Music Reviews

Vinyl Releases:

HEART OF THE KLUX FLUX

OP the "Y" issue 1984

DIMTHINGS: Heart of the Klux Flux; distributed by Recommended Records

Most of this unpredictable and very enjoyable two record set is performed by one man. The entire record is extremely percussive, and in fact many of the shorter pieces here consist simply of various percussive textures. Often times, however, Dimthings performs with a couple of other very excellent players, serving up some white hot progressive material. The guitar work on "Salvador Dali" is amazing as is the drumming and complexity of arrangement. Most of the material here is very chaotic and energetic, reminding me of a cross between Mahavishnu (at their most frenzied), This Heat, Fred Lane, and the Residents. At times the listener is bludgeoned with a dozen multi-tracked tape experiments, off the wall hammering, found voices, and blasting horns. It's amazing the way Dimthings goes from fairly normal material into the most extreme Musique Concrete, Much of it is tremendously intense; therefore, it is hard to digest more than one side per sitting. All in all, however, this is an album of amazing energy, diversity, and power---highly recommended. Paul Lemos (of Controlled Bleeding).

WAYSIDE MUSIC

DIMTHINGS - Heart Of The Klux Flux 2 lps $10.00

Dimthings is a percussionist who also plays keyboards, violins, guitars, electronics, & tapes. Other musicians also appear. While the goings on are zazy, this isn't all chaos, & most of the record is extremely tight considering how loony it all gets. All-American strangeness from Florida. 500 copies made. These are our last copies.

A WORLD OF SEGREGATION/TUNES FROM THE GARBAGE

OPTION July/August 1985

DIMTHINGS: A World of Segregation/Tunes from the Garbage

Some of this is the sort of garage-produced music concrete that many bands (like Negativland) create. Some is warbling throats and marching bands, computer pop fragments, and some is straight forward performance akin to the funnier European free music players (I'm talking intentional, not accidental, humor). A few jazz-like flavors are stirred in, tapes are manipulated, and the result is very idiosyncratic. Stories are told, and it often almost rocks. It's impossible to tell at a given moment where the music's going, but it gets you there. And you can't get there from here. (Thingsflux Music distributed by Wayside) Brent Wilcox

SOUND CHOICE #3, 1985

DIMTHINGS: A World Of Segregation/Tunes From The Garbage (Thingsflux Music)

I new when I saw the cheap paste-on cover with scribbled artwork and scrawled lettering, that I would either hate this record or love it. Fortunately I love it. This is playful, free-form music with roots in the "plink, plunk, ploonk" school of new music. With crude electronics and what sounds like a whole assortment of home-made instruments, (in addition to piano, bass, and drums) they stretch the music into weird new shapes; like The Residents meet The Art Ensemble of Chicago. If your collection includes stuff like Negativland, Walls Of Genius, and releases from the L.A.F.M.S. then this is for you. -- Jonathan Small

BLASTITUDE #17, NOVEMBER 2004 

PENGO (Band Interview)

If you like up-to-date psychedelic music (no paisley whatsoever) and you haven't heard the LP A Nervous Splendor, by Rochester NY combo Pengo, get it now! There's still some copies left as of this writing, as you can read below, in this interview with Pengo co-founder, multi-instrumentalist, fire-fighter, metal-head, and all-around bon vivant John Schoen. 

Time for an obligatory question -- Last five records listened to? 

 Records:

Hairy Chapter -- Can't Get Through (Second Battle Re-ish)
Sarcophagus -- Cycle of Life (JP-Musiikkiov)
Bruce Ditmas --Yellow (Wizard)
Henry Jacobs --The Wiide Weird World of Shorty Petterstien (More Interviews of Our Times) (World Pacific)
DimThings -- A World of Segregation/Tunes From the Gaarbage (Things Flux Music)
Condemned? -- Humanoid of Biomechanoid? (Nuclear Blast)

THOSE UNFORGETTABLE SHAMAN

OPTION May/June 1985

JEAN CHAINE & DIMTHINGS: This Unforgettable Shaman

Whew! This may be the wildest record I've heard in a long time. It's definitely jazz-like, somewhat like Hugh Hopper or Tony Williams Lifetime, but toss in Sun Ra (played at 78) and a few dashes of Material, the Residents, and even Negativland. Side One is crazy and uncategorizable, Side Two is more clearly "fusion," but confusing. I'm baffled, dazzled, and amused, and I like it. It sets up some obvious jazz/rock cliches and then throws in the kitchen sink (which makes a lovely and unexpected sound) Jean says, "What you hear is a pretty good reproduction of the music I hear in my head." But cam he ever sleep? (Thingsflux Music) Brent Wilcox

SOUND CHOICE #3, 1985

DIMTHINGS/JEAN CHAINE; Those Unforgettable Shaman (Thingsflux Music)

A fantastic co(labor)ation of love by two dynamos: magnificent electric bass virtuoso Jean Chaine. and Mr. Everything Else, Dimthings. This is my favorite ThingsFlux release so far. Chaine's link with the more readily identifiable musical elements (hot jazz) brings D.T.'s exploration of the further reaches of the musical universe, not really down to earth, but at least into an orbit that us mere (myopic?) mortals can relate to. Chaine burns with the intensity and proficiency of a Jaco P. or Stanley C. (when they're smokin') -- he's a monster player! And Dimthings; this fellow can (and does) play anything. I don't just mean any style, or any instrument; I mean any THING! Any OBJECT, any SUBSTANCE! And make great music. On this record he plays drums, miscellaneous percussion, vibes, voice, violin, synth, trumpet, harmonica, TV happenings crowds, and when he lists "summer breeze" as an instrument, he ain't whistlin' dixie. These cats swing, bop, rock, groove and percolate, changing directions on a dime. Some cuts here owe a debt early burnin' Mahavishnu Orchestra and the best of Return To Forever (especially when guitarist Ron Brown joins in, sounding like Allan Holdsworth and Bill Connors). Add a massive dose of humor, free-form freakiness, and D.T.'s personal encyclopedia of sound, and you end up with a potent pharma-, I mean, musicological brew that will transport you to some wonderful, rarely charted places. 10 - Bill Hubby

FORCED EXPOSURE MAGAZINE #10, Sometime 1986

DIMTHINGS/JEAN CHAINE: "Ulterior Lux" LP (THINGSFLUX)

...this rec looks like it's gonna be greater 'n gob, but it turns out t' be mostly OK. Primarily duo stuff, this's sorta post-fusion semi-free oddness w/a few rock overtones. It's representative o' the branch of unusual noise that smarter college musicians turn to when they realize that Zappa's square. Its overall brunt is of an extreme, if selfconciously "weird", soundtrack compendium for Czechoslovakian animated shorts of the early Sixties. I esp. like the bit where the ducks start playin' recorders, makin' the old sailors fart in unison. --Byron

ALTERNATIVE RHYTHMS, issue #18, Feb/1985

DIMTHINGS/JEAN CHAINE Those Unforgettable Shaman (THINGSFLUX)

The low budget, thrown together artwork that graces DIMTHINGS' recordings, project (to me) an image of industrial art-noise or electronic avant-garde; so imagine my surprise at finding them a modern day jazz-funk fusion band. Primarily local studio musicians, DIMTHINGS are spearheaded by composer/bassist Jean Chaine who provides an aural guided tour into many fused-out jazz styles, but seems most comfortable in the Ornette Coleman/DECODING SOCIETY territory of odd time signatures and liberated rhythm sections. Obviously, the musicianship (especially Jean's wild'n'wooly bass runs) is outstanding. One low comes when they attempt some archaic mid-70's MAHAVISHNU orchestration; too many pointless notes, not enough compositional muscle. The keyboards are cheesy and redundant as well. A rather small beef, really; since this ten piece, mostly instrumental, effort has more than enough recommendable material on it. - Bob Slade

From WORMSHOP at www.larka.nl

Chaine, Jean & His Ulterior Lux Those Unforgetable Shaman Thingsflux TF-504 (LP)  

A wild kind of jazz, think Tony Williams Lifetime, but toss in Sun Ra (played at 78) and a few dashes of Material, the Residents, and even Negativland. Side 1 is crazy & uncategorizable, side 2 is more clearly 'fusion' but confusing enough. (1984).

IN SPITE OF WHAT THEY SAY

SOUND CHOICE #4, 1986

DIMTHIINGS: In Spite Of What They Say (5-song 12")

Volume 3 of Dimthings' notorious "Garage Recording Series", provides a relatively painless taste of this four-track free spirit. If spontaneous lunacy is to your liking, so it is to Dimthings. With just enough structure to distinguish the tracks, Dimthings bursts forth into these uninhibited flights of fancy with aggressive cheer. "There's a conspiracy going on that one can be aware of," he proclaims in the first cut, "and it wants one to be a way of it. Kill it! Kill it!" So said, he proceeds against the conspiracy of conditioning, conformity and complacency with flailed percussion, abrasive synth-noise, environmental chanting, creepy whooping and hollering, and elaborate mutated orchestration. All done at home, all played by Dimthings, with the exception of guitarist Ron Brown on one song. While the level of musicianship and proficiency is uncertain, that is entirely irrelevant to this album's message. I mean, proficiency is conditioned thought, right? And conditioning is a social suppression and part of the conspiracy, right? Fuckin' A!! Kill it! KILL IT!! --- Michael P. Goodspeed

OPTION Jan/Feb 1985

DIMTHINGS: In Spite of What They Say -and- Dis-ci-plined 2 a Spontaneous Way of Life

These are Vols. 3 & 4 of Dimthings' "Garage Recording Series." While they probably could have condensed both of these albums into a single long one, they do some pretty interesting things. In Spite Of is mostly and album of twisted techno-pop, combined with some healthy noise banging and early Residents-style distortion. It includes the SubGenius-inspired "Battle For Slack." "One for all in an all for one" is a piece of extremely mutated fusion, plus distorted electronics. On Dis-ci-plned they take a jazzier attack, with more improvisation. There are touches of Faust and can on both records, if unevenly distributed, and Dis-ci-plined has a well warped version of Stevie Wonder's Superstition too. It's jazzy, noisy, electronic, inventive, and catchy. Dimthings seem to be one of the most creative units in the underground, and with a five record output over a short period of time, I have to expect a little unevenness. I mean, it's not uneven as much as very, very hard to pin down and classify. And I like that. (Thingsflux) -- Brent Wilcox

DIS-CI-PLINED 2 A SPONTANEOUS WAY OF LIFE

UNSOUND Vol 2, # 3/4, 1985

DIMTHINGS: DIS-CI-PLINED TO A SPONTANEOUS WAY OF LIFE (Lp, Thingsflux Music)

This Lp contains 6 songs on Side A and one extended piece on side B. Included is one of the best renditions of Stevie Wonder's "Superstitions" that I've heard. Their version is unique, funny and quirky. The Dimthings have now produced 4 records that are aptly titled "Garage Recording Series", this record is the fourth and I think the most developed and probably the most entertaining of the lot. It seems like what they do is jam, record and edit. The sound is usually raw and unproduced, although always well executed in terms of playing and overall interaction of the musicians. They do not produce records that are slick, which I think gives their presentation a quality, a certain type of magic. WD

SOUND CHOICE #4, 1986

DIMTHINGS: Dis-Ci-Plined To A Spontaneous Way Of Life (LP, Thingsflux)

A collection of loosely structured, highly eclectic recordings from a guy who calls himself Dimthings. The pieces run the gamut from environmental to studio experimentation to garage thrash, so it is best approached with an open mind; not only to diverse styles but also to instrumental approach. As evidenced best on a version of Stevie Wonder's "Superstitious", looseness and gut-level lunacy take precedence over tightness and polish in the works of Dimthings. For me, the high point is "Transformed", a seven or eight part suite monopolizing side two. Many artist come to mind in this piece; early Zappa, Residents, Angloncan, Skeleton Crew, Phillip Glass, Gustav Holst, and you might hear many others. Aside from guitarist/bassist/cellist Jean Chaine, Dimthings applies his diverse and very weird talent exclusively through the miracle of four-track home recording. His enthusiasm is dominant throughout. Highly inspirational creative disturbance. --- Michael P. Goodspeed

6.13.2005
Weirdo-electro Monday
I've been amused by industrial and electronic covers lately, so I'm foisting them upon you. Some of these are Faustesque or Negativlandy and some are just industrogoth techno and so on. All are pretty strange.

Dimthings "Superstition" (Stevie Wonder cover)
Plastics "Last Train to Clarksville" (Monkees cover)
Coercion "Cars" (Gary Numan cover)
Jeff and Jane Hudson "The Girl [Boy] from Ipanema" (de Moraes/Gimbel/Jobim) Sun Yama "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (Bob Dylan cover)
Second Delay "Born to be Alive" (Patrick Hernandez cover)
Dark Distant Spaces "Space Age Love Song" (Flock of Seagulls cover)
Familiar Faces "Mad World" (Tears for Fears cover)
Battery "Gangsta's Paradise" (Coolio cover)
Pinker Tone "Louie Louie" (Kingsmen cover)
Sista Mannen Pa Jordon "I Want You to Want Me" (Cheap Trick cover)
Turner "Right by Your Side" (Eurythmics cover)
Now, I'm all for a band covering a song and making it their own, but I'm not so down with someone taking the lyrics from a song and completely rewriting the music. But whatever.

Thanks for listening, Liza. - Blogger Web Site

Mick in the UK. Friday, July 1 http://www.solpics.com/2005/07/no-longer-virgin.htm
No longer a virgin.
Well I did it at last. DJ'ing on the radio I mean. My brother listened in and said I sounded like a cross between John Peel and 'Whispering Bob' Harris, but nobody complained, and technicaly it was spot on. Here's what I played in between user tracks sent in by the IRC channel people. They are listed in alphabetical order, but were not played that way. Many thanks to the mp3 bloggers(side bar), and my brother, who put me on to quite a few of these tracks.

Albert Kuvezin & Yat-Kha - Love Will Tear Us Apart
Bel Biv Devoe - Poison
Bleu - You Might Think
Coercion - Cars
Dimthings - Superstition
Djzebra - Jerk The Casbah
Familiar Faces - Madworld
Five In Love - Smooth

Etc...

THE FUNKY MYSTERY RHYTHM 12"

Dimthings gone commercial? A spoof on Michael Jackson? A dance tune that was destined to flop...yet gained a cult following in Mexico? A Halloween party was put together at some studio in Miami using this tune as the Theme? A compilation cassette was released in honor of this cheez whiz? Sorry, no reviews were found on this one.

GOING BACK TO THE INSANE

OPTION Sept/Oct 1986

DIMTHINGS: Going Back to the Insane

There are few musicians releasing as diverse sounds as Dimthings, the Floridian experimentalist. His work runs from electronic experimentation (he dabbles with compact disc plays on this album) to twisted electro-pop to some wild and fantastic progressive rock and jazz fusion (usually accompanied by Jean Chaine and Taggart Reid, his Ulterior Lux trio). This new double LP is no different, as it runs the gamut of his musical interests. But it's better thought out and more consistent than his last couple of records, leaning heavily towards the progressive rock fusion side of things (the compact disc pieces not with notwithstanding). These pieces are the most interesting ones, though, since you'll never hear fusion as confused or as densely loaded with surprises. He often changes directions from cut to cut, but that just makes Dimthings hard to pin down. Nothing wrong with that! (Thingsflux) --- Brent Wilcox

WAYSIDE MUSIC

DIMTHINGS - Going Back To The Insane (2 Lps)

Dimthings latest is probably his wildest yet! Ranging from hot tunes (w/the help of bassist Jean Chaine and others) to incredibly noisy & bizarre sound assemblages, using a CD player as a tape loop effect!

ARE YOU TALKING TO ME? Zine/Radio Canada

Talk about heat, somewhere in Florida lives DIMTHINGS. This may not seem important to you, but this guy has put out a lot of LPs and seems to have a vision of life beyond our mundane reality. "Going back to the INsane", a two-record set, and the only DIMTHINGS I've heard, is like HG WELLS goes jazz with CD mix. Orchestrate events for maximum chaos and fun. (Thingsflux Music) Travis B.

DUCKBERG TIMES, September 16, 1986

A tip of the hat to Florida's Dimthings and their "Going Back to the Insane" 2LP set (Thingsflux). They got the guts to do a million weird and different things here, and the chops to make it mostly a sympatico listening experience. Brave consumer will be treated in gamutful fashion, dosed and doused with all manner of offbeat, from orchestrated tape loopery, playful jazzfunk, stark urban voodoo and Satiesque musings. Undefinable admixture of strains from free bebop to Residential pop attitudes.

SOUND CHOICE #6, 1987

DIMTHINGS: Going Back to the Insane (2LP, Thingsflux)

It was bound to happen. Dimthings uses a compact disc player as an instrument. This record has me eyeing my Sony D-5. Two records worth of Dimthings with various guest artists, playing more than just CD players: Chapman Stick, cellos, pianos, violins, saxophones, tape manipulation, etc. There are so many different influences and elements at work on this record, fusion, metal guitar solos, and at times just overwhelming improvisation and layers upon layers of noise, found sounds, percussion, you name it. There seems to be no limit to Dimthings' quest for new combinations of sound, and this record is never, ever dull. A definite antidote to the bland 1980s. -- John Baxter .... Second Opinion: This is Dim's seventh album (and his second two record set), and it's a great one! He plays his usual arsenal of instruments and he plays them expertly. He is aided by his usual supporting cast of Taggart Reid and the awesome bassist Jean Chaine. And he plays a song written and featuring a new unknown who calls himself Gimbus 555 ("Think Twice"), who shows definite promise. The styles range from weird compact disc experiments, free jazz, and hot jazz-rock. The centerpiece of the record is "Knots", a 21-minute masterpiece by Ulterior Lux, Dim's "Power rock" trio. On this, his drumming and Jean's bass playing back up FANTASTIC guitar work by Taggart Reid. The result is something like Jimi Hendrix's Experience playing fusion music! The only clinker is "Strength for the Mourn", in which he sings (in a mausoleum!) in a high-pitched, whiny voice that quickly gets unbearable. Production work is a definite improvement over his earlier releases.And for the first time, there is a REAL record cover, rather than a blank cover with a sheet pasted onto it! -- Douglas Bregger

NEW MUSIC DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

Dimthings/Going Back To The Insane (THINGSFLUX)

Dimthings brings a new dimension to the concept of multi-instrumentalist. He scratches with his compact disc player, funks out with his keyboards, Chapman Stick, Linn Drums and manages to incorporate violins, tapes, acoustic guitar, voice, sometimes all on the same track. Then swiftly turns around on a few tracks and swings like mad with his group of guitar, bass, drums and sax. (2 LP)

POPULAR POLES/WORTHY OPPONENTS

This was suppose to be released on vinyl, but ended up on cassette inserted inside an LP cover due to financial struggles.

SOUND CHOICE #14

DIMTHINGS: Popular Poles/Worthy Opponents

Definitely an amazingly amazing tape from a really talented muzickal artiste. One o' the best tapes this year, perhaps of the last decade (read: '80s). Dimthings plays lotsa different toonz in lotsa different styles. Straight ahead rock and funk segue in and out of fusion-ish pieces, pieces for tuned percussion, dense and intricate instrumental sections, a heavy metal suite, and a rap number. All professionally produced and recorded by Dimthings himself. Everything about this tape is totally awesome. Dimthings is also a highly skilled composer and arranger. The different muzickal styles make this 'un difficult, if not impossible, to pigeonhole. So what! I could listen to this 'un forever! Fave section: progressive/fusion opening section o' side two! (Thingsflux Music) --- Dan Fioretti

SOUND CHOICE #13

DIMTHINGS: Popular Poles/Worthy Opponents

Yet another Dimthings recording bringing us a plethora of sounds and voices. From the quote of Bertrand Russell on the back cover, to the titles "Going Back to the Insane, King of the CD Scratch" I knew this was going to be a strange tape. It is a collage of music and humor. This tape has everything. Improvisational free verse with plenty of drumming, religious heavy metal, rap music, acoustic foot stompin' blues, violins, pots and pans. What amazes me is how competent this fellow is with all the instruments and tongue and cheek styles. He reminds me a lot of Snakefinger in the talent he has for exploring, mimicking and having fun with the various musical genres. The man plays with conviction. This is a 90 minute tape. Most of the pieces are improvisational. There are a lot of light moments where the keyboard melodies play off the percussion and vice versa. Much like Zappa does. There also are some singing and rap music too. "Our Lord" is a religious metal tune that sounds like Uriah Heep warning us of the dangers of hell. "Banner of Doom, The Need, and Going Back to the Insane", mainly deal with rejection and fitting into situations. They are done in a rant and rave style. Aside from the light quirky keyboards and the wild drumming, there are some nice violin solos scattered throughout. This tape was produced, composed, and performed by Dimthings. There are plenty of surprises for everyone. (Thingsflux Music) -- Joe Kolb

ALIVE IN THE CRYPT

This recording completed in 1992 and was finally released late 2005 on Thingsflux Music Label, now available See CD Releases for Sale The music is of industrial-noise/compositional/loony/cling-clangy sort.
The great art work for the cover was done by RALF SCHULZE of AARDVARK FARMS Label. Ralph has his own web site:
THE AARDVARK FARMERS ALMANAC