Boris - 2013 - Boris Performing Flood

 

As time goes so does my attitude towards Boris shift back and forth. A love-hate relationship one might call it. Gone are my idealistic youthful days where I adored almost all Boris recorded and released but also are gone the days where I hated almost all of their output. There are some albums from this band that I will keep listening throughout my whole life probably and Flood definitely is one of them.

Recorded now way back in the, what I like to pretentiously call, golden era of their existence the studio album Flood definitely at the time was curve ball but surely signs of their will to experiment and change were all over the album prior this one called Amplifier Worship. This was the year 2000 and a lot of things changed for Boris since that album came out  but the legacy of their golden era stayed ever present. The year 2013 and s couple of next ones after it seems to me were of a retrospective tone, almost melancholic in terms of what they released. Aside from revisiting Flood in a live setting they re-released a compiled Vein album (initially released back in 2006), Solomon box set with some more unreleased tracks and an archival compilation of their glory days of Pink and Heavy Rocks. This sentiment of "back to the roots" peaked next year, 2014, when they would release an album called Noise which had nothing to do with the genre noise and three more albums next year which were very much noise in all but name (and were also fucking terrible). This is just my conjecture though, I'm probably reading all of this wrong but it seems like this period of trying to grasp at something they lost lasted until and including the album Dear. 

While I adore the album Flood I also think it's first and last part are self-indulgently too long and not that interesting. Exactly those parts are either trimmed or missing on this live record which makes it my preferred version to listen. If only it weren't so fucking rare to get it physically but at least we can enjoy it digitally. Maybe one day they will reprint it. 

If you are new to Boris or haven't heard the original album my suggestion is to go with the initial release first and then come back to this version. For all you seasoned fans I warmly recommend for this version to be checked out.

Get it.

Grouper - Alien Observer

If I had to choose my favorite song of all times it would most likely end up being Planet Caravan. A lot of things that I adore and seek are in that song. Yes, it's a flimsy song that was created by accident in the studio but I still immensely enjoy it every time I hear it. Ever since I fell in love with that song I've been looking for a band or other some other song that sounds like it. My search proved to be somewhat fruitful over the years. Black Sabbath themselves rarely made anything remotely similar (Solitude comes to mind) and other bands in that vein didn't fare any better as well. Other genres did come relatively close to what I was searching though.

Grouper as whole is the closest to that Planet Caravan feeling so far. This album in particular. The last song if we're being absolutely particular.

In case you have no idea who Grouper is and what kind of music it is let me indulge you. It's a mix of drone and folk. The vocals are mainly composed out of silent humming of barely understandable words. I love it. It's a very particular and well executed atmosphere that hangs on a thin balance of annoying and soothing. Songs are very simple but effective in their intent. There's not a lot of instrumentation here, from what I could discern it's just her voice and a delay ridden guitar. With such a minimal set Grouper manages to do a lot of things, making each song feel unique. Some are more happy, some are sad but they all have this underlying feeling of melancholia, of foggy mornings etc. Lovely stuff in general. I'm pretty sure this artist isn't very rare or unknown but I'm sharing this mostly out of sentimental reasons.

Get it.

Boris - A Bao A Qu

Boris are have been kicking around for a very long time now and they're also one of my favorite bands. Because they are so well known I didn't bother to post their stuff (I did post their discog early on but all those links are dead and gone) but I think this is worth sharing because of two reasons: the first reason is my favorite song by them and the second reason is that this is a bit more obscure release so maybe not all of you Boris enthusiasts have it.

A Bao A Qu has several versions, reworks and live versions. I managed to find seven of them and this is the longest one clocking at just a bit over 10 minutes. The song itself is set into two parts. The first part is a very laid back drone-y intro that reminds me a lot of Gymnopédies, 1. Lent et douloureux by Erik Satie (without the feedback of course). I don't know if this a tribute or a rip off but the notes seem very similar. Nevertheless this is probably the better half of the song. After about 4 or so minutes of drone Boris shift into high gear and lay out some really fine doom/sludge thing they usually do (or did). Big open guitar riffs, echoes vocals and all the good stuff they do best and this part transitions quite well from the quiet one.

What they achieve the most with this certain song is laying out a feeling of some happy solitude. One of those feelings that you get when you stare out of some tall building on a quiet sunday evening. Watching last rays of Sun disappear.

Download.

Music video.

Monks Of The Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery - Ritual Music of Tibetan Bhudism and Tantric Hymns

Back in the day when I was digging into the atonal world of drone and noise I heard some rumors (or assumptions?) that Sunn O))) got their inspiration from the sound of Buddhist chants. Thus began my search for this apparently spiritual music that resembles drone in many ways. To my dismay I never could find anything interesting or authentic. All I could find was watered down new age bullshit with random flutes and cheesy keyboards. The closest thing I could find was actually in Akiras original soundtrack (which I'll talk about when I eventually make a big Akira droolfest post) and some older more depressing 60s Japanese samurai films.

Alas(!) my search is over. Actually it's over for about half a year now but whatever. I finally managed to find some pure (bullshit-free) Tibetan/Buddhist music played by monks. This is completely free from all the flutes and keyboards and gentle female voices, they are all complete prayers accompanied by fittingly deep music instruments. So is this drone? Well; yes I think it is. At the start of the first track right when the humongous horn starts blowing I knew this is what I was looking for which is non compromised music from the temples of Tibet. Another thing that I noticed about this and Buddhist chanting in general is that it has a striking resemblance to the Tuvan throat singing (which I'll post sooner or after anyway so you'll hear it) so those two tings are probably connected in some weird way. Didn't read into that yet.

If you want something different and interesting to hear, check this out. If you like drone, you need to get this.

Download.

Halo

More metal? Why yes, by all means. :P

Halo was always an peculiar band to me. Some records I liked and some I didn't. I still consider their Body of Light to be their best album. I don't know why it's so hated on Metal archives? Maybe because it's not true? Well I don't really care anyway. This is some damn fine drone/sludge/noise whatever. Guattari - From the West Flows Grey Ash & Pestilence is an more musically driven album. The songs have usual song structures, standard sludge awesomeness and pimped out vocals that ties it all together in a nice psychedelic trip. Body of Light on the other hand is more about epic and less about being sludge. It's also less structured and has more drone feeling. Well, the band is pretty much popular (I think :/) so I won't ramble any more because you probably heard about them anyway.

 *will not be uploaded again

Boris - Flood

Speaking of great bands how could I not mention Boris? Well here it is, Flood, one of the most unique albums they did. I went through a lot of trouble getting this one. Since the label has a great policy of not shipping their albums to my country I had to order it through a store from my city. Apparently they ordered it as a selling item that they will sell in the shop. The conversation I had with the shop owner was, intriguing.

Me: Hi, I'd like to order a cd.
Owner: Sure, just tell me the name.
Me: Boris.
Owner: Uh? The bands name not yours.
Me: Yes, Boris.
Owner: Are you trying to make fun of me? Tell me the name of the band.
Me: ...Boris.
Owner: The Band is called Boris?
Me: Yes.
Owner: And where are they from? Russia?
Me: No, they are from Japan.
Owner: Rrrright. So this obscure band is from Japan and they call themselves Boris? After a Russian name?
Me: They named themselves after a song from Melvins and they are not obscure.
Owner: I worked here for 17 years and I never heard of this band.

And so on and on. XD I don't really get it. I had to do the same conversation each time I came there and asked if the album arrived and every time they gave me a strange look like I just ate their mothers. Finally after 3 months of waiting it came direct from Japan. :3 Looks like first press too which makes it extra cool.

In any case if you are a bit older follower of this blog you probably remember when I posted the whole Boris discography (it was complete when I posted it, now there are a few releases missing). So I assume pretty much everyone heard of Flood before. There's not much to say. It's their own version of post-rock music of sorts. It's not really pure post rock as in Explosions In The Sky and similar. It actually starts with an really dull (to me at least) intro of one riff repeating and repeating. I usually like this sort of thing but this one just isn't enjoyable to me. So after that it switches to pretty much relaxed and laid back post rock and afterwords a tsunami comes and kills everything. In any case, get this, you'll like it! >:| It's just one long track split into four parts so I won't write the tracklist.

 *will not be uploaded again

Sunn O))) - Monoliths and Dimensions

This is my new favorite album by Sunn.

There's a good review of it on Glowing Raw blog.

Get it here.

Black Shape of Nexus

B.SON is a drone doom/sludge band from Mannheim, Germany formed in 2005.

Members of B.SON have also played (currently or formerly) in other bands, including Stack, Curbeaters, Prone, Corpse Prose, The Notorious Love Affair, Battle of the Speeds, The Ghost Dance Movement, 2 Minutes Hate Show.

In mid 2007 Vendetta Records released their first album. Also in 2007 a split LP with the berlin sludge band Crowskin came out. Also released by Vendetta Records. Simultaneously with the Split LP a CD came out on Vendetta compiling both, the album LP and the Split LP). Everything mastered by James Plotkin; produced, engineered and mixed by the band in best diy tradition.

In January 07 first Drummer Marco left the band. A few months later Marius joined the band. In the meantime they started to release a new beast: microbarome meetings. Occassionally they meet for improvisational work, representing the drone side of the lineup. Some of this work will be released on both labels Ecocentric Records and Vendetta Records.

Oh I haven't listened to this band in ages. I almost forgot how good they are. Seriously check them out if you are into drone. I have their first demo and first album. They released another full length and a split last year but I never checked it out. :/

Black Shape Of Nexus - 2006 - Demo

01. I (21:13)
02. II (13:30)
03. III (10:10)
04. I (Drone Version) (18:47)

Black Shape of Nexus - 2007 - Black Shape of Nexus

Mastered by James Plotkin of Khanate

1. III (10:35)
2. VI (11:05)
3. V (21:00)

Get Both.

Boris

Ah Boris. I have listened to a lot of bands (yay for internet) but Boris will always have a special part in my little wooden heart. Funny though, now that I finally did all this I have no idea what to write. I thought I should write some humongous text to go along with all of this but I don't really have anything constructive to say. So anyway, people who are beginning with this band will most likely ask themselves "Where to start?". Well that's a tricky question because Boris is an very diverse band they changed styles a lot of times. But here's my advice. If you are into drone then you should start off with Absolutego, then with Solomon volumes and then with Dronevil. If you are into sludge then you should start with Amplifier Worship. If you are into stoner metal/hard rock then start with all famous Pink album and Heavy Rocks. If you are into experimental and unusual then go with Soundtrack for film "Mabuta No Ura". That's little advice what I can give. Either way shall we start?

This is the full discography except the DVDs which I haven't found so if someone has them please share it with me. :D

DVDs are:

見殺し塔からずっと
Bootleg -Feedbacker-
Wizard's Convention
Heavy Metal Me

Chronologically sorted (according to metal archives):

Absolutego Full-length, 1996ž

Boris / Barebones Split album, 1996

Split w/ Tomsk Split album, 1997

Amplifier Worship Full-length, 1998

Keiji Haino with Boris - Black: Implication Flooding Live album, 1998

More Echoes, Touching Air Landscape - Split CD w/Choukoku No Niwa Split album, 1999

Flood Full-length, 2000

Heavy Rocks Full-length, 2002

Boris With Merzbow - Megatone Full-length, 2002

1970 EP, 2002

Boris / The Dudley Corporation Split album, 2003

Akuma No Uta Full-length, 2003

Boris At Last - Feedbacker Full-length, 2003

The Thing Which Solomon Overlooked Full-length, 2004

Boris With Merzbow - 04092001 Live album, 2005

Dronevil Full-length, 2005

A Bao a Qu Single, 2005

Sound Track from Film "Mabuta No Ura" Full-length, 2005

Boris Live Volume I: Live 96-98 Live album, 2005

Boris Live Volume II: drumless drone power ambient disc Live album, 2005

Boris Live Volume III: live 2001 two long songs Live album, 2005

Pink Full-length, 2005

Boris With Merzbow - Sun Baked Snow Cave Full-length, 2005

The Thing Which Solomon Overlooked 2 Full-length, 2006

The Thing Which Solomon Overlooked 3 Full-length, 2006

Dronevil -Final- Full-length, 2006
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Vein (hardcore) Full-length, 2006

Vein (drone) Full-length, 2006

Altar - Collaboration with Sunn O))) Full-length, 2006

Boris with Michio Kurihara "Rainbow" Full-length, 2006

Walrus & Groon EP, 2007

DOOMRIDERS vs. BORIS / Long Hair And Tights Live album, 2007
Part 1
Part 2

Damaged Split album, 2007
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

She's So Heavy Split album, 2007
Booklet.

Boris With Merzbow - Rock Dream Live album, 2007
Part 1
Part 2

Message~Floorshaker EP, 2008

Smile (Japanese ver) Full-length, 2008

Smile (American ver) Full-length, 2008

Statement Single, 2008


Personal favorites:

1. Sound Track from Film "Mabuta No Ura"
2. Flood
3. Boris with Michio Kurihara "Rainbow"
4. Akuma No Uta
5. The Thing Which Solomon Overlooked 3

Sunn O))) - The Horn and the Spear (EMS Remix)

MP3 single released in 2004. Contains two variations of "The Horn and the Spear"
remixed by Eric Syre.

01. The Horn and the Spear 1 (EMS Remix) (08:20)
02. The Horn and the Spear 1 (EMS Remix) (08:36)
Download.

Sunn O))) - The Libations of Samhain

The Libations of Samhain is live recording and the quality is not that bad, classic sunn stuff. Sunn O))) Vs Diggers is an interview they did on some radio show.

Tracklist:

01. The Libations Of Samhain (48:59)
02. SunnO))) Vs Diggers 4th November 2003 (16:05)

Download.

Sunn O))) - Candlewolf of the Golden Chalice

12" only available on tour. Recorded during a session with BBC's John Peel in London, England on December 09th. Some rare Sunn stuff. I don't really need to describe this music do I? Anyway, interesting thing in this song is that they play this certain frequency which irritates bowels and it kinda forces you to take a shit. :D Listened to it a few times and it does make you a weird feeling in your bowels but not hard enough for me to go to the toilet. Maybe the frequency got partially lost in the ripping process.

Tracklist:

01. Candlewolf of the Golden Chalice (19:30)

Download.