FROM THE EDITOR
After one week, this mailing list has 61 subscribers. Comments have been very positive. A few things I’d like to see contributed from the membership at large would be short articles or even just tidbits on home-recording, contact information on publications and other outlets that give space to DiY recordings, and really just anything to do with the topic of DiY recording. This list is still very much in its first stages of evolution and all of you have a say in its direction. Keep your letters coming. Let me know what you’d like to see more or less of here. This list is all about increasing creative activity for DiY recording artists and there’s a lot here that will help you do just that. Share your ideas and share your contacts.
LETTERS
Thanks for that positive review of *A Nat’l Treasure* in the e-version of Gajoob. I don’t mind being compared to Robeen Hitchcock at all. There aren’t many people who write about the kinda crap we do and stick it in a pop song. Robyn’s one of the few people I like who are getting better with age. Then again, most people that I like are nearly dead, dying, or wish they were dead. By the way, some of those wandering in and out of tune vocals on old tapes may be that way on purpose. You are right, however, that I spent much more time on everything this time. I’ve always spent a lot of time on the harmony though. It’s everything else that usual suffers. There are lots of lousy lead vocals on my tapes, as well as rhytmn problems, etc… Anyway, the e-diy zine looks great. It may end up replacing the “allmusic” group as my favorite source for places to send tapes. I see several possibilities already. Great idea. You must vote for one of the following as the title of my next tape (whenever that may be) 1.) F is For Flunky ( a little late Orson Welles film joke) 2.) Make Mine…..Malarky 3.) Hey, Yew Reckon That Thar is an Indian Mound? –Scott Brookman (sbrook@hibbs.vcu.edu)²
Okay, everyone, mark your ballots! –BryanCongratulations on a fine 1st issue. This is fantastic & I’m glad you’re doing it. Thanks for including my comp. update as well. A DiY List…this is great….Would you like some email addresses of parties who may be interested?² –Eric H. (junkyard@aol.com)
Maybe just tell them about it yourself and have them e-mail me or whatever might be best. I’ll post a notice to the relevant newsgroups, but I suppose word of mouth (so to speak) will best spread the word about this list. The more people we have on board, the more potential sources of information we will have about DiY recording outlets for all of us. This is all about sharing information and better enabling us to get our recordings out into the world; and otherwise just increasing the general creative activity. Anything that fosters that is a good thing in my book. –BryanHey, yes, I’d love to get the list. Thanx. Fire at will. Did you ever finish issue 10? Or did you decide to do this electronic thing INSTEAD?? It’s definitely easier to do e-zines, but there’s a certain satisfaction you get from producing and recieving a physical object that email will never fill… –steev (VirComm@aol.com)
As you know with the announcement in the first mailing of this list, GAJOOB is very much alive and issue #10 is on its merry way to you through the loving hands of our benevolent postal carriers (God bless and God speed). This list is supplementary to the magazine and is done because it provides the best way to exchange information and is simply a great way to foster communication between us DiY types. –Bryan
DiY Information, Contacts and Activities
If you have information that would be of interest to DiY recording
artists, everything from web sites to radio shows, from publications to
public access cable shows, let us know about it.
BAYARD CATRON is currently compiling an internet comp tape of Robyn Hitchcock covers. The finished copies are to be sent to those on the comp and then traded and otherwise freely distributed. E-mail Bayard at bayard@rasputin.umd.edu or write 17514 Sabrina Terrace, Derwood, MD 20855-1253 USA for more info. The deadline is in October so there’s not much time left.
NETWORK 77 is home to Jay Scott’s band, Sphinx, which puts out some topnotch space music on cassette. Lots of other bands on this label like the sound collage work of Adam Unbeat An Egg, death metalists V.O.D., reggae from the Roots Rockers and much more. [Box 4713, Cape Town 8000, South Africa]
SILENT RECORDS is an independent label based in San Francisco which releases mosty ambient, ambient dub, techno trance, industrial and various types of electronic music. Note the new address. [101 Townsend St., Suite 206, San Francisco, CA 94107]
ARCHEGON is home to the band, Neglige – electronic underwear. Their new catalog announces a new release (see below) as well as provides feedback on the previous one. The label has now established itself as home to electronic musique concrete, such as the kind created by those 60’s university computer music pioneers, not so much interested in traditional musicality, as much as pure sound and chance. [c/o Gunter Schroth, Regerstr. 6, 55127 Mainz, Germany]
MICHAEL KEARNEY indicated in a recent post to alt.music.makers that the Pennsylvania Senate is in the process of passing a bill that will make the sale and possession of recordings that carry a warning sticker illegal to those under eighteen years of age. Punishable by $25 fine to possess- 1st offense, $100 fine to sell- 1st offense + fines increase with subsequent offenses. He asks, “Does anyone know of any political groups or other organizations that can help prevent this bill from passing? What can I do to prevent this from passing? Any help would be greatly appreciated!” Reply to: Michael Kearney eatensparrow@delphi.com
Does anyone know the contact address for TAPERS QUARTERLY?
ROTCOD ZZAJ needs serious reviewers for four new tapes released by his small tape label, Zzaj Productions. They are: LECTRIK KATZ IN BUDDAHLAND (Semi-rock improv, Zzaj, Zalnikor (of the ROTTON KIDS) & my 7-year old son; BONE FLAG – Very very VERY S-T-R-A-N-G-E spoken word tape featuring Zzaj on keyboardz & poet John M. Bennett; She May One Day… …Winnebago Sorta’ sweet poetry by Joan Payne Kincaid, with Zzaj backing instrumentally; JOURNEY TO INTERNITY Northwest synthmeister Harlan Mark Vale joins Zzaj for a VERY interesting journey into their collective mind! dmetcalf@freenet2.scri.fsu.edu
RADIO
Holly Stifflemire is currently compiling a list of radio DJ’s willing to play DiY stuff. If you would like to be added to this list, please mail her at stiffl66@wharton.upenn.edu. Here is the listing so far:
Fernando Paez, DJ, WLVR 91.3, Bethlehem, PA
for the college radio audience tired of listening to the same MTv crap
snail mail: Box 31 A, 29 Trembley Dr., Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA 18015
Mike A. Murphy, DJ & programmer / Erv Dehmlow, music director, WMEB-FM
snail mail: 5725 East Annex, Room 106, Orono, Maine, 04469-5725
for print review: Michael A. Murphy, Network Audio Bits, P.O. Box 328, Orono, Maine 04473-0328 murph@maine.maine.edu or murph@maine.bitnet
sarah mchattie, dj extraordinaire…
“i’m also a music industry major with a decent no. of connections”
email address: smchatti@lynx.dac.neu.edu
snail mail: 10 speare pl, rm 204, boston, ma 02115-4344
Gregory Wood, DJ and otherwise cool guy i happen to personally know…
e-mail: gwood3@gl.umbc.edu
snail mail: 9474 Ridgeview Drive, Columbia, MD 21046
the DJs @ KCSS, Turlock, CA, Mike Ozone, music director
We play a majority of indie label stuff and cassettes are always welcome (just about any format but reel-to-reel, DAT=OK)
e-mail: mohlsoon@koko.csustan.edu
snail mail: KCSS, California State Univeristy, Stanislaus 801 West Monte Vista Ave., Turlock, CA 95382; (209) 667-3900
Devan Anthony, DJ, WRCT 88.3 Pittsburgh
the [radical…] concept of giving more unheard of bands airtime
e-mail: da2y@andrew.cmu.edu
snail mail: Box 3108, 1000 Morewood Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Jenny Rosenfeld, DJ, Kenyon College, Ohio
“willing to give a listen to some promising bands…we are the only alternative programming for miles and miles around…My show tends to consist of a lot of subpop bands..the spinanes, velocity girl, sebadoh, hazel, etc. we also play that dog,fuzzy,liz phair, etc. if that gives you some idea…”
e-mail: Rosenfeldj@kenyon.edu
snail mail: Jenny Rosenfeld, PO Box 1422, Gambier,OH 43022
Mike Burke, DJ, WOCH, UMass Amherst
e-mail: tmburke@student.umass.edu
snail mail: WOCH: attn Mike Burke, 214 Grayson UMASS, Amherst MA 01003
Matt Sebastian, no DJ
“I’m no DJ but I do write music reviews for my college (u. of colorado) newspaper and do some freelance writing for a couple of music oriented magazines. I’d love to get anything anyone would send my way, I’m always looking for new and unknown stuff to write about…”
e-mail: sebastia@ucsu.colorado.edu
snail mail: Matt Sebastian, 1111 30th St. #23, Boulder, CO 80303-2078
KSUN 91FM
e-mail: KSUN@sonoma.edu
snail mail: KSUN 91FM, 1801 E. Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Dana Donaldson, DJ, Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s brand spankin’ new station
e-mail: danaduck@wpi.edu
snail-mail: Dana Donaldson, WPI Box 2793, 100 Institute Rd., Worcester, MA 01609
matt edel, DJ
e-mail: mte9556@acs.tamu.edu
snail mail: matt edel, 313 lincoln st #82, college station, tx 77840
KZSU, Music Directors: Chanel & John
e-mail: music@kzsu.stanford.edu
snail mail: PO Box 6509, Stanford, CA 94309
Kyle Hearfield, DJ “Indies and Exposure (said fast)”
CHMR FM 93.5, Memorial University of Newfoundland open to ANYTHING as long as its reasonably good!”
e-mail: Kyle@morgan.ucs.mun.ca
snail mail: Kyle Hearfield, 102 Casey St., St. John’s NF, Canada, A1C 4X7
Kevin Carhart, DJ and college editor type… KCSB, Santa Barbara, CA
“Hi! I think I’m the sort of DJ you’re looking for… I’m very open to playing demos, records, etc…I’ve got sort of a pop/melodic bias, but anything is great…I’m also the arts editor of the college paper, so…I could give some print coverage too”
e-mail: ukevc@mcl.ucsb.edu
snail mail: Kevin Carhart c/o Daily Nexus, PO BOX 13402, UCSB University Center, Santa Barbara CA 93107; (805) 893-2691 at the paper
Chuck Skinner, DJ aka “Captain Subversive” KBVR FM 88.7 Corvallis, somewhere in Oregon….. “I would be more than happy to help — that’s the basic theory behind KBVR, after all.”
e-mail: zingaro@deeptht.armory.com
snail mail: Chuck Skinner, 1112 NW 9th #1, Corvallis, OR 97330
Nick Hobbs, DJ, WGAJ
e-mail: Nick_B_HOBBS@NYO.COM
snail mail: Nick Hobbs, Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, MA 01342
“Check out my NEW WWW home page still under construction at: http://www.interport.net/~nickh/”
Dmitri Bender, “Europe plus Izhevsk”
“Formats of our programmes include: gothic, ambient, new age, 4AD Records style, industrial, indie, old “new wave”, jazz, some hardcore and all we can count as sudden gems. CDs/reel tapes for regular airplay, cassette releases/demos for not-so-distant future programs – just now we have no technical ability to play tapes.”
e-mail: db@mark-itt.ru. snail mail: Europe Plus Izhevsk FM, Dmitri Bender, Music Director of Rhodesia Plus program, 8-100, Mayskaya str., Izhevsk 426000, RUSSIA; tel: (7-3412) 250-149; fax: (7-3412) 221-492
NEW DiY RELEASES
EVIDENCE
“Heart’s Grave”
Gothic synth cuts with guitar, relying heavily on orchestral synth pads, somber piano and plaintive vocals. This is billed as an opera and does very much feel story-like in tone which is the saving grace of the whole work. However, Evidence relies too much on European gothic cliches and after a couple listens, it wears very thin. [cassette; 15 Rue A. Brizeux, 44 000 Nantes, France]
BRUTAL JUICE
“I Love the Way They Scream When They Die” – cassette; 1600 W. Hickory, Denton, TX 76201; phone: 817-898-1483
VARIOUS ARTISTS “Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection” [advance cassette; Daemon Records, PO Box 1207, Decatur, GA 30031[
THIRD AGE “Natural Law” [7″ single; PO Box 903, Little Compton, RI 02837; phone: 401-849-0075; fax (401-848-7030) GLAZED BABY “Handgun” [CD single; Atomic Action, 2030 W. Main Rd., RI 02842] SHIV All Night Pudding [7″ single; Atomic Action, 2030 W. Main Rd., RI 02842]
MARJAN CRASH “Graze” [7″ single; Atomic Action, 2030 W. Main Rd., RI 02842]
ROTCOD ZZAJ & KRAMTONES “Voyage To Internity” Self-described as, “Very airable, & with unique “flavorings”, this will carry you “inside” the minds of these two slightly bent wizards.” [cassette; Dick Metcalf, HQ 19TH TAACOM, UNIT 15015, POB 2879, APO AP, 96218-0171; e-mail: dmetcalf@freenet.scri.fsu.edu] also, free e-mail catalog available on request.
NEBEL “Out of the Tangled Years” Steve and Kristi Nebel have been active in the DiY network for several years now. Previous releases have been decidedly folk that not only delves into consciousness sort of themes, but possesses a unique and fun take on life. It’s unmistakable to the listener that the Nebels and their several cohorts really have a good time making their music. The Nebels are also one of the few folk bands I’ve seen to make any real pursuit into the underground cassette network by getting reviewed in publications that normally cater to the wild and wacky world of home-recording artists and aloof experimentalists; and also participating in various tape compilations. This CD shows a change in the Nebel’s musical style, incorporating overdriven guitars (not grunge-like), new-wave synths and beats and song structures to match. It all took me by surprise; and I liked it. Steve and Kristi are still very much themselves. Their homespun personalities shine through and never allow this “new wave” to take over what is an extremely likeable collection of songs, filled with real life. [Icebird Records, 5109 Pt. Fosdick Dr. NW #E155, Gig Harbor, WA 98335]
JOSEPH WELZ “One World of Love” “Universal Love” [CD; Caprice International Disc, PO Box 808, Lititz, PA 17543] TIAMAT “Wildhoney” [Century Media, 1453-A 14th St. #324, Santa Monica, CA 90404]
MERCY RULE “Providence” Recorded in Steve Albini’s home studio by Brian Paulson (Uncle Tupelo, Superchunck, Soul Asylum), Mercy Rule’s debut on Relativity is a raw piece of work. The three piece, fronted by Heidi Ore on bass and vocals lets loose a thrashing lurch that explores inner drives and a touch of the spiritual. [Relativity, 187-07 Henderson, Ave., Hollis, NY 11423] SIX AND MORE “Do Not Open!” Self-description: “Six and More is an open-ended series of sessions at which six and more musicians would interact in free collective improvisation and thus create an intricately structured, resourceful and dynamic sonic space.” Bryan: Samplers, analog synthesizers, computers, tape and other electronic instruments are cajoled by this group of improvisers. The sound is the thing here, much more than any traditional “musicality.” If you’ve heard albums by early university tape recording and computer music pioneers, the ideal will be familiar to you, however, this release is much more accessable than that which, depending upon your viewpoint, could be taken as either good or bad. As for me, I like this collection of bleeps, warbles, ringing modulation and sighing backdrops. [Archegon, c/o Gunter Schroth, Regerstr. 6, 55127 Mainz, Germany]
TIM ATWELL “Tin Pan Valley” Press bio: “Tim Atwell is a songwriter from the south shore of Long Island. He writes humorous country and western songs, as well as ballads and swing tunes. He has given concerts on Long Island and has been featured at showcases by both the Songwriters Guild of america and the Nashville Songwriters Association.” [3 Michael Ct., Centereach, NY 11720-2267]
WICKED MARAYA “Cycles” A tight-knit band of brothers a cousin and a couple of childhood friends, Wicked Maraya have released this album on the heels of European successes. Lead singer Lou Falco sings in a quasi-traditional hardrock/metal vein (Scorpions, et al) and after all the grunge bands that have passed through these ears of late, I must admit this is a welcome change, with its strong melodies, twin harmony guitar leads and an edge of its own. The only weakness I see is its studied approach that tends to make the band limp during its instrumental breaks. [MMS, 18 East 53 St., New York, NY 10022]
