>i thought it'd be fun to write about albums/whatever as i listen to them n take the pressure off myself to write a complete and comprehensive review. these will also be nowhere near as long (hopefully) because i'll just be jotting down what i hear and how it makes me feel haha. enjoy -w- !!!!!!!! (everything on this list in on spotify btw !)
#1 パタミュージック by Shohei Amimori
>the english title is PataMusic, but the title is japanese on spotify so i decided to use that one in an attempt at accuracy. immediately grabbed my attention with the first track ("Climb Downhill 1"). what an exciting and innovative little glitch pop/idm kind of track; it builds the intensity so well. it feels like im in a mandelbrot set zoom !!!! very very cool, i fcking love it so far (read: one song in). im also trying to draw a lobster rn. also also i need to start putting my art on here so i can use this blog as a kind of portfolio as well.
the second track is another fun, springy, stunning dance of bells, beeps, boops, and abrasions. shohei sings on this a little bit as well and his smooth voice rounds out this track really well. it takes pn a tender monotone before a charmingly discordant guitar loop pushes you back into an already signature world of motion and bright, tinny inflections. im enjoying this album a lot already lol. these first couple tracks are all over six minutes so if you'd like to check these out (pls do) strap in and grab yer sketchbook.
track three ("いまといつまでも") begins to showcase how masterfully shohei uses syncopation in his compositions, which reminds me a lot of rob crow. cant believe i havent reviewed anything from him yet, i'll have to dedicate a whole post to it lol. each second is filled with an amazing synth poppy groove accompanied with layered vocals. i should be dancing to this rn!!!!!! next we have "ReCircle" which sports a moody violin sample underneath fittingly haunted synth pops and swirls, and is the second shortest on the album at 3:14. near the latter end of the song crickets and other night critter joints filter in and add a really soothing ambience. it plays its part well as an interlude.
soon we jump back in to rickety, sublime glitchy goodness with "ajabollamente." im really enjoying the almost halloweeny 8-bit synth in the background. its only getting more manic and anxious with each passing second. i think the hazy, pulsing bass is what sells that part before the tension ruptures and it launches you back into what i can only describe as a circus fire. YOWZA!!!!! and as that track ends, "Climb Downhill 2" begins. instantly we are rocketed into blisteringly sharp and dedicated synth ladders. i love it i love those. ope and we are going right back up again! alright! this is my favorite way for musicians to use noise: as a demonstration, not exactly a performance. it says to me, "watch me go! look at how far we can squash and pull soundwaves." it is something i enjoy with a willful, curious ear and an awestruck mind.
#1.1 Personal Locater by Xerobot on the album Xerobot
>we take a brief break for Personal Locater by Xerobot, remastered by Weasel Walter, who was very quickly climbed my list of favorite musicians. greg's (different guy, couldnt find his full name) vocal delivery is exceptional on this track, which is a terribly fast 1:06. he sounds wild-eyed and foamy mouthed which is exactly what i want from my noise tracks. the guitar serves as sound effects in parts of this song, which i love. the bass supplies an undeniable groove that makes it hard to not listen to this song on repeat a few times. each instrument, as you move through the layers, is sequentially more larger-than-life than the next, and i'll say it again, greg's voice makes it perfect. the way he says PERSON AL LO CAY TER , Always wanna get Sum, and Fire In the NITE makes his energy absolutely infectious.
#1 パタミュージック by Shohei Amimori (cont.)
>next i encounter track seven which is an absolutely jawdropping smattering of ambient coos and trip hoppy percussion and synthy chirrups. we're computer boys! track eight, "パタミュージック," has over 100k plays on spotify, which makes sense considering its much more poppy and lighthearted sensibilities, at least compared the rest of the album and its experimental vocality. while i do like the breathless feeling of the instrumentals, it's not really my style. an exciting return to crackling and yipping sounds is made on "Washer." there' also a beautiful sample of a bubbling brook in here.
#1.2 Diotima by Krallice on the album Diotima
>another quick break but also because listening to Xerobot got me thinking about Orthrelm and then Krallice. jesus this song is so long. twelve and a half minutes !!!!!!!! i think when i was telling someone about this album i called it sludgy tech metal but im not too sure about the validity of that statement. its more blackened and proggy than sludge but whatever i still really love the solo on this song, its a perfect mix of fury and sobering tearfulness. i sound so dumb rn lol but whatever i love getting super snobby with it. i love how generous they are with the cymbals as well. this is a really well-constructed and dense song but i love every second of it.... quite an adventure.
#1 パタミュージック by Shohei Amimori (cont.)
>we are close to the end of the album. track ten is similar to the other one which i didn't love just because this bubblegummy, crystal clear kind of pop just is not my favorite thing. however i can't deny that i love the maracas on this track !!! they're refreshing and add a really nice crunchiness that is hard to achieve with the gliding synths that shohei has been using. also enjoyable is the voice modulation, transitioning smoothly from his normal, unedited vocals to a claustrophobic vocaloid caterwaul. finally we are on the last song. immediately an energetic popping of synths and an awkward, prepubescent lattice of bells. i like how it kind of stumbles and trips over itself. its exciting and a perfect way to sum up this album. if you listen to anything off this record, listen to "Climb Downhill 2" and "ビエンナーレ." i don't know enough of this album for a comprehensive rating but its pretty good !
#2 Xerobot by Xerobot
>YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! i was so excited to share this with you guys. already (four tracks in) this experimental noise rock album feels so jumpy, visceral, and masterfully fleeting. the songs are short but sweet and get it done. there's no telling where greg's voice will take you next. he accesses a fanatical falsetto a=before swooping back down into a hoarse sort of cough-yell combination. it's untamed, in a word. and what an incredible beat him and the bass create as well. im bopping along to the music as i type this.
the drums are perfect so far, keeping an almost marching band-like precision with typical noise rock spontaneity and mobility. while i say typical, it is anything but boring--in fact it think it's some of the most exciting stuff on the album. take "Whisper," for example. the drums kind of tip toe along, keeping the same tentative rhythm as the rest of the instrumentation on that track. but when "Wrustle" comes on, the drums let loose, knocking over vases and smacking people in the mouth with its flailing intensity and hotheadedness.
i also love the tone of the bass and the juxtaposed screeching of the guitar, which really only bares its teeth during a chorus or brief wild spazz free whatever break.
#2.2 Ever by Flipper on the album Album - Generic Flipper
>cool noise rock/punk track. darker lyrical themes meet dissonant, irresponsibly fuzzy and muted guitars. "Ever look at a flower and hate it/Ever see a couple kissing and get sickened by it/Ever wish the human race didn't exist/And then realize you're one too." yeah me too pal. damn this is good. i found this scouring the web for info on the mentally ill, another stupidly crunchy hardcore punk band.
#2.3 Life is Cheap by Flipper on the album Album - Generic Flipper
>ohhhhhh yeah this is the good shit. it actually is quite similar to the mentally ill which really tickles me pink because they've only got the one album out and then some remastered/previously unreleased tracks. im glad to finally get more for my weirdo 70s hardcore fix. the vocals on this track (wobbly, creepy, a bit wild-eyed) reminds me a lot of The Witch Trials by The Witch Trials, which was Jello Biafra's spoken word/noise punk project from before Dead Kennedys.
i like how the instrumentation comes off as exasperated, hateful, just straight up repugnant. it works amazingly with the misanthropic lyrics.
#2.4 The Witch Trials by The Witch Trials
>yeah im listening to it so what. this is so fucking cool please check it out!!!!!!!!!!! the sound design is incredible, they create an amazing atmosphere and then shock you (ha) with pointed bass riffs and an incessant, tinny drum beat.
>i think thats all for today. thx for reading !!
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