MC Yallah & Debmaster
Alex Paxton
Gina Birch
Pharaoh Overlord
I’m Being Good
DJ DIE SOON
Ellen Arkbro
PSYCHE NAH
Gnäw
Rainy Miller
Nina Garcia
Rip Van Winkle
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MC Yallah & Debmaster Deception
‘There are a few times through Gaudencia, Ugandan hip-hop artist Yallah Gaudencia Mbidde’s latest fiery collaboration with French producer Debmaster, where you might be hit with a thought: “Who else would sound as good rapping over this?” These are layered, unruly beats, caked in more dirt and detritus than anything we heard on their last project, 2023’s Yallah Beibe. There are strong grooves laced into them, but the rhythms are often skewed or slippery. MC Yallah speeds through them, finding new pockets to thrive in. Her delivery is addictive, at once smooth and acrobatic. It sounds as though she’s making space for herself on beats other rappers could well disappear within.’ — Skye Butchard
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Alex Paxton Kite
‘GENRE-DEFYING…electronic music; hints of contemporary classical music and moments that sound like a film score…inventive mind…unlike anything I’ve heard before…like being in a musical amusement park with thrills, twists and turns that are guaranteed to delight.’ — Cultural Attache
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Gina Birch Doom Monger
‘An artist, filmmaker, and founding member of the game-changing late 1970s collective The Raincoats, Birch is an artist who is not afraid of tackling difficult subjects. She goes straight to the point with the first track, ‘I Thought I’d Live Forever’. While the lyrics address solemn matters such as ageing and mortality, the comically squeaky backing vocals and a deliberate pastiche of Portishead’s ‘Sour Times’ deliver the message instantly: Birch doesn’t give a damn. Spectral dub with sci-fi effects a-la King Tubby on ‘Doom Monger’ is a sedative antidote to the narrative about “crazy monsters screwing us more each day”, hinting at the madness of contemporary politics and those who define its course.’ — Irina Shtreis
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Pharaoh Overlord Louhi
‘In many ways, Pharaoh Overlord are themselves something of a time machine, as the band concur. “One could think of this album as our homage to the Finnish traditional folk music and musicians, with instruments like Hurdy Gurdy or Esseharpa. By combining the traditional with modern and experimental, we are trying to travel in time, to reach out to some ancient core or find a starting point of something unknown, genuine and real.”’ — Rocket Recordings
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I’m Being Good A Greener Shade Of Teal
‘Like forebears Polvo and contemporaries Part Chimp, I’m Being Good’s world is one where curious riffs seemingly leading nowhere will suddenly explode into violence, but Shapeshitter’s more menacing moments are also its most restrained. Opener ‘Parasol’, for example, plucks spindly lines strung across a sinewy, skeletal rhythm-section negotiating challenging terrain, Andrew Clare sounding like a maudlin Damon Albarn as he ruminates about something at a volume drowned out by the tolling guitar chime. An electrifying tension pervades: is a sudden explosion of noise waiting just around the corner? I won’t spoiler it for you, though if this kind of anxiety is your bag, then boy do I’m Being Good got the Sado for your Masochism.’ — Stevie Chick
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DJ DIE SOON SAQ4IME
‘DJ DIE SOON is the apocalyptic alter-ego Daisuke Imamura, whose performances of masked malice have been a fixture in the Berlin underground for the past decade. His latest record My Brothel The Wind takes inspiration from Sun Ra at his most grotesque, conjuring a distorted phantasmagoria with an eclectic crew of compatriots like Rully Shabara, Sara Persico, and longtime collaborator Kiki Hitomi.’ — Drowned By Locals
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Ellen Arkbro Chordalities
‘Ellen Arkbro is a composer, musician, and sound artist working with precision-tuned intervallic harmony and installation. She focuses on the qualities of harmonic sound that reveal listening as an active process of creative participation, inviting the listener to gradually transform into the sound itself.’ — Blank Forms
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PSYCHE NAH BARWARS
‘PSYCHE NAH is a project by NAPPYNAPPA and psychedelic ensemble. which, at the time of this release, has produced four self-titled EPs.’ — Live at the Clinic
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Gnäw Karavan e Rahzanan
‘Gnäw is the duo of Finnish modular synth explorer Simo Hakalisto and Iranian multi-instrumentalist Arash Ghasemi. Their first encounter in Milan planted the seed, but it took root in the Czech underground, where their warped take on Persian and Finnish folk instruments—setar, santoor, kantele—collides with throbbing bass, film-noir guitar lines, and Hakalisto’s deep synth arsenal. The result? A drone-fueled, borderless sound that reshapes traditional music into something unrecognizable yet eerily familiar.’ — Psychedelic Baby Magazine
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Rainy Miller Vengeance
‘Rainy Miller is a producer and artist known for crafting emotionally charged, atmospheric music that feels both intimate and expansive. Collaborating with vocalist Graham Sayle from High Vis and Christ Bryan, along with composers Alex Currie, August Rosenbaum, Christopher Bryan, J Ludwig III, and More Eaze in the past, his sound blends raw vulnerability with textured sonic landscapes, creating work that feels deeply rooted in personal reflection.’ — Sleek
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Nina Garcia Live at Wharf Chambers Leeds
‘Parisian Guitarist Nina Garcia experiments with improvised noise music. A simple set up of guitar, one pedal and an amp.’ — Mint
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Rip Van Winkle Six Black Horses
‘This is the latest curveball from Robert Pollard’s ever-expanding universe, this time under the banner of Rip Van Winkle. Pollard leans harder into indie art territory here, with scratchy textures, jagged guitar lines, and smaller arrangements. The album thrives on spontaneity and grit—each track sounds like it was captured mid-thought, but with a clear melodic backbone. The instrumentation is rough-edged but never lazy, with snappy transitions and that unmistakable Pollard vocal swagger holding it all together.’ — The Fire Note
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p.s. Hey. ** scunnard, Hey. I’ve been functioning properly, thank you. Sure, send it over. I’m hungry, and we’ll figure it out, yes. Anticipatory. ** _Black_Acrylic, Hi, Ben. I think the vast majority of Ron Mueck’s work is quite empty and just a cheap trick, but once in a while something of his seems almost accidentally more than that. Kawakubo does Play-Doh … the mind boggles. ** Isabelle, Hi! Welcome! Thank you for tip on Käthe Kollwitz’s drawings. I’ll go see what I can find. Have a swell day. ** Connie, Hi, C. I found HAA’s work on pixiv. There’s quite a bit of their work there. I do know that gif, yes. I think I even posted it here in some context or other at some point. People’s vibes can be so fragile, but I’m weird. Like you, I guess. I don’t know how long we’ll be in Chicago. We haven’t figured that out yet. I don’t know if the festival will give us a guest-list. I can let you know when they do. If I can get you guys in, I will, but I don’t know. Sometimes festivals are generous on that front, and sometimes they’ll just give one comp or two for your mom and dad. I’lll try. ** Dominik, Hi!!! Death trips are one of my specialties, don’t you know. Haha, Zac felt the same about ‘JW’ as you did. Really hated it. I think I just wanted an amusement park ride-like thing, and the last hour got close enough or something. But yes. You too on the rising heat? So sorry. But have a super sweet time with your dad and brother, and see you again at the conclusion. Love trying to get The Jam’s ‘Private Hell’ to stop looping in his mind for almost a week now, G. ** Sypha, I do update the lists, it’s true. Haha, dude, I’m a lister too, so high five. I just listed my all-time favorite amusement park rides here the other week for goodness sake. I am honored that you read forty of my faves. There can’t literally be any other person in the world who’s even thought to do that. Our minds are soulmates. Except that if I knew your 50 favorite novels, I probably would have read only about 2 of them. ** jay, Hey, jay! Oh, great, ‘Totes Haus u r’ is amazing. Every once in a while Gregor Schneider makes something quite incredible. That Bataille was quite the word (and idea) spinner, yep. If you like anime snuff stuff check out the site pixiv if you don’t already know it. Having known some pedophiles, I think it’s more complicated than just the power attraction and varies from case to case, but that’s definitely in there for sure. Serious and powerful and laser targeted luck on the job interview today should you need mystical intervention. So … how did it go? ** alex, Hi, alex! Really nice to see you! Paris’s summer has been really mild, but it’s supposed to get traditionally summery for a while starting today, so say the forecasters. I’ll look for you on Instagram and vice versa. Yeah, I was finally sort of ordered to join Instagram to support our film. It’s okay. I like it. Nothing secret about the Toronto screening. It’s being hosted by the film series Bleeding Edge on September 24th. Zac and I will be figuring out how long we’ll be there soon. Thanks! Sure, I’d like to read your story. Everyone, Here’s the very talented alex with a hot tip: ‘(L)ast month my friend Fan and I recorded a sound poem for SUDS, this audio zine out of California. that one’s online for anyone who’s interested in giving it a listen: here. Um, hm, I’ve thought about trying to play guitar again, but I can easily predict it would be too hard and time consuming, so I haven’t. Otherwise, gosh, maybe not. Enjoy (or hope you enjoyed) the wedding. ** Mari, Hi! Yeah, I’m quite interested in guro. If you don’t already know them, the sites pixiv and gurochan are good resources. What’s the favorite childhood band? Did they live up? The last gig I went to was Nina Garcia, who’s actually in the gig post today. The last actual concert was Neil Young. I think my favorite local venue is this experimental music one called Les Instants Chavirés. Tumblr wouldn’t let me look at that image because I’m not a member. But I’ll search for ‘sinnykitt’. Thanks! I hope your day is as great as mine, and, if mine isn’t great, please don’t let that stop the greatness on your side. ** julian, Hey. Cool, glad you liked those. Awesome that you can come see ‘Room Temperature’! It’ll be nice to get to meet you. Thanks! ** Roma, Hi, Roma. Welcome! Thanks a lot for coming inside! That’s a really good painting. Powerful, yeah. I’ll see what else I can see by Ojārs Pētersons. I don’t know that work. You’re in Toronto. Come see our film. Thank you, and I hope to get to say hi to you at the very least. What’s going on with you? ** Steeqhen, I think the word you’re looking for is guro. ‘Happy Tree Friends’, no. Worth checking? No, it wasn’t me with Thomas at the photo show, but I did see that show a while back. Meh. When I actually click start on ‘Stray’ I will pass along the news good or bad. ** horatio, Hi. Happy you liked the array and especially that you liked the Aki Onda. He’s so great. I wish noise music made me thrash around, but it tends to make me dead still but with very lively eyeballs. Thanks about the festival. Yeah, we’re thrilled, and that it’s the Official Opening Night Film is wild. Big day to you and to your all and sundry. ** Ryaha, Hi! Good to meet you! Horatio has a lot of roommates, it’s cool. I did watch and greatly like Gay Church, you are correct, and kudos directly to you. ‘It’s funny how the music, when shifted to a more queer space, the music sounds like it is singing from a glass closet’: what an excellent sentence not to mention result. Is it okay for a non-puppy to say woof to a puppy and have that woof have any power or meaning? If so, woof! I’ve seen some furry porn, for sure, but not enough to get a grasp on the … genre? I should buckle down. Thank you about ‘Frisk’. Have a happy day or woof, whichever you prefer. ** HaRpEr //, I think that’s what I read about the new version of ‘The Tunnel’, but I’m not 100% sure. I remember the years when there was heavy anticipation about ‘The Tunnel’, when would it come out, would it ever come out, what would it be, etc. It was the literary equivalent of when everyone was waiting for the follow up to ‘Loveless’. Oh, god, the Didion, how totally dreadful and predictable. Ugh. I’ll majorly skip that. ** Justin D, Hi! Yeah, I went back and forth with the color or b&w version of the Sally Mann photo and wound up agreeing with you. Cool you watched ‘Luna’. I love that film, but, yeah, it’s not perfect. My hump day! I forgot about that characterisation. Well, it was in fact kind of a hump day, so good instincts there. How was your day? I hope it was like a slide. ** Bill, She did a series of photos that she took at one of those ‘farms’ where they lay out dead bodies and then study the way they decay. And, yeah, very unlike her other work. ‘Old People’s Home’ was here at the Pinault for while. Pretty fun. Cool about the gig you saw, much less so about the poorly timed second one. Grr. ** Right. Today I made you another gig consisting of YouTube representations of some music I’ve been liking recently, and that’s that. See you tomorrow.
Now available in North America 
Hi Dennis, ok sent off. haha so hopefully was received. Oh and technical note, the videos apparently aren’t clickable but should embed just fine (one of the artist wanted it like that) so didn’t want you to panic thinking didn’t work. Thanks again!
Hi, Dennis!
Nina Garcia’s stuff seems very interesting. I didn’t know about Rip Van Winkle either. Thanks for this gig.
I replied to the weekend post too late on Monday morning and I think you didn’t see my reply. Just wanted to tell you that I’ll glady put in a good word for you and the film, of course. I’ve had two friends visiting from the UK and I’ve been busy until today. Hope you are having a lovely week.
Love,
I’m digging the Ellen Arkbro selection here today. Sounds to me like film music? Maybe I’m saying that because it’s inherently dramatic, not quite sure. A definite keeper though.
The English Premier League will be kicking off next week, with Leeds United’s season beginning on Monday 18th vs Everton. Our prospects were fed into a couple of super computers recently and both came up with the team dwelling near the bottom of the table. I can only hope that we prove these pesky machines wrong.
Hey Dennis! I most definitely do know pixiv, haha, it’s like my equivalent of Playgirl or something. Yeah, I imagine you’re probably right about attraction/power and such. Thank you for the luck about the job interview luck, btw! Unfortunately, they told me the position was filled like, two weeks ago, so I’m not quite sure why they made me come in haha. I think it was to offer me a, like, unpaid internship or something, which is a bit too TPE, even for me. It was fine, I got some interview experience which was good at least! Plus tomorrow I’m going to a weird exhibition about Cobain in London with a friend, so… lots of nice things coming up. Hope you’re good, see ya!
Oh shoot, and here I was hoping for some Chappell Roan. :p
Dennis, yeah, I tend to upgrade my lists a lot as well ha ha. What’s weird is that I’ve never really done a Top 50 Novels list, yet I have done things like “Top 100 Albums” or whatever. And this is strange because one of the the reasons I began keeping track of the books I read (in 2008) was because I was inspired by your first list and wanted to do one of my own, but I decided I needed to read more books first, hence my goal of reading at least 50 books a year for a decade. Well, it’s been almost 20 years now and I’m STILL doing at least 50+ books a year ha ha. Anyway, I probably could do such a list now.
“Except that if I knew your 50 favorite novels, I probably would have read only about 2 of them. ”
Nah, it would be more than 2, as at least a few you have listed overlap with some of my own.
Just got back from the endo, had a root canal and a temp. crown put in today. Not fun. But I went almost 2 years since my last root canal so I guess I had a good stretch.
I heard you’ll be in Toronto September 24th for the film. Not sure you plan on staying for a few days, but Stevie’s book launch is the 28th. we have yet to announce the details but if you speak with Derick he’ll fill you in!
Hi Dennis! Some really great music here, thanks for sharing!
I’m based in Estonia so not sure at the moment when I’ll be travelling back to Toronto, but I’ll definitely come see the film if I’m there at the right time – fingers crossed.
There’s not much going on with me this week outside of trying to survive work. I keep meaning to work on writing a book in my spare time, but my progress so far is all spread out across different documents (with the story going in a different direction in each one) so that’s been a little difficult. Hoping to piece everything together this weekend so I can finally start getting somewhere with it.
I was wondering when you were doing the next Gig Day! Pharaoh Overlord, Gnaw, Rip Van Winkle and Alex Paxton appealed to me. I recently wrote a review of Nourished By Time’s next album. It’s not out till the 22nd, but it’s my favorite at the moment: he’s a very powerful singer, and it has a home-recorded feel, like early ’80s Prince demos blended with indie pop.
MC Yallah’s the only artist I’ve played three times (counting next Saturday’s show) so far on “Radio Not Radio.”
My parents’ ashes were mailed to me yesterday. The package will also include all the possessions they had on them when they were hospitalized, including their clothes. Again, this all seems so strange, but I paid the postage today ($65!) and it may arrive as early as tomorrow.
Hey there Dennis! I’m still pushing through this low mood I’m in but yesterday was charming. I spent time at my friend’s house and got to witness just how large their plants have become. Various things are growing in their garden, and it’s encouraged these two local pigeons to return there. Lately, her brother has been trying to form a tangible connection with them. Yesterday he succeeded! One of them kept returning to this arm as he continued to feed them. It’s particularly nice to see because the wildlife in my hometown is quite reclusive. I’m just glad I was able to surround myself with some friends. Construction works are being done on the flat building I live in, and it’s been very distracting.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the concept of transgression and sincerity. I remember it was something I brought up, perhaps in my first message to you. It seems that in certain discussions that power is granted towards this “universal” agreement/disagreement. To be specific, I’ve had trouble discussing my interests in art because I don’t think they complement the ways others approach them. I think Hugo will also write about this, as we’ve both been struggling with it, but in my case, I’ve had trouble talking about works that explore transgressive topics. When I talk about why I see beauty in the works, it can sometimes be pushed aside due to cynicism. It’s challenged my confidence in wanting to be open about my relationship with art. Perhaps I need to use the spaces I know I can be open about my creative interests in and be open. Otherwise, I tend to just keep on with explaining my view and hope that it isn’t outwardly dismissed. Still, it’s made me go back to the idea of transgression as sincerity. Seeing work at multifaceted seems scary to those who generalise something as “fucked up” or those who don’t want a sincere response when they wonder “why would someone like that”. It’s strange and continues to bother me bweh
I’ve been trying to be directly open about my interests, though. In a little server I run filled with my close friends, I started a channel where I’ve been clear about my identity as a furry. I’m a fox! Lately, I’ve seen some messages from users on your blog that have motivated me to be honest. A huge part of unravelling my queerness was evaluating the “critter” side of me lol. You know, understanding that the transformation of my form may have some deeper, transgender layers to that, haha. It was around 2019 that I not only embraced this but also found my first online space where I could start to answer questions about myself. Sometimes I weave it into my writing when I’m considering the multiplicity of form and when aspects of identity can be conveyed through them.
The name is alluding me, but there was a user here who shared a project called Gay Church. I had a look through the pieces in the Dropbox, and this image containing this orange character stuck with me. The erotic posture paired against a potential non-physical figure that someone could see themselves in resonated with me. If that person sees this message, I loved what I saw.
Wishing you all the best. I’m going to the library tomorrow to spend some time writing again. Will let you know if anything productive happens!
Alice your message made me tear up thank you so much! I really love that reading of the visual. We are all animal girls at heart and I’m also trying to explore my catlike nature. My next set’s about the results of that exploration so I’ll try to link that here once it happens.
Hello!
Nina Garcia must have been incredible to witness in person wow. The others that really stood out to me were Gnäw Karavan e Rahzanan, Pharaoh Overlord Louhi, and Ellen Arkbro Chordalities. I’ve personally been fixated on this album I found recently: https://youtu.be/IMu4HGOyJBY?si=EEVgMbd37QsZ8_0b
I went to see NIN with Boys Noize kick off their North American tour last night. A while back I had an extremely vivid dream where I was married to Trent Reznor. Perhaps a part of me was hoping halfway through the show he’d squint out into the dark, smoky arena and come across me, the only clear face in the crowd. “Mari, I’ve been waiting for you.” I’d run on stage, “wow you’re much shorter than I thought” and he’d jump on my back. Off we’d run into the night. The show didn’t live up to those expectations, but it did live up to a fun show with cool visuals.
As I have now been commenting for a few days I was curious about what your thoughts regarding parasociality and how it may relate to your blog?
I hope you are having a much better Thursday than I am, Dennis! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ ) ✧
Also in regards to the artist sinnykitt I think I have found a wesbite with the specific art piece I was trying to show you (stupid Tumblr):
https://www.newgrounds.com/art/view/sinnykitt/frail
Hey wassup dude! walking home from gym it is currently 7:05 am.
I just saw a squad of geese just strolling past me,.I like to think they gossip about the people around them, but they chill wit me cuz I’m cool like dat 😎
Hoping to get my laptop fixed soon so it’s easier to speak and I can start posting my art and building a portfolio or something just to feel proud looking at! Oh also I’m going to wait for my laptop to be up to send you the Louis Wain post because, uh, yeah it’s hard to format on a iPad. But if you hoist is up on a book it’s like a mini laptop. Kinda.
Sorry I haven’t responded it’s been somewhat tough again. It’s always tough
I try to catch myself here in one of my whimsy stream of thoughts but usually the time I have left to give you is just dullness so I try to find the gaps, like now! which is all fine and good and I just ate a leftover pancake. I have to be very mindful how I spend my energy. When I say “dullness” I mean I learn that I get overwhelmed easily and usually by the time the days over I probably am just like AGH! Which is usually the only time I have left to give. I think I’m just rambling, but maybe it’s better I’m rambling when my mind feels alive and flowing and not vegetive. What am I talking about! Haha!
yesterday I had to do this 4 hour psych evaluation to determine if I was competent halfway through the block memory toddler game I started getting distracted/agitated because it has been going on for hours and I was supposed to buy coke from someone. Kind of funny in retrospect but I don’t have a low IQ so obviously I aced it. Even the psychologist seemed confused why I have a fucking guardianship, dude! Like how did this happen, honestly it’s straight up fucking ableism.
He said he’ll get back to me in hopefully a week. There may be some hope. To restore my competency and end guardianship, the way I said it made it sound like a medieval dragon
Oh it’s about 3pm now? I just went on a hour and half pilgrimage WALK today, yes, I said WALK. ( I did bring my skateboard at least )to The fuzzy needle a record/book/art. I wasn’t going to treat myself to a book but I was sunburnt and I saw the book Mira Corpora and I turned the book, gasped out loud (because I saw your name) and I looked through it, like the structure, read the flap and stuff. From what I’m getting from it so far it seems good!! I’ve been wanting to read more dreamlike narratives, and that’s very interesting that Jeff Jackson is a playwright initially(as I’m just now reading)
I think I’m very proud of the work I do even if I am not quite there I do a lot and work hard. I’m just a bit defeated at times because I just don’t know what I’m doing even when I’m doing things, like writing and art,and nothing seems real. I don’t mean that in a pitiful way more pragmatic because it’s more of an observation on numbness. I force myself to go do these things because I’m sure the later me would be proud, but on that note!
so right now I’m working on my book but I decided to give more time/extend deadline so I could also focus on thinking of some kind of other short term completion art side project. I don’t know yet, but that just means more room to create, because the concept that is churning in my head doesn’t really have a exact medium or yet. Like a hybrid idea:Cut-out letters detailing crime, violent prose, charcoal drawing of a man with flames engulfing his figure covered in nails. hmm what do you call a sortve diy paper pamphlet that follows sort of the same guidelines of a zine, but it’s less media/culture/community and uet follows cut out letter prose poems and disturbed short stories on some kind of collage diorama and then charcoal drawings somehow pasted over paper designed with carbon smoke binded like a book?
Wait 🫷 I think you just witnessed real time me forming a plan out of my originally abstract idea .
Gotta go brain is flowing (also that was a rhetorical question above ooh unless u have any input/ideas.)
Hey Dennis.
Love the Nina Garcia video, listening to it as I type this. I like synthesizer noise music, but guitar noise always has a very unique tone and feel. I guess that’s why I’ve always gravitated to the Arto Lindsay side of the noise spectrum (I used to play his live cover of “Erotic City” a ton in high school.) — I always find those tones and waves of distortion to be viscerally satisfying, it’s something I wish more people gravitated towards.
Also, small thing, but I was re-reading a small part of “Wrong” (the biography), and in one section, he claims that the “David: Inside Out” section of “Closer” was inspired by the Diana Ross single “Upside Down”, but isn’t there a Jesus and Mary Chain song called the exact same thing? The absence of “Psychocandy” in the book seems odd to me. It’s a good book, but it seems to have curious blind spots (like the aforementioned lack of “God, Jr.”)
Alice and I were talking today (she might comment or have already commented by the time I’m done with this post), but we were kinda comiserating a little about the circles we’re in. When we talk about Salo, Pasolini, or your own work, we notice there’s a kind of incuriosity in people to engage with anything these things are about, a kinda dismissal of “Lol that’s messed up” or “why would you wanna read/watch that?” — I think both of us just want to talk about stuff and make our own writings and works about stuff that interests or stimulates us, but find it difficult not to have endless frustrating conversations with people who go around in moral circles. It’s not fun always being unwittingly against the world. With some people, it’s exhausting, if only because they press on despite being stalwart and unconvinced.
I guess we’re just looking for advice on how to find our own tribe without sacrificing too much of ourselves; that’s the gist.
Hope you have a lovely day.
(The website didn’t let me post the comment, and I’ve only just realised two hours after the fact, and Alice has commented since then, saying the thing I said. O well — I did also like the thing connie posted here a while back too tbh)
Hey Dennis,
Went to the gym like i planned but it was pretty hard for me to get into the mood. Had dinner with my family though, which was nice. I looked up famous people with my birthday, here’s the list;
Elizabeth Báthory: Hungarian Countess and most prolific female serial killer
The Mata Hari
Billie Burke, aka Glinda the Good Witch
Tobin Bell, aka Jigsaw from Saw
Patrick Kennedy: JFKs son that lived for 3 days
The largest domestic litter of kittens, 19 of them in total.
David Duchovny
Charlize Theron
Some interesting people!
Yes, guro! Just from the name I assume it translates basically to gore? Happy Tree Friends may entertain you; it’s basically a kids cartoon except all the little animal characters get brutally dismembered and mutilated. I used to think it was hilarious and sometimes I’ll put it on for some nostalgia, though it may just be a bit too late 00s internet for some.
For some reason I was just hit with an image of some character, a Toad-type character, being crucified. In my head it was a part of a game or story, but I think I may have fully just made it up… it’s weird sometimes how the brain struggles to differentiate the layers of reality-daydream-dreams-subconscious. When I’m in these depressive moods and spend my days in a bit of a haze, I really begin to lose account of what is real and what isn’t. Not in a psychosis way, just in the above mentioned way, where I can’t remember what happened in my dreams and what may have been a clip online… i guess though fiction and dreams are similar…
Just answering in case you’re curious, but I think guro is a subdivision of the word eroguro -” erotic grotesque”, which is any manga/anime/etc that combines eroticism with disturbing or surreal imagery, not necessarily just gore. Guro is just the gore specific subgenre of eruguro, at least from what I’ve heard. Happy birthday, btw!
I’ve said it before: I don’t keep up with much current culture, so this made for a cool mixtape in the middle of my day. MC Yallah & Gnäw stood out for me. The latter seems right up my alley. I’m a sucker for modern music that utilizes traditional folk instruments.
Congratulations on landing Toronto & Chicago! That’s wonderful news.
I’m counting the days till it’s time for the move to Spain at the end of the month & wrapping things up here in Germany. In the meantime I’m sending a bunch of stuff out on Submittable & it’s getting on my nerves a bit to be honest. Few of the journals I’m submitting to seem right for my work but I’m doing it anyway for want of alternatives. And then it’s been a couple of rejections in a row. I guess when my very first submission got accepted it warped my expectations somewhat. And then I’m just generally impatient with this kind of stuff.
Thanks for all these great recommendations today! The I’m Being Good and Psyche Nah cuts are amazing. As far as new music goes, I’ve been enjoying aya – hexed!, e4444e – Authentic Natural Tradition, and YHWH Nailgun – 45 Pounds, to name a few. When you posted your favs of 2025 list earlier this year I realized how little new art I had engaged with and binged as much new stuff as I could. I’m also very close to finishing recording my album, so I’m gonna start promoting it next week. I still need to figure out what I want for the album art and title. The working title is actually “A boy shaped cloud raining”, which is a reference to Frisk, but some people have told me that’s too long.
Really awesome selection. Cool about the new Gina Birch, I’ve been listening to ‘Odyshape’ by The Raincoats a lot recently after years of never being bothered to explore beyond their debut for some reason. In terms of new stuff I think the new Giant Claw album which I guess is glitchpop is pretty good, though I need to listen to it more. The new Quadeca album is very intriguing and genre bending, chronically online in the best way, but very beautiful in parts and highly ambitious. And there are some singles by this digital hardcore-ish artist LustSickPuppy that are invigorating.
Oh yeah, and the new Alice Glass single is really exciting too. After not feeling too strongly about her solo material I have high hopes if she’s working towards a new album rollout or something. Really great single.
Yeah, I was actually thinking about Kevin Shield’s perfectionism and years of silence and doubt from fans. I think that ‘m b v’ is meticulously produced and a great album, though it is doing very much the same thing as ‘Loveless’. The same perfect formula done to a t.
The vague memory came to me the other day of Shield’s assertion that two new mbv albums are in the works, which he said a couple of years ago now. I assumed that nothing was going to come of that but apparently Debbie Googe was asked about it in an interview fairly recently and stated that they are still happening. Judging from their history these projects could see the light of day anywhere between tomorrow and decades into the future.
Hi Dennis,
I know how it is with the fests. Some give you like 10 free tickets and others hardly give you 1. Just thought I’d ask. We will be there either way for sure. Thank you for looking into it.
We’re trying to host a Gay Church on September 19th. If that holds true and you have some free time I’d love it if you swung by! Horatio says he would “Queen out” with you.
Also, Horatio has been reading me your book, Guide, as a bed time story for the past few nights. It’s a little fucked up for bed time but really good. He just finished reading Bataille’s “Story of the Eye” to me so we needed something equally challenging to my sleep. I was wondering what your thoughts are on Liber Null. I’ve just started rereading it because I read it at 19 and couldn’t keep up. I was disappointed by it then because I thought a lot of it was a larp. And I still think that but I’m catching onto more of what he’s getting at. He definitely has a hard time seeing women as people capable of spiritual growth and I couldn’t quite see myself in it as a “boy”. But that’s normal for magical texts. His sigils are cool and have been absorbed into the well of popular spirituality. The sexual death rites at the end piss me off and I think they’re the nerdiest shit I’ve ever read. It convinced me to start a dream journal when I first read it, so that’s something. I can see how it works its way into Guide. They’re both about sex and death in a similar semi manic way (don’t know what I mean by that).
Anyways, have a nice day!
Hey Dennis!
Just wanted to tell you that it is completely okay for a non-dog to make dog noises, no power to it at all either; unless like you’re pissed and barking about something.
I will warn you though, if you bark or howl once, it is kinda a slippery slope into unlocking puppy brain.
I am now onto reading Guide, loving the Libre Null references in it. Definitely a crowd of interesting “psychonauts” chasing a trip rather than hailing any sort of question-answer. “Question-answer” feels right to say in this context, unsure why.
Also, I just wanted to talk about your writing because it has massively inspired me to get back into writing again. Super refreshing than coding out screenplays for film- only so much you can do describing the visual. It is really helping me out develop this cyber-punk capitalist hell death mercenary short film vlog thing.
Anyways… Bear with me here, I am going to paw out how your work inspires me.
I love how you tap into the unconscious, and allow the exploration to take its place. It just like we go to the extremes because we can, gaining back access to unfiltered thought.
I felt like in Frisk, I was neither body nor mind at the same time. It was either mind or body in the given moment. I will say that I was mostly experiencing body with reading Frisk. Guide is a total mind trip. Your syntax, periodic then commentative; it is unadulterated chaos that flows out a sentence to fuel a visual image or sensory lapse for me to feel.
I love how your writing deconstructs the reader as it crams in a new thought process piloted by your lovely characters.
Is being a puppy (or just owning up to an animal in representation for identity in general) some crazy psycho-sexual trip to tap back into our essence? It feels like an obvious yes, but good to write it down.
Just wanted to take the time to thank you for your work!
Be careful howling with a pack, you might end up running with them through the night.
Arf Arf,
Ryaha
Oh my god yes, “A Greener Shade of Teal” is my favorite track off of I’m Being Good’s Shapeshitter. I haven’t heard anything quite like it, and I just adore how the vocalist’s dry but concise tone pairs with the instrumentals. It’s so awesome that you’ve been enjoying it as well! I think the “Six Black Horses” was my favorite new-to-me track off this list- I might burn it on a CD for my mom &/or teach myself to play it on guitar.
I’ve been rereading guide recently. First time I finished it I was kind of going insane- every other paragraph seemed like… well not an attack, but I felt very wounded after reading each one haha. It’s been nice to read my favorite book in a period of my life where I’m of sound-er mind.
As always, I hope your day is wonderful Dennis!
Hi, it’s been a bit. Last few shows I went to:
Planning for Burial: very different sounding live, extremely loud as well which is to be expected but I overheard people saying it was louder than Swans or Deafheaven when they had seen them, I like the show but I sometimes feel looping-heavy one man band is inherently better on record than live
Dwarves: tiny venue, very fun show, lots of energy for a band that old, made friends at the gig and I kind of remember that more than the band even though they played well
I plan on seeing Bonginator/Squid Pisser/King Parrot (grindcore bands) and Flowting Clowds (two members of June of 44) later this month.
I will check out the releases here. In terms of new releases I have been listening to:
Biddy Fox- My Winter Surfer
https://biddyfox.bandcamp.com/album/my-winter-surfer
Mamaleek- Candejos/Those Who Pass Floating Worlds (rarities collection)
https://mamaleek.bandcamp.com/album/cadejos-those-who-pass-between-fleeting-words
Floating- Hesitating Lights
https://floating-label.bandcamp.com/album/hesitating-lights
and for singles:
Agriculture-Bodhidharma: https://agriculturemusic.bandcamp.com/track/bodhidharma
Wreck and Reference- Burning: https://wreckandreference.bandcamp.com/track/burning
Hahahaha Happy Tree Friends is such a 2000s Hot Topic type of thing, it was everywhere for a while. Fall Out Boy even had a HTF themed music video. What an odd pop culture phenomenon, almost nothing to it beyond its shock value. Definitely something that only means anything to people who were maybe 10-14 during that time.