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Released
September, 1997

Label
The Skin Graft
Entertainment Group
P.O. Box 257546
Chicago IL 60625

Reviewed by
Michael Lund

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Last Edit/Update
January 20, 1998

Various Artists

Camp Skin Graft
(!) Now Wave
[Compilation] Vol. 1-3

Track Listing

ACT ONE (!)

1. THE BROWNS - My Name in Italics
2. U.S. MAPLE - Missouri Twist
3. THE FLYING LUTTENBACHERS - Demonic Velocities
4. LAKE OF DRACULA -
Plague of Frogs
5. YONA-KIT - Skeleton King
6. YOU FANTASTIC! - Riddler 5
7. UFO OR DIE - Zombie Tube
8. ZEKE SHECK CARE COMPANY -
The Beeper Gets Digested
9. CHUCK FALZONE, TELEPATH -
You're Just Too Scared, Boy
10. SHAKUHACHI SURPRISE - Nande
11. MELT-BANANA - Zoo, No Vacancy

SCENE TWO (!)

12. STRANGULATED BEATOFFS -
Satan's Pool Party
13. MONITOR RADIO - Insouciance
14. COLOSSAMITE - Bewilderbeast
15. FLOSSIE AND THE UNICORN - Chewing Gum From Outer Space
16. SHORTY - Mitzy Lodge
17. ZZZZZ - One, Two, Many
18. CHEER-ACCIDENT - Filet of Nod
19. THE DENISON KIMBALL TRIO - Framed
20. RUINS - Hydromasgroningem
21. AKATEN - Latham's Snipe
22. OMOIDE HATOBA - Pikadom

STRIKE THREE (!)

23. LAST OF SG'S - Bye to Bags
24. MOUNT SHASTA - s171
25. DAZZLING KILLMEN - Windshear
26. QUINTRON - Bug Attack
27. BOBBY CONN - 69 Annee Erotique
28. NOOD HAM - Tokyo Santa
29. TORTURED MACHINE - Flash Fire
30. SPACE STREAKINGS - F.O.J.K.
31. ZENI GEVA - Terminal hz
32. F'STEIN - Mighty Fuckin' Robots
33. BRISE-GLACE - Likeness

          The 50th release by Skin Graft Records -- "The Outhouse of Ideas" -- is nothing short of a celebration. It is a celebration by Skin Graft of its recording artists over the years, it is a celebration of Skin Graft by 33 of the label's bands and affiliated artists, and, it is a cause for celebration amongst old fans of Skin Graft's music and uninitiated listeners alike.
          By means of a short introduction for those unfamiliar with the label; Skin Graft simply is one of the true vanguards of the underground musical scene. Their repertoire -- which actually defies categorization or easy description -- spans from Japanese noise-music, over inverted punk-rock, to such obscure hybrids as experimental-ambient and "free-jazz-death-metal." In one word, Skin Graft's output is eclectic, and for anyone who finds the musical scene even slightly stale or predictable, theirs is at least one direction in which to turn the ears.
          The Camp Skin Graft compilation comes with a CD-booklet richly illustrated with photographs depicting highlights from their notorious "Oops Shows" -- Dirty Dog, Karate Chimp and The Frogman, amongst many others, carrying out their skits, which are an integral part of these shows. Slid in front of the booklet, there is a sticker sporting the famous "Now Wave (!)" logo, and the perennial Skin Graft character -- Hot Satan -- advertising "33 Hits" from the upper right hand corner. The "33 Hits" featured on the disc are a rich selection of songs by both the prominent and the more obscure bands that have recorded on, or been involved in Skin Graft's life in one way or another, over the years. As is always the case with Skin Graft's "Oops Shows" (in relation to which the compilation is a kind of tangential release), the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts. The shows often feature three or four bands playing sets varying in length from 20 to 40 minutes each, with a series of interrelated skits filling the gaps between the musical acts. Likewise, Camp Skin Graft consists of three volumes; these separate volumes have been expertly mastered (by Chicago experimental music icon -- Jim O'Rourke), so as to present the eleven bands featured on each "volume" as one continuous event. Despite the diversity of the musical styles of the bands, the transitions between songs are often fluid enough to necessitate a quick glance at the CD-player's display, in order to ascertain exactly which track is playing.

          "Act One (!)" of the compilation opens with a short, almost incidental, piece of instrumental music by The Browns (U.S. Maple guitarist Todd Rittmann's solo project). Afterwards, the CD immediately kicks into high gear with three of Skin Graft's biggest names; each flirting with more conventional musical genres in ways that make them almost antitheses to those genres. U.S. Maple may at first sound like something of a standard rock-'n'-roll outfit, however, the guise is soon thrown overboard, as guitarists Mark Shippy and Todd Rittmann obstinately refuse to settle into any fixed melodic pattern, instead following their own meandering course -- at times sounding as if they are picking away at their strings with razor blades, at other times as if they are engaging in a melodic duel, with drummer Pat Samson alternately acting as referee and heckler. Any doubt is erased by the gasping, sighing vocal style of singer Al Johnson, whose lyrics seem to consist of as many phonetic exclamations as actual words.
          The lightning storm over a tinroof-shantytown that follows, is accreditable to The Flying Luttenbachers. Music comes no more laden with intensity than as exemplified by this trio, who half-jokingly refer to themselves as a "free-jazz-death-metal" band. As the nervecenter in the ensemble, Weasel Walter stands as the epitome of acrobatic free-jazz drummers. Chuck Falzone erects a thundering wall of noise and concealed melodies on his guitar, while Bill Pissari infuses the whole concoction with another dose of de(con)struction, playing his bass with everything short of a blowtorch.
          With their tongue-in-cheek approach to fast paced surf-rockerbilly-punk-goth, Lake of Dracula made a splash this past summer with the song featured here ("Plague of Frogs"). Weasel Walter steps down from the drums to twang away at the guitar, ex-Scissor Girls Heather M. bats away at the drums, Marlon Magas does the "Buddy Holly," and, looming in the background, the Manhatanite plays the part of the ghost in the machine.
          Legendary Zeni Geva guitarist -- K.K. Null -- and Jim O'Rourke team up with two thirds of You Fantastic! as Yona-Kit for some dragging, guttural noise-rock. Next, You Fantastic! descends into a dark world of ambient horror music, with all the nicks and static of an old vinyl album. King of the Japanese noise scene -- Yamatsua Eye (of Naked Cityand Boredoms fame) -- leads a zany musical autopsy in UFO OR DIE.
          To round off this first 'volume,' four of Skin Graft's stranger acts strut their stuff in as many minutes. Zeke Sheck Care Co. heads things off with a hilarious brief sound-vignette featuring a rhythm track that vaguely resembles a poodle barking, and the whole Company "ooh-ooh-oohing" in the background. Chuck Falzone, Telepath delivers a taste of psychic rock-'n'-roll gaga that conjures up the image of a zombified Freddy Mercury. American progressive rock as intrpreted by Mount Shasta meets Japanese experimental Space Streakings under the guise of Shakuhachi Surprise, and, authentic Japanese noise champs Melt-Banana bring everything to a momentary halt after an 11 second tour de force of screaming guitars and staccato female vocal-yelps.

          With a thundering barrage of processed percussion, Strangulated Beatoffs (the ultimate in techno-slackers) fire the start gun on "Scene Two (!)." A brief "experimental" interlude by Monitor Radio follows, before Nick Sakes and the rest of Collosamite take the stage in a manner that would make Frank Black weep -- all out guitar-driven progressive punk-rock with a wealth of breaks and furious vocals.
          Flossie and the Unicorn turns the playhouse inside out with maximum silliness, as the musical aspect of this puppet-show outfit brings all the emotions stirred by Collosamite back to a reasonable equilibrium. Alas, the reprieve is brief; Al Johnson and Mark Shippy's old band Shorty once more bring things to the boil in a raw manner that clearly foreshadows the stylistic refinements of U.S. Maple.
          Another theatrical intermezzo follows, this time by Luttenbacher Bill Pissari's side project ZZZZZ; an exercise in absurd aural theater and cut-up techniques. Cheer-Accident breaks the attention with a guitar riff . . . the CD's shortest track clocking in at four seconds.

          "Scene Two (!)" ends with a melange of elite experimental compositions. First is one half of The Jesus Lizard -- The Denison Kimball Trio -- with a drums and guitar soundtrack for an imaginary movie. Pioneering Japanese experimental duo Ruins (whose upcoming album will be released on Skin Graft) presents a piece of their unique free-association music with lyrics that linger in the intersection between Japanese and English, at times evolving into a language all their own. A brief example of Ruins' drummer/vocalist Tatsuya Yoshida's side project Akaten is featured next. And, Omoide Hatoba -- also in the experimental vein -- brings the volume to a definite conclusion, replete with a monumental coughing attack woven into the unconventional sound carpet.
          Last Of SG's is first at bat on "Strike Three (!)," setting the stage for songs by two of Skin Graft's seminal bands -- Mount Shasta and Dazzling Killmen. Both are in their very different ways based on hard-driving guitars and punk sentiments; Mount Shasta producing a more elaborate and playful sound, while Dazzling Killmen stand for the darker, noisier, more stripped down side of things.
          Quintron leads the party from the smoke-filled barroom stage, and upstairs to the perfumed quarters of ill repute, with true 'good times' organ grinding. Chicago's musical chameleon -- Bobby Conn -- adds incense to the sensual atmosphere, crooning his way through "69 Annee Erotique" in French, teasingly accompanied by Monica Boubou on violin.
          Nood Ham and Tortured Machine supply a pair of brief diversions into noisier territory, whereafter Space Streakings throw a whirlwind of a noise fest, paving the way for Zeni Geva's heavy artillery. In epic style, these Japanese noise-metal-gods carry on their howling, growling blitz attack for six full minutes. From the rubble of this onslaught, Skin Graft rises with a laugh: F'Stein does the -- for anyone familiar with the label -- endearing chant of the "Mighty Fuckin' Robots."
          Then, the parade all gone by; Jim O'Rourke's Brise-Glace performs a beautiful ambient-experimental composition to conclude this monolithic testament to the Now Wave scene.

Appendix:

          Skin Graft's more recent and immediately forthcoming releases include (amongst many other things): The self-titled first album from Lake of Dracula; U.S. Maple's Sang Phat Editor; The Flying Luttenbachers Revenge (and upcoming Gods of Chaos); Zeke Sheck's debut CD; Brise-Glace's When in Vanitas; as well as new releases by Collosamite, Mount Shasta and Ruins.

(Editor's Note: If you live in the Tri-State areas of Chicago, DON'T MISS a Skin Graft Tour! You won't be disappointed. GET THIS CD (!) NOW.)

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