Tearist (Cdr, 2009)

Imagine one oddly attractive female writhing around singing as if in mid-sex and simultaneous epileptic fit occasionally messing with a pile of vocal effects pedals at her feet. Imagine awkward new wave looking male looking gothically disinterested in front of a synth rack. Put these two in a claustrophobic feeling room and voila, you have Tearist.

This is 24 minutes of avant-garde post-punk dance and witch house. A demon-ridden Diamanda Galas and a nymphomaniacal Siousxie haunted by the ghost of the original 4AD ladies dancing like Ian Curtis and recorded all lo-fi by Salem and Zola Jesus while on speed.

Shocking, confusing and brilliant. Dance alone in front of your mirror, bitches.

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Mater Suspiria Vision - Zombie Rave Mixtape 5

Sometimes I get tired of music. Sometimes I feel like nothing is original anymore. Repetition, emulation, auto-tuning and flat out copy-catting are so discouraging as to make me ask "what's the point in even talking about it?"

Every time I'm exhausted with it all and completely fed up, the mysterious entity that is Mater Suspiria Vision has me turn away from the proverbial light and feeds me intravenously with a new drug: his reworking of material that is consistently original and thought-provoking. A simultaneous aural dilaudid and MDMA that rejuvenates and insures hope for tomorrow.

Sit back, chillax and enjoy the disturbing, exciting, uplifting and purple drank sounds of Zombie Rave Mixtape 5.

Get a Sloggin' for ya Noggin right here

oOoOO - Mixtape (Actual Pain, 2010)

Mixtape of skating rink bliss. oOoOO's seance conjures 1979-1980 and puts his own bizarre spin on things, adding his own track to other sexy funk jams by Sylvia Striplin, S.O.S. Band, Barbara Mason and, of course, 3-6-Mafia.?!?

This is yet another reminder that Witch House artists refuse to be be pigeon-holed in any way. Get it free at Actual Pain

Mater Suspiria Vision - Mondo Inferno 2012 mixtape (2011, CDX)

These Afghani weirdos are making some of the most interesting Witch House around and this mixtape is astonishing. Remixes of Britney Spears, Rhianna, Justice, Stacey Q and even the Mamas and the Papas journey into bizarre and utterly hypnotizing territories. Also contains originals by oOoOO, White Ring and some unknown artists. This material is bewildering. Its spectral, eerie, suspicious and groovy. Best mix I've heard in quite a while.

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Fuck NoOoOO: The Anti-Witch House Tape

^Sixty minute tape that's been circulating for a while. Drone, Noise and Rap Thugs in Harmony. Be good to yourself. Download this. Then play it at extraordinarily loud and inappropriate volume in public places. Confuse the living shit out of everyone. Also a good way to frighten people, lose popularity and or friends. Tear the club up...or not. I don't really care.

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Salem - King Night (2010, lamsound)

Ok, so, I fought it and fought it but I had to cave and admit that I really like this stuff. I usually hate jumping on new genre bandwagons buts but I could take the reins on this one. Maybe Its the timeless and juvenile sense of humor...maybe its the fact that I've always loved weirdo rap like Kool Keith...maybe its that I remember loving what music sounds like after ingesting a lot of codeine. Whatever the reason, I think this shit rules.

Impossibly screwed beats and warbly gargled verses fueled by the Traverse City / Chicago trio's affinity for downers are too good too resist. Bass-heavy distortion, guitar feedback, other-worldly synth and even orchestration are behind this new Hip Hop / Dubstep / Drone monstrocity.

This is Witch House, Screw-Gaze, Ghost Drone, Mid West Weird cult material. Enjoy.

Also check out their first EP "I Smoke Crack". 'Nuff said.

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Zola Jesus - Stridulum: Hope and Reassurance in a Gothic Disguise - 2010

I must admit that upon first listening to this album I had written it off as pleasant yet generic goth revivalism. When I began to truly delve into it I realized I was sorely mistaken.

The ethereal atmospheric keyboard drones and plodding sequenced drums conjure the darkest and most introspective side of the 80's a la Faith or Pornography. And the addition of classic Siouxie-esque vocals visualize a truly impressive solo gothic resurgence project. But the lyrics are the genuine weapon here.

21 year old classically trained vocalist Nika Roza Danilova (also LA Vampires, Former Ghosts)is breathtaking. Yes, The Siouxie comparisons are valid but these lyrics are much more relative to the majority of us. Banshees lyrics were light-hearted yet magical, surreal and sometimes metaphysical. Nika doesn't bother impressing you with her intellect. She heads straight to the heart of pain, insecurity, broken relationships and lost love. Though simple, these lyrics are honest and stunningly delivered.

The crucial factor here is that though she takes her listeners into the depths of sadness and loneliness, hope is always presented. A very mature emotional positivity resides in this young woman. Take the lyrics of "I Can't Stand" for example:

It's not easy to fall in love
But if you're lucky you just might find someone
So don't let it get you down
Cause in the end, you're only one

I can't stand to see you this way
It's gonna be alright

It's not easy to let it all go
But once in a while it's good for your soul
So don't let it get you down
Cause in the end, you're on your own

I can't stand to see you this way
It's gonna be alright...

Austere, I know, but when she combines haunting synth, rapturous vocals and a drum track that would make Jonathan Kane proud, I believe her, I'm wholeheartedly convinced.

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