Noise music without any context given to the listener by song titles, artwork, lyrics/vocals (PE), etc. is comparable to an abstract painting. Without looking at the title of the painting, the viewer will contextualize the piece according to their own perception and attached emotions. In this way, we can never understand the piece, but simultaneously cannot fail to understand it.
I agree it's comparable to an abstract (non-representational) painting, and Vomir uses the familiar fine art title "Untitled". But if we look at the title and packaging of Merzbow's Bloody sea, i dont think it would be legitimate to think the sound work is in anyway expressing that, as its not significantly different to other of his works. Likewise The Rita's 'Skate' (made i think from recorded skateboards) and Thousands Of Dead Gods - recording from a shark cage. I for one couldn't tell the difference. As for understanding the work, here i would disagree. Though "illustration' propaganda, in a sense has understandable messages, as does advertising, some think, (and I do) art is more that that. I cited Tom Wolfe's 'Painted Word' and also Kant's ideas on aesthetics. It's that in the end the work defies understanding that gives it is unique aesthetic. It would follow from an 'understanding' model of art, the production would be fairly simple. To save space here, its not an understanding that makes one think a mountain beautiful. A qualification in geology would be kind of irrelevant. Or the beauty of a starry night.
Which is maybe what you mean by " we can never understand the piece, but simultaneously cannot fail to understand it"
But "the viewer will contextualize the piece according to their own perception and attached emotions." but artworks can and do change the viewers perceptions.*
*Which in noise is now missing?!
