Category: music

Today’s Episode of “Fuck These Platforms. Let’s Just Blog About Ourselves Bro!”

What’s been keeping me up at night? We unhealthily compartmentalize the world burning of course. So other than the end of humanity as we know it, what else?

The abundance of indie/small pub/small label music and writing there is. In this crazy information age you find yourself constantly drowning. There’s good drowning and there’s bad drowning. The abundance of amazing art drowning tends towards the good I rate.

I posted about African Speculative Fiction earlier in the year. Keeping that line of thought, I’ve purchased and am excited to read Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and The African Diaspora, Stephen Embleton’s Soul Searching , and I’ve been eying Mia Arderne’s Mermaid Fillet rather greedily. That sound’s gross somehow. The new issue of Omenana is coming in October, and the line up looks great! Also, I’m in it! Sorry, nobody has marketing budgets anymore, ok! We’re all our own promoters down here, in this grimdark rabbit hole.

On the music end, this weird thing’s been happening over the last couple of years where I’ve been interacting (on the internet haha, still don’t leave the house) with a lot of South African producers over the last couple of years. It’s a very surreal experience really. This all seemed to get rolling when I left Cape Town somehow. My cousin asked me the other day how I like rural life, and I told him it agrees with me. I told him I’ve somehow, very ironically, been networking more. The irony being, when I was right in the CBD and had access to everyone and everything, the madness of living in the CBD left me so mentally exhausted, I never had the energy to deal with people anyway. In person or online.

Somehow, now that my headspace is clearer I’m a bit more friendly. On the internet at least, can’t say much about phonecalls.  I’ve been engaging with South Africa’s producer scene a bit more, and have been finding amazing talent, and amazing music.  Seventhgaze, another South African talent, put together a really diverse list of South African music. This list isn’t just producers. It runs the gamut right up to our vibrant jazz scene.

Here’s the list: https://buymusic.club/list/seventhgaze-black-south-african-sounds

I can’t vouch for everything on here, as I haven’t listened to all of it. My intention is to go down the list, check out the stuff I don’t know, see what tickles my fancy. However, some projects or artists I’m familiar with.

I’m a huge Reza Khota fan, and his latest Liminal, is a phenomenal record. Also caught his quartet live when they were trying the songs out, so obviously it has sentimental value too. But it’s amazing. A journey. Find some time, sit down, and just listen to that album. The album art is also amazing!

I’m not too familiar with Asher Gamedze, but Buddy Wells (also on Liminal) plays sax on the album recommended on the list, and posted about it, so I’ll just assume it’s good. Blind buy good I’m assuming. (Update: I’m listening to it while writing this. It’s fucking good, what did I say!?)

Keenan Ahrends is on there. Not familiar with the project on the list, but I own his Narrative album, which is good, Nick William killing the keys like a mofo. So yeah, I’ll just assume that’s good too.

Tune Recreation Committee is one of Mandla Mlangeni’s bands, and you generally can’t go wrong there either. I have the previous album, Voices of Our Vision and its good. Good good!

The Brother Moves On is on there. Another local great! Amazing live shows! I’ve seen them play with Shabaka Hutchings whom they collaborate with frequently. So that album is a definite want as well.

I’m on there, lol. Next to some of my favorite people, which is sick! And weird…

That’s about all the stuff I know know, and honestly it’s mostly the jazz stuff. Specifically I’m saying I’ve delved into those catalogs, seen them live a bunch of times, that kind of thing. So this isn’t some kind of ranking system. I’m aware of a lot of the names on the list, and I can assure you there’s a lot of talent to go around, depending on your personal tastes. So if you’re not necessarily a jazz fan boy like myself, I recommend going down the list according to your own genre preferences. I’m sure you’ll find something you like!

Kratos EP

“Proselytes! I present to thee the Kratos EP for listening pleasure. Obsidian Jones recommends Shifting The Boulder or Not Yet Dead for the novice listener. For those with experience in composition, arrangement, conducting and the innate ability to play the Recorder and Triangle in five-part harmony he suggests the original sin and title track, Kratos. Go forth and scalp thy neighbor!” – The Mad Drummer

 

New Song and Links

I’ve got a new song out on Bandcamp and Soundcloud! It’s an industrial, grunge, free jazz, noise, punk affair, topped with some Trent Reznor worship.

The writing process was very cathartic for me, and as such I’d just like to generally share it. I’ve opted to do this via Bandcamp’s pay what you want thingamabob. Pretty much you pay whatever you want for the song. You enter 0 to get a free download. I’m just asking for an email. No, I won’t spam you. I have neither the funds nor the political will to effectively spam people via email (ha!).

I’m looking for emails because we all know social media ain’t shit these days. Email offers a more direct way to reach people about what you’re up to and releasing. So I’m trying to go old school so I can actually reach people interested my stuff without having to post popular fake news, and boost posts to pay Mark Zuckerberg more monies. Also, follow my blog to get direct news, and/or follow me on Patreon. They don’t have weirdo algorithms there yet, as far as I know.

Spotify Playlists With My Music (Assorted Weird Shit)

Sooooo, Spotify appears to have arrived in South Africa this week. To some it’s the next best thing after sliced toast. For others, it’s why bother to move from Deezer or Apple Music. For artists it’s  still rampant exploitation of copyright value, degrading payments and grandiose promises of exposures. Oops, did I say that out loud? I mean it’s the next best thing after sliced toast!

Personal feelings aside, it’s still the biggest music streaming service on the planet, so my music is in there for now. I’m also glad I can finally claim my artist pages. South African artists haven’t been able to, as it requires a Spotify account, and Spotify didn’t exist here, yet. Ha! Third World Problems!

While suffering from a nasty tummy bug, I’ve been fiddling a bit on the platform to check it out. It seems more playlisty orientated, which isn’t really for me as I’m a more of a sits down and meticulously listens to the entire album kind of guy.

However, out of boredom, curiosity, and general goodwill to humankind, I made some playlists with my music in them. Yes, this is shameless self-promotion. However, it also highlights some of my influences, and the general crazy shit I like.

The Dark Cow

Soooo, this list is pretty much for people who like hardcore rappity raps of a darker nature. Filthy grimy shit! Non-Stop BARs! Lyrics you catch after ten years of listening and researching the occult, classic movies, serial killers and mafiosos. That kind of thing. *Vinnie Paz Evil Laugh*

The Mad Drummer

Here are some notes on The Mad Drummer’s playlists. I promise I didn’t write these. I don’t know where he comes up with this stuff, the psycho!

“I, myself, indeed, myself, The Mad Drummer, have selected some classically fused metal ditties to go along with my own Not Yet Dead. Feel the delightful pitter patter of the double bass drum as the melodic counterpoint assaults the higher functions of the mind leading to the land of catharsis. Beauty! ‘Hosanna!’ as the renowned composer, Adam Nergal Darski would say.”

“Obsidian Jones’ picks compositions to accompany Kratos. Obsidian advises this is only for those of a sophisticated and dark palette. Those of a psychedelic, yet evil nature. Those who might play Coltrane next to Holst. Those who might play BEHEMOTH, then Chelsea Wolfe the next second. Yes, those darklings wondering around out there in the nether realm beyond the reaches of the sun.”

Messages From The Mad Drummer

I, myself, indeed, The Mad Drummer, himself, am currently Spontificating musical notes in Spotify to all proselytes within hearing range.

Ye of the Apple faith might rejoice at the arrival of my work. Go forth proselytes and pray at the altar of Saint Steve of Jobs

Less the children of the damned and Deezer be forgotten, The Mad Drummer has some scalps for the children this festive season.