Nauscopy
Encyclopedia
Nauscopy is an independent record label
based in New Hampshire
which was begun as a cassette label called Burping Turds Musick in California
in 1991
, no doubt taking cues from other cassette culture people of the time such as GWOP, Wheelchair Full of Old Men, Eerie Materials
, and others.
The name comes from a French engineer Étienne Bottineau (born in 1738 or 1739 in Champtoceaux
) who could "predict" the arrival of ships flawlessly days before they appeared on the horizon. He insisted that 'he could "see" the effect their movement had on the atmosphere'. He did all this with the naked eye and called his science nauscopy.
The prevailing objective of the label seems to be to defy or ignore all criteria that people generally adhere to when it comes to considering audio; this attitude has been taken to notable extremes. They seem to pride themselves on having no regard for any audience, to say nothing of musical genres. Despite an almost total lack of advertising, they kept at it for sixteen years (until April 2007), releasing things with a vision intense enough so that some use "nauscopy" as an adjective to describe the output. As of May 30, 2009, the label is again operational.
Examples of this attitude are: releasing home recordings found at yard sales; compiling vinyl LP's where each participant must submit literally anything that isn't music; deliberately lowering recording quality to make fun of the desire for pristine quality on compact discs (in 1996); contrastingly juxtaposing dozens of different musical styles on the same release to the point of solemn absurdity; releasing a clear LP with no label, packaged in a clear sleeve with only a small sticker on each side to denote the artists; releasing an LP of which no two of the hand-decorated covers were remotely alike (even the names of the acts often changed - same record); creating only five (?) copies of a record in a certain color and not bothering to tell anyone; parodying Anal Cunt
; utilizing biological secrets in producing a release that some people say they can actually smell when it is played; releasing obscure Asian music
from 78 rpm records (inspired in part by Sublime Frequencies
); taking circuit bending
too far (?); attempting to get consent from Muammar al-Gaddafi
to do a spoken word
album; or just having an absolute disregard for the listener entirely.
Some may say that such an approach borders on the routines of helpless mental illness. Others may say that it borders on the mystical and is more or less in tune with the Taoist principle of "becoming like an infant" or embracing uselessness (as taught by Chuang Tzu).
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
based in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
which was begun as a cassette label called Burping Turds Musick in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1991
1991 in music
See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
, no doubt taking cues from other cassette culture people of the time such as GWOP, Wheelchair Full of Old Men, Eerie Materials
Eerie Materials
Eerie Materials was an independent record label started in the early 1990s, first based in Richmond, Virginia and later in San Francisco, California.- History :...
, and others.
The name comes from a French engineer Étienne Bottineau (born in 1738 or 1739 in Champtoceaux
Champtoceaux
Champtoceaux is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department of western France.-Twin towns: Verwood in East Dorset, England. Niederheimbach in the Mainz-Bingen Kreis of Germany. Calcinato in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region of Italy...
) who could "predict" the arrival of ships flawlessly days before they appeared on the horizon. He insisted that 'he could "see" the effect their movement had on the atmosphere'. He did all this with the naked eye and called his science nauscopy.
The prevailing objective of the label seems to be to defy or ignore all criteria that people generally adhere to when it comes to considering audio; this attitude has been taken to notable extremes. They seem to pride themselves on having no regard for any audience, to say nothing of musical genres. Despite an almost total lack of advertising, they kept at it for sixteen years (until April 2007), releasing things with a vision intense enough so that some use "nauscopy" as an adjective to describe the output. As of May 30, 2009, the label is again operational.
Examples of this attitude are: releasing home recordings found at yard sales; compiling vinyl LP's where each participant must submit literally anything that isn't music; deliberately lowering recording quality to make fun of the desire for pristine quality on compact discs (in 1996); contrastingly juxtaposing dozens of different musical styles on the same release to the point of solemn absurdity; releasing a clear LP with no label, packaged in a clear sleeve with only a small sticker on each side to denote the artists; releasing an LP of which no two of the hand-decorated covers were remotely alike (even the names of the acts often changed - same record); creating only five (?) copies of a record in a certain color and not bothering to tell anyone; parodying Anal Cunt
Anal Cunt
Anal Cunt, also known as AxCx and A.C., was an American grindcore band that formed in Newton, Massachusetts in 1988. Since its inception, the band underwent a number of line-up changes. Known for its grindcore musical style and controversial lyrics, Anal Cunt released eight full-length studio...
; utilizing biological secrets in producing a release that some people say they can actually smell when it is played; releasing obscure Asian music
Asian music
Asian music encompasses numerous different musical styles originating from a large number of Asian countries.Musical traditions in Asia* Music of Central Asia** Music of Afghanistan** Music of Kazakhstan** Music of Mongolia** Music of Uzbekistan...
from 78 rpm records (inspired in part by Sublime Frequencies
Sublime Frequencies
Sublime Frequencies is a record label based in Seattle, Washington that focuses exclusively on "acquiring and exposing obscure sights and sounds from modern and traditional urban and rural frontiers," mostly from Southeast Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East...
); taking circuit bending
Circuit bending
Circuit bending is the creative customization of the circuits within electronic devices such as low voltage, battery-powered guitar effects, children's toys and small digital synthesizers to create new musical or visual instruments and sound generators....
too far (?); attempting to get consent from Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
to do a spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
album; or just having an absolute disregard for the listener entirely.
Some may say that such an approach borders on the routines of helpless mental illness. Others may say that it borders on the mystical and is more or less in tune with the Taoist principle of "becoming like an infant" or embracing uselessness (as taught by Chuang Tzu).
Artists (partial listing)
- Brown Cuts NeighborsBrown Cuts NeighborsThe Brown Cuts Neighbors was formed by Jason and Colleen Martin in Schenectady, New York in 1980, and included an army of stuffed animals, imaginary people, and other entities. Their first tape, "Should Could Would" was recorded in September 1980. Early performances included broadcasting toy...
- Crank Sturgeon
- The Dramatics
- Edith Bunker's Demonized Vomit Insurance
- Eeyore Power ToolEerie MaterialsEerie Materials was an independent record label started in the early 1990s, first based in Richmond, Virginia and later in San Francisco, California.- History :...
- Faxed HeadFaxed HeadFaxed Head is a death metal side project headed by Trey Spruance of Mr. Bungle fame. The band's bios and lyrics describe them as 'teenage survivors of a suicide pact gone horribly awry,' and place them in small-town Coalinga, California. Band members' identities are generally kept secret and the...
- Feederz
- Guaranteed Katch
- The HatersThe HatersThe Haters are a noise music and conceptual art troupe from the United States. Founded in 1979, they are one of the earliest and best-known acts in the modern noise scene...
- Hemorrhoy Rogers
- MSBRMSBRMSBR is the name of a recording project of Japanese noise musician Koji Tano that was based out of Matsuyama, then later Tokyo. MSBR was active starting in the early 1990s, releasing music on numerous labels, often in limited pressings...
- My Penis Is Made of Dogshit
- Rorn
- Sheep SqueezeSheep SqueezeSheep Squeeze was a punk rock band from Redwood City, California. They formed in early 1991. The classic lineup was Chris Heeeeeeeee on vocals, Dan Lactose on guitar, Rawb Bextrumb on bass guitar, and Brent Field on drums. Brent was forced to quit the band less than a year later and was replaced...
- Sockeye
- Sun City GirlsSun City GirlsThe Sun City Girls were an American experimental rock band, formed in 1979 in Phoenix, Arizona. From 1981 the group consisted of Alan Bishop , his brother Richard Bishop , and the late Charles Gocher . Their name was inspired by Sun City, Arizona, an Arizona retirement community...
- Trumans WaterTrumans WaterTrumans Water is an indie rock band from San Diego, California formed in 1991. They have released over a dozen full length recordings over their career, wherein they collaborated with acts in genre, including Azalia Snail, Chan Marshall and Thurston Moore....