Bergisch-Brandenburgisches Quartett

Formed in 1980, Bergisch-Brandenburgisches Quartett seems to have been actively playing together for a rather long time, yet to my knowledge released only one record: 1982's self-titled album on GDR's Amiga. Consisting of Sven-Åke Johansson, Rüdiger Carl, guitar innovator Hans Reichel (not sure whether daxo.de ist his site) and Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky (who was something like the GDR's export free jazz musician, being one of the few who, among other locations, played in the U.S.; apart from the three other guys of the quartet, he also played in the Globe Unity Orchestra, etc.), the band delivers music so good it makes you curse the only-one-album thing and crave for bootlegs. Here are three tracks.



Download Bergisch-Brandenburgisches Quartett - Empfindungen und Nachempfindungen (VBR, 5,35 mb)
Download Bergisch-Brandenburgisches Quartett - Kalldautzki (VBR, 9,21 mb)
Download Bergisch-Brandenburgisches Quartett - Neapolitanische Schwermut (VBR, 12,6 mb)
(Amiga doesn't seem to list the record anymore. However, if you should find it anywhere new, keep in mind that Sony BMG owns Amiga since 1994, and thus probably their whole back catalogue. Sony BMG is a member of the RIAA; if you do not know what that is, read on them before you consider buying: Wikipedia; Boycott-RIAA.com).

Midrash Mish Mosh

Aaron Alexander presented a very, very fine album in 2004 with Midrash Mish Mosh, featured in Tzadik's Radical Jewish Culture series and situated somewhere in a place where klezmer meets avantgarde and jazz. There's a whole bunch of musucians on the record - here are the playful Peep Nokh A Mol and Balagan Balaban, which balances on a line between total chaos and extremely tight structure - imagine maybe a dozen of violent but fun madmen, all kept in a small room.


Download Aaron Alexander - Peep Nokh A Mol (192 kbps, 7,45 mb)
Download Aaron Alexander - Balagan Balaban (192 kbps, 9,97 mb)
Buy Aaron Alexander - Midrash Mish Mosh from Tzadik (RIAA-free!)

Die Kosmische Zygote

Another wonderful piece by Aalfang Mit Pferdekopf, this time in collaboration with Sascha Stadlmeier, also known as Emerge. This one's entitled Die Kosmische Zygote and is a double re-working of another original piece by Aalfang Mit Pferdekopf which, to my knowledge, hasn't been released. Enjoy.

Download Aalfang Mit Pferdekopf & Emerge - Die Kosmische Zygote (256 kbps, 42,4 mb)
Buy Die Kosmische Zygote from taâlem (RIAA-free!)

Man On Stilts

Shark Quest make instrumental music, heavy on guitars, banjo and mandolin plus sometimes strings; their sound is often referred to as soundtrack-like, although I really don't see that point. The music can, indeed, be working in the background, but for a soundtrack, it still isn't not "supportive" enough. Man On Stilts may not be exactly something you'd call an overwhelming record - depending on the mood, you might perceive it as either neat or just plain shallow - but it's worth a listen, and might be a fine record to wake up to. Two tracks off of it here today. Enjoy.


Download Shark Quest - Hugging Is Affecting China (192 kbps, 5,97 mb)
Download Shark Quest - Here Sparky (192 kbps, 8,33 mb)
Buy Shark Quest - Man On Stilts from Merge Records (RIAA-free!)

Im Schlachthaus Blümen die Blumen

So about a week ago, I was wandering around in the district of Leipzig I live in, to the bank, then shopping for food. It must have been Saturday afternoon, the party folk haven't yet arrived and the working folk have already called it a day so there was barely anyone out in the streets, and I was listening to Aalfang Mit Pferdekopf. The name would at first suggest some neo-kraut band but is apparently a reference to Günther Grass' novel The Tin Drum and the band is an experimental ambient/avantgarde sound collage group. I first heard of them via Drone Records and recently got some other records of them - beautiful. I give you the first track off Im Schlachthaus Blühen die Blumen.



Download Aalfang mit Pferdekopf - Yahonami (VBR, 27,1 mb)
Buy Aalfang Mit Pferdekopf - Im Schlachthaus Blühen Die Blumen from Ex Ovo (RIAA-free!)

Blyaha-muha!

Folks, I know what you have been asking yourselves in the last days. I know you couldn't sleep, and, while lying awake in your bed, you were occupied by just one thought. One unsolved mystery that, you knew it, wouldn't let you be, wouldn't let you lead your life normally if it wouldn't be resolved eventually. And today, I am ready to present you the answer - yes, Antificial Weblog 2.0 is, in fact, back on track and new posts hopefully will come in at least once a day.

Today I give you something I found on a sampler called "Soviet Punk Rock Anthology". I couldn't manage to find out anything about the sampler, however, I knew the song from a Russian math/indie-rock band Tequilajazzz who played it at a concert later released as the Moloko live album. The band's leader, Yevgeniy Fyodorov, played in a band called Obyekt Nasmeshek in the 80's and the early 90's; in fact, all three members of the original Tequilajazzz line-up did at one point or another.

Apparently, they were influenced by the New Romantic phenomenon at the beginning, then turned to punk rock. Both things show on the track; it's a neat punk-pop song, and people who like The Clash, The Soft Boys or the Buzzcocks sure will enjoy it. It's also sweet how the singer obviously imitates Johnny Rotten. Have fun.

Download Obyekt Nasmeshek - Blyaha-Muha (VBR, 4,90 mb)
Buy a compilation called "Legendy Russkogo Roka" by Obyekt Nasmeshek from RussianDVD.com (RIAA-free!)

Download Tequilajazzz - Blyaha-Muha (VBR, 4,04 mb)
Buy Tequilajazz - Moloko from RussianDVD.com (RIAA-free!)

Shut up! Don't cry.

Although the Monks only released one album in 1966, over the years they have become one of the most influential 60's groups to emerge. The Fall have learned a lot from them (also, they have overed their songs numerous times), and the Silver Monk Time tribute album features groups such as Mouse From Mars, The Raincoats, Jason Forrest, Faust and others. Among the many garage bands of their time, they also belonged to the most original ones. Just listen to those raw, repetative riffs. Three tracks off Black Monk Time.


Download The Monks - Monk Time (192 kbps, 3,81 mb)
Download The Monks - Shut Up! (192 kbps, 4,44 mb)
Download The Monks - I Hate You (192 kbps, 4,92 mb)
Buy The Monks - Black Monk Time from somewhere (RIAA-free!)