[08/08/2013] Yep. I made it, Demdike made it too...
Although a bit short, a very cool set! I only noticed a few hints of original tunes or even anything that I recognized, and then a big chunk of "Kommunion" (below). The music was much like I hoped: dark & dense. Mostly run off some kinda Mac laptop and a bank of samples, effects, and patches... with a little vinyl spinning thrown in.
Got a chance to say hello at the end and thank them both for actually coming to Houston. I'd put the crowd at about 100 people, seemingly most there for Demdike Stare rather than the locals - which I thought was fantastic. I'm still a bit stunned that it really happened.
"Kommunion" live at Mango's, 8/6/2013
That doesn't really give too much of an impression of the actual experience in effect. The sound system was surprisingly nice at the little club. They did get the video projection up & running for Demdike's set - it looks like the same ones from the Berlin / Jodoverse show. Haha, those two earlier videos are kinda better representative.
Eventually a 2xCD collection was released with most of the vinyl, some alternate version replacements, and some bonus tracks... with different track order. So the original vinyl series kicked off with "Mephisto's Lament" - the second tune on the CD's, following "New Use for Old Circuits," which is not on the vinyl.
That's the whole 2xCD release right there. There's a 20-second-longer non-(Alternate Version) of "Unction" on the vinyl. Alternates are the vinyl deep cuts, but the big 'hits,' like "Mephisto's Lament" and "Violetta," transfer in their original form.
"Mnemosyne" from Elemental 2: Violetta @ 33.3 (2011)
That one comes over the same, but you have to be careful to get the right speed. Two YouTubers have put it up at 33-1/3 rpm... a mistake I myself have made. And here again, I think I'll side with the slower, wronger speed. Speaking of slower, I very much like the non-vinyl, 'bonus' CD tracks "Shade" and "10th Floor Stairwell."
Not to be negative, this kind of low-down spooky doomtronics seems to be on the way out for Demdike. Maybe just temporary until the next major project? Or yet another great act's style evolving away from what I dig? Only time will tell...
"Violetta" from Elemental 2: Violetta (2011)
Official video released when the vinyl pack was just launching. Anyway, the whole thing's pretty great - sometimes rhythmically inventive, sometimes moody & weird, sometimes something else... The CD's are streamable up there, and the vinyl's probably moot at this point. Couple more cool videos, then I'll wrap it up.
"Erosion of Mediocrity" from Elemental 3: Rose (2012)
Great tune, great video!
"Dauerlinie" from Elemental 4: Iris (2012)
Another favorite track for me. These last three made the digital transition unscathed. Okay, okay...
In February (of 2012), Demdike Stare also dropped a free Modern Love mix/Elemental podcast, "Irrational Advice" - worth checking out. (Tracklist info at the bottom of this post.)
So then there was/is the Slant Azymuth project between them & Andy Votel. For whatever reason, I've listened to this very few times. I never actively disliked it - maybe because it's vinyl only, and so less convenient? But I don't think that's the whole reason. Hold on, I'm going to listen to it now...
"Intervision 1" by Slant Azymuth, from Slant Azymuth (2012)
Maybe I've been put off by the first track/intro, "Gray Equidae," over a minute of cello scrapings & nonsense. (Maybe it's the cover art?) After that, the record alternates between Intervisions [above] and pieces with 'real' names. Like "Black Crolyn," which keeps it short but is still kinda nonsense - rhythmical this time. And yet "Intervision 2" is a little more like it.
"Helican Scan" by Slant Azymuth, from Slant Azymuth (2012)
Hey, I think I might be warming up to (parts of) this! The last couple are a 3rd, final, short Intervision [okay] and "U-Matic Thrill." Despite the name, this last track isn't a New Power Generation-era Prince jam. It's probably the most Demdikesque on the album. So, yeah... despite some weak points, I don't think I had given Slant Azymuth a fair shake. Pretty decent overall!
O yeah, good ol' Rudyard's on 7/19! The next night - at Austin's Delta Lumber & Millworks - also features Brown Whörnet and Gorch Fock... plus Pocket FishRmen, Tim Kerr's "Freedom" piece, MIGAS, and more.
Can't wait for the DVD of the show! (They also played a couple of shows in Louisiana afterwards, but I can't find any evidence...)
"Bullshit" Ed Hall - live 2003
Further back were the previous reunion gigs, one of which I actually made it to. These were 2 nights back 10 years ago, at the dearly departed Room 710 in Austin. Check out "White House Girls" (again), and "Reading" (again!)...
Can't wait for the DVD of the shows!!
Live in L.A. - 1993
Hey, I'm gonna pick just some live videos for each year I can find...
I really just don't have much to say these days, I suppose.
I was introduced to Broadcast super-late, with ... and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age (#6 Drone/Ambient, 2009) - which I've enjoyed a lot. HaHa Sound is a terrific album of radiophonic experimental pop, with some folkish nods, and even a little Stereolabic krautiness.
As promised, here are some excellent external YouTube videos for most of the album - Broadcast fans make the effort!
"Colour Me In" from Haha Sound (2003)
Do I have a track-by-track gimmick? Not yet I don't!
Uhhh, I'm sure I've done this before... But since I'm posting user-content videos, how about user-submitted lyrical interpretation? At least until they run dry.
It is the living, subconscious dream of perfection that we all have, be it a person, a beautiful place, a meaning, or state of being. We need to set the ideal, and set out to find it.
is it about making love?
I think it's more about coming back into a relationship
Strangely enough, this theory doesn't show up nearly as much as you'd imagine. Might say something about lyric freaks - I dunno, I just listen to the sounds, man.
Only lyrics at SongMeanings... Despite fleeting moments of true liberty and happiness, the horizon is often darkened by potential misfortune, and you must learn when to prepare for the inevitable & when to celebrate the good times as long as possible.
And someone made their video for "Hawk" private, and there are no comments over at SongMeanings - so great job! If you've got Spotify, try here. Otherwise:
Sow the seeds
Of everything to be
Safe in sleep
I winter in my dreams
Speak your words
Define your grief for me
Out of reach
Some things just can not be
I've been every year (at least a little bit)... What might I see today?
"Can I See Your Clock" by Jandek, from Six and Six (1981)
Obviously, first is Jandek (#3 Live, 2009) - mainly because they put him on so early in the day. Should be interesting what he comes up for a festival crowd. Mike Watt's playing with him, as well as some Texas jazz drummer.
"Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta" by Geto Boys, from Uncut Dope (1992)
"They Don't Know" by Paul Wall (feat. Bun B) from The Peoples Champ (2005)
I guess Saturday is for hip-hop. The People's Champ playing at the same time as Japandroids? I think I'll survive. Action Bronson also playing later. Ehh, might go see Arctic Monkeys just to mix it up.
"Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service, from Give Up (2003)
Tonight's nominal headliner reunion, but come on...
"Search and Destroy" by The Stooges, from Raw Power (1973)
Yeah, c'mon now. The Stooges (#4, 1969 and #2, 1973) are in town. Truly, that's where I'll be!
Yeah, I don't shoot video at shows because I'm too busy watching the band. But I do appreciate those people who do! And one of those people has come through big time.
Goat's set was definitely the highlight of my Austin Psych Fest, being that they were my #1 of 2012 & I'd never seen them before. But Black Mountain (#6 Live, 2010) was a real close second, and someone shot most of their set!
O yeah, and Roky was real good too. And Boris. And...
"Mary Lou" live at Austin Psych Fest, 4/27/2013
Pretty epic set-opener from their most recent soundtrack album. Might as well go ahead and mention that I've run into Stephen McBean at all 3 Austin Psych Fests that I've attended so far: 3/3.
"Wucan" live at Austin Psych Fest, 4/27/2013
One of my faves there - since whenever I first discovered that album. Which is In the Future (#10, 2008), which is great. Here, have an official video, while yer at it.
"Tyrants" live at Austin Psych Fest, 4/27/2013
Super-prog, that at times comes on like bombastic Mollusk-style Ween. (That is good.) The next video has the coda, along with a full "Buried by the Blues." Nice.
The rain started falling during "Phosphorescent Waves," so the camera went into hiding [full studio]. I wasn't altogether with it, but I'm thinking there was another Wilderness Heart (#17, 2010) rocker played in there - maybe the title track. But not "Let Spirits Ride," which I initially mistook it for.
"No Hits" live at Austin Psych Fest, 4/27/2013
You wanna talk about epic? Check out that John Carpenter worship intro, check out that jamming. Yup, that's from the 2005 self-titled debut.
No "Druganaut" from that one, but I'm fairly sure they did perform "Queens Will Play" somewhere in there towards the end.
Thanks, Black Mountain!! Come back to Texas before another 3 years...
