Balvack

Here's a review by Tony Dale (owner of Camera Obscura records in Australia) of 'Tunnels'............."Alan Davidson is or should be a British national treasure.

<<snip>>

'Tunnels' captures the man live at Tunnels in Aberdeen over two nights in summer 2005 ... and is limited to 94 copies' date=' so - as is often the case with this type of release tarry not."[/quote']

Lovely review: couldn't agree more. "Maria Midnight" always sends a shiver down my spine.

Bagsy us a copy of 'Tunnels' please?

Thought the Mickel Mass set pre/with Damo was

will anybody buy us a pint & some :popcorn:

Seeing as how it's the season of goodwill and all that, and to say thanks for all the great IMP gigs this year, then I daresay the Balvacks could stretch to a pint or 3

Phew! 2am on a school night. Looking forward to seeing AKA The Fox for the first time.

I suggest skipping school on Monday. I've already got a forged note from my Mum

Apologies to Jenny - I didn't deliberately miss her out, just didn't know her forum name. (Boy am I gonna look even more dumb than usual if Jenny is "Jenny")

She must have her hands full organising IMP and chilli and graeme

Who runs Interesting Music Promotions?

chilli and graeme

I would you more if my Mac could play .wmv files

(OK I know I could probably download something from somewhere to do the trick, but I'm allergic to Gates and too lazy to go looking for an alternative - so I watched it at a pal's.)

Good stuff! When will the whole gig be available ?

I suppose the alternative is having a left field festival ourselves in Aberdeen!

Yay ! Get Alan to take the entire Terrastock lineup home with him in the chartered IMP Megaplane.

Aberdeen outside in late April can still be a bit nippy though so maybe better to hold it indoors rather than in the left field. (Is that near Seaton Park?)

TerraTunnels 1 anybody ?

We could always get Megabus to take a detour...

Will the 1 fare deal apply ?

I'm surprised that Delicate AWOL aren't in the line up...I think they've played the previous 5!

I believe it was a possibility' date=' but the latest I heard I don't think it's going to happen. BTW I understand they're now known as "Tells".

Shame about the date change as I'm not sure we can manage an extended visit, but who knows

An Aberdeen "City and Shire" TM? posse hitting Providence could be fun

... and the date is ?

Nice one Alan

Can you confirm the Terrastock dates as I've heard different ones bandied about? I'm hoping (fingers crossed) to be in New York early April so it would be excellent if the Balvacks could arrange to pop over to RI as part of that expedition.

A Hawk and a Hacksaw

Shame I can't make it Wednesday night. Here's the lovely Heather

and Jeremy's Interesting headgear

In 1998 I was a strange little chap. Still shaking the remnants of pounding rave beats out of my lugs and praying that the great miracle would materialise - The Stone Roses would reform and make a better album than their debut. I was into music that I considered pretty god-damn kewl at the time: Gene' date=' Arab Strap, The Lo-fidelity Allstars (Remember their first album? Quality stuff!), Death In Vegas, Mogwai and Radiohead. As far as music was concerned, I was content and happy with my small collection. Then, one sweet little joy filled day, a librarian chap from Glasgow I was talking with recommended an album to me.......that album was Faust IV.

<<snip>>

When I heard The Tunnels were bringing Faust to Aberdeen I was instantly overcome with the fear of someone who cannot believe, be that in ghosts, fairies, monsters, Santa, Jesus Christ, ouija boards or one of the greatest bands in kewl music history playing in the city that I live in. "Faust? Aberdeen? Hah! Hahaha!". So, well done the men and women from The Tunnels!. You deserve a pint, joint and fish supper at least! (my erse is reserved for the librarian!).

[/quote']

Can I suggest that someone contacts the Scottish Education Dept and proposes the content of this post as the framework for a compulsory music syllabus in all schools?

Thanks again so much to IMP and the Tunnels - I also was amazed at the prospect of a Faust gig involving a less than 50 mile round-trip. Ah, fond memories of all-night coffee drinking in Luton Airport waiting for the return Sleazy-jet flight after the infamous 1996 London Garage gig where the non-existent fire-detection system allowed for a spectacular display of arc-welding and pyro-technics.

Please sir, can I have some more? 8o

Far Out!!!!

The Tunnels and all who attended are now part of the legend that is Faust.

A huge hearty thanks to everyone who made this happen.

I've still got a huge grin on my face that feels like it will last for months.

Good on the IMP and Tunnels people for booking Faust and co.

It should be a great night and I hope there's a big appreciative audience to help support the guys and gals brave enough to put on alternative, alternative music in Aberdeen.

Can't wait till tomorrow

What a fun night - all four bands were excellent, and all for 2 !

Mike and Sam: excellent guitar playing and an entertaining rap/rant. And we need to know: was Sam successful in his quest for a girlfriend ?

Rainbow and the Fluffy Bunnies: wonderful musicianship, great entertainment and humour. Shades of all sorts of stuff including early Mothers. If that was their "worst gig ever", then the others must have been stupendous.

Alan Davidson is a gem. Beautiful (and educational !) songs played with feeling. Aberdeen council should name a street - nay, a whole Kitchen Cynic estate - after him !

Mickel Mass - what can I say? Probably the most fun you can have with knobs and loops and windup toys.

Thanks to everyone involved for the most entertaining Sunday night I've had for a while.

Did anyone else catch this edition of Mixing It on Friday 14th October?

A stunning mix of music and not too much self-conscious Robert'n'Mark chit-chat between times.

Sweet Billy Pilgrim: Experience

Sanhedolin: Untitled

Lotek Hi-Fi: How It Go feat. Sandra Melody

Paper Factory: Gleich nach der Brcke rechts

This music was improvised in the Faust Studio in Scheer, Germany in July 2004, and it features Faust's Hans Joachim Irmler on keyboards and electronics, American Frank Zappa and Stockhausen alumnus Mike Svoboda on trombone, alphorn, drainpipe and conch shell, Clive Bell (shakuhachi/khene/melodica), Sylvia Hallett (violin/musical saw/sarangi) and Mike Adcock (piano/accordion).

Akron/Family: Raising the Sparks

Boards of Canada: Satellite Anthem Icarus

Field Music: If Only The Moon Were Up

Mei Han with Barry Truax and Randy Raine-Reusch: Bamboo, Silk and Stone

Satanicpornocultshop: Shoplifter @ Wal-mart , Fundamentalist 59,054,087!!! (Satanicpornocultshop remix)

Ny Antsaly: Fokafoka

Mise en Abyme: Reaching

Lord Mongo and the Slate Pipe Banjo Draggers: henrietta two

King Creosote: Boot Prints

For more information see http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/mixingit/pip/ysxkm/

Thanks BBC for features like "Listen Again". Check the show out here -> http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio3_aod.shtml?radio3/mixingit

... We want to make people freaky dance. If your a girl come sing with us. ...

Must be a bit of a nutjob

As you haven't specifically said you need someone who can sing well ...

... would a nutjob who can't sing for toffee (chocolate might do it though ) but wanted to make freaky people dance qualify ?

I can do good screaming if provoked, but I suspect that's not the ambience you're aiming for

Any word yet on start time ?

Hey all, just to let you know that the art currently on display in the Belmont Cafe Bar is the work of Balvack Visual Dimension.

Any feedback would be welcome.

An excellent Xmas present for the art-lover in your family

It looks like this...

Hmm, made me dig it out and listen to it again.

To whet your appetite it looks something like this...

http://www.aberdeen-music.com/galleries/browseimages.php?c=3102

It appears to be available here - though with an incomplete track listing ? and some incompatability with my Mac means I can't check it out :

http://www.mp3shits.com/full/download/Nik_Turner's_Sphynx_-_Xitintoday_mp3/25892/

Checking out the Tunnels is a much better option for the sensory delectation of having a chunky slab of vinyl in your hands with those loveable crackles than a sterile and compressed MP3 shadow of the real thing (spot the biased oldie )

Ticket No. 1

Got my ticket

Any chance of another Mickel Mass release Alan ? The Bible-inspired outing a few weeks back was a Revelation

Also worth checking out - The Big Gundown: John Zorn Plays the Music of Ennio Morricone

Damn, won't be able to make this

Here's a reminder of what BA looked like last time out in the Tunnels

http://gallery.aberdeen-music.com/showphoto.php?photo=9484&cat=3074&size=medium

I didn't think I would be pleased to hear the Zappa boys cancelled Glasgow, but this more than makes up for it.

...better go find some earplugs and safety specs