Grey Windowpane – “Ice The World”

Grey Windowpane – “Ice The World”

Across the Atlantic in Brighton, UK Grey Windowpane is forging something special. A stalwart contributor to the avant-garde Ma Turner (AKA Brown / Mazozma) has been delivering innovative compositional sound-work for over two decades. As the founding member of Kentucky’s noise rock terrorists Warmer Milks (whom he toured the United States and Europe extensively with throughout the early 2000’s) Ma went on to record and perform as a solo artist, releasing numerous full length LPs, cassettes, compact discs (and a twelve cassette box set) on labels such as Sophomore Lounge, Feeding Tube, Crash Symbols as well as on visual artist and musician Robert Beatty’s AHEM Editions label and numerous one-off private press labels of Turner’s own. (Currently coined) Brown is now further cultivating his reputation on the frontiers of fringe music with Grey Windowpane (under the umbrella of GWPEOPLESFRONT WORLDWIDE). After leaving his home of Western Massachusetts last year for the UK, Brown has been collaborating with an international cabal of outsider artists to produce Grey Windowpane’s newly anticipated full length album “Ice The World”. The songs were written, arranged,  recorded and mixed over a span of months between studios in the UK, US, Singapore and Sweden.

Long running underground music rag Blastitude had this to say about Grey Windowpane’s first four EP’s (all digitally released in 2022 on the GWPEOPLESFRONT WORLDWIDE label):  

“This is very consistently and completely zoned-out music. I’ve been listening to it all, all day long, and I still don’t know what to make of it. It’s like it wipes my brain blank as it plays. My daughter’s boyfriend (born circa 2005) walked by and said it sounded “industrial,” how about that? He’s 100% not wrong (and I often think about what post-industrial as a music means, how it means so much more than Neubauten and Skinny Puppy, how it means any post-punk experimental work of any kind, the entire 1980s cassette culture experimental music movement, the entire worldwide noise scene as we know it today)! He also compared it to house music, and yeah, Grey Windowpane does have some beats, here and there, but it’s just as much sound effects, and tape-loop experiments, and washes of noise, and who-knows-what else. And when I say “who-knows-what-else,” I mean “music from the Empty Quarter,” which Bruce Russell defined in his 1994 manifesto “What is Free?” as “an area between other forms of music where all of the ‘rules’ which hold them apart cease to apply.”


Proceeds from the double cassette release of “Ice The World” benefit GREAT FALLS BOOKS THROUGH BARS a volunteer group in Franklin County MA that sends free books, resources, and reading materials to incarcerated people.

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What we are listening to…

Every month we collect what everyone’s been listening to around the office. We want to share with you the finest selection of new and not so new albums from around the underground. Hopefully one day you, yourself, can be a respected cultivator of sound like us.

ABEL

DAN T

9 Questions with Webb Chapel

Strangemonorecords · Webb Chapel – 9 Questions Interview

“Every man has inside himself a parasitic being who is acting not at all to his advantage.” -William S. Burroughs

I think about this Burroughs quote a lot. I always miss-remember or simplify it to “There’s a little man in all of us, trying to kill us”. Neurosis or self-doubt for sure, addiction of course. But I think this instinct is present at birth. I think that we are all driven to destroy ourselves in some way, its just how that drive manifests that’s important. Some people are able to harness that motivation and channel it into positivity, while others remain under its thumb. The homonyms raised and razed are especially interesting to me. They reflect in no uncertain terms the duality of human society. Are we meant to be building or destroying?

I invited Zack (Webb Chapel) over to eat some noodles and sit down in my basement to talk like minded people, enjoying the process, being shoe-horned, and being purposely evasive. Zack is one of the most emotionally articulate people that I have met in a long time. I think that fact is pretty apparent in his music, maybe not at first, but once you dive underneath the surface level; and listen with intent, the music becomes a portrait of inner reconciliation. Understated at times for sure, sometimes the message may be obscured , or it may take a few listens to grasp, but well worth the effort. Zack’s music is a puzzle for the ears. Earnest melodies and an intimate, sometimes uneasy, feeling. It’s my opinion that Webb Chapel is a whole-hearted endeavor that is so worthy and deserving of your time. 

Following the dissolution of Austin-based experimental band Beth Israel, Claxton began drawing in the margins, putting down sketches of ideas and song fragments that would eventually become the basis for Webb Chapel’s first two releases, Moverama and Like the Country. “I like the idea of dismantling songs as you’re listening to them. Sort of taking them apart and putting them back together.” When the lens focuses, however, you get a sense that this record comes from an altogether intentional, yet eerily chaotic time and place. As Claxton explains, “I’m kind of never in the same place for very long.” Dalmatians is a testament to the beauty in uncertainty. 

Webb Chapel‘s Dalmatians is available 9/16/22 on Strange Mono.

All proceeds from this album are being donated to Prevention Point to aid their mission of Harm Reduction and community support in the Philadelphia area.

Hana Sands – Webb Chapel || Video By Vince Alvare

Nyxy Nyx – Thee 3rd Album

Nyxy Nyx – Thee 3rd Album

Nyxy Nyx songwriter Brian Reichart has a devoted following in the Philadelphia underground, and for good reason. Nyxy Nyx’s blend of lush textures, fuzzy guitars, subdued vocal delivery, and poignant subject matter make it easy to understand how they secured such cult status over the years. 

Nyxy Nyx performing live

Strange Mono is beyond excited to be releasing Thee 3rd Album. 21 tracks of emotionally charged beauty. Songs like I could write a luv song and salomé have distinct pop sensibilities, while songs like hooves and can u even be seen ? expand the darker side of Nyxy Nyx. Across the board Brian’s songwriting is so subversive and heartfelt like a smiling face, with strained eyes, holding back tears.


As with all Strange Mono releases, proceeds from this album are being donated to the artists choice of charity. For this Album Nyxy Nyx chose Prevention Point whose mission is to promote health, empowerment and safety for communities affected by drug use and poverty.

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Benefit For Abortion Funds Compilation Out Now!

BLIGHT X STRANGEMONO -Benefit for abortion funds comp

This comp is such a ripper huge thanks to all the amazing artists that helped and contributed songs!! We all know how worthy this cause is!

Downloads for the individual tracks available from Blight Records tape is up on our Bigcartel and available through Bandcamp

All proceeds benefit The National Network for Abortion Funds:

The National Network of Abortion Funds builds power with members to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by centering people who have abortions and organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and reproductive justice.

Artist Socials:

@kateferencz 

@icewizardclone 

@xsunorganx 

@nyxynyxorganization 

@chapel.webb 

@tadziosadjamz

@badhistorymonth 

@falsetracksmusic 

@professorwormjk 

@ruah_ruwa 

@lunahoneymusic 

@natelapinski 

@goth.diva 

@kennyworldpeace 

@rossmanworldpeace 

@danangel9546 

@steven_s_evans

@big____ugh___

WORSHIPER TO BINGE AND PURGE IN LA

WORSHIPER TO BINGE AND PURGE IN LA

During the mid 2000’s Worshiper was quickly gaining a reputation as one of Philly’s loudest bands in the underground scene. Worshiper, made up of lifelong friends Mike Parry, Curt Howard, and Benji Davis, had a tumultuous few years; self-releasing their debut To Binge And Purge In LA and embarking on their first and only tour with Boston’s Bad History Month. Though they had a rowdy and devoted cult following, their first release never quite received the accolades it deserved. That being said, they carved out their place in Philly history with their intense live performances and heavy raw sound. They disbanded soon after in part due to songwriter and frontman Mike Parry’s battle with opioid addiction. On June 16th 2021, after years of progress, Mike relapsed and sadly lost his life. The impact of his death permeated the music scene leaving many friends and fans stunned.

Worshiper – Pleasure of the Flesh Video

Strange Mono has been working with Curt and Benji to try and breathe a second wind into the criminally underrated album that Worshiper produced in 2010. We are announcing a reissue of this tape and are donating 100% of the proceeds to benefit Prevention Point in their mission of harm reduction in the city of Philadelphia.

Recorded at Philly’s legendary Sex Dungeon Studios in one afternoon, Worshiper is sludgy post-hardcore at its pinnacle. This fully remastered cassette reissue features a previously unreleased song and includes the original recordings as well.
We hope that this release can raise awareness about one of Philly’s best bands and help to promote health, empowerment and safety for communities affected by drug use and poverty.

ORDER HERE