The Cosmic Jokers

Excerpt taken from Julian Cope's Krautrocksampler:

"The dissolution of Ash Ra Tempel proved too much for poor Hartmut Enke. Their former leader never got any other projects together and nothing would be heard of him afterwards. Meanwhile, the weekend acid raves at Stommeln continued in top gear, and the Dierks studio was an incessant orgified [Timothy] Leary-X-perience. With Brian Barritt and his partner Liz Elliott on full patrol, Ralph-Ulrich Kaiser and Gille Letmann put all their bands through their cosmic paces. Wallenstein were by now far better than their recent and ultra stodgy Mother Universe LP on Pilz Records. But compared to the other Cosmic Couriers releases [Walter Wegmuller's Tarot, Timothy Leary & Ash Ra Tempel's Seven Up, Klaus Schulze's Cyborg, Ash Ra Tempel's Starring Rosi, Sergius Golowin's Lord Krishna Von Goloka], they would always remain an extremely stiff proposition however cosmic they got. Brian Barritt attempted to add Psy-Phi to Tangerine Dream, who were naturally extending their boundaries from the first three Ohr LPs. But really, no one could add more Psy-Phi to T. Dream.

Control. It was close to the end of 1972 and R-U Kaiser had wrestled control of almost everything. But it was still not enough. After those first three Cosmic Couriers releases, the Trip had been diminished, compromised. His Tangerine Dream plans had soon lain in ruins when Edgar Froese refused to let The Kaiser release their forthcoming LP Atem on the Kosmiche Musik label. Not surprisingly, T. Dream begrudged having Kaiser's ideas thrust upon them, and reacted furiously, insisting that they remain on the Ohr label. To add further insult, Kaiser had licensed Atem to British Polydor label without even asking the group. But R-U Kaiser kept dreaming. If only he could construct a group from the players already involved -- those contributors to the first three classic LPs. Kaiser never doubted their musicianship, their allegiance to the Trip Itself, or their integrity. BUT, as the main with the Vision, was he really getting the full mileage out of the Cosmic Couriers that it deserved? No. He thought not...And then, as Johnny Rotten would later write of the Sex Pistols: "Out of all shambolic glory, something lent itself to chaos." In a Divine instant, born more out of necessity and desperation than true vision, Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser decided to sell his musicians out and formed The Cosmic Jokers.

It was a puppet Krautrock supergroup -- the first and only one of its kind. This was clear from the day Manuel Gottsching walked into a Berlin record store and heard a cosmic jam-session that he had played on only one month before blasting over the speakers. "What record is this?" he asked. Oh, it's The Cosmic Jokers LP. Manuel looked at his own photograph on the back sleeve, a well-known standard publicity pic., and got very pissed off. He'd been paid only a session fee for the recording, yet here was Rolf Kaiser getting free mileage out of his credibility and integrity as Ash Ra Tempel's guitarist. There were also pictures of Jurgen & Harald from Wallenstein, and a shot of Dieter Dierks, who probably wouldn't mind. But when Manuel saw the photo of Klaus Schultze on the sleeve, he knew there was going to be trouble. Klaus already barely tolerated Rolf Kaiser and now he was gonna get him for sure. Manuel wondered about how to approach the situation. After all, the LP was fucking fantastic -- two side long phasetone freakouts that sounded like augmented Ash Ra Tempel. It had all their contemporaries utterly beaten. Like a whole album of Funkadelic's cosmic freeform "Maggot Brain" -- it went all the way and just didn't back off. No vocals apart from one Brian Barritt spoken cosmic interjection "Galaxy of Fallon to Telepath 1". Manuel Gottsching was almost broke and felt very used. But he decided to wait and see how it all unfolded before taking further action...

The Cosmic Jokers was the ultimate cosmic trip with Rolf Kaiser as the Dhiagilev, the choreographer, the Ur-McLaren of the band. Now in complete control, he would edit the hours of Kosmiche freakouts into semi-coherent tracts of sound, add vocals, or use vocals already found on the tracks. he would release these albums in a coherent package, a ridiculous and crass marriage of the Spiritual and the supermarket. And he would no longer have to listen to these musicians' complaints. It was his Trip...[He] could, with Dieter Dierks' consent, put loads of stuff together -- the fall-out from the Leary scene had been one long, beautiful orgy of Creation & Magic. If it was created on a higher plane, then they were just the people to rationalize it into palatable listenable Sonic Wisdom."

Cosmic Jokers
The Cosmic Jokers
MediaFire Download Link

Tracklist:
01. Galactic Joke A
02. Galactic Joke B
03. Galactic Joke C
04. Cosmic Joy A
05. Cosmic Joy B

Cosmic Jokers
Galactic Supermarket
MediaFire Download Link

Tracklist:
01. Kinder Des Alls A
02. Kinder Des Alls B
03. Kinder Des Alls C
04. Galactic Supermarket A
05. Galactic Supermarket B
06. Galactic Supermarket C

Cosmic Jokers
Planeten Sit-In
MediaFire Download Link

Tracklist:
01. Raumschiff Galaxy Startet
02. The Planet Of Communication
03. Elektronenzirkus
04. Der Narr Im All
05. Raumschiff Galaxy Fliegt In Die Sonne
06. Intergalactic Nightclub
07. Loving Frequencies
08. Electronic News
09. Intergalactic Radio Guri Broadcasting
10. Raumschiff Galaxy Gleitet Im Sonnenwind
11. Interstellar Rock: Kosmiche Musik
12. Raumschiff Galaxy Saust In Die Lichtbahnen
13. Der Planet Des Sternenmädchens

Tags: Krautrocksampler, Julian Cope, Cosmic Jokers, krautrock, Ash Ra Tempel, Timothy Leary, Wallenstein, Dieter Dierks, Klaus Schulze, Ralph-Ulrich Kaiser, Tangerine Dream, Kosmiche Musik, Ohr, Manuel Gottsching, Brian Barritt, Galactic Supermarket, Planeten Sit-In, mp3, blog, download, rare, out-of-print

Treasures From The Collector's Slum 025

Mainliner were, of course, Kawabata Makoto from Acid Mothers Temple, Nanjo Asahito from High Rise and various drummers. On this record it's Koji Shimura. They have official records (Mellow Out is wonderful and not impossible to find like this one). Excruciatingly heavy rock music with epic psychedelic solos and beautiful sheets of noise.

Mainliner
Solid Stick Attack (Limited CD-r Edition of 100)
MediaFire Download Link

Tracklist:
01. Attack
02. Static
03. Stick
04. Ride Blue
05. Attack 2
06. Black Sky

First saw these guys open for Mogwai a few years ago. It was one of those memorable Ian's-rolling-his-eyes-in-front-of-the-band shows that led to Japanther's singer (Ian Vanek) in the crowd screaming and writhing against him. There are pictures somewhere on the Internet; it's pretty fucking hilarious. Anyway, they're a noise band. When we first saw them they were a trio, but now they're down to a duo I guess. You can catch them in basements all over Manhattan and Brooklyn. They're noisy and snotty and abrasive.

Japanther
Skuffed Up My Huffy
MediaFire Download Link

Tracklist:
01. See Evil
02. Seventy Nine
03. Mornings
04. Cable Babies
05. Vagabond
06. One Hundred Dollars
07. River Phoenix
08. Challenge
09. Fuk Tha Prince A Pull Iz Dum
10. Funeral
11. Tender People
12. The Boss
13. Untitled
14. Boys Don't Cry [The Cure]

"1983 solo outing from Charles Bullen, the former guitar player of the always-relevant experimental rock outfit This Heat on his own private Tone of Life imprint, of which this is the sole release. Like other British post-punk contemporaries (Slits, Pop Group, et. all) Bullen immerses himself deep in zoned dub territory on much of this album. (Apparently the UK scene’s fascination with dub stems from a reggae DJ who was friends with many of the bands…a common post-gig after party would be a late night hash sessions fueled by his most out-there dub 45 sides.) At times it sounds like the more accessible points of This Heat’s masterwork “Deceit” remixed 80’s dubstyle ala Mad Professor, using the same unique vocal style of group harmonies (multitracked here) that layer from the melody down to create a brooding and chant-like effect, as well as their kraut-informed approach to rhythmic repetition. The results are nothing short of amazing, although the times when Bullen peaks out of the thick reggae haze with hypnotic and winding lock grooves are surely the albums finest moments (see “Good Side”)." - Waxidermy.com

Lifetones
For A Reason
MediaFire Download Link

Tracklist:
01. For A Reason
02. Good Side
03. Decide
04. Travelling
05. Distance No Object
06. Patience

You know The Ex. They're a punk band? They're from the Netherlands? They're anarchists? Whatever, if you don't know The Ex you're missing out. This double seven-inch set (or two 3" CDs) comes with a book of commented photos of the Spanish Revolution, taken from the CNT (Confederatión National del Trabajo) and FAI (Federatión Anarquista Ibérica) archives, and texts on the beginning of the revolution, the communes, the culture and the front against the fascists during the revolution and on the causes of its ending. Heavy stuff, right?

The Ex
1936 2x7"
Sendspace Download Link

Tracklist:
01. They Shall Not Pass
02. El Tren Blindado
03. Ay Carmela
04. People Again

Tags: The Ex, 1936, Spanish Revolution, Lifetones, For A Reason, Japanther, Skuffed Up My Huffy, Mainliner, Solid Stick Attack, mp3, blog, download, rare, out-of-print

The Distinguished Gourmand: Ngoma & Flore

My goal to try ten new styles of cuisine in 1001 days (which began 01/01/08) is moving along rather well. Already in this half-year I've tried Brazilian, Persian, and now African food. This past Saturday Nicci and I ventured to Ngoma (5838 Wilshire Blvd), whose menu features a range of African countries including Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and others. Their website promised good food served in "traditional African ceremonial style," so we were excited to -- actually, I don't think we knew what to expect. Before leaving for the restaurant, Pat boldly defined African food as "sticks and dirt with a side of AIDS", so I guess our only hopes were that he would nothave the opportunity to say "told you so".

The layout of the restaurant was very nice, and the ambiance was both inviting and made for a comfortable dining experience. There were lots of earth tones used in the decor. A woman quickly took our appetizer order (cassava chips), and made sure to ask if we liked spicy food. A few minutes later, she returned with a plate of french fries and a green dipping sauce. I figured "chips" meant some sort of weird grain or bread that could be run through the sauce, so a plate of french fries was a bit off-putting. The Pili Pili sauce was very good, not too spicy and texturally smooth. The fries were a bit salty, which detracted from the flavor of the sauce.

The menu at Ngoma is separated into East and West Africa. Nicci chose the Ugalini Sukuma Wiki from the East-Africa menu, and I chose Mafe from the West-Africa menu. The waitress asked if I wanted mine in a spicy sauce, and I asked for a level of spiciness, to which she responded "very". She then offered to bring me a small dish of the spicy sauce on the side, so I chose to have my chicken in the milder peanut sauce. The food arrived in good time. The portions were unexpectedly large: a chicken leg and thigh, diced potatoes and steamed carrots, with a side of white rice. The chicken was quite savory and fell off the bone. The peanut sauce was great. I tried my second bite of chicken with the spicy dipping sauce, and instantly recoiled at the flavor. It was way too smokey, and the minute it touched my tongue I felt disgusted by it. Nicci's plate looked similar, but she had white cornmeal to drag through the sauce and a side of cooked collard greens. I tried her sauce with a pinch of cornmeal, which was tasty, but seemed like it would be much more filling than my side of rice.

We were too full for desert. For an appetizer and two large-portioned main dishes, the meal was relatively cheap. The food and service at Ngoma are both highly recommended by me...someone with a less-than-poor palette and almost no vocabulary for food reviews.

Flore (3818 W. Sunset Blvd)...not so good. I'm really turned off by vegan cuisine, but Nicci has been wanting to try Flore for a few months now so I had to cave eventually. Fawn and Brian used to make better vegan cuisine in our tiny kitchen. Everyone who works there is pasty and unhealthy looking, with sunken jaws and bags under their eyes. It's hard to sit there and watch them shuffling around without being compelled to stand up and jam a sausage in their mouth. Nicci ordered a club sandwich ($9.95...those vegans sure know how to jack up the price of two pieces of bread covered in green stuff and a fake bacon), and -- after struggling to find a single item that looked palatable -- I ordered the tacos de papas ($11?). Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the meal was when I hungrily eyed my two potato tacos and asked if they had any hot sauce. The pale, slow-moving waiter returned with a small plastic container of Flore's homemade hot sauce, which he described as "cayenne powder and vinegar". Ugh. To their credit, the tacos were pretty good, but they would have been so much better if there had just been a bottle of Cholula on-hand for me to use. And that's why I can't stand vegans or vegan food. They're so pompous. They believe they're above stocking a fucking condiment because they think they make one that tastes better. Guess what? They can't make one better. That was the shittiest, least-flavorful hot sauce I've ever had. Who the fuck wants to put vinegar on a taco? What a retarded idea. I didn't care about how Nicci's sandwich tasted, because there wasn't real bacon on it, and vegans trying to create fake meats to replicate the tastes and textures of real meats demonstrates the underlying jealousy and inadequacy felt by vegan/vegetarians about their dietary choices. The bearded dude in the "Vegetarianism Is For Lovers" t-shirt? Yeah...I'd hate to love at the pace and/or fervor of a malnourished pussy. Vegetarianism is not for lovers of food. We went to Cold Stone Creamery for dessert because I needed a rich brownie and ice cream to quell my anger and fill my stomach.

I found this CD for $5 at Amoeba last week. I guess they didn't know what a scarce album they had when they were pricing it. For those who are not aware, it is a live album that was recorded in Modena, Italy in September of 2000. It was released on Paper Cup in 2001, and quickly went out-of-print on both CD and LP. The ability to hear any Songs: Ohia performance is a treat, but to hear a Lioness-era Songs: Ohia performance...that's pure gold, my friend.

Songs: Ohia
Mi Sei Apparso Come Un Fantasma (You Come To Me As A Ghost)
MediaFire Download Link

Tracklist:
01. Are We Getting Any Closer
02. Nobody Tries That Hard Anymore
03. Tigress
04. Being In Love
05. Constant Change
06. It Won't Be Easy
07. She Came To Me As A Ghost
08. Vanquisher (cabwaylingo)

Tags: Ngoma, African, cuisine, food review, Flore, vegan, vegetarianism, Songs: Ohia, Mi Sei Apparso Come Un Fantasma, You Come To Me As A Ghost, mp3, blog, download

Treasures From The Collector's Slum 024

"Between Big Black-ack-ack-ack-ack and Shellac-ac-ac-ac-ac, famous record producer Steve Albini led a non-Billy Joel-influenced band called Rapeman. Kind of like Glenn Danzig's Samhain, this short-lived outfit didn't quite hit the watermark as often as his first and third bands. But that doesn't mean they were the worst band ever! I'll have you know that the drummer was the talented Rey Washam (Big Boys, Scratch Acid, Didjits, Helios Creed) and the bassist was the fellated David Wm. Sims (Scratch Acid, The Jesus Lizard)! So even if Steve was experiencing writer's block, how bad could the band be? Essentially Rapeman was the developmental middle road between the angry clanging screaming of Big Black and the restrained rhythm-driven Shellac." - Mark Prindle

Rapeman
1988-02-11 U4; Vienna, Austria
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Coition Ignition Mission
02. Just Got Paid
03. Dutch Courage
04. Log Bass
05. Radar Love Lizard
06. Kim Gordon's Panties
07. Trouser Minnow
08. Wheelchair Epidemic [Dicks]
09. Steak & Black Onions
10. Monobrow
11. Hated Chinee
12. Interlude
13. Superpussy
14. Upbeat

"Having your head dipped in some sort of molten hallucinogenic liquid...or steamrollered by a flying saucer.... or headbanging with Lovecraftian gods somewhere far out in the ocean of space... that's our meagre attempt to colorfully describe the experience of enjoying this slab of psychedelic stoner doom rock..." - Aquarius Records

UFOMAMMUT
Live at Roadburn 2006
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Star Dog
02. Hopscotch
03. Lips
04. Nero
05. Blind
06. God
07. Lucifer Song

"Trying to accurately describe the music of Bedhead is a bit like trying to explain the color blue to someone who's never seen it; when you're talking about something so elemental, the obvious starts to seem a bit inexplicable after a while. Bedhead's detractors have much less of a hard time doling out time-worn clichés like "slow-paced snooze rock," but in doing so they ignore the harder-to-define aspects of this Dallas-bred quintet's approach. First off, it's pop - pure, unvarnished pop music broken down for careful scrutiny. Every note and every empty space is meant to be savored, with the band's stark approach leaving a degree of ambiguity that listeners must color in for themselves. As a result, some people listen to the band and have epiphanies bound only by their imaginations, while others hear only a big gray box. To appreciate Bedhead, you have to meet them on their own subtle and nuanced terms." - Greg Beets

Bedhead
Live at Bennington College; Bennington, Vermont
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Exhume
02. More Than Ever
03. Parade
04. Half Thought
05. Extramundane
06. Forgetting
07. Lepidoptera
08. Psychosomatica
09. The Present
10. Dark Ages
11. What's Missing
12. Haywire
13. Bedside Table
14. Disorder
15. Losing Memories
16. The Rest Of The Day

If you love weed, you'll love Sleep. If you really love weed, you'll really love Sleep.

Sleep
Live 1991
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. The Druid
02. Nain's Arrival / Numb
03. Evil Gypsy / Solomon's Theme / Evil Gypsy (reprise)
04. Nain's Baptism
05. The Suffering
06. Inside The Sun
07. The Wall Of Yawn
08. The Scourge
09. The Departure Of Nain

Heavy rock band from England that also utilized some space rock tendencies. They are more known for the heavy stuff, having influenced bands like Metallica, Tesla, and more. This captures them during what I would describe as their "good" era, which pretty much lasted for their first two albums and that's it.

U.F.O.
Live
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. C'mon Everybody
02. Who Do You Love
03. Loving Cup
04. Prince Kajuku + The Coming Of Prince Kajuku
05. Boogie For George
06. Follow You Home

"Calla's self-titled debut prized apart traditional song structures and reconfigured the components into subtly apocalyptic, cinematic pieces, at times evoking electronically processed Ennio Morricone soundscapes." - AllMusic.com

Since then, they've gone entirely downhill. Too poppy, but some really cool songs spread across the albums Scavengers (released on Young God) and Televise (the start of the band's ugly downfall).

Calla
2005-10-14 Haileys; Denton, TX
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Testify
02. Initiate
03. Play Dead
04. This Better Go As Planned
05. So Far, So What
06. Televised
07. Strangler
08. It Dawned On Me
09. Swagger
10. Overshadowed
11. Fear Of Fireflies
12. Needle In The Camel's Eye [Brian Eno]

Tags: rare, out-of-print, bootleg, concert, recording, mp3, blog, download, UFO, live, Bedhead, Bennington, Vermont, Rapeman, Vienna, Austria, Sleep, UFOMAMMUT, Roadburn, 2006, Calla, Denton, Texas

Treasures From The Collector's Slum 023

First of all, Yankees suck. I just thought I'd start by issuing that statement.

I don't remember who turned me on to Eric Dolphy, but I swear to God, once I remember who it was I'm going to owe my life to that person. Out To Lunch almost instantly became my favorite jazz record ever. Even though I -- like my idol Mark Prindle -- know nothing about jazz, at the very least I know what I like...and I love this album. Purchasing one of the original Blue Note copies of this LP remains one of the most exciting moments I've experienced as a record collector. If you need any more evidence to support my adoration for this record, the opening of the title-track is my cellphone ring.

Since I know nothing about the intricacies of jazz, I'll let Trevor MacLaren at All About Jazz describe it. He writes, "For those of [you] who have not been knocked down at the knees while Dolphy blows from the speakers, I'll testify. Before his untimely demise from diabetes in 1964 at the age of thirty-six, Eric was responsible for some of the finest, most original and eclectic material to be etched into the body of jazz. Starting out in classical flute under the tutelage of Elise Moennig, Dolphy began using the bass clarinet as a tool of improvisation. He then proceeded to work with Chico Hamilton, gaining some popularity that spanned a prolific output for Prestige in 1960-61. Out to Lunch is one of the finest records of its kind. It is easily at the caliber of A Love Supreme [John Coltrane] and The Shape of Jazz to Come [Ornette Coleman]. That may seem a mighty bold statement. Well, dear readers, I mean every word. Out to Lunch flows soft and serene, then edgy and forthright. The magic is the way Dolphy leads his band. A touch of ease drops over the soundscape of the tracks before the trademark blast of jagged rips and chops run to the edge off a cliff and dangle with sounds that shake jazz's boundaries. Dolphy shows himself as solid bandleader and arranger who opens up plenty of room of for his players. Much in the ideology of his fellow avant garde players, the solos exude experiment. Yet Dolphy's control is masterful and no matter how far out he gets, you can feel his passion and know his path has been well articulated. A great example of the record's contrast in sound is “Something Sweet, Something Tender,” which lays out a smooth layer of vibes by Bobby Hutcherson before Dolphy launches into his atonal attack. His work is not altogether estranged from the music that came before. If nothing else his style builds on the work of bebop masters. But for this time around Dolphy walks away from those conventions and gives the experimental a huge to canvas for his textures. This record is where Dolphy starts blazing into the territory of Cecil Taylor. Unlike Taylor, Eric tried for natural or possibly 'nature' sounds which included imitating bird and others gathered from nature. Though not for the faint of heart, this is a certain bible for the avant garde players to come such as Anthony Braxton, Albert Aylers and John Zorn. Although the Prestige recordings spark a point that critics often argue, Dolphy was a freer player than Coltrane but held more to tradition than Coleman. Is this true? Out to Lunch shows Dolphy more apt for sonic annihilation than keeping in tradition, but the playing is in many ways a freer flight than what Coltrane was doing at the same period. None the less Dolphy shows his passion and unique style that would influence future players still to this day."

Eric Dolphy
Out To Lunch
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Hat And Beard
02. Something Sweet, Something Tender
03. Gazzelloni
04. Out To Lunch
05. Straight Up And Down

"Eric Dolphy's second album as a leader was recorded in 1960, while he was still playing with Charlie Mingus, and just before his association with Ornette Coleman on the legendary Free Jazz sessions. Much was made at the time of Dolphy's similarity to Ornette, but whereas Coleman's interest was in throwing out the rulebook and dispensing with chordal progressions, Dolphy's playing was still very much derived from bebop, though his distinctive approach pushed that envelope pretty hard. On this session, he teamed up with drummer Roy Haynes, bassist George Duvivier and cellist Ron Carter. Carter's cello lends the proceedings an intimate chamber jazz feel, and his arco double stops bridge the gap between chordal and melody instrument. The leader shows his prowess on clarinets and flute as well as alto and his choice of weapon unsurprisingly determines the character of each piece, though not in predictable ways; his flute solos (particularly on Randy Weston's ballad "Sketch of Melba") are every bit as muscular and colourful as those played on the other horns. The opening title track features tight ensemble work from Carter and Dolphy, leading into a typically pyrotechnic alto excursion from the leader. Here he settles on a series of phrases that are all slight variations on each other, like a Philip Glass arrangement of a Charlie Parker solo. The other alto feature is "Feathers", a mournful ballad which comes on like a cross between one of Mingus's ballads and a Coleman dirge. Carter's pizzicato chording shadows Dolphys' statement of the melody before the leader lets rip with a solo crammed with trills, soulful cries and mercurial bop runs. Mingus's "Eclipse" is in similar mode; Carter's mournfully sour cello meshes with the leaders clarinet and Duvivier's bowed bass, ending up with a wonderfully atmospheric coda. Haynes manages to propel without overpowering; on "17 West" he manages to power proceedings with just brushes and snare, erupting into a brief solo before the unexpected long fadeout. Throughout, the instrumental combinations throw up beautiful clashes and consonances; much like Henry Threadgill's work with cellos, tubas and so on. Theres a sense of a proper Third Stream being mined here, and it says much for Dolphy's vision that such combinations are still the stuff of surprise 40 odd years later. While Out There is neither the compositional masterwork of Out to Lunch or the improvisational firestorm of the Five Spot sessions with Booker Little of the following year, its nevertheless a worthy record of one of the most innovative jazz musicians ever to have walked the planet." - Peter Marsh, BBC.

Eric Dolphy
Out There
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Out There
02. Serene
03. The Baron
04. Eclipse
05. 17 West
06. Sketch Of Melba
07. Feathers

Let's move from Jazz to rock, shall we? And not just any rock, I mean fucking incredible Marxist boogie rock! If you don't know of the group Third World War, then you are missing out on two of my favorite rock records of all time. If you've been reading this website from the start, you've probably seen me reference Third World War countless times, and I've offered a great many of the band's songs for download. Here's your opportunity to download both of the band's full-length LPs. If you can find them on vinyl, you should consider yourself lucky. I've only seen the first one (twice, one of which I bought relatively cheap). I pray for the day when I can officially own what I believe is the best-titled record of all time: Third World War II. Ugh. I fucking love these guys.

"Third World War were an odd band, even in the post-psychedelic era. Their subject matter was peppered with radical communist/revolutionary rhetoric, often couched in English working class realism. If the song title "I'd Rather Cut Cane (for Castro)" isn't evidence enough, the opening lines of "Hammersmith Guerrillas" is : "I've got just the thing for you / It's a real cop beater / a sawed-off twelve-gauge / five shot repeater ... " and later in the song, in a lyric that is technically Treason, we are encouraged to "take up arms against the Crown." This passage was excised from a CD reissue of their second album, the heroically-titled Third World War II, so I recommend all Third World War listening be done from their two Track Records LPs [although the second LP was issued on Track, the first LP was actually issued on Fly/Polydor]. The sound of the music is a strained bluesy hard rock, with acoustic folk flourishes. Re-reading that sentence, I realize how uninviting a description it is, but I think Third World War were a great band. Their album artwork is eerily prescient of the other great English radical group, the Crass records crowd from the 1980s. Their second album cover may as well have been on a Rudimentary Peni record. They Rocked hard, in an English boogie way, not miles from bands like the Count Bishops or Dr. Feelgood, but with a more sinister edge and a vocal delivery that was both stoic and committed." - Steve Albini

As for me, I think the first record is a masterpiece from start to finish. The pinnacle, the two-part "Stardom Road" on the first (self-titled) LP is a remarkable departure from the band's conventional hard-rocking sound, and they pull off the minor-key folk dirge with great aplomb. Do yourself a favor and download both of these albums. I have no doubts you will be thanking me very, very soon. Also, they were perhaps the ugliest band that has ever existed.

Third World War
Third World War
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Ascension Day
02. MI5's Alive
03. Teddy Teeth Goes Sailing
04. Working Class Man
05. Shepards Bush Cowboy
06. Stardom Road Part I
07. Stardom Road Part II
08. Get Out Of Bed You Dirty Red
09. Preaching Violence

Third World War
Third World War II
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Yobo
02. Urban Rock
03. Coshing Old Lady Blues
04. Rat Crawl
05. I'd Rather Cut Cane For Castro
06. Factory Canteen News
07. Hammersmith Guerilla

Tags: rare, out-of-print, download, mp3, blog, Eric Dolphy, Out To Lunch, Out There, Third World War, Third World War II, self-titled, boogie rock, Marxist, Communist, jazz, avant garde, improv, free, hard rock, punk, psychedelic

Treasures From The Collectors Slum 022

FUFKIN writes, "Very little is known of the elusive group Morgen, who recorded a one-off album for ABC's psychedelic subsidiary Probe in 1969 and then apparently vanished. The group's namesake leader was Steve Morgen, and while some reference books actually credit the album to him solely, Morgen was indeed a group, consisting of Steve, Rennie Genossa, Bob Maiman, and Barry Stock, all of whom supposedly hailed from Long Island, New York.

Their album made no impact when originally released and has since become rare and sought-after, especially after dealers and collectors began declaring it a "psychedelic classic" in recent years. While the label "classic" might be a bit of a stretch, the album does certainly include a few very good tracks. "Welcome to the Void" is an effective opener that features some nice drumming and lead guitar work, as well as some suitably psychedelic, apocalyptic lyrics. "Of Dreams", probably the strongest song on the album, is a gorgeous, floating psychedelic excursion highlighted by a captivating, fey vocal and some more strong guitar and drum playing."

I discovered this album on the Electrical Audio "Sendspace" thread, and have been searching far and wide for an original copy of the LP for quite some time. I have the CD, which was released briefly on the French imprint EVA, but it has very quickly and quietly gone out-of-print again. Amazon has a few used copies at reasonable prices. Buy this album.

Morgen
Morgen
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Welcome To The Void
02. Of Dreams
03. Beggin' Your Pardon (Miss Joan)
04. Eternity In Between
05. Purple
06. She's The Nitetime
07. Love

Formed by members of Rhode Island's infamous Amoebic Ensemble, The Eyesores were a band that few dared to classify, and even fewer classified correctly. Like the Steve Morgen album, I discovered The Eyesores on the Electrical Audio "Sendspace" thread. I found a CD copy the other day, and am very happy about that discovery. Although it is very definitely out-of-print, there are a few copies for sale over at Amazon for reasonable prices. Buy this album.

Insound says, "Raw and red-eyed drinking songs, strange nautical voyages, tearful country ballads, gypsy cabaret punk, all delivered here in bristling accordion-fueled glory, with some sparse, intimate guitar strum. Your favorite psychedelic folk-pop meander, Balkan wedding marches, bassoon-driven gnome-rock strangled in strange noises? most likely recorded beside a bonfire. This is "hobo rock" for fans of Tom Waits, Pavement, the Ukrainians, Captain Beefheart, and Neutral Milk Hotel."

The Eyesores
May You Dine On Weeds Made Bitter By The Piss Of Drunkards
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Nausea
02. Hateful Morning
03. The Warmest Coat
04. Wake Up
05. Defenseless
06. 7 Governor, Rear
07. Concrete Cast #2
08. Benevolent St.
09. Hustle
10. Sleeping
11. Murdering Time
12. Satellite
13. Blue
14. Elizabeth

Last we spoke about Jackie-O Motherfucker, I shared my introduction to the band and three recordings. There was the Live on WFMU performance, the Freedom From CD-r, and Cross Pollinate. If you remember the story, it began with their opening for Godspeed You Black Emperor in early 2003. Black Dice opened the Philadelphia show, and Jackie-O Motherfucker opened both Brooklyn shows at the Warsaw. I was unsure of what to make of their sound at first, but I grew to really admire the band's live show.

It took some time for me to acquire their discography. Ian sent me Fig. 5 and Liberation, but I needed more time before I finally decided to obtain copies for myself. I think it was when I heard the in-studio performance on WFMU that I was finally hooked on JOMF.

This CD-r contains recordings from the band's 2002 European tour, and fans of Wow / The Magick Fire Music will be very pleased with the band's sound from this era. I actually own two copies of this two-disc set right now, so if any of you want a copy for yourself....well, make me an offer!

Jackie-O Motherfucker
Europe 2002 / U-Sound Vol. 10
MediaFire Download Link (Disc 1)
MediaFire Download Link (Disc 2)

Track Listing:
01. Finale Emilia, Italy Oct 23
02. Birmingham, UK Nov 2
03. Manchester, UK Nov 3 (1)
04. Manchester, UK Nov 3 (2)
05. Newcastle, UK Oct 29 (1)
06. Newcastle, UK Oct 29 (2)
07. Schio, Italy Oct 19
08. Stockholm, Sweden Nov 6
09-10. Rotterdam, Netherlands Oct 10
11-15. Helsinki, Finland Nov 9

Tags: rare, out-of-print, mp3, blog, download, Steve Morgen, Morgen, Welcome To The Void, Of Dreams, Eyesores, May You Dine On Weeds Made Bitter By The Piss Of Drunkards, Jackie-O Motherfucker, JOMF, U-Sound, Europe 2002, live

Treasures From The Collectors Slum 021

Finally I have a moment to sit and put together a non-travel-related blog entry. Today has been boring thus far, but I'll probably write again this evening once the rest of the day has unfolded. I know you're all dying to read about me opening a new bank account, but you're just going to have to stick your thumb up your ass and wait a few more hours. Tomorrow looks like it's going to include another fun day trip, and Thursday night there is going to be a huge blowout party at one of my favorite drinking spots in New York, where I'll squeeze a weeks worth of catching up with friends into a few bourbon-and-beer soaked hours. So, if you're a Swan Fungus reader who isn't psychotic, and you want to buy your favorite blogger a drink, you should e-mail me for details. I'm calling the event, "Getting Drunk With Evan". You buy me a drink (that's like your ticket to get on the ride) and then I silently think to myself whether or not I want to engage in conversation with you (that's the ride). Maybe I will decide to talk to you (that's your prize), and maybe I won't (that's how you lose). It's a really fun game.

Do I really have to describe Can for you? They are one of my all-time most-loved bands, and their "classic years" (most say '71-'73) are unparalleled in the history of rock music. No joke. The Beatles? Meh, they had great singles but their albums were mostly boring. Sufjan Stevens? What are you, fucking kidding me? I'm still waiting for that guy's first good song! The Rolling Stones came close with four great albums recorded between '68 and '72, but that's a five year span! Can did three in three years! Throw in the two pre-Damo albums Monster Movie and Soundtracks (where Damo and Malcolm Mooney split vocal duties), and you have five classic albums in five years. Talk about hitting a fucking groove! Can's ability to create wonderful music consistently over the course of a half-decade really is perhaps their least recognized quality. They also grooved in the literal sense. The rhythm section of Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit became completely lost in the moment, and along with organist Irmin Schmidt they epitomized the eclecticism and oft-paraphrased "motorik" rhythms that defined Krautrock. In a genre overflowing with immense drummers, Liebezeit compares favorably even to Klaus Schulze of Ash Ra Tempel and Klaus Dinger, of Neu!. Dig it, buddy.

The bootleg Future Days And Past Nights was recorded at the University of Essex in England on the 17th of May, 1975. Even though Damo left the band in '73 to marry his girlfriend, he is featured on this live album. It is a soundboard recording that features several recognizable tunes including the stunning "Bel Air" (here condensed to eight minutes) from Future Days, two tracks from the oft-overlooked Soon Over Babaluma, and "One More Night" from Ege Bamyasi. "Pinch Of Sky" and the closing number "Meadowsweet portend the band's future progression with their heavy electronic and jazz influences. This is one that should be enjoyed by all Can fans.

Can
Future Days And Past Nights
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Chain Reaction
02. Bel Air
03. Dizzy Dizzy
04. Pinch Of Sky
05. One More Night
06. Meadowsweet

A few weeks ago you were offered the option of downloading the Aphrodite's Child masterpiece 666, which I think is one of the greatest concept albums ever recorded. Today I'm sharing It's Five O'Clock, the band's second studio album (666 was their third, End Of The World was their first). You might be surprised to learn that Vangelis and Co. were not always purveyors of grandiose psychedelic prog rock. On this record, they find themselves meandering through a variety of styles and tempos, from their typical early pop-psych ("Such A Funny Night") to soul and country. There are few if any elements of prog in any of these songs. Vangelis is at his most soulful when he belts out "Good Time So Fine" and "Annabella". I wouldn't say that It's Five O'Clock Aphrodite's Child is an entirely different band from 666 Aphrodite's Child, but it's astounding to hear the progression (no pun intended) between this album (1969) and the next one (1972). You can purchase the album used from Amazon.com.

Aphrodite's Child
It's Five O'Clock
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. It's Five O'Clock
02. Wake Up
03. Take Your Time
04. Annabella
05. Let Me Love, Let Me Live
06. Funky Mary
07. Good Time So Fine
08. Marie Jolie
09. Such A Funny Night

During my first week at the record store, one of my employees was preparing to leave when he approached me and asked if I was into garage rock. I said I knew the basics and liked The Sonics and 13th Floor Elevators, but it always seemed like a genre filled with unknown gems and a lot of crap to wade through. He walked over to one of the record bins and picked up an LP by a band called The Rising Storm called Alive Again At Andover, told me it was rare, and said I should definitely buy it. It was hand-numbered, so I figured at the very least it might be worth more than the $9.99 price tag somewhere down the line. I took it home and played it while writing my blog entry that night, and I found myself distracted by how energetic and great the band sounded. The sextet even covered a Stones' song and Donovan's "Catch The Wind." I soon learned that the LP I was listening to was an audience recording of a 1982 performance that happened to coincide with the group's fifteenth-year high school reunion (they formed at a prep school in Massachusetts and disbanded upon graduation). There was only one original song played during that show, so I figured I'd look into finding a studio recording. That's when I found out The Rising Storm's only full-length album, Calm Before... is an incredibly sought after garage rock recording, fetching over $2,500 or more at auction. So, I settled for a CD.

"The Rising Storm were not the usual band of teenagers with bad attitudes covering "Louie, Louie"; roughly half of the songs on Calm Before... are originals, and they're surprisingly subtle and ambitious stuff, moody folk-rock that often suggests the subtle influence of the psychedelic revolution that was looming on the musical horizon. If the Rising Storm weren't exactly virtuosos, they were a tight and energetic band with enough musical smarts to make the most of songs like "Frozen Laughter," "The Rain Falls Down," and "To L.N./Who Doesn't Know," and when they stomp down on "Big Boss Man," "Don't Look Back," or "Baby Please Don't Go," they sound mighty fine indeed". Lucky for you, both albums are available in one package over at Amazon.com.

The Rising Storm
Calm Before...
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01. Don't Look Back
02. To L.N. - Who Doesn't Know
03. I'm Coming Home
04. A Message to Pretty
05. In The Midnight Hour
06. Frozen Laughter
07. She Loved Me
08. Mr. Wind
09. Big Boss Man
10. Bright Lit Blue Skies
11. The Rain Falls Down
12. Baby Please Don't Go

Tags: mp3, blog, download, Can, Future Days And Past Nights, Krautrock, motorik, bootleg, recording, Aphrodite's Child, It's Five O'Clock, Vangelis, prog, psych, The Rising Storm, Calm Before, garage, rare, out-of-print

Treasures From The Collectors Slum 020

...If you don't know who Hawkwind are by now, you're not even trying. For those who are unaware, Hawkwind -- they of the constantly changing lineup -- are one of my all-time favorite bands. My fascination with space rock might have begun with Pink Floyd, but they could be sort of pussies, so Hawkwind's heavy rhythms propel them to the top of the prog/psych heap. Their live album Space Ritual is believed to be one of the genre's defining moments. Advertised as "88 minutes of brain-damage," it is a document of the group's 1972 tour, which featured liquid lights, lasers, nude dancers, wild costumes and immense psychedelic imagery. The combination of the live show with the science fiction-meets heavy rock music attracted a large fanbase of drug users, sci-fi nerds, and bikers. And me. Even though I was negative eleven years old at the time.

The soundboard recording offered here as Space Rock From London opens with a great spoken introduction counting down until "all systems go," followed by the hard, driving "Born To Go," which many familiar with Hawkwind will recognize from Space Ritual. Other highlights include "Brainstorm" and the raucous closing number "Silver Machine".

I don't think I have to say much about this one. It's fucking Hawkwind. It kind of rules.

Hawkwind
Space Rock From London
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01) Born To Go
02) Seven By Seven
03) Brainstorm
04) Master Of The Universe
05) Paranoia
06) Silver Machine

South Londoners Robert Hampson, his wife Bex, and Phil King formed Loop formed in 1986. Theirs was a hypnotic and dark sound. The influence of a band like Hawkwind can be easily deciphered in their droning, psychedelic, white noise jams. Of course, if you read Erik Morse's "Dreamweapon" biography of Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized, you kind of start to think of Loop as assholes who ripped off the Spacemen 3 sound and experienced more mainstream success. While certain songs definitely sound suspicious, there are many that are enjoyable and unique to Loop.

A Gilded Eternity was released in 1990, and was the band's second album to reach #1 on the UK Indie chart. Drawing lofty comparisons to Sonic Youth's Evol and Sister (which happen to be my favorite two SY albums), it is a sonic masterpiece, the kind of unsettling psychedelic adventure that not many bands could pull off without some feeling of cliche. Do the guitars ever cease? Is "Shot With A Diamond" the best song to ever reference Apocalypse Now? Do not miss this album if you in any way desire to lose your head for an hour. Look forward to Fade Out, perhaps the band's finest moment, which will be posted in this space shortly.

Loop
A Gilded Eternity
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01) Vapour
02) Afterglow
03) The Nail Will Burn
04) Blood
05) Breathe Into Me
06) From Centre To Wave
07) Be Here Now
08) Shot With A Diamond
09) The Nail Will Burn (Burn Out)
10) Arc-Light (Sonar)

This album might be one of the greatest psychedelic gems I have ever uncovered. It was originally recorded in the late sixties by a group of high school and college aged kids from the Grosse Point, Michigan area. The discordant jams that form Index's (I believe) untitled first album are as endearing as they are a fascinating. It is a document of a young band trying to create something personal and mature while still relying heavily on their influences. It opens with a short cover of The Byrds' "Eight Miles High," and the low-budget recording techniques are immediately audible. Imagine a less-savvy 13th Floor Elevators recording with one ambient microphone in a dead room. For all its adorable faults, this album manages to feature several great songs. The fuzz guitar leads on "Turquoise Feline" sound years ahead of their time. And remember, these were just kids. And this was occurring at the same time as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Velvet Underground, and many more psychedelic rock bands who went on to achieve great success. Index is a sadly overlooked band who operated on a minuscule scale during an era of great importance to rock music. The fact that more people haven't picked up on this album as a perfect merger between garage and psych is beyond me, considering it was created at the tale end of the garage rock movement and the beginning of the apex of psych's mainstream popularity. Decide for yourself.

Index
Indiex
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01) Eight Miles High
02) Israeli Blues
03) John Riley
04) Turquoise Feline
05) Rainy, Starless Night
06) Fire Eyes
07) Shock Wave
08) You Keep Me Hanging On
09) Feedback

How does one describe Tar to the uninitiated? Without issuing gushing praise, it's somewhat complicated. My friend Jet from Chicago introduced me to the wonderful band that blended harsh noise with otherwise cerebral rock songs to create a perfect maelstrom of intensity that could fall on either side of the sometimes tempestuous line that separates punk from rock.

So writes someone over at Trouser Press, "Roundhouse is a more fully realized effort, with guitars that methodically churn like threshers through a wheat field, underpinned by coldly relentless lunge-and-lurch rhythms. It's the most industrial-sounding of Tar's albums, and substantially reminiscent of then-labelmates Helmet. [John] Mohr's monotonal vocals are effectively buried, just another layer in the band's ominous sonic grid."

If you come to this website often, have seen me write at great length about bands that would fall under an "Evan Rock" moniker, and enjoy the music I share from those bands' discographies, you will most definitely want to download Roundhouse.

Tar
Roundhouse
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01) Les Paul Worries
02) Cold
03) Glass Grief
04) Pick One
05) Black Track
06) Bad Box
07) Mercury Block
08) Gag Reflex
09) Thermos
10) Jurbo

Tags: rare, out-of-print, download, mp3, blog, Hawkwind, Space Rock From London, concert, bootleg, soundboard, Loop, A Gilded Eternity, psych, space rock, Spacemen 3, Index, self-titled, DC, Grosse Point, Michigan, The Byrds, Tar, Roundhouse, noise, punk, rock, Chicago, underground

Treasures From The Collector's Slum 019

When I worked at Crescent Golf Range (formerly 2235 Springfield Ave in Union, New Jersey), I had the closing shift. One night I was driving home from work late and listening to Tony Coulter's show on WFMU, and the DJ was going on endlessly about a garage rock band called the Bachs. Tony played two tracks from their album Out Of The Bachs, and I was floored. I'm no garage rock junkie (in fact, the only two LPs I own that I can think of off the top of my head are this one and the Rising Storm one), but this shit is so good.

Apparently the band lived in the suburbs of Chicago, and they existed for only three years. Their performances were at school dances, private parties and small teenager clubs, but after a few years of making less than $200 a night they decided to forego music in order to take their lives in different directions. Fortunately for us, this album will serve as a great reminder for just how awesome the band was. In 2004, it was re-issued by Gear Fab. You can order it from Amazon.com. Close your eyes and step out of the bachs.

Bachs
Out Of The Bachs
MediaFire Download Link

01) You're Mine
02) Pleasure Of Your Company
03) Free Fall
04) I See Her
05) My Independence Day
06) Minister To A Mind Diseased
07) Tables Of Grass Fields
08) Show Me That You Want To Go Home
09) Sitting
10) Nevermore
11) Answer To Yesterday
12) I'm A Little Boy

Imagine writing one song that makes you an absolute music legend. That's the story of Question Mark (legal name "?") and his band The Mysterians. The smash hit "96 Tears" was number one on the Billboard hits chart for exactly one week, but has been covered by everybody from Suicide to Primal Scream to Iggy Pop and The Stranglers. One of the band's future singles reached as high as number 22 on the chart, but that was the last flirtation with success they would experience. "?" was a modern frontman living in an era that provided him an aura of great mystery. He claimed he was born on Mars, was never seen without a pair of wraparound sunglasses (Bono, anyone?), and spoke of a previous where he lived amongst dinosaurs. He also proclaimed that he would be performing "96 Tears" in the year 10,000. Fucking awesome.

The garage rock icons took their name from a Japanese sci-fi film, and played the kind of organ-heavy, searing guitar rock that is clearly visible in bands like the Velvet Underground. The band sited their three major influences as being "girls," "science fiction" and "black". I'd say the music finds a happy medium between the three. See for yourself. Luckily for you, Amazon.com has bundled the first two albums together in one happy package. Order yours today!

Question Mark And The Mysterians
1st And 2nd Albums
MediaFire Download 1
MediaFire Download 2

96 Tears:
01) I Need Somebody
02) Stormy Monday
03) You're Telling Me Lies
04) Ten O'Clock
05) Set Aside
06) Up Side
07) "8" Teen
08) Don't Tease Me
09) Don't Break This Heart Of Mine
10) Why Me
11) Midnight Hour
12) 96 Tears

Action:
01) Girl (You Captivate Me)
02) Can't Get Enough Of You, Baby
03) Got To
04) I'll Be Back
05) Shout (Pt. 1 & 2)
06) Hangin' On A String
07) Smokes
08) It's Not Easy
09) Don't Hold It Against Me
10) Just Like A Rose
11) Do You Feel It
12) Do Something To Me
13) Love Me Baby (Cherry July)
14) Midnight Hour
15) 96 Tears

From Wikipedia:
"The movie's innovative electronic music score (credited as "Electronic tonalities" partly to avoid having to pay movie industry music guild fees) was composed by Louis and Bebe Barron. Their score is widely credited with being the first completely electronic film score, and helped open the door for electronic music in film. The synthesized sounds of "bleeps, blurps, whirs, whines, throbs, hums and screeches" that make up the sound track contained carefully developed themes and motifs, while supporting the general atmosphere of the various scenes. Using the equations presented in the 1948 book, "Cybernetics: Or, Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine" by mathematician Norbert Wiener, Louis Barron constructed the electronic circuits which he used to generate sounds. Most of the tonalities were generated using a circuit called a ring modulator. After recording the base sounds, Louis and Bebe Barron further manipulated the material by adding effects, such as reverb and delay, and reversing or changing the speed of certain sounds. The soundtrack for Forbidden Planet preceded the Moog synthesizer of 1964 by almost a decade.

The innovative soundtrack was released on a vinyl LP album by Louis & Bebe Barron for the film's 20th Anniversary in 1976, on their own PLANET Records label (later changed to SMALL PLANET Records and distributed by GNP Crescendo Records) and, later, on a music CD in 1986 for its 30th Anniversary: with a six-page colour booklet containing images from Forbidden Planet plus liner notes from the composers, Louis & Bebe Barron, and Bill Malone. You can order the original soundtrack from Amazon.com.

Louis Barron & Bebe Barron
Forbidden Planet Soundtrack
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01) Main Titles (Overture)
02) Deceleration
03) Once Around Altair
04) The Landing
05) Flurry Of Dust - A Robot Approaches
06) A Shangri-La In The Desert / Garden With Cuddly Tiger
07) Graveyard - A Night With Two Moons
08) "Robby, Make Me A Gowns"
09) An Invisible Monster Approaches
10) Robby Arranges Flowers, Zaps Monkey
11) Love At The Swimming Hole
12) Morbius' Study
13) Ancient Krell Music
14) The Mind Booster - Creation Of Matter
15) Krell Shuttle Ride And Power Station
16) Giant Footprints In The Sand
17) "Nothing Like This Claw Found In Nature!"
18) Robby, The Cook, And 60 Gallons Of Booze
19) Battle With The Invisible Monster
20) "Come Back To Earth With Me"
21) The Monster Purses - Morbius Is Overcome
22) The Homecoming
23) Overture (Reprise)

On Sunday, I shared with you the Swans first major label album, The Burning World. In describing the album, it was important to note that musically, it was a huge departure for the band. That's because Swans were early pioneers of the post-industrial movement, and they are most well-known for their identifiable (and oh-my-lord-so-fucking-depressing) slow, brutal, ungodly sounds. The band (original lineup of bassist/vocalist Michael Gira, drummer Jonathan Kane, drummer Roli Mosimann, guitarist Norman Westberg) started as a guy who screamed and groaned like the victim of some horrible torture juxtaposed to overly-slow buzzing instruments and heavy drums, softened up a bit towards the end there, and concluded their existence with some boring Industrial albums. The one constant was, everything they recorded kind of makes you want to die!

Filth is the band's first full-length (the eponymous release was an EP, right? I'm too lazy to look it up) isn't as suicide-inducing as the live album Body To Body, Job To Job (where each song makes you want to kill yourself more than the last), but it's still morbid as hell and horrifying. If you love guitar/bass feedback, painkiller-slow rhythms, and the sounds of a guy who may or may not be having his skin peeled off to that very same "music", you'll love Swans. If anything, seek out Young God so you can hear the epic "Raping A Slave." Filth is long out-of-print, but used copies are available from Amazon.com.

Swans
Filth
MediaFire Download Link

Track Listing:
01) Stay Here
02) Big Strong Boss
03) Blackout
04) Power For Power
05) Freak
06) Right Wrong
07) Thank You
08) Weakling
09) Gang

Tags: rare, out-of-print, mp3, blog, download, The Bachs, Out Of The Bachs, garage rock, Question Mark And The Mysterians, ?, 96 Tears, Action, sci-fi, organ, Forbidden Planet, soundtrack, Louis Barron, Bebe Barron,