Various Artists - On-Slaught No. 4 -1983- (Cassette, Idiosyncratics), US

This here is - I think - the last cassette of the On-Slaught compilations which is still not to be found on the web. Moreover it takes us back to the beginning of this blog with cassette releases from the early eighties DIY home taping scene (more similar stuff to follow soon). The On-Slaught volumes always consisted of some songs taken from proper album releases and previously unreleased tracks by the featured artists. All the other five On-Slaught compilations are to be found here and here. This time I will make an exception by quoting what Cranio of The Thing on The Doorstep tells us about the On-Slaught series because I couldn't do it more accurate:

On-Slaught magazine was founded by Jody Quirk (editor) in 1982 and published by Artwerk Records with the intent of bringing attention to unusual and experimental music. The first two issues had flexi-discs in them and were successful on a cult level and brought the magazine notoriety in the darker side of the budding New Wave music scene of the early 80s. However in 1983 Jody Quirk left the magazine in career pursuits and electronic musician Mark Lane assumed the role of editor. He was assisted by the graphic artist Julie Vlasak (now with Rhino Records). The two of them published four more issues of On-Slaught on the Idiosyncratics label as a cassette magazine. This not only allowed them to have more bands/artists participate, but also pushed them into the forefront of a by now flourishing worldwide cassette underground. The reader would listen to the cassette program while following the information provided in the printed portion. At the time this concept was ground breaking, and has now become influential as attested to by all magazines that now have CDs in them.

This fourth compilation shows electronic Krautrock legend and founder of Kluster Conrad Schnitzler on the cover of the magazine who plays a track with his son on this compilation (they did a whole album together in the early eighties). Other acts present are a.o. Algebra Suicide, Sleep Chamber, Doo-Dooettes, Mood of Defiance and Ony. What I personally like about the On-Slaught series, apart from the extensive information on international bands, is the right balance between electronic acts and more punk-like improvised noise-bands. Great songs! Legendary compilations. I included the full magazine in the file.

Enjoy!

Vinicio Adames - Al Comienzo Del Camino -1985- (LP, Private Pressing), Venezuela

If you thought that Venezuela is an odd socialist country where the immortal Hugo Chavez rules the place and where they have a toilet paper scarcity then think again: that’s just one side of the story. Venezuela has historically always been a very diverse country with numerous influences, ideologies, wealth vs. poverty dynamism and identities. It’s a country that artistically was always able to produce its own unique music and art. Its current image of danger and totalitarian socialist spectacle really doesn’t show the deeper refined cultural dimensions that the country has to offer. The artefact we’ve got here is a precise example of the musical diversity the country has to offer. Yes, there is great Latin jazz, salsa music or cumbia, but also minimal synth, electronic improvisation, rock and other genres. Venezuela basically has everything to offer, but the last two or three decades made artistic (not colonial) history disappear under a layer of indifference and political tactics trying to take artistic expression hostage. Luckily, art always finds a way to blur the boarders (unless it was meant to consolidate the state’s power of course) and people are slowly uncovering their forgotten musical past out of necessity and pride.

The album presented here is, to my knowledge, the only absolute example of a synth/wave album from Venezuela. Just when you thought everything (at least vinyl) in that genre has been uncovered by the hype, some things were just too difficult to track down. The only other album which could be qualified minimal synth/wave from Venezuela from the past is “Gran Sabana” by Miguel A. Noya, who also plays a role on this particular album. Because that album has more improvisational pieces too, this is the only one from Venezuela I’d say. The amazing electronic music of Venezuelan musician Angel Rada exceeds basically everything what we are talking about now and has a different kind of quality to it. I’d highly recommend you to check it out. All these people came from the same movement of Venezuelan electronic music though and even performed alongside each other. During the eighties there was an annual electronic music festival in Caracas at the cultural institute Casa Romulo Gallegos where these artists would perform. The Casa Romulo Gallegos still exists today.

Al Comienzo Del Camino by Vinicio Adames was self-released in 1985 in very limited quantities. To my knowledge only a handful of copies are in the hands of collectors. Vinicio Adames released many more albums. From his website: 

A skilled composer and producer of contemporary, orchestral and electronic music for Film, Art, Dance and TV. One of the most influential exponents of the electronic music movement in South America for more than 20 years. Adames has produced and executed his own concerts in which he combines music, video, design, digital imaging and cinematographic illusions all created by himself. He has been rewarded with numerous awards in the field of music for short and feature films in Venezuela and for the music composed for the advertisement industry. He has produced more than 30 short and featured film projects and around 100 TV programs and documentaries. Music producer for more than 300 advertisement pieces for corporate clients such as: American Express, MasterCard, Kellogg’s, Coca-Cola, GM, Ford, Movilnet, Banco de Venezuela, among others.In the art field his music has been exhibited in museums and galleries for installations, expositions and video-art.

Al Comienzo Del Camino was Vinicio Adames’ first album. It shows the primitivism of synth wave, but also clearly shows melody and composition. Most of the songs are really composed pieces and have vocals in Spanish. For some people this might be a turn off, because it has a soft kind of new wave side to it. Nevertheless, I think that it’s a great record with quite some diversity and the uniqueness of this type of music from Venezuela makes it worth it anyway. The opening track “Al Comienzo Del Camino” and the tracks  “Escape” and “Grem” are clearly songs I could imagine in any minimal wave set. The electronic music scene of Venezuela really deserves proper reissues and shouldn’t be overlooked. Hopefully this post will contribute.

Get it HERE

Por que, la vida no es una línea infinita
Sino más bien una elipse muy grande
en la cual pasaremos mucho tiempo
tratando de llegar a lo más avanzado
para luego allá
darnos cuenta que
estaremos de nuevo

 Al comienzo del camino