GHOSTS OF THE CIVIL DEAD – Floods

Ghosts of the Civil Dead is this band I (Justin) play in from time to time when the drag of trying to bring home the bacon starts to weigh heavily on my mind; making me eat McDonalds, drink beer and leaving me with a strong urge to play musical instruments I don’t know how to play whilst exploring the inner cosmos for signs of life.

Kind of like a post-yoga, urban form of meditation.

The reason for this band’s existence, in a lot of ways, is purely because my guitar loving friends and I wanted to test the limits of playing without a script so to speak, that is, turning up to the rehearsal studio with your instrument/s… setting up the recording equipment… and just playing whatever comes to mind on whatever instrument takes your fancy.

Now most of you reading this are probably thinking: that sounds like a recipe for disaster… a recipe for navel gazing, self indulgent twaddle with hardly any chance of achieving a result that is actually listenable… wankers!

Well… you’re right.

Most of the time this is the truth.

Ask any musician just how much of the stuff that comes out when they are just jamming or noodling is something that they would ever consider showing to someone else let alone releasing an album of it! Most would probably estimate around 10%… if that!

but…

Read more…

KRENG – L’Autopsie Phénoménale De Dieu

Album art for the CD version.

Album art for the clear green vinyl edition.

Kreng’s new album L’Autopsie Phenomenale De Dieu is another succulent example of the immersive headphone symphonics for which the Miasmah label is best known. Have a listen at Kreng’s myspace here.

L’Autopsie Phenomenale De Dieu is a deftly blended collection of dark ambiances that evoke the spirits of an unknown Film Noir soundtrack. With it’s jazz undercurrents and carefully selected samples, a seething late night atmosphere is created, putting you, the listener right into a scene from Double Indemnity.

With all it’s brooding and shadowy tension L’Autopsie Phenomenal De Dieu is highlighted in my opinion by a track that is marked by it’s stunning sense of releasing tension. Read More…

Fabriek Bakker Fabriek – Machinefabriek/Anne Bakker/Leo Fabriek.

I popped this beautiful recording onto my iPod this morning and took it out with me for my morning walk during the first hours of winter light today.

It’s gorgeously crafted blend of field recordings, violin and piano replaced the din of the morning traffic as I briskly walked along King Street (Newtown) towards Sydney Uni (and a hot cup of coffee) with my headphones and beanie on. Read more…

The Prayer Circle – Live Footage from Bravery Repetition and Noise Instore 23/05/09.

For those of you who didn’t/couldn’t make it to The Prayer Circle instore @ Bravery Repetition and Noise on Saturday…

Here’s some footage shot at the instore thanks to the multi-talented guerrilla film maker/musical prodigy Mr David Couri.

I think it sounds amazing considering the quick set-up and primitive acoustics!

I’m really VERY excited for these guys!!!

… this one looks a bit druggy but what can you do?

Bloody hell! Some sort of withdrawal symptoms here?!

Scott Tuma & Mike Weis – ‘Taradiddle’: Limited Edition Vinyl (Digitalis)

Ok, this one’s been on my turntable all week now so I think it’s time I cough publicly, a confession of it’s beauty!

Scott Tuma (Boxhead Ensemble, Souled American) and Mike Weiss (drummer from Zelienople) collaborate on this one to immensely satisfying effect and I’m not even going to try and describe the sound because I’ll gush too much and you’ll think “aw, he’s working for the label or some sh$#!”

Have a listen here at Scott’s myspace.

This album is going to appeal to those of you out there who die every time they get a dose of the quieter side of the Dirty Three or Mick Turner. Others who love the mellow rustic feel that artists such as Neil Young, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy or Loren Connors deliver on certain tracks, may also find this album a revelation.  (read more…)

APSE – ‘ERAS’ Limited Edition Vinyl (Equation Records)

Yep, we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, this band is INCREDIBLE!

APSE.

That’s their name and their 1st full length album ‘Spirit’ (out through All Tomorrows Parties/Inertia) caught our attention one day whilst on a cosmic journey of discovery through the old US imports order box.

At first it was like some mushroom chomping Mogwai fans had gone nuts with a reel to reel 8 track and some effects pedals but as the album wore on, the colours and shapes began to change… and change… and change! (read more…)

The Prayer Circle – Instore performance @ Bravery Repetition and Noise… 5pm 23/05/09.

<< from the bravery repetition and noise newsletter 18th May 2009 >>

Hello!

As usual, it’s been a while between newsletters! Ha!

The usual excuses still are applicable i.e. had to go and buy a packet of Cheese Supreme Doritos but they didn’t have any next door so I had to go out and find them else where… hence no newsletter for 2 months etc…

or

I lost it

er…

Anyway, whatever the excuse, here’s a newsletter for all of you out there who live off our every word etc…

This newsletter is a plug for an upcoming (sorry for the short notice) instore performance we’re hosting in the shop this coming Saturday at 5pm i.e. May 23rd.

The performers will be Newtown’s very own The Prayer Circle.

Now some of you will no doubt be onto these guys as we have probably insisted that just about every single one of our customers purchase one of their self-made, hand printed, DIY ep’s called “Manhunt For Mukti”.

Well, due to the excellent response we’ve been getting all over the place from people who have taken the plunge and invested in this 6 track, $8.00 beauty, along with the buzz that’s been developing from the myriad of live shows these guys have pulled over the last few months… we thought it would be only logical that we get these guys in for an instore!

They are currently a 6 piece and their sound, for those not familiar with them, is something like Deerhunter or Spacemen 3 being played through a Roland Space Echo with the repeat knob broken off and dialed to infinity!

In other words, a sonic wall of fuzz smothered with layers of drowsy tremolo and deep reverbs with a core of viral melody.

REALLY good song writing here, not just the Shoegaze aesthetic with no soul.

How the f@% these young upstarts have managed to write with a maturity and tempered balance of their influences is beyond me?!

It’s seriously the sort of thing you’d attribute to much older and more experienced musicians.

I could bang on quite a bit more about how highly we rate these guys but I’ll just leave it there for now and simply say… get in and see these guys before you have to stand in a line to do so!

love

BRN

p.s. copies of The Prayer Circle’s EP “Manhunt for Mukti” will be for sale at the instore so save up $8.00 and do yourself a favour!

Upcoming Gigs for The Prayer Circle…

if the instore blows your mind or you can’t make it, here’s a bunch of upcoming dates they’ll be playing…

28th May 2009 @ 8pm – The Sandringham Hotel (Newtown)

17th June 2009 @ 8pm – Spectrum (Darlinghurst)

24th June 2009 @ 8pm – The Hopetoun (Surry Hills)

8th August 2009 (2 sets) – The Oxford Art Factory (Darlinghurst)

15th August 2009 (2 sets) – The Oxford Art Factory (Darlinghurst)

29th August 2009 (2 sets) – The Oxford Art Factory (Darlinghurst)

Blogs n that… May 2009

so here it is… the Bravery Records blog!

I guess the idea here is to keep the spirit of the Bravery Repetition and Noise shop while allowing for Reyad and I (Justin) to blab on about things we don’t sell in the shop. Like great albums we can’t supply, along with other bits of junk like stuff on Youtube that has some cultural significance… or not.

This blog will also be the center of all things Bravery Records… the forthcoming label that’s going to start with a 1st release some time over the next few months!

RSS or subscribe or whatever now to be the first to hear any news on this front.

Anyway, that’s all for now.

J.