“Remains” available once again

The music of Bella Morte has been a favorite on any decent gothic playlist since before the very first Cruxshadows tour, their earliest albums being my very favorites, of course, because I am an old and crotchety bastard like that.

If I hadn't already purchased their music long, long ago, I might have noticed that their earlier works weren't available - which would have made me a bit sad, and might have explained why they were doing less and less of their original works every time I went to a Bella Morte show.

There is no goth more deprived than one who does not have Bella Morte's earlier works.

This terrible deficiency might actually serve to explain the sudden explosion of fat pants and ball caps seen over the last decade, as well as the horrendous amount of overplaying of NIN's "Closer" and VNV's "Chrome", as well as the omni-presence of "New Metal" within the once-sacred confines of what were once alternative clubs.

But now, there is hope...

"Remains", Bella Morte’s first album is now available again, as a download through CD Baby.

"Where Shadows Lie" and "The Death Rock EP" are also scheduled for re-release in the near future.

For those who like to have the actual CD in hand, a handful of new and used copies of the latter two are available through Amazon, no dice for any copies of Remains through that outlet however - but you may want to look around elsewhere.

For those who don't mind, or prefer MP3 downloads, you can follow this link to buy Remains as a download.

A moment of your time please...

The Pickled Brothers includes my good friend Travis - sideshow freak extraordinaire.

Travis has been on Jay Leno in recent weeks for his world record-breaking bug-related feats, and has performed his acts at shows and conventions all over the country. Erik, the other Pickled brother, broke the world record for upside-down juggling last year. Both are fantastic people worthy of winning this years reward.

I might also mention that Travis is the type of friend who would drive 45 minutes or more to lend a circular saw.

Please, if you would, vote for him through the link below (No guarantees on him lending you his saw).

You can scroll past all other categories if cramped for time (you needn't fill them all out).

Scroll down to: OUT AND ABOUT: Best comedy troupe

http://www.bestofcincinnati.com

One vote per Ip, they are logging IP addresses.

West

I am home, and finally able to sit down and listen to my copy of Ego-Likeness' "West".

West is a limited edition CD, the second of their Compass set, signed and numbered, and absolutely well-beyond-worth the $10 spent.

Though most of the tracks on this CD are remixes from other CDs, or entirely unique alternate versions by the band, "Sirens and Satellites" is completely new, and well-worth the purchase in its own. It is a moving and energetic masterpiece with perfect dynamic separation, making for a moving and energizing torrent of perfectly placed highs and lows washing over and incredibly contagious and rhythmic musical dreamscape.

"I Live on What's Left" is a haunting anthem, pensive, gloomy, beautiful, relaxing and atmospheric - reminiscent of Liz Frazier or perhaps Jane Sisberry in style and feel - moving and downbeat, the perfect prelude to the tracks to come:

The Hypofixx Remix of "Burn Witch Burn" is a pulse-pounding and melodic dance track, and addictive beyond description. I do hope to see it once again top request lists at US clubs this year, and maybe ten years later in Ohio.

"The Egg of the Mother", originally Recorded in 2002, is as promised drastically different from the original version ("Save your Serpent"), and utterly fantastic. I could not say which of the two I love more, but I can say that hearing this version made me more than pleased to have the EP. "The Egg of the Mother" is a hypnotic, dreamy, building musical wave, its ebb and flow leading perfectly into "Severine", a wonderfully depressive and powerful remix by Hopeful Machines - a side project of Ego Likeness' brilliant and artistic composer and co-author, Steven Archer.

Signed and Numbered, at only $10+$2 S&H, with only 300 available - I would certainly recommend putting the purchase of this CD at the top of your list for this week, if not this very minute.

Watch the video for Sirens and Satellites (performed at DragonCon 2008):
(Or see it at full size and format here)

You really have to listen to this

Magenta, the real Magenta, not that pop whatthef^ckever, just finished their new album and put new songs up - just minutes ago.

You may remember them from some of the better gothic collections - not those samplers where everyone sounded like Black Tape for a Blue Girl, not those samplers from the mall store with the fat pants, but actual gothic music compilations such as The Black Bible and Unquiet Grave Vol.1.

They are an amazing band with a beyond fantastic sound. You really, really should give them a listen:

http://www.myspace.com/magenta