Often my most dreaded format, even though I love most 7"s. Not sure what the mental block is. It may just be financial...as there's obviously a hefty price difference between 12" and 7", while a lot of folks seem to charge essentially the same for C10 to C60+.
Some thoughts on recent acquisitions:
Constrain - Default Trade 2xC10 (Compulsion Rites): Double cassingle? It's becoming more and more obvious over time that many labels/artists embrace the double-tape EP simply for aesthetics; the opportunity to go all-out with packaging. If you've held this item, I think that's the whole point. C20 seems the ultimate harsh noise format to me, and this would clearly have fit. Anyway, Constrain is one of the best rip-roaring, big-flying-fuck-you-experimentalism harsh noisers in the USA - up there with Being, Wrong Hole, etc. Each newbie is just that little tweak better. This being his newest - so I believe - should tell you just what I think of it. ... His C12 (the 8" EP of cassettes?) Zero Action on Mazurka also delivers, but the above is just a hair improved.
V/A - Summer Scum Harsh Noise C10 (New Forces): Just as the title would suggest, cassingle compilation (!) of harsh noise for this year's fest. Ahlzagailzehguh, penetrating with the most impressive piece. Of course, it's outrageously chopped, but without any of the over-the-top contrast of certain cutters. Brad Griggs, probably the most lackluster of the bunch; just kinda steady screech, but just fine regardless. Okay side-B already: Breaking The Will, with a totally dynamic piece; conjuring up three disparate feels in about two minutes and somehow the track still seems full-length. Wild. Developer, using the first half of his track for an-almost-nothing-hum-and-clang moment before just ripping into 60-seconds of high-gain, then rhythmic-ish slices. The way I like him!
Window - Salvation C11 (Fallow Field): Only going off a web-rip on this one, but the case would seem to be a mini library-bound affair. Trying to meet SSP halfway on unnecessary shelf-display-rights, eh? Fairly predictable beat-based industrial PE, that flirts with Posh Isolation/Galakthorrö sonic motifs, while incorporating black metal/punk vocals. Really don't like the cross pollination of these sounds. ~11 minutes is more than enough of this for me. Was available through Youth Attack...so, statistically this should be one of the biggest things out there today.
Purity Of Essence - Kulturkammer C10 (Unseen Force): The übermensch cover is highly appropriate on this goodie. Quasi-martial backbone holds itself dominant while a cascading, crunchy loop(?) comes in and out allowing some distant vocals(?) and dreary synth to occasionally peak out. A few moments where the feedback's a lil too invasive though. But, what I do like is the way some harsh rumble corrodes it only to end all fuck-you like in an instant. Flip the tape and, woah!, just where we left off. Like some live edition of Dopesmoker on vinyl or something. Things wax and wane before a sheet-metal-down-the-hall bit is overpowered by a feedback torture session. Too much of this in my life now. I just get migraines, so I can't really comment on the rest.
Scant - Not Guilty By Reason Of Mental Disease Or Defect C10-12? (Beyond The Ruins): Had the pleasure of seeing Scant last night. Sick, sick performance. Short, sweet and executed so well. Tape rumbles out like Anenzephalia or Ke/Hil live; you expect this sort of calming drone, but there's grit that makes it more oppressive. A filthy PA hum enters and leads you to the flip. Again, thoughts of those good ol' German boys. Pulsating, dense loop careens around your skull before letting up short of halfway to make room for a wee silence. The rhythm reappears in an explosive decay that veers near The Rita territory, but wanes again. Killer!
EDIT: Although not noise, I feel the need to also mention my forever-confusion/-joy of receiving the Insect Warfare/The Kill C1 (yes...) where each track repeats twice on their respective side.
