Sad news today that Martin Lloyd of the early '80's electronic duo Oppenheimer Analysis has passed due to liver failure. In their early career they opened for such acts as Hawkwind and Spizz Energi. Primarily known only for a cassette release, they had a resurgence of popularity when Minimal Wave issued a vinyl EP.
Odd that just as I've been on quite the country music kick lately, my favorite legend of the genre passes away. Seeing his face regularly on Austin City Limits, Hee Haw, and The Grand Ole Opry is an enormous and fond memory from my 1970's-early '80's childhood.
George "Possum" / "No Show" Jones stopped lovin' her today. They placed a wreath upon his door. Thank you, George, for popularizing two of my favorite songs.
Its not often I connect with country music these days. Of all the genres that seem tired and unbelievable, its country. In fact, every time I hear a current act I like, I'm shocked. It happened again when I heard Chris Head's songs. A longtime and prolific member of the Asheville, North Carolina punk scene, Head writes heart-wrenching, melancholy and unassuming lyrics about love and loss. Not only that but every song has a classic hook, at least one of which will stick in your head after you walk away.
Sit down and give it a listen. I dare you to shrug it off.
I was awakened to the sound of my clock radio blasting sensationalized reports of terror all over the United States. As per usual, I'm only effected by this news enough to be extremely annoyed with this type journalism. For whatever reason, this album came to mind, visions of dystopia dancing in my head.
Its no coincidence that Chris & Cosey, as CTI (Creative Technology Institute), released this live piece (with lovely slides and visuals by John Lacey) in 1984, a time in modern history wrought with fear of big brother. The cold war and Reaganomics were at their height and I remember it vividly. As a 10 year old child , this brainwashing machine made an indelible impact on my psyche.
This record seems to capture all of that emotional intensity, and the visuals aren't bad either. Sit back, relax, and get paranoid and trippy to a couple of my industrial musical heroes.
