Dead Door Unit - Trap Doors/Forbiden Tunnels (2022)
Listening to Dead Door Unit for the first time as a humble homage to KPG's presence on this board, and let's see, it seems really great. No asskissing, I do feel as I would while listening to canonical artists from the scene. It starts with a black crunchy sound that soon turns into a malestrom oozing sounds, distorted atmospheres build by the interaction between the sounds, structured through interesting songwriting. Noise that has a structure, and a form which is just as important to the flow of the songs as the sounds itself. The whole album feels cryptic, eerie. There are some progressions within the contrast of brighter and blacker sounds flowing together in a piece. Even thought it sounded like it would start as a very raw album, I for one believe its strong presence so far is in the atmospheric buildings. Quite enjoyable I must say! Firstsong is quite hypnotic and dirge-like, but remains very interesting - ten minutes in and one is already immersed within it and lost track of the oscillating difference of sounds, even though they happen here and there. I must say, really great release!
Junta Cadre - Red Detachement (2020, Total Black)
I have come to the conclusion that the form of a historical document is the best thematic orientation in Power Electronics. Perhaps one would point its subjective appeal in relation to the music, but I must admit it turns me on more. Speciakky when focusion in perioeds of institutionalized violence, mass murder, totalitarism etc. - this IS PE! Eveb if the artits has a subjective appeal to the subject matter, it still maintains the "cold", detached approach Mikko once noted (in Bardo's N12 interview) as characteristic of noise, and Industrial. Thinking about it, that would probably be the further element which makes a Noise record original, one that 'doesnt get old, and that aspects fulfills answers for further discussions.
Cluster - Cluster (1971)
Very interesting and well-thought release, peaking among my favorite Krautrock albums at first listen. Ambient-driven abstract, proto-noise experimentation. The sounds are very elastic, and the whole pace sounds like the evr-growing manifestation of something tangile yet incomprehensible. Amongst the first ones to influence later Noise scenes, Cluster is sure to hav marked its worth with this one. Further artists would sure expand this approach, one that became intensely confrontational ad loud as can be, while Cluster tries, less than shock, educate the listener. Waves of repetitive synth works build along an uneasy atmosphere, that maintain its grip on the listener with expectations on how the sound might change - then it does, in a mostly totalist and expressionist way, creating variations of sustained motifs until the sound gives away.
The sounds here get so loud that one could easily imagine listening to a modern piece of atmospheric Industrial Noise. Yet, this is one far away in time - which only goes to show how prolific and innovative this band truly was. Even though the first track seems very much crescendo-based, the last one is in vein of quieter, contemplative ambient pieces; all in all creating a consistent craft of crontasts and textures.
