Featured Track of the Week – The Gate

Jul 10, 2019

 

This week’s track is “The Gate” from the album “Apocalyptic Metaphors”.

It is inspired by and uses as a base audio source, the introductory scenes from one of the “Cube” films. I believe “Cube 2”, but can’t really remember. The piece symbolically represents the gate of the bottomless pit from Revelation 9. The harsh discomfort of this piece is intended to represent the effects of the release of Apollyon and his demons into the world.

 

The Evolutuion of Noises

Jul 8, 2019

Evolution of Noises

Russolo’s “The Art of Noise”
may have been an unknowing manifesto for what became Industrial music. Much happened in the world of music between 1913 and the late 60’s. Here we now stand almost 20 years into the new century and the evolution of what was pioneered 35, 40, 50 plus years ago by the likes of Throbbing Gristle, Tangerine Dream, Stockhausen, Cage, Z’ev, Coil, Skinny Puppy, Rice etc. etc. has ultimately become “…dripping with boredom stemming from familiarity…” to borrow from Russulo’s writing. It seems to me, the audiences have become content with the same tired old oontz oontz, 303 bass, metallic percussion, distorted voice etc. that was fresh all those years ago. Where do we go from here as composers with all of our fancy technology? Any attempts to go way off the chart are met with complete lack of interest. What is next for “Experimental” music besides everything that has already been done? I love TG and SP and all of the great pioneering efforts of SPK and Lustmord, Merzbow, and Test Dept. However, It has become stagnant and it is time to evolve. I don’t know the answers. I have re-read “The Art of Noise” and it has inspired this line of thinking and I want myself and other composers and listeners to take Russolo’s challenge into the next decade and hear what we can come up with.
  • Greg Watkins – 08, July, 2019

Featured Track of the Week – Tyrant Flycatcher

Jun 19, 2019

Tyrant Flycatcher from the “Enigma” album is perhaps an unusual track for Static in as much as it incorporates the use of higher tempo rhythmic elements. The experiments leading to this track were highly influenced by some of the earlier material from the Skinny Puppy side project known as Download. Tyrant Flycatcher is a mind bending excursion into frenetic rhythms that evolve and collapse yet somehow resist the urge to resolve.

Unexplained Sounds – The Recognition Test #161

Jun 13, 2019

Check out this amazing radio program from Italy. This Sunday will include music from Static of Masses.

Sunday 16 June 2019. H 21.00 – 22.00 Italy time,
UNEXPLAINED SOUNDS GROUP radio transmission,
The Recognition Test # 161, curated by Raffaele Pezzella (a.k.a. Sonologyst) and Rossana Puglisi.

Streaming at:
http://mixlr.com/unexplained-sounds/
https://extra.resonance.fm/ (Monday, 6.00 – 7.00 p.m. UK time).
https://www.ruc.pt/ (Wednesday, 06.00 – 07.00 p.m. Portugal time).

This week:
Synteteka, Igorrr, Hjärnkultur, OFFERBEEST, Murmler, Cristiano Bocci, Static Of Masses, SONOLOGYST, J S-Horseman, ILUITEQ.

Podcast on Mixcloud
https://www.mixcloud.com/unexplained-sounds-group/

Unexplained Sounds Group https://unexplainedsoundsgroup.bandcamp.com/

Eighth Tower Records
https://eighthtowerrecords.bandcamp.com/

USG Blog
http://usgblog.info/

Featured Track of the Week – Angel of the Devil

Jun 12, 2019

This week’s featured track is from the Enigma album. “Angel of the Devil” is probably my personal favorite on that album. It is also a favorite to perform live. The dramatic percussion section at the climax of the piece is a blast to play. The inspiration for this one came from the classic theme of the vampire and his/her struggle to find a place between humanity and oblivion. Please enjoy.