Tone Arm

What's a Squim

2011-03-10T08:47:00.000-08:00

My new favorite KFJC DJ, Cinderaura, aired a very nice set last night. The highlight for me was Squim's track "Electric Black." Its an epic piece of drone.

Quite a bit of drone these days seems to be on the minimal side, which I have no problem with. "Electric Black" is minimalistic drone, a wall of drone. His sources seem to be the space between shortwave stations (yes it has been done, but its done well here).

FLAC or MP3 versions of the containing album "Nazarearu," are $5 dollars at Bandcamp (link above). For five, I'd say this is an easy pick up.

band name

Are artists being paid?

2011-02-23T21:47:00.000-08:00

I've been pondering working on an investigative story about how much artists are being paid in the digital age. I've noticed that many mp3 records are going for $5 on Amazon. According to the chart below, and they do admit that this is the best estimates they can find, an artist receives nine cents for a track downloaded from Amazon.

Contrast that with a self-pressed CD at eight dollars.

Thanks to Information Is Beautiful for the image.

Nortt - Doom for non-doom heads and heads alike..

2007-11-19T14:17:00.001-08:00

I am always trawling the internet looking for music that replicates that moment, in high school chemistry class, when I poked my Walkman headphones into my ears and pushed play on "Pyschocandy" by The Jesus and Mary Chain.

The drug of choice for the writer became music that buzzed or enveloped me in sound.

Lately the source of the buzz has infected the world of metal. Black metal bands are making the best Slowdive records and Danish man of darkness, Nortt is making tectonic plate shifting soundscapes of crippling beauty.

Nortt's doom is a long way away from just about any doomsters out there these days. This is a melding of Lustmord and Burzum. A self hating dark trip into darkness and depression, though I am sure Nortt is a happy and well adjusted fellow (we doomsters and noise-makers generally are).

The vocals are deep growls that are fairly burried in the mix and do not seem out of place or jarring.

Pick this up if you are into doom or perhaps into darker soundscapes (maybe a darker Windy and Carl).

Acid Mothers Temple

2005-09-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

Next Friday, 9/30/05, is Acid Mothers Temple at the Bottom of the Hill in SF.

Lately I have been on a huge AMT kick. Suprisingly this started with my recent purchase of The Birds "Birds Birds Birds...", which is a fantastic recording feature Cottom (ex space noize and female voice of AMT).

So, I am starting the daunting task of filtering out the incredible depth of the AMT back catalog. So, far my favorites are "Mantra of Love" and "Does The Cosmic Shepherd Dream Of Electric Tapirs?" (gotta love a record that references Phil Dick).

Zolar X

2005-06-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

Less than one week until the first Zolar X live show in 29 years at the Blank Club in San Jose.

I really have no idea why San Jose for the show. No complaints though. It is nice not to have to drive up to the city for some decent music.

In case you are not aware of Zolar X, this is a band from LA during the 70's who wore classic space costumes (even off stage, "Give me a bottle of milk and a pack of Lucky's earthling."). Basically they play a hybrid of space rock, glam and punk. Sadly they fell through the cracks and never really caught on during their time.

Former DK, Jello Biafra, aparently discovered a copy of their self-released record and sought the band out so he could release their recordings on Alternative Tenticles.

The result is the rocking "Timeless". I highly suggest picking it up and coming out to see them in San Jose June 18th.