IDM Mailing Archive

In a message dated 96-10-24 03:18:49 EDT, you write: << Can anyone please tape me one of the ISDN broadcasting of FSOL in the UK ? Are they transmitting stuff of _dead cities_ or new tracks ? >> Speaking of Dead Cities. I just picked it up last night. It sounds like what should have followed up Front 242's 06:21:03:11 Up Evil. Overall it was dark, and brooding. The first few tracks were wickedly violent - makes ya wanna crush some skulls or something equally unpleasant... but I digress It definately has some characteristics of 242 and others like Nitzer Ebb, but still has FSOL's organic feel to it. You can hear quite a few of their Lifeforms-esque samples sprinkled thoughout. I really liked the subtle DnB stlyled in the percussion. Subtle and effective it doesn't go overboard - and is definatly not the focus. Dunno peeps, I dig it. Any opposing views? BTW - I just saw Spring Heel Jack at the New Music Cafe here in NYC. Please gimme a bit more info. I was impressed, they threw DOWN last night, but is their recorded work just as strong? At NYU, Spooky spun (someone tell me he sucked and make me feel better - I missed it)*grumble* as well as UI *grumble* but did catch a rather ineteresting band - Irish I think (sounded like it was at any rate) - called Stereo Lab. Some really bizarre drony sounds comin' from these people. Almost like listening to a Bagpiper on Acid.. Makes me wonder what their recorded work sounds like - anyone? Eric

On Sat, 26 Oct 1996 Pixel8ion@aol.com wrote:

quoted 1 line BTW - I just saw Spring Heel Jack at the New Music Cafe here in NYC.

> BTW - I just saw Spring Heel Jack at the New Music Cafe here in NYC.

Damn - wish they'd come to these parts.

quoted 3 lines Please

> Please > gimme a bit more info. I was impressed, they threw DOWN last night, but is > their recorded work just as strong?

I think so. I just managed to snag a copy of "There Are STrings", their first album from last year. THis is one of those albums that make me wonder how everyone on this list could be so fucking busy talking about Aphex's shoe size that they could completely overlook it. I think it's brilliant, with the exception of "Lee Perry Part One", which sounds like a sample of a 50's/60's RotN'Roll tune turned into hideous D&B (oddly enough they released a single of this, hoping I suppose to cash in on the track's "gimmick" quality). Luckily my CD player can remember to skip over it and trick me into believing the album is perfect. Its not all D&B, there are some slower trax that defy categorization; I'd call them "ambient dub" for lack of a better label. Their next album, "68 Million Shades", is even better, but more strongly D&B in nature. The "Suspensions EP" isn't as strong, but worth having. I believe they've released a few other singles, including "Oceola" and "Versions". There's also a track on "Macro Dub Infection", which is a pretty cool introduction to a lot of different recording D&B, Dub, and Noise artists. Che

Che reviews THERE ARE STRINGS by Spring Heel Jack:

quoted 8 lines I think it's

> I think it's > brilliant, with the exception of "Lee Perry Part One", which sounds like a > sample of a 50's/60's RotN'Roll tune turned into hideous D&B (oddly enough > they released a single of this, hoping I suppose to cash in on the track's > "gimmick" quality). Luckily my CD player can remember to skip over it and > trick me into believing the album is perfect. Its not all D&B, there are > some slower trax that defy categorization; I'd call them "ambient dub" for > lack of a better label.

I happen to think that "Lee Perry" is the best track Spring Heel Jack have ever done! But I agree that its uptempo nature makes it stick out like a sore thumb on the album, which is mostly ambient jungle. It should have remained a single-only release. What you call the song's "gimmick" is actually, in songwriting terms, a hook. And I see nothing wrong with a song having a hook, especially a catchy one. It may not be as subtle or sophisticated as some of the other music talked about on idm, but it's fun! For any SF Bay Area idmers, Spring Heel Jack will be making an in-store appearance tomorrow (Sunday) at Drop Beat Records in Berkeley, at 5:00pm. I don't have the address handy, but you can call Drop Beat for more info at (510) 654-0992. -- Mark Turner mturner@netcom.com

On Sat, 26 Oct 1996, Che wrote:

quoted 5 lines Aphex's shoe size that they could completely overlook it. I think it's

> Aphex's shoe size that they could completely overlook it. I think it's > brilliant, with the exception of "Lee Perry Part One", which sounds like a > sample of a 50's/60's RotN'Roll tune turned into hideous D&B (oddly enough > they released a single of this, hoping I suppose to cash in on the track's > "gimmick" quality). Luckily my CD player can remember to skip over it and

Just for the record: you have no taste. Thanks. k.s.