Ukrainian label ~taqueOT presents Matter by Sphagný. Sphagný is the moniker of Russian sonic artist Anton Auster, who is also responsible for the experimental label Swollen Beam.

The sounds that Auster creates are kind of difficult to explain, but I would probably lump them into the sonic territory I like to affectionately refer to as “weirdo noise.” This is typically the term I refer to such artists as: Justin Marc Lloyd, Su Sous Toulouse en Rouge, and even Newton at times. Noise artists who main prerogative isn’t necessarily to melt your face off, but to dabble in strange compositions, tones and textures. In many ways Sphagn epitomizes this corner of the noise genre. Yes my friends, Auster creates some weird sounds.

The packaging on this release is pretty intense. The tape is housed in a screen-printed o-card which slips into another cardboard case. Aesthetically the art presented is like a mashup of Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time and something from American Tapes. The cassette itself is a clear shell with blank green and orange labels. Took me a bit to figure out which side was which. Probably one of the best packaging jobs I’ve seen in a long while.

Nine tracks make up Matter. Side A feature 4 tracks. The first track, “Invisible Pet” features a discordant blend of galloping sounds, beats, synth tones, and voices run through the effects mill. “Pod Nebesami Nevinnosti” further explores layered sounds, this time: bubbling, winding machine parts, a creaking door, buzzing that ebbs and flows, manipulated voices, and cartoon show loops. “Adventures on Skinned Earth” sounds like Auster exploring various manipulations from a phaser/shifter pedal. Side A’s final track, “Mi Poyavlyaemsya Yamakh” is an amalgamation of spritely keyboards, bubbly synths, and cassette manipulation that strangely sounds like a cat meowing.

Side B seems to be more focused on cassette manipulation than the first side. “Forward and Downward” combines what sounds like a robotic snore with looped clanging metal, machinery churning, cassette being rewound, and some recorded vocals at the end. The next few tracks can best be described as sound collage of various field recordings. This side’s final track simply titled “Untitled” sounds like a man speaking french through a walkie talkie layered with a high pitched frequency.

All in all, an interesting cassette from start to finish. It was a much needed diversion from the harsh noise that has been occupying my listening queue. Definitely an artist and label to keep on your radars.