“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” – Andre Gide
Cat #: 078TZM
Hacks exist for brief moments in time on the Sydney underground landscape and during one of of those moments they managed to record these 4 tracks and play a few shows that suitably impressed tenzenmen with their drunken swagger of improvised rock.
Tape and/or CD versions coming sometime when Hacks have been located in the vicinity again.
Cat #: 076TZM
“Migration Motion Movement” is the eleventh full-length album by Hinterlandt. Following “All Things Considered”, a collection of rock-oriented songs recorded as a full band in 2009 in Germany, this new release sees chief architect Jochen Gutsch going solo again.
After his return to Sydney/Australia, Jochen decided to get back into more experimental territory, writing a new live set for multi-instrumentalist solo performances. This new album mirrors the live set, in which Jochen uses electronics, trumpet, electric guitar, xylophone, effects, field recordings, and live loops.
“Migration Motion Movement” is an uncompromising and demanding album offering extensive, detailed and focused compositions. However, it also follows an enjoyable and accessible narrative, inviting listeners to partake in the journey.
Hinterlandt is a Sydney-based solo act playing long compositions encompassing beautiful harmonies, complex rhythms, fragile ambiences, as well as occasional patches of noise and silence. The approach celebrates musical diversity as much as unusual sounds.
Hinterlandt has taken on a variety of live formats, performing in places such as Sydney, London, Bangkok, Helsinki, Melbourne, Rome, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Berlin, and many others. Eleven studio albums were released on nine underground labels in five countries.
Cat #: 077TZM
Nikko’s latest release, a double A-side single entitled ‘About the Spirit/Smoke Alarms’, features two new tracks taken from the band’s upcoming sophomore album, due for release later this year.
The tracks demonstrate a stylistic change in direction that showcases frontman Ryan Potter’s skills as a songwriter and lyricist, along with the band’s collective ability to craft these skills into distinctive and compelling arrangements.
For special deals with t-shirts go here:
nikko.bandcamp.com/album/about-the-spirit-smoke-alarms
Limited copies of the 7″ available thru tenzenmen soon.
Nikko:
Ryan Potter – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
Sam Whiting – bass
Jackson Briggs – lead guitar, slide
Blair Westbrook – drums, percussion
Guest vocals on ‘About the Spirit’ by Jacinta Walker
Violin on ‘About the Spirit’ by Adam Cadell
Piano on ‘Smoke Alarms’ by Daniel Kassulke
Recorded by Cameron Smith at The Old Museum and Browning Street Studios in June/July 2011. Mixed by Cameron Smith. Mastered by Naomune Anzai at Reel 2 Real Mix Master. Artwork by Trent Evans.
Special thanks to Cam Smith, Nao Anzai, Jacinta Walker, Adam Cadell, Daniel Kassulke, Elanor Khan, Trent “Big Dog” Evans, Shaun Tenzenmen, all of our wonderful friends and family, anyone who’s ever bought a recording, come to a show or let us sleep on their floor, and the Brisbane and Australian independent music community. Cheers!
Cat #: 057TZM
Not much good comes from Brisbane, but when something breaks through and makes an impact, it makes the city and those who pay attention to its music take an awestruck step back. During their all-too-short lifespan, Orlacs Hände was a band that did just that.
For years, the record meant to be Orlacs Hände’s debut EP laid in a state of dormancy. It saw a limited cassette release overseas and quickly became impossible to track down, and those wondering if it would ever see the light of day finally lost hope. Now, tenzenmen is proud to announce that we will be righting that wrong and releasing the EP ourselves – the way it was meant to be.
Everything that made Orlacs such a formidable and affecting live act is here: the gut-tearing screams; the shattered-glass guitars; the polyrhythmic, driving drums – but the six songs that make up the record are the real stars here. There aren’t many releases in this genre that pack so much originality and anguish into a package as compact as this one. This is a lost classic, and it’s about time it got the attention it deserves.
FOR FANS OF: Portraits of Past, Noisy Sins of the Insect, Funeral Diner, & Tristan Tzara.
31st Mar 2021 – I remember this first sentence causing some controversy with some Brisbanites but this text was actually written by a local!
Cat #: 059TZM
2nd Apr 2021 – When I stayed at the Abbotsford Warehouse in Melbourne when organising things for China’s P.K.14 shows there I came across a box of this unreleased album and figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask Rhys and Marcus if they would like some help promoting and selling them and adding BBA to the tenzenmen catalogue. So, that’s how many copies of this album managed to avoid landfill.
Cat #: 035TZM
Recorded February 2010. Produced and mixed by Nathan Ashmore.
INTENTIONS: Daniel Madden, Jonathan Papert, Simon Unwin.
Photographs by Laura Hunt. Design by Ben Corio.
Cat #: 042TZM
These folks approached me with an already pressed disc and wanting to be part of tenzenmen. I liked their music well enough though find the vocals a little lacking on this recording. Live they really killed it though. I often ended up working with folks that approached me for help regardless of whether I loved their music or not – sometimes not even listening fully until it was released. I figured if anyone thought enough of tenzenmen to want to work together then they were worth a shot.
Cat #: 036TZM
The Warm Side is the debut album from Brisbane band, Nikko. It is a collection of nine songs written over the past three years. The album was recorded in August 2009 at Black Box Studios in Brisbane by Melbourne- based engineer Naomune Anzai (Laura, Because of Ghosts) and Matt Taylor. It was mixed and mastered by Naomune Anzai at Reel to Real Mix Master in Melbourne.
With its eerie yet beautiful guitar melodies, driving rhythm section and droning violin, organ and trumpet parts, The Warm Side encompasses an array of lush textures that create an engaging dynamic. This unique sound embodies what Brisbane has come to expect from Nikko, capturing the energy of the band’s well-renowned live show with the polish of Naomune Anzai’s reputed flair for treating atmospheric rock. This debut album is the culmination of years of solid gigging, self-recording and self-releasing that has seen Nikko refine their genre-blending style.
Cat #: 034TZM
Around 2 years ago SCUL HAZZARDs made the big leap from Brisbane to London, playing over 100 shows, releasing 2 vinyl full length albums, working dead end jobs and generally impressing everyone that came across them. Now, finally, they’re back, straight into a tour in February ending up located in Melbourne. To coincide with the tour tenzenmen will release SCUL HAZZARDs second LP ‘Landlord’ for the first time on CD. For those fans seeking the first LP ‘Let Them Sink’, these tracks will also become available via the iTunes Store.
First quote on their return came from drummer Leigh Fischer simply stating ‘It’s fucking hot here’. Elaborating further the band have decided to return home simply to earn more money to take themselves back out on the road and return for more overseas jaunts and reminding Australian fans that they are still alive and kicking as much as ever. With two albums worth of mostly unheard (on these shores) material to draw from, their shows are sure to be incendiary and the ‘Landlord’ CD captures their dynamic noise rock sound perfectly. Think Jesus Lizard heaviness mixed with Shellac lightness all with an Aussie twist thrown in. They play hard – so listen loud.
“SCUL HAZZARDs have done nothing but show that they have the visceral edge to keep it fresh and inspiring in the present day…. for anyone that enjoys their rock with a bit of complexity and razor sharp squall…” states one reviewer of ‘Landlord’ but don’t just take their word for it, come and see it for real! Steven, Leigh and Tiffany are ready to rock your socks off. Tiffany commands the stage with real rock ‘n’ roll swagger literally trying to kill you with her presence and bass depth, whilst Steven, more demure in comparison, screams his vitriol and jags his guitar off to the side. Pay close attention to drummer Leigh and you’ll hear this is no ordinary dutiful rhythm section – it’s as if the bassist and drummer have switched instruments but are still playing them the same way.
Cat #: 031TZM
In Sydney bands come and go like the breeze and When Chimps Attack are no exception. 4 dudes, mid to late twenty somethings came from out of nowhere to absolutely blast their stamp on the Sydney music scene and as quickly as they came it was over. Various band members lived in huts in the jungles of South East Asia and one followed his heart to South America where, stepping off the plane he wondered ‘what the fuck am I doing here!?’ And then they were back. More brutal and more vicious than ever.
And then they were gone again! Destination Europe this time. In between all the travels, gigs were played, shows filmed (Super 8 Diaries launch) and recorded plus some studio time in there too. And finally Santa is bringing it to you on Christmas Day. A perfect CD collection featuring studio, live and rehearsal tracks – some familiar, others less so. This superb release on long time support label tenzenmen will be available via Paypal on the 25th of December and in shops after the new year.
Often remembered for their nerve calming alcohol intake pre show, audiences stood mouths agape at the super tight hardcore ala Breadwinner, Oxes and Don Caballero. What the fuck! Who werethose guys?
“Pummeling riffs, chainsaw vocals, MUCHO TIME SIG HEAVEN!!” said Matt Richards from 20/20 Trainwreck who was so impressed he invited the band to perform at the launch of the Super 8 Diaries show. Other fans are difficult to quote as they’re often too stunned to find the right words, “..that second riff……”, “…the drums…” etc etc. Number one fan, Shaun from tenzenmen, sums up his feelings outrageously stating “I want to say that I think When Chimps Attack could be the best band I’ve ever seen in my entire life.” And that’s something from someone who saw Nirvana live in the Eighties and the Boredoms in the early Nineties!
So, out of action yet again (at least in their home country) and in pursuit of other things life brings, let this CD tide you over until they can once again be reunited to bring that ferocious sound to stages across Australia. It will happen. tenzenmen says so.
Available from Christmas Day online and in all good record stores thereafter, the When Chimps Attack CD collects 17 tracks of studio and live recordings and will cost just $10 postpaid.
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