Isis, et al

[handful_ofdust]

I'd been hearing for a while that Isis was an interesting band--prog-metal with weird sci fi/fantasy overtones, cold and multilayered, a bit like Tool circa Sober and Aenima. So I checked it out, and ended up "picking up" Panopticon and Wavering Radiant (the first choice, weirdly enough, spurred by a Fandom Secret which called it "the scariest album I've ever heard!"--and while I wouldn't go that far, it's still pretty good). Of the two, however, I find I much prefer Wavering Radiant, whose internal narrative--told in oblique, poetic snatches of imagery--reminds me of those interlocking dreams I used to have about dead empires and buried cities, alien races destroying each other, old gods and older monsters. Gotta love the 'Net, man.;)

In other news, like I said in the comments of yesterday(?)'s entry, "[Anasazi]" is finally done with. 12,606 words total, which definitely puts it in the realm of complete short story fail; oh well. Today I polish it a bit, then send it where it's bound, and find out if it'll suit their purposes. I do worry a bit about it being "too" sci fi for them, even though it strikes me personally as far more horror with sci fi tropes. OTOH, the main character is indeed very firmly gay, which was another of the key points of the exercise.

In more happy news, even after turning down "Signal to Noise", Apex has agreed to reprint "each thing", which'll be good--I like the idea of it getting even more exposure, both for my own and Steve's sake, on the verge of that new award nomination, particularly since we've definitely topped out on our travel quota for this year and thus won't be able to attend the ceremony in person. So I need to proof their file of that, send them a bio, etc., and also send the award people an apology/acceptance speech email, just in case.

Another sexy interesting thing that happened yesterday is that our washing machine overflowed, necessitating Steve renting a steam-cleaner and spending the afternoon sucking water out of our carpeting. The stain's still there, but drying out "fairly" quickly (ie, it'll be at least a few more days). However, I do think it's probably exhaling some sort of underpad-based funk up into the air, making my eyes burn a tad as I sit here. I've spent twenty years so far thinking I was just allergic to wood-mould, as well as ham and pineapple in combination, but heigh-ho, that may have started to change--I get much the same sensation while crossing freshly-cut lawns, these days, or sitting near rotten stumps. The pleasures of maturity!

Okay, that's about that. I need to input my newest notes for Rope..., do some brainstorming about where next to send "Signal to Noise", and do that mailbox stuff. Eating would be good, too.

See ya.

Comments

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Just letting you know that I still think about "each thing," even now. I seriously love that story.

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeexxxxcellent.;) (Rubs hands, is evil)

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

So now I am curious, what is the scariest album you've heard (I am trying to think of what it is for me, too. Murder of Angels [either one of their ablums] or Coil's unreleased tracks for Hellraiser are up there...)?

Oh Gods I hate it when a short story overflows to 10K and beyond. I have one that I am pointedly not writing right now because I got a third of the way in and it's close to 4000.

The story I am writing, coincidentally, is one in which part of the challenge of the story was to write a gay character who was not a perfect six on the Kinsey scale and have it come up in the story without it being crap, preachy or infodumpy. That was the intention, at least; now some other gender issues have appeared to make the whole thing very, very tricky. I really hope I don't mess it up.

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

Coil is up there, definitely; most Coil has an overtone of utter dread that can be seductive or horrific, depending on your mood. When was a kid, I was so afraid to listen to the credit sequence music from A Clockwork Orange that I could only do it while someone else was in the room--same for Peter Gabriel's "Intruder". I also remember once falling asleep while listening to Nick Cave's The Firstborn is Dead, and having an absolutely terrifying dream to the tune of "Blind Lemon Jefferson". But these days, it'd probably be the Session 9 soundtrack, by Climax Golden Twins. Steve and I put that on compulsively while we were working on "each thing", too, so I guess it helped.;)

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

The not-a-firm-six story sounds interesting, BTW. I personally think sexuality is far more A) of a spectrum and B) naturally fluid than we give it credit for. It's too bad there's such investment in saying "you/I am THIS and nothing else, Goddamnit!"; sort of takes the fun out of the whole enterprise.;)

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Tribes of Neurot's "Cathartidae" is honestly the most frightening thing I have ever heard. Like it makes me want to cry. That particular song isn't anywhere on YouTube, unfortunately, but "Metamorphosis" is similar.

I actually also can't listen to "Sigur Ros" by Sigur Ros at night. It starts out okay, and then around 5:30 it's just like... noooooo.

[sixteenbynine.livejournal.com]

150 Murderous Passions, side A.

No contest.

[sixteenbynine.livejournal.com]

People pointed me towards Isis as a sequel to my love affair with Godflesh. I liked what I have heard so far, but I'm still fonder of the original 'Flesh and all the stuff JK Broadrock was subsequently involved in (e.g., Blood of Heroes, which just landed the other month with the force of a couple of cement trucks dropping on in for tea and scones).