xdementiaPost subject: Caustic Castle – Untitled 3”CDR
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 4:05 pmCaustic Castle – Untitled 3”CDR
804 Noise: http://www.804noise.org
Overall Rating: A
Composition: A
Sounds: A-
Production Quality: A-
Concept: B+
Packaging: B+
Kenneth Yates appears to be on the brink of genius. I can state it no other way. This is the most vital collision of noise and experimental electronics I have heard in a long time and the focus and talent reflected in this work is undeniable. The CDR is delivered in a simple small jewel case with concise artwork that bears heavy yet subtle conceptual themes which reflect the sounds accurately, though I would venture that the packaging would need a bit more to match the profundity of the audio.
Although the sounds here don't differ a lot from Yates' other projects Harm Stryker and Insects With Tits (his collaboration with fellow Dixie boy Chefkirk) the material has a depth that melds the best of the two projects and creates a cryptic diatribe of rumbling and squealing frequencies. This “noise” is a bit different then what is found among the halls of most aggressive blasts because Caustic Castle replaces the walls of mundane feedback tones with writhing and ringing tones and the unrelenting static with tweaked-out and bowel shaking reverberating undulations that is controlled with the intricacy of a surgeons scalpel.
“Sharp Objects” provides an introduction to the up front and in-your-face sounds, the bleeding high-pitched tones immediately present a claustrophobic feeling that quickly dissipates as Caustic Castle provides a lot of stereo movement and mixes in regulated bits of reverb and delay. It's not until “The People's Stoker” that the delay becomes a heavy hitter and the reverberating passages swing about like a church bell in an equally large pinball machine.
The sounds and effects are treated with such restraint that it almost makes me want to cry out but there are touches of release in “The People's Stoker” and more relieving bursts in “Knives and Daggers” but by this point we're already 2/3 through this short 3” CDR! Fortunately the Knives and Daggers delivers some impressive rotund tones that remind me more of huge rubber balls, perhaps some kind of strange new riot gear, bouncing off of bruised bodies in an intense sweaty and painful mess.
This is experimental music that remains so far away from “wankery” of any kind. It is and exact and scathing muted scream that won't be heard by many but those that hear it's call will certainly not forget it. I'm definitely left wanting more here and I believe that Mr. Yates still has a few cards up his sleeve. Don't miss this one.
Related Articles: Blood Ties Document 2006 Article , Harm Stryker – Live February 24th & 25th Review , Insects With Tits - s/t Review , Harm Stryker - Untitled Review , Harm Stryker - Class Consciousness Review
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