“belle_academe”
Alison’s Halo
Eye Dazzler 1992-1996
Burnt Hair
It’s unfortunate that retrospectives (particularly indie ones) often suffer due to outdated recording technology. The songs are tuneful and well-written, and while not lacking in distinction never really hit you like you know they could. The music itself is slightly reminiscent of early Jesus & Mary Chain, Psychocandy era. It’s easy to understand why no matter how lacking the mix may be, I’ll still find time to enjoy it. Burnt Hair Records, P.O. Box 5519, Dearborne, MI 48125
Belle Academe
Shimmer
Swingerland
With a nod to sparse luminaries the Pixies and a big waggle of the finger to a bushel of girl-fronted late ’80s alternative (the Divinyls come to mind, as do the Heartthrobs), Belle Academe provide a dozen-plus tracks of music that’s pleasing if a bit unoriginal. Swingerland Records, P.O. Box 481249, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Big Dirty Beats
Various Artists
Moonshine
Where Living Color failed, big beat succeeds and Moonshine brings forth evidence of the smashing union between the street sound of funk and the seductive abrasion of guitar driven rock. Witness the remixes of the notorious Fatboy Slim along with the works of Monkey Mafia, Bassbin Twins, The Blood Suckas and other icons of the hour. Pure energy is the name of the game and the jury gets an earful of the wickedest in your face sound around. Moonshine Music, 8525 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Check This Out Too!
Various Artists
One Foot
This compilation of punk and HXC bands from the left coast does well to illustrate the DIY ethic. While most of the tracks fall somewhere between the East Bay and So Cal there’s little variation other than the subtle production quality. Bands contributing include: Garage Fuzz, Adhesive, Crank, Latex Generation, Kid With Man Head, Blitz Babies, Stoned, Tie That Binds, Gameover, Horace Pinker, The Drapes, Funbox, Gutfiddle and Electric Frankenstein. Happy-go-lucky popcore sans the overproduced wankage. One Foot Records, P.O. Box 30666, Long Beach, CA 90853
Collective Noyze
Themes from the X-Files/Titanic
Sci-Fi/NMD
Cha-ching! These dance mixes of two of the most popular themes of the last year are hot off the dance floors of latenight mecca Port St. Lucie, Fla., and high on the novelty factor, but stop short of being legitimate cash-ins by adding some interesting florishes. Fans of The X-Files or Titanic will be delighted – for others, it’s a toss-up. Dig that wild pitch on the “New York Masta Mix” of “Southampton.” NMD, (914) 365-0369
Fun’da’mental
Erotic Terrorism
Beggars Banquet
Highly-charged political turbo-hop, a supercharged blend of industrial, rap, and just about any other aggressive music form you can think of. Fans of Consolidated, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Spearhead et al know what this is all about. Not for the meek: album artwork is a mix of corpse photos and the universal declaration of human rights. Beggars Banquet, 580 Broadway, Suite 1004, New York, NY 10012
Gob
Too Late… No Friends [Reissue]
Fearless
This was originally put out on a label out of Canada, so I’m not sure if this is a reissue or just a ploy to distributing it easier domestically. Either way, I’m glad it’s staying in print and getting around still. Solid, gritty punk rock with the right amount of catchiness. It’s survived the short-term test of time as a really good record. Fearless Records, 13772 Goldenwest St. #545, Westminster, CA 92683
Hellspawn
Extreme Metal meets Extreme Techno
Earache
Why not? Mix Morbid Angel with The Berserker, mix Napalm Death with Delta 9, mix Dub War with Panacea, Mix Brutal Truth with Freak, Mix Godflesh with Justin Broadrick (er, mix Godflesh by Godflesh?), Mix Misery Loves Company with Pitch Shifter. Total death and brutality metal with extreme beats. It works and is to be enjoyed by ravers and fans of black metal everywhere. Earache America, 295 Lafayette St, Ste 915, New York, NY 10012-2700; http://www.earache.com
DJ John Kelley
Knee Deep
Moonshine
John Kelley spins a mix of California sunshine… er, make that moonshine… to lure lost souls to the dancefloor in the style of his equally engaging Funkydesertbreaks. It’s enough to stem the tide of British big beat/drum and bass that has been invading the world’s turntables of late. He gets by with a little help from his west coast Moontribe friends doing it to fellow neighbors Uberzone, Brownie and CJ Bolland, and Florida’s own DJ Icey. Moonshine Music, 8525 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
The Law Of The Land
Various Artists
Thrive
Amusingly perverse cover art acts as a lure to this self-described excursion into drum’n’bass. Aficionados of the mosquito buzz of snare and furiously intense bass lines will swoon to the abundant jazzy insinuations. This is a virtual sampler of what’s hip and American from around the continent. http://www.thriverecords.com
Love And Rockets
Resurrection Hex
Red Ant
Love And Rockets reinterpret themselves with the first two remixes from the “Resurrection Hex” sessions. Don’t be surprised when the signature bassline from a Bauhaus track makes its way into the melody. They’ve tastefully altered their sound to suit this finicky and specialized market. Even so they have enlisted some of the more commercially viable postproduction teams in the business Deep Dish, KMFDM, Mood II Swing, and bad boy Keoki.
Next Step
Various Artists
Shadow
The Next Step would be a two-step process. Begin with a nifty, cool synth or piano or sax jazz-type bassline and layer it with everyone’s new friend for the ’90s, drum and bass – domestic or imported. What transpires is a tranquil daydream with a train-on-the-tracks echo to while away an astoundingly pleasant period of time. Aficionados of jazz: consider this your indoctrination to the jungle. Shadow Records, 111 E. 14th St. #334, New York, NY 10003
Pulling Birds
County Fair
This 10-song self-produced CD of hooky pop reminded me of early-era For Squirrels, which turned out to be pretty eerie when the guy who gave me the CD told me that Pulling Birds went to the same high school as that earlier band. Very good two-guitar pop. Pulling Birds, P.O. Box 15445, Tampa, FL 33684-5445
Sunset Valley
The New Speed
Sugar Free
Great insistent guitar tunes, full of unexpected melodies and clever arrangements. The band also has a good grasp of the lyrical hook – “It’s hot as fuego/ In San Diego,” from “Met My Mako” – and shine like prison klieg-lights in the Pixies-inspired “Red Thai Sunday.” The jouncy gait of “Blanketville” will have you nodding your head in time with those spiky guitars. A band worth watching… Sugar Free Records, P.O. Box 14166, Chicago, IL 60614
Trip Theory
Something For Your Mind
Intersound
Heckle and Jeckle, french fries and mayo go together like DJ Trip and DJ Theory, more local lads making soundwaves on the Florida shoreline. Hear them tweak their cut up beats and whip up some riveting old school and watch the crowd go wild. Trip Theory exhibits the quintessential electro-dance characteristics known to underground dancers everywhere. Intersound Inc., P.O. Box 1724, Roswell, GA 30077; http://intersoundmusic.com
