Musick that Needed Work: T - Temple of Bon Matin

 

Noise rock collective Temple of Bon Matin was formed in 1991 in Philadelphia by percussionist Ed Wilcox & keyboardist John Mulvaney. Their earliest sound was lo-fi space-rock, described as “"a blend of MC5 & Hawkwind played by a band of drunk amateurs". 

 

The band evolved into an organic quintet playing near atonal free-jazz abstractions, like Albert Ayler improvising over themes by Merzbow, Faust, & the Residents fronted by Ed Wilcox, a deranged bard in the vein of Pere Ubu's David Thomas.

This first one should be a great place to start with this band. Nothing about it is sane. The name here is (Laser) Temple of Bon Matin??? (it doesn't even start with T) & what appears to be a track list on the tray card in no way (or some unknown way) corresponds to the tracks on the actual CD. 

 

(Laser) Temple of Bon Matin - Bullet into Mesmer's Brain, Bulb Records BLB054, 1998.
decryption codes in comments

actual tracks -
Track 1    7:54
Track 2    27:45
Track 3    10:39
Track 4    7:03
Track 5    20:02

track list on CD -
Bullets Into Mesmer's Brain
Dipper Mouth Blues
Souls Below Solo
Blue Skies Shining on Me
Mood Indigo
Slomo Oroman Aroma
Shells
ALH84001
7 Inches of Snow
A Bleak Stark Beauty
One Little Goat
History Is Bunk

 

 

 

 

 

& now you’re on your own. I will give you a bit of help. If you are interested in a deeper understanding of Ed Wilcox & Temple of Bon Matin, you should read Julian Cope's most literate album of the month review of Ed & band here. 

 

Temple of Bon Matin - Monkeys Straw Raincoat, Spirit of Orr SO59R, 2006.

Take Tthe Highway
Bandicoot
Jump for Joy
Jacobite
Bad Girl 1
Laguna
Bad Girl 2
God G
Soul Review
Never Been Home Before
Cockney Rebel Song

 

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ