Smote – Genog

What even is a Genog?

Well, duh, Mr supposedly university-educated Flipdog, it’s the name of the new album by Smote. What else need it be?

I have an earlier one of theirs also on my wishlist. Maybe I should buy one of them, they is clearly amongst the Gods of music. Said wishlist has gone beyond the realms of ridiculous into new levels though.

SO yet another collection of music where there are no words – I mean that descriptively not in the instrumental sense. There are words, and they are chanted, in amanner that puts me in mind of the wonderful Crow Tongue album, Ghost Eye Seeker.

Trancey, meditative with a definite sense of journey. One with a heavy end.

Annelies Monseré – Mares

I think this one went on to my ‘things to check out’ list as a result of my Bandcamp feed but can’t be certain because there are many sources to me checking things out and the gap between getting onto said list and me actually listening to the full work can be really quite long indeed.

Anywho, this comes at you from the experimental end of things because I bet you’re all really fed up with all the mainstream stuff I keep posting, right?

As it’s me, it’s from the angle of catatonia inducing mong-trance, which is totally a genre in its own right, with it’s own rite and everything, and probably a section in HMV. Assuming HMV is still going, I heard a rumour it actually still is. Probably my favourite genre these days.

I note that she has an upcoming collaboration with the also very wonderful Jessica Bailiff, which I am very intrigued to hear.

Rokurokubi – Iris, Flower of Violence

Summat right weird happened with this one. The first song very nearly made me turn it off, I disliked it that much. But I didn’t turn it off, and the rest of the album was well good.

Actually, it ain’t weird. You can probably name a dozen examples yourself.

I believe that I have linked these people before and therefore the fact that I have now done so twice makes them proper good, it does. It’s folky but not hey-nonny nonny so (well, apart from maybe the first track). I see the word Acid Folk on their page and I’d like someone to tell me what that means. But it branches out too. Maybe that’s what the acid means. Acid is well known for branching out. I have one in my garden. Or is that a tree? I keep getting the two things confused. Easily done, I suppose.

I would beg your indulgence on the above incoherence as I am now back on site where I work after 16 months and a frozen shoulder at home, and being the first one back in this particular office is a little odd, but only a little. However, you would rightly point out that incoherence comes as standard around these parts, so I’m-a just gonna lean into it.

Trimdon Grange Explosion (s/t)

There is no ‘fiction.’

There is no ‘non-fiction.’

Details exist so that non-creatives and dullards can argue about them

Be wary where you tread – this is the domain of the Alter Native

No sooner said than spun

Decline is an art form, you heathen!

If you find yourself no nearer your target than when you started, perhaps your target is an illusion

Who’s the man making all the connections?
I want to get a look at him
why, he looks just like me
are you sure this isn’t some kind of scam?
I bet he’s acting on suggestion
is anything he says or stands for true?
superficially I admit he might be of interest
but why should he be of interest to you?

Light switches that want to turn themselves on?

 

Trappist Afterland – Se​(​VII​)​en

Yet another victim of digital violence in a crime that could have been avoided, outright avoidance of the main issue yet again taking its toll on the mainline casualty system. Oh, how we mocked the green warning light, shivering as the timber fell upon our willing flesh, sending it to the complaints department via the cue in the vacuum, which misdirected upswing got in our way yet again – say, if I insert modernity here, will I get a professorship? It makes sense to remain dense in these transparent times, as I don’t want no puppet accosting me as I try to ignore the inevitable. I will not bend my knee to any legacy, as my knee is unbendable, as is my will, cast iron, not doubt, flame driven, not ridden out. And the channels of communication have become so legion and they cross, they cross, they double cross all the time, and so it is impossible to know if the communication is pure or even if it is meant for this outlet or whether another has interfered or outright banished the thought to a silent vent. Silence was invented as an alternative to communication by the alternate community, agreeing on nothing but argument, which became tiresome to all, hence the solution, a liquid which induced silence in all who drank it. They never drank again.

 

Timber Rattle – The Veil Beneath The Mountain Beneath The Veil

I’m sorry, I couldn’t be with you tonight to accept your sycophancy, I’ve sent my body as a substitute; I hope you find it adequate. First of all, I’d like to thank me for doing what I did, the universe for giving me a place in which to do what I did, and everything in it for tolerating my doing what I did. May I continue to say that those who were offended by some or all of the content were offended by intention, primarily their own, and I have no misgivings whatsoever about the nature of what I did, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it. Hindsight is simply an excuse in disguise, and therefore, does not exist, like so much else that doesn’t exist. And finally, I just want to ask why you’re all so keen to kiss my arse? It’s just an arse. Why not create your own stuff? Life isn’t a competition, it’s a festival. So, thank you again, for this award, I will now use it in a sculpture of meaninglessness. No, really, thank you.

Kitchen Cynics – Apardion

 

Rusalnaia – Time Takes Away

So seeing as I surfaced from my bedroom studio to take in the new Big Blood album, I had a scan round some other crannies of the real world. This one grabbed me, gently mind, but the last song also grabbed my soon to be 7-year old daughter so much that she demanded I play it again and again.

This is folk rock in the early 70s style with a psych-tinged witchiness to it, a lazy description but I don’t like descriptions because they tax my feeble mind. The nearest reference point I have to this is Espers, but with a more lullabilic (neologism alert!) feel, particularly the aforementioned last tune. Also Horse Cult.

The album was recorded over the span of some years and is made by two witch sisters who live in different countries.

Horse Cult – Day Dreams & Night Mares

I don’t think I’ve listened to enough Neo-folk over the years. I mean, I love Espers and still play them often, and I’ve got an album by The Iditarod which is wyrd neo-folk, but either there’s not much of the stuff around, or I simply haven’t crossed paths with it.

Well I can now add Horse Cult to that small collection. This is really good stuff, as good as the aforementioned Epsers. The songs have a more traditional feel with occasional medieval/nursery rhyme type things going on. But there’s also drone, and experiments, and a dense atmosphere of acoustic guitars, flute, fiddle, mountain dulcimer and layered vocals, with a bit of drum. And they reference all the pretty little horses. Also, I once or twice found myself thinking of The Battle of Evermore. Again.

I think I need more neo-folk / dark folk / heathen folk in my life. There seem to be some references here I might follow up. Any other suggestions would also be welcome.