Monday, November 5, 2007

Skate Sharpening Machines

Racconto - Gordiano


Ritengo che il collasso esistenziale giunga in corrispondenza dei nodi gordiani che ci creiamo noi stessi. E io sono al mio nodo gordiano e non mi riesce di scioglierlo, tantomeno di tagliarlo. Sdraiato sulla logora poltrona del mio salotto rimiro il mobilio gongolando nel mio smegma. Le incrostazioni di sporco mi tengono incollato al seggio e il grasso straborda impietoso da sotto la canottiera, un tempo candida e ora adombrata da macchie di sugo inusitate. Sono le cinque del mattino e premo il pulsante del braccio meccanico, che con precisione metodica infila un DVD porno nel lettore. Non posso masturbarmi a causa dei sedimenti a strati che ostruiscono l’accesso ai genitali. Orino e cago sul mio corpo. Sono un tutt’uno con le mie feci, il mio sperma, la mia saliva e i resti dei pasti che il robot mi infila in bocca con incrollabile costanza. Devo essere una visione da incubo, un mostro di consumismo reietto, figlio di un Elvis risorto e una Ivana Trump zombie. Porto la mano al telecomando e do vita al video. Due eunuchi lisci come avorio si contendono una donna che non riusciranno mai a scoparsi. Che noia. Passo un dito nella piega del sottomento e ne estraggo formine di formaggio, più amorfe che altro. Le inserisco come opali nell’intricata ragnatela di incrostazioni che copre il mio volto deformato. Il cane mi passa vicino e marca il territorio lasciando l’ennesima pozzanghera, di cui non avverto nemmeno l’odore, tanto ne sono avvezzo, sui miei piedi. La casa è un immondezzaio orrorifico. Vedo nutrie in riproduzione strisciare tra i sacchetti di patatine al formaggio e le colline di lamette usate. A volte conversano tra loro con squittii intermittenti che mi rendono difficoltoso il sonno. Ho assistito a un’intensa battaglia di conquista tra loro e un drappello di ratti in ricognizione. Il corpo di uno di questi è rimasto esposto sul monte scottex per un paio di giorni, prima che le bestiacce sudamericane decidessero di liberarsi del trofeo guadagnato nello scontro appena vinto. Divorandolo davanti ai miei occhi, beninteso. A buon ragione il cane è diffidente verso ogni cosa che si muove qui attorno. Mi ha difeso solo in un’occasione, dall’attacco di una fed and fierce bitch. The pulled the head with a stroke clear of the jaws. Poor beast, I mean the dog, tied to my tragic destiny, the victim of vermin, bugs and worms. I see him tormented, I hear the whining in the rooms of the apartment, the tireless and hopeful rasp of the garbage that now occupies every corner of my prison. Often cover the bustle of this sewer to eerie music that I have left, mostly movie soundtracks, from the Untouchables in Platoon. The strings resonate very anachronistic in their delicacy and cleanliness and in those moments I am very emotional excitement. It 's only then that I give myself an inspection of the left leg, where infection growing daily you are devouring the inner thigh. Sometimes a more virulent stench of the other catches me off guard and, more rarely shaken by spasms, I am assailed by doubts that a cancer on the contrary less curable, is gnawing my intestines, heart and liver. I'm on a path of no return and then I enjoy the small satisfactions daily. The reflections of the morning sun gleaming on the ridges created by the cereal boxes piled at the window. The columns of ants, true aesthetes of communism, directed to a pizza left intact for a reason unknown to me. The cockroaches will tough fighting for a piece of shit left, who knows when, close to the mechanics of my robot. He, however, does not appreciate. Motionless and apparently puzzled, does his job without creaking and moaning rattle, motivated by its efficient hydraulic system, aseptic and faithful. I happen to play chess in his proposal. I regularly beat him and the board reacted by putting into the drawer of the cabinet, facing the TV. Me are laughing because I knew what the insult was the total for him and I feared that I would have had for a few days. Fortune smiled on me in this and the food arrived without being expected. Fool me to attribute feelings to a machine. I made the same mistake with people, that God help me.





Questo racconto è stato pubblicato, assieme a un altro di mio padre, sulla raccolta noir "Colpi di testa", edizioni Noubs, fra i cui autori è presente Carlo Lucarelli.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Uncensored Waxing Salons

Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet


Ahahah!! Rido, ebbene sì. Rido maliziosamente e sguaiatamente. Ecco, un attimo che mi riprendo. Giusto in tempo per presentarvi i Porcupine Tree, non più giovane band progressive inglese detentrice del cosiddetto "marchio Steven Wilson". Trattasi del caratteristico incedere vocale del cantante/chitarrista della band, divenuto, nell'ambiente degli amanti prog rock and psychedelic assorted, an indisputable indicator of sound quality (similar to indicators of environmental quality they see in my Modena progressive [term which seem guessed] down, year after year). It happens often, in fact, a friend approaches me and, galvanized by recent and enlightening musical discovery, I trim the old (and never Domo) refrain: "I am the singer and pesissimi STEVEN WILSON SEEMS TOO!". At that, intrigued by this complacency, listening incensatomi just the product and on time, not finding a shadow dell'albionico aplomb of Steve, if anything, only vague recollections of timbre to Mikael Askerferz (Asbrenzengl, Anferlongherz, the singer of Opeth, in short). Questo per dire che, per quanto i Porcupine Tree siano divenuti, nel corso della loro ormai ventennale carriera, un termine di paragone costante nel panorama musicale da loro frequentato, rari o nulli sono stati i casi di riuscito plagio a loro danno, ma numerosissimi quelli di vile e inefficace scopiazzamento (conosco giusto il caso di una band il cui nome inizia per Donkey...uhuhuh!! Dai che scherzo...spero...). Finita la noiosa parte biografica (come dite? devo approfondire? Allora: spaccano il culo dal vivo, hanno 40 anni e suonano con l'ex batterista di Baglioni [è vero]...ecco, stavolta ho finito davvero), desidero concentrarmi sulla ragione delle squassanti (e insinunanti) risate che hanno aperto la recensione. E questo perché è pleased to have made a good prediction spot-on, especially at the Tool (whose portrait, a mess half way between anatomy new age, art deco aesthetics and the Giger alien, now stands on the black shirts of half Italy, just to remember who the new wannabe Metallica). The reason for this concern lies in the fact that Porcupine Tree, from the bottom of their more limited market share, quiet quiet, humble and meek, so far from delusions of omnipotence and still close to the heart and brain to the deep desire to produce music that emotions , gave birth Fear Of A Blank Planet, a concept album simply beautiful, although not a masterpiece. And all in half the time it took to ejaculate quella merdina di 10.000 Days. Ahahah!! Cazzo rido, poi, che i soldi fitti li fan mica quelli come i Porcupine...vabbè...


TECNICA
Chi conosce i Porcupine sa bene che il loro lavoro non si fonda su virtuosismi pretestuosi, semmai su strutture solide e sull'eccezionale gusto pop delle melodie di Wilson. Ciò nonostante, Fear of a Blank Planet si sottrae, in parte, a quelle che sono state le regole auree del passato successo dei Porcospini e la ragione è da individuarsi nel suo processo compositivo, che ha visto la partecipazione attiva di tutti i componenti della band. Un batterista eccezionale come Gavin Harrison, che viene da esperienze nell'ambito di realtà diverse e complesse quali la scena fusion and Italian music (which, as you may loose shit, is supported by engineers and musicians of great skill and preparation), was able to give the album a further drop of executive genius. "Eh oh well, the drummer is very cool, but when it opens, such as the penultimate track, Way Out of Here, we seem to hear the Tool!" definitely tell the average fan of the band increase the pressure of the solar system, whose influences alternative prog have irreparably tainted every field that is not based on a 2 / 4 from the Irish polka. Give us some stylistic citations, I say. Damn ... traditionalist also appeared to be the Pixies, Nirvana, do not break my balls, go. This This, my vote on the technique of hedgehogs is very positive. Sounds great care, excellent workmanship (confirmed by a live performance by emotion) and a right chemistry between estrogen and emotionality in which each stylistic redundancy is ban. It 's true, Dear Steven is not a super guitar player, but what we like ...
Rating: 7.8


CREATIVITY '
At times, the weak point of the Hedgehog, perhaps forever. In this case, some minimalism too many ends to remove the opening of certain parts of the psychedelic rock genre, the one most familiar to the band, in favor of a new prog very English to Oceansize. It is, however, only episodes e, per di più, mai caratterizzati dalle ingenuità alternative rock molto 90s tipiche delle band new prog (vedi gli Amplifier, interessanti in modo discontinuo come gli Oceansize). L'incedere intenso e rigoroso delle canzoni di Fear riscatta, comunque, questi momenti di dèjà vu musicale e, ancor di più, lo fanno alcuni passaggi geniali (primo fra tutti il bridge e metà della lunghissima Anesthetize in cui due chitarre si rimbalzano con un effetto stereo asciutto e di enorme efficacia...insomma, 'na figata assoluta di riff contornata dalle sonorità psichedeliche del tastierista. Sentitelo che fate prima...a me me piace 'NA CIFRA!!). Potrei sintetizzare il mio giudizio così: Fear of a Blank Planet non è un album particularly original, but does not need it, trust me.
Rating: 6.5


CARISMA
Porcupines do not even have a great charisma, live or on disc, I admit. Steven is rather quiet, not at all flashy in dress, always vaguely adolescent and fitted with glasses for the scholar. His, and that of the band in general, is an image far from the arrogance caciarona we expect from the aged rock star. The performances of hedgehogs are also characterized by static (not for the projected images behind them). At this point, it is reasonable for someone to ask why I adore this band. I believe that this passion lies humility with which the hedgehogs are working. Never one of their songs is allowed no time for complacency gigioneggiamento, never exchange or only one of the components show off a peasant desire for the limelight, never missing a hook to move, to touch chords deep, never an end in itself contained text shows themselves, the first aesthetic and semantic. The adjective that, in my opinion, best describes the music of Porcupine Tree is mature and Fear of a Blank Planet is the best album by a great quartet of fine musicians of 40 years do not deny anything in the age and let naturally this is reflected in their artwork. When I listen to Porcupine Tree, I understand that the enthusiasm of youth can sublimate into something more and that, despite the increased pauperism of its new exterior, can move more of prurient impulses of an early age (okay, okay, I have Cappellato, I'm trimming meat loaf because I'm close to 30). In short, the charisma of this band dwells in the deepest places of the epidermis.
Rating: 7.2


CONCLUSIONS
So, if you look a damn solid band that gives a nod to fleeting fashions and fickle fans, and which ensures plays, bets on the Porcupine, because you will win her hand. If you like menate post-rock and the pretentiousness of those who trims du 'notes and making you a scurreggia believe that it is "the new course of alternative rock before which kneel or risk losing the respect of the community of committed music fans" (if, in short, your favorite band last year's Hammock, so to speak), then retreat to a cave as depressed as possible to listen to the Necks in perpetual loop. You will have greater satisfaction. For all others (those who have more than four limbs and walking upright), an excellent album. Perhaps no emotional outbursts enlightening, but certainly sincere and long-lived.
Rating: 7.3


PS Seriously, the Hammock and Necks are two very interesting band.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Collection Letter 30 Days

Comets on Fire - Avatar


Comets on fire that I am going to talk ragazzoti are a group of Californians, just over half a decade ago, he decided to spend some time together to produce some 'sounds, slamming a bit' percussion and press the keys on a keyboard trying to hit a few chords. The result was the creation of a rock band rather mediocre. The fame came to them with Blue Catherdral, the album that made their preference for the psychedelic '70s. The critics praised their name and began to bounce from mouth to mouth, to reach fair reputation in American underground.
Do not be fooled, though (shit, we always try sti stronzi). Quell'album era una discreta puttanatona. Per darvi un'idea: mettete assieme una ragazzetto di 14 anni alle tastiere colto da pruriti prepuberali, un talentuoso chitarrista di 8 anni (ahah!!), un cantante che non canta e un batterista a cui tira il culo ripetere le registrazioni imprecise. Ecco i Comets on Fire di Blue Cathedral. Wow, che figata (pronunciato con voce piatta da automa).
Avatar, l'album da loro pubblicato nel 2006 di cui parlerò qua, non è poi tanto diverso. Il tastierista ha superato lo sconcerto causato dalle prime le polluzioni notturne, il chitarrista ora suona come un mediocre diciottenne (ce la sta facendo, io credo in lui), il cantante canta (mi commuovo) e il batterista...il batterista è equal ... yet, Avatar is a good album and now I'll explain why.


TECHNICAL
Poor Comets on Fire. They sound a bit 'to fuck, but this is also their beauty. The pieces are clearly recorded live, the execution is perpetually inaccurate, the instruments seemed beaten by the hands of an alcoholic and the sound quality is prewar. I wonder if they recorded the pieces in the basement of a cousin of the group. I'd like to contact them to find out. And 'no doubt, however, that all this dirt gives the album a retro analog output that goes well with the generally very seventies.
Rating: 5.5


CREATIVITA'
L'originalità latita in toto, la ricerca sonora allo stesso modo (inutile dire che i Grateful Dead risultano più arditi), non parliamo della struttura dei pezzi, spesso impostati su un unico giro armonico su cui si alternano le traballanti improvvisazioni dei musicisti (porelli, li sto demolendo), però (però, ebbene sì, però) il quartetto sembra baciato da una musa protettrice che istilla loro l'abilità di comporre belle canzoni. I pezzi fluiscono infatti con tale naturalezza da fare pensare che l'ispirazione che li ha plasmati sia metafisica. Insomma, ballate emotive come Lucifer's Memory e Hatched Upon the Age sono veramente riuscite e viene spontaneo chiedersi because the singer has never given air to the vocal cords prior to this work. Hey man, you're good, damn it! And your tunes sound well fitted to the grille of your crooked fellow music! What do you say? We've earned the sixth thanks to you? Sti cocks, man, I'd say so.
Rating: 6


CARISMA
And I want you here. I want you here. Charisma to spare, my dear. Charisma to spare. Listen Holy Teeth, or the beginning of Sour Smoke and you can not give me no reason. All have heard, everything sounded so cheesy, but all very visceral. The Comets on Fire are saved for a corner thanks to their unquestionable veracity. What they promise to give and what damage it is sufficient. If this album had been played by a collective of session musicians and recorded in a more professional, would not make even half. Sometimes, things MUST BE MADE TO FUCK, here. Listen to some parts of Avatar and tell me if you do not have the galvanizing effect of those classic soundtracks from movies that accompany the '70s perfectly with an old American car of a pair of glasses to drop. Thank you for being a bunch of pricks, Comets, please, do not study at home and not too many scores infighettatevi, because we still need musicians like you. And then, there begin to be on the fake cock minimalist graduated from the conservatory? Much better than the Comets, who make the low-fi ... because they could not do better, eheh!
Rating: 7.7


CONCLUSIONS
Avatar is left on the plate of my CD player for a long time, last year, and I think the reason is the height of my chest. Not surprisingly, this is an album that I can recommend to those who simply like good rock played with heart. If you want something a forward-looking or technically sophisticated, stay away, but if the husky voice of a storyteller to the taste of whiskey you still touches the soul, do not delay, you may discover a great band.
Rating: 7.2