Strch Prst Skrz Krk
Strch Prst Skrz Krk KRK127 CD 18trks 70min
Strch Prst Skrz Krk is the first professionally pressed CD release from kRkRkRk recordings. Presenting 18 currently active projects, SPSK reflects both the broad compass of kRkRkRk's contributing artists & the vitality of the Christchurch underground scene. Pop, rock, improv, ambient, noise, electronic & more - a variety of music makes up the compilation & most of it defies easy categorization!
However, amidst all this diversity is one very important common thread. In accordance with kRkRkRk's strong emphasis on home recording, all of this music has been produced entirely in-house by the artists themselves.
Contributing Artists
Brainlego
Brainlego is the collaborative project of kRkRkRk founders Peter Wright & J-mz Robinson & succeeded their first joint venture, TMA-1, in late 1994. Originally a tongue-in-cheek, drum machine-driven punk band, Brainlego have moved into more rarefied, art-noise territory in recent times. However, electronic devices, toys & a punk sensibility remain important to their music.
MiG-21
Featuring David Khan, Mikel Goodwin, Ed Wilson & J-mz Robinson, MiG-21 formed in June 2001 & have since become one of kRkRkRk's most popular bands. They play a kind of industrial pop music flavoured with elements of punk rock, Gen X nihilism & tasteless appropriations of vanished Eastern Block imagery. A debut CDR album, MF KRK118, appeared in September 2001.
Wormwood
The solo project of kRkRkRk's knobs & wires expert Mikel Goodwin since mid 1994, Wormwood serves to display his talent for writing both kinky pop songs & intriguing, experimental electronica. Mikel released his 2nd CDR album with kRkRkRk, Inside Doubt KRK117, in July 2001.
Antibody
Comprising Ed Wilson, J-mz Robinson & Charles Horn, Antibody commenced operations in latter 2001. Thus far they have specialised in playful, experimental, electro-acoustic music with an inclination towards improvisation & noise.
Nick Hodgson
A prolific & versatile musician, Nick Hodgson has played in a great many projects, both inside & outside of kRkRkRk, over the last decade. These have ranged from pop & rock to free jazz & avant-garde classical music. For this compilation Nick has contributed an experimental, electronic noise composition.
Lahar
A collaborative project featuring Ed Wilson & Scott McCaslan, Lahar formed in latter 2001. Fundamentally a guitar+drums garage rock duo, their music reflects a diverse range of influences from Velvets-tinged punk & urban folk to free-noise & improv rock.
Strap Ons
Based around the creative core of Don Gone & Nova Technova, this enduring & prolific project emerged in Dunedin in 1988. Their many CDR releases on kRkRkRk cover broad ground stylistically. Punk rock, industrial noise, psychedelic lounge music, experimental electronica - the Strap Ons have done it all! Their most recent albums, Bottle KRK115 & Hellbox KRK116 (both released in late 2001) also feature the talents of J-mz Robinson & Mikel Goodwin.
NoTV
The solo project of J-mz Robinson since late 1992, NoTV has long been kRkRkRk's chief exponent of the intuitive (mis)use of toys, instruments & broken electronics to create post-punk/new wave pop music of unparalleled originality. J-mz's 2nd CDR album for kRkRkRk, Popster KRK119, was released in late 2001.
KYN
The solo project of Charles Horn, KYN serves as the vehicle for his explorations of improvised free noise & electro-acoustic music - often utilising homemade instruments & devices. Operations commenced during 2000 & a self-released CDR album, The Intermittent Not-Being Of Max Schreck, is available.
Megan Gallacher
Megan's main involvement with kRkRkRk was with the atmospheric, folk-noir trio BOCCTAHNE between early 1999 & mid 2000. This group (also featuring David Khan & Ed Wilson) released one of the label's most sought after CDR albums, Slighted KRK099. Megan continues to record songs & soundscapes in a solo capacity.
Drawing Room
The solo project of David Khan, The Drawing Room emerged in latter 1997 combining moody & spacious piano/voice-based songs with elemental soundscapes. Custom-made sounds, derived & processed from natural sources are a particular feature of David's music. His 3rd Drawing Room CDR album for kRkRkRk, The Garden KRK111 was released in June 2002.
Placenta Cookbook
The collaborative project of Mikel Goodwin & J-mz Robinson, PC coagulated from a pool of industrial slime during 1994 & have gleefully deconstructed music ever since. Essentially a pop group, Placenta Cookbook's quirky & distinctive sound combines toys, electronics, appliances & even real instruments!
Full Force Loving Machine
This loud & aggressive improv rock trio (Richard Neave, Lynton Denovan & Nick Hodgson) formed during 2001 & immediately displayed a remarkable facility for emptying venues. Elements of punk & garage rock are discernable in their noise which also evokes the New York no-wave movement of the late 70's.
Sirlordme
The solo project of Lynton Denovan, Sirlordme came into being during 1999 & has since released two CDR albums - the latest, To Venus With Mars, appeared in early 2001 on Lynton's own Kleptonics label. Sirlordme displays both garage & psychedelic rock tendencies - suitably warped by Lynton's eccentric approach to making music.
Early Bioneers
A kind of constantly mutating jazz/rock/improv/experimental project, The Early Bioneers first performed in 1998. Founding members Jason Tamihana-Bryce & Matt Davis have since expanded the project with various extra personnel including Diana Mckay, Nick Hodgson & Scott McCaslan.
Peter Wright
Since 1992 Peter Wright has released an enormous amount of essential music on kRkRkRk. Originally, his work combined an appreciation of classic Flying Nun bands (This Kind Of Punishment, Skeptics) with an affinity for the industrial/ambient movement of the 1980s. However, since the creation of his own Apoplexy label in 1998, Peter has delved more into the areas of improvised, electro-acoustic music & experimental electronica.
Ed Wilson
Although involved with a variety of punk, garage & improv rock projects over the years, Ed's' solo music with kRkRkRk has always been more experimental in character. This reflects his preoccupation with the link between human creativity & cognition. A solo CDR album, Fragmentation KRK104, appeared in April 2001.
Laudanum
Formed in mid 2001, Laudanum is one of Nick Hodgson's current group projects (the group also features Rustle Covini, Danny Bame & Karl Jenkins). Emphasizing mood & melody, Laudanum's lush, guitar-based song/lyric music recalls the British dream pop bands of the early 90s.
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Strch Prst
Skrz Krk KRK127
kRkRkRk recordings
krkrkrk@hotmail.com
Text by David
Khan. Web-building by Ed Wilson. No apologies for disinformation.
August 2004