ROCKER #2
Feb 2024
In current "flood" of printed noise publication, one can't complain! I remember back in the day when SI started, there really wasn't much. Night Science, who does issues in very slow tempo. ALAP wasn't out yet. Noise Receptor was coming years later. Amount of small paper zines was almost obsolete. SI name originated from idea of making zine that each issue specializes into some very specific interests. In ways of "only death themed", "only political noise", "only esoteric noise" -kind of way, but sheer lack of frequently published "noise/industrial zine" who'd acknowledge whatever is out there, that's what it became.
Now that we do have multiple zines, I am confident that there would be indeed space and demand for more "generic noise zines" who cover whatever is out there, but curiously each zine we have now, has very much their own identity and way of doing things. Rocker #2, front cover with Racher Slurr of Stroker being urinated on, is pretty strong full color cover image that may not appeal to everybody. You got 74 full color glossy pages inside. Stroker interview, Bananafish boss Seymour Glass doing weird piece on homelessness. Interview with Leila Bordreuil. Orion Lopez artwork, interview with Rusty Kelley and lots of reviews by multiple different writers who have different tastes in noise. You got the neat and dirt.
It is curious element, that each of the interview here kind of starts to lean towards discussion of "being cancelled". Mainly that it is the idea that "we can't do this anymore", "I might be cancelled for this". Most notably in Rusty's interview where man who is responsible for quite a lot of strong and offensive releases, talks in length about his (almost pathological, may I say,) anxiety of people reacting badly on something he puts out. Several times the refer to something when he was "almost cancelled".
In case of Stroker interview, is brought up competition in noise, and all sorts of weird topics. But of course not all about the weird sides of US scene I can't see or relate to from perspective as a Finn. There is lots of good stuff, DIY gig organizing, noise making, publishing... everybody pretty much cleaning their act, getting out of drug use and getting things done, etc. Interview are all more of personal discussions and casual discussion do go deeper into things. Even if Stroker is basically only artist here who I have recently listened to, all interview are good to read. Everybody are little bit different sides of the scene, and there is no impression of "small circle", but broader look into scene.
Lots of pages are just black text, one large column in width of entire page. Two column would be good, and little margins not bad idea either. It is good that its black text on white background. Even if it is full color magazine, I like that they do not go on route of having any textures and background images below text.
In USA, get this exclusively from No Rent. In Europe, there are multiple distributors.
