PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[GEWALTMONOPOL]

The old ones are the best.

[fin de siècle]

IRM "Closure"
When listening to this beautiful dark piece of noise art, it becomes very obvious that the term "power electronics", which Malignant uses in the promo text on the sticker attached to the cover, comes without any identifiable coherence. The influence of Scott Walkers` latest "Bish Bosch" album, which belongs to one of Martin Bladh`s most worshipped releases, is very obvious and constitutes the artistic treatment of the album. Whereas the compositions of the previous albums were largely based on synth manipulations, the new approach was to build everything up on the basis of the pre-existing lyrics of Martin Bladh. As second main element the bass guitar, which was previously used only as a marginal support, becomes now the leading instrument to build the melodies – yes melodies (there are hardly any drones here)! Other elements like drums (by Ulrik Nilsson), synth and field recordings give the album the necessary structure and details. The composition of the album is overall clearly structured and framed by the lyrics/texts with repetitive patterns showing up in some of the tracks. Classic song structures with repeating refrains make some of their tracks even real sing-alongs (Dead Time Onan). This is the IRM album I have always been craving for! Now they start to use their full potential far away from the limitations of the power-electroncis genre. In correlation with the theme, the artwork is a stylish, didactic black and white design with a theater stage framing the interplay. Completely dispensing with blood (!) they finally seem to have consciously grown up into a promising future. Nothing but beauty!

[MT]

Death Squads "Isolation as Intent" is in my books one of the most powerful power electronics albums ever. Intense as FUCK.

[GEWALTMONOPOL]

Death Squads "Isolation as Intent" is in my books one of the most powerful power electronics albums ever. Intense as FUCK.

And he's a "real artist" dontchaknow. Bollocks aside, bitter UK noise faggot bollocks aside...

KEVLAR - Alpha Strife, CD-r (self released)

I was approached by the boys from KEVLAR at UFoI who asked if I was interested in their CD-r. One look at them and it was clear they aren't chancers. The day after I got the CD-r but it would be a few hours before I could listen. I handed it to Hal in the car who said "What's this?". "That son, is KEVLAR". "KEVLAR? Fucking brillliant name!". Just by the look of it we knew it was going to be good.

First track is Alpha Strife. A fast paced rise fall bassline as trade marked by TG on Hamburger Lady plus plenty of grit and layering on top. Simple but, as they say, effective. Second track is Drone Sky which has the all familiar WWII bomber feel to it and then the bass drops a note or two causing a sinking feeling in your guts. Tortured feedback and what sounds like distorted junk crashing its way through the track. Great sound but perhaps a little bit too long. We move into Medusa. A drenched in static bass drone which oozes MS20 (or MS10?) with spoken word sample on top with what sounds like Richard Burton. No idea which film though. This works as an interlude. Prescribed Torture kicks in. More industrial in the superior German style. This is the only track with vocals. KR-85 closes the release with more rising, falling and crunchy analogue bass drones. Spoken word samples sounds like Oppenheimer being interviewed but I'm ready to stand corrected on that. A distorted and filtered wind sound flows in and out creating a feeling of utter coldness. This could be an Ex.Order track. It's that good. A perfect end.

The members of KEVLAR are Polish and based in the UK. Alongside names like AM NOT and ZSS they are part of a new and current breed of British industrial. One which isn't trying to disguise itself under any artsy or pseudo intellectual veneer. It stands proud and unapologetic for what it is which is why it is so good. If they are "real artists" (I hope not) I don't know but they are blissfully free of any bullshit absurdism, funny costumes, "humour" and lambada beats in hats with feathers. This is the UK in 2014!

The release comes in a simple but tasteful heavy manilla envelope with the band name rubber stamped and a sticker with the logo in the top right hand corner. Inside is a sticker and two inserts with info. The disc is plain white with the letter K printed.

Limited to 50 copies so it may be sold out by now. If not it's worth contacting the band via www.kevlar.net.

[Baglady]

ORQUERE - Untitled - C23 (Preafekt Kassetter)
Not as rich and elaborate as the <i>Foundations</i> album or the <i>Movements</i> tape, but good stuf nonetheless. A-side, entitled "Arnheim", starts with a person explaining some situation, followed by a simple yet nice junk-and-whatever loop. A machine sound sneaks in after a while and gradually takes over, adding some dynamics. Good, but it doesn't really grip me. The B-side then. "State Of War" makes me think of Vivenza with it's very direct and short loops. Stripped down and effective stuff. Nice tape. One could argue it deserves a bigger edition, I'm glad I stumbled upon it this weekend, but I still rank the other two releases way higher. The B-side is fantastic though.

BLODVITE - Renad i Eld - C30 (Self released)
Another lucky find from saturdays gig, and imho the better of the two. Two tracks on the A-side. First one is a rather ominous opener, giving proper justice to its title ("Avgrunden" translates "The chasm"). Initially it actually makes me think of the cavernous sound of Kristian Olsson's solo recordings. Second track further on moves into more familiar Blodvite territory. Good piece!  The B-side starts out with a muffled loop, slowly opening up as more bass laden sounds gradually flow in and take hold. Bleak stuff reminding me of the latest tape on Throne Heap. Slowly evolving and skillfully crafted pieces as usual. Ottosson has developed a sound of his own I think. Great tape, although not on the same level as <i>Falskt Spektrum</i> or <i>Tänkta Dialoger</i>. But I'm sure I'll return to this one from time to time.

[online prowler]

Second the post on KEVLAR.

[NEHPF]

http://vimeo.com/89207018 (KEVLAR / DRONE SKY)

Sorry for OT but they DO sound great! Good job on marketing GEWALTMONOPOL.

[GEWALTMONOPOL]

Good to hear you like it NEHPF. I'll make no bones about Kevlar being the next band on Unrest but the main reason for the above mention was to highlight yet another name that is removed from old horseshit like Consumer Electronics, TNB, Ramleh, Skullflower and the rest of those has beens clinging on for dear life. The UK is moving on and Kevlar are another outfit who are part of the push. I of course take no credit for what they're doing but I am proud to have added them to the Unrest banner. I'm yet to hear what they are working on next but I'd be very surprised if it doesn't, as they say, kick ass.

Here's an old track from before Alpha Strife:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsNl7VFAsIc

A little unfocused and could do with tightening up but all the ingredients are there. KEVLAR to my ears, eyes and all other senses are just the fucking ticket. This is EXCACTLY the rocket that the UK needs up its arse.

The CD-r is still in stock and can be ordered from the band for those who want a copy.

[eyestrain]

Lebensfaden - Bessessenheit (Lust Vessel): "Obsession", a very appropriate article for the start of anyone in the LV lineage. I'm still not sure what it is, but this is one of the only encampments that rides the cliches of sex and violence that still wets my whistle. Not that this necessarily sets them apart, but the severe facelessness as well as the perfected aesthetic can only help. Lily Vice has to be one of the best talents in the visual side of noise.
Anyway, I thought it would be beneficial to look back at a much-hyped album a few years after the fact. Lebensfaden, next to Gaze Campaign, has to be my least lusted after member of the family. Ironically, seems like these two are the most respected, or so I've seen. This was always my favorite release by them/him/her, and that still remains true. Better yet, I think I find this more successful now than when I heard it originally. This act is a step aside from the usual feedback-laden work that the label typically unleashes; this is oscillator-rich, dark industrial mire. The visual clue is medical/surgical, botched or not, as is the case with basically all of Lebensfaden's output. That kind of painful, paranoid, anxious fear that you could associate with the operating table is well placed with the album(s). I feel no relief, during or after my listening experience. Just ugly. Blown out and retro, but without feeling like rehash.

Ho. Turner - Systematic/Synergetic/Synchronistic/Syntonized/Sensitized! (Entr'acre): Look, if you told me this was a new album by Will Over Matter, I'd have little reason to suspect otherwise. It's the sampling and field recording that make it a lie. The rest is ultra-primitive sines, cro-magnon synth tones and bummy drummachine beats. Interesting to see this completely unrelated synchronity separated by two or three decades and a myriad of differing personal interests. No Siitoin recordings (sorry guys), but instead some sparse radio chatter and a fascinating manipulation of a Native American ceremony. It's a bit dated at moments, but I also don't think there was ever any intention for this to be overtly contemporary. The little bio that the label gives on Turner leaves me curious to know more. Any kind of unrepentant, over-productive artist seems worth hearing about.

V/A - Sverige (Release The Bats): Kinda forgot about this LP after picking it up for next to nothing. A little mind-boggling considering that this thing's a total scorcher. A real healthy dose of variety without ever being aimless or unnecessary. The only red thread being the un-smiling nature of everyone's contribution. Funny to hear this now and see the foreshadowing that was clearly presented: that "Swedish tape noise" sound, that "Posh Isolation" sound, etc... A stellar comp that is still out there for the taking.

[acsenger]

Merzbow - Normal Music (tape, Blossoming Noise, 2010)

Reissue of a tape from 1982. Akita and Kiyoshi Mizutani are credited with drums, organ, violin etc. This is a very unusual recording by Merzbow. There is recognizable drumming throughout, I assume played by Akita--in a sloppy way, I should add, although it doesn't matter much since his playing is mostly "free". "Free playing" applies to the whole tape which is very much an experiment, in the true sense of the word. Side A features the organ heavily, while side B has violin playing towards the beginning, some noise (noise as such is largely absent from this tape) and the last few tracks can even be described as groovy (as in there are downright groovy drum parts). It all sounds like the two guys took drums, an organ, a violin and some noise-making devices and set out to play around with basic elements of rock-like music, without ever playing "normal" music. It's a genuinely experimental tape, and unusual even compared to early Merzbow. Musically it's nothing special, to be honest (although it has its moments), but as a curious and interesting listening experience, it certainly works.

[Andrew McIntosh]

Two cassettes from Impulsy Stetoskopu have been on repeat for me lately. Got them a few months ago, played them a great deal, went on to other things and have now come back to these tapes. Always a good sign.

Murderous Vision I first read about in our favourite magazine, but to be honest the name of the project put me off - a tad too un-imaginative. This "Hidden Histories" album, though, easily impressed me and continues to do so. It's all about the layers, long tones and rushes of sound and noise that blend in together and weave around each other in a dull yet full rustle that can be heard as both harsh and soft, if that conveys anything. Power Ambient? Noise Drone? Regardless, these are pleasurable pieces of layers from both electronic and acoustic sources through various effects. Some occasional rhythmic elements touch with Industrial roots, and Gary Mundy provides vocals on the final, titular track, but this is mostly a long, abstract grind through varying shades of darkness.

The duo Mariann Kafer was completely new to me, but despite my ignorance had been active at the start of the nineties before disbanding and re-banding in 2010. There's a detailed introduction to the group in the tape sleeve notes. The two long soundscapes here are collages of sample loops and electronics that, interestingly, are also as multi-layered as the Murderous Vision tape but in this case the sounds are divergent enough to be picked out. Still, there are so many things going on that it's like listening to a condensed version of entire worlds. The lines of sound come, do their thing, and go, but coming and going can be unnoticed as the entire pieces proceed. Complex and satisfying.

The first tape came out recently, so there still should be copies left (should point out it's a one sided tape, but decent length), the other tape came out last year, not sure if it's still available.

[ImpulsyStetoskopu]

Two cassettes from Impulsy Stetoskopu have been on repeat for me lately. Got them a few months ago, played them a great deal, went on to other things and have now come back to these tapes. Always a good sign.

The first tape came out recently, so there still should be copies left (should point out it's a one sided tape, but decent length), the other tape came out last year, not sure if it's still available.

Thanks Andrew for these words, as always insightful.... especially in case of MARIANN KAFER, a little known French duo. They have deserved for more attention in my opinion

Yes, as everybody knows, I don't run massive label propaganda :) so both cassettes are still available. :)

Taking the opportunity I would like to inform that soon (the end of this year and beginning of 2015) I should issue some great records (on CD): DERNIER DU CULTE (re-issue of cassette + bonus tracks) and ENTRE VIFS (a new material). The cassette with the newest material of LINEKRAFT and the next part of THE ARCHIVE OF POLISH INDUSTRIAL MUSIC PRESENTS (on CD-Rs).
The fourth and the latest volume of ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF INDUSTRIAL MUSIC is planned on ending of 2015 (I hope).

[SiClark]

Got home late last night travelling all day and came back to find  - Shift / Am Not / S.T.A.B. Electronics ‎– Three Pillars Of Controlled Domination CDr had arrived. Three tracks, each artist with their interpretation of a Con-Dom track. It is just what I needed to hear, very brutal recordings, absolutely superb. Don't know if there are any left, sold through Unrest Productions.

[GEWALTMONOPOL]

There are still about ten left. Email unrestproductions@yahoo.co.uk for details.

Simon! While trying to text you this morning I instead managed to delete your number. Could you ring or text me when convenient for you.

[NEHPF]

Dachau Lustknaben ‎– Brandenburgische Halsgerichtsordnung C60 Jeremy Bamber Tapes

High pitched feedback and completely bizarre mickey mouse vocals. Great stuff!

Aaron Dilloway ‎– Door With No Handle C30 Hanson Records

Tape loops. Couple more musical moments, but mostly just crude noisy junk.