GAR issue # 104

 The other day I received a parcel from Ross Priddle (here's his physical address: #402, 734 - 2nd Ave. NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 0E3, Canada). He gave me a copy of his incredible mail art zine: GAR# 104. I love this small zine so I couldn' t help myself and I decided to scan it so the whole wide world could enjoy this. Here goes, enjoy the show!!!

And look who's on the back cover. Good old me. Kinda nice, eh? Indeed brothers and sisters.

  

 You can also check out his blog here:
http://bentspoon.blogspot.ca/


And, as a trade, I sent Ross one of me little original drawings. Here's what it looks like:

The Challenge

It was a Friday night, April 19^th, 2013.  I was enjoying a cold beer with Alex Wheill (head honcho of Wreck Age Recordings). He recorded a full CD-R (nearly 80 minutes long) of soundtrack material for his brother Phil. Phil was shooting `First Night `a short movie (under thirty minutes). His soundtrack was simply amazing. It sounded minimal, nearly ambient, with a song structure, dark and bleak at the same time. I was particularly impressed because he recorded all this in less than a week. How come your brother never asked me (Minimal Frank) to do the `First Night` soundtrack? Well, François, you never gave me any Minimal Frank stuff for my brother. I gave you a Minimal Frank 2013 – Demo CD-R about a month ago. True but it`s not soundtrack material. Can you record eighty minutes of soundtrack material in one week François? Hey I never studied music like you did Alex (thinking for a moment I had the perfect excuse there). Okay then. I issue you the following challenge François, you record at least forty minutes of stuff. It has to be multi layered, leveled, dimensional, with a sound structure (added quality and variety as well). The crunch time is right fucking now and the final results is may 19^th, this fucking year buddy. Think you can do it. Or are you gonna give me excuses and bullshit like a second hand Spike (en français dans le texte)? 

Well I don`t know if I can do it. This has to be more musical than Flesh For Frank (my solo noise project). Hey, get myself another cold beer and we`ve got ourselves a beer. Done deal François.

      There`s one thing my good friend doesn`t know about me. I`m like Jimmy Hendrix. No I`m not a guitar virtuoso, but I do record a lot of stuff (and I don`t throw anything away). The same night I started checking out old ideas, drafts, and various tests, hoping to find some stuff to salvage. And lucky me, I discovered nearly sixty minutes of raw improvised jam sessions. It was some pretty strange material. It sounded like electroacoustic music, sometimes noisy and other times minimal, almost like  darkwave ambient and \ or ambient noise. This will be my primary sound source. I just have to properly sample the good parts and keep the leftovers for future purposes i.e. Flesh For Frank material. I was doing lots of sampling while asking myself what the hell am I doing? How the fuck am I gonna pull this off? I didn`t want to do music that sounded like the usual Minimal Frank material. Then it hit me stop procrastinating and do something. I can tone down everything. I can also do some type of rhythm, add percussive elements and try to be subtle for a change, I could actually accomplish something here. The only way I could achieve subtlety is working with headphones. This proved to be a wise choice. Using headphones feels like I`m actually doing something musically dimensional indeed. I`m here, working on the first track and it sounds almost easy. To make a long story short I recorded eight music pieces between April 19^th up until May 15^th ( less than a month). Here`s the song listing in chronological order:

1- he came riding a pale horse (5.37 minutes).

2- forgotten technology 96.28 minutes)..

3-  the new frontier (Deconstruct) (7.21 minutes).

4- march of the stalker (6.35 minutes).

5- theme from psychic vampires on MDMA (1.23 minutes).

6- the arrival (2.24 minutes).

7- drifting in hyperspace (5.17 minutes).

8- Lillith rising (5.40 minutes).

This album is 40.45 minutes long (forty five seconds longer than expected and done under a months work). I`m surprised by the end results. I`m really proud of this mini album.. Upon the first listen Alex Wheill  liked it (he also told me he was impressed) and he wants to release it. I`m excited because this is the second Minimal Frank album. The first one came out almost six years ago. I also designed two preliminary album covers

So it might actually look like this:

Or maybe like this:

I have abandoned the concept of putting those songs in a chronological order. This is the new logical song listing.

Here goes:

1- theme from psychic vampires on MDMA.

2- forgotten technology.

3- the arrival.

4- drifting in hyperspace.

5- march of the stalker.

6- the new frontier (Deconstruct).

7- he came riding a pale horse.

8- Lillith rising.

During said time period I was listening to a lot of bizarre documentaries about (in no particular order): Heaven`s Gate documentary,  hauntings in America, Hitler`s stealth fighter (Horton 229), demons and gods from the ancient world, and 72 demons of the ars goetia. Musically I was (during the same time period) listening to a lot of netlabel material. Those mp3`s where all up tempo, beat oriented and it was your regular run of the mill IDM, electronica and light techno oriented material Maybe all of this influenced me one way or the other. It`s hard to know for sure. Anyways I`m really proud of the end results. 

Art is everywhere part 7...

Heres' more mail art i.e. 'artistical' ephemera. The following pieces are actual mail art that I received by old school mail. They're pretty incredible. Check them out.
                                
 Here's the front          

And the back

One postcard and two desecrated postcards

Here's a cool asian postcard two desecrated ones done on an evening of typical CHRNX times. Enjoy... 

Thompson part 5

Here's more of Thompson' s amazing colour collages. It's amazing mind blowing material indeed. Thompson' s a really good and decent person. Another cool cat, courtesy of the undergrounds.
Contact here:
(P.O.Box 4616, Clearwater, Florida, 33758-4616, USA).

Tales from Tom the drunk hustler part 9

Moving on

Pat broke up with his long time girlfriend Pam

The next day he met this new girl

Terry a tiny blonde girl with sexy green eyes

She was driving us crazy

She was so damn hot

Worst of all she knew it

There`s nothing worst than a man or woman

Who knows they`re gorgeous

i.e desirable

or as we commonly say… fuckable

their ego becomes increasingly bigger

definitely not better

nastiness steps in

then the diva complex

Terry was not into dives

She had too much class for that

We started hanging out downtown

Especially on Crescent street

If you`ve ever been to Montréal

Crescent street is the hip area

Hip my ass

Expensive like hell

The place for wannabees

You know the type

Pretending to be in

Or hip

Which almost rimes with shit

 Pretentious fucking douchebags

With their anorexic

Skeleton look a like girlfriends

Worthless human garbage

Anyways

Back to our story

We where in a back alley

Smoking up

Just to get a cheap feel

Before going anywhere

And like most of the times

I`m the one who finishes the doobie

I`m flying in my brain

Weightless

And free spirited

Where you guys want to go Pat asks?

Thurdays Terry says with a commanding tone

I think it was Thursdays or Tuesdays

I`m not sure which one

Yeah I think it was Thursdays

We go in

And wouldn`t you know it

There`s a cover charge

Five dollars

Christ!

How much are they gonna charge for a beer?

I`m thinking

The bouncer is a six foot nine monster

He has a this thick black moustache

He looks like one of the guys from Village People

The construction fellow with a moustache

Except you don`t want to fuck with him

My turn to pay

I give him ten dollars

Waiting for me change

Well thank you kind sir

Now he thinks I`m tipping him

Motherfucker

I don`t want to fight him

I`m too stoned plus I`m  really thirsty

I probably made his day

It`s not easy being a bouncer

Dealing with assholes all night

You could get stabbed

Or maybe shot

Someone could beat you up

You never know what to expect from subhumans

Expect the unexpected

Indeed

Let`s see

There`s the bar

The dancefloor

A couple of places to sit down

What the…

NO POOL TABLE!!!

Means I have to pay for me drinks

Dammit!!!

Lookee here

There`s a Pac Man videogame

Pac Man

Eight bit fucking entertainment

I`m feeling kinda spaced invaders myself

Then I notice the music

It`s so damn loud

Commercial top twenty crap

Commercial dance floor oriented shit

Soon I realize

I don`t fit in

I`m the only one

Wearing jeans

Black leather cow boy boots

And a Gang Of Four t-shirt

No wonder folks are starring at me

Well the hell with that

I came here to drink

And drinking I will do

I sit near the bar

Can I get you something to drink?

I turn around to answer the waitress

She`s a tall, slinky brunette

With high heels, wearing a black mini-skirt

She`s simply amazing

Now I know why I came here

Are you gonna order something ?

Or are you gonna spend the evening staring at my legs ?

I`ll just concentrate on your ass

What?

Nothing

I`ll have a pitcher of beer

We don`t serve those here

I`ll have a big Budweiser

We don`t sell big beers

Gimme a Budweiser please

Sure thing

Here`s your beer

It`s five dollars

I gave her six dollars

She takes the money

Looks at me like I`m fucking Scrooge

Or something

Then leaves

And I`m thinking

At Pizza Plaza

Or any other dive

For six dollars

I get a pitcher of beer

I give the waiter a dollar tip

And he`s happy

This is going to be an expensive evening

Where are my friends?

Let`s see

Pat and Terry

Are necking on the dance floor

Chris

Where the hell is he?

Well, well, well

Wouldn`t you know it

There`s no poker machines here

Chris found something to play with

Motherfucking Pac Man

Hey Chris what`s up ?

Nothing much Tom

Playing a game

Having a Bud

True

Can I play a game with you?

Sure thing Tom

Wait until I`m done

No problem my man

I light up a smoke, have a swig

Another one

And another one

I just finish me Bud

I`m going to get myself a beer Chris

Could you get me another Bud?

Sure thing

I pay this round

And you pay the next one

That cool with you Chris?

We got ourselves a plan

Here`s your Bud

Thanks

Now let`s play some Pac Man

Let me start

Fucking shit man

I get killed on the first level

I must have played

A good solid twenty seconds

Chris has been playing

For about two minutes

He`s doing level six now

And look at him go

This is getting boring

There`s no challenge here

Being the consummate gambler

I need to bet on something

Gets my heart pumping

Keeps the adrenaline running

Chris I have an idea

The one who loses the game

Has to chug down his beer

Well alright Tom

Let`s go

Unfortunately, I lose

Well c`mon Tom

Chug, chug, chug

Done deal

Hey Chris

You`re paying this round

Let me get the beer

Here you go Tom

Ice cold Bud just for you

And one for me as well

I lost last game so it`s my turn to start

Go ahead

I reach level eight

And my little Pac Man gets killed

Pat reaches level two

And he`s dead

I win for God sakes

C`mon Chris

Chug, chug, chug

A couple of more games

And we`re both drunk as skunks

When you`re poor

And when the alcohol is expensive

You either gamble for beer

Or learn

To chug properly

Without getting sick

We`re both masters in the drinking game

I gotta take a leak

I get up

I slip and fall on my ass

I`m so drunk

I`m in pain but I can`t feel a thing

A big hand grabs my shoulder

Lifts me up

I think you`ve had enough to drink

Let me show you the exit

The fresh air will do you good
Hey asshole

Leaving me alone

I get thrown on the floor

Lose my glasses

I pick them up

Put them on

Oh shit

Chris is fighting with the guy

He doesn`t  stand a chance

He`s just toying with him

I jump on the bouncer

Miss my shot and land on a wooden table

Then I crash on the floor

Shit my ribs hurt

Someone grabs me by the neck

And throws me head first outside

I crash on me ribs again

I turn around

Christ gets thrown out head first too

Unfortunately

He lands on his bad left knee

He`s in pain, screaming

I never want to see you morons here again

Growls the bouncer

We slowly get up

Feeling like shit

Looking like shit

My Gang Of Four t-shirt is torn apart

I`m spitting little chunks of blood

Chris is limping

His bad left knee

Feels even worst now

Therer`s people in line

Waiting to go in

They`re all starring at us

Let`s get the fuck outta this scene Chris snarls

Wanna share a cab?

Sure thing

We`re on St-Catherine street

Trying to find a cab

It`s like one o`clock in the morning

Or something
Finally

A brown Chevrolet stops by

The driver seems to be puzzled

By our odd appearances

What happened to you guys?

Well. Chris says

I interrupt him rapidly

An asshole tried to mug us

Bad mistake

Ok well …

I show him my wallet full of cash

I`ve got enough money

To pay for the ride

Don`t I?

Off course you do

Will you gentlemen please step inside

My humble cab

Cocksucking bastard I`m thinking

Another motherfucking Smithers

Smithers  I want you to blow me off

With or without a condom sir?

Without one

I`m feeling desperate tonight

Yes sir

I`m on my way sir

Excellent

Smithers

Yes sir

Remove your glasses

So I`ll give you some of my

Special brand

Of geriatric hand lotion

Yes sir

Excellent

Keep at it

And I won`t downsize your job

Yes sir

Excellent

Christ the world is full of those

Tom are you sleeping?

No my man I was just thinking

About what?

We got our asses kicked

Right

Where were Pat and Terry?

They`re probably

Still necking on the dance floor

Put it this way

Next time we meet Pat

He`s got some

Serious explaining to do

Damn straight

Here`s my stop

Goodnight Chris

Night Tom.