Let's have a black celebration
Black celebration
Tonight
To celebrate the fact
That we've seen the back
Of another black day
I look to you
How you carry on
When all hope is gone
Can't you see
Your optimistic eyes
Seem like paradise
To someone like
Me
- Depeche Mode, Black Celebration.
Does it still shine gold in the dark?
- promo write up.
An opera of dust and a question that should have been asked.
- promo write up.
The last mistake you ever make,
- Faust.
is thinking that she loved you.
- Garland.
Without you there is no tomorrow.
- Oliver Applehair.
A (mis) interpretation:
Band name: The Hellpop Duo.
Band members: Alexei "Faust" Gunderson - producer, keyboard, guitar, bass, bagpipe, didgeridoo; Scarlet "Garland" Gunderson - songwriter, vocals, ukulele, violin.
Genre: Necro Folk; Proto Gothika.
Years active: 1995 to present.
Management: Applehair Management - Olivia Ross.
Associated acts: The Conqueror Worm; The Hell Toys; Talking Skulls; Purgatory; Coffin Nails; The Headless Horsemen; The Crossroads; Icky Wormwood.
Labels: Sub-Par Records (1995 to 1996); Etteilla Records (1997 to present).
Discography:
A) They Promised The Devil (1995).
Track listing:
1) The Pact With The Devil (2:33)
2) Broken Promises (6:18)
3) Lord Of The Flies And Lies (5:40)
4) Our Parents Are In Hell (14:55)
5) Devices Of Torture (2:19)
6) Mental (Why?) (4:54)
7) The Choice Is Yours (2:45)
8) No One Is Listening (hidden track) (20:12)
B) Hell No (1996).
Track listing:
1) Intro (0:04)
2) Psychedelic Tarot Cards Blues (3:58)
3) The Ouija Thong (14:34)
4) Elektronomicon (25:30)
5) The Raving Baskervilles (13:44)
6) A Go-Go In Hell (4:67)
7) The Queen Of Crossroads (12:11)
8) Dante's Journey (35:60)
9) Outro (0.15)
C) Crowley's Bad Day (1997).
Track listing:
1) Going for Bolingbroke (3:23)
2) Miss Fortune Teller (1:44)
3) Rudolf Steiner Over For Dinner (23:27)
4) I'm Your Witch-hunt (2:55)
5) Sexual Hauntings of Mrs Growper (11:36)
6) Count of St. German Broken Botox (2:03)
7) My Life As A Ghost Story (18:53)
8) Blavatsky Pie (3:35)
'How are they doing Bill?' asks Lu, as the Rolling Bones "Empathy for the Devil" is playing on the background. 'Right on track. To Dis,' replies Bill. 'Good. Good. And their parents?' asks Lu. 'Medium rare, just as my Lord likes it,' replies Bill. 'Good. Good,' Lu says with satisfaction. 'F***kin' specks of dust. They think they could outsmart moi? Not so, not so,' Lu laughs. 'Raise the stake Bill. Time for show hand,' orders Lu. 'And Bill?' says Lu. 'Yes, me Lordy?' replies Bill. 'Loose those f***in' horns will ya? Its the 20th century up there dammit. When I ordered youse guys to look sharp, I don't mean the horns. Horns are so yesterday,' says Lu. 'Ok...and the old fart did damn us,' replies Bill. Lu glares at him and smiles. 'And don't forget that imp too. Stole my Giant Mongolian Shoe. Its a high heel, limited edition, so I want it back. Its a gift from Lily after all,' orders Lu. 'You got it, Boss,' says Bill. 'Oh, makes sure that interfering son of that bitch Gabby ain't lookin' aight? I ain't want Mikey to go ape-shite on us,' warns Lu. 'Of course Boss. Whatever you say Boss,' replies Bill.
Garland and Faust are Hellpop Duo, a Necro Folk genre electronica infused folk band whose parents are the famous Spanish Cemetery, a band popular enough in the late 70s that they yield several hit singles. They disappeared one night after the concert at Woodstock, giving rise to various myths and legends surrounding the circumstances of their disappearance. According to famous occult investigator, Bleak Mission whom himself would go on to form the Black Rainbow proto-punk band, the Spanish Cemetery made a pact with the Devil and reneged on the deal, resulting in their souls being dragged to Hell. Their children grows up and follow their parents music career. The Devil appears one night to them with a deal - release a hit single and a hit album which would achieve multi-platinum within six hundred and sixty six days and their parents would be released back to the world. Failure would result in them joining their folks in an eternity of hellish red delight. Lu also personally warns them not to engage a third party help and more importantly, don't ever try to rig the result.
This presents a dilemma. The Hellpop Duo caters mostly to the indie scene. Their last two albums hardly shift two thousand copies. They are also on the brink of financially broke, as the record company which signed them, Sub-Par Records couldn't recoup the costs of producing their albums. Garland and Faust are undoubtedly talented but the primary concern is perhaps due to their artistic inclinations and anti-fame, anti-commercialism stance. They don't give a damn whether their albums sell. It is up to the listeners to understand and appreciate their works of art. Music journalist and critic Amanda "Peppermint" Grove is a fan of theirs, without doubt and staunchly loyal to their brand of music which she calls Necro Folk. Occasionally their "a f*** you to the world" attitude would alienate even their early fans, as their ideas constantly shifts and changes continuously. The Hellpop Duo is fiercely proud of their independence and freedom but at the price of being directionless and lack of plan. But they respect producers whom share their vision, such as Stiff Albino. Famed producer DJ Phat Harry Beard once offer to produce their album under his label, Deaf Toe Jam Record but Garland and Faust refused. So they ended up writing, producing their own albums with total freedom from Sub-Par Records. Until the song "A Go-Go In Hell" from their second album is featured in an indie short film, "2+2 = 4 OK?" in an out of competition category at Sundance. It catches the attention of Etteilla Records talent agent and promptly sign them up. It turns out it is all a ruse by Lu to set them up in order to take them down under to join their parents. So they have six hundred and sixty six days to come up with a hit single and album.
Eventually it is up to Olivia Ross aka Applehair, as their manager, to ensure the administrative aspect of the duo musical career is taken care of. She is sometimes refer to as the "third member" of the Hellpop Duo. Olivia ensures publicity is generated through proper channels at the right target audience. She is sometimes exasperated at the siblings attitude although with good intention. Olivia leads a double life as one of the world's greatest art thieves along with her sister, Debbie. She is so good at it that she got bored and enters Dis with the help from Tommy "King Emo" Mission to steal the Giant Mongolian Shoe from right under the nose of Little Horn. Olivia just loves a nice pair of shoes.
All three currently face the dilemma posed by Lu. As their third album debuts at Top 200 at number 198 spot, and within a month steadily climbs up to, breaking into Top 100, the trio must come up with a plan to get themselves out of the situation or face an eternity of sufferance in Dis.
..............................................
The Parade line is ThreeA's foray into uh, fashion "dolls", I think, first debut for Swank, a clothing brand based in Atlanta if I am not wrong, in limited quantities which comes with apples with a Square face ala beady eyes, toothy front teeth. This is the Bambaland version. It is a curious line, with quite a straightforward background story, but the names. Why male names? Faust, Garland, Oliver. Except for the surprise, random drop of the day, Debbie Applehair that is. Now I got the three pack set. There is a wallet crunching limited edition Oliver which comes with a 1:1 scale high heels. Nothing much to elaborate about the figures, typical ThreeA design, you know, Tin Tin syled face etc. Oliver Applehair comes with a 10 inch new body, which I think were last used years ago for Adventure Kartel's Lil' Shadow OG version (and which is going to be re-released using this body once more). Unfortunately, the floppy syndrome continues to plague my figures. Oliver's arms are incredibly loose at the "sleeve joint" angle, almost to the point of feeling like gonna come off. The finishing on her face is again, like Pascha and Gals, uneven. Garland (the girl)'s arm did pop off but could be attached back, fortunately. The apples are well, to me, just apples. Maybe the clear version is heavier but the ones which comes with the pack is light. But its cool. Just that hoping ThreeA would re-look into their QC before it becomes a norm.
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