Microwave Buddah and Other Delights

“Experimental Minimal Wave”, remastered collection of 80’s gems with local/west coast connections. Noise rock with experimentalism, all drum machine and layered loops with guitar overlays (direct in?), vocals through effects. These are the definitive sounds of the birth of DIY recording, early 4 track cassette, reels, with basic drum machines and analog synths available to the lucky. Creative use of auxiliary effects loops and stomp boxes. One or more tracks recorded in the SF Vats, 1978 (!). Fresh to the ear in the shadow of all things opposite in indie music today. See also the very early Cabaret Voltaire, Culturcide, noisier Swell Maps.

“The tracks on this compilation are a retrospective of projects and people’s that i have the privilege and t gratitude to work with…” (liner notes, David Javelosa). The projects associated with this include Los Microwaves, Baby Buddha, Karena Domenico, Ship Yard Choir, Mega Drive Rex, Take it EZ Sleazy, Chip Kidman, Orange Kandy, and producer Geza X. Obscure stuff even my old carcass hasn’t heard of. File this in same bin with the epic comps The Mighty Feeble, Keats Rides a Harley, Darker Skratcher (listen up, we have these in the library, dig them).

1. (A1 4:41) dark industrial techno 80’s feel, heavy analog delay/echo and driving feel with heavy reverb tripped out vocals.
2)* (A2 4:48) driving beat, electro but with real drums and cool guitar, sound bed for understated fem vocals, cool minimalism.
3) (A3 2:26) cool samples (Buffalo Girls go round the outside… John Bonham wondering where a confounded bridge is) basic jungle electro beat and swirling cool sounds.
4)* (10:19) improv guitar, distant vocalizations, dark subtle electro beat.
5) (1:25) Phillip glass feel, looping orchestral instruments
6) (3:15) slow plod with fem melodic vocals lyrics delivered near spoken word though, sci fi themes
7) (B1) driving epic electro rock girl vocs
8) (B2) (2:37) silly French accented girl vocs over sillier walking jazz sampled fun
9)* (B3) (3:03) driving electro again, minimal, play this one with Popcorn (the song), not that they sound alike but it has some bouncy analog synths
10)* (B4 3:12) trippy analog tones with simple electro beat til 0:40 real sounding drums appear and this gets more beat driven and textured
11) (B5 3:43) simple beat, French girl vocs reappear, fun
12) (B6 11:15) chill simple beat, heavily treated vocs, and direct in guitar work