The Rock Blogger

In dire need of sleep,

Rest waits for me in the shadows.

Still…

Tremolo waves keep shimmering in my head

Like the midnight blast of a startled lamp

…

I’m tired my friends. Its been a busy week and its still not over

New demos are on the way, so hold tight.

Oooooh Canada…

From the Vancouver Sun :

OTTAWA - The federal government is secretly negotiating an agreement to revamp international copyright laws which could make the information on Canadian iPods, laptop computers or other personal electronic devices illegal and greatly increase the difficulty of travelling with such devices.

The deal could also impose strict regulations on Internet service providers, forcing those companies to hand over customer information without a court order.

Called the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), the new plan would see Canada join other countries, including the United States and members of the European Union, to form an international coalition against copyright infringement.

The agreement is being structured much like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) except it will create rules and regulations regarding private copying and copyright laws.

Federal trade agreements do not require parliamentary approval.

The deal would create a international regulator that could turn border guards and other public security personnel into copyright police. The security officials would be charged with checking laptops, iPods and even cellular phones for content that "infringes" on copyright laws, such as ripped CDs and movies.

The guards would also be responsible for determining what is infringing content and what is not.

Outrageous. No wonder this has been shrouded in so much secrecy. For guards to have to conduct random searches, and hold up security lines at airports and borders over individual songs, is simply ludicrous and unconstitutional. Unless the Conservatives want to table this against an irate Supremes Court, and create a legal black hole for what is likely to be millions of Canadians, our country should take no part in this anti-democratic mess, no matter how many lobbyists and interests groups come pounding at their doors. Our fundamental rights are at stake and Canadians who truly value them can’t remain silent.

More on his as it develops.

I had a feeling this was coming, but I had no idea it would be so soon! From the Sigur Ros’ website :

Sigur rós will release their fifth lp "með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust" june 23rd worldwide (june 24th in north america). the album will be available to pre-order on sigurros.com on june 2nd and a live stream of the album will be available on june 9th for those who have pre-ordered.

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by Graziano Staino.
Starring Guido Rinaldi
Music Chart-3 Godspeed You! Black Emperor

…prepared in innocence to meet our king of glory
and so we have this
you have it in your secret windows
and you’re understanding to understand it and to bring it forth
it takes minute detail
it takes a holy life
it takes emotions
it takes dedication
it takes dedication
it takes a death
and only god can allow it
and you couldn’t do it if you’re not the seed of god
and so the path through the great corridors
these are corridors unto his perfection
that is which the prophet and the oarman summoned has penetrated
that through this great sea of blackness
that i penetrated through these corridors
and i went through that last segment
where i went through these dark serpentines
i passed through that corridor
where they sat
where they are
and when you penetrate to the most high god
you will believe you are mad
you will believe you’ve gone insane
but i tell you if you follow the secret window
and you die to the ego nature
you will penetrate this darkness
oh yes there’s many a man or woman
that’s been put in the insane asylum
when this has happened to them
and they’re sitting there today, people think they’re insane
but they saw something that’s real
and they see it when they’re on drugs
the only thing is they see it
not through the light of god, and the way i show you
i show you to see it through the light of god
and the understanding of god
because when you see the face of god you will die
and there will be nothing left of you
except the god-man, the god-woman
the heavenly man, the heavenly woman
the heavenly child
there will be terror under this day of night
there will be a song of jubilee waiting for your king
there will be nothing you will be looking for in this world
except for your god
this is all a dream
a dream in death

and so i went through that window
and the tower of hell and the great serpentines of the highest order
and i went through that when i showed you chart #3
the question is asked and learned and someone who….

Bloodbath. Unblessing the Purity (EP). 2008. 3.5 stars.

A vicious EP from Sweden’s Bloodbath, Unblessing the Purity is a growling throwback to old-school death metal, with caustic vocals and maddening guitar solos setting the stage for horror and damnation. The sound Bloodbath produces is incredibly fast and brutal, running across intense blasting percussion and twisting, expansive guitar passages that bring out melodic nuances hiding beneath the chaos. Like their fellow countrymen Dark Tranquility, Bloodbath successfully combine raging metal riffs with complex compositional touches. While these 4 songs are over quickly and offer nothing revolutionary, they are undeniably entertaining and heavy. If you like your metal filled with deep-throated anger and pulse-pounding speed, this EP should suit your tastes.

Weak Aside

Fascinating and provocative documentary about one of (post)modernism’s most prophetic thinkers. Whatever your beleifs, this is a compelling snapshot of a man whose writings were far ahead of their time.

Part 1

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Paysage D’hiver - Ather. Kristall & Isa
A gritty and powerful song from the cold Swiss hermit. The whole thing comes on like a horrific blizzard.

“Strange Lights” from last year’s excellent Cryptograms. Deerhunter will be playing some shows with NIN this summer, so be sure to catch them if you’re going to any of those concerts.

Tour Dates for Deerhunter
06/27 Calgary, AB: Sled Island Music Festival
07/31 Charleston, SC: The Map Room
08/01 Norfolk, VA: The Boot
08/05 Toronto, ON: Air Canada Centre
08/06 Buffalo, NY: Big Orbit’s Soundlab
08/07 Uncasville, CT: Mohegan Sun Arena
08/08 Worchester, MA: DCU Center
08/10 Pittsburg, PA: Garfield Artworks
08/11 Morgantown, WV: 123 Pleasant Street
08/12 Knoxville, TN: Knoxville Civic Coliseum
08/13 Atlanta, GA: Gwinnett Arena
09/02 Morrison, CO: Red Rock Pavillion
09/03 Salt Lake City, UT: E Center
09/05 Oakland, CA: Oracle Arena
09/06 Inglewood, CA: The Forum

Fen . Ancient Sorrow (EP). 2007. 4.5 stars .

One of the most promising black metal acts to emerge from England, Fen incorporate post-rock and sludge metal influences into their unique sound, producing this incredible 3 track EP that flows like a full-length album. Sounding like a cross between Agalloch (whom they are currently touring with) and Red Sparowes, Fen blend sorrowful howls and blast beats with epic, serpentine riffs, producing mammoth songs that are both intense and subtly executed.

"Desolation Embraced" is a dense and atmospheric opener that moves at a quick pace through blazing distortion and powerful drumming, setting the stage for the dramatic twists and turns to come. Spellbinding arpeggios and breathless tempos showcase the band’s progressive ambitions, as they focus on extended song structures and nuanced instrumentation rather than just raw aggression.

"The Gales Scream of Loss" is a surprisingly moving effort that gracefully glides along heavy shoegaze riffs not unlike Alcest, as raspy vocals whisper behind the wall of clean guitar lines. The bleak mood and emotional ambiance are quite remarkable in their delivery, evoking feelings of catharsis that fans of Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky should appreciate.

The monstrous closer "Under the Endless Sky" begins with sludgy doom metal riffs before shifting into an expansive ambient passage complete with a slow crashing tempo and distant keyboards that sound natural amidst the crushing heaviness. The post-metal breakdown, despite its entrancing quality, runs a little too long and detracts from an otherwise rewarding listen.

Overall, Ancient Sorrow is an innovative and captivating record that clearly demonstrates Fen’s enormous potential. Having just recently signed with Italian metal label Code666, there should be a full LP on the way this year. In the meantime, both post-rock and black metal fans should give this excellent EP a try, and let its transcendental compositions wash over you.

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy . Lie Down in the Light . 2008. 4 stars .

While the indie-rock world may be saturated with countless Fiest/Arcade Fire/Interpol clones, you can always depend on prolific veterans like Will Oldham to breathe some much needed life into your local record store. With so many LPs, EPs and singles under his belt, credited to his many aliases, Oldham has established himself as a masterful songwriter, performing gritty and heartfelt tunes that transgress genres and styles.

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