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[reviews]

The 50 Brutum Fulmen covers were designed by Jeff and executed by Linda. The covers were spackled, imprinted with the text "NEW ENGLAND RRR:XX" using old wooden type, and painted with brown.

The Brutum Fulmen pieces described are here, including track titles which were not given in the official release. Full New England track listing follows.

1. Grubs
   Manual typewriters, cassette tape, feedback, metal shelving.

   One of my favorite tracks from the Spork days, which I hadn't quite found the right place to release.
    

2. Artificial Life
   Source sounds taken from the first performance of George Antheil's infamous Ballet Mecanique. Appropriately enough recorded in Lowell, MA.

   The "Ballet" is a long and frantic workout for 16 player pianos, percussion, siren, and airplane propellors. I was determined to create a more atmospheric piece, though the material did not make that easy, especially since I also did not want to entirely obscure the original sounds.
    

3. Fever Dream [9MB mp3]
   Live solo improv for feedback, metal, voice, plastic reed.

   Recorded in my basement using some variation of my live feedback setup and a mic feeding a delay effect.
    

4. The Apparatus
   Manual typewriters.

   This was the piece that originally got me using manual typewriters as a sound source. I created this for an unrealized compilation of music inspired by the writings of Franz Kafka. This piece is based on the short story "In the Penal Colony" where "the apparatus" is a torture device which inscribes the transgressions of prisoners into their skin. At some point before they die, there is supposedly a moment of enlightenment. The story ends with the warden strapped to the apparatus himself. My concept for this piece had something to do with author as penitent, and typewriter as "apparatus" and the act of writing as the sacrifice for enlightenment. Whatever, I liked how the sounds worked out.
    

Complete track listing:

Side 1: Diagram:A

1. (unknown)
2. (unknown)
3. (unknown)

Side 2: Human is Filth

1. (unknown)
2. (unknown)
3. (unknown)
4. (unknown)
5. (unknown)

Side 3: Karlheinz

1. Right Now!

Side 4: Brutum Fulmen

1. Grubs
2. Artificial Life
3. Fever Dream [9MB]
4. The Apparatus

Side 5: Immaculate:Grotesque

1. September Possession
2. Movement

Side 6: Prurient

1. Three Sisters

Side 7: Can't

1. Like Some Radios
2. Parasitics
3. Lullaby

Side 8: Mr. Brinkman

1. (unknown)
2. (unknown)
3. (unknown)

Side 9: Skin Crime

1. (unknown)

Side 10: Sickness

1. Drown - Sink
2. Drown - Swallow
3. Drown - Suffocate