Skin Area/Jarl – La Petite Mort LP
Malignant Records
Well this is certainly an unexpected pairing of artists but also a collaboration that makes a lot of sense on paper. Skin Area features Martin Bladh of I.R.M. and Jarl is the long running dark ambient project of yore. The LP captures the previous atmosphere of much of Skin Area’s discography but this release is less guitar driven and focuses more on textural elements to capture the intense and esoteric feel.
Side A kicks off with the sounds of bending cymbals, strings, and vocals. …

Yen Pox – Universal Emptiness 10″
Substantia Innominata
Yen Pox previous proper release before this 2011 vinyl creation was put out in 2002. Although the group is not known for their proliferation they are known for their quality dark ambient soundscapes and I was surprised to hear this arrive with little fan fair. Certainly the lack of excitement is not warranted as this slab of vinyl proves that Yen Pox continues to create some of the best atmospheric music out there.
Side A gets things off to a slow start with subtle spacious …

TeHÔM – Lacrimae Mundi CD
Cyclic Law
Before hearing this disc I was not at all familiar with the name TeHÔM. But after reading the description from the label on their latest release I feel I need to start the review with the tangled web that is the history of the project. Active in the mid 90’s, Croatia’s TeHÔM has been resurrected in the past years by original member Miljenko Rajakovic. Their first 2 albums were released on Twilight Command, side label of Douglas P’s NER label. TeHÔM’s founding member Sinisa Ocurscak …

Shredded Nerve – Retention 7″
Torn Light
Shredded Nerve is the newer project of noise artist Justin Lakes who previously performed as Pusdrainer and collaborated under a few other project names. This new project marks a turn in direction for Lakes as he has shed the pure harsh noise worship of his previous project and now embraced a more loop-based musique concrete style of experimental sound while still keeping some elements of industrial and noise.
The first track Mind Begins to Crumble as Dots are Connected (Alternate) – which takes up all of …

Father Murphy – Anyway, Your Children Will Deny It LP
Aagoo Records
Father Murphy is a duo from Italy who are influenced by such artists as Goblin and various horror film soundtracks but have a very original and experimental take on those sounds. Utilizing a mix of electronics and guitars these tracks are on the more musical side of things but also have a focus on rhythm. The atmosphere is one of dark corners and hidden secrets, it is a very intimate kind of music that they create.
Side A spans a wide …

Veiled – El temps no passa LP
White Denim
Veiled is the bicontinental duo of Robert Francisco (M Ax Noi Mach, Dexter Industries) and Arnau Sala (Exoteric Continent, Vactor). Although I don’t speak spanish I’m going to take a wild guess and assume that the title translates to “The time does not pass” (or something like it). This new record combines the different styles that Veiled has explored previously yet keeps the project at an unfaltering march forward in terms of evolving their sound.
Side A features two tracks with the first entitled …

Skin Graft – Enemy LP
Alien Passengers
Skin Graft is Wyatt Howland from Ohio. He has been a rising force in the noise scene for quite some time now but interestingly the small bit of information provided on this LP mentions that this material was recorded from 1986-2013 of which is much longer than I believed him to be operating.
Side A begins with low crunchy noise and industrial clanging. It’s apparent right from the outset that Howland means business here. The overdriven sound here is somewhat like a sonic avalanch of distortion …

Bob Bellerue – Brokelyn LP
Love Earth Music
Bob Bellerue has been a major force in the NYC noise scene for quite some time now and it’s good to finally be able to hear a full-length release from this tenured artist. The insert recommends that the listener use a high-fidelity sound system and “turn it up to FUCK YEAH” for best results. Well Bob, you are in luck because I have such a system and my roommates aren’t home.
Side A kicks off with some classic daytime ambience complete with bird calls and …

Remainderless – Remainderless EP 12″
Oxen
Remainderless is three Los Angeles rooted performers/composers converging regularly to compose, record, case and sift sounds. Equal blasting, squeak and rasp + uncommon and unsettling squelch frequencies comprise the aggregate sum of their output. Documented over three tracks on their debut EP 12″. I’m not sure what the difference is between a strait-out LP and an EP 12″ but there is a decent amount of material on this record.
Side A contains the first two tracks Devastating Inquiry and Glass Pollution both of which are good titles …

+Dog+ / Actuary – Ritual Filth 10″
Love Earth Music
So it is that these two acts meet for a split record. I’m not sure what the relation is but they have seemed to do a certain amount of work together in the past (Actuary being released on +Dog+’s label etc). The record is meant to be played at 45 RPM so it’s a touch shorter than your average 10 incher. First impressions are good: heavy black matte paper with silver silkscreened print of medieval woodcut imagery keeps things simple and safe.
Surprisingly …