(I should remind here, I talk of
noise in broad sense, including power electronics, noisy experimental racket, and so on. Not just pure harsh noise.)
It is amusing that year 2008 is mentioned. That list displays it well, why it can be so. There is also more to it, than merely releases.
It is amusing mainly because we just used 2008 as reference as a year, that probably nobody would say is best year in noise. Simply because that year didn't seem anything so memorable, beyond something like Merzbow Anicca remaining long standing monument of unsellable noise CD cluttering every distributors storage... heh...
Anyways, I also wrote this couple days ago:
QuoteTribute To Luigi Russolo 2xLP, Old Europe Cafe 2008. I have had this literally from time it came out, but I am quite sure, anyone who sees line-up saying SACHER PELZ, RAPOON, MERZBOW and GX JUPITTER-LARSEN, and then you say "2008", they won't be like "wow, what a great year it was for them..." heh.. No offense! Good artists, but 2008 is unlikely year to stand out.
However, being such a critical jackass like myself, one tends to be surprised positively. GX rules here! Merzbow ain't the artificial invagination, but still slays. Rapoon might not stand strong when compare to early days Soviet France, but will nevertheless cast long shadow over a lot of contemporary experimental sound. Sacher Pelz... I might have to say I preferred this over the 1979 material (pre-MB project, if someone didnt known). This double LP is large pressing, almost 800 copies, and cheaply available. It is worth the 5mm slice on your shelves!
Yet, there are A LOT of factors, why some particular year could be better than 1995. Look at the phenomena of noise/industrial festivals, for example. In 1995, there was Tesco Disco Heavy Electronics II. I was not there, but this can be listened on 4xCD release published couple years later. However, later on, situation was very very different. In 2008, from Finn perspective, there was insane era of noise gigs. 2006 was the first Bizarre Uproar gig, and in couple years, infamous Bunker shows were already happening. Private gigs unlike anything after that really. Also international people coming over, just to see bunch of noise packed in small unofficial "venues".
Even comparing mid 90's to some of the early years of 00's, what you have is multiple industrial-noise zines, festivals, growing ability to reach artists and labels via email, the peak of noise forums(?), beginning of US type noise touring.
Also the late 90's is curious compared to early 90's. You got musical shift from the focus on USA noise shifting a bit towards power electronics? In USA, what one should remember, 1996, Strict, Slogun and Deathpile, as far as I know started at 1996 and their most remarkable things came later.
One can look at the BLOODLUST discography of 1996, and fucking hell...
Dead Body Love
Puke On My Corpse (Cass, Ltd, Num, C60) B!004 1996
Deathpile Random Acts Of Cruelty (Cass, Ltd, Num, C62) B!005 1996
Atrax Morgue Autoerotic Death (Cass, Ltd, Num, C30) B!006 1996
Pain Jerk[/b]
Transcription Of Piss Angel (Cass, Ltd, Num, C62) B!007 1996
Mark Solotroff Sexual Homicide (Cass, Album, Ltd, Num) B!008 1996
SBR Mental Dissolution (Cass, Ltd, Num, C62) B!009 1996
K2 Carthago (Cass, Ltd, Num, C62) B!010 1996
Deathpile Gashbutcher (Cass, Ltd, Num, C64) B!011 1996
Murder Corporation Perforation (Cass, Album, Ltd, Num) B!012 1996
Mangled Clit SS66/72 (Cass, Ltd, Num) B!014 1996
Hydra (2) Power (Cass, Ltd, Num, C60) B!015 1996
Slogun Sacrifice Unto Me (Cass, Ltd, Num, RE) B!016 1996
Richard Ramirez This Angel's Rusted Halo (Cass, Album, Ltd, Num) B!017 1996
Orphx Obsession And Progress (Cass, Ltd, Num) B!018 1996
Skin Crime Urge (Cass, Ltd, Num, C64) B!019 1996
BLOODYMINDED West (7", Ltd, Num, Whi) B!020 1996
Mark Solotroff & Sshe Retina Stimulants Excellent Manipulation Of Distorted Tape Death (4xCass + Box, Ltd) B!021 1996
Slogun The Will To Kill (Cass, Album, C60 + Box, Ltd, Num) B!023 1996
Atrax Morgue Extended Autoerotic Death (Cass, Ltd, Num, RM, C60) B!025 1996
Slogun Lustkiller (7", Ltd, Num, Cle) B!026 1996
Killer Bug
Sixteen Different Flavours Of Ass (Cass, Ltd, Num, C64) B!027 1996
You got one label, putting out 20 flawless, memorable, releases, that stand test of time. Not only that, but you can observe it is part of the new tone, where the massive interest towards the old school of the Japanese noise, became way smaller in late 90's/00's in favor of many of the power electronics / heavy electronics, starting to make their mark... It may be different from 1995, but I am sure that there must be ton of people who wouldn't care much for Solmania or something, but appreciates year 00, when then fairly newish projects IRM "oedipus dethroned"
Strom.ec "dogs of total order", Grunt "terror & degeneration", Slogun "written in blood", etc ...doing some releases that set the tone for following years - in some parts of the scene, obviously. On other side of genre, you got guys like Dilloway starting to put out stuff, Wolf Eyes first CD album what probably shaped noise more than a lot of things.
