According to witch-house producer Ritualz, aka †‡†, Chino Moreno is “fuck(ing) stealing my shit” (via twitter).
Apparently Chino Moreno and former Far guitarist Shaun Lopez are launching a new project tentatively named Crosses (represented as †††). Due to this, Ritualz is “SO FUCKING PISSED RIGHT NOW ” (via twitter).
Do you think Moreno is blatantly ripping off Ritualz and more broadly attempting to capitalize on the underground, emerging witch-house genre?
You be the judge:
Yesterday there was a bogus Salem track floating around the net and all that disappointment led me to post this mix which I first came across via Jack’s twitter account. Not sure why it hasn’t been picked up anywhere but if you like some of those super stretched out sounds like you found on previous mix “I BURIED MY HEART INNA WOUNDED KNEE,” then this baby is for you. I love the drone around the 10 min mark and the then the vocals about death are really nice and uplifting as well.
SALEM – MOTHER ALWAYS – CHECK YO” PONYTAIL 2011 MIXTAPE
TRACK LISTING:
1. all ur trubles is tha same- drag (smashing pumpkins)
2. 4 ur luv- drag
3. predator- drag (women in love)
4. i eat it- drag (lil nico)
5. u- drag (camron)
6. eulogy 2 lenny bruce- drag (nico)
7. fuck- drag
8. yung creem- drag (young cream)
9. forgit about- drag (sibylle baier)
10. sesame street- drag >>> all my frens r fuckd up- drag (swans)
11. sedsumting- drag (oOoOO)
12. mother always here, mother always- drag
13. B.I.T.C.H.- drag (gator mane & bruvr doe)
14. <3 teenage wasteland <3- drag
Gospels sent over a couple of tracks a few weeks back which I instantly fell in love with. I asked if he wanted to put a mix together and here we have it.
gospels//blood stains on my white tee//october mixtape by Gospels
And if you want some other spooky tracks to soundtrack your upcoming weekend, go grab 5 mixes from last year including mixes from Fever Ray, Salem and GorillavsBear.
Not many nice things have been said in the press regarding Salem’s live performance. But apparently that is changing. With a positive review in the Times, positive twitter buzz, positive HRO coverage it looks as though things are turning up sunshine for these Rape Gaze masterminds.
From the video it looks as though John has finally let his hair down (and shaved it!) and is getting his swagger on behind the synth. I saw a picture of Heather sitting on the ground, typically blasé about the whole thing and Jack; well Jack was the only one gettin funky at those SXSW shows of yore so I’m glad he’s still at it.
More vids and info here (including a Liv Tyler spotting, wtf?).
One of the things I like about this drag micro-genre is that it is really still being defined. I guess like all genres there is deviation but when I listen to Salem, Creep, Balam Acab or †‡† I don’t really hear the same things going on. It ranges from super aggressive (almost gabba-y, i.e. †‡†, Salem) to really quite pretty (i.e. Balam Acab, Salem) even if it does have a lurking darkness to it.
Gospels are a NYC band that fit into the lighter side of drag (which by the way I think is the version I prefer). It’s almost ambient music paired with drag’s signature 808′s and drum machine hi-hat.
I’m hoping to have some mp3′s to share in the next day or so but until then head over to Gospels’ MySpace and listen to “Red Square” on repeat.
One of the more aggressive artists in the drag micro-genre, †‡†, has created a brand new mix for LivingEars (and current it is! Kanye’s Runaway anyone?). You may recall my initial impression of †‡† which mostly centered around the name and the headaches something like that creates.
I had a nice discussion with †‡† about this and I think it was enlightening for both of us. He never realized how difficult it is for people to discuss the project or that the difficulty typing it means no royalties (when someone like me plays it on the radio for example). So, he’s not changing the name just yet but informed me that you can pronounce †‡† as Ritualz.
So, welcome Ritualz. And thanks for this mix.
<via>
I’m not as into this track as I am “Black Leather Gloves” but I am excited to hear more from this group who are part Zola Jesus, part Siouxsie and two parts evil.
Cosmetics – Soft Skin
Cosmetics – Black Leather Gloves
Cosmetics – Black Leather Gloves (Premier Rang/Cosmetics Remake)
Here is a new, old video for one of the more promising of the recent drag/witch house (or should it be häus?) upstarts White Ring. This video uses scenes from Stanley Kubrick’s “Lolita.” I’m actually reading Lolita right now.
Previously:
White Ring – IxC999
I meant to include these tracks with my Drag post but I forgot. Both essential…
Dirtypride - Something in the Way (Nirvana Cover)
Cosmetics – Black Leather Gloves
The Guardian recently published an article called “Scene and heard: Drag.” They get into the emergence of artists such as Balam Acab, Salem, oOoOO and the short history of chopped and screwed, syrupy slow hip hop and what it has morphed into in a short amount of time.
This is one of my favorite things happening in music right now. You’ve seen many of these songs and this type of music here for quite some time.
Here is a little roundup:
White Ring – IxC999
Salem – Tent
Balam Acab – Heavy Living Things
Balam Acab – See Birds
Lil Wayne – Lollipop (Chopped and Screwed by DJ Young Redd)
oOoOO – Mumbai
As previously reportedRobin from 20 Jazz Funk Greats has started up a new label, Tri Angle, supporting this scene. If you want to find one of the originals check out this label Disaro from Houston. Looking forward to what’s to come from all of this.
