Milwaukee’s Black Orchid – Chronicles One, Two, and Three

Milwaukee’s Black Orchid is a three-piece improvisation group (sometimes joined by friends) who’s music has never been easy to describe. “This … is a miasma of electro beats that seem to go nowhere and then spin back on your ears and go somewhere where you’ll never find them … I could see permanent psychosis being a direct result of Black Orchid music. The comparisons to Skinny Puppy, TG, Pink Dots, and others are only due to the nature of the music, not the music itself. Black Orchid have a sound all their own…” (Leech, Industrial Nation, Issue #10). We thought this says it all.

When asked to remaster the early releases, Producer J.A.Bohr found in the archives over two hours of Milwaukee’s Black Orchid which has not been heard since the live performances. Combining the best of the original releases along with these previously unreleased gems, ‘Chronicles One, Two & Three’ offer over 3.3 hours of incredible live recordings. Sounding cleaner, brighter and even more exciting than before, this is a must have for fans of experimental & improvisational industrial music, old and new.

Band members:

Sven Kort, Raig Macher, J.A.B.

Please don’t ask us what we played where, we have no idea anymore. You guess.

Credits on Chronicles One, Chronicles Two, and Chronicles Three:

All songs written, programmed, improvised and performed by Milwaukee’s Black Orchid. Produced, Engineered, Edited and Remastered by J.A.Bohr. All untitled songs were named by J.A.B. *originally released on ‘Traveling on Dark Frequencies’ no. 020101. ** originally released on ‘Live and Rare’ no. 020201. The release contains live stereo performances recorded directly to Digital Audio Tape.

Milwaukee’s Black Orchid – Chronicles One

tracks on Chronicles One:

1. A Daydream in Fantasy Land* (3:44), 2. Anxious Paranoia* (3:22), 3. Awoken Early (6:10), 4. Blue Skies* (6:43), 5. Brains* (4:40), 6. Clockworks (2:51), 7. Dance before the gates (3:06), 8. Devotion* (4:40), 9. fall of the Berlin Wall** (4:30), 10. Felicia (live)** (3:33), 11. forgotten thoughts (4:31), 12. From the Caves of Chaos* (6:27), 13. geodesic (5:21), 14. get rid of it (3:57), 15. hearing problems (4:48), 16. journey** (2:57).

Additional band members on Chronicles One:

Additional percussion on Tracks 2, 8, and 12 by Alan Zorn. Effected violin on Tracks 3, and 13 by Erich Ternes.

When tracks on Chronicles One were recorded:

Tracks 1-2, 4, 6, 8 and 14 from February, 1994. Tracks 3 and 13 from October 1994. Track 5 from December 1993. Tracks 7 and 12 from January 1994. Tracks 9-11 and 16 from March 1994. Track 15 from June 1994.

Milwaukee’s Black Orchid – Chronicles Two

tracks on Chronicles Two:

1. In a Heartbeat pt. 1** (6:22), 2. In a Heartbeat pt. 2** (5:19), 3. In a Heartbeat pt. 3* ** (7:31), 4. In a Heartbeat pt. 4** (4:02), 5. In a Heartbeat pt. 5** (6:02), 6. In the Light (4:06), 7. Kangaroo Crossing (5:44), 8. Keep (2:20), 9. Living Cheese (2:18), 10. lonely angst** (4:00), 11. lost (3:45), 12. Mindfire* (5:43), 13. my first gun** (5:54), 14. my mind (1:57), 15. naturally (4:43).

Additional band members on Chronicles Two:

effected violin on Track 15 by Erich Ternes

When tracks on Chronicles Two were recorded:

Tracks 1-5 from June, 1994. Tracks 6, 8 and 13 from January 1994. Track 7 from November 1994. Tracks 9 and 14 from February 1994. Tracks 10-11 from March 1994. Track 12 from December 1993. Track 15 from October 1994.

Milwaukee’s Black Orchid – Chronicles Three

tracks on Chronicles Three:

1. night gives you reason (4:22), 2. Nobody’s Gnome** (1:43), 3. nocturnal discovery (4:38), 4. oops (2:10), 5. pain (5:03), 6. Regis Don’t Know* (6:32), 7. rubble** (3:58), 8. Sacrifices (3:59), 9. September Day (5:29), 10. Stop Staring* (0:57), 11. Thick Thicket of Thorns* (8:14), 12. Trippin’ in September (4:48), 13. ultraviolet (3:45), 14. where did the knife come from (6:34), 15. zazz (4:21).

Additional band members on Chronicles Three:

additional percussion on Tracks 1, 4 and 14 by Alan Zorn. effected violin on Tracks 3 and 15 by Erich Ternes.

When tracks on Chronicles Three were recorded:

Tracks 1, 4 and 14 from June, 1994. Tracks 6, 8 and 11-12 from January 1994. Track 13 from November 1994. Tracks 2, 5 and 9 from February 1994. Tracks 7 and 10 from March 1994. Track 3 and 15 from October 1994.

Listen to Milwaukee’s Black Orchid on YouTube