Author: andrea Page 15 of 71

The fine folks at Warp have posted a new Seefeel track called “Faults” —a teaser from their new EP that will be out on September 20. The band headline a much-anticipated one-off show at London’s ICA on September 16.

Judging by the torrent of snark on Soundcloud, the new track has met with divided opinions. “Rubbish,” “Magic.” “Boring.” Even former producer (and de facto band member) Mark van Hoenweighed in to critique the watery sound: “The drums don’t sound like a real kit, and the guitars don’t sound right.”

Is it fair to judge one song against fourteen years of silence? Because that’s what seems to be happening here: this isn’t about the song, but about a platonic ideal of a band that exists in the past. (Seefeel 2010 consists of original members Mark Clifford and Sarah Peacock and new additions Shigeru Ishihara and E-da from the Boredoms.)

And in the now? What does “Faults” sound like? I’ve really fallen for it these past two weeks. Its shimmering, maze-like structure —with layers upon layers of sound snaking in and out of focus — rewards repeated listens. Sarah Peacock’s vocals still hover just this side of comprehensibility, saving them from preciousness. Like a Xerox of a Xerox of a Xerox, they’re slightly smeared around the edges — an imperfect reflection.

By contrast, the instrumentation is crisp, almost sharp. Guitars have snap and twang, which sets up a nice contrast to the glitchy percussion, which may be too cold and precise-sounding for its own good. Something eastern-sounding in the long, plucked notes — samisen? No matter. It’s enthralling.

What do you think?

25 YEARS OF AS220
In other news, I can’t wait for this year’s Foo Fest. AS220’s annual block party extravaganza is always fantastic, but this year promises to be even better: it’s their 25th anniversary! Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 14 and what promises to be a smashing all-day affair!

There’s a slew of bands I want to see, but none more so than hypnotic all-girl quintet Warpaint (Castlemusic by way of White Magic) and the original 99’ers ESG! I leave you with an entrancingWarpaint song that wouldn’t be leaving my stereo (if I had one), “Billie Holiday,” from their Exquisite Corpse EP (2009).

Warpaint, “Billie Holiday” (from Exquisite Corpse, 2009)

PHOTO BY ANDREA FELDMAN

Two reunions well worth celebrating:

Unrest
Jul 8
TTs, Cambridge, MA

26 years after singer/songwriter Mark E Robinson founded his record label Teenbeat, it’s still going strong. On Thursday, July 8, come celebrate the label’s bon anniversaire at TTs with the reunited Unrest, introspective pop crooner Robert Schipul, former Flying Saucer-ite Yasmin Kuhn and jaunty disco Canadians Bossanova.

When Unrest broke up in 1994, I mourned their passing with a few long moments of silence (0 BPM). They started out a thrashy, unkempt basement hardcore and matured into a charmingly fizzy pop band of the first (new?) order. Hopefully they’ll play some songs from their undisputed masteriece,Imperial f.f.r.r., as well as my personal favorite, “Cath Carroll.”

UT
July 1, 2010
The Luminaire, Kilburn

I may have alluded to some “special guests” at last Thursday’s Dial show in London. Ut — ambassadors of abstract, gritty, often beautiful NY noise — played an all-too brief reunion set of four songs: “Big Wing,” “Hotel,” “Swallow” and “Confidential.”

For those of us who weren’t able to be there, Simon Phillips had this to say on his Myspace blog:

Not really knowing anything about Dial or Blowhole other than the Luminaire’s weekly email pitch which was as follows: “On Thursday [we have] a treat for no-wave fans: DIAL headline with Blowhole supporting. Jacqui Ham – a guiding force in legendary no wavers UT assembled Dial in the ’90s with Rob Smith (ex-God), Dom Weeks (Furious Pig, Het) and Lou Ciccotelli (Eardrum). They sound pretty much like no one. Expect a night of chaos and dischord.”Well, any band containing a member of UT and one of God has to be worth walking ‘round the corner to check out… The email also promised a special guest opener. …I had no idea how special till I walked in to find UT on stage and already playing!

Damn. I hadn’t walked in on them playing in over 20 years as they used to be one of the most regular opening acts at the gigs I was going to in the mid to late 80’s when I saw them open for (among others) Nico, Sonic Youth, Band of Susans and These Immortal Souls. …The chance to see them again was incredible and they still sound great — a swirling hurricane of repetitive guitar patterns and obtuse lyrics that sound like the bastard offspring of the Velvets … and crossed with any of the bands on Homestead in the 80s.

Thankfully, this won’t be a one-off: the band is planning more dates now, including November 5 at Brooklyn’s Issue Project Room.

More info soon.

Ut, “Fire in Philly” (from Nothing Short of Total War, 1989)

Unrest, “Bavarian Mods (Remix)” (from BPM)

UNREST, 1993

Dial limns the fertile territory between abrasive noise and oddly meditative controlled chaos.

Jacqui Ham, a guiding force in primal No Wavers Ut , assembled Dial in the early 90s with Rob Smith (ex-God, guitars, drum machine), Dom Weeks (Furious Pig, Het) on bass & synthesizer, and Lou Ciccotelli (Eardrum) on drums.

The music is immense in both scale and space. Exploiting tape hiss and the pitted, low-end patina of electrical interference, what is initially apocalyptically skuzzy-sounding becomes, via droning repetition and haunted keening, nearly sepulchral. (By which I mean it’s pretty damn fantastic.)

The group play an all-too rare show this Thu, July 1 at London’s The Luminaire, Kilburn. Sperm Wails and some very special guests share the bill. I suggest you drop everything for what promises to be an unforgettable evening.

Buy tickets.

Dial, “Inside B” (from Infraction, 1997)

Dial, “Psychotrance” (from 168k, 2007)

DIAL, LIVE IN VENLO, THE NETHERLANDS