Great Record! This is an excellent example of doing it right and I hope it may serve as a template for further adventures from others out there (new labels and artists take notice). Aside from the amazing cover artwork by comic artist and contributor Mark Beyer and aside from the incredible music nestled in the grooves of the crystalline-clear platter; what makes this record so great is that it is a collaborative effort from 4 labels run by the artists involved. Everybody wins. The public gets the record and no one had to break their bank to get the music out there. There should be a lot more of that communal spirit and camaraderie; anyone running a label knows we just don?t make any money at this anyway, so why masochistically drive ourselves into the poorhouse trying to put out great art? I don?t mean to overstate the act of collaboration here as somehow entirely unique and groundbreaking, but you have to admit, label collaboration at this level is noticeably lacking in today?s saturated world of d.i.y. labels.
5 noise artists on one 7inch is nearly unheard of in recent years, but sevens are an excellent format for noise musicians because of the imposed time constraints of the medium. A nice noise work can reasonably take at least 5 minutes or more to build the momentum before unleashing the crux of the work, but with a seven, things are different; an artist has only a few minutes to make it count and everyone on this record does exactly that ? they each make their contribution count! Each artist delivers a sonically powerful track making this a compelling listen from start to finish. Side A opens with heavy-hitting, power-player Raven Chacon (Kilt, Black Guys, Dog Shit Taco, etc.etc. / Sicksicksick) who delivers a heavy- feedback-ripper that descends into a searing and sinister haunt. Next up is Alchemical Burn (angaym k. oss / Ohmni) who draws out manipulated electronics and feedback into a dive-bombing, ?destroy the mixer, blow the circuits? all-out assault. Riot police are called in and the whole thing is over before you know it, only a bloodied document remains for future ears. Side B opens with Redglaer (Bob Bellerue of HalfNormal / Anarchymoon Recordings) giving us a distorto-ripper of damaged tones and broken electronics. Following is legendary comic-artist and sometimes noise-musician Mark Beyer who brings a manic-clanger called Radiator Music #1, which I believe from the title, can be taken literally as a sound source. The final piece is a live track from Alan George Ledergerber (Black Guys / Hype Machine) and is a subdued, glitched-soundscape of manipulated electronics. Overall, a great release. Get one now! It?s limited to 550 copies. 8/10 --
Todd Brooks (18 March, 2008)
