I guess there's no topic for this yet?
My top 10:
ANTS IN THE AFTERBIRTH - Self-titled CS
MNEM - Heart Of Complex CS (Satatuhatta)
VIODRE - Drawing Horses CS (Kalifornia Love Addiction)
MO*TE - Kill The Sun CD (Dada Drumming)
GENOCIDE ORGAN + PRURIENT - Carte Blanche CD/LP (Hospital Productions)
SPRING OF LIFE - Interface CS
EURONET - TSMC Is Burning CS (Tordon Ljud)
BODY CARVE - Studies In Advanced Decomposition CD (Chondritic Sound)
CASPAR SONNET - Passacaglia Radio CS (Andromache Records)
STAR - Elephant In The Snow 2CD (Hospital Productions)
Also did a podcast episode about it: https://youtu.be/LJPa4A3v-wM?si=sANGmgXZmQgIEioy
Here is my top 10 releases for 2023 and not ranked in any specific order. A couple of these releases aren't new, but new versions or compilations of some past material.
Sadio - Voyeur Seeks
Scatmother/Chaos Cascade - The Insignificance Of Human Life
Wertham - Anticitizen Number One
Caligula031 - Private Venus 2023
Pain Appendix/Room Ov Pleasure - Principles Of Nature
Cervical Smear/North Central - Affection And Abuse
Hamilton Mist - The Age Of Shadows
Taeter - Abysmal Collapse
Caligula031 - The Leatherman
Xenophobic Ejaculation - Sieg Heil
In random order, and lets say main qualification is not only is it great, but did it receive more playtime than usual. There are a lot of good stuff, that I acknowledged being great... while something such as Äijälä's Kytkentöjä CD, I didn't think it was anything absolutely unusual or amazing, but for reason or another, it simply was getting played over and over again.
Another guidelines are: No reissues and obviously none of my own stuff here, hah. But truth to be told, looking what came out on FA, tells a lot about level of Finn scene at the moment and only reason I wouldn't mention them is of course looking silly to list stuff you put out, even if quality is all thanks to artists.
Tyhjä Pää - Prolonged Troubles In Concentration And Memory CD
The Day Of The Antler - Love Beyond Love tape
Entre Vifs - Art Of Noises - 110th Anniversary LP
VELI-MATTI O. ÄIJÄLÄ - KYTKENTÖJÄ -CD
LIMINAL ARCHEOLOGY - LIMINAL ARCHAEOLOGY SERIES 4 - Uncle's Wedding tape
AHTI & AHTI - Nokivesi LP
HAUDAT - Live on tape February 23 tape
VIHANMIEHET - II CD
KYLMÄKOVAMAA - Harvey's Girl tape
LINEKRAFT - Hunger for life CD
Barstool Mountain - Tightrope Walker LP
(plus.. some stuff JUST was published. New Satatuhatta, new Hiisi prod, they could be on the list, but some of it just listened couple times.)
Edit: Barstool Mountain had to be added. I may revise list, just matter of remembering what is late 2022, what is 2023..
Tyhjä Pää-cd
Corral Shut-Sheer
Haudat-live&Vampyyri
Rusalka-Base Waters
Kitu-Fiery Jinxes
Elisha Morningstar-Saturae
Cov Ops-New Agenda
Umpio-Memoria&Brain
Body Stress-Rose of Sodoma
Primitive Wings-Slow Urge
Stinkfinger-Pussy Boy
Guillermo Pizarro-Jouska
Moozzhead-Faces of Little Death
Steel Corset-Body Belt
Leprose Wick-cs
Corral Shut/Residual/Tyhjä pää/Haudat-cs
Grunt-Vieraat aivot
Totally impossible to choose just few and pretty sure I forgot some
not an exhaustive list by any means / trying not to think too much:
MOINEAU ÉCARLATE "AVALER DES COULEUVRES" LP (Fougère)
KNSK "MURSKA" CD (Freak Animal)
MEGAPTERA "BEYOND THE MASSIVE DARKNESS" 2xCD (Old Captain)
ANAL CUNT "EARLY SHIT 1988-1991" 6xLP (FOAD)
VA "FONTANA" 3xCS (No Rent)
SMALL CRUEL PARTY "ANCIEN DES JOURS" 7" (Adi Grand)
STEEL CORSET "BODY BELT" CD (IOPS)
ZK "DISCORDIA" CS (Absurd Exposition)
COMMANDO 15 "VAUHKOLA" CS (Satatuhatta)
JOCKESSES "THE SNSE YEARS" CS (WCN)
To this day:
The New Boyfriends - Universal Noise (gave this just a few spins but it's already a favourite of mine)
Ksnk - Murska
Primitive Wings - Morphosis
Grunt- Vieraat Aivot
Decondition – Like a Mirage or a Dream
Prurient/Genocide Organ – Carte blanche
Caligula 031 - The leatherman
ZSS/XE - Whites Only
Bizarre Uproar/Black Leather Jesus - split
Wall Riders - Documents 1,2 (reissue)
Apex Parasite - Erosion Of The Will
I am a very inconsistent person when it comes to lists since my feelings change from time to time, this is only just a random selection of 5 noise releases that I enjoyed alot this year (no particular order):
Bizarre Uproar / Black Leather Jesus - Bizarre Uproar / Black Leather Jesus (Ominous Recordings & Summer Interlude Records)
Interesting loop based power electronics from BU, that squelching/throbbing electronics and occasional screaming stuck with me all year round in the back of my head.
BLJ's side is also pretty great as it's simply good, crushing and straight forward quality harsh noise.
Moozzhead - Thighmaster (Rural Isolation Project)
This is one that I've been relistening to over and over throughout the year, it's seriously amazing harsh noise; wonderfully perverted and crunchy as fuck (with a twisted sense of humour that I always appreciate to see in noise).
Sissy Spacek - Live In Hong Kong (Helicopter)
Live noisegrind thrashing and awesome tape cut-ups, absolutely steller Sissy Spacek as always.
I love how varied this album is, as you go from noise to tape concrete to really raw live noisecore and then back around again.
Masonna - Evil Black Disc (Hello From The Gutter)
I'm cheating because this is a reissue of a 7" from like 7 years ago but I don't care, it was released this year on mini-CD and I love Masonna. lol
Whilst not classic like his 90s material, this is still some psychedelic rapid fire Masonoise that I don't think I'll ever get tired of.
Glad to see the project is still in action after so long!
Infibulation - No One Will Come (Breathing Problem Productions)
This tape was by a Taint fan, for Taint fans; it's simply incredible.
Quality tape crunched junk electronic noise with feedback that just screams directly into your eardrums.
If this were released in the 90s during the golden age of American noise, I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up being considered a classic.
The most memorable to me:
Prelest "Teodal" - rotting industrial waste that scratched the long time itch. Reminds me of a more corroded sounding Proiekt Hat.
XE/ZSS both the reissue and new one - Live collaborations from the genre's most hated. Unstoppable. General appreciation for WRATH's hard work this year on all of the other releases and special editions. Hope it continues.
Apex Parasite - vile skinhead hooligan aktion from the streets. Oi!
Phenol Injektion - a late 2023 contender but deserves the praise.
Abscheu "Creed" - last year's 10" caught my attention and this year's CD was even better.
North Central "K9 Frequencies" - absolutely zero fucks given nasty harsh noise that pairs well with the bizarre subject matter... not just "all show".
Death Dedication/Worsening split - perhaps I'm biased cuz they're local but this is the best material I've heard from both projects and is definitely in need of a reissue... I think it was limited to a really stupid low amount of copies.
Just like everyone else -- I'm sure I'm forgetting something. There were an insane amount of good things coming out this year.
New discoveries in 2023:
Dreamcatcher - what started as a blind buy quickly became an obsession. New material is already on Dunkelheit after a series of small self released tapes. great overall fuck off attitude and leans more toward a punk mentality in noise.
It was pretty damn hot year! There was so many to be mentioned, so I did mention them.
2023 releases:
Grunt - Vieraat Aivot CD
Best one of this year for me. It's just damn good CD. Two a bit different kind of gigs, spectacular sound especially on the first gig. Second gig ending with a special treat.
Contortus - Truncated 3" CD
Contortus is always a mean deal, but "Truncated" has it's own kind of venom. Brooding, shrieking and overall very uncomfortable. Excellent 3" CD.
Primitive Wings - Slow Urge tape
I liked the tape just a tad bit more than the CD. They are both solid, great releases but the more distortion leaning sound of the tape takes the cake for me.
Moozzhead - Thighmaster CD
Moozzhead delivers, and I quiver. Harsh noise master.
Cov Ops - New Agenda CD
Clearly seasoned genre veterans behind this anonymous project. Everything that you could want from a power electronics album.
Decondition - Like A Mirage Or A Dream CD
Got this just before the year ended, and caught me by surprise! Very sold industrial/pe'ish CD.
Will Over Matter - Exceed the Recommended Maximum tape
Best WOM release to date, I could listen to a whole CD of this stuff. Minimalistic electronics, but with a feel. Not like monotonous bashers of early WOM.
Umpio - Brain Pain CD
In the same category with Moozzhead, you know what you are gonna get with Umpio. It's like good fine dining, leaves you astoshined.
Amek-Maj CD
Best new project of these days. Came and took the scene by storm, with his charming personality and ball busting noise.
Commando 15 - Vauhkola tape
As contrast to Amek-Maj, C15 expresses extreme control of the vicious and unpredictable feedback, which results into a highly interesting project.
The New Boyfriends - Universal Noise CD
Still growing... Mysterious CD!
2023 reissues:
Macronympha - Whorechestra 3CD
A mammoth! 3 CD's worth of Macro-goodness. No complaints.
Violent Onsen Geisha - Wagamama Na Ofukuro LP
Name has always been familiar, finally got some meat around the bones in my head. So delicious meat!
Incapacitants - Repo LP wooden box with extra tapes
The tapes really add up to the whole thing, Repo itself is a killer album, but throw on top two live tapes, fuck me.
Dead Body Love - Puke On My Corpse CD
It's like getting buried by an avalanche of warm volcano rubble, expect you enjoy it.
2023 has been a great year for noise/PE... too much to list, but from the top of my head these have been spinning a lot:
Abscheu - Creed
Sadio - Voyeur Seeks
HÖH - Epäjohdonmukainen
Scatmother/Chaos Cascade - The Insignificance Of Human Life
The Black Maghreb - How and Vision Of Life's Negative Existence
Primitive Wings - Morphosis
Wow, another big year for finnish noise on the SI leaderboards. ;)
Barstool Mountain - Tightrope Walker LP
Commando 15 - Vauhkola tape
Contortus - Truncated 3" CD
Cov Ops - New Agenda CD
Hamilton Mist - The Age of Shadows CD
KSNK - Murska CD
The New Boyfriends - Universal Noise CD
Primitive Wings - Morphosis CD
Sadio - Voyeur Seeks CD
Quote from: EXU on December 21, 2023, 04:58:57 PMWow, another big year for finnish noise on the SI leaderboards. ;)
2024 will be INTENSE. I can tell it already. January alone will have debut YKSI cd, KARMIC DELUSION debut cd, soon followed by debut of COMMANDO 15 CD, absolutely fierce new ROTAT. The little I know of new Satatuhatta items, damn..
I am expecting best of lists from people from other regions who may be exposed more to other stuff. Like WCN podcast best of list (that he posted here too) is curious as it has so much stuff I would not put on my list, but I can see why they are there.
Some stuff related to the board I enjoyed:
Prurient & Genocide Organ - Carte Blanche LP
Robert Turman - Distant Dosage LP
Henning Christiansen - Mediterranean Music-Water LP
The New Blockaders – Etudes De Rien LP (RE)
Monde Bruits - Purgatory LP (RE)
Korpses Katatonik – Subklinikal Leukotomy LP (RE)
Violent Shotgun - Peace CD
Shredded Nerve - Third Sign CD
Kjostad - Music For Organic Performance CD
Philip Jeck & Chris Watson – Oxmardyke CD
The Black Maghreb – HOW 7"
Genocide Organ - You're Going to be Fine 7"
Small Cruel Party - Ancien des Jours 7"
Probably my ten favorite acquisitions in no particular order:
STAB Electronics - Welcome To Perdition (Unrest Prod.)
Linekraft - Chaos State (Total Black) - technically a reissue/compilation
Genocide Organ - You're Going to be Fine 7" (Tesco)
Spiteful Womb - Interior Castle (Cipher)
Satøri - The Woods (Cold Spring)
Half Mortal - Creature of christ (Hospital)
Rogue State - Information Domination (Hospital)
Macronympha - Unreleased Material 92-93 (Advaita) & Whorechestra 3CD on Dada
Mattias Gustafsson - Nedbrytningen (Hästen & Korset)
God Pussy - Semeando Esperança, Colhendo Ilusao (WCN)
and two compilations that have had quite a few spins
V/A - Any and all action (Initiation Services)
V/A - Mixed Noise Soup VOl.1 (Sattatuhatta)
So many great records this year, that it's already too difficult to remember and pick more than one for an old fart like me.
So I just mention the one which I probably listened instantly the most on repeat:
THE NEW BOYFRIENDS- Universal Noise
Somehow, every listen is a new experience!
Otherwise it is exactly as Mr. FreakAnimal said in the WCN thread...it is an advantage to describe noise in your native tongue. But English is not mine, so I leave it to my minimal vocabulary and just hail TNB!
This is a really amazing record!
But also, big thanks to everyone else who I enjoyed listening to this year, for the great noise!
I've followed this year's releases mostly through trades and through people I know, so the emphasis is on Finnish stuff. Also some releases that came out late in the year can still make the list when they get enough spins. But these are some of the highlights for me:
Primitive Wings - Morphosis (Satatuhatta)
If I had to pick one, this would be the best of the year. The craftmanship and sonic SUBSTANCE on this disc is phenomenal. The sound is organic and alien at the same time.
Amek-Maj - s/t (Freak Animal)
His most focused work and balanced whole in my ears. Attention to detail and tasty sounds all the way.
The Day of the Antler - Love Beyond Love (Satatuhatta)
It's been said that this is the noisier side of the Antler spectrum, but actually it's kind of multifaceted tape. I'm a fan of his work.
Worth - Hamper (Aussaat)
Took some effort and endurance to get into, but to me that only showcases the artistic merit. I described before that there's like a spiked cage around the body of music, but later I came to the conclusion that maybe the cage itself is the piece of art.
Bubbling under:
Commando 15 - Vauhkola (Satatuhatta)
The restrained feedbacks sound really interesting to me. But needs more spins.
The New Boyfriends - Universal Noise
Seems like an ambitious album that can have a lot to give. Great outdoors vibe.
Most likely I'm forgetting something as I don't have all the tapes and records at hand at the moment. So I might get back to this later.
KSNK - Murska CD (Freak Animal)
We need more this kind of field/workplace recordings. Not harsh, but more calming than most of the ambient music. It's a FA release, so the aesthetics add the charm as well.
Commander 15 - Vauhkola tape (Satatuhatta)
I have listened only the Bandcamp version, but need to get the tape as well. At first I was not sure if I like this because of the weird title and cover picture. I listened to it couple of time, and then realised I kept coming back. There's something unique here as I cannot really pinpoint what is the feeling this tape evokes. Haunting and beautiful at the same time, especially A side.
Black Vault - Hymns To The Great Devourer CD (Dunkelheit)
Great album to dwell in dark and evil atmospheres.
Bizarre Uproar/Black Leather Jesus CD (Ominous Recordings/Summer Interlude Records)
BU's Bless The Sickness track is hypnotic and hard-hitting. I think it even tops Cunt Animal.
XE/ZSS - Whites Only CD (Filth & Violence)
Excellent live recording of a perfect noise gig.
I haven't heard XE's Sieg Hail yet, as I waited to get the upcoming ASRAR vinyl, so I don't have to buy the same album twice. Otherwise it would probably be on this list as well.
Edit. I'll add Unclean - Marked And Slaughtered / Replicated Humanity Lathe Cut, 7" (Narcolepsia) as I just checked from Discogs that it was released 25.12.2022 and wasn't really available anywhere, so I'll cheat and count it as 2023 release hehe. If there is something that can be described as a perfect power electronics sound, it's here. Only gripe is that it's just two songs, but hopefully new album emerges at some point.
Edit.2 Halo Manash – Par-Antra II: TAA CD (Aural Hypnox) How did I forget this, a masterpiece!
Man, this is hard. Haven't even heard the all finnish "must-haves" i.e new Grunt, all Amek-Maj releases, latest Stinkfinger and Mogao cd's... So expect some updates in months upcoming.
Decondition - Like A Mirage Or A Dream CD
Haudat - Live On Tape February 23 CS
Kitu - Fiery Jinxes CS
Kylmäkovamaa - Fuckdoll CD
KSNK - Murska CD
Presage - Venerated CS
Spring of Life - Interface CS
The Day Of The Antler - Love Beyond Love CS
Unclean - Used, Bruised, Abused CS
Worth - s/t CD
Viduus "The Devil Marches With Us"
Golden Purifier "Ganz Andere"
White Shamrock "Awaken to Reality"
Worth "Borer: Further Points Points of Crucifixion"
Rotat/Maskhead/Pain Appendix/Legless "Transatlantic Deathmatch"
Entre Vifs "Art of Noises - 110th Anniversary"
Arktau Eos "Dormiveglia"
Survival Unit/Grey Wolves "Whip of Autocracy"
Corral Shut/Residual/Tyhjä Pää/Haudat
Grunt "Vieraat Aivot"
Impakt "Burnout"
Iron Clad "Systemic Racism"
Empire Files: The Jakarta Method (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up3-lOiO9L8)
Last year really felt like things were progressing towards an artistic high water mark even without local shows. It will take a long while to recapture that kind of optimism.
Another list with mostly finnish noise :)
Residual - Forcing The End 3" CD
Amek-Maj - Kolem 3" CD
Tyhjä Pää - Prolonged Troubles In Concentration And Memory CD
KSNK - Murska CD
Worth - Hamper CD
Umpio - Sin Memoria CD
Impakt - Burnout CD
Presage - Venerated CS
Näsiä - 2 CS
Jazzhand - The Cockcrow Connoisseur CS
Reissues:
Dead Body Love stuff
Merzbow - Pulse Demon CD
Stuff I loved, in no order (except for the first one):
THE DAY OF THE ANTLER - LOVE BEYOND LOVE (Satatuhatta)
The zoned-in and meditative aspects of the Jordrök cd get covered with straight-up heavy harsh noise that feels savage and organically-sourced (sorry, don't mean to get all granola). The bulk of it makes me think of getting buried by huge rock beds and dirt mounds, but not necessarily in a DBL sort of way due to the aforementioned organic feel (as opposed to the noticeably line-in immediacy of the DBL style). Lots of thick churning textures, sometimes somewhat rhythmic, sometimes opening up into incisive Jaakko Vanhala-style fury. A couple of "minimal piano with nature recording" interludes (which are basically the New Wave of Finnish Rural Industrial equivalent of the ambient guitar stuff that got interspersed throughout the mid-2000's LA pedal-smashing scene - I'm not talking shit, I love them both) help frame all of the big burly action with rustic contemplation. And then there's B2, "Earth's Circular Breath", a real fist-pumper with a killer metal (?) loop and focused synth work... more overtly industrial than anything else on the album and also maybe the highlight? Excellent album all around though. Some of the best stuff in this vein and my favorite noise release of the year. I'd really love to get my hands on those self-released tapes that he did somewhat recently. If anyone can help, please get in touch. Would love to see a DAY OF THE ANTLER / HUM OF THE DRUID split or collab, too, eh?
SKIN CRIME - A SOUL EATEN BY DARKNESS (Hospital)
Gotta say I've been lukewarm on the Skin Crime "comeback" era. I try to turn the spooky themes into visual motifs in my head, but I have a hard time shaking the image of some guys just sitting on the floor and fondling small pieces of metal. Not bad by any means, sometimes pretty good, but nothing I checked out before made me want to buy it after listening. Took a chance on this because of cool cover, cool title, and thinking "maybe this'll be the one" (as well as the likelihood that I could quickly flip it - at cost, goddamnit - if I didn't like it). Well, turns out I love it. Uber-minimal industrial ambient, banking more on empty obscure tones instead of distinct metal scrapes, slow-burning it's way through almost two 30 min sides before spectral pulsations emerge. Enjoyably lifeless atmosphere. Great late-night isolation shit. On my first listen, at 2am in my kitchen while dead sober and making hard-boiled eggs, this made me feel like I was tripping. Ha!
GOLDEN PURIFIER - GANZ ANDERE (Fanalstatt)
Corroded kosmiche swirling around layers of patiently aggressive noise and gleaming feedback. Both rugged and atmospheric, but altogether more spaced-out sounding than the heavily detailed earthy narrative of last year's Walpurgisopfer (which is a modern classic in my eyes). Closer to the barren landscapes of Aischrolatreia, but with a much stronger numinous vibe. The guy's got a great knack for carving sharp edges and morbid grit into a hollowed (or rather, hallowed) out sense of space. Feels like seeing desirably painful rays of light while trapped inside of some semi-collapsed catacombs and cascading through a heavy dose of ketamine.
RODGER STELLA - LOOP WAR (Hospital)
Not the sequel to the sado-carousel brilliance of Death Loop Cut that I was expecting, but great varied noise. Long-form psychedelic shit with mid-budget production values (at least when dubbed to tape) and a plot-like structure, twisting and turning through different sections with a nice flow where things naturally come and go but then sometimes come back more fucked up than before. Could be another example of Rodger's editing expertise, but it feels very live. Also as expected from Stella, it's well-layered stuff, but one element that stands out for me is how he plays with all of the grinding delays and flange action in a tasteful way that's hard to come by. There are brief moments where it sounds a tiny bit sci-fi (which is generally something that I'm not keen on), but there's more than enough of the right energy that it never feels like cartoon faggot shit.
WORTH - HAMPER (Aussaat)
Compared to something like the maniacal what-the-fuck whirlwind of the Blinder lp, this takes an agonized and elongated approach, using more of a classic noise palette while still hitting with the refreshing sense of composition that one can expect from Worth. Combines the project's obscure themes with a darker presence than I can remember ever hearing in his stuff, where the electronics sometimes sound like the tortured moans of something you can't see.
GRUNT - VIERAAT AIVOT (Freak Animal)
The project continues its march towards the sun with further refinement and comparative restraint, "elevating" (I tried to think of another word but couldn't) time-honored industrial sounds through the use of thoughtful compositions and nutritious content, i.e. an earnest poetic approach that neither hides behind ambiguity or splashes around in empty edginess (not that there's anything inherently wrong with either of those things). Each track has its own sonic identity and sense of intent, segueing from aggro to eerie, seething to serene, occasionally overlapping because the soul of the world is a complicated thing. More forward-thinking than forceful, while thankfully holding on to rugged tradition with both hands. Live recording with nice-but-not-too-nice sound quality helps give it an intimate human feeling.
Some great old material seeing the light of day this year, too. A generous amount of both previously unreleased and re-released classic MACRONYMPHA... Whorechestra, Crack, Transsexual Pt 2 (which deserves mention for the special edition packaging alone), as well as the Macro and ODE tapes that Advaita discovered in the Aube archives. The SURVIVAL UNIT / GREY WOLVES 'Whip of Autocracy' 60-minute "extended version" (ha) is an excavated gem. Reaching a bit outside the boundaries of the rougher stuff listed above, the BURIAL HEX 'In Hiding' cd also rules. A collection of previously-released comp tracks that have been remixed, remastered, and presented almost like a new album. Focuses more on the project's neo-classical and prog interests than the noise or horror electronics, but still in an industrial context. Beautiful stuff. Maybe his best (for my tastes, at least).
^ That was a nice read! Well fleshed-out opinions.
I really liked Control - This Death, Abscheu - Creed, Fatalism - Gh0st, VELDT - Distributor.
For noiserock Foreign Body - Fixed, Great Falls - Objects Without Pain and especially BUG - Lux Ultima are standouts.
Disappointments are the new Sonar (yeah, those Belgium powernoise guys from the 2000's are back, and it's not very good) and Khanate being a predictable bore-fest despite the agonizing screams of Alan.
From the top of my dome:
Impakt - Burnout CD
For all the same reasons as everyone else thinks this is superb!
Hattifnattar - Watcher of the Skies CD
I really like the organic creaky atmospheres mixed with the crisp electronics. Been listening to this a lot!
Violent Shogun - Peace CD
Jesus me - this is fucking brilliant! Unsurprisingly a lot of similarities with the Hattifnattar release - fieldish recordings and junk mixed with electronics, but far more synth driven? Apparently landscape painting noise is just up my alley after all!
Amek-Maj - S/T on FA CD
This record is something! Way different than the live sets I was able to see this year, but filled with joy. Especially track #3 is just an anthem for those days when you feel under the weather. I think the track would put a smile on the faces of even the most grim lords of these realms!
Amek-Maj - Kolem 3"CD
What can I say other than that I am a fanboy? I have played this over and over and over again. I feel like this has very nice sensibilities for the peeping tom in all of us!
Edit. Oh, and Sin Memoria and Brain Pain of course - because simply magic!
I feel like I keep saying this each year, but god damn if this wasn't a good year for noise. Here are some of my top releases for 2023 in a somewhat loose order. I think I picked 12 instead of the traditional 10. I had a much longer list that maybe I'll post later without descriptions as I feel bad leaving some other incredible releases off, this could have been a top 20.
Here we go:
Seepage - Tertium Quid (Receiving Vault)
My favorite of the year. One of the more truly unique noise recordings I've heard in recent years. It sounds like you took a mountain of pedals and synths and processed them through a fax machine and then recorded that onto a VHS tape. The first couple of tracks sound like broken down and brutalized sounds processed through old technology but somehow modern. The album title makes perfect sense tertium quid is defined as "Something that cannot be classified into either of two groups considered exhaustive; an intermediate thing or factor."
Cyess Afxzs & Scathing – Sunken Dimension (Satatuhatta)
I recently wrote about this in the Now Playing thread, go check it out. However, quick synopsis is that these two artists have been on fire the last year or more and this release is a new beast that offers something different from both artist's individual outputs. The foundation is in harsh noise, but a truly diverse and expansive album with a lot of dynamics, exploration, and even musicality.
Tyhjä Pää - Prolonged Troubles In Concentration And Memory (Satatuhatta)
One of the most technically proficient albums I heard this year. Truly a modern masterpiece in my opinion. High rate of cut-up and ultra-precise action. A great deal of metal sound and even glass for some unique textures. Keep your eyes peeled for everything from this artist.
Corral Shut / Residual / Tyhjä Pää / Haudat (Satatuhatta)
A 4-way split release that feels like a true album. The label description said there is a common theme shared among the artists for this split to make it sound more cohesive. They achieved that as the split flows well. I think the theme is broken electronics or abuse of gear. All of the tracks sound like they pushed the frequencies as sounds often crumble and fail to hold the structure. Excellent effort by everyone involved and may be my number 2 or 3 top release of the year.
Cov Ops - New Agenda (Freak Animal)
Well at the top of my list, this one surprised me. Well-layered, edited, and fine-tuned sounds in the industrial and power electronics realm but done with extreme attention to detail and crafting. The sounds are oppressive and dense, yet, continually moving and kinetic. Unique ideas flow between each track but maintain uniformity throughout the album. Can't wait to hear more from the artist.
Incapacitants - Oxen Man's Uneasiness (Oxen)
I really enjoyed this album. Not just a straight harsh blasting affair, Mikawa and Kosakai stretch out their sound here quite a bit. Somewhat similar to the 2018 album Zouvneree, but executed much better in my opinion. Spun this many times and keep returning to it.
V/A - Capturing the Wind (Dada Drumming)
My favorite comp of the year, and well, one of the best in quite some time. Everyone provided their absolute best and the results are honestly a little astonishing. The pace of each track moves fast and somehow the 14 artists and 48 minutes go by extremely quickly. The sequencing is great and each track flows so well into one another. There is definitely a commonality of cut-up and expertly edited sounds on high display here. Many heavy hitters on here with some names that I was unfamiliar with.
Jackson-Pratt & Shredded Nerve (Total Black)
One of the earliest releases this year to knock my socks off. Each artist creates their tracks based on the influence of different painters. More minimal but highly detailed approaches by both artists. I enjoyed Jackson-Pratt's new development of sounds on this release. Sometimes touching more on musique concrète, field recordings, or electro-acoustic. The Shredded Nerve track is a well-thought-out and composed synth-driven and metal junk noise affair. The two artists compliment each other very well and I returned to this constantly throughout the year.
Bizarre Uproar / Black Leather Jesus (Ominous Recordings/Summer Interlude Records)
Both artists put their best foot forward. Bizarre Uproar continues with the heavy looped-based style. Someone else had mentioned, and I agree, this is one of his best recent tracks and tops Cunt Animal. Black Leather Jesus always steps it up for CD releases and the tracks are relentless and the mix is so clean. You can hear the contributions of each member and it's exquisite. BLJ has been on a tear the last few years and this is another fine example of why they are still the best.
Worth - Hamper (Aussaat)
As others have mentioned, there is more of a straight-ahead approach to this release than the highly layered and edited releases of the last few years. However, this does not diminish the quality of the noise in any way, shape, or form. Will has continuously proven that he lives and breathes noise and no matter what, will put out extremely unique and high-quality noise. Another must have release from Worth.
Sadio - Voyeur Seeks (Freak Animal)
I'm stealing someone else's description of the album from another message board, "The thing that keeps coming to mind when I put it on is that there is an almost academic degree of discipline to the way this is put together. There's not a second or a sound wasted on this thing. Even junk metal, which has to be the tritest, most played out shit in noise/PE aside from feedback rears its head here in a way which makes it exciting and effective again." A highly thoughtful and innovative album playing on traditional themes, however, constructed in a new a meaningful way.
Joe Colley - Acting As If 10" (Drone Records) or Pleasure Pressure LP (New Forces)
The return of Colley the last couple of years has been highly enjoyable. The Deformation Of Tone LP on Total Black in 2022, coupled with the Pleasure Pressure LP on New Forces and the Acting As If 10" on Drone Records in 2023 feels like a revitalization of the artist. A new and consistent stride of material which has been extremely rewarding. Each release has been an exemplary case of shaping broken electronics into a highly focused and beautiful narrative.
*Apologies for any typos or non-sensical thoughts and/or grammar. Will revisit, revise, and update as needed.
Here's mine - all genres ranked and only full-lengths featuring brand new material (no re-issues, compilations, etc.)
http://existest.org/ee_v3/?p=10627
honestly, not much (if any noise) made the list this year though I would say the Prurient & GO record was very, very close.
Adjacent stuff that made the list is Moral Order, Sutek Hexen & Funerary Call, Matriarch Roots
Quote"Even junk metal, which has to be the tritest, most played out shit in noise/PE aside from feedback"
Instant never-read-this-person-again moment.
In no order, although the MNEM tape was the most played
BARSTOOL MOUNTAIN - Tightrope Walker LP (Absurd Exposition)
JOE COLLEY - Pleasure Pressure LP (New Forces)
GREEN TEA - Snowblower CD (New Forces)
LIVSKRAFT LP (Förlag För Fri Musik)
MATTIAS GUSTAFSSON - Nedbyrtningen CS (Hästen & Korset)
MNEM - Heart of Complex CS (Satatuhatta)
MOLENA with THE RITA - Barre CS (Absurd Exposition)
SPRING OF LIFE - Interface CS (self-released)
WORTH - Hamper CD (Aussaat)
ZK - Discordia CS (Absurd Exposition)
There's still a ton of stuff (including absolute must-haves like Sadio, Contortus, Mogao, BU...) from 2023 I intend to check out but haven't yet, and many releases still need a few more spins before I've formed an opinion on them, but these at least are definitely on the top list for me. All very different, and each of these feel like they keep giving and growing more with new listens.
Amek-Maj - Kolem 3" CD
Hattifnattar - Watcher Of The Skies CD
Moozzhead - Thighmaster CD
Pain Appendix - Toward Infinity CD (reissue)
Rusalka - Base Waters CD (reissue)
Steel Corset - Body Belt CD
Stinkfinger - Secret And Inward Ejaculations Of The Heart CD
Tyhjä Pää - Prolonged Troubles In Concentration And Memory CD
Umpio - Sin Memoria CD
Also these have got to be mentioned simply due to being such heavy and challenging but also very intriquing ones to listen to:
H.Ö.H - Epäjohdonmukainen CD
Residual - Forcing The End 3" CD
Quote from: Bloated Slutbag on January 07, 2024, 05:15:32 PMQuote"Even junk metal, which has to be the tritest, most played out shit in noise/PE aside from feedback"
Instant never-read-this-person-again moment.
Will qualify slightly to concede that I generally agree with the overall sentiment of the post into which this quotation was placed, not to mention nicely presented blurbs on the list of releases in question, so hope there was no offense.
Just the quote itself leaves me a bit. Well, maybe shoulda gone into the humor section. Like start by bashing on the use of feedback, then junk metal...might as well start attacking the loudspeaker, the recording medium, and the whole idea of listening to sounds as a viable proposition.
Three for me:
terma - I/II
Been listening to this daily for the past week or so and am in the process of mustering words. "Seismic, 'cousmi semi-organic flushes fluttering fleeting disturbance, distemperment, detritus" seems, word wise, inadequate to the task, but very possibly a good start. Starting with a decisive consumption of the time, good and well, vested into myriad acousmatic products, acquiring steadily burgeoning waves of mass and depth, time well rewarded, to be sure, the earholes precipitously adjusting to the progressively deeper penetrations, acclimating to a whole-brain consumption of the the first order. So to say, a richly rewarded investment of the attentions into overlain intertwined tapestries always intimating at revealing still more in the blushing provisions arching and gracing amongst the multihued phenomenological disconcertments. In a word, kills. Definitely not quite what I was expecting, but on second thought not too far removed at least as far as the truly epic proportional dimensions of the pure ah auricular weight, if that makes sense. At this precise moment (on the white side or possibly the black...but a good ways into it in any event) I feel like my brain is fucking exploding. But, like, in a good way.
Artbreakhotel/Knurl - Scrap Metal Labyrinth
Repeat out loud: Artbreakhotel. Knurl. Scrap Metal Labyrinth. Don't even care what it sounds like with a concatenation like that. But then here's Knurl going into rare and much coveted harsh acoustic mode. Like, all win all day (some assembly required, minotaur not included).
North Shield - Seine and Frozen Red
In the art-concept-sound-total-package category, all win all night. Textured tendrils plying partially concealed crevices licking lollygargled tertiary tundras freezedried flickering flits of, red. And I'm not just saying that as a, like, well, a freezedried tundrite. I mean, sure I am. But. Could be my vote for sleeper of the year.
Bunch more, in particular order of a non-linear variety:
(couple technically 2022 but not for me at least)
Thomas DeAngelo - Voiceprints & Aircuts: Sound Poetry by Other Means
Charitably repurposed dis-gurgitants betray their doubly cruel dialectical originalities in unfashionably isolated bursts, emphasis on bursts, mediated by the fiscally imprudent timbre of metal trash cans stuck on funnel-rinse, with un-neatly snapped bobbles of tape ribbon clocking up the overtime, figures. Complete pile of pschitt, worth it for the essay alone, itself superseded by the program notes über alles.
KNSK – Murska
Y'know, sometimes people take the words "industrial music" a tad too literally. Jean-Marc!! You cut that out right now! – Momma Vivenza
terma - I/II
"Seismic, 'cousmi semi-organic flushes fluttering fleeting disturbance, distemperment, detritus" see above commentary
Artbreakhotel/Knurl - Scrap Metal Labyrinth
Does what it say on the tin (obviously). (see above abbreviated commentary)
North Shield - Seine and Frozen Red
"Textured tendrils plying partially concealed crevices licking lollygargled tertiary tundras freezedried flickering flits of" (see above abbreviated commentary)
Mot – Callous
What it say on the tin. Subject thy precious 'holes to the worst indignities cause they bloody deserve it, emphasis on bloody, or would deserve it if sentience of some strap were to be slap-or-dained, why slaaaaap not?
Mot – Disorder
Does what the earlier mentioned (not this one) say on the tin. Well-ordered indignities served up snug n burnt raw for your precious holes' precious holes.
MO*TE - Kill The Sun
Or don't, see if I care. Soundtrack to solarcides in slooow spirals steadily ascending to ponderous faux epic proportionals proportionate to faux epics shot through clustered wormholes a treat.
Tyhjä Pää - Prolonged Troubles In Concentration And Memory
Damn, forgot what I was gonna say about this one. Probably something about it being good or somethin'. Squirrel!
The Keraunograph Ensemble – The Omnipresent Volume II: The Tower of Preparation
Masterpiece of dense tapestral foreboding, and, um, what was it? Grace. Singed weave and bowed metal assembly, achieving by successive grades a succession of some necessarily cataclysmic prefiguration.
The Day of the Antler - Love Beyond Love
Like, totally lives up to the project name, which is saying plenty. Diverse antler-ing or branching out, in all, and every, and very nicely captured, direction, a tour de force caught in the sights but please please please don't pull the tri-
Asshole.
Cyess Afxzs - No Bull One Left Behind
Size matters laddy, and that's noo bull.
Cyess Afxzs – Richter
At least an 8.0, on the scale, but the russian judge gives it a 2.
Cyess Afxzs & Scathing – Sunken Dimension
With the rich full bodied weight of the world balancing on them hefty shoulders, it is eminently evident that size (still) matters. Degrees or allotments of intervals, times, to achieve the prescribed and necessary sinking into multidimensional hue, of the sort I tend to ascribe more readily to the weirdly named project than the other but apparently or by accounts not. All killer no
Worth – Hamper
Necrotic penetralia creeping in well amped globular space, awash in a consummate glossy lipped huffjobbery, arid aggressions spun out amid still harsher-er dis-gratitudes. Spin a few times, rinse, repeat, fluff dry.
Violent Shogun - Breath & Steam
Steamy sultry breathy sister to a lovingly textured New Dark Age.
Violent Shogun - New Dark Age
Mature muted sleepy eyed sister to a lovingly textured Breath & Steam.
Violent Shogun – Peace
Glorious all-consuming tempest before the calm, unlikely to qualify as anyone's sibling, gender unspecified, but what in the sublime clusterfuck of ragged metals and broken-down textural blurrt do I know? (Answer: very little).
Amek-Maj - s/t
Softly penetrating layers into layers into...proverbial pot-bellies of mech-anical, mani-anical, flatul-anical, belching beast du jour.
Impakt – Burnout
Face, meet fist. Again and again and again. At speed. Hella speed. Full metal racket, thwaaackit, of most impactful or'deur.
Cov Ops - New Agenda
Culture freedom gender history religion will. I think I liked the old agenda better. Heaaaavy penitent machines convulsing to a conditioning operant apparent (or so they say...). Ingest with pinch of salt, pepper spray, and full tabasco-lar hosing.
Green Tea – Snowblower
Fully flushed flights into smothering drift and sway, refrain from consumption of the yellow, gooo green!
MNEM - Heart Of Complex
Be still the complex shuddering machinations of my darkly shrouded heart!
Un Regard Froid – Exofile
Looks cold, cold as a thing to which it would be ill-advised to attach the tongue, but hots dang them some chromium plated anglings for exposed jugulars, can-tankerous collapsible metal bodies filled to the brim and bursting. Well as far as the earholes report, hot hot hot.
Ochu – Lähmung Des Wartens
Starts out real unassuming then assumes plenty, plenty wide open yet consumptive as skinny skivvies bedecked listener dutifully assumes the position, and the pain aka engorged auspices of acousmic glamor, is brought, cold. Hard. Like steel, mon.
H.Ö.H – Epäjohdonmukainen
Episodic rips ruptures of the internal parts, including parts you didn't want to know existed, picking fights with dry heaving spells 'o spasmic snuffla-blurrt, their corroded dregs seeking comfort in a lurched stuttering pathos.
H.Ö.H – Tukkeutunut uniperäinen mania
Methodically cobbled together dilapidations shining bright into bloodshot eyeballs prized-open-with-scary-lookin-metal-implements. Please for the love of hough! leave me slumber o cruel (if let us say rather rumpled) cassette ribbon!
Corral Shut / Residual / Tyhjä Pää / Haudat – Corral Shut / Residual / Tyhjä Pää / Haudat
Weirdly consistent digging into the grits and kernels of a particular, or particularly textured, agglomeration of none-too-disparate vision, sufficient to invite at least the barest suggestions (of the suggestion) of genius.
Umpio - Brain Pain
Full and flatulating working over of brain pan, aka channel pain, so good it (always thought it) wanted to hurt (but were probably afraid to ask)
Umpio - Sin Memoria
Taking a hefty clanking sledgehammer to tiny twitching remnants of a de-cum-re-pressurized brain pain, above, scattered into a somehow reassuringly thriced-removed-from-hinged shatter-splat oblivia'd oblivion.
Primitive Wings - Slow Urge
"ill-capacitated bilge-crusted abrasions sure if not quite clean, more munificently mangled 'n molested through ye olde macro grade meatgringer, savaged by yo momma, like, flatulent strangula hawked 'n blurted through knotted sphinct constrictia" (commented (https://screamandwrithe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=920))
Primitive Wings - Morphosis
"channeling of the not quite broken spirit of beloved if badly broken-down machinery fruitlessly fighting its fubar'd on the fritz quintessence, tenderized with hot tenderlovin' attention to the infinitesimal, sneaking in on technicalities because that's what technicalities are for" commented (https://screamandwrithe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=813)
Murmer / Fowl - Balcony
Of that soaring feeling first posited by the illusion of safety, dissociative discarded textural dis-gruntlements tendrils threads abrasions gruntling passages worn raggedly raw, of murmer most fowl.
Rotmans - 490/504
"Burnt fur, amplified. Fuck, is the whole tape like this?
Answer: no"
(briefly (https://screamandwrithe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9607#p9607) half-arsed commented (https://screamandwrithe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9609#p9609))
Viodre - Drawing Horses
"constant game of re-orientation, perhaps not mis-orientation. But like. And really really going hard in the directions, convincing, right. Convinced at this moment, or perhaps at the previous moment because like this moment is fucked. But back to that moment, previously described. Knowing what it's about. Till not. At which point." (proto-moronic-grade commented (https://screamandwrithe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1019))
Sadio - Voyeur Seeks
Nothing discreet nor clean about this vibrating filth throb deluge. Get your filthy mind out of the gutter and back in the sewer. Where it belongs. Beloved on principle alone.
T. Mikawa - Cloud Carpet Bombing
For those whose faces require a mote of studious scouring off. Aka, "spastic, maybe, spasmic, certainly, stripping back sensibility, sensory debility, pissin harrderr, spiraling razors up the hidey hole, spearing smearing spiraling squealy-mouthed piggypeaks, up up and away through tubular glassy-smooth chambers of zzzzziiiip yeeeOWch jeezus mother of" (commented (https://screamandwrithe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=706))
Corral Shut - Sheer
Significantly more punishing than entirely necessary, but (spoiler alert) entirely necessary (it turns out)
The New Boyfriends - Universal Noise
Take you some Jean-Claude Eloy Gaku-No-Michi, right, noise them shits up, like, twelve notches. Add water and stir. There, deep down in among the merzembryos, spy the cacophonic glimmerings of an intra-versal nonverse being unbirthed.
Mattias Gustafsson - Nedbrytningen
Even without the poor bird getting hosed, utterly smothering of the will to challenge supremacy
Toanche Dwelling - 🜨 <- yes that symbol to the left there is in the title position but discogs is probably just be fucking with me.
"Smudged and winking, wrinkling, fatal flaws in time-space, cycled circling spiraling in upon the breaking nay broken point(s), where the points (hope to) forget they were there and (if capable of anything beyond the profound and edifying numb) were (or would otherwise have likely to have been) glad of it" (commented (https://screamandwrithe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1042))
Barstool Mountain - Tightrope Walker
One fat flatulent tightrope walker, lemme tells ya. physics defying 'Stool, what can possibly go wrooooooooooo....
Organ Of Corti - EA & Other Works
From the visual presentation and title almost as though some crap left over, but only OOC does crap left over like this
Artbreakhotel - Junk Aranea
Could not have chosen a better title myself. or wait, maybe I could: Buncha Metal Junk Flopping About An Entropic Ariana, Film At Eleven. those seeking release titling services pls inquire within