Tuesday 31 July 2012

Voix - Egisto Macchi (The Roundtable)



Pricey vinyl, if you're in love with the round black things - and I am, to an extent, but as the boys say here, it really is difficult to do vinyl justice considering the technical requirements; something junkies seldom mention in the wild enthusiasm for long-playing records. Still, here's a a record, a recording you can only get in this form, or this, and the chances are that if you're a believer that's how you'll have it...as just a name in your computer library of sound.


I don't know why companies bother with these limited, expensive vinyl versions, unless it's simply a matter of economics, unless CDs are more expensive, in which case, OK, carry on nurturing the cult of costly, newly cut vinyl. It's criminal that Macchi's albums from this classic period aren't easily available on an affordable format.


On this he spans the range from spectral orchestration and even hints of an earlier age with theremin-stylings for old-fashioned spookiness, along with his trademark minimalist electronic shocks. There are echoes of his old comrade Ennio's ace psychedelic spag Western creations too. It sways with such style from almost easy to edgy drama that once again you can only marvel at the brilliance of the man.


Monday 30 July 2012

Space-Age Products For All Your Needs


Yes, the space-ages of humankind...all your household needs were catered for. Who wouldn't want a space-age paint stripper? Or adhesive? Do you think, being space-age, they were more efficient? I'm sure they were. I was surprised to see the term still being exploited as late as '89, although that may not even be the most recent, which leads me to wonder when the term 'space-age' stopped being a viable marketing tool...


1962

1966

1974

1978

1980

1983
1989
 




Saturday 28 July 2012

House Of Mystery Comic (DC) 1962




Sound advice...unless Commies are the problem...then, son, you napalm 'em and burn their villages!



Love this ad...oh to see Captain Astronaut...



Science education...




Friday 27 July 2012

This Creeping Evil - Geoffrey Bennett (Arrow 1963)


Ye gods! What an evil creeping thing it is! It's no joke either, despite its goggle-eyes and somewhat confused expression, for The Thing represents no less than fascism, or communism, depending how you interpret Bennett's intro....be on guard.
Oh, and the lower case 'f' lends it even more amateurish charm, I think. 
What a gem.




Thursday 26 July 2012

Cut-Ups, Cut-Ins, Cut-Outs: The Art Of William Burroughs


Produced to accompany the current exhibition in Vienna.
Contains an interview with Barry Miles, Lee Ronaldo talking to WSB; also articles by Jon Savage and others. Highly recommended.
Video of the exhibition at the bottom of the page.













                      

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Photek/Denis Smalley Fusion & Stupid Pierre Henry Assumption

Here's a fun game you can all play at home. Select 'Chanson De Geste' by Denis Smalley (it's on the Pulses Of Time album, in case you forgot, and I'm sure that's unlikely considering your almost autistic ability to recall every single file stored on the computer - hah-hah) - then find 'Ni-Ten-Ichi-Ryu' by Photek - start the Smalley track, then Photek - voila! They start in a virtually identical fashion. I wondered if Rupert Parkes sampled Smalley, or was even aware of it...more likely they both decided to explore the powerful sonorities of Japanese (?) percussion.

Now I've found an edited version of the Smalley track on Soundcloud which unfortunately leaves out the beginning section, the pertinent part, but I've included it because some of the similarity remains in what's here. Besides which, if you don't have the album, I urge you to find it now, and hope that this post goes some way towards promoting it.

Note: I'm not above promoting contemporary music, despite the largely 'classic' (or simply 'old', if you prefer) content here, so if you make the kind of noise you think I might like feel free to contact the email address on the sidebar.





I inadvertently used the Two Tracks Technique this morning (the sounds being mightier than the sword, unless you've actually been cornered by a gang of ne'er-do-wells, in which case I recommend unsheathing the sword). Or rather, I should say that it was a classic case of mistaken identity when, having cued up the new 12" by Dusk & Blackdown. I then checked out a Pierre Henry album on Boomkat. As you may know, when you load albums onto their player the last one you loaded continues playing. 'Oh Pierre!' I thought. 'You were well and truly ahead of your time - unbelievable!' It took me a full three seconds to realise that Dusk & Blackdown's High Road EP had resumed playing. That's how dumb I am. Only for three seconds, though. Pierre Henry impresses me far more than Dusk & Blackdown, but I was spending my time constructively at Work, rather than working.

Tuesday 24 July 2012

The Hero Maker - Akbar Del Piombi (Olympia Press/New English Library)


This is the 1966 NEL edition, the first being published in France, 1960.
Akbar Del Piombi (real name Norman Rubington) wrote the texts and created the collages. They seem to be way ahead of their time regarding this kind of visual détournement.
I've chosen images from The Hero Maker.
Info about him here


Which kind of hero are you?







Monday 23 July 2012

Ace Double: The Tree Lord Of Imeten (Tom Purdom) & Empire Star (Samuel R. Delaney) 1966A


I was going to say something along the lines of 'This is what Kindle can never be', but that's obvious, and there's no reason not to have both...except that I'd rather spend the price of a Kindle on grubby paperbacks like this. 

Artwork: John Schoenherr

Purdom also wrote some music criticism. Here's one piece:  Marketing the Arts-- The Hype Factor

Artwork: Jack Gaughan


Saturday 21 July 2012

Forthcoming Collage Project / Interzone Mix Smash Hit Sensation / Cosmo-Commie Animation


Here's detail from a forthcoming project that will be published in blog form. As yet untitled. Quality on the actual blog will be better since this is just a screen grab.


&

Good to see the mix doing so well, which it testimony to the appeal of WSB more than my skills, I suspect. By 'well' I mean relatively, of course. I'm sure it's not matching Dizzy Bastard's 'Grimstep Dubplate Special'. My next will be a 2-hour megamix of Pierre Henry's greatest hits put to electro beats...I think. I've more Burroughs-related material coming up, so look out for that. I don't think any of it's available on the Net as I speak.


&

Finally for today, this sensational piece of Russian animation from 1924 enhanced by Pan Sonic's music. It brings a whole new meaning to the term 'Red Planet'. (Len)in space, comrades! Onward with the cosmo-communist revolution! (Thanks to DIL23, whose blog I first saw this on)

Thursday 19 July 2012

With Revolvers Aimed...Finger Bowls - Claude Pelieu (Beach Books/City Lights 1967)


1st: the cover by Norman Mustill is a classic.
2nd: Pelieu proved with this book that it was possible to acknowledge the master, Mr Burroughs, whilst creating cut-up texts that stand on their own merits. Anyone interested in the art of the cut-up should get this book.
3rd: you think creating cut-ups is easy? It is. The process of selection, however, is another matter.

'Somebody has to program the machine; somebody has to do the cutting up.' - W.S.B.






Claude Pelieu (brief biog)
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