Hank Monk

mmm...it's been since Chaosphere that I haven't followed them. Should I listen to this one or do I have some to catch up on? :D

One question... but do the UK versions of the albums pre "Their Satanic" exist on CD? I always find only the USA ones...

Provocative record par excellence, and at first listen, it might come off as "autistic" and silly like no other. This year, I spent a lot of time listening to it, and in the end, I believe I’ve understood it; while I don’t love it and it still feels a bit heavy to me (especially due to its length), I have to say I like it.

I disagree with you that it's all the same. For instance, Osiris strikes me as very much Bardo Pond from the (mythical) Bufo Alvarius period. NY Avenue Bridge definitely has its melody, and I don’t know why, but it reminds me of the Fiery Furnaces’ Blueberry Boat. RTX USA with that flute underneath just cracks me up, and I find it very enjoyable. Ice Cream, with that perpetual riff, you recognize it right away. Solid Gold Tooth is "almost" a normal song.

And then there’s the TRUE masterpiece: Ape Ove. In the first 3 minutes, a ton of things happen (at times even something that makes me think of Screamadelica), and it’s not done haphazardly at all. Then it evolves into a fantastic trip.

I believe the biggest hurdle of this record is the singing, which is really annoying. If you "filter" it (or put it in perspective), I think the dimension of the album changes radically. In fact, I find all the instrumental parts quite enjoyable—absolutely not that bothersome (I mean, at 14 I was listening to stuff much more incomprehensible and demanding...blessed grindcore :D).

Anyway, yes, when you approach these levels it's always difficult to distinguish between an immense joke and/or avant-garde.
It’s likely that the truth lies somewhere in between. The avant-garde is an immense joke :D
Or maybe a different perspective on something we are used to seeing in just one way...

For instance, in figurative art where I don’t understand a damn thing, I really consider “the avant-garde” to be a joke. I mean, I splash some paint on a canvas in 5 minutes and find a fool who pays me a fortune for it.
In music, though, I think it's different: producing an album, playing it in front of people, taking it on the road, putting your face out there. It may also be a joke, but it’s a joke that shapes your life as an artist and, in part, as a person.
So, I don't know if it's relevant, but for me, this is an important difference.

Always interesting to read you.
I didn't even know she existed, and from the links to the page, it's really something "beyond."
I have to say, though, that lately I've been appreciating (in certain moments of fatigue) even Twin Infinitives by Royal Trux, which seems to me the garage rock equivalent of this lady for the operatic vibe, so...

Interesting writing on something terrible. I really don't know if they take themselves seriously. I flatter a certain type of audience by using their lexicon and image. If you do it once, it's not taking yourself seriously; if you build a career on it, it’s believing in it. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with being the polaroid of a certain humanity and flattering it beyond shame... after all, even "Faccetta Nera" did the same, right? And here we are still remembering it... :(

Great tip!
I mean, the new Meshuggah is coming out (I didn't know that).
I'm definitely going to listen to it, and by the way, I also see they're playing in Bologna in December, and this time I won't miss them.

I still remember when I bought Destroy Erase Improve, the guy at the record store gave me some really warm compliments about it. Such an awkward moment, with my back against the wall until I left :D

How nice to see the Pixies again so active. I saw them on the last tour (unfortunately with very low volumes, but it might be that I'm progressively becoming deaf) and I really liked Paz. She fit perfectly on that stage with them.

:) how clever

beautiful.