Deadbeat "Source Tape for Dirty Old Men" cs

Deadbeat

Source Tape for Dirty Old Men

I Hate Tapes

(5)

So this one starts off with a sample. A long sample from an old movie (1950-1960?)that I don't think I have ever seen. It sounds like a father discovering a kid with his daughter and then goes about torturing him. I know I normally turn my nose at samples as if they were unnecessary jewelry on a already gorgeous pig but in this case the sample works perfectly. Totally fits the mood, it builds a slight narrative and once the screaming really starts the HNW takes charge for the next 8-10 minutes. It's pretty perfectly used. This sample works in the same way the Goodfellas sample at the beginning of Today is the Day's masterpiece record Willpower does. The noise on this cassette is thick, heavy and pure filth. This is important. This is an example for everyone on how to use samples into and out of noise. The label is called I Hate Tapes I think. I have no information about them but I believe Worthless Recordings sen this to me so I would bug them about getting one of these. It's good. It even ends with a continuation of the sample and it's terrifying. Good work Deadbeat. Seek help. 

Gnawed "Patience is Waste" cs

Gnawed

Patience is Waste

Out of Body Records

(4)

For fans of Pig Heart Transplant, Self Communion, Deutsch Nepal, Throbbing Gristle or anything in that vein I think you are going to dig Gnawed. I have reviewed their work before and it's always been pretty awesome. This is pretty much a full record of hateful vocals and rhythmic noise loops. My wife actually just described this as werewolves having sex. I think that is kinda awesome. It's a full length cassette of eight tracks that make you just feel hopeless. God help the troll that puts this as the hold music on a suicide hotline. 

Developer "00BR004" cs

Developer

00BR004

Out of Body Records

(4)

This is the first noise tape in a long time that, surprisingly, reminds me a little of Merzbow. You would think that would come up a lot more often and maybe at first everything kinda sounds like Merzbow or Massonna to people but the glitchy, harsh, spastic, intense noise on this cassette reminds me of Merzbow. Specifically from like twenty years ago. It's pretty nostalgic listening to this one. I think when I was about 18 years old and I was buying noise tapes and records I was thinking that I was doing something that would scare girls and therefore they would think I was interesting and then want to show me their boobs. I was an idiot. Clearly. But I got to listen to a lot of really amazing work back then and of course from the availability and already massive catalog, Merzbow was a constant for me. When Pulse Demon came out and I discovered I could actually own a Merzbow shirt I think I actually worn it everyday for a month. Developer is intense. I don't know if rocking early 90's Japanese noise is what they were going through but I suspect they have a pretty extensive knowledge of noise and how to make it. Developer makes me feel young again. Young and very not laid. 

Hobo Cubes "Timeless/Mindless" cd

Hobo Cubes

Timeless/Mindless

Debacle Records

(4)

I have heard some people say this is the record of the 2011. I think I understand why. This is gorgeous, looping, droning synth music that exists somewhere between Emeralds and Boards of Canada. Maybe I would put it right next to that Imaginary Hardwoods record that came out this last year. Really beautiful stuff and probably still available. I have nothing to say except that this is awesome. Comes in the tell tale digipack wallet that Debacle is known for. I hope you pick this up right away. 

Baby Daddy "Hot Dick" 3"cdr

Baby Daddy

Hot Dick

910 Noise

(3)

A totally solid piece of HNW that will not disappoint anyone who loves that stuff. Baby daddy is made up of Carl Kruger and someone named Mr. Stonecipher. They have really put together a powerful yet tiny cdr. I think I mentioned this before, but the whole marrying of noise and sex is getting a little tired for me personally. I get it but it is just getting to be something I have heard so many times that I guess it seems almost novelty now. Still the audio on this is great, the layout is simple yet totally effective and I recommend checking this out if you can. Limited to only 42 copies.

Hive "s/t" cd

Hive

s/t

Debacle Records

(4)

Now that I am reviewing cds I am getting to talk about a lot of other bands and artists that I really enjoy. I also am able to start talking about Debacle Records. Full disclosure: I personally have a few releases on this label through myself, Demian Johnston, and also Hemingway and Great Falls. That said, Debacle is always and I mean always putting new waves of excellent music. Mostly fitting in the drone, noise, electronic and generally experimental music. Hive is a drone duo from the Pacific Northwest made up of one half of the other excellent drone band, Tecumseh. Hive is less in the world of Sunn 0)) and more into the Klaus Schultz/Tangerine Dream vibe. Straight up drone that is not really heavy but is still very intense and overwhelming. It feels anxious. You almost want to stand up and walk around the room while this is playing. Absolutely necessary for anyone who considers themselves a fan of drone. The packaging is the usual Debacle digipack. Excellent illustrations as well. Oh yeah, along with the "full disclosure" sentence from before, I also did the layout for this cd. So nothing to mention there. Not sure about the edition number but it's been out for a few months now and I would do my best to grab another before these are gone. 

V/A "mxd ape 2" cs

V/A

mxd ape 2

Ape Tapes

(3)

It's a little weird to review a long cassette compilation. I will admit that when you are reviewing cds or even vinyl you have the option of skipping tracks and especially immediately going back to the last track and listening again. This makes reviewing cds and vinyl comps much easier as I would like to talk about each band (I will take this moment to say that the label also offers a download of the cassette. That is awesome but I unfortunately need to review not just the music but the experience of listening to a cassette. Which is why I only review physical copies of releases so I don't get the luxury of being able to skip and skip back to tracks). I am finding this difficult with this one as it's pretty long but I will say that each and every band is one I had never heard of and they are all mostly great. Not at all in the world of noise here, this is pop, dark wave, electronic, folk, neofolk, maybe some drone pop (if that's a thing) and some interesting almost dubstep pop/electronic/indie rock. All stuff I have never been known to enjoy but I do and I don't often get the chance to review. If you need to judge my credentials in this areas I will say I saw Olivia Tremor Control in Philly, 1994 on one end and I saw Ariel Pink sing over a cassette deck with ten other people in 2005 which therefore makes me suddenly seem like the kind of guy who wears ironic hats and jackets and needs to brag about crappy shows he saw 12+ years ago. Anyhow the bands on here are Onuinu, Your Canvas, Prescription Pills, PoPoPePe, Pocketknife, Radiation City, Lynnae Gryffin, Shawn Parke, Summer Ono, Speus Christ, Adventures! with Might, Keeps the Kids Quiet, Wax Fingers and Leviticus Appleton. There are people that sounds like Cold Cave and others that sound like early Joanna Newsom. It's a pretty nice mix. This is exactly the type of cassette that if you bought and put in the tip jar at your favorite coffeeshop, the super cute barista would get it and suddenly think you cute and may actually ask you out. Seriously, this cassette will get you laid. The art is simple and a bit naive but in this little poly case you are just getting a barely packaged collection of often compelling songs. 

A Night to Dismember "Salmonella, Chains and Plastic Cadavers" cs

A Night to Dismember

Salmonella, Chains and Plastic Cadavers

Worthless Recordings

(4)

It's funny, when I pulled this out of it's case and saw a label only on one side I actually said out loud, "this better not be a fucking one sided cassette". It totally is. I have two pet peeves that are related here; one is samples in noise and the other is one sided cassettes. I last got mad at the Winters in Osaka one sided cassette I reviewed awhile back. This still bums me out but I have to say that the audio totally allows me to forgive this infraction. This is HNW with some fucking balls. It's heavy as shit and totally unrelenting. The only time the walls goes down is when bursts of feedback pierce through and make you wish the comforting yet blistering wall of distortion would come back. It does have some quieter moments but it just sounds like chaos with a lower line input level. It's not a break, it's just a different sounding manic destruction. It's also a C-46 so you are in for a pretty intense ride. Of course, it's the kind of ride that you can't just flip over and get right back on, you have to push rewind and wait 7 minutes. Ugh. 

Dead Body Collection/Persistence in Mourning "Ritualistic Reanimation" cs

Dead Body Collection/Persistence in Mourning

Ritualistic Reanimation

Worthless Recordings

(4)

Fuck yeah. This is awesome. Heavy, noisy and totally eclectic. Plus, Worthless Recordings does something awesome that few people do; they staggers the tracks. Side A is Dead Body Collection/Persistence in Mourning/Dead Body Collection and side B is the opposite. So to break this down I will just describe each act a bit. Dead Body Collection is harsh noise with a extra layer of filth laying on the top. Listening to DBC's sounds is like trying to read the names and dates on 300 year old tombstones. It's tough, depressing and brings to mind your own mortality. Persistence in Mourning is much more of a "band". It has a ultra heavy doom vibe that reminds me of Neurosis, Ardent Vein, God Flesh, Deutsch Nepal and Throbbing Gristle. It's fucking bleak. It actually has samples and for some reason I am totally okay with it. I guess it's the Neurosis vibe. It always worked with them. I need to hear more from both of these acts and so do you. Knowing Worthless Recordings this will probably be sold out by the time you read this but I recommend doing your best to pick this up (you should really just check in with them once a week). Excellent work in general although I do have one criticism. This cassette is a prime example of the need to get things mastered. I don't always do this with my own releases (or if I do, I do it myself and I am not the best) but right now I can think of three guys who are great at mastering and they are waiting for your emails. James Plotkin, Phil Petrocelli and Pete Swanson are all amazing at mastering and they will make everything you do sound a million times better and more balanced. In this case it was more the staggering of tracks that made it evident. Regardless you are not going to be bummed about this one. Simple layout that is a little too dark but I think the awesome vinyl sticker makes up for that. Edition of 50 copies. Only 4 left at press time. 

Chefkirk/Somnaphon "Tender Pink Moments" cs

Chefkirk/Somnaphon

Tender Pink Moments

Becephalic Records

(4)

All of the words on this tape make your brain hurt. I like that. Chefkirk; I have no idea what that name means but it's awkward enough to be a real word for something odd. Somnaphon; again, not sure what this means other that something about sleepwalking maybe? Bicephalic; two brains? I don't know. Immediately the layout feels like someone who knows design handled it. Especially the really nicely done typography with excellent kerning on all the text (note: even for those people that still do everything in photoshop, please adjust your kerning. In other words, make sure the space between the letters looks good and is balanced. Hold option and press the left or right arrows when you are adjusting your text (if you have cs4 of newer). It makes a big difference…). Sorry about that, a little nerdy and probably hypocritical. Oh well. Anyhow, Chefkirk start this cassette off with some amazingly measured and minimal noise. There are huge periods of almost no discernible sound and then the silence will be interrupted by bitcrushed synths and noise. Excellent all the way through. Really inspiring. The somnaphon track is also very measured and subtle but there is a contrast in warm analog synth drones and piercing digital blips and bloops that creates the most amazing sense of depth without the exclusive use of reverb. Very impressive. The tracks actually both have a lot more to offer than what I said before but I think you need to check this out as soon as you can. I am not sure how large the edition run is but I imagine something this good will probably be gone before you get there. 

Swamp Horse "Subtle Dementia" 7"

Swamp Horse

Subtle Dementia

Husk Records

(5)

Before I say anything lets agree that you will buy this right away. The majority of this review will be short but glowing and it will say "own this. listen to this. be pleased". Swamp Horse offer us two tracks on this 7" that absolutely will have you scouring the internet for months to come for another record. The A side of this 7" is the real stunner here. If I had to compare it to anyone I might say Goblin. Hearing this for the first time will fill you with the same excitement that you had when you first watched/heard Suspiria. Reading that you might think it has the tell tale 80's moog and I should say that it doesn't, in fact it only sounds like Goblin in feel and approach but not in the same type of instrumentation. Although synths are used throughout, it's in a totally different way. It is dark and scary and it comes from a gorgeous place of hell. I have played this record a total of nine times tonight and I don't plan on getting bored of it. The second side is much noisier but still totally dark and interesting. Grinding shifting waves of noise. It's excellent. I have to say that when I first got this I had no idea what I was in for. The cover painting, while very nice, made me think Josh Lay and Morgan Rankin (in sunglasses) had a southern rock band or something. It's a pretty punk layout but once you listen to the audio I think it all makes sense. I am a fan. This goes on the "best of" list for the end of year.

I used the photo from the Husk page so you can see the record next to the original painting. I think the original looks a little nicer than the record cover but it's still a killer/weird painting. Reminds me of early Dave Cooper. Also notiee how the hand on the cover is also probably from a different person. Otherwise it would be an awkward way to hold your own right hand. I think this adds a subtle bit of anxiety. Nicely done.

Marax/Coma Centauri "Coerced to Pull the Trigger" cs

Marax/Coma Centauri

Coerced to Pull the Trigger

Worthless Recordings

(2)

So here it is. A test of my capacity to handle samples. The first side of this tape starts off with Marax doing some of the most interesting HNW I have heard in awhile. It's tough, twisted, scary and totally brutal. It's also peppered with a ton of samples. To say peppered might be an understatement. It's "peppered" the way an unfortunate convenience store clerk may be "peppered" with buckshot during a botched robbery. It's almost a radio play. Maybe it is actually. That would be kinda cool… but I just can't get into what I am hearing. If it was just the samples on one track and just the noise on the next I could totally get behind this but I just don't like it. I know some people will fucking love this though. I am like that dude who fucking loves peanut butter and kills for chocolate but throws up at the thought of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (my old roommate and Rorschach guitarist, Keith Huckins is that guy). I love Marax's work and this seems pretty personal. It's all about suicide so I guess if you are going to make noise "about" something you can either just say it's about suicide, you can write lyrics and sing over the noise or you can have samples accompany it. I guess this is pretty effective and it's super well done but I just don't dig it. At the end of Marax's side you get a track that is almost free of any samples and it pretty much rules. I guess Marax is peanut butter to me. Coma Centauri's side also starts with some fucking killer HNW mixed with just enough stutter to keep in interesting. There is also some odd use of sampled loops that are not quite the same and the samples of people talking but are more along the lines of odd music and tape manipulations. It's pretty interesting and kinda gets into that electronic vibe. Like I almost imagine that this person could also be into dub step or something but it's damn crazy. There is no real narrative through this as there was on the Marax side so I am not sure how this is exactly about suicide either. The track titles mention Jack Kevorkian, having a right to die and being generally depressing so I guess that is it. There are some subtle samples here and there. They fit in pretty nicely with the noise in general but when I hear FDR's familiar voice it kinda looses me. Maybe I need a more open mind because I bet the average noise fan would fucking love this. Packaging looks nice. A little 90's in the type treatment but it's definitely solid. 

Flesh Coffin "The Beast Won't Go to Sleep" cs

Flesh Coffin

The Beast Won't Go to Sleep

Lighten Up Sounds

(4)

I have reviewed Flesh Coffin before and I gotta say that this stuff is always super brutal. Absolutely no exception on this one. Excellent HNW interspersed with some excellent broken loops and the occasional sample. Most who read this blog at this point know I am not a fan of samples from movies or tv. This again is not my thing but it's so quick and surrounded by impenetrable walls or pure awesomeness that I really don't mind. You also get some creepy as fuck synths and room sounds that really work well. Pretty nice layout on it's black and white 1.5 panel J card. I would probably grab one of these if HNW and evil is your steeze. 

Harassor "Hater of Man" cs

Harassor

Hater of Man

Husk Records

(5)

I was super excited when this showed up in the mail that it had to jump the line a little. I am already a huge fan of Harassor's LP on Universal Consciousness that I picked up from them last year. I am not at all disappointed by this cassette. It has a recording quality that brings to mind Bathory meets Bone Awl and the music isn't that far off either. This is tough primitive death/black metal with vocals that are completely fucked. I guess this was recorded in 2006 which makes me think I might be missing something. This is so fucking good I can't imagine that they waited almost six years to put this out. Thank the elder gods that Josh Lay unleashed this on the planet for us. I fully recommend this in every way. Awesome simple layout and nicely put together. 

Carl Kruger/Deign "Knees" cs

Carl Kruger/Deign split cs

Knees

Fusty Cunt Tapes

(3)

Right off the bat the Carl Kruger side of this tape is awesome. Harsh, broken noise that somehow sounds like a jet engine warming up and failing over and over in the middle of a hurricane. With headphones on this thing swirls and spins around your head, causing some excellent disorientation. Trying to pull apart the sounds that are chopped and smashed into each other is pretty fun as well. I think a hear a carnival, a train, a dump truck and possibly a murder. Like I said, fun! The Deign side is a bit closer to HNW. The first track is pummeling and rarely changes course but for a second here and there. It's very intense. The second track gets a little more subtle and quiet but it becomes very manic and slightly crazy. Both acts on this cassette are excellent and I recommend picking this up or at least hunting down more of their catalogs. I guess this is an older release as Fusty Cunt has about another 20 releases that came after this one. The layout to this cassette is very DIY in a way that kinda makes me sad. Poorly photocopied printer paper wrapped around a tape in a bag that was the wrong size so it was poorly adjusted does not make for an impressive or interesting design. Although to some people this is exactly what they want out of a noise tape. I just love seeing people take their limitations in materials, money, time and making something really inspired.

UPDATE: I talked with the curator of this label and it turns out that the flimsy and sorta cruddy look to this tape was totally intentional. It was to create a sort of irony about consumerism. If you look at the other Fusty Cunt releases you will see that this definitely stands out in it's craziness. I guess that was lost on me for any number of reasons but I can see it now. 

Fire Walk with Me 3xcs

Fire Walk with Me 3xcs

Worthless Recordings

(5)

This is a rare gem. In fact it has to be or else the guy who made this would probably get in trouble. The River's Edge cassette that came out last year on this label was great and this is just as great but it actually sounds a little clearer. It's very nice to be able to just have this one while you draw. Without the visuals you really get to focus on how totally creepy and perfect the sounds and music were for this excellent piece of surreal film noir. Excellent minimal design with a excellent use of color. Thanks Worthless Recordings. You have proven time ad time again that you are anything but. 

Mole Hole "Wedge" VHS

Mole Hole

Wedge

Lighten Up Sounds

(4)

I am in love with the VHS revival that is happening. This is the second one I have reviewed and so far I am very impressed. The visuals on the tape are made from what looks like layers of 16mm films; cars, people talking, spaceships, outdoor gatherings that are all juxtaposed with some excellent audio. Drones, samples and subtle rhythms that at times remind me of the scariest parts of Fire Walk with Me and other times a bit like Brian Eno's Music for Airports. It's a really excellent piece of work and I fully recommend it. Edition of 50 copies. Samples can be checked out here.

Sewn Leather "Blood Runs Down the Drain" cs

Sewn Leather

Blood Runs Down the Drain

Friends and Relatives Records

(4)

This is real out there. Aesthetically this looks like you might be getting some HNW or maybe some creepy doom. It's creepy but in a totally different way. Strange synth manipulations, odd beats and some really spaced out guitar playing and deranged vocals make up something that sounds like it would have definitely influenced David Lynch. I actually have this cassette tape of the cartoonist Al Columbia's music from the early nineties. It's amazing four track manipulated folk noise and it reminds me a lot of Sewn Leather. I should see if Al would let me put that out… Oh yeah, Sewn Leather also sounds very eighties. In it's production and use of instrumentation. It is a different psychedelic animal all together. The artwork is fucked up and I am pretty stoked on this one. Bizarre and waiting for you. 

Ryan Jewell "Radio: vol. 1" cs

Ryan Jewell

Radio: Vol. 1

Friends and Relatives Records

(3)

This is subtle. Really minimal glitches and noise that have a pretty impressive amount of restraint. The second side is really beautiful work. Subtle (there's that word again) drones and strange bells mixed with quick bursts of quiet noise and some really surprising drums. Really nice. It's so subtle that at times you may think there is nothing going on. Unfortunately the audio on the cassette is much shorter than the physical length of the cassette so you get a little fooled into thinking that something else is going to happen when really you have just listened to five minutes of blank tape hiss. It's not that big a deal though as what you do hear is very measured and controlled minimal soundscapes. These tracks originally were on the radio in 2007 and 2008 in Paris and New Jersey respectively. Nice simple j cards. 

Survivor Series cs

Survivor Series

s/t

Nostilevo

(4)

Fuck yes. This sounds like two people wordlessly killing each other in a scrap yard. Which isn't too far from the truth. Its a live collaboration between someone from Paranoid Time and Scorpio & Glass. It's very twisted sounding. Scraping metal, shattering glass and blown speakers paint a bright red cacophony. excellent work and as of press time there are only 3 left of the original 44. Go. Now. 

Liable "silver b/w hypocrisy" cs

Liable

silver b/w hypocrisy

Nostilevo

(4)

Amazing lo fi industrial works on this short cassette. Only about 6 minutes per side but totally effective. The sounds of rusty tools sliding around inside a cement mixer, fuzzed out, unintelligible vocals, synth loops and random bursts of noisy rhythm make up a pretty awesome little package. I recommend this for sure. Edition of 44 copies in that excellent simple xeroxed j card that is characteristic of Nostilevo. 

Scorpio & Glass "Alba Lulia" cs

Scorpio & Glass

Alba Lulia

Nostilevo

(4)

Another awesome raw design from Nostilevo. Simple xeroxed covers with spray painted tapes. I guess I miss doing this myself. It felt so satisfying to look at what you had created with a lot of effort and little money. I appreciate that. Anyhow, the audio is great. It starts with abstract guitar punctuated by noise. It feels a little improvised but it has a direction. It reminds me of a very raw and more abstract A Death Cinematic. The second side is much more about destroyed tape loops and trash noise bursts. Excellent work. Edition of only 44 copies. Seems crazy. 

AMK "Imbricate" cs

AMK

Imbricate

Nostilevo

(4)

Nostilevo is a brand new label for me to check out and I am very excited to get into this little stack I have here on my desk. AMK stands for Anthony Michael King and this tape is made up of his field recordings. Originally two hours of field recordings that label then went ahead and mixed them. It's pretty excellent use of fucked up loops and pummeling noise. Real good stuff. The packaging is very simple and a little extra DIY. It's been awhile since I have come across spray painted cassettes and simple xeroxed j cards. In the past I may have hoped for more effort but with the audio and the style of the artwork and layout I think it's just perfect. I am definitely excited to dig into this stack if this is the level of work that Nostilevo is putting out. 

Widow's Bath "a Love in the Shadow of that Which Constitutes Love" cs

Widow's Bath

A Love in the Shadow of that Which Constitutes Love

Rainbow Bridge Recordings

(4)

This has the intensity and immediacy of a piece performed live. It's a interesting interplay on HNW vs. pure feedback annihilation. Like a balancing act of sorts. It's quite a ride, it takes many turns along the way and you are not sure of where it lets you off but it's totally worth it. Audio destruction in it's purest sense. You would almost swear that a Transformer was being tortured to death on the second side. It's a little on the long side but you won't notice. Limited to 40 copies.

Robert Ridley-Shackleton "Shut Up Egg" cs

Robert Ridley-Shackleton

Shut Up Egg

Eggy Records

(3)

Weird. Super fucking weird. This is a little different from the last release by Robert that I reviewed as this has Robert a little more in the front of the music. It's almost like he turned up the insanity and down the musicality. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it sounds like if you explained Ariel Pink's first album to an Alien in the 1970s and asked him to do an interpretation of that explaination. Robert is a massive personality and I think the idea of trying to keep him contained on cassette is almost impossible. There are some weird toy pianos and some probably not entirely improvised vocals on the opening and title track. Then you get some interesting noise that sounds as if it comes from circuit bent toys or speak-n-spells. Vocally Robert is still furious at the Egg and how it is speaking to him. The whole thing just goes off it's rocker constantly and it's a joy to hear. I am not as into the artwork this time around. I think some of his other cassettes are just beautiful but this one just hits me a little flat. It's fine though, like everything Robert does I think it's worth checking out. 

Raven "the Earth Dies Screaming" cs

Raven

the Earth Dies Screaming

Worthless Recordings

(3)

I wasn't sure what I was going to think about this one but I pleasantly surprised by what I encountered. Haunting drone with subtly mixed tape manipulations and synths create some eerie atmospheres in a similar vein as Oakeater and maybe a little Hair Police. This is right up my alley as it is lo fi enough to sound faded and sad but sophisticated enough in it's composition to sound interesting. I recommend this little gem from Worthless Recordings. The packaging is very much trying to get you to do something to stop vivisection and go vegetarian. I sympathize but it seems almost pointless to advertise these ideals to the noise/drone scene in an edition of 50 copies. It sorta takes away from the excellent music and you could make a much bigger impact with 50 flyers in a high trafficked downtown area of your local city. I don't mind the effort though. 

Body Collector "New Eden" cs

Body Collector

New Eden

Brave Mysteries

(4)

I was ready to not be that into this based purely on the cover artwork and design. I hate doing that but I admit that I totally judge things at first on their appearances. It of course cuts both ways though; I have bought a few releases thinking they were going to be scary, blackened, awesome doom/noise whatever and I was let down by some seriously uninspired SUNN0))) worship. I guess Body Collector is someone I have missed out on. This was supposed to be his final release. It's a fucking doozy. So much grime and texture is crammed onto this cassette that you may feel bad for your speakers after having heard this. It starts with just a few sounds, maybe old tools scraping the insides of a steel drum, maybe gravel rolling down a broken playground slide. Whatever it is Khristoper Reinshagen (awesome name) is using it seems pretty grim. You almost get the feeling that this is what it must sound like to be transported somewhere horrible. It crescendos into a avalanche of horrendous sounds before a grim, droning denouement. Crucial. Limited to 100 copies and probably almost gone. 

The Loathsome Couple cs

The Loathsome Couple

s/t

Orobas Records

(4)

\

So I received the first Loathsome Couple cassette about a year ago and I was very excited to hear it. I had been a huge fan of Tobias Burch's one man project Amort for awhile and I was dying to hear what else he had been working on. I ended up being a little underwhelmed honestly. It wasn't the doom/noise/drone I was used to. It was more straight forward punk/metal type stuff. Fortunately it was still a little disjointed and not bad at all but it didn't really leave an impression. Then this release came along. I am now very impressed. This is heavy, blackened, hardcore, metal, etc…  and it's good. The Loathsome Couple are a three piece (and an Edward Gorey reference, which is awesome for me. Edward Gorey is the only artist I have ever flown to see one of their art shows when he was alive. So I am a bit of a fan). Tobias sings and there is a very talented drummer and guitar player. The songs are varied and interesting but still have a singular focus that is often important in the cohesion of metal. I also got a chance to see them live. Also worth checking out but I would recommend that they add a bass to the mix. The cassette has bass playing on it and it really adds a lot to the maelstrom. I think live it would lend a heaviness that the riffs demand. 

Wormsblood "Black & White Art for Man and Beast" cs

Wormsblood

Black & White Art for Man and Beast

Brave Mysteries

(4)

Wow. Holy shit. Wow. This is a full on album. I guess this is also a few years in the making and it shows. Drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and the most twisted vocals I have heard all day. I want to say it's prog/black metal but there are just as many genre changes as there are tempo changes on this one. It's really, really out there and I guess that is why I am giving it as high a rating as I am. I was gearing up to give this a 3. Solid and good but not mind blowing but as the record goes on it really opens up into brand new worlds of pure fucked. I also have to say that whomever is playing bass on this is a fucking master. Remember back in 1990 when you first heard Neurosis' World as Law? Remember how killer Dave Ed's bass playing was? Well, this is right up there. Crazy. The vocals need another mention here. They are awesome. Gargled craziness that moves up and down the dog/cat scale pretty often. The vocalist also can really sing as well which is used in just the right amounts. I don't really know what else to say except there is an orchestra at the end. Seriously. I think you should pick this up if prog laced black metal is your jam. Fans of mid-era Deathspell Omega, War & Pain/Nothingface Voivod and a little Pink Floyd's the Wall may want to take note although even those don't examples don't quite give you the right idea about what you are about to hear. Simple black and white J cards. Limited to 100 copies, which seems crazy. 

Rose Croix cs

Rose Croix

s/t

Brave Mysteries

(4)

I had seen this compared to Dead Can Dance but from a more experimental perspective and I was intrigued. It's not bad. It definitely sounds a lot like Dead Can Dance but a lot darker and heavier in it's compositions. The vocals are excellent and the drums will make you think of Death in June or Laibach a bit as well. All in all this is a fine release. If that sounds like something you would be into I recommend it. Brave Mysteries has been pretty solid with it's releases and I think you can trust their taste level. Limited to 100 copies. 

V/A "Days Without End" compilation cs

V/A

Days Without End

Clocktower

(2)

Let me start by saying that there is a lot to like about this cassette. The music is varied. There are some tracks that sound very psychedelic, some folk, some have a nice slowcore/shoegaze feel. There is a band that sounds like the Pixies. Musically the label has done a nice job of compiling some really interesting artists. I usually don't get to hear many bands like this so I was very satisfied with the music. In fact, if I were judging this cassette on the music alone I would probably give this tape a 4. It's well done in the facet and before I go on I should say that you should seek this out for the music alone (It includes a digital download of everything too). Unfortunately the cassette itself has some issues. First of all the dubbing job. It just doesn't sound as good as it could. I think it was dubbed at home on a not very good machine. Besides that all the tracks could use some mastering overall. That all aside though, the layout is just sad. It's handmade but not in a way that looks as if any time or real effort was taken. I love hand lettered/drawn text with photocopied images but this just misses the mark. I think with a little more care in the actual product this could be a stellar release. 

Deprivation cs

Deprivation

s/t

Diazepam

(3)

Deprivation create a haunting and brutal soundtrack across the five tracks on this cassette. Lots of rhythmic noise in the style of early Wolf Eyes or maybe Brighter Death Now but mixed with some more lo fi drone moments. The second side adds a little more fear with their filth in the form of what sounds like manipulated screams punctuated with loops of harsh noise that hits you in waves. Good work. 

Sky Thing "Cooler Heads Prevail" cs+ a zine by John Collins McCormick

Sky Thing

Cooler Heads Prevail

Eggy Records

(5)

This is phenomenal. Electric Acoustical layers of percussion and tape manipulations that make up a beautiful and perfectly constructed tape. I don't want to compare it to anything as I really think you should just pick this up right away. Small drums married with warped and broken vocals, maybe? Slowed down cymbals and fire? It's hard to say what I am exactly listening to but almost all of it sounds familiar. This tape sounds almost like it could be the start of something new. I can't really say much more. I wish I could just buy every copy and give them to all of you. I am really pleased to have received this. The art, by Josh Kermiet, is gorgeous. the layout is beautiful. I have to ask Eggy where they get their covers made. It's a nice full color newsprint type paper that reminds me of what comics are supposed to feel like. 

I also received a zine along with this tape by the artist behind Sky Thing, John Collins McCormick. It's a beautiful printed/hand lettered sine of asymmetrical drawings. Mostly in black and white but with a couple hand colored pages to set it off. It's a nice accompaniment to go with the cassette. His lines have the character of some of Jim Woodring's lines but totally abstract. This is something I would like to see more of. If you are interested you can email John here.

Pigtail Perverts "After School Special" cs

Pigtail Perverts

After School Special

Self Released

(3)

This is the kind of thing you would think I would be sick of by now; the whole sex and violence and perversion imagery mixed with HNW. Strangely enough, I am not. I still get a kick out of this stuff. I think having a daughter is taking the joy out of this a bit for me as now and I constantly think about how in a more than a few years I am going to beat the shit out of half the planet but I bought a juicer so pummeling all of you shouldn't be too much of an issue. Anyhow, this is pretty good. Just straight up HNW that sits in the mid range area. Not super piercing with its high end, not totally pummeling with its bass.  Its just direct and unrelenting. Imagine running through the stations on a car radio after dark and pausing on the static between two stations and just letting it sit there as you drive into the night. It's like that. I suppose you are also suppose to think about rape and black eyes too but that's really just silly packaging on what is a fine piece of HNW. Limited to 13 copies and impossible to find…  good luck. 

Fear Konstruktor "Nonexistence" 7"

Fear Konstruktor

Nonexistence

Peripheral Records

(4)

This is a gorgeous piece of drone. Two tracks on a 7" from Russia's Fear Konstruktor that combine the right amount of beauty and anxiety to keep the listener completely enveloped. This is apparently Fear Konstruktor's first vinyl release but surely not their last. I have reviewed some other tapes of FK before and I was always impressed with the attention to detail in not just the music but the artwork. No exception on this record. There is more of the Mucha-esque artwork by Artaksiniya on both the sleeve and the insert. Limited to 300 copies.

Black Cum "the Second Cumming" cs

Black Cum

the Second Cumming

self released

(3)

I am so glad I am on Black Cum's list now. This is another total gem of fucked craziness. You know how when it's just you and the cat in the house and you get excited about something, like the mail showed up or your inlaws canceled, so you start singing a weird song to the cat about how she belongs in a zoo and you hope the zoo catches on fire and the fire burns up all the bad kitties? Or something like that? Well, that weird enthusiasm is what makes up most of Black Cum's song writing. This cassette, unlike the previous one, is mostly all electric guitars, drums and vocals. There is plenty of crazy things yelled into the boombox or two track or whatever they record on. It's actually pretty well done, in a crazy person sort of way. There are 24 tracks on this cassette that have some killer titles. Bomb America!, Kill All Americans, Tellin' Everyone I Know to Burn Down America, Skull-Fuck the Military, Curb Stomp Cops, I Want to Hang Myself and Fucking Die, and of course, Untitled. Everything about the art is hand done (although, I think they got the illustration of the partial birth abortion from somewhere else) but I have to say that the song title list is really well written out. Clear, straight and easy to read. Like they give a shit. It's awesome. Email here to get a copy of this cassette and maybe the last one as well.

Marax "Lazy" 3" cdr

Marax

Lazy

Muchausen Sound

(3)

Similar to the previous Marax I reviewed but definitely has a different vibe. This one has a lot more glitchy, high pitched sounds that start it off right away. It also has more tracks that go beyond the :05 mark but they are still relatively short. The thing that really stands out to me on this one is this right near the end there is a track that sounds exactly like how my alarm clock sounds in my dreams when I am trying to wake up. It's got the constant harsh beep but it is constantly changed in a subtle way that gives it this surreal and disorienting vibe that is wonderful. The layout on this one is a little heavy on the photoshop filters but this is definitely worth checking out. 

Marax "Still at War with Emo" 3"cdr

Marax

Still at War with Emo

Muchausen Sound

(4)

Right off the bat my favorite part of this 3" is that the songs are short.  Like seconds long. They actually range from :05 to about 4:30 but it's all varied. It's awesome and the exact opposite of what you usually get from a noise record. This is short blasts of harsh fury mixed with short focused drone pieces over 11 tracks.  Really wonderful work. The layout looks a little 90's but still professional and tight. There is actually a lot of text to fit on such a small surface. 

Shiver "They Will Feed on Us" cs

Shiver

They Will Feed on Us

Diazepam

(4)

Pretty creepy stuff. Starts out very minimal with a sparse, lo fi loop. It then builds up with the sounds of crashing and possibly human wails. It has this vintage sound i have been loving that is similar to Pregnant Spore. Where the sound almost feels like it was created in the 1960s but this was recorded this year. The tape continues with grinding concrete, tuned down guitars and short burst of feedback. It's pretty awesome and very hypnotic. I am already impressed with this Italian label, Diazepam. I believe they are related to the great Ur from Italy. They have just started releasing tapes so I would recommend picking these up right away. This cassette comes in a burlap pouch with some actual bones inside. Eerie. 

Wailing of the Winds cs

Wailing of the Winds

s/t

Diazepam

(3)

This starts out beautifully. Almost has that Iranian classical music meets Tibetian sound that Master Musicians of Bukkake and Phurpa do so well. Musical saws, tubular bells, strange sounding horns all create a swirling maelstrom of sound that is both abstract and focused at the same time. When the second track comes it becomes much more structured. Still has the qualities of of the first track but you get an acoustic guitar playing a repetitive structure with a simple accompaniment from a violin and some small drums. It's a little too loose for me at times as if the people playing were in a such a trance that they forgot they were playing but it still sounds pretty good. Reminds me a bit of Tony Wakeford's solo work or maybe a bit of Death in June. After that they get down to more of the drone type stuff that is just brilliant. I should mention that the tape ends with a Thergothon cover that is one of the most beautiful pieces of neo-folk I have heard in a long time. Its a bit of a mix of style throughout but it's well worth checking out. Simple J cards and blank cassettes.