Music video for "A Mirror Is Left Unattended" from the upcoming Belial Pelegrim album, "Imitation Of Faith". Available on cassette and digital format from Bricolage from 15/11/19.
ARTIST : Belial Pelegrim
TRACK : A Mirror Is Left Unattended
ALBUM : Imitation Of Faith
STYLE : Experimental, Soundscape
CAT NO : bc050
DATE : 15th November 2019
Pre-order available on bandcamp
We enter into 2019 with a chaotic audio narrative from Sceadu.
"Once Upon A Future" gives us a glimpse into this artists twisted, dystopian, vision. A dark and imaginative take on the end of the world and what lies beyond.
Crumbling and disjointed apocalyptic ambient sound design followed by two off kilter and anarchic drum n bass tracks that spit out fractured rhythmic patterns and nebulous bass movements that rarely sit still. The EP is brought to a close with the epic "Imaginary Reign". A captivating piece of chiming electronica that slowly unravels into a celestial crescendo before folding back into itself. It's completely paradoxical to what has went before and exhibits the diverse musical capabilities of Sceadu.
This future is nearer than you think....
Stream and DL available below or at the Bricolage bandcamp page.
Earlier this year we received some demos from a UK producer who wishes to remain anonymous. We're happy to present that music to you in the form of 'Lying Cat', which arrives as six tracks of lo-fi, twitchy and experimental sound collages.
A fragmented and hazy collection of clicks n cuts and found sounds fused together with finely structured reflective moments. Obscure sound design and glitchy rhythms constructed of crooked beats alongside creaking backdrops consuming, what can only be described as, part dystopian and part neo classical soundscapes. It's a truly complex journey with an absorbing visual element and a strange, almost dysfunctional narrative that runs throughout. It manages to cast up imagery that you can't seem to quite put your finger on but leaves you wanting to find out more......
A thoughtful debut that ultimately glows in the dark with a brittle and grainy charm.
You can stream and download the EP below or at our bandcamp.
Our "Ghost Stories" section has become custom for Bricolage in Halloween season over the last few years and has proved to be popular among our fans and artists. This year's selections of eerie electronics and spooky soundtracks come from All Buttons In, GrevusAnjl, Crest Of The Syndicate and Minimal_Drone*GRL.
So, without further ado....
MINIMAL_DRONE*GRL
1. Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead
"My first pick is "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus. Known as the first Gothic song in 1979, this is 9 minutes of experimental brilliance with atmospheric guitars and skittering drums. Drawing from post-punk, alternative rock with a touch of dub, this is a journey into the void with a dark and dreary vibe from beginning to end. Always a classic for me." 2. Dario Argento - Suspiria
"I'm a huge fan of classic horror movies, especially the Italian genre "Giallo". "Susperia" by Dario Argento is one of my favourite films in this genre. Surrealistic and colourful visuals and a thick fairytale atmosphere give this movie a unique touch that really gets your imagination going. Goblin's wailing, strident prog rock score - with pounding rhythms, heavy breathing and dissonance, maintains the suspenseful, supernatural tone throughout."
3. F.W. Murnau - Nosferatu
"My next pick is "Nosferatu" by F.W. Murnau. Here is the story of Dracula before it was buried alive in clichés. Murnau's silent film (1922) was based on the Bram Stoker novel. I admire it for it's artistry and ideas, it's atmosphere and images, than for it's ability to manipulate my emotions like a skillful modern horror film. It doesn't scare us, it haunts us. It shows not that vampires can jump out of shadows, but that evil can grow there, nourished on death."
4. Ben Frost - The Carpathians
"Frost's music is all about contrast - merging beautiful classical minimalism with the dirty grind of metal and drone core. This combination is unsettling to the mind, refusing to split in half and choose between genres. For me, this track evokes the terrifying, uncomfortable, sickening feeling of being stranded in an evening snow storm when you hear the sound of a pack of wolves howling in the distance."
5. Mario Bava - Black Sabbath
"My final pick is another Giallo film "Black Sabbath" by Mario Bava. This trilogy of horror stories serves as an interesting look at a trio of varying filmmaking styles. All three are wonderfully evil, stylistic with incredible camera work and beautifully designed sets. My favourite of the the three is "The Drop of Water". It's about a nurse who steals the ring off an old occultist woman's hand only to have her grinning corpse torment her from beyond the grave. The initial shock of seeing the old witch is truly bone-chilling."
"This is a Canadian Grindhouse film and the reason I pick this as its one of my favourite horror films. Its gory, its crazy, its disturbing and the story is pretty simplistic but that is what makes it so great. The first time I saw this film was in 2012, a friend recommended it to me and after watching it, I was hooked, my favourite part is the summoning of 'The Plague', 2 armoured demons from hell.. If you haven't seen it and you like trashy horror films, I'd fully recommend it."
2. Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy
"Where to begin?! This song is awesome, the video is disturbed... probably not in the spooky halloween sense but is well worth a mention. However its the Little Lord Faulteroy Mix is where its at, try listening to it at 2am with its bizarre creepy speech but nonetheless a brilliant track (all the mixes included)"
3. RJD2 - The Horror
"The spooky opening track from the fantastic Deadringer album. Its spooky melodies, old samples and hip-hop beats make this track a must for any halloween party playlist. Plus check the whole album (if you haven't) its a masterpiece!"
"This track, where to even start with this... the album 'Horse of the Dog is one of my favourite albums purely for its intensity, its guitar riffs and general gloominess (I'm not a gloomy guy by the way). This track is the standout for me, I can't remember when I first heard this but I'm sure it was on the Steve Lamacq show and was immediately hooked and bought the album on CD the next day, this has a great hook and the vocals are insane at the end. The album is well worth listening to and doesn't last long at 28 minutes."
5. Future Sounds Of London - Dead Cities
"Last but not least, here is FSOL with Dead Cities. This is my favourite album ever and inspired me to get into music when I was just 15. Dark, gloomy and just perfection all the way through from 'Herd Killing' to 'First Death In The Family'. Such a solid album with no filler and confirmed my lifelong love affair with electronic music. Not halloween affilated on the surface but listen closer to the tracks and you'll see what I mean particularly the track Vit Drowning/Through Your Gills I Breathe. The link above is my favourite track of all time 'Antique Toy'. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL BUTTONS IN
1. Surachai - Temple of the Weakening Sun
"One of Surachai's finest synthesizer explorations, a deep and dark ominous masterpiece. Well balanced between melodic warmth and crushing mayhem. The video is equally stunning."
2. Kyrptic Minds - Six Degrees
"Beautifully crafted deep brooding atmospheric dubstep, with added ferocity and the dancefloor in mind."
3. V.I.V.E.K - Asteroids
"Asteroids is a vast and spacious track with deep pulsating subs that induce intense sensations. Full of V.I.V.E.K's distinct dark and menacing atmosphere."
4. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand
"Arguably The Bad Seeds finest moment. A haunting, menacing tale full of Cave's eloquent black wit."
5. The Misfits - Halloween
"The name says it all. I can't think about Halloween without thinking of this song. Classic punk rock fun."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GREVUSANJL
1. Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead
"These first two are a blast from my past. Songs pulled from my dark, angsty youth. Starting with my all time favorite Goth song, Bauhas 'Bela Lugosi's Dead'. I played this until the tape finally broke. Sitting in a darkly lit room; stereo so loud, it annoyed the neighbors across the street. I know where some of my hearing problems originated. And at that age I wouldn't have it any other way. 2. Type O Negative - Black No.1 (Little Miss Scare-All) "Continuing the back story of my Gothy past, here's one of the funnier details about my wife and I, when we first moved in together. On laundry day, we typically had 3 black loads, and half a light load. I don't think I owned a non-black shirt until my 30s. And here's the next song we were addicted to for months; Type O Negative's "Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All)" "There are so many great songs from that time period, the list could go on! But lets move on to the more recent, more atmospheric side of darkness. I want to share 3 (and not even close to all of the) discoveries I've made on SoundCloud that could all be strong contenders for scariest ambient song (or album) of the year, soundtracks suitable for your worst nightmares. 3. Blink Twice - Summoning "This first is by Mood Exhibit's darker incarnation, Blink Twice. The song is called "Summoning". Suffice it to say, sometimes it's healthy to revisit and express your past, and Robert Salchak is great at embracing that dark inner child (check out any of the Blink Twice songs found on SoundCloud, and you'll know exactly what I mean.)" 4. Humanfobia - Aura Obscura "The second SoundCloud group to make my list is Humanfobia (comprised of S'bila Orbe on sound programming and Mist Spectra on vocals; and partnering with musician James Onsen for this project). They generously make these haunting soundscapes year round, so we have plenty of new material to get us through the next Halloween season, if you're that specific. Otherwise, just enjoy it year round. This song is entitled 'Aura Obscura'. " And here's where the EP can be found, if the track whets your appetite. Link : Humanfobia - Aura Obscura EP 5. Grim Heka - Room 237 "My last offering is from Darren Coyle, the genius behind Optapus (and his even darker, dark side Grim Heka). The Grim Heka music scares me silly (and the images he finds for his cover art are wonderfully creepy and disturbing). If you're running low on nightmare-inducing soundscapes, his latest album is there to help you out." Link : Grim Heka - The Overlook Hotel "Here is but a taste of this talented musician's frightening world." "I hope you enjoyed this little peak into the frightening stuff that keeps GrevusAnjl awake at night. Sleep like the dead, my friends." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Until next year......
After a 7 month break our Headroom mix series returns with “Lying Cat” at the helm. The mysterious UK producer is all set to drop a debut EP on Bricolage at the start of next month. It’s a lo-fi, grainy and twitchy affair that’s awash with fractured experimental broken beat pieces linked together with dark ambient tones. This Headroom session follows down that same route with extended brittle soundscapes and enveloping atmospheres. It’s a restless and chaotic roam through the slightly more disconcerting side of electronic music. A tenebrous journey through sound that’s littered with samples, field recordings and all manners of warped and skewered productions. Enjoy the trip.
As always the mix is available below or at our mixcloud.
TRACKLIST
Intro William Basinski - Disintegration Loops 2.1 Polmo Polpo - Romeo Heart Polmo Polpo - Requiem For A Fox
White Suns - Prostrate
A Winged Victory For The Sullen - Atomos VII Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufield - The Sun Roars Into View Anna Von Hausswolff - The Truth, The Glow, The Fall Now Sleep - The Dead Travel In Fog And Time Now Sleep - Some Don’t Know What They Are Tim Hecker - 100 Years Ago Fennesz - Before I Leave Those Who Walk Away - First Partially Recollected Conversation Talk Talk - Myrrhman Milo - Souvenir Kayla Painter - Kenopsia Labradford - G Autechre - LCC DJ Scud - V.I.P Pressure Brainwaltzera - Yamaha Hills The Haxan Cloak - Excavation Part 2 Hrvatski - Carrot AFX and Squarepusher - Freeman Hardy and Willis Acid The Ganja Kru - Super Sharp Shooter Pirate Radio Johann Johannsson - Fordlandia Haswell and Hecker - Movement 3 Lying Cat - Fstal Better To Begin The Railway Raver - Keiths Trumpets DJ Boring - Winona Dntel - Fear of Corners Michael Gordon - Weather 3 Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn - Boyds Journey
The “Lying Cat” EP is released on the 2nd of November on Bricolage via bandcamp.
A late Halloween present in the form of "Wrek". A horror short from Lost World Media that's soundtracked by our very own Mute Branches.
“A man takes it upon himself to seek out his missing younger brother, and the monster that took him away”
Wrek is the culmination of a love for 80s monster flicks, English folklore and societal-horror giants like Romero, Cronenberg, and Landis. Although brief in total expected runtime (around 6 minutes), the film contains a number of strong cinematic references, packed into a tight, tensely paced film.
Writer / Director / Editor: Mathew Hammond
Producer: Daniel Hutchinson
Starring: Matt Kitson, Sophie Brierley, Tom Sheldon
Original Soundtrack: James Cresswell
Puppet Creation: Leo Kane Horton
Assistant directors: Tommy Hoyle and Jay Middleton
You can also hear the isolated music on the Soundcloud link below.
As Hallows Eve arrives again, this year, we’ve once more asked a few artists from the label to give us a Top 5 of their favourite creepy/eerie Halloween type songs for your blood curdling pleasure.
Arran Trax has provided us with a bunch of trick or treat dancing devils and one or two eerie soundscapes. Belial Pelegrim has given us a selection of some of his most ghoulish creations and collaborations. Whilst, Minerva, has selected her Top 5 skin crawling soundtrack excerpts. Lastly, revered selector Loui Cleghorn digs out his most deviant tracks to play out.
ARRAN TRAX
Rude 66 - Paranoia
"First up is this hair-raising slice of pumping Horror Disco, excellently executed by the Amsterdam based analogue-synth guru Rude 66. This 2014 release on the fine Dutch vinyl label Bordello A Parigi is now highly sought after on discogs. Just wait till those vocoder lyrics come in!!!!"
Hesperius Draco - ASI Kingdom
"This must be one of the best melodic compositions I have heard in the last couple of years. Majestic, melancholic and ever so slightly malevolent, Draco (Italian, Alessandro Parisi) conjures up images of ghostly armies marching through snow-covered Transylvanian forests."
Scotch - Disco Band
"What the fuck is going on in this video?' any sane person has to ask themselves.
So weird it's kinda creepy!!!
This Italo-Disco classic came out in 1984 on the American Disco label."
U - Friendly Ghost
"I just LOVE the artwork on this slab of heavyweight vinyl. A subtle sense of mystery from the anonymous U."
Luke Vibert - Halloween
"Last one is this ghastly acid-trip by the very talented Luke Vibert."
"I'm a big skeptic when it comes to the paranormal, but I'm open-minded enough to never rule anything out. I also love a good ghost story. The Enfield Poltergeist is one of those stories that captured my attention because the documentary really left me wondering what the fuck was going on in that house. This song was my attempted to peak other people's interest and tell a bit of the tale in a soundscape format."
Dismemberment Goblins
"One of the sub-groups within the Sleepless Collective is the Darksiders. They were putting together a compilation playlist on Soundcloud of music written expressly for a 'Cabin in the Woods' tribute set that focused on "The Purge", where all the monsters in the glass rooms are unleased into the Facility. All of the tracks are rather amazing. Dismemberment Goblins was my choice and my track."
Rosemary
"One of my good Soundcloud friends and collaborators is the very talented Roots Dubman. He sent me over some strange sounds that inspired me to produce this dark and foreboding, electro-horror track. The name came from Roots informing me that he started putting together his sounds after watching Rosemary's Baby alone in the dark."
Funeral March For The Golem
"This derge-like processional was inspired by books I was reading on animating inanimate objects with consciousness. Let's just say it's not a good idea to try this out at home. Not a deeply dark track, but fitting for this time of year. If you have a chance, check out the remix that BELP made of the track as well."
Insular Vampire Hovering
"I always enjoy collaborating with Berlin's Lutz Thuns on dark ambient projects. He and I worked hard at creating a very creepy setting on this one in particular."
"Morricone was mainly famous for soundtracking Spaghetti Westerns before he did the OST for 'The Thing' but that all changed after this. Minimalistic, atmospheric and very, very effective. The descending church organ on this particular track creates a deep sense of tension"
Lady In The Radiator - In Heaven (Eraserhead)
"This film contains, like, two pieces of music at most but it works really well within the style and overall feel of the horror that is slowly unfolding. 'In Heaven' was written specifically for the film and it helps carry that feeling of intrigue and inevitability through to your ears as well as your eyes."
Krzysztof Komeda - Lullaby (Rosemarys Baby)
"50 years old this year and it's still terrifying in it's own unique way. Feelings of unease linger all around and Mia Farrow adding vocals brings the creepy levels up."
Harry Warren - Jeepers Creepers (Jeepers Creepers)
"This is essentially some jazz from the 1930's but the almost ridiculing nature and delivery, personally, make it very scary for me. It appeared in the film of the same name 70 years later and is heavily featured in many different styles and versions which only add to the eerieness!"
Toru Takemitsu - Kwaidan Theme (Kwaidan)
"I have so much love for Asian horror and I am a bit of a human encyclopedia when it comes to Japanese films and soundtracks in particular. 'Kwaidan' was one of the very first horror film I ever saw and the avant garde theme tune startles me to this day still. So much silence in this one but when the warped use of traditional Japanese folk instruments make themselves known it brings with it a layer of suspense." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOUI CLEGHORN
1. Alex Under - Bola 6.1
"This song is slow, rumbling evil. Ominous as hell and a beautiful way to start a set. This was released on Soma a few years ago curiously enough. There's a Bola 6.2 and a 7 that are more friendly but they dont come close to this transient gem."
2. Andrea Roma and Mar - Dark Matter
"This is one of those tunes that I don't think will ever leave my collection. Andrea Roma bringing ever part of his arrangement into a cacophony of dark harmony. Another old favourite."
3. Loui Cleghorn - Yorick (Boom Merchant remix)
"A remix by Boom Merchant of my own tune 'Yorick' that is coming out on my own label 'Unstrung' very soon. One of the more aggressive numbers from the Cleghorn collection given a tribal overhaul. Spooky yet inviting and warmly arresting."
4. Robert Babicz - Cristal Sun
"Something I've been playing a lot recently. A twisted acid rave number with shifting, contorting synth lines. One of the best Babicz tunes for a good while."
5. Nick Dow - Goujian
"I'll let wikipedia do the talking - King Goujian's army was known for scaring its enemies before battle because its front line consisted of criminals sentenced to death who committed suicide by decapitating themselves."
The second installment of our anniversary mixes comes from our very own Minerva. The Hungarian producer has put together some of her favourite experimental sounds from the labels back catalogue. You can expect a broad range of IDM, broken beats and electronica as she trawls through two years worth of unique productions. Recommended Sunday night listening.
Here's what she had to say: "Bricolage (Kedvenceim) = Bricolage (My Favourites)
My favourite music label Bricolage had 2nd birthday last month and to celebrate for them I make together a mix of some of most innovating tracks from their collection. Always exciting and interesting sounds within! Lots of complexity! Some of these music can be hard to mix together but I do my best and I think is ok :)
I have lots of love for all these guys and I am thankful to be part of this Glasgow crew "
1. Bedless Bones - Foreign Blood Heat (bc020)
2. Belial Pelegrim - Exoskeleton (bc027)
3. Figurate - Like A Moth To The Light (bc023)
4. Blue Notes - Icarus (bc027)
5. Fragile X - Utility Fog (bc026)
6. All Buttons In - Back To The Beginning Of The End (bc027)
7. No Arrival - Vex (bc027)
8. Ix Prospectum - RX (bc024)
9. Octavia Bannon Clark - Heavy Construction (bc020)
10. Rain - Cold (bc020)
Episode 16 of "In The Loop" has a look at the first half of artists from our most recent compilation release, Volume 4. The post covers ground on some of their recent work and what the future has in store.
First up is Dark Fidelity Hi Fi. Just prior to featuring on the Bricolage compilation, DFHF released the track "Third Eye Projections". A spiraling, glitched out dub effort that's awash with neat melodies and percussion. Check out the anti-corporate visual accompaniment below the track and be sure to pop over to the DFHF bandcamp if you want a copy.
The last track to appear on the Bedless Bones soundcloud page was "Foreign Blood Heat", which is the track featured on the Bricolage release but a further browse through the profile will throw up some dark, vocal infused electronics that are a treat for any industrial heads. Our personal favourite is the demo of "Wicked Sprouts" which you can listen to below.
Did you know that, Kadri Sammel, the girl behind the Bedless Bones project is also a member of long running Estonian industrial band "Forgotten Sunrise"? The duos most recent release was the single "Guardian Curtains", which you can find over on their bandcamp.
Ix Prospectum has been gearing up for his upcoming full length album release on Bricolage in January by unveiling some of the tracks that are set to make the cut. Over on his Soundcloud page you'll find a plethora of unearthed, wonderfully scatterbrained gems including the epic "Disable It" and the jittery ambiance of "I Want Changed Myself".
Roman Fahls latest offering is the ambient techno excursion, "Iberia". It's yet more flawless production work from a producer clearly on top of his game at the moment. A precise build up slowly lets a gorgeous vocal bleed though before a thumping kick drum take over followed soon after by more intricate percussion. A classic piece of work.
Our first Bricolage podcast of 2017 will be courtesy of Roman Fahls and you can check out a link to a recent mix of his below to get you in the mood.
Guido has recently been teasing his listeners with a trio of short snippets and previews over on his Soundcloud page.
Scroll a little further down his songs and you'll find "Just A Dream". An electronic foray into dancefloor subconsciousness. A beautiful introduction is promptly backed up with solid percs and and wavy, catchy sequences that bounce playfully along. A track that's equally at home in your headphones as it is in the club.
Kold47 only has a handful of tracks online with uncompromising lo-fi techno being his weapon of choice. Any fans of his "Koldstruktion" track that appeared on our compilation will lap up that distinct raw, bass throbbing feel of his latest track "Untitled". No nonsense, straight off the bat pounding techno rhythms.
"Sectarian Religions", a slighty older track, sees the producer turn the acid charm offensive up to 10 with dark pads and drums nestling in at the back of a vibrating but solid acid line.
Greek/Hungarian producer Minerva just recently uploaded a fresh slab of fizzing beats and resonating patterns in the form of new track "The Sultans Robe". Drawing on influences including breaks, trance and techno the drum work is a hybrid effort that crosses over many genres with substantial style. Never letting up from it's 140bpm until the last second.
Be sure to tune into the blog over the weekend for the second part of our In The Loop special that looks at what the second half of Volume 4 have been up to recently.
And of course, if you haven't already then be sure to head on over to our bandcamp and grab your copy of the latest compilation.
Our latest compilation, Volume 4 of our various artist projects, lands online tomorrow on digital release. We've spent a lot of time assembling fresh producers with unique sounds for this release and over the last week or so we've been introducing you to them. Today we unveil the final four artists in the form of The Oscilloscope, Kold47, Meat Loops and Bedless Bones.
52. THE OSCILLOSCOPE
The Oscilloscope is a unique electronic project based around finger drumming and engaging landscapes. Cosmic textures and futuristic sounding pads that clash together in a genre defying state. Warm analogue sounds and melodic experimentation are at the forefront of this exciting artists work.
Kold4 is a French techno producer with a knack for delivering gritty, lo-fi techno escapades with a tinge of acid and 8bit influence and more than a nod to the dreamier and dustier side of industrial sounds.
Meat Loops is a suitably obscure name for an obscure artist. The obscurity is also strong and consistent when it comes to his track titles. He hasn't given much away about himself in terms of a bio to us. Simply preferring to focus on explaining his sounds which we would class as short bursts of ambient infused, glitch and IDM soundscapes.
In his own words, "Sounds and sequences, presets and modifiable parameters, DAWS that don't last and seemingly esoteric VSTs."
Bedless Bones is an experimental electronic music project of Kadri Sammel, based in Tallinn. It draws its lifeblood from eerie cinematic atmospheres, uncanny sensations, dark nocturnal ramblings and the light bliss of the impending end, colliding with elements of dark ambient, industrial music and darkwave. Bedless Bones (Soundcloud)
It's Halloween weekend, or All Saints Day, Samhain, All Hallows Eve or any other of the many names it can be called. Some people love it, some people hate it. Me, personally, I can go with or without. It's not an occasion I immensely look forward to nor is it one that I abhor. I'm not one for dressing up and haven't really made the proper effort to do since my teens. The one thing I do love about this time of year though is the influx of horror films on TV, old and new. Then there's the ghost stories and, of course, Halloween playlists. I've always been a sucker for playlists, especially themed playlists.
So with that in mind, a few days ago we asked a few of the Bricolage artists to give us their Top 5 Halloween type, creepy/eerie songs and a little bit about them. There's a lot of diversity in among the selections. Atmospheric stuff, alt.rock, twisted techno, downright creepiness and childhood memories.
First up with some alternative choices and a video game classic is Mute Branches....
1. Tim Hecker - 'Virginal II'
"From the opening stabs of piano, you should probably have a good idea why I thought this was a good place to start. Like much of Hecker's work, 'Virginal II' is a track that comes to sound compellingly and beautifully hellbent on its own self-destruction. To me, 'Virginal II' paints in my head the image of being chased by something, and sprinting through a nightmarish landscape that gradually degrades into glitching digital noise."
2. Broadcast - 'Black Cat'
"Throughout their tragically short career, Broadcast had pretty close ties to the horror genre. As well as being influenced by films like 'Valerie and Her Week of Wonders' and the cult 70s TV series 'Children of the Stones', the band also soundtracked Peter Strickland's 2012 film 'Berberian Sound Studio'. On 'Black Cat', from 'Tender Buttons', the stripped-down line-up of James Cargill and the late Trish Keenan create a surreal, creeping atmosphere through the lo-fi scrapes and squalls and stutters of creaky electronics. In terms of the lyrics, "awkwardness happening to someone you love" is a brilliant example of the vague sense of threat that emerges through Keenan's cut-up poetry, as well."
3. Akira Yamaoka - 'White Noiz'
Trying to find something that can match the ghostly, bleak, and downright weird atmosphere of 'Silent Hill 2' (or, I suppose, specifically the memory of playing it in a tiny bedroom on a little old tube television) has led me down all kinds of interesting cultural paths both in and out of the horror genre. This track, which opens the game, captures perfectly the air of lonesome dreamlike melancholy that makes 'Silent Hill 2' the classic that it is."
4. Slint - 'For Dinner...'
"'Spiderland' is a mysterious album. The cover art is strange, its backstory is strange... just about everything about 'Spiderland' (and Slint, in general) is strange. The music is no exception: unorthodox time signatures, the whispery spoken word vocals, and the "loud / quiet dynamics" are utilised seemingly with the primary aim of unsettling the listener. 'For Dinner...' is one of the most successful of their efforts: a constant build-up without a crescendo, the instruments always sound like they're creeping up on you, on the verge of striking. Then, just as you're about to turn and look, they disappear again back into the shadowy silence."
5. Sonic Youth - 'Death Valley 69'
"Basically anything from 'Bad Moon Rising' would fit here. Sonic Youth sound pretty convincingly like a band formed in the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse on this album; and, crucially, the cover art depicts a pumpkin-headed scarecrow man (is there a more Halloween-appropriate image than that?). Having spent much of the album slowly building up a sense of dread, Sonic Youth (with Lydia Lunch) let it all out on 'Death Valley 69' and unleash five minutes of violent, aggressive noise-punk into your ears."
Mute Branches, just yesterday uploaded his own Halloween inspired track to Soundcloud, "Huh? Radio?" is a tense affair with a slow building, foreboding, guitar soundscape that turns into a short burst of white noise and glitchy effects and cut up samples. Listen below.
Bricolage's resident split personality, "Roy Or Bison?" , is next up on the ghost train with his spooky selections....
1. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - "Puppy Dog Snails"
"This one starts off straight from the bat with a creepy, almost music box, style guitar and then Guy McKnight's baritone delivery only adds to the mood. For me, the lyrics throw up an image of a coven of witches gathering around their cauldron in an old castle."
2. White Ring - "Ixc999"
"A bit of witch house is always gonna need to find it's way into any Halloween playlists. There's no better track to utilize than this one by White Ring. A buzzing synth, soft whispering about 'my face is falling off' and an almost child like haunting vocal spouting lyrics and chants. I love the feeling of decay that somehow spreads through this track. The video is also a tad mental!"
3. Aphex Twin - "Gwely Mernans"
"I've always thought this track was a great epitome of eeriness and a weirdly unsettling track that is actually somehow relaxing. Does that make sense??? Sometimes a minimalistic approach is more effective in creating the suitable tension needed for these kinda tracks. The track got even darker for me when I found out the meaning behind the title. I've always thought 'Gwely Mernans' looked Welsh but for whatever reason I never looked it up. Also, AFX, has a tendency to just use random titles or old Cornish language so I thought nothing of it. Then a few years back, a Welsh friend, told me that "gwely" means bed and "mernans" is death. So this track literally translates as "Deathbed". Sweet!"
4. Daniel Avery - Reception (Perc remix)
"Now, this one is just plain raw. A weird sequence of industrial, sawtooth type sounds, a pounding beat and a distorted, creepy vocal lead you up a path which comes to a sudden halt before the main melody from the original dives out on you and is shortly backed up by Perc's take no prisoners percussion and the return of aforementioned creepy voice. It's a very jarring but very interesting composition."
5. A Place To Bury Strangers - The Falling Sun
"As if their name isn't enough, 'APTBS', go all out dystopian soundscape on this one. A haunting shoegaze soundscape and a droning, depressed vocal make it seem like the end of the world is imminent. And if we're all going to be honest, what is more scary than the world we live in ending?"
'Roy Or Bison?' delivered a dark ambient, haunting track for our winter compilation last year. You can listen to "Night Vision" below.
Lastly, drone and guitar experimentalist, Sleep, Data gives us his nostalgic take on what Halloween means to him.....
1. AC/DC - "Hells Bells"
"It's always Halloween when you play that in Arkansas."
2. Flash and The Pan - "Jetsetters Ball"
"As a kid growing up the local radio station always had a Halloween party and this was its theme song. So when you heard it you always knew Halloween was coming."
3. "Grinch Is Gonna Get You"
"One of my favourite things about Halloween was cartoons. And I didn't have to get up early to watch them!"
4. Helloween - "Halloween"
"Epic and 30 minutes long! It isn't but that's how I remember it."
5. The Dickies - "Killer Klowns From Outer Space"
"Last but not least, 'Killer Klowns From Outer Space' by The Dickies. Also, one of the greatest movies ever!"
You can check out the immersive "Interpretive Death" from 'Sleep, Data' below.
Last week we provided you with a 2 hour Halloween themed mix as part of our Headroom mix series. It's an amalgamation of horror cut ups and samples, dark techno, haunting ambience and soundtrack snippets. It's been received rather well and we've been asked a few times now for a download of the mix to made available. You can stream the mix below or at our mixcloud. Read a bit more about the mix and get the full tracklisting fom our previous blog post and grab your free download of the mix here. Perfect for Halloween parties or just giving yourself a good fright!🎃
