Been listening to
LASSE MARHAUG "Camellia Sinensis" tape box.
Edition of 100 hand-numbered copies.
Recorded at the best studio in Oslo 2008-2009.
Comes packaged inside a box with a 64 page book and the four tapes inside. Tapes & book come packaged inside a 6 1/2 inch x 9 inch vinyl case.
My own small input to this comes from re-print of Marhaug's tape themed interview from Special Interests #1. From 2009. Fuck, time goes so fast.. Meaning, I just put this to shelves to be "listened soon", and 7 years later being blown up by Marhaug abusing Metal Objects, Contact Microphones, Guitar, Turntables, Tape Delay and Electronics. There is logic in doing box of C-30's. Being that there is one track per side. Each track appears to be "session", which has different set up than the rest. It's all harsh noise, though. I remember 2012, Marhaug/Dan Johansson "Distort Orgasm" CD being somehow... too obvious. Just churning set of solid harsh noise and didn't check out anything released after that. According to discogs, year 2010, when this was released, was the last year when Marhaug solo works were released. Since then, everything is collaborations. A LOT of them. There is one new solo tape in 2016, but that is new mix of old tape from 2007.
Of course I'm not opposed to collaborations. But on certain types of noise, it just appears to be based merely on what are the people you hang around with - at some international festivals, and then jam something. It may work out fine, but lets say listening to the box of "Camellia Sinensis", it feels like in this one, he seems to have several quantities good for harsh noise:
Not only jamming with some good guys, so there is nothing to rely to. No vast impro band making chaos that you contribute a bit. All these appear live in studio takes, so there is the flowing feel of noise session, instead of editing. He seems to be more relaxed on tape mode. Not having to somehow prove to be able to make massive album. As wild some of his harsh noise CD's are, this has much more substance. 8 x 15 minutes separates tracks into good lengths. There are couple sides that ain't as hot as the rest, but they work along 2 hour wholeness. I'm pretty sure that if this would be on CD, it would be even better than reissuing White Inferno. I have no complaints of that. Having released Egoproblem CD myself, which has certainly personal importance rather than objective extraordinary value. On this session, Lasse appears to use a lot of same type of gear like in his early days, only with 10+ years of experience. There are couple boxes at discogs for reasonable price, so one could grab it now even without reissue..
Many seem to praise "Quiet North". It is very sharp and has ripping quality and aggressive force to it, but above mentioned box has several sides that are texturally way better. Same could be said about "The Great Silence". That CD is perhaps even closer to "Camellia Sinensis". Perhaps most drastic difference is the cd vs tape format reducing the highest frequencies - making recordings warmer sounding in good way. "Camellia Sinensis" has different, more vivid and playful quality to it besides full on harshness. All these worth to grab, of course! Some should be available very cheaply, or if digital is your thing, just visit here:
https://marhaug.bandcamp.com/Notable addition few months ago:
https://marhaug.bandcamp.com/album/tapes-1990-1999-2007
