[batreleaser]

Its time we give up a thread to this unique, innovative, wierd, and genius musician, filmaker, artist, and writer. He of course is most known, and fittingly so, for the forming of the Ann Arbor noise group, Destory all Monsters, in 1974 with Mike Kelley, Jim Shaw, and Niagra. Influenced by the Velvets, Esp-Disk, and Sun Raw, DAM creaed a totally new and sonically fucked sound referencing Proto Punk, Psych, Free Improv, and predating Industrial. Along with Throbbing Gristle, Smegma, and Whitehouse, Destory all Monsters to me are the most important influence on modern noise. They had the neccesarry "art school" drop out aesthetic and separation from high art pretensions that was neccesarry for the starting of a Noise scene. Hanson Records, Wolf Eyes, American Tapes, Heath Moreland, etc.. They wouldn't be here without Destroy all Monsters. They took the Velvet Underground's idea of getting a bunch of wierd artist-types from differen backgrounds to get together and make sort of the ulimate anti-rock outfit. This aestetic has been important to Noise ever since, and the majority of great bands have his sort of loose membership. Thier shows were of course very chaotic and interrestin, interecting the performanc art aspect into the cocophonic sound emanating from the speakers. They would remain influential in the later 70s, when the formed alliances with Dead Boys and such, but wouldnt ever have that same degenerate noise style.

Loren these days plays in Monster Island. The sound is markedly different than DAM. It is more of a psychedelic pop/rock record with hooks and choruses, but with a decidedly avant-garde poetic lyrical arc, even in the catchiest parts. Take the song "the Dead Father", totally catchy and easy to listen to. But at the same time as a pretty simple accoustic guitar progression, we get some fucked up psychedelic synth noodles played low in he mix, all while Loren recites in a cool as hell, Lou Reed-esque, free form poet style. The chorus rules, "Dont Dance with Me, cuz Youre Dancin with Dead."

Of course, I could then go on and on for days about the numerous more projects; musical, literary, artistic, and cinematic, that Loren has taken art in. But instead I'll leave you with a link; http://www.blastitude.com/13/
Blastitue issue 13 special editon. The speial part is edited by Cary Loren with lots of info on his projects (as well a stff on sun ra, detroit revolutionaries, fathr yod, etc...). Enjoy!