Music Review, Voicians: A Matter Of Time

Music Review
Voicians: A Matter Of Time
The Music Of Daniel Voicians (And Friends)


     The music of Daniel Voicians is a rare hybrid of many styles.  Orchestral, Rock, Electronic Dance Music, Industrial, Techno, Dub Thingies, and perhaps one or two others I do not know about at this time.  One thing that does come to mind when I listen to Voicians:  Melodic Intricacy.  Yes, the music is intricate, level upon level all hooked together like a masterful 3d chess game, into an almost super wholeness.  To me Voicians music is sculpture in sound, and I have really never heard anything like it before.  Excellent.

     For the record: I initially tried to buy the music at fixtstore.com.  It meant signing up to one more site, when all I wanted was to buy the music.  I may have tried to sign up even, and been rejected, because later I got an email from fixtstore.com itself,  Subj: Was There A Problem?  Oh yeah madam and sirs the site was hard to use and wanted too much information, fyfi.

     Too true.  But now we have it all fixt @ fixtstore.

     Anyway, I was able to contact Daniel himself online, he keeps close eye on his Youtube account, and he communicates through facebook too.  Search Voicians.  I obtained a folder of his work digitally from him, including the latest "A Matter Of Time".  I have spent several months listening to it all.  I am listening to it right now, actually, a song called So Clear, one of my top ten favorites by Voicians.  I have the volume up loud.

     The mass of people hip to Voicians seem to favor the song "(This Can't Be A Dream, Because) This Pain Feels Real", and it is a good one, but let me tell you, when you buy the music of Voicians you are getting MANY good songs, and will most likely have a hard time choosing a favorite.  I have a top three, thats as far as I can get, but I also have a top ten too.  So you see, intricate begets intricate.   How nice.

     Daniel likes to make music for many reasons.  A lot of his stuff is perfect for video, and he actively pursues those ends.  I myself made a music video using his song "The Construct" to illustrate some work I have been doing for the international magazine Lost Treasure, published in Grove Oklahoma.  Daniel is generous, and a lot of his music is perfect for extreme sports videos.

     Some of Voicians pieces are short, they are prequels to whole songs perhaps, or more bits of intricate, to be plugged in where needed at a later date.  Some are actual kernals, seeds or seedlings, of future work, also called works-in-progress.  Right now he is taking the song Hidden And Divine, and expanding it full length, and like all the others, it is awesomely listenable, plus plus.

     Daniel Voicians seems to struggle a bit with the commercial issues surrounding his music, as he tries to exempt himself from being eaten alive by the monster which the band Zeromancer explains in their song "Industry People".  Daniel Voicians does most of his work at a home studio, electronically, and even his collaborations, of which there are many, take place by electronic mail.  He is a collaborator with Klayton aka Celldweller, (Harpcore) Martin Harp, and some others, even though the one T-shirt he has for sale at fixtstore.com says this:

     LONER.

     I sent Daniel a link to an article via his facebook page which was an interview featuring long time master of sound Michael Oldfield, who therein explains some of the pitfalls of the music world (And much more), which are of course magnified by our present day digital technologies.  I hope Daniel takes that information to heart because I believe Voicians could be every bit as influential as Mr. Oldfield is in music, across the many years to come. 

     Try to never get into anything you cannot easily get out of.  A good rule in this world.

     Daniel Voicians insists on his independence in music, a worthy outlook, and one that can only lead to greater creativity and output down the line.   But he also understands the need for collaboration, and he likes it too.  So there is evolution happening, and its really cool to see.  I can feel the blood coursing through my veins, and it feels good.

     Pick up what you can get of the music of Voicians (And friends) at fixtstore.com, just search Voicians, it comes right up.  Contact Daniel at facebook for more information.


Some Of The Best Full Length Songs From Voicians:


This Pain Feels Real
Fighters
The Contruct
Touch Me Hurt Me
Being Someone Else
Communication
Goodbye (Featuring Martin Harp) Celldweller Cover
Birthright (Featuring Martin Harp) Celldweller Cover
Urban Shooting
Routing Her Synapses
So Clear
Trigger
Prayer
Come Closer
Mephisto Dub

Check out Voicians music at Youtube.com as well.

My Video using "The Construct" by Voicians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptBL1EZdps8



    

    

    

Open

As soon as I find the Review that goes here I will post it...thanks.....b

Music Review: Blue October, Foiled

Its always a treat to find a new sound, especially one that gets your ear on the first listen. Thats the way of it with Blue October, at least as far as I'm concerned, and I bet it will make you perk right up too. The CD that introduced me to this Texas band is their fifth, entitled Foiled. Foiled seems to be the charm for them, as it climbs quickly toward platinum and beyond, spawning multiple favorites in several genre. Also among the variety of musical candy on this CD is an excellent dance version of my personal favorite by Blue October (So Far), the song called: X Amount of Words.
The thing that hooked me as I listened to Blue October for the first time was the voice of Justin Furstenfeld: he not only has a rare vocal quality, but an excellent talent for presentation as well. Justin is not afraid to use the tools of his craft, electronically embellishing with perfect sense and taste, though never overdoing it. Maestro is Justin, and the rest of the band are perfect addition to the avatar. Blue Octobers music is fun, and meaningful, and different. A treat indeed.
Blue October has been hard at work for over 10 years, providing their followers with electric live performances that have become their initial reputation, while giving the band members the ease and familiarity with each other that is both evident, and necessary, for the quality of music they purvey. In total the band numbers 5, and as one listens to Blue October it is sometimes difficult to believe that all that killer noise is coming from a quintet. The band roster with duties is as follows: Justin Furstenfeld casting spells with guitar, piano, and vocals; Jeremy Furstenfeld (Justin's older brother) on drums, Ryan Delahoussaye on violin, mandolin, keys; guitarist C.B. Hudson, and bassist Matt Noveskey.
Other than the voice of Justin Furstenfeld, what I like most about Blue October are the lyrics of the songs. Written largely by Justin, the words to Blue Octobers songs seem to possess an emotional/intellectual elasticity, alongwith what I like to call The Big Stick. Within the songs of Blue October one will find both a charming innocence blending well with stark realities, encompassing everything from Love (Congratulations, Its Just Me, What If We Could) to Recovery (X Amount Of Words, In the Ocean) and more. The lyrics of Blue October are poignant, evocative, occasionally bizarre, but never nonsensical. Each song is a story, with attendant attributes thereof, including closure. Do not be surprised to find revelation and even inspiration here. These musical works of Blue October are accounts of life that everyone can relate to, pulling sharp, clear imagery out of your brain via your ears, to then wave those images in front of your face with rhythm and tone. They do it nicely though, it is not an intrusion or a slap, it is pure magic, and makes you want to dance.
Within the music of Blue October, I hear many influences, clueing me to the fact that they are long time students of what works. This alone is a rare quality, and very evident in their beauty as a group. Yes, there are many sounds and beats within the music of Blue October which I have heard somewhere else before, but it is the startling and welcome freshness of this band, coupled with their particularly unique and energetic construction of the sounds available to them, that will make me remember their versions above others, and which make them majestic, to say the least.
Don't miss out on hearing the next great thing. Pick up Foiled, by Blue October, and hear the magic for yourself.
Track Listing:
You Make Me Smile
She's My Ride Home
Into The Ocean
What If We Could
Hate Me
Let It Go
Congratulations
Overweight
X-Amount Of Words
Drilled A Wire Through My Cheek
Sound Of Pulling Heaven Down
Everlasting Friend
18th Floor Balcony
It's Just Me [Hidden Track]
Discography:
Foiled (For The Last time) ~ 2007
Foiled ~ 2006
(Brando/Universal Records)
Argue With A Tree ~ 2004
(Brando/Universal Records)
History For Sale ~ 2003
(Brando/Universal Records)
Consent To Treatment ~ 2000
(Universal Records)
The Answers ~ 1998
(RoDan Entertainment/Scoop)
Contact Blue October at their Myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/blueoctober

Review By Bill Gallagher
[http://www.luxefaire.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/874945

REVIEW: EP -- Demon Haunted World -- Brighter Than A Thousand Suns

REVIEW: EP -- Demon Haunted World
by: Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
Formerly Self Made Soul

One of the coolest things about the internet is this: not only is
there really good music here, and lots of it, but you can also see
what other people are listening to.  Hearing new music is no longer a
matter of being subjected to some Little Tin DJ whose uncle is a big
record company exec, or whose mommy owns the radio station.  You know,
like the thousands of daily schleps who only play certain tunes over
and over again, because the price is right and the FCC says so.  Those
days are going away finally, and we do hope its forever.  Independent
Music is here to stay, and that is a wonderful thing.

Yes, things are really shaping up here on the net, and I sometimes
compare the world wide web to a favorite bay or lagoon, where I can go
and fish and listen to music, and relax and listen to music, and
occasionally visit and do commerce with others, all the while
listening to good new music. I have a few places I regularly throw my
digital fishing line, as I angle about for stimulating sounds, and
these virtual lily pads or underwater structures where the good fish
hang out are my favorite spots, places which usually produce something
new and interesting, even exciting, and on occasion positively
delightful.

One day recently I was fishing about over at Myspace, and one of my
regular fellow-listeners added some stuff to his playlists.  I pay
attention when he does that, because he has turned me on to some
really good things in the past.  I checked out a couple of his
recommendations and found one I kept close.  The groups name is
Brighter Than A Thousand Suns, and though it was somewhat a departure
for me, I was into it immediately, and loving it all the more because
of its newness.  The band seems really young, and their listeners too,
and though I am not of the age group, the cohesion of the sounds, the
intricate beginnings, and bodies filling the void with orderly
completeness and melodic meat, which finalized with near perfect
closure...yeah, I am into all that, and became a fan immediately. I
bought the bands EP "Demon Haunted World" and its been in my personal
listening stream ever since.  When those songs show up I smile.

Perhaps the best thing about Myspace is that you can actually contact
many of the musicians with questions or kudos.  I wrote to Randy,
leader and spokes person of Brighter Than A Thousand Suns, and told
him I would like to review the work.  Randy is not just a very
talented musician but a really cool guy, and smart too.  He is being
kept very busy with the response from Demon Haunted World, and also
with a very tight schedule.   I found what I needed in the several
videos done by this band, and the BTATS blog at MySpace.  What you are
reading is a synopsis of that information, along with my personal take
on it all.  What a lucky reader you are, too.

Brighter Than A Thousand Suns began as a band called Self Made Soul,
which, early in its existence, had experienced a rather fluid line-up
except for the two founding members, who are Randy and Alex.  These
two young men had met during High School, and have been performing
together ever since.  Randy plays lead guitar for the band, and he
does it with accomplishment and a confident attitude that is a joy to
hear; and Alex plays bass guitar and sings.  Alex' vocals are
exceptionally good sounding, and were the main vocals until the band
gained Angelika who calls herself Angel.  It was discovered that
Angelika has quite a talent for screaming vocals, which are a growing
part of modern music, and she was therefore moved to the front, with
Alex as secondary vocals.  Angelikas voice is signature though not
restricted to just really hard screaming output:  her regular,
ehhhhh...shall we say "Normal" voice is very good too.  The final
line-up of Brighter Than A Thousand Suns fell into place with Matt on
drums, and together these four people make a nice, compact, and highly
mobile engine of unique and powerful music.  Yes, engine.  Thats the
best word for it, I think.  En. Gine.  Power.  Full.  Imagine a really
large motor.  Or, as the Japanese are known to say: Power Plant.

The bands original name, Self Made Soul, was derived from a work of
literature by Ayn Rand.  The change to Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
came about just recently, and in my research I see that this term has
been used in Music before.  The band Killing Joke, a favorite of mine,
produced a CD by that name, and the band Iron Maiden had a song by
that name as well.  The earliest reference I came across was a book
entitled Brighter Than A Thousand Suns which was a personal history of
the first Atomic Scientists, published in English in 1958.  Be all
that as it may, this band which hails from Connecticut USA has a sound
that is at least as bright as a thousand suns, so the name is apt and
truly descriptive.

The self admitted high points the band Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
strives for are integrity, and honesty, and this shows in their
lyrics:  "Take this burning home, our blood runs hot, but our hearts
are cold:  These blackened skies and poison seas stain our souls, yet
our hands are clean...This is our legacy?  Money matters most, to buy
us demons, to turn us into Gods, but if money mattered most, our
bottom line should buy us hope; Instead we leave you all alone, to
take this burden off our fragile bones, we hand down this mess, to the
heirs of our indifference, we pass this torch with shame, for you to
put out the flames...." From: The Inheritance.

The information is lucid and significant, and yes it is loud.  Perhaps
this is why this band has had real opposition to their music.  The
worst setback the band has suffered, not to mention the inevitable
tour gruel and hardships on the road, was when they recently had their
band trailer stolen; it was loaded with their equipment and gear, and
its been extremely difficult for all of them in their attempt to get
back to the point where they can make their music.

Not only are Brighter Than A Thousand Suns adept at what they
do, and appealing in a big way, but their message is one of importance
and strength.  They have won several awards and musical competitions,
and done a lot of hard work which really comes across in their audio
demeanor, their bearing.  They have not lost the ability to keep it
going and they remain relatively unscathed in spite of sometimes
diabolical turns in events.  That is the sign of their true strength,
their determination and basic ability to deal with whatever it takes
in order to make their music.  In one of the videos by Brighter Than A
Thousand Suns it is illustrated graphically how a message of great
importance came to them, in a very odd way.  The way does not really
matter.  The message does:

"How people treat you is their karma.  How you react is yours."

Words To Live By.

Expect great things from this band.  You will not be disappointed.




Go here: myspace.com/brighterthan1000suns
To hear Demon Haunted World

BRIGHTER THAN A THOUSAND SUNS is...?Angelika: Screams, Clean Vocals
Alex: Bass, Clean Vocals?Matt: Drums?Randy: Guitars, Programming

Some videos:

Self Made Soul - Artist Of The Week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH_6d4_JH2k&feature=related

Self Made Soul Update March 2010 Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDi6DsNie2Y

Walls Made Of Glass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ectyRdKJUk4

Interview Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db3u79RAuaY&feature=related
Interview Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpZDqz5EtLk&feature=related

PAGES:
myspace.com/brighterthan1000suns
purevolume.com/brighterthan1000suns
facebook.com/brighterthan1000suns
twitter.com/btatsband

Review By Bill Gallagher
www.luxefaire.com

Music Review: Daniel Graves' Aesthetic Perfection

It is not a comment on society. It is not a forum for philosophy.  It
is not your new voice. It is not a revolution.  Without form, without
ego or intention, Aesthetic Perfection is music without a cause.
Influences are combined, songs composed. Audio is recorded, edited,
arranged and mixed. Music designed without purpose.

Daniel Graves.....Aesthetic Perfection
http://www.aesthetic-perfection.net/



Far be it from me, as a listener and reviewer, to nay say the above.
I am not even going to say But.  Yet.  Though I am going right now to
look up the word confrontational.  Ah here it is.  I am
confrontational too, I see.  I think I am slightly less
confrontational than I used to be though.  Thats probably because I am
a lot older than I used to be.  OK. I will just deal with it, and be
glad thats out of the way.

I have listened to a lot of crap in my life, though most times I am
not so forthcoming about it.  I do not want to ever foil, discourage,
or Gott verbieten, even kill art.  No, I would never do that.  But the
effort is sometimes a lot.  A Lot.  Its just my little cross to bear,
here in this funny place where I exist, whose entrance was a vagina,
of all things.  I doubt if I will leave here in as good a position as
when I came in, either.  Too.  Whatever.

Reiterating: I will never ever knowingly knock anything that even
resembles art, and besides, there are many really fine artists @
Earth, its just that I listen to the really good ones so much I burn
out on them.  I am in the process of doing that now, with the music of
Aesthetic Perfection, who is Daniel Graves, and who reminds me, as a
talent, of Trent Reznor.  Mostly because he is one guy, and only uses
other talents live.  Understand this too: when I first listened to
Nine Inch Nails, it was very very different music.  When I bought
Reznors Pretty Hate Machine all those years ago it was a total gamble.
 I liked the name of the cassette (!) and I liked the name of the
group, but there was no listening ahead of time, no internet, and
certainly no pre-exposure by the insane clowns in mainstream media.
I had to be one of the very first customers of NIN, and I was going
out on a limb because there was just nowhere else to go; even back
then I was totally fried on the nepotistic mediocre repititious
redundant anti-intellectual BS pushed on the listening audiences of
the world I lived in.

Yes that sux, it sux bad, but I fight, and I put as much effort into
my fighting  as I do in encouraging art.  It literally takes pieces of
me, gobs of flesh, to do this at times, is what I mean to say.

What else is there though?  Nothing.  No Thing.

Please do not confuse my reference to Nine Inch Nails here...there may
be some similarities between Reznors first effort and Violent Emotion,
the second CD of Daniel Graves, aka Aesthetic Perfection, yes there
are a few, but Aesthetic Perfection is so new and good sounding to
these tired old ears that I am sitting here writing about it.  And the
test of tests:  I BOUGHT the cd!  I do not do that much anymore.  Most
times I am happy tracking down the things I like, which, because of
the really crappy physical media over the decades, have all gone to
heaven a few times at least.  Mom dumped all the vinyl years ago, my
Hawkwind, my Isao Tomita, my KRAFTWERK for Gotts sake...and then of
course I fell into the trap,  the literal PIT which anyone my age fell
into, the ever present and ever deteriorating years of cassettes and 8
track tapes.  What a joke.  I don't even want to think about all that.
 It is the most embarassing experience of my life.  I sometimes pray
to Gott and ask HOW AND WHY DID I GET STUCK ON THIS BACKWARD BALL OF
MUD ???  Just another little cross to bear, here in the land of
cruci-fiction and Fox news.

Back to Aesthetic Perfection, the band, and the CD "A VIOLENT
EMOTION".  I hear many oddly familiar things here too, things that
were almost there 20+  years ago, but still growing: foetus, Boris
Mikulic, 3 teens kill 4, Controlled Bleeding, Tones on Tail,
Finitribe, SP, TKC, you get it...all the once exciting stuff which I
now know verbatim; the music that has become some sort of jaded
calliope, which is now just the background music in my dreams. Daniel
Graves adds another twist to this, a clarity and brightness which has
been a long time coming, but no less powerful for all that.  He has
learned his lessons thoroughly, and his ear is professional and
creative.  He evokes and he elicits and he knows how and he does it
well.

I'd been surfing youtube.com, a perfect place to hunt the kind of
things I am looking for, and I was just doing the lists, giving songs
15-20 seconds to impress me.  Hardly any did.  Then I got an Aesthetic
Perfection.  I let it play.  I played another, then watched the video.
 It was The Great Depression.  Then I heard Living the Wasted Life.
That was the one.  I went right to I-tunes and bought the CD, didn't
think twice, been listening ever since.  It is bad ass, It is sick, It
is the Illest, I cannot get over It.  There are only two tunes I don't
care for, and they are a nice contrast to the otherwise Buddha Bear
Skunk Kind which is what the rest of the work reminds me of.  There is
just none better right now.  And I know.  Believe me.  I know.  The
whole damned thing fills me with a glowing Schadenfreude I did not
even realize was possible at this stage of the game.  It is
anti-despair.  Thanks D,  I don't care what it is or isn't, it is
strength and you are generous.  Keep Going.

Aesthetic Perfection is more than just rain in the desert,  more than
just food to a starving man: it is like having a friend jump into the
fray as I am getting my butt kicked by 12 or 13 faceless stinking
zombies all wearing nothing but puke green t-shirts emblazoned with
two letters in dark purple -- FM.    The only negative to Aesthetic
Perfections  "A Violent Emotion" is the fact that the cd glaringly
highlights the...ehhhhh.....mediocrity to which my ears are generally
subjected, and thats unpretty, but I am used to unpretty here in La La
Land.  It is the normal state of things in fact.  Fortunately there
are Deviations occasionally.

A Violent Emotion
        1.      The Violence
        2.      Spit it Out
        3.      Schadenfreude
        4.      The Siren
        5.      A Quiet Anthem
        6.      Living the Wasted Life
        7.      The Great Depression
        8.      Pale
        9.      Arsenic on the Rocks
        10.     The Ones

http://www.myspace.com/closetohuman

Influences
Industrial to Indie Rock, New Wave to Black Metal, Folk to Gothic,
Rock to Gansta Rap.
Sounds Like
Everyone else... but different...


Review by Bill Gallagher
luxefaire.com

CD Review: Making Monsters by Combichrist

I like writing about Combichrist because I can say things I want to
say, without worry of offending anyone.   People reading about Combichrist are well acquainted with the way the world really is, and are fairly careless about a little harmless profanity for fun.  If I do happen to offend someone, which is about the slimmest possibility in the world, I don't
have to apologize, I can say what I really feel, express my real
feelings, as it were. Something along the lines of:  Hey Buckwheat,
Fuck YOU, get a fucking life.

And I can smile while I do it.

Among many other things, the music of Combichrist is liberating, and
the latest compact disc by them, Making Monsters, is no exception.
Making Monsters is allllllll about liberation, a very good thing,
because as far as I am concerned liberation is most important in this
world, especially now, with almost everyone jumping to the puppet
strings of God Dollar, begging for TV and pennies.  <PUKE>.  Life is
too short to do what other people want.  Do what YOU want.  That is
the message from Combichrist, and the message is most worthy, in fact,
the message is worthiest.

The first song I ever heard by Combichrist which really grabbed my
head and stretched it like a rubber band was Get Your Body Beat.    I
sent the link to that video to a friend with the note:  THIS IS ME.
AS LOUD AS YOU CAN MAKE IT.  THIS IS WHAT I LIKE BEST.  Since then I
have heard the majority, if not all of Combichrist' music, and the
rest of it is also Me.

Just as loud as I can make it.

The CD Making Monsters takes all that to new levels, because it
posesses a musical wholeness that I have found to be very rare.  There
is nothing lacking, in fact. Combichrist is what I always imagined
Industrial music would be: fulfilling in a riotous sort of way; busy
and intricate, smart and meaningful.  I would love to take the CD
Making Monsters into a nice quiet church full of misguided people
praying on their knees to the tortured man, and play it loud enough to
snuff all the candles, and make the statues do the fucking jitterbug.
I think it would be delightful to witness the shock, and trembling
awe, that a deed like this would precipitate;  I imagine the annointed
scurrying hurriedly away, with more than a few running around in panic
stricken circles, frantically waving both hands above their heads.
Frightened glances and indignant snorts would no doubt accompany this
exodus, as the alarmed herd animals, imagining smoke and crackling
flames, flee en masse the musical conflagration which is Combichrist.

Evil.

Nice.

And yes Jesus Loves me.  The bible tells me so...heh heh hehhhhhhhhhhh.

My favorite song from the Making Monsters CD is "Just Like Me", though
I can honestly say that all of the songs on the CD hold certain allure
and definite attraction for me.  There are none I dislike.   I think I
like "Just Like Me" because of its basic kick-ass Rock n' Roll sound;
its like the greatest rockers of all time channeling their combined
efforts, nuance and blatant, together, into the mind of Andy Laplegua,
who is the front man, originator, song writer, and vocals for the band
Combichrist.

Andy has repeatedly stated that this newest CD of his, Making
Monsters, is the most personal work yet from Combichrist, most of it
being written on the road, versus in the studio, and the live
presentation of the band has begun to reflect a more personal facet as
well.  There is somewhat less dressing up like zombies, and more
presenting as actual people during performances, although the show
must go on, and the theme and flavor of the bands costuming seems to
depend somewhat on the venue, and the type of crowd in a given area.

Either way, Andy Laplegua has major style, and though I think many of
the lyrics would have to be toned down for mainstream success
according to record companies and Radio Stations,  I don’t know if
thats in the overall Combichrist program.  Everyone wants more money,
but Laplegua has always held the music closer than most, its what he
lives for, and I really don’t know if the mainstream definition of
stardom is what he is after.  In fact, I hope it is not, I hope he
holds out and makes independent promotion work for himself and his
band, because whoever taps that initially, really taps it, will blast
way beyond the so-called mainstream and there will be large chunks of
All media available, because there will be new leaders, new movers and
shakers, and the world will never be the same. This will all take
place rather quickly too, a tsunami of change, as the status quo
unravels, and Light Happens.   I can’t wait. It is starting to happen
now I think.  Making fucking Monsters indeed. I see this possibility
more with Combichrist than any other band at this time.

The second member of the group Combichrist goes by the name of Z Marr,
and he is is an industrial electronic keyboard player of almost
incomparable caliber.  Z Marr seems to let his music do the talking,
and that works just fine.  We got it man, and thanks a lot.

Also, Wes Borland, guitarist from the group Limp Bizkit, has joined
Combichrist on tour and in the studio during 2010.

The other two members of Combichrist are Joe Letz, and Trevor
Freidrich, both drummers extraordinaire, who are also becoming well
known for their exploits on tour which are highlighted in the
Combichrist blog here: http://vampirefreaks.com/journal/combichrist

On the CD making Monsters I have detected some similarities to other
music I know and like.  I heard things which remind me of Skinny Puppy
(Through These Eyes Of Pain), and of Nine Inch Nails (Reclamation).
On the track "Trail of Blood" the bands Pantera and Sepultura come to
mind, but overall these musix still definitely belong to Combichrist,
again, because of the aggressive complexity and structural integrity
inherent there-in.  That to me is the hallmark, the real signature of
this band, and most other groups, even the most popular industrial
bands everyone knows, do seem somewhat lacking in comparison.
Combichrist is the next level.  That is plainly clear.

Though based out of Atlanta Georgia, Combichrist has had a much
greater success touring in Europe, and thats probably because Europe,
to their eternal credit, is more hip to certain good music, and pretty
much always has been.  This is witnessed in many ways, not least of
which being the fact that Europe generally spurns the intellectual
cadaver known collectively as Country Music.  I mean country music is
not real popular there in the Old World, and that says a lot about
Europes overall mind set.  This shunning of hillbilly shennanigans
throughout most of the Eurasian continent highlights the fact that
musically and perhaps socially they are a more advanced people,
although this makes Americas love affair with ignorant slimy tripe
that much more embarrassing.   Oh well, and yee-hah, you all.

Combichrist has been working with the group Rammstein in Europe, and
their fan base there seems to be large, appreciative, and growing.
They are touring Australia as this is being written, and getting ready
to tour more in Europe soon.  It seems Combichrist are on the cusp of
breaking out large in the USA, and the fact that some of their music
is finding its way into film work is a definite indication of upcoming
ascendency here.  That can only mean good things all the way around.
Pick up the Making Monsters CD.  See for yourself.  You will not be
disappointed.

Making Monsters (Available at iTunes and from Combichrist online)
Track List

Declamation
Follow The Trail Of Blood
Never Surrender
Throat Full of Glass
Forgotten
Fuck Machine
Just Like Me
Slave To Machine
Through These Eyes Of Pain
Monster: Murder: Kill
They
Reclamation

Combichrist Online
http://www.combichrist.com
http://vampirefreaks.com/combichrist
http://twitter.com/combichristarmy
http://www.facebook.com/combichrist

Music Review, Disease: Black Centr

Review: EP Disease, Digital Album by Blackcentr
Genre Electronica Industrial IDM
10/10/10


The musician contacted me on Myspace with a friend request.  I had
finally gotten savvy concerning the music players there, so I went and
listened.  Surprise Surprise, what a nice surprise. I like what I
heard:  I like it a lot.  I punched the friend button, and promptly
bought the EP Disease.  It was a great deal.  I am listening to it
now.  If I had a tail, I would be wagging it.  In fact, consider it
done.

The bands name is Blackcentr, and the 5 songs on Disease are some of
the better musix I have heard.  The song Down seems to be everyones
favorite, and it is mine too, though Salvation runs a very close
second, with Disease a nearby third.  The other songs on the EP are a
remix of Disease by DYM, and a fourth called Misanthrope.  All these
songs are kicky tricks, and my hats off to Blackcentr and what they
have going on.  Its rare, these really good sounds.  You can hear it.

Blackcentre is Johnny Bonnett, and Ryan Layne, and they list their
location as Orange County USA.  Thats Los Angeles ya'll.  Johnny is
the music, and Ryan the vocals, according to the basic Myspace website
information, but there is a lot of mix and match going on in the
creation of these songs, brainstorming, as it is described by Johnny
in a recent interview with Cyberangels of the Netherlands
(http://www.cyber-angels.nl/InterviewBlackcentr.html).

The bottom line is that Blackcentr is a collaboration between these
two men, and this is a collaboration of synergy, the total being
greater than the sum of its parts.  Johnnys mastery of his tools is
nothing less than awesome, and Ryans voice is just about perfect for
the music being made.  From the sounds of things, both of these guys
seem to be naturals at what they do, and that probably explains a lot
right there.  Blackcentr is any listeners good fortune -- check it out
at http://www.myspace.com/blackcentr -- you will see.

Not too much has been said about the bands previous experience in
music.  Johnny started his own project after a concert where he saw
KMFDM and Combichrist performing.  After a few false starts he found
Ryan by advertising his need for a vocalist on Craigs list.
Sometimes, Light Happens.  Yes, Thankfully, Light Happens.

Blackcentr is working on new music as this is being written, and they
are also planning some roadwork, though a tour schedule has not been
decided on yet.  For anyone who is lucky enough to hear this new good
music, that can only mean one thing: get tickets.  Blackcentr has also
joined forces with Sigsaly Transmissions, a tight label and decent,
experienced group, who may facilitate growth for this band and its
musical gift.

This band has had some decent acquaintance with the industrial scene
so far, decent meaning not always pretty, but definitely meaningful.
Blackcentr's last singer, the one before Ryan, had a big problem with
ego, and quite frankly, he blew his chance at something good.  If
Johnny and Ryan can avoid that pitfall of pitfalls, the ego thing,
then survive the road, along with the straight-up malice derived from
the petty and not-so-petty jealousy of peers and business rivals, they
will be a force to be reckoned with.

By My Assessment, They Already Are.


Disease, EP
released 08 July 2010
Music: Johnny Bonnett
Vocals: Ryan Layne

http://www.myspace.com/blackcentr
http://twitter.com/blackcentr
blogs.myspace.com/blackcentr

http://sigmedia.us
http://myspace.com/sigsaly
http://sigsalytransmissions.wordpress.com/



Review by Bill Gallagher
www.luxefaire.com

Music Review: Rik Ocasek, Quick Change World

Ric Ocaseks Quick Change World (1993) is some of his best music ever. That is a very meaningful statement, because Ric Ocasek has created a lot of music over his lifetime -- the majority of it excellent. This CD is a perfect example of dedicated musical talent, defined by the apparent and actual Need of the artist to create, whether to popular acclaim or not. I have always been amazed at the quality of Rics solo work, and the relative lack of airplay it met. Much of the music by the band the Cars is still being played, and the fact that Ric Ocaseks solo work was given something of short shrift made me aware of many things, not least of which being this: radio leaves a lot to be desired, and always has. One more reason to love the internet.
So. As far as Mr. Ocasek is concerned, Music just Happens, and not only is this process ongoing, Rics music also grows, continually getting better and better and better. Unlike many older musicians attempting to make comebacks, it can be said without doubt that Ric Ocasek never left us, and for those lucky enough to be privy to this fact, I say run, don't walk, and get Quick Change World as soon as possible. I would be surprised if you have not already.
It is excellent to be a fan of Ric Ocasek, because we are never disappointed.
A lot, if not all of the music by the group The Cars was actually Ric Ocaseks sound, therefore many new listeners to much of Rics solo work find the two indistinguishable, and they can of course be forgiven. Quick Change World sounds a lot like a new Cars album to those who are hearing it for the first time, and several people I have discussed the CD with have agreed, with the sole exception being that the compositions are even more developed than The Cars music, if such a thing is possible. Unlike certain stark departures that took place on CDs like Beatitude, and several other of his Solo works, QCW seems to be a refinement and development par excellence on the characteristic and signature music of this oh-so talented personage, Ric Ocasek.
From Riding Shotgun (My Favorite), with its ever distinctive vocals, and further developed musical sounds (The guitar work rips), to the impressive Hopped Up (car car car got a red red car...take it out on the streets, take it to the stars...I'm a real live wire), the CD Quick Change World is eminently listenable, and not to be missed.
1. "The Big Picture"
2. "Don't Let Go"
3. "Hard Times"
4. "A Little Closer"
5. "Riding Shotgun"
6. "Feeling's Got to Stay"
7. "She's on"
8. "I Still Believe"
9. "Come Alive"
10. "Quick Change World"
11. "What's on TV"
12. "Hopped Up"
13. "Help Me Find America"
Other Solo works by Ric Ocasek:
Beatitude
1982 -
This Side of Paradise
1986 -
Fireball Zone
1990 -
Getchertikitz
1996 -
The Next Right Moment
1997 -
Troublizing
1997 -
Nexterday
2005 -
--------------------
Visit Ric Ocasek at his Myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/ricocasek



Review by

Bill Gallagher, Hachita NM
[http://www.autodidactics.com]
http://www.myspace.com/luxefaire

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/979724

Music Review: The Greater Wrong Of The Right, Skinny Puppy

     I like Techno-Industrial music because I like technology.  When I look around this world of ours -- at our leaders and their military golems, or the fanatically religious -- the emotion evoked in me is mostly
embarrassment at this devolved and arrogant predicament I have been born into.  Techno-Industrial music has always helped to alleviate that embarrassment, and I love it for that, more than anything.  Techno
Industrial music (Some say Electro-Industrial) also makes me dance, and I like that as well.  In the 70's I cut my Techno teeth on groups like Kraftwerk, and Devo, alongwith individual artists including Isao Tomita, and Carlos, so when I first heard the work of Vancouver based Skinny Puppy in the later 80's, I
was like a kid in a candy shop, and I have been a fan ever since.  Over time I have become very familiar with their work: the hallmark sounds and compositional nuances of Skinny Puppy, such as the instrumental and voice distortions, or the elongated draining sounds of liquid vortices, and the samples from media broadcasts; all signify a style and innovation which many others try to imitate, but with little success.

     Being the pattern-seeker that I am, certain of Skinny Puppy's songs, like Assimilate, and Chainsaw, have forever imprinted me with admiration for their talent, though I have to admit that many of their early and less
structured compositions left me confused, or less than satisfied.  I chalked that up to growth through experimentation, which is healthy and necessary.  The songs that became my favorites more than made up for the stuff I could not fathom, though the groups experimental improvisation is well known among aficionados, myself included, and has even garnered a descriptive label all its own, known as Brap.  My sources indicate Brap as a process meaning: get together, hook up electronic instruments, catch a buzz, and record.  It is
improv, the birthplace of genius. Early Skinny Puppy was crucible and cauldron for its members talents, and for what they would become.

     Yes, all science needs experimentation to become real, and if anyone in the industrial/techno field can be called musical scientists it is cEvin Keys (Born Kevin Crompton) and Nivek Ogre (Born Kevin Ogilvie), alongwith their various collaborators and guests.  Today Skinny Puppy collaborators include (In Keys words) the deeper team of Mark Walk, and Ken hiwatt Marshall, and
has even included past notables such as Al Jourgensen of Ministry, Danny Carey of Tool, who assisted with The Greater Wrong Of The Right, and Wayne Static of Static-X, who also helped with The Greater Wrong Of The Right.   Skinny Puppy has always been audio science, whether the world could hear it or not.  Artists are never ahead of their time, artists ARE their time.  It is the rest of the world that lags behind.

While listening to the work of the early Skinny Puppy, who released their first set of songs in 1984, I had always wondered what it would be like if the majority of their labors ever reached the intricacy and completeness which comprised some of their music.  It was easy to  see the potential was there, among the songs I cite above, and some others.   The various remixes also point to the fact that pattern and order within
Skinny Puppys music was developing and ongoing.

     The maturity I was looking for, and could sense was developing, came to fruit for me when I recently obtained the CD -- The Greater Wrong Of The Right -- which was released in 2004.  This whole CD, which is the first release via the bands German/Euro label SPV, is the most astounding and relevant music I have heard in many years, if not forever.  To me this CD was a restoration of sorts, the world became a better place immediately, I felt a new confidence, and I actually drew power from the music in a way I did not know was possible.

The CD -- The Greater Wrong Of The Right -- by Skinny Puppy (SPV), is what I always hoped this band would become.  Not only does the music grab you by the ears and PULL, the lyrics themselves are important poetry, and profound, as in this piece of the song Pro-test:

"...hit me...in the street...the people now left without no loving...where within the strength gone, better see it coming...get off the fence trip...rip up the gar-bage...make it up to the earth, bitch..."

Each song on this CD begins as a full but unassembled puzzle, with the words and notes representing a pile of jig sawed and unintelligible components, which are then woven as if by magic in fast accurate placement, intuitive and logical, until the finished product emerges: a panoramic view of life and our world from the inside out.  It is a view you cannot get anywhere else.  One thing comes to my mind when listening to the Greater Wrong Of The Right, and it is this: Brother Men, Thanks A LOT!

     I am surprised this newer music has not gotten more attention than it has in the mainstream, but Skinny Puppy has always nurtured a following outside of the programmed and lackadaisical herd, which is one of the bands primary charms and, dare we say, their very foundation?  They teach, and the world, most assuredly, needs more of that, especially from influences outside of the cage.  Finally, the mainstream is nowhere near what it used to be, and for that we should be grateful too, perhaps we should even rejoice, while continuing to kick it and beat it and spit upon it, until it just dies and becomes fertilizer for something new and better.

     Light Happens.

     When initially confronted with the term -- The Greater Wrong -- another term came immediately to my mind, and it is of course the opposite of that, it is The Lesser Evil.  I don't think either of those are a good basis by which to judge the world, or its people, and it is this futile dichotomy which seems
to be highlighted and denounced throughout the music and lyrics of this outstanding work of art.  cEvin Keys and Nivek Ogre, along with Hiwatt and Mark Wall, have thrashed and trashed the Maya of this world, and again, that can only be called instruction.  Awesome Music, Poetry extraordinaire, and profound insight are what I get from the Greater Wrong of the Right.  Get it, spin it, turn it up.  And don't forget to breathe
after you do it.

Track Listing; The Greater Wrong Of The Right; SkinnyPuppy:

1. I'mmortal
2. Pro-test
3. EmpTe
4. Neuwerld
5. Ghostman
6. dOwnsizer
7. Past Present
8. Use Less
9. Goneja
10. DaddyuWarbash




Review by:Bill Gallagher
www.luxefaire.com
www.myspace.com/luxefaire

Music Review: Alchemy, By Allan Vilhans Cargo Cult

     The compact disc ALCHEMY, by Cargo Cult, is a work of art which soars above
the world like a Thunderbird, leaving in its wake a literal explosion of
orderly and enlivening electronic sound.  Like the Thunderbirds of old, the
music of Allan Villhans CARGO CULT creates vivid and enthusiastic emotion,
sure to have a positive effect on anyone who comes within hearing range of
it.

     This music teaches the soul.

     From the first song: Entry, to the last: Wed, and everything in between,
your speakers are going to vibrate in ways they never have before!  The
length, breadth, and width of this music is astounding and exceptional,
creating an aura of sound that will surround the listener, and, dare we say,
enrapture them as well?  Alchemy is well named, because if ever there was
such a thing as Audio Alchemy, this is it.

     Some reviewers note the eastern influences evident in the music of Cargo
Cult, but what shines through absolutely is the unfettered and natural
talent of Allan Vilhan, a self-taught musician and songwriter, originally
from Slovakia, now living in London, England.

     Mr. Vilhan is only in his early 30's, though he is already an accomplished
and experienced musician.  From 1989-1992 Allan was the bass guitarist in
the rock band Stirba, and he also played the keyboard in the
alternative-rock band Navara (2000).  He began composing his own music in
1998, and he performs all instrumentation on his albums, including guitar,
bass guitar, keyboards, programming, and vocals.  Some collaboration is now
taking place as new member Keith Gould assists with certain of Cargo Cults
music and vocals.

      The music of Allan Vilhan has been called many things: Electronica, Dance,
Trip-Hop, Ambient: even Beat Driven Pop, whatever that might be....the fact
of the matter is this:  Allan Vilhans' Cargo Cult is a refreshing break from
formula music, with an intricacy all its own.  The songs of Cargo Cult,
without fail, are Audio Tales, each a unique story and complete work in
itself.  Citing influences as diverse as Primus, Tangerine Dream, Depeche
Mode, and Sound Garden, Cargo Cult does well in creating its own distinct
and interesting sound, within our world of sound.

     To begin learning about Cargo Cult, start with Alchemy, and go from there.
You will not be disappointed.  It will make you want to dance.  A great
gift, from a great talent.


Track List

CD -- Alchemy, (ACM Records) by Cargo Cult  (2nd Place at Just Plain Folks
Music Awards 2004, in category "Best Electronic Album 2004")


1. Entry

2. Alchemy (6th place in category " Best electronic song 2004" at Just Plain
Folks Music Awards 2004.)

3. Dilemma

4. Dirt

5. Our Song

6. Sunday

7. Ramanujan

8. Ambriel

9.  Jazzmine

10. Rain

11. Garden

12. Mirrors

13. Matt

14.  Ones

15.  Wed

My favorites are Entry, Ramanujan, Garden, Alchemy, and Rain, in that order,
although this is one of those rare compact discs that allow constant and
straight through listening, many times over.  You will hear something new
every time you listen.  At least I do.

Other works by Cargo Cult:

Vibrant (ACM Records)

CARGO CULT feat. KEITH GOULD / MIND PARADE (Music video)
Video to Cargo Cult's new song Mind Parade.


LISTEN FREE:

http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/cargo-alchemy/

Then download the CD at Magnatune for a very reasonable price!



http://www.myspace.com/cargocultmusic

Welcome

Welcome. Thanks for checking out some of my reviews.  I like Rock Music of all types, and most of the new music coming out today that sounds anything like it.  I have always been a fan of electronic music, but like it best when real instruments arfe used in conjunction with electronics and vocals.