Black Vomit

[B. Clugston]

From the Dowtown Music Gallery newsletter:

WOLF EYES & ANTHONY BRAXTON - Black Vomit: Live May 21st 2005 at 22nd

Victoriaville New Musique Actuel Festival (Victo 99; Canada) The third day

at Victo 2005 was mostly curated by our pal Thurston Moore and featured a

number of noise/improv bands that might not have ever played without his

push. Thurston's first pick was a not-so-average trio consisting of cheap

electronics, electric guitar and drums who met at school in Kentucky called

the Hair Police. Although nothing quite prepared us for the second set by

Wolf Eyes. There was a rumor that Mr. Anthony Braxton was going to "sit in"

with some noise band called Wolf Eyes, but I don't think anyone took that

comment seriously. Word is that he had heard them at a festival in

Scandinavia and was floored by their performance. Very strange indeed. When

this young, punky noise trio came out and told us that Mr. Braxton would be

playing with them ... and then there he was, with his alto, soprano, and

sopranino saxes! Shock! And pleasantly intriged surprise! Wolf Eyes is an

odd trio of homemade electronics [Nathan Young], electric guitar [Mike

Connely] and sax/more electronics [John Olson]. Olson, he of the big shaved

head, was also their spokesman: very funny and quite astute. They started

with all three members playing some scary processed cymbals as Braxton

played some quieter sopranino on top. The trio moved through bowing and

scraping metal, intense guitar feedback and growling electronic

noise-scapes. It reminded me of Organum at times, just not as accomplished.

They ended in a frenzy of pounding noise with screaming vocals that was

almost too much. For their encore, they offered Mr. Braxton of playing some

other hilariously titled number, or their hit "Black Vomit", and he said,

"of course"! It was a tribal, throbbing epic of slow noise that grinded,

growled and groaned until it hit its stride and exploded with Braxton

squealing sax riding on the waves. Not what anyone would have expected, but

it worked and showed how barriers occasionally disappear up at Victo. Wotta

show! CD $15

I'm looking forward to hearing this. The Duo with Fred Frith and the Sextet recording from the same festival were very good.

[Dan Gould]

That sounds like the soundtrack to hell. And no, I don't mean the Kenny G - Muzak hell, but the real, wretched, fire and brimstone, lake of fire H - E - Double Hockey Sticks HELL.

Does it help if one is completely mentally unbalanced to enjoy that "music"? I imagine it can only help.

Great name though! Surely it sounds like a musical representation of "Black Vomit". Can't wait for the smash hit follow-up, Body Convulsing Dry Heaves.

[king ubu]

Does it help if one is completely mentally unbalanced to enjoy that "music"? I imagine it can only help.

[EKE BBB]

That sounds like the soundtrack to hell. And no, I don't mean the Kenny G - Muzak hell, but the real, wretched, fire and brimstone, lake of fire H - E - Double Hockey Sticks HELL.

Does it help if one is completely mentally unbalanced to enjoy that "music"? I imagine it can only help.

Great name though! Surely it sounds like a musical representation of "Black Vomit". Can't wait for the smash hit follow-up, Body Convulsing Dry Heaves.

You better open your mind, "mainstreamer", or the forces from hell will come for you!

We can discuss the meaning of "enjoyable" music... and I´m afraid I will be closer to you than to the funnyraters....

[JSngry]

"Black Vomit" w/o Anthony Braxton = something I'd probably not miss if I went my whole life without hearing, or hearing about. Probably. Maybe it's got a good lurch and I can spazz to it, but ya' know, teen appeal is not as important to me as it used to be.

But "Black Vomit" WITH Anthony Braxton, hey, this I'd not mind hearing at least once. Braxton brings interest to everything he does. Probably be better seeing/hearing it in person, but oh well.

[Alexander Hawkins]

A mate of mine has a boot of this - I think it began circulating as soon as a week after the show. I believe he was offered the choice of 'Black Vomit' and 'Leper Death'. Seriously.

[rostasi]

I've had this for a few months now

and the description fits. As a matter of fact

it's being rodcast at this very moment.

[JSngry]

the description fits.

Whose?

[Dan Gould]

the description fits.

Whose?

Yeah, whose?

[rostasi]

the description fits.

Whose?

Yeah, whose?

The music with the DMG description. Edited May 29, 2006 by rostasi

[jasonguthartz]

That sounds like the soundtrack to hell. ...

Does it help if one is completely mentally unbalanced to enjoy that "music"?

No - but it probably helps to be corporeally balanced, i.e., open to experiencing the non-mental aspects of sound (e.g., tactile listening) - which are typically not captured (well) on recordings - and certainly lost when listening via headphones. Air vibrations (sounds) affect bodily organs other than our ears; music has a value to senses other than the rational/logocentric mind.

This article on "avant-metal" group Sunn0))) provides some insight in this regard:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/magazine/28artmetal.html

Edited May 30, 2006 by jasonguthartz