PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[FreakAnimalFinland]

GENTLE EVIL / PYMATHON split LP
Verdura
Gentle Evil is actually really good stuff. It's Finnish duo consisting drummer + mr. Keränen. Old style free noise chaos, what remind good moments of Hijokaidan - without vocals. Obviously when tripped down to just jazzy, yet aggressive drummin and just one guy making noise, there is less density than in Hijokaidan, but what it loses in lack of layers and insanity of female screams, it wins simply with being simply great and energetic noise!
Pymathon in the other hand is most of all free-form metal of some sort. Think of free jazz transforming into free metal. Jammin some random stuff. Noisy sound, ok. Music itself, not really interesting. Unfortunately blending in impro and metal often results failure of both.

ROEL MEELKOP / FRANS DE WAARD LP
Stiching Mixer
Experimental electronics. What else to say? Not bad, but neither capturing my mind in any special way.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Turd day...

SSHE RETINA STIMULANTS "HEaven 39" 2xLP
Diophantine discs
Damn.. It's old stuff from 1997, remastered 2006, issued in crappy cloth cover and text insert (packagin is related to theme). Packaging isn't the problem. Problem is that SRS delivers utterly boring, crappy electronic noise signals. No interesting sounds, no interesting tracks. Collection of rubbish anyone could pull out from any electronic gear. Too bad stuff like this ends on such a massive format as (3 sided) double LP.

MLEHST "Vilification of the english peasant class" LP
diophantine disc
After 3 or 4 "new" sucky Mlehst LP's, I'm 100% sure I won't be spending any money on (new) stuff of his. Also packaged in pic LP plasticbag, appears that vinyl has reacted with it and covered in weird texture and results extensive surface noise..

PRURIENT "Adam Tied to stone" LP
Blossoming Noise
Huh. Finally some honey to the ears. Or maybe that's exaggeration. Digital distortion, keyboard tones, distorted vocals. Very typical for Prurient of the time, but still pretty good. His croaking style of voice is quite unique here. Almost like modern day version of Streicher. Not as ugly. Not as blunt. But not violent scream of talk, but hoarse croaking growl, hah. Of course also expected screams.

[Piety and Iron]

Ashley C - Drift (Freak Animal)

This album has had some mention before in connection with 'tape music' but with more and more listens for me I want to say something more about it, as it's certainly a high rated release for my tastes. First of all its important to mention that this is more than simple rough and ready product of tapes. There is a lot of cutting between sounds here, sourced from subtle metal sounds to rugged synths with lots of interesting details from the overloaded mixer, clicks, cracks and cuts in the sound. It's a good diverse work with some mastery of primitive tools of noise making. Secondly the emphasis is on the development and movements in the tracks. The label write up underplays this a fair bit. Definitely this is not stuff that builds up to harsh momentum but the track 1 has a lot of montage and track 2 shifts through distinct phases with the emphasis on the murky low end. Something for the connoisseur in my opinion. Definitely valid to present this on CD to be clear that this is not just to be confused with a run of the mill murky lofi tape release.

TR Kirstein/Jacob Kirkegaard - Imperia (posh isolation)

I don't have any special fascination for the Danish materials suffice to say my certain respect for the Ashley C stuff, but again today on a quiet sunny day in UK after moving house I have chance to listen to Imperia, also a high rated item. Its pretty simple but just a great example of fine quality depth and lots of frequencies in this. In past I have enjoyed this for evoking ghostly industrial deserted images in my mind but listening today I just got pinned on the frequencies. Pinpoint perfect and lots of clear sub base which is impressive for a vinyl. Its essentially a sound art work so I can understand that it does not have as much detail as a lot of good darker industrial ambient might have. Actually too short finally on one side. Yet its very classy job by the label in presentation.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Divided Void "The Last Limb Of Putrefaction" tape
Supreme Analog Torture Records
Didn't know what it was. Just grabbed from merch table of live gig as price was very cheap. Turned out to be way better than expected! Black-noise from Finland, but curiously manages to excape almost all the generic flaws of genre. Theoretically it is JUST what you could expect. Generic links towards black metal iconography and track titles. Screamy vocals and lots of guitar noise/feedback. However, it somehow manages to be much more. They could try to get people check this out by mentioning it's somewhere between Deisel Guitars, KK Null and later days Skullflower, but with wall-like mass of guitar sound. In fact, I'd prefer this over any new Skullflower I've heard. That says something about this material. Even Beherit cover manages to avoid being cheesy. It is just slow and distant trance indicing melody of Salomons Gate buried in dense guitar noise.
check here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXs3xQB57jM

Ejaculating Luftwaffe "Third Reich Cocaine" tape
Supreme Analog Torture Records
Supposedly 9 songs in c. 7 minutes on this tape, but it really is non-stop noise rubbish. While certainly juvenile humor pasted on top of everything, think about Annihilism era Streicher. Raw, non-effect plagued noise rumble. Nothing neat, nothing fancy, but nevertheless good stuff. Due being limited to mere 13 copies, I guess this is hardly meant for large circulation? Sample online sounds VERY different than the sound on tape... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrnrliElthk

HANGMANKIND "Ad Extirpanda" tape
Supreme Analog Torture Records
hmm.. black noise? At least logo looks like of black/death band, but music is simply good old blown up harsh noise. Something what could have come from mid 90's Texas or under MSNP roster. 3 guys. Solid wall, yet always on the move. I hope they'll keep doing more! Stuff that can be found from youtube seems totally inferior to this. Italian noise, that has so far appeared only on these smallest-of-the-small d.i.y. labels...

[ConcreteMascara]

不失者 ‎– 来たる時 [The Time Is Nigh] CD
Inspired by listening to a lot of other Japanese psychedelic rock i purchased my first Fushitsusha album. I was supposed to get a copy of the Live 2xCD on PSF but the seller fucked up. I guess it's easy to make the mistake when most of the album covers are identical This is a lot a noiser than I expected, reminding me a bit of Hijokaidan's shrill noise chaos at times. I can't compare to any of the other releases by the band since I haven't heard them, but really enjoying this. The first track is very mellow and minimal but it goes balls out after that for the next 70 minutes.

Hijokaidan - Windom CD, Noise From Trading Cards CD
Since the Fushitsusha album reminded me of Hijokaidan, I figured I'd listen to the two albums I have by them. Of the two I definitely prefer Windom. The production is a little less caustic but I feel like the noise is better. I don't really listen to much straight up noise these days, so these albums hit me much harder than I remember. at the same time I'd describe it as a joyous racket, because there is an underlying vibe that i hear that's like an utter celebration of noise. Or maybe that's just because I've been in a good mood for the past few days?

Incapacitants - 箱愚か Box Is Stupid 10xCD
to continue on with my Japanoise trend I listened to my favorite disc from this box set, The Tongue. This type of relentless, monolithic noise where elements seem to be always competing and snuffing each other out, I love it. it's super harsh and sharp, but lacking any kind of digital sharpness. Reminds me a bit of Finnish harsh noise. or maybe it's the other way around. When I first got the Box I listened to all 10 discs back to back, getting a bit drunk while I did it. The Tongue stood out to me then and still does, but I should probably give the whole thing a listen again with a clearer head.

listened to some Solmania stuff on youtube as well. I never listened to their recorded output, because seeing them live was so intense I figured nothing could measure up to the memory. wound up buying the Psycledelic CD on Discogs yesterday because the cover art really struck my fancy. Can't wait to listen to it and see how my memory stacks up against their recorded material.

it's nice to get back to listening to pure noise. lately i've just felt really grateful to have the opportunity to listen and own so much amazing music. it's the one pleasure that never gets old. and i'm constantly amazed by how much shit there's is still out there to listen to and how many records i have that i can barely remember what they sound like...

[FreakAnimalFinland]

wound up buying the Psycledelic CD on Discogs yesterday because the cover art really struck my fancy. Can't wait to listen to it and see how my memory stacks up against their recorded material.

It's good, but not best. It was first I heard, and I was kind of thinking "so this is Solmania?". Nowadays I appreciate it simply because its kind of.. odd? Not sure how to describe it best. But later days duo Solmania is certainly heavier and noisier.

[Zeno Marx]

不失者 ‎– 来たる時 [The Time Is Nigh] CD

Great album, and likely Haino's/Fushitsusha's most ferocious.  You can go a lot of other places with Haino, but you aren't going to get to this space again.  One of my top Haino releases.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

KAZUMA KUBOTA "January Thirty" 12"
Wendy
Nice. I think KK, despite being good, never really managed to do as amazing recording as his 3"CDR was. This is very good cut up, and being one sider 12", with playtime mere 15 minutes, I listened it instantly 3 times, and can say I could have rotated more, but just thought to listen other stuff as well..

SINK "Holy Testament 2" 12"
Svart
Good stuff. Maybe I'm a bit jaded on a lot of stuff what has the "post-metal", "post rock" kind of thing, where it's all about building more and more and more massive piece, kind of jamming layer over laters of stuff. But Sinki actually composes their stuff, and it has sense of being more than just "jamming" (in bad way). Quite epic, more keyboard dominated, monumental pieces.

[P A N I C]

at the same time I'd describe it as a joyous racket, because there is an underlying vibe that i hear that's like an utter celebration of noise.

Fully agree! I wrote a review of Modern a while ago in which I spoke of similar ideas:

Waar Hijokaidan, samen met, trouwens, Incapacitants (niet geheel toevallig beide met Toshiji Mikawa als kernlid), zo briljant in is, is niet alleen het maken van de meest fantastische harsh noise die ooit je oren heeft uitgespoten, maar ook in de gehele benadering ervan. In den beginne was het collectief allicht nog redelijk typisch voor de scene in de vroege jaren '80 (performance als belangrijk element, shockeren als doel) maar met het voortschrijden van de groep, wegvallen van leden en het conceptuele ontwikkelen is Hijokaidan verworden tot iets heel moois en puurs. Het is bijna ironisch dat Modern zo'n ontzettend luide, loeiharde plaat is - want in karakter is deze plaat juist gespeend van het toch wat (te?) gebruikelijke 'negatieve' karakter dat voor veel andere noise niet meer dan vanzelfsprekend is. Ik trek er even een relevant citaat bij (hier vandaan):

"Nick Cain, in The Wire Primers book, makes a notable point when discussing the work of Hijokaidan and Incapacitants, in that, contrary to many noise acts, their aesthetic is completely divorced from any context. Where Merzbow indulged first in fetishistic fantasies, and then in pro-environmental politicizing; or where Whitehouse and others deliberately looked to shock with violent imagery and provocative lyrics; or where Skullflower and Ramleh carry links to seventies' industrial or evocations of primordial deities/satanic rituals, the work of Toshiji Mikawa's two bands seem to take noise into the mundane, as evidenced by the banal artwork of Incapacitants' As Loud As Possible and Hijokaidan's Noise From Playing Cards."

De hoes van Modern is samengesteld uit allerhande persoonlijke foto's - Junko met grote zonnebril op de bank, het clubje op het strand, aan de eettafel met het zoontje van Mikawa, schaatsend en skiënd, uitgeteld na een honkbalwedstrijd in de kleedkamer. Binnenin een groepsfoto. Mikawa strak in het pak, het haar in de scheiding, en met schuchtere glimlach, Jojo in driedelig grijs en met bril bijna een professor (jaja, stereotype-alert), Junko in wit jurkje, glimmende panty en op hakken. Ik zei al: het is bíjna ironisch. Het mooie is: dat is het niet. Hijokaidan is heel puur, oprecht, eerlijk - '[they] take noise into the mundane' vind ik prettig geobserveerd ('banal artwork' heeft een wat negatieve bijsmaak imo, maar het is waar). Met een plaat als deze (maar ook met Romance, Windom, etc., en Incapacitants met nagenoeg hun hele discografie) tornt deze enclave aan de bijna inherente negativiteit van noise en laat zien dat het heel anders kan. Waarvoor zo, zo, zo veel hulde.

Ik heb me de laatste weken erg in Hijokaidan en Incapacitants verdiept, uren en uren naar hun noise geluisterd, interview na interview na liner notes na liner notes gelezen, en het beeld dat eruit oprijst heeft mijn visie op harsh noise bijna compleet veranderend. Deze noise is, en ik verzand weer even in Engels, waarvoor mijn excuus, life-affirming - positief, puur, oprecht in beginsel. Altijd al was noise, voor mij en ongetwijfeld vele anderen, cathartisch - zuiverend, een ervaring die je herboren doet voelen/zijn. Hijokaidan en Incapacitants hebben me echter geleerd dat noise niet zuiverend hoeft te zijn, maar zuiver kan zijn in beginsel, en dat vind ik eigenlijk veel mooier. Zuiverend gaat uit van een negatieve status quo, zuiver van een positieve. Modern is een, gaat-ie weer met zijn Engels, celebration of life. Het laat zien dat noise leven in al zijn facetten (ook de goede, mooie, leuke, ontroerende) kan weerspiegelen, complementeren, verrijken.

Het volgende citaat van Fumio Kosakai (Incapacitants, C.C.C.C.) uit de liner notes bij Box Is Stupid vat enigszins anekdotisch eigenlijk heel mooi samen waar de schoonheid van deze noise voor mij in zit:

"Incapacitants have recorded in the studio several times but to date our only rehearsal was that one time before the first gig. Normally our conversations take place over a few drinks, and the conversation naturally extend to music, new pieces of kit, recent gossip, grumbling about our daily lives, pro-wrestling, comedy, etc. We have almost never talked about the sonic concepts behind Incapacitants, or about the structures or artistic processes that underpin our sound. However, our wide-ranging conversations allow us to access each other's thoughts and provide feedback upon new ideas - and it is this process which consitutes practice for the group. I also believe there is something in our working methods that echoes MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer's assertion that their communication took place on the level of energy. Of course, we entirely lack his ability to synthesize the ideas into cool-sounding phrases."

Allow me to translate...

What Hijokaidan, along with, by the way, Incapacitant (not entirely coincidentally both with Toshiji Mikawa as a core member) is so briljant at is not only making the most fantastic harsh noise ever to have blown your ears out but also at the entire approach to it. Initially the collective may still have been fairly typical of the early 80s scene (performance as a key element, shock as a prime target) but as the group progressed, members were dropped and developed conceptually Hijokaidan became something very beautiful and pure. It's almost ironic that Modern is such as a loud, harsh-as-fuck album – because in character this album is free of the all (too?) common 'negative' character that is no more than natural for much other noise. Relevant quote:

"Nick Cain, in The Wire Primers book, makes a notable point when discussing the work of Hijokaidan and Incapacitants, in that, contrary to many noise acts, their aesthetic is completely divorced from any context. Where Merzbow indulged first in fetishistic fantasies, and then in pro-environmental politicizing; or where Whitehouse and others deliberately looked to shock with violent imagery and provocative lyrics; or where Skullflower and Ramleh carry links to seventies' industrial or evocations of primordial deities/satanic rituals, the work of Toshiji Mikawa's two bands seem to take noise into the mundane, as evidenced by the banal artwork of Incapacitants' As Loud As Possible and Hijokaidan's Noise From Playing Cards."

The cover for Modern is composed of various personal photographs – Junko with big sunglasses on the couch, the whole club down at the beach, at the dinner table with Mikawa's kid, ice skating and skiing, exhausted after a baseball match in the dressing room. On the inside a group photo. Mikawa in a fancy suit, hair combed down the sides, a shy smile on his face, Jojo in his gray three-piece suit and glasses on almost like a professor (stereotypes, I know), Junko in a white dress, shiny tights and on heels. Like I already said: it's almost ironic. The beautiful thing is: it isn't. Hijokaidan is very pure, frank, honest – I like the observation that "they take noise into the mundane" (though I feel that banal artwork sounds slightly too negative, but I guess it's true). With an album like this one (but also with Romance, Windom, etc., and Incapacitants with nearly their entire discography) this crew claws at the pretty much inherently negative character of noise and shows that things can be very different as well. For which they deserve all the praise in the world.

These last few weeks I've really delved into Hijokaidan and Incapacitants, listened to their noise for hours on end, read interview upon interview upon liner notes upon liner notes, and the image that arises from this all has almost completely changed my idea of harsh noise. This noise is (pardon my English [not such a great offence in the translation, hah!]) life-affirming – positive, pure, authentic at its core. Noise has always been, to me and doubtlessly so many others, cathartic – cleansing, an experience that makes you feel or be reborn. Hijokaidan and Incapacitants, however, have taught me dat noise doesn't need to be cleansing, but can clean in essence, and that to me is infinitely more beautiful. 'Cleansing' assumes a negative status quo, 'clean' a positive one. Modern is (English again [again :P]) a celebration of life. It shows that noise can enhance life in every aspect – including the good, beautiful, fun, touching ones.

The following quote from Fumio Kosaki (Incapacitants, C.C.C.C.) from the liner notes with Box Is Stupid somewhat anecdotally manages to capture the beauty of noise:

"Incapacitants have recorded in the studio several times but to date our only rehearsal was that one time before the first gig. Normally our conversations take place over a few drinks, and the conversation naturally extend to music, new pieces of kit, recent gossip, grumbling about our daily lives, pro-wrestling, comedy, etc. We have almost never talked about the sonic concepts behind Incapacitants, or about the structures or artistic processes that underpin our sound. However, our wide-ranging conversations allow us to access each other's thoughts and provide feedback upon new ideas - and it is this process which consitutes practice for the group. I also believe there is something in our working methods that echoes MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer's assertion that their communication took place on the level of energy. Of course, we entirely lack his ability to synthesize the ideas into cool-sounding phrases."

Sorry for the wall of text...

[Andrew McIntosh]

That's the vibe I get from Hijokaidan, and indeed Japanoise in general. NOISE as an ends in and of itself - Noise For It's Own Sake (or sake). Sure Masami has his barrows to push but in the listening it's still the pure sound that's the ends. And that's what I get, and love, from Japanoise. FUCK YOUR POLITICS AND ROCK!

[Ernpe]

Sewer Election - Närä lp - Actually quite a bore. Some nicely recorded thin electric sound with field recordings occasionally coming and going. I will definitely give it another try but by first listen, it doesn't have much focus.

Sewer Election - Vittra Sönder lp - Since Närä was a bit letdown, I decided to revisit the previous lp. A-side again nice little electric sound but this time with quite much junk etc falling over it. B-side long field recording with some acoustic sounds thrown into mix. Ends with increasing junk sounds. Not that much different than Närä lp but this time more focused, clearly better.

[Baglady]

PUNDARTUGG - C60 + ARGOT BRUIT - C90 (Styggelse)
Haven't seen the previous edition of this double tape release, but mine is simply two tapes in separate cases with j-cards. Don't know the quantity of this third (and last?) issue, but I'm certainly glad I picked it up at the Röset festival, along with a new reissue of the PILLER THRILLER comp as well.
It's alot of music for the money for sure. The contributions differ alot from eachother, and in a way I guess it's a very uneven compilation as a whole. On the other hand I really enjoy having something this varied playing while doing the daily chores at home. Having said that, I must say the tracks in themselves are overall very strong. Kakerlak delivers some really rough lovely stuff here. Joyous fuck-it-all noise! Mirrors Are Black is another highlight from the PUNDARTUGG tape; unlike the split with AoF, this is more in harsh noise territory, although of the more slower dragging kind with some really nice textures. Alfarmania deliver the goods too here; bleak stuff as expected but none the less enjoyable. Danger Hilton is an unknown name to me, good heavy pe.
The ARGOT BRUIT tape is a bit too long for me, but it definitely has its moments. Ochu, Bestializer, Regim(!), Cock Tribe and Treriksröset being the highlights for me, which is kind of sad since that's what I expected.  Solid material from Blådåre, Vehm and Clew Of Theseus too.

[ConcreteMascara]

wound up buying the Psycledelic CD on Discogs yesterday because the cover art really struck my fancy. Can't wait to listen to it and see how my memory stacks up against their recorded material.

It's good, but not best. It was first I heard, and I was kind of thinking "so this is Solmania?". Nowadays I appreciate it simply because its kind of.. odd? Not sure how to describe it best. But later days duo Solmania is certainly heavier and noisier.

Well received Psycledelic today in the mail along with Trembling Tongues. I'm digging Psycledelic and it's somewhat more laid back approach, but it's definitely not as heavy as Trembling Tongues. The last track on that one, "Sunshine Overdoze" is a total monster. Even though neither CD really captures the raw noise/energy of when I saw them live, I'm really digging the sounds and mood. I'll definitely be picking up more Solmania soon.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

There is Solmania box that has ... all the stuff? I tried to contact the label but no luck.

ANTERO VIPUNEN / EDGE OF DECAY split tape
SATR
Noise from eastern finland. Antero Vipunen has been said to be noisecore, and there is few minutes of sloppy noisecore too, but mostly its just kind of lo-fi gutter noise. EoD is pretty much similar category. Nothing fancy or too well done, but after 2 listenings, still kind of.. well, I like it, but nothing special.

WERTHAM "Lombroso II" tape
Corrosive Art
Much better than part 1! Italian power electronics, with good ways of composition and I can gladly comment that after hearing some other new material, it seems like band is improving still further!

Erik Enocksson  "Apan" LP
Release the bats
Was this some sort of soundtrack composer or do I remember incorrectly. Seems like release isn't too well cut. Lots of surface noise, in loud moments it seems to distort like cutting is ruined (rather than overdrive of tape). Some keyboard stuff is pretty close to Burzum keyboard music. Other times thinking of kraut or generic ambient works. Didn't like much of this. Mainly due dull quality of crackling sounds etc.

V/A PARAFLORALA - observationer - i ljud och ton - tape
Nice compilation of arty side of noise.  Someone called SEMILANCEATA starts and is very good, but perhaps RED ROOM is even better. KRÖKTA RUM and KRISTIAN OLSSON hit the home run as well and rest of the crew ain't bad either. Currently listening this second time today. Maybe rest will also open up better... Each artist is different. Some noisier, some more musical. Some are "just" loop music. Experimental music comp tape with neat silkscreened covers. Recommended!

[FreakAnimalFinland]

ATRAX MORGUE  "MECHANIC ASPHYXIA " 12"
Urashima
His "minimal" era. Not the last highly digital "No More" kind of stuff, but more like "Overcome" LP? Very minimal sound with vocals on top. Either clean or effected. One sider, with plastic bag etc.

ATRAX MORGUE  "PATHOGENESIS # ONE " 7"+booklet
Urashima
Two tracks pulled from two compilation tapes and pressed on 7".. hmm.. Perhaps not absolute necessity, as one could have made comp LP with more tracks. Nice collage booklet. Two original photos. Printed cards/transparency. Good stuff.

PRURIENT "History of AIDS" LP
Hospital
While this is good, I don't see it perhaps that worthy of praise as the absolute best of Prurient are. Feedback/vocals, rumbling bassy frequencies. Still survives the test of time, though!

MILOVAN SRDENOVIC "Colour the bears" LP
Freedom From
hmm... oddities. Noisy, yet not noise. Lots of vocals, but not aggressive. Just weird stuff. Probably closer to hip hop than noise, but then again, does it have anything to do with hip hop? No. Vocal based eccentric anti-muzak.

CONTAGIOUS ORGASM "daft jarring effects" LP
Multi National Disaster Records
2002 recordings put out 2006. Quite sucky. Too bad this amazing band turned to much much less exciting stuff. Techno. Kraut. Goofy sound collages. Some sort of beat music. All the 80's and 90's dark and industrial vibes are gone...

DIE TÖDLICHE DORIS "Die Uber-Doris" LP
VOD
spoken word over hippie soundtrack-esque music. One side german, one side english. Art music from old times. Barely worth the 45rpm playtime..

WOLF EYES / SMEGMA "the beast" LP
Two famous names, one less famous jam.