It’s not you it’s me, etc. and so on.
There has been a lot of drunken debate in dimly lit bars as to whether last place (aka performing a Pyatnitski) in a Pyatnitski Walrus actually goes down in the history books as a first place.
5 Likes
OK, podium. Whilst this category might have been my favourite yet the podium and even the order felt clear from the very first listen, and, apart from a non-musical complication that we’ll address shortly, nothing really shook my thinking. Onwards…
In third place with eight points
Burzum - Dunkelheit
I never thought Walrus would cause me such personal reflection. Bohemian Rhapsody, Alice in Chains, and now this, having to admit I’m a fan of far right, Nazi music. Dear me, and this really isn’t the forum to do it on.
Burzum, for those of you who don’t know, is the Norwegian black metal musician who infamously killed one of his fellow ‘norse’ fetishists and got put in jail. He’s an awful human being, and in reading about him for the first time in a long time I found out he’s out, living in France and has been convicted of anti-semitism. He also made some really good music in the early 90s.
I used to have “Hvis Lyset Tar Oss”, which I think is considered his masterpiece and was properly excellent. Long, monotonous, horrendously recorded but beautifully bleak music. I got uncomfortable about owning it ages ago now and haven’t thought about him since, but it seems silly to deny that this track—from an album recorded around the same time—ploughs the same furrow that I remember and is very good. There’s more vocals than I recall, and they’re easily the weakest element, but the obsessive, hermetic nature of the sound just has something about it.
I won’t be going back to his work again I don’t think, thankfully there’s plenty of great music made by none Nazis, but this was the third best track and so that’s where it landed.
2 Likes
Perfect description.
I still can’t quite hit the top 3 though
Check out the album Psychocandy, its a masterpiece imo
1 Like
It was me. I was worried about the background of the artist being an issue for some.
My less controversial pick was this, but it had too many non-noisy lyric parts.
3 Likes
In second place with nine points
Big Star - Holocaust
When I wrote part of the description for this category—“the bleakest burst of existential horror you can take”—I was thinking of a particular song, and one of you only went and submitted it. Well done and you’re very unlucky you didn’t win the category with it.
This is off of what’s possibly my favourite album in the world ever, Big Star’s aborted Third album that never really came out, but which has appeared in various forms over the years (and these days the whole studio session is out there).
It’s an astonishing piece of work, sometimes touching on the pop sound that had characterised their albums before that, but often sounding so fragile, delicate and depressed that it seems if everyone involved lost concentration for a second the songs would just collapse from existence there and then. If great albums establish a unique sound and mood then it’s unparalleled.
This is one of many great tracks, but is the closest to a break down. As the submitter also highlights the last three lines are what do it:
You’re a wasted face
You’re a sad-eyed lie
You’re a holocaust.
3 Likes
I have a sinking feeling that cassette has won yet another category and I need to set another more achievable Walrus goal…
In first place with ten points
Lingua Ignota - DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR
Part of me wonders if I’m being trolled with this submission, but, if so I don’t care—like Sparks last time this one blew my little socks off. I won’t be capable of highlighting even a small percentage of why I like this so much. One thing is definitely the section starting about 4:20 in where it gets properly scary. The base is thunderous and she’s screaming almost full throttle and it’s just amazing.
One of the things that I think is both little appreciated, but also very pointless if you just hate it, is that making music as non melodic as this absolutely requires tremendous and pretty traditional technical skill. I think that’s more in evidence with this than a lot of noise music, so it might be something to cling to if this just isn’t your bag. Give it a go, it’s tremendous.
If not, though, no problem, and, as she says near the end, “throw your body in the fucking river.”
5 Likes
I like that. trippy af
1 Like
That is my child.
Not a troll, lol. Though I see why you might think that. I love it. Beautiful and genuinely scary, imo. Her Wikipedia page is worth reading for some important background if you’re into this.
2 Likes
1 Like
OK everyone, let’s all quieten down again now. Probably no reveal till Tuesday at the earliest as I’ve not really started on 4 yet. I’ll leave you for now with the best quietest music I know, Morton Feldman’s incredible Piano and String Quartet. Just rest.
(I guess it’s probably still depressing. Never mind.)
3 Likes
Thanks Pyatnitski for another entertaining reveal. This was a great category and I look forward to checking out the podium when I am back at my laptop.
2 Likes
I was at a child’s birthday party for most of the reveal. Looking forward to checking these out tonight!
2 Likes
If you are still there I think the tracks from this reveal will be a great addition to the atmosphere. Start with third place.
5 Likes
Holocaust was mine. I was torn between that, which I knew Pyat would know and love, and the bleakest track from Berlin, easily the most depressing album I’ve heard.
1 Like
I have some listening to do tomorrow.
1 Like
This reveal is the worst playlist I’ve ever heard, so congratulations all. By comparison, Melt Banana is a paragon of euphony.
3 Likes
Track 3 forever! three is the number of the counting. big time. with that background OP provided on the artist holy shite.
and the use of obsessive and hermetic to describe the sound. brilliant
he’s like Eric Johnson in a sense @smrk4, to compare 2 most alien artists, in that EJ, too, seemed insulated or protected from outside influences - hermetically sealed.
holy shit, I’m baked. I removed the screen from my bowl, and I got some massive hits lol
4 Likes