PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[Fistfuck Masonanie]

Richard Ramirez - Trick (Hospital Productions)

I had listened to the samples on Bandcamp a number of times and always had difficulty "getting it" with this particular album. I'm a huge Richard fan and kept coming back to it, thinking maybe it would click eventually.

Recently found a brand new copy of the 2xLP at a local record store and figured that was a sign to give it a true go. It looks gorgeous too. The foil stamping on the front and back cover is done so well. The record store guy definitely looked perplexed when he saw the cover.

It opens up with a very fitting sample. "There is only one asshole here. And I'm going to fuck it." Chef's kiss.

The sample and cover are truly representative of the album. This one is a true ass-fucking. Something about it is generally unpleasant. Like truly HARSH. It seems like Richard was really going for something different here. There is a lot of mid and high-range sounds on this. Definitely more shrill. The material sounds like Richard exercising some demons.

Sitting down with the album and actively listening allowed me to appreciate it more. It's harsh as hell, but there is nuance happening. Only If You Want to Fuck Part I and II are the most harsh on the album by far. Voyage of Tempted Flesh Part I, II, and III explore different sounds and provide a reprieve from the beginning of the album. Voyage of Tempted Flesh is also a killer track name. 

Definitely not a release I would recommend for someone first getting into Richard, and even then, some people who are already familiar. However, I do admire it for its fuck you attitude. It feels like a particularly singular release in his catalogue in some ways.

[k.p.g]

Jay Howard - dissimulation (Adjacent)
Went on tour last week for my band and ended up meeting the one and only Jay Howard!  Was cool to finally meet someone I had been in contact with for so long, and he even came equipped with tapes!  Popped this one in today and it is a solid study in environmental sounds and digital synthesis.  Maybe after years of listening to Circuit Wound I did not expect Jay to get this... "abstract?"  But nonetheless, it's short and sweet.  Enjoyable listen.

Cameraman - Anunnaki Friend (Normal Cargo LTD)
New alias from the man behind the Hand & Knee project, which also happens to come out on a new label!  All very exciting stuff.  Sound wise, this recording is much meaner in spirit than anything I have heard from the artist previously.  Hand & Knee recordings tend to have a voyeuristic quality to them, as field recordings always took center stage for audio manipulation.  Felt like you were seeing things through the eyes of the artist.  With this tape though, none of that is discernibly present.  Instead, there is only a harsh dirge; unfeeling, uncaring of what the listener sees.  The world is blinded by such aggression.  Side B does have some semblance of environmental sound, but it sounds like the artist has a great deal of control over it.  With that control, the void continues to engulf.  Excellent stuff.

[k.p.g]

Merzbow - Pornoise: 1KG, Tape 3 (RRRecords, reissue)
Continuing on in this series.  This tape's first side contains a lot of awful lot of screechy mic abuse, followed by some similarly squeamish synth work.  Hard to listen to, easy to enjoy.  Side B contains a lot more of the loop work that I have been more familiar with this set following, which can be grating to some.  For me, the loops are great enough to justify their length.

Panicker - Live at the Clownhouse (self-released)
This tape means a lot to me.  Clownhouse was the central hub of New Jersey noise for a solid 2 years or so, and it remains missed by those who knew about it.  What Panicker has done here with this tape is a touching tribute.  A-Side is a live set that I was lucky to attend (believe this was opening for one of my bands, if I am not mistaken).  It is a solid set, demonstrating the loop creativity the project has.  Side B is very special though, as it sounds like a ton of collected sounds from chatter that would take place between sets, intermixed with some creepy circus music and dreamy ambiance.  It takes me right back to that dirty yard, where so many life-affirming conversations happened.  It reminds me that the people I am close to are a large part of what keeps me going.  And for once, when I (think I) hear my voice on recording, I smile more than cringe.  Awesome tape.

[Balor/SS1535]

Jay Howard - dissimulation (Adjacent)
Went on tour last week for my band and ended up meeting the one and only Jay Howard!  Was cool to finally meet someone I had been in contact with for so long, and he even came equipped with tapes!  Popped this one in today and it is a solid study in environmental sounds and digital synthesis.  Maybe after years of listening to Circuit Wound I did not expect Jay to get this... "abstract?"  But nonetheless, it's short and sweet.  Enjoyable listen.

Cameraman - Anunnaki Friend (Normal Cargo LTD)
New alias from the man behind the Hand & Knee project, which also happens to come out on a new label!  All very exciting stuff.  Sound wise, this recording is much meaner in spirit than anything I have heard from the artist previously.  Hand & Knee recordings tend to have a voyeuristic quality to them, as field recordings always took center stage for audio manipulation.  Felt like you were seeing things through the eyes of the artist.  With this tape though, none of that is discernibly present.  Instead, there is only a harsh dirge; unfeeling, uncaring of what the listener sees.  The world is blinded by such aggression.  Side B does have some semblance of environmental sound, but it sounds like the artist has a great deal of control over it.  With that control, the void continues to engulf.  Excellent stuff.

Howard was great when I saw him perform two years ago at the Santa Ana Noise Fest.  He had an awesome noise box that he made out of a wooden crate left over from his late father, if I remember correctly.  Totally mesmerizing to watch!