I've had a feeling this would happen eventually. Previously, even before I discovered Me and That Man, I tried on several occasions to find what it was about Behemoth that people had become so fanatical about. Unlike Frontman and Brainspring Nergal's more recent project, I just could never relate to it. Behemoth always left me cold, and not in a good way. Friday morning, however, a random algorithmic playlist by Apple Music rotated "Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel" through my ears and suddenly, I got it.
I've only consumed 2014's highly lauded The Satanist thus far, but the momentum behind that first go-through is enough to have me chomping at the bit for more. Behemoth has a very specific sound, or at least that's how I hear it and why I ended up falling into it so hard. It has a lot to do with the way the bass guitar is played, recorded, and mixed in relation to everything else, but moving out from there, the guitars, drums, vocals, and other accompanying instrumentation feel very much arranged or composed, as opposed to assembled by more conventional means.
Watch:
Wow. Not only did I find this small peak into Orville Peck's life fascinating, but Alfred Marroquín's direction is as beautiful and moving as Peck's narration. I've avoided watching or learning too much about Peck's life, as I think his enigmatic persona compliments the deserted Lynchian Highway of his music. Marroquin balanced exactly the right amount of 'behind the curtain' with spectacle here, and this short Doc is all the better for it.
Playlist:
Behemoth - The Satanist
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis
David Bowie - Live Nassau Coliseum '76
Michael Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA
Anthrax - Among the Living
Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits
Card:
Motivation and Drive, which feels spot-on as several projects ramp up here, at the end of what feels like a top-heavy year, as far as productiveness is concerned. There's a feeling of acceleration as we head into the new year, almost an unruliness. Looking at the Prince of Wands, reading the almost out-of-control momentum on the card's face, I'm reminded that recklessness can negate ambition quite easily.
I'll just go on record now as saying, after having another go at Nergal's other band Behemoth, I'm all for him letting that fade and focusing on Me and That Man. This new video is a step up even from their last, and that's not easy to say. You can pre-order the new album, which is out March 27th on Napalm Records, HERE.
**
Suffering from some fairly tumultuous back pain over this past weekend, I ended up seeing quite a few movies. On Saturday, K and I took in an early showing of Underwater. I can't stress enough how pleasantly surprised I was by this flick; in fact, based on where it goes, and how grandiose things get, Underwater will almost certainly be on my Top Ten Favorite Horror Flicks of 2020. I know, I know, I just posted 2019's list, but it's never too soon to start thinking about the next year's totals, and when a movie makes this big of an impression, well, let's just say it's a safe bet my love will only deepen.
I put up a six-and-a-half minute "Why you should go see this" review/reaction on The Horror Vision. The first 5 minutes or so of this quick review are spoiler free, then, in case you need more convincing, I literally sound an alarm and go into HUGE spoilers. This movie is fantastic, and apparently it's bombing, so I really want to try and raise awareness and get some like-minded folks out into the theatre to see it. You won't regret it!
**
Playlist:
David Bowie - Black Star
Perturbator - The Uncanny Valley
Ennio Morricone - Vergogna schifosi
Ennio Morricone - Scusi Facciamo L'amore
Cavern of Anti-Matter - Hormone Lemonade
Cherrelle - High Priority
Chris Connelly - Sleeping Partner
Night Shop - In the Beak
David Bowie - Hunky Dory
David Bowie - Heathen
The Rolling Stones - Some Girls
Blood Red Shoes - Get Tragic
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Adam Kesher - Local Girl (Hatchmatix Remix)
Battle Tapes - Sweatshop Boys EP
Battle Tapes - Form EP
Bells Into Machines - Eponymous
Tomahawk - Mit Gas
David Bowie - Low
Damage Manual - Special Edition
Steve Moore - The Mind's Eye OST
Card(s):
Struggling with distraction, frustration, and apathy, there's a breakthrough on the way!
Me and That Man is a band I only recently discovered. Back in early November, I spent a few weeks ingesting their 2017 debut Songs of Love and Death. Now they release this and totally throw me for a loop on their sound - which is huge and amorphous - and I'm in love with this! Tarantino meets Bava's Demons meets The Thirsty Crows! How can this be any better? Well, in writing this post I did some reading and realized Me and That Man is a side project for Nergal from Behemoth, a band I'm not a huge fan of, but have wanted to give another try - 2014's The Satanist was fellated by many an online critic but never really burrowed into me the way I had hoped at the time. Maybe five years and seeing this completely different side of the brain trust will change that?
Here's to hoping there's a new album dropping in 2020.
**
Wow. A pretty stacked NCBD:
Love this cover.
This book is getting even more insane with the newest story arc. There was a point where I thought it lost me; I was wrong.
This kind of NCBD hardly ever happens to me these days, so even though I'm picking up a day late, I'm psyched.
**
K and I wrapped up Season 4 of Veronica Mars last night and... well, wow. Aside from all the tears, I ended up absolutely loving this new tone for the grown-up Veronica world, despite what seemed like a slightly wobbly first two episodes (probably me bringing in baggage as we steam-rolled through season 3, into the movie, right into this, so there was some tonal shock at how the show and, particularly the Veronica character, had changed). Now, it's time for...
K is a complete X-Files virgin, and I was only ever spotty at best watching the show. I've always harbored the tendency to turn my nose up at tv, and that was especially true after Twin Peaks and before The Sopranos, so X-Files just seemed silly to me back when it came out. I never saw any of the first season episodes until waaaay later, and it wasn't until the 'Mythology' episodes hooked me with their eerie continuity before I cared at all. During a recent conversation, Mr. Brown asked if he could curate a 'playlist' of non-Mythology episodes for me, as a kind of overview of the best the series had to offer in its purest form. The idea of seeing the show through my good friend's eyes was something I would never pass up, so here we are. Of course, we have to start at the beginning, even if we deviate sharply from there.
Season 1, Ep. 1 - Pilot.
I'd seen this episode before, at some point, but remembered very little. I've gotta say, I really enjoyed it. There are so many cues The X-Files took straight from Twin Peaks (the episode opens with two Pacific-Northwest lawmen hunched over a dead girl's body found in the middle of the woods. When they turn her over, one of them recognizes her as a classmate of his son's. Does this feel too 'on the nose'?
No. It feels influenced by Peaks, but like the show is trying to do its own thing with the tone, which I appreciate. As the episode continues, I was surprised by the tasteful restraint of the music. Maybe it's later seasons, but I remember catching part of an episode in passing on someone else's tv within the last few years, and the score was so over the top and crescendo-heavy, I couldn't tolerate it for me than a few moments. Not the case here - Mark Snow's score in the non-iconic moments is wonderfully dark and sparse. I never felt like he was trying to manipulate my emotions or the story (when the writing is good, it stands on its own. Nothing worse than an over-indulgent score trying to make up for crappy writing). Also, the chemistry of the situation between Mulder and Scully works from the moment they meet. There's no fat on this one, and even though it has a lot to do in a short time, nothing ever feels rushed.
Overall, a fantastic episode and a great start to Mr. Brown's X-Files Playlist!
**
Playlist:
David Bowie - The Next Day
David Bowie - Black Star
David Bowie - Hunky Dory
Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun
Spotlights - Love and Decay
Orville Peck - Pony
Boy Harsher - Careful
Meg Myers - Sorry
Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell
Deafheaven - Sunbather
Blackwater Holylight - Veils of Winter
Blut Aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God
Blut Aus Nord - Hallucinogen
Moor Mother - Analog Fluids of Sonic Black Holes
Revocation - The Outer Ones
Godflesh - A World Lit Only By Fire
