Millipede is no stranger to AGB and after putting out a few physical releases (Death Mountain and a split tape with Brian Grainger), he's released an internet freebie titled Sand & Surf. If you're even slightly familiar with Millipede, you probably remember that he usually makes Zelda noise (aka music inspired by The Legend Of Zelda). Sand & Surf is his first to contain music completely unrelated to the Zelda series and it gives everyone a chance to see if they still like Millipede's music regardless of the video game relevance.
Sand & Surf is short (4 songs, 10 minutes) and while it's not the best stuff I've heard from Millipede, it's still nothing short of fantastic. Thick, noisey, scary, beautiful guitar drone that is clearly still awesome even when the original influence is forgone. The songs are titled "Sun," "Sand," "Surf," and "Sea" so it looks like this time he's more focused on beachy elements, which seems to work just as well.
Staples is a feature about, you guessed it, staples in my music diet. Albums that no matter how (im)perfect they are, or how old or new they are, I always come back to them because they're that awesome.
This was one of those records that I just kinda stumbled on when I was working at WMWM. Gave it a cursory glance, and being the fantastic MD that I was, also gave it a listen like I did most things. From the opening track, I was hooked and knew I had found something incredibly special.
Et Ret is a single guy who focuses on playing the violin, with Gasworks being his only recording. While Gasworks is violin based, I can't quite tell how many other instruments are used. It's definitely not just the violin as there are tracks where the piano and acoustic guitar are easily recognizable. Not that that really matters. So you know what instruments are used. Awesome. That doesn't give you much to go on now, does it?
Gasworks is the ambient/drone record you put on when you need some substance; one that falls in line with the likes of Colleen, The Dirty Three, or Hammock. Most songs have a solid beat that make it easy to get things done instead of melting into your couch. Gasworks is not background music by any means; there are songs with so many mysterious layers that you are rewarded with even a casual listen. Then there are the sparse tracks that showcase Et Ret's mastery of bedroom electronics and guitar plucking.
This is a remarkably gorgeous record. There isn't a single song that is lacking. Everything has it's place in creating an overall cohesiveness while each individual track forms a mood all it's own.
I have a lot of ambient records and admittedly, there are some that get brushed aside as the years pass, despite their greatness. Et Ret's Gasworks is one that has stuck with me and I get the feeling I'll never be able to shake it. It has so much to offer and is ideal for so many situations that it has proven itself worthy as a record that I'll always keep close by.
Hylian... isn't that the race of people in The Legend Of Zelda? Wasn't Link Hylian? You're goddamn right he was! Millipede is that amazing noise dude who did the album Hyrule I wrote about a few months ago. Well since then, he's put out a full length CD on Install called Death Mountain (fucking genius) and this little split tape with Brian Grainger on Milieu Music.
Neither Millipede nor Grainger play anything that sounds like your traditional Pete Seeger folk songs on this album. Instead they reinterpret the customary songs of the Hylian race as loud as fuck, ear bleeding, shoegaze jams (Millipede) or subtle, rumbly, fuzzy guitar melodies (Brian Grainger).
Millipede's side of Play Ancient Hylian Folks Songs is much like the rest of his work. Zelda inspired beauty noise. Take the sheets of guitar noise from Skullflower, mix in some end-of-their-career Yellow Swans and the most screeching moments of My Bloody Valentine and you're in the field of Millipede. The feedback he dispenses is so coarse it feels like it's scrubbing the inside of your ears. But rather than coming away with crystal clean hearing, you can't even hear yourself think. But the abrasion walks hand in hand with the elegance, serenading you with dreamy sweet lullabies. So so sooo awesome.
I discovered Brian Grainger through this split and thank god. Grainger's take on Hylian folk music is just as engaging as Millipede's. Millipede has an amazing contrast of delicate majesty but Grainger takes the middle road, making music that never quite makes it to either extreme while still retaining the qualities of both. He makes sure the foundation of his songs are covered in thick rumbling bass and then he goes to town on his guitar. It's neither loud nor quiet but it's both delicate and severe. I couldn't think of a better person to complement Millipede on this split.
As with Hyrule, the music on Play Ancient Hylian Folk Songs isn't inherently about Zelda, Link, Hyrule, or anything else related to the video game series. The songs are inspired by and spawned from themes, characters, and places found in The Legend Of Zelda and all of it's sequels. The only indication that anything on Folk Songs is Zelda related comes from the titles. "Skullkid," "Goron's Ruby," "Lost Woods," and obviously the album name all have their origins from the video games. Which is fucking awesome. But take all of that away and what are you left with? Some of the best noise music you've ever heard.
And for extra cool (geeky) points? Each side of the tape has words written in Modern Hylian Script, which I transcribed for you using this site as a translator. Millipede's side says Zuzejijizebegogego and Grainger's side says Gibezegade Jibegadejigobe. I like to think those are their names in Hylian. I fuckin love these guys.
The first time I watched Jim Jarmusch's masterpiece Dead Man, I remember being totally infatuated with the soundtrack. And like, immediately, too. It wasn't like the movie finished and upon contemplation I thought to myself, "That was a good movie. And it had a decent soundtrack, too." No. Right after the opening scene (<3 Crispin Glover) I declared, "I love this soundtrack!" But like most things I get excited about, I completely forgot about it in a matter of time. Then thanks to the wonderful internet, I stumbled upon it recently and have once again renewed my love for this soundtrack, never again to be forgotten.
The Dead Man Soundtrack is done by Neil Young. Never in a million years did I think I would be this impressed by a Neil Young record. I mean, it's not that I hate the guy or anything, it's just that I don't think about him. At all.
The music from Dead Man is almost entirely guitar based. It's intensely thick with reverb, echoing all over itself. It's hot, dusty, dry, and full of the outdoors. Now I don't just say that because the film is hot and dry and I'm just trying to cheat out by describing the movie instead of the music. But because the music melds so seamlessly with the imagery from Dead Man that the qualities of the two are almost synonymous.
There are other pieces on the soundtrack that are quotes and dialogue from the movie. It's not a cop-out, though. It's poetic and still (I assume) meaningful to people who haven't seen the movie. You get to hear Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, Iggy Pop, and Billy Bob Thorton go all existential, everything they say complementing the wide open guitar perfectly.
Everything about this soundtrack is amazing. I rank it up in the Top 5 Best Soundtracks along with 28 Days Later, Lost In Translation, Snatch, and Marie Antionette. For maximum mind-fuckling, I recommend you try listening to this while trudging through a snow storm. There's nothing quite like it.
I Want To Review Your Music If you make music and you want it reviewed on my blog, just send me an e-mail. I would love to hear what you're making and give you a little more exposure in the process.
Disclaimer All of the music on this site is for promotional and sampling purposes only. If you enjoy it, please consider buying the record or going to see the band live. They will appreciate it, I promise. If you own the rights to a song on this site and you would like it removed, please contact me and I will do so as quickly as my tiny paws allow.
Posts
