Breakdancing Ronald Reagan — Growing Good Roses/Nipple Problemz

Breakdancing Ronald Reagan is the noise project of Texas native Johnathan Cash. Johnny Cash's performances walk the line (heh) between harsh noise and performance art. Whether amplifying meat or carving packets of butter, BRR sets are something to behold. Johnathan Cash may look like a young version of the guy that lives across the street from me, but this kid knows how to bring it. Does he do so with this release, too?

This hour long BRR release is two tracks, Growing Good Roses and Nipple Problemz. Growing Good Roses sounds like a few different songs slapped together. There's lots of low crunch and distorted feedback swell, but that's to be expected. BRR utilizes a cool cut up noise approach, and does so very well. However, Growing Good Roses seems to focus less on the cut up and more on drums and samples. Sometimes this track sounds like Merzbow - Aqua Necromancer, and sometimes like something out of the DHR catalog. There's a long sample in the middle about iPods playing over some goofy song. Took me right out of it. Also, BRR channels Peter Sotos for the overlong Buyer's Market type sexual abuse sample at the end. This track is too long and too varied for me. There is some excellent noise in it, but it takes quite a while to get to.
 

Nipple Problemz starts off with a poorly recorded live set. At least, I hope it's live. It consists of some noise being played over Wham! - Last Christmas. This is a total bummer because I love Wham! and I love noise...and the recording is so terrible, you can barely tell either one is present. It short enough, though, and then the cut up radness begins. The remainder of the track is lovely harsh noise. There are nice crunchy waves of distortion, fiery blasts of feedback, and enough cuts and stops to keep you guessing. There are also some cool bass pulses and loops that are very reminiscent of Merzbow - Tauromachine. It's a great noise track and an excellent example of what BRR is capable of.
 

Growing Good Roses/Nipple Problemz is a disjointed release. The first track may be of interest to some, but it totally didn't do it for me. Nipple Problemz is great, though, and would've worked a lot better not paired with Growing Good Roses. The Breaching Static CDr is super limited (ltd 15, I think), but this album is available for streaming and purchase at http://breakdancingronaldreagan.bandcamp.com.