Rien - Untitled [Ominous Recordings - 2019]Untitled finds this Stockholm based walled noise project rendering up two twenty minute examples of thick-yet- quietly captured static studies, which bring together blunt low-end with hazed crackle, crunch and subtle textural detail. This release appeared in March of this year on Ominous Recordings in both tape & digital edition- the tape came in an edition of eight copies which are sadly all gone now- so the digital version is the only option. Fitting the thick, yet fairly low-key feel of the releases track- we get a decidedly white packaging, with subtle grey & blacks. Each side of white shelled tape features black pen marked number, and this is presented in a white sleeve- that features faint/pared back grey, black tones- which takes in lines, squiggle & gradients.
The first track brings together a dense blend of constantly- rolling roast & thickly bubbling base. On top of this we find the often micro detailed wiry scrapes & sways- with a subtle selection of pops & snaps. The whole thing feels both urgent & organic, with the wall effectively managing to balance good meaty depth, interesting textural detail/ subtle shift, and a tense-yet-earthy quality.
The second track finds a base that brings together knotty descent & slight awkward low end judder- with an active yet subtle covering of tense snap ‘n’ pop, buffet 'n’ rattle, lose grain flitter, and the occasional flits of grinding static descents. There seems slightly less focus in this track, though it does stay with-in it's original structural lay-out.
In summing Untitled- it’s certainly another worthwhile release from Rien, and I’d say of the two-track here the first grab me the most with it’s organic-yet- tense feel, but the other track is just as well-tooled- it just didn’t grab me as much. Roger Batty
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