title by ben didier

THE PEOPLE OF INNSMOUTH

The official newsletter of The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets
Number 35
Jan to Dec. 2001.

VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR

An Interview with Thicket video director Scott Winlaw

This year Scott Winlaw received a VideoFact grant to make a video for The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. He chose the song “Sounds of Tindalos” off of Spaceship Zero: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Although the song is almost a direct adaptation of the short story “The Hounds of Tindalos” by Frank Belknap Long, we didn't think going back in time was in the budget. Scott suggested an “alien abduction” theme for the visuals and in August the video was completed and debuted on MuchMusic, the nation's music station. For a little more background on the project, here's seven questions with Scott:

What do you do for a living?
Aspiring director/editor/carpet layer.

How did you get involved with The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets?
My production company had a promo offering a “free” music video to a local Vancouver band with some talent. The Thickets were they only band that responded to the ad. Actually, I received around 50 CDs from the promo and although we chose another (more top 40) band in the end...(mainly because they put some of their own money into it)...I had always wanted to do a video for the Thickets as their music and image was more along the lines of the type of artist I was interested in working with. Thus a few months down the road I approached Warren about whether the Thickets would be interested in going after a VideoFact grant. And he said, “Yes, I would like that...mostly” or something along those lines.

Why did you want to do a video for them, and in particular for their song “Sounds of Tindalos”?
For an odd halfbreed like myself, the Thickets were a Godsend. They were weird, open to doing weird things, their music was cool, and they didn't take themselves too seriously. The music industry is seriously lacking lads like the Thickets. I saw them as a cult band that simply needed a video to get them some exposure and then they could potentially take off. I had really hoped to get their video on some sort of regular rotation on MuchMusic. But Much is too busy playing pretentious drivel. I found them to be way more interesting and talented than bands like Gob, or Blink 182. I had about four songs on the album that I really wanted to do videos for, all were strong songs...however “Sounds of Tindalos” had a very pop/punkish sound with great surf-like solo that caught my ear. I also like the format of the song. It was always changing...and had a great ending. It was very unique.

What was your take on the theme?
I had always been intrigued by the hoax of crop circles. I thought maybe some friends and I may be able to pull off the same thing with alien abductions. My idea was to go out on Halloween into the country with a bunch of buddies in a van dressed up as aliens abducting hot teenage girls. Pick them up, prod them and poke them with utensils and then drop them off somewhere down the line covered in some sort of jelloish slime. They literally may have thought they had been abducted by aliens... we were hoping it would make the news. We were hoping to scare a nation into panic. It never happened, the masks were too pricey.

Anyway...when I heard Sounds of Tindalos, I immediately thought hey that idea I had just might work in the form of a music video.

What was your biggest hurdle?
Pulling off what I had envisioned with the budget. I lost my producer a week before the shoot. Thus I had to produce it and direct it. This hurt my ability to plan out my shot list and to focus on directing as I was very busy dealing with phone calls and getting munchies for the crew. I also maxed out all of my credit cards as you don't get any of the grant until you complete the video. I had wanted to shoot the band performance in a crop circle at night... but couldn't afford a crane. I actually went over budget a tad. It was like a kick in the balls from a cranky old mule.

How do you think it turned out?
Considering the budget and the loss of my producer, I was quite happy with the end result. I would have liked the crane for the performance...if I had more time I would have spent more time on the choreographed dance section at the end of the video that I cut out...and I would have had more extras and more BC Lions cheerleaders in halter tops. And a better wrap party...and lots of pizza bagels. I wanted the kind of set where you could have just snapped your finger and a topless waitress would have brought you a plate full of pizza bagels. The really good ones from M&M meats.

Would you do it all again?
Indeed. The Thickets were great to work with...and I have a lot of respect for their band, and their music. I think it is just a matter of time before they get picked up by a major label or the Abbotsford RCMP. Maybe some day they will let me do another video. Until then, S. www.uturnpictures.com

You can request MuchMusic play our videos (Sounds of Tindalos, Walking on the Moon, Colour Me Green, Diggin' Up the World) by contacting them at ondemand@muchmusic.com or Request line 1 800 265-6824 or 299 Queen St West Toronto, Ontario M5V 2Z5. They won't play Worship Me Like A God so don't ask.



The Screen-Quest of Unknown Kadath

“Three times Randolph Carter dreamed of the marvelous city, and three times was he snatched away while still he paused on the high terrace above it.”
Thus begins H. P. Lovecraft's epic tale of the courageous dreamer Randolph Carter and his search for the mystical city of Kadath. During his journey, he travels deep into the world of dream, to the edge of the world, to the moon and back, and to the heights and depths of human and... inhuman experience.

Guerrilla Productions plans to bring Dream-Quest to the screen in a full-length adaptation, slated for October 2002 release.

”Dream-Quest uses an unusual narrative style. Rather than live action (as if we could afford that!) or motion animation, we're using a technique sorta' like what we've used most recently for “The Testament of Tom Jacoby”, a motion-still sequencing. We have no affectionate name for this technique (well, we're currently describing it as “sorta' like what we did with Jacoby, but even better, with some live stuff thrown in”), nor can we even think of a really good example off the top of our heads, but we hope you'll like the result. Our image source is Jason Thompson's unbelievable comic book adaptation, published by Mockman Press.

There is no way to easily describe the enthusiasm and energy of the crew making this darn movie come together. The amount of work is just staggering and each and every one of these people stepped up to the plate (if I may steal a sports metaphor) and just hit the living crap out of the ball. We are incredibly lucky to have each and every one of these love slaves in our production! (Except for Edward, who is doing this instead of shooting heroin, smoking crack, and sniffin' glue)”

Edward Martin III director, Script by Jason Thompson and Edward Martin III, producer Katrina Martin, Music Supervisor Cyoakha Grace O'Manion ,Soundtrack Cyoakha Grace O'Manion & Judy Grover , Sound Engineer — Lev Koszegi, Andrew Migliore asKing Kuranes, Michael Pearce as Richard Upton Pickman, Kate Webb as Nyarlathotep, and Toren Atkinson as Bragging Ghoul (oh, and Randolph Carter)
http://www.petting-zoo.org/Movies_Dreamquest.html



Divine Intervention!

An interview with Allen Moy - the man who pulls the strings behind Divine Industries' puppet regime.

Last winter The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets and Divine Industries merged to form a world conquering juggernaut know as Menasaur. But what does that have to do with their record deal with the entity known as Divine Industries? who or what are Divine Industries? The POI spoke with Hive Mind Allen Moy to get the answers.

So how are the Godheads at Divine Industries faring with the excitement of the release of The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets epic Spaceship Zero?
Well Warren, to answer your first question, there is much anticipation at Divine Industries these days. Those of us who are interfacing with the “real world” have much to rejoice. Having Spaceship Zero as one of our projects is especially exciting. We have passed the word to the subterranean population of Divinia and while they can't entirely relate to what is happening above ground, they support our efforts because they know it is good. All Hail Divinia!

So you mean SSZ isn't your only project? Well what could possibly turn your head from our Lucas-esque epic of celluloid?
Yes of course there are many divisions of divinity...
We do have a management division which some refer to as the “halls of Gangland”. In 1984, my former partner Keith Porteous and I formed a company called Gangland Artists. We represented a number of recording artists. In 1996, Porteous became the head of A&R of Vik Recordings and I came to see the light with Divine Industries Inc. Some of the management clients of Gangland Artists were transferred to DIVIND. The most notable being 54*40. Divine Industries also oversee management for Tom Wilson, Chin Injeti, Coco Love Alcorn , copyright and The Special Guests. Divine Industries Inc. has released albums by Sons of Freedom, DSK & Veal. We have also worked on special project with Olympic gold medallist snowboarder Ross Rebagliatti, delivering a collection of Ross's favorite songs for Sony Music Canada. We have also worked with Pulp Arsenal Press to produce “The Little Black Leather Book of Rock and Roll”.

Wow. So did you get to meet Ross? Did he smell like pot? What songs did he pick? Was he wearing that stupid Roots hat?
I didn't meet him personally, I did speak with him on the telephone, he didn't sound like he smelled like pot but I'm certain he was wearing the Roots hat. Ross seemed to like reggae music...not very big on rock.

Figures. But Divine Industries is big on rock. You guys must know or have met some real rock stars. I mean you work with some. That is if you aren't lying.
Yes of course and we don't lie at Divine Industries. It is impossible for us. We only have one eye. I met David Bowie once, but the biggest physically was Randy Bachman.{of 70's Canadian rockers Bachman Turner Overdrive fame - Ed}

So how is it that the entire staff of Divine Industries has only one eye? What kind of pool do you draw your talent from any way?
Actually we have one eye each. We draw talent from the “talent pool”

Is that how you found The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets? Treading water in the “talent pool”?
Actually, I wouldn't say treading water. I found the thickets to be thriving bottom feeders. Masters of their domain.

A very astute observation! So how do you plan to handle these Masters of their domain? Do you have some kind of plan?
Yes a master plan. I have a master plan.

Would you care to elaborate or is there still fruits to bare from it?
Like all master plans, this one is based on the expansion of empires. In this case the empire of The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. We plan to annex the island of rock.from there we will take over the airwaves and spew forth the word of the Thickets to teens across the land. We also plan to shore up your costume budget.

Good Gravy! More money for costumes! You are indeed a Divine Industry. So what will the new costumes look like anyway? Any ideas on what we should dress like?
Well that is strictly for the ladies to decide, although, I'm particularly fond of red jumpsuits.

For more information about Divine Industries, go to their web site at www.divineindustries.com



the million favoured ones

Hey there, I'm Erik the loud fan from Winnipeg who, under the influence of many a green,elder spirit, shouted requests from the only recording he had, Cthulhu Strikes Back. I wanted to thank you for the great show you put on at Ozzie's. You guys were in excellent form (despite the on-goings in Regina). I usually expect less from bands live but the Thickets really pulled it off! The new disk, which I suppose is not so new anymore but almost impossible to get in Winnipeg, is in steady rotation amongst my current favorites. Despite its being a little light for my taste, it more than makes up for it in showing progression musically and lyrically as well as in production upon the prior release (still an old favorite) while still sharing the same shoggoth-a-rockin nature.
Erik Larsen, crawlingchaos18@hotmail.com
P.S. Upon reading the commentary on Plato's Parmenides I stumbled upon something that opened vast and terrifying vistas before my eyes. The word the attic Greeks used for the Universal was... ta katholou!!!

 On a semi-hemi-demi-related thought, Hawaii's “evil-smelling squid god” is called Kanaloa. Doesn't really rhyme with Cthulhu but at least it starts with the same sound. - Ed

Hot damn. OK, listen to this story... Almost, if not, an entire year ago, Penny Arcade (online comic strip) posted an mp3 of Power Up. The track was labeled doht-powerup.mp3 and nothing else. I fucking loved the song. Months later, a friend and I did a small movie for a school project, and we used Power Up for the intro to the film (it wasn't for profit, for the love of god please don't sue!) Anyway, months pass, and I've tried over and over to find out what 'doht' stands for. Then, one day, I uninstall Sonique mp3 player and get winamp, I get curious, and play powerup again, BEHOLD! I found out the band's name! I do a few searches, and come upon (in all of 2 minutes) your official site! Holy shit, it's been a long, strange trip. I'm definitely going to order the soundtrack to Spaceship Zero. You guys rock so hard.
Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know u have a new fan! Thanks for the kick ass groovy tunes. Rock on,
Josh Crystal (Albany, NY)

Hi, my name is Shane. I was fortunate enough to see your show at the Scherzo Pub in Kingston. Oh my God it was awesome! Thanks so much for coming to my sleepy little town. I had never heard of the Thickets, but a friend of mine said a bunch of guys in spacesuits were coming to town and that I absolutely could not miss them. She was right, I'm so glad I went. The music was not only awesome, the lyrics were not only amazing, but I just loved your style of performing too, with the costumes and the synchronized jumping and all that. I'm so glad I found your songs on newmusiccanada.com, my favourites are The Math Song and Dies ist Unverschamtheit. I'm also an artist on newmusiccanada.com under the name Shane MacPherson. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for playing!
Shane - can_utility@hotmail.com

Guys,
I just picked up the Spaceship Zero soundtrack and I must say that this is your best work to date! I have been a fan for a couple of years and was pleasantly surprised to find a group that loved Lovecraft as much as I. I really enjoy Sci-Fi rock in general - even the campy sounds from Queen's work on the “Flash Gordon” soundtrack. I was hoping you might be able to tell me whether I might be able to purchase the “Cthulhu Strikes Back” and “Great Old Ones” CD's. I found them all on Napster, but it isn't quite the same. Here's hoping Spaceship Zero [the motion picture] gets past the legal problems and into a venue or on some sort of media I can get my hands on....*sigh* Cthulhu Ftagn,
Michael Harwood - sarnath@thedreamlands.orgs

 As of this writing, Cthulhu Strikes Back and Great Old Ones are still out of print. We are currently sinking all our money into touring so you can see us live! Keep searching in used CD stores and on ebay...if...youuuu...daaaaaaaaaaare! - Ed

Mr. Atkinson-
Don't know if you remember me, but I was introduced to your band by a fellow named Eric Bossick. About three years ago I emailed you a couple times while stationed in Japan. Now that I've refreshed you, I wanted to say that I was surprised to see your name in the art credits for Green Ronin Publishing's Legions of Hell sourcebook for D&D. Excellent art, and it also inspired me to put your disks back on heavy rotation here in my cyclopean townhouse. Keep it up!
Brian Z. Karasek - bkarasek@azathoth.org

 By Yog-Sothoth's shining spheres, I do indeed create a lot of art for Dungeons and Dragons (see tiny illo left), and Green Ronin is the fine publisher who will be printing our Spaceship Zero role-playing game in the astounding year 2002. You can also find my work in the forthcoming d20 version of Call of Cthulhu, to be published in 2002 by Wizards of the Most...I mean Coast! - Ed

Hello y'all,
My name is Shawn Parks, I live in Detroit, and I'm really into the band. I picked up a CD kinda at random at a con 2 or 3 years ago, and I just got the newest one this last weekend. Love it, listening right now. I'm interested in talking about covering the song about Digging up the World on a forthcoming CD, and I wondering if there's any way we can talk about the possibility of swinging that. I'm on the verge of getting my production company/ label all set up legal like. If you can't get around to this message, it's all good - just know I love the band. Keep up the good work, and much success to you for your diligence.
-Shawn Parks

Well, Shawn, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets have a “go for it you corpse-feeder” attitude towards covering our songs, especially live, but for a recording it becomes a bit more complicated. “Digging Up the World”, like all of our songs, are registered with SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada). Any band should register all their works and cover songs with SOCAN or ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers). It's free and you get royalty payments from them for public and recorded performances. Legally, we have to ask you to apply for the mechanical license (http://www.nmpa.org/hfa/mechanical.html#forms is a standard form) to Diggin' Up the World, which states that you the applicant (you) will pay the owner of the copyright (us) for each copy of the song that you press (the number of CDs you make with Diggin' on it). The “mechanical rate” at the time of this writing is 7.55 cents (American). A little pricey if you asked me. That means if you press 1000 CDs with Diggin' on it - you have to send us a big fat check for $75. What the hell's up with that? I'd accept a box of chocolates. However, both yourself and the plant you get the CDs pressed at could get in a bit of a legal fooferaw if this procedure is not followed. We had to do exactly the same thing when we covered “Walkin' on the Moon”. Also, when you register your CD with ASCAP, make sure you list us as the authors of the song. Otherwise we'll release the hounds of Tindalos. You can read more about SOCAN at www.socan.ca. Contact them at SOCAN Head Office, 41 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S6, Phone: (416) 445-8700, Toll-free: 1-800-55 SOCAN, Fax: (416) 445-7108. - Ed

I watched the [Walking on the Moon] video, good stuff guys. One question; what exactly, was the spikey red cow costume? Unless of course it was just a spikey red cow. Anyway, good stuff.
-Adam Koebel, adam-koebel@shaw.ca

 If you're referring the to spikey red cow costume I think you're referring to, it's “Devilcow”. Devilcow has been with the band for years. Toren McBoren MacBin sported the suit but discarded it as a “hand me up” to bigger brother Merrick when Toren moved on to the furry gug outfit. Devilcow served us well but was de-uddered by fan Kenny Bee at a local show in Vancouver as a protest against not having new costumes. As a result, Devilcow is currently being cannibalized to create an Agent Octopus superhero costume to go with our “Power Up” theme (the superhero song off of Spaceship Zero). - Ed



LOVECRAFT CORNER

STRANGE AEONS
various
REVIEWED BY TOREN MCBOREN MACBIN
The Goods: A double CD set inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos
The Details: The brainchild of Steve Lines, this album strongly features his musical (and artistic) work, that of his band Stormclouds, and his friend Childe Roland. The Lovecraftian band Fireaxe is represented as are a few other in-genre bands. Inbetween songs, poetry and fiction excerpts are read by Ramsey Campbell, Brian Lumley, Robert Price and others. Much of the music is done in (or culled from) what I would call "antiquated" 70's rock--somewhat uninspired--however a couple of tracks that stand out is the catchy instrumental "At the Mountains of Madness" and the wry "E'ch Pi El". The readings are often drowned in effects, some of which were added to cover up tape hiss since the readings were mailed to Lines from the authors themselves. Despite the above shortcomings, the CD as a whole is a very good attempt and deserves more space than can be devoted here. Before you ask why The Thickets weren't on the album - I don't know!
The Bottom Line: Highly recommended for the serious collector, and of interest to the passing Lovecraft fan. Proceeds from sales will go to Rainfall's next project, a tribute to Robert W. Chambers' King in Yellow.
£12.00 (including postage and packing) from Rainfall Records, 28 Churchill Close, Calne, Wilts SN11 8EN United Kingdom.
http://www.clivejones.i12.com/aeons3.htm

WELCOME TO FREEPORT T-SHIRT
NOT REVIEWED
The Goods: 100% Cotton White T-Shirt XL
The Details: Featuring art by Toren Atkinson, this t-shirt was hand-woven by half-fiend harpies in our Green Ronin sweatshop—at least that's what you can tell your friends as you proudly display this image from the Madness in Freeport book with the caption, “Welcome To Freeport”. (Green Ronin can not be held responsible for any madness attributed directly or indirectly to wearing or viewing this t-shirt and the Yellow Sign emblazoned thereon.)
The Bottom Line: The Welcome To Freeport t-shirt is a Green Ronin Publishing online exclusive. You can't get this shirt anywhere else.
MSRP $15.00 GRR9001
www.greenronin.com

TALES OF LOVECRAFTIAN HORROR AND HUMOR
THE THING IN THE BATHTUB AND OTHER LOVECRAFTIAN TALES
by Peter Cannon
REVIEWED BY KEITH B. JOHNSTON
The Goods: Two Cannon chapbooks.
The Details: All Lovecraft fans need to become familiar with Peter Cannon. Although he has written some excellent non-fiction, I find his greatest value is as the court jester of Lovecraft-mania. Over the last several years, Cannon has written numerous wonderfully funny satires on Lovecraft and various of his circle, including modern day writers (such as the hilarious one on Ramsey Campbell, "The Undercliffe Sentences"). He has also done Lovecraft parodies which are both very funny and read well as stories. Cannon's humor is not bitter, but is obviously done by one who enjoys Lovecraft and his school, but can also see the strangeness and irony in these people and their endeavors.
The Bottom Line: $6 US each from Tsathoggua Press c/o Perry Grayson 6442 Pat Ave, West Hills CA 91307. Tales: ISBN 1-887968-04-0. Bathtub: ISBN: 1-887968-03-2

NAMELESS AEONS
by Peter Smith Forward by Kenneth Grant
REVIEWED BY PAULINE
The Bottom Line: The Goods: 70 page stapled pamphlet
The Details: Put on your aluminuim foil hat, fire up your hack-proof T1 line to The Lone Gunmen, chalk a protective Elder Sign on the floor, and you're all ready to dive into this collection of eleven conspiracy-theory riddled essays by occult writer Peter Smith. There is no doubt Mr. Smith knows his Mythos, and there are a few scholarly details and connections to other mythologies I found of interest. However, most of this heavily-footnoted volume was a wade through professorial musings, vainly and vaguely attempting to prove that HP and the Mythos circle of authors were not purveyors of fiction, but instead produced their works by “automatic writing”; in effect, channelling Outer Gods. The wistful tone of most of the papers betrays Mr. Smith's wish that this were indeed the case.
The Bottom Line: Read this next if you've already perused every webpage that comes up on your search engine when you enter the word “Cthulhu”.