THE RITA

[Fistfuck Masonanie]

The latest interview in Rocker #5 goes into detail about Sam's obsessive behavior and how he needs to fully break everything down to its core, then break that down another level, and keep pulling the thread...

Must check this interview if will be available online or for buying from eu distro. I like most of his works, these relased earlier but also released nowadays more directed to minimal crackle stuff with obsessions with body, womens, dancing or ballet. Love his devotion and contribution to noise scene especially hnw scene which is so hermetic imo. Nylons of Laura Antonelli is my holy grail. Didn't folow for the recent albums because lack of time but must do a homework asap. Like you wrote - simple a true artist.

Interview won't appear online, Rocker is a traditional print only publication, but I'm sure some European distributors are carrying it. Looks like neither Satatuhatta or the Northern Heritage/Freak Animal webstores have it currently. I'm not familiar with all of the euro distros though. A really good issue with this The Rita Interview, overview of the Yellow Tears guys, and a variety of reviews of the latest releases.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Also, zine is not available forever. I think it has usually one print run or sold until next issue comes out. Print run appears to be fairly large, but unlike with records, I think there isn't such second hand market for zines, so they tend to disappear.
Rocker review section as well as adverts can be really neat from perspective that it is so different from what there is in the other zines? Of course some cross-over, but in general its quite amazing to see how different type of things are covered and how there is a lot of things I haven't heard of or even seen.
I have not had any issues of Rocker for sale, always bought it from Satatuhatta.

[absurdexposition]

Also, zine is not available forever. I think it has usually one print run or sold until next issue comes out. Print run appears to be fairly large, but unlike with records, I think there isn't such second hand market for zines, so they tend to disappear.
Rocker review section as well as adverts can be really neat from perspective that it is so different from what there is in the other zines? Of course some cross-over, but in general its quite amazing to see how different type of things are covered and how there is a lot of things I haven't heard of or even seen.
I have not had any issues of Rocker for sale, always bought it from Satatuhatta.

I think the print run usually tends to be around 600 copies give or take, which is impressive when seeing how fast they sell out from the source and seemingly most distros. I suppose it speaks to the reach that No Rent has after their years of very diverse curation.

[Minus1]

I just want to say thanks for this thread. I have very little Rita, but I'm very interested.

I worship Thousands Of Dead Gods.

I got the Urashima 4CD Nylons of Laura Antonelli, and...I initially hated it! Ha! It just did nothing for me for a long time. I was expecting something different, perhaps.

But then something finally clicked. And now I cannot stop playing it regularly. The "concept" finally got hold of me. :)

[PSYWARRIOR84]

Any word on the 2025 North American tour with Vomir and BLJ? I saw a flyer last year but I cannot find any recent updates. Much appreciated if you can update.

[Minus1]

Anyone familiar with The Rita – Macha Vs. Knife CD? Phage re-release of 2005/2007 works. 2x30min HNW from my brief sampling.

Edit: Fuckit! When it arrives I'll review it. 😂
In fact, I'm on a Ritathon. The Alceste, Leopard Skin, and Anna Kogler are also coming my way.

I put this in Playlist recently, but I should have put it here:

O.C.D. Shin. 4x15min tracks. 2021. Phage.

This is quite different from a lot of Rita that I have. There's a lot of dynamic. Churning, gurgling, twisting. I was going to place this in the HNW thread. But this wall is moving about all over the place.

(Apparently this is 1998 material, re-released.)

I like this description:

"For the fan who expects massive, abrasive textures like recent years The Rita releases, this isn't any of that. This is searing washes of white noise, crude distortion, feedback and a fair share of 90's crunch and crumble. As the previous Ominous/Phage reissue, this isn't your usual The Rita. But I'm telling you, you need it." - Ominous Recordings.

[tumult]

Also I'm big freak of The Rita stuff especially earlier releases, pure, harshest in every way. You must check this, especially splits with Kakerlak, WJ or Cherry Point causing your brain and thoughts perfectly calm and clear

[Into_The_Void]

earlier The Rita stuff is essential for anybody interested in harsh noise structured through the manipulation of distorted sound layers. His latter material is instead quite boring (for me) and way too "intellectual", if you know what I mean, but sonically a bit too weak.

[Flames of Torture]

earlier The Rita stuff is essential for anybody interested in harsh noise structured through the manipulation of distorted sound layers. His latter material is instead quite boring (for me) and way too "intellectual", if you know what I mean, but sonically a bit too weak.

I think it depends on which later release it is.

I love LAKE SHARK HN #21. The WWII Fighter Machine Gun and the Kawasaki KX500 make for incredible sound sources. The motocross bike in particular reminds me of the roaring automobiles from the film Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom. Perhaps it is because the automobile engines of Salò were recorded roaring on tape, with nice coloration, that the automobiles growl so strongly in that film? Coincidentally the audio master for Salò is a mono recording and the mono presentation may make the sound feel more powerful at its loudest moments. In any case The Rita's album description on Bandcamp suggests a treatment for the sound sources that involves a mild overdrive.

"...collection of raw, slightly overdriven pre-recorded samples of Kawasaki KX500 two-stroke motocross engines and various Allied and Axis WWII fighter machine guns. Curated by THE RITA."

If you're listening to The Nylons Of Laura Antonelli I can understand your disappointment. The sound is intentionally small just like the nylons that constitute the subject matter are thin and frail. The liner notes are quite thought provoking regarding the overall concept with a 4 paragraph essay from Gabrielle Losoncy describing the relationship between the handheld contact mic, the nylon material, and silence.

"You can conceive of silence being the underlying reality on this release, and it allows you to feel each cell of the nylon fabric for what it is, which is basically a player in an offensive line guarding the object, the leg. Each sound could be received as a tiny scrum with the mic or the hand and the nylon."

I own the 4CD box but I've never actually sat down to hear the thing at the CD player. I've only listened on a portable device and never through the entire length of the release. What I heard stirred thoughts and emotions in me primarily regarding the devotion to Sam's process which the album clearly demonstrates. I found inspiration there but I've always failed to complete the nearly 4 hour album. There's no question this work is not remotely as easy to approach as, say, the hour length ripper Sea Wolf Leviathan. Should I divide the CDs up into 4 separate sessions? Should I listen on a portable player while I perform menial tasks? If I choose to sit through the full release at the CD player in one session will I "get it" more strongly? I suspect it doesn't really matter how it is approached as long as it is. Your comment has piqued my interest to finally listen through The Nylons Of Laura Antonelli in full and see all of what there is to "get".

[Minus1]

Interesting!

I know I mentioned it somewhere, but that 4CD Nylons shocked me when it arrived, and not in a good way. "Wtf have I done?" This was a blind-buy fail.

And then one morning, months later, I decided to try again. It took me a while to warm up to it.

Long story short - now I fucking adore it! Sparse Noise? That was something I needed to wrap my head around. And now I find it to be mesmerizing. Each CD really is different. I think Sam is genius. He often presents things that are head-scratchers initially.

Although, for me it's a CD at a time.

I still haven't warmed up to that motorbike one. Give me time...

(And that hockey one? Fuuuck...I dunno...) 😂

[Into_The_Void]

I'm not talking about "The Nylon..", which I liked when I bought it, even if sound-wise is somehow very "minimal", let's say (I bought the tape box from Total Black back then, the cool times when buying from Canada/USA didn't cost a fortune) and I would probably not enjoy it nowadays (I should re-listen to it and I don't have it here). I'm rather talking about his most recent live performances (of around 3 years ago). With his releases of the latest phase, is a bit of hit and miss (at least for what I've heard): there are really enjoyable releases (split with Treriksröset LP), and other which are definitely not my cup of tea (Lip Line tape).

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Those who have not noticed, THE RITA (featuring THE GLORIA) will be playing in Finland, at the Harsh Ways Fest! I would assume it is about only time you get to see The Rita here on decent size stage. Along a lot of other neat acts. Tickets are already available and despite there is about half year to go, I would think especially guys outside Finland who want to see it could secure tickets in advance.

[Minus1]

The Alceste.

4 tracks / 55+min. 2024.

4 x 14min tracks, parts 1-4.

Part 1 harkens back to the rather minimalist rumble of The Nylons Of Laura Antonelli, which for me is a kind of Noise that I learned to love, after initially loathing it. Sam taught me! Near the end is a short explosion of different Noise.

Part 2 starts quieter - but shifts pace. It's all very mesmerizing. There seems to be small waves of sound here. And it all quietens again...these are large waves? I always think "waves" with this stuff. And of course nylon stockings. And my fingernail running against it. At various paces, directions, pressures. Very sparse, this part. But fuck! Another short explosion of sound around the 11min mark. An ambient din appears above the nylon scratching.

A different layer of crackle appears in Part 3. Slightly motorbike-ish, but not like that KX500 album. Very subtle here - on top of the nylon sound. It comes and goes, then FUCK...all hell breaks loose again, briefly, around 7min. I can imagine many Harsheads hating this. It is definitely one of Sam's more "studious" ones. What do these brief eruptions, one per track, mean?

There's 7 paragraphs in the artwork that detail getting made-up with eyeliner and lipstick etc. Hmm. I should look up what Alceste means...

Ok. So Part 4 briefly reintroduces that din above the scratch...or am I hearing my ceiling fan? This CD is fucking with me! 😂 The crackle is faster here, sometimes with a distorted layer. I'm bracing for another eruption...that's the point, right Sam? Apparently there are violin source sounds in this album. Huh? Maybe in those explosions? FUCK...there it is...around 12min...lasting 15sec. It fucks me up! Sounds industrial / junkyard.

On my next spin I really need to pay more attention to the sounds / differences in these 4 earthquakes, rather than diving for cover.

Well, I fucking love this strange, baffling thing. If I could meet Sam, my questions in this post about this album might top my list of things I want to ask. 😂

[Minus1]

Living Dead Girl.

2 tracks / 30+min. A 2020 CD re-release of a 1998 tape.

Well, this is a rather different kind of HNW than what I am used to from The Rita. It has a rather smooth surface, if that makes any sense. The course crackle has been sanded down. That doesn't mean that this is a "light" listen. Fuck no!

There are many mysterious layers. Voice-type sounds come and go, I think.

It's going 1000mph. Maybe the normal Rita is 100mph? (Or 0.1mph for those nylon type ones?) 😂

It suddenly occurred to me that 1998 is early The Rita. And I didn't notice a track break, ie this plays as a continuous 31min.

I played it twice - louder the second time. This really is an intricate piece of work. There's always something going on beneath the surface - churning, feedback, other layers of HNW that sneak in and out.

Thousands Of Dead Gods is my fav, which came a few years later. But this one has all of the ingredients that Dead Gods has. I think I could play this 100x and always sense new things.

I shall. 😂 (Not today though.)

Brilliant.

[Minus1]

Macha Vs Knife.

2 tracks / 60+min. A 2021 re-release of 2005 / 2007 works.

Oh I'm fucking loving this! My 3rd Rita night, and a 3rd different kind of wall.

Macha Magall is a scary fucker. Some kind of treated feedback / screech / voice layer prances about on top of a deep, scathing rumble from hell. This one is fucking intense, and varied. The overlay overtakes the underlay later on. But the underlay rumble eventually makes a comeback and wins. An instant fav. Fuck! (Did my CD skip / glitch at around 28min, or is that part of the sound?)

Straight Razor Vs Knife is...er...softer. Foggier. Hazier. I might need that after track 1. It stops / starts here and there - some holes in this wall. I get a Hoover Dam type vibe - the gushing water. But various sound elements keep showing up - stutters in the sound have me checking the CD play-time...Is it fucked up? More varied, this one. More cut-up. It's harder to wrap my brain around this one. It's strange! And shit gets real later on. It stops meandering. It intensifies. And then...The End.

Brilliant CD. (***Checks for scratches.***)