Dick Lickerer "Title????" (Friends & Relatives)

This release is part of a great new batch from the ever reliable Friends & Relatives Records run by Justin Clifford Rhody, currently of Ypsilati, MI. I just had the pleasure of meeting Justin for the first time and he was a wonderful host and a great guy all around. His label has never been one to latch onto any trend or have any pretensions of "hipness" and has released some of the best truly underground music of recent memory. "Dick Lickerer" is a trio collaboration between Rhody, Logan Durgen (formerly of the band Sports) and Mark Williams (formerly of DigShovelDig). These sessions were recorded whilst hovering over a mic late into the night. The whole thing was done without trying to wake up the roommates who were sleeping in quarters nearby. I'm not sure if these boys were successful in that regard because it sounds like they were making quite a ruckus, but the tape certainly is successful from a musical standpoint. The closeness of the sound really helps bring you into Dick Lickerer's world. There are a few noisy four-track jams that sound like guitars of basses being struck by metal objects, but most of the tape is made up of the sound of moving various objects together or across the floor within the close proximity of a microphone. The assorted instrumentation includes packing tape, dust brooms, plastic bags, paper and silverware. Sort of like a more snotty modern day Group Ongaku/Taj Mahal Travellers. I would describe the approach of these folks as "anti-technology". I think it's great that more and more artists are mining this rich vein of music and that there are people out there all over the county who are willing to put it onto a cassette or record. Hopefully you'll be willing to listen. Contact friendsandrelativesrecords@yahoo.com for a copy of this and other fine releases.

The group was only around for a brief period in Asheville, NC about five years ago. Here is their inactive myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/dicklickerermusic

WASTELAND JAZZ UNIT/(D)(B)(H) "Split" c40 [Baked Tapes]

This was a good match up by Baked Tapes as WJU and DBH are two of the more interesting “improv” acts out there right now. The Wasteland Jazz side features the duo of Jon and John--on sax and clarinet, respectively, played through a shit-fucking-ton of distortion--absolutely burning as usual this time with the addition of a percussionist. The first part of the sidelong piece “Box Breaker” has something that sounds like a sequenced synthesizer puttering away. I’ve never encountered that on a WJU track before and to be honest I don’t necessarily like it. It’s not so much a matter of harming the piece as just not doing anything for it, it remains pretty static and undynamic and lets the reeds do all the work. They can totally handle it though. The sax and clarinet are as unstatic and dynamic as ever and they are just tearing the house down. Skyscrapers crumble, helicopters infest the sky, these are the sounds of a warzone. The second part of the side notches itself a lot deeper into the red and its some of the most brutal, scathing, NOISY!!!! action from these guys yet. Just motherfucking relentless. Listening to this right now makes me wonder why I don’t have more of their stuff in my collection. These players are total fire, the kind that can actually burn you. Oh, the percussion? I think I heard a cymbal or two through the feedback barrage. Possibly.
Whereas WJU’s contribution was complete pummel, (D)amaged(B)achelor(H)ood contributes a looser improv piece heavy on guitar strings. DBH is Justin Rhody’s junk-improv act which features him and a revolving cast of characters (who all often play multiple instruments) so you literally never know what you’re gonna get. I don’t like this track, “What We Do is Rumor,” as much as the other DBH tape I have, but its certainly got an interesting vibe. Somewhere between jazz and drone the piece lumbers along in murky one-track cassette recorder hell. Sometimes laying low, sometimes getting cranky with feedback , sometimes letting Rhody loose on the trumpet. The not-bad-but-not-great recording quality hampers the jam a little bit though, as all the nuances of group’s playing don’t really shine through. Still it’s a nice one to throw on if your in the mood for some murky freedom blues. It’s definitely an act worth following though, for the pure unpredictability of it if nothing else.
Pitch-perfect photo by J. Rhody on the cover too.

Wasteland Jazz Unit
(D)(B)(H)
Grab it from the bakery floor

SMUT/RIGHT NOW BAND split CS (Friends & Relatives Records)

Bloomington represent, this is a real jolly outing, to be sure! It’s always nice to see bros bro down, and this short tape of live actions from bands comprised of members from freak-improv groups like (D)(B)(H) is as fucked as it is fun.

Right Now Band plays as a trio (apparently) with a guest guitarist, but the way it’s recorded, there’s really no way of knowing just how many guitars you’re getting anyways, so it’s not worth fretting over. There are some major Beefheart stylistics taking place here, psychdelic poetry lyrics, strangled unaffected guitars, and clanking, rhythmic, “blues” drums keeping it all together. Somehow, it all seems to blend together into one mish-mash by the time the side is over, you can barely tell which instrument is which, real cool de-scendo. Into it.

Watch this video for some kind of perspective:


“Play that trash, and you play that trash; I’m not joining the band.”

On that same note, Smut is the trash-rock duo (soundwise, not actual trash, re: da video) of childhood friends Justin Rhody and Keith Wright, almost literally executing ten songs (one being a cover, I think?), and probably their instruments alongside that. Super blown-out distortion and audience heckling, raw dogs hot-doggin’ it. Not much else to say on that end, loud reigns proud.

Limited edition of 50, nice Predator picture on cover.

http://www.friendsandrelativesrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/therightnowband

JUSTIN RHODY & MATT HIMES "s/t" (Green Tape) c15

Yowza, two sides of air raid madness. Sounds like Justin and Matt got hold of some bullhorns and got into it with the national guard. Borderline feedback of sometimes barely recognizable vocals that sound like they're being used more like weapons to contain a civilian riot.

Not totally clear what's happening, if it's two people, a group or just the voice being pushed to the very edge of white noise. Maybe it's an exorcism since you can hear occasional talking and it definitely feels like something is being purged. I think this would sound brutal and awesome performed super loud, especially if there were projectile vomit and lots of heads spinning around.

Super simple cover art of a swollen lip being pulled down to reveal a gold tooth on what looks like a normal looking mom. who knows?!

Still available from the very nice dudes over at the label:
Green Tape