XEDH / IMBERNON "anekkyy" CD
Trait Media
Everything in this disc appeared to be somehow turn off. How cover looks, the names of artists etc. But I did allow myself to trust mr. Lunde's judgement and it paid off. It's good disc! Oscillator, guitar and effects. One long 50+ min track. It's hard to decide what exactly is the "category". It's drone, yet not really the type of lo-fi muddy drifting sounds. It has sharp and sometimes nearly glitchy elements to it. But not glitch. It gets noisy, but isn't really noise. Slow build track, which is just slightly different from most bands I have been listening lately, therefore fresh and interesting.
ERIC LUNDE "the world of hurt in the kindom of god" CD
HCBrecords
As opposed to many decayed and analogue tape recycled recordings, this is different. It has the "traditional" Lunde spoken word monologues, which are the most interesting part of disc. Then there is computer/digital sound. Few times even beats. It's noisy, yet very synthetic and electric sound as opposed to physicality of tapes and field recordings.
DEATH SQUAD "Acoustic Isolation" tape
Spastik Soniks
huh... I've had nearly non-stop boner since I heard Autarkeia should be re-issuing old DS tapes. Not sure what is the status of the project, but this band simply hit me in such a crucial moment back in '94 or something. In times before internet access and very limited budgets to purchase items, when you got something, it made big impact. And when you got these special packages of paint, inserts, obscure covers, and interesting topics... it was just mind-blowing. Whole Spastik Soniks discography remains probably more important than Broken Flag, Cold Meat and handful of others together!
These early tapes are often pretty similar. They are more of "concept art" than noise releases that stand out musically. Packaging, written material and overall presentation is the main key to atmosphere and the musical approach might be very close to previous tape. Not that it's surprise when we talk about "noise"! Unlike later days Death Squad, most of these early materials are basically heavy and crispy wall of electronic noise. Often based on slow bounding noise loops repeating and everything driven via extensive highly texturizing fuzziness. Sonic quality perhaps more similar to technologically advanced noisers. A'la Pain Jerk, Stimbox or such. There is no "lo-fi", no "tape hiss", no "basement junk". Just high energy blasting. However, musically DS noise is not fast or aggressive, but suffocating and slowpaced movement where waves of slow EQ filter moves like approaching thunder.
Closest modern references to heaviness of sound could be SHIFT "bulk". One could perhaps understand the heaviness and type of fuzz pedal mayhem and slow movements. But its still not the same. DS does move more and focuses on very simple and minimal layering. I believe material was made live-in-studio?
Anyways, the sum up the above: ESSENTIAL and unique!!
