White Noise Records

Wooden Shjips《Vol. 1》

2008-07-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

美國加州新迷幻樂團Wooden Shjips，去年發表首張同名集，雖然大派迷離虛幻樂曲，不過樂隊最好的時刻始終是早期出品之中。《Vol. 1》收集樂隊以往在不同廠牌旗下發表的黑膠作品，全部都是已Deleted的罕有音源。

早期金曲《Dance,California》，那澎湃音量，以及緊湊卻是Radio Edit版，略嫌唔夠喉，也不夠原汁原味，而《Shrinkking Moon For You》送上好媲70年代德國Krautrock體系中重型份子Guru Guru的Spacey色彩，至於《Clouds Over Earthquake》的Minimalism味道，跟早期Spacemen 3同出一轍，虛蕪蒼白的聲音，帶出懾人的張力。

長達11分38秒的《Sol'07》，像是13th Floor Elevators般長篇迷幻Epic，連綿不斷的結他演奏，進入無重的飄浮狀態。

toe Tour "New Sentimentality" Sequel in South East Asia concert in Hong Kong

2008-07-18T05:32:00.000-07:00

Best known for its swift, acute beat and rhythms, clean melodic guitar settings and refreshingly riveting live perfomances, toe is the internationally reknown math/post-rock instrumental music group of four that has created a whirlwind of musical excitement since its inception in 2000. toe's eloquent musical uniqueness comes from its ability to glide intricate, subtle morphs in beat and rhythm on incendiary rock motifs, and a masterfully woven flowing texture of fresh acoustic guitars. Combined with emotionally absorbing live performances, it is one of the most refreshing instrumental bands on the forefront of Japanese indie music. The band's exceptional musical prowness has also often been compared to critically acclaimed and internationally recognised acts such as Pele and The Album Leaf. toe's one and only South East Asian tour stop in Hong Kong, Don't Miss it.

Opening Act : The Lovesong
Door Open: 9:00p.m.

Ticket Price:
HKD$280 [Advanced]
HKD$320 [At Door]
each ticket incl. one drink

pre-sales tickets start for sales at White Noise Records

Payment Accepted by Cash and Visa/Master card
(3% service charge paid by Credit Card)

Ticket Outlet: White Noise Records
Address : 1/F., 4 Canal Road Road, Causeway Bay / 香港銅鑼灣堅拿道東4號1樓

Venue: Grappa's Cellar
Address: Jardine House (Basement), 1 Connaught Place, Central / 中環怡和大廈LG層

Co-presented by White Noise and cube productions
Official Venue: Grappa's Cellar
Media Partner : Time Out Hong Kong
Orange Amplifier Sponsored by Parsons Music
Supported by Macba Piccba Industrias, Orange (Guitar Amp) and Canopus (Drum)

Total Informations : White Noise
Tel : 25910499 / 93093659 / whitenoise@netvigator.com
Facebook event pages
toe's official web-site http://www.toe.st
toe's myspace pages http://www.myspace.com/toemusic

Video Clips
path (live version)
velvet blanc (live version)
Goodbye feat. Toki Asako (Live at Fuji Rock Festival 07)
Goodbye (Music Video)

The Rubies《Explode From The Center》

2008-07-13T04:13:00.001-07:00

Indiepop不一定故作Cutie孩子氣，帶點Retro色彩的Indiepop組合The Rubies，展示長大成人後的清新感覺，一樣可以悠閒怡人。

來自美國加州的The Rubies，兩位基本成員是Simone Rubi和Terri Loewenthal，他倆曾是Call And Response舊隊友，現在另組新組合後決定四處遊歷，跟不同樂手合作，以新形式帶來新鮮感。

首張專集裡《Explode From The Center》絕對稱得上是群星拱照，有Feist、Erik Glambek-boe (King Of Convenience) 、Maria Eriksson (The Concretes) 等大名歌手助陣，音樂上亦集合不同元素，像懷舊Space Disco風味的《I Feel Electric》，找來Feist客串演繹，鏗鏘美妙的Synth彈奏，最後重覆地唱著"I feel electric"，再以Vocodor作結，沾染紐約Underground Disco色彩；至於Simone和Erik男女對唱的《Too Bright》，清涼感滿載，有如早年Everything But The Girl般真摯感人。輕盈Jazzy的《Room Without A Key》、60年代Sunshine-Pop的《Signs Of Love》、清幽典雅Swedish-Pop的《Turquoise》等作品，流麗的調子與豐富的編排，盡見美麗動聽，是張Summer Breeze唱片。

Kyte《Kyte》

2008-07-06T05:37:00.000-07:00

來自英國Leicestershire的五人Post-Rock新貴Kyte，已有三年歷史，但成員平均年齡卻只有20歲，原來早於十多歲時已開始創作道路，青春確是無敵。

在典型Post-Rock聲音之中，Kyte在結他音量起伏邊緣，加入主唱和電子聲效點綴，使樂隊在同類型同風格新人裡，浮現出獨立的個人色彩。

樂隊於日本先行發表的首張同名專集《Kyte》，打頭陣的《Sunlight》，嘹亮的結他配合夢幻的歌聲，帶出晨光初露的爽朗怡人感覺，緊接而來的《Secular Ventures》，以弦樂、鼓聲和鋼片琴奏出美妙浪漫音符。《Planet》、《We Dream Too Much》、《Ghosts》和《They Won't Sleep》等作品，送上夢幻的Spacey之音，簡約的聲音，緊湊的結構，是Post-Rock最平易近人的一面。而碟內唯一一首純音樂作品《Home》，是首輕盈和諧的Indietronica小品，至於完場曲《These Tales Of Our Stay》，則是最典型Post-Rock曲風，結他與弦樂起承轉合，成為樂隊Epic之作。

The Rational Academy《A Heart Against Your Own》

2008-06-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

澳洲實驗電聲音樂人Lawrence English近年對Indietronia興趣愈見濃厚，主力實驗廠牌Room 40之餘，還分身有術地開設支部Someone Good，主力發展流暢Indiepop小品市場，而最新出品是同鄉The Rational Academy，Lawrence還親身參與其中。

深受Sonic Youth、Yo La Tengo、Jim O'Rourke等美式Avant Rock名字影響的The Rational Academy，由兩位共同負責結他與主唱的Meredith McHugh和Benjamin Thompson所發起，後來再陸續加上其他成員，Lawrence亦是其一，不但負責電子音效，還兼任首張迷你專集《A Heart Against Your Own》的監製工作。

唱片打頭陣作品《The Author》，是有如早期Stereolab的Krautpop樂風，Meredith冷靜而甜美的聲線，為歌曲生色不少，兩首簡約靜態的Folky小品《David》與《Airport Nation》，不約而同流露出一份悠閒自然美，至於《2004》Benjamin與Meredith輕盈男女對唱，帶來飄浮的Spacey色彩，若想要重型一點的話，《Two Books》的Avant Rock氣味，是樂隊源自Sonic Youth的根源所在。

10 concert in Hong Kong

2008-06-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

10 concert in Hong Kong
with supporting Act : Freabag A.K.A. yy.zz
Date : 26-June (Thursday)
Price : HKD$80 [Advanced] HKD$100[Door]
售票地點 / Ticket Outlet : White Noise Records

Venue : KLUUBB
Address : 14/F, 367 Hennessy Road, Foo Tak Building, Wanchai, Hong Kong
香港灣仔軒尼詩道367號富德樓14樓 t. +852 8171 7211
Door Open : 8:30 p.m.

10's myspace : www.myspace.com/weare10
Freabag A.K.A. yy.zz's myspace : www.myspace.com/yyzz

co-presented by Loudspkr and White Noise
venue suppoted by Kluubb
equipment supported by Videotage

Total Informations : White Noise
Tel : 25910499

Oren Ambarchi solo concert in Hong Kong

2008-06-18T11:37:00.001-07:00

Date : 29-June (Sunday)
Price : HKD$120 [Advanced] HKD$150[Door]
售票地點 / Ticket Outlet : White Noise Records
Venue : KLUUBB
Address : 14/F, 367 Hennessy Road, Foo Tak Building, Wanchai, Hong Kong
香港灣仔軒尼詩道367號富德樓14樓 t. +852 8171 7211
Door Open : 8:30 p.m.

Oren's myspace : www.myspace.com/45213783

If all of you interested in this event and want to know more details of this or other events we host, you always can find those informations on our website, or myspace and facebook group.
Thanks for your support always!

website. www.whitenoiserecords.org
myspace. www.myspace.com/whitenoiserecordshk
Facebook Group : www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6872897783

organized by White Noise
venue suppoted by Kluubb
equipment supported by Videotage
supported by Loudspkr

Total Informations : White Noise
Tel : 25910499 // whitenoise@netvigator.com
www.whitenoiserecords.org

Our Sleepless Forest《Our Sleepless Forest》

2008-06-17T02:04:00.000-07:00

由Sam Purcell、Josh Rothberger和Karl Jawara三位同校學友所組成的Our Sleepless Forest，來自英國倫敦南部，求學時期已開始不停實驗聲音的可能性，經過14個月時間最後得出來結果記錄在他們首張專集《Our Sleepless Forest》之中。

第一次聽到Our Sleepless Forest作品是來自《The Wire》雜誌附送的免費CD裡的一曲《Nomads》，大自然空曠的Field Recording，配合層層疊疊的電子效果處理，滲透出黑暗且緩慢的感覺，猶如置身於荒蕪淒涼的陰沉森林之中，跟樂隊名字相當匹配。

至於《Our Sleepless Forest》裡其他作品，亦盡是虛蕪飄渺的氣氛化樂風，就像唱片公司Resonant給他們的官方形容詞「Ambient Electronic Space Rock」一樣，雖然少不免帶有點點Boards Of Canada、Zoviet France影子，但不要忘記這是他們於17歲未成年階段的創作，青澀的夢想換來統一的空間感，是Our Sleepless Forest步入成年前的美好回憶。

No Age《Nouns》

2008-06-09T04:43:00.001-07:00

雖然在流行榜上屢見佳績，但Sub Pop廠牌卻沒有忘卻DIY音樂精神，從新簽回來的No Age可見一斑。

No Age是結他手Randy Randall和鼓手Dean Spunt的二人陣式，樂隊名字是來自80年代Hardcore廠牌SST的合輯《NO AGE》，碟內參與名字Sonic Youth、Black Flag等正正是No Age的音樂根源。他們初出道憑—日內推出五張黑膠單曲而成名，這些大部分已成Collector's Item，想聽的話可從Fat Cat替他們輯錄的精選《Weirdo Rippers》。

玩Gimmick不難，但噱頭與聽頭兼備卻不是易事，No Age音樂上能做到有玩味之餘，也充滿天馬行空的實驗色彩，難得還具備悅耳的調子，將Avant Rock的可能性無限地放大。《Nouns》裡窺見不同類別的Lo-Fi音符，《Eraser》有如《Isn't Anyting》時期My Bloody Valentine的爆裂噪音牆，而《Sleeper Hold》則像是Sonic Youth的No Wave餘韻，還有簡約Drone味的《Things I Did When I Was Dead》以及清爽Sunshine味的《Cappo》，盡現無定向風的Lo-Fi Rock真諦。

Pooma《Persuader》

2008-06-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

也許Fonal廠牌太深入民心之故，凡說起芬蘭之音時總會聯想到幽幽的Acid Folk，不過來自首都Helsinki的五人樂隊Pooma，並非典型北歐樂風，反之流露出陣陣英式味道。

Pooma用了兩年時間製作的首張專集《Persuader》，雖然內裡的不是令人耳目一新的新聲音，但集合各家之大成下，點點Portishead、點點Black Box Recorder、點點Mum，結合而成一張很悅耳動人的唱片。

正如Portishead、Mum、Black Box Recorder等，Pooma賣點除了哀怨淒美的中慢板曲調外，還有女歌手Tuire Lukka那純潔中帶點傷神的嗓子。《If May Starts Tomorrow》和《They Won't Come Back》縱使同是Trip Hop風格，然而前者來得淨化簡潔，後者卻顯得暗淡淒美，味道截然不同，至於《Through The Calm》那充滿電影配樂神髓的弦樂編排，毋疑是很Portishead式作品，當然Tuire歌聲沒Beth Gibbons那般迷離，而是較接近凡間的聲音。

氣氛夢幻疏離的《Snow》，近似冰島樂隊Mum早期聲音，連帶Tuire唱腔也變得Cutie起來；《Persuader》和《The Shore》中有如My Bloody Valentine、Sigur Ros般Noisenik結他佔據重要位置，其中由澎湃結他與悲壯弦樂交織的音牆，是最美麗的一刻。

The Rosie Taylor Project《This City Draws Maps》

2008-06-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

早前公務和私務繁忙，把這個Blog擱置了一段長時間，向上來看的朋友說聲Sorry。現在終於由「Pause」按回「Play」，繼續再上路。

言歸正傳。放下了Indiepop音樂好一段時間，但聽過來自Leeds的The Rosie Taylor Project後，令我重拾這方面的樂趣。一行六人陣容，好比Belle & Sebastian般人才濟濟，除主唱、結他、低音結他、鍵琴和鼓基本東西外，還有Trumpet、French Horn、Glockenspiel等伴奏，使簡約的Folky之音變得豐富。

推出兩張單曲以後，The Rosie Taylor Project終於發表首張迷你專集《This City Draws Maps》，雖然有人稱他們是「英國版本的Ryan Adams」，但我卻認為較接近Belle & Sebastian、Camera Obscura的清爽Indiepop聲音，像單曲作品《A Good Cafe On George Street》中歌手Jonny那純情內歛的演繹，還有悠揚管弦吹奏，添上幾分休閒寫意氣氛；至於另一單曲《Black And White Films》，清幽的Acoustic-Folk風格，和諧的男女對唱，簡單卻窩心。

toe concert in Hong Kong

2008-05-17T01:27:00.001-07:00

2-August-08 (Sat)
more details announce soon

Oren Ambarchi concert in Hong Kong

2008-05-17T01:25:00.000-07:00

Date : 29-June (sun)

Price : TBA

Venue : KLUUBB
more details announce soon

www.orenambarchi.com

Biography

Oren Ambarchi is a composer and multi-instrumentalist with longstanding interests in transcending conventional instrumental approaches. His work focuses mainly on the exploration of the guitar, "re-routing the instrument into a zone of alien abstraction where it’s no longer easily identifiable as itself. Instead, it’s a laboratory for extended sonic investigation". (The Wire, UK).

Ambarchi's work on harmonics and resonance has led him to define serene spaces of fluid, shifting sound that is both fragile and extremely physical. His solo releases Grapes From The Estate, Suspension and Insulation for UK label Touch, have transcended the guitar into a zone of alien beauty and sonic impossibilities to critical acclaim. In 2003 his live release Triste received an ‘honourary mention’ in the Prix Ars Electronica digital musics category.

In 2002 alone he has made 7 extensive international solo guitar tours.

He has performed and recorded with a diverse array of artists such as Martin Ng (Australia), Sunn 0)) (USA), Christian Fennesz (Austria), Otomo Yoshihide (Japan), Pimmon (Australia), Keiji Haino (Japan), John Zorn (USA), Rizili (Greece), Voice Crack (Switzerland), Sachiko M (Japan), Keith Rowe (UK), Phill Niblock (USA), Gunter Muller (Switzerland), Evan Parker (UK), Robbie Avenaim (Australia), Toshimaru Nakamura (Japan), Dave Grohl (USA), Damo Suzuki (Japan), Chris Townend (Australia) and many more.

Ambarchi is involved in many collaborative projects including the song-based duo Sun with Chris Townend (releases on Staubgold, Preservation, Textile & Important records), Burial Chamber Trio together with Greg Anderson of Sunn 0))) & Atilla Csihar of Mayhem (with a recent LP release on Southern Lord & an upcoming 10" release) and Grave Temple with Csihar and Stephen O'Malley of Khanate & Sunn 0))). Southern Lord have recently released The Holy Down a Grave Temple live document recorded in Israel in July 06. His much loved long-running duo with Rizili the Mestruation Sisters have releases on labels such as Menlo Park, No Fun, Ecstatic Peace, Saucerlike & more. The Four Gentlemen Of The Guitar is a quartet formed by Keith Rowe of AMM in 2004 featuring Ambarchi, Christian Fennesz, Toshimaru Nakamura & Rowe. Their 2CD release Cloud was released by Erstwhile records.

For 10 years together with Robbie Avenaim, Ambarchi was the co-organiser of the What Is Music? Festival, Australia’s premier annual showcase of local and international experimental music. The What Is Music? festival hosted over 200 local and international performers. Ambarchi now curates the weekly "Maximum Arousal" series at The Toff In Town in Melbourne and has recently co-produced a television series for SBS on experimental music called Subsonics.

His most recent solo release In The Pendulum's Embrace is released on the Touch (UK) and Southern Lord (USA) labels. UK magazine The Wire ran a full-length feature on him in their September 07 issue.

Shanshui China Tour 2008 Live in Hong Kong

2008-05-17T01:21:00.000-07:00

[advanced tickets start for sales at White Noise Records now]

Shanshui records was founded in December 2002 by SUN dawei. This label is just a simple gathering place of electronic music, without any specific concept or music taste for itself. The first release "V.A landscape" gethered many electronic artists from China and overseas. It has generated a new electronic music space in China.
In the following year, he released two compilation albums "Dine Together with People" and "Green Pepper & Cacti". In these two albums, yinyang has become the main idea to express movement and stillness. 2005 is a remarkable year for him, in which he released his first album "sulumi - visit <>

Shanshui （山水唱片）建立在2002年12月。由SUN dawei（孫大威）一個人開始設想。廠牌本身沒有具體的概念和音樂口味，它僅僅是一個簡單的電子音樂聚集地。 2003年發行了第一張唱片“VA landscape”眾多的中國和海外的電子藝術家加入，在中國形成了新的電子音樂空間。隨後的一年裡又發行了“dine together with 7 people”和“green pepper & cacti”兩張合輯，以陰陽為主線來表現動和靜，2005年是里程碑的一年，不但出版了第一張專輯“sulumi - visit <>

Artists
SULUMI (China)
Bokusatsu Shoujo Koubou (Japan)
USK (Japan)
ME:MO (China)
Maru (Japan)
kulyfile (China)
nara (China)
BAIFAN (China)

日期 / Date : 30-May (Friday)
時間 / Time : 8:00p.m. (4 hours duration)
地點 / Venue : 錄影太奇 Videotage
九龍土瓜灣馬頭角道63號牛棚藝術村13號
No.13, Cattle Depot Artist Village, 63 Ma Tau Kok Road, To Kwa Wan

售票地點 / Ticket Outlet : White Noise Records
香港銅鑼灣堅拿道東4號1樓 (鄰近鵝頸橋∕地下門口是飾物店舖)
1/F., 4 Canal Road East, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
(close to Times Square and Canal Road Flyover)

票價 / Price : $160 [advance] / $ 200 [door]
Limited Supply, Don't Miss It 門票數量有限，欲購從速

Transportation information 交通資料
可乘搭以下巴士抵達牛棚藝術村
There are buses going to Cattle Depot Artist Village

85A, 85B, 85C, 85X, 106, 11B, 11K, 12A, 21, 3B, 5C, 5D, 61X, 83P, 101, 107, 111, 116, 891等等
或於旺角地鐵站快富街出口乘搭28M綠色專線小巴

Total Information : White Noise
25910499 / whitenoise@netvigator.com

Boris《Smile》

2008-03-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

日本Heavy Rock三人組Boris實在勤力，多產得甚至令人應接不暇，去年推出《Rock Dream》，是他們聯同噪音狂人Merzbow在東京舞台合演好戲，最慘情是日版和美版用上不同包裝，前者是印花透明膠套的Digipack，後者則是Die-Cut紙套版，各擅所長兼且同是限量生產，令粉絲驚恐手慢冇時惟有各買一張。

全新Studio專集《Smile》，同樣由日本Diwphalanx Records先行發行，看見鮮艷奪目的黃色封面，比上張兩年前的Studio專集《Pink》的粉紅色設計，更有先聲奪人之效，加上用上海綿物料的心型包裝，那就教人愛不釋手，可愛得近乎Cutie少女偶像派，和Boris殺傷力十足的結他音量相映成趣。《Smile》中，兩位多年合作無間的拍檔Michio Kurihara (Ghost)和Stephen O'Malley(SunnO))))繼續助陣，而這碟亦是Boris首張全部歌曲皆有主唱部份的大碟(那張一Track過的《Amplifier Worship》不計在內)。

音樂方面，重歸原始Heavy Rock路線，不玩Drone氣氛，也不玩Doom黑暗，全部是直截了當的重型搖滾曲式，開首的《Messeeji》中，主音Takeshi大叫一聲「Yeah！」，隨了展開Rock味十足的結他鼓擊合奏，緊接而來的《Buzz-In》、《Hanate!》繼續熱血路線，充塞重型Guitar Riffs。曾在《Rock Dream》中出現的《花‧太陽‧雨》，是重玩70年代日本超級樂隊PYG作品，這時才沾染陣陣迷幻色彩，至於混合電氣味道的《Tonari No Sataan》，亦多添實驗性，末段排山倒海結他音浪混雜實驗電影將歌曲推向頂峰。

別以為今次可以省回購買美版的金錢，事關以飛機為封面的Southern Lord版，其中一曲《Messeeji》(美版名為《Statement》)混音跟日版有出入，而歌曲次序也有所不同，是Die-Hard Fans的話，始終慳不了。

Kapital Band 1 "Playing by Numbers Tour" concert in Hong Kong

2008-03-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

white noise and videotage co-presents

Kapital Band 1 "Playing by Numbers Tour" concert in Hong Kong

Martin Brandlmayr (part of Radian, Trapist, Autistic Daughters) - Drums
Nicholas Bussmann (part of Alles 3) - Electronics

plus very special guest
Skybox (Dickson Dee and ZenLu)

Date: 11 April, 2008 (Friday)
Time: 8:00p.m.
Venue:Videotage
Price: HKD$130 DOOR ONLY

organized by white noise
supported by Goethe-Institut Hong Kong, Videotage, Mosz

about Kapital Band 1
www.myspace.com/kapitalband1
Kapital Band 1 is a project by Martin Brandlmayr and Nicholas Bussmann. The musicians met 7 years ago playing a number of duo concerts under different names: “the golden boys”, “hair” amongst others. While the instant approach was to make an abstract derivate of funk music it happened to be something quite unique – but not funk. By using random algorithms the drums and the electronics interact in way that forces the musicians to play with an attention to the moment which you only know from improvised music, while keeping the skeleton of a pop song ! In 2004 “2CD” was released, the bands debut album on Mosz–Records/Vienna. KAPITAL BAND 1 received a honorable mention at PRIX ARS ELETRONICA for their debut album. Their music has since developed far beyond its starting point and infact there was a second album already in the works and near completion, but the musicians decided to trash it altogether and go a step further. "Playing by Numbers" is the result – the third album.

Martin Brandlmayr
lives and works in vienna. Bands and projects: radian, Trapist, Polwechsel, Kapital band 1, Autistic daughters Collaborations with Christian Fennesz, Franz Hautzinger, Burkhard Beins, David Sylvian, John Tilbury, Tony Buck, John Butcher, Peter Brandlmayr, Werner Dafeldecker, Otomo Yoshihide, Dieb 13, Axel Dörner, Gina Hell, Christof Kurzmann, John Mcentire, Toshimaru Nakamura, Andrea Neumann, Sachiko M, Stefan Schneider, Burkhard Stangl,........

Nicholas Bussmann
Musician and Composer, lives and works in Berlin. Began as a cello player. As many others he put his instrument aside and went for the new possibilities the computer and electronic devices offered. These days he is very much focusing on performing music rather then recording and is working on conception compositions and games. Repetitive structures and patterns of daily live are often reflected in his work. He‘s performing as Kapital Band 1 with Martin Brandlmayr and Alles 3 with Toshimaru Nakamua. He as work for radio, theater and film. Nicholas Bussmann works also as curator for events like the love song competition „Grand Prix d‘Amour“ and „meine Zeit“ at Haus der Kulturen der Welt.

Skybox duo (Dickson Dee and ZenLu)
www.myspace.com/skyboxchina
Skybox is an electronic duo between Dickson Dee and Zen Lu. After several performances were held, our debut CD has planned to release in 2008.

Contemporary Noise Quintet《Pig Inside The Gentleman》

2008-01-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

單從樂隊名字，很容易令人誤會是隊玩實驗噪音的樂隊，其實來自波蘭的Contemporary Noise Quintet是不折不扣的Nu-Jazz。

樂隊核心Kapsa兄弟本是重型Emo樂隊Something Like Elvis成員，後來另組Contemporary Noise Quintet，並且音樂風格大變身，換上Jazz新衣。《Pig Inside The Gentleman》是他們首張專集，早在06年面世，後來才在日本發行。碟內作品是一貫流麗的Nu-Jazz味道，輕快自然，極易入口，卻不流於俗套，而他們亦適當地添上點點電影Soundtrack、Hip Hop甚至Post-Rock元素，令整體感覺一氣呵成之餘，又不失豐富層次，若是喜歡Jazzanova/ Compost/ Sonar Kollektiv出品的話，《Pig Inside The Gentleman》相信會是你杯茶。

有趣是碟內註明樂隊亞洲區Management資料，竟然是屬於上海公司，唔知Contemporary Noise Quintet幾時有興趣來大中華巡迴演出呢？

Mirror《on, then, in》

2008-01-23T09:59:00.000-08:00

自從toe出現，令大家不禁對來自日本的Post-Rock名字另眼相看，而跟toe同樣來自Catune廠牌的Mirror，發表成軍年多後的首張專集《on, then, in》。

toe以凌厲急激的推進式Post-Rock見稱，Mirror則以Jazzy味道示人。樂隊前身Journal Spy Effort，出版過一張同名迷你專集後便因成員離合改名為Mirror，坦言Journal Spy Effort只是平庸份子，激情有餘，組織力卻不足，所以起初對《on, then, in》不大落觀，幸好唱片開場曲《Pass the town, and to the C》已教人眼前一亮，Jazzy結他手法配合頗Heavy的Rhythm Section，後段澎湃的Jamming，帶出一氣呵成的刺激感覺，緊接的《o&l》那冷靜與嘈吵之間起伏，並非一般Post-Rock編排，突然其來的爆破帶來驚喜。

《rain falls》與《i go》同是清爽無比的Post-Rock曲目，前者來得較為激烈，後者則是清涼舒服的Jazz-Rock小品，至於《in radiobroadcast junction》是全碟內唯一有主唱作品，雖然結他手Kimoto沒有動聽的歌聲，但偶爾一次的演唱，點到即止不會令人厭惡，其沉厚聲線跟襯得上這首帶藍調色彩。接連兩首簡短的過場曲，《respiration tone》是輕盈dreamy作品，而《in(s)tro》再度燃點起，兩支結他的亮麗獨奏和密集鼓擊連成一線，張力十足。和諧的結尾曲《mori》為整張唱片畫上美滿的句號。

2008-01-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

久違Gothic聲音，想不到從Soul Merchants的精選集《1985-1987》重拾這份樂趣。

Soul Merchants來自美國丹佛市，樂隊壽命極之短暫，只維持了短短兩年便告解散，遺下四盒卡式帶，今次《1985-1987》裡作品來自樂隊當時遺下四盒卡式帶出品，、雖然全是四軌錄音，但經由隊中主腦Bob Ferbrache重新混音後，立體感重現。

唱片公司的Soul Merchants文案寫道：Gothic嫌他們太Punk、Punk又嫌他們太Gothic，兩頭唔到岸情況下得不到重視，但現在聽回他們的作品，反而覺得聲音上是很典型Gothic原音，結他Solo和節奏部份，還有低沉聲線的演繹，都有很濃厚Bauhaus和The Sisters Of Mercy味道，問題只是出自他們形象不大配合，阿叔般的老餅Rock友Look，試問怎可以跟有型有格又同時流露暗黑公子氣派的Peter Murphy、Andrew Eldritch相提並論。

縱使當年不被重視，幸好Soul Merchants作品仍有重見天日的一天，他們迷幻與黑暗味道，不比其他Gothic名字遜色，更想不到的是主腦Bob日後工作履歷極有睇頭，曾是Blood Axis、16 Horsepower等樂隊成員，亦曾參與NON、Death In June、Berlin等監製工作，全部名氣遠比Soul Merchants響亮。

The Battle Of Land And Sea《The Battle Of Land And Sea》

2007-12-30T03:24:00.000-08:00

來自Portland的The Battle Of Land And Sea，一電一木的結他對彈，偶爾添上五弦琴點綴，簡約又美麗的Pure-Pop曲式，亦同時擁有甜美可人的女聲，就如唱片封面設計那般簡樸怡人。

The Battle Of Land And Sea幕後主腦是Sarah O'Shura，自少已學習各種不同樂器，直到19歲時，決定成為自彈自唱的唱作人。而2006年開始，她以The Battle Of Land And Sea為名，忙於日常正職之餘，這成為了她的副業，每逢周末便留在家中與四軌錄音機為伴，此外還有她的拍檔 Joshua Canny。

2007年初The Battle Of Land And Sea曾發表自資DIY六曲EP，至於今次由Notenuf廠牌推出的同名專集，雖然內裡八首作品中有六首是來自那張EP，但並非搬字過紙，而是經過重新Mixing。我沒聽過他們先前的舊作，不過從同名專集中，那清幽木結他勾線和淡然歌聲，依然是以簡單取勝，沒有任何多餘花巧的編排，反樸歸真未必是必勝之道，挪威女聲Susanna的簡約風只換來呵欠連連，幸好The Battle Of Land And Sea卻能做到最是美麗的輕盈感覺，當中Sarah的歌聲經過Reverb效果過濾後，更顯脫俗優雅，不是Heavenly Voice那種不吃人間煙花的高高在上，而是真正接近人心的和諧之音。

I Am David Sparkle《This Is The New》

2007-12-23T14:04:00.001-08:00

當英美北歐日本聽過都Post-Rock後，少不免感覺有點膩，來自新加坡的I Am David Sparkle正好是及時雨。

一行四人的I Am David Sparkle，於2001年成軍，隊中成員過往曾有Punk、Hardcore等音樂背境，不過來到I Am David Sparkle時，盡變成思潮起伏的Post-Rock之音。去年，樂隊自次推出《Apocalypse Of Your Heart》EP，現已絕版，而首張專集《This Is The New》，是他們加入新加坡獨立廠牌Kitty Wu發表作品。

遺憾未能找到《Apocalypse Of Your Heart》，但從《This Is The New》，開場曲《The Way Of The Universe》是傳統Post-Rock風格，時而寂靜時而澎湃的變奏，那緊湊張力令人重搭早年聽Mogwai的興奮感覺，而《Do You Cry While You Sleep》則是緩慢的氣氛化作品，5分鐘時間點到即止，沒有犯上拖泥帶水的毛病，至於電氣化的《Jaded Afghan》成為了唱片的緩衝區。停下來再起步的《There Is No Time For Love, Only Chaos》，像潮湧過來的巨浪式結他音牆，由淡然的結他和弦作序幕，到中段重型急激的交戰局面最後演變成夢幻般的境界，是首極其美麗的Epic作品，《If I Never Come Back》和《Dance Of Death》不約而同用上電子節奏，但各有味道，前者是短暫的迷幻小品，後者則瀰漫著沉鬱不歡的傷神。

音樂以外，《This Is The New》由樂隊成員Djohan Johari負責設計，用上舊式書本的車線包裝，可說是近年最花心機的Post-Rock封面設計。

Natalie Rose Lebrecht《Warraw》

2007-12-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

Natalie Rose Lebrecht是來自紐約，擁有古怪氣質的女生，坦言我對她的來歷所知不多，看見她亞洲人面孔，加上國語演繹，確帶幾分親切感，若不是日牌Afterhours重新發行其03年作品《Warraw》，也許我未必有機會接觸她的音樂。

一如大部份樂評所說，Natalie風格令人想起Devendra Banhart、Joana Newsom等Neo-Folk聲音，不過相比其他美國同鄉，她來得更另前衛和不修邊幅。Natalie專集全是自資出品，一手包辦所有樂器彈奏和主唱，配合手作仔封套包裝，還聞說其現場演出近乎Performance Art多於單純音樂演奏會。

要將《Warraw》歸類確實不容易，將之形容為Free Folk只是接近而不夠貼切，漫無邊際的Freeform表演形式，時而迷離，時而簡約，時而緊湊，時而荒涼，還有她trademark式的鬼魅歌聲，即使是四年前作品，非但不覺過時，甚至連較今年任何一張Neo-Folk/ Avant Rock唱片走得更前。

Hefner《Breaking God's Heart》

2007-12-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

近年Deluxe Version再版CD多的是，什麼周年紀念版、巡迴演唱會版等一大堆理由將唱片重新包裝，然而大多是精美有餘，誠意與內容卻嚴重不足，Joy Division正是好例子，三張Reissue只為收藏，附送的Bonus Disc都不過是剩餘的Live物資而已；至於Hefner的新版《Breaking God's Heart》剛好相反，以2CD形式推出的十周年版，讓我重新認識這隊常被低估的格拉斯哥的Lo-Fi Pop樂隊。

嚴格來說，我不是Hefner粉絲。想當年我在新宿Rough Trade店買發現他們的十吋黑膠《The Hefner Soul》，可是那時我正完全沉醉於Belle & Sebastian世界之中，雖有B&S主腦Stuart Murdoch助陣，但這膠片始終逃不了被打入冷宮的命運。其後，斷斷續續購買Hefner專集，不過仍是擺多過聽。

如今，《Breaking God's Heart》新版面世，驅使我再次拿起Hefner作品細聽。一直以來，Hefner歌曲並沒有華麗繁複的編曲，他們最引人入勝之處除流暢美妙的調子外，還有坦率自然的真性情，雙CD裡記錄了樂隊初生之犢的衝勁，聽到《Love Will Destroy Us In The End》、《The Sweetness Lies Within》等，簡潔的曲式配合歌手Darren Hayman介乎Off Key邊緣的唱腔，不造作才是最美麗。而加送的歌曲出手極為闊綽，CD1有十首單曲B-Side作品，CD2則共有20首作品，包括未被CD化的早期單曲、Demo、翻玩歌曲等等，比原版更原始的作品，顯露出更為原汁原味的Hefner神髓。

Up-Tight《Early Years》

2007-12-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

Archive廠牌繼續樂此不疲地東洋迷幻風，水晶之舟推出不久，這麼快又輪到Up-Tight。

一行四人的Up-Tight，早已在海外享有一定名氣，於2004年在英國Static Caravan廠牌旗下發表明《Five Psychedelic Pieces》進軍國外，同年又在非常階成員Jo Jo廣重開設的Alchemy Records推出《Lucrezia》，接著還有跟Acid Mothers Temple主腦河端一合作的Live錄音，而今次則是與Archive合作的《Early Years》。

顧名思意，《Early Years》是張早期作品集，內裡收錄了Up-Tight於1999年自資出品同名專集《Up-Tight》，推出不久已Sold Out，當時被The Wire樂評人David Keenan激節讚賞，後來再版以CDR發價，銷情一樣好。一向有「投資」眼光的Archive廠牌，當然不會放過生金蛋的機會，將這絕版名盤重新包裝再推出。

《Up-Tight》裡作品是師承自深受The Velvet Underground、Les Rallies Denudes、Amon Duul等日本地下迷幻風格，其中《Nevr Come Morning》一曲表現出師父Les Rallies Denudes陣陣醉人迷幻香，而無名的《Non-Title》那尖銳的結他Solo，亦同樣刺激無比。至於「賣大包」加送的Bonus Tracks，是樂隊組成初期從未發表的罕有音源，Live錄音《King Of Ice》的重型演奏與《Shining The Red Light》的浮遊飄蕩，展現出一剛一柔的迷幻面貌。

The Insect Guide《6Ft In Love》

2007-12-02T07:32:00.001-08:00

初次見到The Insect Guide首張專集《6Ft In Love》的唱片封面時，的確提不起勁，實在太似一些悶蛋Darkwave碟，不過這又是另一個碟不可以貌相的老生常談。

由Su Sutton和Stan Howells組成的The Insect Guide，是來自英國Yorkshire的Shoegaze新貴，噪音指數只屬中等，沒有無矢放的Feedback發放，適當地將噪音和旋律調節成美妙Noise-pop之音，配合飄逸男女對唱，和少量電子聲效點綴，與其說他們倣效My Bloody Valentine聲音，例不如說跟紐約二人組Joy Zipper殊途同歸更貼切。

唱片由《Frozen》噪音音牆打開序幕，緊接而來的《6Ft In Love》，那迷幻意境帶濃厚Spacemen 3/ Spiritualized色彩，每當唱起"Anyway that you want me"時，Stan的唱腔簡直是Jason Pierce上身，《White Flowers》也有幾分Spacemen 3的Drone味道。《It's Nothing》、《The Incest》與《Liline》同是節奏明快Noise-Pop作品，爽朗程度不比挪威Shoegaze新星Serena-Maneesh弱，至於結尾曲《David Hero》再掀高潮，有如The Velvet Underground和The Jesus & Mary Chain的軟性迷幻噪音，呈現Noise-Pop美麗動人的原貌。

順帶一提，初版《6Ft In Love》附送DVD，並非只有一、兩首MV那樣簡單，而是為全碟裡九首作品拍攝MV，誠意可嘉。