From: Ben Cox <thoth@uiuc.edu>
Subject: Review: Negativland, "points"
Followup-To: rec.music.industrial
Originator: recmusic@galaxy
Reply-To: Ben Cox <thoth@uiuc.edu>
Organization: Ancient Illuminated Sears of Bavaria
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 09:53:02 GMT

I found Negativland's "points" in a record store ysterday.  I'd never
heard of this 1981 N'land release before, so here's my review.

To give you an idea of my taste in Negativland, "A Big 10-8 Place" is
my favorite Negativland release; I like Escape From Noise but I hate
Helter Stupid.  I tell you this because my taste may not coincide with
yours; thus, you should weight this review accordingly.

--------------------------------

Harry to the Ferry
   Disorganized room recording with Other Things spliced in.  Classic
   nland track.  This track is blessed with Multiple Personality
   Disorder.  I like it.  It's 2:50; the jewel box says 3:54.

The Answer Is...
   Casiotone demo with extra reverb and a couple of samples thrown in
   in the middle.  I can do without it.  This track is 4:26, which is
   about 4:26 too long.

Scolding Box
   Cool cool cool.  Very laid-back but not out of nland character.
   This is what Negativland would sound like live, if all the members
   did bongs for hours before the show and then just sat and fiddled
   with tape & mikes.  Really great track.  5:25.

That Darn Keet
   Yow.  Another one.  Reminds me a bit of a mixture between CLCH's
   "Ant Ripping Feast", the previous track, and some parts of NWW's
   "Sylvie and Babs Hi-Fi Companion".  Very short, at 1:55.

Dear Mary
   Recitation of a letter, with buzzing sound, background bangs, TV
   and babbling.  The letter is interesting, too.  Very cool.  1:46.

``Clutch Cargo `81''
   John Cage meets Mark Hosler and Olivier Messiaen.  Really really
   really excellent track.  Piano noodling with reverbed synth analog
   filter knob-twisting, kitchen noises and another synth that sounds
   an _awful_ lot like a bass clarinet (which lends it an almost
   Bitches Brew-ish feel).  Very laid-back piece, it's unlike any
   Negativland I've heard outside of this CD.  3:47 is too short.

BABAC D'BABC...
   Several species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave
   and grooving with Mark, David, Ian and Richard.  Along with TV
   conversation, power tools, sitar and toy band instruments.  Easy to
   see how "A Big 10-8 Place" came out of the same band that did this
   track.  Terrific.  5:05.

A Nice Place To Live
   A recording of a couple of guys extolling the virtues of Contra
   Costa County, from the county fair, along with a twangy synth
   track.  "My main background is, a cat, which is nine feet high."
   They have rearranged the speech in this, or I'll eat my terminal.
   Excellent.  2:51.

A Bee Fly
   55 seconds of hums, drones, chains and insect chatter.  Boyd Rice
   would be proud.

No Hands
   Feedback, chants, loops, laughter, meat.  Building pressure and
   weirdness.  Cool for all 2:16 (jewel box sez 3:09).

Potty Air
   Very-much-slowed-down tape stuff with a couple of enhancement
   layers.  More stoney material---check the title.  Radio stuff
   gradually fades in, almost as if it were a radio station you're
   picking up on your phone line or something.  5:55 is nowhere near
   enough of this track.

--------------------------------

Overall, in spirit at least, but not necessarily in sound, this disc
reminds me of the tiny bits of Neu! that I've heard (excerpts from the
album that nland lifted their names from).

I am very happy with my purchase.  A bunch of truly excellent tracks,
with only one bad one thrown in (but that one really is bad).

You need this CD.

--
Ben Cox
thoth@uiuc.edu

Xref: sparky rec.music.industrial:9967 alt.music.alternative:9848