MICHIGAN noise 2014?

[FreakAnimalFinland]

For 5 years I hesitated listening V/A MICHIGAN 6xLP box, as I thought I could be a bit sucky for my taste. Line-up is: PRINCESS DRAGON-MOM, RAVEN STRAIN, REDROT, AARON DILLOWAY, TOWAH D-DAY, CHARLIE DRAHEIM, HIVE MIND, MAMMAL, EVENINGS, COTTON MUSEUM, SICK LLAMA, WOLF EYES. One side each.

I always dislike Princess Dragon-Mom, but it's not hopeless here. Raven Strain pretty good. Redrot gets even better, Dilloway delivers good side too. TDD and Draheim not bad. Hive Mind kind of usual synth throb. Mammal surprisingly good moments. Evenings too. Cotton Museum and Sick Llama maybe among best of comp, while Wolf Eyes is half useless, but gets much better when it gets noisy and gets rid of saxophone.

Printed mailer kind of packaging is quite nice, but no booklet/artwork of any kind. Then I started to wonder what exactly is happening in Michigan? 5 years after box, I see (according to discogs) Princess Dragon-Mom has no releases since then, Raven Strain did one self released tape 2012. Ryan Oppermann of Redrot keeps himself busy. Dilloway is doing new stuff and re-started his store etc. Towah D-day whoever that is, only had one tape on American tapes back in 2010. Draheim.. I guess no new stuff for c. 5 years. Hive Mind still going as usual, but located elsewhere. Mammal did tape last year. Remaining bands have done stuff in recent years.
Still kind of felt like was this box culmination of things, and then things starting to "fall apart", or is it just my impression? What's Michigan "noise" in 2014?

[xdementia]

Some of the new Redrot material is questionable.

https://soundcloud.com/redrot/redrot-program-abort-reality-abuse

[eyestrain]

Some of the new Redrot material is questionable.

https://soundcloud.com/redrot/redrot-program-abort-reality-abuse

I remember being a bit uneasy about the track he had on the Chondritic Sound summer sampler, but this is downright scary!

[nidding]

That scene is definitely less exposed by now, but none the less there's still good things coming out of there. Personally I'm very fond of Mike Collino's recent work with Dog Lady Island and he's put out some good things via his label Alien Passengers. Also, even though Khris Reinshagen moved out to LA (where Greh/Chondritic Sound is at now also) he's still representing some Michigan natives on Nostilevo ... things seem to be picking up for Shiobhan for example. More of an emphasis on synth/dancy sounds on the latter label though, I guess.

[Brad]

Some of the new Redrot material is questionable.

https://soundcloud.com/redrot/redrot-program-abort-reality-abuse

I kinda like this.  :)

[E.D.K.W.A.R.]

Yes, the emphasis on sounds/style coming out of Michigan these days is definetly on the dancefloor aspect of industrial/noise. Even though CONDRITIC SOUND and NOSTILEVO labels have moved to L.A. or wherever they have certainly left their mark. Most all of that stuff comes from the eastside of the state i.e. Detroit/Ann Arbor/Ypislanti. The face of Michigan noise scene has definetly changed from the old days of the flannel shirt basement scumbag to a sleeker, dyed black skinny heroin chic thing (pretty much like the rest of the u.s.), probably because of how much the internet affects trends etc. Still there are some interesting things going on here worth mentioning. the UNSEEN FORCE label puts out some cool tapes, namely PURITY OF ESSENCE and STREIBER, both of a filthy old school industrial/ tape culture vibe. Also theres a project from Ypsi i enjoy called BREAKING THE WILL, which is pretty solid, violent harsh noise with lots of pedal crunching action similar to old Sickness....nothing incredibly new or original, but totally competent in sonic delivery as well as aesthetics, the guy from Breaking the Will also has a label/fanzine called NEW FORCES (i found the zine to be a little too clean/boring but thats just my opinion). Over on the westside of the State where i live, theres not too much going on but PlAGUES is some solid shit, making a name around for himself doing shows and releasing tapes under the imprint of STARVED RELATIONS, all very quality but underrated noise/PE ....Over all I think that the era of MI having a distinct identity in the noise world is in a decline, the old gaurd is changing and i think the emphasis now is more about contributing to "local scenes" as opposed to noise culture as a whole....that the concept of "Michigan Noise" as a unique, regional style sonically and aesthetically, doesnt really exist right now....things are just a bit too scattered but hopefully things are just in a state of change or hibernation while new things are brewing up.....

[xdementia]

Some of the new Redrot material is questionable.

https://soundcloud.com/redrot/redrot-program-abort-reality-abuse

I kinda like this.  :)

His live sets a few weeks ago were pretty good though. https://vimeo.com/102744486

[eyestrain]

Some of the new Redrot material is questionable.

https://soundcloud.com/redrot/redrot-program-abort-reality-abuse

I kinda like this.  :)

His live sets a few weeks ago were pretty good though. https://vimeo.com/102744486

Agreed! He was shockingly one of the best acts all day. Was definitely eating my words at that moment, hehe.

[autophagia]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlloCZ6SSJs&edit=vd
latest gig from A.C.'s new project
+ always new stuff going on with is underground label HERMITAGETAPES