MURDER CORPORATION & THE EIGHTH TOWER MAGAZINE, VOL II

Eighth Tower Records & Publications, courtesy of mastermind Raffaele Pezzella, has unleashed a provocative trio to tingle and stoke one's mind, all set for preorder.

The package consists of Eighth Tower: Magazine of Music and Modern Mythologies, Vol 2, which examines and celebrates the Italian post-industrial sounds of the 1990s, including its labels, artists and networks. 

In addition to this insightful periodical, Eighth Tower offers two albums by Moreno Daldasso's Murder Corporation: the spankin' new, ten-track, ambient experiment, Macabre Visions, and from 1995, Disturbance (remastered from its original, cassette release, as a double CD.) 

Murder Corporation's masterful concoctions supply varied vibrations that reach into the emotional stream to keep one alert and sublime at the same time. 

This marvelous set stands as further proof why Pezzella and Eighth Tower are so influential in today's inexorable, avant-garde, music scene.

Why not get involved? To do so, place a preorder for any or all of the above by visiting ...

https://eighthtowerrecords.bandcamp.com/merch/macabre-visions-cd-disturbance-2xcd-eighth-tower-magazine-vol-ii

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

NEW CARRIE: TRUE CRIME?

I'm okay with the Carrie remakes (2002 & 2013) and even The Rage. However, I always thought that if De Palma's 1976 adaptation were redone, a faithful take on the novel would be the ideal path. 

Stephen King's breakout tale is a mosaic of reflections and documents that explore Carrie White's persecuted march toward telekinetic revenge. It has an investigative feel, which would translate well as an ominous mockumentary. 

Amazon Prime's new Carrie, a miniseries from director/showrunner Mike (The Fall of the House of Usher 2023) Flannagan and headlined by Summer H. (Curse of Chuckie) Howell, has more-or-less promised that direction. It's even been labeled as "true crime" fiction in some circles. That would work for me, but based on the trailer (which is rather effective from a character-study stance), the setup looks more like traditional, vengeful melodrama. 

I suspect that the opportunity to strike the literary bone has been bypassed once more. With that said, I still believe this expanded remake has potential, just as any persecuted-youth exploit would. To see Carrie rise up and again and eradicate the bullies is a fantasy formula that captivates, thanks in no small part to its empathetic heart. 

In any event, we'll see where this particular version goes (culminating with the bloody prom or not), since further seasons have been teased. All eight episodes will be queued on October 7.

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

MR. LOBO'S CINEMA INSOMNIA, HALLOWEEN SHOW: HOUSE OF GHOSTS (10/31)

Beware, but more so, be prepared for Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia, Halloween show this October 31st (beginning at 10pm on Twitch, OSI74/Roku and Amazon Fire). The "misunderstood" stream will present Christopher R. Mihm's heartfelt, 2012 indie salute to the films of William Castle ... House of Ghosts!

House of Ghosts, according to writer/director Mihm, holds the uncanny means to place one before an unearthly dimension, where the most horrid specters can reach out and snatch one's soul (and maybe even turn folks zombie-fied). To prevent one's untimely demise, it's advised that one hoist a handy Fear Shield (see above) before one's face to evade the encroaching terror, which one can print on 4" x 6" cardstock (or heck, if push comes to shove, a bare-bones napkin or index card will do). 

Though House of Ghosts mirrors a number of Castle's creations, its plot leans on 13 Ghosts and House on Haunted Hill (with maybe a few invited dabs of Invisible Invaders and Night of the Living Dead squeezed in). Like Castle's gimmick-geared duo, Mihm's fable was filmed in black and white and shares an effectual ensemble visiting a foreboding abode, in this case for a seance on a snow-laden night. (The cast includes Mark Scanlon, Sid Korpi, Mike Cook, Catherine Hansen, Justen Overlander, Andrea Ropella, Anthony Koczar, James Norgard, Michael Kaiser, Mark Haider, J. Andrew Wilkins, Stephanie Mihm and as the narrator/guide, Mr. Mihm.) 

House of Ghosts' nostalgic, throwback style is ideal for Mr. Lobo's genial, hosting skills. The presentation is bound to create fond, Halloween memories for all who watch it. Indeed, one would be foolish to bypass this grand, ghoulish delight. 

I'll be sharing a reminder on the Cinema Insomnia: House of Ghosts premiere as the holiday grows near. Stay tuned!👻

PINUP TIME: YVONNE DE CARLO IS LILY

 

PLANET OF THE APES (1968): A BROKENSEA AUDIO ADAPTATION, VIA RETRO AUDIO THEATRE

I came upon an incredible, 2024, Retro Audio Theatre-bannered presentation of Planet of the Apes (1968) on YouTube. The production is a fan-made, BrokenSea Audio Productions creation from 2007, which runs an impressive five hours. It expands upon Rod Serling and Michael Wilson's acclaimed, script adaptation of Pierre Boulle's novella, Monkey Planet, as directed by the incomparable Franklin J. Schaffner. 

The audio presentation reminds me of the 1970s, Power Records' Planet of the Apes, comic-book-accompanied releases, as well as The Twilight Zone, radio adaptations, from 2002 - 2012, and I dare say, the 1988, Simon & Schuster Night of the Living Dead, audio play. 

Though I could confirm that Bill Hollweg produced the redux for audio, based on Michael Avallone's intricate script, I'm still uncertain who plays most of the parts in this version, since there were few details supplied on Retro Audio's YouTube platform. Nevertheless, the performers do a splendid job bringing the characters to life, giving their own spins for each. Hollweg, in particular, gives Taylor a new-fangled grit (his voice not Charlton Heston's but earthy and cynical all the same), and those who enact Cornelius and Lucius capture Roddy McDowall and Lou Wagner's tonalities to an uncanny degree. (It must be noted that Jerry Goldsmith's percussive score accompanies the dialogue exchanges, enhanced by stirring sound effects: a clever, complementing touch.) 

For added enticement, this adaptation applies reflective segues inspired by Battle for the Planet of the Apes' poignant, Lawgiver wraparound, and there are flashbacks that detail Brent's mission to locate "the lost in space" Taylor: a hint of the shape of all things Beneath the Planet of the Apes. There are even Escape from the Planet of the Apes and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes references: prophetic, gap-filling allusions (springing from the foundations set by writer Paul Dehn). Caesar and Virgil are even mentioned, and Milo and Hasslein featured, as well as Urko from (I presume) the television series (live-action and/or animated), insinuating that the ambitious gorilla was ascending the ranks as Ursus reigned as its presiding general. (Of course, in the parallel, time-altered scheme of things, any number of explanations and outcomes can be considered and/or rationalized.)

From what I've unearthed, BrokenSea Audio has also produced an expanded, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, audio dramatization, which I hope to access and review, but for the present, this establishing trip should satisfy superior-simian fans for a long, time-tunneling spell. In other words, if you're an Apes fan, try it; you'll like it.🚀

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIBsd32Virc&t=4568s

PS: The individual, Apes episodes are available, as well, on the long abandoned, BrokenSea site, though the fused flow of Retro Audio's presentation makes for a much more convenient capture. Even so, here's the BrokenSea link:

https://brokensea.com/pota/