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| THE
EVER EVOLVING ORGAN : CONTACT AND SWITCH THE OTHER |
| Speak, Shape, Create, Time..
strip it down... Just news, reviews and whatever we want, whenever we want...
you know what Organ is about, what Organ has always been about... Review,
news, bits, bites going up everyday, bookmark organart.net and check in
every couple of days if you really want to know... music, art, alternatives... |
| TODAY'S
SIGNPOSTS and links and paths and contradictions and things to check
out.. |
ORGANART.NET
is the place to find us now, dot com still should work but the net is where
we want you... grab your fishnets and your fishing nets and things will
work with far more ease and... just reset your bookmarks and don't get
your toes stuck in the holes..
x |
 11th
OCT '09: Today is Sunday and Sunday, as you
know, is radio day around here, this week THE OTHER ROCK SHOW on
London’s finest radio station, RESONANCE 104.4FM. The Other Rock
show is Marina’s exploration of rock music played beyond the convention
of 4/4, that’ll be strange time signatures - proper prog, post, clever
hardcore, rock music that’s delivered with a little more challenge... The
show is on at 9.00pm UK time, you can here via 104.4FM in London or worldwide
via www.resonancefm.com
NEWS:
OXYGEN
THIEF on the plinth - 9am to 10am Tuesday 13th October – “I'm playing
on the 4th Plinth in Trafalgar Square as part of Anthony Gormley's One
& Other project, come down and sing along with / point and stare at
me...it'll be fun (as long as it doesn't rain...please don't rain on me
London). If you can't make it on the day, point your internet hole at www.oneandother.co.uk
and watch it live” – Oxygen Thief with his heartfelt wordy alt.indie/folk
songs up there in the sky, we made his demo, demo of the week at Organ
back sometime last year, if we were lazy we’d reference Frank Turner, but
that would be very lazy and would only give you a vague idea... www.myspace.com/oxygenthief
NEWS:
DILLINGER
ESCAPE PLAN will play Camden Barfly on 12th February, the First of
series of to-be-announced UK dates so it seems, The Escape Plan have lost
the plot a little in recent times, let’s hope they’re on their way back
with some of that original musical challenge they had in their early days...
x |
 10th
OCT '09: ALBUM REVIEW: THE FLARE-UP!
– Whip ‘Em Hard, Whip ‘Em Good (Criminal) – Another one of those Swedish
garaged flavoured, glam-edged, punk rock ‘n roll bands from Stockholm.
Drenched in attitude, a touch of Mott polish and songcraft in there with
the Backyard Babies meets Stooges meets Hanoi Rocks class. The Flare-Up
have songs, they have little twists, channel-surfing details, a touch of
knowing 70’s swagger, urgent and right on your toes when they need to be,
refined when they feel the need. Mosty street walking cheetahs with a bag
full of glam rock riffs and some bar room punk attitude, maybe some of
that stiff that Turbonegro run on, a touch of Killers or Strokes
or The Clash or... they got some big shoes there, they got loads stuffed
in to those big shoes, classic glam flavoured punk rock ‘n roll delivered
with more than enough class, swagger and just that touch of something different,
they got a bit of what Hanoi had back there at the start, all good...
– www.myspace.com/theflareup
9th OCT '09: NEWS:
MUDHONEY
HIT THE UK THIS WEEKEND - Mudhoney will be in the UK over the next
three days, playing shows to promote the new reissues of their seminal
'Superfuzz Bigmuff', 'Mudhoney' and 'Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge' albums
on Sub Pop, which came out this week. As well as shows in London, Leeds
and Edinburgh, fans in the latter two cities will be able to get stuff
signed by the band. They'll be appearing at Avalanche in Edinburgh from
midday today, and Jumbo Records in Leeds tomorrow at 3pm. Here are the
details of the shows: 9 Oct: Edinburgh, Picture House (support from
The Vaselines), 10 Oct: Leeds, TJ Woodhouse (support from The Heads), 11
Oct: London, Koko (support from The Heads)
x |
 ART:
MuTATE
BRITAIN: ONE FOOT IN THE GROVE – Under The Westway, Ladbrook Grove,
West London, 8th Oct – Now this looked promising on the website, Mutoid
Waste Company, under the Westway, with loads of graffiti, some serious
names in UK street art and yes, this all looked very promising on line....
So we set off with a feeling excitement and anticipation, only a walk down
the road, this is our manor Tonight is the opening night private
party preview of an event that opens tomorrow and runs throughout October.
The MuTate team back for more following on from their infamous Behind The
Shutters Show, back in Ladbrook Grove and what some of them say is their
spiritual home, back with a team that includes some of the most respected
names in current UK street art, alongside, photographers, stencil artists,
paste up pieces, sculptors...
The
Mutoid Waste Company go way back with us Organs, we’ve been encountering
them and their creations pretty much since Organ first started back there
in the underground days of the 80’s. Strange vehicles parked outside places
like Club Dog, Acid Daze, racing through the dust Mad Max style at the
legendary Treeorgey
free festival, Skreech Rock, that strange squat hospital that got surrounded
by shield-banging riot police in the black of night that time (we all had
to crawl through tunnels to get out...). These days the Waste Company pop
up at what you might call more mainstream respectable events - official
parts of things like Glastonbury Trash City, California’s Burning Man,
major corporate festivals in Hyde Park, still as creative as ever though,
and good on ‘em, stick them in the real Tate or the middle of Trafalgar
Square, they deserve it all, they’re the good people doing well...
X |
 What
were we going to get tonight though? What do the Mutoid Waste Company stand
for in 2009? Where’s street art going? Graffiti art these days is pretty
mainstream isn’t it? Bansky and all that, all been done hasn’t it? Are
we going to be drowning in celebs and champagne, the Hoxton art poseurs
heading west? Madonna and her cheque book? Brian Sewell stroking his chin
and waving his arms? No, none of that, nothing to worry about, from the
moment we get in through the big wooden building site type gates that let
us through the high wooden fence wall - graffiti-covered naturally - past
the friendly security (and the hopeful paparatzi), from the moment we walk
in this is jaw-dropping good... This is still the Mutoids on full
effect, all is well in West London...
The
old vibe is here, the place is buzziing with energy, alive with the feel
of all that 70’s Westway graffiti/punk rock history, the feel of those
old Club Dog/free festival/strange squat gig events that happened so much
in the 80’s and early 90’s before rave and dance culture changed the shape
of free festivals for ever. The heavy thumping dub coming out of the sound
system, even the crowds of people look like they’ve fallen out of some
kind of mutant page of a 2000AD comic, this is our kind of place, us Organs
feel at home. No art-pose here, this isn’t Hoxton, this isn’t the Frieze
Fair, there’s a genuine buzz of excitement in the night air alongside the
big arc lights and the strange sculptures looming out of the dark above
our heads.
XX |
 There’s
friendly conversations struck up with strangers, old friends, giant rastas,
mohawked punks, graff writers, travellers, Notting Hill locals, geeks talking
technique, well dressed families, excited kids, they’re all here soaking
it all up in... Nearly said ‘in’ here, but we’re not quite inside
are we; we’re walled in by the wooden fence but we’re under the stars,
the moon and the giant Westway, corporate billboards are invade from the
side of buildings outside the fence, but this is a whole other world in
here. Those imposing thirty foot high Westway support pillars make this
such an atmospheric venue - the Westway pillars where some say British
street art started back somewhere around ’76, the giant flyover roadway
that dominates West London (check your Clash records, and your Hawkwind
album covers, there’s a lot of counter culture history under this roadway,
The Hall Of The Mountain Grill is just over there...).
XX |
 Walled
in but out in the open air, Westway motorway as roof above us, tube trains
flashing by on one side (must look brilliant to the passengers whizzing
by), giant support piers acting as gallery walls... There’s some seriously
impressive pieces, big pieces, some expertly crafted graffiti art up on
those support pillars (there some seriously wasted looking artists, Snug23
tells us he’s been up for four days solid).
Straight
away you’re hit by the giant Mutoid Waste Company sculptures/vehicles –
cannibalised Royal Navy helicopters, military scrap, bits of old fighter
plane cockpits that are now bodies of strange looking metal dinosaurs.
There’s giant (and we do mean giant) robots, strange mutant motorbikes
- the Mutoid Waste Company creations are looking bigger and better than
ever, more technical now, still the spirit of those strange psychedelic
gun turret trucks parked outside the George Robey back there... The futuristic
kinetic robotic creatures made out of bits of scrap that really do grab
the most attention, giant fire breathing mechanical bull lurching at the
crowds and.... wow! There’s stunning creativity wherever you cast an eye,
this is wonderful. Giles Walker’s pole dancing robots are captivating,
how did he get them to move like that?! Carrie Reichardt (AKA The Baroness),
she of the Treatment Rooms,
is by the gate as we go in - she believes the revolution will be ceramicised,
there’s that tiled orange pick-up truck by her tile stall that you may
have seen in the Funkcutter film.
X |
 All
around there’s impressive graffiti art battling for attention behind the
sculpture – Sickboy, Paul Insect, Inkie, Dotmasters, Zeus, Mode 2, Bleach
and many more... There’s a slightly more formal gallery area (formal for
on outdoor event underneath a motorway flyover), actually a take on the
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, where smaller pieces of impressive sculpture
stand on plinths in front of some classic pieces of stencil art, paste
up pieces of subversion and such. Neneh Cherry is providing the food over
there...
There’s
colour and energy coming out of the darkness wherever you look, the graffiti
is far from tired, plenty of fresh creativity here, a little more than
giant names and I’ve got all the books to copy from if you know what I
mean, serious evolution – the old Banksy on the wall outside looks a little
tired (and no disrespect meant there, we’ve still got lots of time
for Banksy, easy to shoot at the popular, take art the masses we say).
Tonight’s opening was a triumph, need to go back today and take it all
in again in the cold light of day. Serious street art, proper counter culture,
genuine creative, amazing skill... Brilliant... Thank you MuTate crew,
we had a great time
MuTATE
BRITAIN: ONE FOOT IN THE GROVE runs on Friday, Saturday and Sundays throughout
October. 2pm – 10pm, under the Westway Flyover, junction of Portobello
Road and Acklam Road, London W10. Nearest Tube, Ladbrook Grove, come out
of the station, cross the road and walk along underneath the Westway –
www.mutatebritain.com
XX |
 UP
AND DOWN THE WESTWAY...
‘When I think of the punk
years, I always think of one particular spot, just at the point where the
elevated Westway diverges from Harrow Road and pursues the line of the
Hammersmith and City tube tracks to Westbourne Park Station. From the end
of 1976, one of the stanchions holding up the Westway was emblazoned with
large graffiti which said simply, ‘The Clash’. When first sprayed the graffiti
laid a psychic boundary marker for the group – This was their manor, this
was how they saw London.’ Jon Savage ‘Punk London’ Evening Standard 1991
‘All across the town,
all across the night, everybody’s driving with full head lights, black
or white turn it on face the new religion, everybody’s sitting round watching
television,
London’s burning with boredom now, London’s burning dial 999, Up and down
the Westway, in and out the lights, what a great traffic system, it’s so
bright, I can’t think of a better way to spend the night than speeding
around underneath the yellow lights.’
The Clash ‘London’s Burning’ 1976
X |
 8th
OCT '09: ART: MuTATE BRITAIN: ONE FOOT
IN THE GROVE opened in Ladbrook Grove, West London, under the iconic
Westway last night, serious street art, frontline graffiti, scrap sculpture
and Mutoid Waste Company creations that left jaws on the floor, a triumphant
opening. The Event runs, under the Westway, just off Portobello Road in
Ladbrook Grove, West London, throughout October. It really is not to be
missed, full review and more photos up here in a bit, we’ll still recovering
from tonight’s open preview party for a bit – www.mutatebritain.com/onefootinthegrove
Is that the sun back? National
poetry day today, here comes some music talk some more art, here comes
who knows what... Still a non-stop operation... Just went to put a link
to the National Poetry Day website and hang on Camaron has jumped on that
bandwagon as well. Why is his slimy face on the front of their website?
That's ruined things
X |
 That's
another shout from the MuTate Britain show right there...
ALBUM
REVIEW: DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA – No2: Sing Along Songs For
The Damned & Delirious (Ascendance) – Some kind of hellfire operatic
swing orchestra loaded with crunching heavy metal riffs, full on 30’s/40's
big band swing and a whole leap forward from their rather decent debut,
The
Butcher’s Ballroom. A leap forward in terms of songs, production, adventure
and pretty much everything else. Full on operatic outbursts, theatrical
metal that chops all over the place, some kind of mad hatter mad musical
mad twisting and mad turning, mad adventure and a full on smorgasborg of
thrash and Mr Bungle and swing and strange operatic vocal theatrics and
more swing and more and and.... www.myspace.com/diabloswingorchestra
SINGLE
REVIEW: LULU & THE LAMPSHADES – Feet To The Sky (Voga.Parochia)
– Kind of quirky, kind of folky, kind of Lily Allen and all bright and
sparkly sweet and a little bit twee in a positive kind of happy way. Kind
of delightful actually – www.vogaparochia.com
or www.myspace.com/helouisamusic
ALBUM
REVIEW: MEAN STREAK – Metal Slave (Black Lodge) - Decent
enough Judas Priest, Accept, Y&T, Iron Maiden style heavy metal from
Sweden. All black leather, flying Vs, silly artwork, fighting to win the
battle within and everything you’d (maybe) want, need and indeed everything
you’ve quite probably heard a million times already. look in to the eyes
of a stranger, don’t give up the fight, raise your fists tonight blah blah
blah.... Decent enough – www.myspace.com/meanstreaksweden
SINGLE
REVIEW: HOUDINI – What A Fire (self release) - Spiky
pointy slightly angular scratchy alternative indie pop on a little three
inch CD thing that almost escaped us. We could make some kind of smartarse
comment about them almost escaping us but you know we’re not the smirking
smartarse types and we’d never do anything like that. They sound a bit
like some kind of Fugazi tripping over the Fall and crashing right over
Herzoga with all their sharp bits. Decent first release, they’re from Ashford,
Kent and you can find them via www.myspace.com/houdinisaur
SINGLE
REVIEW: HEALTH – Die Slow (City Slang) – Neat set of
remixes tagged on to this single from LA’s Health. The main track is that
fine wall of experimental dance noise, that, to use a word we have copyright
on, is rather thrilliant. Pictureplane remix takes things in to even more
danced up getting near four to the flour disco areas, Tabacco mix adds
a great big techno electro crunch and doesn’t leave much of the original
Health finger print, likewise Zombie Zombie turn things in to a dark sinister
synth driven Zombie Zombie track and add a whole load of menace, may as
well just be packaged as a Zombie Zombie track... damn fine one mind you
– www.healthnoise.com
x |
 7th
OCT '09: ART: MuTATE: ONE FOOT IN THE GROVE
in an art event that opens on 9th October (and runs until the 25th) under
the Westway in Ladbrook Grove, West London. (3-6 Acklam Rd, London,
W10). A 15000 square foot open air exhibition of Street Art, giant Sculpture
and Installations, fully licensed for 1250 people, underneath the West
Way Road Bridge next to Portobello Road. Here’s what they say on their
website:
Following the success of their debut show ‘Behind the Shutters’ at the
infamous Cordy House, the Mutate Britain team are pleased to announce One
Foot in the Grove, an exhibition of painting and sculpture located in the
heart of West London
“For us this is a home coming,
Ladbroke Grove means a lot to Joe and I, now we’re back home to put on
a show that we hope will be remembered for its inspiring art, inclusive
atmosphere and all round good times.” Garfield Hackett
Since artists such as Futura 2000 (then touring with The Clash) and Mode
2 first painted the huge walls supporting the iconic West Way in the early
80s, they have been cited as a birthplace of British graffiti/street art
culture. Almost 30 years later Street Art is a global artistic movement,
rich with talent, diverse aesthetic styles and momentum sustained by passion.
Now over 50 of its old school pioneers, infamous names and future masters
are back to build a show that celebrates the depth and heritage of the
movement. Expect surprise announcements to add to the mix of works by Mode
2, Matt Small, Dr. D, Part2ism, Best Ever and too many more to mention....
Go read the rest of this here
x |
 ALBUM
REVIEW: RAT ATTACK – This Is Art (Lockjaw) -
At last Lockjaw remember where their balls are and release a record with
some guts rather then all that bed-wetting rule-obeying emo pop they’ve
been trying to peddle as punk rock recently. I’d almost given up
on throwing Lockjaw CDs in the disc cruncher, damn machine was spitting
them all right back at me in such an indignant way. Rat Attack are
a blistering four piece hardcore punk band from Exeter - no messing about
here, roaring out in that classic fast shouty in your face everything must
go hardcore way you know and love. No musical revolution, nothing you haven’t
heard a zillion times before, we could drop a million names as reference
points, they (or at least their press release) seem happy with Refused
or Comeback Kid so why not, those names are a good as any. A short sharp
six track ram-raid of uncompromising in your face shouty hardcore punk
rock and all done just right. This is indeed art, glorious stuff. www.lockjawrecords.co.uk
or www.myspace.com/ratattackuk
ART:HIRST,
SPREAD THE MONEY... A rather novel idea has pinged into The Art
Newspaper’s email tray from Matthew Edwards who plans to stand as an independent
member of parliament for Vauxhall in South London at the next general election.
"Damien Hirst's workshop 'Science' is in the constituency of Vauxhall,"
he says. "I have made a very poor piece of A4 artwork called For the Love
of Dog which I would like to offer him for £1m with the proviso that
every penny will go into a microcredit scheme in the local area to provide
small loans to people with good ideas to set up sustainable enterprises
that provide long-term employment for the people of Vauxhall." Over to
you Damien. For more information, go here
or here
ALBUM
REVIEW: ANTI-POP CONSORTIUM – Fluorescent Black (Big
Dada) – New York Hip-hop with a whole load of challenge thrown in the mixer,
seriously pushing the boundaries with their words and sounds. Little bit
more than guns ‘n bitches if you know what I mean... Lyrics to focus your
ears on, lines that keep catching, clever music, a blend of the new and
things like Dalek fused with some of that old school classic electro hip-hop
fizz from back there. Some of this really is front-line 80’s and right
up there with the best bits of things like the mighty JVC Force, Packman
and such. Android soul and more shopping carts crashing, fresh hip-Hope
that for once is more worth your time and ears. Hip-Hope? I kind of like
that typo, this is hip-hope, A-PC back reunited and filling that big hole
they left back there with some rather satisfying line-spinning tune-crunching
boundary-pushing style, hip-hop with a challenge – www.myspace.com/antipopny
NEWS:
We
see ATP have just announced that PAVEMENT will headline and curate
their 2010 All Tomorrow’s Parties event, the news seems to have set you
off in some kind of excited Twitter frenzy. What is it that gets you all
so excited about the reforming Fall tribute band, The Fall themselves are
still out there making decent records and playing chaotic shows, Pavement
reforming isn’t that exciting is it? Tickets are on sale now blah blah
blah, three days at a Butlins holiday Camp full of holier than thou I’m
cooler than you indie kids and chin-stroking types watching a Fall Tribute
band sometime in May, bargain at one a hundred and sixty quid, roll up
roll up... www.atpfestival.com
NEWS:
PETER
HAMMILL has announced a London solo show on January 31st at Cadogan
Hall, now that's far more exciting that any Pavement news! More from
www.sofasound.com
x |
 ART:
Always wondered about that locked up tunnel, here's some words from The
Londonist:
Beneath the streets of Holborn, London, something is growing in the Kingsway
tram tunnel The usually padlocked doors at the tunnel's Southampton Row
entrance, which last saw tram traffic when a young Queen Elizabeth II had
been on the throne for just a few months, have been thrown open to welcome
visitors for Chord, a month-long art installation by Conrad Shawcross.
Led in by a flourescent bib-wearing guide, we descended the surprisingly
steep ramp and into the tunnel itself, passing fake posters and non-existent
Tube station roundels left from a recent film project. As we penetrated
the murky gloom en route to.... more here
NEWS:
MIKE
ALEXANDER R.I.P... Thrash metallers Evile have announced that their
bassist Mike Alexander has died after suffering a brain hemorrhage while
on tour in Sweden. Paying tribute to their bandmate, the rest of the band
said in a statement: "This is so hard to find the words to express fully
how we feel. We can't believe or accept what's happened. One minute we're
talking to our buddy, Mike, the next minute we can never speak to him again.
There's so many things rushing through our heads that we want to say, do
and feel. We half expect him to come round the corner and call us 'dickheads'.
We can't get our heads around it".
They continued: "It upsets us so much that he was away from his family
when this happened, although knowing Mike, we're at least glad he was on
tour doing what he loves. We're lost for words. We all miss him so much
already. He was such a headstrong, genuinely nice guy who loved music and
his family. We've got so many brilliant memories with him. Our hearts go
out to his daughter, family and friends at this tragic, difficult time.
Mike is much loved and is sorely missed. Rest in peace, brother".
London-born Alexander started collaborating with Evile bandmates Matt Drake
and Ben Carter in 2000. They formed Evile in 2004, self-releasing their
debut EP the same year. They signed to Earache in 2006, and released their
second album for the label just last month. It seems that Alexander had
been in good health before being taken ill suddenly while on tour in Sweden,
just a few days into their European tour with Amon Amarth,
Evile's Mike Alexander was
suddenly taken ill and rushed to hospital, but tragically passed away in
Lulea, Sweden.Tributes have been flying around the web this morning, seems
Mike was well thought of within the metal community... sad news indeed.
x |
 6th
OCT '09: Never mind no egg men on stilts or the fact that Dilemma Tuesday
is with us and we still don't know what to do.... Bag loads of wreckords
to catch up with while paint is slung and...
ALBUM
REVIEW: SKINDRED – Shark Bites And Dog Fights (Beiler
Bros) – Benji out of Dub War but that was years ago and lots of water has
rushed under our bridges since then. Didn’t we release some early Skindred
material around these parts back at the start of the century? Haven’t encountered
Benji and his band for quite some time, good to see them doing so well.
Still that familiar mix of dread throwing dub and skanking crunching metal.
Sounds a little over produced and polished these days, no sign of that
raw punky edge and that Ruts feel they once had. Good to see things going
so well, we’ll leave them with it and politely say this over produced over
slick pop metal dub really isn’t for us. Nice to see a band hanging in
there though, nice one indeed... – www.skindred.com
ALBUM
REVIEW: IDLEWILD – Post Electric Blues (Cooking Vinyl) –
Idlewild are becoming more and more of a middle of the road folk band with
every release, this falls on the radio friendly side of The Levellers,
is that a good thing? Here’s the link – www.myspace.com/idlewild
SINGLE
REVIEW: VOLCANO CHOIR – Island, Is (Jagjaguwar) - The things
you find in rejected piles of unwanted CDs, still it is all about the music
isn’t it? Single from the Unmap album. Volcano Choir are bits of Bon Iver
and Collections Of Colonies Of Bees and this is an interesting enough amalgamation
of many current North American alt,rock things, a folky Bon Iver take on
Animal Collective’s textures.
ALBUM
REVIEW: MAPS – Turning The Mind (Mute) - Pleasant mix
of slightly euphoric sometimes melancholic electronic textured multi-layered
alternative indie pop sculpture from Maps. Soothing textures, clever details,
waves that gently wash, electronic glow, gentle uplifting vocal lines that
sometimes betray the darkness and nothing is here you see... Some kind
of gentle New Order via Pet Shop Boys for shoegazing Chapterhouse fans
who like it lush and layered and slightly dreamy. An delicate album full
of positive hope and uplifting forward looking glow, an album that'll seep
in and find your heart – www.myspace.com/mapsmusic
SINGLE
REVIEW: DISCONCERTS – A. Medic (PLR) – Soothingly frantic
wired up new wave from Chichester’s Disconcerts. Kinetic rhythms, scratchy
drive, dislocated lines, Death Disco PiLness and Fire Engines energy, urgent
neurotic vocal delivery from the finely named guitarist/singer Hugo Hamper-Potts.
Last track of five threatens to get all Franz on us before a last minute
swerve down Art Brut’s garden path - www.parlour-records.com
or www.myspace.com/disconcerts.
They’re playing a free EP launch gig at Ryan’s Bar, Stoke Newington, London
on 9th Oct...
ALBUM
REVIEW: DEADSTRING BROTHERS – Sao Paulo (Bloodshot)
- Some neat mellow alt.country slide guitar blues, kind of vaguely like
when The Rolling Stones would get it in to their heads that they were from
Alabama or some such Southern place. Spot-on refined yet just ragged enough
mellow blues meets country rock with just enough soul and a touch of slow
groove in there with all the beautiful emotion. Half of them appear to
be from London, the main body from Detroit. Full of Stones goodness, Gram
Parsons beauty, just about right in every single way with all that down
tempo heartache and countrified slide blues beauty and mellow rock ‘n roll
attitude. Highly recommended – www.myspace.com/deadstringbrothers
or www.deadstringbrothers.com
SINGLE
REVIEW: PAALMER – Old School (FM) – No messing old school
glam flavoured guitar driven heads down see you at the end punk rock ‘n
roll from France. Iggy, Ramones, Pistols, early Social Distortion, Sonic
Boom Boys... Non stop second hand riffs, raw vocals, just like being down
the Wardour Street Marquee somewhere around 1987. Nothing new, nothing
different but then I very much doubt if they want it to be. No messing,
they do their thing well. Old school, hey ho, let’s go, drunk punks....
www.myspace.com/paalmer
5th OCT '09: Egg men on stilts?
Atomised aircraft engines turned to a pile of gallery floor dust? The process
of really looking rather than just another YBA one liner? Stuckists stuck
in the door, stuck stuck stuck... Did Another Turner prize get itself launched
today? Did anyone much notice? Tomorrow is Dilemma Tuesday and to quote
Joyce from Cuneiform; “OMG, Magma & Upsilon Acrux the same nite????
God lordy almighty Jesus...... “
X |
 ALBUM
REVIEW: LOU BARLOW – Goodnight Unknown (Domino) - He’s
been rather prolific since the last solo album, what with the reunited
with Dinosaur Jr and the reissuing of those classic Sebadoh albums. He’s
not living in his past though, this new solo album is Lou Barlow firmly
moving forward with an impressive set of fourteen new songs. And that’s
the strength here, the quality of his excellent songs. You’ve got
a few of Mr Barlow’s different sides here, all works perfectly well as
one fluid body of work though, tunes that captivate, words that mean something.
This is Lou Barlow playing solid, melodic, always going somewhere, always
interesting North American alt.rock. The man himself talks of it being
a cross between his later work in Folk Implosion and his earlier work in
Sebadoh, these ears say he’s pretty much spot on there. Some
of Goodnight Unknown has that solitary folky feel, some of it sunny alt.American
glow, some of it is driving along and taking a (moderately gentle) bite
or two, taking advantage of the fact that things are always anchored so
well by The Melvins’ Dale Crover and his ever inspiring, cleverly sparse,
drums. There’s the fuzzy chug of Yeah Yeah Yeahs man Imaad Wasif, there’s
some impressive less-is-more playing and constructing throughout
A fine blend of reasonably mellow alternative noise and warm troubadour
glow, no heart beats stronger... It isn’t as schizophrenic as a Sebadoh
record but it just might be one of the finest most enjoyable albums Lou
Barlow has ever been involved in. www.myspace.com/loubarlow
or www.loobiecore.com (therer was
a free download from the album there last I looked) or www.dominorecordco.com
ORGAN
RECOMMENDS: ULVER
+ MOTHLITE at the
Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank, London, Friday 9th October - Impressive
dark glitchy atmospheric moody mix of black metal and orchestral post-rock
from the Norwegian headliners. Mothlite In support, downtempo, spooky,
dark piano with a strong Radiohead feel and a poppy undertone or two -
for more Organ Recommends, check out www.londongigs.net
NEWS:
PETER
HOOK ADMITS JOY DIVISION FAKERY - Peter Hook has revealed that he is
the scourge of record collectors, after it transpired that he had faked
the signatures of his Joy Division bandmates, including that of frontman
Ian Curtis after his death. Hook told Xfm: "Bernard [Sumner]'s signature
is much more valuable than mine, because he never signed anything! And
I did have a reputation for doing Ian Curtis' autograph for a long time.
There's some guy in the Northern Quarter who had 'An I deal For Living'
up and it was signed by all four members of the band and dated. I went
in and said, have you not noticed that the date is after Ian died? He went,
'Oh no!' It was me, I did them as a joke! In very poor taste. It was up
there for £200, so my name is now mud among collectors". (CMU)
x |
 ALBUM
REVIEW: UPSILON ACRUX - Radian Futura (Cuneiform) -
Paul Lai knows the Apocalypse is coming. I'm convinced of it. Why else
expend a lifetime's worth of riffs in such a hurry? Radian Futura,
the sixth album from his band, Upsilon Acrux, takes their own particular
ouvre of super intricate, trail-blazing rock and pushes it to a bloody-minded,
outrageous extreme. It's an extreme not of noise but of rhythmic
and thematic complexity. In some respects, this could be Upsilon
Acrux's most accessible album yet. In other respects, it may be a step
too far. Take the opening track, In-A-Gadda-Devito with its layers
of Hammond organ and other fat oldschool-sounding keyboards beefing up
the arrangements this iteration of the band sounds much conventionally
proggier than before. Still made up of many different chunks of melody,
of numerous rhythmic twists and turns, but there's more repetition in each
bit. Following tracks mercilessly abuse ELP, slice 'n dicing Emerson
into small cubes, then throw in a shredded Can-Utility and serve
on a bed of Gentle Giant easy intricacy.
To be frank, I found this the hardest Upsilon Acrux album to digest. Somewhere
along the line some clarity has been lost. Despite a myriad of textures
and time signatures flying past, many of them thrilling, there's a similar
overall density throughout the compositions, a level of full-on rock energy
that misses the weird delicacy of earlier works like Last Train Out.
And wait till you get to the fifth track on the album - Transparent
Seas (Radio Edit) is twenty-eight minutes and twenty one seconds of
concentrated tune-shifting, containing the ideas of approximately fifteen
Supper's
Ready, a dozen Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers, at least. Plus
a lot of stuff nobody's ever heard before, the real Upsilon Acrux stuff.
It's one ballsy statement, unrelenting, kind of joyous and gleeful about
it, but boy is it hard to get into - I keep fast-forwarding to that tremendous
bit where it goes all kind of Rite Of Spring (17:39 in), or the
not-quite harmonica bit, (21:30) or... well, it does become less overwhelming
and enjoyable, with each listen. Which is the point of all complex music,
really - the more listens, the more pleasurable it should get. Transparent
Seas (Radio Edit) just avoids the deadly Math Rock Trap of intricate
sameyness by its component parts being pretty chunky and pretty damn tuneful.
It may be madness, but you have to love the sheer existence of it.
It's notable that with Upsilon Acrux that the personnel changes pretty
much with each album, aside from core member Lai. One imagines successive
bunches of fresh-as-daisies, bright eyed and bushy-tailed musicians plunging
in to this music with puppyish abandon and emerging a couple of years later,
grey and hollow-eyed shrivelled husks. (Talking of which - are they expecting
to play those 28 minutes live? I'll believe it when I see it). But hey,
it's worth it. Upsilon Acrux simply blow away and set the standard for
every other complex, (forwantofabetterterm) mathy band out there. It's
been said before, but there's more sheer imagination in one of their compositions
than in most other band's record collections, let alone careers.
Radian Futura is another massive slab of uniqueness - maybe not a subtle
as their previous albums, but a helluva thing nonetheless. www.myspace.com/upsilonacrux
or www.cuneiformrecords.com
ALBUM
REVIEW: INVASION – The Master
Alchemist (This Is Music) – The thing here is, once the three of them are
let loose over the full length of a (debut) album, they fall down as a
bit of a one trick pony really aren’t they. And that yelping voice of hers
does get a tad irritating after a while doesn’t it? Those early demos were
well received around here but... The sounds, the textures, the pacing,
that dirty bass, when you get it all coming at you over the full length
of a twelve track album... well.... um... seems Invasion only operate on
one dimension. Shame, I was rather looking forward to this... Oh for a
different texture, a change of pace, a different colour in there, a touch
of clarity, a moment’s breath. She’s there yelping and head-pecking
like a hyperactive version of Skunk Anansie’s Skin while the instruments
drive at almost the same pace and with the same sound and texture all the
way through. London’s Invasion are trying to do something a little different
and that should be applauded; their stripped back production values, throwing
their love of the stoner rock sound in there with all the energy, but but
but.... Their one trick was promisingly good over the length of that early
three track demo back there, the occasional single we heard on the radio
was OK... Alas, allowed to stretch out over the length of an whole album...
well.... It isn’t until the final track, yes we have stuck with it until
the end several times now, didn’t fall out of the wrong side of the bed
in bad mood and write this after one play, kept going back wanting it to
be more positive about... It isn’t until that final track where things
are allowed to breath with a rather promising instrumental piece called
Chaos
& The Ancient Night, now if only they’d worked that light and space
in to some of their songs rather than just tagging it on to the end. Disappointing
debut then, they’ll make better albums than this one, I’m sure they will
(I hope they will). www.myspace.com/invasion
Last night's ORGAN show on
London's Resonance 104.4FM went like this..
1/intro: TRANSISTOR SIX –
Back Yard Rocketship (Blackbean & Placenta)
2: OMO – Track 1,
The White Album (LoAF)
3: LOW TRAMON – 4d Warriors
(Demo)
4: FOOT VILLAGE – Energy
Runners (Upset The Rhythm)
5: KABEEDIES – Petits Filous
(NROne)
6: MAGMA – Ka2 (Seventh)
7: HONEY RIDE ME A GOAT
– Varicose Jibe (Unlabel)
8: UPSILON ACRUX – Who’s
Running Shit (Cuneiform)
9: THE LAZE – Everlife (self
release)
10: CHROME HOOF – Circus
9000 (Southern)
11: THE LOW ANTHEM – Charlie
Darwin (Bella Union)
12: THE SANS PAREIL – Track
2, Happy Hour (Stone Of Folly)
13: LOUIS LING AND THE BOMB
– Princess Mononoke (ORG)
14: BEATNIK FILMSTARS –
Milkshake (Track & Field)
15: WHITEOUT with JIM O’ROURKE
& THURSTON MOORE – Fear Of Fear – excerpt (Ecstatic Peace)
Links, details, news of all
the bands and more up in a bit...
4th OCT '09: SUNDAY
IS RADIO DAY HERE AT ORGAN, this is your weekly reminder, ORGAN on
air tonight at 9.00pm on what is by far London's finest radio station,
RESONANCE 104.4FM, hear it on FM all over London or on line via www.resonancefm.com
worldwide. This week me, Sean, with a whole bag load of the left field
other rock, prog, punk, prog-punk, challenging metal, new wave other wave
post rock, post hardcore, postman pat, black and white cats and an hour's
worth of the bands no one else much seems to play on proper FM radio anymore...
some of the more left-field musical things we
talk of here on the Organ
pages...
x |
 3rd
OCT '09: THE TUESDAY DILEMMA, MAGMA or UPSILON ACRUX? All over town
progheads are pulling themselves apart, what to do! Which gig! Who booked
the first ever Upsilon Acrux
show in London on the same night as a rare appearance in the capital from
Magma! I mean people have been waiting for Upsilon and there cutting edge
avant-prog to get over here for ages! They’ve made it from L.A at last,
they’re one of the very very best bands out there, consistently challenging
albums, prog rock time changes that’ll leave you with twisted blood, and
if that isn’t good enough they’re touring with two of the finest new prog
outfits in the UK in the shape of THE
LAZE and HONEY RIDE ME
A GOAT, but then CHROME
HOOF are opening for Magma with J.P MASSIERA also on the
bill... Two of the most exciting gigs to happen in London all year and
both on the same night. What are we going to do? The Upsilon Acrux gig
happens over at Barden's
Boudoir while Magma
are at the Barbican
Centre. I think I know which one I’m going to... maybe... Both
shows happen on Tuesday 6th October, oh the dilemma...
ALBUM
REVIEW: KISS – Sonic Boom (Roadrunner) - Gawd, do Kiss churn
out a load of old arse these days or what?
ALBUM
REVIEW: :PAPERCUTZ – Lylac (Apegenine) – A relaxed refined
blend of adventurous gently glitchy electronic and acoustic pieces. A mix
of instrumental and ethereal vocal tracks, glowing female voices, angelic,
organic, ghostly electronic futuristic folk music. This is the debut :Papercutz
album, a delicately glowing album – dreamstates, delicate left-field electronica,
clever rhythm patterns, touches of intricate post-rock (the adventurous
side), quiet considered beauty, pop sensibilities, brightness... They’re
from Porto, Portugal. www.myspace.com/papercutzed
WATCH
THIS: A Japanese Carter USM tribute
band, almost as good as that time Kween
played an Organ show at the Falcon at Camden
|
|
2nd OCT '09: SINGLE REVIEW: YETI
LANE – Lonesome George (Sonic Cathedral) – French trio Yeti Lane with
some rather delightful synth flavoured tunes that have a healthy hint or
two of Animal Collective about them. That and a breezy uplifting Kraut
rock flavour in there with arpeggiated Grandaddy keyboard feel, the Pavement
guitar textures and the tales of the last surviving Pinta Island tortoise.
Rather delightful whetting of the appetite ahead of their January 2010
self-titled debut album. This single is out next Monday as a download and
limited edition seven inch – www.soniccathedral.co.uk
NEWS:
SPACE
HIJACKERS charged over London G20 protests - who was wasting whose
time here!?
ALBUM
REVIEW: THE BLACK – Alongside Death (Pulverised) - New album
from The Black, now if you're going to play hissing spitting black metal
then just cut to the chase with the no messing band name! The cult Swedish
extreme metal band have been around in one form or another for some fifteen
years or so now and this is abhorrently good extreme old school black metal.
Filthy onslaught of hiss and demonic piss, featuring members of Tyrant,
Eternal Darkness and Vinterland, this is a black wind of relentless noise.
A black noise that finally takes a breath somewhere in the middle of track
seven – The Wrath From Beneath – a stop for breath and some foreboding
low end resonance before they launch in to the fire again with the closing
title track. Alongside Death a throwback to the glorious early days of
no compromise shitstorming extremities, the best days before the whole
idea of black metal got lost in a stew of bluuuuurrrg and million silly
rule obeying identical silly logo parodies. The Black, once again, aren’t
doing that much that’s that different, they are however once again hitting
somewhere near the spot - these days most extreme metal doesn’t hit anywhere
anything any near any spot, most goes straight in the crusher over there
in the corner, once in while that In League With Satan bite crunches down
again, The Black’s new album just did it. Extreme metal from Sweden on
a label from Singapore, you got to love the underground... www.myspace.com/officialtheblack
or www.myspace.com/pulverisedrecords
SINGLE
REVIEW: THE KABEEDIES – Petits Filous (NrOne) - A whole
load of important questions asked and answered as the girl voice interacts
in classic scratchy lo-fi indie pop with the boy voice... Who is your favourite
kung fu star? he asks, probably Bruce Lee she answers. Favourite colour...?
She’s Katie Allard, he’s guitar player Evan Jones, or maybe he’s bass player
Rory Hull (they both get a vocal credit), Fab Bell hits drums. We like
The Kabeedies, we’ve told you this before, this new single here is leading
up to their debut album. Excellent lead track, excellent interplay, excellent
single yet again, feisty indie teen pop, sharp, insanely infectious, the
Norwich band done good yet again, fire up the radio, we got another player.
And their record label is a post code, the true spirit of Wiiija in several
ways then... www.nrone.co.uk
or www.myspace.com/thekabeedies
- the single is out on Monday, the debut album in early November
NEWS:
LIAM
PLEAS FOR BEES - Liam Gallagher has announced his support for a campaign
to save honey bees from dying out. Now we don't say this very often (and
neither do the CMU news team who just sent this is), but I'm in complete
agreement with Liam. Bees are good and also very important for our survival.
We like bees. He told the evil Tory loving rag The Sun: "The bees are vanishing.
We've got to save them before they all buzz off. It's important. It's a
really worthwhile cause. Without them we're in proper bother".
NEWS:
The
UPSILON
ACRUX UK tour with THE LAZE kicked off last night in Chatham,
the two must see frontline avant/prog outfits have had a last minute change
of venue, tonight, 2nd Oct, they are now in Nottingham at the Chameleon
Arts Cafe
WATCH
THIS: Go back to your meaningless job, Everything
is OK
x |
 1st
OCT '09: ART: SHOWCASE
@ CAFE 1001, Brick Lane, London, 30th Sept - Cafe 1001 is just opposite
Rough Trade Records, over on Brick Lane, deepest East London. Showcase
happens every second Wednesday. Been happening all through the summer now
and the Showcase reputation is growing. The event - not that easy to find,
enter the cafe through the crowds sitting at the tables on the pavement,
up the stairs, head for the back and there it is, an almost secret big
room at the rear - the event is something like a very relaxed gallery opening
night, the atmosphere is vibrant, inviting, friendly and rather energetic...
Things have been building over the last few months as word of the fortnightly
event spreads and more people get involved. We reviewed one of the first
nights back at the start of Summer and suggested a little bit of quality
control might be needed, things have moved on and evolved in a rather positive
manner since then. Early shows were peppered with interesting pieces amongst
the, well, the not quite so good. Last night it was pretty much getting
near to an everything being worthy of your time situation. |
Showcase is a one night only affair, things kick off at five thirty and
go on until just after eleven. A chance to view art, interact with the
creators, share thoughts, network and indeed buy very reasonably priced
pieces (or at least pick up details for future reference). The one night
only nature makes going to Showcase almost like heading out to a gig, it
is something a little different to the usual stuffiness of a more formal
gallery, things are relaxed, you can make a noise, you don’t have to politely
creep around... This is very much a gallery situation though, don’t get
the wrong idea, plenty of time and space to view without interruption or
intrusion. A gallery with a nice big bar, music (not too loud) and something
like twenty-five or so artists with a selection of work to check out. The
work is all up on big white boards in a nice big open room. The audience
is a mix of artists (both those showing and those checking things out),
friends, the usual Brick Lane fashion fiends, people just dropping in on
their way to or from East End gigs (or maybe a Brick Lane curry house).
You get the occasional passing celebrity, (I guess the organisers would
love us to mention the fact that Keira Knightley dropped in last night
and was seen enthusiastically talking to several of the artists. Don’t
ask me, I wouldn’t know a celeb if she bit me. What did she say asked several
people, none of your business, that’s between me and Keira), you got bands
dropping in, people who’ve been to Rough Trade to buy records, graffiti
kids (“You ‘da bomb man, respect to your art” yelled the skinny white kid
being thrown out by security for tagging the walls), drunk city workers
still in suites, ties rebelliously loose - you got a whole lot on different
types (makes for interesting people watching while they're busy viewing
your art actually), a constant revolving stream of colourful people all
evening.... |
So the Showcase reputation is building and across the board the quality
is way up now, last time it was interesting stimulating work here and there,
last night pretty much everything was worthy of further investigation...
Stand out pieces included the strange light fitting bulb holder paintings
of BLAIR ZAYE, CHRIS TIMOTHY’s
rather striking photographic montage pieces, Barcelona pop artist MIGUEL
IVORRA, SALLY SWINGEWOOD’s
vibrant work, SIMON HAWES' slightly
dark and twisted ‘Hi Kids’ childhood cartoon icons, ZARA LOCKWOOD’s imaginative
portraiture...
Looking at art on websites is really no way to view art, most of websites
do these artists no favours, vague hints is all you get, you really need
to have it there coming alive in front of you, alive in the flesh. Tonight
was great, Showcase is a great place to view art, meet people and introduce
yourself to a few new names, a chance see the work there big and bold (or
small and delicate) with the colours the way they really are. Showcase
is great, get along to the next one... Showcase
webpage
NEWS:
MAYBESHEWILL
are out on tour in the UK during October with Cats and Cats and Cats ands
Death Of London variously. Here is where you can see them:* With Death
Of London. ** With Cats and Cats and Cats. Date: 03.10 - Baker Place, LIMERICK*,
04.10 - Whelans, DUBLIN*, 05.10 - Venue, BELFAST*, 06.10 - Capitol, GLASGOW*,
07.10 - Bannermans, EDINBURGH*, 08.10 - Dog And Parrot, NEWCASTLE**, 09.10
- Meze Lounge, NEWPORT**, 10.10 - Nexus Art Cafe, MANCHESTER**, 11.10 -
The Harley, SHEFFIELD**, 12.10 - Bumper, LIVERPOOL**, 14.10 - Buffalo Bar,
LONDON**, 15.10 - Croft, BRISTOL**, 16.10 - Flapper & Firkin, BIRMINGHAM**,
17.10 - Rock City, NOTTINGHAM**, 20.10 - Firebug, LEICESTER**, 31.10 -
Brainwash Festival, LEEDS
The band are re-releasing
their long sold out debut album, plus their never properly released in
the UK debut EP as 'Not For Want Of Trying +4' to coincide with the tour.
You can pre-order it online from the Robot Needs Home Store
or buy it at any of the shows. Cats and Cats and Cats also release the
first single from their forthcoming album through Robot Needs Home later
this month. www.myspace.com/maybeshewont
x |
| ALBUM
REVIEW: THE DEAD LAY WAITING – We Rise (Rising) - Pretty
much standard issue aggressive intense relentless metalcore deathcore grindcore
whatevercore. Plenty of growling (give that man a throat lozenge and tell
him to shut up for a moment), there's some of that technical show-off guitar
playing and look at us aren’t we clever, everything is pretty much a case
of never relenting. They deal out an aggressive onslaught alright, pretty
impressive for a bunch of teenagers from Swindon if you like this kind
of thing I guess. The constant yapping, growling and technical metal wanking
is starting to annoy a little bit too much now... If you want it then here
it is, we’re out of here before something gets broken - www.myspace.com/thedeadlaywaiting
or www.risingrecords.org
DEMO
REVIEW: MOJO BLITZ – Rather decent slice or four of mellow
West Coast flavoured relaxed psychedelic retro rock from Sydney, Australia.
Sounds rather early 70’s Californian, touch of an Eastern vibe. They do
it with a laid back refined warmth, just a hint of relaxed funk in there
with their mellow rock. www.myspace.com/mojoblitz
x |
 SINGLE
REVIEW: THE LOW ANTHEM – Charlie Darwin (Bella Union) – Bella
Union have just re-issued this gorgeously perfect piece of aching beauty
from The Low Anthem, if you missed it first time around then don’t whatever
you do, don’t let it pass you by this time. This is just sublimely magical
and glowing and I could gush and gush over the slow moving radiant beauty
of it all for ages and ages. Those rising falsettos and gentle alt.folkness,
the heart trading and a single that’s just about perfect in every single
way. Stop everything for four minutes and just drink it in. They’ve got
it there on their MySpace - www.myspace.com/lowanthem
ALBUM
REVIEW: PONAMERO SUNDOWN – Stonerized (Transubstance) – Perfectly
righteous heavy stoner rock from Stockholm Sweden. Simple basic cut straight
to the chase stoner rock, heavy groove, bag loads of big riffs, all the
fuzz you need. Nothing radically different, nothing you haven’t heard before,
we could namedrop all the usual bands needed when reviewing this kind of
stuff – Sabbath, Kyuss, Orange Goblin... Nothing clever needs to be said
here, this is simply honest no messing righteous heavy rock that just hits
all the right spots in all the right ways – in your blood, in your soul...
This rocks, they rock, we like rock. Thick fuzzy in the vital zone no messing
heavy fuggin rock! www.myspace.com/ponamerosundown
or www.myspace.com/transubstans
x |
 NEWS:
BEE
STINGS NEW ALBUM... Bee Stings have their new album ready and you can
download it free for a limited period. Ben Pitt wrote: “Hi Organ, First,
thanks for your support for Bee Stings over the last few years. We have
particularly fond memories of playing the Diablesse Fetish party at Lark
in the Park. We've just released our second album, which for a limited
period we're giving away as a free download. Please download the album
from www.beestings.co.uk
We're having an album launch party/gig this Friday (2nd October) at The
Others in Stoke Newington. We're not making the gig public as it's a private
party, but if you do mention us on the site this week please tell readers
to get in touch for an invite....” Many thanks. Ben Bee Stings
NEWS:
DEATH
SET DRUMMER DIES - Drummer with the Ninja Tune/Counter Records-band
Death Set, Beau Velasco, died in New York on Sunday, a statement on the
band's website has confirmed. Details of the cause of his death have nor
yet been announced.
Originally from Australia, Velasco and bandmate Johnny Siera moved to the
US in 2005, hoping to find more acceptance of their abrasive mix of hardcore
punk and electronics. The group released their debut album last year and
had recently begun work on the follow-up. Writing on the band's website,
Siera said: "RIP my dear brother, friend and band mate Beau Velasco. We
are all so devastated that I will keep this short. We love you and you
will be missed. You affected us all so much in the most positive ways.
Our lives would not be as is if not for you. We love you. For all those
who wish to pay their respects we will let the details be known soon".
(CMU)
NEWS:OCEANSIZE
AND VESSELS TO TOUR - Imagine if Oceansize and Organ favourites Vessels
were to tour together. Oh wait, they are. Tour dates: 1 Nov: Brainwash
Festival, 25 Nov: Cardiff, Barfly, 26 Nov: Manchester, Academy 3, 27 Nov:
Nottingham, Seven, 29 Nov: Dundee, Fat Sam's, 30 Nov: Aberdeen, The Tunnels,
1 Dec: Glasgow, King Tut's, 2 Dec: Liverpool, Masque, 3 Dec: London, Heaven
NEWS:KILLAFLAW
ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES - Described by Eddy Temple-Morris as "the missing
link between Soundgarden and The Prodigy", electronic duo Killaflaw have
announce tour dates that will see them up to the end of the year. They
release their latest EP, 'Set Me On Fire', on 12 Oct via A Perfect Noise,
and are currently working on their debut album, scheduled for release next
year. Tour dates: 3 Oct: Accrington, The Attic, 7 Oct: Edinburgh, Whistle
Binkies, 8 Oct: Glasgow, Classic Grand Glasgow, 9 Oct: Birmingham, Flapper,
13 Oct: Brighton, Hope, 14 Oct: Reading, Oakford Social, 15 Oct: London,
93 Feet East, 16 Oct: Brighton, University Of Sussex, 17 Oct: Liverpool,
Korova, 19 Oct: Manchester, Walkabout, 11 Nov: Liverpool, Mojo, 5 Dec:
Wigan, Indiependence, 17 Dec: Liverpool, Korova
x |
|
30th Sept '09: ART:
So tonight then, CAFE1001, just over from Rough Trade Records, Brick
Lane, East London, something like 25 of us turning up for one night to
show some art in the gallery at the back of the cafe. Kicks off 5.30pm,
ends 11.30pm, entry is free, there's beer, music, spray paint and everything
a little more relaxed the the usual gallery formality... come have a look,
come buy some very reasonably priced art...
NEWS:
DON'T
WAIT ANIMATE have a new free download available from this here link
(although you do have to sign up to a mailing list). Track is called Atlas
Moans. The rather buzzing indie art-pop band (another lazy signpost from
us pointing you vaguely in the right direction) are also playing a free
gig over in Ladbrook Grove, West side of London, on Saturday 3rd October.
The Wookies are also on the bill at Liquid Nation, 161-165 Ladbroke Grove,
London W10 (two doors left of Ladbroke Grove tube) - www.myspace.com/dontwaitanimate
/ www.myspace.com/thewookiesuk
NEWS:
I
LIKE TRAINS ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES AND STREAM NEW SINGLE
- Post-rockers I Like Trains release
a new single, Sea Of Regrets, on 12 Oct and will head out on a UK tour
that same week. You can stream the single via the band's website, here.
Tour dates: 14 Oct: Liverpool, Barfly , 15 Oct: Manchester, Deaf Institute,
16 Oct: Leeds, Cockpit, 17 Oct: Glasgow, King Tut's, 19 Oct: Nottingham,
Rescue Rooms, 20 Oct: Bristol, Cooler, 21 Oct: Oxford, Bullingdon Arms,
22 Oct: London, The Garage, 23 Oct: Birmingham, Hare & Hounds, 24 Oct:
Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
ART:
Those STUCKISTS are planning a Turner Prize demo at 9am on Monday
5 Oct, at Tate Britain... www.stuckism.com
Jeff
Schneider from MADE IN MEXICO and ARAB ON RADAR on how to
be in a band...
NEWS:
MARK
E. SMITH JOINS GORILLAZ.... Mark E. Smith and Sugarcube Einar Örn
Benediktsson are to duet on the upcoming Gorillaz album. Icelandic singer-songwriter
Einar Örn Benediktsson of Ghostigital, formerly of the Sugarcubes,
was in London last week to record a song with the Gorillaz, the virtual
band created by Damon Albarn, for their next album. “I’m in a song with
Mark E. Smith, he is the captain and I’m the parrot,” Benediktsson said...
ALBUM
REVIEW:
MARDUK – Wormwood (Regain)
– Sweden’s Markuk with a continuing of that unswerving commitment to blasphemy
and extremity... Extreme black metal delivered with a little more colour
than most and if you really look nothing really is actually black, everything
is full of colour. Brooding extremity that gives way to flesh ripping riffs
and punching jackhammer buzzsaw speed before the next lull softens you
up for the next ripping apart. They not afraid to pace themselves these
days, take on a touch of light and shade, refocus the atmospheres, evolve
a little where once they went for nothing but full on brutality. Still
mostly full on brutality, they haven't gone all wet leaf on us. A rather
decent Marduk album then – www.myspace.com/truemarduk
or www.regainrecords.com
ORGAN
RECOMMENDS – NOTORIOUS HI-FI KILLERS,
ACTION AND ACTION, CARETAKER @ The Constitution, St Pancras Way, Camden,
London, NW1, 1st October – The Notorious HiFi Killers with their
rich edgy blend of alternative garage blues and psychedelic scratchy punky
progness. Caretaker back in action with their aggressive mathy post-hardcore
and an impressive new single. Action And Action add some rather decent
emo flavoured punk, the original Discord idea of what emo was, not the
current corporate glossy mag hijacked version... All for a very reasonable
two quid on the door
xx |
 29th
Sept '09: NEWS: KILL
IT KID are now only six days away from the release of their rather
fine debut album, here's a new video
to whet your appetite... The Organ album review went on line here a few
days ago, you’ll find it on the next page...
NEWS:
THOM
YORKE ANNOUNCES NEW BAND - Thom Yorke has announced the members of
his new live band, with whom he'll tour to perform some of his solo work,
including tracks from his debut solo album 'The Eraser', as well as new
material. The group is made up of drummer Joey Waronker (who has previously
worked with Beck, REM, The Smashing Pumpkins and Elliott Smith), Forro
In The Dark percussionist Mauro Refosco, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich,
and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. The band's first shows together
will be two nights at the Orpheum Theatre in LA on 4-5 Oct.
28th
Sept '09: ALBUM REVIEW: OMO
– The White Album (LoAF) – A minimal, clean cut, precise kind of everything
is white kind of band, white skirt, white top, white trainers... washing
powder clean, second serve, overhead smash. Clean precise minimal electronic
pop, “domestic pop for domestic occasions”. Clean synthesisers, Laurie
Anderson, slightly lo-fi strangely delightful, Kraftwerk, warm sunny buzz,
delightful repetitive goodness, strangely good... advantage... deuce...
Strange half spoken words over repetitive synth lines and inviting hums,
an appreciation of uncluttered space . Electronic patterns, clever words...
www.l-o-a-f.com
x |
ALBUM
REVIEW: W.A.S.P – Babylon (Demolition)
– Four rip crunching horseman just passed by the front window, there’s
blood on the doorsteps, reptiles jousting around ankles and a new W.A.S.P.
album just dropped. Good god is this what you’d call a guilty secret? The
kind of thing you carry in a plain brown paper bag? Something you’d hide
behind your cool post-rock albums so no one can see it? “Not mine mate,
someone must have left it here...” Nah, ‘course it isn’t, this is W.A.S.P!
They rule! Nothing to analyse or intellectualise about here, no chin stroking
needed! Just plug it in, turn it up, fire up a mug of Jack and blast the
bleeder at your street! You know the score, a new W.A.S.P album day is
always a good day... Who knows what old Blackie is bleating on about this
time? Has he ever made sense? Apparently those four horsemen who just frantically
galloped past the front window are now riding full force through the seas
of fire to Babylon with the wild child going all blind in Texas on a godless
run or something vaguely conceptual where all the songs follow in some
kind of who knows what while the sky is full of thunder coming home and
there’s no time to hide in the red hills of hell... And he does bleat,
Blackie is the metal sheepman, Blackie sings like a sheep...
Full on W.A.S.P, none of your Headless Children almost-prog Who/Heepisms
this time around (well besides those overdriven Hammond Organs flowing
through those burning Uriah Heep style Lesley speakers there). This
is full on no messing W.A.S.P with those old school classic hard rock hints
lurking in the stew with the chainsaws and... Nothing subtle, just familiar
W.A.S.P and all as near to top form as can reasonably be expected from
a band of some twenty five years plus vintage. (that wasn’t a Headless
Children dis there either, that’s a damn fine album!)
You’ve got a W.A.S.P style cover of Deep Purple’s Burn on here, the original
of which is such riff-monster of a hard rock classic that it surely must
be almost near on impossible to mess the glorious thing up, Blackie and
company don’t. Pretty much a straight cover done with all the expected
in your face Waspness you require with your biscuits and tea. Hammond versus
guitar duel, skies burning, the full on make you burn with a wave of the
hand deal, W.A.S.P doing classic purple works as well as their previous
takes on Uriah Heep, The Who or Jethro Tull. And there really is no mistaking
the voice of Mr Lawless is there? Even when they’re ripping through a prime
slice of Purple (or an Elvis song like Promised Land), you know it can
be no other, you instantly know it can only be the mighty W.A.S.P flying
at your head with all that larger than life shock-rock cartoon metal revolving
chainsaw flamethrower cod-piece attitude of theirs. All as over the top
and almost as preposterously good as they’ve ever been... Yeah, sure, there’s
the doggy ballad, you’d feel cheated if there wasn’t wouldn’t you? The
arse factor lurking there in those lyrics really does jump out when they
slow it all down a little (arse or genius Blackian apocalyptic vision and
our skies really are about to turn as red as...?)
Hey look, W.A.S.P doing just what you expect W.A.S.P to do, you either
want it or you don’t. If you do then this is the band on more than acceptably
good form, if you don’t then you’ll find this to be their usual preposterous
over the top nonsense and you’ll bark you indignation as those of us with
the better taste demand the punch of the play it again only louder this
time button and dip another biscuit in the Jack. Nah, nothing like a good
but of Blackie, another good enough W.A.S.P album just landed, all is well,
ignore that winged beast over there and get on with it.. www.waspnation.com
x |
 28th
Sept '09: Monday Monday... Normal Organ service is about to
resume, whatever normal service around here happens to be. Music news and
reviews will gush again, we know they’ve only trickled this last week,
things are busy here, colours boiling, Karma Cabs moving along... an outpouring
of fresh exciting music on the way later today
The next SHOWCASE at CAFE
1001, just opposite Rough Trade Records (Brick Lane, London), happens
this coming Wednesday evening. The Showcase reputation is growing, Showcase
is a rather buzzing art event that happens every second Wednesday. well
worth checking out. Showcase is like a very inviting gallery opening night,
the atmosphere is relaxed and rather energetic, a vibrant mix of alternative
new artists. The reputation of Showcase has been building nicely over the
last few months as the word spreads and more people get involved. We reviewed
one of the first nights back in the Summer, things have built up and evolved
since then and like we predicted in that early review, things are building
rather nicely. Showcase is a one night only affair, kicks off at 5.30,
goes on until 11.30pm, a chance to view new emerging art, interact with
the creators, share thoughts, network and indeed buy very reasonably priced
pieces (how many times have we kicked ourselves over that early days Damien
Hurst painting that was for sale in the Record And Tape Exchange for just
fifty quid back there!). Anyway, next Showcase this Wednesday, well worth
dropping in for half an hour on the way to a gig or after a gig or... Showcase
webpage
x |
 25th
Sept '09: Busy at the Brick Lane Art Fair thing over at Truman's Brewery,
deep in East London and everything that comes with that... Normal Organ
service (what ever that involves) back here on Monday, after this Sunday's
radio show..
ORGAN
RECOMMENDS – THE SANS PAREIL
@ Shunt Lounge, London Bridge, October 8th. - East London hillbilly swamp
music, music of the night and people who know what’s good for you, barking
at the moon, strange creatures, you better watch out my friend... just
go with them, follow, everything will be alright, everything will be...
www.myspace.com/pariahcabal
23rd
Sept '09: One day 'till that Pop Up Art Fair down Brick Lane, one more
day of productive paint slinging and spraying and... No sleep 'till Brick
Lane..
SINGLE
REVIEW: ANDY NICE – The
Remixes (Front And Follow) – Other-worldly sunny warmth, delicate inviting
ambient electronic experiments slowly evolving around the sound of a slowly
uncoiling rather sunny Cello. Andy Nice is Tindersticks cello player, he
says he wants to push the boundaries with his solo cello work, he’s doing
it in a refined considered beguilingly beautiful relaxed way and these
four remixes compliment his recent well received activity rather well –
remixes from his recent The Secrets of Me album ...Four tracks out
on an EP next Monday 28th September and rather recommended otherness, some
delicate ambient electronic texture and such from Elite Barbarian, Yellow6
(AKA Jon Atwood) and Sone institute Apparently you can get this as a free
download from the Arctic Circle via www.jointhecircle.net/andy
or find out more from www.frontandfollow.com
or www.myspace.com/frontandfollow
x |
| 23rd
Sept '09: ALBUM REVIEW: MY
OWN GRAVE – Necrology (Pulverised) – Sweden’s My Own Grave with more
of that angry wasp stuck in the devil’s jam jar stuff. Dark dense merciless
death metal storms, standard issue storms of relentless extreme metal,
heard it all before a thousand times, decent enough storms though, kind
of comforting to have it raging away here, soothing black storm of noise
as it were... Members of Depraved and Cavevomit...
www.myspace.com/myowngraveyard
NEWS:
FRANK
AUERBACH - Twenty new works by Frank Auerbach, one of the finest of
British painters, go on display this September and October at Marlborough
Fine Art, among them new portraits, landscapes and drawings. “Auerbach
is one of the great names in British painting so this is an exciting opportunity
to see his latest works up close and personal without having to pay a solitary
penny”. . This is seriously exciting and a chance not to be missed say
us. The exhibition runs until 24th October at. 6 Albemarle St, Mayfair,
London, W1 -www.marlboroughfineart.com/exhibitions
NEWS:THE
SELLABLE ART POP-UP MARKET IS TWO DAYS AWAY.... The Sellable
Art Pop-up Market is a specialist art event, hosted by the Old Truman Brewery
over in Brick Lane, East London. “The Sellable Art Pop-up is a unique opportunity
to browse and buy artworks direct from the creators”. The next Art Pop-up
event takes place from 25th - 27th September in the cavernous old Boiler
House, 152 Brick Lane. Entry is free, paintings will be on sale, 30 or
so painters, designers, creators and such so we’re promised, and that includes
us Organ team with a stall and some artwork and paintings
and... We're told there will be music, food, a relaxed space and well,
we'll soon change that with some noise and splat – www.trumanbrewery.com
Friday
and Saturday 11.30pm – 6.30pm
Sunday
10.00pm – 5pm
Admission
FREE
"The
ethos of the Old Truman Brewery’s markets is consistent with that of the
Brewery as a whole; to provide a platform for new design, art and fashion,
without prejudice or pretension, in order to restore the direct link between
creator and customer"
|
 ALBUM
REVIEW: PERE UBU with SARAH JANE MORRIS
– Long Live Pere Ubu (Cooking Vinyl) – Merdre this is good.... “Merdre”
is the single growled word that opens the album, “Merdre” was also the
single word that open Alfred Jarre’s play that, so legend has it, sent
audiences into riotous fits back there just over a hundred years ago...
We pretty much know the only thing we can reasonably expect from Pere Ubu
is the unexpected. Not content with pretty much reinventing rock music
in the mid 70’s, they’ve been reinventing themselves with each new album
since... down with Pere Ubu the hideous skunk... Long live Pere Ubu...
if you don’t hand over some meat and some gold... They’ve really
outdone themselves this time. Pere Ubu finally got around to making some
kind of semi-deranged rather ambitious concept album based on the absurdist
play that they originally got their name from... what a wonderful sight,
bring me more. Alfred Jarry’s “Ubu Roi” is said to have caused riots when
it premiered in Paris in 1896 (as did Stravinsky’s Rites Of Spring 14 years
later of course, there’s a hint Of Stravinsky’s strokes in here, his forward
motions) Ubu, my vileness, don’t be a bore... It has
taken the avant-punk-new-wave-prog band (or whatever the hell you want
us to call them this week for the purposes of this review and another exercise
is dancing around architecture) some thirty or so years to get around the
making an album based on the play that they originally took their name
form. Seems the original play was banned after the second performance and
the second night of riots... not it time to prevent it playing a large
part in launching the idea of the Theatre Of The Absurd and in turn the
name of this rather revolutionary band... And here they are paying back
the favour and doing some introducing themselves and slitting things open
from head to toe and...
This
isn’t a mere concept album, it really does grab the spirit of the play
and runs amok with it, this is a lot more than just another concept album...
We’re dragged all over the place with the continuous piece of music. Long
Live is an album that you’ll need to invest a little time in, this is an
album that takes a few listens and a little bit of undivided attention
before it really gets under your skin and you realise David Thomas and
company have pulled off something really rather impressive here. Thomas
himself is on top form with that distinctive instinctive voice, and Sarah
Jane Morris alongside, as scheming harpy Mere Ubu, is brilliant in a creepy
almost show-steeling way - taking advantage of the delirium, and angels
don’t swear, she has claws everywhere... at least the equal... She’s all
kinds of dalmatian tormenting Cruella creepy. Dark lounge jazz, twisted
operatic doom, concept-prog story telling, a liberal interpretation of
the original play so it would seem, so many splendid ideas, I agree to
everything.... Long live Ubo, now sing that song we love... and is that
the sound of bile or are we going to stay on the hill? Lot of twists here...
Punk satire? Social commentary? This isn’t really 1896 is it? Some of it
sounds almost childish in a very clever knowing kind of way, oh look, this
is an excellent album, let it in and let it settle then you want to dive
in further and further. A masterpiece..
And
they’re at the ICA in London this week, Friday 25th Sept More from
www.ubuprojex.net
or www.cookingvinyl.com
SINGLE
REVIEW: HATEBREED - In
Ashes They Shall Reap (Roadrunner) – Single from the Conneticut band’s
latest album ‘Hatebreed’ and more of their trademark aggressive no messing
muscled up crossover hardcore metal threat. Doing pretty much what you’d
expect and indeed want Hatebreed to do once more... Brutal, bruising, tough,
no sign of compromise... www.hatebreed.com
SINGLE
REVIEW: THIRD LIGHT – Leaders
And Follwers (Robot Heart) – Epic indie pop rock that touches on a Feeder
flavour or two, slick emotion and they do their chosen thing impressively
well – really not our chosen thing though... All radio friendly slick and
here it is, early moves from the kingston-Upon-Thames band, moves that
are sure to impress other people at places like evening time Radio One...
Not for us though, good luck to them, go investigate for yourself via www.thirdlight.net
should you like your pop rock slick and reaching towards the melodically
epic....
22nd
Sept '09: NEWS: There’s
a brand new shiny (and best of all) free CASTROVALVA download of
Pump Pump available at www.pumppump.co.uk
“Take it, share it, love it!” says the man from Brew Records...
x |
 NEWS:
LONDON
GIG GUIDE... London needs a decent informative alternative gig guide,
several people have tried to get something going, takes a lot of time and
effort though, takes venues and bands and promoters supporting and interacting
and making things work, needs to be free of all the pub rock clutter, the
tribute bands... we need a focussed uncluttered alternative... Latest valiant
attempt comes from the London Gigs team, and so far so good. Early days
and the website is only just getting off the ground, a decent gig guide
is needed badly and this looks early days good... it will only flourish
if people get behind it, make it work people, we need it, support it...
www.londongigs.net
x |
| PREVIOUS
ORGAN PAGE (#308)... More more more... all the stuff we wrote about
yesterday and the day before and last week and Kill It Kid's sunshine and
such...
ORGAN
PAGE (#307)... More more more...
ORGAN
PAGE #306... London Seen, this that, just hit the link and have
a look, music, art, reviews and those all important links...
ORGAN
PAGE #305... Rain, art, great British birds, albums, singles, girls
made of heavy metal forcing you to rock....bang bang bang....
ORGAN
PAGE #304... FIGHT LIKE APES, KILL IT KID, VAN DER GRAAF in the USA,
a whole bag load of album reviews, news, this and that...
ORGAN
PAGE #303... All the stuff we were frothing about yesterday, the day
before, last week... THE ART BOOT FAIR, IQ, PETER HAMMILL and a whole whole
whole load more...
ORGAN
PAGE #302... oh go have a look, another page of whatever the
hell it is we do for some godforsaken reason or other, you don't need a
list do you? Just explore it...
ORGAN
PAGE #301... A.....
ORGAN
PAGE #300... H......
x |
| You can explore
the old weekly style on line edtions and a whole bag of old Organs and
23 years of Organ history
here, we're moving
on again, kick over the bricks once more.... |
|
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