Wednesday, March 31, 2021

DJ Lunar Canine - Dance SIngle

    In what can only be considered a business coup on a colossal, global scale, Williwill arranged for the release of the DJ Lunar Canine two song, 12 inch single consisting of a remix of the Cheese Mites' song "(She's My All Night) Penis Garage" and the original "The New Dance Music Craze."

   The remix of the Cheese Mite's classic is given faithful Snufmeg treatment. Most of the original recording is intact, until the point of tension in comprehending what is at play. A sudden change of course is established and the material is discarded for a juxtaposition against literal descriptions of Satanism (culled from radio personality, Dave Emory), as implied in the song, with canted beats and treatment in inimitable Snufmeg style.

   The B-side, "The New Dance Music Craze, takes the applied Snufmeg philosophy just as far afield. A pounding, thudding beat establishes the introduction, which over the course of the track morphs into stark and jarring stabs , evoking the suffocating isolation of modern times.

   Guaranteed to clear the dance floor of all but the most dedicated at your next celebration!

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Rights and "Free" Music

   Recently, Snufmeg revoked access to songs on the FMA. 
   "We didn't want to seem mean, heartless or uncaring to those who enjoy rights-free access to Snufmeg music, but things are simply too chaotic for us," Phynqafis said. "We are, as you say, a boutique operation. We make art for the ears, which suit primarily our own aesthetic. If others enjoy it, we certainly do not want to stand in anyone's way. Our issue comes down to aligning all of our content under one manageable mode of care."
   It should be noted, he seemed under the more extreme effects typical of a heavy binge of Snuff and Nutmeg ingestion. A new Cheese Mites release is anticipated soon.

Friday, February 26, 2021

The Cheese Mites - Table Manners

   The "Universal Snufmeg" era was, and continues to be, fraught with confusion. Although Williwill and Johnny explored musical paths on separate continents, collaboration took on different forms, depending on factors peculiar to each particular instance. As a result of the bi-continental paradigm, much work was completed often under a variety of names, some of which manifest themselves enough to warrant their own legacy. Some of those include the Raw Mommies, Bulb, the Little Engine, solo DJ Johnny B Dub & Williwill, Speed Blimp, DJ Big Pretzel, DJ Lunar Canine, Brian Fripe, the Master Cylinder, Top Ranking Officials, Jerry Vile, Top o' the Mornin', and the Vanilla Penis Explosion. Others, such as Alternateen, Scrounger, the Snufmeg Kru, and the Danicing Bears found their material cannibalized by the Cheese Mites. The reason for much of the absorbtion was the overwhelming quality of what it "meant" to be the Cheese Mites, especially in light of the fact that much of it was, ultimately Johnny & Williwill. Collaboration took on the form of material being solely created by one or the other, and in the more traditional fashion of live or long-distance technological enhancement by both parties.

   "Table Manners" reflects the multi-dimensional approach to collaboration. The collection opens with the misanthropic "Invaders Have Landed on Martian Soil," originally intended for Scrounger in the late 1990's, and then for Alternateen shortly thereafter but reworked for the Cheese Mites by 2010. "Rock DIcks Melody" was intended for the Rock Dicks, but repurposed for the Cheese Mites in 2012. "And I Think of You" was a 1984 "American Snufmeg" era production, revealing a

   "Table Manners" takes on the "establishment" pomposity of modern, academic electro-acoustic music, in a way hinted at by the early Cheese Mites audio terror experiments. Owing a great debt to mid-Twentieth Century electronic music, "Table Manners," like "Between Spaces," "Front and Back," "New Man," "Stellar," and "Teeth" express the true spirit of electro-acoustic music in a way that utterly devastates the effete pretentiousness of the dreadful and uninspired creations from the SEAMUS/ICMA affiliated "hallowed halls" of modern accredited experimental drivel. The Cheese Mites reclaim electronic music from the precipice of the affected insular intellectuals and make it a near-folk music for the ages of electricy.

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Bulb

The release of "Bulbs and Whistles" by Bulb (1990), is often overlooked for it's importance in the "Universal Snufmeg" era. Though a brief compilation of songs, it is both a forward and read-view-mirror nexus of artistic elements and personalities, like few other artificats in the Snufmeg catalog. The material iteself is comprised from some staples of the Snufmeg index: "The Truth Comes Out," "Pros Jam with Pros" and "Clarinet," all find new interpretions (and not the last time they are rendered), plus "Barriers." Notable, however, is the arangement of Johnny B Dub and Scott D, who later appear in the Raw Mommies. A special provocative guest appearance is made by DJ Williwill on "Pros Jam with Pros" with a vocal message of chastisement.

For further information on the Raw Mommies see https://rawmommies.blogspot.com/


Saturday, February 13, 2021

Doug B

The early days of the post-1985 "Universal Snufmeg" era saw an expanse in the names of collaborators in the Snufmeg experience. From approximately 1990, Johnny B Dub briefly worked with Doug B to produce the "Charity" EP. An accomplished songwriter and musician, Doug contributed three songs for treatment in Snufmeg style, as exemplified in this collection. Recorded over several sessions, Doug's gifted creativity proved to be flexible enough for the forward/retro exploration which was becoming ever more developed in the growth of the Snufmeg environment.


Monday, February 8, 2021

Snufmeg in the Second Half of the 1980's

Snufmegology often references the totality of Snufmeg production in regards to two periods: those of the pre-1985 "American Snufmeg" and post-1985 "Universal Snufmeg" eras. The "American" period saw the origination of Snufmeg and the Cheese Mites, specifically, the "Universal Era" saw an expansion of not only the names of creators in and associated with Snufmeg, but a broadening of the aesthetic of what it means to be Snufmeg. While experts wrestle over the precise qualities which saitsfy to define it, the community of those who passed through the Snufmeg milieu grew as a result of the "Universal" experience. In this post, two wildly divergent examples of post-1985 Snufmeg production are presented. First, the one-off "reunion" of Sin for a re-working of the Snufmeg repertory classic "Vomit Your Senses." Second, is the Johnny B Dub production of Baritone's (the late Dwayne Francis) "Brownskin Girls" demo, which continues the trajectory established in the "Persuasion" collection in the previous post. Both recordings were undated, but most circumstantial evidence places them between 1987-1989.



Monday, May 11, 2020

Now Let's Have a Chat About "Cultural Influences"

   The marginalization of Snufmeg was, and continues to be, a worldwide conspiracy. From the onset, agents have sought to undermine and alienate the public at large from the near salvific creations under the banner of Snufmeg.
   At some point during 1983, a campaign was launched against the community in the form of psychological warfare. A concerted effort was made to destabilize and atomize the members. One such attack came in the form of casual dismissal of Snufmeg, but the Cheese Mites in particular, for failing to embrace "Cultural Influences." This became hotly debated and served to initiate severances amongst interested parties. It was eventually determined by Phynqafis Himself, after a prolonged forum of cogitation over Snuff and Nutmeg, he pronounced the best practice was to use such elements against the enemies of Snufmeg. The community soon enthusiastically accepted.
   What, however, was intended by "cultural influences"? The agents in the matter never revealed. But, by the guidance of Phynqafis a plan was concocted. What follows are examples from as early as 1983.
   This collection created and compiled by Johnny B. Dub, with the title "DJ" preceding his name, introduces the use of computers and synthesizers into musical mix. The results are generally taut and enjoyable in a way which differs from the traditional modes produced in Snufmeg.
   Of special note is the rendition of "Mutual Attraction." Like the selections included in "Themes, Motifs and Snufmeg," this song found itself covered by several Snufmeg related artists. Originally composed in (or around) 1985, the song has been found to be malleable enough to fit several stylistic interpretations.

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Themes, Motifs and Snufmeg

   Culled from a thirty-seven year span of the Snufmeg Library, the album "Themes, Motifs and Snufmeg" explores the flowering of cogent and structured expression which lurked beneath the chaotic and harsh innovations from which Snufmeg, in general, and the Cheese Mites, in particular, sprang. Absent here are the loops and feedback. Echoes remain, but, then old habits die hard. The overall thread throughout is the presentation of versions of standards and others over the span of time.
   Opening the collection is "Echo Song." This version captures the 'Mites at the crucial time where customary song forms were phasing out the riotous tone poems. The thematic phrasing of this song was dominant in the early "freak-out" performances, archived in as yet undisclosed versions. For tracks 11 and 14, these renditions, from as late as 2005 (although other sources date it in 2015), showcase the depth and deftness exclusively of Williwill's guidance, as he recreates "Echo Song" with brilliance and beauty only hinted at in the original. Track 6 is listed as "Untitled," which was the working title until "Echo Song" simply sufficed. This version is orchestrated by Johnny B. Dub. What we encounter is a comparison of the unique voices or sensibilities when juxtaposing the version by Johnny versus those by Williwill. They serve to establish how the two approaches work together, as well as the identifiable idiosyncrasies, in creating the broad methods and conceptualizations of the music of the Cheese Mites and much of the Snufmeg catalog.
   The mono and stereo versions of "The Monkey's Gonna Get You," seek to pay respect in an homage to the "swinging Sixties." With an open, spacious production, the classic sound of early 60's hits is recreated, yet with Cheese Mites absurdity in a lyrical tale of alarm fitting for "Planet of the Apes."
   Occupying tracks 3, 7, 10 & 12, "Out in the Sun" was one of the first major structured works by the Cheese Mites, and penned by Williwill. Track 3 is ambitious in its production esthetic, incorporating echoed guitars and French Horns. Conversely, track 7, is a simpler, two guitar version, with an almost rockabilly modality to it. While track 10 most likely predates the "official" recording (track 3), it nonetheless stands as a valid version, revealing a looser feel, probably due to the development of the song's themes. Williwill commands the production on track 12, featuring a tighter rhythm section, snappier up-tempo beat, and cleaner production than the lads had to endure in the old days.
   Like "Out in the Sun," Williwill led the charge in professionally crafted pop masterpieces, and "Speak" was no exception. It contributed considerably in changing the course in Snufmeg, and for the Cheese Mites. Two versions are included here; track 4 from 1982, and a Johnny B. Dub produced remake (track 8) from around 2005. Though the latter version is cleaner, it does not possess the mood of the former.
   Finally, we have two versions (tracks 5 & 9) of "Pros Jam with Pros." Intended as a mock of "musicians wanted" ads, the song experienced iterations outside of the Cheese Mites, notably by Bulb, and The Little Engine (both to be examined in upcoming posts).