God of the Seedy Underground

Click to download God of the Seedy Underground

Well, our personal lord and saviour has declared that he's quitting music. And I don't know if I really agree with his choice, but I can't very well argue with the man's understanding of his own capabilities. He says that, baring everything else, the music he would make right now just wouldn't be any good. And I'm torn. Given that he made 4 of the best records ever made in the last 2 years, and the fact that his latest album (while not indelible) contained two of his all-time greatest songs, I'm not convinced that the follow-up to Deep Submerge would suddenly be this total disgrace of a record. I mean, it would have to have at least ONE amazing song on it, wouldn't it? On the other hand, I think I can understand where he's coming from. There are a lot of parallels between this and when he "quit" music in 2007. If there's one aspect of Kefka you can't question, it's his artistic vision, so if he says it's not the right time to make music, it must not be. Since 'phase 2' (2008-2010) was so much better than 'phase 1' (2005-2007), we can only hope 'phase 3' will be the best of all. If there is a phase 3...


In honor of Kefka's departure, he's crafted a sort of "greatest hits" farewell compilation from his most recent albums.

God of the Seedy Underground

1. Junkhead (Kratom)
2. Decrepid Domain of the Seething Beast-King (SDG)
3. Deep Submerge (Deep Submerge/alt version)
4. Overtake The Light (Ascetic Dogma)
5. My Eyes are Melting (Kratom)
6. Hot Dish in the Trap (SDG)
7. Supreme Gorgeous Meditation (Deep Submerge)

Let me first tell you that this is a fucking incredible disc. I practically haven't stopped listening to it since I got it. These are songs I've listened to 500 times each, and they feel new! I can't even bring myself to view this as a compilation at all... I feel like Kefka gave us a little view into an alternate reality where he hadn't released his last four 4T records, and all that material just becamse outtakes for this ultimate record of the greatest cuts. It's not so much a hits collection as it is a valid reinterpretation. This new comp flows as well as any of the original albums, man. It's uncanny. It's perfectly balanced, I really feel like this record should blow black noise wide open. It's all neatly packaged into this easily comprehendable, digestable form. Of course, Kefka is too hardcore for normies.

Now let's get a little deeper into the specifics. I do have a couple questions as to the choices for the tracklist. First of all, Kefka's reawakening comprises 7 albums: Isolate, the Black Trilogy, Dinner Parties, JAPPFMAD and Deep Submerge. Only four of these albums are actually represented on God of the Seedy Underground. I understand why Dinner Parties was left off, it doesn't fit with the sound of the other albums at all. And I understand why Isolate The Masses was left off. Even though I would have loved to see Not Through Learning get some love, Isolate is very much its own little thing. Even among Kefka's eclectic, uncompromising and supremely unique work, Isolate The Masses just doesn't fit in with anything other than itself.

What I don't understand is how Subversive Voice, er, sorry -- Post-Apocalyptic Nihilism could have been neglected on Seedy Underground when the other two of the Black Trilogy are heavily featured. I don't think it would have hurt the flow of the record to put Perverse Strength or Heaven's Negligence on there. Woulda been cool. Although honestly, the flow (as is) is so fucking perfect that I guess Kefka knew what he was doing.

Also worthy of note is the fact that the version of Deep Submerge on this record is an alternate take. It's half as long as the title-track from the album of the same name, and it's not quite up to par with that, but it's also a damn good version and I'm ecstatic that Kefka decided to include this little gem. It makes me yearn for what other rarities he might be hiding, and wouldn't a rarities compilation have made more sense than a hits collection? Just thinking out loud (in print).

As far as song selection goes beyond that, primo primo primo. Junkhead, Decrepid, Deep and Gorgeous are quite possibly the best 4 tracks of Kefka's last 7 albums. Maybe I'll get around to making my own Kefka compilation someday. Dish is also a fantastic choice, and an important track to feature due to it's uniqueness. My Eyes are Melting is anything but the best harsh/pure noise track Kefka's done, but I understand that Kefka wanted the album to be terse and impactful, which is part of why I have so much fun listening to it again and again. The album's lowpoint is definetly Overtake The Light, but I have to admit it's definetly the best song from Just A Pretty Package For My Ascetic Dogma.



If this is truly the end, God of the Seedy Underground allows Kefka to go out on top. It's a hell of a disc. Even as a compilation, it feels interconnected and destined to be, it genuinely surpasses albums which I thought were unsurpassable.

But if this truly is the end, and Kefka toils away the rest of his life as a simple ghost, free from the burden of artistic depth... then there is so much left undone. So much left unsaid. True, what Kefka's already accomplished could stand the test of time a million fold. It only took him 5 years to create a formidable 14-piece discography, larger than that of most bands. Plus there's nothing wrong with coasting on past glory like Neutral Milk Hotel. I understand that Kefka fears the ever-lurking threat of becoming a worthless self-parody like so many of his favorite artists. Trust me, I fucking know. I don't want to see that happen to my divine artist any more than he does. I completely understand that he needs to quit while he's ahead, to perserve the integrity of his accomplishments.

But I just can't imagine that he's finished yet. Artists become old and weak and complacent when they become OLD and rich and fulfilled. Does that sound like Kefka to you? He's the opposite of everything a complacent person is. He's only 22 years old! He's as subversive as ever. He's not settling down into romance or college or a career. He's still a dishwashing scumfuc like the day Isolate The Masses came out. But I guess that's WHY he has to quit, so that he doesn't grow old. He can quit now, and when he returns, he'll be a brand new person, just like in 2008. But Kefka's made it clear that he would rather be happy than ingenius. And I'm really afraid he won't come back like in 2008. He probably won't come back at all.