Ken Burns - Ken Burns 7"

Labels: Don't Live Like Me Records/(We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 01 Dec 2015

Tracklist: 

1. Saudade

2. The Death Of An Aspiring Icon Pt. II

3. Hemma

I was sat down the other day pondering things and I suddenly released that I'm well behind on a certain little review series. It's futile to think that I'm ever going to catch up, but stranger things have happened. That being said though, while I'm slowly losing my marbles (due to a combination of lockdown, climate, routine and such like), it only seems right to delve into some more awesome post-hardcore/emoviolence/screamo/call it whatever you want. This is the self-titled 7" EP from Massachusetts (USA) band Ken Burns. It was released on two vinyl variants (50 on clear w/blue and yellow splatter and 250 on black) in late 2015 by Don't Live Like Me Records, (We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records and of course, Zegema Beach Records.

I double checked my ‘previously reviewed’ list and this EP definitely wasn’t on there, so that’s a relief (I’ve only ever double-dipped once before without realising it until it was too late!). With that minor bit of embarrassment aside, I’m instantly overwhelmed by how good opening song ‘Saudade’ is. It’s a mix of jangly, melodic emo guitar work, ripping percussion and violent yet emotive screams. Ken Burns seemingly knew how to craft great songs during their short period as a living band (I’m pretty sure they’re resting now). This song is equal parts dramatic post-hardcore grandeur and heart-on-your-sleeve, violent sensitivity, if that makes sense.

From the ashes of the lengthy opener comes the instrumental beauty of ‘The Death Of An Aspiring Icon Pt. II’ and an urgency that overrides that beauty until it overflows when the vocals kick in. Crushing yet intelligent hardcore lays side by side with introspective passages of melody and harmony (the latter being in the sense of self as opposed to the musical sense). EP closer ‘Hemma’ underlines just how good Ken Burns was during the band’s short life, especially when they transition their aggressive post-hardcore into a slower, musical second-half, complete with spoken word samples. Having previously released a tape EP a couple of years before this one, it wasn’t until 2020 when all of the band’s songs were gathered together by Larry Records in the form of an LP discography release. 

As a standalone release though, this 7” ticks all of the boxes in terms of genuinely heartfelt musicianship. It’s short in length but that only makes the yearning for more grow ever stronger. So many bands seem to have come and gone with all but a couple of releases, but I guess that’s the nature of the genre that Ken Burns called home. It’s better to remember something at it was when it was alive, than be haunted by it after death. 

You can stream and download all three songs (name-your-price) below:-

You can still pick up vinyl copies from the link below:-

(We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records - https://missthestars.com/en/

Don't Live Like Me Records - https://www.facebook.com/dontlivelikeme

(We Built The World And) Miss The Stars Records - https://www.facebook.com/missthestarsrecords

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords

Black Love - Black Love

Labels: Don't Live Like Me Records, Good Post Day Records, I.Corrupt Records, L'Oeil Du Tigre, Zegema Beach Records, Aorte

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 30 Sep 2014

Tracklist: 

1. Corps Etranger

2. Black Baby Jesus

3. Becker's Leitmotif

4. Libertines

5. L'insoutenable Légèreté De Sauce

6. Ø

7. La Fois Que Le Spot Est Passe Au Feu

Here's a new Zegema Beach Records roster series review, because I've been binge watching some more of Dave's 'Out Past The Rings' videos on YouTube and I haven't done one for a week or so. This one features French-Canadian post-hardcore/post-rock band Black Love. This self-titled record was co-released in September 2014 via ZBR and the other labels mentioned above and still serves as the most recent music to come from the band, as they don't appear to be active currently.

I’ve been cooking up some plans for future features but more on that later. Gotta keep myself focused on Black Love and the glorious music they make on album opener ‘Corps Etranger’. Masters of  the cinematic slow-build, they deliver an instrumental that’s fit to bursting with intrigue and imagination as it increases in volume and layers. It’s not entirely instrumental though as about three-minutes in, raw screamed/part-clean vocals come over the horizon and add an old-school screamo texture to the song. Proper heart-wrenching.’ Black Baby Jesus’ is so rhythmic and upbeat, with great melodic guitar work flowing throughout and even more emotive vocals, and enigmatic percussion. It reminds me of a crossbreeding of ‘Between Order And Model’ era Funeral For A Friend and Russian emo band Ensslin. I hope that makes sense but if it doesn’t, I don’t care.

One thing that really stands out on Black Love is the musicianship, which features so much talent all round. ‘Becker’s Leitmotif’ is just over four-minutes in length but flies by in seemingly no time at all, thanks to the aforementioned musicianship. Add to that the harsh vocals, which leap out of the speakers even when enveloped by the instruments. It gives you such a euphoric feeling listening to it. Black Love adds an edge of funk to ‘Libertines’ alongside the spoken-word/clean vocals that give way to more caustic screams later on. The song is littered with lyrics that describe teenage emotions and love. The music backs it all up with an equally emotive backdrop that’s every bit as dreamy as it is urgent.

The opening tones of ‘L’insoutenable Légèreté De Sauce’ seem almost menacing but that menace is soon banished by dramatic instrumentation that’s joined by what sounds like brass at times (but I may be mistaken). I’m sure that members of Albatros guested on here!?. Anyway, just listen to it, as it’s beautiful. ’Ø’ follows on immediately after and it’s mix of feedback and gentle riffing is hauntingly good. Sort of in the same that a nursery rhyme is in certain settings (horror films). It’s wholly instrumental and bridges the gap to album closer ‘La Fois Que Le Spot Est Passé Au Feu’. This final song is probably the most post-rock that Black Love go in terms of their sound. It’s big but not obtuse, more rhythmic than off-kilter and mid-paced, as opposed to violently fast. It’s perfect.

In a year where Cassus and their album Separation Anxiety have been on constant rotation (still), and where I’ve discovered Japan’s Lang (thanks to Dog Knights Productions), I do wonder how I managed to miss Black Love for so long. It may be over 6 years old now, but this is another one I’ll be revisiting over and over again.

You can stream and grab 'Black Love' as a name-your-price download below:

Black Love - https://www.facebook.com/blacklovemtl/

Physical copies can still be purchased from the links below:-

I.Corrupt Records - http://icorruptrecords.limitedrun.com/products/

Zegema Beach Records (CAD/INTL) - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/ / (US) - https://zbrusa.com/

Don't Live Like Me Records - https://www.facebook.com/dontlivelikeme/

Good Post Day Records - https://www.facebook.com/goodpostdayrecords/

I.Corrupt Records - https://www.facebook.com/icorruptrecs/

L'Oeil Du Tigre - https://www.facebook.com/loeildutigre/

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords/

Aorte - https://www.facebook.com/Aorte

Nous Etions - La Manière Noire

Labels: Ancient Injury Records/Desordre Ordonne/Don't Live Like Me Records/Through Love Records/Zegema Beach Records/Beaver Club Records/Blind Eye Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 14 Apr 2014

Tracklist:

1. Ste-Lucie

2. Leviathan

3. Les Algorithmes Du Malheur

4. Juste

5. Le Journal De Ricardo Lopez

6. Les Vertiges Du Perche

7. Bleu Et Violet

I'm making up for a less-than-productive day by trying to be more so this evening. Here's a new Zegema Beach Records roster review, where I talk about music the label has release from earliest to latest. This review features the last recording by French-Canadian post-hardcore/screamo band Nous Etions, which was originally self-release in early 2014 before being picked up by a whole host of labels for vinyl and tape pressings later in the year. The band no longer exists in an active form, but there music lives on.

Nous Etions were based in Montreal, Quebec and their instrumental build-up on opening song ‘Ste-Lucie’ definitely contains more than a hint of the French sound. I’ve said before that most countries have a unique take on the genre and I think that’s where it comes from here (France). The tempo is on the slower side, as opposed to being too close to emoviolence. The vocals are harsh but their delivery is restrained, while the guitars provide melody that soothes in a strange way.

‘Leviathan’ is loverly and rhythmic, which negates the off-kilter edge to the song. There’s definitely something darker about it that brings the post-hardcore to the front. Words aren’t coming so easily to me tonight as I’m tired, but that’s all the more reason to just sit back and take this release in. 

The sound of Nous Etions definitely leans more heavily towards hardcore and that’s not a bad thing at all. ‘Les Algorithmes Du Malheur’ is a glorious take on the angrier and more caustic end of post-hardcore and is brilliant. The percussive vibrancy, the low-end heft and the melody of the guitars more than match up to the multi-vocal delivery here, especially during the song’s closing bars.

‘Juste’ signals the half-way point of the album with another menacing tome that’s buzzing with great musicianship and an urgency not felt so far. The band tells a story on ‘Le Journal De Ricardo Lopez’ and as my French is poor at best, I’m not going to try and translate the lyrics for you. The drama of the song as a whole should be enough to draw you in. 

The ferocity is tempered back ever-so slightly on penultimate song ‘Les Vertiges Du Perche’ but only just. Again, it’s a shorter song that brings out the up-tempo song-writing of Nous Etions. It does contain some great bouncy punk rhythms though! Closing song ‘Bleu Et Violet’ goes by too quickly, especially on this balmy summer evening. Even though Nous Etions no longer exists, this is a fine full-length to get lost in. 

Bands and genre fads come and go, but thankfully there’s plenty of reason to still enjoy music created  by those short-lived. Nous Etions still deserve open ears. 

You can stream and download La Maniere Noire for free below:-

Nous Etions - https://www.facebook.com/nousetions/

You can buy physical copies from the labels below:-

Zegema Beach Records - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/nous-tions-la-manire-noire-12

Ancient Injury Records - https://www.facebook.com/AncientInjuryRecords/

Don't Live Like Me Records - https://www.facebook.com/dontlivelikeme/

Through Love Records - https://www.facebook.com/ThroughLoveRec/

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords/

Beaver Club Records - https://www.facebook.com/Beaver-Club-Records

Blind Eye Records - https://www.facebook.com/BlindEyeRecords/

Sete Star Sept/Monochrome Nausea - SSS/MN Split 7"

Labels: Duel Disk Media/Friendly Otter Records/Don't Live Like Me Records/Cake Soda/Kakusan Records/Destruktomuzik Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date; 23 Apr 2019

Tracklist:

1. Sete Star Sept - Follow Rules

2. Sete Star Sept - Dizziness

3. Sete Star Sept - Commander Error

4. Sete Star Sept - Merits And Demerits

5. Sete Star Sept - Collapsing Castles

6. Monochrome Nausea - When We're Ready To Sing, We Step Up To The Microphone And It Comes Out Something Like This

7. Monochrome Nausea - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Art-Core Band

8. Monochrome Nausea - Anger And Violence

9. Monochrome Nausea - Perception Happens In The Brain

10. Monochrome Nausea - Bicycle Rocket Man

11. Monochrome Nausea - My Typewriter Is Drenched In Booze, Sweat And Semen From Problematic Post-Modernists

12. Monochrome Nausea - A Rapid Exit Through The Local Vomitorium

13. Monochrome Nausea - Experience And Theory: A Defense Of Kantian A Priori And Kepler's Philosophy Of Science In Light Of Modern Space-Time Physics

14. Monochrome Nausea - You Big Fat Sack Of Merda

15. Monochrome Nausea - He Dit

Here's a long overdue review of a crazy split 7" that was released earlier this year! Japan's Sete Star Sept and Norway's Monochrome Nausea came together to commit 15 noisy, grinding and improv tracks to wax and tape, which were brought to life via the labels above, while also leaving a scathing aural whole in the Internet.

Having written all of this split’s song-titles out above, it feels like the opening paragraph is a little small in comparison. Still, there’s plenty of opportunity to change that. Japanese noise-mongers Sete Star Sept get five songs in as many minutes here. Noisy is the right adjective to use when describing this duo as well. Their bass-heavy rumble on opener Follow Rules is frightening, as is the feedback. Dizziness induces just that as the cacophony of bass, vocals and drums railroads you into submission. 

The rawness of their sound is unbelievable but there’s still a perversely listenable element in there too, even during the screeching feedback that ends Commander Error, which grinds like a lunatic. There’s no let-up with Merits And Demerits either, with the vocals flitting between high-pitched shrieks and tortured deeper bellows, SSS’s final song Collapsing Castles is filled with mesmerising bass riffs and extremity that only the Japanese can pull off. Not for the faint of heart.

If your’re hoping for an easier ride with Monochrome Nausea, it’s probably best to turn away now. Quickfire opener When We’re Ready To Sing, We Step Up To The Microphone And It Comes Out Something Like This is eleven seconds of similarly hellish noise and it gets no easier as the amusingly titled Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Art-Core Band takes over. This one feels long in comparison but its music deconstructed into its most primal form. 

The aptly titled Anger And Violence sums up this entire split as its improvisational nature sees tempos change and ear drums explode. MN takes things to further extremes during Perception Happens In The Brain and its followed by a slew of songs that are equally as short. Bicycle Rocket Man highlights the influence that they’ve gained from their split-mates, while My Typewriter Is Drenched In Booze, Sweat And Semen From Problematic Post-Modernists highlights their more obtuse side.

By now, you should know that it’s not gonna get any easier but the fast, slow, faster structure of A Rapid Exit Through The Local Vomitorium is great fun. Things return to the weird thanks to Experience And Theory: A Defence Of Kantian A Priori And Kepler’s Philosophy Of Science In Light Of Modern Space-Time Physics…all four-seconds of it. Penultimate song You Big Fat Sack Of Merda is no lengthier and kind of feels a bit strange given the pause before and after it. Split closer He Dit seems like a true long-player at this point, but don’t let that fool you. The abrasiveness is still there as is the improv madness. 

Fifteen songs in not very much time at all from two bands that don’t care for normal structures or melody. If you like your music fast and loud then this is for you. An acquired taste maybe, but one that’s addictive and just plain silly.

You can stream the split and purchase is digitally below:-

Sete Star Sept - https://www.facebook.com/setestarsept/

Monochrome Nausea - https://www.facebook.com/monochromenausea/

Physical copies can be purchased from the below labels:-

Cake Soda - https://cakesoda.bandcamp.com/merch

Kakusan Records - https://kakusanrecords.bandcamp.com/merch

Friendly Otter Records - https://www.facebook.com/friendlyotterrex/

Don't Live Like Me Records - https://www.facebook.com/dontlivelikeme/

Cake Soda - https://www.facebook.com/CAKES0DA/

Kakusan Records - https://www.facebook.com/kakusanrecords/

Destruktomuzik Records - https://www.facebook.com/destruktomuziklabel/

TDOAFS/Albatros - Split

Labels: Larry Records/No Funeral Records (Tape)/ L'Oeil Du Tigre/Don't Live Like Me Records/Black Lake Records/Dingleberry Records/Le Mort Records (Vinyl)

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 21 Nov 2016 (Vinyl Digital)/01 Apr 2019 (Tape)

Tracklist:

1. TDOAFS - Blank Paper

2. TDOAFS - The Whole World In My Hand

3. TDOAFS - Peaceful

4. TDOAFS - Face The Sun

5. Albatros - Vucules

6. Albatros - La Happy

7. Albatros - Clotaire Rapaille

8. Albatros - Le Split Rancid-NOFX

I wanna start this review with some advice for people reading that want to start a blog or site (because let's face it, nobody reads by opening ramblings!). Apart from the fact that you totally should do it, just remember that if you get enough people visiting it and people start sending you stuff, it's gonna become ALL CONSUMING!. This isn't a negative ramble, far from it. When I started down this rabbit hole over eight years ago, I didn't ever foresee my blog becoming anything that people would pay attention too, let alone write to asking for review etc. I couldn't be without it now, which is why posts like this mean so much to me. The fact that Mr Jablon cared enough to ask me to write some words about some of his release (let alone send me some!) make me happy.

Anyway, pointless rambles aside, this is the 2019 tape release of the split 10" that was released back in 2016 via all of the above labels (minus Larry Records). Larry released an extremely limited run of tape copies, that are now sold out, alongside No Funeral Records who made their own small run too. It features Canadian trio The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch (TDOAFS) and their countrymen Albatros. This is a mix of screamo/post-hardcore and punk. 

This split contains four songs from both bands, beginning with TDOAFS.This is incredibly tuneful post-hardcore with vocals that sit buried within the music. Opener Blank Paper is a mix of upbeat melodic instrumentation and heavier passages, that are mainly guitar driven. It’s really creative and provides a different take on a sub-genre that’s growing exponentially within the underground at the moment. The Whole World In My Hand is more punk-influenced in parts, but TDOAFS retain their subtle aggressiveness too. 

Their songs are focused and the volume this trio produces is greater than expected. It all sounds very organic (it sounds like it was recorded live in it’s entirety). Carrying on the upbeat nature of their songs, Peaceful is anything but. It’s more angular this time and also there’s extra experimentation thrown in to the mix. It ends abruptly but that’s alright, as it keeps the momentum high going into last song Face The Sun. It’s another big song with a cathartic and almost euphoric feel to it, even when things take an introspective turn mid-way through.

I favour the “live reviewing” approach when writing, which means I like to let the music play as I write (usually on first listen too), which sometimes can be difficult if songs go by to quickly. Albatros’s Vucules is one such song, which flies by with a mix of fast hardcore and brass. It’s a strange mix but one that works superbly well. I’ve not heard a band like this ever I don’t think. I’ve heard bands that use clean singing and brass, but not harsh vocals. It gives La Happy a strange contrasting emotion that switches between darkness and light. They are French Canadian though, so it makes sense. 

Clotaire Rapaille carries on in the same vein and in no less entertaining because of it. It’s such a listenable formula that its hard to turn it off. The final song is called Le Split Rancid-NOFX and I’m not really sure what to expect. Albatros could be doing a medley of songs by both bands here, but doubt it. Either way, it’s a great way to end their side and indeed this split. This is such a unique and truly enjoyable split. If you’re a fan of post-hardcore then you’ll likely already be aware of TDOAFS obvious quality, but when you add in the originality of Albatros, you’ll be doubly impressed. If this was the first release of this split, it would be my favourite so far this year hands down. As it is, it’s still up there.

You can stream the full split via the TDOAFS bandcamp page below:-

Albatros have their side streaming below too, where you can also buy it digitally and on vinyl directly from them:-

TDOAFS - https://www.facebook.com/Tdoafs

Albatros - https://www.facebook.com/albatrosqc/

Tape copies are sold out from Larry Records but you still find copies via No Funeral Records here - https://nofuneral.storenvy.com/

10" vinyl copies are still available via the below stores:-

Black Lake Records - http://blacklakerecords.bigcartel.com/product/bl029-albatros-tdoafs-split-10

Le Mort Records - http://lemortrecords.blogspot.com/p/distro.html

L'Oeil Du Tigre (now ODT Records) - https://www.facebook.com/loeildutigre/

Don't Live Like Me Records - https://www.facebook.com/dontlivelikeme/

Black Lake Records - https://www.facebook.com/blacklakerecords/

Dingleberry Records & Distribution - https://www.facebook.com/Dingleberry-records-and-distribution

Le Mort Records - https://www.facebook.com/lemortisdead/