Olivier Pé - Percées

Title: Percées
Artist: Olivier Pé
Format: CD-r
Year Released: 2006
Label: AmorfSounds

Alright, I have to admit it: this summer hasn't been so great to me noise-wise. Most (I said most, not all) of the stuff I've heard wasn't that good. But after getting this new excellent load from belgian newcomers Amorfsound - it's official to me that Amorf is the label to watch for in 2006/2007. With a past catalog that's good (Terminal Outputs) and some future releases to really look out for (Cryptic Weevil!). Olivier Pé is an experimental sound maker from Belgium. The way he crafts his sounds is completely unique. This 3" CDr, comprised of 5 tracks, contains loops, instruments, landscapes, drones, and whatever. Every track, lasting between 3 and 5 minutes each (for a total of 21 minutes), create a different atmosphere in the room. One may ask what makes this release so unique (a word that gets tossed around a lot in this experimental/noise scene). I hate to disappoint, but it's another one of those gotta hear it to understand cases - but I can try my best. Track 1 is a soft noise track - not harsh, not drone-y. Sounds like rain or a bunch of people walking - it builds up to make a delicate atmosphere. Track 2 and 3 are where the good stuff is at - I've just gotten this release today and i've already listened to both these tracks on repeat for an hour. Landscape tracks no less, the way the sounds build up and become one is mind-boggling. This whole cdr is worth getting for that 9 minutes right there. Different sources come in and go out to create one hell on an experience. Track 4 is a guitar track - but don't thing there's riff or anything like that (is it a banjo or something?). Reminiscent of certain ambient composers - very nice, and makes for an eclectic change after those 2 field recording tracks. Track 5 is also akin in the landscape track, but it sounds like being in the middle of a supercity with all the industrial noise around you - cars, construction, honks, pedestrians, etc. This release will probably be remembered as my favourite album of summer 2006. Get it while it's hot - both from the artist to watch and the label to watch.

Pulse Emitter & Warning Broken Machine - Live At DIVA

Title: Live At Diva, Oregon
Artist: Pulse Emitter & Warning Broken Machine
Format: CD-r
Year Released: 2005
Label: Obscurica

Oregon label Obscurica was not previously known for releasing top notch live material, but I think Patrick Neve does it by releasing this release, a collaboration between 2 of the finest noiseheads of that scene, Warning Broken Machine and Pulse Emitter. The first track is Pulse Emitter alone, as the second one is a collab between the 2 fellas. The first couple of minutes of track 1 start with simple, singular sound, which later evolve in spaced-out, weird and inspiring noises. Just like most noise, it's hard to describe with words. You feel like you're out of space, but at the same time you feel extremely down to earth. Some sounds become extremely freakish, where the bass or some other frequency becomes so high it almost gives you a heart attack. Mind you, this is nowhere near unstoppable harsh noise. This is well crafted and well thought-out, almost ambient at times noise which, surprisingly enough, only reveals itself after a few listens. Track 1 - clocking in at 44 minutes - showcases all the ability of Pulse Emitter has a performing noise artist. He goes beyond borders without being too pretentious or sounding too harsh. This is experimental art at its best. Track 2, being a collaboration of the two aforementionned artist, is heavier, I should say - but not noisier. The 2 artists synchronise their sounds without being rythmic. On my third listen, somewhere around 12 minutes, I went nuts. Some of the sounds produced here are from out of this world. I don't want to be an asslicker or sound like a fanboy - but it's my duty to recommend this to anyone who hasn't heard it yet. Diversity and constant change are the key here, as the 2 musicians - or should one call them sound artists - have crafted something that is unclassifiable and undescribable by words. Yes, there's always reviewers who say they can't describe them with words but they could compare them to other artists, but so far no artist has popped into my mind that could possibly be compared to this live performance. Top notch, another keeper from Obscurica.

Terminal Outputs - Terminal Outputs

Title: Terminal Outputs
Artist: Terminal Outputs
Format: CD-r
Year Released: 2006
Label: AmorfSounds

Terminal Outputs are from the UK and play feedback/noise. The first track is the best one out of the 4 lengthy tracks, which in total clock in at 61 minutes. Layers and layers of feedback are made to create an ultimate wall of sound, sometimes crunchy, sometimes harsh, but always hypnotizing and beautiful. This is the type of drone/feedback that I really enjoy. On to track 2, which is definitely a louder and rawer version of Terminal Outputs. At around 2 minutes I hear a sort of improvised guitar 'riff' that sounds like a trumpet, and it honestly reminds me of Borbetomagus' work on 'Snuff Jazz' (One of my favourite Borbetomagus album). Track 3 has T.O. going back to mainly just feedback, but there's still some loudness and occasional improvisation involved. Track 4 continues in the same vein but with a harsher and different version. What I find weird about this album is that the first track is completely different than the rest. Spaced-out, immense, ambient, dreamy, but still noise. The rest, however, seems like mindless improvising. Still, it's a pretty good release that most drone/feedback fans should enjoy, if only for the first track.

+Dog+ - Human Garbage

Title: Human Garbage
Artist: +Dog+
Format: CD-r
Year Released: 2006
Label: Audiobot

Noise. Sometimes I wonder how far this art, or anti-art can go. Stuff like +Dog+'s 'Human Garbage' makes me think of this. If i just explain it to you, it'll sound pretty simple: sometimes harsh, sometimes drony, sometimes confusing and just hard to explain. +Dog+ crafts sounds like noone else, going from typical harsh blasts, to out-of-this-world noises i've never heard before, to just goofing around and making noise. Just skip to Pt. 10 for some loud, obnoxious, but surprisingly NOT annoying noise. How one can manage to sound like this is beyond me. Skip to Pt. 7 for some noise that ressembles a bit tractor or some type of big vehicle. Pt. 4 is weird noise paradise, with noise coming from everywhere and making you think 'what the hell?'. Anyways, you get the idea. I've never had such difficulty explaining noise. I'm confused. Just listen to this album if you think noise is either A) all the same or B) redundant. This album constantly changes - from part 1 to 11.

Locust Sympathizer - John Henry

Title: John Henry
Artist: Locust Sympathizer
Format: 3"CD-r
Year Released: 2006
Label: AmorfSounds

I had heard of Locust Sympathizer before, but noone ever told me they made the most annoying and ugly noise on earth. This duo which uses not only electronics but also banjo and washtub bass, creates, I have to say it, the most atrocious and horrible noise. Ever. I don't know if it's the fact that they're extremely lo-fi, but listening to this 3" makes me want to destroy my earphones and then kill myself, in that order. Chinook Breath takes almost no time to get down to business. After only a few second, the harsh sounds take over your body and destroy you. The high pitched noise actually drive me insane. I usually have fun listening to random occurences of high-pitched noise, but this is noise in all its glory: meant to annoy the hell out of the listener. This is harsher than the likes of IDX1274 and even Oscillating Innards (now that's a compliment). I wouldn't compare this to anything else. What makes this so unique is probably the way Locust Sympathizer make their noise. Compared to a classic harsh noise artist that uses 56 pedals and just makes a huge wall of noise, LS craft their noise so it can sound as annoying as possible. Just go a minute into 'John Henry's New Vespa'. You hear that really loud noise? It sure isn't a pedal. Also, I really enjoyed the use of percussions in this track. Although this may push away certain noise listeners, I find it really interesting. Need I say more? This is annoying noise. No less, no more. But it sure does make you want to kill yourself. 2006 is shaping up to be an excellent year for noise, so far. Hail Locust Sympathizer!

En O))) - Another Grimm World

Title: Another Grimm World
Artist: En O)))
Format: CD-r
Year Released: 2006
Label: RSM

First of all, I don't know if En O))) are a joke band or not. I really don't. By looking at the CD case and the inside cover, one can't tell if they're a SunnO))) tribute band or not. But anyways, this is some serious drone right here. This 'extra low fidelity version' spreads across 2 tracks, the first clocking in at 40 minutes and the second at 14. I really don't know why the second one is called Ambient616, because it's obviously 10 times heavier than the first track. Another Grimm World illustrates dark, yet beautiful landscape, without being too loud or heavy. This reminds me a bit of some of Stijn Van Cauter's work in some of his projects. This track could be considered ambient, moreso than drone, but it surely isn't your typical ambient. You can just put your headphones, close your eyes, and start dreaming. It's that lovely. Now for the second track, Ambient616: Discrete Murder, which is definitely heavier and distortioned track. This track reminds listeners slightly of certain SunnO))) material from their early days, almost something from the Grimmrobe demos (coincidence? Probably not). You can tell the same instrumentation was used for the 2 tracks, but it seems like they just added a considerable amount of distortion for the second track. This has to be one of the most interesting drone releases ever. The atmosphere created is unique. Not too noisy, not too drony, not too much ambient. Just the right amount of those 3 elements makes me want to start listening to drone full-time again. Magnificient work.

No John - Madame La Vertu

Title: Madame La Vertu
Artist: No John
Format: 3"CD-r
Year Released: 2006
Label: AmorfSounds

This is how harsh noise should be. Wait, let me rephrase that: This is my favourite type of harsh noise. This release by new label AmorfSounds features a single 7 minute track. Looks like i'll have to check out more stuff by No John. Sure, it's only 7 minutes long, but hey - who cares? This stuff is intense, loud, and unpretentious harsh noise. It starts off wall-ish, with low harsh frequencies. It's the type of noise that become very comfortable to the ear after a while, and it takes you to a dream-like state of mind. After about 2 minutes, the whole thing denses out, introducing some higher tones and more white noise by adding more distortion. I've said this for a while now: half analog and half digital is the way to go. Then, halfway through the fourth minutes, the low harsh frequencies become even more prominent, altering from grinding noise to low, digital synthesized scape. The first 2 minutes of this track are unforgettable, and the rest just a different, without letting go of the abrasive and smooth (once you get used to it) sound. This release and label puts Belgium back on map. Wait, what am I talking about? I forgot about Audiobot for a second. Either way, completely awesome and unpretentious harsh noise, the way it should be done. Better act quick, only 40 are being pressed.

Flatline Construct - Chiroptera

Title: Chiroptera
Artist: Flatline Construct
Format: CD-r
Year Released: 2005
Label: Obscurica

An album about bats. How fucking cool is that? Here we have Canada's (yeah!) Flatline Construct, and his latest (as far as I know) offering on the northwest label Obscurica. Apparently he sat in a cave and gets his inspiration from that, and it certainly shows. Just listen to the first track, 'Fingers Spread And Give Hint To Wing', a heavy, loud, ambient and cave-ish drone/noise track. All these expectations of uneventful drone are soon shattered to dust, as 'Wings Now Lick The Air So Cold' starts. Say hello to distortioned ambient. Although i'd have to say there is always an ambient undertone to this album, it's dark as hell. Best track is probably 'Insectivores Shimmer In The Night' (yes, I know, the title are utterly kick-ass), an 8 minute excursion into a cave full of thousands of bats. Although it does end in a softly, the first 2 minutes of skippy horrible noise make up for it. So overall, if you like bats, ambient undertones, horror and horrible noise, you owe this cd-r to yourself.

Stimbox - 12-01-2005

Title: 12-01-2005
Artist: Stimbox
Format: CD-r
Year Released: 2005
Label: Obscurica

Ok, first things first. This isn't a live release. This is a 62 minute-long track. Just the fact that this legend in the noise can put out 62 minutes of original abrasive in one session is mindblowing. Ok, on to the actual noise. Stimbox manages to create every noise there ever was - harsh densed out noise, 'shrieked' noise, soft noise, calm noise, unpredictable noise, you name it, it's there. My favourites, of course, are the harsher and denser part, and the beginning. Listening to all of this in 1 sit could be the noise challenge of the decade. The tracks starts to get milder, or dare I say atmospheric near the 45 minute mark, creating unique noises i've never heard before. There's no harsh comeback near the end, but Stimbox manages yet again to create unique noises that I've yet to hear in any other noise, let alone experimental release. I can skip to any second in this loud 62 minute track, and no matter what, i'll get something different. Describing and enumerating every noise this CD goes through would take a lifetime, so i'll just stick to this: Stimbox has mastered the art of noise, and this release should go down as one of the greatest noise releases ever, no joking. Check out more of Stimbox' stuff, namely the 4x3" comp. on Obscurica. I have to go now, before I go deaf.