Having gone through some releases from the stellar Thrill Jockey and the always-intriguing Metal Postcard, this fortnight will be spent looking at some of the 2013 releases from Australia's resident global noise distributor, Tenzenmen Records.
The baby of Shaun Tenzenmen, the label aims to highlight the huge Australasian DIY music scene. Therefore many Asian bands that would otherwise not find a market outside their own regions can now be discovered by their own right. In the past few years I have discovered the likes of God Bows To Math, Yes I'm Leaving, True Radical Miracle, Dear Eloise, Mere Women, Hira Hira, Bare Arms, Hedgehog, Fanzui Xiangfa, Chui Wan, and Carsick Cars, PLUS they support local boys Nikko, Scul Hazzards, Quiet Steps, Make More, Little Shadow...all because of Shaun and his incredibly hard work. So thank you Tenzenmen!
The first Tenzenmen release I'm focusing on is from Singaporean abrasion provocateurs Stellarium. Their self-titled LP bears some resemblance to NY noisemongers A Place To Bury Strangers, albeit with a slighter sense of space - adopting a shoegaze wash alongside hushed vocals, Stellarium ensures their flood of feedback and guitar distortion becomes even more of an assault, both aurally and physically. The four-piece offer their sound up as "earbleedwaxpopsupersonicwhitenoisesoundfuzzkill" - and that's pretty much on the money. MBV by way of early Swans perhaps? Buzzsaw aggression, constant addiction - all very, very good (just not on the eardrums).
Grab Stellarium here - there's only one CD remaining! The digital album is free however, so it's win-win.
Stellarium - Any Day Is Fine
Stellarium - Harbinger
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