Jaakko Vanhala - Here Be Lions (HN release of 2013?)
The CD starts with a track Vanhala submitted for "Tapeworks Volume VI" compilation tape on Hästen & Korset and stands out as one of the fiercest tracks on that comp, mixing the finest elements of harsh noise with tape manipulations, exploiting acoustic sources and spaces, making the track stand out as one of the best harsh noise compositions I have heard to date. The track is followed by complete Here Be Lions tape, originally released on Sprachlos Verlag. Here Be Lions was the first Vanhala release I ever heard and at the time it didn't really impress me because the tape wasn't a match for Vanhala's dynamic compositions but luckily this CD covers up everything what the tape lacked, presenting the mightiness of Vanhala, not only as composer but also as sound artist. Next up is two new/previously unreleased tracks. The first one, Reality Shredder, has no info but it starts with instant mayhem and carries on in the same intense atmosphere as the previous tracks, definitely shredding my reality or at least my ears, hah. Once again, the sound is very dynamic, the mixing is perfect and the composition goes perfectly with the superb sound quality. Then it's time for the final track, Secret Dream, which is an instant harsh noise explosion employing all the elements of previous attacks plus noise electronics. Maybe this is Vanhala's vision of lullaby for goodnight?
I really don't know how to comment or "review" as massive release as this. When there is nothing to complain about, all I can do is praise and praise some more but like Mikko already mentioned, this represents possibly the best harsh noise CD ever released in North Europe and I couldn't agree more! The sound quality, the mixing, the compositions, everything flows in perfectly and the puzzle is complete. There's nothing to add. Jaakko Vanhala hasn't been praised for nothing. He's truly a master of harsh noise!
EDIT: the=that
