Jurko Haltu — Schizophrenic Genius
The layout right off the bat is pretty striking. The cover photo, glued to a cassette polycase, is an interesting piece of textured abstract art. It’s use of pink, red, and green colors, on top a rocklike surface, doesn’t necessarily scream HNW, but that’s why I kind of like it. Another glued insert has all the pertinent info with a picture of Jurko brandishing a sword. I overall like the aesthetic, though the glue on photo paper might not have been the wisest choice. My cover art and insert keep falling off as the glue doesn’t want to seem to adhere to the polycase. Drat!
Schizophrenic Genius is made up of two side long tracks running about 10 minutes piece. Side A starts up and I’m reminded of straight up television static. There is a faint, but present, tinny sound buried in the thick static. The liner note states that it’s vital to listen to this recording at high volumes. I have to admit that even at peak volumes there is something underwhelming about the wall. It kind of sounds distant and lacking sufficient power. Half way through side A and there is a noticeable sudden change to the wall. It sounds like the wall got an immediate bass boost. This change certainly pumps up the power quotient, but the wall still lacks a real definable crackle or bass juddering, which is what II really want out of a great wall track.
Side B starts out quite similarly to the second half of track 1. The wall is a vigorous, caustic pummeling of crunchy static. There’s a nice palpable crumble working it’s way under a thick blanket of ramped up fuzz. This piece stays rather fixed throughout, unlike Side A, which gets a needed power up mid way through. It’s certainly the stronger of the two tracks, but I’m still not sure that I’m completely sold.
About the best thing going for this little wee beasty is it’s short length. Running in at a slim 20 minutes (pretty quick for a wall noise release) Schizophrenic Genius at least managed to hold my attention throughout it’s course. Any longer and I would’ve tuned out long ago. Unfortunately, this release isn’t nearly as menacing as the sword-wielding photo of Jurko found in the liner notes.