Kylie Minoise - Micro-budget Perversion

Artist Kylie Minoise
Label Turgid Animal
Year 2007
Genre(s) Psychedelic Noise

One half hour track of psychedelic feedback abuse and vocal attack by Lea Cummings. Buzzing static layers built upon one another to a hellish cacophony of sound with treated vocals screams and yelps. The rumbling drive of the track sounding so decayed that it may crumble into nothing at any moment, crumbling under it's own sonic weight. It's the buzzing of a thousand hornets descending upon a play park.

Turgid Animal are (or were) known for a fair amount of Wall Noise release, a category which I guess this release could be filed into. This is only in regards to how dense the sound is, this is dynamic noise far removed for the unchanging walls of Vomir and his ilk. The release pounds onwards until suddenly there is nothing. No fade out just a sudden stop, making the release all the more powerful for it.

Nackt Insecten - Double Lunar Halo

Artist Nackt Insecten

Label Beyond Repair

Year 2007

Genre(s) Harsh Noise, Drone

Double Lunar Halo really begins to showcase the more spacey side of the Nackt Insecten sound. Opening with Tunnel Vision, a short piece made up of crackling vocals and swirling synth. This track is still calm but it's not really drone in style. Much closer to harsh noise. After a short while the next track creeps up, powerful drone like thunder caught in a time warp. Dense and dank. Psychedelic high end threatening to come ever forward. As if Spacemen 3 put down the guitars but kept the pedal boards running while they went out to ingest various illicit substances.

A choir made up of children from the Village of the Damned are ready to sing for us, their voices distort as they swirl before our eyes. Stretching and distorting into hideous representations of their former self.

The real meat of this release is the 14 minute title track. A mixture of the more electronic, creepy style of drone that NI first displayed and then relaxed, spacey ritual sound that is currently being used. A real cross section of the development of the project. Somehow comforting and unsettling at the same time. Would have worked as a soundtrack for the fall of British industry.

Nackt Insecten - Sick Animal Eyes

Artist Nackt Insecten

Label At War With False Noise

Year 2007

Genre(s) Noise, Drone

An early release from Nackt Insecten here, a lot harsher that some later material. More of a brooding, creepy edge to this release.

Broken electronics attempting to function, burning out and shutting down. The memory of function, crawling slowly onto your shoulder. Enveloping us in broken leads, tying us down to view their final stand. Everything blows out as the sound begins to die.

Pretty uneventful drone on the next track, nothing really happens and the sound is somewhat hollow.

The third track follows much in the same vein as the first two. I'm not gonna focus on it but I'd like to make a quick point. I do like Sick Animal Eyes, I like it a lot. I just feel that it pales in comparison to the later Nackt Insecten works. SAE is a solid, creepy drone release, but it's not the amazing kraut inspired drones that NI is now known for (Or at least he should be known for)

Nackt Insecten - Stairway to Levitation

Artist Nackt Insecten

Label None (?)

Year 2007

Genre(s) Drone

Light, airy drones opens up this release. As if we're already ascending towards the clouds. Sections that almost sound like "world music" from some far off planets sneak through the cloudy electronics and regale us with stories of their home world. Like a space shuttle lift off being slowly undertaken between bouts of relaxation. The rocket finally takes off, ever so gently, we're on our way.

More electronic rumble now as the fuel burns, propelling onwards t'wards alien tribes and new customs. Relaxation replaced by wonder, machinery swirling in the background. Soon.

Landing, to be greeted by an alien welcoming party, singing their native song. A lush planet, but somehow not right. Purple trees rise up against a beetroot sky. Long, languid walks through the flora and fauna of this beautiful world. Until the final night, when you sit across rugs and play local folk music with your alien brethren.

Nackt Insecten - Quantum Odyssey

Artist Nackt Insecten

Label Blackest Rainbow

Year 2009

Genre(s) Drone, Krautrock

I've certainly made mention of the more krautrock leanings of Nackt Insecten before. That was nothing compared to the full blown freakout presented on this beautiful slab of vinyl. Equal parts Popul Vuh and Maeror Tri. This release really moves Nackt Insecten head and shoulders above most acts that seem to be coming out of the drone "scene" at the momnent.

There's real focus here and the entire release flows perfectly. Like looking over a landscape of THC plantations that stretch to the heavens, slowly dancing in the cool breeze. It's wonderful on this plateau. There's simply not a single low point on this release, beautifully crafted and performed. Warm and all encompassing. This record is simply wonderful, and is definitely my record of the year for 2009.

Nackt Insecten - White Rainbow

Artist Nackt Insecten
Label Second Sleep
Year 2007
Genre(s) Drone

Two discs of beautifully composed and performed drone by Ruariadh Sanachan. Warm swells of sound painting a beautiful calming picture. Slowly soothing souls in the space age. There is a psychedelic gleam peaking around the slowly morphing drones, calling forth memories of Kraut Rock and early psychedelia. Built upon one main drone but padded out with beautiful synth and dreamy electronics. There are certainly elements of noise here, feedback is a prominent element of the compositions but always used to accentuate that which is on offer. Guitar makes a stunning appearance, being worked into the swirling vortex of sound. At the same time I am very much reminded of Popul Vuh. You see many bands these days described as Kraut Rock but none that I have heard captures the spirit and styling in quite the way Mr. Sanachan does.

The drones that are created here are never relegated to simple background music, there is too much going on. Sure you could play this in the background (It's common bed listening for me) but you really owe it your full attention too. Spacey electronics and dreamy synth dance together.

Disc two continues with more drones, this time darker and more ambient based. Conjuring images of desolation, the aforementioned vortex of sound suddenly sucking you in and throwing you into a desolate world long since destroyed. More dense drones with less breathing space. Harsher without crossing over into noise. All the elements from disc one are still here but they are utilised in different ways, showing a completely different side to Nackt Insecten. With disc 1 we were treated to a cosmic voyage on a cloud, disc 2 offers us the ruins of civilization telling us the story of the past. Mournful en yet still full of beauty. It closes without catharsis or resolve, we're trapped in this ruined landscape.

I don't usually do this but I also want to bring up the packaging on this release, 2 spray painted (Not to the point where it will flake and damage your CD player) cd-r's housed in a wonderful silk screened gate fold slipcase. Aesthetically linked with the music contained within. A wonderful package all round.

Kylie Minoise - Telepathic Surge

Artist Kylie Minoise
Label Triangle
Year 2007
Genre(s) Psychedelic Noise

Two discs, one composing of one thirty minute slab of harsh, psychedelic noise and the other composed of, um, classical choir and chants? I'm really not sure about this one.

Let me start with disc 2, which is the disc composed of chants and what sounds like a full choir. I'm really not sure what to make of this, sure it's soothing and took me unawares but I can't work out the purpose. I have just thought (and checked by adding up track times this seems possible) that both discs may be designed to be played simultaneously (If anyone involved with this release is reading could you comment and let me know if I'm correct or not please?). Until I know for sure I can't really make a judgement about the second disc, hopefully someone can clear it up.

Now onto the meat of this release with disc 1. A dense fog appears from nowhere, hiding the source of an intense rumbling that can only mean bad things. Every single radio in earshot begins to malfunction at a terrifying level. Lights can be seen in the distance, breaking through the thick gloom, best to avoid them as they could be the source of this rumble that shakes the cobbles. The buildings begin to stretch to the heavens, leaning in and enclosing the alley, casting night over the clammy heat. Just as soon as this nightmare beings it's over, lying upon your back in an all too familiar ally, pedestrians doing their best to ignore the fallen inconvenience in their way

Opaque - Temporary Lifestyle

Artist Opaque

Label Dental Records

Year 2000

Genre Drone

Starting off slowly, gentle strumming of a guitar, ringing out against the emptiness. Serene and calm, but it feels like it's hiding something. Slowly feedback creeps in and washes over the notes, enveloping them in a warm wash of sound. The track slowly weaves around itself until it slowly fades out.

Continuing onwards more despondent and dissonant guitar melds with warm fuzz. Relaxing waves of sound lap over everything. A sudden urgency is injected into the equation as things begin to speed up and become more noisy, still built from the same guitars but now taking on a more sinister edge. Heavily distorted drums appear from nowhere to accentuate the noise. Feedback interjects itself into the composition, wrapping around the distorted guitar lines. The fuzz unravels itself back into clean guitar ringing out in stark juxtaposition. Slowly the release begins to fade out.

Kylie Minoise - Live in Japan

Artist Kylie Minoise

Label Kovorox Sound

Year 2009

Genre(s) Psychedelic Noise

Let me preface this review by saying I'm not a massive fan of live albums. They can be amazing, convey the same amount of worth as any 'proper' release but they tend to leave me feeling down. It's aggravating to listen to this music and realise you're missing some of the more viseral components of the entire aesthetic experience.

Onto the actual album, starting out with an introduction to one of the performances that helps set the mood, though it also amps up the feeling of despondence of not actually having been there. The first song is abrasive feedback built up over crunchy waves of static. The tracks on this release range from violent all out assaults to slower pieces that crawl into your ear and nestle in your brain, prodding the unease sector with full force.

The release as a whole is a very satisfying experience, managing to show off many different styles that are incorporated into the sonic palette which Cummings uses. My main issue is that due to the tracks having been recorded at different times and places there's no strict coherence in the running order which can be slightly alienating.

Kylie Minoise - You Suffer

Artist Kylie Minoise

Label Kovorox Sound

Year 2007

Genre(s) Psychedelic Noise/Wall Noise

There is absolutely no breathing room from the outset. A droning wall of noise attacks the ear drums from the get go. High end feedback noise swarms over a bedding of low end filth. This release is quite different in style to the other works by Cummings that I have heard, this is by no means a negative point. You Suffer! has a lot more in line with wall noise (Much like the amazing Micro-Budget Perversion). There is one unshifting assault, unchanging and hypnotic. Beneath this we have layers of psychedelic tone abuse.

The release is dense, there's no break in the attack for its entire duration. I find almost all Kylie Minoise records to be psychedelic but You Suffer comes at it from a different approach, less Masonna vocal attack and cut up static. More trance inducing drone. The single track has a duration of just over an hour, it feels like it's over in ten minutes. The best part being that you can replay the release again and find even more hidden beauty in the background. Essential.

Swallowtail - Demo 2010

Artist Swallowtail

Label None (Self Release)?

Year 2010

Genre(s) Experimental Noise

This demo by Swallowtail opens with a slow creeping atmosphere, alot calmer than what I was expecting. Moments almost reminiscent of Akira Yamaoka's work on Silent Hill offer affecting beauty and clarity in a sea of creeping electronics. Fractured drumming breaks through the mossy electronic base, threatening to disintegrate at any moment. Shrieks and screams nestle in the background, swirling in the dense layers. Slowly fading out.

The release continues to twist and turn, not falling to expectations. Black metal styled vocals and almost unprocessed guitar make an appearance and offer a complete change of pace whilst retaining just enough style to not feel out of place. I begin to have problems here as there is alot of high end (almost painfully so) without much low end, there are rumbles and bass but it's not prominent, it teases an appearance but doesn't deliver.

I'm beginning to think this release was mixed as loud as possible without much concern for how it would sound. The more noise based elements are almost ear raping. We're now treated to a heavily distorted drum machine and feedback squeals. Very foreword but lacking the atmosphere conveyed earlier.

A pulsing bassline drives onwards, broken samples crackling into nothing as we break into an almost Gabba styled track, little variation and drums being too high in the mix don't offer much here. When we break back into a calmer passage there's more going on but a static buzz (almost unchanging) kills the atmosphere. Another Gabba styled section finishes this off.

A more atmospheric track rears it's head. Images of misty streets and unthinkable horrors are conjured, to be suddenly shut down by yet more drum machine abuse. The Silent Hill vibe is still here, taken over as it is by almost noisecore levels of screaming and drumming. There is a very interesting bed of electronics in the background, but the drums are so forward in the mix it's almost impossible to focus on. Each section is done well, the dark ambient, creeping electronics, Gabba styled drum beats, aggressive screaming. My only problem is that the mash up of styles doesn't allow the true power of each section to be displayed.

An almost tortured guitar line creeps out of the electronic murk, strangely beautiful in juxtaposition to the dirty skree that it stands against. I'm reminded of black noise, and black noise done well at that. Atmospheres that suggest great unease, forcing the listener to confront that which they rather would not.

Like being stuck on an ever spinning carnival ride, the usually fun sounds and warm lights distorting and becoming something much more sinister. This track is what I imagined when I originally heard the "dark cabaret" genre tag used. I do get an uneasy feeling that the intro to an Arcturus track may have been used as a sample here though, especially towards the end (I think it's from Arcturus but I can't be sure)

Droning synth lines coupled with aggressive almost Junglism styled drum beats shouldn't work but for some reason it does. Breaking up the tracks en yet managing to keep the same atmospheric flow.


It's really hard to say how I feel about this release as a whole, there are some moments of genius but I am reminded of the phrase "jack of all trades, master of none". Swallowtail shows real promise, the electronics are evocative. My main concern is that I feel I've heard a lot of this before, I'm not sure if that's down to an expert structure of songs and atmospheres or due to a liberal use of samples. Either way it's worth grabbing the release to see how it goes for you. I'd defiantly keep an eye on Swallowtail either way.

Mid Leopard Violet Prism

Artist Mid Leopard Violet Prism

Label Total Vermin

Year 2009

Genre(s) Psychedelic Noise

Distant rumbles and the sound of metal fighting with itself float on a bed of electronics. Like a cluttered street filled with faceless robots, enyet we refuse to notice. Warbled and tortured one of the few remaining humans screams for attention, ranting and heaving. It's hard to focus on the philosophical quandry that he attempts to vomit onto your lap due to the smog that is rising from the ground. It doesn't matter because it's too late anyway. This isn't post-apocalypse, it's mid-apocalypse. Tremors shake the ground as the skies turn inky black, almost rippling with the thunderous destruction.

After it all, one robot still shakes, slowly attempting to stand. Spasming amidst a pile of his brethren, sparks against cracked dirt. "Life" signs yet. Slowly the cold metal rises. To begin his journey for purpose. Crumbled buildings barely stand as a sign that there was once life here. A million screams were muted here before, how long ago was that? Pressing onwards, a harsh sun bakes the landscapes. Dirt and dust stretching to infinity. He will walk forever on these planes.

The constant heat on the metal. How long has he wandered? He has no need for time. The detritus is almost gone now, and with it his purpose. Something is wrong, he thinks.... He was not programed to think. He has no need for thought, he needs purpose. His joints, unoiled and screaming, grind to a halt as a dust storm covers him. Enshrouded in dust, bathed in darkness he is alone with his thoughts for eternity.

Slogun - Bloody Roots (Short)

Artist Slogun

Label Circle of Shit

Year 2009

Genre(s) Power Electronics

The moments when you feel most angry slowly ebb away, leaving only self hatred and disgust.

The human race is a fucking cancer, polluting and destroying. The Human race is fucking scum, dripping with disease, they are the disease! The human race offers nothing to the world preferring to rape and destroy the resources. It is the human race that has borne serial killers, rapists and those that would steal innocence. Keep trying to hide in a fake world of Internet and TV. Keep trying to create something different. Understand that the human race is worthless, filthy and will constantly drip their disease upon one another to continue.

I am also human.