HR048 — Viktimized Karcass/Alien Planetscapes - Live July 18th 87 At Harsh Reality
C60 — 1987
C60 — 1987
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Doug Walker (Dr Synth) and Carl Howard of AP
meet and jam with Viktimized Karcass, plus they play an Alien Planetscapes set! 
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SIDE A: VIKTIMIZED KARCASS
The Last Retreat Back On The Trail Bowdown Way Way Out Got To Be (A Cop) VKs are C. Phinney, R. Henson, R. Moneymaker, R. Martin, M. Jackson, with C. Howard & D. Walker SIDE B: ALIEN PLANETSCAPES Urban Space Program #2 |
REVIEW by Jerry Kranitz
Live July 18 1987 features two performances at Chris Phinney’s house in Memphis: Viktimized Karcass on Side A, with Doug Walker and Carl Howard sitting in, and a duo version of Alien Planetscapes on Side B featuring Doug and Carl.
The VK set opens with the industrial space rock jamming and grooving ‘The Last Retreat’. I can definitely hear Hawkwind’s ‘Master Of The Universe’ riff from the bass, and what sounds like a sax.
Doug and Carl join in starting with ‘Back On The Trail’, which starts off with a meandering noisy grind as melodic synths noodle along. The pleasantly melodic synths continue to temper the storm, and a Kee-Raaaazy screech/scream periodically pops in. ‘Bowdown’ is a Space-Noise-Goth rocker with haunting classic Goth keys, but it’s also less noisy but highly intense with wind storm and spacey effects, plus trademark Doug and Carl Alien Planetscapes electronics. It’s also nicely embellished by crazy growling punk ranting vocals.
‘Way Way Out - Got To Be (A Cop)’ is another combination of intense noise and spacey keys, plus various wigged out electronics, making for a freeform space noise trip. After a few minutes the band gradually settle into a groove, though the effects are still rampaging in all directions. After about 7 minutes the band abruptly shift to a noisy Chrome styled rocker, done up in the usual maddened VK style, which sounds super cool with Doug and Carl shooting sonic synth missiles into the ether.
Doug and Carl’s Side B Alien Planetscapes opens with ‘Urban Space Program’, which features 17 minutes of 50s sci-fi film soundtrack, alien world sculptures, electronic space installations, and experimental orchestration. It’s like a master class in the use of synthesizers for cosmic creation. People are chatting while they’re playing, and I can hear someone saying “are you into Tangerine Dream”, and talking about Planet Gong. The chattering is actually kind of cool because you get the feel that people are just hanging out informally and making music. Anything goes in the hometaper underground! The fun continues on ‘#2’, with its soaring church organ in space and ooh-wee-ooh whistling effects, all while people are chattering away.
INTERVIEW with Chris Phinney by Jerry Kranitz
JK: The Alien Karcasscapes tape (HR047) was recorded on July 16 and Viktimized Karcass/Alien Planetscapes on July 18. Why wasn’t Carl on the Karcasscapes tape?
CP: Carl wasn’t here. Carl flew in for the Live July 18th gig and flew out the next day.
JK: I can hear a lot of people talking. Did you have a whole bunch of people over?
CP: Yeah, we had a bunch of people. There was a little smart ass redhead talking about, “this is the band from New York?” I forget what band she played in but I always hated her. But she came and was talking shit.
JK: The people are mostly talking during Doug and Carl’s Alien Planetscapes set. And after they’re done playing and the conversations continue, I can hear someone saying something about it being 11:30 and they’re heading to the station to meet Honeycutt. What are they talking about?
CP: That’s Carl talking about going to do an interview and playing tapes.
JK: Oh, Mike Honeycutt had one of his radio shows. Did they perform?
CP: No. It was just an interview and talking and playing tapes.
JK: The very last thing I can hear before the tape cuts out is someone introducing Doug to Bob X.
CP: That’s right. That’s where Doug met Bob X. But that’s why Carl was getting so antsy. “We’ve got to go see Honeycutt! Honeycutt is waiting!” What he’s doing is prodding Doug because Doug is taking his sweet time.
JK: Did you release both this and the Alien Karcasscapes (HR047) tapes at the same time?
CP: Yes. Both at the same time.
Live July 18 1987 features two performances at Chris Phinney’s house in Memphis: Viktimized Karcass on Side A, with Doug Walker and Carl Howard sitting in, and a duo version of Alien Planetscapes on Side B featuring Doug and Carl.
The VK set opens with the industrial space rock jamming and grooving ‘The Last Retreat’. I can definitely hear Hawkwind’s ‘Master Of The Universe’ riff from the bass, and what sounds like a sax.
Doug and Carl join in starting with ‘Back On The Trail’, which starts off with a meandering noisy grind as melodic synths noodle along. The pleasantly melodic synths continue to temper the storm, and a Kee-Raaaazy screech/scream periodically pops in. ‘Bowdown’ is a Space-Noise-Goth rocker with haunting classic Goth keys, but it’s also less noisy but highly intense with wind storm and spacey effects, plus trademark Doug and Carl Alien Planetscapes electronics. It’s also nicely embellished by crazy growling punk ranting vocals.
‘Way Way Out - Got To Be (A Cop)’ is another combination of intense noise and spacey keys, plus various wigged out electronics, making for a freeform space noise trip. After a few minutes the band gradually settle into a groove, though the effects are still rampaging in all directions. After about 7 minutes the band abruptly shift to a noisy Chrome styled rocker, done up in the usual maddened VK style, which sounds super cool with Doug and Carl shooting sonic synth missiles into the ether.
Doug and Carl’s Side B Alien Planetscapes opens with ‘Urban Space Program’, which features 17 minutes of 50s sci-fi film soundtrack, alien world sculptures, electronic space installations, and experimental orchestration. It’s like a master class in the use of synthesizers for cosmic creation. People are chatting while they’re playing, and I can hear someone saying “are you into Tangerine Dream”, and talking about Planet Gong. The chattering is actually kind of cool because you get the feel that people are just hanging out informally and making music. Anything goes in the hometaper underground! The fun continues on ‘#2’, with its soaring church organ in space and ooh-wee-ooh whistling effects, all while people are chattering away.
INTERVIEW with Chris Phinney by Jerry Kranitz
JK: The Alien Karcasscapes tape (HR047) was recorded on July 16 and Viktimized Karcass/Alien Planetscapes on July 18. Why wasn’t Carl on the Karcasscapes tape?
CP: Carl wasn’t here. Carl flew in for the Live July 18th gig and flew out the next day.
JK: I can hear a lot of people talking. Did you have a whole bunch of people over?
CP: Yeah, we had a bunch of people. There was a little smart ass redhead talking about, “this is the band from New York?” I forget what band she played in but I always hated her. But she came and was talking shit.
JK: The people are mostly talking during Doug and Carl’s Alien Planetscapes set. And after they’re done playing and the conversations continue, I can hear someone saying something about it being 11:30 and they’re heading to the station to meet Honeycutt. What are they talking about?
CP: That’s Carl talking about going to do an interview and playing tapes.
JK: Oh, Mike Honeycutt had one of his radio shows. Did they perform?
CP: No. It was just an interview and talking and playing tapes.
JK: The very last thing I can hear before the tape cuts out is someone introducing Doug to Bob X.
CP: That’s right. That’s where Doug met Bob X. But that’s why Carl was getting so antsy. “We’ve got to go see Honeycutt! Honeycutt is waiting!” What he’s doing is prodding Doug because Doug is taking his sweet time.
JK: Did you release both this and the Alien Karcasscapes (HR047) tapes at the same time?
CP: Yes. Both at the same time.