september music

It's a monthly music acquisition roundup time again. There was a heavy Steampunk (or at least Old-Timey music) trend this month. First of all, simply because I really liked If I told you once by Circus Contraption (to be found on the Sepiachord Companion), I decided to get Gallimaufry, Grand American Travelling Dime Museum, and Our Latest Catalogue albums from Circus Contraption. Whilst good circus/vaudeville/cabaret jazz (the sort of music you might find at a travelling circus; very heavy on the woodwind), I don't think any of the songs were as good (or as black) as the aforementioned song. Although there is The slaughter promenade... Musically, the songs are generally nothing special, although most are quite enjoyable thematically. Grabbed a copy of Escape the Clouds new album Until The End. Whilst featuring many quality Steampunk themes this isn't the pure Steampunk concept album that Circumnavigator was. Still very excellent work. Intriguing musical composition and interesting themes. I do enjoy this group, which is why you get a plethora of extra links to Bandcamp and their own site. Can't say which of the new songs is my favourite, although I did enjoy Louisiana sunrise a lot. [And, now that it is on as I type this, how could I ignore Lady in waiting, particularly since Unwoman provides the guest vocals.] Now if you haven't seen the video of Fighting trousers [video] by Professor Elemental I suggest you do so. Yes, my copy of The Indifference Engine finally arrived replete with the pseudo-beat poetry/rap exploits of Professor Elemental and his monkey-valet Geoffrey. Musically irrelevant (rap isn't music), thematically most excellent. Most enjoyable experienced with the Professor's own Brain-o-matic Helmets. I do hope he gets his funding for seeking life on Mars ("Well I know the chances of anything coming to Earth are a million to one ... or so they say.") No particular favourite among the songs here, they are all excellent. Definitely adding the Professor to my must-see-live bucket list. As mentioned earlier, my copy of Voltaire's Riding A Black Unicorn... (which apparently is a shortened version of the full title which is Riding A Black Unicorn Down The Side Of An Erupting Volcano While Drinking From A Chalice Filled With The Laughter Of Small Children - and with a title like that art direction for the CD cover must have been simple). A mixture of songs. Some, like the titular one celebrating the wild glory of the dark (which is why I like a lot of his songs). Others, such as Cathouse tragedy and The dirtiest song that ain't are definitely the reason he had to release a kid's album and may be a bit too crude for some (especially if performed live). Which is a pity since Mechanical girl is a good kids song, complete with an excellent moral. The ghosts of his past do make a brief reappearance in Innocent. And he starts a US-wide Villainous Vaudeville of Bawdy Burlesque, Music, Mischief and Mayhem with fellow Dark Cabaret acts the Helblinki sextet and This Way To Egress next week. And speaking of "what darkness lurks beyond this wooden sanctum" there is the soundtrack recording of Evil Dead: The Musical which I find quite amusing. Technically based on the first Evil Dead movie, it draws extensively on all three. Although I can't remember the presence of a Kandarian Demon Moose in the originals. Anyway my favourites in this rock stage musical are probably What the fuck was that?, We will never die, and Do the Necronomicon, with an honourable mention to Join us, Look who's evil now, and Bit part demon. All in all it eats the brain faster than your average deadite. Picked up some more from symphonic electronica group Juno Reactor. In this case some orphans from Gods & Monsters to fill out my quota. I find that they generally have sufficient musical complexity to be interesting, although sometimes they tend to get a tiny bit repetitive (being, I suspect, mainly produced for the House market these days). Needs to be listened to in a suitable meditation chamber (one with a big sound system) for full appreciation. Generally the pattern is deep enough to appeal to my sense of Chaos. Also picked up A Hail of Bitter Almonds by Italian classical-pop [now you know I'm making up these definitions] group Corde Oblique, whose let's befriend Ian on MySpace strategy seemed to have worked since I now have half their albums. Haven't listened to this one closely enough to form any substantial opinion besides the fact it incorporates quite good and intricate classical guitar work. Very haunting and tranquil at times, devolving into being powerful and passionate. Well worth listening to it properly. Especially with the rain outside. Unfortunately my Italian is not good enough to follow the non-English songs in any great detail. Reminder: Speaking of which I must grab some more Eugenio Bennato too (not that I remember to look up last month's entry before I dive into next month). Taranta Power! And while I am reminding myself, some more of german folk group 17 Hippies would probably go down well too. Finally we have Vows, the (very) recently acquired debut album of New Zealand songstress Kimbra. Unfortunately I was still too ill to go to her Adelaide gig last weekend. I do like the strong a capella influence in Settle down, but overall I probably like the much more chaotic bits of her songs than the stuff that is probably getting air play. Overall not someone I'd go out of my way to acquire her next album as it's a bit too poppy for my tastes, without the nice complexity of Rezzalp. Addenda: Her cabaret stuff (The build up and Two-way street) is excellent! Final mention to some orphans offered by artists over the last month. Andy Savoy's Tombo tsuri is sparse, sharp and crystalline with the wailing of a half-drowned fox which suits the haunting vocals of the soprano who sings the poem on which it is based. Matt Wilson wrote some excellent music for Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple and Apocalypse World, two excellent indie RPGs. And the respective songs (Troublemakers and Long neck) are very well done. Now I'll have to see whether he has any more music available. ("Dear Pillgryms! Eye really like Mr Matt's misic. Can you please get him to write more music and I'll give you this dead airwhale that landed on my verandah. [inside Do joke])