Developer MZK013 (Mazurka Editions): Again with the start/stop business. The first few minutes of the cassette are a bit tedious, but the chaos abruptly molds into something fantastic. Perhaps it was too early in the morning for me to really absorb the intentions of this tape, but I still found it to be exemplary of Developer's willingness to experiment. Will be coming back in the evening after a bottle of wine is down the hatch. Will probably have different opinions then. Have to mention the inclusion of many "tinny" sounds that were also, somehow, so enveloping. Not sure what these were - metal sheets? (obviously not an uncommon medium, but...) - but I heard a lot of refreshing frequencies on this tape.
Being Cracking Whip Of A Cosmic String (Mazurka Editions): No lofty aspirations here, just straight-to-it harsh noise from the first second of the tape. C15 is a perfect length for this type of material. The mood was right for me and the tape sat so well.
Props to Mazurka for printing their inserts on a lovely vellum, the cream tapes, and the very surprising artwork. Loved it all. Can't wait for this new Litüus tape later in the year.
Novo Progresso Swan Song For A Decaying Culture (Järtecknet): Not too, too familiar with Klaus Hansen's work (Ashley C, Cambodia Camping Service, etc) but I haven't been too fond of what I've heard so far. I'm also not a fan of the Posh Isolation sound or mystique so this tape was a bit of a plunge for me. On the other hand, I have not been disappointed with Järtecknet yet, so this tape seemed worth the plunge. Yet, in the end I'd say I felt disappointment... There is this constant hold - no build, no decay, yet the sounds, other than being bizarre in their own right, have little to offer. A-side was vaguely irritating. B-side begins with a manipulated voice sample that never morphs. B2 is a noise track built from the sound of a whistle, bombs and fanfare - an adventurous concept, but is about as interesting as your average hype-building, Reich-flirting "industrial" that was all the rage in the 90's. Moving on.
Skin Graft Drenched (Danvers State Recordings): Howland at his usual bass-heavy, lava-flow, drunk, miserable and abject noise. Good 'ol 'Graft. A-side doesn't see release until about the last 45 seconds of its nearly 20-minute playtime. B1 has a handful of volume changes that I'm not entirely sure were intentional. If they were, I could do without. As a whole, this was less monosyllabic than the average Skin Graft release.
Anemone Tube Transfiguration Of The Image (Danvers State Recordings): Have been refreshing Danvers' BigCartel daily every since I saw the announcement for this tape. When it was finally time to order, I just clicked "Buy" not paying a mind to any detail on the site. Certainly felt a sense of disappointment when the tape arrived, thinking it would be a C25 of new material, when really it is 1:26 of new music and three comp tracks from the 90's, repeated on each side. Still, I threw the tape in and my concerns were tossed aside. I don't know if these recordings have been remastered, but they all certainly have an incredible density and volume. The new track "Under The Mask Of Beauty" could have easily been prolonged another 10 minutes and been fully enjoyed. Great, great tones on this track. Also have to commend Herr Hanser for always incorporating beautiful graphic design work and loftier quotations/references than the usual Sotos and/or SS shite. Makes my art history degree tingle to see a Delaroche painting on the cover. Was sitting through a massive rain storm (we have a tin roof) when this tape was playing...can't say what was what, but the effect (playing at full volume) was all-encompassing. Great tape!!
Die Weisse Rose A Martyrium Of White Roses (Cold Meat Industry): CMI, blatant Blood Axis Blót... keyboard tones, Nietzsche quotes, jugend cover, DI6 tour...blah...you get the point. Thoroughly unimpressed.
Der Blutharsch Time Is Thee Enemy! (WKN): Ten years later and this album is still so fucking good. I've been amazed and bored to death by various releases since this guy came out, but I still hold this (and that Aluk Todolo collaboration) in the highest regard. So much variety, at times it feels like a comp/mix (but this is no complaint for once!). Albin is correct that you must approach their music in a completely effortless mood. When I feel this way, the music almost always is to be enjoyed.
