Eli Keszler |
It’s never been easy to get a handle on Providence’s dynamic experimental-music scene — the volume of activity boggles the brain, with bands often playing just a handful of shows before disappearing, leaving some self-released cassettes or CD-Rs in their wake. One of the best ways to navigate this ever-changing landscape is to let the small RARE YOUTH label be your guide.
Founded two years ago by Geoff Mullen, Rare Youth began with a sprawling double-CD overview of the Rhode Island underground. Over the past month it’s issued two releases of note: Livingston, an explosive LP of free improv/psych by percussionist extraordinaire Eli Keszler, and a double cassette of grainy electronic compositions by Mullen himself.
Due at the end of March, the label’s next release is a split LP of Russian Tsarlag and Blue Shift with a special comic-book-style ’zine insert. Over the phone from Providence, Mullen describes Tsarlag’s music as “weird alien pop. Some of it’s catchy and straightforward, but the recording quality is really lo-fi. He uses crude sounds, but they’re put together really nicely.” As for Blue Shift, her music is scratchy, energetic violin improv with vocals and drums. “The whole release has this real outsider feel to it.”
In Boston this weekend, you can test the limits of your auditory endurance with two extended doses of harsh noise and overloaded electronics at the NORTHEASTNOISE AND POWER ELECTRONICS FESTIVAL at Jacques Underground. The line-up includes Chicago’s infamous (and aptly named) Bloodyminded. You can find a link to the full line-up at this column on-line.
NORTHEAST NOISE AND POWER ELECTRONICS FESTIVAL | Jacques Cabaret, 79 Broadway, Boston | March 14-15 | 617.426.8902
Related:
Feedback and forth, Nowhere man, Boston music news - January 27, 2006, More 
- Feedback and forth
Red Horse have played just a handful of shows, but they’ve made the most of them, establishing a reputation as a ferociously original live act.
- Nowhere man
The buzz about Jandek is . . . is . . . Well, let’s try again.
- Boston music news - January 27, 2006
ELI “PAPERBOY” REED and his eight-piece soul band the TRUE LOVES play their swan song January 28 at the Central Square VFW Hall.
- Jandek’s lonesome howl
Jandek sang in a descending baritone moan as the clattering of avant-noise fluttered around him.
- Helping artists avoid displacement
It’s no secret that increasing development, rising housing costs, heightened official scrutiny in the post-Station era, and other factors have combined to put a serious squeeze on Providence artists and the old mill buildings they favor in recent years.
- Cross-pollinization
Thomas Gallagher and André Obin stepped into the breach.
- Gimme swelter
Local composer, trumpeter, and electronic-musician Forbes Graham has been blazing in recent weeks.
- Less
Topics:
New England Music News
, Eli Keszler, Providence Mullen, Jacques Cabaret
