mick mercer
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "mick mercer" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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12:33 am
[Link] | “What goes into setting up a fanzine and why would you do it. Find out after this…”
ZINE SCENE (radio 4)
Or not. This was a pleasant low key documentary narrated by Jarvis Cocker, which explained that fanzines existed, because people either found they could do them (often in a state of shock) or because they wanted to anyway, and tomorrow we learn that they still do.
It wasn’t terribly interesting, missing out majorly by frequently mentioning Sniffing Glue without having a Mark P interview. In fact it was rubbish!
( Read more... )
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09:22 pm
[Link] |  JACQUY BITCH
STORIES FROM THE OLD YEARS
Alone Prod
As one old line-up who recorded this has since given way to a new one with two members of Brotherhood Of Pagans on board, I figured we ought to have this record here (released last year) because it’s a gloriously lively creature, dark but vibrant in its own warmth and Jacquy as you may, or may not, know is one of the best singers in the scene.
‘Mon Royaume’ sounds like it’s going to be fully of ecclesiastical excess, as Jacquy whispers like a crushed vampire, and the backing vocals could be monks come to roll him into the gutter, but it’s just a tiny intro piece, setting a mood, after which succulent bass sets ‘L’Adieu’ on collision course with the shivering, saucy vocals. He cuts through the music like a scalpel on this record, dancing in the musical moonlight like a determined lunatic. You want a comparison? Okay, think if Rozz era Christian Death had possessed a fulsome sound and were fun instead of crouched and tense. Or a loose, simpler Sex Gang? That sort of territory, where they could include extremes but throws them off like an unnecessary cloak and whirl easily, confidently, cleverly. It’s also damn catchy and welcoming, dramatic but never aloof.
( Read more... )
http://www.jacquybitch.fr
http://www.myspace.com/jacquybitch
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08:00 pm
[Link] |  VALLEY OF THE DOMMES dvd
Weird. A short (and I mean very short) film which was an entry in a 48 hour sci-fi film competition, whereby it had to be written, organised, filmed and edited during 48 hours.
And it shows, would you believe? I won’t be harsh though because the simplistic idea isn’t ham-fisted. Anti-perv detectors/detectives are in a dominatrix house and we first meet our heroine as she is frantically stabbing someone with a vibrator, with the whole vile hovel of them ousted by a dildo bomb later. There’s some decent scenes, including extravagant weblike rope bondage and stitched lips, there’s even music from H. Zombie, Niceville and Paul Mercer, so you laugh and point and go ‘ah, recognise that!’ BUT…it ends in a way that makes you go, wait a minute, that’s a bit like the start of a second episode, only to check the understandably skimpy extras and see it was originally part two?
Anyway, I dare say it was fun to make and certainly not boring to watch. Director John Le Broq had, as part of the rules, to include specific lines of dialogue, props and actions so that must have been quite a challenge. Ultimately, anything which takes the piss out of the fetish scene has two things going for it. It’s a relief, because people can get so bloody serious about something which looks, to an outsider, as quite ludicrous. It also makes it instantly visual, so there’d be potential for a BBC3/4 spinoff.
http://www.myspace.com/niceville2 - trailer via the blog.
http://drivebyshootingfilms.co.uk/
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11:52 pm
[Link] |  VARJO
MUISTIJÄLKIÄ
Future records
So here we are again with their most recent album, following the earlier release of ‘Paratiisissa’ reviewed last week, where ‘Muistiarpia’ swiftly reveals we have moved away from the obvious reference points into darkly artistic, adventurous modern slumbers, waking dreams of rich imaginations. Shining guitar, stirring drums, and an intoxicating atmosphere. Then switch and introduce vocals in the tingly bounce of the genteel ‘Tulva’ which becomes a rollicking catchy glide.
‘Liftari’ is a more contemplative piece, slowing and vocally dominated, all graciously poised and lightly intriguing, with the pace and mood thickening and quickening during a demanding ‘Meillä On Räjähteitä’ with the vocals grim and sour, the drums swamping the twists and the guitar flaying itself quietly, and it’s the most immediate of the songs, like a giant Goth porcupine rolling downhill.
( Read more... )
http://www.myspace.com/varjoyhtye
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12:18 am
[Link] | We were at a place called Claremount Gardens this afternoon (pronounced Clare-mont), leisurely enjoying a guided walk where Lynda follows all the details and anecdotes, while I lag behind, camera to keep happy. At one point I rounded a corner, reuniting myself with the group, and saw something moving in the nearby undergrowth, provoking an instinctive response.
“BUNNY!” I shouted, and luckily my immediate embarrassment was assuaged by the fact everybody else was already looking at the rabbit (now running away, bobtail visible), so I got away with that outburst. (Lynda joined me in a Bunny shout too.)
You see that shape? That’s all that remains of a Pugin mausoleum. I don’t know why but it’s oddly reassuring to think he had a plain brick base for one of his constructions.
( Read more... )
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01:13 am
[Link] |  GUTTER DEMONS
Misery, Madness And Murder Lullabies
Own Label Promo
Montreal Psychobilly madmen here, and what a fun record. Spindly but robust country guitar has been used to great effect in Goth since the Neffs blew life into the idea, and covered it in modern dust, but if anyone’s going to use it with dexterity it’ll be a rockabilly or Psychobilly band, so ‘Guilty’ nips off gleefully with some thin, gleaming guitar. It’s a taut, basic rhythm and wiggly tune, with some charismatic but lightweight vocals as if Johnny Toxik respects the song and doesn’t want to dominate.
‘Follow’ shows from Custom Pat’s manic drums just why Psychobilly was such a hit with Punk kids when it appeared, because it has the same striped-down approach as American hardcore. Brief hyperventilating rhythm surges and a vocal melody verging close to Lemmy (seriously!) collides with a real jaunty curvature and you’ll be singing along like a lunatic before you realise. An eerie wind blows across ‘House By The Cemetery’ which proves to be as rowdy as it is dowdy. Flipper’s bass bosses the fragrant, chant-boosted ‘Sunday.’ A song like ‘The Offer’ just keeps busy and rumbles along sleekly, but doesn’t carry the same weight or impact, although the scratchy guitar is cute. ‘Snakepit’ is a direct and intense linear instrumental, surging over rhythmical potholes.
( Read more... )
http://www.myspace.com/gutterdemons
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03:11 pm
[Link] | I'm not sure how to access the archive recordings on the BBC site as I don't have the right player on my pc, hence the fairly rudimentary url I provide, but I want to recommend that anybody who can has a listen to the play broadcast yesterday (Thursday 17th), narrated by Bill Nighy, entitled I Wish To Apologise For My Part in the Apocalypse, as it was brilliant. A man initially bemoans the changes in his wife's behaviour and obsession with the moon until she admits she is romantically inclined towards it and, this being the twist, the moon is reciprocating her feelings. The moon isn't, as she first suggests, getting bigger, it is in fact getting nearer. The Earth is in great danger, and in a rare demonstration of British ire a local resident's group, alerted to the news that the moon is coming for her, storm round to complain, demanding the pair get out. He tells them not to be so ridiculous and they all leave, muttering. (Not quite the Hollywood approach.) The ending is a bit of a surprise, but the whole thing was a delight.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/afternoon_play.shtml
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12:55 am
[Link] |  SONVER & ELEPHANT LEAF
3 SONGS
Lineout
A strange one this, involving two projects uniting from the worlds of ambient and minimal, which could mean the first mineral bambi movement. Mr Lineout himself says, “although the three songs are relatively disparate in style they fit together perfectly, this is one to listen to in one go,” and he’s right, although being so short you’d have to being living a jetstream life not to be listening in one go.
So, SonVer are an experimental band from the UK and Elephant Leaf come from Belgium and the first last songs are Sonver material with Elephant Leaf added, the middle tune an Elephant Leaf piece with Sonver absorbed.
( Read more... )
http://www.lineoutrecords.com/bands/SonVer/3Songs
http://www.sonver.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/elephantleaf
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01:57 am
[Link] |  DEVOLUTION Issue 17
This is all fine. Apparently they have a new look coming up with the next issue which will be interesting, as with a slightly clearer layout and improved reviews section (which does look rather drab, light on the live side too) and maybe even slightly richer colours Devolution will look like a posh ‘proper’ mag, and I think rock fans (its main forte) go for that sort of thing, yet it will retain a fresh feel, so that’s all to the good. Also they have gone mad this time and there’s a 2CD 30 track freebie!
This time round the rock content really dominates, with Cavalera Conspiracy, Die So Fluid, Hardcore Superstar, a cheeky chat with Julian Angel, a lively Dropkick Murphys encounter and James from Megadeth, which I would have thought constituted something of a coup? The history of Def Leppard is, um, exactly.
None of that really thrilled me, nor did I expect it to, but the offshoot pieces are interesting, especially the Absinthe (can’t abide the stuff!) tasting, and a chat with Arlene Russo (of Bite Me, and her Vampire Nation book). You get model Andromeda X, frank and pessimistic photographer in Elizabeth Chiyoko, fashion spreads on Dead Threads and Boobie Trap Corsets and custom Barbie dolls from Dolls By Passion. In the Saint Or Sinner? corner you get Scarlet form Theatres Des Vampires, there’s something entitled Plucking Hellfire which I couldn’t fathom out at all and an interview with a hypnotherapist, but how would you know they hadn’t made you print nice things, hmmm?)
( Read more... )
http://www.devolutionmagazine.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/devolutionmagazine
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03:35 am
[Link] | http://www.prick-tees.com
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11:59 pm
[Link] |  DARK HORIZON
GOLD, BLOOD & GLORY
Black Heat
Okay, so I can’t say my spider senses are tingling, but my ears are certainly wigging, and I predict a name change! There is already a Dark Horizon in the Goth scene, so these Electro-Goth newcomers have caused themselves a lot of problems when a simple myspace search would have eased their embarrassment considerably. Basically a duo, Rory Eastwood and John Skinner, this debut EP also includes vocalist Alison Reed and Robert Cowlin (of The Mumbles, who I will be interviewing shortly), and according to their myspace page there’s six songs, but I can only find five.
( Read more... )
http://www.myspace.com/darkhorizonofficial
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03:37 am
[Link] | 
We popped over to Strawberry Hill House again for their annual fun day and God looked kindly on this event. After several days of relentless grot the skies cleared and it was lovely.
( Read more... )
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01:15 am
[Link] | Okay, okay, I realise the year is actually all over even this journal page but I never notice things like that. I thought I was 52 next week, but it turns out it isn't 2009 yet at all! "You were fifty last year darling," Lynda just informed me. I had to admit I never remember stuff like that and it's just as well, surely, as I just gained a year! Time, place, memory ~ just random concepts to me. :)
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07:42 pm
[Link] | Final opportunity for photo inclusion in my new book
On the grounds that it's better to get material in than not, if any of you who have entries going in my new book but didn't send a photo before, please send a hi-res shot now, as the designer is starting assessing the content now and preparing for layout. If you can get me an image before Tuesday morning the final batch of images are being delivered to him.
A jpeg please - 300dpi minimum, preferably somewhere between 1 and 9mb (definitely no bigger!) to e-mail behind the cut( Read more... )
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03:47 am
[Link] |  VARJO
PARATIISISSA
Future Records
A fascinating Finnish band of melodic Gothic sensibilities that I felt it important you know about, having received their past two albums. They’re old releases, with this from 2003 and Muistijälkiä, which will be reviewed in a few day,s coming from 2006, but they’re sheer delights, and the band, going since the mid-90’s, includes Henry who is also in Angelica Kult that I reviewed recently.
‘Astetta Kylmempi Aamu’ reminded me instantly of the subtle stylish beauty of Zero Le Creche with its slow burning guitar and deftly discreet drumming, vocals shadowy in the softly atmospheric Goth where the mood is set by hypnotic guitar. ‘Paniikki’ quickens the pace and sets up an imploring mood, although it’s too brief to grip onto, moving swiftly into the equally attractive ‘Helvetin Kuuma Päivä’ and this is a liquid form of music, the guitar gradually boiling and vocals rising, scalded, to the surface.
( Read more... )
http://www.myspace.com/varjoyhtye
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03:23 am
[Link] | If anyone from the following bands is reading can you please send me another image for the book as the one you sent seems a trifle small.
Acid Bats, Angelikka and Demons, Darkness Visible, Dead Sea Surfers, The Eternal, Behind The Scenes, Bell Hollow, Blitz Kid, Cassandra Complex, Cosmic Vampires, Crud, Daemonia, Nymphe, Decius Doom, Disjecta Membra, Elegia, Endraum, Faith & Disease, Gorgonas, Harlots Of Beyond, Huron, Imbolg, Lovespirals, Mortiis, Stone 558, Suzie Zuzek, Tenebrarum, The Knutz. They need 300dpi, minimum, and as a rule of thumb over 1mb in size is preferred. (My email address is behind the cut.)
Now – am I psychic or what? 21st Century Goth was about 130,000 words and so there was no reason to imagine that Music To Die For would be greatly different. What is the final word count? How close was I?
( Read more... )
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10:46 pm
[Link] |  IANVA
DISOBBEDISCO!
Il Levriero
I ounce turned down the chance to review Ianva on the grounds I felt they were involved with the Neo -folk movement, which I’d condemned for clearly being mired by right wing nutters, who hoped to slip under the radar to turn out tuneless drivel due to the basic nature of the form. People reacted with fury when I suggested this, only for members of bands in the ‘movement’ to email me and admit they were deeply disturbed by the way the scene was going and for these reasons deeply sceptical about its survival. It has since pretty much vanished up its own grimy backside, because those involved were not prepared to speak out but there’s an equally tedious groundswell of ‘martial’ music which still appeals to same slobs who roll like discarded turds behind the skirting boards of decency.
Ianva are, thankfully, nothing like either of those scenes, but they do have a militaristic theme inside this work, which seemingly looks back to the 1918-1920 period in Italian history and which for all I know does handle old Fascist characters, but it seems more a commentary on the Futurist phase behind a country’s bleak collapse. The booklet had ancient photos, but no clear story emerges to me. Obviously better known as lovers than fighters, Italy’s modern past is a mystery to me, but it gives the music and settings a curious tone, almost detached and regal, funnily enough.
( Read more... )
http://www.myspace.com/ianva
http://www.illevriero.it/ianva
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09:10 pm
[Link] | Ooh, I forgot to mention, that having gone to bed about 5am this morning I was rudely awoken by Lynda about half an hour later remarking urgently, ‘what the f**k?’ and surging down the stairs in her nightie (yes, she always keeps stairs there).
( Read more... )
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03:57 pm
[Link] | Lynda and I have been singing to one another instead of talking. Try it. Very difficult.
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12:44 am
[Link] |  SHADOWPLAY
SHADOWPLAY
Own Label
Having agreed to review this knowing they’re Goth Metal with a rocky past, who also use the term Prog, I would be a charlatan if I then trotted out my usual dislike of rock and poured scorn n their efforts. I already know it isn’t my comprehensive cauldron of tea, but some of you rascals actually have a penchant for truculent, histrionic rock, and so I look instead of what the elements which have melody and dignity.
Originally called Modus Vivendi they confess to being strongly influenced by Dream Theater and Queensryche, a combination too abominable to contemplate but with various line-up changes they have put away their bombastic past and now sound like a tormented Berlin, which is at least accessible to these ears, with opener ‘Faded’ built upon pretty synth and delicate female vocals, with a succulent chorus, as a guitar storm cloud threatens to break into deluge, but makes do with the menacing stepped approach that many ‘dark’ guitarists favour. ‘Alone’ treads heavy water, guitar and keyboards passing like basking sharks beneath the singers legs, until some weirdly pomped-up vocal choir open curtain like onto some muted Zep riff, and I’m confused by it all. It’s pretty, certainly, but I’m not sure what it’s doing as it skips on to a fruity guitar and fluttery emotive finale, like a power ballad with balustrades on.
( Read more... )
http://www.myspace.com/shadowplayband
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