SKETCHES

Going through the unreleased posts on the blog, here are some things I left in the draft stage, incomplete ideas. I'll flesh them out because I can't stand having incomplete projects.

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Original pending post title: "WONDERFUL"

I haven't been paying attention to "new" music lately, and I'm sure it's my loss, but each time I check out some critically acclaimed band (from vaguely trustworthy major media sources: Wire, Mojo, Record Collector, etc) I'm either disappointed by the mediocrity and lack of sincerity, or amused that the junk could be mistaken for something great in the first place. The machine needs products though, and new product must be touted... as opposed to critical assault and refinement. Luckily (inconveniently really) the same powers are interested in keeping their legacies productive, so the reissue market is booming... and that's where my focus has been.

Right now I'm indulging in the newly released four CD reissue of The Fall's The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall. Still the coagulated mess racket. Love when Gavin Friday's voice jumps out on a couple songs, like some slippery dragwitch. I really like Virgin Prunes, but it's such intensely involved music, I can only really listen to em a few times a year.

Listening to "Craigness" really loud and clear is so satisfying, especially when it kicks at the end...

I finally tracked down a copy of the M.S.B.Я. / Speculum Fight - Stultification lathe cut 7". It wasn't cheap, but it was much less than the usual over $100 asking price, that may have had to do with the auction being listed as MSRB instead of MSBR... so I ended up with copy 1 of 120, which is pretty amazing. Unlike most copies I've seen, this one doesn't have wheels attached to it, but instead a large flexibile piece of wood attached by springs. Would be interesting to find out what the distribution was of "wheeled" versus "springed". I read about this record back when I first got into noise years ago and have wanted it forever, so it's cool to finally have it. Probably should have bought all the other ones from Artware when I had the chance... $35 for a 7" seemed like a lot back then.

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Original post title: "GLASS COLLAPSE"

I'm trying to watch this documentary, Collapse, about how the world is fucked, but the music is so horrifically embarrassing, I can't commit to it.

It's completely lame to use Philip Glass in a documentary now, unless you want to abuse stereotypical and unimaginatively overused sonic shorthand... it's even tacky for Errol Morris to resort to him now.



But to use FAKE Philip Glass music.. is just... horrific.... I always entertained the idea of fake Glass music for a mockumentary, but these guys really did it...



American Movie may have been a great documentary, entirely because of the fascinating subject, but there was nothing about the structure around it that seriously impressed, Chris Smith is really exposing himself here. Riding his subjects seems to be his only trick, and when he follows another caricature, things feel really revealed.

Didier Leplae and Joe Wong should be ashamed, unless they are just making fun of the way Glass rips himself off constantly.... if that's it, then they are I guess making a funny comment... but I feel like.... maybe they just suck.

Anyone have any insight?

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This last bit was untitled and vague, but still something I'm trying to figure out.

I find a contemporary recording imitating or explicitly influenced by Autechre, Aphex Twin or Boards Of Canada infinitely more offensive than most 90-95 mindless Detroit/Berlin/Acid variants.

There is such a clear personality in those big 3, that while artists like Mr. 76ix and Chris Clark are absolutely skilled craftsman, the textural quotations and what feels like lens flare distorted plagiarisms are much more annoying than recordings that attempt no more artistry than skilled chair building. I'll always go with a classic gear ride, the voice of the machines pointed in a direction by the human catalyst, over a carefully sculpted emulation of another's, already told more beautifully, story.

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Francesca Waddell is becoming my favorite... uh, fashion publications illustrator? Don't really know what it's called, but it's a great combination of 60s and 80s illustration finesse without resorting to outright imitation, there's a definite contemporary sense to her work.



Ok, see you soon.

FAILURE

I lied, failed to follow through on my position of not posting more garbage.

Here's a collage I just slapped together of the best bits from a bunch of greeting cards I never used that I made a couple years ago out of trading cards.



And here are gaming heroes... where are they today...



More soon.

PAPER SCRAPS

Here are some of the more interesting pieces of paper I've saved from recycled magazines. These are just a few pages from a foot tall stack.

Masonna from an old Terrorizer.



Article about the never released Super Nintendo CD Drive.



An early noise review I read before I ever heard noise that flipped me out and set me on a desperate path to hear the mysterious noise.



Mortiis talking about his house, I believe he was still an actual troll here making wizard music and not whatever he turned into.



William Bennett talking about DJing noise, not the expected Italo material.



Morrissey in Seventeen magazine.



And Wolf Eyes in Flaunt magazine from a few years ago, was weird seeing them so glossy, the Twig appearance is a bonus.



Ok, enough scans for awhile.

BATTLE TRASH MIND

The surging waters of current disposable micro information are basically smothering and trying to get us to altogether forget older documents, perhaps more carefully constructed documents, that hold information regarding pillar construction and how to dismantle. None of my posted documents in any way support that position, but when looking through journal articles and old magazine articles I've got on file, you can't help but laugh when people suggest a google search will yield truth. That's some 101 shit, but it should be remembered.

That ego-maniacal nonsense aside.

Going through boxes of papers for disposal.

Here are some pre-trashing items.

I used to pretend I was maybe going to play card games with friends I didn't actually have, and begged my parent to buy me Inquest magazine so I could make plans for eventualities that never materialized.

I remember being ridiculously excited when I saw the Einstürzende Neubauten logo tattooed on this badass cyberpunk dude.



I felt like Tim Bradstreet and I were part of a secret club of knowledgeable industrial listeners. In reality I was a 14 year old loser with 2 Neubauten cds.

I never was "lucky" enough to play one, but I always wondered what it would be like to get in one of those Virtual World BattleTech simulators. I'm sure the graphics which would have floored me then would now be too simple. Theoretically the most important aspect would be the immersion in the pod, which would perhaps slightly balance the weakness of the game visuals. I'm sure I'll never play one, so it doesn't matter.

Here's an Inquest article about the game.






Here's some footage I found.

System 1.0



Ridiculous 3.0 intro video...



System 4.0



I had always wanted to play the BattleTech miniatures and paper game, and would look at the books whenever we went to a bookstore as a kid. When I finally played it ONCE in high school, I realized what an incredibly tedious nerd game it was. Having to roll dice for every single round of ammo, and realizing that an hour of game play translated to like 1 minute of "real time" in the game... ugh. I still think the mechs are cool looking and skillfully painted miniatures will grab my idiot attention.

Some mechs and a demo reel.



By the time the BattleTech cartoon came out I had pretty much lost interest, I still watched it, but it was no Exosquad. I barely even played the computer games when we got them, my brother took over the passion by then.

I have to admit that I do pick up the old novels at used bookstores now and then, not that I've even had time to read any yet.



Here's a quick article on those Jumbo Machinder toys from a few posts back.




I apologize for only posting the articles and blips I'm throwing away, I'll post selections from all the really good stuff I'm keeping later.

Here are scans from some "notecards" for finals for classes I hated, I obviously learned nothing, yet put my tiny writing to the test.





I scoffed at the people who only had 3 or 4 equations on their cards, but was quickly destroyed trying to find the right equation in my disorganized collage.

LOST GROUND

Seems like all the shifts are towards depersonalized and dissipated energies under the guise of convenience and immediacy. I'm guilty of falling for these things and am often too lazy to work against them. Fighting towards some semblance of organization and refinement remains a primary goal.

Some various shards.

The photography of Lina Scheynius jumped out at me as being genuinely atmospheric and less disposable than most comparable imagery, especially when some pieces seem to be working within the potentially restricting fashion industry, I'm thinking in regards to expectations and clarity.








I'm progressing through my physical copies of the Studio 1 12" series. I have all but Rosa, and technically the Keep On Rockin 12". I'm annoyed by a few of them with skips that seem to vary between pressing flaws and frequency induced jumps combined with my perhaps damaged or worn needle. Of course due to the FUCKED nature of the internet, data presentation, and the google RAPE machine, upon which I am clearly running this dumb blog, it's impossible to find any discussion of potential pressing-flaw or playback issues online due to worthless result clogging. So instead of being able to ask an informed forum (not that I'd actually want to deal with a forum) or find an answer on already tread ground, I'll just type at my corner, and remain annoyed.

Gold and Hellblau are so messed up, I'm just gonna return them to the store and hope to find copies that play. I'm 99 percent sure these are weird pressing flaws. So I guess I'm 4 from a set. As much as I love Wolfgang Voigt, so many of these permutational exercises have so few plays in them.

I'm obsessed with Amanda Lear. Everything about her is awesome. The limited vocal range, style over substance, dated atmospheres and aesthetics, crazy eyes, creepy teeth... just perfect.



I love how everything is slightly sedate, the barely conscious dancers with their great outfits.

And here, tacky trash-pop faux Fellini world...



I'll have to track down original VHS and wax of everything, it's doubtful CD will be around anymore when any theoretical resurgence of interest in her could take place.

The artist Edolo Masci is a new one for me, some of his stuff is really nice. Here are some examples, a nice warmth and stillness, more like moments of reflection.



Marinella (1988)



Il Merlo (1986)



Il Mare (1980-1985)



Verdeombra (1990)



Casa Rossa (1980)



Tenerezza N.2 (1977)

I've never seen any of these in person, or even decently printed outside of maybe a few in magazines. I like them in a reduced and crunched state, so I look forward to at least tracking down a book. Plenty more super naked babes and houses where those came from.

I'm always shocked by what is and isn't hip and what is and isn't kept in print. Right now there are mountains of easily available and needlessly-plentifully created and produced fake Death In June worship bands, fake Broken Flag worship units, fake Tangerine Dream worship collectives, and fake 90's Death Metal cults going on, and unpretentious and awesome stuff like Mystic Force languishes in unavailability. Now isn't the time of dreamy 90's trance music being hip? Too close for comfort, though all other 90's is nostalgia fertilizer.




I find this kind of... "authentic", a big assumption on my part, wide eyed trance techno stuff more invigorating and rewarding than a bunch of mis-articulations of downloaded half impressions of actual lifestyles, as awesomely Gibsonian as that sounds like it should be.

Sdgsdfg

What happens, when you are too lazy to give a meaningful name to a file.

All videos with the same timeless title.

It's better if you play a few at the same time.

One of them seems to be a particularly harsh sniper glorification video... with actual footage of people being shot for 8 minutes... "sdgsdfg" indeed.

















Probably my worst post ever.

RESCUE

Thinking of 80's kids and aircraft, reminded me of a movie I'd love to see again.

The Rescue from 1988.

American 80's teens have to save their dads from a commie prison. Awesome.

Or at least I remember thinking it was awesome.

Would like to see it once more before I check out of this place.

ALIEN DAD AND ROBOTS

It's strange what bits of memory resurface when you re-expose yourself to something you watched as a kid.

I used to watch this dumb show "Out Of This World" about a girl with an alien dad and special powers. I can't believe I actually enjoyed it. I wished I could freeze time, used to think about what I'd do, which basically involved acquiring toys.

Here's the intro, it used to get stuck in my head all the time. I thought it was cool that there were spaceships, and was always hoping for more in the show.



Someone uploaded all the episodes on Youtube. Awful writing and jokes, and such awkward performances and plastic sets.

The first episode... ugh...





Used to watch this garbage too, wished I had a robot sibling.




Seeing D.A.R.Y.L. made me wish I were a robot.



He got to fly a jet.... a fucking SR-71 Blackbird...

Full movie!



I'll be sure to look back on these early pro robot sentiments and laugh as I'm being herded by mechanical overlords into a death camp.

FAILED LEGACY

Tron: Legacy

Some thoughts...

The visual identity is interesting, a decent riff off the original, but it looks "cool" in a completely expected way like everything else today whereas the original Tron still looks totally unique. It feels like a blinged out image over content takeover, screwing with the mythology of the original.

That girl is moderately attractive and I like her hair at least. She's super hot when her arm gets destroyed. Though I think the hottest aspects are really just her hair, eye makeup and outfit.

The lead dude is boring, can't believe they didn't cram Shialabluff in there.

Short sighted mediocrity musically in opting for completely played out orchestral shorthand, should have let Daft Punk reign free. Crystalline sequencer fractals and sub bass melodics would have made more sense. All orchestra should have been replaced with string synths. There was some, but not enough.

I also completely hate the standardized over the top Hong Kong aerial Kung Fu battle physics and hairs width slo-mo dodges here and in basically any action movie today, they don't look cool at all anymore, and the absolute unreality of the physics forces a Brechtian disconnect from any immersion, which defeats the purpose of an 'immersive' environment.

The jet battle was pretty solid, and was the only interesting fight.

They made the grid world WAY TOO human, an argument could be made for the more complicated "lives" of modern day programs vs. 80's pong programs, but it's too easy a solution.

The mouth on the Jeff Bridges animation looks like shit, and the alcoholic floppy mouth on the real old Jeff Bridges is annoying too. Though, I would sacrifice a child to see him and Rip Torn drunkenly singing sea shanties.

There's no clever and quotable dialogue like in the original, and it's annoying how they quote the original film throughout.

There was one "Wilhelm Scream".

Oh, and the fake David Bowie should have just been real David Bowie, but with his old teeth "CGI'd" in.

NONSENSE

Cleaning, destroying, cleansing, but all in a half-hearted effort. So much uselessness still preserved.

Books and records down to essentials, going through papers, what do I need.

Here's nonsense related to shards I'm disposing of.

Best scream...



The "Wilhelm Scream" If you've seen Star Wars you know it.

Here are a bunch more.



Chris Cunningham, where is Neuromancer? Are you just making tons of cash doing commercials? Can't blame you. Looking forward to Blu-Ray discs of whatever you've been working on.

I always wanted to play this game. Osamu Sato's "Eastern Mind", done by the guy who also made a game called "LSD" I've wanted to play but never have.



There is another user with lots of videos on youtube but he's annoying and talks through the whole thing.

Here's LSD, I'd love to play this.



My air conditioning vent smells like food and cleaning products, I wonder if I'm being killed.

Hajime Sorayama is awesome... airbrushed babes from an eternal 80's 2040. The more chromed out the better.



Party girl.



Check out her sweet jacket.



Here's a commercial with one of the Gynoids hanging out.



I can't stop listening to Joe Rogan's podcast... I'm almost caught up... I've done about 100 of 140 or so..

Been enjoying the Bjørn Fongaard – Elektrofoni: Works For Micro Intervallic Guitar 1965-1978 boxset. Spacious and pointillistic guitar environments.

What other really good werewolf movies are there? An American Werewolf In London, and The Howling are my standard, must be at least as good as those, any recommendations?

I should dig out my Rage cards and play those with someone. I think Wyrm is the last expansion I got any cards from. It's pathetic that I wanna buy a box of boosters.

Here's a game I always wanted to play, but never will, because there's no way I'm tracking down a Sega CD system or this game, which seems to run in the $100 range, Snatcher.



Looks awesome... I'm a big fan of absolutely shameless Blade Runner worship.

Here's an 11 part run through of the game, graphics look a little different, I haven't bothered to figure out why, guess I'll either watch this run through or play a ROM.



So sad I'm not playing that.

I really like Tom Hunter's "Dublin Bay Bathing Places" photo series. Click the link to see a few.



Gorgeous. Dreamy submersion potential.

Wanted to play this game due to all the controversy when I was little, I was so curious, for a game to be banned, how horrible could it be? I couldn't fathom what something would have to be like to be restricted, and seeing the game, I still don't understand... Night Trap.



I love that era of weird CD-ROM junk. Trying to figure out what it could be, and basically all attempts failing.

I only ever actually saw a print advertisement for this game, but when I was 11 or 12 really wanted to play it. I'm glad I had no access to money at that time. The best part of the video is the ridiculous voice-over during the "Star Wars" scroll.



What an embarrassing looking game.

Brian Cross AKA B+ is another interesting photographer. He gets a nice well worn and forgotten feel in his photos. He's probably best known for the Endtroducing..... artwork.











Would love a book of that stuff.

As I've been getting rid of stuff, I've realized I really do not need to retain physical specimens of many toys. I still think toys are cool, but needing to possess and physically interact with them is just something I don't feel. I'm lucky to have a friend that collects Transformers, so that need is satisfied. I sold all my MS In Pocket Gundam figures, threw away a bunch of random stuff, tossed a bunch of Star Wars stuff. I often will see or read about cool stuff and have a twinge of collectors insanity, but pictures will do the job. These Jumbo Machinder toys are awesome, but there's no way I would want to store them or pay over $4000 for a plastic robot.




Super cool.... but alas, not all the cake is for me.

If I could find Kenner Mega Force toys I might buy those... but right now I'm satisfied with the idiocy of someone my age having a ton of Lego stuff.




I guess that's enough nonsense for now.