noisician.com - Brutum Fulmen diary

noisician.com
Brutum Fulmen diary
A self-indulgent web diary for Brutum Fulmen related projects.

Friday, August 31, 2001

It's been a pretty crummy month. Between ongoing computer problems at home and way to many hours being put in at work, I've gotten next to no Brutum Fulmen work done in August. Hopefully both of these issues will be resolved to some degree very soon. I've got a good amount of new material outlined for our next CD, but still a lot of work to be done.
posted by jeff wrench 8/31/2001 11:39:45 PM

Friday, August 03, 2001

A Tender Wreckage page is finally up. Go to the Brutum Fulmen home page to check out this new split LP with Lasse Marhaug of Norway. It's only $8 or $9 if you also want me to throw in a CDR.
I also updated the bottom of the discography page to mention some of the current projects that are underway or coming up:

Flesh of the Moon - the working title of our first true CD album, currently under construction. This will be a quiet album, but still with a good variety of material as I continue to try different ways to make sounds.

MASS - tentative title of a 3-way split live CD recorded entirely in Massachussettes. Artists are: Brutum Fulmen, Dan Bodah, Noumena. The first two artists were recorded at RRRecords.

I'm also in discussions about possibly releasing a full color printed version of a 52-page short story/art book I released in a xerox version several years ago, possibly accomanied by a Brutum Fulmen CD related to the book. This one is probably a long way off.

posted by jeff wrench 8/3/2001 01:43:13 AM

Tuesday, July 31, 2001

Yeah, this place is gathering cobwebs. I don't have a lot of big news, and I still have to begin promoting Tender Wreckage, and tie up the June 1 show loose ends. But I haven't been completely lazy.
Most of my spare time has been spent recording material for the next Brutum Fulmen album, which is going to be our first real CD release (for C.I.P.)! A big milestone for us.
I just spent Sunday doing a remix for Tore H Bøe of his 10" record, Serum. The subtitle on his record is "Postal System Scratch DJ Version", because it comes with no jacket and is meant to be sent through the mail with no covering of any sort, the stamps and address going right on the label. Tore actually gave me a copy of the record when I met him in New York so I wouldn't have to deal with too many scratches, but I promptly misplaced it. Luckily J.W. of the UK was kind enough to send me his copy, but it's now been through the post twice, once across the Atlantic! He also sent me a map to chart the record's travels, so I need to send it to someone else when I'm through with it. I actually did my whole remix in one day, which is surprising for me because I usually belabor my pieces for at least a few weeks. And it turned out so well I plan to put it on the next Brutum Fulmen album. For what it's worth, Serum was actually reviewed in a recent issue of big time magazine, The Wire.
posted by jeff wrench 7/31/2001 12:02:44 AM

Thursday, June 07, 2001

Hey, the big show is over and we survived! Though going to bed at 5am is not my idea of a relaxing weekend. When I get a chance, there'll be a page devoted to the outcome of June 1's Night of International Noise, possibly with some sound or pics if I can manage to hook the camcorder up to my PC. Not surprisingly, I forgot to press record on my DAT deck before we went on. The next night, Saturday June 2, we played a smaller but fun show on Saturday June 2, on a rooftop and in an apartment in Manhattan.
I still don't have a page up for our biggest release yet: Tender Wreckage, the split LP with Norway's Lasse Marhaug. But I do have a page up for the brand new Tube Testing compilation CDR featuring remixes of a recording of vacuum tube feedback.
BTW, the promo audio files for the June 1 show mentioned below are now gone! Excerpts from the June 1 or 2 Brutum Fulmen set may be available soon.
posted by jeff wrench 6/7/2001 09:02:10 PM

Friday, May 25, 2001

Since not everyone will be able to grab files from the newsgroups easily, I've uploaded all the files to a new audio page for the June 1 Night of International Noise. These seven full-lenth mp3 files (up to 15 minutes long) will be available only until the weekend of the show.
Brutum Fulmen has been invited to take part in a Toyo Records compilation of 20-second pieces, to be released on both LP and on two 3" CDs. Obviously there will be a rather large number of participants, including some big names like Glen Branca, Melt Banana, Blectum from Blechdom, DJ Spooky, Fred Frith, Oxbow, Kid 606, etc.
Although we work too slowly to release new albums as frequently as some noise artists (no names) and aren't able to take up offers from every tape label that wants to release a Brutum Fulmen album or split, we do try to participate in most compilations that come our way, whatever the format or parameters. If you're putting together a comp, we're ready to submit.
posted by jeff wrench 5/25/2001 12:12:29 AM

Wednesday, May 23, 2001

I just finished posting a bunch of promotional mp3s from most of the bands who be appearing June 1 at the Night of International Noise. The mp3s were posted to the following binary newsgroups:
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.gothic-industrial
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.2000s
alt.binaries.sounds.mp3
alt.binaries.phonecards
If you miss your chance to download these, or don't get the binary newsgroups, I'll probably be posting the files on the web or an ftp site soon.
I've now received Tender Wreckage, but will not begin promoting it until after the June 1 show and I have a little more time. It is being sold for the amazingly low price of $8 postpaid in the US. That's just about $5.50 considering postage! Add $2 outside the US. Contact Gameboy Records for distro/wholesale copies. For an extra $1 I'll throw in a CDR or cassette copy of the album for all you vinyl-challenged folks.
Also just out is the CDR compilation of mp3.com noise makers, Random Spheres of Influence from IBOL records.
posted by jeff wrench 5/23/2001 11:45:40 PM

Monday, May 07, 2001

The Brutum Fulmen will have a larger version of this ad in the first issue of the new zine from the people in Minneapolis responsible for the likes of freedom from... and Cock ESP. Staff writers include Thurston Moore, Adris Hoyos, M St-Germain, Kyle Lapidus, etc. Interviews cover Jason Lescalleet, Tom Smith, Pimmon, etc. It'll be an odd 8 1/2 x 14 format.
Clicking around the freedom from... site I did manage to stumble across the limited cassette edition of Brutum Fulmen Collapsing Orchestra that they put out. It's sold out now, but they do still have a nice little mp3 file excerpt from "Ivy Covered Ruins"
The image in this ad as well as on the Tender Wreckage album cover is a photo I took of a jelly roll tray full of burnt-on pork fat drippings and water, somewhat enhanced by computer. Now that I see the thing turned around and cropped differently it looks like a skeletal face or something.
Here's a newly released CDR compilation the Brutum Fulmen are part of: Random Spheres of Influence from IBOL records. More info once I receive my copy.
posted by jeff wrench 5/7/2001 11:08:49 PM

Monday, April 30, 2001

Hey, not only are we promoting & playing the June 1 Night of International Noise mentioned below, but we are playing June 2 on a rooftop in Manhattan! That's about all I know at the moment.
And... Tender Wreckage has been pressed & printed! I'm just waiting for my copies to get through the mail!
posted by jeff wrench 4/30/2001 10:41:45 PM

Sunday, April 22, 2001

If you didn't notice it on your way in, check out the flyer I designed for the June 1 show, which I've take to calling a Night of International Noise. How original. If you are in or near New York City, and can help out by putting flyers up on message boards, record stores, cafes, etc., email me with your address and I'll send you some. Or if you just think they're so nifty that you want to hang one on your wall, that's fine too.
Added to the line-up recently is the film "My Struggle" by independent filmmaker Joe Christ. Here's the scary description from Joe Christ's website:
My Struggle is the story of inbred Amish guys in Lancaster County, PA who kidnap female tourists, hoping to improve their gene pool. Cindy Basden plays a tourist who's kidnapped near Intercourse PA when she seeks help at a farmhouse after her car breaks down. Ironically, though she's been kidnapped to help the local gene pool, the kidnap victim's sister is a shit-flinging retard (played by Tanya Bodnar), who's now stranded & starving in a cardboard box, covered in her own excrement. Meanwhile, a struggling artist (Joe Christ) is trying to make a living by making pipe bombs for kids and burglarizing houses, with the help of his best-buddy Felonius, a dumb-ass white dude in black-face makeup. After scoring some coke from his Amish dealer (Andy Miller), he decides to see if there's anything worth stealing from the barn, and discovers the kidnapped tourist, still wearing a sheep mask she'd been forced to put on when she was raped earlier. Now, he must rescue the woman from her Amish kidnappers, and save her retarded sister from a sure death by starvation and neglect.
Sounds like it's worth the price of admission on it's own, no? So make sure you're on time, the movie goes on first!
posted by jeff wrench 4/22/2001 08:00:42 PM

Thursday, April 12, 2001

Crap, I'm long overdue on updating this place. Since last month, we played the Brooklyn show (our set a minor fiasco briefly described below) with Tore H Boe and then the Apr 23 Zeitgeist show which was a little better for us. Still a couple technical problems and out-of-practice problems, but not too bad. I will post something from it here soon. Greg Kelly & Jason Lescalleet were very interesting. Not at all what you might expect from a duo featuring a trumpet.
Next big news for us - I'm organizing a show at the same place in Brooklyn -- apparently not named Radio Free Williamsburg as I'd though but, apparently named just SECOND FLOOR and THIRD FLOOR. It'll be June 1 and features no less than 5 international acts, an internationally known and touring US act and a few local favorites. More info soon.
And I'm hoping that our split LP Tender Wreckage will be out by then as well! As far as I know, the records are pressed and the artwork has been sent to the printers.
Oh, and brainwashed.com included an mp3 of the Brutum Fulmen track "Dusk" with their review of the 2CD compilation Variious, even though they didn't mention us in the review. Not sure if that's good or bad, but I'll take it. Here's the review (start squinting):
Intransitive Recordings has given us a souvenir of a non-existant wrap-party for the first series of recordings from this discriminating label. "Variious" also functions as the start of series two for the label. Featured recording artists on the set include a Richard Chartier, *0, Pimmon, Mark Behrens and Brume. The music is for serious listeners only with a serene mesmerising headphonic contribution from Taylor Dupree to an aural rollercoaster by John Waterman, cut and processed field recordings by Justin Bennett to a sea of radio waves from Michael Prine. Chicago's own Kevin Drumm's bit sounds like electronic mice scurrying through an underground train station while an improvisational noise track from label-owner Howie Stelzer and Boston-based electronician Brendan Murray was pulled here from a live in-store recording at the local Twisted Village, and that's only the beginning! Exploring various avenues of improvisational and calculated sound textures, Intransitive has essentially been taking audio snapshots of movement. With this in mind, this 2xCD set is much like a photo album featuring some of the photographer's most favorite pictures. With all Intransitive releases, this disc is limited and I'm predicting it will be a much sought after item before long. - Jon Whitney
Hit the Brutum Fulmen home page to dig up more reviews of this release.
posted by jeff wrench 4/12/2001 10:06:55 PM

Tuesday, March 20, 2001

Well, we had a little trouble with our new piece at Radio Free Williamsburg. Their stage was a hollow wooden raised structure that too easily conducted the vibrations from the loud sound system into our mic'd wire tomato racks resulting in feedback and excessive muddiness. We had been practicing on a cement basement floor. Oh well, now we know we must be prepared to take counter-measures. We should be ready for anything this week:
More experimental noise music on Friday March 23 at the Zeitgeist Gallery, Cambridge MA:

Brutum Fulmen

Greg Kelly & Jason Lescalleet
- trumpet & tape loops.

Zeitgeist Gallery
312 Broadway [corner of Norfolk]
Cambridge MA [outside Boston]

posted by jeff wrench 3/20/2001 06:05:00 PM

Monday, March 12, 2001

This Friday the Brutum Fulmen will be performing our first real show in New York City, well Brooklyn anyway. Radio Free Williamsburg will be hosting an evening of experimental/noise music beginning at 8pm, featuring:

Tore H Boe

Brutum Fulmen

Leaky

Irene Moon

Ortho

Super Dimension Fortress

Radio Free Williamsburg
97 South 6th Street
Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY
The Brutum Fulmen will be unveiling a new, more visually interesting but more minimal piece at this show, entitled "They Came from Planet X".
Things start at 8pm.
Check out the main Brutum Fulmen page for audio from past shows.

posted by jeff wrench 3/12/2001 09:06:18 PM

Monday, February 26, 2001

For some reason, the Brutum Fulmen track "Dusk" is up at brainwashed. I'm not sure why they decided to post it, or what the context is (I haven't found the actual link to it on their site yet), but there it is. This track is from the variious compilation of minimal and experimental music out on Intransitive. It was an exclusive track for the comp, so I wasn't planning to post it, but the cat is out of the bag, so take a listen.
"Dusk" - Brutum Fulmen - 2000 - I forget off hand what the sound sources were, but if I figure it out anytime soon I'll that info here.
posted by jeff wrench 2/26/2001 08:40:57 AM

Tuesday, February 20, 2001

Not much new to report. Trying to get some new material together for the March shows. And put together stuff for a few compilations.
We've got a track on the upcoming CD comp: Noise Conglomerate, Vol. 5. It's 99 tracks of about 42 seconds each. Release won't be till late this year. Lots of interesting artists involved. In conjunction with this, there will be a remix/outtake companion compilation No Passive Audience released to each of the participants on CDR for unlimited distribution.
posted by jeff wrench 2/20/2001 07:51:19 PM

Sunday, February 11, 2001

The Brutum Fulmen will be playing two shows in March:
Friday March 16 - possibly in Brooklyn NY at Radio Free Williamsburgh, possibly somewhere else... with Norway's Tore H Boe, ORTHO, Irene Moon, Curse of the 7 Jackels Movie, Leaky, probably others. Also featured will be some DJs and a bookart installation.

Friday March 23 - Cambridge MA at the Zeitgeist Gallery just outside Boston with Greg Kelly & Jason Lescalleet who perform on trumpet and tapeloops.

posted by jeff wrench 2/11/2001 05:28:16 PM

Wednesday, January 17, 2001

Great news, I just heard from Gameboy Records and Tender Wreckage, our split LP with Lasse Marhaug has been sent for mastering. Next of course will be the actual pressing and printing of the jackets, but everything seems to be on track!
I'm also going to try to get a 1-minute track together for a comp LP on freedom from... which will be made of sounds from broken things. Right now I'm considering a broken toy Christmas tree music box and a broken pair of cheap headphones.
I've also promised material to a CDR compilation for IBOL.
posted by jeff wrench 1/17/2001 01:08:45 AM

Thursday, January 04, 2001

Just released is a new CD compilation benefiting a breast cancer study by a lesbian health center. It's entitled Bhreus Kormo and is great collection of experimental music, with a lead-off track by none other than the Brutum Fulmen. Also included is an essay about the study and a plastic self-exam guide for women that's suitable for hanging in the shower. What's cute is that this guide is actually targeted to lesbians so the little illustrations on it are of butch looking women. Tattoos and armpit hair even.
Send $10 to:
C.I.P.
PO Box 378681
Chicago IL 60637-8681 USA
Visit the main Brutum Fulmen page for more info on this compilation, including the full essay about the study and a scan of the self-exam guide.
posted by jeff wrench 1/4/2001 09:10:59 AM

Sunday, December 31, 2000

I've been checking out the experimental music depository known as tiln.org. At the moment, I'm listening to some excellent minimal drone stuff by Joseph Siemion. There should be some exclusive Brutum Fulmen material up there in the near future.
posted by jeff wrench 12/31/2000 10:14:24 AM

Wednesday, December 27, 2000

I finally finished our version of "Der Tod Ist ein Dandy" for the Einsturzende Neubauten tribute CD.
Ken's proununciation betrays a severe American accent, but why try to hide what we are, I guess. I'd originally thought about doing an English translation version of the song, but since the lyrics are so hokey, I figured leaving it in German would at least spare most of the people I know. For this reason we also omitted or translated back into German those few lines that Blixa originally sang in English. Our version is a bit less "urgent" sounding than the EN original, but I think it's dang good.
Among other things, it includes a recording I made at the Knitting Factory in NYC between acts during the "International Noise Tour". Actually, it's after the Emile Beaulieau set while Ron Lessard is throwing cassettes to the screaming audience. Things had died down a bit, then I started howling/groaning/yodeling from the upper tier and riled up the animals again... Other sound sources include heavy pipes on concrete, an 80MHz hum, a manual typewriter, a brass bed headboard, and of course our old favorite: scraped metal shelving.
At some point I'll probably post the track on this site for download, if I decide it's not impinging on the compilation's right to exclusivity.
Also, for no real good reason, I started a little Brutum Fulmen bio page. Look for it on from the home page.
posted by jeff wrench 12/27/2000 10:14:07 PM

Monday, December 18, 2000

Just heard from the guy doing the Chicago lesbian breast-cancer-support-group benefit experimental music compilation CD (talk about niche markets!). The CDs have actually been pressed, so once I get my copy or any additional info I'll put it up here. Help use noise for the cause of good!
posted by jeff wrench 12/18/2000 10:02:03 PM

Wednesday, November 29, 2000

We've been booked for another date at the Zeitgeist, in March. There's a new review of our 10/6 show up on our home page... This weekend Ken and I will attempt to record source material (or at least his vocals) for our version of "Der Tod is ein Dandy" for the Einstürzende Neubauten tribute CD... And I need to edit down a plunderphonic track of Ken's from an old project of his called Hamartia Brady.
posted by jeff wrench 11/29/2000 11:39:26 PM

Friday, November 24, 2000

Yet another November release announcement from the Brutum Fulmen is the split cassette with Ecuador's Armenia, entitled X-Mas at ShopRite. This is a collection rumbling lo-fi noise, field recordings, collages, loops, etc, much of the source material recorded in and around a New Jersey ShopRite supermarket at Christmas time in 1999. It's not that we've been busy lately, but all the stuff that we've been working on for the past year or so finally seems to be showing up.
posted by jeff wrench 11/24/2000 10:30:36 AM

Thursday, November 09, 2000

Here's the cover art for another recent Brutum Fulmen compilation appearance, this time for Hellbox Recordings. Our track has two primary sound sources: a live feedback & metal recording that was damaged in a computer crash, and a field recording made during a thunderstorm and involving a bicycle, a screen door, keys, etc.
While I try to figure out what major project to tackle next, I'll be working tracks for two "real" CD compilations: one to contain just tracks 40 seconds in length, and one an Einstürzende Neubauten tribute. I've been pouring through my EN collection the last few days looking for something that's mostly atonal and not too song-like, but not completely abstract such that nobody would even realize it's a cover. I'm probably going to choose one of these pieces:

Der Tod Ist ein Dandy (Death is a Dandy)
Armenia
Keine Schönheit Ohne Gefar (No Beauty without Danger)
Blutvergiftung (Blood Poisoning)
"Tod" was my first choice sound-wise, but I don't know if I can get past the lyrics: "Death is a dandy / Death is a dandy / Death is a dandy on a horse". And that's about it, until at the end Blixa says "This was made to end all parties". Kinda goofy, no?
posted by jeff wrench 11/9/2000 07:27:59 PM

Monday, November 06, 2000

Gameboy Records has just released a Cock ESP / Brutum Fulmen split 3" CDR in a limited edition of 25. This little chilly-themed release would make a great stocking stuffer for granny or little Timmy. Visit the Brutum Fulmen home page for a little additional info.
posted by jeff wrench 11/6/2000 10:20:13 PM

Tuesday, October 31, 2000

live mp3s recordings:
10/06 live @ Zeitgeist [12MB]

09/28 practice drone [10MB]

09/24 practice [10MB]

09/20 short loop [.5MB]

09/19 practice [8MB]

See diary entries for appropriate days
for comments on these tracks.
OK, here, finally is an edit of the Zeitgeist show from Oct 6. You're getting about 13 min worth, from the end, right after I kicked out the power and then fixed it.
It turns out there was a cat at the gallery. I don't remember seeing it, but the evidence is here. See the Oct 9 entry for all the gory details on the show.
posted by jeff wrench 10/31/2000 10:25:18 PM

Monday, October 09, 2000

I've finally recovered from the Friday night show at the Zeitgeist Gallery in Cambridge MA. Well, mainly it was the late night that did me in. Hrvatski went on at 8pm with his laptop-based ambient/experimental/noise/sound act. We probably went on around 9, ended probably close to 10, then went out for ice cream afterward with Howard and Seth who'd arranged the show. Ken and I finally got back to my place around 3am and went to bed around 5am.
Personally, I don't want to do a laptop based show for a few reasons, but I can certainly see a number of benefits. All Hrvatski had to do was close his laptop, and put away his little computer speakers. Nice and easy for setting up and breaking down, and great for travel. You can even record your show directly to the hard drive as you play. I won't even get into issues of flexibility of the tools.
But this night the Brutum Fulmen had: two large main speakers (15" woofers, heavy duty construction), two tall living-room style secondary speakers, a home-stereo receiver component, an old turntable/radio/receiver combined thing, a walkman, a pile of guitar effects pedals, a reverb rack effect, a few mics, a half-broken four-track deck just for mixing our sound, a large metal shelving cabinet for scraping and banging, a small metal radiator, a couple of big power supplies, and a few various odds and ends. All connected with a tangled snake nest of patch cords and adaptors. It all barely fit into my Oldsmobile 88 (a big old boat). It did help that this time we put numbered stickers on everything to indicate how it all connected, but it's still a chore.
Anyway, the show seemed to be fairly well received judging by the number of CDs we sold. I mean, people will clap no matter how bad your show is, but I figure they aren't gonna buy discs if you suck. We did have a little electrical problem; namely, me kicking out the plugs. Ken also had some trouble with the Dio tape he pulled out of the cassette for playing on his disassembled walkman -- it seems there were large sections of silent tape at the ends. And I forgot to turn on the DAT deck that was recording the show until about 6 minutes in. And the video tape I put in the camcorder was about 10 minutes from the END, not 10 minutes from the BEGINNING as I'd thought.
With this level of competence, it's amazing I've survived this long. In any case, I will try to extract something from the DAT and post it here this week. Maybe a video capture or two as well.
One odd thing was that I met a disproportionately large number of people from my alma mater (which has to be at least 4 hours away), including a professor of computer music and IT who also urged me to begin using a computer in the show.
Thanks to everyone who showed up at the Zeitgeist!
posted by jeff wrench 10/9/2000 01:54:51 PM

Wednesday, October 04, 2000

Ken & I practiced our show over the weekend. It should be close to an hour long. Unfortunately it doesn't look like I'll get a chance to post any recordings of those sessions before our live show on Friday. But check out my solo live recordings from the past few days.
posted by jeff wrench 10/4/2000 12:01:48 AM

Thursday, September 28, 2000

Today I received a replacement for the flanger pedal that I'd used in last year's Brutum Fulmen shows and then had to give back to its owner. Tonight's practice session mp3 starts off chunky but resolves into a mellow drone featuring this pedal along with the other secret electronics in the patented Brutum Fulmen live feedback setup.
posted by jeff wrench 9/28/2000 12:16:20 AM

Sunday, September 24, 2000

I just recorded part of another practice session, a short recording this time so I uploaded the entire 10 minutes worth. Also a little loop that came out of an uninspired practice session Thursday. This is still all me, solo, on feedback, metal, voice, and the plastic reed from "Quartet for Plastic Toy Horns." Anyway, keep in mind that these are practice sessions, and we're testing things out.
posted by jeff wrench 9/24/2000 05:05:24 PM

Wednesday, September 20, 2000

Last night I recorded some live solo material in preparation for our 10/6 show. We'll be a duo then, but Ken lives about 3 hours away so I have to do all the practicing for both of us. Anyway, I recorded about 20 minutes of live feedback with a little metal and voice thrown in, and I've uploaded the second half of it. Nothing spectacular, I'm just experimenting here, looking for inspiration. It's more psychedelic than harsh as you might expect from feedback.
posted by jeff wrench 9/20/2000 07:32:48 PM

Monday, September 18, 2000

The Brutum Fulmen are currently gearing up for a live show on Friday Oct 6 in Cambridge, MA. This is just outside Boston. We haven't played live in about a year (our normal spacing of shows). So, between being out of practice, needing to fill some holes in our equipment, and attempting to work out some new live material we have our hands full.
posted by jeff wrench 9/18/2000 09:43:21 PM

Monday, September 11, 2000

Tender Wreckage is finally done! I just completed all the artwork. The front and back cover images below now reflect the final versions, and I also uploaded the art for the actual labels glued on the record. Not sure if those will actually be used though.
Write or stay tuned for further news on our big release!
posted by jeff wrench 9/11/2000 11:23:37 PM

Thursday, September 07, 2000

Here's what I've got so far for the back cover of the Tender Wreckage LP. It's just about done.
Those are little fake album covers along the bottom - advertisements for other Lasse Marhaug and Brutum Fulmen LPs - like they used to put on record jackets in the old days. Only our other LPs don't really exist.
The larger image at the upper left is the actual pan full of pork fat drippings from which the front cover art is derived.
posted by jeff wrench 9/7/2000 12:13:18 AM

Monday, August 28, 2000

Ken and I spent some time this weekend unearthing our live equipment, trying to remember how to set it up, and figuring out how to use it. I need buy a couple effects pedals that I'd previously been borrowing that are key parts of our current live work. We also tried to figure out some new material but didn't get too far. I'm going to have to start spending my evenings fiddling around with this stuff again.
posted by jeff wrench 8/28/2000 02:52:36 PM

Thursday, August 24, 2000

I actually got a little work done on the Tender Wreckage album cover (the split with Lasse Marhaug). The art is a enhanced photograph I took of some pork fat drippings and water in a jelly-roll pan sitting in the sink. Linda gets credit for doing the actual cooking of the pork roast that made the photo possible.
posted by jeff wrench 8/24/2000 12:23:06 AM

Tuesday, August 22, 2000

It looks like the Brutum Fulmen will probably be playing in Cambridge (outside of Boston) on Friday, October 6. Depending on what kind of time off I can work out and how Ken's schedule is, maybe we'll try to do some kind of mini-tour here in the northeast US and start looking for one or two other dates. I'm hoping we may also have an opportunity to play inside a large grain silo that's been converted into a sound installation somewhere in Montreal.
posted by jeff wrench 8/22/2000 04:58:11 PM

Sunday, August 13, 2000

I finally got some recording done this weekend, finishing off the piece "Anaerobe" for the D503 remix compilation. His source material is some great sounding feedback from some kind of tube amp.
I also just got an invite to set up a date to play somewhere in Boston. Now I really have to get my act together.
posted by jeff wrench 8/13/2000 10:28:36 PM

Monday, August 07, 2000

A review of the Brutum Fulmen 7" Moon Boots has appeared in the email newsletter Vital Weekly #234:
BRUTUM FULMEN - MOON BOOTS (7" by Eggshell And Four Dead)
I reviewed the Brutum Fulmen before from their various CDR releases. This is their first vinyl, which is released in a small edition, of 100 copies. Brutum Fulmen are a noise band, but one that think before acting (a sometimes rare feature in noise music). Their prime sources for the three tracks on this 7" are 'computer data files used as audio files. Additional sources on III: metal shelving, chain, aluminum innards of an electric radiator'. It sounds like a Karkowski treat, and to some extent it is as dense as Karkowski's work, but Brutum Fulmen arrive at a somewhat more ambient sound, with those occassional outbursts of violent noise. Rather then choosing an easy built up, Brutum Fulmen go from extreme noise to extreme silence and then break the scenery apart. Collage is their power here.
-Frans de Waard [ staalplaat.com ]
Get your copy by sending me $5 + shipping ($1 US / $2 world): Jeff Wrench / PO Box 8127 / New Fairfield CT 06812-8127 USA. For the vinyl-challenged, include an extra dollar and I'll throw in a CDR burn of the record.
I have yet to get any more work done either on Brutum Fulmen recordings or the album cover, but Ken Pfeifer was over this weekend and I helped him do some recording for on of his progressive rock bands. His other progressive rock band is Zen Carnival, but not this one. I recorded his vocals and keyboards and added them to the existing band mix here at the posh Thunder Mountain studios. I tried to convince him that the piece also needed some scrap metal clanging, but he didn't go for it.
posted by jeff wrench 8/7/2000 08:09:41 AM

Wednesday, August 02, 2000

Here are a few video captures from the stop-motion animation Horizons by Dane from the UK. The soundtrack incorporates "Grubs" by the Brutum Fulmen, lots of telephone and answering machine recordings, and music by The Projectiles. All the images are of paper.

posted by jeff wrench 8/2/2000 12:07:45 AM

Monday, July 31, 2000

Wow, I haven't gotten a thing done in weeks. Heard back from the guy putting together the lesbian breast cancer support group experimental music benefit compilation cd (take a breath): he said he might want to release a Brutum Fulmen CD next year. Now I do have to get working!
There's a guy named Dane from across the pond who does digital animation videos who'se using our track "Grubs" in one of his soundtracks. If I can get my act together, I'll also be providing him with a number of loops and other "unfinished" sounds for future work. So far I've only seen a 4-second clip of the video in a tiny window that he emailed me, but he's sending me a disk of the whole video. Can't wait.
We have a track on an excellent tape comp called Needlepoint. Apparently some spammer from China with a web-crawling spider found my site and spewed this out:
Dear Sir, As we know your company is deal with all kind of needlepoint. We are glad to take this opportunity introducing ourselves as a specialized manufacturer of needlepoint, hand painted canvas, pre-worked needlepoint canvas, needlepoint pillows, the tapestries, cushion covers, glass coasters, Christmas stocking, Christmas tree skirts, wall hangings and cross stitch. In additions, partly completed needlepoint kits are also available. Some pictures could send to you reference if you are interested. Your design welcome and we have highly talented artists on staff to stitch whatever you desire. Once you have decided on a canvas, sit back and let our highly talented associates pull the fibers for you. We carry every color of every fiber to fill your every need. We have dealt with Serendipity Designs who pleased with our quality, price, and service. We approach you today in the hope of establishing business relations with you. Welcome your inquiry. You could sand email: needlepoint@citiz.net or send fax to your country 603-719-3373 or 603- 719-9112. Looking forward hearing your response. Best regards, Mr. Ge Zhengjie World Target International Limited ADD:401/1446 Kong Jian Road, Shanghai 200093, China TEL:86-21-65025759 Email:Needlepoint@citiz.net FAX:USA-603-719-3373, 603-719-9112

posted by jeff wrench 7/31/2000 07:41:49 PM

Monday, July 17, 2000

Not getting much done on the cover art, but I have started on a remix track for D503. His source material was some really nifty feedback from a vacuum tube amp. He's puttting together a comp of remixes of it. With such good source material, I don't think you can go too far wrong. If you want to check out his source, look for "vacuum tube [7157929 mix]" on the D503 page.
I just heard from the guy at GameBoy Records (the label putting out Tender Wreckage). They're also going to release another Brutum Fulmen split using our track "Ice Summit". This is going to be a 3" CDR single with Cock ESP "Trousers Drop in Downtown Winterland." Surprisingly enough, he said the sound of each was somewhat similar. "Ice Summit" is a very mellow feedback improv. And hey, there seems to be a thematic match with the titles.
Sweet.
posted by jeff wrench 7/17/2000 08:56:08 PM

Sunday, July 16, 2000

Today I created a slightly revised version of "Before the Invention of the Nosehair Tweezer" to go on a CD compilation benefiting a breast cancer support group for lesbians in Chicago. There's a charity I bet you never thought of.
Also sent out review copies of the Moon Boots 7" record to Vital Weekly, ND, and Halana.
Tonight I should be working on art for the back cover of Tender Wreckage and/or working on tracks promised to other comps.
posted by jeff wrench 7/16/2000 05:06:59 PM

Wednesday, July 12, 2000

Designed a new cover for Tender Wreckage last night. The main cover image is a photo I took of a jelly roll pan full of pork fat drippings and water, sitting in my sink. And of course somewhat manipulated in Photoshop. I think I've got something I like even with the CMYK limitations. I'll post an image here shortly.
If you read my comments below, yes, I am a format snob. I don't particularly care for cassettes. They get chewed up in cheap decks, they degrade quickly, and they don't sound all that great in the first place.
Nevertheless, the Brutum Fulmen have recently completed a split cassette release with noise act Armenia from South America. I haven't yet heard back from Leonard Sabatto of Armenia about the status of this release or heard what is on his side of the tape. But the Brutum Fulmen side uses a lot of field recordings and looped sounds. The title of my side is X-Mas @ Shoprite due to the source of much of the recordings. More info to come.
posted by jeff wrench 7/12/2000 08:30:48 AM

Tuesday, July 11, 2000

Well, the Brutum Fulmen demo material I sent to Triumvirate Records was rejected. Oh well. It's not like I have a completed album (or even much unused material) waiting for release, but sometimes having someone waiting for it helps.
Anyone out there want to consider releasing Brutum Fulmen on vinyl or CD? Let me know. Sorry, at this point I'm not looking for labels to do CDR or cassette releases (unless you happen to be a CDR label with great distro, e.g.: Bake). We also are always willing to take part in compilations, any format, just let us know what the specs are.
Installed into my PC the graphics card that's been sitting in a box for weeks. I figure this will somehow help me finish the record jacket art for Tender Wreckage.
posted by jeff wrench 7/11/2000 08:20:10 AM

Monday, July 10, 2000

OK, I'm testing out the rather nifty Blogger feature. It seems like something that will be an interesting addition to the noisician.com site. We'll see if I can even be bothered to keep up with it.
posted by jeff wrench 7/10/2000 11:29:57 AM

I finally finished the recording and mixing of the Brutum Fulmen half of the upcoming split LP with Lasse Marhaug. The record, Tender Wreckage will be released in the near future by GameBoy Records. I'm currently attempting to finish the artwork.
Since this is going to be on that good old 1 foot x 1 foot record jacket format, I want it to be something more special than what you can cram onto a tiny CD cover. I had a nice photograph ready, but I found out the hard way that the CMYK colors (which are what a real printer uses) are not nearly as vibrant as RGB (what a computer monitor or inkjet printer uses). So I've got some work to do there. Unless I get inspired and change plans here at the last minute, it's going to be some sort of stylized retro-looking cover, which I think is somewhat appropriate for a release on this obsolete format.
I can't even get any of my several record players to work. So I'll probably offer anyone who buys a copy of the LP a CDR burned of the material for $1. Some of the material on my side was designed specifically for vinyl, incorporating vinyl surface noises and idiosynchrasies. There will always be a grey area when listening to the LP as to what is actual surface noise and defects from your copy and what was part of the original recording. For this reason, I may want to burn the CDRs from the vinyl as opposed to using the digital sources. Hmm...
The Lasse Marhaug side has four pieces:

Nine Thousand Things - a remix of the entire Brutum Fulmen catalog.

Unmanned European Probe - a remix of the Brutum Fulmen track "Unmanned Probe"

Five Mintue Walk - a remix of various music, including some Brutum Fulmen, and use of some weird "virus" (?) software the nature and name of which I forget at the moment.

Music Has No Place In History - very low frequency stuff. Love that title. I was tempted to ask Lasse if we could use this as the album title.

The Brutum Fulmen side has three pieces. I had four at one point, but as I worked, they got longer and longer. Since I didn't want a crummy sounding piece of plastic with too many grooves crammed onto my side, I dropped one.

Lament of the Termite Queen - dark ambient type of thing made from: sticks, feedback, my old standby metal shelving, etc. My favorite piece here.

It Was 1951 When I First Contacted Mars - a remix of Lasse's "Five Minute Walk" plus some additional violin material that he provided. There are actually some "musical" sounds in here, due to the source material. But unlike Lasse's treatment of my material, I did heavily manipulate most of the sounds. I was going for a retro lo-fi sci-fi thing and was originally thinking of calling this "It's 1951 and Bob Willis is Contacting Moon Men on His Heathkit," which was a bit of an inside reference that really doesn't mean anything to just about anyone, and is an even longer title, so I changed it. This is sort of about a guy listening to shortwave or HAM radios back in the early days of space hype, and hearing weird noises and foreign languages and thinking he was receiving alien transmissions.

Dawn - created from the sounds of tape deck hum, feedback, loose cassette tape rubbed on the play heads, vinyl sounds, etc. This was originally going to be called "Sunrise" but Brutum Fulmen collaborator Ken Pfeifer thought he could get some action with this cute girl named Dawn if he got me to change the title. Go for it dude! The beginning of this track has a really warm feeling and makes me envision heat waves rising at the beginning of a really hot summer day. Then wierd noises come in like birds and other life waking up and getting active.

Removed was "Before the Invention of the Nose Hair Tweezer," which was a slightly silly track I created for a tribute to Nurse With Wound compilation that never happened. It was the obvious choice to axe because "Lament" was my favorite piece, "1951" is my Lasse remix and had to be included for the concept of this collaborative split, and "Dawn" was specifically created for release on vinyl, and I don't really forsee opportunities to do much vinyl in the future. But it was a good track and I'll be using it elsewhere soon enough.
posted by jeff wrench 7/10/2000 12:03:50 PM