Noise
-
One of the things that excited people about ambient music in its early days was its unique tendency to absorb whatever other sounds the listener’s environment had to offer. This remains a big part of its appeal. Occasionally though, ambient works are produced that have the capacity to monopolize our attention. Rotterdam-based Rutger Zuydervelt (a.k.a.…
-
This September release from Hellscape Records comes with instructions: “It’s meant to straddle the line between self-help and guided meditation. It contains both peace and turmoil, as can be expected when attempting to bring forward the subconscious mind. We hope you understand that its purpose is greater than a mere collection of tunes or loops…
-
Previous blog posts have included descriptions of certain noise pieces as more or less musical. What I’m getting at there is the ability of some composers to turn unconventional sound sources into music that can be appreciated by more than just committed noise fans. This is not to say that these pieces are easy to…
-
It’s not polite to draw a distinction between musicians and artists. Most, if not all, musicians consider themselves as such. The unfortunate truth is that genuine artistry is no more common in modern music than it is in 21st century arts reporting. Take Cairo, Egypt’s Omar El Abd (omrr) as an example. The 34-year-old self-taught…
-
Yesterday’s podcast opened with a spotlight on a great indie label in Littlefield, Texas called Full Spectrum Records. Andrew Weathers co-founded FS with Andrew Marino in 2008, initially to put their own material out. It’s since evolved into one of the state’s best new imprints. Weathers sent download codes for four FS releases, all of…
-
If the title of ACR’s second compilation album is meant to signal an openness to mass appeal, someone forget to tell Foundling, contributor of track #1. “Half Light Soap,” featured on the BADD PRESS podcast on Aug. 13, is a punishing, squealing noise piece that stretches more than five and a half minutes. It is…
The Moderns 