Miasm — Miasm IV

Miasm is one of the many projects from respected and long-running US noisemaker Richard Ramirez. As its title suggests this is the fourth release from this project, which started in 2017. It comes as either cassette or digital download- featuring two side-long tracks that blend walled noise, harsh noise, and moodier fare that sits between post-industrial and uneasy ambience.

I’m reviewing the digital version so can’t really comment on the physical version-  aside from saying its cover artwork features an old mugshot prison photo of a woman( Patty, I’m presuming going from the tracks titles). To find out more/ buy direct drop in here

So first up we have “This Is Patty” which comes in at thirty-three minutes and six seconds.  It opens up with a blend of constantly pelting ‘n’ purring low-end tautness- over this is a tense/ slightly rattling hack/semi-skip. As we move on elements of thicker machine hacking are added in, as are mid-to-higher fan belt grates- which get very quiet manic/ messy towards the end of the track, but there is always a neat feeling of constricting tension about the track.

Next, we have “There Never Was A Patty”- which rolls in at the shorter twenty-seven and twelve seconds.   It opens with a mix of blunt ‘n’ grey on/ off purr and a slight billow. At around the four-minute mark, it briefly pares back an eerier purr and this muffled breathing tone- before we once more shift into a pronounced blend of reeling, billowing, and grinding. Though ever so often we drop back to just thick bass hovers, locked ‘n’ sinister spins, grain detail, and ambient noise unease.

Shamefully I think it must be a good few years since I’ve checked out any of Mr Ramirez's work, and I must say Miam IV makes for an engaging trip into where searing and moodily unease/ tautness meet