Beta Cloud vs. Kenji Siratori — Plug
Plug is a bit of a departure for Beta Cloud, in that these are relatively short pieces, with many musical directions, instead of relatively long suites of drone and noise. This is out of necessity, as the music provides the backing for Siratori's insane lyrics. The English translation of the lyrics, provided at the label's website reveal text which, though there is no accurate barometer for comparison, could perhaps be tied to William Burrough's cut-up technique filtered through William Gibson's Neuromancer. The fact that non-Japanese speaking individuals won't understand these words, is at best a minor hindrance for a couple of reasons; Siratori's orating skills are top notch. His tone changes to suit each piece. The other piece of the puzzle is that the music fits the tone of each piece like a glove. There are everything from compact, minimal drones, to tasteful piano backing.
The last couple of tracks, Phase 4 and Phase 5, end the recording on a high note. Siratori's delivery on Phase 4 is quiet and mysterious, while the backing is a combination of a multi-layered wavering tones, obscured by feedback, which rhythmically culminate into a sound similar to gas being released. The final track for some reason reminds me of Bejamin Christenson's film Haxan (Witchcraft Through the Ages). Particularly the narrated version of the 1922 masterpiece, which includes incisive, exciting narration courtesy of William Burroughs and is bolstered by warped beatnik jazz. Carl Pace's monkey splattering a canvas keyboard work mirrors this affect when taken along with Siratori's most anxious vocal performance. It makes for a satisfying whole.