BLOOD RHYTHMS - CIVIL WAR LP (PRE-ORDER)

PRE-ORDER RED VINYL EDITION HERE

BLOOD RHYTHMS is an ongoing and constantly morphing collective spearheaded by veteran experimental artist and Chicago native Arvo Zylo. The unit's new LP, CIVIL WAR began its conceptual impetus before its vinyl debut, 2014's ASSEMBLY, which was a layered whale song / locomotive stomp of brass & wind instruments recorded in a meat locker, released in collaboration with RRRECORDS. In 2010, after a few years of makeshift group performances delivering noisy, loop-based industrial drones as a brass ensemble, and inevitably growing to incorporate a series of damaged synth/junk metal outings, the group's official debut was met with live accompaniment from legendary Chicago avant/industrial/gospel giants ONO. With that, the very beginnings of BLOOD RHYTHMS' new LP, CIVIL WAR, were set into motion.

From 2010 to 2016, Zylo exhibited either with BLOOD RHYTHMS or solo, at noise fests, radio stations, or various venues around the country, themes which evolved exponentially. Some of these pieces have been performed live close to fifty times, occasionally with as many as four drummers and a five piece brass section. Words like “cathartic” and “intense” were regularly used to describe the often blisteringly loud affairs-- with contact mic'ed heartbeats, aluminum mic'ed masks, sheet metal, belt sanders, amplified packing tape, and visceral, feedback-laden howls. CIVIL WAR is a studio culmination of nearly ten years of ongoing work; A synthesis of Zylo's main focus, and what has come to be referred to by some as outsider power electronics. The result is something that retains the meticulousness, nuance, and visionary drive of a reclusive studio rat, but without relinquishing the rawness and fortitude of a full group sonic assault.

CIVIL WAR features contributions from Bruce Lamont (Yakuza, Bloodiest, Corrections House), Mike Weis (Zelienople, Kwaidan), Wyatt Howland (Skin Graft, Blackfire, Nevari Butchers), B. Zimimay (T.O.M.B., Dreadlords), Dave Phillips (Schimpfluch Gruppe, Fear of God), Michael Krause (Death Factory), Daniel Burke (Illusion of Safety), and Richard Syska (Secret Means of Escape, Dummy Antenna). It comes on 180 gram vinyl, and there are standard editions in black, or special editions both with opaque red vinyl or metallic silver ripple vinyl. It is housed in a thick gatefold jacket with a full varnish finish, and  special editions come with a 44 page art booklet which includes collaborative contributions from collage artist Bradley Kokay, and rogue taxidermist Sarina Brewer. Recorded mainly (initially) at Minbal, Chicago by Brian Sulpizio (Health & Beauty), and mastered by James Plotkin (Khanate, Khlyst, NAMANAX). Seven tracks, 38 minutes. Track A3 not for airplay. Edition of 500 copies: 350 black vinyl (180g), 100 opaque red vinyl (180g), 50 silver ripple vinyl (140g). Silver copies come with a unique piece of art.

No download code. No digital version available.

Some links of live performances featuring early versions of this material:  

Live at Dead Audio Fest, 2010:

Live at St. Petersburg Noise Fest, 2013

Live at WFMU, on Wm. Berger's My Castle of Quiet radio program:

In other news:

Taki's track from the recent compilation on NO PART OF IT, "HETEROPTIKS", was aired on WFMU, in addition to new issues of The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Gruppo d'Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza, Jon Mueller, Moebius, and more.   Here is a quote from the comments section by "slugluv1313":

"reading and learning more about Taki Pantos -- WOW!
"Lock Me in Your Heart" totally grabbed me
scooping up "Heteroptiks," turns out it is dedicated to dear Wm. Berger :)"

Arvo's recent UPHEAVAL full length was aired on WZRD, alongside IDM Theft Able, Loachfillet, Zos Kia, Godflesh, David Bowie, Thomas Dimuzio, Kraftwerk, and more.   Lookie HERE

An unreleased track by Blood Rhythms was aired on a different evening at WZRD, alongside Alvin Lucier, Aaron Dilloway, Severed Heads, Colin Potter, Pas Musique, Merzbow, Foetus, Mammal, and more, listen here.

Another unreleased track by Blood Rhythms was again played on WZRD, alongside Ruins, Slava Ranko, Vertonen, P16.D4, Coil, Bruce Gilbert, Nash the Slash, and more.   LISTEN HERE

AND, if you didn't see it, feel free to check out the recent addition to the NO PART OF IT interview series with Steven Krakow/Plastic Crimewave! 

Interview Series #5: Plastic Crimewave / Steve Krakow

The NO PART OF IT Interview series was a strain of questions sent to a number of different people between February and March 2019. Each entry was scheduled chronologically to be thrust upon the world on a monthly basis since then. Each individual is introduced informally as if they were being discussed at a bar.   

Scheduled on February 17, 2019

Where to start...  Steve Krakow, or Plastic Crimewave, has created a regular column for The Chicago Reader called The Secret History of Chicago Music, which also has an ancillary weekly radio show on WGN.  His hard psych/acid punk band, in its various incarnations, has been active for almost 20 years, and has extended to a "Celestial Guitarkestra", with at times as many as fifty or more guitarists performing.  There are a lot of other things that could be touched on here...  Krakow's music label, zine imprint, regular mix tape series, DJ gigs, and side projects. His home is said to be a museum of pop cultural artifacts, and he's just an all-around nice guy, with a ridiculous encyclopedic knowledge of music history.  

1.  What types of things have you been getting into lately?

edgy 70s british sitcoms and their soundtracks

italian and german progressive rock

drawing just in pencil

Jonah Hex comics

old UK bands copying The Band (but I don't like The Band)

2.  What you do, do you do it as an artist, or is it a hobby? 

Technically speaking, been "pro" since my early 20s, and freelance "just art" for 15 years

but on a deeper level, i think living your art in every way possible, because it is your natural inclination to do, is important.

3.  How would you describe what you do?

cartoonist/avant rockist musician/writer/booker/kinda historian/psychedelic impresario

4.  How would you describe your creative progression over the years, in a brief synopsis?

In many ways a straight line, with interest in heady comics, music, films since my youth--but i suppose i prepared myself for a career in mainstream comics at first, got derailed by discovery of various other pleasures in life, and then picked up a guitar at age 19 and TURNED ON DUDE (ha)

5.  How would you describe your philosophy?

Life is short and we're all doomed so pursue your dreams...

6.  Do you believe in psychics, magic, ghosts, or gods?

I want to believe in them. I def believe in forces we don't understand and energy being tangible...

7.  What would you say was your most definitive experience?

Becoming one with the universe and seeing how all things were connected, it all made sense for ONE SECOND (or a million).

8.  Do you have any side projects that I am not aware of? If not, what is something you'd like people to know about you, that you don't think anyone would ever ask?

Hmm i have a lot of projects and no day job, so in many ways nothing is a "side," but currently playing in a more-occasional unit with my lovely lady and visual artist/flautist Sara Gossett, and my brother Adam aka Hands of Hydra called Spiral Galaxy--kinda mellow kosmische new agey vibe, slightly different than my usual thing, we're working on a layered record and we opened for and collaborated with Faust, which was dang exciting! Hmm, i guess no one knows i like 80s new romantic synthpop as much as i like any genre? Pretty big fan of mid-80s to mid-90s hip hop too...heh

9.  Would you care to name any theoretical "desert island" records, or at least releases that you think are approaching your concept of "perfect"? 

oh god like a zillion, pretty typcial "rock pantheon" choices, as i was pretty reared on thee classics...

hmmm

"Funhouse", "Forever Changes", "Wasa Wasa," "White Light/White Heat," "SF Sorrow", "Astral Weeks," "Parable of Arable Land," "Rehearsals for Retirement," "Revolver," "Never Never Land," "Power Plant," "Folk Roots, New Routes," "Doremi Fasol Latido" all come to mind...

10.  What is the earliest childhood memory you can (or are willing to) recall?  

I have vague memories of my P's townhouse at age 3, it had a pink bathroom (we moved at age 4).

11.  Are you able to appreciate other peoples' creative work regardless of their personal shortcomings or inherent flaws?  To what extent?

Yes, I'm a fan of the MUSIC of Manson, James Brown, Throbbing Gristle, and Jimmy Page, I've enjoyed writers like Rimbaud and Nietzsche , trangressive films and art---that said, never liked R. Kelly and can't support him--is it because he's not old and dead? No, just mostly never liked his music. ah, the human condition.

12.  Do you have any heroes or heroines?  Who are they?  Feel free to add anything that makes them stand out. 

Yeah, a lot I wouldn't get along with personally or share politics with I'm sure (see above question)-- Syd Barrett, as to me, the pinnacle of a complete artist at one point, as well as Marc Bolan, Jack Kirby---fearless innovators who never even thought about it. Also Don Martin, Steve Ditko, Alastair Galbraith, Windsor Mckay, Devid Allen, Phil Ochs, Eno, Kevin Ayers, Gene Colan, R. Crumb, Harvey Kurtzman, Skip Spence, Jeff Lynne, all of Monty Python, Skip Williamson, Simon Finn, John Carpenter, Oliver Reed, Mick Farren, Duchamp, Jodoworsky, Keiji Haino, Danny Kirwan, Michael Moorcock, Phil Lynott, Bruce Russell, Mouse Kelley, George Herriman, Werner Herzog, Roger Corman, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

13.  What would you like to have on your epitaph?  Or what is your favorite quote? 

Actually,  I'm pretty happy with the distillation of my philosophy i came up with above in question #5, can i repurpose that here? ha

A quote I use a lot is David Thomas of Pere Ubu, who was describing "psychedelic music"--he called it, "Cinematic music of the mind"