PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[Cranial Blast]

K2 & Dead Body Love - Traumantra (Tribe Tapes, reissue)

I'm enjoying this one a lot. A great variety of sounds on the first track. And even though it's DBL source material, it feels very much like K2 in the best way. The second track is fierce power electronics, which I wasn't expecting. I agree, this is the best track on the release. I would love to hear a whole album in this style, extremely good and harsh. Then DBL closes it out with a really harsh metal maelstrom of K2 source material. This album delivered and was exactly what I was hoping it would be.

I've also been enjoying the Confounder debut CD, which is also on Tribe Tapes. It's fantastic turntable and cassette destruction. I've spun that one a few times already. It's very "rickety".  I think this would appeal to the folks who enjoy H.O.H. and similar artists.

I haven't heard Confounder CD yet, but sounds very interesting, especially how you described it as sounding "rickety". Definitely really like H.Ö.H. A lot, so definitely will have to check this one out.

[k.p.g]

These work from home days really up my love and patience to digest a lot of releases in one sitting.  So sorry to anyone who follows this thread and has their notifications blown up by just me. 

I'm actually curious if listening while working is your usual mode for taking in noise releases. Do you ever feel you're missing things? To me, noise (and most of the other more experimental types of music I listen to) has to be a very "active" listening experience. Nothing but sitting in a chair with headphones/speakers and absolutely no distractions so I can concentrate on every element of the sound. I can never listen to it while working. I just want to focus on the music, and not at all on the task at hand, so work/gym usually listening is typically metal/electronic or something where I don't have that issue.

Not dogging you for it at all. I almost wish I COULD listen throughout the workday, as I'd be able to get through a lot more things!

I listen to noise in both "active" and "inactive" states of being.  I would say the most inactive listening is when I am at my chair in the office.  I can zone out about quite often, but that is usually when I accompany it with "zoner" noise, i.e. Olson/Michigan crew style.  When I work from home, I find things to be pretty active anyways, as I am not just at the computer, but also cleaning the house, preparing meals, etc.  The noise pairs well with it.

Some noise works for me on driving too, but never at the gym.  No noise at the gym.

[k.p.g]

Carousel - Awakened Spirits of Ancient Mischief (Chocolate Monk)

Last summer, I went out to Portland, Oregon to go visit my friend from high school.  We have worked a lot on noise on and off over the years, so when I suggested the idea of seeing a show while I was in town, he was more than down with it.  It would be here that I met Shane for the first time, and thus became aware of the Carousel project.  It would not be until this moment tonight that I would hear what it was all about though.

Wow - what a record!

This feels like a tape player exploding in front of a shipyard.  So much movement and kneejerk editing that your head might fall off from trying to follow it all.  Fans of weirdo tape music and energetic harsh noise will not be disappointed.  I find myself bobbing with enthusiasm just typing this out right now.  Fuckin' hell, Shane, bravo.  As of now, this one stands firmly at the top of my "best records of 2025" list.  I cannot wait for what comes next.  Go grab this from Chocolate Monk right now, even if it breaks the bank a little...

[k.p.g]

Carousel - Summer Wine (Bud Tapes)

Continuing from last night's listen with this tape from Carousel.  Despite moving at a slower and more meditative pace, this tape contains plenty of high-flying tape skirts and skips all around it.  Perhaps this was done with the intention of "hey, it's gonna be a tape, I have to make even sides."  We've all been there before.  Still good stuff.  I enjoy the air to breathe on Shane's part here.  It gives me the chance to appreciate some more of the stereo field's range of sounds.  Tons of squirms and squelches fading in and out.

[k.p.g]

Diagram:A - Untitled (Ultra Sound Probe Transducer)
Revisiting this tape that came out earlier in the year this morning after receiving some very good news; Dan will be releasing a new Concrete Bug tape on the label later this year.  Excited for that!  But back to this here one - good way to ease into morning activities of listening and baking, as it moves at a slow, creeping pace.  Synths are oozing all over, but have more restraint that previous titles I have heard from Diagram:A.  Packaging for this new round of Sound Probe is also top notch.

Goldenrod - Fuck You All (Industrial Recollections, reissue)
Wasn't exactly thrilled to hear someone say "fuck you" and "kill yourself" this morning, but that's just Aussie affection for you!  Got this reissue from Roemer about a year ago and never got around to popping it in.  Listening now; much murkier than I was expecting, at least for being something Macro is involved in.  I have never listened to Streicher before this, so maybe it's standard for that project.  Gonna see where this one goes.  My bread is almost done baking at least.
UPDATE: This disc sadly takes a while to pick up any steam.  By the time it does, I was not very interested anymore.  One of the less essential titles from the prolific Pittsburgh crew.

[k.p.g]

Macronympha - Baroque (Industrial Recollections, reissue)
After the Goldenrod CD, I needed to wash it down with a little more power from Pittsburgh.  It had been some time since I put Baroque on, so into the CD tray it went.  While it does not rank near the top of my list for best Macro titles, I do find a lot of the looping and live band work to be interesting.  Other titles might have more variation, but Baroque bludgeons you in such a way that only Americanoise could

Merzbow - Rainbow Electronics (Alchemy Records)
Happy to say I own this original disc with the OBI strip still intact; cool piece of history.  One question while listening to this is "did Merzbow seriously never smoke weed?  Is he some sort of Zappa-type where his music has such psychedelic qualities without the direct influence of them?"  The range of sounds present here is something I forget about when I take time away from listening to it.  You go from harsh electronics to murk tape to even some... drumming?  Yeah, the drumming is still my favorite part of the record admittedly.  It's difficult to ever execute drums in noise, but Masami finds a way.  There is definitely a reason this stays at the top of my Merzbow list.

[Krigsverk]

ROTAT / EDGE OF DECAY "Caveman Jenkem" CD (FA)

Really nice collaborative effort. Harsh and noisy as expected, divided into two long tracks. Very nice textures and blend of elements, especially the sounds that reminds me of chains in glass bottles. This is one of those albums that you can just "get in the zone" to when listening, your mind wanders in the junky chaos.

MASS HYSTERIA CD (FA)

Another nice collaborative effort! One long ever changing chunk of noise. There is stuff happening all the time, and I am trying to pinpoint who made what sounds in the maelstrom of harshness - an impossible task. It shares a lot of qualities with the EOD/Rotat CD I just listened to, same vibe, but maybe a bit more crushing at times. Another hit. Also bonus points for the beautiful artwork - amazingly haunting imagery.


V/A "NEVER SAY WHEN" CD (Fourth Dimension Records)
Reissue of classic 1987 Broken Flag tape. A bit more "soft" and less confrontational than I expected, but still a good solid classic compilation.

[whiteheatnoise]

Macronympha - Baroque (Industrial Recollections, reissue)
After the Goldenrod CD, I needed to wash it down with a little more power from Pittsburgh.  It had been some time since I put Baroque on, so into the CD tray it went.  While it does not rank near the top of my list for best Macro titles, I do find a lot of the looping and live band work to be interesting.  Other titles might have more variation, but Baroque bludgeons you in such a way that only Americanoise could

Interesting take on Baroque as I feel it has quite a bit more variation than a lot of other Macronympha from around this time period. I always saw it as a collection of all of their styles. What other albums do you think have more variation out of curiosity? I'd like to listen to them and compare.

[k.p.g]

I always saw it as a collection of all of their styles. What other albums do you think have more variation out of curiosity? I'd like to listen to them and compare.

So funny enough, I just had this discussion with another noise enthusiast over lunch.  Think I need to clarify where this take comes from: I think Baroque has some exciting moments with the sampling of live band music, but also contains a lot more passive passages than say Grind, Crack or even Relentless Agony.  Those ones stay moving, and the action rarely halts.  That is thanks to a lot of the stereo work and pacing of those records.  Those are really the areas Baroque are lacking in for me (as opposed to variation).  It often sounds like it is single sound sources jumping back and forth; some amazing, others just lo-fi passages that drag a little.  Pacing is a little random; so if you are not into a particular portion of a noise record, you may find yourself being taken out of the experience.  Even if there is a later part that catches your attention, matching that initial investment you may have had may be lost at that point. I found that happen a few times throughout Baroque, so I can't help but put it into my middle tier of classic Macro.

And to finish on another note, I think that Ongoing Orgasm was another one I remember having some pretty weird passages, albeit not as moving as the other 3 I listed above.

[k.p.g]

MXM - Flesh-Biting Paedophiles (Industrial Recollections, reissue)
Dinner time entry to continue the Macro theme today.  This one is pretty damn devastating.  I am assuming this one was a mail collab/each side is the one act mixing the other's source.  A-Side gave this away, as it has that signature Pittsburgh crunch in spades.  B-Side has a lot more screeching synth going on.  That crunch eventually comes back to pulverize by the end.  Magnificent; wish it went on a little longer.

[k.p.g]

Someone That Has Left Earth - Profane Illumination Through Prolific Intoxication (self-released)
One-off alias of psychman Kyle Flanagan before bed.  I remember getting this one during the last time I saw him living in NYC & he described it as "the thing [he is] most proud of making."  I think I can see why.  Tape is a really great representation of what Kyle's approach to noise is all about; lush synth drone, eerie scraps of metal & tape murk galore.  Great way to end the night.

[k.p.g]

Macronympha - Grind (Influencing Machine, reissue)
Yeah, classics stay classic.  It has been some years since listening to this one, and I am stoked. Noticing new sounds that did not register the first time.  It is so great when a record can do that for you.  It's like falling in love with it all over again.  Particularly enjoyed the section of screaming and raw metal bashing on "All the Nice Surrealists Love a Necrophiliac."  Pure, unadulterated joy.

[HateSermon]

Magnetic Tape Mouth Gag [IOPS 2019]
Melty and saturated cassette sound worship at its finest. Those into tape music should grab this. All signals force fed through front-jack of stereo, or at least that's my theory on how this was recorded. Side A starts off more reserved with big filter sweeps and ends on a more harsh tone. Side B has more variation with junk metal, high pitch squeal, and low end rumbling assault. But what's great is that all these sounds merge together so it isn't so obvious as to what's going on. A good example of how the tape recorder itself can be the instrument. Anonymous project but I have my suspicions.

[k.p.g]

Deterge - QFT (Fusty)
Deterge - Anoint (Fusty)
Two Deterge titles I dug up while going through my "envelopes & bags" box today.  Always excited to hear some Deterge, as Jim has proven himself to be a man not bound by rules & regulations in this project.  That is always a plus for any noise I hear. 
QFT shows the project in its primal form, delivering some very lo-fi PE.  It may be short, but that doesn't mean it won't pack a punch.  Seems like some attributes of this tape have stuck with the project to this day. Most notable are fairly indecipherable vocals, which are kind of my favorite style in the context of PE.  The voice becomes an instrument this way.  Jim has continued this style across releases through both mixing and pitch shifting, and I enjoy both instances.
Anoint comes a few years later, and now we have the collage art style I associate so often with Fusty.  My dub is a little heavy on the left channel, but it still is cutting through clear enough for me to rock out.  Longer form PE, with a lot more action going on than QFT.  I think I even heard some death metal riff being looped somewhere in there?  Talk about stickin' it to religion.  Rock 'n roll.

[Theodore]

Someone That Has Left Earth - Profane Illumination Through Prolific Intoxication (self-released)
One-off alias of psychman Kyle Flanagan before bed.  I remember getting this one during the last time I saw him living in NYC & he described it as "the thing [he is] most proud of making."  I think I can see why.  Tape is a really great representation of what Kyle's approach to noise is all about; lush synth drone, eerie scraps of metal & tape murk galore.  Great way to end the night.

Tape ? Then he reissued it recently on CDR https://easyridersnoise.bigcartel.com/product/someone-that-has-left-earth-profane-illumination-through-prolific-intoxication-cdr . Have a copy sitting in a built-order from S&W. Blind buy pretty much, although i made a guess.