Breathing Problem – Kimberly C20

Breathing Problem Productions

Kimberly is a quick photocopied cassette release from Breathing Problem, the first I’ve heard of this project. I like it. Harsh noise and power electronics with some trashy vocal samples reminding me of Taint’s “Whoredom” album. I’m not sure exactly what the purpose of this release is, if it was some sort of primer for something else as the text on the inside says “tracks to appear on the upcoming ‘mattresses on the floor’ 7 song cd/cs”.

The concept here seems to be pretty simple, you see, it’s about a girl. A girl who maybe has done some bad things. Those bad things might be prostitution, drugs, sex, maybe more? Culling what I can from the lyrics and artwork though, it’s tough to tell what relationship our protagonist has to these events.

Side A features “Part 1” the track that kicks off with the aforementioned vocal sample about a place, where bad things happen. The track immediately barges in with a full blast of hatefilled noise soon joined by vocals. Although it’s a shifting mess of distortion, well produced with lots of low-end, it’s almost wall-noise in character because of the inundation of all the layers. I really enjoy how Breathing Problem can make it sound so close to a wall while still keeping me intrigued in the track.

Side B’s “Part 2” uses a quickly pulsating synth as the main drone and is joined by more defined vocal samples. I like this track a bit more because of the space afforded to the listener in the mix. It allows Breathing Problem to work with some more dynamics. I’m also digging the vocals and lyrics. The lyrics are just plain awkward, switching viewpoint and voice even given how little is actually said here (sic):

Iclose my eyes
and all I see
is you
on the streets

her mother
came home from vacation
and found you
whoring xyourself out
on the city streets

These cryptic lyrics bring all kinds of questions to mind. Why does this whore occupy our protagonists mind? Who’s mother found her whoring herself, and why does it matter that someone elses mother found her?

Kimberly is a quick release that I’m suprised is a C20, if these songs are longer then 5 minutes they barely breach the mark. Either way I’m digging on this blast of sick power electronics and it seems to deliver what’s indended.

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