GAY SHAPES "s/t" c34
SCHURT KWITTERS "Annapolis" c41
GRUIFORMES "Threaded" c60
(YDLMIER)

Worcester's Gay Shapes have really come into their own with this release, which contains a half hour of primo drone. I've admired the solo work of Joe Bastardo (Bastian Void), but when he joins up with Mickey O'Hara and Abdul Sherzai the gloves really come off. These guys get into some heavy alien abduction territory. Nothing particularly new age-y here, so beware Vangelis fans. The B-side plays out like Maurizio Bianchi's take on the Master Musicians of Joujouka. Bastardo's graphic design is top notch, as per usual.

The Gods Must Be Crazy, because here I am reviewing my second Fat Worm of Error (related) tape in less than one month. Schurt Kwitters is the solo project of that band's vocalist, Jess Goddard. She put out a CDr with Breaking World Records, which I haven't heard, but her LP/CD on Open Mouth really whetted my appetite to venture further into Jess's woozy world. During live gigs, Goddard frequently uses a sewing machine as a musical instrument, and I can detect it's presence on the B-side of her very fine third solo outing on Boston's YDLMIER Tapes. I would recommend Schurt Kwitters to all fans of non-repetitive electronic music who still like to shuffle about a lil' when they're feeling okay. Jess uses cheap keyboards and a very small dollop of delay, to create a perfect comfortable/uncomfortable feeling. Like that fog in your brain that won't stop casting it's spells. Bounce closer little fog. Hop. Bounce. Into my tape player. Bounce. Hop. Bounce.


All audio improvised, re-imagined and effected entirely in Oklahoma by Mark Carroll. Materials used: 4 large suspended threaded rods, washers, crushed cans, glass bottle & large sliding rusty door.

We are in the jungle now boys.

This is the best available tape from YDLMIER, as the previous two are already sold out from the label. You might try your finer distributors, but in general you have to act fast if you want to catch these puppies, as they wiggle by in tiny editions of 40. Some of these tapes deserve to be heard by many more people, and this is definitely one of them. The A side is a mostly acoustic dance of chiming metallic drumming with light audio manipulation gradually increasing towards the B-side where it begins to become more of an electronic tape with percussion samples. It begins with the thunderous roar of steel and ends with an Recommend.

Still available from YDLMIER is a Dave Gross release where each cassette contains a different saxophone improvisation and a Brian Green tape that samples city street recordings over pleasant, if directionless drone.

puppies