Rocknerd

Records: This Frilly Ape (2019), Amelia Arsenic (2020).

19 February, 2020 Industrial, Prog, Record 0

Yeah, need more abrasive bleepy shit.

Maximum Joy: Spotify, new album “Peace” out shortly.

15 February, 202018 February, 2020 Post-Punk 0

Nice to just have a band occur to you and discover they’re alive and well and doing things.

Grum: Deep State (2019).

5 February, 20209 April, 2020 Dance, Record 0

Experientially and holistically, this is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of work of which Grum can be pretty proud of.

Valedictions, Andy Gill

2 February, 20202 February, 2020 Post-Punk 1

Elder statesman, co-founder, and guitarist and vocalist of post-punk legends Gang of Four, Andy Gill, died on 1 February, aged 64.

2019 in music: your comprehensive and reliable global guide.

13 January, 202014 January, 2020 Industry, Live, Opinion, Record, Theatre 2

The punishment of luxury is in the air for all to see. And it’s ugly now, and it’s getting worse every day. Hey! Hey! Hey!

We Lost The Sea, Howler Bar, Melbourne, 30 November 2019.

2 December, 20192 December, 2019 Live, Metal, Prog 0

The Howler Bar in Brunswick initially looks like a large open-plan bar but has an enclosed back-room which is just the right size for bands with a moderate following, and a brilliant second bar which provides a windowed view to the stage.

We Lost The Sea: Triumph & Disaster (2019).

2 December, 20192 December, 2019 Metal, Prog, Record 0

The band started off pretty firmly in the metal genre, but transmogrified into something that is a cross between math rock and metal, like a love-child of 65daysofstatic and Dream Theater.

Gang of Four, Croxton Bandroom, November 2019

10 November, 20198 December, 2020 Live, Post-Punk 0

After being a music reviewer for over 30 years, and being a Gang of Four fan for a similar period, it is about time I owned an electric guitar.

So I picked up Andy Gill’s from the Gang of Four concert last night.

Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage: “LPs.” I feel seen.

21 September, 20192 December, 2019 Indie, Record, Rock 0

If the year was from the ’80s it was guaranteed to totally suck.

Tears for Fears, Rule The World: Greatest Hits (2017)

9 September, 20199 September, 2019 Pop, Record 0

This eighteen-month late review of Tears for Fears latest compilation, released in November 2017, absolutely has to be done, for reasons of aesthetic duty if nothing else.

The Cure, Disintegration 30 Years Anniversary, Sydney Opera House, May 2019

9 September, 20199 September, 2019 Live, Pop, Post-Punk 0

Disintegration’s popularity is absolutely deserving of a 30th anniversary and real credit is given to the band for having the courage and principle to have the entire show live-streamed and added to YouTube.

Underworld, June 1st, 2019 Sydney Opera House

9 September, 20199 September, 2019 Dance, Live 0

Possibly one of the most iconic progressive house bands of the 1990s, Underworld’s appearance at Sydney’s Vivid light and sound festival was exceptionally appropriate.

Vale Damien Lovelock, 1954-2019 — the last Celibate Rifles show, 19 May 2018.

4 August, 20194 August, 2019 Indie, Punk, Rock 0

The Celibate Rifles’ official Facebook posted a link to what turned out to be their last gig — Corner Hotel, Melbourne, 19 May 2018. Here’s the complete video.

Martin Rev on “Suicide” by Suicide.

22 July, 201922 July, 2019 Punk, Record 0

Dangerous Minds interviews Martin Rev, going through the recording process for the first Suicide album.

Record non-reviews: Cloud, Even As We Speak, Frog (2017, 2019).

19 July, 2019 Indie, Record 0

Trying to write sensible things to describe music is way too much like work. Here are things from the pile that I’ve been enjoying. Press the play buttons and make up some adjectives yourself.

Records: Nero Bellum, Am I Dead Yet?, O.R.k. (2019).

12 July, 201924 March, 2020 Industrial, Musician, Prog, Record, Rock 0

Mary Byker being precisely the right amount of too clever for his own good is a pleasing surprise when clearing down the review pile.

Records: Cortez (2018), Statiqbloom, various goths (2019).

8 July, 20198 July, 2019 Goth, Industrial, Metal, Punk, Record 0

The review pile is full of alternative buttrock industrial.

Records: The Be Positives, Boy Harsher (2019).

3 July, 20193 July, 2019 Pop, Record, Rock 0

Some new pre-punk pop-rock, and a remixed favourite.

Get the 500 Songs bonus podcasts, they’re great.

8 June, 20198 June, 2019 Radio, Writing 2

“Fuck, suck and fight/ Till the beginning of broad daylight …”

Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019).

19 May, 201920 May, 2019 Film 0

It’s a fun film if you don’t bother trying to make sense of it. And it has lots of explosions.

Severed Heads: If I’ve Told You Once I’ve Told You A 1,000 Times (1987).

16 May, 201917 May, 2019 Industrial, Record, Television 5

From the cellulose nitrate days of music video.

Records: Gang of Four, Lindy Vision (2019).

27 April, 201927 April, 2019 Post-Punk, Record 0

Andy Gill’s Gang of One turns out to be a good band making good records. And new Lindy Vision is always a delight.

Links: Mark E. Smith, keeping Nazis out of punk, have you heard about Napster?

26 April, 2019 Dance, Industry, Links, mp3, Post-Punk 0

Suspended in gaffer.

Cryptorave: Arpanet, M.E.S.H., Amnesia Scanner — Romantso, Athens, Saturday 16 February 2019

9 March, 20199 March, 2019 Dance, Live 0

Excessive quantities of pseudish babble wrapped around a surprisingly good live techno gig.

Boy Harsher: Careful (2019).

3 February, 20193 February, 2019 Goth, Industrial, Post-Punk, Record 0

Darkwave disco. I’ve been hanging out for this one, and I’m thoroughly delighted. You will be too.

Gary Numan: Savage (Songs from A Broken World) (2017).

7 January, 20198 January, 2019 Goth, Industrial, Post-Punk, Record 1

For those most familiar with the classic synth-pop Gary Numan, this will be quite different. For those who have followed Numan in the past thirty years this is not a surprise.

Mono: Nowhere Now Here (2019).

6 January, 201912 July, 2019 Prog, Record 0

Tell you what I love about Steve Albini recordings: the drums.

The The, October 5 2018, Melbourne

1 January, 20191 January, 2019 Live, Post-Punk 0

A long concert, though more amiable than epic.

Christmas links: 500 Songs bonus podcast, Lindy Vision.

25 December, 201825 December, 2018 Links, Post-Punk, Writing 0

Give yourself what you deserve today — both of these.

Links: Bauhaus, WFMU Free Music Archive saved, post-punk indie labels, Pete Shelley’s XL-1 videos, Boy Harsher.

21 December, 2018 Esoterica, Goth, Industrial, Links, Post-Punk, Punk 0

What’s important to understand about entertainment from the 60s or 70s or 80s is that the entire audience is lead-poisoned, poisoning their kids with lead, pumping drugs cut with industrial solvents bought outside their kids’ schools, which are also poisoning the kids with lead.