Secret Chiefs 3 - Eyes Of Flesh, Eyes Of Flame

In celebration of seeing one of my favorite bands tonight, Secret Chiefs 3, presented here is their live album recorded at Slim's in San Francisco on August 18th, 1998.  It is a wonderful documentation of an amazing and eclectic band playing skillfully and passionately.

For those living under a rock who don't know who SC3 is, it is the brainchild of former Mr. Bungle guitarist, Trey Spruance, and featues a wide and ever changing cast of musicians.  On This recording you will find: 

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• Trey Spruance - Guitar, Keyboards
• Danny Heifetz - Drums, Percussion
• Eyvind Kang - Violin
• Bär McKinnon - Flute, Keyboards, Percussion
• Phil Franklin - Percussion, Drums on Ciocarlia
• John Wayne Law - Bass

Download HERE

Remember - Promo '96

In 1995 I was living in Minneapolis, MN and didn't know many people.  I wandered into a record store on Nicollet Mall and heard a long haired kid ask for the new Mortiis album.  I approached him and we started talking.  This long hair was Cordell Klier.  Now Cordell is fairly well known as a dark electronics/glitch/experimental artist, as well as performing spoken word, graphic design and running DoctSect Media for years.  

We became good friends and reveled in Kvist, Brighter Death Now, SPK, Ved Buens Ende, and countless noise and black metal bands.  We recorded this promo in 1996 together with one keyboard, one microphone and a 4-track.  It is a strange mix of ambient, black metal, trip hop, and electronica, and to this day I am still proud of this cassette.

In a separate folder you will find an unreleased, untitled and UNFINISHED track that we recorded at famed Gark Studios in Minneapolis, with Dave Pinsky who recorded and produced The Beastie Boys for years.  The G Spot that the Beastie Boys refer to is Gark Studios.  We recorded this in a day to 2" tape, and never finished it due to financial issues.

I don't have a scan of the cover, so here is a generic photo for you to enjoy.

Download HERE.  

Fossil Fuel - I Hate Music

I first heard Fossil Fuel when doing a tape trade with Ash from Estuary Of Calamity in the early 90's.  He taped me some old Nihilist Demos and he threw on some Fossil Fuel at the end of side A.  Well, it blew me away.  I ignored the Nihilist and fell in love with Fossil Fuel.  it became the soundtrack of my high school years.  I listened to these demos over and over and over, my friends and I quoting them again and again, ad nausem.  

Fossil Fuel is comprised of Poopy, Food Fortunata and the Punk Drum Beat Maker.  You may know the first two guys from acts such as Sockeye, or Kill The Hippies.  Fossil Fuel is my favorite of the grandiose Ohio tardcore scene, and these songs of absolute political incorrectness and and hilarity truly changed my life.

To this day I regard Fossil Fuel as a band that shaped not only my musical taste, but my humor as well, and they will forever be one of my favorite bands.  Included here is a "best of" called "I Hate Music."  It's unbelievable.  Download HERE.  

A Hawk And A Hacksaw - Darkness At Noon

This has been one of my favorite bands over the last years, and this is perhaps by favorite record of theirs. A Hawk And A Hacksaw is primarily a duo from New Mexico comprised of Jeremy Barnes formerly of Neutral Milk Hotel and Heather Trost. The duo has been joined by various musicians live and in the studio to help round out their performances, but the core of the band is strictly percussion and violin.

One of these contributors is Zach Condon from Beirut, which has helped AHAAH gain some notice in the public eye, as well as th fact as AHAAH members have been part of Beirut's backup band live as well.

This record is from 2005, and is a stunning display of Eastern European traditional music. It is emotive, uplifting and inspiring. People who enjoy bands such as Gogol Bordello, Taraf De Haidouks, Farmers Market or any other Eastern European/Balkan inspired bands are sure to delight in this duo. The last track on the album "Portlandtown," almost brings tears to my eyes as it seems to have been written for me. Superb album. Info HERE and download HERE.

Convulse - Lost Equilibrium

I had this in my queue to post today, and when my good friend Aesop over at Cosmic Hearse blog posted Convulse's 1992 album "World Without God," I was shocked.  He beat me to the Convulse punch.  Anyway, this is a single they released soon after the aforementioned album in 1993.

"Lost Equilibrium" features two tracks that would later be re-recorded for their next album "Reflections" in 1994 and shows a change in style and sound.  Much like many other Finnish bands, they morphed into the Grind Rock sound.

I don't have anything witty to say about this release, so just read about it HERE and download it HERE.