His project is infamous for its sheer extremity and unapologetic harshness, but the din’s more nuanced than meets the ear.
via Lifetime Achievement: 7 Albums That Show The Many Sides Of Merzbow — Bandcamp Daily
Noise
[Music] o /\/\ /\/\ – █▄▄█
There is no information I can find out about the project (or performer?) o /\/\ /\/\, except to say that said person is from Slovakia. I was looking for something heavy and noisy to wake me up after going through the hideous process of moving apartments in Beijing. Well, this did the trick.
Though labeled as ‘blacknoise‘, this tends to be more wall-of-sound guitar improvisation than the cheesy metal I’ve seen other bands pull off under this genre.
This is an impressive album as noise records go.
[Music] Muslimgauze – Eleven Minarets
It’s a bit perplexing to think that Bryn Jones (a.k.a. Muslimgauze) has been dead for 20 years, and yet continues to ‘release’ music. He must have been far more prolific than anyone could ever have imagined. Thankfully, the quality of a good deal of this archival music has been excellent. Not everything holds up, but this release gives the fans of the man what they want – experimental beats with a techno sensibility, made for dancing with heavy boots, I suppose.
[Music] Various Artists – An Anthology of Chinese Experimental Music 1992-2008
Dajuin Yao, Dickson Dee and Xper Xr. are the only familiar artists to me on this compilation of avant-garde music from the Sinosphere. Sub Rosa Records outdoes itself with the marvelous (and quite long) compilation.
[Music] JOHN 3:16 – Elyon
JOHN 3:16 are the braintrust of Philippe Gerber, whose dark, post-Industrial Music soundscapes are among a handful of releases I can comfortably read Holy Writ and Apologetics to. There is something, dare I say, holy, about the quality of his work. The label he runs, Alrealon Musique, are consistently putting out heavy material. My friend here is worth a follow on all projects.
[Music] Kevin Drumm – Christ!
This new album is titled after Our Lord and Savior, whether you like it or not. I have no idea if Kevin Drumm, perhaps the most important American experimental musician and composer active these days is a believer, or if this is an ironic title made to slap onto a photo of a statue of Jesus, but musically, it’s a dreamy slice of ‘noise’.
Drumm never fails to deliver a great album, and in his generosity, he is offering his whole digital catalog for under $25. A worthwhile investment.
[Music] Heathertoes & Hopek Quirin – Travelling And Its Outgrowing Motives
Heathertoes is my old friend Hubert’s post-industrial/experimental project. He is collaborating on this release with Hopek Quirin, and the sound is reminiscent of 1980s cassette culture at its best.
[Music] Maryam Sirvan – Untamed Terror
Eerie is not nearly powerful enough to describe the hellish soundscape that Maryam Sirvan produces on this record. It is as if Pierre Henry decided to do an ethnographic recording tracing Dante’s footsteps inside of Hell. Brooding, powerful soundscapes.
[Music] Various Artists – Anthology of Contemporary Music From Africa Continent
Raffaele Pezzella strikes gold yet again with this compilation of experimental musicians from all over the Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa. Most of these names are quite new to me, but all show the potential to provide scores of impressive releases as time passes.
This is a great snapshot into the field of avant-garde music from Africa.
[Music] Keiji Haino & SUMAC – American Dollar Bill – Keep Facing Sideways, You’re Too Hideous To Look At Face On
The grand old man of psychedelic noise pairs with a rather powerful improv band I knew little about until today. Keiji Haino is up to his old tricks with his screeching vocals, chanting and brutal guitar playing, while SUMAC give him just enough structure to keep his madness contained. Powerful listening.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 