Sometimes I wonder, what exactly it is with the metal junk, that is so timeless and charming element in noise. A lot of synths, a lot of effects, a lot of methods may occasionally sound outdated/lame, even when done pretty well for what it is, but good pure metal junk noise, it's never old in my ears.
As a best example maybe could be (besides many of my recent releases, hah..) V/A SONNO FERRUM tape. I recall when this new Finnish label approached me about acoustic metal sounds only compilation tape. And I had just decided to cancel my plan of 3xTape box of Finnish metal junk and this release seemed like fill the gap of that plan. Bizarre Uproar, Grunt, Sick Seed, Mania, Umpio, KSNK. That's the line-up. And even if every project is known for extensive usage of metal objects, the approach of the compilation is different from what most of them usually do. No effect allowed that would malform sound beyond recognition. Basically no distortions, beyond what recorder may have. No extensive toy effects. It appears some either recorded in echoing rooms or added little echo, but it's good. Few effects may be heard, but more like exception to rule. Often sound fidelity may be malformed by amplification or certain types of microphones used. There is very little of heavy noise, but some. Very rarely tracks approach this in full-on crash-test blast, but actually attention is given to detail of various type of metals. Objects that are big or small. They are being scratched, banged, smashed, thrown around. Loud, quiet, distinctive or saturated. Almost every type of stuff is here. Pro-dubbed tapes with body-prints and full color cover. The metal fetishism goes beyond artistic merits and the way tape presents the line-up leaves a lot of questions for the listener. Advanced ears may try to track who is who. With copies of tape I got letter saying guy who runs the label doesn't have computer at this moment so I guess fastest way to get the tape is to order from bands that are involved...
Anyways, my recent favorites within metal junk artists includes Ashley C CD (on Freak Animal). I was immediately convinced by utmost "easy" and minimalist approach on the metal objects. No loud noise. No youthful "lets smash everything", but eerie relatively lo-fi scratching and scraping and such.
Hal Hutchinson has been improving all the time and while I considered tape I put out to be very nice healthy blow in moment like this, it's absolutely nothing compared to upcoming LP release that takes him right up there in level of kings of the metal junk.
From old names, K2 "the rust", "Metal Dysplaxia" CD stand as major landmarks of the artists metal junk era, The New Blockaders, who obviously has influenced generations after them, some of Merzbow works that have crunchy metal in bigger role.. "Crash For Hi-fi"? Macronympha "Pittsburgh PA" LP/CD is just one among their vast discography where metal objects are in important role. And more could be listed. And each of these could be written pages of praise. One could also refer to veterans of contemporary music a'la Stockhausen "microphone" or the french legends, but they have own topics in near history of board..
I'm interested in any recommendations of artists who can pull out interesting sounds of metal. Not just some lame shakebox with distortion or constant smashing of same lame tin-can. But where various element of this versatile material is studied much further. Be it from perspective of "noise" or "sound art".
