Search - Painkiller :: Talisman: Live in Nagoya

Live Dub/Free Jazz/ Hardcore!!!!

M. Hawling | Australia | 07/15/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is great to hear Painkiller live as it is quite different to the studio work. They are a very original concept for a band and their music still sounds fresh over 10 years later. By the time this was recorded their playing had developed from the first two albums and Mick Harris and Bill Laswell's interest in dark dub really helps shape the music between the extreme free hardcore/jazz improvisation which seems to be Zorn's burning interest.Live the music isn't as edited as on the albums so you get the great moments as well as the not so happening ones. Overall it is worth the effort for the times when things really click. On this recording as opposed to the hard to find "Rituals", the playing seems more important than being "evil" sounding and screaming a lot which Zorn often tends to do. The sound is the only drawback, as it sounds like a DAT from the mixing desk which means it is very clear, but that means there isn't anywhere near enough bass in the mix (as Laswell was probably very loud in the room) which requires some considerable EQ on playback to try and compensate. What is amazing is hearing Oz Fritz live dub mixing which is rare to hear being done to that extent with a live band, especially an improvising one.This release adds another interesing dimension to Painkiller's recorded output and just shows how great they could be."

4 1/2 stars-- burning live show.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 12/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Painkiller began life as a grindcore/death metal collaboration between downtown luminaries John Zorn and Bill Laswell and Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris and evolved into so much more over time. To describe the band by the time "Talisman: Live in Nagoya" was recorded was already exceedingly difficult-- somewhere between grindcore, dub, and free jazz.



The set opens with the extended (about 32 minutes) "Batrachophrenoboocosmomachia". Beginning with a funky groove set up by Laswell and Harris, Zorn hits the ground running on his entry and the band never looks back. Laswell tends to set the direction-- drifting in and out of dub territory and performing in a largely exploratory path, with Harris following and Zorn just railing away over the top. If it sounds like a fourth musician is on stage, that would be live sound engineer Oz Fritz, whose presence is almost always felt throughout the piece. What's remarkable about the performance is the extraordinary level of intensity that's maintained throughout-- the band never lets us, performing fiercely for the extent of the performance.



The second piece on the record is the briefest and probably my favorite-- "Transport of Sorcerers" opens with an extended dialog between Zorn and Laswell. The former is intense and frantic, the latter agile and almost nervous, with some real-time processing courtesy of Fritz before being joined by Harris for the frantic coda. This sets the stage for closing track, "Ahamkara", which opens frantically and then settles into a groove similar to "Batrachophrenoboocosmomachia".



When it's over, it's a pretty powerful experience-- one definitely gets the impression this band cooked in an unusual way live. This is certainly as good an entry point as any other for this project. Something stops me from giving it the five star rating, but it's an awfully good recording. Recommended."