Wadaiko Ichiro – Wadaiko Ichiro (1993)

Country: Japan

 

Tracklist

1. Chiten 06:05
2. Okedo 06:47
3. Sho-Roku 09:19
4. Lin 04:31
5. Odaiko 13:53
6. Sakigake 08:16

 

A prominent Japanese taiko drumming ensemble and project,

Wadaiko Ichiro was founded and led by master drummer and composer Ichiro Inoue (also known as Ichiro Jishoya).
Ichiro Inoue previously served as a leader and music director for the renowned traditional taiko group Ondekoza.

In 1989, Inoue left Ondekoza to establish Wadaiko Ichiro (later renamed Japanese Drums Orchestra ICHIRO or JDO Ichiro).
Inoue created the group as a modern alternative to rigid traditional troupes,

blending Japanese taiko with Western and African musical elements.
Their performances combine the discipline and force of martial arts with the elegance of ballet.
The ensemble and Ichiro as a soloist have toured extensively, performing in 23 countries and over 1,500 stage appearances

in locations like the Boston Symphony Hall, Berlin Philharmonic Hall,

Sadler's Wells Theatre in London and the Odeon Of Herodes Atticus in Athens.

 
Memory

Orchis – A Thousand Winters (1997)

Country: England

 

Tracklist

1. The Horseman 00:14
2. Blood Of Bone 05:40
3. Blackwaterside 03:42
4. The Hare / Jennet 02:58
5. Gallows Man 05:00
6. Arcadia 04:28
7. The Horn 00:23
8. He Walks In Winter 06:14
9. Magæra 03:21
10. Winter 01:02
11. Risen 06:13
12. From The Iron Wood 07:49

 

English dark folk project consisting of Tracy Jeffery (who also sings with Cunnan and J Greco's SQE),  

Amanda Prouten and Alan Trench (Cunnan, SQE, Twelve Thousand Days (with Martyn Bates), Temple Music).

The band released four albums starting in 1994 with "The Dancing Sun", 

which was more a collection of formative pieces, then in 1997 the concept album that was "A Thousand Winters".

"Mandragora" (Trisol), an alchemical album based around the themes of life, death and the transmutation of the soul

followed in 1999 and in 2013 the album "A Dream" (Infinite Fog Productions).

Relocation and various tedious problems put Orchis on the back burner while its members involved in other projects.

There also have been numerous compilation album appearances over the years.
"A Thousand Winters" is a сonceptual album, dealing with the story of a thriving pagan culture

that at first laughs in derision at the priests of the desert messiah, and then is slowly submerged

by the rising tide of christianity until all that remains is folk memory and old tales and songs.
Mystical dark folk with an impurity of a classical English psychedelia of the late 60s.

 
Memory

Cicciolina Holocaust – Vaseline Race (EP 1984)

Country: Italy

 

Tracklist

1. Vitriol (Feind Hört Mit) 08:52
2. Cattle Murder 04:03
3. Vaseline Race 06:35
4. The End (Total Hallucination Plaza) 06:43

 

Florim Prishtina and Rezart Veseli recorded together in Firenze (Italy) during the late 70s til mid 80s. 

In 1984 they started using the Cicciolina Holocaust moniker

and released several home-taped cassettes, all small private editions given to friends.

Their collaboration ended in 1987 when Veseli migrated to Greece.
Using guitar, Korg Poly 61, Korg KPR 77, Cornet, Tascam Portastudio (4-Track), effect pedals,

tapes and an array of self-built machines, Cicciolina Holocaust's work covers a wide spectrum of analogue electronics,

resulting in oppressive synthscapes, nihilistic industrial and and abrasive minimalistic experiments.
Decades after their activity ceased, their archival recordings were unearthed, remastered from the original analog tapes,

and given official vinyl/digital releases by the Belgian archival record label Forced Nostalgia.
Recorded 1980-1984, and previously released as a private cassette (1984).

 
Memory

Isao Tomita – Demon Pond (1979)

Composer: Isao Tomita

 

Tracklist

1. La Cathedrale Engloutie 06:39
2. Des Pas Sur La Neige 04:41
3. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'un Faune 10:14
4. Claire De Lune 05:53
5. The Hut Of Baba Yaga 03:42
6. The Great Gate At Kiev 06:18
7. Promenade - The Old Castle 06:18
8. A Night On Bald Mountain 12:44

 

Demon Pond (Japanese: 夜叉ヶ池) is a 1979 Japanese romantic fantasy film directed by Masahiro Shinoda.

It is an adaptation of the 1913 play of the same name by Izumi Kyōka,

with an adapted screenplay written by Haruhiko Mimura and Tsutomu Tamura.
The film stars Tsutomu Yamazaki, Go Kato and Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando.
The story is set in Japan in the 1930s where a scholar visits a drought-stricken village

and finds his missing friend guarding a mystical mountain pond.

The friend must ring a sacred bell daily to prevent an imprisoned dragon god from unleashing an apocalyptic flood.
The film's score, composed by Isao Tomita, heavily utilizes Moog synthesizers, mixing classical and electronic music genres.

Scenes taking place on dry land are often accompanied by Tomita's arrangement of pieces by composer Claude Debussy,

whereas underwater scenes are scored by Tomita's arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures At An Exhibition".
Isao Tomita (冨田 勲 22 April 1932 – 5 May 2016) was a Japanese composer regarded as one of the pioneers

of electronic and space music as well as one of the most famous producers of analog synthesizer arrangements.
In addition to creating note-by-note realizations, Tomita made extensive use of the sound-design capabilities

of his instrument, using synthesizers to create new sounds to accompany and enhance

his electronic realizations of acoustic instruments.
He also made effective use of analog music sequencers and the Mellotron, and featured futuristic science-fiction themes,

while laying the foundations for synth-pop music and trance-like rhythms.
Many of his albums are electronic versions and adaptations of familiar classical music pieces.
He received four Grammy nominations for his 1974 album based on music by Claude Debussy, "Snowflakes Are Dancing".

 
Memory

Mortar – Ancient Rites (1999)

Country: Italy

 

Tracklist

 1. Entrance 04:29
2. Lunar Influence 05:57
3. Hunting The Beast 04:51
4. Black Souls 05:36
5. Exmoor 07:04
6. Into The Abyss 10:26
7. Relics 4:56
8. The Full Moon 03:14

 

Dark ambient/industrial project created by Italian musician Moreno Daldosso.
Based out of Nova Milanese in Lombardia, the project serves as a side branch of Daldosso's creative venture

who is mostly known for his other industrial/noise  project Murder Corporation.
While Murder Corporation focuses heavily on aggressive mechanical noised and extreme industrial themes,

Mortar leans into slower, atmospheric death ambient and cinematic textures.
Daldosso also manages Murder Release, an underground record label used to distribute his own material

alongside physical releases from iconic industrial and noise artists like Maurizio Bianchi and Atrax Morgue.
"Ancient Rites" was released in 1999 through Blade Records 

as a limited edition of 60 hand-numbered copies CDr in a special packaging.

 
Memory

Invisible Empire – Chants Before The Last Battle (1999)

Country: Italy

Tracklist

1. Intro: Fall Of Europa 02:26
2. Exhortation Au Combat 03:39
3. The Puppet's Master 05:19
4. Into The Tradition 05:50
5. Holy Roman Invisible Empire 07:54
6. Interlude 01:59
7. Behind The Azure Of Adelphi 07:01
8. Brothers Against 02:40
9. Rennes Le Chateau 03:24
10. Rockin' Odal 04:03
11. Fragments Of Honour 03:52
12. The Real War 04:58
13. The Modern Death 04:07
14. Tribute To The German Cosmic Couriers 04:51
15. A Message 01:51
16. ...And They Prepare The New Age 04:21
17. Kobaia Korps (Bonus Track) 06:28
18. Pro Guardia (Bonus Track) 07:07

Italian project that released only one album on Oktagön label in 1999.
Their line up consisted of Lupus (electronics, vocals, sampler, percussion),

Aper (vocals, guitar), Stryx (vocals, organ) and Corvus (vocals, sampler, bass).
Published on a limited edition CD housed in oversized trytich sleeve.
The Memory Link features two bonus tracks, "Kobaia Korps" taken from the compilation Octagon - The Sampler (2000)

and "Pro Guardia" taken from the compilation Codreanu: Eine Erinnerung An Den Kampf (2001).

 
Memory

Republic – Freedom Through Ability (7'' EP 1995)

Country: United States

 

Tracklist

 1. Herald/Responsibility 04:31
2. Freedom Through Ability 05:13

 

 Obscure project that was formed by Harold Arthur McNeill and James Banner aka one half member of the band Enstruction.
Republic released only this limited edition 7inch EP, that comes with a two-sided insert, in 1995 through Storm Records.
It contains two tracks recorded on 4-track tape in Seattle 1982,

including the song "Herald" that features Hiram Gordon Wells who was another memnber of Enstruction.
Typsetting and liner notes by the publisher Michael Moynihan of Blood Axis.

 
Memory