Wolfskin – O Ajuntar dad Sombras CD
Malignant Records
This is my first exposure to Wolfskin and it features a solid representation of the artist as most Malignant releases do. With muted earth tones and understated artwork the visuals reflect the sound well.
These are synth ambient tracks with some subtle tribal influences here and there. Sometimes in the form of shimmering chimes glittering on the edges of the harmonics, other times manifested as drums loops yet at all times layered beneath the swirling drones.
The overall atmosphere features nothing new, this is well …

Serge Modular Users 2009 CD
Resipiscent
Released as a showcase of experimental musicians that make use of the Serge modular synthesizer system, Serge Modular Users 2009 is a collection of an amalgamation of styles, but only to a certain degree. There are a few gems to be found here, but overall, this compilation is rather dull.
M/N/M/L kicks the album off with Breath, a expansive and spacious track that effectively utilizes minimalistic tendencies. STRK is an Autechre-esque track with hints of skewed rhythm and avant-garde electronic environments. Distress Call is an aptly named …

Reviver – Drilled for Life DVDr
Self Released
Reviver’s Drilled for Life is a short but fairly engrossing piece of distorted electronics. Approximately five minutes in length, Drilled for Life is live music set to a video of dental extraction. The unpleasant visuals are perfectly soundtracked by Reviver’s groaning, frustrated sounds. It’s like Drilled for Life is the metaphysical recording of the pain and brutality of surgery.
Reviver manages to strike a balance between heavy, dirty electronics and a sort of spacey, reverb heavy sound laden with shouted vocals and rhythmic drones. The …

NRYY/DMAH/A.R.GH/Kenji Siratori – Split CDr
Prime Unit Records
This four way split is Prime Unit’s latest output. Showcasing one of the label’s regular talents, alongside some others (not to mention the ubiquitous Kenji Siratori), this split has a nice variety in tone and feel going for it, almost to a fault. While that variation helps, I feel like this split may be lacking in consistency and focus.
NRYY begins the album with Resistance of a Silence, which sounds like a highly warped and distorted dance track. Gradually, the track devolves into pure noise. …

2673/Unicorn – Split CD
Kitty Play Records
Boasting a personnel of Kevin Winter and W.T. Nelson (ex-Man Is The Bastard/Bastard Noise), this split has some weight behind it. Unfortunately, the music doesn’t particularly live up to that weight. While the aim here apparently is to be engrossing yet minimal, neither act pulls it off well. The effect, unfortunately, is rather dull and strikes me as rather pretentious.
2673’s side is the biggest culprit here. Far too minimal, the sound variation approaches nil. Droning, minimal synth at its worst, I can’t imagine it getting …

Shift – Morose C30
Unrest Productions
Shift is back with this heavenly 30 minute cassette of his best materiel yet. Where before I have found some of his recordings interesting, yet not quite engaging, I am instantly sucked into the whirlwind of seething drones that is Side A of this layered and emotional recording.
The release almost comes across as one long track, simply split into two sides with the first being slightly more restrained yet this makes for a more immersive listening experience. The track very slowly builds into a pulsating and …

Aaron Dilloway – Chain Shot CD
Hanson Records
Here is my first album experience of the now well-known artist Aaron Dilloway. I have seen him live in the past and enjoyed his performances and it is interesting to hear what his style is on record.
Chain Shot doesn’t feature the intense contact mic’d noise that I expected. This is a much more restrained album and I would almost say it has more to do with avant garde musique concret and electroacoustic sounds rather than a harsh noise extravaganza.
There are three long tracks …

Úden/Nagrindr – Split CD
Departed Souls Productions
Úden and Nagrindr seem a pretty natural match on this split. There’s not a whole lot of noticeable difference between the artists soundwise. The Úden tracks start the album. Titled Wandering and Wandering II, these monikers fit the tracks very well. Both have a mysterious, ethereal feel that is at the same time evocative and sensual. The feel here is one of something impending combined deftly with a touch of wonder. The first track does this the best while the second one tends to meander. …

Robe. – Antiquated Silhouettes CDr
Dirgehead Distribution Company
With a sound like equal parts of a transmission from a lost era and odd signal patterns emerging out of the void of space itself, Robe.’s Antiquated Silhouettes is an experience that is constantly evolving and emerging out of a desolate gap in time. These tracks seem to create aural depictions of a complete and desperate sort of emptiness, yet the complexity and depth of the sounds creates a work that prefers to stay sensitive; cold and bleak but never harsh. Opening the album …

Jim Haynes – Sever CD
Intransitive Recordings
Jim Haynes is a new artist to me and what he delivers with Sever is almost and hour’s worth of carefully sculpted minimalist soundscapes. One could guess that he is exploring the elements of decay, rust, grit and grime as the sound is quite dirty. Like the persistent smog hanging over L.A. it is just layered on, yet still far from opaque. It really does feel like you are almost breathing in the sound on Sever.
The first track entitled “:” is the longest here and …