TAC - Back To, Not Front (Tribe Tapes)
I am not the most knowledgeable on the work of TAC, but what I have heard is great. You can add this release to that list. As the label put it, this release is not just some cobbled collections of odds 'n ends, but rather a piecing of forgotten material that contains the flow and power of a real album. Feel like that is pretty much the case, no need to praise it much there.
What I do have to praise though is the sound palette itself. Again, not being the biggest TAC fanatic, I found myself amazed by how little I was able to comprehend here. Messing around with tapes, turntables and field recordings should feel easier to pick out, but outside of the last track (which I am pretty sure is just the artist walking around town or something), I found most of the runtime having me say "how is he doing that?" I hear looping cardboard, broken radiators, domestic bliss. It's all very good.
Jeph Jerman - Keep the Drum (Concussion Solos) (New Forces, reissue)
Found myself falling asleep to this clang 'n clatter the other night. You would think a record comprised of banging on pipes and bones would make for more of a daytime listen. At a low enough volume though, it makes for a pretty nice ambiance!
Atrophist - The Happiest Country on Earth (Tribe Tapes)
Now this is a record I have been waiting to publicly discuss. Max gave me a copy a while back to listen, and first time around I thought "wow, this is some really great stuff." Now over this weekend, it received 3 plays in the CD player. And I come back around to it thinking "it gets better every time!"
To break it down, we can simply start at the artwork. It's very pleasant on the eyes; tons of bright colors at play. I especially look at the disc art and smile. Reminds me of one family photo I used to see hung up around the house of me and my sibling as children in Germany. I think it has to do with similar color palette.
Now on the end of sound, this disc opens up with some chatter between a few unknown voices before it launches into this very crude brand of harsh noise. Rarely is there a moment of bliss to be had, but this is also not your Merzbow brand of harsh noise. It's far cruder, very lo-fi and very patient in its movement. Sometimes, certain squeals/tones remain unbroken for several minutes on end. Tension does not lead to anxiety, but rather a trance state. When they do break, I take a big sigh and say "YES."
Excellent stuff; highest recommendation.
