Doomette

New Beginnings

2012-01-25T21:20:00.001Z

Burst Unity by Stammheim Girls

"Rain Of Roses"

2011-08-07T14:21:00.001+01:00

A short film I made to accompany some music I recorded in 2004.

Rejuvenation/Revisitation

2011-01-03T18:49:00.004Z

"Forgotten Epoch" collage, 2010.

"An Unfamiliar Season" collage, 2009.

"Austerity/Binge" collage, 2004-2005.

Weathercade

2009-08-09T20:37:00.001+01:00

My new blog is over here. Just in case you were wondering.

Kilgore Trout - Stick It In The Bank Man

2008-09-17T14:18:00.003+01:00

Secondly, here are Kilgore Trout with their debut release from 1986. As their biog at Last.FM states: “Kilgore Trout were an alternative rock band that was based in Nottingham and Sheffield in the north of England between 1985 and 1991. In that time, this band released two EPs, contributed eight tracks to two compilation LPs, and appeared on a flexidisc that came free with the legendary fanzine Ablaze! This band’s mainstay was Chris Trout, a seminal figure in the British alternative music scene whose other bands include A.C. Temple, Spoonfed Hybrid, Lazerboy, Coping Saw, and Bear. He currently plays drums in Smokers Die Younger. Trout wrote the songs and played most of the instruments. He also recorded over 50 four-track demos for the band that were never released at the time. A programme to make the best of these available is currently under way.”

Again, this was one that I heard on Peel and subsequently purchased. I remember quite a glowing interview with the band appeared in the NME around this time. I never saw them play around the time of the release of this EP which is surprising seeing as they were based in Nottingham (I seem to remember them supporting Age Of Chance at The Garage, Autumn 1986 though). I saw them later, May or June 1989, when they’d relocated to Sheffield and replaced the drummer with a drum machine and released the “Bad Puddings” EP – an equally fine release and one I may post here at a later date. I’m also looking for some of their compilation album appearances: particularly “Cornwall” from the album “Imminent 5” and their contribution to the album “Rorschach Blot Test” which also features A.C Temple, who I seemed to see innumerable times playing in and around Nottingham during this era, usually in tandem with the equally great Dog Faced Hermans. If anyone can provide any of the aforementioned then by all means get in touch. I know some of the tracks from this EP are available to download at the bands MySpace and Last.FM pages but the record in it's entirety can be heard here.

1. Quality Control

2. English Never Listen

3. Bank

4. Right Boys

12"EP, Hits $ Corruption HAC002, 1986

Ripped @320 kbps

The Turncoats - Motor Ball Meltbeat

2008-09-17T13:30:00.003+01:00

It’s been the usual age since I last wrote anything here. I’ve decided to occasionally post some music this time, to make things a little more interesting. As is customary with this kind of thing, if anyone has any issues with any of these records being posted here then please contact me and I shall remove them forthwith. I’ve decided to start with a couple of 12” EP’s that I haven’t seen available on any other blog.

First up is this EP from The Turncoats. I don’t really know anything about the band at all. I first heard the song “What’s So Funny” on John Peel’s show in November 1986 and liked it so much that I bought the record some time later. I suppose that you could say their sound lies somewhere between The Fall and The Mary Chain, but is quite typical of a lot of bands around in the mid 80’s (ones that were played on Peel anyway). The singer sounds like a more disgruntled Marc Riley. I think the label that released the record, ‘Noise a Noise’ had something to do with That Petrol Emotion. I don’t know whereabouts they were from (possibly Manchester?) – I remember reading an interview in some fanzine or other ("Blank Reception"?) at the time that didn’t give much away. If anyone knows anything more about them I’d be intrigued to hear. Don’t think they released anything else at all. However this is a fine record and deserves to be heard.

1. One Breath

2. What's So Funny

3. Wishing Well

4. Call Her Name

12" EP, Noise A Noise NAN2T, 1986

Ripped @ 320 kbps

The Long Night Out

2008-01-09T00:22:00.000Z

It has been an aeon since I last posted anything on here, but as it is now another year I shall now endeavour to rid my mind of some esoteric baggage once a week. Perhaps.

I'm currently losing myself in Pink Industry, Famous Grouse scotch and long lonely walks through The Park. I have also rediscovered the genius of Laurence Harvey. He was a bit of a strange fish. But very much a Gent all the same. I'm existing in my own bubble at the moment, which is both inspiring and comforting. Long may it continue.

Who will rid me of these turbulent proles?

2007-05-28T12:20:00.000+01:00

Today the weather is most pleasant, dull, dank, almost cold and raining. This is what an English summer should be like. Let's hope it continues. When I was but a sullen effete youth it was always like this (I'm now a sullen effete thirtysomething). Which brings me neatly around to my next subject.

I've been submerging myself in the sounds of my twee late teenage years rather an alarming amount lately. My latest re-discovery is McCarthy. God, how I used to love this band! After a bit of research I recently read that the album I rate the most, "The Enraged Will Inherit The Earth" was in fact the bands least favourite of their oeuvre. The music chimes along beautifully, like some dream marriage of The Smiths and The Byrds in Weimar Germany. I always liked the way that Malcolm Eden would seem to write himself lines that appeared on paper to be virtually un -singable in any melodic sense only to deliver them like some disgruntled choirboy. Most of his lyrics are sung from the point of a narrator as well ; a genius move which caused much amusing confusion and consternation amongst fans and critics alike at the time.
And the song titles are hilarious; "The Home Secretary Briefs The Forces Of Law And Order", anyone? I also used to have a compilation of their early singles, "A la Guillotine" which I held dear. Thankfully most of this seems to be available on a best of CD "That's All Very Well But...". The sound on these early ones is a little more rougher hewn and post-punk tinged. "From The Damned" is one of the most pertinent and concise depictions of the drudgery of the nine to five workaday existence ever recorded.

I did once see the band, March 1990, in their death throes, supporting The Chills at some hideous club in Birmingham called Burberries. Laetitia Sadier had joined them by this point; they pretty much just played material from the then forthcoming final album "Banking , Violence and The Inner Life Today" (which I remember being a bit disappointed with at the time - I shall have to re-investigate).

Tomorrow I think I will go and see this Scott Walker documentary film that is currently doing the rounds. So I might report on that soon. Let's hope the weather stays suitably maudlin for it.

The horizon bleeds and sucks its thumb

2007-05-26T23:31:00.000+01:00

So, Summer turned into Autumn which then subsided into the usual muddy grey version of Winter; now it is late Spring and I have decided to re-activate this. It has been some time, but now I think the time is here to exercise some discipline. I will try to write something here every other day. So things may get a little dense and esoteric. But as you know, nobody reads these things anyway and if they do, well, they really do get what they deserve.

So last Sunday, I took it upon myself to visit a record fair. Something I don't do too often. But once in a while is ok. As you may or may not know, these events do perhaps attract a percentage of the more challenged, bewildered and shall we say slightly closeted music collectors among us. But it's generally a pleasant and amusing way to while away a Sunday morning. If you ignore the fact that these events also seem to be attended by an alarming number of middle aged men with personal hygiene problems. But let's not go into that.

My usual plan of action is to scour every stall that appears vaguely interesting (generally the ones that have a section marked "Punk/New Wave", "80's/Indie" or even worse, "Goth/Alternative"), then decide whether I really need another copy of Japan's "Vision Of China" 12"or a Wolfgang Press CD that I already own on vinyl ...or whatever.

So after a little deliberation, I finally plumped for Girl At Our Best's "Pleasure" LP; I remember Peel playing their song "Fast Boyfriends" in the late 80's and being rather taken with it (probably when the horrid Wedding Present had the audacity to massacre one of their tunes on a session). And the friendly and knowledgeable man on the stall commended me on my good taste. So that was alright. I succumbed to temptation and purchased The Wolfgang Press' "Standing Up Straight" on CD for a mere £4. It's probably my favourite album by them; a finely crafted record of contrasting reflections on the many shades of melancholia. Staying with 4AD, This Mortal Coil's second opus "Filigree And Shadow" also caught my eye. Previously I've only had the best bits of this album on cassette. It is somewhat self indulgent as is often the way with double albums (and contains a lamentable destruction of Colin Newman's exquisite "Alone") but the first side is absolutely essential. I digress...

When the stench of greasy breakfasts wafted in my direction from the "cafeteria" I knew it was time to leave. I'd stayed too long already.

Rotten Fodder

2006-07-08T05:29:00.000+01:00

Sultry sickly Summer with all its fetid glory holds me in its grip. I have so much more energy and purpose in Autumn/Winter; hence the lack of regular updates here. I want to wear more clothes and feel cold. I have a mini arsenal of new cardigans that I need to wear. At least the insipid flag waving pageant is seemingly in its death throes, although there are still pockets of resistance (rather like isolated Japanese soldiers on remote Pacific islands at the end of WW2 not knowing that the war was over!)
Enough rambling! I have come across a new band that I am rather taken with; HTRK from Berlin via Melbourne, a gritty/witty three piece who specialize in heavy bass/drum machine led dirges augmented with scattershot incendiary gtr./keyboards. The singer lady has the most nonchalant velvet groan that I’ve heard for some time, and they have fine pedigree; debut album (released in Australia later in the year) is produced and played upon by none other than Mr. Rowland S. Howard. I hope that they visit these rancid shores soon…
Other stuff that I have been entertaining myself with; AC Marias –“One of Our Girls Is Missing”, Mass- “Labour of Love”, Swell Maps-“Wastrels and Whippersnappers”, Adult. – “Gimme Trouble”, and the entire Crime & the City Solution catalogue (one of my favourite bands of all time?) Current reading: Patricia Highsmith – “Little Tales of Misogyny”. Time to hit the gin and tonic...

Dull Day

2006-05-20T05:14:00.000+01:00

I'm not feeling well. A malaise is clouding my judgement and I am enveloped in a velvet fog of contempt for virtually everything today. I do wish something would occur to restore my faith in humankind but today things seem very bleak indeed. Earl Grey, Strawberry Switchblade and an early night wouldn't go amiss. Perhaps I'll feel better tomorrow..

Nothinginsomethingparticular

2006-05-18T07:24:00.000+01:00

Well, it's been a while since those Winter nights when I seemed to have more time. Spring isn't as sickly as I expected. It's not that bad. Apart from having to see unfortunate looking people in skimpy clothes. Gone are the days when May to September would see me hibernating completely. Maybe I'm mellowing with age. Heaven forbid!
A couple of appealing artistes I have seen recently; The Organ - a bunch of hip Canadian gals with Smiths/Patti Smith fixation. And an organ. Pretty darned great (see photo). Their album "Grab That Gun" is barely off the playlist here at Doomette towers. Wolf Eyes; hairy/scary US avant noisemongers who kicked up a beautiful and nasty racket. Made Whitehouse sound like Dollar. I was reasonably impressed. Amongst the myriad noises I've been entertaining myself with over the last two? months; Malaria!, Japan, The Rogers Sisters (perhaps my favourite band of the "now", a more arty B52's but dare I say less one dimensional? Their album "Three Fingers" is an amazing contrast of moods and styles within that all important post-punk idiom. Can't wait for the new one which isn't released here until September despite being out now everywhere else - another reason to look forward to Autumn), The Gossip, The Names (primarily their track on the recent Martin Hannett compilation, "Nightshift"), DAF, The Blue Orchids and good old Fad Gadget.
Late April/early May saw me having a successful clothes buying trip to Covent Garden and celebrating my birthday in a moonlit allotment (don't ask).

Nikki Sudden RIP

We waltzed in the blood, ho!

2006-03-14T06:59:00.000Z

A very cold last few days. Blissful! Tonight I'm revisiting a very old favourite; These Immortal Souls' 'Get Lost Don't Lie'. A brechtian shattered glass soundtrack to stars reflected in gutters and scarlet nights of wine and roses. Ethereal noir cabaret. Needless to say one of the best records ever made. Howl I wish I was in Berlin....

Phensics and Marmalade

2006-03-05T06:49:00.000Z

A Saturday night immersed in John Coldstreams's 'authorised' Dirk Bogarde biog, whilst listening to various El records artistes. Anthony Adverse's 'Imperial Violets' and The Always 'Thames Valley Leather Club' are my favourites. I crave a recording I heard many years ago but have never managed to own; Romaine's 'Dirk Bogarde:An Orderly Man'. Very amusing and pretty close to the bone stuff bearing in mind he was still very much alive when it was made. Obviously he never heard it.
However, a rather sullen day today, attempted looking suave in Caffe Nero's at lunchtime and that was the highlight really. Tomorrow doesn't promise to be much better as I'm working again. Time for another pot of Earl Grey. Let's Party.

Maybe it's right to be nervous now...

2006-03-02T06:25:00.000Z

Today a strange day; cold but I smell the vinegar stench of Spring creeping up behind the greyness. Not that that is a bad thing I suppose. I'm quite impressed with the new TVP's album; some of his best stuff since "The Painted Word" methinks. Highly amusing but poignantly bleak in places. "They don't deserve us". Indeed. He was in the Metro today, too. A good evening imbibing in fine wines. Currently grooving to Ladytron "Witching Hour" and the Goldfrapp RAWH remixes espesh FK Disco Whores dub. Narrow minded? moi? The photo above bears no relation to this post. But you guessed that anyway. Happy Lent x

Amused as always....

2006-02-23T01:28:00.000Z

Out in the cold yesterday, took some rather fetching shots of a decaying off licence. Also a trawl of charity shops turned up Alfred Jarry's The Ubu Plays' and Derek Raymond's 'A Crust On It's Uppers'. But no cardigans. I'm currently enveloped in the rich, sumptuous atmospherics of The Associates 'Fourth Drawer Down'; an album I never grow bored of. Talking of which, where did I put those Quiet Life tablets?.......

Nudity isn't my bag.

2006-02-21T10:14:00.000Z

Tonight I was going to go and see an band who rejoice under the name Aids Wolf. However I decided against it. Couldn't stand the excitement and the venue was a pub that I have no desire to frequent. No doubt I made the wrong decision. However it was a reasonable day. Current listening; 'Terminus' - Psychic TV, 'Xmas In Australia' - X-Mal Deutschland.
Tomorrow day off and more photographs of random urban decay.

Adult.erated

2006-02-17T06:02:00.000Z

Last Thursday I attended a performance by the artistes known as Adult. They made some pleasantly disconcerting and abrasive noises. I dug them immensely. Much good...
Today at work I listened to "New York Noise Vol 1" which had some fine stuff; particularly Theoretical Girls and Mars. A bit hit and miss though. Also The Fall's "Kurious Oranj" which is pretty abysmal really; overproduced and tired sounding. Not one of their best. The fag end of the Beggars era was quite a low point I suppose; "Seminal Live", anyone?
Current listening; Cabaret Voltaire "Partially Submerged", The Moodists "Runaway", Goldfrapp "Slippage"

The day after I was ill.

2006-02-15T08:10:00.000Z

After a day of minor illness I'm functioning again. I shall endeavour to write some much more interesting things very soon. Today I've been out taking pictures of random urban squalor. Tomorrow I'm at work. Current listening; The Monochrome Set and "Heathen Earth"
Quote of the day; "To be clever in the afternoon suggests that one is dining nowhere in the evening" - Saki

Welcome.

2006-02-13T01:02:00.000Z

Welcome to my alcove. Here you will perhaps catch a glimpse of some my mind's more dusty corners and be able to read random reports of what I've been up to/had to put up with recently. More soon......