Speaking of which, more sounds from Wealth Of Abuse:
Deviant Report "Volume I" single-sided C32
Minibrute PE! In all seriousness, this stuff basically sounds like it was recorded with a Minibrute, maybe a sampler, and maybe a multi-effect delay/echo pedal. Doesn't sound like there is much distortion, but more like tape saturation...excellent. Provides a dirtier, less "standard" approach to roughing up the sound that pedals don't often deliver. If this stuff is the result of a distortion pedal, I can't tell which kind. The actual synthesizer sounds are really nicely varied, with more percussive, beat-like rhythmic sections overlaid with high-end tones, tasty droning, and some really sexy-sounding wet, quiet static textures that seem to be making a "comeback" in power electronics. Another pleasant aspect is that although samples are the primary driving factor of the tracks, they're not simply overlaid narration like so many projects do, including myself. Instead, they are effected with echo and delay, as to replace the vocals in tracks that don't have them. The vocals, however, are more varied, using a whispered voice, a distant shout/scream, and a calmer, "speaking" delivery. They add to the composition of the tracks, and lend a musical element, due to the fact that only one word or two might be distinguishable throughout. Overall, despite the fact that such a project dealing with sexual subject matter is nothing new or innovative, Deviant Report seems to succeed where I was underwhelmed by Roases - more cohesive pieces, more advanced use of synthesizer, more interesting vocals, and overall presence of structure rather than free-form rage. If obligated to draw comparisons, I'd say Nicole 12 and Deathpile are the only projects that immediately come to mind, which is not at all bad. However, I still think this project also has room for improvement - for example, I would really enjoy hearing a longer tape, with more obvious separation between tracks. This, in my opinion, would "open up" possibilities in the sound of the project by alternating instrumental, vocal-driven, and sample-oriented tracks which would be more memorable and distinctive if presented in such a manner. For fans of PE with sexual subject matter, or for those who simply require a more "musical" approach, similar to late-80s/early-90s Whitehouse or early Genocide Organ, I think this would not disappoint. Definitely a project I will follow the progression of.
(As a side-note on presentation and aesthetics, I will say the project is really promising - the artwork and simple layout reminds me of early Mauthausen Orchestra or Aquilifer Sodality tapes, with the cartoon-bondage artwork collages. However, given the fact that the tracks are laid out as shorter sections of side-long pieces, also much like the early MO tapes, I would have released the two volumes together as separate sides of one tape, rather than as two single-sided alternate tapes. I'm assuming this was a measure to ensure an even break or profit, being that there just isn't much logic when considering short tracks repeating on the other side. Personally, I would've liked to see track titles or divided sections in the J-card, that perhaps suggested the source of some of the samples.)
Deviant Report "Volume II" single-sided C32
More simplistic perversions from Wealth Of Abuse: this time around, things kick into gear immediately, rather than building, in reference to the first tape. The initial track begins with a fluttering high-end drone, which introduces some white noise washes and an echo/reverb effect, giving way to an echoed sample. The overall atmosphere is not unlike early Ramleh, in that the sounds are haunting, droning, and cerebral, rather than in-your-face loud/brutal/violent like SJ or Whitehouse. This simple, almost linear approach, is really pleasing to my basic "template" of PE preferences, but is one more reason why the two tapes should've been condensed into one. In the following movement of the first track, either a second sample or a vocal section is introduced once the white noise takes over in terms of presence in the background. The sound of the echo and reverb on the vocals/sample is so saturated and thick that it lends a psychedelic, strange quality, again reminding me of Ramleh - I just haven't heard other Power Electronics which strive consistently toward that kind of atmosphere.
After this section makes way for another sample, a fluttering high-end "stereotypical" PE tone gains in volume over a subtle, keyboard-like drone, fading out to "broken" sounding static textures that interact with laser-like high end, again recalling mid-period Whitehouse-style electronics and effects. That's to say, almost entirely rejecting a "brutal" sound in favor of a more foreboding one, like the albums following Great White Death. So far, these instrumental sections are my favorite aspects of Deviant Report's sound - PE that makes for a relaxing, enjoyable experience (I really don't care if I am "supposed" to enjoy it or not). The background drones which hum and reverberate have a quality to them that is almost jealousy-inducing in terms of effectiveness; the fly-buzz/mosquito-like tonal quality of some of the drones recalls GISM's industrial tracks from the MAN LP and the treble-heavy guitar tone from the Detestation LP. Altogether good shit that I very much enjoy, though would appreciate much more if presented efficiently - these tracks would work better paired against the tracks from the first tape, without a doubt.
In short, I definitely like Deviant Report, perhaps most of any Wealth Of Abuse/All Dead project I've heard so far. But, like most of the other projects I've heard, my eyes and ears are peeled for new releases which showcase a bit of improvement - in this case, a full-length, more balanced, and organized tape would probably hit the spot, one with more tracks showcasing the actual vocals, and samples which are slightly less drenched in effects, as not to remove some of their disturbing/tasty quality. Knowing exactly what is being discussed in such samples might prove more effective, being that the project is called Deviant Report. Anyway, I'll definitely follow this project closely, as well as Roases and Menacing '84.
