PCRV/Developer — Split Cassette

Factotum Tapes offers up a newish cassette single length split tape between PCRV and Developer. PCRV, the acronym for Pop Culture Rape Victim, is the moniker of one Matt Taggart. Hailing from Montana, Taggart is a long-running harsh noisician and also owner of the appropriately named Fluxus Montana label. Developer is the alias of cut-up, heavy-hitter Matthew Reis. Reis’ seemingly insane recording schedule, has produced an ubiquitous stream of: split, collaborative, and solo releases, in 2014 alone. Released early in the year, this slim c10 presents another swift, statement of cut-up noise aesthetics.

Side A belongs to PCRV. Truth be told, my experience with PCRV is pretty slim. To my recollection, the only release I’ve heard of Taggart’s is Smokebreak, an entry in last year’s Museum of Microcassette Art project. I enjoyed that release quite a bit, but kind of assumed that it didn’t reflect his usual output, especially since it was recorded entirely with a dictaphone. That said, I was looking forward to hearing a proper PCRV piece and I was not disappointed. Taggart offers a single 4:31 track entitled “Cold One Out.” The piece begins with an electronic pulse that is quickly disrupted by broken static. Squelchy and stuttering synth bits mingle and collide with distorted radio waves. Lots of choked off and squealing electronics ensue with a thick humming buzz. The tracks briskly moves from start to finish and then tapers off with some echoing crackle.

Side B offers an untitled track by Developer, which furiously takes off with a burley mass of weaving squelchy and sputtering electronics disrupted by fits and starts. A lot of thick pummeling tones pound and crush; the whole affair sounding like a machine from hell full of rapidly churning gears. It barrels on at full force until Reis lets up and offers the listener a brief respite. Things quiet down about a third of the way in as a repetitive buzzing sound becomes the focus while some faint electroacoustic rumblings churn underneath the surface. It’s like being locked in a room with a fly buzzing around, slipping in and out of auditory range, while some house sounds toil, barely perceptible in the background. Of course, it’s a false sense of calm as tension builds, slowly swelling. Running water adds another false layer of security before being abruptly bludgeoned by a rapidly beating machine gun pulse. More churning, pulsing layers add to the fray in the track’s final moments and then it’s over.

Jarring sounds, shifting tension, hyper fast change ups, all executed in under 10 minutes is pretty much what I want out of noise these days and this tape delivers the goods. Another quality release from Factotum Tapes.