Comment:
first of all, happy birthday (60th jubilee) and best wishes to Mark
E. Smith, the core of the Fall and the legendary figure within the
post-punk and alternative rock movement during the last four decades.
He has been considered a bit misanthropic in his songwriting which is
sobering with regard to the visions of futurologists and philosophers
to alleviate desperation of the masses. For instance, I am very
sceptical about Elon Musk's plan to organise first flights around the
Moon in 2018. Of course, I can principally agree with the statement
we have entered into the dèbut de siècle of biotechnological human
being within the virtual world which arguably allows us to cross the
borders of territories we have not reached yet. I think it is not
going to happen in the near future of a couple of decades. I think
music is the best rocket to make it happen in our fantasies. And
postmodernism is still the cultural magnetic field we are not able to
abandon because of being a stripe in our DNA. For instance, one way
is to step backwards to approach Now, the 9-notch outing by NOW.
Being released on a cult imprint, Clinical Archives, it is a fine
drift between different styles similarly to the Fall. More
profoundly, one can partake by moving from synth-heavy space pop to
minimal post-rock numbers to droning avant-pop terrains. With It is
something about a crossroad of how to match the motorik impulse of
krautrock with downbeat tendencies. It might remind of an early
Stereolab at the time of recording and issuing Mars Audiac Quintet
(for instance, at I4Me, and A Good Natured Serpent) and
a new wave of krautrockers from cities of the Ruhr area in Germany in
the 90s and the 00s. Through it one can hear the influences of an
early Kraftwerk, and Neu! (it does not surprise at all, isn`t?). On
the other hand, at Lonely Chair you can perceive the
influences of bedroom and lo-fi and DIY aesthetic as well. All in
all, it is a top notch by any means. The trio from the UK must have been an outstanding
group because of having collaborated and shared the stage with such
underground music juggernauts as Damo Suzuki, Faust, Circle, Tunng,
Psapp, Rothko, Plaid, A Hawk And A Hacksaw among others.
