TheNIGHTproduct is one of the projects of respected Pittsburgh based noisemaker Sean E. Matzus. It began in 2012 and has so far put out around six releases. The projects minimal/ moodily nuanced sound is largely captured in real-time, with zero edits, and little equipment/ set-up –focusing on body manipulation as its source. The Showman came in a physical tape edition of fifteen copies, and as of writing the label still has copies left for purchase.

The release takes in two side-long tracks, the first of these is ”It Was All a Nasty Pretence",  and it's fairly busy, yet often rather creepy in it’s unfold. At the tracks centre is a mid-ranged rubbing see-sawing tone, which remains fairly constant & fixed through-out. Around this Matzus careful sets out a selection of pops, snaps, rubs and scuttles- these both fill in the textural busyness of the whole thing, as well as creating more than a few damn eerier moments. The most effective of these been sudden twig snaps ‘n’ pops, which at points real make the focused listener jump & get decidedly creeped out.

Next, we have “Claim Me For The Abyss”. Here we find a deeper-more- layered detailed blend of rub 'n' saw, blended with small grain snapping grit pop ‘n’ snap. Again Matzus builds & binds the textures together for the maximum busy yet chilling effect. This time around it’s a little more shifting in its textural patterns, though they're a consistent feel throughout. Once again there is a feel of jarring unease present, and this time this it's largely caused by a distant snapping-pop, which rather sounds like a single gunshot in a quiet & creepy forest.

Both tracks on The Showman are highly skilled examples of the creepy and eerier focused atmospheric wall-craft, with  Matzu masterfully selecting the textures for maximum effect. If you’d like to score a copy of the tape before they are all gone head here.