Three from the Polish Zoharum label, all arrived 04/03/2024.
Debut release from Naktys is called Liturgia (ZOHAR 314-2), a title which stood a chance of awaking my dormant interest in liturgical matters – and while I wasn’t expecting a Polish update on the devotional music of Thomas Tallis, nor an inversion of the Catholic rite, I wasn’t exactly prepared from this strange mutant form of rap spliced with heavy electro-beats, industrial noise, and desolate synth howls. Naktys is a solo act and this is his own statement; I like the idea that might be “asking elementary philosophical questions” and “celebrating doubt”, and reading his story between the lines we might be dealing with an untutored and naive young fellow, feeling his way through unfamiliar musical genres as he wrestles with his inner mental turmoil. There’s a lot to be said for the gusto and relish with which he throws himself into this task, accepting all the challenges and staying on his feet. The “alternative rap” aspect – all words spat out in very emphatic Polish – is probably the most unique feature of this record, and while it’s occasionally gauche and clumsy, there’s a lot of frustration and anger bubbling forth from green, poisoned lips.
Schröttersburg we like as the devoted owners of their own brand of depressive, grinding noise rock, and they wormed a way into the tailfins of our Cadillac with their Melancholia. Dekonstrukcje album in 2020. The label have high hopes for Kosmogonia (ZOHAR 313-2), their third release for this label, as evidenced by their decision to issue it on LP, CD, cassette and digital files, with the assistance of other friendly labels DIY Kolo and Bat-Cave. As with their 2021 release Dalet, what comes over from this gloomoid combo is an overpowering sense of bleakness and despair, partly due to the focussed and remorseless manner in which these fellows play their instruments – it’s as if they’ve been recruited into a post-punk boot camp and drilled mercilessly by their commander, who happens to be a reincarnation of Kirk Brandon and Jaz Coleman in one hideous two-headed giant. Described by the label as “atonal, psychedelic tribal industrial”, who would like us to regard it as “the heaviest album” in their discography, and a testimony to the musicians’ constant quest to explore new territories. The lead singer is every bit as shouty and determined as Naktys above, but in a different way; where the sneering voice of Naktys makes plain his scorn and contempt for modern society, the Schröttersburg vocalist is didactic and stern, and won’t answer any questions in the room as he unfurls his blueprint and speaks to the points of his terrifying action plan.
The White Stains album is another bid by this label to restore the reputation of this neglected Swedish rock band from the 1990s…the first such attempt Singleminded Dualisms was a compilation of their singles and EPs, and was warmly received in these pages by Mr Pescott. Today’s item Dreams Shall Flesh (Redux) (ZOHAR 316-2) is a reissue of the band’s second studio album from 1991, with two added bonus cuts. I’m slightly uncertain where to situate this odd brand of gothic / garage rock in my imaginary musical map, and if there are indeed any Psychic TV connections worth exploring, they elude me at this time – unless the title ‘Ov Like Mind’ can be considered a nod in the direction of their sometime mentor Mr Megson. Likewise any possible satanic / Crowley subtexts do not fully emerge from the music or lyrics on today’s spin; even the band’s image is a mish-mash, with unimaginative outfits and poor choice of sunglasses. However, none of this matters a jot when you spin the disc and are greeted with 10 well-crafted rock songs, replete with verse and chorus structure even, material which would sit comfortably alongside Black Sun Ensemble or even, at a stretch, Opal. This development might be down to the arrival of Thomas Tibbert, who was a later addition to White Stains and perhaps influenced a turn towards this slightly-occluded form of quasi-psychedelic sludge. Band founder Carl Abrahamsson is presumably the lead singer, and to these ears it’s curious how he delivers his unusual and semi-transgressive sentiments with such care and precision, paying close attention to the correct enunciation, never once troubled by a flicker of emotion or regret as he proceeds down the sloping pathway towards Hades.