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Neocortical Sense


Third Ear Band: Alchemy

Sunday, Jul 5, 2009 2:44 PM [Released in 1969 on EMI (UK). Those of us who have travelled to different places with the Third Ear Band have never been disappointed as to where we end up after happening to go. I maintain a strong feeling after excursions taking place with the Ear's initial go around of four movements that combust at some point unlike Alchemy which enables more limbic rhythm in textural places. Sweeny's repetition of time is splattered in expressive notes brought forth by Minns, Davis and Coff. The destination is a dark painting with the brightest color being subtle gray. Third Ear Band has always brought a haunting presence once the needle drops into the record's groove. It is that there is a connection with their music and the elements. There will not be melodies to sing-a-long to, but there will be a dissociative plane the listener reaches, a scenic place although dark, however a place where there are spirits in waiting. Alchemy is recommended for listening and for the permanent collection.


Zoviet France: Mohnomishe

Saturday, Jul 4, 2009 11:28 PM [Recorded: July 1983. Red Rhino Records.] We went into the corridors created by Zoviet France, a group of experimental musicians from the UK that happened to be touring North America; thus we had the opportunity to see and speak with them prior to their performance at the late Birmingham Loft in Pittsburgh, PA (1994). Playing music like this in front of a live audience is a challenge, however it is a comfortable rush movement in creating an atmosphere amidst a finite structure. The group I was with at the time was taken aback to see that Zoviet France used samplers and the sorts. This was disturbing for us to view given we are more drawn into performances that create sound fields spontaneously through unique instrumentation. This is not to say that we are not moved by the works of Zoviet France, and you will find a variety of their records in our collection.
Prior to getting to Mohnomishe, we recall the Pittsburgh concert that was spearheaded by underground music mogul Manny Theiner. Zoviet France featured a young woman dancing while their music sculpted visions of fly-ash. Interesting too is that the woman gracefully danced, moving her feet, on toes at times, and through puddles of oil left by Minozin-V's various engines, motors and compressors that they had used in their performance prior to the English band. (Minozin-V' also blew the circuits twice during their pre-show sound checks while using multiple elements but no sequencers, synths or samplers.) The historical pattern of Pittsburgh was appropriate for Zoviet France's performance. Sounds that create images of gray skies and factories emitting toxins into the air. You could venture into it, walk down a street and pass by people in muted black suits with white shirts and conservative colorless ties. You notice they have no faces and they have no identity. You realize they are the corporate puppets that engage their tasks fed to them by capitalistic minds that have milked the common man to perform tasks of hard labor for small rewards. You see the steel forged amidst halls of intubated bodies that maintain a sense of physiological imbalance via ventilator machines. Indeed the landscape painted by Zoviet France was dark if not bleak, but understanding Pittsburgh and its people that once lived within the great steel city offers a multidimensional mind canvas. Still, even those who did not experience the damage inflicted on this city during the industrial revolution will still find a dark place when experiencing this band.
Mohnomishe is no different. It is a collage of sounds that wander through black and gray. Muted sounds, and although the use of samplers they are not brash or digital sounding. Instead there is a creation of nice depth in a dark place.
It is very important to realize Zoviet France on tube equipment if you are unable to experience them live. For example, fire up a pair of Klimo Beltaine amps through a Supratek Cortese preamp into some Duevel Bella Luna Diamante speakers. The turntable, well that's another story. Bob Benn is out there somewhere. Maybe he'll sort it out. The cartridge, arm, interconnects, wires, etc... Onward we go into a monetary pit in the pursuance of beautiful sound. But, hmmm... there isn't an alternative really. Beautiful sound. Beautiful music. Audio crap will not do Zoviet France the justice they deserve.


Record Review: Can - Future Days

Monday, Feb 23, 2009 2:18 PM (1973 Release - Engineered by Holger Czukay - Produced by Can _ Musicians: Holger Czukay, Michael Karoli, Jaki Liebezeit, Irmin Schmidt and Damo Suzuki) What more is there to say about the Can? Personal experience associated with the Can is something that can be harvested every season since all Can records come with memories that never fade. This particular release, Future Days, is an original pressing picked up at Flo's Records in Oakland, Pittsburgh. Flo's had a nice place at the time to include glass block windows with a nice variety of music to select from. This included experimental stuff and krautrock. Our first introduction to the Can was Tago Mago, a two record LP that remains our favorite Can album. Our kids enjoyed this LP as toddlers and preschoolers, their favorite song being Paperhouse. But as it goes, this is Future Days and it happens to be second in line for various reasons, most importantly being the timing of its release and life experiences that were taking place in 1973. Future Days, although unlike Tago Mago, is every bit as good in other ways that enable us to explore other places where Tago Mago didn't happen to travel to. Future Days is obviously much more refined relative to the experimental jams and vocals (screaming at times) on Tago Mago. The rhythms of Future Days flow throughout with an underlying percussion that creates a tropical snowstorm in comfortable temperatures. Suzuki's voice is appropriately muffled on this release lending to an interesting soundstage, and of course Czukay flows with the show on bass. Future Days is a jam menagerie that is not hard on the ears. It cleans them out and opens a highway to the cerebral cortex. In the end the brain is soothed. Take a tropical winterfest vacation with the Can's Future Days. You won't be disappointed. (Recommended for collection and listening. Note: Michael Karoli is dead now. Czukay and Schmidt have some interesting material out there both in collaborative and solo works.)


Remembering Kei

Monday, Feb 23, 2009 9:20 AM A cat came by the house in 1993. Mo, then four years old, asked if he could keep the cat. Vasco and Mia agreed. At the time the cat was more a kitten that had taken to the streets of Place Plan. It made its way into the house and quickly became a part of the family. She became Kei. Well known in the neighborhood, Kei entertained cats at the house by usually sharing food and drink after playing in the yard. One cat became Kei's mainstay and came to be known as Fat Cat. A male, Fat Cat was black and white and wore a spiked collar. The two became intimate and had a long-standing relationship. From time to time Fat Cat would leave for a few weeks and upon returning he was often beat up and required healing methods and recovery time. On one occasion Kei opened the window to let Fat Cat in. The following morning both were laying on the couch, Fat Cat badly beat up from street battles and catting around. As mousers, Kei would bring them by the house and play with them. Fat Cat didn't move unless the mouse came to close, at which time he basically one swiped it and finished it off. Ultimately Kei got left at Jingles' house because everyone was headed some 2,300 miles and to another country. After moving, it was reported that Kei ran away and was later found some 7 miles distance and back on the porch of his former home. Given the scenario, Kei was flown to Canmore, Alberta where she came to live in the Rocky Mountains until her death due to natural causes in 2006. While in Canmore Kei was well known and respected in the southern part of town. She was skilled in healing, sensing illness, boxing and vertical leaping. She was frequented by cats, dogs, rabbits and coyotes at the home and in the yard. It is said that in the end Kei went outside to leave forever, during which time she was surrounded by rabbits that kept her warm. South Canmore cats payed their respects for two-weeks after Kei passed. Some stayed overnight at the house. Kei is remembered by her immediate family to include Peck the Lovebird. Peck, whose leg was broken by Kei in 1998, came to be good friends with Kei.


Jingles Honored

Sunday, Feb 22, 2009 6:52 PM The recent efforts of a cat received accolades throughout the cat world. Jingles, a siamese from western Pennsylvania, freed a person that was smothered by Steelers' Super Bowl photos. Fluff, an owner of the cat, admits that the cat surprised even her. "I didn't see it in Jingles," Fluff admitted. "He's so laid back that I thought he was Jamaican." Jingles proved to be less than "laid back" when the cat freed Mo from a barrage of photos that pinned him. "I figured I was going to have to just fall asleep and wait about eight hours or so until someone got home," Mo explained. "My grandmother says she can't hear so I figure I would have been trapped for quite some time." Even Mo admitted he was surprised. "I figured I had a better chance of Neil showing up even though he had been gone since October. No way did I figure on Jingles pulling me out of there. All I saw was his paws whipping off photos. It was something." When it was all said and done, Neil arrived and couldn't believe the cat was neatly putting the photos on the pool table. "I wondered what was going on, and when Mo told me what happened I figured he was making it all up," Neil said. "But then Mo showed me some pictures he snapped while Jingles was getting him out of there." Because of the extraordinary efforts of Jingles, he has been asked to be the featured speaker at the Cat House Conference to take place on June 21 in Memphis. Cats from around the world attend the annual event. Nay, who shares ownership of Jingles with Fluff, eluded to being proud. "Jingles isn't stupid. I've seen him drive to the Club to pick up Shirley from time to time. I just never said anything. I always knew he had it in him."


"Yes I am a criminal justice major!"

Friday, Feb 20, 2009 11:20 AM Neil Giles sat down at Primanti Bros. (Strip District) to discuss his disappearance after visiting a haunted house in Pittsburgh. He was joined by Mo who placed the order for four sandwiches and a couple Irons. Giles made it clear that he wanted to put the whole experience of October 2008 behind him. "Man, like what can I say that hasn't been said? I went to the Scare House in Etna and they accused me of being something that I'm not. I mean, do I look like a game show host to you?" Giles took a sip of Iron CIty after Mo handed the glass off. "That place is over-hyped! They claim they're a top scare house in this country. Spare me the propaganda." Indeed, Giles is correct in a ranking that apparently has the Scare House in the top 25. "Who hands out these rankings? Maybe it's all driven by people who voted for the NHL all stars." Mo spoke up. "You got that right! I'm going to go get our sandwiches." Giles took another sip of his Iron City. "The fact of the matter is this. Yes, I am a criminal justice major. I know the difference between right and wrong, and I don't need stiffs from the Scare House trying to make me out to be Chuck Woolery." Mo handed two sandwiches off to Giles. "You see these sandwiches. They're both Primanti Roast Beef and Cheese sandwiches. They aren't McDonald's cheeseburgers. The same is true with me and the haunted house. I'm a criminal justice major and the Scare House isn't anywhere near the top 25 places in the US. You get it?" Giles and Mo held up the Primanti Bros. menu prior to diving into their sandwiches. "Case closed?" Giles asked. Mo was quick to answer. "You got that right."

Primanti Bros.®

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