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Here’s the conclusion of Tony Rettman’s epic interview of the one and only Joe Carducci. For those of us on the East Coast we will have an opportunity to hear the man read and field questions in the flesh at two upcoming events. Read on.
Thu. Nov. 20, 8pm
SPOONBILL & SUGARTOWN
218 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
718-387-7322
www.spoonbillbooks.com
Sat. Nov. 22, 7pm
JUANITA & JUAN'S
125 N 11th St Philadelphia PA
www.myspace.com/juanitaandjuans
continue reading "Joe Carducci interview part 2"
by TONY RETTMAN on 11/16/2008
Every so often Swingset likes to throw a party. On Nov 8th at Club Rehab we were lucky enough to feature a diverse array of sets from some of our favorite acts both old and new. Starting off the evening was the first ever set by Philadelphia’s Cold Cave, whose icy tones and anthemic minimalism translated just as well on stage as on their two recent recordings. Burning Star Core played an all solo set that ran the gamut from drone poems to violin and drum machine improv duets. Fans of Burning Star Core’s epic Challenger album were not disappointed. Finally, Dan Melchior graced the New York area with his presence once again to deliver some fiery rock and roll sermons, including tracks from his forthcoming double LP. Backed by Todd Cavallo and Chris Weingarten, Melchior showed us once again why he’s the best at what he does. Thanks to everyone who came out, especially Swingset neighbor Nikki Sneakers who provided us with the following photographs thankfully preserving the images for us and to share with those of you who could only be there in spirit. Until the next party....enjoy.
continue reading "SWINGSET MAGAZINE PRESENTED"
by STEVE LOWENTHAL on 11/13/2008
Joe Carducci is a rock scholar and writer to the highest degree. With his first book Rock and the Pop Narcotic, Carducci placed himself within the cannon of Lester Bangs, Richard Meltzer and what have you. With the unique insight of having worked at the greatest music label of the 80s, SST, Carducci witnessed the from both the label and the distribution end. His latest book Enter Naomi is a must read and places all this within the context of the story of SST photographer Naomi Petersen. Tony Rettman stepped up to get the scoop for Swingset, so here's part one of the conversation. With the unique insight of having worked at the greatest music label of the 80s, SST, Carducci witnessed the rise and fall from both the label and the distribution end.
continue reading "Joe Carducci interview part 1"
by TONY RETTMAN on 10/29/2008
 “The Radio’s dead… but the song’s in my head,” sing Nothing People on this debut album. While I don’t know much about the group that lyric provides a signifier which we can attempt to decipher where this comes from. The above referenced lyric gives the impression that the radio was once alive. If its true, that the Nothing People were weaned on
continue reading "Nothing People - Anonymous (S-S Records)"
by STEVE LOWENTHAL on 9/30/2008
Nice solo femme noise/drone here from Denver’s Brittney Gould, who I believe has some sort of association with Inca Ore. Sounds here are basic layered echoed vox over sparse melodic minimal lines and effects. There’s a middle ground here between the new school Pocahaunted style chants and the noisier/weirder east coast Fursaxa/Zaimph...
continue reading "Married In Berdichev - 7” (Gilgongo Records)"
by STEVE LOWENTHAL on 9/30/2008
Nice Face is another entry into the new school home recorded synth rock underground. Their recent 7” for the Sacred Bones label was a resoundingly worthy slice of bored club lo-fi bangers. Their follow-up cassette on the other hand is not up to par. There’s several clunky guitar solos that are not good enough to justify being up front and center in the mix. The songs are...
continue reading "Nice Face - Can I Fuck It? (Jerkwave Tapes)"
by STEVE LOWENTHAL on 9/30/2008
Alessandro Pessoli, "Nudo Cartoccio" (2007). Gouache, spray paint on paper, 39" x 53". Courtesy Marc Foxx.
Pessoli rapidly brushes and stains with oil, gouache, acrylic and spray paint onto paper as thick as cardboard. A process of layering and revealing is achieved by cutting and collaging the paper. The sewn stitch is both used as a drawing tool, and as a means to attach the paper, resulting in an unexpected exploitation of materials. This is not fussy or belabored work. The effect of the mixed media, the drips, scribbles, sprayed paint and sewing comes off as vital, expressive energy. It is as if the artist physically tackles his subjects, hoping to capture the images before they escape him, sewing them down, grounding the ephemeral.
continue reading "Pessoli's Gypsy Bunker"
by ALEXA GERRITY on 8/15/2008
If there’s going to be a No Wave book then for sure Byron Coley and Thurston Moore are the guys to do it. Released last month on Abrahms the book features tons of newly unearthed photos and flyers as well as new interviews with the major participants of the No Wave scene. While the post-apocalyptic warzone that was the Lower East Side of Manhattan no longer exists its shockwaves live on some decades later. The authors of this gracefully designed and informative journey into the nihilistic philosophies and primitive restructuring of this endemic scene graced us with their thoughts in this Swingset exclusive.
continue reading "No Wave"
by STEVE LOWENTHAL on 7/15/2008
One tape I just can’t get enough of is this new Mark McGuire cassette entitled Tidings. McGuire is the guitar player in the new-school drone MVP’s Emeralds whose rise as a group continues to grow wildly. Isolated from the wall of synth, McGuire shows craft and melodic assurance throughout the tape. Once the more drone layered...
continue reading "Mark McGuire - Tidings"
by STEVE LOWENTHAL on 7/15/2008
In the great trilogy of the new guitar movement in America in the 1960’s, three names immediately come to mind: John Fahey, Leo Kottke and Robbie Basho. The extreme short of it is that Fahey was the deepest, Kottke was the craftsman and Basho was the mystic. If these narrow definitions ring ...
continue reading "Robbie Basho - Bonn Ist Suprem (Bo’Weevil)"
by STEVE LOWENTHAL on 7/15/2008
Not Not Fun has certainly come up as a label in the last few years and this LP seems to be the pinnacle of their work thus far. Christina Carter (of Charalambides fame) has always been a personal favorite of mine. Her voice has a depth and wisdom that transcends the trappings of the “psyche/folk” genre...
continue reading "Christina Carter/Pocahaunted - LP (Not Not Fun)"
by STEVE LOWENTHAL on 7/15/2008
Swingset Magazine was started in 2001 by Steve Lowenthal and Sheila Refael as a vehicle to explore various forms of music, art and literature. The website is a further examination into these worlds and a more frequent way to communicate. Managed by Chris O’Neal the site will continue to develop new content and features as well as provide an online resource for our archives. Stay tuned.
Editor: Steve Lowenthal
Art Director: Chris O’Neal
Arts Editor: Paul Gillis
Swingset
532 Laguardia Place #102
New York, NY 10012
continue reading "About Swingset Magazine"
by CHRIS O'NEAL on 7/22/2008
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Ecstatic Peace has been an increasingly prolific label in the last few years. Their releases can sometimes be staggeringly diverse; The Rita is putting out harsh “wall noise” cassettes, MV/EE do their Neil Young thing on the CDs while teen pop punks and Emil fucking Beaulieau are...
The new Pink Reason 7” on Woodsist features another slab of downer campfire drug ballad in the form of “Winona” on the A-side. The track sounds as solid as the material as their debut full length from last year. Just acoustic guitar, depressed vocals, and minimal home...
Early Worm is a transfixingly lo-fi recording of the first to tape experiments by Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV figurehead Genesis P-Orridge. Recorded in his parents attic in 1968 in suburban England, P-Orridge and his group of local teenage freaks, weaned on a...
When it comes down to it the New Blockaders are the most absurd of all the original U.K. noise artists. Led by Richard Rupenus, what exactly the New Blockaders are remains a bit of a mystery. Often times he sends source sounds to others to manipulate...