Luna Kafé e-zine  Luna Kafé record review
flag Norway - Full Moon 201 - 01/27/13

It's a label showdown!
Metronomicon Audio vs. Jester Records - Round 44
coverpic coverpic Pilemil: If You Make A Lot Of Ceramics; Ceramics Will Make A Lot Of You As Well
  (2009 Metronomicon Audio: MEAU.0044.CD)
vs.
When: Homage Series Vol. 1: Sun Ra
  (2009 Jester Records TRICK-044)

Welcome to round 44 in the label showdown series between Metronomicon Audio and Jester Records! Since we've more or less totally missed out on reviewing the output of these two great labels, we are going through their entire catalogues, matching the releases from each label consecutively against each other. Humorously counting goalsIt's a GOAL! and giving out yellowOooops, a yellow card! and redOooops, a red card! cards, soccer style - but first of all reviewing the music. For more introductory information on this label match, see round 1.

Match preview
If You Make A Lot Of Ceramics; Ceramics Will Make A Lot Of You As Well is presented in a double fold-out digipack with a poster and insert.
coverpic coverpic coverpic coverpic

The When release comes in a fold-out digipack.
coverpic coverpic coverpic

The match

It is a little unclear to me if Pilemil is to be considered a band name or if this is a solo album (from Phil Emile?). Anyway, Pilemil is listed as the person behind all the songwriting on this album with the lenghty title If You Make A Lot Of Ceramics; Ceramics Will Make A Lot Of You As Well, as well as singing and playing a lot of the instruments. In addition, Dag Ivan Homlong plays the bass, Truls Solerød Johnsen guitar, Nikolai Høgset and Armageddon drums, and Dag Stiberg joins on saxophone on the opening track. "Woke Up Inside A Drum" gives the album a rather energetic start with its synthetic new wave/pop mix, with a melody and vocals vaguely hinting to Talking Heads, and a fine wild instrumental break. "I'm Glad I'm Sad" is slightly calmer, a grey-happy pop song with its emotions in limbo, neither glad nor sad, but the vocals are great on this one, making it a highlightIt's a GOAL! . In fact, there is a feeling of disinterest, emotional greyness or even apathy that goes through the album as a whole, which of course is as valid an artistic expression as any, but at the same time it feels like the melodies would like to break out and be happier, or sadder, out of the detached neutral zone. "Orly Cowboy" for instance, steps into progressive song structures, quirky and asymmetric, almost catchy, but probably not, while "Overwith Overwith" uses chord progressions belonging in psychedelic pop, but staying emotionally, as well as lyrically, rather bleakOooops, a yellow card!. "Late Out" is probably the happiest song here, nicely strolling along in a semi-psychedelic mannerIt's a GOAL! , while "No-Pil" ends the album with its snappy and sort of up-beat new wave pop.

To sum it up: Musically this is not a bad album, a varied collection of whimsical and sligtly eccentric pop songs. Unfortunately the picture gets a bit cloudy by the lyrics and the delivery of them, making the overall experience of the album seem blander than it perhaps should be perceived.

I'll have to admit that there are no records of jazz wizzard Sun Ra in my collection. His name has been dropped by many, including rock artists, for decades so he's been on my check-out shortlist a long time. I guess his extremely large catalogue of releases has made this seem like an inpenetrable task. Or perhaps I've just been too lazy. I'm not going to try to sum up Sun Ra's artistic excursions and various musical periods here, just say that I assume that his best experimental work should be of interest to anybody into adventurous music. Many album titles bearing his name have psychedelic sounding titles, but I guess avant-garde or free jazz, or plain wacky would be a better choices if you want to stick a label to him, though the link to the psychedelic experience is certainly there. Also worth noting, especially for us Norwegians, is the fact that the Angels and Demons at Play album of 1960 inspired our great Motorpsycho to name their 1997 album Angels and Daemons at Play. They have covered "Space Is The Place" live, and have also supposedly claimed that Sun Ra is their spiritual guide on planet earth. Well, you'll find plenty of information on Sun Ra out there!

Is the world ready for a Sun Ra cut-up sound collage tribute album? I'm not sure I am, but When isIt's a GOAL! , so here we go. This time When means Lars Pedersen and guitarist Nils Arne Øergård (A Full Moon In March and other constellations, including When's The Lobster Boys). The album is divided into tracks all having subtitles from a selection of Sun Ra songs. Obviously I am not familiar with any of the originals, but I guess a fair share of the soundbits are from original Sun Ra recordings, interviews, etc. which are processed, looped and added to. I guess you could say that this album is a genre-relative to the more experimental side of acid jazz. I feared more frantic free jazz chaos, but more than occasionally this drifts towards downtempo jazzy chill electronicaIt's a GOAL! , which I like. But in parts, the micro repetetiveness also grows tiresome, distracting, and life is sucked out of the musicOooops, a yellow card!. Like extracting lines from a great poem and repeating them over and over, what do you want to achieve? Imagine somebody doing the same to say, Hendrix. Would you, even as a fan, enjoy listening to his guitar solos and vocal bits being looped and mashed up with other bits in this way? I'm not sure I would. I suspect at least some Sun Ra fans would feel the same way about this album, although aficionados may of course take delight in recognizing all the samples' origins. For me, not being familiar with Sun Ra's music, I can't say this album made me that much more curious about it than I already was. What it did do though, was remind me about my intention to check out some of his albums, so kudosIt's a GOAL! to When for adding another road sign pointing in his direction.

To sum it up: Go check out Sun Ra!

Match result: Metronomicon Audio 2 (It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!) - Jester Records 3 (It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!)

THE LABEL TABLE
# Metronomicon Audio (MA) Jester Records (JR) MA JR
01 C.O.U.: Darklow Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! Ulver: Themes From William ... Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! 1 4
02 C.O.U.: Sellout EP It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card! Esperanza: Esperanza Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card! 2 1
03 C.O.U.: Bestboy Electric Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! Arcturus: Disguised Masters It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card! 1 1
04 Cyrano & C.O.U.: s/t It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! When: Psychedelic Wunderbaum Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card! 2 1
05 Täppas Strepens: Beans, Bacon ... Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! Bogus Blimp: Men-Mic It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! 2 4
06 Center of the Universe: Curious .. It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! Ulver: Metamorphosis It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 2 1
07 C.O.U.: Taking a Nap With It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL! Ulver: Perdition City It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! 2 4
08 Täppas Strepens: The Future ... Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! Bogus Blimp: cords. wires Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 3 3
09 Magnus Moriarty™: Drive Fast ... It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! When: WriterCakeBox It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 3 5
10 Various Artists: 1.0 It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL! Star of Ash: iter.viator. It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card! 3 1
11 Now We've Got Members: Le Jardin It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! Virus: Carheart It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 3 3
12 C.O.U.: Promotional Copy Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! Ulver: Silences Teaches You ... It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 3 1
13 Magnus Moriarty™: ...And The Hippos... It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! Origami Galaktika: Stjernevandring It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! 3 4
14 Cyrano: You Sensualize My Soul Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! When: The Lobster Boys It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card! 3 3
15 Koppen: Truckdriving Songs Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card! Rotoscope: Great Curves Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 1 1
16 Täppas Strepens: Dance, Dance ... It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card! Ulver: Silencing the Singing It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a yellow card! 3 1
17 C.O.U.: Staying Up All Night ... Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a red card! Kåre João: Captain Trips It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 1 1
18 Magnus Moriarty™: U R On A Radar It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! Head Control System: Murder Nature It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 2 2
19 Now We've Got Members: Tiny ... It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! Single Unit: Family of Forces It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! 5 3
20 Various Artists: 2.0 Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card! [unreleased] 1 0
21 Koppen: My Fashion Statement ... Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a red card! Kåre João: Sideman It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 1 4
22 Täppas Strepens: The Great American ... It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL! Upland: Upland It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 4 1
23 Magnus Moriarty™: Sky-Fi Beatitude It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card! When: Sunshine Superhead It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! 3 1
24 Cyrano: I Cannot Smell It It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a red card! Ulver: Lyckantropen Theme It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! 3 2
25 Hanny: Moderning Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! Ulver: 1993-2003: 1st Decade ... Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card! 1 1
26 C.O.U.: Bellydance Nation It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card! Ulver: A Quick Fix Of Melancholy EP Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! 2 2
27 Meta Forever: Astroid Antics It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card! 1349 Rykkinn: Brown Ring of Fury It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card! 4 2
28 Cyranq & Phil Emile: [sic] It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card! Kåre João: Sleepers It's a GOAL! 2 1
29 Ergo: Reclaim The Mall! It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! Ulver: Teachings In Silence It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! 2 2
30 Various Artists: 3.0 Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a yellow card! Ulver: Svidd Neger Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! 1 2
31 C.O.U./Magnus Moriarty™: Did U ... Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a yellow card! Origami Galaktika: Horisont It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card! 1 1
32 Koppen: Let's Eat Crazyroom ... It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card! When: Pearl-Harvest It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! 1 3
33 Now We've Got Members: Then Is ... It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! Ulver: Blood Inside It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card! 6 3
34 Truls & The Trees: AilanthusOooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a red card! Kåre João: 2 It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! 3 3
35 Lower Than Lo-Fi: No Need For Ladders Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! Bogus Blimp: RdtrIt's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! 3 4
36 C.O.U.: SimulacraIt's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card! When: WheneverOooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a yellow card! 1 1
37 Hanny: SceneityIt's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! Upland: ObliteratedOooops, a red card!It's a GOAL! 3 1
38 Magnus Moriarty™: Perhaps Interior ...It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card! Anthony Curtis: Book Of The KeyOooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card! 2 2
39 Ergo: MountaineeringIt's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! Espen Jørgensen: On the Great ...It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! 3 5
40 Various Artists: 4.0It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! When: Trippy HappyIt's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! 3 3
41 Center of the Universe: ApokryfaIt's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! Ulver: Shadows Of The SunIt's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card! 4 3
42 Center of the Universe: Remixes/RemixedIt's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!Oooops, a red card!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! When: You Are SilentIt's a GOAL!Oooops, a red card! 3 1
43 Koppen: Strømmen Gamelan CityIt's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! Upland: Monochrome AdventuresIt's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!It's a GOAL! 3 3
44 Pilemil: If You Make ...It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! When: Sun RaIt's a GOAL!It's a GOAL!Oooops, a yellow card!It's a GOAL! 2 3
Total 107 98

Next match
Next head-to-head meeting is the Now We've Got Members release Repulsive Force from Metronomicon Audio which is up against the Nidingr release Wolf-Father from Jester Records.

Copyright © 2013 Knut Tore Breivik e-mail address

You may also want to check out our When articles/reviews: Misshimmisshimmisshim, Pearl-Harvest, Psychedelic Wunderbaum, Sunshine Superhead, The Lobster Boys, Trippy Happy, Whenever, Whensday, WriterCakeBox - The Unblessed World Of When (1983-1998), You Are Silent.
© 2013 FuzzLogic