0022 – Forget The Times – Soul Music Vinyl Record

Music Review Blog Forget The Times Cover

Artist: Forget The TimesForget The Times Vinyl Record Pond
Album: Soul Music
Label: Already Dead Tapes
Release Date: Feb 21, 2012
Format: Vinyl Record

Forget The Times are a noise rock band from Kalamazoo, Michigan. This release came out in 2012 on “Already Dead Tapes.” The treatment of this record features a simple fold over style heavy weight paper cover and standard black vinyl. The graphics on the cover art are a line drawing featuring 2 men playing a game looks sort of like checkers, maybe. Additionally the center logo on the record itself is a nice touch. Great layout and design all the way around!

Soul Music Review Vinyl on PondThere is a sound that is contained within this record, I would best sum it up as a frenzied jazzy wall of noise. At moments, part jam band and the next moment jazz ensemble.

The intro song, “Romans in Storage,” has what sounds to be a zombie chorus. Short and noisy it’s over as quickly as it begins. Up next, “Marion Morrison” has a sparse sound that I found really enjoyable. The drums are plodding an almost rudimentary beat, while the guitars jangle back and forth across the stereo field. The song has a looseness and effortlessness that is refreshing, overall just real chill and enjoyable.

The longest track is “From The Basement To The Grave” which again brings sparse guitar noise and accents as the mainstay, while small hints of jangly percussion clank alongside, but not really with. The song has the feel of a total jam, unplanned chaos and noise rule throughout. At 6 minutes in I find myself wondering where is this going, what am I doing here, who am I.Soul Music Review Vinyl Record Under Tree

The track name and sonic landscape that comes next is “Alarm Clock Celebration” and it works to cleanse the ear pallet from the 8 minute jam that preceded. This track is short and brief. I like it!

“Dead Slint” is as much of a normal song as can be had on this album. The drums are formulating a more standard beat and the bass carries a rhythm alongside. The guitars stay in the realm of twinkly stereo noisescape.

The second to last track clocks in at just over seven minutes and consists of a return to the free form style jam. This song seems to have a beginning and an end – but the in between is a mess of guitar noise and ramble jamble drums.

“Pillows And Blankets” is the closer, with a more structured back bone at the outset. The bass carries a rhythm as guitars swell alongside in a slow drone. This is a nice change in the pacing of the chaotic mess that had been so prominent in previous tracks. Simpler, bordering on drone, this track has some of my favorite moments on the album. The sparse openness that is achieved allows everything to breathe, and lets the tone of the drone shine.

Forget the Times are unconstrained and with that not everything is a hit. However,  when it is, it’s very memorable. The recording is spot on, the artwork is stellar, and the music contained is unique and interesting I look forward to delving into the catalog further with this group. Click the links below to check out more about these guys and the label.

Forget The Times On BandcampMusic Review Blog Vinyl Record Landscape

Forget The Times On Facebook

Already Dead Tapes

Music Review Blog Photos by Nibiinabekwe Hawks Michigan
Photos by Nibiinabekwe – Co Rd. 634, Hawks, Michigan.

0006 – Cavalcade – Swale 7″

Artist: Cavalcade
Album: Swale
Label: Bermuda Mohawk Productions
Release Date: Dec 10th 2013
Format: Vinyl 7”

I believe I got this 7” at the release show, a very long time ago. I then promptly lost it in the shuffle of life, only to be re-found when I recently got a new record shelf and organization system. Hurrah for me because this one is a gem! Swale is a 7″ with a minimal brown sleeve featuring a monster stamp as the main focal point. I really like the layout of this release, done by Craig Horky, who not only is a prolific and unique artist, but also the bassist of Cavalcade. I believe as an added aside this is Sean Peters first release with the band, replacing Zak Warren on vocals.

“Swale,” the opening track, comes in slow and weird, in typical Cavalcade fashion, building up into a crashing swaying mess of noise. “Metronome On Sleep” is the highlight track for me; it has a hard groove with lots of intricacies, eerie melodies shine through the sound-wall amid the chaos.

Cavalcade is a strange carnival of a band and the music is a perfect representation of that. Stoner metal meets punk rock meets who the hell knows what or where. The noise flows in and out while a Gollum spits and sputters vocals through the mix. The recording on this release is well mixed and presented, taking the listener under the tent with Cavalcade. I have always enjoyed catching these guys live, whether in a basement or a stinky dive bar, Brad always brings the headbanging while the other guys bring the weird. 

 

Cavalcade on Facebook

Cavalcade Bandcamp

Bermuda Mohawk Productions

 

Photos by Nibiinabekwe, Gaffney Creek, Salina Rd, Alpena County Michigan.

0005 – Earth – Live At Third Man Records

Artist: Earth
Album: Live At Third Man Records
Label: Third Man Records
Release Date: Nov 24th 2017
Format: Vinyl LP

Earth – Live at Third Man Records is the second part of a 2 part experience. The first being Boris – Live at Third Man, both recorded on the 2016 tour the bands endeavored together. I had the privilege of checking the show out in Grand Rapids, which stands as one of my all time favorites. I had yet to catch them live, and the chance to do it with not only with Boris, but with a stripped down traditional setup of drums bass and guitar from Earth. Dylan Carlson even came out for the encore at the end of the Boris set, playing an old Earth song with Boris! Continue reading “0005 – Earth – Live At Third Man Records”

0004 – Boris – Live At Third Man Records

Artist: Boris
Album: Live At Third Man Records
Label: Third Man Records
Release Date: Nov 29th 2017
Format: Vinyl LP

This album Boris – Live At Third Man Records, along with the next I will review, are special to me. I got a chance to see this tour that they were recorded on. Boris is by far one of my most loved bands and with the addition of seeing them with Earth, I considered this a once in a Continue reading “0004 – Boris – Live At Third Man Records”