Smolder is a C90/ digital download on the excellent Reason Art records- the Russian label that has become one of the most prolific HNW/static noise labels in the last year or so. The release is presented in a effective grey, red, and black colour scheme- with both the tape cover & tape labels featuring close-up colour pictures of wood fires- with the releases text in white & red. All in all a simple though classy looking bit of presentation.
 
The tape features a single forty five minute on each side, and both of these are self titled Smolder. The first side track is a locked & unforgiving mesh of knocking & rattling texturing- that is underfed by a constantly & fairly rapid rumble. The way the knocking & rattling textures are in constant & looped freefall give the whole thing quite a clipped almost rhythmic quality. I’ve played this track with & with-out head phones, and headphone way is the best way to hear it- as you get to hear more depth of the layers- when played with-out it comes across as very monotonous, in a bad way.The tracks ok, I guess- it really did start to grate badly on me around the thirty minute mark, no matter how much a tried to drift off into the wall. I think the issue is that it just feels both too rapid & lacks textural separation- meaning the whole thing has a tendency to blur into a semi rhythmic bland-ness.

The second sides track pares things back somewhat, and considering this is a follow-on track/ second part it sounds little like the first side. It finds a blend of semi-uneven & slowed rumble ‘n’ knock, that’s topped with a selection of sub-tones. These take in judders, descending rips, and knocks. And underneath it all I can just make out this hissing nocturnal like sound. The ‘wall’ feels akin to trying to climb-up a constantly cascading flow of mud & rocks. Compared with the first track there is a nice balance to the layer mix, and this most certainly pulled me in more.  Added to this we get a appealing selection of textures, which are set into a nicely entrancing matt of sound.

So in conclusion I found Smolder very much a game of two halfs- the first sides track was passable, though out stayed it’s welcome & seemed to lack sonic balance. While the second sides track was both appealing & well constructed. With genres like walled-noise/ static-noise texturing it’s often down to ones likes & dislikes with textures used- so who knows you may enjoy the first sides track.