Various - Delirious Music For Delirious People mp3 album

“Delirious Music for Delirious People” is a fascinating compilation of avant-garde music by noteworthy names in the ‘sound-art’ or experimental realm. At first glance most of the names will sound obscure but some of them were active in the 1980s and two in the 1970s. They represent a rich array of musical genres, from the ambient-electro-industrial cluster through to alt-folk, alt-country and post-post-modern forms of rock and rockabilly. These recordings are mostly engaging and memorable despite their weirdness; nothing here is inaccessible or self-indulgent. The artistry in the music or soundscapes becomes clear even to the non-avant-gardist after a close listen. In general, the musical textures speak of subtlety and intricate design while some tracks are highly atmospheric.The listener may recognize elements from the oeuvre of pioneers like Captain Beefheart, The Residents, Holger Czukay and Merzbow. Prominent features or similarities amongst a sizeable number of the contributions encompass a predilection for spoken vocals, a penchant for ‘lo-fi’ and the sound of the organ, the use of samples and variously treated vocals, unusual patterns of percussion, electro-industrial effects like crackling/buzzing plus an ambient quality.Among the most striking tracks are ‘Rats’ by the Belgian band BeNe GeSSeRit – French lyrics, trumpets and harp – Hans Grüsel’s ‘Satan Takes a Holiday’ which has both a Dixieland Jazz and electro-swing flavour and Gary Wilson’s psychedelic pop. Murderous Vision also has a touch of psychedelia but of a different kind, Zola Jesus is in darkwave while Boyd Rice and ensemble seem to be rooted in bluesy folk. Irene Moon is a witty singer-songwriter, no doubt about that.Others, like Art Phag, Big City Orchestra, The Centimeters, PHARMACON, I.M.M.U.R.E., Vapid Apparition and Verdant inhabit various niches of the ambient-electro-industrial continuum while the WOLD and Controlled Bleeding tracks brought Merzbow to mind. On the rockier side of the spectrum we have the frantic dissonance of Mac Blackout, Rancid Hell Spawn’s lively mutant pop and Haunted George – who reminds me of Snakefinger – in the punk / rockabilly tradition. The Dreams and Istvan and his Imaginary Band make me think “art pop.”Last but not least, Arvo Zylo’s remix of Jarboe’s magnificent ‘Blood Horizon’ from her 2009 album Durga & Her Smile of Radiant Vengeance. A semi-instrumental, the piece concludes with Jarboe’s ghostly spoken voice. Arvo’s remix is shorter but has gained in immediacy and lost none of the Ligetian grandeur of the original.Considering a track title like Vapid Apparition’s ‘Sinneßteuerung’ and the inclusion of the ‘novelty’ song by Irene Moon, there’s just so much to love about this album.