PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[FreakAnimalFinland]

I recommend strongly the CD. It is album based, plus most of all mastered in a way that it doesn't compete with "other stuff on internet stream", hah.. so when proper CD player and volume adjusted into perfection, it can be heard "like meant to be", as kind of stand alone 40 mins.

SOLMANIA "Psycledelic" CD
Alchemy
It is very hard to be objective what is best Solmania. This CD, might be the most challenging. Mere half an hour duration, but it is ”musically” probably the most disturbing, most demanding and fierce.
While most other Solmania you can file simply under good harsh noise, this CD is most of all irritating, difficult and demanding noise. Guitar noise that ain’t very cool, vocal noise that is far from being intense or extreme. Just challenge to endure this noizy havoc. That, combined to fact that it was first Solmania I got (as a tape copy, with xeroxed cd booklet), it has special meaning for me.
Album you -want- to like, but it is just not entertaining, punchy or that violent harsh noise. Exactly lack of easiness, is why I probably like this CD the most out of Solmania discography. There is nothing quite like it…

JAZKAMER "the monroe doctrine" CD
Pica
This was part of Jazkamer CD series of disc coming out every month. I suppose I got like 5 or 6 of them. Should probably check the rest too.
This project is a bit of hit & miss, but for example this one, think of 2000’s Hijokaidan when they were good solid band. No ”collaborations” with jazz or pop musicians, but sheer noise attack of free blasting drums and mass of harsh noise. That is what this Jazkamer sounds like. 30 mins noizu destruction. Many of the other discs on this series where less noisy. Each one, different, and probably have to check out where and who would be selling multiple copies at once…

JAZKAMER "Musica non grata" CD
Pica
So another Jazkamer. Not only tasty cover, but tasty noise! This CD is like Norwegian answer for Archane Device… if anyone remember that artists? There is like 3 layers of droning, whistlight, howling feedback going on, creating neat oscillations between each sound.
When I was listening The Rita interview in WCN podcast and he said he is not that much fan of feedback… and I was like W T F !!!? I know there is barely ever feedback in his works, but I don’t think I ever heard someone say it out loud, that they do not prefer feedback. For me, there are only couple unwanted ways of feedback. Most of the feedback is good, and most of songs would benefit of more feedback. Like even music bands. Rock without feedback, metal without feedback on guitars… may be ok, but far from perfect. Noise with good feedback, absolutely great. Jazkamer shows album made out of feedback, what theoretically could be done technically easy, but this is still something that I only thought less reverb, less noble artistic version of Arcane Device could be reference.

[online prowler]

I recommend strongly the CD. It is album based, plus most of all mastered in a way that it doesn't compete with "other stuff on internet stream", hah.. so when proper CD player and volume adjusted into perfection, it can be heard "like meant to be", as kind of stand alone 40 mins.

Out of curiosity for best possible immersion... Do you have any favored stereo settings on the album for optimal listening experience?

[FreakAnimalFinland]

There is not strictly specific gear how it should be listened. I have tested album with wide variety of stereos and speaker how it works out in different set ups. Big stereos, smaller, car, etc..
Not to talk shit on people’s habits of listening harsh noise, but often when you see tapes being played with tiny cassette recorders, boom boxes, perhaps some bandcamp streams with little blue tooth speaker… and yep, I’m fine with other people doing it, but for example this album is made in a way, that it would benefit from proper stereo system. Therefore, format is CD. Not digital files, not tape. Generally one who has CD player, has the traditional stereo system. At least seems likely.

Being stand alone CD album, not just something what comes from stream, it would be likely one will adjust volume to preferred, not being some default what suits all things coming on your stream..
As CD is not maximized to loudest, so plenty of things out there have more volume, but when having it in preferred volume, particular moments stand out like they should. Or particular frequencies may come out as intended. Also to changes of stereo and mono sounds, which may not be so audible if you’re blasting at tiny speaker that produces pretty much mono sound…

All that, of course is optional. One can listen album as wants with any gear, but they way I do it, and how it was ”composed”. Full album at once, on volume what will put life into frequencies that are not maximized into front.

[MT]

The New Boyfriends - ”3” CD

Somehow I managed to completely miss this when it came out as a tape and now fixed that mistake by getting the CD repress. ”3” starts off with a saxophone screech that fries your ears to the correct level of hearing damage for the upcoming. Once again NB does not let down the expectations but manages to elevate them. A beautiful mixture of junk metal fest and wild saxophone squealing. Somehow this album gives off this weird positive raising fist feel, all elements have right amount of distortion that you can feel in your guts. I don’t understand free jazz that much, but here same type of playing works great. Third and last track takes a slight turn with sax playing jazzy notes and careful treatment of several scraping sounds can be heard, until all hell breaks loose again, and than calming back. Lenght is around 30 minutes which is ideal. Quick album to blast at any time to get a sonic injection of dopamine.


Mogao - ”Finger Pointing to The Moon” CD

After the harsh noise gospel of New
Boyfriends, Mogao offers something else. Highly detailed textures of different kind of chirpy electronic rattles, waving and swirling lower ends fading in and out. A decayed loop working as a canvas on the background, first song of the two slowly evolves and devolves during it’s duration, fitting 30minutes, keeping listener at the perfect balance of attentiveness and enjoyment. Second movement goes even calmer phase, wobbly piano sounds and bird chirps here and there. Broken electronic rattles, hisses, beeps and boops emerge from the aural undergrowth while piano keeping the main focus. Half way I am reconsidering, the bird sounds being done with electronics rather than being samples. And the way they first sound definately real birds to me, are revealed to be electronic hiss by continuing the sound longer and turning them into a rattleish electric squeal. This track also is near 30 minutes long, more meditative and atmospheric piece.


Such a pleasure to have two guys like this around, always excited to hear what they have cooked up!

[piisti]

There was a time when I cannot use headphones to listen noise. Nowadays I do it pretty much when I check material what I have been recorded. Also at work bandcamp is nice thing to use. But when I LISTEN music I use only good stereo system at home. My opinion is that you have to feel differences of sound. In few last years I've been listen mostly cassettes which is pretty odd versus era before that was some 95% cd's.  Some deduce it's quality of tapes maybe.  Personal result is you should preferred artist vision.  Or is it a same thing to see some sculpture through phone screen or in a park...

[Aldous]

PAIN NAIL "Magneettinen Koutalo" & "Salainen Diktatuuri"

Excelent industrial noise. Pain Nail is a project to which I return quite frequently. Listening to this is almost as realizing a synthesis of what industrial noise is: loops, amplified junk metal, thoughtful and intense use of vocals, occasional rhythmic patterns or elements, a great dosage of ambience and spatial feeling and and actual narrative / compositional structure. As I am a fanatic for old school stuff such as, for example, early SPK, listening to these records instantly makes my blood warmer.
Each track sounds as if it is carefully crafted and is full of details whose potential is heard when volume in stereo is nicely crancked up. While specific sounds and modulations grant them individual value, the entire albums are much more that the sum of its parts and I strongly advise a complete and ininterrupt listening.

BLUNT INSTRUMENT "Sudarium-Wearing Thugs & Krakens"

This is oddball coming from Portugal, by the hands of illustrator André Lemos. Surrealistic saturated collage of rhythms, vocal samples and random odd sounds that form a wide and sometimes playfull pallette through which Lemos crafts a sonic version of his uncanny illustrations. While listening to this I cannot refrain from thinking about Nurse With Wound as well as some french old school projects such as Brume or Negativland. More akin to musique concréte than to "noise", expect moments of highly unsettling intensity and frantic complexity.

https://blackholetimewarp.bandcamp.com/album/sudarium-wearing-thugs-krakens-the-inner-ear-tales-one

[FreakAnimalFinland]

There was a time when I cannot use headphones to listen noise. Nowadays I do it pretty much when I check material what I have been recorded. Also at work bandcamp is nice thing to use. But when I LISTEN music I use only good stereo system at home. My opinion is that you have to feel differences of sound. In few last years I've been listen mostly cassettes which is pretty odd versus era before that was some 95% cd's.  Some deduce it's quality of tapes maybe.  Personal result is you should preferred artist vision.  Or is it a same thing to see some sculpture through phone screen or in a park...

good headphones are of course good. Not my preferred way to listen, but I listen all my releases on headphones too, just to make sure mastering works for headphones too. Of course not always in ideal place to listen in terms of volume or other conditions, but I do recommend good sound system for any noise head.

Caught finally covid, and spend days listening vinyl boxes:
Thee Angels Ov Light Meet Thee Angry Love Orchestra "Psychic Rally" CD
Cold Spring
Older Uk stuff. Late evening went with this occult industrial cd I consider among highlights of Cold Spring catalogue. Simple, but great!
"Thee Angels Ov Light Meet Thee Angry Love Orchestra was an illegal event organised by Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth in 1988. This CD is a document edited and shaped to capture a moment in time and those feelings and impressions connected with it.
Original recordings, Old Street, London, 23rd April 1988, by Justin Mitchell. Re-EQ'd, Mixed and additional material recorded by Rook at Armadillo's, Early 1995. "  Discogs price starts at less than 5 euro still today...

Current 93 "Unreleased Rarities, Out-Takes, Rehearsals And Live 82-95 / Christ And The Pale Queens, Mighty In Their Sorrow / The Red Face Of God / Emblems / As The World Disappears" 8xLP +7"
Then, woke up last night like 4 in morning and continued with Current 93 box set. First 4 lp + 7” was done before sunrise, and another evening 2nd LP of 2nd box going. I would guess one hardly needs to write any introduction about why early C93 (or later!) would be mandatory listening.
It would be good challenge to put as much personality into sheer noise as C93 has in their odd bizarro musick.

Current 93 Dreamt By Andrew Liles ‎– Like Swallowing Eclipses 6xLP
Dirter
during bizarre moments of covid+ lockdown at home, perhaps equally bizarre experience of sitting through yet another C93 related huge box, with one sitting! 6 x LP box of Andrew Liles working with Current 93 sounds. This 6 LP box of more abstract works was listened in one session. LP after another. Perhaps weakest moment is the A-side of last LP, but all in all, pretty damn good box. No neofolk here, couple sides are eerie drone. Sometimes gets pretty noisy, always neat. I guess this is the thing with having good sources, and that mixed with more advanced editing possibilities than back in the 80’s. This one I actually had still shrinkwrapped since 2010 when it came out. I got it about same time as the VOD vinyl box, so at the time felt like I'll check the other box later on... well, this sure is later on!

Then moved into:
V/A Cassettencombinat West-Berlin 1980 - 81 3xLP box
Vinyl On Demand
Best works remind almost spirit of early Einturzende Neubauten - vaguely sure - but that's how it works for me. Early tape scene electronic music / industrial sounds

[absurdexposition]

Current 93 / As The World Disappears

Basically perfect. Most of it appears on the second disc of the 2CD edition of Thunder Perfect Mind, for those unable to obtain the costly VOD box.

[NerveGas]

Stuck in the house with Covid, so seemed like a good time to listen to a stack of new purchases. Stuff many, including myself have heard before, but what else have I got to do right now.

Prurient - And Still, Wanting LP

Perhaps my favorite Prurient release at this point. Has a crisp digital sound that I am normally not drawn to, but the usage of this type of sound fits the aesthetic of the release perfectly. Crushing blasts of noise that abruptly cut out followed by low ominous drones and typical Prurient style spoken word. With this release and Pleasure Ground I feel like he really came into his own. All around perfect balance of brutality emotion that so many Prurient releases are categorizes by.

Prurient - Pleasure Ground LP

First track is a total earfuck with shrill feedback and rhythmic blasting static bursts. Tortured vocals. Another contender for top Prurient release. There is perhaps one droning death industrial style track that causes a loss of momentum, but it is just a minor inconsistency. Still a top contender. Wish the reissue had the same cover art as the original that I purchased. The bizarre jester/logo mashup is more fitting.

Alfarmania - Bottenskrapet LP

I was a recent convert to Alfarmania. Perhaps the high prices that some of their releases fetch discouraged me. I don't really know. Happy to have dived into more of their catalog. This is not cold or harsh but murky, damaged, cavernous, and suffocating sound. This is what I want industrial/power electronics to sound like. Totally ramshackle, almost falling apart at times. What sounds like ground buzz or unplugged cables at some points. Unhinged. Two enveloping long form tracks. One per side. Picture disk collage looks phenomenal as well.

Haare - Tantric Noise LP

I have sung Haare's praises on this board a few times, and this is a perfect record for being sick and quarantined at home. Meditative drones, clanging and creaking metal, the ever present feeling of eastern mysticism that he is known for. The sounds of some unknown temple ritual. Oddly calming, but not without the possibility of impending dread. Never reaching levels of full harshness but remaining restrained.

Macronympha - Live At No Fun Fest Single Sided LP

After seeing the classic footage of the chaos that unfolded during this set, an audio only version feels a bit lacking, but how could it not. However that is not to say it is without its merits. Harsh and energetic. Sounds of crowd rowdiness. One can pick up on the energy of the set especially when cheering and screaming of the crowd are heard over the music. By no means a bad release, but live albums are rarely essential especially one's such as this where physical chaos seemed to be taking center stage (in a good way!). Still, a cheap acquisition, and happy to add it to the Macro collection.

Nuori Veri - Kadonnut Maailmankuva CD

Possibly my favorite release that I have heard all year. This was written about on the SI website, so I won't try to repeat anything. Basically this is one of the most unique takes on PE/Industrial I have heard in a long time. So much so that I hesitate to even throw it into one of those camps. Many sounds that are not particularly powerful or harsh, but add to the overall dusty, traditionalist atmosphere. Scraping wood, rural farm sounds, and the vocals.... Incredibly powerful, almost militant proclamations. I do not speak Finnish, but language works perfectly to me ears, and I have some minute understanding of what the lyrical themes are. Cream of the crop release that has been on repeat since I got it.

[expectorant]

Nuori Veri - Kadonnut Maailmankuva CD

Possibly my favorite release that I have heard all year. This was written about on the SI website, so I won't try to repeat anything. Basically this is one of the most unique takes on PE/Industrial I have heard in a long time. So much so that I hesitate to even throw it into one of those camps. Many sounds that are not particularly powerful or harsh, but add to the overall dusty, traditionalist atmosphere. Scraping wood, rural farm sounds, and the vocals.... Incredibly powerful, almost militant proclamations. I do not speak Finnish, but language works perfectly to me ears, and I have some minute understanding of what the lyrical themes are. Cream of the crop release that has been on repeat since I got it.

This is great stuff. Same goes for the 'Luun Ja Auran Synteesi' tape. I've been enjoying both of them quite a bit, simply based on sound and the associated subject matter. It's a goddamn shame that I don't understand a lick of Finnish, since it feels like l'm missing out on a lot, to say the least. Too bad there aren't any lyrics included either. Regardless, it's a breath of fresh air in our world, for its unique approach as much as its earnest attitude.

[NerveGas]

Nuori Veri - Kadonnut Maailmankuva CD

Possibly my favorite release that I have heard all year. This was written about on the SI website, so I won't try to repeat anything. Basically this is one of the most unique takes on PE/Industrial I have heard in a long time. So much so that I hesitate to even throw it into one of those camps. Many sounds that are not particularly powerful or harsh, but add to the overall dusty, traditionalist atmosphere. Scraping wood, rural farm sounds, and the vocals.... Incredibly powerful, almost militant proclamations. I do not speak Finnish, but language works perfectly to me ears, and I have some minute understanding of what the lyrical themes are. Cream of the crop release that has been on repeat since I got it.

This is great stuff. Same goes for the 'Luun Ja Auran Synteesi' tape. I've been enjoying both of them quite a bit, simply based on sound and the associated subject matter. It's a goddamn shame that I don't understand a lick of Finnish, since it feels like l'm missing out on a lot, to say the least. Too bad there aren't any lyrics included either. Regardless, it's a breath of fresh air in our world, for its unique approach as much as its earnest attitude.

It really is phenomenal. The other releases I have heard are great as well. I will be following everything this project does going forward. And yes, lyrics would be great! I would even (attempt to) translate them myself if I had to. Not that Google Translate would be much help. But I agree that it seems like lyrics are a very important component and I do feel I am missing out. With that said it is refreshing to see a project do something so completely outside the box within the realm of industrial. Not that I mind more traditional approaches, but this type of experimentation is always welcome.

[MT]

Kovana - ”Club Catharsis” CD

Kovana has been walking their own paths and this full lenght really cements that statement. Cover arts have this very distinct Kovana aesthetic, simple and punky approach. Sound itself has taken huge leaps; mixture if dense wall of sound and high end ripping noises with intense as ever vocal delivery. Songs have these kind of glitchy features, abrupt pauses, blasts, at times sound is ripping apart in a neat way. Some songs are just short rippers. At times I kind of get this industrial  version of Atari Teenage Riot vibe from heavy beat oriented songs, intense atmosphere and female vocals. And only in a good way. Vocals have varied kind of effecting, which is always appreciated. From distant wobbly kind to more in your face. I tried to pick out stand out songs but I ended up writing almost every song. Tells enough about this album. Extremely fresh wind with neon lights, in the hazy industrial dungeon.



Human Larvae - ”Pure Sex” CD

I don’t have that much reference points ofn HL material, but I really liked this CD. Song titles revolve around death, sex and rebirth. Layout of the multipaneled digipack is spot on, accompanied with lyrics. Sound on ”Pure Sex” is crafted with good vision and intent. Spacious yet very present, looping industrial scraps, nicely distorted vocals and commanding teutonic voice. Theres a hand on feel to it with physical metal treatment, scrapes and bangs, with an avalanche of dense layer of noise. Song flow goes from one instrumental song, one song with vocals etc. I am not sure if the album tells a linear story, or more like fragments of circumstances, memories and dreams. Personally I really like the samples in ”Rejection Intermezzo”. To conclude I would say this album requires attention, lots of stuff is happening under seemingly ”simple” songs. With careful listening one can unearth lots of things, and sometimes the looping quality of songs sort of set the listener in a strange catatonic mood.

[Theodore]

RE: Nuori Veri : New Metsakirkko [the guy from Nuori Veri with a pal] tape is good stuff too. But being 4th chapter in Kult Of Nihilow's series, after Sadio, Pain Nail, and Alfarmania / Young Hustlers split, you dont need anyone's recommendation. You feel, you know it is good, and i am just verifying, saying you are correct.

[NerveGas]

RE: Nuori Veri : New Metsakirkko [the guy from Nuori Veri with a pal] tape is good stuff too. But being 4th chapter in Kult Of Nihilow's series, after Sadio, Pain Nail, and Alfarmania / Young Hustlers split, you dont need anyone's recommendation. You feel, you know it is good, and i am just verifying, saying you are correct.

I was unaware that someone from Metsakirkko was involved with Nuori Veri. I only know of them through their collaboration with Hail Conjurer, who I am a big fan of. Will have to check out more now, of course. Thanks for the heads up.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

This latest Metsäkirkko tape is the best to get if you like Nuori Veri. Perhaps less musical than former works. Also due special packaging etc, not likely to be available for very long!