Last Rape - 99 Women [Signora Ward Records - 2015]Along with Black Leather Jesus & Werewolf Jerusalem, Last Rape is one of the more known projects of multi project linked Texas Noise Legend Richard Ramirez. The project is known for it's often giallo & horror movie themed walled noise, and it started in 1995. On offer here is a recent release- that either comes as a C30, or a digital download- I’m reviewing the tape version. Through out it’s history the project has seen several noise artists collaborating with Ramirez, but for the last few years it has stayed firmly a two piece with Ramirez been joined by fellow Texas noise artists Sean E. Matzus(also of Black Leather Jesus, The Secret Geography and In The Land Of Archers). This tape takes its name from 1969 Jess Franco movie of the same name- the film was one of the early examples sleazy women-in-prison films. Though oddly the tapes cover takes in a rather gothic horror picture of a nude female figure facing a candelabra(which doesn’t seem like it comes from the same film!?). The sleeve is a doubled sided pro-printed black & white affair, and on it’s reversed inner sleeve we get a face close-up of a man & women having sex. The release also features a sticker, and this seems related to the theme again, as it has the films title & the words ‘with out men!”. The tape version came in an edition of 60 copies, but these are now sold out from the label- so unless you can snag a copy from discog’s it’s just the digital download available now. The release takes in two just under fifteen tracks- simply named Parts one & two. Part One is a brutal ‘n’ battering bit of ‘wall-craft’ that brings together the following: a thick ‘n’ violent buffeting texture, a meaty chugging like judder, and two or three thinner snapping ‘n’ churning staple like textures. The whole thing remains suffocating dense & thick through-out, yet you can make out each textural pattern- so one’s mind can shift from each one to follow its route. I’ll have admit this ‘wall’ didn’t really grab me on my first few play through…it just felt a little run-of-the mill, but as I’ve played it more & more I’ve come to appreciate the rewarding textural detail, and it really is a rather clever bit of HNW.
After the dense, thick & suffocating mass of Part one, Part Two is a lot more urgent, maniacal rushing & head clearing. It brings together the following: a searing mid range feast/rushing pattern, a buried & constant tolling bell element( at times there seems many layers of this), and possible a few condensed sub-tones that take in thinned yet pummelling lashing rain like descents. The end of the track has a sudden & brief textural shift into more meaty waters. I guess this track isn’t as complex as the first track in it’s textural layers, but I did enjoy it more when I first played the release. And I still enjoy it now- it makes as a great counterpart to the first track, and has quite a eerier yet overloaded atmosphere to it. All in all this release offers up two effective & skilful built slices of walled noise- as mentioned above the first track didn’t grab me to begin with, but it’s a really grower. While the second track had me hooked from the start. Roger Batty
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