Sneer's Emporium of Sound (lyric, blues, bass, psychedelic, punk)

Sneer · 11-18-2009, 10:57 AM

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone

Answer Machine Music

Owen Ashworth is, in my view, an overlooked genius, deserving of the highest echelons of acclaim and reverence. Unfortunately he seems destined to skulk along the outskirts of public consciousness, much to the public's loss.

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone is his solo project, and you realise the aptitude of the name after only one listen of this 1999 debut. Answer Machine Music is stark, intimate, raw and strangely ethereal. Literally utilising only a casio keyboard and drum machine, Ashworth delves deep into the human condition with tales of moribund, day to day occurences, swathed under the glow of the melancholic midnight moon. Loneliness, alienation, aspiration and despondancy are all prevalent features of the piece, told to the tune of twinkling casio parts exuding atmosphere and mood as confrontaitonal, 80's drumbeats propel the songs forward.

Interspersed with the poignancy of the lyrics is a wry humour that effectively connotes the mundaness of what Ashworth is documenting. Yet, conversely, he has the fantastic ability to conjure up a magical sentimentality, freezing the most intimate, persoinal instances of human existence like the capture of a still, black and white photograph.

If you like your music to be deeply affecting and personal, this will surely titillate. It's an album so raw and rudementary in one way, yet so melodious and beautifully atmospheric at the same time. With songs that sound like they've come from an answering machine, i defy anybody that doesnt in some way identify with what this genius of a songwriter is saying.

Do it.

Sneer · 11-19-2009, 03:55 PM

The Exploding Hearts
Guitar Romantic

The Exploding Hearts are a real tragedy. Almost immediately after releasing their one and only album, Guitar Romantic, three of the four band members died in a horrific car accident. Judging from the legacy they left behind, one can only dream of what they could have acheived. Alas, all that is left is this gloriously rambunctious album.

Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, this a rip-roaring, effortlessly energetic piece full to the brim with some of most joyous hooks and choruses you'll ever hear. Drawing influences from The Buzz****s, The Only Ones and New York Dolls, the band plays a brand of Punk Rock bordering on Power Pop with absolute abandon. There is no fear, no holding back - just the sound of sheer enjoyment and excitement.

This isnt to say the album lacks any discipline or measure. These four young guys were evidently masters of the pop song as an art-form. There isnt a wasted note as the band go straight for the gonads, pummelling the listener with distorted hook after distorted hook as lead singer Adam Cox howls licentious tales of adolescence.

Songs such as Modern Kicks and Rumours in Town are, to me, pop perfection, taking you back to the best material the Buzz****s and New York Dolls could muster.

This album will make you feel alive. There is no better way to put it.

Sneer · 12-01-2009, 11:05 AM

Dr John

Gris Gris

I stumbled upon this album purely by accident, i was blog searching for a folk band called Gris Gris and this came up instead. Enticed enough to download it, i was immediately swept up in the mystical, ritualistic sounds creeping into my ears.

I say ritualistic because it sounds like the soundtrack to some esoteric voodoo ceremony, replete with eerie, ethereal melodies carried upon flutes, mandolins, saxophones and strange chanting. Listening to this is maybe the closest i can get to an out of body experience whilst conscious.

Musically it is a hybrid of rhythm & blues and psychedelia, punctuated frequently with various world music influences ranging from balkan to flamenco. It all has this smokey, demure mystique to it - seedy in a sense without sacrificing any of the beauty.

The variation between songs is also impressive. Danse Kalinda Ba Doom for example sounds like it's come straight from a rambunctious night of hedonism in a gypsy commune, whilst converssely Jump Sturdy clearly owes a lot to the black slaves of American past as it swaggers with blues and soul. Despite this variation, the album succeeds in flowing into this phantasmagoria of sound, consequently becoming 30 odd minutes of some of the most interesting, refreshingly strange music i've ever heard.

Sneer · 12-02-2009, 08:16 PM

The Chameleons

Strange Times

The Chameleons were a post-punk outfit from Manchester, initially active between 181 and 1987. They are in my view painfully underrated exponents of the gothic brand of Post-Punk prevalent in the British alternative scene throughout the decade, with Strange Times being one of the finest releases of the period.

Released in 1986, this was the signalling of an end for the band in its original carnation, a collection of experiences from over the years compressed into 50-odd minutes of brooding, atmospheric dream pop. There is a mournful, nostalgic tone underpining the dual-guitar textures and pentrative drum beats as the band embark on a sonic journey of reminiscence and introspection. The guitars meander along with an errie resonance, echoing through dark passages of isolation and regret, mercilessly propelled by a dynamic rhythm section that blasts through the speakers.

This should have been the Chameleons breakthrough into a higher, more revered spectrum of public consciousness. The production and songs were grander and more sophisticated than anything they had previously released. Swamp Thing in particular is a masterful example of how to build tension to breaking point. It's this tension that runs central throughout the album that you feel finally tore the band apart.

With themes of alienation, emptiness and isolation running concurrent with the melancholic, ominous tones central to the albums sound, it wont be a particularly uplifting, joyous listen. But then to be honest i wouldnt have it any other way, so have a listen and bask in your woes, they've rarely sounded this good.

Stephen · 08-16-2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sneer

Dr John

Gris Gris

I stumbled upon this album purely by accident, i was blog searching for a folk band called Gris Gris and this came up instead. Enticed enough to download it, i was immediately swept up in the mystical, ritualistic sounds creeping into my ears.

That's funny because I just went the other way. I was looking for this album and came across The Gris Gris self titled album. Enticed enough to download it, I was immediately swept up in...

Well, you get the picture

music_phantom13 · 11-20-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone

Answer Machine Music

Any chance I could get an up for this? I'm intrigued.

11-18-2009, 10:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,397	Casiotone For The Painfully Alone Answer Machine Music Owen Ashworth is, in my view, an overlooked genius, deserving of the highest echelons of acclaim and reverence. Unfortunately he seems destined to skulk along the outskirts of public consciousness, much to the public's loss. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone is his solo project, and you realise the aptitude of the name after only one listen of this 1999 debut. Answer Machine Music is stark, intimate, raw and strangely ethereal. Literally utilising only a casio keyboard and drum machine, Ashworth delves deep into the human condition with tales of moribund, day to day occurences, swathed under the glow of the melancholic midnight moon. Loneliness, alienation, aspiration and despondancy are all prevalent features of the piece, told to the tune of twinkling casio parts exuding atmosphere and mood as confrontaitonal, 80's drumbeats propel the songs forward. Interspersed with the poignancy of the lyrics is a wry humour that effectively connotes the mundaness of what Ashworth is documenting. Yet, conversely, he has the fantastic ability to conjure up a magical sentimentality, freezing the most intimate, persoinal instances of human existence like the capture of a still, black and white photograph. If you like your music to be deeply affecting and personal, this will surely titillate. It's an album so raw and rudementary in one way, yet so melodious and beautifully atmospheric at the same time. With songs that sound like they've come from an answering machine, i defy anybody that doesnt in some way identify with what this genius of a songwriter is saying. Do it. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

11-19-2009, 03:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,397	The Exploding Hearts Guitar Romantic The Exploding Hearts are a real tragedy. Almost immediately after releasing their one and only album, Guitar Romantic, three of the four band members died in a horrific car accident. Judging from the legacy they left behind, one can only dream of what they could have acheived. Alas, all that is left is this gloriously rambunctious album. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, this a rip-roaring, effortlessly energetic piece full to the brim with some of most joyous hooks and choruses you'll ever hear. Drawing influences from The Buzz**s, The Only Ones and New York Dolls, the band plays a brand of Punk Rock bordering on Power Pop with absolute abandon. There is no fear, no holding back - just the sound of sheer enjoyment and excitement. This isnt to say the album lacks any discipline or measure. These four young guys were evidently masters of the pop song as an art-form. There isnt a wasted note as the band go straight for the gonads, pummelling the listener with distorted hook after distorted hook as lead singer Adam Cox howls licentious tales of adolescence. Songs such as Modern Kicks and Rumours in Town are, to me, pop perfection, taking you back to the best material the Buzzs and New York Dolls could muster. This album will make you feel alive. There is no better way to put it. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show**

12-01-2009, 11:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,397	Dr John Gris Gris I stumbled upon this album purely by accident, i was blog searching for a folk band called Gris Gris and this came up instead. Enticed enough to download it, i was immediately swept up in the mystical, ritualistic sounds creeping into my ears. I say ritualistic because it sounds like the soundtrack to some esoteric voodoo ceremony, replete with eerie, ethereal melodies carried upon flutes, mandolins, saxophones and strange chanting. Listening to this is maybe the closest i can get to an out of body experience whilst conscious. Musically it is a hybrid of rhythm & blues and psychedelia, punctuated frequently with various world music influences ranging from balkan to flamenco. It all has this smokey, demure mystique to it - seedy in a sense without sacrificing any of the beauty. The variation between songs is also impressive. Danse Kalinda Ba Doom for example sounds like it's come straight from a rambunctious night of hedonism in a gypsy commune, whilst converssely Jump Sturdy clearly owes a lot to the black slaves of American past as it swaggers with blues and soul. Despite this variation, the album succeeds in flowing into this phantasmagoria of sound, consequently becoming 30 odd minutes of some of the most interesting, refreshingly strange music i've ever heard. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show Last edited by Sneer; 12-02-2009 at 07:53 PM.

12-02-2009, 08:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,397	The Chameleons Strange Times The Chameleons were a post-punk outfit from Manchester, initially active between 181 and 1987. They are in my view painfully underrated exponents of the gothic brand of Post-Punk prevalent in the British alternative scene throughout the decade, with Strange Times being one of the finest releases of the period. Released in 1986, this was the signalling of an end for the band in its original carnation, a collection of experiences from over the years compressed into 50-odd minutes of brooding, atmospheric dream pop. There is a mournful, nostalgic tone underpining the dual-guitar textures and pentrative drum beats as the band embark on a sonic journey of reminiscence and introspection. The guitars meander along with an errie resonance, echoing through dark passages of isolation and regret, mercilessly propelled by a dynamic rhythm section that blasts through the speakers. This should have been the Chameleons breakthrough into a higher, more revered spectrum of public consciousness. The production and songs were grander and more sophisticated than anything they had previously released. Swamp Thing in particular is a masterful example of how to build tension to breaking point. It's this tension that runs central throughout the album that you feel finally tore the band apart. With themes of alienation, emptiness and isolation running concurrent with the melancholic, ominous tones central to the albums sound, it wont be a particularly uplifting, joyous listen. But then to be honest i wouldnt have it any other way, so have a listen and bask in your woes, they've rarely sounded this good. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show Last edited by Sneer; 12-02-2009 at 09:34 PM.