mickmercer (original) (raw)
mick mercer
[Recent Entries][Archive][Friends][Profile]
Below are the 10 most recent journal entries recorded in the "mick mercer" journal:
| March 31st, 2014 | |
|---|---|
| _11:45 pm_[Link] | MARK SINNISIT’S BEEN A LONG COLD HARD LONELY WINTER9TH RECORDINGS – NR916 chilly blasts to warm your heart, and no mistake.‘It's Been A Long Cold Hard Lonely Winter’ itself sets the tone, loping music you can imagine in a downcast cowboy film, and the devil keeps knocking at his door, which isn’t what you want. With Mark’s warm vocal tones it’s catchy and keep expecting a quick ‘yippie ki-yay’ but nope, none of that. ‘Wine And Whiskey And The Devil Makes Three’ is equally comfy country, someone having a shite time singing about it with mellow manners, a fiddle drifting, drums brushed, guitar high, vocals mildly confessing a grim end.‘Driving Nails In My Coffin’ is a crafty caper, his woman left him so he’s turned into an alkie. (Everyone needs a hobby.) It’s at a slow trot and that might be a pedal steel guitar, I suspect. ‘Six Feet From Eternity’ has a delightful spoken intro, then a song where he calls to a dead woman in a curious lament. ‘In A World With No Tomorrow’ is a curious thing, I don’t know if he’s singing about a ghost or something like a river but with nice brass backing he emotes with great passion. ‘Sitting At The Heartbreak Saloon’ finds him as billy-no-mates, jukebox his only friend, and yet he’s growing strangely optimistic, voice a quiver like a whiskery Elvis. ‘Sunday Mourning Train’ has a mellifluous spirit despite the gloomy intent, as the protagonist isn’t have the greatest of times, despite some hesitant banjo playing. ‘Cemeteries And Centuries’ is a proud, dignified song, simply detailing a shared fate. Strolling pessimistically ‘On A Cold Night In December’ has more brass and hazy guitar as the lonely voice announces preventative measures post-death to keep the devil guessing, passionate and dramatic. ‘Mistaken For Love’ is more curious, a different style of regret, whether at the end of a life, or relationship. ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ is a beautifully sad love story, of endless one-sided devotion, only ended by a natural demise. ‘Open Road of Memories’ is open and balmy, ‘Down Old Route Number 9’ has a love muted feel with deft guitar and ‘Your Past May Come Back To Haunt Me’ is a big boomy, catchy number with a lung-bursting vocal. ‘The Angel Of Death’ sounds like its recorded in a funeral home, organ softly shadowing the vocals, or vice versa, as we all contemplate meeting the Angel Of Death. Weirdly, after all this, ‘In Harmony’ takes a different tack as presents death as our mate, and all’s well that end’s well, as it were. Very chipper, almost celebratory!Immaculately delivered this is an oddly exhausting record, given the way the thoughts are banged into your head. It’s the most trad country thing I’ve heard Mark do and the most relentlessly theme-driven. Seriously impressive, but I hope there’s something less ominous next time.http://www.marksinnis.com/1.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/mark.sinnishttps://www.facebook.com/groups/103275249723068/http://www.reverbnation.com/marksinnishttp://www.last.fm/music/Mark+Sinnis (Leave a comment) |
| _05:20 pm_[Link] | Here’s the relevant links for MICK MERCER RADIO BROADCAST #12.http://www.mixcloud.com/mickmercerradio/mick-mercer-radio-broadcast-12-march-30th-2014/GETTING THE FEAR – Yurone (Bee vocal)http://www.last.fm/music/Getting+The+Fearhttp://www.geocities.jp/bee_paul_hampshire/gettingthefear.htmlHORSE BROTHERS – The Hangman’s Neckhttp://horsebrothers.bandcamp.com/http://ignitebooks.co.uk/products-page/dave-barbarossa-books/ADAM & THE ANTS – Kings Of The Wild Frontier (live 1980)LES PANTIES – No Runhttps://www.facebook.com/LESPANTSNINE DAY DECLINE – Strongerhttps://www.facebook.com/NineDayDeclineH. ZOMBIE - Burato do Infernohttps://www.facebook.com/HZombieOfficialHAMSAS XIII – Congratulationshttps://www.facebook.com/13hamsas13DISJECTA MEMBRA - Death by Discothèque https://www.facebook.com/disjectamembra.nzARS PHOENIX – WHTYhttps://www.facebook.com/arsphoenixmusicKOMMUNITY FK - Doll Ov Thee Undeadhttps://www.facebook.com/kommunityfkmusikhttp://www.kommunityfk.com/DER HIMMEL ÜBER BERLIN - Donau Rufhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Der-Himmel-%C3%BCber-Berlin/152787191416864https://myspace.com/derhimmeluberbTHE FALLACY - Love Divisionhttps://www.facebook.com/thefallacygothichttp://www.the-fallacy.com/CARNIVAL STAR – My Coreenhttps://www.facebook.com/CarnivalStarhttp://carnival-star.com/FEATHERZ - When Was The Last Time You Had Sex?https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Featherz/500083293408127BLOOD RED SHOES - Cold (Live)https://www.facebook.com/bloodredshoeshttp://www.bloodredshoes.co.uk/KATE BUSH – This Woman’s Workhttps://www.facebook.com/katebushPINK & BLACK – Hold Me (live 1983)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUb7qh8X4ZEINCA BABIES – Sven Hassell versus Billy The Kidhttps://www.facebook.com/incababieshttp://www.incababies.co.uk/SOUTHERN DEATH CULT – The Girl (live 1982)https://www.facebook.com/groups/SouthernDeathCult/LORD BUCKLEY – The Ravenhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Lord-Buckley/108221369202011#XMAL DEUTSCHLAND – Schwarze Welthttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Xmal-Deutschland/152059251513012COCKATOO – Killing Moon (first attempt!)https://www.facebook.com/CockatooCockatoo COCKATOO – Killing Moon (second attempt!)LUXURY STRANGER – Groundedhttps://www.facebook.com/LuxuryStrangerCOCKATOO – Killing Moon (third attempt!)THE DANSE SOCIETY – Heaven Is Waitinghttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Danse-Society-Official/227357422417LUCID DEMENTIA – Living In Hellhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucid-Dementia/185074624510THE WAKE – Nazarene (live)https://www.facebook.com/thewakeF.L.D. – Mantraphttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionable-Living-Death/275819615883892 YABANCI – Fearhttps://www.facebook.com/yabanciband SALVATION AMP – Last Night (interrupted!)COCKATOO – Killing Moon (fourth attempt!)COCKATOO – Killing Moon (fifth attempt!)SALVATION AMP – Last Night (interrrupted!)COCKATOO – Killing Moon (sixth attempt!)UNDER 2 FLAGS – False Historyhttp://www.discogs.com/artist/254474-Under-Two-FlagsTHE CRAFT – Golden Dawnhttp://home.zonnet.nl/marlies.vanderlee/craft-eng.htmlhttp://www.last.fm/music/The+CraftSALVATION AMP – Last Nighthttps://www.facebook.com/salvationampTHE SHROUD – Ashes In The Windhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Shroud/375336246414http://www.theshroud.com/HORSE BROTHERS - Black In BlueSCREAMS FOR TINA – Nightmarehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Screams-For-Tina/178287078891191EVERY NEW DEAD GHOST – Understandhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Every-New-Dead-Ghost/484896171630765 FAITHFUL DAWN – Esshttp://www.sarahjanesspiral.com/faithfuldawn/home.htmGETTING THE FEAR – Yurone (Aki vocal) (1 comment | Leave a comment) |
| March 26th, 2014 | |
| _04:22 pm_[Link] | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKg0Qk4FwYMIf you like this vid do what I did and download THE FALLACY's acoustic album for free at this link:http://www.the-fallacy.com/TSM.zipwww.the-fallacy.com (Leave a comment) |
| _04:22 pm_[Link] | DER HIMMEL ÜBER BERLINMEMORIES NEVER FADESwiss Dark NightsAnother punishingly good recording from Swiss Dark Nights, of a band I am unfamiliar with so I know only that they’re an exciting live band with proactive Goth, deep thoughts and high ambitions.‘Donau Ruf’ starts with the embers of Davide Simeon’s guitar fanned by the flame of Paoli Rossi’s drums (since replaced by Riccardo Zamolo?), stoked by the bass fuel wielded by Stefano Bradaschia and deeply sonorous singing starts from Teeno Vesper, so within a minute you know we have a serious unit here, all equally distinctive. This is Goth which can’t stand still and does more than subtly twitch. The rhythm attack is BIG too, which is always nice.‘A Sad Boy’ has more engaging bass and the space to display it, the drums and guitar friskier and bouncing, the vocal a little less full on, the guitar effort escalating over the relentlessly propelling drums. ‘Night Moans’ delivers more examples of how slickly they revolve around each other, the guitar offering elegant whispers as the drums are instil crisp authority, never creating any cloudy merging but a subtle intoxicating whirl of activity.‘We Dreamt To Be Happy’ jiggles as it jingles, and unless I’m demented there’s floaty synth in the background but nothing credited, so maybe that’s just me. They’re using some taped effect at the star of the beautiful ‘Birch Forest’ so I guess they do have electronic input. Here they’re limber and using the choppiness to infuse extra energy with the looming bass to resonate moodily. Out of the atmospheric fog low vocals groan. Guitar and drums again cut through and away, leading to a swift, emphatic close.‘Blue Scarecrow’ is calmer, with cheekier stomping drums and flicked guitar behind the happily moping vocals. ‘Strawberry Lipstick ’is equally relaxed, positively romantic, soppy vocals and sweetly curving bass. ‘Varena’ is in similarly serene territory but with some lovely guitar touches. This all reminds me a beaming version of House Of Usher. Then the mood switches with a solemn drum beat and drizzling guitar intro for ‘Eaten Up’, the bass lifting them and marshalling a dignified sound as they tread water thoughtfully with some neatly catchy bumpy bits. ‘Sweet Dancing Butterfly’ has more sweet guitar flourishes and bobbling bass, the vocals quite dainty here which is good because he needs to watch that tendency to drone he has. With a voice that has an interesting tone he ought to shell out for singing lessons because it would help bring added confidence and enable him to project more.They end with the glumly glorious ‘Allumette Lucifer’, beautifully downcast guitar moving up the sullen bass staircase at the top of which wilting vocals are draped and the variety comes from the drums, and there’s not many bands you can say that about, but then this band has a rich appeal. To feel distinctly unusual while not seeming to do anything different shows they have class.(Valerio has informed me Memories Never Fade was the previous lineup, Paolo Rossi singer as well as drummer.)http://www.reverbnation.com/derhimmelüberberlinhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Der-Himmel-über-Berlin/152787191416864http://swissdarknights.bandcamp.com/album/memories-never-fadehttps://www.facebook.com/SwissDarkNights (Leave a comment) |
| _04:21 pm_[Link] | The latest broadcast from MICK MERCER RADIO is now up at http://www.mixcloud.com/mickmercerradio/mick-mercer-radio-broadcast-11-march-23rd-2014/. I haven’t finished doing the tracklist and we’ve had ten listeners already! The show was great fun again and this week’s total fuck up (there’s always one) was calling H. Zombie ‘N. Zombie’ which I managed to do several times, having typed it out wrong, because I was determined not to call them Hugo Zombie as I had the week before. Luckily I’m playing a track from the H. Zombie (for it is they!) each week, so I have two weeks running to make amends. Wish me luck with that then.THE STOOGES – DirtTHE MARCH VIOLETS – BillionsUK DECAY – All The Faces In HistoryANDI SEX GANG – Love Comes In SpurtsRHOMBUS – Staying UnderNINE DAY DECLINE – Nine Day DeclineSCREAMING DEAD – She Was Done In By a NutterNICEVILLE – EastertimeTHE GALLEY SLAVES – I’ve Come To Kill The PresidentTHE FEATHERS – No One Likes YouMISS CRYSTAL GRENADE – The Witch Is DeadKOMMUNITY FK – Thee New TribeINCA BABIES – ScatterTHE DARK SHADOWS – Written In The SnowCULT WITH NO NAME – Those Weren’t The DaysTHE SPIRITUAL BAT – Cruel Machine (live)H. ZOMBIE (not N Zombie!)– Los Dedos Trocidas de DiosEXIT – A Fractured GestureHYENA MOTORCADE – HeartbreaksNAKED LUNCH – RabiesBAT NOUVEAU – GhostepsOBSOLETE MEMORIES – Ghost VisitorREADERSHIP HOSTILE – Shadows Of Pure DelightCOUNCIL OF DAYS – House Of The SerpentDREAM AFFAIR – The PorterZOTZ – DemoCRASS – I Can’t Stand ItTOYAH – Problem ChildTHE DANSE SOCIETY – Change Of Skin (Steve Rawlings version)FAITHFUL DAWN – Enchant MeCAROLINE JAGO – PraecursioUK DECAY – Unwind (live 1982)THE SPIRITUAL BAT –Blown AwayATARAXIA – This Is No Country For Old MenTHE DARK SHADOWS - EisbarCALABRESE – Dayglo NecrosMOLDIG – E.S.P.GETTING THE FEAR – Getting The FearTHE STOOGES - Dirt (Leave a comment) |
| March 22nd, 2014 | |
| _11:38 pm_[Link] | THE SPIRITUAL BATLIVE 02.02.13Swiss Dark NightsI will be reviewing The Spiritual Bat’s new album “Mosaic” this week just before it’s 28th March release date, but first wish to remind you that this limited edition official bootleg, of just 100 copies, exists because you would be well advised to investigate its raw beauty.The Spiritual Bat don’t copy anyone. Theirs is a sharply observed Goth sound, rich in atmosphere but striking in strident adventurism. Dario Passamonti dips and dives on ll things stringed and keyboards when possible, Rosetta Garri who has the programming under control sings like a warrior and they are joined on real drums by Alessio Santoni. Their sound is immense, occasionally scary in its force. The average Goth 5-piece doesn’t sound this powerful.‘Once Upon A Time’ has a flapping dapper rhythm, with sombre bass inflating wildly, delicate guitar squeezing into small spaces, the vocals rolling gloriously across and away. ‘Silver Lakes’ has more bony bass precision beneath the hovering vocal storm, but there is gracious control, tapering down towards the end, with ‘Cruel Machine’ quickly nipping in, friskier and reminding me of Guesch Patti on steroids. (A good thing, trust me.) ‘Thunderstorm’ teems like gushing Goth, gushing with a solemn promise, the vocals stately but wired, the bass rich and full, the guitar lean and fluid, and the nervy sound blossoms as the vocals soar then scatter. ‘Acquoreo’ is a lower quivering thing with daintier vocal drama as the guitar holds back, leisurely austere. ‘Wish Power’ is oscillating power that ascends steeply with another ravishing vocal display.‘Chance’ fits in some sensitive doldrums with extended vocal drizzle as nimble guitar scampers as lightly frosted keyboards melt into the sound. ‘Lament For The Poisoned Mother’ is roomier with a strolling, saucy bass, lightly dimpled guitar and deepening quizzical vocal ululation. ‘Crucifixion’ is quick, turbulent and nicely noisy. The drums kick off ‘Sacrament’, bass riding shotgun, guitar reverberates with sly shading as the vocals take an odd back seat but still in vivid control. The closing track ‘Waltz’ is a trim little thing to end with, positively polite, ornate and yet not ostentatious.A fantastic live recording of a seriously powerful, rousing band.http://swissdarknights.bandcamp.com/album/the-spiritual-bat-live-at-cpafi-sud - only 8 euros |
| March 21st, 2014 | |
| _10:16 pm_[Link] | H. ZOMBIEDEATHROCK IS DEADBloodpackI like noise when accompanied by artistry and few people in the world better exhibit the alchemical ability to blend these two aspects than young H. Zombie, here surrounded by some like-minded adventurers.‘Deathrock Is Dead’ features Txarly Usher of Los Carniceros del Norte, Hugo’s other sonic refuge, so it’s going to be noisy. Shimmering with heathaze and a brooding distorted rhythmical stomach it rolls and thrashes on the ground. ‘Los Dedos Torcidos de Dios’ also has a guest in Omar F (Gorgonas). The guitar has a wonderful weird sound, flickering stoutly as the aching vocals strive in combat against the sleek bass and battering assault. It crawls all over you in wave after wave. A staggering thing, a monstrously beautiful juggernaut. It’s actually quite a short song but with multiple personality disorders a-go-go.‘Burato do Inferno’ is another with his mate Txarly and this is the smaller of the beats included, shaper and snappier, the guitar an insubstantial leash trying to keep the vocals in line. ‘Funeral’ has J. Oskura Najera of the awe-dropping Eyaculación Post Mortem. This quakes nervously, if possible, quite slender in motion yet threatening to implode at any moment. Viscous vocals shudder, spidery vibrant guitar glows and then it all dies away in noble hacking misery.A triumph |
| March 18th, 2014 | |
| _10:43 pm_[Link] | Tracklisting for my most recent radio show http://www.mixcloud.com/mickmercerradio/mick-mercer-radio-broadcast-10-march-16th-2014/UNDEAD – Nightmares After YouTHE DAMNED - Pretty Vacant (rehearsal 1978)THE ADDAMS FAMILY – tv themeDANIELLE DAX - CathouseCREAMING JESUS – A ForestDEAD MEN WALKING - Never Take Me AliveUNTOWARD CHILDREN – End Of DaysVICIOUS KISS – PrimitiveCATHOLIC SPIT – Inevitable DeathTONES ON TAIL – The Movement Of FearCULT WITH NO NAME – A Pound Of Penny GaffsINCA BABIES – The Lung KnivesALI WILSON &MATES (+ Mike Scott) – All The Boys Love CarrieANOTHER PRETTY FACE – Boy In Black LeatherANTIQUARK – ShamelessADJECTIVE – MistellADAM & THE ANTS – Never Trust A Man With Egg On His Face (live 1979)CRASS – The Heart Throb Of The MortuaryVICIOUS KISS – Stormy EyesAUSGANG – Weight (demo)SWEET ERMENGARDE – Heaven’s Far AwayESCARLATINA OBSESSIVA - Nowa AleksandriaIKON – I Burn For YouTHE DARK SHADOWS – EisbärJOHNATHAN | CHRISTIAN – The Sweetest BetrayalSOUTHERN DEATH CULT – Moya (live 1982)BERYL BELOVED – Foot Stuck ChildPEOPLE OF NOTHING – UnforgettableDEAD POP – Bad LiesABDERIAN – Dawn ControlTHE ADVERTS – Gary Gilmore’s Eyes (live 1977)DAISY CHAINSAW - Dog With Sharper Teeth (live 1991)THE DAMNED - Love Song (rehearsal 1978) (Leave a comment) |
| _10:42 pm_[Link] | **EXITTHE BLIND ALLEY?**Having swollen to a five piece since the debut ‘”The Way Out Is Through” Exit deliver some songs of true class and witty lyrical observation, merging sound and atmosphere skilfully so that one aspect benefits from the other. Take opener ‘The Drain At The Bottom’ with an abstract sense of social misery, made more intriguing with sound seepage behind the clever words, then the music asserts control, , only to flicker, turn and burn. The lighter ‘Confessional’ contains more surreptitiously filmic lyrics, delicately pretty guitar and a subtle rhythmical seachange midway as the tone is intensified, aided by the backing vocals of Lisa Cuthbert, which is not the only time she intrudes here. (Other guests are Michael Plaster, Avi Ghosh and Candice Sanders.) The sad regret expressed through the shifty ‘Alicia Marie’ remains at arms length. The leisurely suspicions in ‘Looking Glass’ also blend with the curiously transparent sounds to get you thinking, until you snap out of it, realising you don’t actually know what it’s about. These words are traps! ‘A Fractured Gesture’ is noir without darkness, an airy twist of a thing, vocals fencing happily, the mood dour and yet the feeling is fairly mild and bouncy until the final thrust.Need details of who is in the band at the midway point? Take various bows, Benjamin Londa (vocals/guitar/synth/prog), Nathan Hewitt (drums/synth/prog), Adam Jumper (guitar), Patrik Nilsson (bass) and Alex Virlios (synth). ‘The Paris Heights’ swarms along genteel grooves, vocals poured into place over discreet keys and patient drums. ‘Landlocked’ is an android snippet with a brisk glaze applied, then ‘Body’ thrums thoughtfully in accompaniment to a bleak lyrical stew, an orthodox farewell. ‘The Thinnest Air’ seems shy, taking an age to get going, insanely quietly, then it breaks through into mildewed vocals mulched into sentimental lyrical optimism.‘The Door’ sees us out with more of Benjamin’s obsession with holding things tightly, and then falling away from a relationship like an astronaut whose line breaks while on a spacewalk. The bass agitates and becomes wonderfully invigorating, the song up and ready to whirl, but settling on a holding pattern of pert drama.It’s an album to really sink in to, without the despair of the protagonist.https://www.facebook.com/weareexithttp://www.weareexit.net/http://weareexit.bandcamp.com/album/the-blind-alleyhttp://www.reverbnation.com/exitproductions (Leave a comment) |
| March 8th, 2014 | |
| _10:19 pm_[Link] | VIDI AQUAMFOG VISIONRosa SelvaggiaAnother fantastic Italian Goth band, this is Nikita, Daniele and Fabio augmented vocally by Marta Ultre and the mysterious Lady In Black.‘The Puppets Show’ starts with the queasy crumbly fairground sound of the upright organ then elegantly evil guitar slithers, dark bass tangles unfurl and a bolder face is revealed, vocals disembodied or groaning blare confidently out. Lower with a scurrilously bouncy bass ‘Forest Shout’ has an incipient madness about it, shaking and blinking bravely into a light of fluid motion.Bass totally dominates ‘Fog Vision’, at first in an heroic holding pattern as the vocal shatter and disperse, then developing as a lead instrument while the others fall back, cowed by its exuberance. Deplorably vivid trad Goth guitar lights up She Says And Does Not Say’ while ’10 Agosto ‘44’ is quite a steadfast, serious loper, and what the date signifies I have no idea. Google mentioned race riots in Alabama, an attempt on Hitler’s life and the Battle Of Narva. Take your pick as it gets moody! ‘Pigface’ is a sturdy place of rhythm and clatter with joyous squiggly guitar like UK Decay gone off the rails, clipped energy and vocal drama over imaginative floor space.‘We Bare The Light’ is beautiful with light keyboards, distant grumbling guitar and thoughtfully gathered vocals, with ‘Withered Flowers’ one for fans of thinly ragged guitar and pushy bass encouraging vocals to blurt weirdly. ‘Diva Glance’ has a hazier glow, light and refreshing, with closer‘Fosca’ offering deeply atmospheric contrast with plunking piano and noises off, a thoroughly dark, depressive mini-barrage.As if all that wasn’t good enough the CD is black with fake grooves to resemble vinyl and is placed in a tin with a nice soft interior. Classy throughout |