VON SCHIRACH, OTTO Boombonic Plague: Chopped Zombie Fungus Vol. 1 (Schematic) 12" 8.98
More hyperspastic funk-ass algorithmic computer music from Miami butt-technician Otto Von Schirach. First in the Chopped Zombie Fungus trilogy of eps.

VON SCHIRACH, OTTO Escalo Frio (Schematic) cd 14.98
Von Schirach's second long player of leftfield electronica, very schizo, following his spastic "8000 BC", also released this year. Quite prolific, Mr. Otto Von, for he could have edited the best parts of each release down to one powerful record. Features guest appearances by Matmos, Jeswa and Takeshi Muto, among many others.

VON SCHIRACH, OTTO Escalo Frio (Schematic) 2lp 14.98
Von Schirach's second long player of leftfield electronica, very schizo, following his spastic "8000 BC", also released this year. Quite prolific, Mr. Otto Von, for he could have edited the best parts of each release down to one powerful record. Features guest appearances by Matmos, Jeswa and Takeshi Muto, among many others.

VON SCHLIPPENBACH, ALEXANDER The Living Music (Atavistic / Unheard Music Series) cd 14.98
Atavistic's Unheard Music Series of obscure but amazing free jazz reissues (overseen by Chicago jazz musician and critic John Corbett) strikes again with this release from German pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach and a squad of kick ass European improvisors including sax legend-to-be Peter Brotzmann, Dutch drummer extraordinare Han Bennink, trombonist Paul Rutherford, and others, including Manfred Schoof, on cornet, flugelhorn, bass, clarinet, etc. Engineer Conny Plank (later famed for his krautrock productions) put "The Living Music" to tape in April 1969, and it was originally issued on LP by both Schlippenbach's own Quasar label and then by FMP. Three-quarters of an hour of "living music" indeed: it's music full of breath, action, beauty, pulsing blood. Moody, melodic piano runs, percussive dances betwixt the drums and the horns, kinda noir-ish, sleepy interludes, and (of course!) hardcore, full-on, skree-filled blow-outs: this is the energetic free improv that you'd expect from the early days of the FMP scene. A good 'un, you jazz cats take note.
RealAudio clip: "The Living Music"
RealAudio clip: "Into The Staggerin'"

VON SUDENFED Tromatic Reflexxions (Domino) cd 15.98
In case you hadn't heard, Von Sudenfed is the collaboration between Mark E. Smith and Mouse On Mars. Given that Smith had once quipped that The Fall could involve anybody's grandmother on bongos accompanying Smith and his cantankerous slurred vocals, it's a bit surprising that this isn't considered a Fall project. Nonetheless, Tromatic Reflexxions is clearly the best album that Mark E. Smith has been part of in years. The same goes for the Mouse On Mars side of the equation. We're not going to stray too far from the conventional wisdom regarding Tromatic Reflexxions, as we basically agree that it really does sound like LCD Soundsystem, even though Mark E. Smith wants nothing to do with any of those comparisons. Musically, the combo produces a smarty-pants concoction of post-everything rhythms with dubstep density, disco-punk punchiness, and electro grooviness all mashed up into an infectious squelch, which clearly resembles the LCD Soundsystem singles of a couple years back. Smith is just as cranky, irritable, and insufferable as he's ever been on any give Fall recording. Perhaps not surprisingly, Smith's presence in an electronica context offers an obvious comparison to James Murphy's smug delivery on the LCD Soundsystem recordings. Many of us here hadn't thought that this collaboration would work in the least, but more than a handful have been clearly won over. In all likelihood, Tromatic Reflexxions will stand out as one of the best art-rock / electronica albums of 2007. Well worth checking out.
MPEG Stream: "The Rhinohead"
MPEG Stream: "Flooded"

VON THRONSTAHL E Pluribus Unum (Cold Spring) cd 16.98
Found a few of these tucked away in the closet, one of our favorite records from this mysterious industrial martial folk neoclassical goth pop combo, 2001's E Pluribus Unum. While on all of the various VT records, the band does get seriously industrial, that side of their sound is balanced by their tendency to craft sort of woozy dour gloom pop that at its songiest sounds like some hybrid of the Doors, Spacemen 3, This Mortal Coil, and at its most abstract sounds like some darkly chilling soundtrack music, to some forgotten Dario Argento thriller, or some classic German art film.
The record starts off with tolling bells, and then a guitar riff, wait, it's AC/DC's "Hell's Bells", sampled, and looped, over and over and over, but instead of launching into the song, the riff becomes a weirdly mesmerizing groove, that main riff wrapped in strummed acoustic guitar, and softly swirling effects, laced with pounding martial drumming, all supporting a dreamy dramatic crooned vocal. Fans might remember the track on their Sacrificare record, where they took the Who's "Pinball Wizard" and similarly transformed it into their own weird sort of industrial goth pop.
The rest of the record is more traditionally neoclassical / neofolk, with mournful strings, swirling synths, militaristic drums, haunting samples, snippets of speeches, occasional gouts of crumbling distorted guitar, or growled demonic vox, it's a darkly gorgeous pseudo historical soundscape, a mysteriously varied, epic and majestic collection of otherwordly war songs, hazy sonic propaganda, and blackened doom pop.
MPEG Stream: "Bells"
MPEG Stream: "Mitternachtsberg"
MPEG Stream: "Inthronisation"

VON THRONSTAHL Imperium Internum (Cold Spring) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A long overdue reissue of this miltaristic ambient industrial folk, cinematic masterpiece originally released in 2000. Very much in the vein of Folkstorm, Toroidh, Der Blutharsch and the like, the music of Von Thronstahl was conceived, in the band's own words, with the idea of making "music & art which would be more attached to a real European heritage and not to a freemasonary, anarchic tradition of false liberty, which means lawlessness and rootlessness." Oof. Heavy. Well, no need to agree, or to even understand to dig this record. An expansive, orchestral, dark hued journey through European History, Fascism, War, life and love and loss. Huge sweeping minor key strings, over mournful melodies, plaintive piano, martial percussion, snippets of found sounds, snatches of old songs and speeches, ominous whispered vocals. Very intense and ominous and emotional, and weirdly reminiscent of UK outfit In The Nursery with the big strings and occasional pounding militaristic percussion, and even some once-in-a-while playful gipsy melodies. But the occasional lighthearted vibe aside, Imperium Internum is a raw and harrowing record, majestic and epic, but ultra personal, full of sorrow and misery, darkness and light. So great.
MPEG Stream: "Imperium Internum"
MPEG Stream: "Vorwarts, Die Raben Der Endzeit"
MPEG Stream: "Schwarz, Weiss, Rot"

VON THRONSTAHL Sacrificare (Cold Spring) cd 16.98
Another great record from this long running post industrial neo-folk outfit, whose sound fits perfectly amongst AQ faves like Der Blutharsch, Folkstorm, Toroidh and the like. Combining militaristic rhythms, acoustic guitars, field recordings, snippets of newsreels, military speeches, their sound transporting the listener to otherworlds, other times. The last disc to war torn Europe specifically, the music evoking the smells and sights and sounds, crumbling buildings, smoldering fires, smoke and the smell of burning flesh, the marching of soldiers, announcements over loudspeakers, all wound up into a haunting dark ambient sonic journey.
This disc though is a lot more song oriented, less dark and droney and more lilting and lovely. A dark apocalyptic folk reminiscent of later Swans, The Angels Of Light, Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat, even New Model Army and especially Current 93.
The opening track is all acoustic guitars and soaring strings, haunting harmony vocals and simple subtle percussion. The second track begins with a simple eighties style drum beat, until the minor key guitar strum joins in as well as a totally gorgeous falsetto vocal hook, some strange chanted vocals, and weirdly some awesome "Stand And Deliver" style Adam Ant horns. "Gloomy White Sunday" is pure folk, like some lost seventies UK single, or Current 93 channeling their sonic forefathers. Gorgeously dark and languorous. And then there's the perplexing but brilliant "Occidental Identity", which steals wholesale the main riff from the Who's "Pinball Wizard", and transforms it into a haunting chunk of dark folk, intertwining vocals wrapped around that instantly recognizable riff, eventually the acoustic guitar drops out, leaving just the dynamic crashes, while strung in between are strange drones and processed vocals. A totally brilliant appropriation.
The rest of the record dabbles in both: moody, melancholy folky strum, and the occasional purloined musical phrase or melody, as well as bits of cinematic ambience, dramatic strings, thick washed out drones, and various other mysterious sounds, with the focal point remaining the songs, the strum and the voice. All the disparate elements gorgeously woven into one of the coolest weirdest collections of dark apocalyptic folk we've heard in ages.
MPEG Stream: "The Age Of Decay And Democrazy"
MPEG Stream: "Molti Piu Onore"
MPEG Stream: "Gloomy White Sunday"

VON TILL, STEVE A Grave Is A Grim Horse (Neurot) cd 14.98
A dark and thick and beautiful as a scrying pool of molasses! This is the third solo album from the formidable Steve Von Till (Neurosis, Tribes Of Neurot). He sounds like a man mustering his last shreds of battered hope and dusty breath as dreams fade with the sunlight into dusk. On the surface it may seem quite akin to many other somber country and folk contemporaries, however much like that of his band (whose music traverses terrain so far beyond the bounds of the 'metal' genre in which they are usually slotted), Von Till's music evokes something more -- an expression beyond common man world weary melancholia. The hushed strum of an acoustic guitar offers some comfort as the haunting slink of slide guitar threads its way around Von Till's bristly deep voice cresting into ominous swells of electric guitar grit and distortion. Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "A Grave Is A Grim Horse"
MPEG Stream: "Looking For Dry Land"

VON TILL, STEVE As The Crow Flies (Neurot) cd 14.98
This is the first solo record from Steve Von Till, guitarist/vocalist for bay area tribal teutons Neurosis (in fact I think it's the first 'solo' record by anyone in Neurosis). It is a dark and somber affair, as you might expect, but what might surprise you is it's restraint and fragility, just voice, acoustic guitars, and occasional strings. The sounds on this record were hinted at on the last Neurosis record; droning and hypnotic, whispery balladry, replete with cellos and violins (courtesy of Amber Asylum who definitely share some sonic qualities here). Steve's voice is a gruff whisper, abrasive, but subtley melodic, bringing to mind Michael Gira, Nick Cave and Tom Waits.

VON TILL, STEVE If I Should Fall To The Field (Neurot) cd 14.98
You may be accustomed to hearing this gritty growl of a voice on Neurosis records, or maybe seen Steve Von Till onstage with them -- he's the scary looking Viking guy (although his pals here at AQ prefer to think of him as a teddy bar slash garden gnome) playing guitar. This second solo album treats us to a glimpse of Von Till's folksy side. With only the sparest of accompaniment -- a single fiddle, or acoustic guitar, or Hammond organ -- he whisper-growls tales of barren fields, blood red moons, howling beasts, broken anvils. The pace is very slow, the chord changes warm and emotional, and the mood is despondent. Reminds me at times of former Swans leader Michael Gira's recent solo work. Fans of Black Heart Procession might even take a risk on the metaller side of sensitive. Includes a Neil Young cover and a few minutes of Von Till's grandfather reciting verse.
RealAudio clip: "This River"
RealAudio clip: "Breathe"

VON WILDENHAUS, BEN Great Melodies From Around (Riot Bear) cd 9.98
We reviewed a super limited tape a while back by Ben Wildenhaus, former guitarist from Northwestern garage rockers Federation X, and an occasional collaborator with members of the Reeks And The Wrecks, and as we mentioned in the review of that tape, Wildenhaus has since transformed into a bit of an avant guitarist, now living on the east coast, and managing the Instrumental Quaalude blog, on which he weekly posts new recordings, always instrumental, always under 5 minutes. That tape, Great Melodies From Around, has now been reissued both on cd (and yeah, a real cd, not a cd-r), and vinyl, with a download coupon, and while there is new artwork and the curious addition of 'Von' to Wildenhaus' name, Great Melodies From Around is presented in these new formats, sonically identical to it's early cassette tape iteration...
Great Melodies From Around seems, in fact, to be an extension of Wildenhaus' Instrumental Quaalude blog, as it is a moody and sonically surreal collection of similarly dark, gorgeously instrumental excursions, assembled from lush layered drones, Appalachian style steel string guitars, woozy twangy slide guitar, strange murky percussion, bits of vocals (NOT singing) employed as more texture, wheezing organ, sinewaves, minimal drumming, subtle electronics, bits of glitch and hiss, amp buzz, a little noise here and there, the occasional sample... The sound is smokey and dark and ominous, dreamy and hauntingly lovely, a distinctly Lynchian soundtrack vibe for sure, late night, lights low, everything dusty, and dark, and lonely, and lit by the streetlights outside, hazy, gauzy, fuzzy, and totally and fantastically lovely.
MPEG Stream: "The Orientalist"
MPEG Stream: "Geebz"
MPEG Stream: "The Limping Axeman"
MPEG Stream: "Only Fool"

VON WILDENHAUS, BEN Great Melodies From Around (Riot Bear) lp 14.98
We reviewed a super limited tape a while back by Ben Wildenhaus, former guitarist from Northwestern garage rockers Federation X, and an occasional collaborator with members of the Reeks And The Wrecks, and as we mentioned in the review of that tape, Wildenhaus has since transformed into a bit of an avant guitarist, now living on the east coast, and managing the Instrumental Quaalude blog, on which he weekly posts new recordings, always instrumental, always under 5 minutes. That tape, Great Melodies From Around, has now been reissued both on cd (and yeah, a real cd, not a cd-r), and vinyl, with a download coupon, and while there is new artwork and the curious addition of 'Von' to Wildenhaus' name, Great Melodies From Around is presented in these new formats, sonically identical to it's early cassette tape iteration...
Great Melodies From Around seems, in fact, to be an extension of Wildenhaus' Instrumental Quaalude blog, as it is a moody and sonically surreal collection of similarly dark, gorgeously instrumental excursions, assembled from lush layered drones, Appalachian style steel string guitars, woozy twangy slide guitar, strange murky percussion, bits of vocals (NOT singing) employed as more texture, wheezing organ, sinewaves, minimal drumming, subtle electronics, bits of glitch and hiss, amp buzz, a little noise here and there, the occasional sample... The sound is smokey and dark and ominous, dreamy and hauntingly lovely, a distinctly Lynchian soundtrack vibe for sure, late night, lights low, everything dusty, and dark, and lonely, and lit by the streetlights outside, hazy, gauzy, fuzzy, and totally and fantastically lovely.
MPEG Stream: "The Orientalist"
MPEG Stream: "Geebz"
MPEG Stream: "The Limping Axeman"
MPEG Stream: "Only Fool"

VON ZAMLA 1983 (Cuneiform) cd 12.98
Never before released live recording from Von Zamla's 1983 European tour, taken from two dates in Germany. Featuring Michel Berckmans [oboe & bassoon], Eino Haapala [guitar], Lars Hollmer [keyboards], Hans Loelv [keyboards], Wolfgang Salomon [bass], Marten Tiselius [drums], and performing tracks from No Make Up, Zamlaranama, and a Samla track. Challenging yet still filled to the brim with toe-tapping melodies and great playing.

VON, RONNIE A Maquina Voadora (Discos Mariposa) cd 17.98

VON, RONNIE A Maquina Voadora (Discos Mariposa) cd 17.98

VON, RONNIE A Misteriosa Luta Do Reino De Parassempre Contra O Imperio De Nuncamais (Discos Mariposa) cd 17.98

VON, RONNIE A Misteriosa Luta Do Reino De Parassempre Contra O Imperio De Nuncamais (Discos Mariposa) cd 17.98

VON, RONNIE s/t (Discos Mariposa) cd 17.98
2006 was a banner year for amazing Tropicalia reissues. Records by the likes of Som Imaginario, Alceu Valenca & Gerardo Azevedo, Marconi Notaro, Luis Eca, Rubinho e Mauro Assumpcao and Paulo Bagunca kept us feeling warm and fuzzy all year long. Discos Mariposa has become the label to turn to for amazing long lost Tropicalia as as they were the ones responsible for many of our favorite Brazilian reissues from the last year. It looks like 2007 may offer another exciting slew of Tropicalia rediscoveries for us as we began the year getting to know the music of Ronnie Von. A star of song and the small screen in Brazil for the last four decades, Von made his first television appearance in 1965 on the TV show the Brazilian Beatles Club. Von would perform live on various variety shows and cut records that sold quite well. His show The Small World Of Ronnie Von helped give a wider audience and launch careers for folks like Os Mutantes, Martinha and Gal Costa. But beyond just having such good taste, his own music is so so delightful. His vocals are so effortless and breezy. You can't help but wish you were soaking in the sun and daydreaming the afternoon away when you hear the songs on this collection. He's been backed by members of Os Mutantes and even collaborated with Caetano Veloso. Even after being struck by polio he's fought off illness and continues to be a staple of Brazilian television, the big screen and now more of us finally get to hear his great sounds!
MPEG Stream: "Mil Novecentos E Alem"
MPEG Stream: "Espelhos Quebrados"

VOND Selvmord (VOND) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

VONDUR Stridsyfirlysing (Necropolis) cd 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
This is by no means a new record, but it seemed appropriate to let Jim share with you, his new found understanding of the absolute brilliance of the evil dwarf IT, and his ode to the dark side of 'the Force'. -A. + A.
Vondur's first (and much better) album is a more enigmatic black metal record than their second venture into conceptual absurdity, which was a crudely performed joke complete with wretched covers of Motley Crue, Judas Priest, and Elvis. Vondur is the duo of All and It - the chainmail donned / jaundice corpse painted midget who is also in Abruptum, War, and Ophthalamia. Jagged drum machine blast beats, deeply buried in the mix Burzum-esque guitar fuzz, and All's sulfuric acid gargle for vocals make up the primitive almost anti-rock sound of Vondur. "Stridsyfirlysing" - with its "Star Wars" cover art - is a tribute to the dark side of the force, complete with lyrics mostly sung in Icelandic. All of the metaphors on the album seem to be pointing in entirely different directions, yet somehow "Stridsyfirlysing" works... well at least on the day when AQ's non-metaller Jim passed up Nurse With Wound's "Alice The Goon" for this.

VONDUR The Galactic Rock n Roll Empire (Necropolis) cd 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Hard to tell what's more ridiculous here--the album graphics (featuring the corpse-painted faces of Vondur members It and All morphed onto the bodies of Vince Neil and Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue) or the wretched cover tunes included (of songs by the Crue, Judas Priest, and Elvis) or Vondur's super-primitive & raw black metal originals (such as "The Raven's Eyes Are As Mirrors On The Bottom Of Satan's Black Halls" and "Panzer Legions of Vondur").
Now, it's difficult to believe that the same guys responsible for the absurd Vondur are also involved with the much more serious, epic, doomy black metal of Ophthalamia, but they are.
The Vondur and Ophthalamia albums also represent It's last efforts in black metal, as he recently quit all his bands (these two plus War and Abruptum), sold all his black metal paraphernalia (midget-sized chainmail anyone?) and moved away from Sweden...

VOODOO GLOW SKULLS & HICKEY (Pro4nbe Records) 7"+booklet 2.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Completely successful prank details Hickey's righteous theft of the Glow Skulls' $4000 trumpet, the subsequent fallout and mayhem, and Hickey's hilarious explanation which makes for a good 24-page read.

VOODOO SHOCK Marie's Sister's Garden (Exile On Mainstream) cd 14.98
Wino-esque doom from Germany.

VOODOO SHOCK s/t (psycheDOOMelic) cd 11.98
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More Sabbath-inspired doom metal from the pycheDOOMelic label. Germany's Voodoo Shock (strange name, that) rose from ashes of former Rise Above act Naevus. Even if you've never heard Naevus, though, they'll sound familar, with Ozzy-ish vox singing songs full of wonderful doom/stoner cliches like "electric mind" and "rainbow sky". Slow to mid tempo, melodic but ultra heavy, this is in the style of Terra Firma, Sheavy, Trouble, Spirit Caravan, y'know the sort of thing. The riffs are weighty, but Voodoo Shock's perculiarity might be their penchant for spacey mellow parts. Also they cover "Nights In White Satin"!
MPEG Stream: "Rainbow Sky"

VOOR Evil Metal (Nuclear War Now!) cd 8.98

VOOR Evil Metal (Nuclear War Now!) cd 8.98

VORAK Rhetoric Of The Supermen (Destruktive Kommandoh / Modern Invasion Music ) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Finally!!! It's taken us years (literally) but we finally managed to track down the second record (in a quantity enough to review and list) from one of our all time favorite outsider weirdo whatthefuck metal bands, VORAK! If you're a regular reader of the list, you know how much we love the damaged and demented, the fucked up and freaked out metal, so believe us when we tell you Vorak just might be the weirdest and most fucked up EVER. When we reviewed the first Vorak years and years ago, we summed it up suggesting that Lord Vorak, the man behind one man classical nihilist black metal commando unit Vorak "either must be joking or is totally out of his mind" and record number two only furthers that sentiment.
The first record was a dizzying logic defying head spinning blur of spastic drum machines, sped up vocals, garbled metal guitar and snatches of piano, all tossed in a blender and spewed out in a confusional froth. Well if anything, record number two, Rhetoric Of The Supermen, demonstrates a little bit more song structure, but manages to sound not one whit more sane. In fact Vorak's sound is almost even weirder when applied to sort-of-actual-song arrangements.
But let's start from the top. Vorak. Aka Lord Vorak, a man we're led to believe must be a classically trained pianist, whose record covers are covered in metallic gold busts, flaming eagles, and barbed wire, who's partial to song titles like "Dies Irae: Kruel And Glorious Purgation Of The Untermenschen", "Synthetic Nepenthe", "Australyan Uber-Volkslieder 1", there seems to be some sort of obsession with fascism, inside the booklet, it mentions that "All aspects of this supreme music of the future production emanate from the mind of Lord Vorak entirely for his own amusement and gratification"... and heck, we haven't even gotten to the music yet.
An ultra fucked up and completely fractured assemblage of super distorted classical piano, screeching metallic buzz, damaged chipmunk vocals, stumbling chaotic drum programming, interspersed with some straight classical piano, some soaring strings, all tangled and convoluted, every track rife with new head scratching (and head banging) moments...
The record opens with some wild tangled harpsichord sounding piano, dense flurries of notes, strangely recorded, but distinctly classical, until the super distorted metal riffing takes over at the beginning of track two, laid over a series of struggling stumbling drum machine rhythms, and super high pitched vocals, sounding a bit like that girl at the beginning of Kiss's "God Of Thunder" but more maniacal... The guitar is furious, the riffing relentless, with wild squiggly leads everywhere, huge swells of string like synths, and the vocals squawking and bleating all over the place, the drums a head spinning splatter... The next track slows things down a little bit, a thick sheet of blurred distorted guitar laid over some gorgeous minor key piano, the vocals sporadic and drenched in reverb, creepy more than weird, the whole thing super emotional and dark, but still completely unhinged.
Then comes "Blood-Reich 2000", with its relentless metallic onslaught, that gives way to strange piano / helium vocals / sputtering drum machine interludes, always returning to that furious minor key riffing. Several tracks are just piano, and those are quite stunning, atonal and modern, but still melodic and emotional, also strangely recorded so the lower notes are super distorted and at times sounding like a harpsichord. And there's one long track of blown out ambience, fuzzy and blurry, and strangely cinematic, thick swaths of buzz over strings all arranged into sweeping movements. But those tracks are surrounded on all sides by mind melting flurries of manic metal and furious freaked out metallic damage.
The disc includes two bonus tracks, both solo piano, both pieces by Richard Wagner, a strangely lovely and sedate finish to a record that most definitely ranks as one of the weirdest, and absolutely one of our all time favorites.
Totally recommended. And absolutely essential for all lovers of damaged, demented, fucked up, freaked out, outsider metal weirdness.
MPEG Stream: "Dies Irae I: Kruel And Glorious"
MPEG Stream: "Fylfot Lakrimosa Et Sanguinus"
MPEG Stream: "Blood-Reich 2000"
MPEG Stream: "Dies Irae II: Blood Katharsis"

VORAK Triumph Of The Will (Destruktive Kommandoh) cd 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Is it a screeching petrodactyl attacking a piano? Wagner gone mad with a dr0000um machine?? Actually this is a Nietzsche-obsessed multi-instrumentalist manaic from Austrialia. Vorak is his one-man "black metal" band, and he's either got to be joking or he is totally out of his mind.
So totally demented, so totally retarded, Vorak's 1996 debut "Triumph Of The Will" might even edge out Benighted Leams' "Astral Tenebrion" as the most retarded black metal album ever -- which means it's so amazing you'll die. Among other things, Vorak plays fretless bass and vibraphone, but it all comes out as utterly nonsensical noise. Perhaps the only "metal" thing we've heard that's more fucked than Vorak are the mp3's by Exhumed Narcissist Paleontologist (http://www.reckankomplex.com/enp) but that's definitely a joke (being Keith "Hrvatski" Whitman's death metal band).
Why did a label even release this?? We don't know, but we're glad they did. We've been dying to share this with y'all ever since we discovered it a while ago, but only just recently managed to get a few copies of this disc, cheap. (Unbelievably, there's a second Vorak album from 1998 that's equally insane, but perhaps not surprisingly it doesn't seem that anyone we deal with stocks it!).
RealAudio clip: "Blitzkrieg -- Fighting Under The Rune of Triumph"
RealAudio clip: "Bloodlust, Discipline, Hatred"
RealAudio clip: "Hail The Nuclear Berserker!"

VORDR II (Nykta) cd 13.98

VORDR III (Nykta) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
It used to be that Japan seemed to do everything better than the US. Cute things were way cuter, bizarre things were way more bizarre, music, art, comics, it's like that whole infinity plus one thing, anything the US could come up with, Japan could just make it ONE more.
We're beginning to think the same thing about Finland, specifically in regards to music. It's like magic. Black metal. Ho hum. From Finland. WHAT THE FUCK! WOAH! And it's not some weird fetish thing, there is definitely something going on. We're in no position to figure out what it is, but whatever it is, we're grateful for it.
This is record number three (but the first one we've ever listed) from Vordr, a mysterious Finnish trio that just happens to count one of the Circle Of Ouroborus guys as a member, which would normally be enough for us, but don't be expecting CoO style fractured folk flecked stumbling black weirdness, no this is way at the other end of the spectrum, super raw primitive harsh buzzing blackness, a la Bone Awl, Akitsa, Ancestors, and like those bands, this is almost as much a punk record or a noise rock record as a metal one. There are moments where you can hear a little Darkthrone or Hellhammer, but it's way more rough and furious than that, lo-fi and murky and muddy and noisy, the riffs usually midtempo, but sometimes lurching into a furious blast. The songs end by falling apart, and sort of stumble into motion, the guitars are brittle and buzzy, the drums so low in the mix they're often just another layer of hiss and buzz, there's even some cowbell here and there (!) but it's the vocals that make or break, and as far as we're concerned it's MAKE. Big time. Hysterical falsetto shrieking, punkish howling, on the verge of cracking, super intense and emotional and over the top, but low enough in the mix so it's not distracting, but it somehow perfectly balances the churning old school black metal noise rock buzz beneath it.
Definitely fit perfectly on your shelf between your Nuit Noire, Circle Of Ouroborus, Akitsa and Bone Awl recordsÉ
Needless to say SO UTTERLY RECOMMENDED.
MPEG Stream: "A Slashing Chill"
MPEG Stream: "An Ending In Solitude"
MPEG Stream: "Bliss Of Freezing Light"
MPEG Stream: "Breathing Bellow"

VORDR s/t (Nykta) cd ep 5.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
**SALE **SALE* *SALE**
The return of these Finnish freaks, and another awesome disc of blown out, ultra raw, ultra grim black metal buzz. Vordr may feature a member of aQ faves Circle Of Ouroborus, but as we mentioned in our review of the last Vordr, you won't find any stumbling folk, or abstract black ambience, or bizarre fractured WTF here, the domain of Vordr is reserved for tweeter destroying high end brittle lo-fi blast and pound, a swirling melee of chaotic skree drenched buzz, D-beat death pounding drums and sharp slivers of buzzing insectoid riffage, unfurling in long blurred streaks beneath anguished tortured wails and teeth gnashing demonic shrieks.
There is most definitely plenty of melody lurking below the surface, but those bits of melody are well protected, only the blackest of souls can withstand the constantly churning sea of fucked up sound that surrounds them, billious bursts of abject fury, in-the-red shards of buzz drenched rrroooaaar, festering gouts of sonic virulence, this is sick, ugly, gloriously noxious black grimnity, a series of musical ice picks to the inner ear, a tinnitus inducing swarm of beautiful blackness, which will most definitely warm the cold dead hearts of all who worship at the altars of Bone Awl, Ash Pool, Akitsa Vegas Martyrs and the like.
MPEG Stream: "Wild Of Glory"
MPEG Stream: "Legends In The Bark"
MPEG Stream: "Vitterlicht"

VORDUL MEGA The Revolution of Yung Havoks (Nature Sounds / Orchard) cd 14.98

VORKREIST Sublimation XXIXA (Fire Of Fire) lp 4.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

VORKUTA Into The Chasms of Lunacy (Paragon) cd 12.98
Another warehouse find, this one the 2007 full length from these Hungarian (!) black metallers, named for a remote Siberian city that was the location for an infamous wartime gulag, Into The Chasms of Lunacy is an appropriately, grim and depressive slab of harsh blackness, that blackness of course is at its core made up of: howled vokills, pounding drums (way up in the mix) and plenty of brittle buzz, but these sounds are wreathed in a haunting atmosphere, thick swaths of mournful melancholia, be it spidery minor key guitar melodies, or creeping droned out ambience, even the blasting black buzz seems to constantly be pulled toward something more lumbering and hauntingly melodic, with the bass a surprisingly strong presence, adding even more melody and a dark low slung slither, not to mention the hazy swirls of washed out synth. In fact, that drift and shimmer makes up most of the disc, with the group spending more time weaving lush atmospheric landscapes, hushed minimal ambience and sprawling droned out drifts, only occasionally peppering that minimal moodiness with some surprisingly raw and constantly shifting buzz and crunch. Not sure how we missed writing this up this first time around...
MPEG Stream: "Gargoyle"
MPEG Stream: "My Flaming Soul"

VORPAL An Incomplete Guide To VORPAL Music (Cock Rock Disco) cd 15.98
We've been a bit burnt out on electronic music lately. Sorry, but it's true. We've just sort of been IDM'd to death over the last few years. We still love us some Aphex Twin and some Boards Of Canada and some Kompakt stuff sure, but that's just a drop in the bucket of the thousands of records of 'dudes with laptops crafting complex beatscapes'... And before we get a million emails, yeah we know there's probably some killer electronic record that we haven't heard, and if there is, please free to shoot us an email and let us know...
But every once in a while, especially lately during this laptronica burnout period we've been experiencing, an 'electronica' record will surface that just hits the spot. Maybe incorporating similar elements, but in a new and unique way. Chris Clark was one, his post Aphex skitter and swoon became a bigtime aQ fave. And Vorpal seems poised to be the latest. Taking the head-spinning splice, dice and chop approach of folks like Venetian Snares and Jason Forrest, but infusing it with all sorts of warm sweet melody, and classic dance music groove, Vorpal manages some magical just-right balance that perfectly hits the spot. There's lots of drill and splutter, skip and hiccup, shuffle and slitter, plus a bunch of weirdly staggery full on dead stop glitches that get us every time, but it's all over warm smears of moody melody and shimmery twinkle that gives the whole record a sort of dreamy blissed out vibe no matter how splattery the programming is or dense the chopped soundscapes are. It's really not sonically miles apart from any of its predecessors, but like with lots of records we love, there's just some special something, some ineffable element, that makes it so goddamn good. Plus some seriously killer cover art...
MPEG Stream: "Track #13"
MPEG Stream: "Doubts Like Angry Birds"

VOSTOK From Lofty Peaks (self-released) cd-r 8.98
Debut ep from this Scottish one man depressive doom laden black metal band and it's a good 'un, mixing lumbering downtuned riffage, howling chaotic blackness, and some serious melody, all wrapped up in a blown out, low fidelity production, that only serves to add a cool creepy vibe to the already grim proceedings.
After a short-ish intro, all sprawling chords, spare drumming and some cool layered super distorted minor key melodies, in come clean, melancholic finger picked clean guitars, weaving a haunting miserable atmosphere, before the song explodes into a murky pound, a stumbling blurred blackness, everything washed out and muddy, the vocals a demonic mush mouthed yowl, tortured and anguished, while the blurred smeared blackness underneath swirls darkly, the loping drumming anchoring the otherwise amorphous black sonic cloud. About 4 minutes in, the blackness flakes away, leaving spidery, distorted melodies, electronic sounding drum plod, all woozy and depressive, and as the track progresses, the sound grows slower and sicker and more dour, finishing off with several minutes of weirdly melodic ultra doom plod.
The vocals are super twisted, reminding us of Shining or even Abruptum, adding a seriously ominous fucked up vibe to what might otherwise me more traditionally depressive blackness. The record that transforms into some trudging spaced out doomic crunch, before slipping into some weirdly clean jangly post rock lope, reminiscent of later Hypothermia, before exploding into some seriously intense, yet still melodic black howling buzz, with those pounding drums, more gloriously inhuman screeching, the result trancelike and weirdly epic. Finally the record finishes off with a short stretch of woozy lilting doom, more pretty and washed out than heavy, thick minor key chords, simple percussion, a gorgeously miserable crawl, that grows more and more anguished, with the chords fragmenting into upper register skree, and the vocals growing more and more hysterical, still beautiful, but also beautifully harrowing.
SUPER LIMITED, and in super swank, hand made packaging...
MPEG Stream: "From Lofty Peaks"
MPEG Stream: "Badbea"

VOTE ROBOT In Meorm NA (Scratch) cd 14.98
From the same brain that created the fragile, pretty electronic sounds of French Paddleboat comes this decidedly more glitchy and at times more cacaphonous effort. Scott August is the young gent from Kelowna, BC who began making music while still in his teens. Holed up in his bedroom like a sonic mad scientist. On the usually much more dissonant and obtuse music label Scratch Records.

VOTOLATO, ROCKY A Brief History (Second Nature) cd 12.98
Rocky Votolato's debut EP has been out of print for ages... until now! Yes, let's holler a big "Hooray!" 'cause it's been reissued with new artwork. Then let's settle down to enjoy his gentle, subdued Spartan folksy pop stylings. If you share our love for his full length titled Makers which came out on Barsuk Records in 2006, you've probably been on the look out more mellow, restful Rocky. Fortunately Second Nature Recordings felt the same way releasing this seven song EP to satiate our craving. So good...
MPEG Stream: "These Old Clothes"
RealAudio clip: "Plastic Jesus"

VOTOLATO, ROCKY Makers (Barsuk) cd 13.98
Ahhh, the lonely ballad of the singer songwriter. A lone troubadour, pouring out their heart and soul, naked and alone, with no band to hide behind, no crashing guitars and pounding drums to shield their delicate psyche.
There was a time when being called a singer songwriter was a badge of honor. But now, we might just as well turn tail and run. Sure the legacy of singer songwriters is a mighty one, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Gordon Lightfoot, Janis Ian, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Donovan, Bruce Springsteen, but you'll notice a serious dearth of more -modern- musicians in that league. That's not because there aren't singer songwriters anymore, it's just that now, we typically equate singer songwriters with commercial radio, faceless pap, bad top 40, coffee houses, guys who couldn't start a band so decided to just 'do it themselves'. We're definitely generalizing, sure. There have definitely been some notable exceptions, Iron And Wine's Sam Beam, Damien Jurado, Edith Frost, Elliott Smith, Joel Phelps, Devendra Banhart, Cat Power's Chan Marshall, Simon Joyner, Fiona Apple, Jeff Mangum, Sufjan Stevens, Will Oldham, and now you can add Rocky Votoloto to the list. Now the funny thing is, as we mention again and again and again, if Votoloto had chosen to release this record under the name Waxwing (the name of his previous band) it probably wouldn't get lumped in with the singer songwriters at all, and might eeven get a bit more attention, even if it sounded exactly the same. That's why it's always better to make up a band name even if it's just you. We've said it before, we'll say it again. No matter how cool you think your name is, unless it's Van Halen or something like that, think again! Try this out: "I'm going to see John Smith". Or "I'm going to see Black Dungeon Firefly". Or "Strangle Flanger". Or whatever. You get the idea.
Anyway, before this review loses any more of its momentum, let's just say this is one of the most beautiful records we have heard in ages and mere months into the year has most definitely secured a spot on some of out 2006 top ten lists!
Votoloto has a gorgeously husky, whiskey soaked voice, and has an amazingly deft touch with melody and harmony. The first track is a dead ringer for Iron And Wine, delicate steel string guitar, hushed breathy vocals and sweet sweet harmonies, but the rest of the record is not nearly as restrained. Votolato's vocals are too rough and raw and powerful to be tiptoe-ing and shuffling sad boy style. No, the rest of the record sounds more like that Nirvana Unplugged record, Votolato's vocals the centerpoint, raw and ragged, but thick and warm and completely intense and emotional, more raspy and sandpapery like Cobain or Spoon's Britt Daniel or even Pete Searcy from Squirrel Bait. Not to say that he can't get all smooth, cuz there are plenty of dark and delicate tracks, where the vocals glide smoothly over sweet mournful melodies and hushed melancholy moments. But as with all "singer songwriters" (sigh) it's all about the songs, and this record is so chock full of amazing songs. Dark and dreary, warm and weary, folky and twangy, hushed and indie, a perfect mix of Iron And Wine, Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith, Uncle Tupelo, Spoon, and all that stuff we love. Acoustic guitars, harmonica, lapsteel, organ all woven into perfect chunks of dark and dreamy pop and twang.
MPEG Stream: "White Daisy Passing"
MPEG Stream: "Portland Is Leaving"
MPEG Stream: "She Was Only In It For The Rain"

VOTOLATO, ROCKY Makers (Second Nature) lp 16.98
Finally, this former Record of The Week gets a vinyl release! Here's what we said about it the first time:
Ahhh, the lonely ballad of the singer songwriter. A lone troubadour, pouring out their heart and soul, naked and alone, with no band to hide behind, no crashing guitars and pounding drums to shield their delicate psyche.
There was a time when being called a singer songwriter was a badge of honor. But now, we might just as well turn tail and run. Sure the legacy of singer songwriters is a mighty one, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Gordon Lightfoot, Janis Ian, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Donovan, Bruce Springsteen, but you'll notice a serious dearth of more -modern- musicians in that league. That's not because there aren't singer songwriters anymore, it's just that now, we typically equate singer songwriters with commercial radio, faceless pap, bad top 40, coffee houses, guys who couldn't start a band so decided to just 'do it themselves'. We're definitely generalizing, sure. There have definitely been some notable exceptions, Iron And Wine's Sam Beam, Damien Jurado, Edith Frost, Elliott Smith, Joel Phelps, Devendra Banhart, Cat Power's Chan Marshall, Simon Joyner, Fiona Apple, Jeff Mangum, Sufjan Stevens, Will Oldham, and now you can add Rocky Votoloto to the list. Now the funny thing is, as we mention again and again and again, if Votoloto had chosen to release this record under the name Waxwing (the name of his previous band) it probably wouldn't get lumped in with the singer songwriters at all, and might eeven get a bit more attention, even if it sounded exactly the same. That's why it's always better to make up a band name even if it's just you. We've said it before, we'll say it again. No matter how cool you think your name is, unless it's Van Halen or something like that, think again! Try this out: "I'm going to see John Smith". Or "I'm going to see Black Dungeon Firefly". Or "Strangle Flanger". Or whatever. You get the idea.
Anyway, before this review loses any more of its momentum, let's just say this is one of the most beautiful records we have heard in ages and mere months into the year has most definitely secured a spot on some of out 2006 top ten lists!
Votoloto has a gorgeously husky, whiskey soaked voice, and has an amazingly deft touch with melody and harmony. The first track is a dead ringer for Iron And Wine, delicate steel string guitar, hushed breathy vocals and sweet sweet harmonies, but the rest of the record is not nearly as restrained. Votolato's vocals are too rough and raw and powerful to be tiptoe-ing and shuffling sad boy style. No, the rest of the record sounds more like that Nirvana Unplugged record, Votolato's vocals the centerpoint, raw and ragged, but thick and warm and completely intense and emotional, more raspy and sandpapery like Cobain or Spoon's Britt Daniel or even Pete Searcy from Squirrel Bait. Not to say that he can't get all smooth, cuz there are plenty of dark and delicate tracks, where the vocals glide smoothly over sweet mournful melodies and hushed melancholy moments. But as with all "singer songwriters" (sigh) it's all about the songs, and this record is so chock full of amazing songs. Dark and dreary, warm and weary, folky and twangy, hushed and indie, a perfect mix of Iron And Wine, Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith, Uncle Tupelo, Spoon, and all that stuff we love. Acoustic guitars, harmonica, lapsteel, organ all woven into perfect chunks of dark and dreamy pop and twang.
MPEG Stream: "White Daisy Passing"
MPEG Stream: "Portland Is Leaving"
MPEG Stream: "She Was Only In It For The Rain"

VOTOLATO, ROCKY The Brag And Cuss (Barsuk) cd 13.98
One customer thought this was Jeff Tweedy, while another could have sworn it was Ryan Adams, but no, it's Rocky Votolato! He might be a bit lesser known, but in addition to the vocal resemblance we'd also venture to say that his songwriting chops are pretty on par with those two fellows' too.
Hell, as far as we can tell Rocky's not prone to sonic experimentation nor alternate identities, which makes him generally more even-keeled temperamentally and stylistically speaking than both of them.
As you may well know, we absolutely loved his last album Makers -- it was our record of the week back in January 2006 -- and we recently got in the reissue of his debut ep A Brief History. So we were primed and ready to hear some new Rocky tunes. We'd heard there were a few changes brewing with his new album, but despite its title, don't be expecting The Brag And Cuss to fill your ears with expletives and bombastic exclamations. No, it's nothing but hushed earthy twang pop... an ol' reliable! Whereas Makers was considerably barebones and intimate, this album was recorded with a full band featuring James McAllister (who also plays with Sufjan Stevens), Bill Herzog (who is also in Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter), Pedro The Lion's Casey Foubert and Rick Steff (who also accompanies Cat Power and Hank Williams Jr.). They play together beautifully, complementing each other with nuanced performances. There's definitely more heft to the production, but it doesn't crowd his songs. If anything the company adds to the emotional gravity of his lonesome words. Real good!
MPEG Stream: "Lilly White"
MPEG Stream: "Postcard From Kentucky"

VOXTROT s/t (Playlouder) cd 14.98
Folks have been asking for Voxtrot lately, and we're happy to oblige. They've had a handful of eps released over the last few years which have amply whetted appetites across the nation for a full length debut... and here it is! Our initial impression of this Austin, TX band is that they're sorta like a hybrid of The Arcade Fire and a more stable Fiery Furnaces, but with perhaps an even broader appeal that at times is quite reminiscent of The Kinks circa "Lola". Super exuberant and catchy! We predict this'll surely be blasting outta the hip kids' boomboxes at the beach all summer long.
MPEG Stream: "Kid Gloves"
MPEG Stream: "Blood Red Blood"

VOYAGE THROUGH MONGOLIA, A (ANNE KENEDI) A Voyage Through Mongolia (Voyage En Mongolie) (Sittelle) cd 17.98

VRAHLAZEL s/t (Pesanta Urfolk) lp 17.98

VREID I Krig (Candlelight) cd 14.98

VREID Kraft (Candlelight) cd 15.98

VREID Pitch Black Brigade (Candlelight) cd 13.98

MPEG Stream: "Da Draumen Rakna"
MPEG Stream: "Left To Hate"

VROLOK Void (The Divine Abortion) (Drakkar) cd 15.98

VSNARES 2370894 (Planet Mu) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Why drop the "enetian" from the perfectly good name Venetian Snares? I dunno; but there isn't much of a big departure for Aaron Funk (aka VSnares / Venetian Snares) from his last couple of albums of chemically acerbic, drill 'n' bass workouts. "2370894" is a spastic album that shreds the common drum 'n' bass signatures into a shock / horror splatter: sometimes stretching the speed limits into Panacea's darkcore tactics for stalking rhythms and hoovering basslines into atonal stabs of breakbeat mania, then overloading the rhythmic density of free-jazz clatter into a headache inducing digital mess, then wallowing in the downer sentiments of Morrissey samples on top of conditionally minimal electronic arrangements. Vsnares concentrates all of the truely abrasive numbers at the beginning of the album and gradually lightens up the album to end up closer to where his label boss Mu-Ziq has been residing.

RealAudio clip: "Fuck Toronto Jungle"
RealAudio clip: "We Are Cesspools"
RealAudio clip: "British IDM Present Fanfare"