If you're into drones, noise and experimental ambient, be sure to continue reading this review, because you'll be getting a nice glimpse into this rarely explored world. I know this world quite well because I've been dwelling in it for over a decade now. Eerie sounds, haunting noises and spooky samples, that's what you get on this tape and it's too damn nice to ignore. Well, if you're into this stuff it is. If you're not, you will probably never understand.
Zalhietzli opens this tape with two quite long tracks. This French project has been around since 2011, continuously experimenting with sounds, noise and effects. His other hobby is effect pedal window shopping, a condition closely related to 'Gear Acquisition Syndrome', which is mostly feared by the girlfriends and wives of experimental musicians. Those girlfriends and wives don't see the value because in the end those pedals turn everything into noise.
And that is true, but dammit, this is nice noise. This is the stuff that mesmerizes audiences at those underground noise gigs, immersive, trance-inducing and hypnotic. Zalhietzli takes on a pretty harsh approach, but not in an over-the-top Merzbow kind of way. Yet, still, these two tracks screech, gnaw and rip with sheer intensity, dragging the listener along a very dark and fearsome path.
Proud Father, responsible for side B on this tape, is a project from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. His works include all-tape experimentals where noise, drone and shoegaze come together in a frenzy of sonic darkness. At first, his contribution seems to be a nice, soothing ambient session but quickly you realize that something is not right as the whole because harsher, rougher and poignant. Yes, it is ambient, but definitely not the easy digestible version.
There sure are some strange tunes on this tape, which seems to explore a very wide range of experimental ambient and noise. I'm sure it will be played here much more often from now on, preferably loud enough to haunt my neighbours' dreams. Why? I guess because both of us deserve it. That'll teach them to throw harsh sludge vocals on nice jazz music. Bring on the noise !!!
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