Who? I know not of Jonathan Richman.

Bliss-Out #2 was a smashing, crashing, screeching, roaring, rumbling, pulsating, droning, intermittently bleating success. It was also (in this damnable week btwn the "have a good time" holidays) basically a night off for me, Obsolete Units' Paul Haney making most of the selections, and they were all great ones (I did get a few swings in there.)

It was like one of those days where you go in to work before a holiday, and don't really have to do all that much but eat snacks and talk to people. But ah, I'm showing my age, as we all know companies don't DO that anymore. Someday, we will take to the street with torches, but by then it may be too late.

Fuck, look at that pic. Been staring at this one for years, from Seijun Suzuki's Gate of Flesh. The potency and pride of the female spirit; she's richly sexual, and also about to kick your ass. Click on her colors for access to the playlist and streaming audio for last night's horrorcast.

Thanks again, Paul.

Starring everyone. Happy 2010! Fuck the past!

Bliss-Out #2

Coming up tonight, at 8 ET: Noise Bliss-Out #2, wherein Paul Haney of Obsolete Units attempts to noise-off with me. I predict he will take me down in the third set, when I surrender to my penchant for Navicon Torture Technologies; either that or we go into extra rounds, to see who can praise Kevin Shields MORE.

WFMU-FM 91.1 NY/NJ
WMFU-FM 90.1 Hudson Valley
http://wfmu.org/playlists/WB

Quick, roll for initiative!

Last night's show was good, if I say so myself. And before you start to sing "ego, there you go"—I give substantial credit to C Lavender, who kept me from falling off the edge of the multiverse as I usually do (banging my head all the way down.)

What's with the fucking attack on my playlist of Varg Vikernes and his prison-bound presets? For shame, boys. White-supremacist, ex-con musical genius/prodigies are such an easy target!

Starring that deadly new Slither LP, that creepy/proggy Weirding Module tape, Haare, and motherfucking Physical Demon. Sorry, I'm in a sweary mood today. Click on the gas-masked fool from Lifespan above to see the playlist and hear the audio stream of last night's horrorcast.

Update 12/23 --- C Lav co-hosts

On tonight's Castle, I'll be joined by co-host and NJ-based noise musician C. Lavender. Tune in as C Lav breaks up my "ums" and "ahs" with young synapses firing quickly.

C Lav video ---

C Lavender - Industrial Pipe Dreams from c lavender on Vimeo.

Wm. Berger collaboration with Kommissar Hjuler und Mama Bär ready to go!

From Kommissar Hjuler: "I love your version, possibly we will find a label to get it released in large edition. I will seek for a label, KHJ" He's already sending me another disc of material to work with.

I'm really happy with the piece, "Lingus 31.31 für Mama und Kommissar," where I basically (but thoughtfully) daubed a psychedelic, collage mess all over a 31-min. narrative they'd sent to me. To my ears, it sounds like latter-day Cosmic Jokers, albeit with a much heavier splicing hand.

I will have CDrs available soon; inquire at wmmberger@gmail.com.

RUI N.

Hey, last night's horrorcast™ was fine! Better than fine—it was great! Why did I think it sucked? Oh right, because I suck. I am a well of pain. Some would say that well is gurgling over with concern only for myself. They'd say other, worse things, too—things that can't be taken back.

I live. I get through the hours. "Gotta Do What You Can," one of my old favorite bands used to sing. "Can't do it, baby, if you can't." That is my anthem these days.

Things can also be tough at the neon-lit Taipei sex emporium, one of so very many. Especially when the rain just won't stop. Click on that green, glowy baphomet to get to the playlist and archived audio for last night's show.

Starring Yellow Swans, Infernal Stronghold, Malveillance, and Shearing Pinx. And many more.

(privé --- I have a shift key, too, you psycho.)

Subsistence, harsch.

I' ; the L indicates n' import what with n' be essential which that j' like. I' ; the L testifies with your divorce, against you. I feel horrible for your son, am to you also shitty a father who you are a friend. You are a nonripe bitch of whiny which acts like a woman if n' import which makes, an egoistic puncture concerned only by yourself. You' ; about d' one kisses and d' I' sournesses; patient of m with died of you, j' liked to make l' exposure but I really don' ; T give a shit which much. Get stuffed never by doing it or by listening to him still. Are a large bag of ugly punch thus you disappear can have of what you have need. Subsistence thinking your illusory thoughts. Don' ; T obtain a work. I don' ; T want to hear of him more, kiss you, your problems, and your pain. Cease pretending to you give a shit, you' ; about d' a sociopath. Since you believe in demons (you child) why don' ; T you gather you carry jusqu' with l' hell? You' ; D is happier there.

"What's in your moat, mate?"

I am very glad to have passed the milestone, nay the millstone, of horrorcast #23. To the mystic/numerologist, 23 is like New's Year's Eve: one had better have a good time—an interesting time—or else! Fortunately, Métal Rouge blessed the evening with their magnificent recordings, much appreciated.

We see the hands of a woman steadily and deliberately break through the wall. A woman who believes herself to still be a child (before all the bad things happened.) She kept getting out anyway. Victoria will slaughter you with passive amusement, and with a single click, will also take you to the playlist and audio-archive page for last night's show.

Also starring Fauz't, Incapacitants, Judas Iscariot, and Rubber (0) Cement.

Also starring you.

Tonight on the Castle - Métal Rouge Rarities

Métal Rouge, the improvisational duo of Helga Fassonaki and Andrew Scott, started in Auckland, NZ, and now operate out of Los Angeles. Their recordings haunt, drone, crunch and hover, like good and bad feelings threatening to happen, and arriving when one least suspects. See the band's MySpace page (linked above) for their dazzling list of inspirations and influences, some song samples, as well as several live video clips. In lieu of a My Castle of Quiet visit, Métal Rouge have graciously provided me with a disc's worth of rarities, all tracks from ultra-limited, or as-yet-unreleased, lathe-cut vinyl and CDr releases, including several collaborations with other artists, and an Andrew Scott solo piece. Tune in when I air 60 minutes from Métal Rouge Rarities, followed by a post of the full collection to WFMU's Beware of The Blog and Free Music Archive on 12/16. The band's newest release, Ephemeroptera V, is currently in play on WFMU's airwaves. Photo by Caitlin Mitchell.

Castle doors @ 8 p.m. ET.
Métal Rouge @ 9 approx.
91.1 FM NY/NJ; 90.1 Hudson Valley; live on the Web @ http://wfmu.org/

Screen Captures of the Day - The Silent Scream (1980)

In 1980's The Silent Scream, Barbara Steele looks amazing, hypnotising, as a regressed, childlike killer, stealing the movie from the 57-minute mark onward, when she finally appears. Barbara probably still looks amazing today, wherever she is. The last half hour of this movie is pure weird-ass, low-budget, American-made gold, but the first 55 mins. are some rough going, with teeedious buildup, wooden acting and unnecessary expositional dialogue. Payoff, though, in the dozens.

A Rare, But Not Entirely Accidental, Moment of Halfway-decent Photojournalism on My Part.

I think I surprised Sara. Slasher Risk, getting ready to play, Glasslands Gallery, Brooklyn, 12.4.2009.

yeah, i saw that movie too.

Die Baumstamm - Cut down, burnt and black, but somehow not quite dead. Its presence commands—and its body can used to fashion a worthy stake!

I brought the rain back from Vancouver.

The Jumelles above have seen their last, and it was a brief run at glory at that. Too bad, so sad; they are lovely. Click and follow them to the playlist and audio archive for last night's horrorcast. It is good to be back, though the rain battles my windows.

Starring Klaus Schulze, Drowning the Light, Trees, Tom Grimley, and Burial Hex. And Tom Grimley.

Re-post --- Five Points Twice: Ten Films to Watch Telecult Powers By

This post originally published on Witchbeam's blog on 29th October. Also check out this Telecult Powers live video from my YouTube channel, and the band's page at the Temple of Pei site.

Wow, a guest blog. This stems from a conversation I had with an acquaintance that is notorious for breaking things into "zones" and also a student of library science, at some point he mentioned that Telecult has a serious "Gurdjieff Zone." I thought about it, found it kind of fun and silly for my band to be reduced to a ven diagram, but then felt a bit limited by it. Sure, Gurdjieff is indeed a huge influence, but what else out there could be something we are in the shadow of? This led to a conversation with Wm. Berger about movies that give off a bit of a "Telecult vibe." I was thinking The Satanic Rites of Dracula & Psychomania, and I was excited to see his list was different than mine. Looks like I will have no problem figuring out what to put on my Netflix cue in November.

With that, I present to you Wm. Berger’s Five Points Twice: Ten Films to Watch Telecult Powers By – Witchbeam

Materials:

1. My favorite Telecult Powers recordings – the tapes Dedicated to Robert Moore b/w Twilight of the Oscillators, and Kiss the Viper’s Fang. These, plus the Telecult WFMU live session from my show this past July 22.

2. A stack of DVD/VHS, all films I love and have watched more than twice

3. etc.

4. Candles

Method:

1. View segments of each film, with tapes playing loudly, and film audio completely muted. (Subtitles were at first optional, but I ultimately decided against them, deciding that they distracted from the mission at hand.)

2. Judge appropriately. (Sub-criteria: a) striking visuals throughout; b) occult themes; c) sex—but not porn—think real women: soft, clean, boob-heavy 60s-70s-type sex; d) always remember—a good hooded cloak, black or red, never hurts.)

3. Fine tune results. Ideally, the film and music arc and lift together.

4. Finally, consider the numerology, i.e., the number of items on the list. Does it feel right? Can a title or two be easily shaved? The answer is probably yes.

Results:

The below are indeed in a very specific order of my personal viewing preference.

Many thanks to Witchbeam for suggesting this study.

1. Masque of the Red Death (dir. Roger Corman, 1964)
Occult technicolor. A beautiful film throughout, cinematography by Nicholas Roeg.

2. Inferno (dir. Dario Argento, 1980)

Since Suspiria already has the most wonderful soundtrack ever, Inferno, its cousin similar in look and tone, is the ideal Argento film for a Telecult treatment. To hear the Pei boys warble and pulsate at that underwater room scene might almost be too much.

3. Incubus (dir, Leslie Stevens, 1965)

Yes, black and white. Yes, William Shatner. Yes, Esperanto. A dreamlike tale, with an eerie visual palette of high-contrast witchery.

4. The Shiver of the Vampires (dir. Jean Rollin, 1971)

Telecult Powers’ music and director Rollin’s image parade are perhaps the most perfect marriage.

5. Lemora: A Child’s Tale of the Supernatural (dir. Richard Blackburn, 1973)

One of my favorite films. Why would I not want to hear one of my favorite contemporary bands score it? Set almost entirely in vampiric bluish-purple.

6. Requiem for a Vampire (1971)

Yes, I snuck another Jean Rollin film onto this list. Anything that starts with a sexy female clown shooting out the back of a car window is Telecult-ready.

7. Shock Waves (dir. Ken Wiederhorn, 1977)

Nazi zombies; another one of my all-time favorites. (Comes with its own burbling, unsettling synthesizer score, so watch it before (or after) with the sound UP.)

8. Daughters of Darkness (dir. Harry Kümel, 1971)

Fassbinder meets Rollin in a car-crash of gorgeous women, blood, brilliant color, and sex sex sex.

9. The Dunwich Horror (dir, Daniel Haller, 1970)

As with Lemora above, I find myself too partial to both the film and the music to resist this suggestion.

10. Equinox (dir. Jack Woods, 1970)

A childhood favorite of mine, and a genuinely disturbing tale, featuring an evil forest ranger, an invisible castle, The Lord’s Prayer read backwards, and several stop-motion monsters, among other delights. Equinox directly inspired Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead and Evil Dead II.

And for a damned-fine alternate, I also suggest —

The Devils (dir. Ken Russell, 1971)

Moloch Rain!

Wm. Berger

More Views From BC

Tattoo inspiration; Vancouver Island.
Sign on Granville St. Bridge rubs it in. Vancouver, BC.
Like an ever-flowing stream.
Stream detail
Toothpicks for the Titans
Vancouver Island—land of 1,000 Kampfar album covers.
Part van, part semi—and it's for sale!
Never a problem, eh.
Canadian medieval barber dental extraction tools; still used today. Alberni Valley Museum.
Old tube tester; reminded me of PKD's novel Voices From the Street. Alberni Valley Museum.

BC, Bud.

Canadian courtesy at perhaps its most perverse.
Shoes. Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, BC.
Hands missing, a grammarian's nightmare—but it IS boobie time!
I noticed William B. Davis, aka Cancer Man, waiting at the boarding gate at EWK. At first I thought he was George Plimpton, until I remembered Plimpton was dead. Then, he boarded my plane in executive class. The very friendly Air Canada flight attendants helped me get his autograph.

nice nice nice nice nice.

Wednesday night's horrorcast, #21, danced more with the cosmic than the twenty Castle broadcasts that preceded it. This was no doubt due to the mystical date of Nov. 11, as well as the presence of Ghost Moth, whose live performance made me shudder—at the windows they opened—those to other worlds, other dimensions.

Then—a surprise! An extra 75 minutes of Castle broadcasting. Thrust into the trenches I was, my response: to get even more cosmic.

A failed pianist sells his soul to malevolent forces to feed his mad aspirations of success; now he's turning into a beast. The susceptibility of the transformation state (pictured above) leaves one open to the possibility of being used as a portal—say a clickable link—to the audio archive and playlist of this extra-long, extra-wide Castle broadcast. Also starring Sektor 304 and Explosive Improvised Device.

I'm off to the woods for a few weeks. My Castle of Quiet radio returns 2nd December.

(Ghost Moth's full set, clocking in at over 50 minutes, will post as an mp3 to WFMU's Beware of The Blog and Free Music Archive this coming Tuesday.)

11/11 the Duality; Ghost Moth live on the Castle

Ghost Moth, the duo of Daniel Carter and Todd Pendu, live Wednesday night on My Castle of Quiet.

Doors @ 8 p.m. ET.
GM @ 8:30.

91.1 FM NY/NJ; 90.1 Hudson Valley
http://wfmu.org/playlists/WB

Do as thou wilt.

I'm easily talked into that one, SiHV. Just ask my almost-ex wife; apparently, what I "wilt" is all that I do. Then my best pal comes back from N'awlins with a human knuckle bone for me. With an inner circle like that, I may be organizing a long-table feast with my enemies. HA HA!

Yes I played Discharge. The thin membrane that was separating Discharge and Hellhammer just peeled completely away. Also starring Physical Demon, Virginal Volcanoes, Umberto, Raspberry Bulbs, Haunted George, Josh Lay, and Demons.

The lovely Florence Tanner, mental medium, is pictured above prior to her disastrous (yet oddly sensual) encounter at the Belasco House. Watery and forceful, she will gently take your hand and guide you to the playlist/streaming archive for last night's horrorcast™ (where it should be noted I played some Black-a-Billy™, in addition to the usual horrorscapes™ etc.)

What demon-spirit could possibly resist that irresponsible collar, and Ms. Tanner's milky translucence? A demon-spirit better than I.

Screen Captures of the Day - House of the Devil (2009)

Dodgy screen caps, I'm the first to admit, but I felt the need to celebrate this winning little film (which I watched on demand rather than disc, hence my hovering, digital shaky-hand and the luminous fuzz it apprehended.)

With a clear love for early-80s mid-budget horror, House of the Devil gets high marks for blending that passion with a more modern, Haute Tension-style survival-horror method. The film pulls taut slowly, and with unexpected subtlety. The characters and cast are a wonder, with nonchalant killer AJ Bowen pretty much stealing the film (as he did with The Signal), surrounded by intense, meaningful performances from the always-unsettling Tom Noonan and the great Mary Woronov.

House of the Devil was made with obvious care by people who love old horror films (and vintage title sequences.) Though the action drags in a few spots, that's almost part of the fun, and the last 20 minutes are payoff galore!

the bar is confused!

Slasher Risk outshined all with their potent improvisations. Their live set will post this coming Tuesday, both to Beware of the Blog and the Free Music Archive. For now, one can listen to the stream of last night's full horrorcast™ by clicking on that wise-looking rooster above (i.e., he knows he's fucked.)

Also starring Eyehategod and Brocken Moon.
Eyehategod - "30$ Bag" on YouTube.

Hi to Jed and CM in N'awlins!

Tonight on the Castle...Slasher Risk LIVE!!!

I have no idea what Andy and Sara are going to do tonight, and it's a good feeling. I do not tiptoe around the abyss.

For more effusiveness, see this earlier post.

Doors @ 8 p.m. ET

SR @ 9.

Listen live on the Web here.

"Local people" can tune in to 91.1 FM, or 90.1 in the Hudson Valley.

Happy pre-AHE, ghouls!

Moloch Rain! Moloch Rain!

The Bitch Fist

CLICK ABOVE

Short Film of the Day - Terror (1978); First 10 Mins., including Title Sequence

Pure bliss—at least the title sequence, which I was unable to crop free from the opening flashback segment (albeit value-added, featuring an intense witch-burning and several murders.)

These opening ten minutes of Terror, directed by the notable Norman J. Warren (see Satan's Slave) are a bit of a screen-capturer's delight anyway, so instead of just stills—here they are in motion.

Music by Ivor Slaney. Slaney's soundtrack to this and another Warren film, Prey, are new on CD.

Wm. Berger, do you play any music?

"Pummel you with intense sound," I said, though it never seems to be enough.

To roll the dice with your consciousness, and dive in to the torrid, audio-as-mind-sweep fest that was last night's kustom horrorcast™, threateningly titled NOISE BLISS-OUT #1, click on the chick above with the milk bottle.

Noise builds strong bones; or at least porous ones, and besides, there's no room for bad thoughts in there.

We don't talk much, but we scream a lot.

Starring everyone.

Next week on the Castle, Slasher Risk LIVE.