NIGHT SOIL MAN – Garden of Delights LP

 I only recently heard ‘Garden of Delights’ this year when I eventually decided to pick it up out of interest. The future Drive Like Jehu rhythm section of Mike Kennedy and Mark Trombino play on this record, making it something of a curiosity piece. Released on Vinyl Communications in 1989 it’s hard exactly to see where this kind of prog-punk fitted at the time. It’s not the easiest of listens, taking the lurching off kilter Honor Role sound and combining it with bizarre female vocals. Obviously the barrage provided the rhythm section is present but with a not so great production, luckily 2 years later we have the monumental Jehu LP to fulfil any shortcomings:

THREE MILE PILOT – Piano plus/Piano minus 7″

  THREE MILE PILOT  a band I’ve never been paticularly familiar with are back on the scene after a decade with an album forthcoming. The ‘Piano plus/Piano minus’ 7″ (Pennyfarthing records)  is the only thing I actually own by them & was purchased some time in 1997 (it was recorded late 1996). One thing rather striking about this record is the 3 colour letterpress sleeve which looks quite beautiful. Aside from that we get two rather melancholic tracks which feature some piano (hence titles). Hearing this now it’s easy to see how the Black Heart Procession was soon to happen. As I don’t really have much to say here I found a 3MP interview from Dogprint zine #5 circa 1996. While you’re reading that, listen to this:

SECOND STORY WINDOW – 12″

  In relation to the 3 Studies post there is even less information here for SSW… They released a 7″ in 93 & a 12″ in 94, both for Gravity Records. They were also the post Heroin band for bass player Ron Johnson. I wasn’t that hot on this record in the past but hearing it now I like it, it’s something of the Gravity ’missing link’. The songs are short with a chaotic urgency but well played and in a punk style very similar to Spacehorse. At the time I imagine they drew a few Fugazi comparisons (how reviewing has changed) as many things outside the conventions of ‘punk’ did back then. The vocals are heavy on the Rites of Spring influence but in the same way Torches to Rome took inspiration. For ease the cover image was scanned from the photo in the DIY Album Art book that came oput this year. If you have not seen the book yet I highly recommend checking it out. The only other bit of reliable knowledge I have is that Ron tried out as bassist for Cars Get Crushed. Paging Jeff Winterberg, please report!

THREE STUDIES FOR A CRUCIFIXION – Demo

 

 Following on from the last post I figured it may be beneficial if somehow people can get more info on certain bands. In particular there are barely any traces of Three Studies for a Crucifixion, none that I can find anyway. This is as much as I know: the band was from Columbus, OH and existed between 94-99. They seemed to only release split records (Coleman, Harriet the Spy & Melt Banana) and this demo from 1994? There were a few comp tracks, most notably the Amnesia compilation on Ebullition. The style was very in keeping with the ‘modern hardcore’ sound of the mid 90’s. Queues here taken from labels like Gravity, Gern Blandsten, Vermin Scum, Old Glory etc. Anyhow, check out this 5 track demo (no titles) and see what you make of it:

THREE STUDIES FOR A CRUCIFIXION – Demo 1994

 

HARRIET THE SPY / 3 STUDIES FOR A CRUCIFIXION split 7″

 Just a quick blast here… This split 7″ between Harriet the Spy and Three Studies for a Crucifixion was released in 1997 on Donut Friends. Harriet the Spy came from Kent, OH and made something of an arty post hardcore racket. In fact this recording sounds like something Vermin Scum would’ve released around that time, and probably would’ve if they were a Baltimore band. Three Studies for a Crucifixion were from Columbus, OH and I always thought they had an excellent choice of bandname. Three Studies sound like they would’ve fitted in well on Gravity, and probably would have if they were from Southern California. 

 

 

 I just checked out what members of each band were doing now. One guy (guitarist) from 3 Studies plays in a band called Dead Sea who I have never heard of before now but shall be checking out further. Teeth of the Hydra I have heard before, they feature Jamie Stillman on drums and I think the vocalist from 3 Studies. Post Party of Helicopters Stillman plays with new band Drummer. This split 7″ is packaged in a screened manilla envelope with glued picture on the back, something of the ‘emo’ prerequisite at the time. Although this record can be pinpointed of the era it comes across as uncontrived and is an honest statement for both bands. Records like this just never happen anymore, so have a quick reminder of twelve years ago hardcore.