A handful of bent, wavering chords come clattering out the speakers to my right, couple flick-knife scads of screeching feedback throbbing in-between. A wash of spindly guitar unfurled o'er a quiff-skulled, bobbin' bassline. A voice harsh as the crust on a week-old hemorrhoid, yet enchanting as the siren's squawk to a rum-wrecked sailor.
Smiling to myself, nodding the head enthusiastically, the shrill hiss of the swelling dawn simmering at the edges of the window-glass. "This is beautiful" I'm mouthing. "Beautiful…"
Couple hours previous, I'm sat in the kitchen on a too-hard chair with the smoke from a too-thin cigarette scourging the retinas something fierce, examining the CD inlay held open afore me.
Dotted about the glossy paper, sundry curious, disturbing sights; Sharks, Nazis, executions, three-boobed women all Playboy glaze-gaze, merboys and one-eyed soft-focus monkey beasts, faceless forms hung from gallows, garden party socialites and Hitler Youth parades.
Death spectacles, killing machines, abominations. Puffing the cheeks, muttering under my breath; "Jesus save us all…"
Glance at the song titles; "Aphrodite Has Gone Mad", "Not Right In The Head", "Two Shit Icepick"…
Looking up from the case with the yap all skewed to one side, forehead wrinkled some, I'm saying to the fella sleeps in my hallway sometimes; "This is gon' be harsh."
"What is?"
"This." Reaching him the record, The Underwater Fascist by Touchers. On the cover - some manner of slumbering ocean-woman, naked, the seaweed all coiling about her thighs and her arms and the nooks down yonder by the hoo-hah.
He gives it a cursory glance, tosses it back at me. "Never heard of them" says he. "Who are they, pray tell?"
Who they are, I explain, are an American indie outfit fronted and orchestrated by one Ben Brisini, a manic depressive, healthy-living 'musical autocrat' (Press Release says…) from Bozeman, Montana. "Jack Endino's produced it" I inform him. "I assume some sort of claustrophobic, lumber-haulin', grunge-hued sludge or other is the order of the day. Heavy shit, I'd guess - sonically, thematically and spiritually."
Article comments
1 - A.L. Harper
It hurts me that I am not as talented as you are Duke. I feel it is my job to somehow put a stop to people like you; all oozing with talent and humility.
I hate you.
2 - Mark Saleski
slumbering ocean-woman, naked, the seaweed all coiling about her thighs and her arms and the nooks down yonder by the hoo-hah.
now that...is art. ;-)
3 - DukeDeMondo
UPDATE - I just found out about three seconds ago that Ben Brisini was found dead last week. Suicide is suspected. this is fuckin shockin and sickening. my thoughts are with the family, friends and fans. Jesus Christ.
4 - DukeDeMondo
Ms Harper, Sir Saleski, thank you both for chippin in. Ms Harper - you're swellin my head to me, as the nun said to the leper etc etc. but thank you, beautiful things to hear. or to read.
5 - drew
suicide is not suspected.....he did not kill himself, intentionally at least. he was a good guy.
6 - DukeDeMondo
drew - thank you for clearin that. i was goin on information i received from the band's label. that was pretty much word for word - "not certain, but suicide is suspected."
7 - Aaron Fleming
Stunning, as always!
8 - DukeDeMondo
thank you Sir Fleming! glad you dug it.
9 - Mistress Decaf
I don't know who is fooling whom here - But I am the Label Manager for Mental Records - The label which which Ben / Touchers recently signed. Please, go to our website - nowhere now, or EVER have we stated anything but remorse, at the loss of such an amazing talent. Anyone trying to capitalize on his death is a coward and a fool. Please don't act like the large masses of sheep running around ferral today spouting off what you "heard" without checking first. His death is not a reason for gossip, or speculation and if you understand what his songs are about - you might just realize that.
10 - DukeDeMondo
Mistress, i don't know what you're referring to there. if it's the comments regarding the recent news, and about where said comments came from, i recieved them, i was under the impression, as fact from Wantage USA. no-one is trying to spread gossip or speculate on anything. i recieved the news about an hour or so after this had been posted, i think, and the immediate reaction was to include it as an update underneath. it seemed the thing to do. certainly if my information was wrong, i apologise, and even if it's not wrong i apologise anyway if it looks like i meant to stoke any fires of rumour or gossip. I just related what i'd been told as a postscript. Should have checked, certainly.
11 - john
i love you ben and i miss you. you still make me laugh. sharing stories, the music, the one in a billion personality....you will never be forgotten.
12 - Asher Hinrichs
I'm from Bozeman. The Touchers were incredible, the greatest professional musicians our town can claim. Ben's lyrics, the band's music, and the ineffable profundity of their art inspires myself and all the other Bozeman musicians I know. Rest in Peace, Ben