(m/t) Janaki and Kimberley - You RULE!!! — Forum Archive

18 Apr 2002, 16:40

This is a little thread just to say another belated (albeit slightly re-mixed) Welcome from me to the joyfully, mysteriously exotic Miss J. :hi: :hi: and the gleefully cheery Kimberley (aka Frootijen)

Seeing as one of you arrived here during my long hibernation away from this forum, your witty and entertaining posts have kept me enthralled like no other for a while - and - here's the best bit to which I tip my hat to you most of all - YOU ARE BOTH FELLOW LAIKA FANS!! :clap: :clap: :jump: Whooooooo!!!!! Respect!!

Not many people here can profess to knowing anything from this fine underrated band, and you also list a few other great names in your "faves" list alongside the divine and luscious Margie Fiedler.....

...so which of their records do you dig the most? I love their debut "Silver Apples Of The Moon" still lots - cos it's so frantic and just plain groovy, but anything they've done could measure up to that one just as well. Pity they're on another three-year sabbatical before their next record is due next year. Seeing Margie (and fellow Laika/PJ person Rob Ellis of course) on stage with PJ Harvey was one of THE highlights of Ms H's "Stories.." tour last year! Cool!! :nod:

So, let's work with Gnu and get this goddamn dream band of ours to become reality sometime soon! I think it's high time we showed The Flabby Order how classically deranged, otherworldy cacophonous POP ought to be done.... :D :D

:smoking:

18 Apr 2002, 16:51

I want a little jumping smiley! I was just listening to Laika today, as a matter of fact!

(The cover of German Shepherds off of Whore, the Wire tribute album...one of only two good tribute albums I know of.)

18 Apr 2002, 16:59

Who are Laika, then?

18 Apr 2002, 17:15

:o Marty, i do believe you're making me blush. sankyuu for all the compliments, though...and i'm glad i'm amusing someone other than myself. ;)

this sucks, though...i will write a proper response later, but it might not be till after this weekend...was just about to leave and go home for the weekend. which will be completely insane, cos we've got a BIG show tomorrow night, and it's at this anime convention, and the convention takes place all weekend...and therefore, i highly doubt i'll be going anywhere near my computer. :cry:

and Major T, i'm MORE THAN sure that Marty here will fill you in on what you've been missing. are you familiar at all with Moonshake, perchance...?

Laika's official website is here, in the interim.

argh, do you know how frustrating it is to really want to reply to something but not have the time? :laugh:

more later, after things calm down...i promise. we have one last practice session at 5am tomorrow though, so i'm afraid i must go...much to do!

have brilliant weekends, everyone! :hi:

18 Apr 2002, 17:33

:cry: You have to go so soon Janni?? okay then - enjoy yr weekend - don't do anything I wouldn't do..... hope band's gig is a blistering one! :nod:

catch u later, bunting! :hi:

18 Apr 2002, 17:48

Originally posted by Major Tarantino Who are Laika, then?

Janni's given U the link, but just for your enlightenment (enLAIKAnment :lol: :nonono: ) the band formed out of the ashes of legendary post-rock/experimental outfit MOONSHAKE after they split in half in 1994. MOONSHAKE were a strange four-piece guitar/sampler/electronic band of the early 90's that sounded like early Public Image, The Pop Group, Can, Kraftwerk, My Bloody Valentine, Grandmaster Flash/Sugarhill Gang, Stereolab, and Josef K all rolled into one - as you can imagine, they're a very hard band to categorise or pigeonhole, that's why many music journalists didn't bother.

Between 1991-1996 they brought out four albums and five singles in all, not much really, before the sole remaining member (and former 80s indie outfit Wolfhounds singer) DAVE CALLAHAN gave up and started concentrating on film soundtracks/art installation music instead. (Their drummer, Mig, had left the band in 1995). Laika were the band formed by the other songwriter from Moonshake MARGARET FIEDLER (a Chicago-born, former New Yorker, now based in UK, who used to play in lots of local bands including one with her former boyfriend MOBY...yep, that's true!!), and their bassist John Frenett, when they left the 'Shake in 1994, pairing up with producer/engineer GUY FIXSEN and PJ Harvey member Rob Ellis and GOD/EARDRUM percussionist Lou Ciccotelli.

They brought out three albums and six singles: ANTENNA (EP) - 1994 SILVER APPLES OF THE MOON (LP) - 1994 SPACEDUST (EP) - Given away free at gigs 1995 BREATHER (EP) - 1997 SOUNDS OF THE SATELLITES (LP) - 1997 ALMOST SLEEPING (EP) - 1997 BLACK CAT BONE (12" promo) - 2000 UNEASY (single) - 2000 (made Jo Whiley's single of the week surprisingly enough !!) GOOD LOOKING BLUES (LP) - 2000 BADTIMES (single) - 2000

Hard to actually describe their sound as its a real mix of electro, hip-hop, drum'n'bass, ambient, ethnic, african, space dub, guitar pop, funk, jazz, etc.... They've been mainly well-regarded by the music press and have been given a lot of favourable reviews.... but the only way to understand their music is to actually listen to it: best thing is to start with that first LP they did in 1994 as it's often regarded as one of the best post-rock/experimental albums of its time.

Then again, you might hate it.....

btw.... LAIKA was the name of the first dog in space aboard the Russian satellite Sputnik 2, so there you have it!! :)

18 Apr 2002, 18:43

I'll give them a listen and get back to you...

18 Apr 2002, 19:14

Originally posted by Oh Look! There Goes The Laughing Martian Again!! YOU ARE A FELLOW LAIKA FAN!! Whooooooo!!!!! Respect!!

Cool. I like Laika too. I rembember I did a interview with Guy Fixsen and Margaret Fiedler for a fanzine in 1998. This interview never have been published in English before. If someone is interested I can post it here. :)

18 Apr 2002, 19:40

Do, Richard - DO THAT !! :) :)

I'd be most happy for you to post it - for people like me, Gnu, Buster, Janaki, Martin Fradley to enjoy, seeing as we're all admirers....sheesh, I'm bowled over that more and more people have become aware of this band's understated genius!

Nice one buddy!!! And thank you! :) :clap:

18 Apr 2002, 19:56

Originally posted by Oh Look! There Goes The Laughing Martian Again!! Do, Richard - DO THAT !! :) :)I'd be most happy for you to post it - for people like me, Gnu, Buster, Janaki, Martin Fradley to enjoy, seeing as we're all admirers....sheesh, I'm bowled over that more and more people have become aware of this band's understated genius!Nice one buddy!!! And thank you! :)

Okay fellas, the interview:

In what way do you feel "Sounds of the Satellites" is different from its predecessor, "Silver Apples of the Moon"?

With our first LP, probably because we were trying to prove ourselves, we tried to cram a lot of ideas in, and we were more heavily into the drum and bass thing which was just starting on pirate radio at the time. Consequently the LP is very dense and we wanted our ideas to come across better. That's why our second LP has more space which means more warmth. We were less paranoid about the quality of our ideas and allowed them to breathe a little. We never played live before completing the first LP and so the second LP had the benefit of having learnt how to mess with the songs a bit in front of people - obviously five people can only do so much and sometimes that constraint is a good one.

What were the major influences of "Sounds of the Satellites"?

Ourselves, mostly! That is to say listening to what we had done before and reacting to it. We haven't really heard a lot of contemporary music that we liked since maybe Tricky, MC 900ft Jesus or the pirate jungle stuff back in '93.

In the last years, some groups like Laika and Daft Punk made great albums with home studio recordings. What do you think about this? Is this a new tendency?

It's just a natural evolution as technology becomes more empowering and affordable. It has to be a good thing as people are more able to take control of their creativity which means more individuality. We are quite holistic in our approach - we record, produce, design artwork, manage, do our accounts - almost entirely on our Mac. It allows creative people to work under less time and money pressure and spend time assessing their work as well as just making it. Because live playing and organic sounds are important to us, we don't work exclusively at home - drums and other things requiring a natural room sound, and mixing are still done at a commercial studio. We can record vocals, flute, bass etc. at home though - the neighbours are happier without drums kits pounding on their ceiling!

What currently do you like musically? What inspires you?

As I said, not much contemporary stuff but things like 70s Miles Davis, Can , Kraftwerk, Captain Beefheart, Early 80s stuff like PiL, Gang of Four, The Slits, The Pop Group, ESG.

What have you been listening to lately?

a lot of old american blues - and also making an attempt to listen to more modern classical music - Ligeti, Stockhausen, Messiaen.

I guess nobody likes to be labeled, but to label artists is inevitable for the music press. In that way, is the term "post rock" applicable to your music?

Post Rock was a term invented for us actually! Simon Reynolds did a feature on us, God and Scorn back in 1994 and to interest his Melody Maker editor in it, he had to come up with a 'scene' and name it. There is fairly clearly no obvious link between us and the other two bands, but his rationale was that we used to be in rock bands and now it was something else - 'post' rock. It tends to mean 'drone' music with no vocals and often more 'experimental' than good. There is a fair ammount of experimenting that goes into our music, but first and foremost it has to be a _successful_ experiment and we have to like it emotionally as well as intellectually. We use drones in our music but also a lot of hypnotic polyrhythms and _structure_. Pop structure and melodies are important to us. They are a healthy limitation and help our music stay focused. 'Trip-Hop' is another label that people place on us and in some ways it is something that we were partly instrumental in forming. Manipulation of samples and a more interesting and emotional voice than an anonymous soul diva. "Organic drum 'n' bass" is sometimes used too, especially of our first LP, but still influencing our music today a little. Since way before Goldie et. al., we've been into the juxtaposing of fast, jazzy rhythms and slow, melodic basslines - it just works - we've always tried to make music that works on more than one level - you can dance to it or chill out to it.

Do you enjoy playing live? And for people that have not seen your live show, can you describe it?

We love playing live. Music is all about communication and you get that in buckets at a live show.
We play as a five-piece - Rob on drums, Lou on african percussion, John on electric bass, Margaret singing and playing guitar, and Guy playing live samples. It's important to us to leave the sequencer at home and not use tapes - that way the songs are always a little different - there's room for new ideas to be thought up on the spot and we don't get bored! If the band's bored then so will the audience... With two drummers and sample loops, the sounds is rhythm heavy.

How was to support different artists like Radiohead and Fionna Apple? How was the audiences reaction?

It was better on a musical and personal level to support Radiohead. They were very friendly and helpful. Fiona Apple's music is not as good a match with ours and Fiona only said about two words to us in six weeks! The audiences (about 3000 people each night) responded surprsingly well to us and in that, most important, sense both tours were a great success. A lot of people heard us and liked us - I think we sounded like a genuine alternative in a time of corporate alternorock.

Do you have plans for a new album?

Yes! We're hard at work on it as we speak. We're hoping to have it ready to release before the end of the year. It's hard to say how it will turn out exactly but it seems to be darker and funkier. We're going to have a greater emphasis on live playing - This will be the first LP we've made where we've played the songs in front of an audience before recording them. We've always meant to in the past, but we've found the merry-go-round of writing-recording-mixing-artwork-touring... has always out-paced us before.

You really have replied my e-mail very quickly and have inserted your e-mail on the album's sleeve. Are you an Internet addict (in a good meaning of the word, of course)? :-)

We can hardly get through a day without the internet! Mostly for e-mail - it helps to keep in touch with our record companies all over the world and Margaret keeps in touch with her family in the USA. Much cheaper that way! The snowdome cover/merchandising concept for Sounds of the Satellites was realised over the internet - it was through doing a 'net search that we found and contacted Global Shakeup - a Los Angeles based company that organised the manufacture of the snowdomes in China!

The final obligatory question. Do you have any message for the Brazilian fans? Any chance to play here?

Become vegetarian!
We would love to play in Brazil - just need some cash first! If not for this album, hopefully next time.

18 Apr 2002, 20:00

Become vegetarian - wise choice.

Big Macs excluded occasionally ;)

18 Apr 2002, 20:15

Thanks for that Richard - excellent little feature.

Enjoyed reading it - I'm always on the look out on the internet for articles on Laika and their earlier band Moonshake as their music will probably be reassessed some time in the future as more influential than it's often been given credit for. I likewise used to do lots of fanzines in the late 80s to mid-90s before I found it hard to produce them single handedly anymore (as in write, design, produce, print, copy, staple, distribute, sell - all a one-man-operation!!), so I stopped as all my collaborators became busy with their own things in the end....

At the moment I've just bunged on LAIKA'S first album again - and it's a blast! It was JUNGLE even before Jungle / Drum'n'Bass became hip thru Goldie and Reprazent - how much more ahead of their time can they get?

As for Moonshake, any newcomers to Laika could do well to investigate Margaret's fine stuff whilst she was still one half of the creative force of that former band: The albums "EVA LUNA" (1992) and mini-lp "BIG GOOD ANGEL" (1993) are still revelatory listens if only for the way in which the band construct tracks entirely out of sampled sounds....with deep deep bass underpinning everything. Pure underappreciated genius. :nod:

18 Apr 2002, 20:46

and anyone that likes MC 900 FT JESUS can't be all bad...I guess I'll just have to check these guys out!!!

18 Apr 2002, 21:04

With an open mind like that, I think you'll dig 'em!! ;)

But don't take my word for it.

23 Apr 2002, 12:29

oh GOD. :nod: :nod: :nod: Laika is just...brilliant. there's really no other word i can think of to describe them. and i'm still kicking myself for not just taking the day off work and going to see them live ('twas either at the Empty Bottle or at the Double Door...either way, VERY GOOD SMALL VENUES, both) when i had the chance! but it was on a Sunday night, had work the next day, and my job situation was tenuous at the time, so i didn't... :cry: (someday, perhaps. after this new album...? to date, that show and the Buffalo Daughter/Butter 08 double bill that blew through town a handful of years ago are the two things i most regret not having gone to see, for whatever reason. :cry: )

at any rate, am now (obviously) back from an insane and v. long weekend, and can thusly now respond to this thread properly! :D

in slightly jumbled order: Ricardo, THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting up that interview! was a very interesting read...i don't believe i've read nearly enough in the way of interviews with Laika, so any are always welcome! yay for fanzines (used to do one myself, back in the day...)! :nod: Grigori, Major, and anyone and everyone else who hasn't yet done so: PLEASE do yourself a favour and check out Laika's music. as Marty said, there's no way to adequately describe it without having a listen for yourself. they personally floor me, but who knows how you'll feel about them...? the only way to really know is to give a listen.

Gnu, how's this? :jump2: i still have to get that Wire tribute...don't yet have it! :eek:

and Marty, the show was indeed quite good. and was recorded by several different people, so depending on how those recordings turned out, we should have some MP3s posted up to our website soon. will of course keep anyone interested apprised when this actually happens. :D excellent weekend had all around though...though i was still sad i couldn't respond to this sooner! as for Laika's recordings, Silver Apples of the Moon is of course brilliant...but the US got completely shafted with it! it took FOREVER for it to come out here, of course...and when it finally did come out here, our packaging was rather...normal. granted, the music was anything but, and of course that's the important part. but the packageing for the UK version was SO MUCH FUN TO PLAY WITH. a really awesome chica named Lisa who was the one who got me into Laika in the first place...she of course had the import long before it came out here. (it also helped that she worked at my favourite indie record store, and they stocked imports, and of course she got discounts...and was able to make people listen to things in the store... :D ) so she let me play with her copy. which was of course loads of fun...at the time, i was too poor (was either still in high school or had just graduated...will have to check the years and get back to you on that! :laugh: ), or i would've bought the import. but as it was, i was overjoyed when it FINALLY came out and i could scrounge together lunch money to buy the domestic one!

and of course, i love it to pieces. but i do think i actually seem to like Sounds of the Satellites more...and the only reason i say that is, this is the album i seem to end up putting bits of on various compilation tapes and CDs i make for people most often! now that i've got Good Looking Blues, i end up using bits of that too...but it seems like Sounds of the Satellites really does it most for me. though all are of course brilliant. and i've been very lax in not picking up every single/EP they've done...should really go do so! and that Wire tribute as well! shame, shame! and i don't even have the special edition of SotS that came with the snowglobe! :cry:

i completely agree...they are an often overlooked and FAR UNDERRATED band by most people. i think that anyone who listens to them will inevitably be influenced by them...but first, we must make people listen! ;)

so, uh...when *are* we going to get this project off the ground? must show the world how it's done! :hi:

23 Apr 2002, 13:19

Dear Janaki -

I didn't really care for Akira, but I really like Pokemon and even have favorites (plus some of the little toys from Burger King).

Is that cool? Will you still speak to me?

Your friend,

Gnu

P.S. How was your visit with Annie Mae?

23 Apr 2002, 14:23

Originally posted by janaki so, uh...when *are* we going to get this project off the ground? must show the world how it's done!

I'm trying to get Martin to convice John Robb to go on TV in the U.K. and announce that we're better than Oasis.

That, to me, is the logical first step.

23 Apr 2002, 14:30

Originally posted by Gnu Odor Dear Janaki -I didn't really care for Akira, but I really like Pokemon and even have favorites (plus some of the little toys from Burger King).Is that cool? Will you still speak to me?Your friend,GnuP.S. How was your visit with Annie Mae?

Akira is shite. pretty to look at, good score, shite film in general. and everyone in the world thinks of either that, bloody DragonBall Zzzzzzzzz, Poke-Me-Mon or pr0n whenever anyone brings up anime. drives me nuts. :nonono:

to sum up, yes, i will still be your friend. see? i even made you a wunnerful friendship bracelet! :D

your friend with UV-sensitive hair,

janaki

p.s. not nearly as good as my visit with Minnie May. she gave me 'splosives! ;)

23 Apr 2002, 14:32

Originally posted by Gnu Odor > Originally posted by janaki> so, uh...when *are* we going to get this project off the ground? must show the world how it's done!

I'm trying to get Martin to convice John Robb to go on TV in the U.K. and announce that we're better than Oasis.

That, to me, is the logical first step.

:nod: my sunglasses are at the ready, then. what's your policy on autographs...? :laugh:

23 Apr 2002, 14:37

Hiya Janaki :hi: welcome back and good to hear your shows were a success too - would be even better if one could see you all in action someday!! :nod:

I believe our new poster here Kimberley R-J is ALSO a Laika fan too as it was precisely this revelation that floored me when she and I posted on that other NewOrderWeb forum recently.... she will hopefully chip in here soon about it, so it would be great to start a spin-off fellowship in support of one of the most inventive and creatively underrated bands of the past decade.

Sorry but I'm gonna sound like a real show off here but I got that limited edition Snowdome personally sent me from Laika HQ when "SOTS" came out in 1997. - Apparently Rachel Fixsen (Guy's sister and US correspondent on all distribution matters, etc) was responsible for the creation of that thing, which as we all know, adorns the sleeve of that second elpee...

Furthermore, "SAOTM" only came out in America late 1995 after Tricky toured the US with Laika in tow. He even got to work on some recordings with Margie and Guy et al but as yet no official sighting of these recordings exist...Having already asked Margie and Guy about it on the few occasions I've met them at gigs they themselves aren't sure what is to become of these Tricky collabs. One of them may have turned up on some obscure compilation in the past, like for example a "Virgin" mix of "If You Miss" did on 1995's "MACRO DUB INFECTION" double CD compilation compiled by KEVIN MARTIN of God, no less. This compilation featured exclusive tracks from all our leftfield faves like Coil, Omni Trio, Tortoise, The Mad Professor, Wagon Christ, Scorn, Spring Heel Jack, etc...and I believe a second volume followed in 1998.

Another old Laika track "Lower Than Stars" surfaced on an edition of UK CD/Booklet monthly "VOLUME" which ran for many issues in the early to late 1990s. This track is also included on their free exclusive album preview CD which was given to punters at the October 1997 support gigs Laika did in the UK with RADIOHEAD entitled "SpaceDust EP". It's now understandable how Thom Yorke cherry-picked Laika to tour with them as his last two albums feature tracks with a very discernable Laika influence - I kid you not - these tracks are "Everything In Its Place" and "Morning Bell" off "Kid A" and "Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box" off "Amnesiac" (but not a lot of people knew that!) - it's that warm Rhodes Organ sound and crazy offbeat samples that gives the game away....

Now to finish on, here's a shocking revelation about Tricky's aborted Laika collaboration.....this may not have yielded to our ears any new Laika songs but if you have a copy of Tricky's second LP proper "PreMillennium Tension" and stick on track 9 "Lyrics Of Fury" and listen to it carefully, you can spot the Laika influence straight away..... Why, it's no other than a DIRECT STEAL off Laika's "44 Robbers" from "Silver Apples..." just check that drum rhythm and scratchy guitar samples...tut tut....!! I told Margie Fiedler this once and she couldn't believe it either - she had to go and listen to the track to check for herself!!!!! :nod:

23 Apr 2002, 14:41

Originally posted by janaki > Originally posted by Gnu Odor> > > > Originally posted by janaki> > so, uh...when *are* we going to get this project off the ground? must show the world how it's done! >

I'm trying to get Martin to convice John Robb to go on TV in the U.K. and announce that we're better than Oasis.

That, to me, is the logical first step.

:nod: my sunglasses are at the ready, then. what's your policy on autographs...? :laugh:

Autographs? Fook! I've already been pestered for some in the past with this poxy band I'm in now...to tell ya the truth I don't get the fuss with autographs, I'VE never hassled my fave pop stars for autographs...well, except Uncle Billy [Bragg] that is - back when I was a student in 1985.... but really, I think autographs are sad. I tend not to like giving autographs when fans (and yep, this band of ourz does have a few!) ask me for them - I just draw a stupid picture instead and tell 'em a porky about my medical condition..... :nod: :evil4:

23 Apr 2002, 15:00

'sokay, Marty...and :hi: yourself. :D i've had more than my own fair share of show-offy moments too...and they always make for good stories. (that being said, yes, i *do* envy you. :laugh: )

i still don't have Pre-Millennium Tension...it's something i've often contemplated getting, but never quite got around to. i've discovered that while i do like Tricky's voice a lot, and do indeed like *him*...i think i like him best in collaboration with other people. specifically things he's done with Massive Attack (ie, "Daydreaming"...wunnerful song!). but that's neither here nor there, really. this track from P-MT, though...was it a sample or was it just a rip-off of "44 Robbers"...? he was good in the past about crediting samples...?

and very, very interesting indeed. i still have yet to pick up anything of Radiohead's since OK Computer. mostly cos i've been too busy picking up other things, and everyone wants too much bloody money for them over here...and they don't show up in used shops too often. 'show i afford a great deal of my music habit...buy as much as i can used (with some exceptions, of course), and that way i can (pretend to) afford imports/new things and such where necessary! :laugh:

(and a contribution to this conversation from Kim R-J would be most welcome indeed. all hail Laika. and MBV. and Curve. :D )

re: autographs: they ARE really odd things, aren't they? i've never understood why people get all excited about having them. i mean, it's REALLY and TRULY cool if you get to meet someone who you consider to be a hero, someone who's influenced you in some important way...that, i'd never knock. and it's even better if you can actually think of something good to say when meeting them. and in that circumstance, maybe a signed thing isn't so bad as a remembrance of the event...though a photo with your hero would be better! ;)

i find it very strange when people freak out over me. i too have had requests for autographs and wotnot as a result of the band i'm in now...which is fine, and the people have been really nice, too. but i think i find it even odder since these aren't even *our* songs. we didn't write them. we do covers of anime songs. which, while fun, and while there might indeed be a certain degree of skill involved...it still completely floors me that much attention would be paid at all, really. :laugh: but whatever.

(and in all seriousness, i'd asked that question jokingly, BTW. :D )

oh, and Marty? when do we get to hear YOUR band? :clap: :clap: :clap: keepitcoming... :clap: :clap: :clap:

23 Apr 2002, 15:23

Originally posted by janaki Akira is shite. pretty to look at, good score, shite film in general.

Pretty to look at, hmmm? This is the movie with the titanic green flesh monster with the flailing entrails and exposed organs, right?

I don't know if it's cool in the anime community to like it, but I really dug Ghost in the Shell. Now that was pretty to look at. And My Friend Totoro.

Can you say "limited selection?"

23 Apr 2002, 15:32

GitS is very pretty to look at. dunno if you play video games at all, but there was a Playstation GitS game that was loads of fun...got to drive around your own little Fujikoma spider-tank all over the place. i would SO love to have one of those in real life! :D

with Akira, i meant more in terms of the quality rather than the aesthetic beauty of it. the quality of the animation is good, but stylistically i agree...not really my cuppa. and never had the patience for all the manga (there's a DAMN lot of it)...but it's at least got a story, which is more than can be said for the movie. rar. :violent:

Totoro is a great movie, and the dub isn't even all that bad. though i am generally not fond of dubs in general (for ANYTHING, not just anime...i love subtitles. :D )

anime's not everyone's thing, and not everyone who likes anime likes *all* anime. and i don't care what's "cool" in any community, anime or otherwise. i just care about what i like. ;)

23 Apr 2002, 15:47

Originally posted by janaki oh, and Marty? when do we get to hear YOUR band? keepitcoming...

Unfortunately NOTHING by !Basher! seems to want to come out on tape or CD - it's a live band in every sense of the word, and our rehearsals ARE actually the gigs - there's a twisted kind of logic to this band's existence, in that it's chiefly a vehicle for six people to get together in a room (I'm the only constant member so to speak) and just thrash their anger out of their system....no more no less....it's a very primal undertaking!!

BUT....I DO have a four-track CD of some material I produced LAST YEAR under yet another guise - this time a one-man solo project of mine called AGGROKULTURE - which is basically myself playing different styles of percussion rhythms and having it all distorted to fuck by feeding it all thru a computer and mangling the sound to something ear-shreddingly loud. This first CD I did sold about 70 copies (mostly to my friends - it's all home-produced) and actually scared the shit out of a few of my more muso-y friends [which delighted me no end....as that was the primary intention... :evil4: ]. Basically I've taken traditional Brazilian Samba rhythms and fed them thru a mincer, making them sound positively evil and industrial-strength. It's certainly NOT easy listening at all...and seeing as I have played in various Samba/Salsa/fusion percussion bands over the years as well as my other bands (I've been a busy kid you know!! But it's got more to do with my notoriously short attention span more than anything really Janni...), the experience has provided me with yet another creative outlet with which to make maliciously offensive noise purely for the hell of it!!! I can send you a burnt-copy of this four-track Samba CD if you wanna hear it for yourself - just don't play it on your headphones as it might damage your hearing!!. It's called "Karmageddon Drumquake" and it's free to you if you email me with your address details - I'll get it sent over to ya!! :)

I'm currently still struggling with making a second EP under the AggroKulture name, but with over 200 drum parts, samples and rhythms to dick around with, it's taking its time coming together as you can well imagine. Besides, I'm having trouble trying to make it an even more devastating slap around the face than that first one!! :nod:

23 Apr 2002, 16:10

...Marty, have you ever tried recording any of !Basher!'s gigs? i don't know if we'll ever get off of our lazy arses and do a proper recording of us, but if the recordings from this weekend's show turned out okay, at least we'll have that...

whee! percussive mayhem! :D

23 Apr 2002, 17:05

Originally posted by janaki ...Marty, have you ever tried recording any of !Basher!'s gigs? i don't know if we'll ever get off of our lazy arses and do a proper recording of us, but if the recordings from this weekend's show turned out okay, at least we'll have that...whee! percussive mayhem! :D

Well actually I have recorded us - as !Basher! - as we have been simply jamming away - throwing as much proverbial shit at the wall in an attempt to see what actually sticks - :lol: Cassettes do actually exist of this bunch making out together - oo-er missus... But, believe me, a lot of it is totally unlistenable shite as the noise is so loud one poxy little cheap microphone can only take so much before it throws an almighty tantrum and refuses to co-operate any further. So I think you know what I'm getting at here!! ;)

23 Apr 2002, 19:33

Originally posted by janaki (and a contribution to this conversation from Kim R-J would be most welcome indeed. all hail Laika. and MBV. and Curve. :D )

Well I know one surefire way of grabbing Kim's attention and distracting her into posting on this thread - just watch me.... [check the heading after I've posted this will you???!! ;) ]

23 Apr 2002, 23:03

Hey Janaki, I have an extra copy of Tricky's Pre-Millenium Tension if you want it! I worked at a record store and got a TON of free stuff, so being the Tricky fan that I am, I grabbed a CD for me and my hubby(we weren't married then-but we are married now and don't need two copies!) E-mail me if you want it! My address is on my profile!

Curve, what more can I say? I just think that Toni Halliday has the most amazing and beautiful voice! I am anxiously awaiting their next album! It is SUPPOSED to be out by June! GIFT their last album was just awesome! Anyone heard it? Toni is a total hottie too! Toni and Tricky should collaborate on a song that would rule!

MBV, always wrote the most interesting songs. My ex gave me the album LOVELESS, and I was hooked. I was very sad when they broke up. I do like their little side project Snowpony, but I have not been able to listen to it lately since I lost the "In slow Motion" CD ( I think that is the title) and have no idea where the damn thing is :scratch: Kevin Shields also played on a few songs off of GIFT!

The only Laika album that I have is "Sounds of the Satellites"! That CD was in heavy rotation when I worked at the record store! :shine: Man, I need to go buy some new music! Anyone got any recommendations?

24 Apr 2002, 10:45

:nod: YES! :jump: i was SO EXCITED when i saw that Kev was showing up on the new Curve album (well, *then*) when it came out last year! i nearly fell over from excitement when i picked it up the day it came out and marched it up to the register and was able to rip the shrinkwrap off and stuff it gleefully into my CD player for the walk to the train station!

Gift is a good album...i wouldn't say it's my favourite thing they've done, but it's quite good. and has some really gorgeous, great songs on it...though i think i nearly threw something at the television when i saw a preview for that (what looks to be completely abysmal) Spiderman movie that's coming out...cos they were using "Hell Above Water"! :eek: i realise that it's probably something to do with Universal more than anything, but it still really shocked me. weird. and agreed...Toni has a great voice and is quite beautiful. as for recommendations, i seem to be pimping out the Baldwin Brothers' Cooking With Lasers lately. whee...Rhodes organ and standup bass fun. they refer to their music as "junktronic." you can find out more about them here.

also, if all you've heard is Sounds of the Satellites, i KNOW i won't be alone in suggesting that you check out more Laika!

and if you need something excessively hyper, you can't go wrong with the one-woman amazing band that is Hi-Posi. a CD or two has indeed been released here...but by an unfortunately terrible label who i'd rather not give money to, so i am a dork and go look for the imports instead. even though they're of course more expensive. however, if you wanna know, i'll tell you so you can find the domestics...cos Hi-Posi is REALLY fun.

and thanks again for the offer of Pre-Millennium Tension! (you've got mail, BTW. :) ) i'm actually crossing my fingers and hoping i can get a part-time job at a local indie record store over the summer...could really use more money to pay off debts and save up a bit since ~~i need a new keyboard~~ i'm going back to school in the fall.

(only thing is, as many people keep pointing out to me...me working in such a place is a bit like handing the alcoholic keys to the liquor store and asking him to guard it for a day! :laugh: ) is your store a cool place to work? if so, i really do envy you. ;)