall back on.

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-Adam

Von - Satanic Blood

Artist: Von
Album: Satanic Blood
Release: 1992
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. Devil Pig
2. Veinen
3. Watain
4. Lamb
5. Veadtuck
6. Satanic Blood
7. Christ Fire
8. Von

I'll be short: I don't get a lot of black metal. No, I mean-- I get it. Far-too-sheltering Norwegian society, rediscovery of roots and wanting to use them to rebel against society/discover oneself, and thus church burnings, murders, awkward corpsepaint photos in basements and churches with torches and medieval weaponry, etc. I just don't get the aural appeal of this record in particular.

Von were three dudes who were immensely influential on this scene. They were from American shores, specifically the Bay Area.. While thrash and death metal reigned supreme and were getting intricate in 1992, three men known only as Goat, Kill, and Snake played a few live shows and recorded this demo of raw, primal, ritualistic black metal before the modern concept of the genre existed beyond, say, Bathory. Blastbeats with no fills. Three or four riffs a song consisting of a few powerchords apiece. Shrieked vocals. No filler. No fluff. All mystique, anti-Christianity, and of course the classic title track intro repeating "Praise Satan...Praise Satan...Praise Satan..."

If ya'all like the kvlt-raw-tape-demo-and-little-info-about-the-band-itself thing, this is where it all started.

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-Asa

Warzone Womyn - Demo

Artist: Warzone Womyn
Album: Demo
Release: 2004
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. The Cuddling/First Moments Of The Atomic Age
2. Roboto Kids
3. Mercury Treatment
4. Hippy Camp
5. Chucking Meat
6. Shit Where You Sleep
7. Nitwit
8. Warzone Womyn
9. Magma Digestor
10. Swarming Science
11. Cone Snail

Attempt to regain cred, take 1:

This is the demo tape from the legendary (in my own mind) powerviolence band Warzone Womyn from Pittsburgh. I had already posted their amazing split LP with the Endless Blockade, but their earlier material is certainly worth hearing. Their fast hardcore sound remained intact throughout their brief existence, but the demo (and their split tape with F.L.A.K.) is much more raw than their LP songs. I guess I wouldn't consider this to be as good as the LP songs, but some might find the more embryonic sound preferable.

Warzone Womyn was sorely underappreciated during its time as a band, but at least its former members are in two of the most relevant hardcore bands at the moment in Brain Handle and Slices. For now, enjoy this awesome and hard-to-find demo.

Download Here

-Adam

Damages - Demo

Artist: Damages
Album: Demo
Release: 2009
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. Pissing Uphill
2. Fingernails
3. Green Blood
4. Untitled
5. United Blood (Agnostic Front)

Well here is an odd, little release. Dayton, OH's Damages have given me the daunting task of actually trying to describe them. They have a definite 90s hardcore sound, which is almost refreshing to hear considering the glut of 81-revival bands that still exist for one reason or another (note: Government Warning rules. No hate).

What do Damages sound like? The best I can come up with are these shitty pairings: Chokehold meets Burn, Chain Of Strength meets powerviolence, and Rorschach meets Inside Out (read: Rage Against The Machine). I don't know, but it's pretty damn good. Singer dude sounds intense and demented (proof: video) and kinda like Charles Maggio mid-surgery. The music is a pretty solid juxtaposition of shit (kinda-weird production, breakdowns) that probably shouldn't work together, but, oddly enough, do. Also, the last track is a pretty tight Agnostic Front cover.

Make sure to check out this "hot" new band. As for a physical copy of the demo, if you want to figure out how acquire one, then more power to you, but I've been "sworn to secrecy."

Download Here

-Adam

Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra Of Bubbles

Artist: Ellen Allien & Apparat
Album: Orchestra Of Bubbles
Release: 2006
Label: Bpitch Control

Tracklist:

1. Turbo Dreams
2. Way Out
3. Retina
4. Rotary
5. Jet
6. Sleepless
7. Metric
8. Floating Points
9. Under
10. Do Not Break
11. Leave Me Alone
12. Edison
13. Bubbles

Yay, Ellen Allien and Apparat have finally come to ICDT! First off, the dude she is working with is fugly-looking, but his music makes up for his fugly-ness. Apparat, Sascha Ring, is also from Berlin and is known for his genre, IDM electronic, or “Intelligent Dance Music” composition. I guess he isn’t THAT fugly, but I did my best to find the most unflattering picture of him. Maybe I’m jealous because he’s working with a hottie. Compared to Mrs. Fraatz’s Berlinette, this album is definitely something you can dance to. The beats are simple and not as harsh as before, the bass is very heavy and driving, and the vocals are smooth and beautiful. The vocals are clean and don’t sound like she is just projecting her voice and distorting it like in Berlinette.

Orchestra Of Bubbles starts out very dancey, tapers out into ambiance at “Retina,” and builds back up to electronic-as-fuck “Under.” Surprisingly, the craziness dies right afterward into the chill out, “Edison” and “Leave Me Alone.” I think maybe the male vocal track in “Leave Me Alone” is Apparat, but I’m not sure. You start to creep back to the dance floor and stalk girls at “Do Not Break” and dub-step it out at “Metric.” Haha, I did not know they were into dub-step, but it doesn’t hurt the album too much and the track isn’t that bad. “Bubbles,” the last song, completes this perfect multi-genre electronic album with gorgeous vocals and a slow electronic jam.

Y’all should check out this interesting interview with the duo talking about Orchestra of Bubbles and how they worked together to create this masterpiece.

Download Here

-Johnny B

My Bloody Valentine - Sunny Sundae Smile

Artist: My Bloody Valentine
Album: Sunny Sundae Smile
Release: 1987
Label: Lazy

Tracklist:

1. Sunny Sundae Smile
2. Sylvie's Head
3. Paint A Rainbow
4. Kiss The Eclipse

For my first post in the new year of the ICDT calendar, I thought I would share with you one of the records I hold closest to my heart. Obviously, their "undisputed masterpiece" is Loveless, but my favorite My Bloody Valentine release is actually the Sunny Sundae Smile 12" EP. Before I go any further, please let me just say that I adore Loveless and that I am in no way trying to be a contrarian, I just love this EP more!

Sunny Sundae Smile is not the My Bloody Valentine you know and love. As far as I know, Belinda Butcher wasn't even in that band at this point. In her place is some goofball named Dave Conway who, despite some of his suspect lyrics and delivery, is actually quite the effective frontman. The music isn't anything close to the shimmering shoegaze sound of Loveless, but, to be blunt, is probably the best noise pop material ever released. I said it.

The sound is somewhere in-between the pseudo-C86 and bubblegum pop of The New Record By My Bloody Valentine and the more psychedelic, jangle pop of Strawberry Wine and Ecstasy. Pop! It's easily the most energetic My Bloody Valentine release and exhibits that Kevin Shields and co. are actually capable of having fun. Each of these four songs is absolutely flawless, but my favorite is "Sylvie's Head," which is not only my favorite My Bloody Valentine song, but possibly my favorite song. Period.

There's no reason to just stop at Loveless or Isn't Anything.

Download Here

-Adam

ICDT One Year Anniversary Summit

I guess today is the birthday of I Could Die Tomorrow. While by no means an important event, it's still amazing to think we've been doing this for a year. We can't lie when we say that 325,000+ pageviews is pretty awesome. Not all of the original members are still around, though their contributions are what made this blog fun (for the most part) in the first place. We had a few bad ideas for an ANNIVERSARY BLOW OUT post, but, fortunately for you, nothing solidified, so we're just going to spend this post thanking everyone.

I guess we'd really just like to thank a few parties. First, there are all bands we've stolen from, with or without permission. There are obviously a few specific ones, but we'll leave that to your imagination. Keep making music and doing what you're doing? I don't know, at least stay around long enough to cut a demo for us to enthusiastically gush over. More importantly, we'd like to thank all of our friends who have contributed entries to the ICDT canon. You guys rule and we encourage all of you (you = our friends, not random creeps) to write something for us. Lastly, and most importantly, we'd also like to thank all of our "readership" for putting up for our diverse selection of boring, pretentious, poorly-executed, verbose, overly-long, overly-personal, and/or ultra-nerdy rants. Your feedback has been really helpful and really awesome. With our writing, we get some sort of weird satisfaction from your satisfaction, so we can't thank you enough for getting us off.

Uh, so yeah. Commencing ICDT: Year 2!

-ICDT

P.S. Big ups to Elise for putting up with Adam!

No Trend - Teen Love 7"

Artist: No Trend
Album: Teen Love 7"
Release: 1983
Label: No Trend Records

Tracklist:

1. Mass Sterilization Caused By Venereal Disease
2. Cancer
3. Teen Love

While not as influential (or excellent) as their masterful LP Too Many Humans..., No Trend's Teen Love 7" is still fucking great. The A-side to this debut 7" is what No Trend fans come to love: Flipper-esque noise punk complimented with misanthropic ruminations on the banality of suburban life. The first song, "Mass Sterilization Caused By Venereal Disease," is probably the most sonically intense song No Trend ever created. "Cancer" sounds more like the classic No Trend from Too Many Humans...: bass-heavy, razor-sharp and thing guitars, and main dude Jeff Mentges yelping like a madman. Come to think of it, that description makes it sound exactly like Public Image Ltd., who are certainly an influence, but No Trend possessed more of a hardcore sound, whether they would have liked to admit it or not.

The B-side consists of the monolithic title track, which stands as not only one of their best moments, but their most PiL. Seriously, with the a semi-funky, lurching bassline, reverb-laden guitars, and an almost-excessive running time, this shit is straight PiL. Musically, this song is fucking brilliant, but the lyrics make it even better. The tale concerns two (you guessed it!), teenagers who fall in love. While this may seem somewhat unexciting, the lyrics take a novel approach (especially in '83) to it all. Forgoing both a sincere, emotional tale or a blunt critique, "Teen Love" maintains a scientific and Brechtian-distance from the subject matter, making it both humorous and disturbing.

As I previously stated, this is not No Trend's best release and if you haven't heard their first LP, then you need to get on that immediately. However, this is still as fine a starting point as any to hear one of the best punk bands of the 1980s.

Download Here

-Adam

Justin Pigott/Peter Bonneman/Crystalline Roses Split CD-R

Artist: Crystalline Roses, Justin Pigott, Peter Bonneman
Album: Three-Way Split CD
Year: 2009
Label: Devine Noise

Tracklist:

1. Peter Bonneman - Jeg Var Allerede Gdet
2. Crystalline Roses - Dante
3. Justin Pigott - Crash Epiphany
4. Peter Bonneman - Sangen Om Hans Mindei
5. Crystalline Roses - Calling Upon The Wind
6. Justin Pigott - 129 Lullaby
7. Peter Bonneman - Nabo
8. Crystalline Roses - The Wind Replies
9. Justin Pigott - Plant Me...
10. Peter Bonneman - Isaer Om Aftenen
11. Justin Pigott & Crystalline Roses - My Yellow Mama
12. Crystalline Roses - Home Is Where You're Happy

Great artists are masters of both mimicry and aberration. Picasso, before beginning his venture into abstract and "childlike" painting first achieved excellence in an academic tradition, following Velazquez. So it is in a like tradition that this three way split CD-R arrives. The three artists on this record include Peter Bonneman, Crystalline Roses, and Justin Pigott; Bonneman is known most famously as guitarist for Denmark's now defunct, modern/classic Gorilla Angreb, Crystalline Roses songwriter can be heard playing bass in Aerosols and on vocals for Western Mass. degenerates Squirm, and Piggot was a member of Guilt Lust when they were an active band. These kind of hardcore/punk credentials ordinarily make fan-boys/girls swoon, but this album is different. What can be heard here are twelve tracks that return to earlier musical traditions and more practiced instrumentation. Possibly, probably, the reason these three have been accomplished in writing punk is because they have studied more musical history than hardcore.

Each artist on this record uses acoustic instrumentation but the styles vary greatly. Bonneman's tracks are essentially blues based. I don't know anything about "folk" traditions in Denmark but I imagine that they don't hold to what would probably be considered Americana--early twentieth century RnB, proper. It is exhilarating and challenging to listen the Danish vocals over top guitar music that sounds so much like American blues. There's finger picking and a metallic, deep-ish, resonant sound.

It is harder to chart the musical roots of Crystalline Roses than the other two song writers. It seems like A.P. is less interested in writing conventional songs than he is in experimenting with form, and affect. These are longer, sometimes instrumental, trance like tracks that set specific emotional scenes ("Calling Upon the Wind" is one of the bleakest sounding songs I've heard in recent memory, which is awesome). I can here a little bit of Michael Gira in this but also, maybe, Ravi Shankar. Lyrically, A.P. moves between Imagist (good) and some deep neo-Wicca shit (bad). He is an excellent bard on the whole.

Piggot's songs are--like Bonneman's--more classically country and blues inspired so if you're interested in that kind of guitar work you'll like it. Reminds a bit of Leo Kottke.

There are three shows on the East Coast in support of the split. You can find out where in MA here. They will be playing 538 Johnson Ave. (203, The Stolen Sleeves Collective) in Brooklyn on July 18th.

Oh, and for what it's worth (and I'm not entirely sure what this is), the final CR track is a cover of a Charles Manson song.

Download Here

-Colman

The Men - We Are The Men

Artist: The Men
Album: We Are The Men
Release: 2009
Label: Self-Released

Tracklist:

1. Hated
2. Ailment
3. The Man
4. Sketchy Pussy

Boy, did this release catch me off-guard. From the get-go, I had no reason to like this band, as they had a few things going against them before I even heard their debut LP. First, there is the name: The Men, which while I've now come to enjoy, I initially thought was super fucking stupid. Additionally, someone told me they played garage punk, which I also hate. Brooklyn garage punks naming their band the Men? No thanks!

However, my boy Mike played them for me in his room and I found myself actually enjoying it. The Men, while certainly with some garage influences, are not exactly like Jay Reatard or whatever other shitty acts I lazily pigeonhole into the same, arbitrary category.

The Men play a trashy-sounding punk akin to the Stooges, only with a much, MUCH less intense singer and, obviously, not as good. Still, I've found myself really enjoying this album. It's great. All but one of these four songs are raw, aggressive, bass-heavy, and just plain dirty-sounding jams equipped with pretty raging solos. The sound is dirty and grungy, all thanks to wonderful production from Will Killingsworth. The only track that deviates from this formula is "The Man," a surprisingly warm and pretty excursion into more gauzy pop territory. While I wouldn't want them to abandon their homeland for new shores, they clearly exhibit the ability to not only experiment, but to do it really fucking well.

I highly recommend everyone check this out. This is not really garage, but just awesome punk. The band is self-releasing this LP in an edition of 300 copies. If you're living in the general Northeast area, you can pick one up on their upcoming tour. Otherwise, email markperro@gmail.com to order one. Get on it!

Download Here
To buy, Paypal $12ppd to markperro@gmail.com

-Adam

Maurice's Little Bastards/The Pantophobics - Rock 'N' Roll Will Never Diet Soda

Artist: Maurice's Little Bastards/The Pantophobics
Album: Rock 'N' Roll Will Never Diet Soda
Release: 2001
Label: Mocheeks Revolutions

Tracklist:

1. Maurice's Little Bastards - Coca Cola Democracy
2. Maurice's Little Bastards - Neanderthal Man
3. Maurice's Little Bastards - Neon Brigade
4. Maurice's Little Bastards - Plan B
5. Maurice's Little Bastards - Struck Out
6. Maurice's Little Bastards - Animal Eyes
7. Maurice's Little Bastards - Ridin' On Out
8. Maurice's Little Bastards - On My Own/BIHC BABY
9. The Pantophobics - Mario
10. The Pantophobics - Bad Otis
11. The Pantophobics - Mex. Song
12. The Pantophobics - Dead Man
13. The Pantophobics - Social Squirrel
14. The Pantophobics - Alter Ego
15. The Pantophobics - Atlas

At the time of Rock 'N' Roll Will Never Diet Soda's release, I was twelve years old and knew approximately nothing about music. Instead of investigating the local scene, I was content to listen to mainstream rock radio, where crap like Korn were all the rage. I first heard about the Pantophobics from Justin Morgan, their drummer, who was an upperclassman at my middle school/high school. One hell of a funny guy, and one hell of a drummer; his bandmates Zach Lewis (guitar/vocals and also bass with Maurice's Little Bastards) and Ed Morales (bass/oi oi ois) were no slouches in performing the band's lackadaisical, unpretentious (!) indie rock, but even on the split's shoestring recording quality one thing is remarkably clear: Justin is fuckin'slamming the skins.

I first heard Maurice's Little Bastards when Justin popped their debut CD Greatest Hits into the computer next to mine in the school library one afternoon and told me that I "hadn't heard punk until you hear these guys." Seeing as how my closest experience to punk at that point was Green Day, he was right on. MLB open this album with what sounds like both bands emulating idle crowd chatter, puncuated by singer Justin Maurer intoning, "Welcome to Winslow, Baaaaainbridge Islannnd." From there, it's nine songs of off-the-wall, lo-fi hardcore punk that sounds a whole lot like the Germs only with thumpy cardboard drums and lyrics about "[finding] a safe haven from my teenage anguish and hormonal induced deception" ("Ridin' On Out") and "endless proliferation of selfish materialism" ("Neon Brigade"). I really wish I'd been able to stay long enough at the Teen Center to see them play the record release during one spring Friday night, but my parents insisted on picking me up in time for dinner...MLB were known for their wild performances, and for Justin getting naked mid-song and remaining so for the duration of the set. As it was, I only caught the Pantophobics. Shucks.

This album is quite clearly a work of friends having a blast together in the crummy studios they cut the songs in–– the bands' musical styles are quite disparate, to say the least. But this is one of those records that, for the better, sounds a lot like high school. Enjoy.

Download Here

-Asa

86 Mentality - 7" Collection

Artist: 86 Mentality
Album: S/T 7", On The Loose 7", Final Exit 7"
Release: 2004, 2005, 2007
Label: Grave Mistake/Minor Disturbance, Grave Mistake, Deranged

Tracklist:

S/T 7" (2004)

1. Intro/Life Trap
2. Terror Boys
3. Get Away
4. Escape
5. 86 Mentality
6. Violent Nights

On The Loose 7" (2005)

1. Scumbag
2. Chemical Threat
3. Fall In Line
4. On The Loose
5. Oppression
6. Blood Red Violence

Final Exit 7" (2007)

1. Outro/Anti-Society
2. Called Out
3. Degenerate
4. Crash The Gates
5. Next Generation
6. Out Of Control

I come to two major realizations when I listen to 86 Mentality: First, that no matter how much I may want it, I will never be a skin; I would be the worst/softest/most embarrassing skin imaginable. Second, that I really miss 86 Mentality, the best D.C. hardcore band of the 2000s.

For those who haven't heard them, the band plays an interesting hybrid of fast, punky hardcore with Oi vocal-stylings drawing their influences from bands like Iron Cross, the 4-Skins, S.O.A., and Negative Approach. This semi-unique and heavy sound set them apart from not only their D.C. peers, but much of hardcore, as well.

All three of these 7"s are completely flawless. Included are all of the "hits," such as "Terror Boys," "86 Mentality," "Blood Red Violence" (the hardest song ever?), and the entire A-side of Final Exit. I can't ever decide on what my definitive favorite of the three actually is, but I tend to side with On The Loose. That's not really important, though. What's important is that if you haven't heard this band, you really need to get on it, as it doesn't get much better than 86 Mentality, especially in D.C.

Download Here

-Adam

Blog Bodies

Blog Bodies is a new, weekly-themed mixtape blog started by ICDT contributor Asa with a little help from some of his friends over at other fine-ass blogs (Cosmic Hearse, Death by Hanger, etc.), as well as fellow ICDT dude Adam. Check it out!

Ellen Allien - Berlinette

Artist: Ellen Allien
Album: Berlinette
Release: 2003
Label: Bpitch Control

Tracklist:

1. Alles Sehen
2. Sehnsucht
3. Trash Scapes Voc
4. Push
5. Trash Scapes
6. Augenblick
7. Wish
8. Abstract Pictures
9. Erdbeermund
10. Secret
11. Open

Electronic is one of those genres that is heavily male-dominated, which is a damn shame. What is causing this depressing binary? The reason may be the wave of creepy guys in parachute pants who go to the dance halls that these DJ’s play at. Despite the lack of females in the genre, there are still extremely talented female electronic producers like Ellen Allien -- a total babe (Haha, I’m a part of the problem). Ms. Fraatz (lol, so German), from Berlin, melds harsh beats (don’t worry, it’s not uptempo) from techno with calming ambient electronic melodies, and adds her beautiful vocals to complete each track. She sings in both English and German, but her English is a little broken; I’m not sure if this is intentional or not. Her vocals give an alien-like expression to her album. I’m not saying Germans are aliens, but they are little odd. Some tracks have both English and German vocals. I wish I knew German so I could understand the other tracks. I wonder if they are just as weird as the ones with English vocals. At first this album was very awkward to listen to with the vocals, but it has definitely grown on me and I’ve realized how beautiful it is musically. Stay tuned for more of Ellen Allien co-producing with Apparat!

Download Here

-Johnny B

Whorl - Maybe It's Better 7"

Artist: Whorl
Album: Maybe It's Better 7"
Release: 1992
Label: Slumberland

Tracklist:

1. Maybe It's Better
2. Christmas

While they started off as The Birthday Party-worship (as Big Jesus Trash Can and the Mind Revolution 7"), D.C. & Baltimore's Whorl (members had connections to Black Tambourine, Powderburns, etc.) soon morphed into something a little more indebted to the gauzy sounds of shoegaze. Of all their other songs, the Maybe It's Better 7" is probably their best material and one of the most overlooked Slumberland releases. The first track is their most outright poppy and accessible, but still retains the darker edge of previous releases. The other song on this 7" is probably their finest moment. "Christmas" sees the band doing the shoegaze thing better than many of the "classic" bands of the pseudo-fantastical genre.

This 7" (and band, for that matter) deserves way more praise than it gets. I hope that some of you give it a good, proper listen because it is seriously amazing. I don't know, I love it.

Download Here

-Adam