PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[k.p.g]

Bloomer - Wound with Foreign Object Embedded (New Forces)
We all have those early noise discoveries that stick with us.  Even if it takes years between revisits, you can come back to them and feel the power you felt the first time come creeping back into your bloodstream.  I remember picking this up from Stefan at the Ende Tymes Form Hunter played back in 2019; maybe their second show?  I remember being awkward as hell, trying to contain my excitement over the fact that a guy who was involved bands like Intensive Care & The Endless Blockade also made harsh noise!  WOW!  That was pretty cool at the time.  I grabbed the cassette, tried to say a couple more words and then scurried away.  Probably played it the next morning and thought "cool, harsh noise!"  I cannot recount any subsequent listens after this (although they did happen).

I come to this one now with focused ears, and a lot more appreciation for all the pieces at play here.  While there is plenty harsh to rave about, what grips me this time is how much of a "dreamlike" quality there is to the loops being used here.  Sounds of passing music, trains, conversation... they all coalesce into what feels like a dehydrated daydream in the city heat.  It's equal parts nasty and beautiful.  I have heard other works from Bloomer across various projects, but this stands as his peak.

With how much noise is easy to consume in today's landscape, it can make a tape that is under 10 years of age seemingly disappear from the public consciousness in a matter of weeks after release.  I think about one of the last White Centipede Noise episodes that came out about "modern favorites," and how the goal was seemingly to capture those types of "forgotten" releases of the time and give them another shine.  While my section was not included in the mix, I don't even think my answers then would apply to what I feel now.  Constant streams of listening result in me often thinking "why did I not think to mention this??"  It's a symptom of the artform, I suppose.

If asked today about the question though, I think this release would have to be included.  It's one of the great "hidden gems" of the last 10 years, and could contend as the best of the entire New Forces catalogue. 

[Kaaoskultti]

Vertonen – Instability Event (2021, No rent)
Quite noise, soft and repetitive clashing of materials, pulsating background electronics. Well structured and in the right time, with minimalist approach and interesting variations. Atmosphere builds up but doesn't release it, creating a white blanket aura throughout its pace. Really detached, well-thought joy in sonic isolation.

Body Carve – Studies in Advanced Decomposition (2023, Chondritic Sounds)
Eh, this doesn't do much for me. Quite fun and all – metal junk, crunchy noises, feedback work, and all one would expect, but failing in songwriting delivery and depth.

Sterile Garden – Wild Ribbon (2025, Aberrant Recordings)
Reel to reel loops, field recordings, abstract approach. Electronic noises as droning background and occasional humming, but mostly recorded through "material" instrumentation. Good build-up of tension and haunting atmosphere. Then bursts a cacophony of indiscernible noises mashing together. Really pleasant to listen to. Heterogeneous in textures, fiercely well-versed in composition.

Thorofon – Final Movement (2007, Klanggalerie – GG94, Ritalin Aktif – GG94, reissue)
Really nice stuff, with variety of Industrial beats in the vein of Haus Arafna, but with a thematically orientation towards the like of Grunt, GO etc., Music sounds creative, notwithstanding its traditional appeal to the handing of traditional PE, yet delivered through a songwriting usual manner that rends it closer to concretely structured music.

Deterge – Panacea (2021, Chondritic Sound)
Spastic noise with tremendous layers and magnificent dynamics – sound range well-structured and monotonous yet thoroughly omnipresent, shining rays of heavy electronics and nice composition for these songs to be arranged. It might seem, though, I mostly listen to stuff by No Rent, Chondritic, HP, and that might not be false, but I notice my heavy preference for these labels which I follow through bandcamp – nothing wrong with FA, Phage Tapes, Fusty Cunt, Tesco etc., after all there is always something new to be found in Noise. This release, amongst many of them kind, is a stellar one within Deterge's discography, which is always heterogenous and interesting. Opposing Perspective has a funny techno beat to it.

[Cranial Blast]

Powdered Beatles - What Am I? CD (Antihumanism)

A proper reissue done very nicely by label Antihumanism. The first release by Powdered Beatles and was originally released on tape in 1996 on Deadline Recordings. This is a joint project by Richard Ramirez and Dwayne Cathey. The first time I heard Powdered Beatles was on the Tension Of State Collapsing comp I & II comp CD that was reissued and released awhile back on Industrial Recollections. I thought the track Filth on there sounded pretty wild and was very curious to hear this album now that it's been properly released on CD format and I found this album to be intense and enjoyable. It's very industrial sounding in it's overall atmosphere, yet in some strange ways a bit ambient to. It's definitely an interesting listen for those looking for something a bit unusual and interesting coming out of that mid 90s era Deadline Recordings catalog.

[Minus1]

Powdered Beatles - What Am I? CD (Antihumanism)

A proper reissue done very nicely by label Antihumanism. The first release by Powdered Beatles and was originally released on tape in 1996 on Deadline Recordings. This is a joint project by Richard Ramirez and Dwayne Cathey. The first time I heard Powdered Beatles was on the Tension Of State Collapsing comp I & II comp CD that was reissued and released awhile back on Industrial Recollections. I thought the track Filth on there sounded pretty wild and was very curious to hear this album now that it's been properly released on CD format and I found this album to be intense and enjoyable. It's very industrial sounding in it's overall atmosphere, yet in some strange ways a bit ambient to. It's definitely an interesting listen for those looking for something a bit unusual and interesting coming out of that mid 90s era Deadline Recordings catalog.

Excellent! This (and the other 5) are coming my way. I get the sense, from various samplings, that we do indeed get a different angle on RR. 

[k.p.g]

Palokoro - Vapaat Miehet Kulkemaan (Freak Animal Records)
A cold march through the Finnish winter, as captured on tape!  Imagery of soldiers freezing in the barren wastelands, passing through regions previously thought to have no inhabitants; but turns out -- there are!  They play music, they feel love, they experience the harsh landscape, they have nostalgia, just like these soldiers.  It's a very beautiful and crude release.  Listened twice this weekend and it is great.  I wish it was not so warm now, as this would be a definitive winter soundtrack tape.  Til next winter, I suppose...

Grunt - Europe After Storm (Industrial Recollections, reissue)
Who is this man and why is he so angry?  Hah.  Yeah, this record presents an interesting midway point in the Grunt catalog.  Listening to Noisecast 3-parter about the artist reveals that this record is sort of the first time where the free form stylings of early releases was put to the side in favor of making more "complete" records.  As this is a new tradition at the time, it is not entirely polished.  Live tracks on top of a tape reissue is maybe not most consistent sounding, and I have to admit that the actual SPITE portion of the reissue does drag on at points.  I much prefer unreleased material that made it onto the reissue.  But this is still a very good release, mostly cohesive, good noise and PE mix.  Revisit will be necessary.

Happy Accidents - Untitled (NJMA)
A few months I received this tape with........ no audio on it!  Ahhh -- the label heads tell me that my copy must've been the tape they used to print the hand-painted J-Cards in.  No matter, I can wait for a replacement tape.  Couple more months pass, and I finally receive a new tape, but I leave for Europe, so no time to play it.  Ok -- I will wait when I am back. 
Last night, I finally have some kitchen tasks to do & this tape will be just enough time to fill for them.  Great!  Pop in the tape, and A-Side is only coming out of one channel.  DAMN!!!  Just can't win with this one, huh?  Hah.

Well anyways, it is a very good release.  Sound palette here is crude, self-defeating and melancholic in approach.  It sounds like the creator hates themselves, and wants you, the audience, to feel it.  I recently finish a release for Happy Accidents on French Market Press, which is a collaboration with K. Paisley.  While that is a good release, I certainly recommend locating copies of this artist's solo tapes or the rips available online.  Some really great stuff for the fans of the crude and languished noise heads.

Emil Beaulieau - Memories (PURE)
A very good release.  There is no definitive theme or style as other Beaulieau releases on PURE had.  Not using the vinyl of a particular artist, scene or label; just sounds like RRRon had a handful of great recording sessions and said "let me put out a release that shows how fuckin' great of a harsh noise artist I am!"  Mission accomplished!  Lovely stuff.

[k.p.g]

Pain Jerk / Dogliveroil - The Snake Charmer's Beautiful Daughter (Betley Welcomes Careful Drivers)
A split & collaboration packed into one neat disc; only complaint is that the split portion is 10 minutes too long on each side.  Found that on both solo portions, each artist had given their best material in the first 10-12 minutes of tracks.  Pain Jerk solo portion holds my interest for most of its duration, but since it's the last track, I am just feeling pretty beaten down.  Dogliveroil's solo track, on the other hand, pretty much nose dives after 10-11 minutes, leaving me wondering "when the hell is this going to end?"  Not the best feeling. 
But since we are working backwards, we are now back to the collaborative tracks, which, are both really stellar!  These two artists worked off of each others sound very beautifully.  Just wish they put more track length into the collaborations, and not these 20+ minute behemoth solo ventures. 
Solid disc overall.

[Stipsi]

Pain Jerk / Dogliveroil - The Snake Charmer's Beautiful Daughter (Betley Welcomes Careful Drivers)
A split & collaboration packed into one neat disc; only complaint is that the split portion is 10 minutes too long on each side.  Found that on both solo portions, each artist had given their best material in the first 10-12 minutes of tracks.  Pain Jerk solo portion holds my interest for most of its duration, but since it's the last track, I am just feeling pretty beaten down.  Dogliveroil's solo track, on the other hand, pretty much nose dives after 10-11 minutes, leaving me wondering "when the hell is this going to end?"  Not the best feeling. 
But since we are working backwards, we are now back to the collaborative tracks, which, are both really stellar!  These two artists worked off of each others sound very beautifully.  Just wish they put more track length into the collaborations, and not these 20+ minute behemoth solo ventures. 
Solid disc overall.

With pain jerk you can't go wrong (at least until mid 2000)

[tisbor]

Pain Jerk / Dogliveroil - The Snake Charmer's Beautiful Daughter (Betley Welcomes Careful Drivers)
A split & collaboration packed into one neat disc; only complaint is that the split portion is 10 minutes too long on each side.  Found that on both solo portions, each artist had given their best material in the first 10-12 minutes of tracks.  Pain Jerk solo portion holds my interest for most of its duration, but since it's the last track, I am just feeling pretty beaten down.  Dogliveroil's solo track, on the other hand, pretty much nose dives after 10-11 minutes, leaving me wondering "when the hell is this going to end?"  Not the best feeling. 
But since we are working backwards, we are now back to the collaborative tracks, which, are both really stellar!  These two artists worked off of each others sound very beautifully.  Just wish they put more track length into the collaborations, and not these 20+ minute behemoth solo ventures. 
Solid disc overall.

Weird format also kind of makes this one even more classic