Take Pills – Consumer Drones (2005)

Take Pills Die

• Experimentalism 
• Electronic music 
• Krautrock 
• Motorik 
• Experimental electro 
• Minimal synth 
• Avant-garde

Comment: undoubtedly the US-based Andrew Cauthen was one of the most interesting artists along with Cagey House, Amitron 7, starstarstar, The Japanese Gum, Children Of The Drone and Joxfield ProjeX whom I had discovered while embarking on with my blog 10 years ago. The visual trademark of him used to be a bicycle on the cover print of every issue. Musically his sound is still mind-blowing, for example, the recent one is a convergence of krautrock-driven motorik beats a la Neu, and on the other side it is a mix of ambient plateaus and droning phases. In truth, he does away with guitars. Earlier, I guess, five years ago I would have considered it an example of pure electronic sound, however, today it chimes to my ears at least partly like a solid German experimental rock project from the 70s. Additionally to Neu! as already mentioned above the minimalist influences by Konrad Schnitzler can be heard on this 8-track outing. Of course, one can also draw parallels upon the electro sound from Detroit but the seminal impulse came from Germany. However, the latter point is not the most essential but it is a very fine listening experience. In a word, let's consume it.

Rumored High Speed Rail Hub - 03.12.25 (2003)

Take Pills Die

/Experimental electronica, Avant-garde, Ambient noise, IDM, Krautrock, Kosmische Musik, Glitch techno, Experimental techno, Experimentalism/

Comment: this project with the strange name seems to be ahead of its time. It is formally an indicator of the point at least, because the title of the album is 03.12.25. In fact, this 11-piece composition has been issued in 2003 to provide meandering spaced-out landscapes backed up by crunchy IDM-alike and glittery glitched out techno propulsions and bass-heavy rumbling here and there. By considering the project`s intention to be ahead of its time it is not incorrect at all. More concretely, there are up many high-pitched synth sounds which used to chime in an overtly futuristic way (for instance, Throw Up). Those brooding synth lines on the top are to startle us by creating phantasmagorical imageries and hyper-realistic associations in the listener`s mind. Is it an electronic counterpart of progressive rock music? Furthermore, it is more close to 70s German progressive music called Krautrock/Kosmische Musik (especially relating to such artists as to Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel, and Klaus Schulze). For instance, Dumpstered which sounds almost like an example of space rock created by a stoned Terry Riley in the meantime. Might it be that it comes out from the same branch of reflecting upon Angus Maclise`s artistic endeavours in Nepal after the departure from the Velvet Underground? Indeed, Stark offers up some clues to be proven. The overall pattern of the outing is thought-shifting and mind-provoking along with vivid changes in rhythmic structures and harmony fabrics. Moreover, the issue`s coverprint used to resonate with the whole`s sound. In a word, let`s enjoy this fabulous item. 

PA - 14.05.04 Thru (2014)

Take Pills Die (tpd 107)

Bandcamp

/Neo-krautrock, Kosmische Musik, New Age, Psychedelic, Drone pop, Electronic, Mood music, Motorik, Ambient pop, Experimental rock/

Comment: regarding the stylistic perception quite much has changed in heads of the listeners since the times of 10 years or more ago. For instance, music which was considered as “noise” (for instance, My Bloody Valentine, or Sonic Youth) sounds quite poppy and common nowadays. Furthermore,  for “krautrock” which was to denote something very vanguard on its own, however, one branch of it coalesced into a more poppy and soothing approach (more concretely, by handling such bands from a new wave of the axis of Cologne-Dusseldorf as Tarwater, Kreidler, To Rococo Rot) and Stereolab, Lali Puna, and Ladytron from elsewhere. Of course, it didn`t mean these bands were somehow betrayers of the genre but it might be it was the only way to create something new being influenced by the zeitgeist. However, today the term “krautrock” and “noise” are so ambivalent because the seeds of the genres are spread out to everywhere and can be found from almost any track regarding indie music (taken up more or less consciously). The case of decadence, isn`t? Andrew Cauthen is an artist from Richmond, Virginia, USA who has been producing music for more than a decade and being loved by many listeners (just watch the downloading rates of his albums at Archive.org). His sonic palette is being quite broad, though, gravitated towards electronic music. The recent issue consists of 3 long-running compositions which is tagged as "ambient", "IDM", "chillwave", "indie pop" among others. Indeed, all these stylistic elements are represented on the issue though the main point focuses on minimalist motorik krautrock rhythms, sublime psychedelic droning and spaced-out phasing and progressions reminding of Kosmische Musik-tinged synthesised whiffs and blows and lingering chill out contortions. By its approach the music reminds of such old artists as Neu!, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream. Although the album lacks guitars the issue rocks off in an indirect sense anyway. Get a glimpse upon it!

Take Pills Die - 08.01.18 Terrorist (2008)

Take Pills Die

Lastfm

/House, Noise, Ambient, Experimental electronica, Leftfield, Alternative/

Comment: it is a loose concept of electronic music providing the shelter for many styles and variations. There are experiments with intense electronic music, near noise and ambient sounds, providing some stereo effects and on the other side Take Pills Die used to trudge across the fields of house music. Indeed, it is highly interesting to hear how the artist manipulates with different sounds and layers all of which used to channelize into something blossoming and fertile. Behind this project hides himself Andrew Cauthen, a very prolific musician.

 

[Vana ning oluline] Take Pills Die 07.04.23 Dead Sea Parting (Take Pills Die)

Richmond`is resideeruv Andrew Julian Cauthen on produktiivne muusik, kes on reliisinud oma label`i all üle 90 albumi. Sotsiaalses plaanis väga kriitiliste ja radikaalsete vaadetega jänki muusikas - Take Pills Die on muideks ironiseeriv viide ühele tänapäeva elumotole/tüübile - võib tajuda paljusid elemente, kus põhituuma tinglikult moodustab happeliste sündisaundidega eksperimentaalne IDM. Kolm aastat tagasi ilmavalgust näinud "07.04.23 Dead Sea Parting" on erand selles osas. 19-minutiline träkk (milles olevad pausid näivad vististi erinevatele osadele viitavat) on autori sõnul inspireeritud Stars of the Lid`ist (omalt poolt lisaksin veel teise, kaaslinlastest legendi Labradford`i mõjud). Vaikselt kulgev sümfooniline voog tõuseb-liugleb-langeb, kahaneb-paisub, jättes maha eepilised ja südantlõhestavad kontuurid. Helides on kuulda ka musique concrete`i põiminguid - mis on kooskõlas ameeriklase looduslähedaste vaadetega - ning kummituslikke, justkui kaugustest läbi udu kumavaid aurikusignaale. Cauthen oskab mängida helide ning kuulajaga - liblikatiiva löögi efekti kutsub käesoleva kuulamine esile, kuna üksikud helitehniliselt esilekutsutud mullistused-kollapsid raputavad massiivselt minimalistlikku kulgemist. Üks impressiivseimaid albumeid kaasaegse klassika-ämbiendi-drone`i konkreethelide ristumisalalt üleüldse. Kuula albumit siit