Phoned Nil Trio – Ar B Ok Alou 7"+C26+CD
Rainbow Bridge Recordings/FTAM/Ursa Major/Colbeck Labs/Maxcorp Industries/Blackhouse
This is a weird one and not just for the fact that this one release spans 3 different formats. Phoned Nil Trio is a group consisting of Neil Gravander (who also performs as Nummy) and Peter J Woods (who also performs under his own name as well of a slew of other projects) and Dan Shierl (who I am not familiar with). They are based out of the Milwaukee noise scene; infamous for it’s growth and activity.
The …

Pas Musique/Ben Link Collins/Shaun Sandor – Of Silence CD
Silent Media/Alrealon Musique/Blondena
Of Silence is an interesting release on multiple fronts. It’s a collaboration between artists and labels but the 9 tracks are grouped into threes with each group featuring a different combination of the 3 artists that have worked on the material. It’s hard to explain but once you see it laid out in the credits it’s easier to understand.
The compositions featured here are unsurprisingly of the quieter and avant garde variety. But I have to admit I really enjoy how …

Hexen – Hexen C30
Diazepam
I immediately received a ritualistic tone from the second I set eyes on this release. Housed in a small velvet red bag and accompanied by a chunk of bark this release has esotericism written all over it.
Luckily the sounds live up to the carefully planned packaging. Side A features a beautiful mix of experimental atmospheres and sounds. Echoing glassy textures are laid as a bed of sound and added to that are ethereal whispers. All this which is then interrupted by heavy washes of noise blasts. …

Gorduw – XIX CIF. 30/15 CDr
Kadaath Records
Russia: the wild west of the 21st century. With it’s dashboard cams, street fight videos and military aggression it’s no surprise that it is also a hotbed for industrial music. Gorduw is currently on the front lines right now and the project’s style is as multifaceted as their homeland’s antics. Having listened to several albums I’ve come to know that the project spans the genres of experimental noise, electro-industrial, and power noise.
XIX CIF 30/15 tends to the former of the styles with 5 …

Joey Molinaro – The Mephist C12
Auris Apothecary
I had the pleasure of playing with Joey Molinaro in a basement a few years ago. He is a true freak and I mean that in the most adoring way possible. A violin player who delves into avant garde and weird music. Not to mention this is a release from the esoteric Auris Apothecary label; an organization that features some of the most strange and wonderful pieces of art that has graced my sense of sight, sound, and touch.
The style of The Mephist …