BC Grimm - The Ideating Knell (Signal Dreams): Very interesting to begin hearing more and more of Madison, WI's more thoughtful underground wayfarers. I've had many pleasure-filled years spent with the freakier, more stoned, side of the coin, but works like this are something else entirely. It's comprised of terse improvisation (I'm assuming at least) reminiscent of electroacoustic pioneering, but made from "Guqin 古琴 & Guzheng 古筝,[...]dulcimer hammers, cajon brushes, chopsticks, mate straw, metal bowls, broken teaware, clay sculpting tools, snare wires, & seashell strands". There's also, undeniably, an Asiatic presence due to the instruments used, but definitely with a Westerner's execution. No peddling from a bullshit guru, just inspired creativity. A rather demanding/rewarding release from a label that I can't help but stay with from now on.
Derek Rogers - Prevais (Signal Dreams): Unsurprisingly, this guy resides in LA. There's definitely that Cali-tapeworld vibe going on, but without being awful Emeralds/New Age rehash. To its benefit, there's also a distinct INA - GRM and cut-up vibe present as well. Computer Muzak with enough density and character to remain agreeable. Definitely a lot of what-the-hell moments due to some harsh editing that will make or break this for you.
Frances-Marie Uitti & Gareth Davis - Gramercy (Miasmah): A powerful dose of unnerving (and sparingly light) composition from this cellist-clarinetist duo. Not too much in the vein of their other works, at least those that I'm familiar with. Less academic, less generic drone; somewhere between intention and free-improv instead.
Hive Mind - A Stagnant Plague Cast Through Shallow Earth (Helicopter): Either I can't attune my ear to the differences, or most Hive Mind releases resemble each other. This isn't a bad thing, but with 60+ releases out there, Greh might as well just put out C100's to keep things economical. Gotta say though, that this disc does dwell on the minimal, at least the first two pieces, more than most HM albums do. Still, the second half is business as usual. Love it? Yes.
Shredded Nerve - Failing To Maintain (Chondritic Sound): Hope this group has more in store for the future. A stellar offering of industrial tones, Sewer Election/Blodvite-isms, and sparse harshness. Really varied, engaging (at least with headphones), and void of bullshit pretense. Convincingly bleak without falling into the weathered cliches of you-know-what.
Troy Schafer - Untitled No. 1 (Signal Dreams): An amalgamation of all the Troy Schafer output thus far; improvised violin chaos, crazy-processed vocals, harsh electronics, droning static, beauteous violin movements, acoustic-sound experimentation. As eclectic and as frantic as the man's mind itself seems to be. I'm beyond giddy for the next part of this series.
Aaron Dilloway - Corpse On Horseback (Hanson): Thanks for the leads; this and the fella below are my next forays into Dilloway after reading the thread on him and this one too. Spastic and sporadic all the way. Can't help but be reminded of Ryan Bloomer at times - if there was more gaiety and breathing room in his work.
Aaron Dilloway - Bad Dreams (Hanson): Sits nicely amidst a couple of SNSE/Gaping Hole tapes and Body Collector's later output. Gentle harsh noise and loads of tape manipulation. From-another-world kinda sounds.
