Posts Tagged ‘aaron turner’

Album of the day: Jodis – Black Curtain

Posted on Sunday, September 30th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from Hammer Smashed Sound: In case you’re not familiar with this project, Jodis consists of Aaron Turner (Isis, Mamiffer, Old Man Gloom, House of Low Culture, Lotus Eaters, etc.), James Plotkin (Khanate, O.L.D.), and Tim Wyskida (Khanate, Blind Idiot God); Their first album, Secret House, was released by Hydra Head on CD and 2xLP in 2009, and though the members are perhaps best known for their metal exploits, the album was decidedly un-metal in its approach to creating heavy music.

Though distorted guitars played an important part in the sound of Secret House, the aim was to go in a more minimalist direction, using space and quiet to enhance the mood. The end product was a solid record, though at times it seemed a bit sluggish and meandered aimlessly a little too much. The potential was there, however, and I had high hopes that another record might be able to better harness the limitless creative capacities of the individual members of the band.

Black Curtain is the title of the new LP, out on October 2nd via Hydra Head, and it definitely delivers on the promise of the debut. While the approach is pretty much the same, the new album seems more focused, with a more defined purpose. The heavy guitars and minimalist approach again play an integral part in creating these songs, but the atmosphere here is easier to grasp, and some well-placed drums create a more welcoming yet powerful environment. The vocals are also more soulful, more emotional, more inviting and alluring, and contribute heavily to the more refined sound on this record.

Continue reading: Hammer Smashed Sound: Jodis, Black Curtain LP

Tags: aaron turner, Album of the day, Black Curtain, Hammer Smashed Sound, hydra head, James Plotkin, Jodis, Tim Wyskida
Posted in 2012, Album of the Day, Roadburn Recommended | No Comments »

Album of the day: Isis – Live VI 11.16.07

Posted on Friday, August 3rd, 2012

Lovingly pinched from Scene Point Blank: A year after their dissolution, post-metal powerhouse Isis is preparing to digitally re-release its entire live discography on a fortnightly basis throughout the summer of 2011. The set of five—wait, hold up a moment. I finished those last summer. What’s with the new release? ...read more

Album of the day: Old Man Gloom – No

Posted on Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from Drop-d: Resume The Gloom. So goes the credo associated with Old Man Gloom. After an eight year long slumber, the sludge “supergroup” awoke in stunning fashion with a series of special shows across the US, with the line-up of Aaron Turner (ex-Isis, Mamiffer, Split Cranium et al), ...read more

Album of the day: Locrian & Mamiffer – Bless Them That Curse You

Posted on Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Praise for Locrian & Mamiffer‘s Bless Them That Curse You from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Killer collaboration from these two aQ faves, both trafficking in a similarly ominous abstract minimalism, and who together have conjured up something pretty epic. The opening track begins as if to creep abjectly through some ...read more

Album of the day: Pharaoh Overlord – Lunar Jetman

Posted on Sunday, February 5th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from The Inarguable: The Repetition is a difficult beast to wrangle. From the premier of Steve Reich’s Music for Eighteen Instruments, the new wave of post-modernity screamed “excessive minimalism” in praise of its stylistic progenitor. Of course, not many people could perfectly emulate Reich’s pulsing, shifting, harmonically dense ...read more

Album of the day: House of Low Culture – Poisoned Soil

Posted on Saturday, January 7th, 2012

Praise for House of Low Culture‘s Poisoned Soil from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: It’s been a while since we’ve heard from House Of Low Culture, the one man experimental / drone / soundscaping project of Aaron Turner, he of Hydra Head Records, Sige Records, Mammifer, Isis, Twilight, etc. This one ...read more

Locrian & Mammifer collaboration Premiere New Track via Pitchfork

Posted on Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Dark Chicago trio Locrian and Mamiffer, the compositionally minded project of artist / pianist Faith Coloccia and husband, ex-Isis vocalist / guitarist Aaron Turner, premiere a new track via Pitchfork called In Fulminic Blaze. Culled from Bless Them That Curse You, the 51-minute album will be released on March 6 via Profound ...read more

Album of the day: Burning Witch – S/T (4LP + DVD)

Posted on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Praise for Burning Witch‘s S/T (4LP + DVD) from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: We’ve got just a handful of these expensive new Burning Witch 4LP/DVD boxes, they’re fancy and SUPER limited, so odds are once we sell out we won’t be able to get more. Seems likely that only super ...read more

Album of the day: Wolves In The Throne Room – Celestial Lineage

Posted on Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Lovingly pinched from CVLT Nation: The tension worldwide is palpable as Wolves In The Throne Room prepare to release their fourth full length album Celestial Lineage (Southern Lord). Expectations for this album are high to say the least. WITTR quickly rose to prominence with their 2007 LP Two Hunters. The ...read more

Album of the day: Mammifer / House of Low Culture / Merzbow – Lou Lou… In Tokyo (2LP)

Posted on Friday, July 8th, 2011

Praise for Mammifer / House of Low Culture / Merzbow‘s  Lou Lou… In Tokyo from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Another impressive release on Aaron Turner’s post Hydra Head label Sige, this one a three way live tag team between Turner’s House Of Low Culture, Mamiffer and Japanese noise legend Merzbow. ...read more