Fouke is one of the projects of respected, prolific, and multi project linked US noisemaker Richard Ramirez. I enjoy more than a few of Richard’s project, but I must say Fouke stands as my all time favourite project from him- due to the quality/ feel of the wall’s, and the great theme of the project too. I’m reviewing a digital version of the release-so I can’t personally comment of the releases packaging.

Each CDR features a single ‘wall’, each runs between forty & fifty minutes, and each of these is untitled. So the first untitled track revolves around a tight, seared yet moody blend of the following: A continual spiral low-end worming drone, mid-paced slight rattle bound judder, and a selection of thicker snapping ‘n’ rolling tones. Together these creating this highly hypnotic ‘wall’, which very much summons up images of something large & balky following you through a  dense & thick forest- the branches  rapidly bending & breaking around you, thick ropes of weeds & brambles pulling at your clothes, and this constantly large bounding presences behind you. The tracks comes in at the 40.16, and through-out it remains very thick in it’s feel; from time-to-time one texture seems to become more pressing & forward in the mix, but I suspect that’s just my imagination &  the whole thing is mostly fixed in it’s flow.

Moving onto the second disc, and the second untitled track. And after dense & detailed feel of the first discs ‘wall’, this track goes a bit more droned based, coarsely washed-out, and haunting. It brings together several layers of shuddering ‘n’ wind-like noise drone hovering, with-in this there's a deeply buried undercurrent of simmering bell or chime like tones. Where the first track felt forest bound, this one feels like you're out in the middle of snow storm white-out- so it feels like Mr Ramirez is bringing us to the freezing & mountainous location of the Yeti or Abominable Snowman. There is some shift & ebb in the layers of this track, as some are added then removed, or suddenly dropped back- but on the whole it’s fairly even with it’s bone chilling white-out.

Track three returns to more formal ‘wall’ territory, and brings together layers of constantly hacking ‘n’ tightly juddering noise. The layers have a lower-to-mid range, and go from thick & lumbering, though to thinner & more crisp. The way Ramirez weaves them together creates this intriguing & taut pelting storm type vibe- I guess if one where to try & describe this ‘wall’ you’d say it’s akin to been in a t-shirt in cold constantly spiting & stringing winter rain. It’s most worthy in it’s taut tension, subtle layer differences, and un-breaking pace.

And last up on disc four we of course have the forth untitled ‘wall’.  For this track we have a blend of set rolling & rotating textures- ebbed with light waves & thicker dwells of searing grain, sudden deep meaty roars, buried knockings, etc. Also from time to time you can make out dialogue & weird animalistic sounds- I’m guess these are taken from a Bigfoot film or documentary (these elements are fairly buried & difficult to discern- so they act as another layer). Of the four tracks here this is certainly the most shifting & varied, through the rolling ‘n’ rotating base does seem to stay fairly firm, as Ramirez shifts the other elements over the top. At times it almost moves towards harsh noise, but never truly gets there. All told it’s a rewarding enough more active & layer shifting end to set.

So in summing up Hide- it’s another very consistent release from the Fouke project, with each of the four ‘walls’ offering up different vibe/ mood relating to the Bigfoot legends.