Was just listening to Armour Group / Isomer split tape, "Desire To Fight".
First thoughts were that Armour Group gig I recently withnessed, seems like it was designed to be more hard hitting and song oriented material. Many of tapes, have much more "relaxed" feel. Perhaps adjective is wrong. Lets say, they don't feel urgency to kick in hard rhythm or vocal assault, but can spend long periods of time with fragments of news broadcasts and minimal noisy materials. Something what will barely qualify as "hit song", but generate totally different atmosphere. Not less of value, simply easy to observe why to make choise that this material ends up on tape, rather than proper album or live gig. Skill and sense of role / correct placement of material, good indeed!
Isomer, I said it before, but I can say it again. While many old timers of the genre have appeared to slip from good to not-so-good, it's good to see that this isn't only route to go. Not all projects go through slow phase of becoming less interesting and weaker, but for example Isomer. Of course he barely qualifies as veteran at this moment, but lets see... He has already passed his 15 year landmark. Debut full length on Tesco came dozen years ago.. But, I'd say it's fact that new stuff Isomer has come up with, is the most interesting! This tape probably topping again things I have previously heard! Naturally, tape format allows the sound some extra tasty saturation and dirt what may not be present if master files were put on CD? But that aside, material itself is good. Perhaps best suited to fans of more contemporary "power electronics". Not quite the trad. PE, but rather something lumped with IRM, Human Larvae, Prurient, etc etc. Just few names that barely are best to use as reference, but well known...
Anyway, why open topic for the split tape? Not sure when exactly I personally noticed, but Australia has been for years rather active place for many times of noise. There is long history in different types of industrial connected stuff. Within last few years, it seems as if there was still more and somehow different things happening? Several labels, obscure tape labels putting out raw noise and power electronics. Lots of live shows promoted quite constantly. It was already years ago, when KNIFE CULTURE compilation CD exposed me to countless formerly unheard Australian projects.
Also, Australia is home of at least 2-3 industrial/noise magazines too. Not bad.
New and old favorites? Thoughts in general?
