Hallucination Vortex — Synapsensturm
Synapsensturm takes in two nineteen-minute examples of dense & shifting soundscaping. It mixes together harsh noise sears ‘n’ sweeps, electro tone simmers, mangled muzak, and all manner of sonic flotsam & Jetsam. It’s certainly an overloading- yet eventfully enjoyable trip into sound in two parts- which most certainly does reward repeat plays.
The release comes in the form of a pro-pressed CDR on Illinois Oxidation- this comes presented in an old-school grey-backed & clear jewel case. With the front cover taking in a blue & black inversed image of someone getting electroshock treatment.
Behind Hallucination Vortex is Germanys Stefan Widmann. He has a few other projects to his name, but is seemingly most known for Azoikum- which has been active since 1997, releasing around fifty releases, and blends Power Electronics & Harsh Noise. Synapsensturm is Hallucination Vortex second release, following on from 2021’s Oneirophrenia- which was a C70 on Danvers State Recordings.
The two tracks are simply titled Synapsensturm I & II- with each coming in just shy of the twenty-minute mark. So “I” opens with a mix of slowed down mumbled vocal sounds, ringing ‘n’ searing tonality, and feasting static roll. As we move on we rapidly shift from roasting low ends & piecing highs, through sped-up vocal babble/ radio muzak, drilling pitch sustains, more of those mumbled vocal sounds, electro watery flows, and grating, whistling, and swooping tone shifts. The track never really pauses for long in its shifts- with the whole thing having a decidedly manically dada/ chaotic feel to it.
“II” opens with a blend of droning roast, wavering tone bob, and slicing static haze. As we move on the melted and warped muzak elements come into play- along with noise tone sweeps, jittering radio tone swirls, and sustain noise pitch sustains. At moments there’s a sea-sawing almost groove-like flow to the shifting and dense mesh of sound, but this never stays in place long, as more tones & elements are added to the thick & shifting mass.
If I was to compare this to something I’d say a less deranged & not so acid damaged Static Goat. If you like to sonically drown yourself in dense, shifting, and detailed noise Synapsensturm will certainly hit your soft spot.