I was reading curious essays from UNTITLED issue 11 (fall 2025) that had bunch of texts filed under common headline
Noise and online life as subject matter. There are interesting points made in four different takes about it, but most of all, I found myself almost amused to think how diametrically different feelings I would have about it.
As example, I don't share sort of nostalgia about shopping malls like Chris Gibson does. Indeed, the decayed malls are somewhat interesting reminder of changing lifestyles of people, yet I never understood the idea of "hanging out at mall". I always associated that the UG misfits of all kind, pretty much loathed the idea of spending your free time... at the mall? When just about entire world is out there, it would seems like example of simple minded mainstream kids to have no other idea than.. "lets meet at the mall". Yet, in context of noise and in context of quickly decaying form of society, of course it has interesting elements.
However, more curious I felt about mr. Henteleff text titled "Noise about the internet". I have to recommend buying the zine, as I can't really cut & paste or elaborate all the ideas of the piece. What captured my attention, enough to actually read it twice, just to make sure I did got the main points right... was that it really does conclude that:
QuotePeople are naturally drawn towards art that reflects and gives meaning to their experiences. As the internet's share of our lives grows, creative works that incorporate it effectively will become more relevant, and those that do not will seem antiquated. It is therefore essential that, if this thing we like is to continue being important to us, it takes on subject matter that is significant to us. Otherwise, we will move on and Noise will be left as a novelty.
Text does mention noise does incorporate elements synonymous with being online. I am wondering that is really non-internet, non-virtual antiquated? For me, perhaps due elements of industrial culture, noise is associated with critic to contemporary society and what constitutes as expected lifestyle. I see more and more noise folks that actually drop out. Especially they drop out of social media, but also highly limit their screen time and experiences. Dropping out from consuming internet streams, and so on on and...
They do it exactly for reason that
internet share of our lives grows, and most often has become counterproductive in terms of experience.
In recent times, it was largely discussed how all the hit art exhibitions in Finland were the ones, that museum not only had something visually suitable for social media, but actively encouraged people to do so. Pieces that can be experienced in form of someone posting selfie to IG, with that particular cool piece seen simultaneously. In some ways, it was success. A lot of people coming in. A lot of people enjoying. A lot of media attention. Free-of-charge street team of people promoting the exhibition. Problem was mainly, that this approach was counterproductive towards art that is meant to be experienced, thought of, not manifesting itself in tiny phone screen size image. Many argued that art got lost into this somewhat meaningless media consumption. Suddenly it was more about people posting selfies online, display of being there, and people watching online this happening, while amount of people who would go to experience art was way smaller than amount of people who are more or less "content creators" for internet.
I always considered noise as extensions of something real. As ways of making it, being physical, concrete, something you invested time, energy and commitment. As listener, you'd dive deep, indeed like the essay says "being drawn towards art that reflects and gives meaning". I know some people prefer dreaming or escapism etc, I have noticed more the opposite? Escapism often endorses turning away from real life; opposite comes with finding the meaning, light and beauty within what one felt like escaping from OR creating the new reality. Within noise, many times, there is the new, preferably non-virtual life. Some have social life there, some don't. For some it connects to their lifestyles, surroundings etc.
I am sure there are ton of people who lives lifestyle where
internet really is what gives the meaning. I just can't really get it and I see a lot of people who appear to be the same. None of them really die hard luddites or antiquated. Many appear more like... progressed. Seeing how internet share of live is already too much and to give all the rest to it, is not going backwards or staying behind, but progress.
If I see band or artist address internet as topic or theme, it is largely turn off. One that did make me wonder was one of the ideas why internet experience as topic of noise might be less popular was hypothesis that
Noise is relative unpopular, so there are fewer people coming into the genre with new ideas.Aaarrggg... I mean, internet experience as idea, I would assume that big part of pornographic noise is exactly that? There is a lot of internet experience as intrinsic quality of noise themes, yet I would assume its like artists who got into topic from book, despite THE BOOK as topic could be done, but most often what really matter is what is inside the book, not book as format and as means of experiencing the world?
Anyways, long rant, but points: Untitled #11 - recommended!
Internet experience as topic of noise, opinions?
It's an interesting topic to ponder on. I haven't much time to comment deeper for now, but will say that I have seen some artists who take the experiences of being online and incorporate it to noise in a way that is tasteful to tradition.
Deep Gray is a really good example of this. Untitled CDr that he self-released apparently is largely composed of quick-scrolling through his Tik-Tok feed and sending it into a setup. It's a pretty neat way to take an experience that many already describe as "an assault to the senses" and then assault it either further. How can we enjoy Tik Tok scrolling when it's run through various pedals, but not when it's raw and unexposed to those conditions?
Fricker is another artist who has really done some effective work with perverting the internet in his own way. I won't divulge much on what I know of the artist and his viewing habits, but it seems like much of his sound source can be derived from many restless nights of being plugged into the internet and "doom scrolling" until you lose track of time. Then, you run them into the Fricker machine and it is nothing close to its internet origins. Even on a visual standpoint, there are a lot of clearly digital image packs being used, but they are from such an older time in the internet's history that they come off as very archaic and out of place on any other front of noise, whether it be analogue or the modern digital.
Just two interesting points of reference that I have seen interact with the internet in a really intriguing manner.
I find these two to be pretty interesting contrasts
I can't remember who but I did see a noise gig with TikTok videos as visuals. Not a fan.
Quote from: host body on January 15, 2026, 11:09:56 PMI can't remember who but I did see a noise gig with TikTok videos as visuals. Not a fan.
I remember seeing comments of Rotat using tiktok clips, might've been that?
Some years ago I produced this tape (https://tribetapes.bandcamp.com/album/choose-the-obsolete) using edited raw data from 90s point-and-click computer games, the titles are all broken-down HTML code and artwork was plundered from the sensory overload of subculture.com (http://subculture.com/)
Quote from: DBL on January 15, 2026, 11:56:23 PMQuote from: host body on January 15, 2026, 11:09:56 PMI can't remember who but I did see a noise gig with TikTok videos as visuals. Not a fan.
I remember seeing comments of Rotat using tiktok clips, might've been that?
Yeah think so
Quote from: host body on January 16, 2026, 01:41:35 AMQuote from: DBL on January 15, 2026, 11:56:23 PMQuote from: host body on January 15, 2026, 11:09:56 PMI can't remember who but I did see a noise gig with TikTok videos as visuals. Not a fan.
I remember seeing comments of Rotat using tiktok clips, might've been that?
Yeah think so
I am doom scroller and use internet too much i admit that and i use everything i find interesting on my works and even 99% is shit and TikTok is a boomer place already there are some golden moments besides cat videos.
Was not meant to be commercial to TT but it cause feelings so i think video serve its purpose.
I'm not sure if I got this right, since there's probably a bunch of different topics that could be evoked - not sure if in this forum or elsewhere, but anyway, here's my thoughts, solely based on the little I could think of when it comes to internet as noise material in terms of theme sources and so on...
Internet itself can indeed be a useful source to find material that can eventually be discussed, criticized, glorified, and so on... when you do not have access to physical material elsewhere. Where I live, I'm quite blessed to have access to a huge local library with tons of interesting stuff, for sure, but in many cases, probably not the kind of stuff I would really be interested in. Not a cultural fault, not a political choice, I guess, but rather something else: some things can't be found easily. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I still haven't a correct answer, and I guess it doesn't really matter. Personally, I like to dig and strive for informations, and in a lot of cases, I do really like asking people who probably know better than me about certain subjects. Interesting conversations, it's fun, and so on.
Anyway, I guess my thoughts have been quickly influenced by the Tiktok videos comment above: social networks, platforms, or whatever they're called now, can easily become a very interesting source of material when it comes to illustrating decay in its various shapes. Think about the ton of shit we do swallow everyday for a reason or another, and I can only think of Instagram since I haven't even tried to adventure myself into other modern digital cesspools. I have friends being addicted to this stuff - I don't know if the term "doom scrolling" is appropriate in this case. Let's say they won't stop scrolling and sharing whatever they see everyday, at every moment, at hours I would normally think of them working or something. What a life ! This said, if I try to think about it in a critical and objective way, i think it can be interesting to use said content for noise if your artistic output or aim is to use that specifically. The content, the source, the theme is what it is. What's important is how you use it, how you decline it and deform it even.
I can't remember if it was on this forum or elsewhere that I read about the main idea behind Power Electronics being to divert things from their original essence. I used to do that for a lot of collage work years ago, and I think it can be interesting when it applies to this kind of art too. Just a few moments ago I was reading the comment section about the GO samples and I thought the same thing: the source is what it is. When you don't know about it, you're gonna ask yourself what it is about. A song title can eventually give a hint about what it is. Maybe not. What's the real aim? What's the objective?
To be honest, my thoughts aren't that clear and organized about this, but I'm almost certain someone else will probably understand, more or less.
Quote from: Vermin Marvin on January 16, 2026, 06:50:58 AMQuote from: host body on January 16, 2026, 01:41:35 AMQuote from: DBL on January 15, 2026, 11:56:23 PMQuote from: host body on January 15, 2026, 11:09:56 PMI can't remember who but I did see a noise gig with TikTok videos as visuals. Not a fan.
I remember seeing comments of Rotat using tiktok clips, might've been that?
Yeah think so
I am doom scroller and use internet too much i admit that and i use everything i find interesting on my works and even 99% is shit and TikTok is a boomer place already there are some golden moments besides cat videos.
Was not meant to be commercial to TT but it cause feelings so i think video serve its purpose.
Totally agree.
TikTok and other social medias are a cesspool nowadays and you can find a lot of stuff even worse than in the dark web
I would not completely dismiss the idea that the internet can be referenced or used as subject matter in noise but I do not think anyone has really pulled it off in a convincing way. I remember being kind of miffed about this when I first heard Terror Cell Unit's Data Industrial Complex since it deals with similar themes but never quite punches me in the gut.
I also agree with other posters that the internet is a new reality and not a particularly nice one. There is a lot of shit you can stumble across on the surface web now especially on Twitter or X that you once had to actively seek out. Still there is one angle that might actually work as a strong theme for a noise album - the internet as a simulated battleground where people safely vent their social and political frustrations then log off and return to their pathetic lives as if nothing happened.
If one start to say what is ok and what is not in Noise im out.
World evolves and you should too.. we all have heard those Conan VHS clips already so many times.
How can some youtube doc clip beat tik tok video where someones personal life are teared a part in front of everyone eager to see.
I'm
guessing that
Hymenal Opening sampled internet sources on the
"Red Hymen" CD. Listen to the track
"Rebound Fuck Whore And Her Happy Relationship". The sample at 1:08 sounds exactly like it would be sourced from an online video of a teen girl. If anyone wants to comment and correct me, please do.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on January 15, 2026, 12:18:48 PMbut most often what really matter is what is inside the book, not book as format and as means of experiencing the world?
As far as I interpret Mr. Freak Animal here, his question challenges Mr. Henteleff's thesis statement that
creative works which incorporate the internet effectively will become more relevant, and those that do not will seem antiquated.
Well, shouldn't we find sample material for noise useful primarily as raw material? Why should internet-sourced material be more valuable than... real life field recordings? And other offline material? Any sample, from anywhere, could be good in the right hands. Perhaps what CANNOT become antiquated will always just be GOOD NOISE.
For some the internet proves indeed a joyless source for sampling, perhaps they find it too commercial a space to plunder. I plunder lyrics and titles from physical erotica, but not when doomscrolling past the Instagram foot models (whose pictures are not worth a thousand words, but something else). I don't compose lyrics and titles with my dick in my hand. Hell, maybe I should, but it's hard to turn the pages.
I encourage to try to get access for original piece, as it doesn't really as much discuss using internet as "source of sound", but like topic says, noise about the internet. Of course, it is possible that author of piece could elaborate further, as it was one pager quickly sort of throwing ideas, but perhaps as dialogue could have clarified more.
It's not about sampling old vhs or clinging on old topics really..
Lets say, I was just listening like 3-4 times Incapacitants. Tracks such as "Postal Savings & Postal Insurance" or "Appointment With My Friend" and "A Walk In The Evening". Fine. I can't say I am absolutely amazed about the title, but what if, like like essay feel to suggest, noise is becoming antiquated unless it covers the internet as experience in our lives. So what if this album would be "Zoom meeting with my friend", "A doomscroll in the evening", heh.. Incapacitants doesn't sample, just creates noise, but essay mentioned is not all about using internet as source of sounds.
As another example. Lets say pornographic and sexual noise. I am sure people would be into listening releases that covers theme from perspective of sex work via... onlyfans video chat? Or perhaps the addiction of collecting tens of thousands files about naked ladies - via internet. Or voyeurism, not as act of candyman on the street, but snaptchat predator? Sure, the internet experience could be 100% valid, yet personally, for me, it seems most of all annoying. I do not reject idea that it could not be done, but merely the conclusion of essay that only way to keep noise evolving, would to be following current lifestyles of generic man. It could be also easily argued exact opposite. Not nostalgia, but to choose something else than what is pushed as only way of existing.
One of the good qualities of noise is for me the timeless nature of it. A lot of the noise from old times, feels futuristic and more in this time, than releases that were really bound to specific moment. When I go to internet, I often search for things that exists out of it. And most of the time, internet experience is what makes the world "small", as opposed to giving experiences a meaningful magnitude. I would suppose that would require another topic, I don't want to derail it too much.
What comes to mind for me when I hear the topic of noise "about" the Internet is the big scene up in Los Angeles now surrounding Breakdancing Ronald Reagan and related projects/venues. I am not familiar enough with the projects to say whether the Internet becomes content within their recorded noise or performances, but memes, humor, and other visuals derived from the Internet feature prominently on promotional fliers that are posted on, well, the Internet.
From what I can tell, this scene is heavily based in Instagram, so I guess this would be a natural progression? (Not to mention another way of reading the "around" in the title of this thread.)
Breathing Problem and related projects have occasionally used content derived from or content that mostly thrives on the internet (all the way back to usenet and classic message boards to modern social media) such as pro-ana, gender dysphoria, maybe Mukbang content (if I don't mix this up).
My mailbox waits for Untitled 11. In the meantime, I had a thought: are there any zines about the internet? Opinions if so?
Quote from: Wainhouse on January 25, 2026, 06:17:04 AMMy mailbox waits for Untitled 11. In the meantime, I had a thought: are there any zines about the internet? Opinions if so?
Noise zines specifically? I don't know. But if you mean "zines" generally/broadly (and are willing to extend that to blogs----which can be sort of like zines?), then Dennis Cooper's blog is probably the best.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on January 25, 2026, 07:04:03 AMQuote from: Wainhouse on January 25, 2026, 06:17:04 AMMy mailbox waits for Untitled 11. In the meantime, I had a thought: are there any zines about the internet? Opinions if so?
Noise zines specifically? I don't know. But if you mean "zines" generally/broadly (and are willing to extend that to blogs----which can be sort of like zines?), then Dennis Cooper's blog is probably the best.
I did mean physical zines. Noise related or otherwise.
Why I asked for zines about the internet - it's because I suspect it unlikely that a physical zine would cover topics of experiencing things on the internet.
I'm looking at Dennis Cooper's blog, but the topics seem to be mostly art criticism and theory (at my first glance). His writing is strong, thank you for the recommendation.
In all honesty, even after all these posts, i struggle to understand what is noise about internet. Not anyone's fault, i guess the concept is so strange to me i cant grasp it.
Internet is a tool / medium. Each one is using it in different ways according to his needs and interests. So ? What does it mean about internet ? Our 'life' in the internet ? How we use it and spend our time in it ? Hm, dont know. From a point of view it sounds so miserable that it could be fitting. But mostly is so trivial that i would prefer untitled tracks and no artwork instead.
Really, a documented prowl on the streets maybe is trivial as subject as well - i mean, who cares about your daily life ? - but looks far more interesting and exciting than ... Browsing around porn sites.
Quote from: Wainhouse on January 25, 2026, 08:30:10 AMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on January 25, 2026, 07:04:03 AMQuote from: Wainhouse on January 25, 2026, 06:17:04 AMMy mailbox waits for Untitled 11. In the meantime, I had a thought: are there any zines about the internet? Opinions if so?
Noise zines specifically? I don't know. But if you mean "zines" generally/broadly (and are willing to extend that to blogs----which can be sort of like zines?), then Dennis Cooper's blog is probably the best.
I did mean physical zines. Noise related or otherwise.
Why I asked for zines about the internet - it's because I suspect it unlikely that a physical zine would cover topics of experiencing things on the internet.
I'm looking at Dennis Cooper's blog, but the topics seem to be mostly art criticism and theory (at my first glance). His writing is strong, thank you for the recommendation.
I figured it wouldn't quite be what you were looking for.
(As a side note, the thing about Cooper's blog is that he doesn't really "write" any of it---aside from maybe the "escort" advertisements. The entire thing is closer to a sprawling collage of stuff he finds online and then juxtaposes in interesting ways.)
Maybe something like the project Griefer?
Quote from: Wainhouse on January 25, 2026, 06:17:04 AMMy mailbox waits for Untitled 11. In the meantime, I had a thought: are there any zines about the internet? Opinions if so?
Not related to noise, but specifically to the question at hand. I recently came across a book called "the Internet and everyone" by John Chris Jones that is about early Internet (Jones was born in 1927, and started writing about these ideas as early as the mid 50s) it's an extremely fun and readable book attempting to show the Internet as it was then in 2000.
This is his website if your looking to get an idea www.publicwriting.net
You could also read about Cybernetics which does have some historical cross over into the world of early electronic/experimental music
----
On topic I think the Internet as source material has existed since it became a dominant source of content in our lives and was purposely obscured because it may have been seen as taboo in earlier years due to the fetishization of analog sources and content.
It has only been in the last few years I've seen an open acknowledgement of sound sources from stuff such as YouTube etc and mentions of recording to IPhone etc...
Regarding content specifically about internet it seems like some Jilat was doing back in the time on Chondritic Sound forum, I personally was uninterested in his projects and perspectives since he was doing a lot of seemingly computer based extremely long form stuff that might be classified as "pure noise"...I can't honestly speak to if my impressions time time are right or wrong in hindsight as I don't know if he still is involved in sound or the community.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on January 25, 2026, 07:22:26 PMQuote from: Wainhouse on January 25, 2026, 08:30:10 AMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on January 25, 2026, 07:04:03 AMQuote from: Wainhouse on January 25, 2026, 06:17:04 AMMy mailbox waits for Untitled 11. In the meantime, I had a thought: are there any zines about the internet? Opinions if so?
Noise zines specifically? I don't know. But if you mean "zines" generally/broadly (and are willing to extend that to blogs----which can be sort of like zines?), then Dennis Cooper's blog is probably the best.
I did mean physical zines. Noise related or otherwise.
Why I asked for zines about the internet - it's because I suspect it unlikely that a physical zine would cover topics of experiencing things on the internet.
I'm looking at Dennis Cooper's blog, but the topics seem to be mostly art criticism and theory (at my first glance). His writing is strong, thank you for the recommendation.
I figured it wouldn't quite be what you were looking for.
(As a side note, the thing about Cooper's blog is that he doesn't really "write" any of it---aside from maybe the "escort" advertisements. The entire thing is closer to a sprawling collage of stuff he finds online and then juxtaposes in interesting ways.)
I see, found text taken from the web.
So far he's managed to remind me to finish reading
The Space of Literature by Maurice Blanchot. Maybe I can scroll through his blog every once in awhile to find books/topics that interest me. Not a bad way to use the internet at all. Thanks again!
Quote from: Johann on January 27, 2026, 06:48:23 PMQuote from: Wainhouse on January 25, 2026, 06:17:04 AMMy mailbox waits for Untitled 11. In the meantime, I had a thought: are there any zines about the internet? Opinions if so?
Not related to noise, but specifically to the question at hand. I recently came across a book called "the Internet and everyone" by John Chris Jones that is about early Internet (Jones was born in 1927, and started writing about these ideas as early as the mid 50s) it's an extremely fun and readable book attempting to show the Internet as it was then in 2000.
This is his website if your looking to get an idea www.publicwriting.net
You could also read about Cybernetics which does have some historical cross over into the world of early electronic/experimental music
----
On topic I think the Internet as source material has existed since it became a dominant source of content in our lives and was purposely obscured because it may have been seen as taboo in earlier years due to the fetishization of analog sources and content.
It has only been in the last few years I've seen an open acknowledgement of sound sources from stuff such as YouTube etc and mentions of recording to IPhone etc...
Regarding content specifically about internet it seems like some Jilat was doing back in the time on Chondritic Sound forum, I personally was uninterested in his projects and perspectives since he was doing a lot of seemingly computer based extremely long form stuff that might be classified as "pure noise"...I can't honestly speak to if my impressions time time are right or wrong in hindsight as I don't know if he still is involved in sound or the community.
I can't get the link to work, unfortunately... but I am curious about the book. Thanks.
As far as cybernetics go, I'm always interested to learn more about early electronic/experimental music - any suggestions?
Yes, there is something incredibly unsexy about YouTube, or at least that's my gut reaction, such that I wouldn't advertise my work as featuring "YouTube found audio" the same way I might tease "found secondhand Dictaphone recordings". This isn't to say you couldn't find great material on YouTube, but rather that you might not boast about it. There's nothing particularly seductive or exciting about YouTube - quite the opposite for me, as there's nothing I hate more than being surrounded by a milieu of bullshit.
The fetishization of analog sources doesn't mean anything on its own. It's not like paying homage to the medium of tape will immediately produce good work, nor is it the case that sampling from the internet would produce bad work. It strikes me that the internet is just a very uninspiring and unsexy topic, at least most of the time, especially nowadays. Perhaps I'll have more to say after Untitled #11 hits my mailbox.
I was recently talking with noise artist who had made recording using solely instagram as source sound. Didn't go deep enough to discuss was it like selecting what kind of stuff was used or was it like scrolling down the feed, sounds on.
I suppose that would be one of clearest example of "Noise about the internet". It wouldn't be factory sounds, not garage, not power tools, not the machines that surround us in industrial society, but the horrid noise of fragmented ads, spam, influencer chatter, copycat comedy bits, gamers, unboxing all sorts of shit... that, randomly spoon-fed in IG feed, through effects?
It is curious thing how much this irritates me, while at the same time I think it won't be worse than Dead Body Love using metal music CD's + fast forward button "cut up" as sound source for his crunchy harsh noise. And thematically, forced IG feed audio is total abuse and horror. Still, something is there what annoys me.
Perhaps it is that the old industrial decay resulted something cool. The rust, the vacant decaying places, slowly crumbling monuments and so on. But the current era doesn't age with similar grace. Therefore I am at moment of paradox when that EXACTLY should make it perfect content, but....
Maybe its just that the Internet is too "easy." The artists of the 80s and 90s had to do all kinds of painstaking thing with primitive techniques like tape and reel-to-reel manipulations, etc. Now you can just open an app on your smartphone and hit record. Of course its not quite that simple, but comparitively, it doesn't seem so impressive. Doesn't mean someone can't do something great with using something like Instagram/Youtube to construct tracks, but the ease of effort involved is going to inherently generate some suspicion with those who have been around for a while.
And that speaks to another aspect of it. The internet is just too NEW for us, too contemporary. This is the world we live in and have known for years. There's no mystery there.
It's kind of like how the early industrial/noise acts would use WW II/Nazi imagery and how it was so shocking for people and it drew them to it. That taboo. Part of that was because it had been 30-40 years prior. People were aware of it, but they hadn't LIVED it. It wasn't their daily reality. But then, I remember back in the early aughts hearing about some band called Columbine, and I just laughed at how inane that was. "That's supposed to be shocking? Why not call yourselves '9/11' so you can be REALLY edgy, instead?" I watched Columbine on TV. There was nothing taboo or mysterious about it. It had just happened barely a few years before. It was still very much the reality of what I knew. Calling a band that wasn't shocking or offensive, it was just dumb and above all, LAZY.
Same with Instagram noise or whatever. Its just too close to the current, mundane world (even if I'm not on it) for it to really have the kind of resonance that Merzbow or whoever taking 10 different sound sources and assembling it all with a tape deck and some cheap electronics back in the 80s is going to have.
So yeah, maybe all this says is that I and everyone else are just old farts. :) I fully realize someone younger might have a totally different view on this.
Perhaps in 50 years "Instagram/Youtube noise" will be the revered pieces that everyone covets while they make fun of whatever's current.
Quote from: pidgeons on January 18, 2026, 08:04:14 AMBreathing Problem and related projects have occasionally used content derived from or content that mostly thrives on the internet (all the way back to usenet and classic message boards to modern social media) such as pro-ana, gender dysphoria, maybe Mukbang content (if I don't mix this up).
Was always a big fan of this release. This track I think fits the post topic best? https://breathingproblem.bandcamp.com/track/life-update (https://breathingproblem.bandcamp.com/track/life-update)
I have very mixed feelings about this topic. On the one hand, for me, Noise is an area where I can still get away from the modern internet and everything that comes with it. On the other hand, the absolute freedom of the genre always gives a chance to do something worthwhile, to find an approach to a seemingly trivial topic and turn it into something interesting.
Probably, someone can be inspired by topics such as porn/gaming addiction, humiliation in front of the camera for donations, degradation due to scrolling, etc. In my opinion, all this can work better in a humorous context, but I have not yet heard anything interesting in this vein. It's like horror movies that try to build a plot on the interaction between a maniac and a victim through social media/video chat, or even worse, on internet mysticism, which causes nothing but boredom or, at best, a smile. As an example, "Megan is Missing", from which, if you remove all the moments of communication via video chat, you can make an excellent short film. Most of the scenes on the screen that take place "on the internet" are incredibly annoying.
Now that a significant percentage of internet content can be generated in a couple of clicks, I think it's pointless to use it as a source of sound or video. It's interesting when samples are unique, although some may argue that information noise is directly related to the topic. Maybe, but I'm just not interested in it.
The comparison to film from Ivan Rex is an interesting point, as I think it again raises the question of what the "about" specifically entails in this context. There are fantastic and dark films about the Internet like Red Rooms that I thought were very effective. At the same time, however, there are also thought-provoking but not "dark" films by people like Harmony Korine, which capture other aspects of the Internet beyond just its exploitative elements.
Bringing this back to noise, I feel as though many people are restricting noise to the traditional set of themes on abuse, violence, sex, and so on---when that is not necessary. Those can all be valid themes, but noise can also be about essentially anything!
If anything, I think the back and forth on this topic comes significantly from a conservative perspective on what we want the genre to (not) be.
(This is, of course, an entirely different question from whether there are examples to point to of actual noise projects doing all of this!)
I mentioned on the Canon thread how interesting it would be for Noise artists to explore the darkest depths of the Internet as a subject matter upon which base their music. Must admit that am kinda lost amidst what's been written on this discussion; but, in relation to noise
about the internet in general, it's impossible not to think about N12's split with Taint,
Candyman. The whole subject is absolutely fascinating, as it seems to be based on online events which happened during the early 00's, and as I mentioned, the way things changed and expanded during the last two decades make up a more than satisfying meal for conceptual inspiration. That being said,
Pubic Eminence's
My Private Showgirl,
Encephalophonic's
Hurtcore, alongside other releases, and some Wh and CE songs lightly deal with Internet topics. Nonetheless, since pretty much all of these stumble accross classic exploitation of perverse sex-related topics, I'm afraid they're not really focused on the wwws of the world more than a plataform for larger studies, as happened with what
Candyman scrutinized in its subject matter. Does anyone know of more releases like the afromentioned? 'tis sure a great topic to discuss about.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on February 03, 2026, 05:52:34 PMThe comparison to film from Ivan Rex is an interesting point, as I think it again raises the question of what the "about" specifically entails in this context. There are fantastic and dark films about the Internet like Red Rooms that I thought were very effective. At the same time, however, there are also thought-provoking but not "dark" films by people like Harmony Korine, which capture other aspects of the Internet beyond just its exploitative elements.
Bringing this back to noise, I feel as though many people are restricting noise to the traditional set of themes on abuse, violence, sex, and so on---when that is not necessary. Those can all be valid themes, but noise can also be about essentially anything!
If anything, I think the back and forth on this topic comes significantly from a conservative perspective on what we want the genre to (not) be.
Just figured out you said what I just did, in other words. As Circle of Shit (I could be mistaken here, even though I highly doubt it) pointed out on a certain SI interview, "sex belongs to Noise just like Satan belongs to rock n' roll". I'm open to various themes, but hold no grudges towards the classic approach of the genre's masters. By the way, Gummo is one of my favourite movies ever. Which other Korine films were you referring to?
Quote from: Kaaoskultti on February 03, 2026, 11:02:56 PMI mentioned on the Canon thread how interesting it would be for Noise artists to explore the darkest depths of the Internet as a subject matter upon which base their music. Must admit that am kinda lost amidst what's been written on this discussion; but, in relation to noise about the internet in general, it's impossible not to think about N12's split with Taint, Candyman. The whole subject is absolutely fascinating, as it seems to be based on online events which happened during the early 00's, and as I mentioned, the way things changed and expanded during the last two decades make up a more than satisfying meal for conceptual inspiration. That being said, Pubic Eminence's My Private Showgirl, Encephalophonic's Hurtcore, alongside other releases, and some Wh and CE songs lightly deal with Internet topics. Nonetheless, since pretty much all of these stumble accross classic exploitation of perverse sex-related topics, I'm afraid they're not really focused on the wwws of the world more than a plataform for larger studies, as happened with what Candyman scrutinized in its subject matter. Does anyone know of more releases like the afromentioned? 'tis sure a great topic to discuss about.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on February 03, 2026, 05:52:34 PMThe comparison to film from Ivan Rex is an interesting point, as I think it again raises the question of what the "about" specifically entails in this context. There are fantastic and dark films about the Internet like Red Rooms that I thought were very effective. At the same time, however, there are also thought-provoking but not "dark" films by people like Harmony Korine, which capture other aspects of the Internet beyond just its exploitative elements.
Bringing this back to noise, I feel as though many people are restricting noise to the traditional set of themes on abuse, violence, sex, and so on---when that is not necessary. Those can all be valid themes, but noise can also be about essentially anything!
If anything, I think the back and forth on this topic comes significantly from a conservative perspective on what we want the genre to (not) be.
Just figured out you said what I just did, in other words. As Circle of Shit (I could be mistaken here, even though I highly doubt it) pointed out on a certain SI interview, "sex belongs to Noise just like Satan belongs to rock n' roll". I'm open to various themes, but hold no grudges towards the classic approach of the genre's masters. By the way, Gummo is one of my favourite movies ever. Which other Korine films were you referring to?
I come and go with threads like this, so apologies if I repeated something! I generally hold no grudges either if there is some quality noise to back it up, but I am sick of people "obsessed" with "themes" who just produce generic-sounding work.
I love
Gummo as well (and most of what Korine does), but I was more specifically thinking about
Aggro Dr1ft and
Baby Invasion. It's not so much that the Internet is the specific theme of the movies so much as their style and "stories" are clearly informed by culture post-Internet. Making noise about ADHD and the loss of focus could be a productive way to explore this topic, for example.
It occured to me earlier today as well that there was a seminar at my university that thought about pre-Internet literature that predicted or otherwise represented models of communication that are relevant in the age of the Internet. Think, for instance, about how Burrough's cut-ups can be considered a model for hyperlinks. I would argue that noise music going back to the late 70s has the potential to suggest ways of thought very significant to understanding what the Internet means for culture and society---such as Merzbow's long-running collages of culture in the 1980s, to how the origination of power electronics relates to the dissemination of "shock media" like gore videos. I think there are many potential resonances to be explored, or, more specifically, interpreted out of already existing noise music.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on February 03, 2026, 11:27:28 PMhow the origination of power electronics relates to the dissemination of "shock media" like gore videos. I think there are many potential resonances to be explored, or, more specifically, interpreted out of already existing noise music.
This has always been kind of interesting to me, as someone in my 30's, I grew up with the early internet when these shock sites like rotten and ogrish were pretty popular. The transgressive aspect is kind of lost when its always been so readily available throughout your whole life, compared to the 70s and 80s when you had to actually seek out underground porno tapes or medical journals or whatever to find this stuff. I can definitely still appreciate the pre-2000s noise that made use of this stuff when it took more effort to find, but for more modern projects it can just start to feel goofy and antiquated with how self-serious it is (with some exceptions when there's a really clear motivation or concept behind it).
I am kind of surprised there isn't more noise that takes a more humorous approach though, like Ivan Rex mentioned. Something like Smell & Quim with a focus on internet shock media. The original popularity of a lot of shock sites was for pranks anyways, sending goatse or tubgirl to someone disguised with a link shortener to get them to click on it was always fun.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on February 03, 2026, 05:52:34 PMIt occured to me earlier today as well that there was a seminar at my university that thought about pre-Internet literature that predicted or otherwise represented models of communication that are relevant in the age of the Internet. Think, for instance, about how Burrough's cut-ups can be considered a model for hyperlinks. I would argue that noise music going back to the late 70s has the potential to suggest ways of thought very significant to understanding what the Internet means for culture and society---such as Merzbow's long-running collages of culture in the 1980s, to how the origination of power electronics relates to the dissemination of "shock media" like gore videos. I think there are many potential resonances to be explored, or, more specifically, interpreted out of already existing noise music.
Your post reminds me of Kenneth Goldsmith, the poet who claimed "[t]he internet is the greatest poem ever written, unreadable mostly because of its size."
Here is the full text: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/articles/70209/i-look-to-theory-only-when-i-realize-that-somebody-has-dedicated-their-entire-life-to-a-question-i-have-only-fleetingly-considered
a student of mine (grade 12, USA), a visual artist nonetheless, recently asked me if I'd ever heard of "that weird thing the Beatles did where they just like took a ton of drugs, cut & pasted a bunch of shit together, and posted it?"
noise about the internet will be made by people who do not know they're doing it.
Quote from: Flames of Torture on February 04, 2026, 12:21:27 PMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on February 03, 2026, 05:52:34 PMIt occured to me earlier today as well that there was a seminar at my university that thought about pre-Internet literature that predicted or otherwise represented models of communication that are relevant in the age of the Internet. Think, for instance, about how Burrough's cut-ups can be considered a model for hyperlinks. I would argue that noise music going back to the late 70s has the potential to suggest ways of thought very significant to understanding what the Internet means for culture and society---such as Merzbow's long-running collages of culture in the 1980s, to how the origination of power electronics relates to the dissemination of "shock media" like gore videos. I think there are many potential resonances to be explored, or, more specifically, interpreted out of already existing noise music.
Your post reminds me of Kenneth Goldsmith, the poet who claimed "[t]he internet is the greatest poem ever written, unreadable mostly because of its size."
Here is the full text: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/articles/70209/i-look-to-theory-only-when-i-realize-that-somebody-has-dedicated-their-entire-life-to-a-question-i-have-only-fleetingly-considered
Very interesting!
Quote from: AASB on February 04, 2026, 07:19:20 AMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on February 03, 2026, 11:27:28 PMhow the origination of power electronics relates to the dissemination of "shock media" like gore videos. I think there are many potential resonances to be explored, or, more specifically, interpreted out of already existing noise music.
This has always been kind of interesting to me, as someone in my 30's, I grew up with the early internet when these shock sites like rotten and ogrish were pretty popular. The transgressive aspect is kind of lost when its always been so readily available throughout your whole life, compared to the 70s and 80s when you had to actually seek out underground porno tapes or medical journals or whatever to find this stuff. I can definitely still appreciate the pre-2000s noise that made use of this stuff when it took more effort to find, but for more modern projects it can just start to feel goofy and antiquated with how self-serious it is (with some exceptions when there's a really clear motivation or concept behind it).
I am kind of surprised there isn't more noise that takes a more humorous approach though, like Ivan Rex mentioned. Something like Smell & Quim with a focus on internet shock media. The original popularity of a lot of shock sites was for pranks anyways, sending goatse or tubgirl to someone disguised with a link shortener to get them to click on it was always fun.
These things also seem to be treated very differently now because the oversaturation of subcultural things through the Internet. I think it was not too long ago that I saw
Faces of Death receiving a "deluxe" reissue of some kind. Obviously this is, in part, a reaction against the ephemerality of the Internet through object fetishism, but there is also this weird dimension of wanting to return to the "purer" time of when shock media actually worked.
Not noise specifically, but Laibach just released this teaser for their new album:
Thank you Laibach, can we kill the internet now please?