NOISE / INDUSTRIAL FESTIVALS

Started by FreakAnimalFinland, July 02, 2015, 04:37:22 PM

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FreakAnimalFinland

As much as I am all in favor for small & intimate gigs, of all types, in context of our genre, there is nothing quite like international festival. It never takes just few hour slice of your day, but totally interrupts daily life. Often for days. It is often opportunity to catch multiple good bands at once. It is often meeting of dozens and dozens, if not hundreds of people who are unlikely to meet too many times in their lives.

Festivals what happen more than once turn out to be best. Perhaps experience of arranging, but also possibility to build somewhat loyal base of visitors. I don't know could I say out of those I have visited, that any festival was bad per se. Some may have been different. Others may have had less bands I'm excited of, some atrociously bad artists too, but as opposition as utterly excellent ones what balance overall impression to highly positive.

Be it NO FUN FEST, LAFMS Fest (Harbinger), NO TREND (Harbinger), UNITED FORCES OF INDUSTRIAL (Unrest), HEAVY ELECTRONICS (Tesco), NORDIC AUDIO MODERN (Autarkeia), CONSUMER ELECTRONICS (L.White), TOWER TRANSMISSIONS etc... They have proven to be something to be remembered.

In the end, I don't even have preference of how fest will be. Will it be 50 bands chaos with short sets or more focused 4 bands a day doing longer sets kind of stuff.

This year so far visited (excuse re-post):

UNITED FORCES OF INDUSTRIAL II : LONDON 1-2.5.2015

Preparations for the festival were pretty minimal. Whatever reasons keeps one buse, has resulted that Grunt has not had rehearsals for the new sets at all. Clinic Of Torture made video back drop and short equipment test on wednesday and Pain Nail rehearsed the set wednesday evening.
Thursday morning still little work to be done, before heading to airport with rest of finnish delegation. Focusing on finishing leftovers of couple whisky bottles before reaching airport set the tone of upcoming festival, hehe...

Minor nuisances of london public transportation was easy to deal with and arrived to hostel where Concrete Mascara and Kevlar was already present. Kevlar guys took some rest while rest of us headed to town for drinks and food. Good times catching up and drinking. Later in evening hard men of Alfarmania arrived to hostel and drinking continued till late with sharing stories.

My friday started early morning with finishing the beer that was open since previous night sudden sleep. Guys had found me sleep with half bottle in hand. Some kebab for breakfast and picking up drinks from off-license. In traditions of lazy tourist, it was cheap drinks at hostel until it was time to head to venue. It was excellent to be part of festival, where soundman is industrial music maker. Meaning that technical matters of fest was handled by AM NOT. With such guy behind table, proved to be among easiest and best what I've seen in this country. No explanations was needed beyond the basics. Things were quick and there was no fear of playing it loud enough. Video footage was large and set up properly so it covered entire back wall.

ARKHE started festival. Sound was surprisingly low compared to loudness of soundchecks. It was ok. But things like too short backdrop ending before gig (with "dvd menus" appearing on back for a while), drinking on stage, low levels of volume, were things what made sure that set was much less than it could have been. I'm sure it works better when listened from tape. With small adjustments it would become much more intense. Of course he stepped in with very short notice after Taeter cancelled.

Not sure if Vinciguerra spirit was still lurking at the venue, as you'd find turds in toilets, what wouldn't flush down. Just reminding of bowel documents time after another on this fest, haha!

KEVLAR did long soundcheck earlier at the day, and it proved to be correct choice, as set went with firm and tight style. I had never heard their works, but what we had, was solid set of 90's heavy electronics. Think of Ex.Order, Genocide Organ, Operation Cleansweep, Survival Unit and such. Two military thugs on stage, heavy walls of electronic sounds and commanding voice. Throbbing sequences and combat training videos.

AM NOT continued this atmosphere. His sound has very little of "noise". Perhaps even less than Kevlar. It's very precise, very technological. Loud volume and live vocals add much more aggression than in his studio works. Less of talked narrations, more aggressive shouting. Just like in his studio works, his live relies much on possibilities of modern technology. Video footage and audio is in sync. Throbbing beats, slogans appearing on screen and such things happen simultaneously. Even some spoken word samples you see and hear at the same time. Kind of reminds me of how Sektion-B has done things. What bugs myself, is the mundane feel of "daily politics". As little as I wanted to see Sektion-B doing songs with George Bush face on videos, equally little I need to see Obama. Just personal preference. Luckily there was much more than contemporary USA politics. I recognized some tracks of the new album. People were satisfied.

PAIN NAIL set consisted songs that are alternative versions of recent album and older 7" material as well as completely new tracks which do not appear in any releases. Things went roughly as planned and it was good PA system to work with. One could control easily live gear without any obstacles of (unwanted) feedback or such. Less than half an hour later, set was done.

ALFARMANIA delivered better set than in Finland. Perhaps Swedish trademark of on stage drinking. Colorful collage video, two vocalist shouting over rugged slowly moving sound layers of industrial waste. To me this worked best when was not watching, just listening without seeing anything. Balances where handled better than on recent gig in Lahti. Due lo-fi nature of their sound, Alfarmania doesn't often compete with sound pressure of more high fidelity bands like Kevlar or Am Not, but provides complexity of textures and slowly shifting organic movements what rarely is achieved with synths.

Good ending for first night, what proceeded into drinking at bars and eventually in hostel. Alfarmania and Pain Nail went to bar late night, myself and mr. Vanhala staying at hostel.

Saturday was good to start with finishing the remains of bottle of 7% cider what was found next to bed, hah. Breakfast with guys of Kevlar provided some details of this previously unknown band. Early start at venue meant that had to go to soundcheck while most of others went to city.

Soundcheck was merely to see that everything is connected right. CLINIC OF TORTURE doesn't use backing tapes (beyond the sounds of whipping etc..) nor have prepared anything in advance, so every gig has been about creating things from scratch. This time mini synth, loop pedal, scrap metal, couple pedals and filter. Raw industrial noise made out of semi-unexpected sounds emerging from minimal gear. Apart from sloppy last "track", it felt going well. Spontaneous element was that apparently sounds went accidentally through Martin Bladh's vocal effects, providing few unexpected difference between right & left channel volumes, hah...

MARTIN BLADH did performance of vocals & backing videos & pre-recorded sound. Self mutilation, tension of vocals and experimental sounds. Only braking atmosphere by moments of man drinking beer in middle of songs. Don't really get the idea of right after moment of self mutilation and intense atmosphere to step down to moments of.... satisfying thirst for beer...? When we don't really talk about rock'n'roll live shows, but in this case basically performance art, otherwise very solid set suffers from such minor details. Clarity of sound was excellent. Very sharp distorted voice and highly echoed voice being used. Half of set I listened, eyes closed, in semi-conscious state of mind on back of room. Very professional video material was perhaps missed, but it worked also as purely sonic experience.

This early-day event was merely 2 bands, as Stark had cancelled in last minute. I guess, same morning? I was ready to head into nearest bars and gallery. The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities was located less than 1km from venue. Bar with lots of oddities and even more in the basement gallery what cost 3 pounds to enter. Amputee sex. Tribal relics from exotic lands. Occult. Porn. Bizarre taxidermy. skeletons, skulls,...... all sorts of morbid curiosities filled the basement from floor to ceiling. Purchased bunch of postcards, including couple cards of Austin Osman Spare drawings what were on display at the bar. Just around the corner from venue was very nice bar. Tasty beer, several noiseheads hanging out. With finnish delegation with assistance of obscure finn noise Moozzhead, created quite neat exquisite corpse drawing on the spot. While others were destined to drink further, I wanted to see every group of fest.

Night show started with BROOD being the first. I was under impression that it would be dark ambient. Don't know why, but when it turned out to be some kind of beat-music, it was nothing I'd watch more than few minutes at the time, returning to check out if there is anything else coming than relatively clumsy beats. Some bodies were moving and full room watched, so I assume people liked. I have very hard time adjusting myself to rhythmic electronics of this type.

CONCRETE MASCARA live show in Finland was fueled with alcohol, and not so memorable. This time, strengthened with mr. Hutchinson with metaljunk, stone and hammer and Si Clark with vocals and noise. Mastermind himself delivering solid background of pre-recorded electronics, processed vocals etc. and result was very good! It has basically the elements I appreciate: Aggressive voice. Physicality of making noise. Form, but also enough of live modulation. Backing video was quite horrid, though. Just like with Am Not case, to me seeing familiar face like the pretty boy Ryan Gosling from his 2013 thriller film was quite turn off...  I'd like to connect all noise to something less of contemporary pop culture. Apart from video, show was very nice. Perhaps to be heard from live release as I believe recording was pretty good quality?

JAAKKO VANHALA had been lost on his way from bar to venue, hah. Finally finding the place, moments before he was about to go on stage. Gig had to be stopped twice before set could really start. First there was no sound on PA and things were re-connected. Then some gear turned mute. But like professional noise performer should, he had guts to simply stop in front of full room of audience and see what is wrong, and re-start when all is in order. Just recently saw atrocious set of someone who just continued the failure, even if correcting could have been just brief stop away... Vanhala knows this, and when everything was ready to go, what a set followed! Restless harsh noise to the bone. Full on physical action, utmost care of effects, filters and sound sources including tapes, little use of sampler and lots of live noise. Many times there were moments that this must be the ending climax, but no. Just throw some new elements into mix and re-build it again to sheer maximum tension. Audience reactions was most frantic to be seen during the festival and perhaps easy to say also gig was the best at the festival?! Scrap metal floating among audience and screams, spilled beers, mosh pit and general havoc in right in front of stage. Now that his CD's have been sold out from Freak Animal, I urge to grab them if you see somewhere! Certainly harsh noise name to stick out in our times!

CREMATION LILY was another name what step up to fill slot that Puce Mary left with last minute cancellation. It's probably challenge to suddenly set yourself ready to perform in like... one day notice?! CL for me has been always sort of hit & miss. Overall, I like what he does, but it seems to be so close to certain period of Prurient and also pretty close of what LR from Denmark does too. Simple ethereal keyboard melodies and emotional screamy vocals, rattling noises. Not bad. Not bad at all, but this type of melody patterns with smooth sound, below noise is something I don't care much. I like it as rare and occasional element, but seeing it develop almost as subgenre of noise, isn't too interesting. Of course one can't blame band, as combined with just experienced utter rush of utmost noise set and necessity to set up gear for Grunt gig put me into position of not being able to check out entire show. Certainly not with full attention. But people liked it a lot, that I can tell.

Due long distances and shortage of time, we haven't had time to rehearse GRUNT sets this year at all, so things are thrown together with pretty casual style. Previous Turku show belongs to one of best gigs we did recently. Working in different set up provided little challenges, but nothing what couldn't be overcome. Playing set in different track order than was originally agreed was perhaps little surprice, and necessity of correcting minor details on spot takes away some stage energy. It's hard to be ever fully satisfied with my own sets, but after listening recordings, it seemed to work out just fine. I could trust Vanhala to keep up with any spontaneous changes in set that was never discussed.

In my experience, most gigs in UK that end late, have people leaving before last band. Now firm schedule and dedicated international audience probably secured that it was packed till last minute.

Unrest team did great job in setting things up. Venue was much much better than I expected. Stage would be nice, but it was good already as it is. Relaxed atmosphere, good location, sound guys knowing what they do and schedules being firm. Which is almost miracle in UK gigs as far as I have experienced! I was told crowd was bigger than last year, and now it was very close to maximum capacity. Room couldn't take much more. Maybe dozen or couple dozen if it would be totally packed. Room for live gigs was separate from bar and merch area. I believe artists did very well with merch.

Concrete Mascara & Finnish crew was in need to leave early in morning to airport, like 6 o'clock. Alfarmania were still prowling on the streets at night, and times when we were waking up, them and Kevlar guys were barely ready to go to sleep.

I seriously hope they will have energy to put together United Forces of Industrial III for next year! Big thanks for Martin and rest of Unrest crew + all the artists of the fest.



HEAVY ELECTRONICS III - Mannheim 26-27.6

Festival was excellent!!
Started our long journey about 4:00 in morning, drove to Helsinki airport, took plane to Frankfurt. Trainride to Mannheim was delayed for whatever reason, but luckily just 15 mins stop in middle of nowhere.
There was one of organizing crew already waiting and took us to hotel. Opportunity to rest, maybe, but as this was free day without any obligation, German beer was more luring!

Venue was very nice. Located in industrial/warehouse type of area, behind fences you could sit outdoors or go inside in large enough, but not too large venue. Great PA system, big video screen, etc. basically all one would need for proper industrial show.

Fest started with THO-SO-AA, which was not bad, but I personally have not been so big fan of the work. Latest LP release was while ago on my playlist, and not that much to complain, but remains sort of anonymous work, as there is not so much of human element, more of technological feel to me. But nevertheless, I watched part of the show and not bad. Perhaps just plague of opening band to not be yet 100% in the mood.

Alfarmania was very nice! If I have to judge this as comparison to their shows in Finland and United Forces of Industrial, they did it much better! Not that it would have been too bad before, but now it seemed like vocal balances are better and less drinking etc. More focus?! Who know what exactly. Perhaps also strong PA and large video screen.

Ke / Hil show was very nice as well. Now I knew what to expect, so perhaps previous time at Tower Transmission I was blown away by seeing them first time. Now, knowing what to expect, it wasn't surprise anymore, but in conclusion that these guys know what they do. Cold and dark heavy electronics, repeating patterns. Laconic, processed vocals by each member, taking turns one song after another.

I didn't have much expectations for Brighter Death Now. I was under impression that it could be just drunken foolishness, but how wrong I was. Brilliant! Excellent gig proved that BDN is still going strong! 3 member line-up. mr. D.Nepal at bass, Roger doing vocals and Trepaneringsritualen guy doing... electronics? Not sure what, but at least 3 members on stage always look good! Very strong and pure sound, heavy throbbing beats, long fragments of samples etc. Nice!

Already close to 24h awake, and countless beers later, was pretty tired at this point. Hotel room was waiting...

Next day started where previous ended. After breakfast, weisse beer was luring...  It was several hours until it was time to be at soundcheck. Nevertheless, arrived at venue perhaps first. Short burst of thunderstorm hit in, but luckily had already arrived and brought our gear in. Soundchecks seemed to take forever, but that said, sound of entire festival was good!

Pain Nail was first band, and set was quite close to what was done at London, but little different gear and slightly different structures and additions to songs resulted very good results. Especially metal percussion sounded perhaps better than ever before. Songs consisted mostly new unreleased tracks and couple alternative versions of previous album and 7" songs, which has taken quite different form. Possibly musically the best Pain Nail gig so far?

Trepaneringsritualen was project I had waited quite a lot. I think just about every record he has done is very good. But live show left me quite cold. It was 100% playback. Basically empty stage, where guy screams. One can give credit that he did vocals well. Rhythmic tracks, where vocals were in time, with raw, "black metal"-esque spirit. Despite lots of moving on stage, he could perform songs just like on albums, not miss tempo or such. Unfortunately vocals had quite a lot glitchy crackles. Maybe even broken cable, since there was more crackles when he was walking left side of stage. Sound was sort of lo-fi, less powerful than most of bands, but I'd guess original sound already is slightly more suffocating and then no proper mixer boost/eq'ing to take advantage of massive PA. It was ok, but as albums are so good, I was expecting more.

Propergol I had very mixed feelings like usually with Propergol. At the same time I appreciate his technical know-how. Utmost clarity, utmost care to detail, etc... but then in other hand.. Digital computer sounds in sync with video material which seems to me like modern computer game trailers. Hmm...   All in all, people seemed to like it, but I watched for couple tracks and didn't feel like would need more..

I have seen Prurient several years ago. I didn't know what exactly to expect, as actually I have not yet even heard... is it already 2 latest albums. It just seems so "far away" from noise scene, hehe.. You know, I don't know if I have any Hydra Head stuff in my shelves. Or much of Profane Lore. Not that I would oppose those labels, but when releases happens on some other genre label who don't do trades or have much distribution within "noise scene", I never seen those available anywhere where I usually get my records/cd/tapes..
But right from the beginning, his set slayed! This was without doubt the best Prurient gig I have seen yet. Of course it is hard to compare with simple shows of 5 minutes feedback blast. Now, 40 minutes or so, lots of tracks with diverse sounds, great variation in vocal sounds, extremely piercing and loud. Most intense stage presence seen at the festival. Total commitment to both: sound, and physicality. Add also full video screen with collages.
After already full length set, Genocide Organ entered stage. Couple collaboration tracks of G.O.+PRURIENT proved to be excellent. Doubts what I expressed earlier on the day, was blown away by sheer brutality of this material.  Then followed shorter, roughly 20 mins set of GENOCIDE ORGAN. What a great set it was! I don't know how much comments it would need? Only band to get pretty rough "mosh pit" moving on front of stage. Forceful electronics, cold vocals, loud sound. Noisy and brutal material. Excellent!! Can't wait to see full length gig later this year...

Next day, we didn't leave that area at all. Just bought beer from gas-station and hanged out in some childrens playgrounds, consuming time. Trip back to finland and return to home after midnight...  Consuming, but really good trip!

------------------------

I was just looking someone posting two days Seattle fest news on gig section. Hardly recognized any bands. X CONGRESSO POST INDUSTRIALE in Italy. 2 day noise fest happened in Spain roughly month ago. End of this month monstrous two day Summer Scum fest at Brooklyn. Amount of festivals is already quite big.

Impressions of fest? Best memories? Preferences for types of fests?
E-mail: fanimal +a+ cfprod,com
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Andrew McIntosh

One of the better PE gigs I've seen was at a an International Noise Festival, 2013. The one set that stood out for me was Zog Machine. I never understood why - was it the position of the gear in that corner of the underground concrete fucking bunker under some Melbourne Uni grounds (why the hell do they need that anyway?)? Was it my state of drunkenness at the time? Anyway, it was CUNTING LOUD. The sound literally felt like sharp shards of sound penetrating my ears. Fucking sharpened wedges of metal being pushed slowly into my head through my ears. I fucking loved it. I was probably just pissed.
Shikata ga nai.

Duncan

I have really good memories of both NO TREND fests. The first one was really my first exposure to live noise as it is known best; tiny room, short sets etc....amazing how the thing came together what with the power cuts and FLOODING.

Generally I think anything Harbinger touches is usually worth going to see.  LAFMS, BROKEN FLAG and EXTREME RITUALS (all, I should add, in conjunction with Second Layer) were varied events but exemplary fests in the sense that they all provided 3 days of drinking, seeing rare faces and plenty of performances by artists who are hard to come by here in the UK.  All of these fests have had a palpable excitement and atmosphere to them which is difficult to define but probably at the topmost end of what it means, at least as I understand it, to indulge in live noise and experimental music. 

For me, COLOUR OUT OF SPACE is totally essential each and every time.  Definitely not right to classify it a noise or industrial fest...but the same as above in terms of providing the space for catching up with friends in the avant brotherhood (LOL) and seeing rare performances.  It has divided the opinions of even some of my really good friends which is fair enough; hours of free vocal improvisation and sound poetry is always gonna turn some folks off...but for my tastes the thing is damn near perfect.

A final mention has to go to CRATER LAKE...perhaps not a festival given it is a single day thing, but there are more than enough performances to make it count and each edition is a totally key moment every year for many people in the UK.  Different vibes every year too as Pete strives to get new artists playing all the time so lots of new talent on display which is good.  I like that it happens in March too and kinda serves as the real starting point of the year! Only downside is the hangover after the cheap bar selling amazing beer...you could kill a fucking elephant with the amount that gets drunk in about an hour at this one...

HongKongGoolagong

Quote from: Duncan on July 02, 2015, 11:21:56 PM
CRATER LAKE

Been to all four years since it started and honestly never known days of ear torture and hardcore alcoholism as great anywhere else in the UK. There is a rival occasional one dayer SHAKE(Y) Festival in Manchester which is also very good. I guess it's all pretty cliquey in a way though.

Harbinger Sound is maybe now more associated with prime time BBC broadcasts from Glastonbury and shock horror tabloid stories about that 'Kill Boris' band, but he did mention to me that the Broken Flag festival (went to one day and loved it) was a turn-off for him due to the audience and their expectations of professionalism. The idea of you seeing that No Trend with the flood (wasn't there but heard a lot) as a kid has me laughing.

I keep thinking of Equinox Festival 1983 and how it became an archetype for the whole genre of PE and noise - I've probably met more than half the people who were there by now!

Duncan

Quote from: HongKongGoolagong on July 03, 2015, 01:57:50 AM
the Broken Flag festival (went to one day and loved it) was a turn-off for him due to the audience and their expectations of professionalism.

Well given the bullshit anti-audience rhetoric that comes hand in hand with so many Harbinger endeavours it's difficult to take too seriously, whatever the issues were...Can't think what these expectations would have been though besides folk being narked at the massive delays in proceedings on pretty much every day?  I suppose I'd have probably convinced myself it was everyone elses problem too if I had a few hundred noise fans from all over the world (tough industrial ones too) semi pissed off at me for 3 days straight.  The final word on it though is that organising something like that was always gonna be a total nightmare and he and Pete still deserve medals for arranging half of what they have.


Quote from: HongKongGoolagong on July 03, 2015, 01:57:50 AM
The idea of you seeing that No Trend with the flood (wasn't there but heard a lot) as a kid has me laughing.

There are photos but I can't access them right now.  Fresh faced and longhaired.  Tim might have em to hand!

VelvetCurtain

I recently played and attended the Minneapolis Industrial-Noise Fest organized by Grant Richardson, who some of you may know as the dude behind the death industrial project Gnawed. This was the first "strictly" noise fest I had played or attended and it was quite the time. I guess I echo a lot of statements above, the atmosphere of these things are highly important and so on and so fort. However, I guess I'd rather post a few links to some sets worth checking out, as some sick shit went down. Not sure how many people know that Minneapolis has quite the scene, of sorts...

Plague Mother (Milwaukee, WS)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeneGqA2jKw

Ligature Impression (Minneapolis, MN)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrW2RV27sL8

Indian Burial Ground (Minneapolis, MN)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB3DiOesXN0

Anal Hearse (Chicago, IL)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEr6JU8JLuA

...shamelessly, Velvet Curtain (Minneapolis, MN)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIWJTmv_CI8

FreakAnimalFinland

I have visited Tower Transmissions festival 2 times before. Third time it was co-operation with Tower and L.White. Both have long history of organizing gigs, and I have also visited Consumer Electronics Festival (L.White), which were also highly professional events.
We're looking at two day fest in proper venue. Good stage. Good sound system. Large enough space for audience, but also bar and merch area as well as sort of chill out club and large out-door space to drink & meet people.
It's hard to say how to make place better. Perhaps ideal for most of the bands that are playing.

Travel was pretty long. Was already driving on motorway 2 in the night. Reaching F&V headquarters where two white male pigs waited my arrival and we headed to airport. Next in Berlin. Then in bus. All going smoothly. Arrival to Dresden and the same hotel where always been and beers get opened. Got to do soundcheck earlier as some people had not arrived, so it was good to head into old town to start consumer from good german beers.

Fest was perhaps little late, but nothing drastic. Magadan was first to start evening. I mentioned last year that the woman featured in Institution D.O.L. should do her solo stuff, instead of just featuring in this unit. So here it is. There was also male commando involved, but her presence was better and less "usual" than the Euro heavy electronics feeling that was little too expected from his part. Heavy rhythmic pulsations, commanding distorted voices, samples,.. nothing to give you new elements in world of heavy electronic / "german style" PE, but not bad at all. I didn't watch entire set, but most of it. I'd hope slightly less effects to vocals, more natural human voice. Overall, positive experience indeed.

CO Caspar is artist who I know only for their CD on Tesco. In tradition of this festival, they like to mix together various styles what loosely fit within "industrial" banner. CO Caspar has a lot more to do with performance arts/experimental music realm, but I can't complain about diversity of music on fest. Perhaps oldest guys of fest bringing most physical performance. Funny, yes, but also energic. I liked some parts, others didn't. Long set wasn't possible to watch entirely as Clinic of Torture was playing next.

All C.O.T. shows are sort of improvised industrial-noise. As are releases. While everything is created spontaneously on stage, without samplers or pre-recordings (beyond s/m film audio manipulated from tape), there is idea and it has been also rehearsed. Several songs was played based on new material what will probably be released still within 2015. Clarity and heaviness of massive PA transforms sound to much more massive industrial-noise than fierce and rugged amplifier violence. Hardly any feedback, hardly any crackling speakers. Perhaps reminding much more to very earliest releases of COT than material that has been done after those. Many said there was too much smoke, but well.. video was merely 5 minutes long, all you could see after that is same material looping over and over again. Despite pretty massive amount of.. ehm.. refreshments, it came out perhaps even better than I expected.

Inade played next. After sweaty show it wasn't yet possible to focus on show entirely. I recognized some of the tracks and band certainly knows what they are doing and people seemed to enjoy. I like a lot of early works of Inade. During development of technology, some of the charm of sound is replaced with coldness of technology. It still involves two guys doing sound, and with massive PA, video projection and such, it works.

In Slaughter Natives I saw live couple of years ago. Then he had more members. More percussion and lots of lap-tops on stage. This time vocalist and other person. Perhaps majority of material came from playback, but there was also some actual sound creation on stage. Unfortunately vocals had quite dull feedback issue. Cinematic "early 90's cold meat industrial" don't necessarily benefit from such things. I like this more than previous show, but despite I have almost all ISN cd's, not really big fan of this style of industrial.

Bastard Noise was something I waited long. I have been in touch with mr. Wood for 20 years or so, but never before seen him play. This time BN was solo material. Surprisingly fast moving oscillations and electronic signals, and few guttural and shouted vocal pieces. Perhaps intentional choise was to play some old material. Wasn't it "Man" from MITB's Our Earth's Blood?! Sound was much less layered than in studio works. And much more active. Sometimes working very well, other times seemed as he was more searching good moments, but not sticking on it when it was found. I think many BN releases have short best moments cut as tracks, while session itself has been way longer. BN approach is very relaxed. Much more of appearing to lean to "punk" than "industrial". No "performance", not looking distant performance, but just playing sort of "on level of audience". He would talk to crowd a bit and make quick sound test just like bands. It was something so long waited, I was glad to see BN play.

Already 24 hours on my way, probably equally many beers consumerd..  return to hotel was in order.

Puce Mary had some issues with flights. Flight had turned back to Copenhagen after someone in plane had fainted. All gear lost on the process of getting new flights. Everything solved, though. And what a great gig it was. Despite being first act to play, room was full and there was no doubt band deserves its status from being killer. I like a lot all those experimental parts in set besides the industrial hits with vocals. She build set with good structure and variation of different approaches. Also somehow louder than many other bands. Perhaps the sharpness and pressure of sounds gives it extra punch. Really good set what was among highlights of fest.

Bizarre Uproar is someone I have seen play so many times, in many different styles of band. From total harshness, and feedback dominated power electronics to this type of material. Slow and brooding, multilayered industrial filth. BU gear tables are starting to look like jap noisers of old times. Insane amount of gear from drum machines, samplers, distortion pedals, echoes, contact microphones, bass playing white fat pig sweating on stage.. But this is all good example that relying on just one lap-top may be nice, but when you could see someone actually create sound, mix it, and play proper songs, it is far more satisfying from perspective of audience. You actually get the one off experience of music create on stage. 45 minutes or such was long and suffocating, in good way. Many commented this to be highlight. I could say I'm far too biased to say, but.........  I've said it since probably '92: BU knows what he's doing. Perhaps now even more than ever. That's rare style of development in scene were old bands tend to always become little less interesting when they go forward.

Sardh I remember from old LP. Or lets say, don't really remember, but I know I have this LP and listened in way back. My impression was that it will be industrial/ambient/"ritual"/tribal kind of stuff. It wasn't exactly as I expected, but it was good! Several members on stage. Everybody had something to do. Computers of stage, yes, but also huge racks of studio effects, lots of large metal objects, drums and such. Percussion songs. Scratching and carving sounds from big sheets of metal. Droning heavily echoed vocals. etc. Again, good example how much better gigs are when things are actually played. And also in style that you see what acts on stage results each sound.

Cancellation of GO was very unfortunate. But what can you do? Festival was fast enough to book Brighter Death Now, in just couple days notice. I briefly talked with Karmanik and he mentioned he got call thursday evening. And festival started friday! The leading man seemed to be more sober than in Heavy Electronics III festivat, but perhaps other guys less so? There was many small technical issues at first. Music/vocals balance, perhaps not enough volume at first. It all was corrected during couple songs. But you couldn't really hear bass anywhere. Only between tracks you could spot very small thin noises appearing. Sidekick members appeared to be more of visual element than contribute anything audible to sound. Rogers voice, his movement on stage and many classic heavy hitting tracks delivered pretty guaranteed experience for BDN fans. Added bonus was collaboration work with Puce Mary, who managed to deliver some further layers of electronics and eventually also vocals. I think gig wasn't as good as in Heavy Electronics, but not bad either.

Goatvargr was perhaps loudest of the festival? He delivered also perhaps most noisiest works, filled with electronics, shouted vocals, etc. I was under impression that this would be collaboration of Andy of american harsh noise project GOAT and Nordvargr, but in this live gig, Nordvargr was doing it as solo. Still maintaining the harshness what one could expect from such collaboration. Even for the very last artist, and long gig, room was pretty much full. Non-stop strobo made it quite nauseating to experience in long doses.

Two days was ending well. No significant delays. No shitty failures. Managed to talk to few people, despite could have done more... but simply not many moments one could miss from bands or sitting behind merch table between them. Few more beers in hotel and eventually couple hours of sleep. In the morning we almost missed our bus to Berlin. Managed to jump in just in last minute after running to correct stop to other side of station... hah...
Tower Transmission festival 2016? I hope it will happen!

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Andrew McIntosh

Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on September 28, 2015, 05:04:06 PMthis is all good example that relying on just one lap-top may be nice, but when you could see someone actually create sound, mix it, and play proper songs, it is far more satisfying from perspective of audience.

More importantly, you can hear the difference. Live, laptops seem to have a kind of flat sound, because it's all coming from one source. Using a variety of units, even a minimal few, you can hear the distinctions.
Shikata ga nai.


burdizzo

I wasn't there, but I hear he had a part where he had wound toilet paper around his head, and started chopping at it, and there were balloons on stage, etc.?
Perhaps there was an element of entertainment to the set - as I say, I wasn't there - but CO Caspar is certainly not a 'joke project'. He's had releases on Tesco, WKN, Kaon, and L.White, the best of them probably being his Fra De Skejulte LP from around 15 years ago. As far as I remember, it was recorded on in an abandoned fuel tank in a Norwegian harbour, and produced a pretty strong ambience. I interviewed him around this time for Adverse Effect mag., and he certainly seemed very serious about his work, which incorporated many unconventional self-made instruments. He was already pretty old at the time, so I reckon he's into his 80s by now.
Perhaps he was a little out of place in the festival (but no more so than Division S had they appeared), but maybe he was asked because he wouldn't have to travel too far/ didn't cost too much? Actually, I was surprised he was still going, because I hadn't heard his name in a while, and as far as I know, he's had no new releases in a while, either. He had a background in theatre and performance art before he started releasing music, if I remember rightly, so that may explain the unusual stage antics. However, to say it's a joke project is way off.

Goat93

#10
So, My Report of the Tower Transmission V

Magadan - i missed cause of the Traffic. I would like to see it, since i liket the Performance last Year with Institution D.O.L a lot.

C.O Casper - i missed too, saw the last Song. Seems to be a Funny Show and what i have seen was good. Very bad start in a Festival to miss 2 Bands.

Clinic of Torture - Since it was the 3rd Time with different Projects, so i expected something different. 1 Person doing the Sound and Vocals. All in all good, but too much Smoke and the Blue Light fucked up the Visuals. Can't see the Background Video nor the Artist too well. Not as Good as Grunt or the Work with Pain Nail on the other TT.

Inade - i didn't saw at all, since i have seen them several Times and its not my kind of Music.

In Slaughter Natives - I didn't expect too much, since i get really fast bored by this kind of Music. It sounds like Playbackmusic with a Broken Micro. Wasted Gig but wasn't the Artists fault at all. But it was somekind of Ironic that a way less known Band like Sardh had several real Drummers there.

Bastard Noise - A Friend said that a American noiser tries to make Japanoise. Yeah, fits totaly. Wasn't really Awesome, wasn't really bad. If your into the Music, it should be a good Concert. if not, like me, it was just a Concert.

Puce Mary - I missed again, staied too long in CZ to buy Alcohol

Bizarre Uproar - One of the Bands why i bought the Tickets. Good Show with Male Pig Mask and Leather Mask. The Image fits totaly with the Attitute of the Project. Sound was great, also the Smoke and the Lights wasn't Desastrous like the Day before. It was a Highlight of the Festival for me.

Sardh - Was a nice and surprising Gig with real Drummers, but not my Kind of Music, so i only saw a Bit of the Show.

BDN - Strange Live Gig. 2 Infamous Guests who standing just around. Music and Performance from Mr. Karmanik was good, but somekind of unsurprising. I have seen BDN in a way "funnier" Stageact and it was much more intensive than that. It changed, when Miss Puce Mary entered the Stage, much more Agressional Act from Mr. Karmanik and the Highlight of the Festival was, when they sing together  fucked up the Tech with the Vocals. Twice. All in all for such a Short Time as Replacement for Genocide Organ, it was a great Set. But this is something i forget always.

Goatvargr - It was a Strange Contrast to see BDN with 4 Members not doing too much Stage Acting and a Day before Bastard Noise doing a Solo Gig and Mr. Nordvargr did both in one Show and was 10x better than both Bands. The Sound was more into EBM#ish Rythm than just Noise, but this Guy made a fucking Performance out of this, the Strobo Light. I think one of his Two Mics fucked up in some Times. He actualy knows how to Entertain the People. Otherwise, if G.O would have played instead of BDN, this Set wouldn't made such a Contrast on Stage. But in this Way, this Set was the Highlight of the Festival for me. It was a lot in the Way of the Folkstorm Gig 2 Years ago, but a bit more Agressiv Stageacting on and before the Stage.

I missed too much good Bands (Magadan, Puce Mary and C.O Casper where praised a Lot for their Gigs), the Friday and Saturday where Equal. Thorofon on Friday was brilliant for example. Hopefully it will be a 2016 Festival.

Levas

Quote from: Goat93 on September 29, 2015, 06:39:52 PM
I missed too much good Bands (Magadan, Puce Mary and C.O Casper where praised a Lot for their Gigs), the Friday and Saturday where Equal. Thorofon ??? on Friday was brilliant for example. Hopefully it will be a 2016 Festival.

Goat93

Quote from: Levas on October 02, 2015, 10:11:52 PM
Quote from: Goat93 on September 29, 2015, 06:39:52 PM
I missed too much good Bands (Magadan, Puce Mary and C.O Casper where praised a Lot for their Gigs), the Friday and Saturday where Equal. Thorofon ??? on Friday was brilliant for example. Hopefully it will be a 2016 Festival.

The Text is Incomplete, don't know why.

I compared the Festival 2014 and 2015. For example In 2014 Thorofon was Headliner on Friday and the New Blockaders on Saturday. Both Days where Equal Intensive for me. The Friday was a Day full of Highlighs already. In 2015 on Friday I missed the Best Bands (From the Stories of the People) Magadan and Co Casper and there were no "Highlight" for me on that Day.


Levas

Yeah I agree. Well, I suppose Bastard Noise had to be or was the highlight of Friday evening. This year's festival was more varied, more ground covered and of course it's not up to everyone's taste. Clinic of Torture was the highlight of the first day as I expected. Overall great festival!

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