ZOMBIE RAVE

HIYA
So today I just wanted to make a note of my appreciation for the Zombie Rave mixtape series, from none other than ℑ⊇≥◊≤⊆ℜ of Mater Suspiria Vision.

I've been a big fan of these mixes for a long time now, and follow them as much as possible. Honestly, a series which puts out such incredible remixes as this is gonna be close to my heart.

But what exactly is Zombie Rave? I guess my best explanation would be to leave a cassette full of remixes of various pop songs out in the sun for a few days, and play them at half speed.

It's amazing.

But the main reason, I guess, that I made this post would be to highlight two things. 

1: The incredible limited edition shirt I received from Phantasma Disques (the record label behind these mixes with some amazing releases that you should Totally Check The Fuck Out)

2: This awesome mix they did for Tales From The Crypt

Mater Suspiria Vision and Phantasma Disques have been integral to the witch house scene for a long time now (well, since at least 2009?). My involvement in this music scene has really been integral in my developing to be who I am today. I still remember, back in 2011, a friend telling me to check out a band formed of "three heroin addicts who make the worst music ever". That band was Salem, one of the founding groups of the music scene. 

I remember their sound hitting me like a brick to the face, and I quickly set about discovering more and more artists - from CRIM3S to Blvck Ceiling and Ic3peak. This music spoke to who I am as a person - it itself was a roughly stitched together mix of references to so many genres - r'n'b and industrial's lovechild, shoegaze and crunk's wild affair. So far, so post-internet. 

I see myself as a wild mesh of clashing ideals, which I guess is my point. I love being contradictory, both mocking and praising everything around me. This music seemed to take the same approach.

Further through the years, I started working on my own music, joining the band Garmonbozia to approach the genre of witch house from a new direction. I didn't last all that long in the group, due to emotions flying wild between us, but what I did make as part of the project, I am proud of. Discovering witch house led me to create something new myself, which has always been an aspiration of mine, and as such I cannot understate how grateful I am for it's existence.

I'll leave you with Garmonobozia's cover of Echo and the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon". Some say it sounds like a gothed up PS2 game. I'll leave you to decide.

Seeing Psychic TV

Hello again,
Yesterday I went to see Psychic TV perform at The Wardrobe in Leeds. Now as you may or may not know, I've liked Psychic TV for a long time now. A split off of industrial pioneers, Throbbing Gristle, which itself evolved from the art group COUM Transmissions, Psychic TV have explored genres from industrial noise through acid house to psychedelic rock. An experimental group, complete with it's own official fanclub/anti-cult Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth, they have frequently delved into occult and uncomfortable themes.

Now seeing them live is truly an experience on a religious level - lead vocalist and founder of the group, Genesis Breyer P-orridge is truly a gifted frontwoman, commanding the crowd's attention through psyched out sound trips and short sweet pop songs, acid rave movements and interjections of noise generated by an electric violin, apparently played with two bows. S/he reminded us that, as a crowd, we are there for love, for fun, and for happiness - on the opening track "Happy" s/he pulled out a torch, shining it on the happiest there, encouraging all of us to hug one another.

Now, as someone who personally hates crowds of phones and cameras being held up in the air at concerts - I find it really draws away from the fact that we are there to experience what is happening in the moment - I only took one photo. I will however, treasure last night as a moving memory. Psychic TV create music that not only moves you, but moves through you, taking over your body until you are at one with the music.

The sole photo I took.

The whole experience really meant the world to me - coming from a small village in the arse-end of Leicestershire, I had little to no chance to see this kind of music performed live. Having been such a fan for such a long time in this state of isolation, the chance to see them really was going to come once in a lifetime. I mean, I'd seen bands perform before, but never one that I have so admired nor one that was close enough to say it was in my hometown.
Well, until next time.

Murdo.

Fireworks

So, there's not been an awful lot happening in the past few days. I went to see the fireworks with my flatmates which was pretty exciting I guess?
I'm more a fan of the rides there.

Me, Emily (Jack's girlfriend) and my flatmate, Jack.

I really love the aesthetic of fairgrounds - the noise, the flashing lights, the cheap things won on games. I really have an affinity for the tacky side of life. Ghost trains, waltzers, gaudily decorated things - I'm home.

At the fairground.

Besides that, I've revived my neon green fringe, as you can (partly) see in the pictures! I got rid of it originally in the hopes of securing a job, but as that isn't as much of a priority at the minute, I've decided to bring it back. When the photos were taken it was only partly green, as the dye hadn't taken as well as it should have. That's the problem with bleaching dyed black hair, I guess!

I've been very nostalgic recently. I've been looking back at what's happened to online subcultures over the years, and I figured I really miss the cheap 3D looks of Seapunk and Slimepunk. It really appealed to me, that cheaply rendered CG vibe, and the ideals of the cyberpunk inspired movements. The fact that it had a rather DIY ethos called to me as well. Hence, I've been revisiting Ultrademon and Zombelle, as well as other musicians.

I never really got a chance to get overly involved with it, which to me is a real shame - I really appreciated the music and the fashion, that kinda rave influenced take on a new idea, the past and the future coming together to create something new.

I guess I've always been interested in online movements. Music is a passion of mine, and due to my previous situation (being in such a TINY village), I could never get as involved as I would have liked to be. However, through the internet, I guess I found my people. That's the thing about social media - it links people who would never get the chance to talk otherwise. You could say that I'm extremely grateful for it. No, no question about it - I AM extremely grateful for it. It's a certainty - it's meant that I can link with people outside of my usual social circle, and open myself up to new ideas. Take my networking with Girlacne, an art student from Wales. I would never have known about them were it not for social media. Through Instagram we started interacting, and I have been grateful to see them grow - I still remember when they were 13 and posting various mallgoth related photos. I loved it - I love the mallgoth aesthetic myself, with clunky platform shoes and a try-hard attitude, all tongue in cheek, of course.

The incredible Girlacne

Back to seapunk though, I'm going to leave you with one of my favourite Ultrademon tracks - "Yr So Wet 3.0".

PLUR

Hi, I'm Murdo, and I've decided to give blogging yet another go. I shall keep you all posted :)