#cdr billing

[jinkx-monswoon]

meow. surprise cdr rarepair cat cafe au (love u @pathetiic-fallacy)

~

When Venus enters the cat café just after opening one morning, more than half of its feline population comes crawling out of the woodwork to greet her.

“Well, if it isn't the crowd favorite! You’re here early,” says a girl behind the bar. “What can I get you? The usual?”

“Yes, but can you give it a few minutes before you start? I want extra snuggle time with the kitties,” Venus says, already having been dragged down to the carpet by the kitties in question.

“No problem,” says Vivian, the barista. “First batch of customers doesn't start pouring in for, like, usually another half-hour.”

As the water boils in the pot, Venus is sprawled out on the floor, with a kitten resting on her stomach as another kneads at her hair. Vivian peers at her over the counter from above, giggling.

“They’re nicer to you than anyone else, y’know,” she says.

“Why's that?”

“Maybe it’s your, uh…” Vivian winks, curling her fingers up like a cat’s claw. “Your raw animal magnetism?”

If Venus had her coffee already, she would’ve spit it out.

~

“Thanks,” says Venus, receiving her piping-hot Americano and dropping a $5 bill in the tip jar.

“Same time tomorrow?” asks Vivian.

“You bet.”

Venus kneels down to give a few goodbye pets to a particularly clingy kitten, setting her cup on the floor. When she picks it up again, she notices something scribbled on the side:

A number…?

She looks back up at Vivian, who waves with a smile.

“Call me.”

[dustedmagazine]

Dust Volume 10, Number 4

Alena Spanger

For one day in April, we were transfixed by the sun’s brief disappearance, marveling again at our smallness in the universe, our dependence on a fiery ball in the sky which might, it seems, not be as reliable as we had always assumed.  It was pretty cool, even if you weren’t in the path of totality (what an excellent phrase, by the way), and it distracted everyone for a couple of hours from all the bullshit flooding over the transom.  Which is also one of the main functions of the music we consume so voraciously.  We are always hoping for one or two or many transcendent experiences in these CDRs and tapes and mp3 folders that bombard us, and sometimes, dear reader, we find them.  Here’s this month’s report with Tim Clarke, Bill Meyer, Andrew Forell, Alex Johnson, Jonathan Shaw, Jennifer Kelly, Ian Mathers and Bryon Hayes contributing.

Adult Jazz — So Sorry So Slow (Spare Thought)

Hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Adult Jazz’s stunning debut album, Gist Is. Perhaps the title of the Leeds band’s second full-length can be interpreted as an apology to those who have been eagerly awaiting a follow-up. So Sorry So Slow has not only been a long time coming, but also unfolds in fits and starts, as if unsure of the best way forward. It’s convulsive art-pop in the vein of Dirty Projectors or Bjork, with shades of hyper-pop in the digital sharpness of some of its edges, and chamber pop in the prominent employment of strings and horns. The album is most successful when the songs are straightforwardly beautiful, as in “Suffer One,” with its Owen Pallett string arrangement, and closer “Windfarm,” which has a pure, aching, almost New Age glow to it. Elsewhere, the overall lack of focus proves frustrating, and ultimately rather exhausting, across the album’s hour-long runtime. There’s plenty of beauty to be found, you just have to be patient.

Tim Clarke

Jeb Bishop / Tim Daisy / Mark Feldman — Begin, Again (Relay)

Begin, Again welcomes a couple of revenant Chicagoan musicians. Trombonist Jeb Bishop came back to the city after roughly ten years away, and violinist Mark Feldman after about 40. Drummer and vibraphonist  Tim Daisy invited them both to workshop some material in his home studio, and this session resulted. While both Bishop and Daisy wrote pieces, there’s an authentic ensemble feel; this music is very differently balanced than Daisy’s other chamber trio, Vox Arcana. Quick changes in direction and two-on-one dynamics abound, and it’s all enacted with a lightness that gives this music a feeling of floating even when the players are bearing down with serious intent.   

Bill Meyer

Cadence Weapon — Rollercoaster (MNRK)

The first thing you hear on Rollercoaster is a warm strum of acoustic guitar and the mellifluous voice of Bartees Strange. Then Canadian rapper/activist Rollie Pemberton AKA Cadence Weapon takes aim at technological saturation on his new LP Rollercoaster. The hectic production (there are 11 producer credits) mirrors the overwhelming chaos of social media flooded with bots, trolls, ads and misinformation overseen by the bloodless founder of Facebook and X’s fatuous head jester. Hip Hop, electro, RnB and manic hyperpop provide the backdrop to Pemberton’s diatribes which, although they occasionally have an odor of fish-filled barrels, say what needs saying with a maximum of snark and wit. Strange reappears periodically to offer a more organic musical and lyrical counterpoint to the hyperactivity. Pemberton has the awareness to embrace the paradox of working within the system he excoriates which adds an edge to his lyrics. If no-one is innocent and everyone’s throwing stones, Cadence Weapon is at least slinging the sharpest slates.

Andrew Forell  

The Children… — A Sudden Craving (Erototox Decodings)

Michael Wiener describes the music of The Children…, his long-running collaboration with Jim Coleman, Phil Puleo and others, as “gothic blues ambient.” At the height of my concern for tidy iTunes taxonomies, I would’ve been thrilled to think of that. And I’m not being glib: it is apt. One might be tempted to flip the last two words to get the more genre-y “Gothic Ambient Blues,” but Wiener, a Dusted contributor, has the order right. Their latest release, A Sudden Craving, may lead with a loose-hinged “gothic blues,” complete with eerie electronics, possessed voices, disturbed drums and alternately ghostly and shearing guitar chords, but it’s the way the band plays in the looming ambience, the engagement with the persistent presence of space – traced, occupied and ruptured – that ties together the album’s unsettling visions. In its haunted volatility, this can be a viscerally entertaining record and easy to get into, just make sure to carve out enough headroom.

Alex Johnson

Ciro Vitiello — The Island of Bouncy Memories (Haunter x Hundebliss)

Italian producer Ciro Vitiello’s work plays out like a reverie in the liminal space between dream and memory. Ethereal vocals and impressionist lyrics from Russian born singer Zimmy and Italian musician CRÆBABE float on warm wisps of synth and closely miked acoustic guitars. The instrumental tracks have a fractal, dislocated feel as Vitiello layers keyboards and sound effects of water, birds, child’s play and the odd menacing sounds one images hearing in the beast filled fairytale forests of childhood. The mood darkens further on “Sell Change of Heart for a Crocodile” or “Living in a Bouncy Castle” as scratchy disruptions like misfiring synapses interrupt the former as the keyboards swell crepuscular in the background. On the latter, titular castle seems to be deflating slowly, closing in on the occupants in slow motion, the air escaping in big wet bubbles. CRÆBABE closes the album steeped in a lonely haze of romantic and erotic nostalgia. Altogether as lovely and disquieting as the misty maze of memory can be.        

Andrew Forell

Coral Morphologic & Nick León — Projections of a Coral City (Balmat)

Miami duo Coral Morphologic (marine scientist Colin Foord and musician JD McKay) have worked together since 2007 producing projects that raise awareness of threats to marine biodiversity. Their new collaboration with producer Nick León soundtracks a multimedia installation which imagines the rising ocean reclaiming their city and enabling its colonization by resurgent coral reefs. The trio imbues this five-track suite with the tenacity and generative power of coral. An aqueous flow of somber tones dominates, but within them minute lifeforms take shape, coalesce, and spread with a quiet majesty that evokes the fragility of the reefs and inexorable process of survival and regrowth. Projections of a Coral City feels like a requiem, as much for Miami as the damage it has wrought on its environment. Poignant and hopeful it is a fitting tribute to the worlds we are in danger of losing for ever.    

Andrew Forell

Critical Defiance — The Search Won’t Fall (Unspeakable Axe)

Chilean thrash specialists Critical Defiance have delivered the metal record equivalent to a day at a theme park — absent all the waiting around in long lines. There are some long-ish tunes on The Search Won’t Fall (the title track runs close to eight minutes, and album closer “Critical Defiance” clocks in over nine and a half), but you never have to wait, for the next shift in rhythm, usually from fast to really, really fast; the next solo; the next crunching, athletically paced riff. Rollercoaster-scaled ascents and descents? Yep. Tilt-a-Whirl passages of dizzying axe-craft? Check. And the whole thing has the sort of so-bad-for-you-it’s-good sensibility of that extra-large bucket of French fries that came out of a huge bag of frozen shards of spuds, or the funnel cake you watched some tatted-up kid squeeze into a viscid pool of boiling oil of indeterminate age. It’s all hugely entertaining. This reviewer loves it when the songs get short; check out the sequence of “All the Powers” (44 seconds) to “Full Paranoia” (85 seconds) to “Margarita,” in which the record suddenly bottoms out into power-ballad mode. The move is delightfully goofy, a stolen kiss in the Tunnel of Love. It’s an open question if listening to The Search Won’t Fall has any sort of enduring significance, but when the ride is this much fun, who really cares?

Jonathan Shaw

Hässlig — Apex Predator (Sentient Ruin Laboratories)

Hässlig makes an unhealthily ugly sort of noise that the metal underground has insisted on calling “blackened punk” — a strangely provoking phrase that we seem to be stuck with. This specific iteration of the sound renders the relative kinship to punk neutral (wouldn’t “raw black metal” suffice here?), or perhaps a bit more worrisome. We should note that sole member DB also makes an especially bleak variety of depressive, sometimes doomy black metal under the name Negativa, the band logo of which does an irritating nod-and-wink in the direction of the swastika. So: A Spanish dude who records under a German-sounding band name and makes a record titled Apex Predator? Do we have to do some digging on the internet’s expanding communities of fash-hunting metal listeners? Likely we can take some consolation from Hässlig’s relationship with Sentient Ruin, a label that doesn’t fuck with NSBM nonsense. Unhappy song titles like “Psychopathic Triumph” and “Raping the Exoskeleton of Life” are likely meant to communicate equal-opportunity misanthropy: DB hates everybody. But “Slaves” and “Watch Them Hang” are a more unsavory combo, and it doesn’t help that DB claims Bone Awl and Ildjarn as influences. One wonders if associating the project with punk is a sort of semiotic gambit, hoping to temper some of the more troubling language DB uses (and maybe gets an edge-lord charge out of). It’s all becoming a bit tiresome. This reviewer really enjoys the music on Apex Predator, but by saying so, what is he validating?

Jonathan Shaw

Hour — Ease the Work (Dear Life)

Michael Cormier-O’Leary leads an ensemble of 10 through pensive instrumental reveries in this third full-length as Hour. You might know Cormier-O’Leary from the bands 2nd Grade or Friendship, or from running Dear Life Records. Others playing here have done time in various ambient, folk or mildly experimental outfits, Jason Calhoun, the synth player, in Paper Armies, Elizabeth Fuschia, a violinist in Footings and on the last Bonnie Prince Billy album, Peter Gill from 2nd Grade and drummer Peter McLaughlin from Dead Gowns among others. But the players meld in a very seamless, ego-less way, supporting brief, lovely bits of melody in guitar, strings, percussion, keyboards and, occasionally, electronic samples. The title track ambles nonchalantly, a skittery beat pacing tremulous washes of strings . “Dying of Laughter,” shades a little darker, pitched somewhere between conventional Americana and David Grubbs’ languid improvisations. None of these tracks last very long or stick very well in the limbic system, but Ease the Work is, regardless, a very pleasant way to spend three quarters of an hour.

Jennifer Kelly

Paul Lydon — Umvafin Loforð​un (Píanó)

Paul Lydon is an American who has lived in Iceland since the late 1980s. Throughout that time he’s kept up persistent but low-key recording under the names Blek Ink, Sanndreymi, Paul & Laura and most recently his own name. Over time, the music has changed from brittle, miniature songs to deliberately paced piano instrumentals. As befits a guy who lives his life within cultures, the music on Umvafin Loforð​un (translation: Wrapped Up In Promises) doesn’t slot easily into any genre. While spare, it lacks minimalism’s interest in repetition, and in its quiet way it remains to assertive to be ambient; and while his articulation brings to mind Mulatu Astatke and Alice Coltrane, there’s really no jazz or Ethiopian influence, just a similar respect for the qualities of individual notes. It does give the impression of reflection, as though he’s conversing with himself when he plays, but each piece has a lucidity which suggests that any spontaneous processes are tempered by some compositional pruning. It’s companionable stuff, at the service of those who could use some quiet company.

Bill Meyer

Mandy — Lawn Girl (Exploding in Sound)

Sugar pop melodies nestle into blistering onslaughts of fuzz guitar in this first solo outing from Melkbelly’s Miranda Winters, and maybe what’s interesting here is how a mature artist uses the basic rock and roll tools of her youth.For instance, though a new mom and well past the acne years, Winters casts a jaundiced eye on teenage love in “High School Boyfriend.”The song ends in a drum churning, guitar-busting, cheerleader shouting finale that kicks the whole experience to the curb.Sludgy “Forsythia,” by contrast, acknowledges the distance that Winters has travelled, the experiences she’s had, though that knowledge comes couched in muscular guitar blare.The one cover, of Jimmy Webb’s “I Am a Woman Now,” is acoustic and soft enough that you can hear Winters taking a sniffly breath, but also searing.“Now that I’m a woman, everything has changed,” she murmurs.The sentiment, maybe, but not so much the sound.

Jennifer Kelly

Orgöne — Chimera (3 Palms)

A chimera is a monster constructed of various parts—body of a lion, wings of an eagle, tail like a snake, etc.—and while by no means a monster, this latest LP from the West Coast soul collective Orgöne melds disparate threads into a slinky, funky groove. You can hear, for instance, futuristic fusion jazz, polyrhythmic Latin percussion, Afro-beat, way out soul positivity and psychedelic rock in these cuts, some instrumental, some with chanted vocals. An organ trembles with flickery vibrato, a bass slaps the off beats, a drum cadence saunters shambolically; it’s hot and cold at the same time. Blues-funky “Parasols,” blurts low-end and oozes chill, like Booker T & the MGs, but looser and more discursive. The groove rears up and you expect an old-style soul chorus—Charles Bradley maybe—but the work is done by the instruments, a nattering guitar and a flaring soaring keyboard. “Basilisk” twitches with wah wah and shudders with blasts of bass, not so far off from what the Budos Band does, but “Tula Muisi (Dance with Them)” adds torrid, Afro-beat style vocals. This stuff is fine on the home speakers, but likely much better in the room.

Jennifer Kelly

Polar Inertia — Environment Control (Northern Electronics)

There’s a lot of obscurity surrounding taciturn Parisian techno… artist? project? collective? Polar Inertia, but after a self-described “eight years of silence” they’ve reappeared with a full-length LP (a full hour, even) after previously only releasing EPs and live recordings. As with those EPs, there’s one track with a grim, foreboding spoken word accompaniment and if it puts one in mind of Annihilation at the South Pole, well, following it up with the brain-frying fuzz and throb of “Smothering Dreams” cashes that check immediately. The rest of the album ranges from beatless, dense noise (“Modeless Singularity”) to darkly insistent techno (“Arctic Singularity”) but all with enough of a shared vocabulary and similarly overwhelming, totalizing effect that it all lives up to the end of that opening monologue: “You will soon conceive what polar inertia is. What we do, at our scale, is environment control.”

Ian Mathers

Tomeka Reid / Isadora Edwards / Elisabeth Coudoux — Reid / Edwards / Coudoux (Relative Pitch)

This hour-long, completely improvised performance was captured in August 2021. The trio had played together a few days previously at the third iteration DARA Festival, a gathering of female string players organized by Biliana Voutchkova, so this was not a first encounter, but the trio’s interactions express a still a freshness that could come from players newly falling into a sympathetic union, or simply from the good vibes that tended to suffuse gatherings that post-vaccination, pre-Delta variant surge summer. Tomeka Reid (USA), Isadora Edwards (Chile/UK), and Elisabeth Coudoux (Germany) all play cello, and there’s sufficient consonance within the collective’s approach that time spent trying to figure out who’s who would be wasted. Rather, appreciate the spontaneous counterpoint, astute support, and uncluttered clarity of these four improvisations, which flow easily from rustling quietude to bright, bold cross-hatchings.

Bill Meyer

Sam Rubin — Bullet (Pleasure Tapes/Michi Tapes)

Two bullets, labeled “Bullet” and “Bullet 2” rip through the air on scuzzed-out guitar tone, like shoegaze but dirtier, as a rapturous chaos of drumming erupts and a noxious fog of noise envelopes high wistful vocals.You can taste the grit and sulfur in the air. Sam Rubin raises a lo-fi racket out of Kent, Ohio, letting factory effluents run through fragile melodies, corroding them, poisoning them and coaxing a poisoned beauty from the wreck. From the heart of Red America, Rubin launches “Trump,” a slow-motion, gut-shock of lumbering chords and feedback, but the best songs are about firearms.“Sniper Rifle” closes things out with Swans-ish clangor, guitar, drums, bass, all jumping on the downbeat, repeatedly, like a metal stamper gone amok in a post-apocalyptic heartland. Good stuff.

Jennifer Kelly

SAICOBAB — NRTYA (Thrill Jockey)

NRTYA by SAICOBAB

Japanese quartet SAICOBAB douses Indian raga in accelerant and showers it with sparks, creating an amorphous and fiery mix of traditional and contemporary sounds. Vocalist YoshimiO (Boredoms, OOIOO) both leads and chases the melodies proffered by sitarist Yoshida Daikiti. The two are engaged in a whirling quickstep (NRTYA is Sanskrit for “dance”) over the polyrhythmic pulsations of Motoyuki Hamamoto and Yojiro Tatekawa (Boredoms). The four musicians apply a hyperkinetic avant-rock slant to the traditionally placid raga format, emphasizing both rhythmic and melodic movement. YoshimiO’s extremely broad vocal range helps the music leap into the fourth dimension, and subtle electronic flourishes offer a glimpse into SAICOBAB’s futuristic worldview. With NRTYA, SAICOBAB challenges tradition, as the group’s infectious energy fractures the boundaries of both time and space.

Bryon Hayes

Alena Spanger — Fire Escape (Ruination)

Fire Escape by Alena Spanger

Alena Spanger’s voice is small, soft and very brave, as she ventures out of the shelter of prettiness into the wider world of dissonance and experiment. The singer made her first mark in Tiny Hazard, a Brooklyn art-music ensemble that similarly tested the boundaries of pop. Here in her debut solo album, she coos and hums and trills against a shifting background of baroque experiment; she lets us in, engagingly, into strange and wonderful places. “All that I Wanted,” for instance, pits a wild splatter-beat of tonal percussion, against a wispy pop anthem. “All I wanted is to dance with you,” she declares, in true diva pop style, against surging synths—but wait for it, the tune disintegrates into a soup of off-kilter fragments and spasmic beats. Spanger has some of Joanna Newsom’s wiry fragility, a way of infusing melody with intelligence and conflict, and she surrounds herself with Brooklyn avant-garde-ists, like Kalia Vandever on trombone in “My Feel,” Kitba’s Rebecca El-Saleh and harp and the critic Winston Cook-Wilson on keys and percussion. Ryan Weiner, who was also in Tiny Hazard, plays, engineers and mixes. But in the end, it comes down to one Alena Spanger, with the girlish voice and the voracious appetite for innovation. She can make a Satie reference sound like a sweet confessional ditty and a fire escape stand in for the soft, comforting edge of experiment.

Jennifer Kelly

Sunburned Hand of the Man — Nimbus (Three Lobed)

Nimbus by Sunburned Hand of the Man

Nimbus is Sunburned Hand of the Man at peak fidelity.Imagine Ken Kesey’s Furthur bus tuned up, cleaned up and given a fresh coat of DayGlo.The album also spans multiple iterations of the ever-mutating Sunburned line-up.Original member Phil Franklin returns after a multi-year hiatus, bringing his Franklin’s Mint songcraft with him; long-time associate Matt Krefting appears, offering a sinister spoken word monologue as the band writhes beneath.Poet and new Sunburned member Peter Gizzi unravels his verses over a pair of synth-heavy tunes: both the loping title track and the intense “Consider the Wound” benefit from his wry deadpan.The rest of the tracks are fare for those yearning for the Sunburned of yore, full of lysergic introspection and hedonistic grooves.Even at their cleanest, Sunburned Hand of the Man are weird and wild to the very core.     

Bryon Hayes

[compacflt]

no like i respect the fact that he’s so dedicated to his own unhappiness that he becomes the worlds most unreliable narrator, however, if per se i had him hooked up to a polygraph machine on an electric chair and asked him to recount every detail from venice he could possibly remember…….what do you think he’d say

Diary of RDML Tom Kazansky 1 February 2002:

VENICE, ITA: 0900: Scheduled phone call with Dept. of Commerce Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Deputy Director later today to discuss Foreign Military Sales program financing for the possible U.S.-Swiss F/A-18C sale.

0945: Spoke to Swiss US Export-Import Bank representative over the phone. All systems go.

1030: Reviewed Boeing-McDonnell F/A-18C fact sheet & identified points of Swiss Air Force strategic interest to push at tomorrow’s trilateral summit. Of particular note: high maneuverability at speed & long F-18 history of maintenance intercapabilities, suggesting future SWZ-US A/D industry partnership.

1215: Lunch with ITA Navy Adm. Lambretti & SWZ Asst. Deputy Minister of Defense Leipheimer. Discussed: coalition movements in Afghanistan, ongoing 9/11 relief & recovery efforts and ways allies can continue to help, SWZ tax credit for American investment.

1430: Spoke to US DOD Undersecretary for Policy (Acquisition) re: recent clarification of DOD acquisition policy. Received invitation to attend next year’s IARPA conference. Will consult with OJCS J4 leadership.

1500: Spoke with USN CDR Ron Kerner. Wished me a happy birthday.

1600: Preparatory staff meeting ahead of tomorrow’s summit.

1630: Spoke with Dept. of Commerce DSCA Deputy Director re: FMS financing. Inconclusive.

1900: Dinner with USN CDR Pete Mitchell who arrived in town today to speak at Thursday’s moderated discussion of the F/A-18C platform. He is staying till Saturday. Discussed future of Navy Fighter Weapons School & details of his presentation to be given Thurs. Stressed his adversary F-16 angle & asked him to consider putting together a future talk about F-18 evasive tactics and the concept of a joint multilateral US aerial combat training program (like NFWS) to bolster our allies’ expertise on US platforms. He did not like this idea. Scheduled follow-up dinners tomorrow (Wed 2 Feb) and Thurs (3 Feb) to continue our discussion. Will have lunch with him tomorrow as well. Due to an unfortunate scheduling error tonight’s dinner will be billed as dinner with SWZ Asst. Deputy Minister of Defense Leipheimer. DOD will likely compensate anyway.

(End)

[roxy206]

Aliens — 11/01/2023

This is such a gorgeous look on Katya

Honestly Katya’s bit was better than some of those QVC acting challenge performances on CDR this week

Go Orca, go Orca It’s your birthday

The arm graze though

Bzzt bzzt

Oh that was creepy what I just did to your arm

Arrival came out & everyone said it was the next Contact — lmao

Is that a good Bill Clinton? No

I wanna get abducted, but I wanna be treated nice

The way I legit had to stop & think because I was like why on earth was I just listening to someone talk about abductions?? It was the new Dan & Phil Sims videos lol

I know a lot about dildos now — KATYA’S FACE

Imagination was our activity

Bzzt bzzt

That is so fierce! Val!

Bzzt bzzt

We got a long list for you — I love everything about this idea

Bzzt bzzt

I fucking love this Contact subject revival 😂

You’ve never heard that? I’d like to go back to not hearing it

Bzzt bzzt

This is giving big I’d find you in any realm / universe energy

Why would we be doing this so long if we didn’t like each other?

Bzzt bzzt

Bzzt bzzt

The wrist grab

[bubblesandgutz]

Every Record I Own - Day 792: Magma Üdü Wüdü

Back in 2009, my old band These Arms Are Snakes embarked on what would wind up being our final tour. The first leg of the trip consisted of five shows across Western Canada with METZ before dropping down into the states to do a loop around the US. It was our first time playing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. I was particularly excited for Winnipeg (a sentence rarely uttered by anyone, I imagine) just because it seemed like such a remote outpost deep in the prairies of North America.

The Winnipeg show was at a venue called the Royal Albert Arms Hotel. I knew nothing of the venue beforehand, but the moment we rolled up, I knew we were someplace with a deep history. The venue was in the bar of an old hotel in the city center, on some street that looped off the main grid. I would describe the vibe of the block as "gritty." The bar was old and musty but the stage and PA looked decent. A bunch of old haggard drunks were ponied up at the bar. We started loading in, and as if on cue, the bar turned off whatever nondescript FM radio rock that had been playing and switched to some strange, dissonant, prog rock.

The drunks quickly finished their drinks and cleared out. The prog rock song continued on as we began setting up our gear. There were King Crimson-like guitar leads. Goblin-like synthesizers. Doomy riffs that sounded like something Neurosis would have seized upon when they evolved out of their crust punk years. Strange vocals that sounded like Mike Patton buried somewhere deep in the mix. And it just kept going and going. The tempo built into a frenzy. The rhythm section ramped up like Bill Buford and Chris Squire on a combination of bad acid and cheap speed.

I finally had to hop off stage and run up to the promoter to ask what was playing. He smiled and told me it was "De Futura" by the French "Zeuhl" band Magma. Apparently, he played it on the jukebox whenever bands loaded in because it chased all the day-drunks away. He burned me a CDR copy of the full album, Üdü Wüdü, and handed it off to me at the end of the night.

The show remains a highlight in our time as a band. Local noise rockers KEN Mode opened the show. I don't really remember if the turnout was great or if we played particularly well, but I remember the whole evening being charged with a dangerous energy. At the same time, everyone at the show was so warm and welcoming.

After the show, the promoter offered to take us on a tour of the hotel, which had once been a popular spot for traveling businessmen before the Great Depression. But after the stock market crash, the hotel became a by-the-hour haven for prostitutes and drug addicts. The hotel hit its nadir with a grizzly murder case involving a resident beheading, castrating, and dismembering a male lover during a drunken blackout. Much like the Dahmer apartment building, the crime was so gruesome that the building was faced with the possibility of being condemned, until a philanthropist bought the hotel and sought to preserve it as a historical landmark. It had to remain a functional hotel though, so the nightly rates were raised to an absurd cost, ensuring that the rooms would remain vacant.

The promoter took us up to room 309---the location of the murder. The room was in total disrepair. The tub where the pieces of the corpse had been stacked was stained with the rusty brownish-red color of dried blood. Later that night, as the bands drove away from the venue, a man with a fresh stab wound jumped in front of METZ's van and begged for a ride. The whole evening was draped with the aura of violence.

But we escaped Winnipeg unscathed, and Üdü Wüdü became the soundtrack for the remainder of the tour. Even now when I listen to it fourteen years later, it has this duality of delirious excitement and sinister intention.

It sounds like cheating death and reveling in madness.

[wumblr]

paying my bills, by which i mean buying cds... i've exhausted the inventory of one record store's used rack. there's another one near my new apartment that i haven't been to yet. but i know none of them are going to have the cds i want, some of which (1.8.7. quality rolls) i'm going to have to actually buy off discogs. hilariously i do have an account there but i've never done anything to import my collection (thousand-line spreadsheet), i've only used it to contribute new album pages. this is also why discogs says leikeli47 acrylic was pressed to cd when it WASN'T she's never released ANY cds as far as i can tell. but this did fool me for a minute when i went looking until i realized the problem is that i wrote the page. i could have sworn she had some listed on her website once but i only bought the hat instead and now it's down and not on archive.org. and while we're on the subject why did y'all let her flop i want an explanation for real. man. she was my most streamed artist for a couple years running so i guess i've paid my bills there but like what if i wanted to listen to it in the car. yes i still have a cdr drive on my linux system but it's not the same. because my handwriting is bad. what am i supposed to do, buy a cd label printer? that's absurd

[usafphantom2]

VA-25's Toilet Bomb - Quả bom bồn cầu by manhhai Via Flickr: The U.S. Navy Douglas A-1H Skyraider (NE-572, BuNo 135297) "Paper Tiger II" (which was a temporary name used for just this one flight) of Attack Squadron VA-25 Fist of the Fleet being readied for a mission over the Mekong Delta in October 1965. VA-25 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41). To commemorate the mark of having delivered 6,000,000 lb. (2721.56 to) of ordnance NE-572 was equipped with a special "bomb", a toilet! The toilet was a damaged toilet, which was going to be thrown overboard. One of the plane captains of VA-25 saved it and the ordnance crew made a rack, tailfins and nose fuse for it. VA-25 personnel maintained a position to block the view of the Air Boss and the ship's Captain while the aircraft was taxiing forward to the catapult. The plane was piloted by X/O Cdr. Clarence W. Stoddard, wingman was LCdr. Robin Bacon (in NE-577, BuNo 139768, with Lt. Clint Johnson shot down a MiG-17 on 20 June 1965). When the "sani-flush-bomb" was dropped, it almost hit LCdr. Bacon's plane due to its light weight. Cdr. Bill Stoddard (now C/O) was shot down and killed by SAMs over North Vietnam on 14 September 1966, flying with VA-25 from the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43).

[covalensedigitalsblog]

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Kitchen Remodeling Weatherford

Transform Your Home: The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Remodeling in Weatherford

Introduction: Your kitchen is more than just a space where you prepare meals; it's the heart of your home, where memories are made, and conversations flow freely. However, over time, kitchens can become outdated, inefficient, and lackluster. This is where kitchen remodeling in Weatherford comes into play. With the expertise of CDR Construction & Roofing, you can transform your kitchen into a space that not only meets your practical needs but also enhances the overall value and appeal of your home.

Why Remodel Your Kitchen? There are countless reasons why you might consider remodeling your kitchen. Perhaps your current layout doesn't align with your lifestyle, or maybe you're tired of outdated appliances and worn-out cabinets. Whatever the case may be, investing in a kitchen remodel can bring a myriad of benefits.

Firstly, a remodeled kitchen can significantly improve functionality and efficiency. By reconfiguring the layout and optimizing storage solutions, you can make better use of the available space and streamline your cooking process. This not only saves you time and effort but also enhances your overall cooking experience.

Moreover, a modernized kitchen can add immense value to your home. According to Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report, kitchen remodels consistently yield a high return on investment, making it a worthwhile endeavor for homeowners looking to increase their property's resale value. By incorporating high-quality materials, stylish finishes, and energy-efficient appliances, you can attract potential buyers and command a higher asking price when it's time to sell.

Benefits of Kitchen Remodeling:

Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal: A kitchen remodel allows you to unleash your creativity and design a space that reflects your personal style. Whether you prefer a sleek, contemporary look or a cozy, rustic vibe, the possibilities are endless. From selecting premium countertops and cabinetry to choosing the perfect lighting fixtures and backsplash, every detail contributes to the overall aesthetic appeal of your kitchen.

Improved Functionality: Say goodbye to cramped quarters and awkward layouts. With a kitchen remodel, you can optimize the layout to better suit your needs and lifestyle. Whether you dream of a spacious island for meal prep and casual dining or a dedicated pantry for storage and organization, the design options are tailored to your specific requirements.

Increased Energy Efficiency: In today's environmentally conscious world, energy-efficient appliances and fixtures are more important than ever. A kitchen remodel gives you the opportunity to upgrade to energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, and eco-friendly materials, reducing your carbon footprint and lowering your utility bills in the process.

Enhanced Safety and Comfort: An outdated kitchen can pose safety hazards and compromise your comfort. From faulty wiring and outdated plumbing to slippery floors and inadequate lighting, these issues can jeopardize the well-being of you and your family. A kitchen remodel allows you to address these concerns and create a safer, more comfortable environment for everyday living.

Why Choose CDR Construction & Roofing? When it comes to kitchen remodeling in Weatherford, CDR Construction & Roofing stands out as a trusted leader in the industry. With years of experience and a proven track record of excellence, we are committed to delivering superior craftsmanship and exceptional customer service.

Our team of skilled professionals will work closely with you from concept to completion, ensuring that your vision for your dream kitchen becomes a reality. We prioritize quality and attention to detail in every aspect of the remodel, from the initial design phase to the final installation.

Conclusion: In conclusion, kitchen remodeling in Weatherford offers a wealth of benefits for homeowners seeking to enhance the beauty, functionality, and value of their homes. Whether you're looking to update your kitchen's outdated features, increase energy efficiency, or simply create a space that better suits your lifestyle, a remodel is a worthwhile investment. For unparalleled expertise and unparalleled results, trust CDR Construction & Roofing to bring your kitchen remodel to life. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards transforming your home into the haven you've always dreamed of.

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Kitchen Remodeling Arlington

Transform Your Home: The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Remodeling in Arlington

Your kitchen: it's the heart of your home, the place where meals are prepared, memories are made, and conversations flow. But what if your kitchen is feeling outdated, cramped, or simply not meeting your needs anymore? That's where kitchen remodeling in Arlington comes in. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore why you might need or want a kitchen remodel, the myriad benefits it can bring, and why choosing the right remodeling company, like CDR Construction & Roofing, is essential for achieving your dream kitchen.

Why Kitchen Remodeling?

Your kitchen isn't just a functional space; it's a reflection of your lifestyle and taste. There are numerous reasons why you might consider a kitchen remodel:

Outdated Design: Trends come and go, and what was fashionable a decade ago may now feel tired and out of touch. A kitchen remodel can bring your space up to date with modern design trends, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functionality.

Lack of Space: Do you find yourself constantly bumping into family members while cooking, or struggling to find storage space for your growing collection of kitchen gadgets? A remodel can reconfigure your kitchen layout to maximize space and efficiency, whether through expanding the footprint, adding storage solutions, or optimizing the layout.

Improved Functionality: Perhaps your kitchen was designed for a different era, with a layout that doesn't suit your current lifestyle. Whether you're an avid cook who needs more counter space, a busy parent craving a dedicated homework area, or an entertainer longing for an open-plan layout conducive to socializing, a remodel can tailor your kitchen to your specific needs.

Energy Efficiency: Older kitchens are often energy vampires, with outdated appliances, poor insulation, and inefficient lighting driving up utility bills. A remodel can incorporate energy-efficient upgrades, such as LED lighting, Energy Star-rated appliances, and eco-friendly materials, helping you save money while reducing your carbon footprint.

Increased Home Value: The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in terms of resale value. A well-executed remodel can significantly boost your home's marketability and resale value, providing an excellent return on investment should you decide to sell in the future.

The Benefits of Kitchen Remodeling

The benefits of a kitchen remodel extend far beyond aesthetics. Here are just a few reasons why investing in a kitchen makeover is one of the best decisions you can make for your home:

Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal: A fresh, modern kitchen can breathe new life into your home, becoming the focal point for both residents and guests alike. Whether you prefer sleek minimalism, rustic charm, or timeless elegance, a remodel allows you to tailor your kitchen to your personal style preferences.

Improved Functionality: Say goodbye to cramped quarters and inefficient layouts. A well-designed kitchen remodel can streamline your workflow, making meal preparation and cleanup a breeze. From ergonomic work zones to innovative storage solutions, every aspect of your kitchen can be optimized for maximum efficiency.

Increased Comfort and Safety: An outdated kitchen can be more than just an eyesore; it can also pose safety hazards and discomfort. From uneven flooring to inadequate lighting to outdated appliances, a remodel can address these issues, creating a safer, more comfortable environment for you and your family.

Better Home Organization: Tired of digging through cluttered cabinets and overflowing drawers? A remodel can incorporate smart storage solutions, such as pull-out pantry shelves, custom cabinetry, and built-in organizers, to keep your kitchen neat, tidy, and organized.

Enhanced Resale Value: According to the National Association of Realtors, kitchen remodels consistently rank among the top home improvement projects with the highest return on investment. By updating your kitchen, you not only increase your home's resale value but also attract more potential buyers when the time comes to sell.

Why Choose CDR Construction & Roofing?

When it comes to kitchen remodeling in Arlington, choosing the right contractor is paramount. That's where CDR Construction & Roofing comes in. With years of experience, a commitment to quality craftsmanship, and a reputation for excellence, CDR Construction & Roofing is your trusted partner for bringing your kitchen vision to life.

Here are just a few reasons why you should choose CDR Construction & Roofing for your kitchen remodel:

Expertise: Our team of skilled designers and craftsmen has the expertise and experience to handle every aspect of your kitchen remodel, from initial concept to final installation. We pride ourselves on delivering superior results that exceed our clients' expectations.

Customization: At CDR Construction & Roofing, we understand that every homeowner has unique tastes, preferences, and needs. That's why we offer fully customizable design solutions tailored to your specific requirements, whether you're looking for a sleek contemporary kitchen or a cozy farmhouse-inspired space.

Quality Materials: We believe that quality starts with the materials we use. That's why we source only the finest materials from trusted suppliers, ensuring that your kitchen remodel is built to last and withstand the test of time.

Attention to Detail: From the smallest finishing touches to the overall design concept, we pay meticulous attention to every detail of your kitchen remodel, ensuring a seamless and cohesive result that reflects your vision and exceeds your expectations.

Customer Satisfaction: At CDR Construction & Roofing, customer satisfaction is our top priority. We work closely with you throughout every step of the remodeling process, listening to your input, addressing your concerns, and ensuring that your vision for your dream kitchen becomes a reality.

Your kitchen is more than just a place to cook; it's the heart of your home, a space where memories are made and shared. If your kitchen is in need of a makeover, kitchen remodeling in Arlington offers the perfect solution. From enhancing aesthetic appeal to improving functionality to increasing resale value, the benefits of a kitchen remodel are endless. When it comes to bringing your kitchen vision to life, trust the experts at CDR Construction & Roofing. With our expertise, dedication to quality craftsmanship, and commitment to customer satisfaction, we'll transform your outdated kitchen into a stunning space you'll love for years to come. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards your dream kitchen.

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Residential Roofing Services

Enhancing Home Security and Aesthetics: The Role of Residential Roofing Services

The roof of your home is more than just a protective shield against the elements; it's a critical component of your property's overall structure, security, and aesthetics. Whether you're building a new home or renovating an existing one, investing in quality residential roofing services is paramount. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the importance of residential roofing services, common roofing issues, and why choosing a reputable company like CDR Construction & Roofing is crucial for your peace of mind.

Protection from the Elements: Your home's roof serves as the first line of defense against harsh weather conditions such as rain, snow, hail, and wind. A well-maintained roof with high-quality materials can prevent water leaks, mold growth, and structural damage, ensuring the safety and longevity of your property.

Enhanced Energy Efficiency: Proper insulation and ventilation are key components of an energy-efficient home. A professionally installed roof can help regulate indoor temperature, reducing the need for excessive heating or cooling and ultimately lowering your energy bills.

Curb Appeal and Property Value: The roof is a prominent feature of your home's exterior, significantly impacting its curb appeal and overall value. Whether you prefer traditional asphalt shingles, sleek metal roofing, or eco-friendly options like solar tiles, CDR Construction & Roofing offers a wide range of materials and styles to suit your preferences and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your property.

Expert Installation and Repairs: From minor repairs to complete roof replacements, entrusting the job to experienced professionals is non-negotiable. CDR Construction & Roofing employs skilled craftsmen who adhere to industry best practices and safety standards, ensuring that your roof is installed or repaired with precision and attention to detail.

Long-Term Cost Savings: While the initial investment in residential roofing services may seem significant, it's a wise long-term investment that can save you money down the line. By addressing issues promptly and using durable materials, you can minimize the need for costly repairs and prolong the lifespan of your roof, ultimately saving you thousands of dollars in maintenance expenses.

Peace of Mind and Warranty Protection: Choosing a reputable roofing company like CDR Construction & Roofing comes with the added assurance of warranty protection. Our comprehensive warranties cover both materials and workmanship, giving you peace of mind knowing that your investment is safeguarded against unforeseen defects or issues.

In conclusion, your home's roof is a crucial aspect of its structural integrity, energy efficiency, and visual appeal. Whether you're in need of installation, repairs, or maintenance services, it's essential to partner with a trusted and experienced roofing company like CDR Construction & Roofing. With our commitment to quality craftsmanship, superior materials, and customer satisfaction, we ensure that your residential roofing needs are met with excellence. Don't compromise on the safety and longevity of your home – contact us today and experience the difference firsthand!

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