Laughter, 2/4/2008 and Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus

This week's edition of Laughter comes as three mp3 files in one zip file. The first hour is split into two unequal parts and the second part is one mp3 file. This week's highlight came in the form of a group called Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus. Evidently not much information about this band exists anywhere on the internet and the information that does exist is scant at best. Lost in Tyme has a post with still-functioning links to their double-CD release The Gift of Tears / Mirror as well as a link to their EP, Paradis. Evidently this band only had four releases: The Gift of Tears was released in 1987, Mirror in 1991, their double-CD collection in 1994, which includes two additional and never-before-released songs, and Paradis in 1995. Pretty much all the information I've been able to find on this Liverpool-based band is at that website - I've yet to run into an interview of any sort and the information provided on the record is less than satisfying. As far as the music itself goes, it warrants comparisons to bands like Dead Can Dance or Thunder Perfect Mind era Current 93, but the similarities are superficial at best. Certain tracks brought Popul Vuh to mind and others sound vaguely like less abrasive Organum records. It's a mixture between mystical acoustic music and more abstract soundscape work constructed from chants, bells, and bowed instruments. Though the band's name invokes Christ, the track played on the show summoned thoughts of ancient mystery religions and their obscure, pseudo-erotic rituals. If anyone reading this blog has more information about this band, please contact me.

Below you will find the playlist and .zip file as usual. Thanks for listening and enjoy.

01. Martin Rev “Rocking Horse” from Clouds of Glory (1985) on New Rose

02. Liars “Rose and Licorice” from Athiests, Reconsider (2002) on Arena Rock

03. Man Or Astro Man? “Many Pieces of Large Fuzzy Mammals Gathered Together at a Rave and Schmoozing with a Brick” from A Spectrum of Infinite Scale (2000) on Touch & Go

04. Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus “Transfiguration” from The Gift of Tears (1988) on Probe Blus

05. Yeasayer “Forgiveness” from All Hour Cymbals (2007) on We Are Free

06. Idjah Hadidjah “Hiji Catetan” from Tonggeret (1987) on Icon

07. Talking Heads “I, Zimbra” from Fear of Music (1979) on Sire

08. Faust “Apokalypse” from ravvivando (1999) on Klangbad

09. Desormais “To Sing Before Going to Sleep” from Iambrokenandremadeiambroken... (2003) on Intr_Version

10. The Teardrop Explodes “Like Leila Khaled Said” from Wilder (1981) on Phonogram

11. Bill Nelson “Eros Arriving” from The Love that Whirls (Diary of a Thinking Heart) (1982) on Cocteau

12. Jean Michel Jarre “Oxygene (Part IV)” from Oxygene (2008) on EMI France — originally released 1976

13. Of Tanz Victims “Brain Remain” from Haunting the Empire (1986) on Bunker

14. Zoviet France “Side A Part 1” from Mohnomishe (1983) on Red Rhino

15. Echran “Render at 4:30” from Echran (2005) on Ebria

16. Luasa Raelon “Spectral Transmissions” from Into the Void (2007) on Crucial Bliss

17. Aluk Todolo “Obedience” from Descension (2007) on Public Guilt

18. Aranos “Yevka Sings” from Throat Clearance (2005) on Pieros

19. Doc Wör Mirran “Birth” from Labyrinth: Birth -> Death (1989) on Musical Tragedies

20. Spectre Folk “Bindi Clip” from Spectre Folk (2006) on 3Lobed

21. Nicolas Collins “Vaya Con Dios” from Let the State Make the Selection (1985) on Lovely Music, Ltd.

Laughter, 2/4/2008, .zip file