PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[AASB]

Richard Ramirez - Tracking Device (2003, Freak Animal)

Definitely not what I was expecting from an RR release, still pretty harsh but there's a much larger focus on ambience and discernible loops than what I'm used to from him. There's also a good amount of uniqueness and distinctiveness to each track - for instance, "Metal Limbs Flailing" has some nice Vivenza-esque loops of machinery, while "Bad Omens" has distorted snippets of classical music that seem to loop in and out, and "Eyes Slowly Adjusting to the Darkness" is an almost Prurient-esque build from a foreboding synth tone that accelerates into a pulsing, apocalyptic wall.

Richard Ramirez - Trick (1999, Hospital Productions)

A classic that I'm only now getting around to listening to. Hypnotic and minimalist, but never wears out its welcome on one specific timbre. Very nice use of what sounds like phasers and various filter effects at different points, as well as some spacey-sounding delays that become more audible during some of the quiet sections, but those effects aren't overused and there's also some great sections of dry, very minimal feedback. The ending of "Voyage of Tempted Flesh Part III" in particular has an extended section of rhythmic, pulsing feedback closes out the album perfectly.

[k.p.g]

TS - nature heaves a sigh at her dismemberment into individuals (Spice Channel)
Spice Channel Sunday in this house starts with an entry from its esteemed label head.  Last night's set that Ted played in Philadelphia was fantastic, and this tape continues on that energy.  This one leans more in the quieter moments of his current sound, invoking a steady stream of bodily unnerving as it carries on.  I kept expecting some jump-cut when each side played out but nothing came.  Sometimes the dread of that creeping up exists only in our heads..

Inarticulate - Were You Been Asshole (Spice Channel)
I had not really heard any works in progress for this tape, and I think I am all the better for that.  Small one-offs from Alex in the past have indicated certain studies of sound, i.e. one tape focused on tape manipulation, another on harsh, etc.  Here though, everything has coalesced into something complete and realized.  Sounds of tape churn and flow like a nasty bile corroding your stomach; ashes are picked up from the ground in delay.  The general vibe is harsh, but never in a truly explosive manner.  Things just boil into a mess of toxic sludge.  Great work.  This tape should have a wider release, so I would recommend grabbing it.

[k.p.g]

Macronympha - Membranes & Black Holes (Freak Animal Records)
A very good entry into the band's discography from the post-Stella years!  Not as complex on the editing side (which is evident in a myriad of tape clips that come across the record's runtime) but certainly it has POWER going for it.  Tons of moments that sound like Roemer just bashing away in the dungeon; no effects, no tape manipulation, etc.  I would venture to say those moments are not powerful for their harshness, but for how ... American they feel to me.  The sound of the dream falling apart in real time, steel beam by steel beam...

Grunt - Installation of Blood & Steel (Harsh Head Rituals)
So speaking of steel, this one is on right now.  Described to me by one Henry Mallard as "possibly" his favorite Grunt record, and it's not hard to see why.  I know it's older than the Mallard Theory project but it sounds like Mikko had some duckrage going on here (proto-duckrage?  Certainly there is a link to be made here).  The expected PE approach of this era of Grunt has been dropped in favor of hard, stereo-panned HARSH NOISE.  Yes, all capitals are deserved there.  Continuing off of the aforementioned Macronympha description of "the dream falling apart," this one feels like an appropriate follow-up, as now that dream of a better world is simply being reduced to bone mulch.  Fantastic stuff.

[ConcreteMascara]

Grunt - Installation of Blood & Steel (Harsh Head Rituals)
So speaking of steel, this one is on right now.  Described to me by one Henry Mallard as "possibly" his favorite Grunt record, and it's not hard to see why.  I know it's older than the Mallard Theory project but it sounds like Mikko had some duckrage going on here (proto-duckrage?  Certainly there is a link to be made here).  The expected PE approach of this era of Grunt has been dropped in favor of hard, stereo-panned HARSH NOISE.  Yes, all capitals are deserved there.  Continuing off of the aforementioned Macronympha description of "the dream falling apart," this one feels like an appropriate follow-up, as now that dream of a better world is simply being reduced to bone mulch.  Fantastic stuff.

Excellent album! A wonderful companion to Seer of Decay.

[k.p.g]

Munt Cascade - Acceleration (New Flesh)
Starting the morning off with this new tape from the inaugural batch of Mr. Munt Cascade's new label, New Flesh.  Beautiful packaging work on this one, as it is packaged in a vibrant, multi-colored patch with a train pin up at the top.  Very nice to hold, do not lose the pin though.
Sound-wise, this is a hyper-surrealist nightmare of synth explosions.  Feels like every time I listen to this project, I am being sucked into what I imagine the insider of a hadron collider looks like.  Although starting off a bit more hushed than I expect from Munt, this one shapes up very nicely into a nice taste of this project's best features; frenetic pacing, liquid synthesis and the occasional, meditative passage to not feel like everything is flying over your head.
I am always for the support of new labels that have a vision for what they want, and it is clear that New Flesh has some great ideas ahead.  Give it a try if you can.

Legless + Consumer Destiny - Billions of Dead Strangers, Vol. 1 (Vomitapes)
Collaboration tape that I was recommended to give a listen to by my roommate.  While being quite familiar with the work of Legless at this point, Consumer Destiny is a new name to me and has already impressed with this showing.  There is more of a dynamic palette in this tape than I am used to with solo Legless material, and perhaps scratches the itch of any classic-era Macro aficionado who has already run through that discography upteenth amount of times.  With that in mind, it may not surprise some that this is collaboration by mail, but listening to it now has me pretty floored that it is.  I can totally picture these two hacking this out in a room, maybe doing a little post-editing deep into the night.  But nope; send source, make a tape style!  Impressive as hell.  Great noise for the most part, lost some interest towards the end of Side B.

The Peabody Ducks - Duckmaster (Purveyors Ministry of Information)
Haha, YES.  The Mallard Empire continues its expansion with this new group's debut!  The Grey Wolves can kiss their sorry asses goodbye, because this is the new age of militant, gutter PE...
In all seriousness though, so far we have a very good listen on our hands.  I bring up Grey Wolves because imagery here is clearly in homage to them, just put through the filter of a very dark & evil Henry Mallard & friends (who are no small potatoes in M.J. Eastman & Scott Kindberg).  While it is by no means Power Electronics, it does have that same gritty filter that makes so many (myself included) fond of that material.  This is like if the Stahlstown farm was transported into the middle of Birmingham.  One of the more intriguing releases to come out this year, but is that really any shock?  It's Henry & Purveyors we're talking about...

[k.p.g]

Sewer System - Extinctstencial Previoulence/Deiavows Anthropogenocidal Impurpose (Oxen)
I would say this is an "early contender" for album of the year, but the year is already halfway done.  Shit!  Well, yeah, this record is awesome!  It is comprised of two, distinct sections; first being the new material recorded with Aspinwall & Wiese, the second being a slew of unreleased sessions from the project's back catalogue.  New material is absolutely unhinged, being some of the angriest modern noisecore that I have heard.  Pretty much proves my point that Sissy Spacek could use more Mumma pushed up to the front of the mix.  This will do though, as this trio locks into place pretty spectacularly and distinguish themselves plenty from what John and Charlie usually do, even when they are blasting away.
On the backside, there are the "bonus tracks."  The range of fidelity bounces here from high and heavily distorted, to the realms of no-fi and field recordings at some gig.  While I sang the praises of newer material, it is truly in the gutters of fidelity where Sewer System shines.  The more filth on those screams and blasts, the better it comes out.  Favorite sessions on this CD might be the one that closes the whole thing, along with the all-star, Japanese cast (feat. members of Facialmess, Napalm Death is Dead, etc.). 
Don't sleep on this record if you like angry noise or top shelf noisecore!

[Minus1]

Sewer System - Extinctstencial Previoulence/Deiavows Anthropogenocidal Impurpose (Oxen)
I would say this is an "early contender" for album of the year, but the year is already halfway done.  Shit!  Well, yeah, this record is awesome!  It is comprised of two, distinct sections; first being the new material recorded with Aspinwall & Wiese, the second being a slew of unreleased sessions from the project's back catalogue.  New material is absolutely unhinged, being some of the angriest modern noisecore that I have heard.  Pretty much proves my point that Sissy Spacek could use more Mumma pushed up to the front of the mix.  This will do though, as this trio locks into place pretty spectacularly and distinguish themselves plenty from what John and Charlie usually do, even when they are blasting away.
On the backside, there are the "bonus tracks."  The range of fidelity bounces here from high and heavily distorted, to the realms of no-fi and field recordings at some gig.  While I sang the praises of newer material, it is truly in the gutters of fidelity where Sewer System shines.  The more filth on those screams and blasts, the better it comes out.  Favorite sessions on this CD might be the one that closes the whole thing, along with the all-star, Japanese cast (feat. members of Facialmess, Napalm Death is Dead, etc.). 
Don't sleep on this record if you like angry noise or top shelf noisecore!

Yeah! I'll have this in my sweaty little hands by the end of the week.

[k.p.g]

Western Anthropology - Pride (Fusty Cunt)
I have had this sitting around for a couple months now, having received it when Dead Door Unit played with WA's main band, Foreign Body.  Have been thinking of the best time to sit down with it, as it is apparent that lots of love and attention was put into this one.  That time has come. 
As the first track begins, I hear the sound of a lawnmower revving, which immediately makes me think of The Eighth Pillar.  Of course, this really is just a sound that sets us into the world of the American south, which the record is centered around.  But to me, this said something.  It said "this record here is a definitive statement the artist is going to make, and I respect that." 
On the sound front, this tape falls into a good mix of 80s & 90s PE sensibilities.  It isn't exactly true crime, but rather societal reflection being presented in a violent manner. The sound palette has a little more variation beyond just "crushing back wall to scream over," which I always appreciate with my PE.  Yeah, I know you're trying to say something, but could you turn the knob on that synth once please?  Don't need to ask that of Western Anthropology though, so that's great.  If I had to nitpick a little, I would say that the sound quality of samples can be jarring at points.  For example, there will be some more lo-fi noise at play coupled with a sample that sounds like it was taken from an iPhone recording.  The instances of this are so far and few though, that I cannot say it detracts from the total product. 
But to just talk about the sound of this tape would be a disservice to the overall piece.  You also have to keep the booklet in mind.  First flip through might indicate that it is pretty standard noise fare, ill wills of society and whatnot; drugs, tits, violence, sure.  As the record continues though, the imagery starts to seep more into you.  Reading accounts of domestic violence and mental retardation in these Southern states starts to wear on your soul as the tape continues to fall further into some maniacal pit of despair.  I had to put the booklet down a couple times while reading some excerpts, as it became a bit much to bear.  Hah.  Maybe I am just weak, but I think it is just great work setting out to do what it intended. 
So overall, yeah, this is a really great tape.  It is going to need a dedicated listen though, as you cannot have the audio without the visual.  Power Electronics diehards will get a kick out of this.