Category: Reviews

NORTHERN LIBERTIES – Glowing Brain Garden (builtonaweakspot.com, 2012)

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NORTHERN LIBERTIES – Glowing Brain Garden

First thing I noticed about Glowing Brain Garden was the elaborate artwork that is featured pretty much everywhere on the record. It also includes a couple inserts that also display the same type of sprawling images. Have to appreciate the type of effort that went into putting this together, a completely self-funded venture it would appear and one that is obviously a labor of love. As for Northern Liberties and their music, they actually kind of mimic what you see covering every inch of this release. At least in terms of imagery, as lyricist Justin Duerr takes a rather psychedelic/fantasy turn with the themes for this. The music itself ends up falling into a much noisier/abrasive area, but one that likely lands smack dab in between say…Karp and Lightning Bolt, kind of drawing elements from both styles I’d imagine but never really committing to either completely. Multiple listens has found me enjoying it more, and while the old bass and drums setup is a plentiful one they do well here in a adding a bit to it instead of merely taking up space. Despite this being their 5th record, from what I understand, this is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of hearing them. Busy individuals it would appear; probably will have two more releases out by the time I get this one on the site. Kidding, give it a listen.

Northern Liberties – Glowing Brain Garden (Yellow Green Red, 2012)

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You know the type of person that has to constantly be creating something? Someone who goes to jury duty for a day and comes back with an intricate sixteen-page comic book sketched on loose-leaf? That’s the impression I get from the Northern Liberties boys, two brothers and another who dispense all sorts of art like a fountain, both as the group Northern Liberties and individually. Glowing Brain Garden features sprawling, colorful art both inside and out, with enough pencil-strokes to make Nick Blinko’s hand cramp, as well as a couple of inserts. Visually alone, it’s a labor of love. Musically, I know I’ve seen these guys in at least one basement, but Glowing Brain Garden is more realized and structured than what I remember – kind of like a low-budget version of At The Drive-in trying out some of Lightning Bolt’s signature moves. Lots of musical technicality and tempo changes, fantasy-styled lyrics and a home-spun grandeur (with an apparently endless supply of colored-markers to fuel their ship). I’ve always figured Northern Liberties were a little too Burning Man for my tastes, but at the very least, the effort they put forth to document their existence has certainly expanded and improved my perception.

fromhttp://www.yellowgreenred.com

NORTHERN LIBERTIES – Glowing Brain Garden (Still Single, 2012)

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RECOMMENDED
Even those with active new music intake can only hope to hear about five to ten records of this power and transcendence in one lifetime. So, I’m torn between two or twenty-eight different attitudes when faced with the task of actually reviewing something like this. One of them goes like this: “There might be art I will never be qualified to comment on. Yep, face it, Mr. Summer School AFTER 12th Grade In Order To Genuinely Graduate in….the…..hou…” And another goes like this: “Is this some sort of a joke or a ‘90’ reissue that is doing exactly what the reissue game is supposed to do (unearth brilliance that was overlooked the first time around)?” That I might be suspicious of something this consummately uplifting and powerful is 100% commentary on the sad state of affairs elsewhere on the tunes-ville landscape…or is it? The weird and terrifying degradation of underground rock – it is finally happening in an Illuminati sense despite the crying-wolf nature of saying so in public and despite the fact that no one will really believe me or you if this happens to be an adopted party-line in the near future – has not brainwashed me into some peanut-butter cognitive mush that hugs and embraces and spews superlative soup all over anything that simply DOESN’T SUCK. No, this album is one of the best ten long-players I’ve ever heard within the context of contemporary….aka “post-1985” underground rock/hardcore/punk/indie/noise-rock, etc. And that’s it. What awaits those lucky enough to get their hands on one of the remaining (??) 300 copies? Imagine if Cop Shoot Cop had GBV hooks along with the best moments of Scott Walker singing into the heavens. It’s a drummer (oh, what a drummer…), a vocalist/percussionist (playing what is probably a
stand-up kit rather than this being a double-drummer set-up) and a bassist playing the fucking instrument like Lou Barlow taught everyone who was listening and properly processing Dinosaur Jr’s You’re Living All Over Me (an album also in that aforementioned top ten). Get this. Hear this. This is the sound of hope and inspiration and it made me feel something I wasn’t ever planning to feel again. (http://www.northernlibertiesband.com)
(Andrew Earles)

from http://still-single.tumblr.com

Northern Liberties/Glowing Brain Garden (Live at the Difference, 2012)

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Use this album as a manageable entry point into the world of the Duerr brothers and their longtime best friend Kevin Riley; who, together for over a decade, have been crafting what they call “ghost punk” – and I’m inclined to take their word for it. In the least because they have always created within the confines of vocals, percussion, and bass; bending to Occam’s Razor – the law of parsimony, which states that until a greater demonstration reveals itself as necessary, the most succinct one shall rule.
— “Best of 2012” from liveatthedifference.blogspot.com –  (liveatthedifference.blogspot.com)

From a post by CJ Marsicano (‘Your Opinion Doesn’t Count’ blog, 2009)

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Diggin’ In The Crates “Giving Some Love To My Homies” Edition
This week, just like the title of this post says, I’m showing some love to some homeboys of mine who just put a new record out…

On October 30, 2004, I made my second pilgrimage in as many years to one of Philadelphia’s finest alternative/indie rock venues, The Khyber, to witness a performance by my good friend, punk legend Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE, Banyan, Iggy Pop & The Stooges), who was then touring behind his third solo album The Secondman’s Middle Stand.

Most likely by coincidence, all three of the acts on the bill were three-piece units. Only the first band of the night, the Perfection!sts, was a conventional guitar/bass/drums unit. Watt’s band on this outing, as on his then-new album, was an organ/bass/drums band. And then there was the band in the middle of the bill. I’ll let my paragraph on them from when I reviewed the show for PunkNews.org tell it:

Second opening act Northern Liberties (who also run their own Worldeater label and distribution company) — a trio consisting of bass, drums and percussion — played a high energy set of music from their debut full-length album Erode + Disappear. With K’s effect-laden, pick-driven bass covering all sonic frequencies and most of the melody, singer/percussionist Justin came off like a tattooed, ultra-hyper, depression-and-epilepsy-free Ian Curtis as he sang and played, unpreturbed by minor mishaps with both the mic cord coming out of his delay pedal and with accidentally knocking over a pitcher of water on the stage floor (where Mazich had to set up his organ right afterward – fortunately, no Stone The Crows like electrocution mishaps occurred) – definitely one of the best unsigned bands I’ve ever witnessed.

After the evening ended, I met lead singer/percussionist Justin Duerr, bought copies of his band’s first CD Erode + Disappear and their 7″ Easter Island off of him (the CD itself was $6 for a full-length album!). I played the CD in my car on the drive home and was hooked for life. Since then, I’ve been following the band’s releases (three more CDs, a limited edition DVD, a split 7″ and three side project releases by Justin) as well as keeping a good correspondence (and trading mix CD’s) with Justin (not surprisingly, my CDs had some J-pop goodness, which he dug immensely.) All are highly recommended by me.

Their newest release is rather interesting as it’s their first non-7″ vinyl effort. The record consists of one 29-minute, 51-second song entitled (what else?) Suffocation. Despite the length of the song, it seems to go by pretty quick. The band only intends to play this piece live twice, once on March 20 in Philadelphia and once in Bethlehem a week later. The vinyl itself (which Justin tells me is the band’s preferred way to experience the recorded version of the song) has a locked groove on side two, but they’re not putting CD and iPod owners out either, as every copy of the album has a bonus CD with some extra tracks (a few drones excerpted from the multi-track recording of the song, plus some live tracks from a California radio appearance). The album’s cover itself is silkscreened by NL’s bassist Kevin Riley.

Vinyl collectors may want to jump on this soon – there’s only 200 copies pressed, and mine was numbered 59. Check the band’s website at http://www.northernlibertiesband.com

— CJ Marsicano, re-posted from blog.

Northern Liberties – Suffocation 12″ (Duck’s Blog on WKDU.org, 2009)

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NORTHERN LIBERTIES–SUFFOCATION 12″–Self Released
1 song, 1 record, 2 sides, who has the balls to do such a thing? Northern Liberties, that’s who! An epic, creepy, droning yet rocking tune that only this West Philly trio can provide. And for those of you too lazy to flip the record, it also comes in CD format…

Northern Liberties – Suffocation (The Deli, 2009)

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Ghost punk involutioners Northern Liberties have always put on intense shows. As Kevin Riley’s bass and Marc Duerr’s drums distort the senses, Justin Duerr writhes and pounds away on his percussions in a turret of tattooed fury, but at Johnny Brenda’s this Friday, they plan to take it up a notch by unveiling a new 30 minute long song called Suffocation, which will be available on a limited edition 12” vinyl. This will be its official debut live performance, and the band currently plans to only play it one other time so don’t miss out on one of those nights that people talk about how you should’ve been there!

Also on the bill are local punk folk darlings Mischief Brew who are always incredible live, but before they play Johnny Brenda’s, they’ll be dropping in at The Fire for a special all ages acoustic set. Johnny Brenda’s 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9 PM, $10 myspace.com/northernliberties

– Bill McThrill
http://www.thedelimagazine.com/philadelphia/

Suffocation (Philly Weekly, 3/24/09)

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NORTHERN LIBERTIES

It’s a grand plan: Release a limited-edition, 200-copy run of a vinyl album that features one song and then play that song/album in its entirety, “Thick As a Brick”-style. Northern Liberties say they will only play the piece, titled “Suffocation”, live twice, once in Bethlehem, Pa., and once at Johnny Brenda’s. What will it sound like? Only a select few know, but the band describes it as “somber – essentially a ‘winter song’ dealing with problems inherent to existence in a physical dimension.” If “Suffocation” is anything like the early 90’s DIY/grunge/postpunk vibe blended with off-kilter, avant-garde jazz rhythms the band is normally known for, it could be epic.

— Katherine Silkaitis, Philadelphia Weekly, March 18-24, 2009

Northern Liberties “Suffocation” (Philadelphia City Paper, 3/18/09)

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Call it a prog-noise opus. Call it a gathering thunderhead. Need a better categorization? You have plenty of time to think one up. The new 12″ from captivating experimental punk trio Northern Liberties is 30 minutes of rumble, swell, shriek and release, a single thrilling song enveloping you in a manner that entire albums would struggle to match. The sludge riffing heard in the earlier part of “Suffocation” builds into pattering marching toms and mantra vocals, a beautiful feedback devotional. Then there’s some distorted bad-trip synthesizer and pounding march to the sea — so much is going on here, so many bits to chew on as the music runs its course. The band calls this its winter song, recorded last December and debuted on the vernal equinox to exorcise those dark months. On a higher level, we’ve been mired in winter for much, much longer than that, and the band has tinkered with this composition for all that time, all those years. Look at this as a rapturous catharsis to usher forth brighter days.

Northern Liberties will perform “Suffocation” in its entirety only twice. This Friday at Johnny Brenda’s will be one of those times. by John Vettese

Northern Liberties prepare to lay their ‘winter song’ to rest (Philadelphia Indie Music Examiner, 3/16/09)

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Every so often there comes along a piece of music that is so much more than a just a song. Because of its length and brilliant composition, as well as the other components of its complex structure, it becomes a work of art, a masterpiece. In my experience, this has only happened a handful of times, with songs such as: Nofx’s “the Decline,” Craw’s “Caught My Tell,” and Maiden’s “Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.” Such songs are somewhat like the “A la recherche du temps perdu” (Marcel Proust’s literary masterpiece) of music. It would seem that every generation has its own “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” just as Iron Butterfly did in the late 60’s. And now, the Philadelphia avant garde punk and neo-progressive ghost-core band Northern Liberties has given the Suicide Generation its very own “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” The song is titled “Suffocation,” and it consumes a small piece of eternity with its many-layered and intricate parts, which begins with a well-constructed noise base of feedback and distant vocals and continues along a course of varying intensity and heaviness and range. For some odd reason, “Suffocation” reminds me of old Christian Death, the Theatre of Pain days, along with Craw, somewhere between Lost Nation Road and Strontium. It’s obviously a very personal song, with an undercurrent of fierce emotion, in addition to a deep intellectual well from which springs a mighty fountain of thought. All told, “Suffocation” is twenty-nine minutes in length, and it’s worth every second of time that it borrows from the universe.

“Suffocation” is a song that’s not afraid to run with scissors. Nor does it throw salt over its shoulder or knock on wood. It laughs off the seven years bad luck of broken mirrors. And if a black cat should cross its path, it will kneel down and run its cold hand over the animal’s sleek midnight-colored coat, pick it up, and take it home. In other words, it is a rather daring composition. And, to be sure, it leaves enormous footprints in the ground of its path, making it quite easy to track through the wilderness of the City Earth. And I will no doubt follow it to one or both of the only two shows at which Northern Liberties will be performing it live. One in Philadelphia. And another in Bethlehem. Currently we stand on that invisible line which separates the seasons, spring from winter. It’s time to bid farewell to the biting cold and the frost covered ground, to the seemingly perpetual gray skies and the stoical faces of passersby on the street, and the lingering piles of dirty snow melting into the gutters around the city. The sun heralds the approach of spring, and with it the funeral procession begins with head-swelling feedback and noise art, with duel percussion, with keys and thick strings and voice. So, we follow it. And in doing so we realize that we are about witness a “winter song” laid to rest. Simultaneously we lament the loss of one season and celebrate the arrival of another. I am among them. “Suffocation” by Northern Liberties is the music of the occasion. We will hear it live only twice, the first time in Philadelphia, the second in Bethlehem.

James Carlson
Philadelphia Indie Music Examiner