Post-WXAXRXP Societas X Tape Tracklist & Discussion

[Jango9]

The rest of the coL album that This Flat Earth came from is finally up on Bandcamp and Spotify!




Lots of good stuff on here, easy to see why BoC would be into this one.

[Moz]

With all the space talk and whatnot, I think this is their Pioneer Plaque, transmission to space. Great music from all over Earth.

[Moezakir]

I specifically enlisted here to contribute to this thread!
When listening to the Societas X tape for the first time, at 54:05



it immediately struck me that I know this voice! It's the narrator of the 1981 BBC TV Show "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", the late British Actor Peter Jones!

Here's a snippet with his voice:


The question remains, where is that "Wind tunnel" sample taken from? I would think it's an obscure BBC Radio Show from the 70s or 80s, possibly a science fiction show.

[niknak]

The more I listen to Societas X the more I appreciate the incredible amount of work and thought they put into it. It's structured so well and flows and ebbs beautifully, and has opened my ears to music I never would have heard otherwise. I would give my left nut to have one of these every year or so.

In case anyone is unaware of it, this isn't the first time they have shared a mixtape of their musical influences:
https://bocpages.org/wiki/Marcus_Eoin%2 ... re_Mixtape

It's from around the time of TCH, and really obvious how some of these influenced the sound of that album. Back in the day it took me months, if not years to track them all down, and only then after kind help from a friendly stranger . These days some nice person has assembled them all on Youtube (couple of tracks blocked in UK though...)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... voSuA5kp08

[Sherbet Head]

In case anyone is unaware of it, this isn't the first time they have shared a mixtape of their musical influences:
https://bocpages.org/wiki/Marcus_Eoin%2 ... re_Mixtape

It's from around the time of TCH, and really obvious how some of these influenced the sound of that album. Back in the day it took me months, if not years to track them all down, and only then after kind help from a friendly stranger . These days some nice person has assembled them all on Youtube (couple of tracks blocked in UK though...)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... voSuA5kp08

So sick to see Ween on there. I swear every respected musician on the planet has something nice to say about those guys. Even Aphex, who notoriously isn't a fan of rock/guitar music, is supposedly a big fan.

[fefor]

Oh I just realized you were the user that made that thread back then, I assume scans were never found? that would be great to see. Also I'm happy that they included Yo La Tengo in the playlist, very good and comfy small band.

[niknak]

Oh I just realized you were the user that made that thread back then, I assume scans were never found? that would be great to see. Also I'm happy that they included Yo La Tengo in the playlist, very good and comfy small band.

Yes, big fan. Was very happy to find I already had 3 or 4 of the tracks from this mix in my library already back when I found it.

And no, scans were never found, as far as I know, which is surprising. I got verification it was accurate though.

[outhudd]

The more I listen to Societas X the more I appreciate the incredible amount of work and thought they put into it. It's structured so well and flows and ebbs beautifully, and has opened my ears to music I never would have heard otherwise. I would give my left nut to have one of these every year or so.

In case anyone is unaware of it, this isn't the first time they have shared a mixtape of their musical influences:
https://bocpages.org/wiki/Marcus_Eoin%2 ... re_Mixtape

And there was also another time before that when they shared a list:
https://bocpages.org/wiki/CMJ_New_Music_Report

Many of these ones were never found and are either their friends (Orphel Binuswade) or maybe aliases for BoC (Magic Teens?)

[niknak]

Ha, I forgot about that. Obviously they were messing with us. Nice to see Julian Cope keeping it real in there though.

[mechanismj]

The more I listen to Societas X the more I appreciate the incredible amount of work and thought they put into it. It's structured so well and flows and ebbs beautifully, and has opened my ears to music I never would have heard otherwise. I would give my left nut to have one of these every year or so.

In case anyone is unaware of it, this isn't the first time they have shared a mixtape of their musical influences:
https://bocpages.org/wiki/Marcus_Eoin%2 ... re_Mixtape

And there was also another time before that when they shared a list:
https://bocpages.org/wiki/CMJ_New_Music_Report

Many of these ones were never found and are either their friends (Orphel Binuswade) or maybe aliases for BoC (Magic Teens?)

A Hell Interface version of How Will I Know would be pretty rad.

[Echelon]

So sick to see Ween on there. I swear every respected musician on the planet has something nice to say about those guys. Even Aphex, who notoriously isn't a fan of rock/guitar music, is supposedly a big fan.

I heard Ween before I heard Aphex and I always thought he was an electronic version of Ween.

Milk Man, Funny Little Man, Come To Daddy (Little Lord Faulteroy Mix) and Windowlicker all make me think of Ween's humor

[SamuraiDrifter]

And there was also another time before that when they shared a list:
https://bocpages.org/wiki/CMJ_New_Music_Report

Many of these ones were never found and are either their friends (Orphel Binuswade) or maybe aliases for BoC (Magic Teens?)

Some of these are real song or album titles with made-up artists. For example, "Delicass Harmonium" is the title of an extremely rare early release of Christopher Horne, aka Christ. "Slap Your Mammy" is a track from DEVO's debut album.

[mechanismj]

And there was also another time before that when they shared a list:
https://bocpages.org/wiki/CMJ_New_Music_Report

Many of these ones were never found and are either their friends (Orphel Binuswade) or maybe aliases for BoC (Magic Teens?)

Some of these are real song or album titles with made-up artists. For example, "Delicass Harmonium" is the title of an extremely rare early release of Christopher Horne, aka Christ. "Slap Your Mammy" is a track from DEVO's debut album.

Yeah, it seems like they were just having a joke with that list.

[Sherbet Head]

So sick to see Ween on there. I swear every respected musician on the planet has something nice to say about those guys. Even Aphex, who notoriously isn't a fan of rock/guitar music, is supposedly a big fan.

I heard Ween before I heard Aphex and I always thought he was an electronic version of Ween.

Milk Man, Funny Little Man, Come To Daddy (Little Lord Faulteroy Mix) and Windowlicker all make me think of Ween's humor

You've got a point! I think they both have the ability to successfully blend pop sensibilities with complete fucking weirdness and pisstaking.

[Knifeyspooney]

I think they both have the ability to successfully blend pop sensibilities with complete fucking weirdness and pisstaking.

Felt like a natural transition.

[Echelon]

So sick to see Ween on there. I swear every respected musician on the planet has something nice to say about those guys. Even Aphex, who notoriously isn't a fan of rock/guitar music, is supposedly a big fan.

I heard Ween before I heard Aphex and I always thought he was an electronic version of Ween.

Milk Man, Funny Little Man, Come To Daddy (Little Lord Faulteroy Mix) and Windowlicker all make me think of Ween's humor

You've got a point! I think they both have the ability to successfully blend pop sensibilities with complete fucking weirdness and pisstaking.

They've got an equal amount of irreverence and a good will for fans, dumping lots of unheard music without any concern if the record label wanted them to.

I think Richard probably loves the dank era of God Ween Satan up to Pure Guava most of all. It was pure sound exploration with a truly irreverent sense of humor, some of which would be totally frowned upon in this day and age. Much like Aphex's 90s career.

And if you want proof that Mike and Marcus aren't mystical sages and actually have a sense of humor about music, look no further than this exchange:

Marcus: I never thought about it but Ween are brothers as well, aren't they?

Mike: No, they are not.

Marcus: I thought they were. Are they not?

Mike: No, they just pretend that they are. [Laughs]

Marcus: That's fantastic! [Laughs]

Mike: See, some people go out of their way to do things like that, while we are trying to avoid it."

I would even venture a guess that the "On the hill starts a bright new day" song on Societas is something related to Ween. It sounds like an early paean to Boognish haha

[Secone]

I don't know if you guys have been following the hunt for the 'Most Mysterious Song On The Internet', but Societas X actually fell into it briefly last year when someone thought Strangers might be the same band who recorded the mysterious song.

For a good overview of this whole thing you should check out Whang's youtube videos on the subject here...


If you watch the most recent one you will note that a giant spreadsheet of music was created based on some old radio show playlists.

You can view this spreadsheet here...


I was kind of thinking that this might be a good resource to potentially find some more of the missing tracks on Societas X.

Yeah, I'm surprised how much that helped solve the hunt for Sinking Ships, I made that post on reddit back then after stumbling across TMMS, now when I listen to the two again they are definitely two completely different styles, but I am happy it helped get an answer. I wish the same could be said for TMMS song though. It could be worth asking about the "Soon the queen will come our way" section prior to Strangers, maybe.

[SamuraiDrifter]

Now available on Spotify and (presumably) other streaming services: a Victrola compilation, including not only Maritime Tatami and Game of Despair, but a bunch of previously unreleased tracks and demos from the 80s.

Great stuff; makes me wonder why Victrola stopped recording. Also glad that the Societas X Tape is renewing interest in so many artists that were forgotten or lost to time.

[Echelon]

"I'm living in a time where people's words don't mean a thing..."

"Get a shot of protection, ly ill."

These two quotes predicted 2020.

[mechanismj]

Now available on Spotify and (presumably) other streaming services: a Victrola compilation, including not only Maritime Tatami and Game of Despair, but a bunch of previously unreleased tracks and demos from the 80s.

Great stuff; makes me wonder why Victrola stopped recording. Also glad that the Societas X Tape is renewing interest in so many artists that were forgotten or lost to time.