PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[k.p.g]

Mistletoe - Azoth (Amphibious Folk Art)
A nice 60 minutes from Mr. Pyle to bookend a long and cold day yesterday.  It only felt right with the snow coming down from my bedroom window.  Less PE here, more out there synth musings.  Glad John has made the effort to reissue older material under this new label name.

Andrew Coltrane - Recycled (RRR)
When the opportunity arises to get a deleted Recycled title, I snap on it.  This one is a pretty standard affair from the artist; a lot of harsh looping, harsh noise and the occasional sax skronk.  If Mistletoe help lull me to sleep last night, then Coltrane is definitely helping me wake up this morning.

[k.p.g]

Confounder - Recycled (RRR)
What I assume is the latest entry into one of noise's most storied and important series.   This is a strictly turntable affair that never gets too harsh, but always stays weird.  With such a live feel to it, the control of lock grooves and sound transitions feels very intentional.  It is a solid tape that serves as a good introduction for anyone looking to get into the project before several more releases come out.

Sewer Election - Sweet Distractions (iDEAL Recordings)
Newest Sewer Election came out yesterday, and I decided to give it a go.  I have to say that in hindsight, the last few solo releases under this name have not done it for me.  Appreciate the experimentation that Dan always puts out there, but some sounds will land better than others for people.  So expectations were not particularly high here; happy that is the case now.  I ended up loving this disc.  The decaying tape sound is one that Sewer Election that has proven to be more than capable of shining with, and Sweet Distractions takes it to zones of bittersweet melody.  Similar to the tape mentioned above, the recording feels live, but the control of sound and transitions makes it feel like this was a composed piece.  Maybe it was.  I am not sure.  I just want a physical copy of this disc.  Sold out from the label so I have to keep my eye out on distros.  With how dreary it is out by me, a second listen could be in order.

[Svartvit]

Sewer Election - Sweet Distractions (iDEAL Recordings)
Newest Sewer Election came out yesterday, and I decided to give it a go.  I have to say that in hindsight, the last few solo releases under this name have not done it for me.  Appreciate the experimentation that Dan always puts out there, but some sounds will land better than others for people.  So expectations were not particularly high here; happy that is the case now.  I ended up loving this disc.  The decaying tape sound is one that Sewer Election that has proven to be more than capable of shining with, and Sweet Distractions takes it to zones of bittersweet melody.  Similar to the tape mentioned above, the recording feels live, but the control of sound and transitions makes it feel like this was a composed piece.  Maybe it was.  I am not sure.  I just want a physical copy of this disc.  Sold out from the label so I have to keep my eye out on distros.  With how dreary it is out by me, a second listen could be in order.

Probably to do with the fact that if I remember correctly this recording was made in 2007. It made me listen to Kassettmusik again, incredible stuff.

[k.p.g]

Anxiety Star - Blackstone Blood Star (self-released)
I received a tape in the mail from the artist last weekend, not remembering it was coming my way.  Great tape that can hypnotize you with its use of field recordings.  Thought it was legitimately raining outside my window at one point.  I think it repeats on both sides, but I was just in that late night sleep haze that I couldn't tell ya one way or the other.  This kind of tape is perfect for that.

Mallard Theory - Duckrage (Pube Provisional Society)
Noise's favorite creature of an avian variety is ANGRY.  HIS RAGE CANNOT BE CONTAINED.  I have been thinking this since the split CD with Hand & Knee came out a few months ago, but I think now is the time that Mallard Theory really comes into a rare form of noise mastery.  Each release of his that has come my way in the last year or so has felt like a "level up" of sorts.  It is not just mindless, pedal-smashing noise here.  Each track feels like it moves with purpose.  Live track on Side B was my favorite.  I am really looking forward to more ducks in my life.

Detergent - Borax Five Families (Hospital Productions)
Had to retrieve this tape from my dad's old house, as the label shipped out after the place had sold and before I remembered to update my address on Paypal.  Thankfully the new homeowners did not inquire what "Hospital Productions" is or anything; interesting topic to have around a loving family of 3.
As for the actual tape though, I think it has an interesting place in the Deterge catalogue.  While this project is never one to shy away from experimentation, more desolate soundscapes and beat-driven sections feel isolated from the rest of the project's output.  Perhaps they could have been Laureate ideas that made their way to here.  The B-Side doesn't let you dwell on that too much though, as it kicks off with a SURGE of nasty power electronics grit.  Trying to understand the motives of this guy never really ends well, so I just will enjoy the ride.  And if Jim ends up reading this, I went with Blue Tide again.

[Krigsverk]

BIRTHDEATH - Live In Stockholm 2024! (Self released CDR, 33 copies)

An awesome dose of angry PE. Not much of rhythm or anything of that sort, more a full harsh noisy blast of synths and feedback with intense processed vocals on top and a good oppressive atmosphere. If this guy just would get his thumb out of his ass and actually record some more stuff... recommended! Should still be available for purchase over at topfiverecords.se   

[Tribe Tapes]

Emil Beaulieau - Damaged + Destroyed CD [2004 / 2025, Freak Animal]
Straightforward harsh release from America's greatest. Turntable work is completely non-musical on this release, owing up to the name it's all damaged + destroyed sounds.

Richard Ramirez - Tracking Device CD [2003 / 2025, Freak Animal]
Very surreal loop work and atmospheric moments as opposed to constant blast of RR noise. Was produced and mixed by Rotten Piece, and indeed has similarities in style.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

There is also error in discogs. Emil Beaulieau was not "reissue" when it came out. Thing was that it was sent to RRR to be released, and due small edition of 200 meant RRR would not get as many as there would have been use for, he made the CDR edition that has the complete session, including couple tracks that are not on FA's CD. That is how I remember it, and CD is "original", CDR is "2nd edition". Not that it matters really.

With Ramirez CD, I have been always curious how big was the input of Rotten Piece in this. If you judge by the sound, the difference with his usual stuff, it does seems like RP role is big, but I do not know is it. Someone making RR interview could ask about it one day!

[k.p.g]

Grunt - Recycled (RRR)
Crude & Rude - tons of aggression throughout this one.  Rip on YouTube was sufficive enough for now until I unpack my tapes at the new digs.

Cock Scene Investigators - Stolen Public Toilets (Trash Ritual)
It is crude, but lacks the rude that I was hoping for.  It isn't bad, but isn't exactly an LP I would keep my eyes peeled for.  I know that a recent live incarnation of this group had Slacking involved, and I would love to hear that lineup record.  I think it would make for more than a serviceable follow up to this. 

[k.p.g]

Japanese Torture Comedy Hour - Recycled (RRR)
Japanese Torture Comedy Hour/Muzumuzu - Split Audio Fuck (Chaotic Noise Productions)
Various Artists - An Evening of Serious Noise (RRR/Statutory Tape)

Exploring the many sides of this confounding New England unit.  There are some serious players in this unit who have gone on to do serious damage elsewhere in music, and the PURE disc is one I can comfortably call my favorite noise album of all time at this point.  The rest of their discography is a tad bit spotty though, as is often the case with collectives that let members float in and out between releases as they please.  As a result, the couple of listens here have been an interesting few hours to sift through.

Recycled tape is a good mix of "audio experiments," harsh noise blasts and noisecore.  Perfectly good entry into this seris.  Not my favorite by any means, but very good; B Side especially.  There are some hints of what two of these guys would go onto do in Agoraphobic Nosebleed with the drum machine.  Sounds like some of the "live band" parts could have been rehearsal for the Serious Noise set.

The split with Muzumuzu sees the project in its infancy.  It's raw, primal and has some goofy sections that do not land whatsoever (see: jamming over "Mr. Sandman").  It is by no means a polished product, but how often is the first thing an artist releases?  Better artists have certainly debuted with worse, and I can appreciate the tape murk adding to the filth of this thing.

The set on An Evening of Serious Noise is probably the weakest recording in this bunch.  Starts off extremely strong with one of the most powerful breakdown riffs I have heard in my life, and then basically devolves from there.  Some "noise" sections have cool use of feedback, but also have the issue of drums cutting in.  I hate drummers who don't know what the fuck to do when noise is being done in a band setting.  Please don't start hitting the kick or doing the "random" fill here and there.  It is annoying. 

When this group locks in, they reeeeealllllllyyyy lock in.  Other releases not played today show that (see: the split with Lockweld).  These ones have those moments aplenty, but also have plenty sounds of "young dudes dickin' around."  I appreciate hearing those now though with so many years of listening to noise, as we have all been there.  We tried silly things that made us laugh in the moment, and maybe didn't age well.  Embrace them, it's fun!
 

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Grunt - Recycled (RRR)
Crude & Rude - tons of aggression throughout this one.  Rip on YouTube was sufficive enough for now until I unpack my tapes at the new digs.

I may have mentioned it before, this tape has one side material that did not fit to Seer of decay CD (acoustic noise disc) but was recorded in same sessions, and the other side is live 2004, Turku, warm up for Genocide Organ. That show didn't go as planned, but when not seeing all what fails, audio sounded decent nevertheless. Soundcheck was vastly better, though.

Been going through HYDRA 3xCD set. Great. It is that nice feeling when you got the old school C-60 tape release, that is not all god, but neither crap. Somewhat relaxed feel of just putting things in, to get both sides full. This is different from "LP albums", different from short and coherent tapes. Sometimes this "C-60" or "C-90" era of releases meant tapes somehow emerged.. so to say.

[k.p.g]

Pain Compliance - Paralyzed By Life Itself (Easy Listening)
Knox Mitchell doing noise wall ala The Cherry Point/Rita style?  Have to admit I did not see it coming.  There is more movement than your average noise wall of the modern age, but its length can make itself apparent at times with how crushing it is.

Panicker - A Gift From Me to You (self-released)
Private run tape that goes all in on the theme of having some holiday spirit.  God damn it, we need more holiday spirit!!
That aside, it is a great tape for an artist just starting out.  Tons of tape involved, and just the right amount of oscillator fuckery.  Sitting at just about 10-11 minutes is also great, as I tend to think that many new artists just have the urge to dump everything they recorded for the first time out into the world.  Panicker shows great restraint by being selective here with only his best stuff.

Richard Ramirez - Tracking Device (Freak Animal)
Had to pop the CD in before I pack it up.  I have already talked about it recently, and my feelings have not changed since; a great outlier from the usual Ramirez sound.