Ron Morelli (L.I.E.S. Records ) joins us today to discuss a different branch of experimental electronics. Ron’s ambient albums are Noisextra favorites. We dig into those, as well as his history in techno, his L.I.E.S. Records label, and his fantastic new album “Heart Stopper.” Ron brings a unique perspective to the underground and it was a blast hanging out and having this discussion.
It’s our first episode on a Broken Flag cassette, and Controlled Bleeding “Distress Signals” felt like the appropriate entry to dive into. Controlled Bleeding have always taken their own path, and even this early on, we see glimpses of zones they will enter in the future. This soundtrack for nihilism will rub you raw.
The mountain men of Blister Pack join us today for a great talk on ’90s noise, true crime, video stores, and so much more. Emerson Murray and Nik Weisend were not only Blister Pack, but ran the Plague in Perspective label that focused on special packing. They both have solo projects — Nik as Hive and Emerson under his own name — and both have continued on different paths of art, from visual to the written word.
Illness is running around the Noisextra studios, so for this week we are releasing a patreon episode covering the Hair Police “Mortuary Servants” 7.” Mike and Tara discuss its background and history including the cover, the recording, driving to pick up the records, the strange pressing of the B side and more. Early days, gnarly times.
We are always fascinated with one off albums on classic labels, so it was cool to have a conversation with Gerald Stevens of Erinys, who released one CD in Tesco in 1998. In addition to his album, Stevens was an early inspiration for Greh to begin making contact mics. It’s a cool discussion from the distant days of the 1990s.
Class is back in session for another mandatory noise history lesson as we had a great discussion about “The Japanese/American Noise Treaty” with the man who curated it, Mason Jones. Mason gives us all the background and history of putting this mammoth document together. We get into the order, how artists were chosen, why some aren’t on it, the design and layout, and so much more. It’s truly one of the most important noise compilations of all time, and was incredible to get the story from the man responsible.
Hydra is an absolute favorite project of Noisextra and we felt is was a fine time to explore “Power.” We dive into this classic tape on Bloodlust! from 1996 and are filled with every emotion throughout the discussion of this cassette. The world lost Greg Scott in 2003, but he forever lives on in this and all his releases. All you need is force.
We start off 2023 discussing some very serious noise artists with Cock E.S.P. “Greatest Dicks”” from 1996 on the one and only Pure. We get appropriately foul and dirty while discussing one of the most seminal, deep thinking and intelligent noise bands of all time. Cock E.S.P. mean it this time and they are definitely making it their business. Happy New Cock Noise Year!
Lon and Skott of legendary American industrial band Hunting Lodge join us for an in-depth discussion covering their entire output. 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of Hunting Lodge, and with multiple reissues of theirs rare release in the past handful of years, there’s no time like now to hear the history direct from the source. It’s a great talk with some true midwest DIY industrial stalwarts.
For the ExtraNoisextra segment on the patreon, Lon and Skott have fun talking about their least favorite shows among other things.
The original Trashware guest is back in the hot seat. Crank Sturgeon proposed a discussion on contact microphones, so in this episode we go over what a contact mic is, general applications, how to record and affix the mics and amplifying slightly more traditional instruments, why the contact microphone is the perfect noise instrument, contact mics vs other microphones, in the studio and in the field, using with synthesizers and modular, troubleshooting contact mic issues, and plenty of Cranky anecdotes!