Relentless

The Kuril Islands bring Fire back to the Ring of Fire.

Tucked into a remote corner north of Japan, Sarychev Peak in the Kuril islands is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and as of very recently, one of the most photogenic.

These photographs, courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory, show recent volcanic activity on the north of the Kuril Islands archipelago, which is the region's most intense eruption one to date since 1989.

Part of the tectonically unstable region, and the crown jewel of the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ these islands are also the focus of political volatility – they have been a disputed area between Russia and Japan since World War II and as a result are both a cultural, as well a natural peculiarity.

Avant-garde drone titans Sunn O))) are back and it’s not a pretty picture.

They have no rhythm, they have no soul. Sunn O)))’s guttural, primitive sound can be so unrelentingly monolithic, that most listenining experiences are a pure test of human will.

How much longer can this torturous chord last? What will the next one sound like? Seattle’s dark ambient mavericks are not particularly keen on providing answers.

There is nothing conclusive or cathartic about their sound. They will delay, distort and deny the listener a melody, and that is simply how it is.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, Sunn O))) are not just any rock band – their work may be loud and abrasive, but it is also extremely well considered and crafted. All It really takes for an uninitiated listener is a moment of distraction to really appreciate the dynamics of their composition.

An experience similar to squinting your eyes in order to grasp the scale and purpose of detail in a painting -  once you are no longer fixating on the vast choral plateaus of their sound, the melodies become much better defined, and all of a sudden you are struck by the large picture and the realization that this is a band that is a good step above the rest.

Sunn O)))’s most recent outing Monoliths and Dimensions came out very recently and is out now on Southern Lord.

Ever found it difficult to look away from a wreck? Try looking away from these.

The ocean has been the focus of all sorts of enquiry from the very ancient of times. There has always been a sense of danger and mystery, a conflicting relationship.

A relationship based on both gratitude for what the ocean has given us, as well as anguish at how impenetrable and dangerous it can often be. There is no shortage of stories that document the tragedy and hopelessness of these aquatic disasters. After all, one of Hollywood's largest-grosing films is pretty much just that (with a tiny bit of romance and human tragedy, of course.)

New software peels back the skin for a 3-D adventure.