PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[Apes Clog Snag]

First noise of 2025.
Merzbow-Solonoise (2xCD).
OLD EUROPA CAFÉ.

Classic early merzbow.
Collages of micro objects amplified.
One of my favourite of first era of merz.

One of the best Merz moments on the first Solonoise around 40 to 46 minutes when that machine loop and vocal loop start blending.

[k.p.g]

PBK/Hands To/AMK - System-Music-End (PURE)
Finally going through one of the PURE discs from my last RRR trip.  This is a satisfying and odd range of sounds presented throughout this disc from 3 formidable freaks (and their freaky friends).  I am glad this did not end up just being a split like I thought it was.  I have no idea who is manipulating who throughout each track.  Perhaps this is a compilation of various collaborations throughout the years.  Do I hear saxophone in the mix?  Right on!

Scarlet Diva & Slacking - Humiliation Ritual (Summer Interlude Records)
I received this in a recent trade with Jim Slacking, and was curious to see how this one would turn out.  I knew that in its early days, Scarlet Diva was a very strict noise wall project.  I never kept up, so I am not sure what it is like now.  This collaboration presents a much wider range of sounds though, as I hear shrieking tape mangling, low end crunch and even some pop music sampling (?) in the mix.  At just 20 minutes, this was a nice soundtrack to cook breakfast to.

[groesk]

First noise of 2025.
Merzbow-Solonoise (2xCD).
OLD EUROPA CAFÉ.

Classic early merzbow.
Collages of micro objects amplified.
One of my favourite of first era of merz.

Most of it reminds me if a band like Half Japanese did noise. But I did really like the latter half of Solonoise B, sounds more interesting as beats and more are used to break up the loop. The loop change at 21 minutes is also cool.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

PBK/Hands To/AMK - System-Music-End (PURE)
Finally going through one of the PURE discs from my last RRR trip.  This is a satisfying and odd range of sounds presented throughout this disc from 3 formidable freaks (and their freaky friends).  I am glad this did not end up just being a split like I thought it was.  I have no idea who is manipulating who throughout each track.  Perhaps this is a compilation of various collaborations throughout the years.  Do I hear saxophone in the mix?  Right on!

Not everybody I know have liked this, but I like it A LOT. I am sure there is review somewhere on this forum about it. When it originally came out, I suppose I wasn't as excited. Its like with a lot of Pure discs. In mid 90's, biggest thrill was to get all those Japanese big names doing their newest great recordings to Pure series. Getting some of those lo-fi broken noise releases or a bit experimental ones didn't have such instant impact, yet those releases grew over the years. Now, disc like this one, I would easily listen instead of Masonna. And I'm Masonna fan, hah. Good thing is, that despite  most of the hottest titles are sold out, a lot of these less worshipped, but really really good CD's are still available. I should have box from RRR waiting to arrive in week, re-stocking all the pressed pure CD's once again.

[k.p.g]

Getting some of those lo-fi broken noise releases or a bit experimental ones didn't have such instant impact, yet those releases grew over the years. Now, disc like this one, I would easily listen instead of Masonna. And I'm Masonna fan, hah.

On my first RRR visit 6 years ago, I know I walked out of there with the Masonna one you are talking about.  Don't think I would have made the same choice today if given the same opportunity.  Those under the radar releases really have some special quality to them that some bigger names/titles lack; that being replay value. 

[k.p.g]

Ligature - Disappearing Act (Ascetic House)

In order to prepare for a move in March, I am starting to pair down my record collection extensively.  When you reach the noise section of this task, it always becomes infinitely harder.  "I have 8 tapes by this artist, and I remember enjoying them all in the one listen I gave to them.  What do I do?"  You sit down and listen, I guess.
This tape will be staying with me, as I find it to be among the best of the Ligature discography (the other being his tape on Monorail Trespassing).  This has a very ... New York ... feeling to it that you can hear from other artists in his peer group like Shredded Nerve and Kyle Flanagan; eerie synths, whacked out tape looping, "city life" field recordings and just the right amount of harsh rage.  Judging on sight alone, I am willing to wager this is a C10 or C11.  Pairs pretty perfectly with the aforementioned Monorail tape, which clocks in at a C20.  Some artists wish they had 30 minutes worth of sound as good as this.
Rumors I have heard indicate that Chris Hansell has quietly exited out of recording noise at this point.  If so, I get it; dude has a busy life between a pizza restaurant and his other musical endeavors in hardcore.  It is better to acknowledge when you should step away than attempt to continue making half-hearted material.  It makes tapes like these just have an extra layer of power to them.

Max Julian Eastman - An Event in 4.75 Time (Chocolate Monk)

I am always game for the Eastman brand of tape muck weirdness.  This one delivers on that end.  The drums he uses here are choice.  Add in found sound from god knows where.  There was only a bit of CDr glitching to be had, but as long as it doesn't stop the disc completely, I can manage with it.  It is to be expected with the format.  This is a pretty good disc, has me excited for whatever proper full length comes from Max next.

Aaron Dilloway - Opened Door (Chondritic Sound)

This is a pretty creepy tape to have rolling before 10:30AM.  I have not listened to Dilloway in quite some time.  His impact on my love of noise is immeasurable to the point where it feels akin to throwing on Nirvana sometimes.  I have heard what I have a million times, I think I know all the tricks and sounds.  I know it is good, so the urge to revisit rarely comes.
Similar to Nirvana though, every time I throw something by Aaron on, I hear new things that were not made apparent in my first listen.  My love for the man's work comes flooding in at an astonishing rate.  As I finish typing this now, I am eyeing my tape wrack for which Dilloway will be put into the deck next... hmmm... Been a while since I heard Foul...

[k.p.g]

Papaphilia - 4 Animals Dream of a Shadow (Nice Music)

Continuing cleanup of the living spaces, and I get to a box of music I acquired pre-COVID, specifically from my study abroad period in Sydney, Australia.  For the life of me, I could not remember what this tape even sounded like.  Pop it in, and am pleasantly met with some minimal, psychedelic industrial.  I really enjoy this.  Australia tends to have some great and weird things going on.  I think the region deserves more attention as a whole.

Biscuit Eastman - The Old Guard (Tribe Tapes)

Say, this dog is a certified RIPPER!!!  What could have easily been a gimmicky noise wall tape became a very endearing and touching slab of crude, lo-fi noise.  I love it.

[mag-maa]

PBK/Hands To/AMK - System-Music-End (PURE)
Finally going through one of the PURE discs from my last RRR trip.  This is a satisfying and odd range...

Not everybody I know have liked this, but I like it A LOT....

Had to check this one (thank you internet). And yes, it really sounds great! A lot of strange noisy sounds. If I would make music, I would probably like to do something like that ;D
I remember listening some Hands To CD in a past (probably ordered it from FA), and wasn't very amazed about how it sounded, but surely I tried several times... until finally sold it. Not necessarily bad, but very monotonic noisy distorted "drone" (imagine a field recording of wind and traffic noise driven through some distortion pedal). Not sure if it would sound better nowadays.

[k.p.g]

Diagram: A - Diagram: A (RRR)

More packing up means more CDs that I have not spun in god knows how long.  I remember meeting Dan for the first time at a show I played up in Western Massachusetts.  He made so much harsh sound out of these weird, homemade devices that were stored in tin cans and a gas mask.  Mind was sufficiently blown that night.  I probably snatched up to 5 or 6 D:A recordings that I could find on Discogs in the subsequent weeks. 
Listening back here reminds me that if there is one thing Dan never touches, it is the volume knob.  This is near-constant, red zone jamming that will test your ears.  Makes me wonder how this disc (or anything from Proof of the Shooting) did not end up in the PURE series, because this material feels like it was made specifically with the ruleset of PURE in mind.  Maybe I can call Ron and bug him for an answer... Just got off the phone, and it is as simple as "PURE was done before I was really aware of what they were doing.  The CDrs after were done with more focus on the local New England scene."  That was worth it for his laugh alone.
But anyways; as divisive as oscillator noise is to fans of this artform, D:A always seems to be the exception to this rule.  This disc proves why.  Also makes me think I need to find more of those aforementioned discs in my collection... right as I packed them up.  Great. 

Putrefier - Trace Element Syntax (RRR)

Following what I believe should have been a PURE series disc with an actual PURE series disc.  I have to admit that at last year's iteration of Summer Scum, seeing Putrefier get onstage with a modular and hit the sort of stereotypical "old head makes modular beep" set was a little disheartening.  That does not nullify any past works though. Cog Dominance is still a beast and I thoroughly enjoying the palette of sounds being presented on this disc right now.  It is a good middle point between that PBK side of "broken" noise and the all out harsh assault of entries like Japanese Torture Comedy Hour and Knurl. Another good entry into PURE that you can still grab cheap too (yes, I also asked Ron if he still had these available during our call)!

[Apes Clog Snag]

Maybe I can call Ron and bug him for an answer... Just got off the phone, and it is as simple as "PURE was done before I was really aware of what they were doing.  The CDrs after were done with more focus on the local New England scene."  That was worth it for his laugh alone.

Your investigative noise journalism is appreciated! I haven't heard that particular Diagram A (it's great project anyway) release, but have wondered the same thing about some other RRR CDs!

On the Pure front I did recently listen to Zone Nord Roferon A and Incapacitants Ministry of Foolishness. Both have somewhat of a classic status and for a reason. For me Ministry of Foolishness is THE Incapacitants record, if not for other reasons than being the first Incapacitants I heard and fell for. Zone Nords definitely on the weird and disjointed side of Pure. Very lovely. Also Chop Shop plays Emil Beauelieau has been something I've listened to constantly lately, I can't really say why it pulls me back to listen to it again and again, but it has some fascinating quality soundwise.

I did not, but perhaps I should, listen to that PBK/Hands To/AMK disc. I have to admit that the PBKs synth tracks are a bit too much for me and it makes this one hard to enjoy!

[Apes Clog Snag]

All right, back to System-Music-End after listening to it again. The worst thing about it is still the three or four PBK tracks that are just... gauche. I mean the very stylish tracks transforming Hands To etc material into neat ambience are very pretty and I would listen to a CD lenght of those alone, but then between all of them you got PBK going crazy on some absolutely horrible toy robot sounds... I mean it is demanding, I'll give you that. Seriosly though, I don't hate it, good parts overweight the bad easily. And Belly Of The Beast is a stunning track where PBKs synth sounds actually create some nice mood with the sax and AMK turntable swooshing. Very Noir.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Not long ago, I was listening FAB.44 cd. Just because I was browsing through the Pure discs and thinking what the hell is FAB.44! I have not had that one in distro since... about 2017. Back in 90's, there was very little information of some of the artists. Without discogs, trying to figure out who/what is AKALA, TAC, FAB.44 and so on wasn't easy. TAC being, not the OTHER noisy T.A.C. and FAB.44 being members of Princess Dragon Mom, but vastly lesser know (but better!) project. And so on.
This week I listed again lots of PURE CD's into mailorder. It is almost mindblowing that one can still get actual pro-pressed CD of PAIN JERK "Trashware" or PRICK DECAY and so on. Many of the titles are out-of-stock.

When reading RRR book, it was surprising that how "short" the Pure era was. I guess mentioning elsewhere too, that when reading book, it becomes clear how there are this different "era's" of RRR, where doing the late 80's vinyl boxes or experimental LP lasts half decade, then Pure is also like three years, then the mid 00's american LP boxes is also couple years project, and so on. When living the paper catalogue era, and when being involved in so many other things as well, many of these things didn't seem like quick couple year project that got done, but for example Pure, I started to follow series right from early 1994 and still now in 2025 getting box of restocks like "always" have over the decades, hah... Impact of mere 3 year publishing spree.

I recall there should be PURE topic in this forum, like there is the G.R.O.S.S. topic, and would be nice to gather more reviews into those topics.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Void Of Empathy – "Shades Of Derealization" tape
It is hard to say which VOE is the best, but currently, this latest(?) tape is pushing again notch further. Funny thing was that I was listening tapes last week in such fast mode, flipping next tape in the deck and suddenly "huh, this is good, what was this?!" and checking out what exactly did I put in. One of those moments was this tape. When you get the sudden realization that this is so much better than tape that was in before it, that was tape by vastly bigger names I must say, then it sort of proofs its quality in almost blind listening + evaluation. There is short piece on the b-side where I think the sound of metal junk is not that good. It's like small object, not very interesting sound, but that lasts couple of minutes and rest of the tape good stuff. Its noise, but you most often hear the physical sounds, sort of industrial-noise repetition, occasional delicate screeching sound makes me think Ferial Confine - without the arty angle, hah. The early days "computer recording" vibe of VOI is no longer prelevant quality here. I have liked his other tapes too, but this shows project is indeed going forward!

[Stipsi]

Asunta: krajobraz (landscapes).
Just an indian harmonium and a clarinet.
Very quiet music. I don't know if the real deal was to record something for relaxing and meditation, but for me sounds more like post apocalyptic/no hopes/desperate atmosphere.
Great underrated project if you are into this kind of ambient stuff.

[k.p.g]

On the Pure front I did recently listen to Zone Nord Roferon A and Incapacitants Ministry of Foolishness. Both have somewhat of a classic status and for a reason. For me Ministry of Foolishness is THE Incapacitants record, if not for other reasons than being the first Incapacitants I heard and fell for. Zone Nords definitely on the weird and disjointed side of Pure. Very lovely. Also Chop Shop plays Emil Beauelieau has been something I've listened to constantly lately, I can't really say why it pulls me back to listen to it again and again, but it has some fascinating quality soundwise.

Chop Shop and Zone Nord titles are both VERY great works.  Incapacitants never does it for me, but $3 for a disc does not hurt the wallet.  It is a shame you cannot get behind the PBK stuff though, as I find that style of synth to be particularly otherworldly with how haunted it sounds.

When reading RRR book, it was surprising that how "short" the Pure era was. I guess mentioning elsewhere too, that when reading book, it becomes clear how there are this different "era's" of RRR, where doing the late 80's vinyl boxes or experimental LP lasts half decade, then Pure is also like three years, then the mid 00's american LP boxes is also couple years project, and so on. When living the paper catalogue era, and when being involved in so many other things as well, many of these things didn't seem like quick couple year project that got done, but for example Pure, I started to follow series right from early 1994 and still now in 2025 getting box of restocks like "always" have over the decades, hah... Impact of mere 3 year publishing spree.

I recall there should be PURE topic in this forum, like there is the G.R.O.S.S. topic, and would be nice to gather more reviews into those topics.

Always wondered how many Pure discs were published for each title.  It feels like Ron knew he had classics on his hand, and decided to go with THOUSANDS of copies.

Someone should dig up that PURE topic...  and I was supposed to be doing things at work today.  Oh well.