Absolute excellent episode! Of course, one can't expect that everybody would be so casual, ready to talk in absolute detail, and also funny. I'd suppose for most it is slightly challenging situation to be in front of webcam, sweating while thing what the hell should be said, what wouldn't be just.. trivial. Mr. McKinlay certainly is the key harsh noise masters of our times, for pushing things into formerly unheard level of fanaticism for the detail.
It is quite rare case that some could articulate both the funny stories, but that intent of focusing on detail. I have certain tastes and approaches that are vastly different and certain level of stubbornness, but there are so many moments, when despite different methods and ways, I find myself thinking he is absolutely right!
It is really funny, how the keep industrial out of harsh noise was so controversial. Maybe it was more in the social media than anywhere else? I recall Harsh Truths attempted to turn it to some kind of statement against harmful ideologies in industrial. I didn't think that was at all the case, nor I thought there is anything offensive in the statement at all. Now that Sam explained his position, I can fully agree what he is saying. haha.
While I talk frequently of industrial-noise, I never really associate it with that industrial they are talking about. That industrial music, with the bounding "techno beats".. it's quite different of what I mean with industrial-noise, that is most of all kind of cultural milieu.
Where as noise can be, almost whatever. From fine arts, jazz, punk, metal, indie-rock, techno, and so on, you push to certain direction and eventually you might be reaching borders of expression that is noise.
Industrial had plenty of influence of avantgarde art, often crossing over to performance, installation, mail-art, video-art, and whatever. Often challenging what is norm or accepted in wider society. I suppose no need to describe what all fell under industrial movement. If something is industrial-noise, I would be pretty damn sure one can file Mauthausen Orchestra or Atrax Morgue, Dead Body Love and such under such term. They are clearly something else than free jazz going real nasty. Something else than couple punks that rejected guitars, and kept the amps and distortion pedals to make energetic loud noise. Mentioned bands fall into lineage, where many of elements are found (even if not exclusively) from industrial. Sure, they have nothing really in common with the industrial-rock or industrial-metal. They may not have beats or music or fill many other expected qualities. Yet still, I would be surprised if someone would see that these bands do not come from the tradition of TG, Come Org, Broken Flag... but step by step taking it further and further away into... industrial-noise. Anyways, when Sam says it was most of all for being annoyed of false advertising, I certainly get it 100%. Grabbing the praised harsh noise tape or live gig, and finding out it wasn't noise at all, but dance music with some distortion.
Some of the greatest things on podcast is the detailed explanation of the ballet theme that dominates The Rita works for years. Some weeks ago I wrote that piece combining The Rita and Rober Longo into "book + noise combo review" type of thing. Longo often uses these iconic images, but there is usually study of power and violence behind the seemingly clean images. When one tends to see clean and neat images of ballet in The Rita, there is quite a contrast when hearing Sam describe about the dark history of ballet, how that is big part of the obsession in there. It sets whole thing to a new level. Certainly recommended to listen this episode to get what he does. When it has suddenly clear links of human trafficking, brothels, objectification of women, control and abuse to quite brutal level. The story how it all started with sudden revelation and quickly being totally immersive theme, where one can't really see that there would be need to do anything else than that.
It's more than 2 hours, but feels like... could have been more!
