Listed: Equipment Pointed Ankh

Photo: Jennifer Kelly

Equipment Pointed Ankh hammers out intricate rhythmic fever dreams that feel hand-made but actually arise from a complicated deck of digital and electric instruments. The sextet from Louisville, KY has been at it for over a decade and three full-lengths and recently played a mesmerizing set at the Thing in the Spring Festival in Keene, New Hampshire (see photo). Jennifer Kelly reviewed their latest, From Inside the House, earlier this year, noting that, “These tracks bounce and jitter like they want to dance, but then tip sideways into lush string synth lyricism, inscrutable spoken word, and, in one cases, the sound of soda sucked through a straw.” Here are some of the things that inspire them.

Jim Marlowe

Tara Clerkin Trio — Self Titled

Casually excellent clarinet, piano and drum grooves — some live stuff and some studio looping/chopping to great effect. What a great sound. An engaging combo whatever it is. Went nuts after hearing ’em and attempted to find everything else they’ve done. I chose this one but In Spring is another great, very different slice and Live at Bliss Archive is a tough wiggling of jazz tunes through CDJ beer goggles. Calmly unique and cool. One of my most jammed.

Pierre Barouh — Le Pollen

1981 heavy hitting YMO/Mariah and adjacent crews lift up real people chanson singer Pierre Barouh with freshly unboxed synths and a wide-ranging attitude towards song arrangement. The title track is a real highlight for me. Feels like it could have existed as a B-side off Scary Monsters if it was recorded at a restaurant with friends you don't get to see too often. I love it. Trying to think of another superstar group who worked with someone out of their immediate world to such great effect — The Eagles and Joe Walsh? Just kidding.

Ryan Davis

Vacuum Rebuilders — Anything Else Is A Compromise

Not technically a CD, so I'm already breaking the rules here, but I was in Victoria, BC earlier this week and walked into a record store with about 90 seconds to spare before leaving town. This was the first thing that caught my eye, and it was 2 dollars, so I purchased it with the loose change in my pocket and left. My life is better now from having gained this glorious spool of sicko-rock on Calgary’s prestigious Pee Blood label. From the simultaneously brilliant and seemingly microwaved minds that brought you bands like Hairnet, Singing Lawn Chair et al, Arielle McCuaig and Kayla MacNeill are, in this lone Ankhman’s opinion, responsible for some of the most refreshing and exciting rock music to have surfaced from the modern North American underground so far this decade. This specific material is perhaps more sonically aligned with the outsider punk of their Janitor Scum LP on Lumpy than the most recent experimental theater/art-pop/noise-folk shenanigans of their Puppet Wipes project (Looks Real, Siltbreeze), but it's all a part of the same strange and electrifying puzzle as far as my own dumb midwestern ears can conclude.

Gang Starr — Moment of Truth

I’ve listened to rap and hip-hop music throughout nearly every phase of my life since early grade school, but my focus and enthusiasm tend to fluctuate between subgenres therein. And no matter how long I go without listening to it (sometimes years), I always inevitably circle back to what I fell perhaps most in love with growing up, which was early-to-mid 1990s east coast street-wise boom bap shit. Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth, while considered to be of an arguably “post-classic” era by certain purists, is the record of theirs with which I always felt most connected. As of late, it's exactly what I want to hear. Released four years after its predecessor into the freshly treacherous waters of the shiny-suit/jiggy era, the beats, rhymes and ever coolheaded delivery on M.o.T. are as strong or stronger than they were in 1992. If they weren’t already solidified as one of the best emcee/deejay combos to ever do it, they were now. Come for the Inspectah Deck track (shout out Shorty’s “Fulfill the Dream” video from the same year), stay for the truly timeless Guru/Primo magic.

Shutaro Noguchi

José Antonio Méndez — Siempre Estrellas (BMG U.S. Latin)

I sigh every time I listen to this. One of the sexiest male vocals that ever existed on the earth on Si Me Comprendieras. But this CD might possibly be too much of sexy for homosocial ankh van, so I almost went for Perlas Cubanas of his or William Basinski and Janek Schaefer’s …on reflection.

Various Artists — Women of Africa (CSA Records)

Pretty simple but rhythmic melodies and harmonies and just incredible sound choices, phonological elements and beautiful vocals. I almost went for Julia Sarr or Shona’s Mbira CD on Nonsuch. But the first track just made me happy this time around.

Christopher Bush

Daisuke Tobari — Till The End of the Dream

This album is a masterpiece. An idiosyncratic blend of the psychedelic “songbook” (various pages) and the more ritualistic side of far Eastern classical music over seventeen tracks. An intuitive, imaginative and personal set of recordings. At one point, Mr. Tobari sings the words “Happy Birthday.” It is almost too much to get your head around.

Eyes and Arms of Smoke — In Three Houses

Lexington, KY band, active in the mid 2000s. Immaculate sequencing of two tracks, only really do-able in physical format on a CD. First track is a three-minute bongo fever dream with haunted vocals that showcases the song-based home studio sound that they developed on their sole full length, A Religion of Broken Bones. (See Dusted’s 3/9/2006 review). Second track is a twenty-five-minute free-improv mystery that showcases some of the modes unleashed in earlier live sets and tapes. Homespun, disorienting, and other. I cherish this band.

Dan Davis

The KLF — The White Room

This is my shit right now. I can’t really even explain why. It just scratches and itch. Like this is the music made by two dudes who like burned a million pounds or some shit? It’s awesome.

Avalanches — Since I Left You

I’ve been really interested in so called “Plunderphonics” and this record has an insane amount of vinyl samples on it. So, it’s just a fun listen when thinking about the work of making it. Dweeb shit that you can bop to.

Shutaro Noguchi “Warm Up Your Papa Jam (for C)”

Back of The Horse cassette (self-released, 2016)

“powerfully loud free-psych guitar, like adjacent bands on a PSF psych comp” - Byron “Butternut” Coley

full-length out now on Feeding Tube 

https://www.facebook.com/events/182125795783976/https://www.facebook.com/events/192891974878217/STATE CHAMPION LONESOME TENANT TOUR 2018

ALL PERFORMANCES ARE R D SOLO UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

TH 5/31 – LOUISVILLE, KY @ KAIJU (1004 E OAK ST) W/ SHUTARO NOGUCHI + JACOB MILSTEIN + BEA TROXEL

FR 6/1 – DETROIT, MI @ JEAN’S VINTAGE (12002 JOSEPH CAMAPU) W/ DRINKARD SISTERS + LITTLE TRAPS

https://www.facebook.com/events/1808685682769095/

SA 6/2 – 21 SAVAGE IN CLEVELAND (WHO’S GOT AN EXTRA TICKET?)

SU 6/3 – BELLFONTAINE, OH @ BREWFONTAINE (211 S MAIN ST)

MO 6/4 – BROOKLYN, NY @ HOUSE SHOW W/ RICK FROM PILE + YAZAN

TU 6/5 – BROOKLYN, NY @ WONDERS OF NATURE (131 GRAND ST) W/ PG SIX (SOLO) + HOME BLITZ (SOLO)

WE 6/6 – KINGSTON, NY @ THE SECOND WORST IDEA (BOAT SHOW @ HIDEAWAY MARINA -- 170 ABEEL ST.) W/ DONNY DINERO + ANDREW JOSEPH WEAVER (BYOB / BYO CANOE, KAYAK, LAWN CHAIR, ETC.)

TH 6/7 – BECKET, MA @ DREAMAWAY LODGE (1342 COUNTY RD) W/ PARTY OF THE SUN

FR 6/8 – GREEFIELD, MA @ ROOT CELLAR (10 FISKE AVE) W/ ROGER MILLER (MISSION OF BURMA) + MAZOZMA BAND

SA 6/9 – PETERBOROUGH, NH @ (DAY OFF / HANGING W/ GIVING UP @ TTITS!)

SU 6/10 –  PETERBOROUGH, NH @ THE THING IN THE SPRING (6 SCHOOL ST) W/ BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY, IRIS DEMENT, & MORE

https://www.facebook.com/events/1000991853373594/

MO 6/11 – BURLINGTON, VT @ ARTSRIOT (400 PINE ST) W/ BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY

https://www.facebook.com/events/152403235470237/

TU 6/12 – NEW HAVEN, CT @ THREE SHEETS (372 ELM ST) W/ GIVING UP

WE 6/13 – PHILADELPHIA, PA @ BEAUTIFUL WORLD SYNDICATE (1619 E PASSYUNK AVE) W/ JO KUSY + AUTUMN CASEY + MARYN JONES + BRAIN CLOUDS

https://www.facebook.com/events/322722154923248/

TH 6/14 – RICHMOND, VA @ BLACK IRIS (321 W BROAD ST)

FR 6/15 – CHARLESTON, WV @ KIN SHIP GOODS (613 TENNESSEE AVE) W/ GIVING UP

SA 6/16 – LEXINGTON, KY @ BEST FRIEND BAR (500 EUCLID AVE) W/ PONY + YELLOW CUSS

SU 6/17 – MURRAY, KY @ TERRAPIN STATION (920 S 12TH ST)

MO 6/18 – NASHVILLE, TN @ FOND OBJECT - EAST (1313 MCGAVOCK PIKE)

https://www.facebook.com/events/192891974878217/

TU 6/19 – CHATTANOOGA, TN @ JJ’S BOHEMIA (231 E MLK BLVD) NEVERMIND, PLAYING A HOUSE SHOW IN COOKEVILLE INSTEAD -- MESSAGE ME FOR DETAILS

WE 6/20 – ATHENS, GA @ THE ROOFTOP / GEORGIA THEATER / MALKMUS & JICKS PRE-PARTY (215 N LUMPKIN ST) W/ BLUNT BANGS

https://www.facebook.com/events/233892947177554/

TH 6/21 – JACKSONVILLE, FL @ RAIN DOGS (1045 PARK ST) W/ CHARLIE SHUCK

https://www.facebook.com/events/182125795783976/

SA 6/23 – ATHENS, GA @  ATHFEST / LITTLE KINGS (223 W HANCOCK AVE) W/ DEEP STATE

SU 6/24 –  ATLANTA, GA @ THE EARL (488 FLAT SHOALS AVE SE)

MO 6/25 – ASHEVILLE, NC @ STATIC AGE (110 N LEXINGTON AVE) W/ WES TIREY + WYATT YURTH

TU 6/26 – WHITESBURG, KY @ ROUNDABOUT MUSIC (357 MAIN ST) W/ NUCLEAR HOLLERCAUST + JAYDON

STAY TUNED HERE, A HANDFUL OF MORE DATES IN THE WORKS.

ALSO! AN INTERVIEW I DID W/ JC DENISON OF THE CLIFTONES PODCAST IS AVAILABLE TODAY HERE: http://kasaproductions.libsyn.com/episode-11-ryan-davis

photos from our first workshop performances.

if you’re new here, this is our work-in-progress blog. it is where I’ve documented the design and creation of the Creature puppet (affectionately referred to by me as Boo and generally as Creach), the Victor mask, the 5 secondary puppet characters, the sets, costumes, and general project development. 

what you see above are stills by Kriech-Higdon Photography.

lead puppeteer (in Boo): Zach Bramel. he is also our show developer, adapted the script, and is the spark (and subsequent heartbeat) behind the entire project.

director: Steven Rahe

puppeteers: Amy Davis, Betsy Huggins, Megan Adair, and Shawn Franklin

projection design & tech: Tim Furnish

lighting design & tech: Jesse AlFord

musical composition: Axel Cooper

The Wretched (the band!): Axel Cooper, Tim Barnes, Shutaro Noguchi, Josh Johnson. 

I’m Deva North. I designed and built Boo and all the other puppets. it’s my rambling and wip photos/info you’ll find on this blog. 

If you have any questions, or want any additional/further information about who we are and what we are doing, you can find us on Facebook as Mary Shelley Electric Co. or by contacting Zach at [email protected] or me at [email protected]. 

And yeah, we are BONKERS EXCITED to have received a workshop grant from The Jim Henson Foundation. So much puppet love!!!!!

Midnight Locker Aug. 18. 2014 - Japanese Indepent Music #5 Selected By Tetsuro Yasunaga by Tetsuro Yasunaga http://ift.tt/1BKDUV3

SHUTARO NOGUCHI INTERVIEW

by Eduard Abayev

How long have you been making music? I started playing the guitar from probably 14 -yr-old, but I didn't make my own music until I started recording in college, so it's been probably 5-6 years. Do you enjoy playing your music live? I love and want to play music live. But when I started making my own music, recording always come first, so I had hard time converting what I recorded into what’s heard live. Playing my songs as they are from the recordings does not necessarily create the same vibe for a live show and match the image of the song. For instance, loud electric guitar with big open chord in a long note and bass buzzing speakers never get better in recording than live. As a result, my song, Afrikan Flower, ended up being 15 mins live even though the recorded version is less than 3 min. Keeping the vibe and image of the song same at live show is important to me. Next time I want to make songs during my practice, not recording! What kind of music do you listen to and how does it influence your music? I like when music starts creating something like a big invisible fragile soap bubble filled with some kind of dense air. The bubble starts enfolding you and your surroundings in it. The bigger the bubble is, the more you get into the world of music, a lot of love is given to it as well as fear. It is also very scary in a way. It is fragile and it may break and disappear so easily. I like any kinds of music related to kids, too. I want to make music that reminds me of a memorable experience in my youth, but not in a nostalgic way. Recently I listened to the album, Cartola by Cartola, and kept repeating over and over. I like music that grabs and pulls the collar of my shirts. Every note of the acoustic guitar and his voice on the album goes straight to my heart! What other things influence how you create music? I would say that those would be my boring memories and an ordinary kind of day and life. No progress of life of myself. To me, lyrics are like a diary. I have two scissors in my hands, and then cut off a moment of my life. That will be filtered through my head and becomes an image to be a song. But I want them to be entertaining. Were you born in Japan?  Do you ever feel homesick? Yes, I was born in the city of Funabashi (a suburban city very close to Tokyo) in Chiba prefecture, and then I moved to west side of Tokyo and spent 7 years there and then moved back to a little country town in Chiba and lived there until 19. Since I moved twice when I was a kid and also since Chiba is close to Tokyo, I never had the feeling that I have a "hometown," so I envy people who say “my hometown” and mean it during the conversation. I used to miss certain things such as food and hot springs, but at some point, I started not missing them anymore somehow (though I still miss hot springs). Now I miss the scenery in Japan such as many buildings, crowded tiny houses, train stations, shrines, temples, cicadas, and such. I am so happy that I can hear cicadas in the backyard of my apartment in Louisville. I also miss my family and friends especially my little niece, Rina, who is in the picture of Pan! track cover photo. What kind of instruments or sounds do you like using most? I would say whatever sounds good to me on any kind of instruments I own. I think the sounds are very relative and variant to composition and combination of themselves. I have to try and see if the idea can work every time. It always takes time. Most of the times it does not work. I struggle to find a proper instrumentation. There is an image I want to create on a song and I think about what instruments or sounds I own or have. The result would be the middle point between the actual environment (or equipment) around me and my image in the head. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I am not satisfied with the results. Rather I honestly enjoy its fluidity and sensitivity of sounds and things, and which makes somewhat music even more realistic and fresh to me. I recently realized that maybe what kind of music I will make is already determined when I buy an instrument or by what instruments I have, but at the same time I am also free to make whatever music I want to. I want to use my voice more in the future! Do you have any favorite local artists? There are too many to list. I wish I could list all of them since I like most of bands I see these days, which is great. I like all the Sophomore Lounge stuff and love everything about Tropical Trash. I always like New Mother Nature, Softcheque, and Dream Eye Color Wheel. Bookshelf and D’Arkestra always sound great when I see them live. I envy and am attracted to people that have something I don’t have. Authentic full band always excites me. I like something traditional in style. As for solo artist, I like Dane Waters, Jay Jayle, and Jonathan Wood. I love and learn a lot from the electric guitar by Douglas Lucas. There are a lot more I can list. Recently I listened to Cher Von and instantly liked her stuff. I saw Vern at Astro Black Records the other night and was pretty beat. I want to check out Opposable Thumbs pretty badly! Any other vital info? I just released 7-inch vinyl single. 2 songs were released digitally in 2012. They are available at Astro Black Records, Modern Cult Records, (and also Guest Room Records soon) locally, and online (www.sasmusic.bandcamp.com) Please check them out! 2 releases are coming soon. I am currently working on 1 digital single and 1.5 albums, for this summer end/fall beginning. After those are done, I would like to play out and tour!

Pan ! by Shutaro Noguchi It’s like reggae music but I like it! Ha! Just kidding. I like reggae music. This is one song and if I were to wax poetically about it in one sentence that’s what I’d say. Seriously though, it’s eight minutes, ‘Name Your Price’ (even free!) and thoroughly enjoyable. And ‘Pan’ = ‘bread’. I mean, do you need any more reasons to get this sick Jggae track? 420 BLAZE IT NOGUCHI! - Aleix K.