Peking Crash Team / Calf Puller — Traktor Pulling

Traktor Pulling is a Swedish harsh noise split, that's themed around as its title suggests tractor pulling. With two projects offering up tire spinning, accelerator slamming, and clutch burning noise-making with rough ‘n’ raw leanings.

The c35/ digital releases appeared on Stockholm based Ominous Recordings. The physical release finds Yellow shelled cassette with-in an orange, xerox paper cover featuring crude photos of tractors in pulling action, with the whole thing presented in poly case. The tape appeared in an edition of thirty copies- and as of writing this review the label still has copies- head here for more info.

The single-sided C35 repeats the same tracks on both sides. And first, up we have a track from Peking Crash Team- this project has been active since 2020 five releases to its name thus far- their tracks entitled “ Brudar Får Sitta På Växelspaken” ( English translation Babes May Sit On The Gear Level). The seven minutes thirty-two-second track is an urgent and rapidly shifting mix of chugging ‘n’ stretching static crustiness, baying whines, and cluttering rips.  And if we’re going with our tractor pulling theme- the track brings to mind four or five vehicles trapped in a deep boggy mire, their tires grind deep into the brown sludge, as fan belts scream and pedals violently judder.

Next, we have a track from Calf Puller- who is apparently a relative newcomer to the scene- their track is entitled “Full Pull i Målilla” ( translated Full Pull in Målilla). This just shy of the ten-minute track brings together brutal bounding and buffeting mids, clutter crispness, baying mids-to-highs, with later-on grinding ‘n’ violently purring lows coming into play. This track feels more electro fueled than the first track- and if we’re going for tractor pulling imagery again, this sounds like two or three tracks revering into each other, trying to push the other out of the way.
 
In finishing Traktor Pulling is a rewarding slice of violent baying and searingly cluttering static toned Swedish noise. With both artists offering up equally tire sketching and pedal slamming harsh noise, and the theme is neat too, as is the bright and crudely garish packaging.