Contest, movies

Movie: Blank City (Win Free Passes)

Movie: Blank City (Win Free Passes)

 All right, so there is this movie playing at Real Art Ways in Hartford starting tomorrow (Friday, June 10, 2011).  It looks cool.  I have only seen the trailer so far.  I’ll definitely watch it. Perhaps I’ll see you in Hartford.  Perhaps you’ll get one of these pairs of passes I have to give away.  The passes are good for the entire run – so you don’t need to go to a particular showing of it. To get a pair of free passes email redscroll@gmail.com with the subject “Blank City Passes” and answer this simple question: What band was this Mr. Thurston Moore involved with at the tail end of the initial No Wave movement?  Super easy really. The first couple people to email the right answer (I mean, c’mon, really easy) will get these.  
[Some press material for the film follows – check it out y’all.]
Blank City A film by Céline Danhier
USA • 2010 • 94 MINS. • INSURGENT MEDIA

BLANK CITY tells the long-overdue tale of the motley crew of renegade filmmakers that emerged from an economically bankrupt and dangerous period of New York history that crossed over with the East Village Art Scene and thriving music scene. It’s a fascinating look at the way this misfit cinema used the deserted, bombed-out Lower East Side landscapes to craft daring works that would go on to profoundly influence Independent Film today. Unlike the much-celebrated punk music scene, this era’s thrilling and confrontational underground film movement has never before been chronicled. Directed by French newcomer Celine Danhier, BLANK CITY captures the idiosyncratic, explosive energy of the “No Wave Cinema” and “Cinema of Transgression” movements. Featured players include acclaimed directors Jim Jarmusch and John Waters, actor-writer-director Steve Buscemi, Blondie’s Debbie Harry, Hip Hop legend Fab 5 Freddy, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, artist James Nares, photographer Richard Kern as well as Amos Poe, Eric Mitchell, Susan Seidelman, Beth B, Scott B, Charlie Ahearn and Nick Zedd. Fittingly, the soundtrack includes: Patti Smith, Television, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, The Contortions, The Bush Tetras, Sonic Youth and many more.

Spotlight

Spotlight: Snake Oil

Spotlight: Snake Oil
[Self-Released]
Snake Oil is a mysterious outfit consisting of ten members from the north eastern region of America (NY/CT/MA).  At least some of these people have done time in Connecticut bands Titles & The Weigh Down. Instrumental psychedelic-pop. Breezy guitars. A little funk.  At times it gets to feeling like some jazzy improv, but I can definitely see how it could be reproduced live.  They then can reel it in rather quickly.  Railroad driving drum beats with walking bass lines and floating guitar parts and occasional improvisations.  Is this the same Snake Oil that did a track on the 3xCD “Gold Leaf Branches” compilation (which included folks I would easily call contemporaries like Charalambides, Marissa Nadler, Six Organs of Admittance…) back in 2005 on Digitalis?  The mystery may never be solved.

“I Was A Total Pyro” is the soundtrack to walking down deserted streets in the industrial part of town on a hot summer day, wearing corduroys & kicking every piece of scrap metal that crosses your path. The mellow pacing and electronics used on,”Jung Greezy” transport me to a space ship where I’ve woken up and realized I was an alien, but everything is going to be okay cause I’m not alone. These sondgs are great because they make you feel warm and fuzzy.  Do you remember loving the music on the Muppet Babies?  I do.  What if Neil Young did the soundtrack and they were often in space (or y’ know, pretending really vividly)?

The record was released today officially. Its mysteriousness is built upon by the minimalist packaging with a night and day front and back cover with just the band name in the bottom corner and on the side of the sleeve (really, that’s it, nothing else).  Inside you’ll find a download code (which will be helpful for identifying song titles).  There is also a sticker with a scanner code (for use on your portable communication smart device – we live in the future). 

Snake Oil is playing (woah, will they wear masks?) a release show for this record with Atrina and DJ Shaki on June 17th at Cafe 9.  ||Facebook Event Page||

Music Review, Reviews

Reviews: Johann Johannsson & Esmerine (NEW REVIEWER!)

Reviews: Johann Johannsson & Esmerine
(NEW REVIEWER!)
(Both of these albums arrived today, by the by.)
Hey all, we have a new reviewer on board.  Let’s welcome him.  In the future his reviews may show up with the update with the reviews the few of us already do (Josh, Rick & Sean). Mark is an aspiring writer who enjoys creative writing and independent music.  He has a blog of his own you can check out here.  Thanks Mark and welcome.  We look forward to more of these well thought out reviews.
Jóhann Jóhannsson The Miners’ Hymns
[Fat Cat Records]

A truly successful film score does not merely complement a film’s visuals; it also
radiates with an aura of the film, managing to stand independently in its own
right. Iceland-born composer Jóhann Jóhannsson’ s score for The Miners’ Hymns
fits this description well. The film in question, according to the description on Fat
Cat Records’ website, focuses on an “ill-fated mining community in North East
England” and the Miners’ Gala that celebrates their lives. Despite the fact that
I have not yet watched the film, I seriously want to check it out now, thanks to
the poignant atmosphere painted by the predominantly brass and organ-based
ensemble. I’m amazed by how heartrending and sentimental a film score about a
coal mining community can be. Each piece’s title was carefully selected from actual
slogans printed on trade union banners, providing very fascinating descriptions.
A somber mood blankets the overall experience, from the emotional ten-and-a-
half minute opener “They Being Dead yet Speaketh” to the triumphant, swelling
conclusion of “The Cause of Labour is the Hope of the World.” A particular standout
to me was “An Injury To One Is The Concern of All,” which explores a particularly
ominous, treacherous wasteland of orchestral spikes that soar like walls of fire
in a suffocating, dense landscape. Jóhannsson adds his share of subtle electronics to
complete the mood, giving an almost otherworldly essence to set it apart from most film
scores.

Esmerine La Lechuza
 [Constellation Records]
Imagine river rafting across an unfamiliar land, absorbing the beauty of both natural
and man-made sights without another care in your mind. Using only instruments
such as cello, harp, percussion and occasional vocals, the four-piece Esmerine make
La Lechuza an emotional, ornate experience. The river comparison is especially
well justified with mellow-yet-compelling songs such as “A Dog River” and “Little
Streams Make Big Rivers.” Personally, I’m feeling a strong, rich East Asian vibe from
the lively percussion and flowing strings, despite this band’s Montreal origin (its
members have contributed to several fellow local acts, such as Godspeed You! Black
Emperor (percussionist Bruce Cawdron) and Thee Silver Mt. Zion (cellist Beckie
Foon.)) The closer “Fish On Land” is particularly engrossing, as it was written and
sung by the late Lhasa de Sela, recorded with Cawdron and Foon in 2009, the year
before she lost her battle with cancer.
[Reviewer: Mark]
Music Review, Reviews, Update

3rd Of June 2011 Update and Reviews

3rd Of June 2011 Update of New and Key Restocked Items & Reviews
at Redscroll Records

LPs & 12″s
______________________
5.6.7.8’S, The    “The 5.6.7.8’s 10-22-2010 (Third Man Live)”
Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O    “Pink Lady Lemonade You’re From Inner Space”
Akitsa    “Au Crepuscule De L’Esperance”
Altars    “Live On Pure Hate”
Appleseed Cast, The    “Middle States (+ D/L)”
Bazan, David    “Strange Negotiations”
Bear Hands    “Burning Bush Supper Club”
Black Lips    “Arabia Mountain (+ D/L)”
Boris    “Heavy Rocks”
Bowie, David    “Space Oddity (40th Anniversary Limited Edition)”
Boy King Islands    “Fall “
Bush, Kate    “Director’s Cut”
Caretaker    “Empty Bliss”
Cave In    “White Silence”
Cola Freaks    “Cola Freaks (+ D/L)”
Coltrane, John    “Coltrane Plays the Blues”
Cramps, The    “Songs The Lord Taught Us (180 Gram Repress)”
Cramps, The    “Psychedelic Jungle (180 Gram Repress)”
Cults    “Cults (+ D/L)”
D.O.A.    “Hardcore 81 (30th Anniversary Ltd. Ed. /1000 Blue Vinyl + Poster)”
D.O.A.    “Something Better Change (30th Anniversary Ltd. Ed. /1000 Green Vinyl + Poster)”
Death Cab For Cutie    “Codes and Keys”
Delay, Vladislav Quartet (Vladislav Delay Quartet)    “Vladislav Delay Quartet”
Deskonocidos    “En La Oscuridad”
Devil Wears Prada, The    “Plagues”
Fire & Ice    “Collections”
Fireworks    “Gospel. “
Flogging Molly    “Speed of Darkness”
Ford & Lopatin (Formerly Known As Games)    “Channel Pressure (/2500)”
Foster The People    “Torches (+ D/L)”
Friendly Fires    “Pala (+ D/L)”
Fucked Up    “David Comes To Life (+ D/L)”
Ilsa    “Tutti Il Colori Del Buio”
Ilsa / Hooded Menace    “Hooded Menace / Ilsa”
Kids On A Crime Spree    “We Love You So Bad (+ D/L)”
Lady Gaga    “Born This Way (2LP 180 Gram)”
Late Nite Wars    “Who’s Going To Miss You If You Go?”
Ludicra    “Ludicra”
Masakari    “The Prophet Feeds”
Misfits    “Shocking Return”
Misfits    “If You Don’t Know This Song… Beware”
Monks, The    “Black Time”
Morning Teleportation    “Expanding Anyway (+ D/L)”
My Morning Jacket    “Circuital”
Negative Plane    “Stained Glass Revelations”
Obsessed, The    “Lunar Womb”
One Master    “The Quiet Eye Of Eternity”
O’Rourke, Jim     “Old News #5 (Green Cover, 2xLP)”
Pagliara, Massimiliano    “Focus For Infinity”
Phenomenal Handclap Band, The    “Tears (Remix)”
Possessed    “World War III”
Prurient    “Black Vase”
Ritual    “Paper Skin”
Sarcofago    “DeathThrash (Unofficial)”
Scapegoat     “Scapegoat”
Serpent Throne    “Ride Satan Ride”
Snake Oil    “Snake Oil”
Touche Amore    “Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me”
Turner, Frank    “England Keep My Bones (+ CD)”
Various Artists    “El Sonido De Tupac Amaru (LP+7″)”
Various Artists    “Brazilian Nuggets”
Various Artists    “The Rhythms Of Black Peru: Classic Afro-Peruvian Recordings (+ D/L)”
Vicious, Sid    “My Way”
Watain    “Lawless Darkness (Die-cut)”
Woods    “Sun And Shade”

Hip-Hop LPs & 12″s
______________________
!llmind    “Behind The Curta!n (Ltd. Ed. W/ D/L W/ Bonus Material)”
Atmosphere    “When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (Ltd. Yellow Vinyl)”
Blitz The Ambassador    “Native Sun”
DangerDoom    “The Mouse And The Mask”
DJ Premier    “Beats That Collected Dust Volume 2”
Kool G Rap    “Riches, Royalty & Respect”
Roc Marciano    “Marcberg”
Vast Aire    “Ox 2010: A Street Odyssey (Feat. A Ton Of Guests)”

Electronic 12″s
______________________
Addison Groove    “This Is It”
Blondes    “Lover / Hater”
DJ Yellow     “Night In Tranzylvania (DJ Yellow E.P.)”
Dubkasm    “More Jah”
Joker    “The Vision (White Label)”
Mochipet / Dkon    “Remixes”
Orphx    “Apparition”
Secret Cinema     “Minerals EP1”
Skream    “Where You Should Be 1”
Skream    “Where You Should Be 2”
Stott, Andy    “Night Jewel”
Stott, Andy    “Tell Me Anything / Love Nothing”
Stott, Andy    “Bad Landing EP”
Stott, Andy    “Brief Encounter”
Teeth of the Sea    “Hypnoticon”
Tejada, John & Leviste, Arian    “Western Starland Remixes 2011”
Tobin, Amon    “Isam (+ D/L)”
Tokimonsta    “Creature Dreams EP”
Vincenzo    “Wherever I Lay My Head”

10″s
______________________
Floating Points    “Post Suite / Almost in Profile”

7″s
______________________
Banana Splits “Doin’ The…”
Baptists
Cold Showers “Highlands”
Dance Gavin Dance “People…”
Incendiary / Unrestrained
Kill Life / 33
Monks “Pretty Suzanne”
Most Precious Blood “Demo”

CDs
______________________
African Head Charge “Off The…”
Creation Rebel “Starship”
Dark Castle “Surrender To All Life”
Fucked Up “David Comes To Life”
Ipsissimus “Way Of Descent” (Local Black Metal gone big on Metal Blade)
Kuti, Fela “Lagos Baby (2xCD)”
Loss “Despond”
LV “Routes”
New Age Steppers “New Age Steppers”
Om “God Is Good”
Touche Amore “Parting The…”
USX (U.S. Christmas) “Valley Path”
Various Artists “Dutch Electronic Music V.3 (2xCD)”
Woe “Quietly Undramatically”
Woods “Sun And Shade”
Wormrot “Dirge”

Cassette Tape
________________________
Woods “Sun And Shade”

Review
_________________________
Deafheaven Roads To Judah LP/CD
(Deathwish Music)
Hailing from San Fransisco, Deafheaven is a five piece genre-bending band. They’ve got elements of shoegaze, black metal, & hardcore (read: screamo). It’s no shocker that the band sites My Bloody Valentine, Burzum, & Orchid as influences. It’s also no surprise that these guys are on Deathwish; one of my favorite labels. While Deathwish does have a stacked roster of legendary bands, they also have plenty of new acts that push the limits of what can be shoved under the massive umbrella terms of, “hardcore” or “punk”. Deafheaven fits in beautifully. They’re also playing CT in a couple weeks: FB Event Page. (FFO: Wolves In The Throne Room, Liturgy, Envy) 
[Reviewer: Josh]
Hooded Menace / Ilsa LP
 (Contagion Records)
I’m not even going to pretend like this is a review.  This is just a recommendation.  Death doom gutter music.  Ilsa is a little more doom than punk (like Coffins, but with less d-beat).  Hooded Menace is just evil gutteral death metal drawn out and slowly beating on your body (from the ear holes first, duh).  It’s limited to 500 copies so just get it while you can.  We have a couple.  It seems we haven’t had enough metal – even after a full weekend of it in Baltimore at Maryland Death Fest (both Josh and I and a few friends attended).
[Recommend-er: Rick]
Music Review, Reviews, Update

26th of May Update & Review (CLOSED MEMORIAL DAY, MONDAY)

26th Of May 2011 Update of New and Key Restocked Items
at Redscroll Records
NOTE: WE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY (MEMORIAL DAY). HAVE A NICE PICNIC! (CAPS LOCK MEANS THAT I MEAN BUSINESS!)
Note 2: There will be even more showing up on Friday, but that will have to be on next week’s update. Beat the update and check in at the store yourself (we get deliveries every weekday so really this goes for every weekday.)
Note 3: This is a day early (and with only one review by Sean) because both Josh and Rick will be attending Maryland Death Fest for the next few days. Sean will be at the shop for the weekend. Business as usual. The twitter account will probably have a lot of MDF related things for the weekend (and perhaps the blog and facebook as well – we pollute the internet daily).
LPs & 12″s
______________________
Animal Collective (Avey Tare & Panda Bear) “Spirit They’re Gone Spirit They’ve Vanished (180 Gram Ltd. Ed. DMM Remastered)”
Atomic Bitchwax, The (TAB) “The Local Fuzz”
Bachelorette “Bachelorette”
Batillus “Furnace”
Battles “Ice Cream (Featuring Matias Aguayo)”
Black Flag “TV Party (12″)”
Black Tusk “Passage Through Purgatory (Ltd. Ed. Colored Vinyl)”
Born Without Bones “Say Hello”
Celestial “Desolate North”
Chinese Telephones “Democracy”
Chinese Telephones “Chinese Telephones”
Church Of Misery “Vol. 1”
Coliseum / Burning Love “Coliseum / Burning Love: Live At The Atlantic: Volume Four”
Credentials “Goocher”
Crippled Black Phoenix “The Resurrectionists”
Crippled Black Phoenix “Night Raider”
Damned, The “Damned From the Start (Demos 1979-80; Finsbury Park 19860727)(Unofficial)”
DangerDoom “The Mouse And The Mask”
Ear Pwr “EAR PWR (+ D/L)”
Felice Brothers, The “Celebration, Florida”
Foo Fighters “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace”
Gun Club, The “Fire Of Love”
Haemorrhage “Hospital Carnage”
Hook, Peter And The Light (Joy Division) “Unknown Pleasures – Live In Australia (Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, 25.9.2010)”
Human Eye “They Came From The Sky (+ D/L)”
Integrity “Detonate World’s Plague (PRE-ORDER PACKAGE! LP+CD+Patch+Sticker)”
Jesus And Mary Chain, The “Automatic (180 Gram)”
King Diamond “The Graveyard (Remastered By Andy LaRocque Ltd. Ed. Coloured Vinyl – 500 Handnumbered)”
King Diamond “The Spider’s Lullabye (Remastered By Andy LaRocque Ltd. Ed. Coloured Vinyl – 500 Handnumbered)”
Men, The “Leave Home (+ D/L)”
Menuck, Efrim Manuel “Efrim Manuel Menuck Plays “High Gospel” (+ Poster + CD)”
Mount Eerie “Song Islands Vol. 2: Collected Rarities And Singles (+ D/L)”
O’Neil, Tara Jane / Nikaido Kazumi “Tara Jane Oneil / Nikaido Kazumi”
Primal Scream “Vanishing Point (180 Gram)”
PS Eliot “Sadie”
Rvivr “The Joester Sessions 08-11”
Scientists “This Is My Happy Hour (Birth Of The Scientists)”
She Wants Revenge “Valleyheart (+ D/L)”
Soul Swallower “Devoured”
Spiritualized “Amazing Grace (3×12″ Box Set)”
Teenage Fanclub “Thirteen”
Tobin, Amon “Isam (+ D/L)”
TV On The Radio “Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes”
Various Artists “Down And Out In Toronto & Montreal”
Witches “Forever”
Yuppicide “Dead Man Walking (Remastered)”
Zombi “Escape Velocity (180 Gram or Color)” (This is sold out at Relapse [the label that released it] so this is probably the last time we’ll get this in.)
10″
______________________
Esplendor Geometrico “Re-Pulsion (Ltd. Ed. /500)”
7″s
______________________
1994! “Most…”
Basemint “Retro”
Bush Tetras “Too Many…”
Choke Up “Spent”
Christmas Island / Meth Teeth
Cock Sparrer “Spirit Of ’76 (PIC)”
Deftones “Rocket Skates”
Green & Wood “Light Of Lune / Siren”
Hoax
Hot Water Music / Bouncing Souls
Leather Sterile
Mind Eraser/Iron Lung/Hatred Surge/Scapegoat “Brutal Supremacy (2×7″)”
Mixtapes “Hope Is For People”
Power “Death Haunts”
P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. (Ex-Poison Idea)
Soul Search “Intolerable Weight”
Wooden Wand “Circle…”
CDs
______________________
Anaal Nathrakh “Passion…”
Demonaz (Of Immortal) “March Of The Norse…”
Gappy Ranks “Put The Stero…”
Haemorrhage “Hospital Carnage”
Hecker (Florian) “Speculative Solution (CD/Book Box)”
Integrity “Detonate World’s Plague”
Ipsissimus “The Way Of Descent” (CT Black Metal debut on Metal Blade!)
Messe Noir “Mandal – Gate Of The Calling” (Also CT Black Metal, this on Natas Prod.)
Various Artists “Japan Koto & Shamisen…”
Zombi “Escape Velocity”
Review
______________________
Iron Lung / Mind Eraser / Hatred Surge / Scapegoat 
Brutal Supremacy 2×7” 
(our copies are actually on black vinyl)
 (Painkiller Records)
Brutal Supremacy is a double 7” compilation that showcases the works of Iron Lung, Scapegoat, Mind Eraser, and Hatred Surge. All of these bands play a similar type of fast and brutal (as stated in the title) hardcore, but each with a very unique sound. When I first saw the cover of this I instantly thought of the “Reality #1 #2 #3” compilations, which offer a similar batch of bands. If you’re into this genre of hardcore, this compilation will not disappoint. As an added piece of bait, the singer (Rahi) for (now defunct band) Insect Warfare has joined the roster of Hatred Surge (following the departure of one of their singers, Faiza).
[Reviewer: Sean]

UNDERGROUND MUSIC & CULTURE