Lately, when I am not on the road, or traversing the "great outdoors", the main shrine and escape place for me is this wall (pictured) where I get to process painting ideas and refine my visual prayer(s), petitions, and make gratitude(s) in many different forms. It doesn't happen too often with all the life and family stuff happening, but its nice to have a safe place. It's in my parents detached garage mess room, what used to be the old jam room. The room itself has a lot of history, and in the desk and bookshelf are packed old recordings of jams with friends, tapes & records. I listen to music where-ever, but I particularly love to be detached from the internet and go back down memory lane - and sometimes, memory lane keeps coming back to get you.
Lately I have been getting back in touch with old friends of New Jersey and Philadelphia, as a bunch of peeps are still growing and evolving with their crafts, making new things. While the music or art they made back in the day was of a folkish Lo-fi nature, it seems like a few people are experimenting with minimal electronic and synth noises. I really have been enjoying painting to this type of music so I figured I should share some thoughts:
RODE GREY "Three" - Nostorca Tapes
I know RODE GREY more for his other work with ASPS and under his other Moniker - "The Darves" - this tape however, is a mark-ed departure from the usual experimentation... The album starts off with a noisy murkiness and then I am thrown into the first "beat". I have to admit that there are times, I have a gravity towards dark sounding, perhaps psychopathic soundtracks. I feel like I am walking down the steps into "the club" (perhaps like "Home Sweet Home" in Chinatown circa 2008) to get some substances and "meet" people. There's this heavy beat with samples of my mind going crazy. Waking up from dreams, as if I might have pulled over the car to the side of the road, and then getting back on the nauseous highway. I am on a road trip with Rode Grey. We are coming down from the substances ingested back at "the club". Or maybe we are ascending in a sparse, emotionless meditation. There are exercises in simplicity.
Its a collage of dark dancable beats and "devotional" drones. Solid synth beats. Minimal. I could see some pieces turning into the backings for some rhythmic intense songs, dark hip hop even.
ANNIE ACHRON - "Silver Handed in Subterranea" - Silvox
I know Annie more from her work with other friends making more noisy rock type stuff, so again, another departure : the album starts with a lo-fi sounding autechre-meets-David Lynch techno collage, synth... Lago Maggiore continues in a different vein with a drone moment, feels like getting sent to the principals office & then a party or insanity takes over; a disconnection from the shame. The title track Silver Handed in Subterranea is a party anthem with samples of Annie's sarcasm (?) "What I wouldn't give to want you?" Feels like I am in an awkward but hormone charged middle school dance. The theme of "school" is apparent... A+ Disintegration boosts up the beats to a cocaine party mix, glitter pop with another sample of Annie "and... I don't need you anymore"... Boxing Day continues the Meth Party in the xerox room, but feels more somber. Nothing Today Kinda Sir concludes the tape with a dancey sampled "childhood" ; parties without the fun / forced fun. Our 12 year old says it reminded her of sketches of Penelope Scott.
I am excited to have a dance party, someday, to share this "too-cool-for-school" dance-trip.
