Another noise history lesson is in session with our guest Mason Jones. From the rising tide of early ’90s Japanese noise to the “Japanese American Noise Treaty,” Mason was directly involved in shining a spotlight onto the noise underground. His project Trance has a CD of material from 1991 called “Ancient History” out today from Troniks/Helicopter.
Shane English (L.I.E.S. recording artist/Corporate Park) joins us to talk about Esplendor Geometrico “Mekano Turbo,” one of his all time favorite bands and albums. Esplendor Geometrico’s brand of rhythmic industrial noise sends us to many different settings, from jungles to trains. Shane brings the full force momentum for this important slice of 1980s industrial.
From Public Bath Records to Public Bath Press, Kato David Hopkins has been flying the flag of Japanese sounds since the 1980s. He’s seen it all… from the very first Masonna shows, to innumerable classic shows at the legendary Bears club. His most recent work is a great book called “Rumors of Noizu: Hijokaidan and the Road to 2nd Damascus” that traces the experimental music scene in Japan leading up to the debut Hijokaidan LP. Get your pen and paper out for another fascinating noise history lesson.
Whether under the Crawl Unit moniker or his own name, Joe Colley has created his own unique strain of noise since the late ’80s. We were elated to have Colley join us for an in depth conversation about his work—both sonically and visually—his early experimentation, and the feeling of the boundary-free era of ’90s noise. Let the speakers crack and the floorboards creek.
Juan Mendez (Silent Servant) joins us to discuss a major root in industrial sound — Cabaret Voltaire’s “The Voice of America.” Juan talks about the importance of this record in relation to his work as well as the entire landscape of industrial and experimental music. We also get into his history as Silent Servant, his work with Sandwell District and more. The damage is done and the messages have been received.
Japanese industrial psychosis plows through the wastelands in the form of Dissecting Table’s “Between Life and Death.” We are fully on board for Ichiro Tsuji’s unique industrial art and have a blast digging into his post apocalyptic sounds. Hop into a flamethrower-equipped car and crank this dystopian masterpiece. Everyday is one more day of insanity.
Pete Swanson joins us to melt icebergs and flood alleyways with “Cities in Fog” by Jeff Greinke. Swanson recommended this strange ’80s muted atmospheric haze for us to cover and we couldn’t have been happier to swim in this watery abyss. Pete brings his deep knowledge of obscure experimental scenes and sounds as we discuss where this album comes from and where it takes us. Let the dark tides roll in.
Jonathan Canady of Deathpile, Dead World, Blunt Force Trauma and so much more joins us to discuss a milestone in the world of noise and industrial—“Information Overload Unit” by SPK. Jonathan came prepared to go deep on all aspects of this album. In addition, we talk about Jonathan’s time working for Relapse as well as his early days of sound making. The overload has begun.
We head back to the 1980s and get completely knocked out by Contagious Orgasm’s “Confession of Mannequin” on SSSM. An incredibly unique band in the noise/industrial/experimental underground, Contagious Orgasm’s second release is gives us a lot of sounds and images that will continue throughout their decades of work. Not only is the tape a stunner, the packaging is a true ’80s cassette culture artifact. Join us and walk through the surreal world of sound created by Contagious Orgasm.
We are starting 2020 with a very special interview with Seymour Glass of Bananafish Magazine. We discuss the history of Bananafish and Seymour’s time in the noise trenches. He gives us anecdotes of interviews, people he worked with, and the process of putting an issue together. Another noise history lesson is in session. Tardiness will not be excused.