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Best Of 2015
2015 has been another splendid year for many great and highly rewarding releases, below you’ll find lists of releases that made this year special for our writers. And in keeping with our sites remit they span a large and varied selection of different musical & sonic genres.
Zeitkratzer
German chamber orchestra Zeitkratzer are far from a conventional chamber orchestra- since the late 1990’s the nine piece project have created their own distinctive takes on a wide range of experimental sonic genres & respected artists from with-in those genres: moving from Reinterpretation of British power electronics icons Whitehouse, through to their take on Lou Reed’s classic noise work Metal Machine music, onto covering the work of 20th Century avant-garde composers such as John Cage & Alvin Lucier, through to new collaborations with the likes of Keiji Haino, Carsten Nicolai, Terre Thaemlitz, etc. Over the years the players with the collective have changed, but always at the centre of the project is German pianist and composer Reinhold Friedl. Reinhold kindly agreed to give M[m], an email interview.
Vomir
It’s fair to say that Vomir is one the most known, respected, and influential names with-in walled noise. The project was started in 2006 by French man Romain Perrot, and has since gone onto release a truly huge & highly prolific back catalogue, which must be now be moving towards the 200+ plus mark. The projects focus has always remained the same- creating unmoving, crude & unforgiving HNW. Below you’ll find the third M[m] interview with the project, as we chart the projects last four years.
Tissa Mawartyassari
Tissa Mawartyassari is the solo wall noise project of Monica Isabel Sanchez. An important component of the world renowned Texas noise scene, the project emerged close to 10 years ago and has been creating dark and creative sounds ever since. We interviewed the project back in 2010 & now 5 more years have passed and with a slew of fantastic releases coming out recently we felt it was high time for a 2nd Tissa Mawartyassari interview. so Monica kindly agreed to a email interview.
Yen Pox
It’s fair to say that Yen Pox are one of the most respected & influential projects with-in the Dark ambient genre. The project started life in 1993, bringing together the joint dark sonic talents of Michael J.V.Hensley and Steven Hall. Over the projects twenty two year existence they have released a fairly minimal catalogue( three full lengths, one full length collaborations, and a few eps/ singles)- but each of these have been consistent & genre defining moments. Just a few months ago they released their latest full length release Between The Horizon And The Abyss on Malignant Records, and this has rightly received universal praise, and is yet another genre classic. Michael & Steven kindly agreed to give M[m] an email interview discussing their twenty plus year collaboration, the new album, and beyond.
D.S.W.A.C.V
D.S.W.A.C.V is one of the key projects in the recently growing & blossoming UK walled noise scene. It’s based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, and started in late 2012; and has so far has putting out around 20 plus releases that take in CDR’s, splits & digital releases. It offers up HNW/ doom wall sound that mixes in elements of ritual ambience. The projects one & only member is L.M, and he kindly agreed to give M[m] an email interview.
Stephen Thrower
Stephen Thrower first became known & respected for his work within the British post-Industrial experimental music scene; working with Coil between 1984 and 1993, then Cyclobe from the late 1990’s to the present day. But in more recent years he has become more recognized for his writing & commentary on the cult horror & exploitation film genres. His written work has seen him pen lengthy tomes on infamous Italian gory maestro Lucio Fulci (1999’s Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci). American Independent horror films from between the 1970’s & mid 1980’s (2007’s Nightmare USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents), and most recently highly prolific euro sleaze/ horror director Jess Franco( 2015’s Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesus Franco vol. one). He has also appeared on a whole host of cult horror/exploitation documentaries & DVD extra’s- such as Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide parts 1 & 2- where he gave informative and often amusing commentary/ critique on a whole host of cult films. Stephen kindly agreed to give M[m] an email interview discussing his written work - this is the second time we’ve interviewed Stephen, and his first interview (where the focus was more on his sonic endeavors) can be found here.
The Ebony Tower
The Ebony Tower mergers an interest in literature with walled noise, which is a rather unique idea for the genre. The project started in summer of 2014, and has so far got a lot of respected & praise from with-in the scene in general. It's based in Greeley Colorado, and behind it is one Mitchell Rotunno. In a short time it has amassed quite a large discography. Taking in coming on for 30 + releases, which feature a lot of multi disc CDR sets, cassette releases, a few split releases, and one or two digital only releases. The project takes it’s name from 1974 John Fowles book of the same name- which is a collection of five novellas and short stories with interlacing themes, each of which is based around a medieval myth. Mitchell was kind enough to agree to give M[m] a email interview, where he discusses the projects origins, it’s themes, and his love of modern classical minimalism.
Innsmouth
Australia’s Innsmouth is one of my favourite recent black/ death metal discoveries. Since stumbling upon their debut Consumed by Elder Sign early last year, the band’s work has been getting constant playtime. Their single-minded adherence to flawless, grooving riffs that teeter on the edge of a knife between unspeakable savagery and all-encompassing, horrific majesty brings me back again and again. Unique amongst Australia’s death metal scene, Innsmouth’s pitch-black death metal doesn’t truck with dissonance and technicality, forgoing the crazed atmosphere found in the works of Portal and Antediluvian for a decidedly old-school, foul approach. Although the band is in (hopefully) its beginning stages, they’ve managed to hit it out of the park with each of their four releases. I had the honor to conduct an interview with these vile denizens of Arkham to speak about their influences and the goings-on in their elusive depths. Answering the questions for the band was the bands vocalist & guitarist Beau Dyer
Martin Kay
Martin Kay is a Australian sound artists, field recordist, & sound designer- he’s more interesting figures presently working with-in the whole field recording/ sound art field at present. His 2014 release All Things Metal (on 3Leaves) stands as one of the more consistent & replayble release to appear from the field recording genre in sometime. Below is his first ever interview, which was carried out via email.
Denver Noise Fest 2015
Over the first weekend in May, 30+ artists and throes of noise connoisseurs filled the Rhinoceropolis for the 6th annual Denver Noise Fest (DNF). Based in Denver, Colorado, the Rhinoceropolis serves as a long running concert and art space. As if a weekend of noisy activities isn’t enough reason to celebrate, DNF 2015 also happened to coincide with the Rhinocerpolis’s 10 year anniversary. DNF was started by Todd Novosad and John Gross back in 2010, but after Novosad migrated to Florida in 2012, Gross became the fest’s primary mover and shaker. Gross was a busy guy all weekend and when he wasn’t running around making sure things were moving smoothly or performing with his band Page 27, he could often be found somewhere chanting his mantra, “death to false noise!”
Ecco
Ecco is a French project that creates searing ‘n’ sleazed walled noise based around the weird, perverse & violent grindhouse movies of the 60’s & 70’s. It’s one of the more recent projects from the highly prolific & multi project linked Julien Skrobek (The Killer Came From The Bronx ,Ghost, The Sandman Wears A Mask, Ruine, Butch Bag, Gasp, Ruine, etc)- it also stands as one of my favourite of his many projects, as it managers to capture the sleaze, violent, and often tongue-in-cheek vibe of the best grind house movies. The project started off around late summer 2014, & Julien kindly agreed to give us a email interview.
Andrew Liles
Andrew Liles is one of the most prolific & respected figures working in British experimental music & sound. Over the years he’s worked with the likes of: Nurse With Wound, Current 93, Faust, Tony Wakeford, The Hafler Trio, and many others. One of his most sonically varied series of solo works comes in the form of the Monster series- this started in 2010, and so far they have been 15 releases under this banner- the releases have moved through various different sonic & musical styles, but one of the most recent releases has really seen him push the genre boat out. And that release is the Snuff Box- which takes in three CD’s, and finds him authentically recreating various types of different horror movie scores. Andrew kindly agreed to give us a email interview discussing the Snuff Box, and the Monster series in general. This is the third time we’ve interviewed him at M[m].
Macabre Omen
After recently discovering Macabre Omen and delving into their newest opus Gods of War – At War, I was blown away by the rich and evocative songwriting, the triumphant leads, the anguished cries. The album was both a strident call to war and an ode to Greece’s ancient history. In the weeks since the album’s release is hasn’t left my CD player. Each new listen reveals more of the staggering precision and effort put into such a monumental release. I recently had the honor to converse with Alexandros, the man behind Macabre Omen, to further my understanding of this masterpiece.
Bleak Existence
Bleak Existence is a Quebec based walled noise project who creates some of the most intense, humanity hating, yet texturally rewarding HNW around. The project started in 2007, and has gone on to become one of the longer running & respected names in the world wide HNW scene. Below you'll find the first ever interview with this project-were we talk about the projects past & future.
Gag G
Gag G is a German noise artist & label runner- he’s behind HNW/HN project Ataraxy, and also runs underground DIY noise/grindgore/ what ever label Vomit Bucket Productions. He’s been active with-in the euro noise scene since 2009, and he’s surely one of the most friendly & approachable noise-heads your likely to have ever come in contact with. He kindly agreed to give M[m] a email interview discussing his introduction to noise, his work with Ataraxy, and his label Vomit Bucket Productions.
John Wiese - Live report - 25 Feb 2015
Prolific American noise auteur John Wiese makes a timely appearance in London ahead of his major new record Deviate from Balance. Wiese's arsenal of cut-ups, distortion and screaming metal is paired alongside frequent London improvisers Steve Noble on drums and Sebastian Lexer on piano and electronics.
LAWRENCE ENGLISH + RAFAEL ANTON IRISARRI + JOHN CH
Australian label Room40's 15 year anniversary is the occasion for a mini tour featuring label founder Lawrence English as well as notable label-mates Rafael Anton Irisarri and John Chantler. The setting of Cafe Oto for the UK leg follows on from previous appearances both by Irisarri and English where their singular brand of classical influenced drone and ambient music found a warm welcome at the venue among the capital's more discerning listeners.
Mike Fazio
Veteran experimental guitarist Mike Fazio has been releasing his textural, freeform and improvisational music for upwards of 20 years now. Decidely anti-promotion and fully willing to let his legacy disappear into time, it's not surprising if you've never heard his name, but any person who believes in the possibility of 'beautiful', liquid toned amplifier feedback would do well to investigate his droning sound projects, primarily released under the A Guide For Reason, orchestramaxfieldparrish and Fazio monikers. Mike was kind enough to provide detailed insight into his outlook and process in this email interview.
Boar
Boar is a hard-hitting yet creative noise project from Dubuque Iowa USA. It started off originally as purely a HNW project, but of late has added in elements of atmospheric noise craft, enclosing & terrifying Power electronics, drone matter & genreal creative/ moody experimental sound making. Behind Boar is one Alex Nowacki, and the project came to life in mid 2009, and has since released a consistent body of work. Back in 2011 Alex did his first interview with M[m] (check it here), and as there has been a few recent developments with the project I felt now was a good time to do a 2nd interview.
Best Of 2014
2014 has been another excellent year for music & sound in all of it’s many genres. Below you’ll find a list of releases that really meant something to our writers over the last 12 months.
Lorenzo Abattoir
During August 2014 Italian noise maker & HNW artists Lorenzo Abattoir went on his first US tour taking in a the west coast of the country. Lorenzo is most know for his suicidal HNW project Nascitari, but is also is behind Tomorrow I'll Shoot Myself in the Mouth- a grim lo-fi synth texturing meets doomed piano ‘n’ wailing project, as well as running Italian walled noise label Claustrophilia Records. Through-out the tour he wrote a diary of each date, as well as took photos…below is said diary, and it makes for most interesting reading
Ryne Barber
Ryne Barber is Maryland based noise maker who creates an appealing & often horror focused mixture of industrlized HNW, Harsh Noise & power electronics. He first appeared on the US underground noise scene in 2011 with his Hearse Fetish project, and has since gone onto release work under project names such as Tomb of Trinkets & Lurid Hallway. As well as creating searing noise matter Ryne also runs & writes for a noise review blog, and a horror media review site. Ryne kindly agreed to give M[m] an email interview.
![Live report- 08 Oct14, Cafe Oto, London [2014-10-13]](/images/migrated/11/11734.jpg)
The Necks
Londoners really have been spoilt over the last year with the Necks following up their residency at Café Oto in 2013 with another series of three performances spread over three consecutive evenings. The risk in such a strategy may have been a degree of fatigue on behalf of their UK supporters but none of that was in evidence as on the last night the queue outside the venue was round the block as people arrived early to bag seats closest to the performance space. As perhaps would be expected with a band whose history stretches back nearly twenty-five years the crowd contained more older patrons than would usually frequent Café Oto’s evenings of renegade sounds, but there were also the usual mix of East London hipsters and other assorted miscreants against mundane music.