PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Listening Dijkstra LP yesterday, and I thought it was just while ago on my turntable. Well, seems like just few months ago, and impressions were the same:

Raymond Dijkstra "L'opus ch" LP
Everybody loves Raymond? This lp has really eerie soundscapes, mistreated piano, delay tricks, very simple but effective technology, resulting good things… My assumption is that this artists is appreciated by handful of guys who will grab ultra limited hand made items from him, but vast majority of people don't pay attention?

[AKTI Records]

Just swapped some records with Keränen and got Raymond Dijkstra La Philosophie Des Chiottes LP from him. Haven`t listened to it yet and kinda forgot that I had it but now I feel like I must play it... been watching movies more now and less music but still some good stuff has circulated through my tape deck like for example:

The Spring Room Sessions by Jazzhand & Amek-Maj
This one I liked a lot, but took some time to digest. I feel like I have this thing with many noise releases... Jazzhand had this malfunctioning sound which was interesting. I like his approach to noise. Amek-Maj being great as always. To me he is one of the best and most productive noisemaker atm. 

Fashionably Late For The Apocalypse by L$D Fundraiser
I`ve listened to this like what? 20 times? Only keeps getting better and better. Industrial feel to it wth some repetitive synth themes, tape fuckery, toy soldier percussions & feedback. I`m pretty convinced that the best music at the moment comes from NZ. (stuff like P.Wits, No Label releases in general, Long Comfortable Screw Against The Wall labels tapes, Maxine Funke, Antony Milton`s stuff in general, Pumice etc.)

[Euro Trash Bazooka]

La Philosophie Des Chiottes LP

"chiotte" is the vulgar name for "toilet" in French. Such a title makes that LP a must hear I guess haha.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

THIRDORGAN "Jinzoningen" LP
Harbinger
This Thirdorgan LP totally slays, and it is hard to say why exactly Thirdorgan is so rarely hailed among greats of Japanese noise? I guess it’s for example Noisextra crew who keeps mentioning it, occasional comment on noise forums… but seems like it remains in shadow of many other names.
This LP, if you don’t know what it is, think of 1997, where early 90’s Merzbow harsh noise blends with early 90’s busy Monde Bruits sound. Not sure exactly what pedal it is that makes these very Monde Bruits type of sounds here? Everything is very fast, very electric, very sharp, but also harsh. There is neat dynamic variation where he seems to manually adjust volume, not always blast at highest possibly volume, but tweak sound lower, and then hit hard again. It’s like the Merzbow panning tricks of 90’s, were sound warps, spins and shakes in ways that nobody does in contemporary noise. When thinkining of this ear of Thirdorgan, it makes me also think the harsh noise era of Putrefier. There are odd links there too. Andy Bolus has made some art for this Thirdorgan, and he also has links to Putrefier.
I meet the Thirdorgan at one of his UK tours. I have very vague memories what all was discussed, but I remember when we talked about some bizarre Japanese ”movies”, and I mentioned about one particular dvd of Soft on Demand company, Japanese guys looked at eachother, one says the name with vastly heavier japanese accent and both burst into laughter. SOD did a lot of regular things, but at most deranged bizarro creations, they had releases that surprised even me at the time for being so weird.


TNB/Organum 12"
I guess it is no secret there is book about The New Blockaders under work. At least I heard of it from couple sources. It should be done by, ehmm.. proper author. This might set it to new standard that is not present in some noise books?
It is actually curious, how little TNB I have seen on this group. Also when people listing their favorites at WNC or talk in Noisextra, it is not very often when TNB comes into discussion. Same with Special Interest magazine ”The Essentials”. People of all ages and countries, listing top-10 influential things and it is fairly rarely when TNB was there. But at the same time, band is like THE name in the noise. It is not many who have had so many noise artists do tribute remixes and stuff like that. Band really had high impact on noise history, but… for currently active noise generation? Who knows.
For my horror, I noticed this 12” was still in PVC sleeve, but no damage done. Sounds clear and hiss-free, painful but elegant screeching noise.

NON "Blood & Flame" LP
Mute
Another classic I don’t see so often being influence for contemporary noise guys, is NON. Perhaps as his most vital stuff is so damn ancient, and in later days man is much more known for other things than producing inspiring abstract noise albums…  This one is really good one. Neat combinations of eerie and noisy loops, creating dark slow paced industrial-noise tracks. A lot of them too, but not too short. It always makes me think these days, are there "big labels" who would push noise to larger audience? Like there was Relapse, Mute, and such. Putting out mainly other type of things, but with resources and distribution networks they had, pushing noise releases forward too...  I guess it is matter of physical format being tough to move for big labels, that no challenges are needed?

Merzbow "collection" 10xCD box
Urashima
Very early days 10x tape series of 1981 racket, free noizu mess, clatter and random chaos. Well, I thought I’ll start with Merzbow and managed to listen first 7 CD’s before workday was over. This era of Merzbow is not my favorite, but it ain’t bad. So far half of one CD only was like ”come on Masami! Try at least”, haha… It is more about the mass of collection here, than if any particular thing stands out. I guess it will be that disc that was released as stand-alone LP by Urashima. 3 more discs to go through today!

[Zeno Marx]

I meant to post about this a couple months ago, after going down a rabbit hole looking for more like Militia.  As you can tell, I did get sidetracked here and there.  It started at live Test Dept, then went to Linija Mass and SAT Stoicizmo, then to early CMI with Mental Destruction, Memorandum, and early Maschinenzimmer 412.  By then, I was looking to Einleitungszeit, Sistrenatus, Fleisch Macht Boese, early Deutsch Nepal, and then Soldnergeist.  Then Hands/Winterkalte, Hymnen Records/Imminent Starvation and finally, The Steinklang Picture Years 1995-1996 4CD.  The Steinklang set is the only reason I'm posting it now.  It's still resonating.

Various - War Against Society 1997
Militia - New European Order
Militia - The Face Of God 2015 - while this isn't an in-your-face industrial percussion album, it is much better than I previously gave it credit - a lot of religious/ethereal feels to it, which are clearly criticisms of religion, faith, and politics; no surprise and no divergence from what they do - a solid, interesting album.
Test Dept - Live in Venlo 1989 - https://youtu.be/69ws_KYjENw - one of those bands I find frustrating and not consistent - this is my go-to with them.
Mental Destruction - When Madness Strikes 1990 - this group doesn't get the respect it deserves - truly great industrialism, and each album is worthy - the cover art on the CD reissue is a little strange and potentially misleading; makes me think more of a local Marilyn Manson wannabe self-release than a quality industrial album.
Mental Destruction - Straw 1996 - really good album and a toss up with When Madness Strikes, though a little different, more evolved animal.
Mental Destruction - The Intensity of Darkness 1991 - could be my least favorite of the three, but it is still good.
VA-2/3 1996 - I believe these were all exclusive tracks at the time - before Ant-Zen became what it is today, there was the mighty Hands Productions - this compilation is a classic; Deutsch Nepal, Winterkalte, Mental Destruction, Dive, and Esplendor Geometrico all getting an EP's worth of material - the second Deutsch Nepal track, "Razor in Motion", is particularly mesmerizing and powerful; it probably deserves to be on a short list of all-time favorite heavy electronics tracks.  The Esplendor Geometrico tracks are the weakness here.
Memorandum - Ars Moriendi 1994 - discography + unreleased - some of this is as close to Militia as I got.
Maschinenzimmer 412 - Malfeitor 1989
Maschinenzimmer 412 - Macht Durch Stimme 1988 - maintain this is a better album than Malfeitor, but the way they reissued it with a full live album before the original cassette tracks was a misstep.
MZ.412/Trepaneringsritualen - X Post Industriale Rituals 2015 - 2LP version - good live material from both, but the vocals on Trepaneringsritualen can get to be a distraction and annoying.
Sistrenatus - Wrought Iron Railings 2007 - industrial power-electronics and really the only album that I find in the same realm as Einleitungszeit's style - great album.
Sistrenatus - Division One 2007 - this is more subdued, less violent than Wrought Iron Railings, but it is still very, very good; much better than I remembered it - their artwork and presentation do them no justice; not that I'm advocating for some trite power-electronics graphics approach, but there is something sterile and unappealing about their choice in album design that reminds me of the quill font of Projekt.
Sistrenatus - Sensitive Disturbance 2009 - listened to this one on bandcamp, as I don't have it - more like Division One than Wrought, plus lots of vocal samples of unknown origins.
BT.HN And Sistrenatus - Exposing The Ribcage 2010 - one 66-minute track - some really nice industrial timbre hum/drone.
Deutsch Nepal - Vintage Musikk from Deutsch Nepal - some really great, simple, repetitive tracks - again, the two tracks for the 2/3 comp...fantastic DN.
Fleisch Macht Boese - Genmanipulierte Körper 1996 - "Schläge I" is a track.
Soldnergeist - Spur 2 1994
Soldnergeist - Global Media Control 1996
Soldnergeist - Terror 2001 - by this time, it was a slower, more subdued burn for them, and in this listen, I preferred the earlier work of Spur 2.
Soldnergeist - Der Rest Ist Schweigen
Einleitungszeit - Die Menschzerstörung 1995 - whether you're into what they did or not, there really is nothing like what they were doing.

VA-The Steinklang Picture Years 1995-1996 4CD - I always felt these early Steinklang picture discs were an interesting animal.  From very bright, quasi comic book industrial images to oversimplified art that came in vinyl protective record sleeves rather than PVC sleeves; like wanting to be similar to early Ant-Zen, but lacking the budget and/or artistic vision.  2nd, or maybe even 3rd, tier power-electronics with appropriate graphic design to match.  Simple rhythms and pre-set effects that were demo-like, or tool-like building blocks, rather than feeling fully realized work.  If I remember correctly, they were also inexpensive and not difficult to find.  An interesting label in general in those early days, and this odd series of picture discs epitomizes a vibe.  I had most of them, but not all of them, so this collection was welcomed.

CD1 - Atrox - EKG PD7" + Time is Now PDLP - these have aged well - as I remembered, a more simple approach than most with a demo feel - if you like things streamlined to the point they can almost be considered background music, I'd recommend these early Atrox.  They're nearly meditative.  Good multi-tasking sounds that seep into your consciousness.  I was messing with some other things, and I looked down at my fingers unknowingly tapping and following the pulse.
CD2 - DKF, aka Deutsch Katholische Feindschaft - Schmerzgrenze PD7" + PDLP + PD7" - I never owned this one, but I'd heard it via tape trading days (seem to remember people were really attracted to their name) - quality is all over the place; some interesting tracks, but many not so interesting; overall, better than I remembered.
CD3 - Viron - Rontgentopogramm PD10" + Irikarah - Kampf-Sequenzen PDLP - I would describe both of these in a similar way to the Atrox.  This was just when rhythmic power noise was in its infancy, and much of it could still appropriately be considered power-electronics (because it is), though different elements and approach were in swing.  You won't find techno, EBM, beats, or the like influences on these picture records.  This was not Winterkalte/Hands Productions.
CD4 - Rasthof Dachau - In Der Strafkolonie PD7" + Andxesion - Terratorium PDLP - by the time you get to Andxesion, I think we're squarely in what's now known as rhythmic noise, and this album would be right at home in the nowadays Ant-Zen catalogue; this is a crunchy, pulsing, and power-electronicy version of that.

The winners here are CD1 and CD3, but CD4 is no slouch, either.  I'd like to hear the earliest Atrox tapes, but only one has been reissued.

[AKTI Records]

Enhet För Fri Musik - Det Finns Ett Hjärta som för dig LP (Omlott)

Listening to one of my favorite record from past few years. Stunning album that covers really wide ground in music and pulls it off nicely. A lot of amateurish folky songs that chance to atmospheric noise and eerie instrumentals that are sometimes spiced up with swedish spoken word passages. Feelings of isolation and utter beauty are ever present through the whole trip.

[NerveGas]

Sunken Cheek - Familiar CS

Had this on the “new” purchases stack for a long time now. Slow building metal bashing and eerie resonant tones. Great atmosphere with junk sounds. Onslaught of more gain drenched scraping, creaking, and feedback. Some use of loops and droning synth as well. Many layers of activity, but never too busy. Great quick listen.

[MT]

The Day of The Antler ”Jordrök” CD

Day of Antler provides you very otherworldly soundscapes. From thick bassy synth wall to Strom.EC type intense rhythmic parts. And since I have previous experiences of this band, it makes it hard to pin point what they are. Neverthless, the CD is a great piece of work, whole 37 minutes are used well and I can’t see anyone getting bored with this. One time there’s spacy synths and second moment there’s some harsh noiseish sounds grinding through your speakers. Few songs have lyrics, which are in Finnish. Very much reminds me of Nuori Veri. Limited to 100, get it while you can.

[NerveGas]

Stroker - Perverted Justice CS

Relentless, reckless, disgusting wall of bass overload noise. Occasional warped laser sounds shining through, but for the most part this sticks to low end punishment and filthy vibe.

B side starts with damaged low end buzzing and warped maniacal, sobbing vocals broken up by more low end rumble. This time with a bit more variation in terms of frequency range and occasional returns to the sounds of sobbing/hyperventilating. Not a feel good release.

Also have the tape on Monorail Trespassing, but would love to hear even more from this project.

[Baglady]

DRESSING - From The Body To The Door CD (Oxen, 2022)
Busy yet slow paced, Dressing constructs some bizarre sonic sites on this album. The sources and sounds might not be new in themselves - one could place Dressing in the same fold as any tape noiser out there - but the whole thing has this peculiar trembling and rippling quality to it. The sounds bent, shook and let ring out uncannily, ever growing in scale and weight as the album progresses. An underwater city unravelling itself. And there's so much more to uncover with each listen. Now, this is what, the third release? I'm quite amazed. Excited to see where this is going. One of the definite highlights so far this year!

HEALTH & HAPPINESS IN THE 21st CENTURY - C80 (Robert Fuchs, 2021)
A favorite from last year. Like some restless supercharged  Andy Bolus, he sets off one hell of a cacophony. Layers of small mechanical sounds grind, squeal and drill away at high speed. Small is a keyword here as the sounds are kept at a moderate volume, lending space to one another. It's a rare move in harsher noise, not to crank things. I'm not an enemy of knobs at max, but the modest levels really serves this tape well. A seriously messy room full of movement, where you can easily make out and study any sound in the mix, or just sit back and let shit fly around your head. Excellent tape which I'm sure could please more people than its 21 current owners.

THE RITA & MANIA - Split C40 (Harsh Head Rituals, 2007)
One of the very first noise releases I bought. I remember not being able to "get" The Rita, while being floored by Mania from the start. I really enjoy The Rita's side now, 15 years later. The short remix of a Conqueror track, which opens his side, is what it is I guess. Short effective harsh blast. The untitled piece that follows is stronger though, with its rich and rather airy spacious build. And then comes Mania. Jesus. Intense, initially restrained, the reins held looser and looser as it goes, some almost early Ramleh reminiscent part in tve middle, ending up completely unhinged. He covers so much ground in this single track without losing focus. Not sure if there will ever be any more Mania reissues, but this 20 minute epic is one of Brewer's finest moments and needs to be heard.

[HateSermon]

THE RITA & MANIA - Split C40 (Harsh Head Rituals, 2007)
One of the very first noise releases I bought. I remember not being able to "get" The Rita, while being floored by Mania from the start. I really enjoy The Rita's side now, 15 years later. The short remix of a Conqueror track, which opens his side, is what it is I guess. Short effective harsh blast. The untitled piece that follows is stronger though, with its rich and rather airy spacious build. And then comes Mania. Jesus. Intense, initially restrained, the reins held looser and looser as it goes, some almost early Ramleh reminiscent part in tve middle, ending up completely unhinged. He covers so much ground in this single track without losing focus. Not sure if there will ever be any more Mania reissues, but this 20 minute epic is one of Brewer's finest moments and needs to be heard.

This was recently uploaded to youtube so I was able to give it a listen. Definitely agreed that it should be reissued at some point! I’d like to know what else might be reissued as well.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tDff35vwIs8

[FreakAnimalFinland]

THE NEW BOYFRIENDS "3" CD
Satatuhatta
It was so recently that tape came, that I was keeping CD version on piles "to listen" for a while. This is by far the most original of TNB recordings, mostly due 3rd person joining with sax noise. "a-side" was more full blasting noise, while the "b-side" is very unique way of blending metal junk scratching and almost musical sax playing with success. Very much recommended CD!

DEAD BODY LOVE "tumors" CD
Input Error
Tape was called Tumours (1996, MSNP) but perhaps as reissue comes on UK label, reissue is spelled Tumors! Listened this already few times, and I would say these days I appreciate DBL even more than I did back in the 90's! I used to be, and am, such a passionate lover of "amplified noise", with feedback, loudness etc, and DBL is all about the "line-in" texture, crunch, details of all sorts of brute overdrive, grain, dust and whatever you'd call it. No loud smashing & things happening in room space. These days, I absolute appreciate the possibility to approach details and color of sound partikels that could get lost under violent feedback or amp rumbling.

TIM CATLING "radio ghosts" CD
23five
Brilliant drone album. There is some ultra minimal drone, remindining of for example cd of Diesel Guitar. Then there is also electric guitar "drone", which is more like fast tremolo picking on string, but not playing music. Just creating tone in ways I rarely hear in "guitar drone". Packaging top notch like on this label tends to be. I should probably try to get missing 23five titles too. Back in the day, when I distributed these, I didn't grab everything, but only selected titled. Based on what I have, it seems as one could safely continue getting also titles you known nothing of, and expect them to be good.

AARON DILLOWAY & KEVIN DRUMM "I Drink Your Skin" CD
Hanson
Two 25 minute tracks. Originally tape, reissued on CD 2013. One track Dilloway works Drumm, and other track other way round. Excellent works all the way, and makes me wonder what other Dilloway (or Drumm) stuff I should be getting now that there is feeling that I don't have enough stuff from these guys. This was vastly better than Boggs Vol. Two CD I listened before this.

[FallOfNature]

Dead Body Love - Audiocide '95
Urashima reissue of the Slaughter Productions tape. First track is is the stand out, deep rumbling texture accented with jagged static and feedback alternating in the background between channels. Flipside sees the loop button getting a good workout, some sections much stronger than others but still good.

Necropsy Odor - Tales From The Tepid Cavity EP
New goregrind band playing in the old style of Carcass, Necrony etc. Short and sweet and fast paced, which is how I prefer to listen to this style.

[Bloated Slutbag]

Gonna post a few things that ended up elsewhere a little while back, with couple snips here and there to better ensure a modicum of continuity.

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Was cleaning out the ol' attic when I found the below-transcribed. Distinctly remember doing some scribbling on a particularly slow day at work. Then getting home and too embarrassed to post the unreadable shit. (Though it's possible a cleaned up rendition made it to one of the AWOL boards.) Luckily, the last vestiges of shame have long since departed this sorry carcass, so just the straight shit no edits. No apologies in advance.

The Rita - Lake Depths Lurker
The Rita - Bodies Bear Traces Of Carnal Violence
The Rita. You gotta love em. What other noise project would have the balls to churn out release after release which is, to the underprivileged ear, essentially indistinguishable? Two from Troniks and Harshnoise are a case in point. On first exposure, be like, What in almighty fuck? I swear I’ve just listened to the same five seconds spread over two fucking discs. Even after a good several exposures, nagging doubt may well persist. Is this dude taking the piss or what? That The Rita cite Dead Body Love as not a but THE principal influence could be telling. DBL were one I’d always admired for : unapologetic commitment to the pure stuff, and an obsessive preoccupation with all things, well, dead. Okay, so The Rita’s no DBL – too much “talent” for that, and no, not quite dead – but the SHIT does the job.

Now, there exist turdbrains who will argue that SHIT of such profundity offers nothing new. (Oh yeah? Here’s how you do new: don’t make noise!) Fortunately, the noisehead is naturally protected from turdbrain philosophy by a protective layer commonly known as turdear. Turdear will keep your noisehead blissfully unencumbered with abilities of the tastemaking – nevermind tastekeeping – persuasion, filtering everything that ever was is and will through sludge-bludgered hellholes of everlasting FILTH.

Okay Sod, you’ve had your chance to blabber on about your private personal peeves, what of the FUCKING NOISE? Funny you should ask, I was just getting to that. The noise. Well, that it is. It is noise. Need I embellish? Aw...

Lake Depths submerge the earhole twenty thousand leagues below the proverbial surface saturations, deep down into bottomless spirals of the listener’s own perverted brain. There! Just there: symphonic oratory, prancing and playing at the core. But if no one heard it, did it really make ahh…fuckit. Bits of shriek-scathe do bubble to the surface, here and there, but never really so much as a ripple.
 
Things loosen up a shred with earlier-rendered Bodies, also delivering a pronounced spike in the frazzled aggressions, particularly at the maniacal urgings of a certain collaboperv. Or maybe some of the bass couldn’t squeeze through the gate. Or maybe some of the bass simply couldn’t be arsed. This is the (perhaps ironic) genius of the genius of the truly noiseheaded. The more apparent effort one puts into presentation, the more one is essentially diluting the noise- using it as a vehicle for showing off other kinds of rad skillz dood! Total capitulation to noise is simple. Tune in. Turn on. Give up. The Rita remain the ultimate non-living reminder that, at the end of it, the whole of the recorded world, the whole world of sound, music, and everything else…IT’S ALL NOISE. The End.

[Bloated Slutbag]

Barstool Mountain - I (Closing Time)
It all coheres. Thematically, sonic-sensually. Which goes as well for I as the subsequent II, even if the latter seems less keen to establish where it’s been or where it’s going. Call it ptsd in slow motion or call it living the dream, paddling that bruised and buttered carcass through dimlit haze of interminably ruptured gloomcalm, fat flatulent burls rearing up sudden-like, malformed testicle hazards curdled into buzz-quelled Zed withdrawals, basted jollies nixed to a nadir’d stop-motion lurch n stumble, spiraling ungentlemanly down gristle-choked pizz-streams. Dream nightmare, same dif.

Liked this one, liked the rattling in the cage, in the bones, the floors, windows, shit falling off shelves, grit-textured de-bonking of duly soused cranials, ouch ferfuggsakes, at least at the appropriate levels for which I would assume this sort of documentation is demanded.  Presumably would work just as well in muted capacities, perhaps that much the better, would certainly in such sense cohere with the almost didactic intensity informing the interminably tunneled vision. But, like, it’s just that the Vee knob calls to me it does.

Epilogue. See that’s the thing. Had a real firm handle on it all, or really enjoyed the presumption of so having. Then along comes II, which is a whole ‘nother impenetrable story.

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Didn't want to say anything till back in the proper uh state of mind.
 
When that 1st 'Stool dropped, so did the obvious one-liner, re- "For those who think AoF is too hi-fi..." Definitely some funky choices in the opening ditty and a clear course “correction” once the lengthy principle starts to unspool.

My reverse-chronological take might be an attempt to square the circle with the more through-composed II- which on reflection is clearly its own self-contained thing- against a backdrop of the more storied projects, which in my brain started to morph (again) around Frusen Musik. Such a rich body of work, going up Rabbit Hole till the stools dis-lodge.

So saying, literally minutes ago a mini soddy handed me the 3lp, stool thee not, no doubt a whole ‘nother set of elegantly churned up pig-cycles to triangulate. Bar, up.