Sunday 11 December 2016

MuhMur Radio SoundArt Radio Broadcast : 08:12:2016


Time to put on your dancing shoes. This programme was broadcast on the evening of my 54th birthday and I decided to stray from the "regular" playlist and include two hours of classics from the new wave era (as Crispy Ambulance would say).
Normal service will be resumed on the 22nd December at 8.00pm.

https://beta.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-broadcast-08122016/

Playlist:
01: The Damned : "New Rose" (Stiff Records) 1977.
02: Ultravox! : "Young Savage" (Island Records) 1977.
03: XTC : "Science Friction" (Virgin Records) 1977.
04: The Cortinas : "Independence" (Step Forward Records) 1977.
05: Alternative TV : "Love Lies Limp" (Deptford Fun City Records) 1978.
06: The Stukas : "Sport" (Sonet Records) 1977.
07: Adam & The Ants : "(You're So) Physical" (Do It Records) 1979.
08: Animals & Men : "Terraplane Fixation" (Strange Days) 1980.
09: Public Image Limited : "Annalisa" (Virgin Records) 1978.
10: Steel Leg v. The Electric Dread : "Haile Unlikely" (Virgin Records) 1978.
11: Steel Leg v. The Electric Dread : "Unlikely Pub" (Virgin Records) 1978.
12: John Cooper Clarke : "Evidently Chickentown" (Epic Records) 1980.
13: Punishment Of Luxury : "Puppet Life" (Small Wonder Records) 1978.
14: Gloria Mundi : "The Pack" (RCA Victor) 1978.
15: Gloria Mundi : "Condemned To Be Free" (RCA Victor) 1978.
16: Hugh Cornwall + Robert Williams : "White Room" (United Artists) 1979.
17: Self Control : "The Drug" (Dancing Sideways Records) 1980.
18: Section 25 : "Haunted" (Factory Benelux) 1980.
19: The Fall : "New Face In Hell" (Rough Trade Records) 1980.
20: Vick Sinex & The Nasal Sprays : "High Rise Failures (Dub)" (Dead Good Records) 1980.
21: Dennis Burns + Mark Perry : "You Cry Your Tears" (NB Records) 1980.
22: Mark Stewart + Mafia : "Liberty City" (On-U Sound) 1982.
23: Virgin Prunes : "Come To Daddy/Delay Box" (Italian Records) 1983.
24: Virgin Prunes : "Come To Daddy" (Italian Records) 1983.
25: Pylon : "Cool" (Armageddon Records) 1980.
26: The Mekons : "Snow" (Red Rhino Records) 1980.
27: Ultravox! : "The Quiet Men" (Island Records) 1978.
28: WKGB : "Non Stop" (Fetish Records) 1980.
29: Public Image Limited : "Memories" (Virgin Records) 1979.
30: Talking Heads : "Drugs" (Sire Records) 1979.

Sunday 27 November 2016

MuhMur Radio SoundArt Radio Broadcast 24:11:2016.






Another two hour broadcast of eclecticism. Some new releases, some recent arrivals and some old favourites, including a "released on this day" section with The Outsiders and "Consequences" which was part of the "1 To Infinity" EP on Raw Records in 1977. The version I play comes from the "Business Unusual" compilation released by Cherry Red Records. I also play a couple of tunes from The Fall "Grotesque (After The Gramme)" LP which was released on 25 November 1980 by Rough Trade Records. It is one of my favourite LP's so I couldn't miss the opportunity of playing.
There were a couple of technical hitches to the broadcast. The CD players did not want to play The Dead Mauriacs 3" Business Card CDR "The True Message Of A False Queen" so I slipped in TG's "Adrenalin" instead. Also the storage limit on the SoundArt Radio computer hit its' limit so the programme stopped archiving at some point. Erstwhile radio engineer and MuhMur Radio compadrè Dave fixed the problem but some of the broadcast is missing. It is (at the moment) being edited in to one bite size and understandable chunk (by Dave) and as soon as it is OK I will post the link below the playlist … Alternatively keep an eye out on the MixCloud page or Facebook profile.

Playlist:
01: Ochu : "Verlassen Sicht Tritt Die Höhe" (Hästen & Korset) 2013.
02: Hole House : "A Place You Left Behind" (Aetheric Records) 2016.
03: Shifts : "Leaves" (Entr'acte) 2007.
04: Andrew Chalk : "Shimmer In The Sun" (Mediatations) 2015.
05: Krube : "Untitled" (B)  (Angst) 2016.
06: Chop Shop : "30 Degrees Reamer And A Stifling Atmosphere On An Empty Stomach"
                             (Suitcase) 2008.
07: Throbbing Gristle : "Subhuman" (Industrial Records) 1980.
08: The Infant Cycle : "Trombone" (Drone Records) 2008.
09: The Anti Group : "Mithriac (Short Version)" (Somnimage) 2016.
10: Clock DVA : "Coil" (Vinyl On Demand) 2015.
11: Savage Republic : "The Arab Spring: (Nuit Et Brouillard) 2015.
12: Pisse : "Schwatter" (Harbinger Sound/In A Car Records) 2016.
13: Pisse : "Dienstleistung Gesellschaft" (Harbinger Sound/In A Car Records) 2016.
14: NachtHexen : "Ring Ring" (Kids Of The Lughole) 2016.
15: NachtHexen : "Fuck The Diet" (Kids Of The Lughole) 2016.
16: Alice Kemp : "Doll" (B) (SoundArt Radio) 2016.
17: Thorsten Soltau : "Merzbao Und Pachtungen Im Tier (By Haarmann)" (Morbus Gravis/m.m.
                                     Label) 2016.
18: Throbbing Gristle : "Adrenalin" (Industrial Records) 1980.
19: The Fall : "C 'n' C-s Mithering" (Castle Classics) 1993.
20: The Fall : "The Container Drivers" (Castle Classics) 1993.
21: The Outsiders : "Consequences" (Cherry Red Records) 1978.

https://beta.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-broadcast-24112016-part-two/
https://beta.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/part-one-of-the-broadcast/

Next broadcast will be on December 8.

Pictures:
01 - 04 : Images from the "SoundArt X" exhibition at Dartington Space Studios.
05: The Playlist.

Saturday 12 November 2016

MuhMur Radio SoundArt Radio Broadcast 10:11:2016.






Apologies for the late posting, life, work and such got pretty hectic and tiring and being able to sit down and type this blog has been difficult. (still you're not interested in this .. and no i didn't just sit and watch the England Scotland game).
A rather eclectic mix of sound here playing some new arrivals / releases and catching up with some old favourites .. For the first time ever I altered the playlist on the evening, so the corresponding picture of platter played doesn't quite match. I was going to play Starfuckers version of "Dear Prudence" from the "Vidas Illustres" compilation CD (Temple House) but it didn't want to load in either of the CD players so I played Arv & Miljö "Untitled #1" and Column One "Frauen Ohne Ende" from the "Dream Time" CD instead. This meant the Chalk / Chetwin / Plagne track "Some Trees Parts 1-3" also got lost. Never mind.

On at the Dartington Space Studios (home of SoundArt Radio) there is an exhibition / installation of ten years of SoundArt Radio. If you are in the area I recommend popping in. I have included some pictures from the exhibition here.
Next broadcast is on November 24 at 20:00 (GMT). Please copy + paste :
https://beta.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-10112016/

Playlist:
01: Louie Rice : "Puxe #1" (Porta) 2016.
02: Louie Rice : "Puxe #2" (Porta) 2016.
03: Thorsten Soltau : "Tierbedbachtungen In Herz (By Weiss)" (Morbus Gravis/m.m.label) 2016.
04: Column One : "Fat Finger" (90% Wasser/Dossier Records) 2005.
05: Krube : "Untitled" (Fragment Factory) 2016.
06: The Pop Group : "Savage Sea" (Radar Records) 1996.
07: Leif Elggren + Edgar Allan Poe : "The Rocking Chair" (Firework Editions Records) 2012.
08: TBC : "Muskel 3" (Drone Records) 2002.
09: TBC : "Muskel 5" (Drone Records) 2002.
10: Andreas Führer/Leif Elggren : "Gang I Væsten" (Firework Editions Records/Yoyooyoy) 2012.
11: Blod : "Käre Jesus" (I Dischi del Barone) 2016.
12: Whitehouse : "Great White Death" (Come Organisation) 1985.
13: Pisse : "Fahradsattel" (Phantom Records/Beau Travail) 2016.
14: Pisse : "Alt Sein" (Phantom Records/Beau Travail) 2016.
15: Arv & Miljö : "Untitled #2" (Forever United) 2016.
16: Joachim Nordwall & Ryan Martin : "Exposing The Absurdity Of Superstition" (Robert &    Leoplold/Ideal Recordings) 2016.
17: Joachim Nordwall & Ryan Martin : "Retrace / Reverse" (Robert & Leopold/Ideal Recordings) 2016.
18: Dome : "Ar-Gu" (Dome Records) 1981.
19: Sarah Mary Chadwick : "This Fits" (I Dischi Del Barone) 2016.
20: Sharon's Last Party : "Blue Light And Blue Eyes" (Segerhuva Records) 2002.
21: JFK : "Temple Of SET" (Fourth Dimension Records) 1992.
22: Arv & Miljö : "Unititled #1" (Forever United) 2016.
23: Column One : "Frauen Ohne Ende" (90% Wasser/Dossier Records) 2005.

Pictures:
01: The Playlist.
02 - 04 : Pictures From An Exhibition.
05: Producer Dave at the controls!

Sunday 6 November 2016

Blod







One of the finest labels of the past couple of years has to be I Dischi Del Barone from Göthernburg. Apart from putting out the highly readable Fördämning magazine, they have put out a series of highly essential 7" singles. It all began three years ago with the release of "The Laborartory" by Ideal Fire Company swiftly followed by "Good Intentions" by No Intention. Each 7" is limited to about 200 or so with them selling out rather quickly …
It was with the release of the No Intention single I became aware of I Dischi Del Barone and I have kept an ear and eye on them since. All the singles have a generic design. White card with a photograph or print glued to the front. It really works and thirteen releases down the line it seems to be making sense. I am experiencing conceptual audio art.
At the end of the (last) century I came across the Swedish noise project Blod with their "Romantic + Deranged" 7" EP on Segerhuva Records. Excellent harsh electronic noise with sexual and sadistic overtones. A few years later Segerhuva issued a triple LP box set of their 1990's tape releases called "Red Light District". Compelling stuff. So, I was quite surprised, pleasantly so, when a few weeks ago I saw that I Dischi Del Barone were releasing a 7" by Blod called "Käre Jesus".

"Käre Jesus" (Dear Jesus) is a short piece with double bass, accordion and a chopping acoustic guitar. Traditional music, a kind of sound I would  expect to hear if I was doing my shopping in the Göthernburg store of Lidl. There are voices from a Christian congregation moving in and out, I have no idea what is being discussed but some chap seems to have a megaphone so it might be important(?). Side B is called "Mandys Bil" (Mandy's Car) and is (again) a conversation in Swedish this time about the troubles and travails of owning a car. A saxophone blurts throughout.
One of the finest slabs of vinyl I have heard this year.

And then a good friend of mine mentions that it is not the Blod I know and love but a different Blod. Still Swedish … but different. I thought there had been some change of direction, maybe personnel change and a twelve / thirteen year gap between releases .. ideas and sounds are bound to change. But No (as Colin Newman once said). A totally different Blod. This Blod is Gustaf Dicksson. Gustaf runs the "Music Lovers" distribution company as well as the Förlag För Fri Musik label and being part of Enhet För Fri Musik.
A part of me was slightly disappointed that there are two projects called Blod. (A search on Discogs seems to suggest there are six projects called Blod!). It is something that riles me a little, why call your project the same name as a previous (or even existing) one. They even share the same genre of Swedish Underground / avant grade / electronic music (that's how it is all filed in my head). A few years ago I was sat at a bar in Bristol chatting to a chap about music etc … I was playing the Venn Festival with Anti-Valium & Anenzephalia … and he told me he was in a band called Hunting Lodge. I told him about the US band of the same name, and he had heard of them, but this didn't bother him. Man, did that guy annoy me!

I Dischi Del Barone is an essential label. They release sounds by projects I have never encountered - Sarah Mary Chadwick + Leda being the most recent as well as folk who are making the best sounds around (at the moment) Kostis Kilymis, Krube and Arv & Miljö as exhibit A.
Pay a visit to www.iddb.se and snap the 7" singles up! They don't hang about on lists for long.

Pictures:
1 & 2 : Blod releases from Swgerhuva Records.
3 : Blod postcard.
4: Gustaf Discksson.
5: Blod 7" insert.
6: Blod 7" Cover.

Wednesday 2 November 2016

Andrea Borghi #2.





Many moons ago when Dieter Müh were a two-piece we camped out on the wilds of Dartmoor and recorded fire. The camp fire. With our Mini-Disc recorder and Dictaphones we recorded from varying angles and distances. Back in he studio the sound was manipulated, slowed down (quite a lot) and used for the live performance "Sutreworde" which took place in Augsburg 2003.

Andrea Borghi (from the project VipCranco) has released his twelfth solo recordings "Fuochi Rituali Di San Guiseppe" (Ritual Fires of St. Joseph). Sounds split in to 3 parts. Sounds of fire. Sounds of fire multi layered and textured. Great sounds of depth, slowed recordings giving a great sense of space. Additional sounds of frying oil and "Presence" add to the dynamism. It is strange how fire can sound like water - something I remember finding out for myself on Dartmoor.
These recordings were made in Versilla, Tuscany.
The running time is 20+ minutes, and comes complete with brilliant artwork / design. To be filed along side recordings by Slavek Kwi, Chris Watson and releases by the Greunrekorder label. This CD is on (a new label to me) Unfathomlass and available on their website. Unfathomless.net
Recommended.

Friday 28 October 2016

MuhMur Radio SoundArt Radio Broadcast 27:10:2016.




This programme features the work of Paul Daniel Knowles.
Back in the late 1990's I became aware of the sound of Dachise. I can't remember whether it was the CD album "Twin Braids" or the delicious 7" single "Sugar Path". Whichever it was, I was captured by the noise. Paul was then based in Harrogate, but soon moved to Dorset and delivered the album "Imbeciles In Love". The turn of the century and Dachise melged into The Digitariat and set up HQ in London. Live performances and a slew of tape / CDR releases followed.
I vaguely remember an assault at the Red Rose in Finsbury Park. Improvised chaos.
A few months ago I discovered Paul had reverted to releasing material under his own name. Where Putrefier became Mark Durgan, BBBlood became Paul Watson, Cheapmachines became Phil Julian so The Digitariat is now Paul Daniel Knowles.
https://pauldanielknowles.bandcamp.com

To round off the sounds I decided to play 23 minutes of artists that began with the letter "D". I hope you enjoy. Please copy & paste
 https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-broadcast-27102016/

Playlist :
01: The Digitariat : "Intimacy Problems" (Luggage Records) 2007.
02: Dachise : "The Sickly Raider" (Vigilant) 1997.
03: Paul Daniel Knowles : "Untitled #1" (Not On Label) 2016.
     (Recorded October 2016 especially for MuhMur Radio).
04: Dachise : "Sincere Embrace" (Tochnit Aleph) 1998.
05: Dachise : "Ultra Kappa Slappa" (New Noise) 1999.
06: Paul Daniel Knowles : "Untitled #2" (Not On Label) 2016.
     (Recorded October 2016 especially for MuhMur Radio).
07: Paul Daniel Knowles : "Euston Underpass #2" (Not On Label).
08: Paul Daniel Knowles : "I Was Like…He Was Like…She Was Like" (Not On Label) 2016.
     (Both tracks from an unreleased Demo CDR).
09: Paul Daniel Knowles : "Untitled #3" (Not On Label) 2016.
     (Recorded October 2016 especially for MuhMur Radio).
10: Dachise : "Sugar Path" (Tochnit Aleph) 1997.
11: Deutsch-Amerkanische-Freundschaft : "Gewalt" (Mute Records) 1980.
12: Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words : "The Room Seems Empty Without You" (Killer Pimp)  
                                                                       2009.
13: John Duncan : "Aidayoki Passion" (RRRecords) 1994.
14: Aaron Dilloway : "Songs About Jason (Side A)" (Lost & Found Records) 2013.
15: Detonator : "Menneisyyden Aoveet" (Freak Animal Records) 2000.

Next broadcast will be on November 10.

Pictures:
01 : MuhMur Radio CDR.
02: "Imbeciles In Love".
03: The Digitariat (Live).

Thursday 20 October 2016

Wagner Ödegård






There are a few labels around these days that I will buy from on the strength of their catalogue. I may never have heard of the artists / projects they are releasing but they have never (or virtually never) let me down … I am thinking of labels like Verlautbarung and Fragment Factory in Germany, KIKS / GFR in the UK and Hibiskofon from Sweden. Sweden also have Hästen & Korset and Belaten as essential labels (although I think Belaten may have bitten the dust?). It reminds me of my youth back in the late 1970's when I would buy the latest releases from Rough Trade Records or Factory Records or Fast Product as I knew it would be "interesting".
Hibiskofon started in 2013 with cassette releases from Dusa and Tusen Är Under Jord. Earlier in the year I had played a live gig (as Dieter Müh) with Dusa in Stockholm and really enjoyed his sound. So, when the first Hibiskofon tape came out, Dusa "Segermännen", I had to investigate.
2016 and we see the fifth release from Hibiskofon. "Ur Törnedjuper" by Wagner Ödegård. I had no idea what to expect (soundwise). Wagner Ödegård could be a group or a solo artist … I had no idea and when the cassette came and I plumbed it in I still had no idea who was behind the sound.

"Ur Törnedjuper" is one thirty minute piece repeated on both sides of a C60 tape. Throughout it has the sound of worn vinyl, static clicks and skips. The sound is old and orchestral, opening with dark viking horns and beating drums. Impending and imposing, longships at dawn through arctic mists - think really early Laibach, back to the days when they were on L.A.Y.L.A.H. and Side Effekts Rekords. It's a captivating sound. And then there is a narrative, old Nordic voices start to tell a story, the horns switch to orchestral strings, to organs, to accordion and then piano and the story continues.
With the cassette comes a small piece of text, it may well be the story that is being told but I don't understand the language and the translation app I have doesn't want to know!
The piano plays a beautiful refrain as the story progresses, and then it switches, starts getting all choppy and changing, like the needle on the record is skipping. Perhaps Wagner Ödegård have gotten hold of some old Swedish 10" 78's telling old myths and fables? Perhaps they are treating this like Clock DVA when they added an alternative soundtrack to "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"? Whatever, it is thirty minutes of magic and a composition / sound I have never heard the likes of before. Immediately turned over the tape to hear it all again. The stirring horns and beating drums … Classic.

So. Who are / is Wagner Ödegård? Research time. It came as a surprise to find that Wagner is a member of Swedish Black Metal group Tomhet. He uses the pseudonym Kumulonimbus, he is also known as Wulkanaz. The full dressed in black with corpse paint type of band. It is an area of music I know very little about. "Lords Of Chaos" on the bookshelf and a couple of Burzum albums I bought cheap to add a soundtrack to the reading (Although I did see Judas Priest live twice back in 1978). If I had done some research before buying this beauty I probably would never have bought it … but then again….I trust the folk behind Hibiskofon.

I have no idea how many copies are available, I bought my copy from Millstone Vinyl of Stockholm but try www.hibiskofon.se first. Essential.


Friday 14 October 2016

MuhMur Radio SoundArt Radio Broadcast 13:10:2016.



An interesting broadcast! Not as I had planned but it all turned out well in the end. Arrived at the station studio to find "Mystic Dave" of Mystical Voyagers Visionary Shamanistic Show banging out some mid 1990's hardcore techno and no turntables. A previous inhabitant had unplugged the equipment meaning I had to shuffle the playlist around until Engineer Dave turned up to fix it all ….
MuhMur Radio would be lost without Dave Mutch!
I altered the irregular "On This Day" feature to fit in Ultravox!'s "Ha! Ha! Ha!" LP. Released October 14 1977 it is one of my all time favourite releases. Top three at least. It has always been with me since 1977. My elder sister had their first LP, and went to see them live in 1976 so when this LP was released I had to get a copy first. Sibling rivalry etc.
The Copley Medal track is a studio version of the piece Ryan Martin (Mr. Medal) submitted to MuhMur Radio and was broadcast earlier this summer. It appears on a split cassette with Dekorativ Parasiter. The CAM tracks all appear on their second album "Mirror Confrontations" recently released via the Danish Skrat Records label.
Please take a listen : (Copy & Paste) :
https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-broadcast-13102016/

Playlist.
01: Maurizio Bianchi : "Infinitesimo" (EE Tapes) 2016.
02: Siegmar Fricke : "Eurocentik 2007" (Old Europa Cafe) 2008.
03: Deffektegg : "Incurable Absurdity" (Amek) 2016.
04: Kristian Olsson : "Vykort Fran Garma" (Old Captain) 2016.
05: Copley Medal : "Annex Proto" (Repartiseraren) 2016.
06: CAM : "Mirror Confrontations II" (Skrat Records) 2016.
07: Feine Trinkers Bei Pinkels Daheim : "A O B" (Drone Records) 1996.
08: Shifts : "Love One (A)" (Korm Plastics) 1999.
09: Beequeen : "Fab!" (SSS Productions) 1998.
10: Beequeen : "Cool!" (SSS Productions) 1998.
11: CAM : "Foetus Part One" (Skrat Records) 2016.
12: CAM : "A Place To Go" (Skrat Records) 2016.
13: John Duncan : "This Bitter Earth" (Ideal Recordings) 2016.
14: Jonathon Briley : "The Hunter" (Broken Flag Records) 1987.
15: Ultravox! : "Fear In The Western World" (Island Records) 1977.
16: Ultravox! : "Distant Smile" (Island Records) 1977.
17: Bene Gesserit : "Chaton" (EE Tapes) 2016.
18: Gilbert/Lewis/Mills : "Mzui (Excerpt)" (Cherry Red Records) 2016.
19: Hinageshi Bondage : "Tirez Sur Le Musicien II" (Verdura Records) 2001.

The nest broadcast will be on October 27 and (hopefully) will feature exclusive material from Paul D. Knowles (AKA Digitariat / Dachise / Spastic Burn Victim). 20:00 (gmt) at www.soundartradio.org or 102.5FM if your in or skirting about Totnes.

Photos:
01: The Playlist.
02: "Mystic Dave".

Sunday 9 October 2016

CAM.



This time last month I had never heard of CAM, and now I can't get the LP off the turntable.
My awareness came courtesy of Claus Poulsen. One third of CAM. I have been listening to the works of Claus for a few years now, his involvement with Small Things On Sundays and Star Turbine as well as his solo releases through Beartown Records, Striate Cortex and Sheepscar Light Industrial. Claus (to me) is similar to Anla Courtis who seems to release regularly (either solo or in collaboration) on a plethora of compact and bijou labels. And now there is CAM.
Apart from Claus CAM is comprised of Anders Berup and Mads Bech Paluszewski-Hau. New names to me but then again I am not too au fait with the Danish experimental abstract free-improv. electronic scene. CAM were created in 2009 in Copenhagen and "Mirror Confrontations" follows their debut LP "True Or False?".

First couple of plays had me thinking that I'd never heard anything like this before, or if I have it was a long time ago. There are some musical references, certain sounds evoked Storm Bugs and very early Clock DVA, but then again there was a synth sound that made me think of an old Greenslade album. Then after a time a story / concept / journey appeared and what was (at first) noncognitive now seems to make some sense….where perhaps it shouldn't? "Mirror Confrontations"  is comprised from improvised recordings made over three months in 2015 / 16. This is the album I am writing about.
The first two tracks play as one, like an introduction. "Foetus Part One" begins with low groaning and moaning, an awakening with scratched strings and a slow arriving pulse beat. The whole piece sounds like it was recorded next door to a drum & bass party. Anders is credited with "LFO Madness", it is well in evidence here with a shape/less form/less cacophony. Only one place to go .. out of the room, along the corridor, out of the building. Footsteps pass speeding traffic and neon blur and the voice in the head asks for "A Place To Go".
Silence.
Side A ends on "In-Between". A Billie Holiday on acid flashback nightmare, a street brawl, a fist fight with feedback moving through the dimly lit neon night.
"Amazing Greys" comes from a different space. A black & white soundtrack to a 1920's silent sci-fi movie. Machines are keyboards that assemble themselves at dawn and prepare for battle. Improv' electro jazz scratch fever. "Mirror Confrontations II" and the voice in the head returns as a drunken bar-fly. "Mirror confrontations in the afternoon" (vocals very similar in style to Storm Bugs here). The sound is an inward collapse finishing on a decreasing heartbeat and dying breath.
"Closer To The Tree" closes the album with a spiritual rise. An outpour of realisation. Huge electronic symphony. The story's end.

It is certainly the case that I heard a different narrative on the first few plays and chances are that narrative will change the more I hear it. Repeated listening is required. A bloody good album. Not one for the harsh noise lovers or techno-beaters, but if your mind and ears are open then this is definitely to be heard.
It was released by Danish label Skrat Records, so probably available through them, but try the CAM website : www.triocam.dk I don't know but Infinite Limits or Alt.Vinyl might carry copies in the UK.


Friday 30 September 2016

MuhMur Radio Broadcast : SoundArt Radio : 29/09/2016


A programme celebrating September the 29th. Checking back on events, the Final Academy started in Brixton (at The Ritzy Cinema) on this day in 1981. (Not 1982 as I mention on the broadcast …. an honest mistake). Performances from Psychic TV, Last Few Days, Cabaret Voltaire and 23 Skidoo along with readings from William Burroughs and film by Derek Jarman were all recognised here … The same and Throbbing Gristle's "Greatest Hits" was released by Rough Trade US as well as the import 45 "We Hate You Little Girls" on Adolescent Records. I have played this single on earlier broadcasts so I didn't include it here - I don't like repeating tracks if I can help it. Dangerous Girls "Man In The Glass" 7" was also released on this day in 1982 but I couldn't find room … maybe later. In 1978 999 released their second LP "Separates", one of my favourite albums. I remember going to see them on the "Separates" tour in 1978 (supported by Razor - whatever became of them? I think they had one 7" out called "Death To Disco", but I have never seen a copy) in Lincoln. September 1978 saw 999. Ultravox!, Skids and The Stranglers all play a variety of venues in Lincoln. A defining moment in my youth.
Also on the playlist is the new cassette from Bulgarian project Deffektegg. A momentary slip pushed a set of headphones on to the "mute" button and 23 seconds of the track is lost in silence. Amateur Hour at the start of the programme … I apologise and will play more from the excellent "Nadir" album in a later programme.

Please take a listen : https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-broadcast-29092016/ (Copy + Paste).

Playlist :
01: Deffektegg : "Stamina" (Amek) 2016.
02: tbc : "The Birth Of Gods : Insecta (Mark 2) (Monochrome Vision) 2012.
03: Psychic TV : "Pirates" (Vinyl On Demand) 2011.
04: Joachim Nordwall + Ryan Martin : "Endless Questions Inside The Approach" (Ideal
      Recordings) 2016.
05: Joachim Nordwall + Ryan Martin : "Ricochet Around The Triptych" (Ideal Recordings)
      2016.
06: Throbbing Gristle : "Hot On The Heels Of Love" (Rough Trade US) 1981.
07: Monte Cazazza : "Kick That Habit Man" (Industrial Records) 1980.
08: Joke Lanz : "Except For The Cows" (Ideal Recordings) 2016.
09: Cabaret Voltaire : "The Set Up" (Rough Trade Records) 1978.
10: Last Few Days : "Too Much Is Not Enough" (7" Version) (Touch) 1985.
11: 23 Skidoo : "Last Words" (7" Version) (Fetish Records) 1981.
12: John Duncan : "Final Solution" (Ideal Recordings) 2016.
13: Copley Medal : "Pijor Dolor" (Joy De Vivre) 2016.
14: Throbbing Gristle : "Hamburger Lady" (Rough Trade US) 1981.
15: 999 : "Homicide" (United Artists Records) 1978.

Sunday 25 September 2016

Maurizio Bianchi




M.B. Maurizio Bianchi is one of those artists who I like what I have heard but have not heard enough … 
I first came across the name M.B. back in the early 1980's when I bought a copy of the Leibstandarte SS.MB 12" "Triumph Of The Will". 99 pence, secondhand in the Notting Hill Gate Record + Tape Exchange. I bought it for the name / title alone not realising it was the work of Steve Stapleton, Whitehouse or M.B. 
But back in the early 1980's, in Lincoln, it was very hard to get to hear or purchase releases by M.B. There was no immediate outlet, it was even hard to get hold of the magazines to get contacts to write away for the releases. A certain amount of effort was required and a lot of releases / artists / projects got missed. Last week I bought the latest 7"EP by John Duncan and I certainly throw him in to this category, releasing a multitude of "must hear / must have" vinyl + tapes but either missing the release altogether or spending money on more obtainable stuff. Taking the trip to Selectadisc in Nottingham. 
Pre-Internet days and I only ever saw one M.B. album in the racks of my local record store. I bought a copy of "Industrial Murder/Menstrual Bleeding" from Red Rhino Records in York. 1992. And now the whole M.B. cannon is available on the world wide web, direct from labels or secondhand through sites like Discogs … but where do I start? Like John Duncan, I would love to hear and have it all .. but where do I begin? 

My knowledge of Maurizio Bianchi is pretty slim. Italian noise maker who was involved in the aforementioned brilliant Leibstandarte SS.MB 12" and had a cracking track on the Broken Flag compilation "Neuengamme" (1982). "Industrial Murder/Menstrual Bleeding" is still industrial noise - quite lo-fi but mesmeric. There were articles declaring he was part of an Italian Fascist Movement, there were reports of him being a born again christian and denouncing his past, and he has retired more times than Frank Sinatra. A man of mystery. 
Last week I managed to get a copy of the latest M.B. release, the CD album "Mikromusicha" on Belgian label EE Tapes. I had no pre-conception towards its' sound. No idea what M.B. sounds like in 2016. 

Preface:
The term MIKROMUSICHA means that branch of the sound world that deals with infinitesimal molecules interact with the neuronal apparatus of the individual fully aware of its limitations. For its characteristic developing sound within the membranes of the linear modulation experimental, MIKROMUSICHA fits nicely with the deepest emotions and the intimate passions.I wanted to transfer the same feelings through five sections, finely machined, so as to bring the listener into the world of the most visceral spirituality, to his eternal benefit. - M. B.


Five pieces in just over an hours worth of sound. Starting with "Infinitesimo" starts the journey with a recording of spaces and echoes in a grand room. An orchestral choral drone floating around. Other noises interject - a great cracking of static electricity for example cuts right through the air. The sound is dramatic, religious and dramatic. 
The album moves along with a mechanical pace, factory production line sounds, high speed rattles. "Membrane" is what I imagine tinnitus to be like with treated high pitch bird song, and "Intimita' E Passioni" having a menacing three dimensional sound of dark empty streets, a ghostly atmosphere is built with a "what lurks beyond"? feel. "Spiritualia Viscerale" ends the album. The "mellowest" piece over the past fifty minutes. Muted sound that puts you listening from the inside of some glass container. 

A very pleasant listen that sets the mind and ears thinking. "Mikromusicha" is limited to 100 copies only and available through EE Tapes. Website is eetapes.be Easy. Certainly easier than it was in 1982. 
Now I want to hear "Symphony For A Genocide" and the collaboration with Cheapmachines .. 


Tuesday 20 September 2016

Alfarmania







Released this month is a new cassette from Swedish industrialists Alfarmania. "Vid Sōmnens Sista Tråd" (which could mean "the last thread of sleep") is a single sided C60 (ish) tape on Styggelse. Styggelse being the label of main Alfarmania pragmatist Kristian Olsson.
The tape is a collection of rare tracks from Alfarmania released in 2015. Kicking off with three tracks from the lathe cut 7" released by Spanish label 8EMinis. 20 copies only and very hard to come across. I know as I tried to get one on release …. "Vid Sōmnens Sista Tråd" has a compulsive and dramatic chord / drone that morphs in to buzzing irritation, a scraping of scrap metals that transform in to angular feedback and distorted and distressed vocals. It's all subterranean, like sticking your head in to a deep deep well and hearing the sounds of Hades. "Kvick I Jord" is a swirl of souls, their slow heartbeats and pulses lost in limbo. "Lomsk" ("Sly") features fellow Swede Tommy Carlsson on "backing cock". Who are the members of Alfarmania these days? They were a duo once, a long time ago. A guy called Tony used to appear. No mention of him here … "Lomsk" is the cream of the cassette with its' wall of untuned radios, their frequencies riding a rollercoaster in a post apocalyptic theme park.
To have the lathe cut 7" must be an honour. The tape is grateful.
"En Otrampad Stig" ("An Uncharted Path") is more Survival Unit than Alfarmania. Sounding like a late 20th Century Genocide Organ, no surprise it was released by Unrest Productions on a compilation to celebrate Alfarmania's live UK debut.
There is an unlisted piece on the tape … a real "edgy" piece, a sound that is straining against the wire, almost reaching the point of collapse mixing clicks and hums against an assured force. One of those tracks that, when finished, made me rewind the cassette and want to play again and again …

Essential.

The Alframania web site hasn't altered in three years, so try the Facebook page or failing that Cold Spring (in the UK).

Friday 16 September 2016

MuhMur Radio SoundArt Radio Broadcast 15:09:2016.


Back on the air after 4 weeks away, and playing a lot of sounds that have appeared over the summer. New 7" singles from Contrastate, Dale Cornish + Phil Julian and Louie Rice and new cassette releases from Alice Kemp and Amalthea.
The Robert Rental single was originally released in early 1978 on Regular Records, and on 15th September 1978 Lincoln based label Company Records re-issued the single along with "Private Plane" by Thomas Leer. The Company Records HQ wasn't far from where I lived, and I often walked past their address; Fort Barnes, Rookery Lane, Lincoln (opposite Boultham Park) but it was just a postal address. A warehouse. I still held hope for a chance of spotting Robert or Thomas or one of Fatal Charm or The Cigarettes. The folly of youth. I haven't got a copy of the Company Records re-issue so I played the Regular Records version, I don't know if there is a difference. I don't think they went for all that "remastered by" business back in '78.
Please take a listen. (Copy & Paste) :
https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-15092016/

Playlist:
01: Amalthea : "The Red Flag Of The Dragon" (Cloister Recordings US) 2016.
02: Amalthea : "The Dark God Of Revolution" (Cloister Recordings US) 2016.
03: Mollusk : "Two Petalled" (Reverse Allignment) 2016.
04: Alice Kemp : "Doll (A)" (SoundArt Radio) 2016.
05: Militia : "A Kite Of Glass In A Blood Red Sky" (DPRK) 2008.
06: Contrastate : "The 10/40 Window" (Dirter Promotions) 2016.
07: Dale Cornish & Phil Julian : "Laughing Out" (The Wormhole) 2016.
08: Louie Rice : "45" (Organized Music From Thessaloniki) 2016.
09: Leif Elggren : "DasB1" (Fragment Factory/Rekem Records) 2016.
10: Vit Fana : "Antoniuseld" (Styggelse) 2014.
11: Nocturnal Emissions : "It's Your Mother" (Regelwidrig) 1992.
12: Tarkatak : "Skärva" (Drone Records) 1998.
13: Robert Rental : "Paralysis" (Regular Records) 1978.
14: Broken Lights : "Inadvertance" (Posh Isolation) 2016.
15: v./Ultra Milkmaids : "Load" (Zeromoon) 2002.
16: Troum : "Zayin" (Transgredient Records) 2001.

Next programme will be on September 29.

Monday 5 September 2016

Secondhand Record Shops #23 : Falmouth



About five or six (great band) years ago I had crossed the border in to Cornwall to go discovering the town of Liskeard. There I saw a shop with the sign "The Only Second Hand Record Shop In Cornwall", so since then my trips to the deep south have been limiting - what's the point?
The sign proved to be a lie, as I was in Falmouth the other day and discovered "Sounds OK", a secondhand record shop that has been operating for 20 or so years.
A small two roomed affair focussing mainly on 60's / 70's / 80's rock and pop but with a healthy and diverse Punk section. I managed to pick up a mint copy of "E(gg)clectic 1" the Fried Egg Records compilation from 1980 for £15. Most LP's seemed to run between £10 + £15. A small selection of Punk singles  - The Clash, Madness, Lene Lovich - standard fayre.
The shop is on Arwenack Street, virtually opposite the Maritime Museum and well worth a visit if driving through these parts.
Now I have to rediscover Bodmin, Truro and Penzance … see if there are any shops there (Can any one help)?

Saturday 20 August 2016

MuhMur Radio SoundArt Radio Broadcast 18:08:2016.


Sorry for the delay in writing this … It has been a busy time of late … Chris Booth was working the AdpTour in Totnes and when he popped in to the studio at 10pm to give me a lift back to Torquay we forgot to download the recording on to my USB, so I have had to wait for it to arrive via E Mail. Anyway - enough excuses..here is the latest MuhMur Radio Broadcast. (Copy + Paste) :
https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-broadcast-18082016/

It has been glorious weather here in Devon over the last few days (great band), so glorious it has made me feel like digging out some old Drone Records releases and sitting back and relaxing … It has been great to rediscover some sounds that I haven't heard in many many years. I thought I would play a few on programme. Also in the mix is the new 10" single from Massicot. It's a single produced (initially) for their UK tour which is happening at this moment. I am co-promoting their gig in Exeter on August 26.

This will be the final programme for August, the next broadcast will be on September 15. (20:00).

Playlist:
01: Dave Phillips : "Dogs" (90% Wasser) 2005.
02: Cranioclast : "De Zeester" (Drone Records) 2000.
03: Tho-So-Aa : "Dying Reveal" (Drone Records) 2005.
04: Bryan Lewis Saunders & Arvo Zylo : "The Pleasure Tunnel" (NO PART OF IT) 2015.
05: Ultra Milkmaids : "Lover Time (Kitchen Mix)" (Drone Records) 1998.
06: Bad Sector : "Jackie 1954" (Drone Records) 1996.
07: Yen Pox : "Remove" (Drone Records) 1995.
08: Column One : "Sad Finger" (State Art) 2000.
09: Massicot : "Zem" (Red Wig / Harbinger Sound) 2016.
10: Nolls : "Here Before" (Lucked Out Tapes) 2014.
11: Kraken : "Lamentación No.2" (Lage Laden Lawaii) 2016.
12: PBK : "Impulsion" (EE Tapes) 2003.
13: Kallabris : "Lob Dem Technischen Personal" (Drone Records) 1998.
14: Spear : "Not Two" (Drone Records) 1999.
15: Emaciator : "May We Transcend" (Monorail Trespassing) 2009.
16: Para-Noise Terminal : "Fraktale Der Masse" (Drone Records) 1995.


Friday 5 August 2016

MuhMur Radio SoundArt Radio Broadcast 04:08:2016.




Tonight's broadcast is an example of what has come through mail lately at MuhMur HQ. In July I received a package from Chicago based label NO PART OF IT, I have asked the guy who runs the label, Arvo Zylo, if he is interested in sending something "special" for a broadcast, which I am happy to say he is … and in the meantime he sent me some of his recordings and releases. The Arvo Zylo "Hello Walls" Cdr has rarely been out of the disc player. Also of note is the Arvo Zylo and Bryan Lewis Saunders collaboration tape "The Pleasure Tunnel". NO PART OF IT (always capitals, I have no idea why) has a band camp page to listen, and purchase .. treat your ears : https://nopartofit.bandcamp.com
Also in the mix is a side of the new Con-Dom album "How Welcome Is Death To I Who Have Nothing More To Do But Die". Released in June this year this album has blown me away. Always expect strong stuff from Con-Dom but this album takes his sound to another level. It is a classic!
Anyway … I slipped in a track from Ludus as I was trying to find a recording of Throbbing Gristle live at the YMCA (London) in 1979. I thought I had it on cassette, but no … but I did find that the YMCA gig was part of a four day "festival" organised by London promoters Final Solution and on August 4 in 1979 Ludus played alongside Prag Vec and The Tiller Boys. So … I played some Ludus.
The John Hudak piece is taken from the double cassette release "Transcontinental Collaboration" assembled by Sterile Garden + Les Horribles Travailleurs. And apologies to listeners for the abrupt ending of the programme as the chap that follows on from MuhMur Radio came in and decided to turn the CD off. Accident or sabotage?
Take a listen.
https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-04082016/ (copy + paste).

Playlist:
01: Arvo Zylo : "Body Of Defective Memories" (NO PART OF IT) 2016.
02: Modelbau : "Juxtaposition" (Midnight Circles) 2016.
03: Ataraxic Ataxia : "Shotgun, Phrenology And A Steady Hand" (NO PART OF IT) 2016.
04: Iron Fist Of The Sun : "Born Of Snakes" (Cold Spring Records) 2014.
05: Con-Dom : "Chocolates" (Tesco Organisation) 2016.
06: Con-Dom : "Scream" (Tesco Organisation) 2016.
07: Con-Dom : "t4" (Tesco Organisation) 2016.
08: Con-Dom : "Sleep" (Tesco Organisation) 2016.
09: Giancarlo Toniutti : "This Silent Room" (Vinyl On Demand) 2009.
10: Reynols : "10, 000 Chicken Symphony (A)" (Drone Records) 2000.
11: Ludus : "Acknowledgement" (Les Temps Modernes) 2008.
12: John Hudak : "Untitled (Remix)" (Geräuschmanufaktur) 2016.
13: If, Bwana : "Bowing For Dan Joe" (Nefryt) 2015.

Pictures:
01: Engineer Chris Booth (Editing his recordings of last weekends Elephant Fayre Festival).
02: Alice Kemp (Keeping the MuhMur Posse alive)!
03: The playlist!

Friday 22 July 2016

MuhMur Radio Broadcast 21:07:2016: Frans de Waard Special.






One of the highlights this year has been the publication of "This Is Supposed To Be A Record Label" by Timeless Editions. The author is (broken) music genius Frans de Waard. It is mainly about Frans' time at the core of Staalplaat R"This Is Supposed To Be A Record Label"ecords and also covering his time as label boss of Korm Plastics. It is refreshingly written with great insight, thought and honesty - a lot like the sounds Frans creates.
It must have been the 1986 compilation cassette "Wolfsangel" where I first came across the work of Kapotte Muziek and since then I've followed the work of Frans de Waard.
Since Xmas 2015 I have been in correspondence with Frans always asking him for something "special" for MuhMur Radio and last month he kindly allowed me to broadcast "Lions", a live performance of Modelbau from June 2016 at Wolvega Lions Club. It was originally put up for free download for a few hours via Frans' website.
The playlist features 2 Kapotte Muziek pieces both titled "Untitled". The first track is from the "Wolfsangel" 2xC90 compilation and the second from "Régénération Dégénérescence", the 1997 double CD compilation on French label Kaon. The solo Frans de Waard piece (Track 7) appears on the 2xC60 compilation "Les Illusions Magnetiques" on Ukranian label Quasi Pop. The full title is :
#1. State Conspiracy #2. Traitor #3. Police Terror #4. No Cops No Masters #5. Servants #6. Tax The Fuck #7. Kick/Kill/Kick #8. Er (Etc) Er #9. ? #10. Track Seven #11. Disco Chant/Beat #12. The Richness Of Poverty #13. Plastic Bag Take Away #14. Traitor (Again) #15. Smoking

21 July 2016 was the first day of the School Holidays so before the broadcast Tamsin and the kids ran wild around Dartington Estate Gardens … And Chris Booth was at the studio to assist in all things technical.
Take a listen : (Copy & Paste) https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-frans-de-waard-broadcast-21072016/

Playlist:
01: Wieman : "Alive Futurist Manifesta" (Korm Plastics/Attenuation Circuit) 2016.
02: Kapotte Muziek : "Untitled" (Nihilistic Recordings) 1986.
03: Modelbau : "Lions" (Not On Label) 2016.
04: Beequeen : "Long Stones And Circles" (Staalplaat) 1997.
05: Kapotte Muziek : "Untitled" (Kaon) 1997.
06: Frans de Waard : "#1 - #15" (Quasi Pop Records) 2013.
07: Freiband : "Nichts" (Vinyl On Demand) 2006.
08: Phantom Plastics : "I'm Freezing" (Korm Plastics) 2015.
09: Kapotte Muziek : "Borisov MX2" (Insofar Vapor Bulk) 2002.
10: Modelbau : "Glaze" (Korm Digital) 2015.
11: Beequeen : "Golden Circle" (Korm Plastics) 1999.

The next MuhMur Radio broadcast will be on August 4.

Pictures:
01: "This Is Supposed To Be A Record Label" by Frans de Waard.
02: The Playlist.
03: Frans.
04: The family at Dartington Estate. (Home of SoundArt Radio).
05: MuhMur Posse 21 July (Andy Howard, Chris Booth, Mathew F. Riley and Myself).