Final Solution "Half/Dead" reissue CS (Der Bunker, 2018)
Where were you on September 11th, 2001? What could I say about this release that hasn't already been said? A mandatory reissue for one of the primary releases in PE et al. The demo tracks from 1990 are all the more vicious knowing the life circumstances and substances that went into them. My copy prior to this was a third-generation dub with Half/Dead on one side and (I think) most of Pain Demo(n)s on the other – probably on an already-worn tape because this reissue is either at the correct speed or master tapes were cleaned up a bit. Sounds great either way but nice to have it how it's really supposed to be here. Only complaints would be "Bloodbath" and "Cum O.D." Never thought the Ramleh-style delay worked for them and that these tracks were live-only for a reason.
Guido Gamboa "2018:" CS (Regional Bears, 2018)
Huh, a real head-scratcher by an artist whose introductory LP swept me away; guess it's hard to follow up such a killer album so why even play in the same ballpark? We get a similar collaged approach, but with incredibly detailed electronics and some strange voice and computer voice work in addition to the field recordings – possibly some snippets of piano and synthesizer as well. Some quiet, almost glitchy minimalist sections each side that sort of threw me off but worked great on headphones. I don't even really know how to describe this or guess at how the description or track titles even hint at the content. The artist himself tells me his next work will be something "like a radio play." I can't imagine, frankly. A talented sound worker who moves forward.
Leif Brush "Stitched Phenomena" CS (Pentiments, 2017)
"Multi-year" layered recordings of homemade electroacoustic devices and synthesizers attuned to natural phenomena, which is sometimes included in naked tape fashion in the mixes. Two long-form pieces with more diversity than most modern experimental artists achieve. As impressive as these recordings are, I think seeing the process would be even more so. To give a more specific idea, I once read Aaron Dilloway's description of Emeralds as something like a stoned Ultra outtake from the '80s Flaam/Heemann/Carlson era. Well, I've never heard Emeralds, but that description could apply here. Surprising twists and details in long-form pieces that are as much drone and musique concrete as they are collaged, non-music unclassifiable sound art. Seductive, lush, and oddly dark at times.
Matthew Sullivan "M.O." CS (self-released, 2018)
I really don't know much about this guy except that he works in contemporary experimental styles often with Sean McCann these days, since doing his own more noisy kind of stuff a while back. Frankly I've not heard anything else. But I love this kind of thing, what we get here: long-form, singular field recordings. The latter ten minutes of the first side (C80 length!) are some kind of bell-like synth but otherwise...trickling water, gravel, walking to a rural airport or bus depot? Part of a bus ride (kids singing)? Eavesdropped conversation? Second side has some high-pitched synthesizer tone for a few minutes followed by a very long recording of various size planes arriving at taking off at again, what sounds like a small airport. I can't explain to anyone why they should listen to this but if you like this type of thing you'd enjoy this.
Troy Schafer "The Mailman" CS (1.8 sec, 2018)
Went in blind because this said something about "spoken word" and had the Sesame Street/Muppets-type cover art – "what could this be?" Ended up sounding sort of like it looks – very odd experimental music with narration in a female voice that almost sounds computer-generated. I don't know what "vaporwave" is, but I imagine it sounding something like this. Sort of pleasant and disturbing, has this children's media vibe to it but obviously isn't intended for children.
Concrete Mascara "Decay Sequence" CS (Unrest, 2018)
I really love the overloaded, broken sound that they achieve while managing not to push everything to the limit from the beginning. I'm not sure how pleased anyone might be with the comparison, but I see a similarity to Krieg's "Destruction Ritual" – psychotic, screamed vocals and mentally-ill atmosphere. In addition to their steady improvement and refinement, the recordings seem more claustrophobic than ever, perfect saturation for quality headphones and tape format. Forgot how minimal their sound can be, one of the very few that pull off vocals where I can't understand one syllable. I assume the way/format in which their stuff is recorded is integral which I think is essential in PE post-WH/GO/etc. My favorite part is the finger-on the-cable rhythm on side B.
Bummed that the PO hasn't delivered my copy of Boat Of "Forbidden Mourning Practice" yet. Possibly looking forward to that one most of all aside as I genuinely can't imagine what it even sounds like, at all.
