Not trying too hard is the unsung rule of music disregarded by many, if not most, bands. Extra band members; lyrical references to obscure things so as to impress people; ‘an agenda’…anything along these lines takes you ever further away from the music – of course, sometimes, this can be a blessing. Dyr Faser understand […]
What a joy this is – a concept album based on an episode of The Twilight Zone, constructed entirely by one guy using loops, samples and eerie bloops. The chap in question is Dominic Francisco, a prolific producer of eulogies to places and times past, with the kind of skill and reverence seen in collectives like […]
Mark Wirtz – ‘Dream, Dream, Dream’ The Anthology Mark Wirtz – the less cool Kim Fowley, has been afforded an almost mystical and mythical status over the years. A shadow with an aura that floated around blessing countless acts with pop holy water and then disappearing to do more good deeds elsewhere. But is the […]
Dyr Faser now have 10 album releases under their belt, not to mention EPs and show no signs of sticking to any real formula – other than drowning your ears in satisfying gloop. ‘Falling Stereos’ is a pretty good description of this collection of ten tracks. The padding drum machine adds a strangely unsettling transience […]
Peter Stumpp (died 1589) (whose name is also spelt as Peter Stube, Peeter Stubbe, Peter Stübbe or Peter Stumpf) was a Rhenish farmer, accused of being a serial killer and flesh-eater also known as the “Werewolf of Bedburg”. There is much confusion around his real name as ‘Stumpp’ quite possibly refers to the fact that he only had one hand. This […]
Though a step down from Usborne’s guides to monsters and the supernatural, Monsterbacks were still a much-treasured book in the 1980s for kids desperate for a horror fix. The four books, published by Marshall Cavendish, covered four enticing subjects: ‘Monster or Man?’; ‘Werewolves and Other Weird Creatures’; ‘Vampires’ and ‘Ghosts, Ghouls and Spirits’. All four […]
Acromegaly: noun (Derived from the Greek words “akros“, extremities, and “megas“, big) A medical disease in which the bones of the head, hands, and feet grow larger than normal, caused by the pituitary gland producing too much growth hormone Rondo Hatton was born with the genetic condition acromegaly which affects the pituitary gland. Like all sufferers, there were few, if any signs, when he was young, the effects only becoming more obvious […]
The Residents Present: Buy or Die! Ralph Records 1972-1982 This could be one of the most surprising retrospectives released this year. Not that it exists – maybe a few years ago, the notion of collecting some of the label’s releases would’ve been considered too niche, but Cherry Red’s ultra-deep Residents digging has put paid to […]
Like most bands, The Electric Mayhem has experienced more than a few ups and downs nearly 50 years since its inception. That they are all still alive to tell the tale says much. But what skeletons lurk in the closet one of the tightest bands in showbiz? Dr. Gerald Teeth Jr, D.D.S. Coming from an […]
Rosalie Cunningham – To Shoot Another Day (Esoteric Antenna) Along with Weyes Blood’s Natalie Mering, Rosalie Cunningham has quietly established herself as one of the pre-eminent singer/songwriter/instrumentalists currently working. Her voice alone would be enough to separate her from the crowd, but what truly sets her apart is her spectacularly singular songwriting – fiendish melodies […]
