PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[burdizzo1]

Sarin Snow "Mighty Blood" LP
Good, sturdy industrial ambient structures. Not in-your-face, but enveloping all the same. Sometimes a little too restrained; my favourite track was probably 'Twilight Aegis', which has a bit more of an edge. Still, very nice from Fusty Cunt!

[MT]

Cloama - "Halveksin Kuolemaa" CD
I belive this is among the early stages of Cloama, released in 2000, reissued by Industrial Recollections in 2018. One might say this is a marriage between dark ambient and industrial, songs have clear structure with synth sounds buzzing and elements of metal clonks, synth hisses and such are used to spice up the atmosphere. Some songs have vocals/sample, in the background, not screaming but more like dictating words. Overall the release has an oppressive overtone, at times feels a bit like sitting in a factory where machiens are hummin around you and occasionally something makes a screech. There are themes on the album that hint toward control over man, military forces etc. Up to listener how to interpret them, I am certainly not the best at figuring out. Last track is a bonus track recorded in 2015, but it varies very little from the original material. 15 years of time difference yet able to capture that same atmosphere. Excellent.

[MT]

Cloama - "Neuroscan Organization/Blood Illumination" CD
CD combines an LP release and a tape release. Neuroscan organization starts with "Tuhkajumala" which is a massive orchestral industrial piece, with occasional strings and horns. Title track "Neuroscan Organization" is classic Cloama/Strom sound, layers of synth driven with a rhythmic beat, clocks over 10 minutes and it goes by in a flash, fantastic track. Curiously there's a live track with two songs. You'd never guess this is a live recording, sound is impeccible. Repeating samples, synths roaring and slow pounding rhythm. "Blood Illumination" part starts with extremely roaring synths take sound like a looming destruction coming over the horizon, spiced up with beats that sound like a bombardment! Super tasty synth sound that makes me smile, that perfect low pitch that makes you go "fuuuuck!" Part two on other hand starts with a piercing sound that is accompanied by even higher sounding shards of synth, some sounds morph into sounding like distant bells. Overall atmospheric release as Cloama stuff tends to be, this time more darker tones with raw approach.

Cloama - "Revisionist Knowledge" CD
The most raw of Cloamas recordings, Revisionist Knowledge. Pure death industrial sound of finest tradition. Analog, gritty, powerful and mean as fuck. Harsh vocals to top all the goodness. "Disease Eradiction" has always been my favorite Cloama song, and this approach, live with studio PA brings so much to the sound. Has this ugly power to it, yet it is executed with utmost precision and reason. Tracks from 4 to 7 are studio works, rawness of the first three songs is still there, not as relentless but still churning away. Dirty, slowly moving soundwave twirls and swirls, and commanding vocals are raining upon the listener. Another highlight is the two part "Degraded Throught Steganography", first part is an oppressive piece moving forward with might and force. Parts two is an onslaught that gives the listener a full service of ripping synth sounds and rippling feedback. Last track is another visit the live studio approach that finishes the record off in fierce fashion. For me "Revisionist Knowledge" is still the best one, cause it was my first introduction, and always has that special place. A definite classic in Finnish industrial/power electronics canon.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Actually two first Cloama are the most hardest. 1st tape and 1st CDR and pure harsh noise. Very few probably have them, but especially the CDR would be strong still now, 1999. I will try to get the rare 90’s Finn noise podcast done in 2022, and some clips from this CDR should be on it.

[MT]

Always been very curious about these early harsh noise works. I have a dealer where I can at least get to hear one of these tapes.

[MT]

Cloama - "Municipality Of Marionettes" LP
Marionettes LP continues on the line of heavy guitar work and grinding feedbacks. This album has also vocals in the mix, so it gives extra harshness to it. To me this work is in the middle ground between "Mountains.." and "Embargoed". Has elements from both albums, even though the chronology of these albums must be all over the place. Highlight of this LP for me, is side B that has a live gig. Operatic vocals are present, but this time not only singing in beautiful tones but the side starts with a bone chilling scream. Everytime I hear it with proper volume, I feel my hair rise up in my arms, it's so good and terrifying at the same time. There's pulsating synths, old school'ish Cloama/Strom.EC rattle and the end of the gig gets really noisy. Recording is excellent quality and a solid proof that Cloama killed at live gigs. I saw this same formation of Cloama doing sounds and female singer doing vocals at a gig I arranged myself. Sadly I have very little of memories of it, would love to hear a recording of it some day.

Cloama - "Provokaattori" 7"
Starts with an atmospheric piece, sample looping in the background, just like on side B as well. Industrial rhythms melting with quick samples of classical instruments and synth buzzing. B-side has same recipe, but faster beat to it, almost electronic. Themes of the 7" are about Finnish POW camps, with the angle of questioning the psyche of the camp leaders and who are chosen as one.

Cloama / Mutant Ape - "Dementia" 7"
7" that deals with themes of dementia, is rather interesting. As the inner sleeve lyric sheet (?) writes: "Cognitive disassociation / is the root of all perception / fractured memories can not be united / a present tense of nightmares". Cloama side has an interesting melody to it which I cannot tell is it something I've heard before or just remembering it from this, talk about dementia. A bit somber track with yet powerful sound and that haunting melody, maybe representing the past where there is no return, not in time sense or memory sense. Mutant Ape takes listener slow moving industrial avalanche, reminding of frustration and delirious mind of a dementia patient, vocals are drenched in the mix and scatching in the background, as like hopeless screams of an dementia patient before losing your mind to the disease. Tracks ends too fast, so another spin was mandatory.

Cloama - "Death Certificate" 7"
For me the most classic Cloama 7". The acoustic power electronics 7", that has the classic Freak Animal labels on the vinyl, as well as the classic and ever frustrating antistatic vinyl bag. Holy crap those drive me insane. Anyway, the A side material is recorded acoustic with no amplifications, only using the room echo. And it is a fucking mindblowing composition, who else would think, even dare to take such an angle than Cloama! Vocals are absolutely hateful and furious, the room sound is used masterfully in the vocal sound, one could think it just can't sound good, but trust me, this is great. Easily my favorite vocals from any Cloama release, so in your face and angry as fuck, just like the sound of metal rattling and pounding. If someone is looking for an unique approach to power (non) electronics, this is your thing. B-side does not fall behind, has an nasty bassline, probably played on a bass guitar, droning sounds all over. Has this very oppressive feeling, and of course the commanding vocals relentlessly ranting. Closes out with "Sacrifice" with really intense bass booming and vocal fury. What a fucking 7"! Easily one of my all time favorites in general. Mandatory to everyone. Available dirt cheap on Discogs, so you have no excuse not to own this.

[-NRRRRK-]

Macronympha/Savage Gospel - split tape (Satatuhatta)
Got the tape the other day and gave it a first play this morning. J-card is printed in full color on some thick, sturdy paper. Tape is type II. Side A has a beautiful, harsh blast of noise from Savage Gospel. Brutal, organic sounding stuff. Enjoyed it a lot. Track 2 is by Macronympha, using source material provided by Savage Gospel. Interesting synth like sounds, a lot of (maybe gated) reverb and some brutal noise-blasts. Side B opens with Savage Gospel, using source material provided by Macronympha. Noise-synths/machines and amp-feedback combine to form a beautiful, massive wall of noise (not HNW) with a lot of movement and some great synth-sounds. Pretty chaotic and fast paced piece. Tape is closed by Macronympha, providing some gritty, filthy, overdriven harshnoise. Mid-heavy, but not in the "crunchy" way, instead giving it a nice "old-school" feeling (like sound deteriorating through a number of dubbing-processes in the tape-trading days). A lot of movement and dynamics. Great ending for an entertaining tape. Enjoyed it a lot.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Cloama - "Municipality Of Marionettes" LP

There has been plan to reissue this on CD. LP was made like 110 copies I recall, and you can find one at Discogs for 10 euro... I have at least one in Sarvilevyt 2nd hand section. I think Cloama is good for fans, since you can get all these great releases cheap.

Marja Ahti "still lives" LP / digital
Marja Ahti is finnish artists who has bunch of stuff out, LP’s etc. I have to say I have yet to own any physical release, but listened and liked all things so far. I am not sure if the vinyl cuts are good enough for this material and I would probably prefer CD if there was done CD’s. I would file stuff under electro-acoustic or some sort of experimental music. There are lots of microscopic sounds on the new one. Field recordings. Vinyl crackles. But absolutely best it gets in the end of album with noisier material. I suspect her work is more acknowledged in Finnish noise scene, but globally speaking, I suspect noise folks don’t know her, and probably operates in slightly more arty experimental? I’d say worth to check out. At least digital stream. Check bandcamp.

She Spread Sorrow "huntress" LP/CD/digital
Cold Spring
I noticed someone post that this would be among his album of year picks. Album seems better than former albums, both sound and production, and I can see why people would like it. For me it doesn’t click so much. I am not really fan of ”keyboards”, ”synths” - in.. ehm… this style. Polyfonic, soft, tonal. But as said, improved, stylish, and I could see how this material would be gateway to industrial/experimental sound for those who are turned off by all sorts of vile brutes and painful sonics. I wouldn’t be surprised if youngsters who just grew out of appreciating Billie Eilish, would suddenly discover She Spread Sorrow and like it. That being positive remark! While Macronympha or Whitehouse would be just too beyond to get into. I’ll keep following what SSS is doing in future too…

[brutalist_tapes]

cloama is such and underrated project it seems. i loved everything i heard and it seems like the man has quite a broad range too.

[Aldous]

cloama is such and underrated project it seems. i loved everything i heard and it seems like the man has quite a broad range too.

Ditto! And Strom.ec is one of the greatest too! "Divine Legions Beyond Psyche" is one of my favourites of all time!

[Human Larvae]

good to see some Cloama worship. So much quality output

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Macronympha/Savage Gospel - split tape (Satatuhatta)
Got the tape the other day and gave it a first play this morning. J-card is printed in full color on some thick, sturdy paper. Tape is type II. Side A has a beautiful, harsh blast of noise from Savage Gospel. Brutal, organic sounding stuff. Enjoyed it a lot. Track 2 is by Macronympha, using source material provided by Savage Gospel. Interesting synth like sounds, a lot of (maybe gated) reverb and some brutal noise-blasts. Side B opens with Savage Gospel, using source material provided by Macronympha. Noise-synths/machines and amp-feedback combine to form a beautiful, massive wall of noise (not HNW) with a lot of movement and some great synth-sounds. Pretty chaotic and fast paced piece. Tape is closed by Macronympha, providing some gritty, filthy, overdriven harshnoise. Mid-heavy, but not in the "crunchy" way, instead giving it a nice "old-school" feeling (like sound deteriorating through a number of dubbing-processes in the tape-trading days). A lot of movement and dynamics. Great ending for an entertaining tape. Enjoyed it a lot.

For me, this was least interesting of the tapes on new Satatuhatta batch. And I am of course fan of Macro and tend to check all things I can from mr. Ilkka Vekka, especially Haare works, but this split/collab seemed even without listening as if it was not done for sake of what would be good and inspiring noise collaboration, but the Finns wanting to be associated with Macronympha, although they would have probably gotten more vital and interesting collaboration done with any (even local, domestic, currently flourishing- ) noise maker. On tape, Savage Gospel stuff is pretty good. Macro stuff unfortunately light years behind their best days. Notable is that this is actually Roemer doing it. Not the more recent days Macro member! Collaboration tracks have the same feel. It is no way totally hopeless, but merely ok to listen to, barely anything else... There is that topic about successful collaborations, where artists manage to either combine their best things, or come up with something new and unexpected, where collaboration becomes interesting new thing they could not do alone. This seemed like the opposite of it. Collaboration done just for sake of it existing, but adding nothing to either artists output.

Out of the latest batch, most things one could assume there will be great, but Touch Starved was totally new for me.

Touch Starved ”A satyr and the sinner” tape.
Satatuhatta

First time I heard about this new Finnish project. All I know, its younger guy with no former noise scene involvement. It was fairly small edition, that sold quick from Satatuhatta label, but I recall it was mentioned there should be small 2nd edition in 2022.
First thing I though, was that it brings to my mind Capers! It is not THAT damaged and primitive, but nevertheless, as soon as A-side was playing, it made me think of Capers CD on Usagi. Sort of broken electronics. Nasty, almost out-of-control damage, no synths, no metaljunk, no loops and so on. Having long steady stereo delay there makes it softer. Everything that is hard and noisy on top, comes like 1 second later repeated in slow thin soothing delay. It’s quiet, but still removes part of the rawness. Hard to conclude if it is better this way or if blatanty simple would have more cutting impact?
B-side had a lot of air-organ and some vocals, but also the raw noise. Due mentioned elements, no more Capers vibe really.
I like the tape. Also heard there is already new tape, but that was ridiculously small edition of ten copies…  If it is also good, it would be better to see new noise being available if there are people interested to hear it…
This one you can find from Satatuhatta label bandcamp and perhaps some labels. Also perhaps worth to keep eye on label if/when 2nd press of tape is available!

[absurdexposition]

Touch Starved ”A satyr and the sinner” tape.
Satatuhatta

Probably my favourite tape from that batch.

[MT]

Deathpile - "Final Confession" CD
Compilation that has pretty much all my favorite Deathpile material besides G.R. Long compilation which can get a bit tiresome to listen all the way through due the song compositions being at times quite identetical to each other. But the first three songs steal the show here for sure. Edmund Kemper 7" and Abominations 7" song. Canady sure had a great vocal voice, that classic power electornics madness and fury. The backgrounds are usually just a synth buzzing a rhythm or so. Sometimes results are damn nasty, such as "Gutters of New York", another Deathpile classic song. Simple, yet effective. I guess Deathpile was already dead before this CD came out? Always interested to know why. But it's a good comp!

Fingering Eve - "Protect" tape
Pretty nice dark ambient tape. I don't even know who the artist is, which is a good thing. Just an unknown dark ambient tape, droning low synths as one might expect. B-side gets even a bit more hifi with atmospheric pulsations, and metal sounds echoing in the distance, morphs slowly into almost like electro style ambient. Angoisse is probably also an unknown label to the most? But I think the label released a bit more different material than a regular noise label. Range was surprisingly wide.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

H.Ö.H. "s/t" tape
Satatuhatta

I was not at all surprised that H.Ö.H. Self titled tape was first one to sell out from Satatuhatta. Project might not appear as if it would be stuff that is in such high demand, but it is so unique, that there is barely oneone to compare with. Utter analogue primitivism. Appears slike zero gear stuff, perhaps radio signals, hand made tape loops, some turntable sounds. Entire tape is not pure gold, but… almost! It is unique. I don’t see material very much the old school, as I can’t name what old artist sounded like this either? Theoretically it could have been done probably 50 years ago, but it still feels fresh. Artist doesn’t use computer at all. Even masters sent to labels was just c-cassettes. All his self made releases were tape dubbed from tape master. I don’t know how many out there still work without even turning computer on?

Ahola & Silander / Pulsing Rope split tape
Satatuhatta

Ahola & Silander duo split tape has kind of 90’s vibe noise on it. Meaning, its not all harsh, it has all sorts of oddities, flanger/phaser and that type of efx boldly thrown into mix. Pulsing Rope is more atmospheric and dark. Neither is very aggressive and in your face. More just… unexpected? Noisy experimental sounds.

Amek-Maj "Stydi" tape
Satatuhatta

Amek-Maj, also known as one half of YANA. This is primitive harsh noise. Debut tape on Freak Animal was much more crispy and sharp, although oddly broken sounding noise. This new tape goes into more saturated and murky production. It is quite hard to decide what approach is better. It is just boldly trying out different approaches under same name. I like this.