MuhMur Radio Broadcast 15 August 2019

This piece is written pre-broadcast. A few hours after the programme airs I will be on my way to France, going south to St-Girons. If anybody reading this is in the area for the next few days then please get in touch via the MuhMur Radio Facebook page and we can go for a beirre.
So, hopefully the live broadcast will stick to the playlist - not always achieved - but I'll give it a go.

Tonights programme features an exclusive piece from North London noise-maker Paul Watson (AKA BBBlood). Paul started creating noises back in the early noughties as Baron Bum Blood. (He is known around MuhMur HQ as "The Baron"), and releasing firstly on Nost8ment Music before creating his own Trans-Dimensional Sushi Recordings label. It was on this label that Paul released the first BBBlood album "Experiment 50" in 2007.

                                                      BBBlood / Al Qaeda split 7"EP.

I first came across the sound of The Baron in 2009 and the split 7"EP with Al Qaeda. I saw a picture of the cover and was intrigued by both the image and the name, so I bought it and have been keeping an ear out for BBBlood ever since. The BBBlood track "Mental Funeral" is from this 7".
In 2011 I was fortunate to play live on the same evening as BBBlood at an ILL FM evening at the Others in Stoke Newington, London. Paul was entering his 'bubblewrap' phase where he was covering objects in bubblewrap and through contact microphones and a host of effects boxes was creating an uneasy wall of delicate collapse. There were moments of pure noise during the set but it was all held together by this crisp occult sound of chewing plastic. Fascinating.

                                             Paul Watson live. Photo by Mark Wharton.

BBBlood have released on such labels as Royal Sperm, Sound Holes, RRRecords, Small Doses and Beartown Records (amongst others) and has collaborated live and released split recordings with artists such as Tinnitustimulus, Aqua Dentata, Duncan Harrison, Umez and Lolita Vibrator Torture (amongst others). In 2014 Paul dropped the BBBlood moniker to perform live as Paul Watson and collaborate with Danish musician Claus Poulsen, the result being the 2014 CDR on Chocolate Monk records called "Blind Dates". Paul was moving more in to the improvised electronic/acoustic sound. It reminds me of a path followed by Phil Julian (Cheapmachines) and Mark Durgan (Putrefier).
(Speaking of which, in 2012 Paul and I followed The New Blockaders around Europe seeing them live in Nottingham, Berlin, Bristol and London).

                                                   Duncan Harrison & Paul Watson.

On the 27th of July this year Paul created "Divorce (Proceedings) From Reality (MuhMur Mix)" for tonights programme. The title is a homage to a track from "Astral Glamour" by The Homosexuals and is planned for release (format unknown) before the end of 2019. Paul can be contacted through the BBBlood website : http://bbblood.blogspot.com

The broadcast begins with a track by Kadaitcha from their "Southern Phlegm" cassette EP. Kadaitcha are a Ukranian noise / industrial project that began in 2015. Comprised of Andrei Kojoohar and Yuri Samson. "Southern Phlegm" is their third release and available here :       https://kadaitcha.bandcamp.com

The Anji Cheung and English Heretic piece comes from the new compilation CD + Book "Mysterium Lunae : A Requiem For The Invasion Of The Moon" released earlier this month by Aurora Borealis. The album also features Sutekh Hexen, Burial Hex, Tenhornedbeast, Hawthorn and Moon Mourning Earth. The piece played here by Cheung/English Heretic is called "Sancta". Here's a couple of extracts from the book that explain the piece

Both magick and imagery for 'Sancta' are rooted in the correspondences for the High Priestess tarot card. Viewed as the Keeper or Initiator into the mysteries behind the veil, in the Book Of Thoth, Crowley notes "She is the truth behind the veil of light" - an acknowledgement she is that which has been concealed, not only its Keeper.

Another element of the recording was taken from a time stretched fragment of an unexplained noise that was captured by Apollo 10 crew during the passage over the dark side of the moon in November 1969. Described as 'whistling' 'outer spacey' music by the astronauts, perhaps this is the most literal and occult lunar music ever captured.

The release is available here : https://auroraborealisrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/mysterium-lunae-a-requiem-for-the-invasion-of-the-moon

This programmes Frans de Waard track comes from the double cassette/CDR "Siblants Repertoire". This release is a collaboration with Ukrainian sound artist Edward Sol. It's on Edward's own Sentimental Productions imprint and once again comes in standard and deluxe edition. It is the deluxe edition that contains the CDR. Recorded via mail in the summer of 2018 the pieces contain a global theme. With the deluxe edition, which is packaged in a wooden tool box, the music comes from The Netherlands and the Ukraine. The tapes are from the UK and the CDRs from Taiwan. The tape cases are from Canada and China and the wood for the boxes from South America. Paint is from the USA and waxes from the Ukraine, UK and Belgium and the paper is also from Belgium, France and the USSR. Both editions are ultra limited and available from : https://sentimentalproductions.bandcamp.com (Download option is available).

Recently acquired a copy of the 2015 Robert Turman album "Macro". Originally released on a C60 by Fabrica in 2012, the two tracks here are from the 2015 vinyl re-issue on Italian label La Délirante.

The more I am hearing from The Hearing Trumpet I am liking. The track here is from the 1997 split 7" with Canadian noise artist Knurl. The To Live And Shave In LA track comes from the new album on Hanson Records called "Spatters Of A Royal Sperm".
At some point in the early 1980's a friend of mine (Tim Bayes) returned from a visit to Dan Plunkett's house in Austin, Texas. He brought back with him a clutch of vinyl including the EP "High Pressure Days" by Units. I fell in love with this EP...and the Units. August 15 1980 saw the release of the first Units album called "Digital Simulation" on 415 Records. Unfortunately I don't have a copy (I do have the recent CD release of their 'unreleased' album "Animals They Dream About".  produced by Bill Nelson), so the track here is from the Units compilation CD "History Of The Units - The Early Years 1977-1983".
The Memory Band are a group I know nothing about ... I read about the single "After Night" via Frans de Waard's "Vital" internet magazine, it sounded intriguing so I bought a copy. If you like It too you can catch up on them here : https://thememoryband.com

One of my favourite albums of the past couple of years is Trepaneringsritualen "KainsKult" on Tesco Organisation. "Nine Glistenimng Daggers" appears on the compilation cassette "More Omnibus 1" and does not disappoint. The compilation features a host of projects all new to MuhMur HQ and is sounding rather good. Industrial, Martial Percussive and Occult themed tracks all creating an hour of excellent listening. Unfortunately the cassette has sold out from the label (only 50 copies) but it can be obtained on a download from here : https://unholyaltar.bandcamp.com/album/mors-omnibus-i

This is the last MuhMur Radio broadcast for August as we take time out to enjoy the sun. I am heading towards the Midi-Pyrennes, hopefully take in the record shops of Toulouse ... but we shall see. Back in September to celebrate our 7th Anniversary. Please take a listen here :
https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-broadcast-15-august-2019/


Playlist :
01: Kadaitcha : "Vulpine Sacrifice" (Sentimental Productions) 2019.
02: BBBlood : "Mental Funeral" (Trans-Dimensional Sushi Recordings) 2009.
03: Anji Cheung & English Heretic : "Sancta" (Aurora Borealis) 2019.
04: Edward Sol & Frans de Waard : "Global Question" (Sentimental Productions) 2019.
05: Robert Turman : "Fiery Cock Dub" (La Délirante) 2015.
06: The Hearing Trumpet : "Marvelous Love" (Misanthropy) 1997.
07: BBBlood : "Flowers Of Flesh And Blood" (Small Doses) 2009.
08: Ubiquitous Meh! : "We Are The Funeral Band: (Damnsonic) 2019.
09: The Homosexuals : "Divorce Proceeding (From Reality)" (Black Noise) 1979.
10: To Live And Shave In LA : "Bad Couple" (Hanson Records) 2019.
11: Paul Watson/BBBlood : "Divorce (Proceedings) From Reality (MuhMur Mix)" (Not On Label)
                                               2019.
                                              (exclusive piece recorded and mixed for MuhMur Radio).
12: Units : "Cannibals" (Community Library) 2009.
13: Robert Turman : "Pushing Warp Amnesias" (La Délirante) 2015.
14: The Memory Band : "After Night" (Static Caravan) 2019.
15: BBBlood : "Breath In The Fumes" (So I Buried Records) 2012.
16: Dieter Müh : "Sphagnom" (Functional Organisation) 2002.
17: Trepaneringsritualen : "Nine Glistening Daggers" (Altar) 2019.

MuhMur Radio Broadcast August 1 2019.

I am not a great fan of listening to 'music' through the computer (I am also not a great fan of downloads, dogs and baseball caps ... but that's by the by). I know that may sound hypocritical being that I post this radio broadcast on to an internet archive and promote the live streaming of the programme ... but I do understand that a lot of folk listen to stuff through their 'pooter devices. It's just not for me ... Saying that, I do enjoy weekend mornings pottering around Hartop Towers listening to 'The Institute Of Spectra-Sonic Sound', a weekly radio broadcast from Eugene. Oregon.

The programme is hosted by David Warmbier. David, along with sound partner Greg Hallock were The Hearing Trumpet. (They probably still are). I first came across The Hearing Trumpet about 20 years ago when I started listening to and buying releases from Belgian label Cling-Film Records. In 1997 they put out a tape by The Hearing Trumpet called "Llallopp".
A couple of months back I heard (via David's radio broadcast) Juice Machine, I liked what I heard and wanted to hear more. I wrote to David for information only to discover that they were from Eugene, Oregon and that they were friends. A couple of weeks back a package came containing tapes and CDRs from Juice Machine alongside some tapes / CDR and vinyl by The Hearing Trumpet. To find out that David was half of the band after all these years is fantastic. Listening to what was sent ... I haven't played it all yet ... it's a wonder that a label hasn't picked up on the back catalogue, some Vinyl On Demand or Dais Records treatment is needed I think.
The broadcast opens with "Congestion" from the 1998 C90 cassette compilation "Tape Heads Five - Tape Heads Scandal" on Hal Tapes. (The tape also features Billy?, Origami Replika + Lasse Marhaug. Well worth hunting out).

Two faces of Frans DeWaard follow. Over the past few weeks his Modelbau project has become rather prolific. July saw the release of "Cosmic Twins", a split cassette with Antoine Panaché. The first Modelbau track is from this tape, "Mirror Image #3" is from the CDR of the same name also released last month on American label Hologram.
"Cosmic Twins" is available here : https://barreuhrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic-twins
"Mirror Image" is available here : https://hologramlabel.bandcamp.com/album/modelbau-mirror-image-2  (Both are available in physical and download format).
The Tobacconists are Frans and Scott Foust (XX Committee, Idea Fire Company, The Pickle Factory etc). "An Tone Four Giver" is from the LP "A Secret Place".

                                                                 The Armedalite Rifles

The Armedalite Rifles are a post punk trio from New York State. Formed at the turn of the century by James Pogo, they bring the freshness of 1980's art punk like Pere Ubu and Red Krayola mixed with sounds from Savage Republic and Bunnydrums and a heavy dose of late 1970's UK DIY bands like Swell Maps and Metabolist all with a singer who kind of sounds (sometimes) like Elvis Costello. Unique to say the least. "Turning Of The Spools" is from the 2017 LP " Revel In The Beauty Of The Sour Note". They still have a presence on MySpace!
A couple of months ago I managed to find a copy of the Savage Republic LP "Ceremonial" hiding in the racks of a secondhand record shop in Plymouth. "Mediterranea" is from this LP. I met Ethan Port once in London ... about seven years ago. It was at the Broken Flag festival in London and as we were talking it dawned on me that he thought that I was one of The New Blockaders. Seeing that they were/are a band 'of mystery' I didn't correct him.

                                                                             Ethan Port

The Philip Sanderson track is from the LP "One Of These Bends", the last programme featured a few tracks from this LP .. this track just didn't make the playlist due to time .. I have corrected this.

Juice Machine. Juice Machine are the live improvisational experimental electronics duo Heather Chessman and Roger H. Smith from Eugene, Oregon. Roger also records and releases under the pseudonym Chefkirk. The track here is from the CDR "Yachats", recorded live in Yachats, Oregon January 2019. It was a 'giveaway' release available to those who turn up for the live shows. Juice Machine do have a bandcamp page (a lot of their releases seem to be digital). Please visit : https://juicemachine.bandcamp.com/merch

                                                                     Juice Machine

Andrew Quitter, also of Eugene, Oregon has collaborated with Juice Machine in the past both as a solo artist and with his Regosphere project. The track here is from the cassette "Apotheosis Putrefactum", a collaboration with Nick Hoffman. It's a favourite listen at MuhMur HQ at the moment, I did play a piece from the tape a couple of broadcasts ago. The track put me in mind of Throbbing Gristle's "The Whistling Song" from the 'Live At Cryptic One Club' album. Hence ... I play some Throbbing Gristle (although there should never be an excuse to play Throbbing Gristle). The two tracks here are from the compilation CD "Live Volume 3, 1978-1979" that was part of the 4xCD Box that Mute Records/The Grey Area released in 1993.

This programme finishes with the whole of Side 2 of The Ceramic Hobs double album "Black Pool Legacy". The album is a comprehensive history of the sound of The Ceramic Hobs compiled and constructed to play like four mammoth opuses by Philip Best (Consumer Electronics/Ramleh). Philip has avoided the 'Side A starts with our early recordings from the late 1980's and Side D are some out-takes from our last ever session' type of compiling ... the album actually begins with the magnificent "33 Trapped Chilean Miners" single from 2012 .. what there is is a mixing of tracks / releases showing the determined path of Simon Morris and his collaborators to bring to issue what makes The Ceramic Hobs. The album comes with a comprehensive booklet explaining the course and meaning of the songs written by Chris Sienko of 'As Loud As Possible' magazine. It's essential. The four sides are entitled "Problematic" / "Triggering" / "Inappropriate" and "Pathologised". The broadcast finishes on "Triggering". Gatefold sleeve to take you back to the Seventies, bedside manners are extra at finishing school. It's well worth contacting Harbinger Sound to grab a copy. Please visit here : https://harbingersound.bigcartel.com/category/new-releases

Please take a listen to the broadcast here : (Thoughts, comments and food vouchers always welcomed) : https://www.mixcloud.com/muhsteve/muhmur-radio-soundart-radio-broadcast-august-1-2019/

Playlist:
01: The Hearing Trumpet : "Congestion" (Hal Tapes) 1998.
02: Modelbau : "Probe 7, Over & Out" (Barreuh) 2019.
03: The Tobacconists : "An Tone Four Giver" (A Giant Fern/Fabrica Records) 2014.
04: Tom Smith : "1980:03:05" (Hanson Records) 2019.
05: The Armedalite Rifles : "Turning Of The Spools" (Wrinkly Dink Records) 2017.
06: Savage Republic : "Mediterranea" (Independent Project Records) 1986.
07: Philip Sanderson : "E Is For Echo" (Séance Centre) 2018.
08: Modelbau : "Mirror Image #3" (Hologram Label) 2019.
09: Juice Machine : "Yachats #2" (Juice Machine Self-Released) 2019.
10: Andrew Quitter & Nick Hoffman : "Vacant Stairs" (Weird Ear) 2016.
11: Throbbing Gristle : "The Whistling Song" (The Grey Area) 1993.
12: Throbbing Gristle : "Industrial Muzak" (The Grey Area) 1993.
13: The Ceramic Hobs : "This Sore And Broken Blackpool Legacy" (Harbinger Sound) 2018.
14: The Ceramic Hobs : "Rainbow Self Realisation Therapy" (Harbinger Sound) 2018.
15: The Ceramic Hobs : "Wife Swapping Party" (Harbinger Sound) 2018.
16: The Ceramic Hobs : "The Prowler" (Harbinger Sound) 2018.
17: The Ceramic Hobs : "Blackpool Transport" (Harbinger Sound) 2018.
18: The Ceramic Hobs : "Safe To Heaven" (Harbinger Sound) 2018.

The next broadcast will be on August 15 at the regular time of 20:00 (GMT), the next day I head off to Saint Giron (France) so the blog might be a little later - unless I write it before hand ... but I'm not that organised!!