PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[Balor/SS1535]

(1) You are in for a great show when you see him---I'm assuming with support from the new female vocalist?  I've only seen Eric play in what he would consider "subpar" conditions (sound systems not up to his expectations, sick partners), but everything has sounded amazing to me.

(2) I think Eric's vocals are underappreciated.  I feel like people have the expectation of hardcore-adjacent vocals given the project's history rather than the strange alien screeches that he does, but I think they are much more experimental in the realm of noise that they are given credit for.  That, plus the space-noise, makes for a very unique project overall.  I don't think there is anything else quite like it!

(1) This will be my second time seeing him!  First time was solo, and very great.  It's in NYC, which makes me uncertain of whether the female vocalist will be present.  Doesn't matter though, as long as Eric is manning the Trog.

(2) I think it's hard to say that anyone sounds even remotely close to Wood in the vocal department.  Call it an age thing though, but I feel like the structure of his vocals is slightly more predictable than in the past.  You start with the death growl, followed by some alien screech, and then BAM! rallying battle cry.  Again, very unique, but seems to be formulaic in the current BN era.  Older releases were just fucking all over the place in the best way possible.

This is all to say, I am very excited.

I think he had 8 Trogotronic synths running at the last show (several looked customized, naturally).  I agree with the somewhat formulaic approach.  As I think others have mentioned in the Bastard Noise thread here, Eric really seems to have settled into a "sound" for the project.  In a way, that makes him less experimental, but it also means that he has something concrete to offer to audiences and other artists---which is why I find the collaboration projects that he has done recently pretty interesting.

Hopefully it's at a venue where you can get up close!

[Minus1]

Trance - Ancient History.

3 tracks / 72+min. All live, 91-92, which represents the earliest period of Trance. The 3rd track is with Hijo.

Mason Jones supplies some enlightening notes to all of this. John Wiese masters.

Dare I say - this has a "jazzy" feel? I mean, there's a harsh whirlwind throughout, but certain shifting dynamics of a lot of this give me late-Coltrane vibes. (This probably makes no sense and Mason might slap me if he read it.) It's not a knock! This is compelling work.