Vanna & PsyOpus for NoiseCreep

During my wonderful time spent in Detroit for Movement, there was plenty of action still going on at NoiseCreep. Vanna, who hail from my former city of Boston, and PsyOpus had videos posted. The latter can really put on one hell of a show, and is one of my MetalBlade favorites. They're on tour, of course, and will be in New York on July 12th. Can you wait until then? There's a new song up on their MySpace page.

You can read the reviews, posted here:
Vanna 'Safe To Say' -- Video
PsyOpus 'The Burning Halo' -- Video

Voodeux - "The Paranormal" for Resident Advisor

This was an exceptionally challenging review for me. While I've been writing about music for a long time, I can't say that writing about techno is one of my older trades. Facing any genre is difficult, but while I've spent many years as a lover of electronic music I've only been personally invested - and fairly dedicated - to techno for about two years. There's so much more at risk, much like a romantic relationship you truly stand behind because you believe in it.

Mothership is one of my favorite record labels. Resident Advisor is one of my favorite sources of music journalism. Tanner Ross, who comprises one half of Voodeux, is a producer and DJ from the Boston scene, and I've had the pleasure to watch this particular project cook slowly. The end result is the forthcoming release of The Paranormal and Voo's debut live performance, which just kicked off my DEMF experience at the C-Pop Gallery in Detroit. You can imagine there was a lot riding on this - it only helped that after several sit-down meals of ingesting the entirety of the album I found a copious amount of positive reflections to put in order.

I'd only be repeating myself to say more, but I'm particularly proud of this, so I hope you enjoy it. Purchasing the Voodeux album is highly recommended, and they have a pretty sweet deal going on.

You can read the review, posted here: Voodeux - The Paranormal

Headbanger Favorites for NoiseCreep

After coming across the "Headbanging while making a fire" video on YouTube, I showed it to my editor and we were inspired to create a 10 Favorite WTF Headbanger Video list. I scrounged up some serious gems...be sure to check out grandma loving Toxic Bonkers and the Opeth bang-a-long.

You can see the glory here: Our 10 Favorite WTF Headbanger Videos

Blue October for NoiseCreep

I'm genuinely pleased with this video and song. When I worked as a publicist at Planetary, the radio department did a great deal of work with Blue October. There, I was first exposed to them, but something didn't exactly click. Two things this song reminded me of were slam poetry and Placebo, and yet this band isn't directly associated with either. Something about these two bits, which are near and dear to my heart, were prevalent throughout the whole video, which goes just under four minutes. While Rolling Stone gave their album two stars, I have to say this particular single is really goddamn good.

You can read the review, posted here: Blue October 'Say It' -- Video

Saving Abel for NoiseCreep

I really mean it about NASCAR becoming a big part of alternative culture. At first it was ironic when my most hipster of Williamsburg-residing friends got into it for the sheer "redneck chic" factor. It was also a great reason to have a BBQ! The fanaticism has magnetized a small handful of them, and it's safe to say that I officially have friends that are into NASCAR. It's bold enough that I love the Red Sox and might watch a Celtics or Knicks game or two, but there are some sports that I haven't had much exposure to. Or at all. I couldn't even begin to fathom if I would make a good NASCAR fan. First off, I'm vegan - how would I fair with the concession stand?

You can read the review, posted here: Saving Abel 'Drowning (Face Down)' -- Video

Slipknot Video for NoiseCreep

When I was in high school, my town (Deer Park, Long Island) didn't have a record store, book store or really anything outside a plethora of fast food chains. While I can't recall the name I remember the small, strip mall-embedded record shop that opened for a solid year or two near my house. I spent more allowance and work money there than any other Tower or Sam Goody to keep that place afloat, and I remember the day my friend Paul pulled out the Slipknot self-titled album and said, "Vicki, you have to buy this. Trust me. Just do it."

I listened, and I'm glad to have done so because the record was a jigsaw puzzle in the growing relationship between metal and mainstream, but Slipknot stayed on the outskirts of the nu-metal phenomenon (thank god). Slipknot's metal sound is so far from what I listen to on a daily basis that I was hoping a write-up for their latest efforts would plunge me back into the memory pool of the late 90s. Also notable was the art installation in Des Moines, Iowa - their hometown - from where they got the inspiration for the "Sulfur" video. Good for them for still being around - even if they're not your cup of tea, their tracks are a cut above most of what is out there today, seeing as they've been at it for so long.

You can read the review, posted here: Joey Jordison Comments on Slipknot 'Sulfur' Video

A New England Recharge + Upcoming Projects

I'm happy to announce that since the review of DJ Hell in Brooklyn went live on Resident Advisor, Hell himself released Teufelswerk on his own International Deejay Gigolos label as of this week. Furthermore, his website got a complete makeover, and the overall design moved away from the N. Y. Muscle theme to something more suited for the new record. The RA review is featured on the front page, and you can imagine the audible gasp of joy when I saw my own name in large font on his website. No matter how long I do this, that sort of recognition never gets old. The man is a legend, and this album just happens to be contending for my favorite of the year. Succinctly put, it's an honor.

In other news, I traveled to Boston last weekend for the first time in quite a while. I saw sQuare Production's Speaking In Code documentary in a proper theater, heard some of my favorite local DJs at Make It New, Solid!, Circus, Bassic and the Basstown monthly residency, which featured Lazer Sword. On the dubstep front, Clouds' DJ Tommy did a beautiful set on Sunday, but I was most impressed by Moldy - a Portland DJ I'd heard about in my time living with Pandai'a as one of the best East coast producers of the genre. It's absolutely true. His presence and his mixing and some of the original tracks he dropped were just perfect. All of the elements were in place, and with the Good Life's soundsystem I left with proper cerebral vibrations.

Being back in my old haunts encouraged all of us at Basstown to light a mighty flame under our collective asses with the website. For weeks, we've been doing a great job of keeping it up to date, but my personal goal is to have more community involvement, more mp3's & album reviews and more news that would be useful to both DJs and intrigued techno lovers. In three weeks, I'll be headed to Detroit with Volvox for our first foray into DEMF and all that Detroit - the closest I can get to Berlin - has to offer, and Resident Advisor will be the outlet for all of my reactions and musings.

Lastly, the wheels are picking up at NoiseCreep, where I'm thrilled to have joined on. You can expect to see more of my words there in the coming weeks, and I hope that everyone enjoys my rambles on metal as much as they do techno. Cheers!