Cory Aideen - Unloved [Self release - 2021]here. " /> |
Unloved is a just over hour-long shot of gritty grained ‘n’ squiggling manic fed walled noise from Cory Aideen (Root Cellar, Monolithic Torment, and Submachine Gun). The release comes in the form of a self-released digital download- which can be found just here. The cover artwork is a simple and crude black ‘n’ white cartoon of a tattooed and long-haired figure( Cory I’m guessing) with small black rain clouds in the background, with the whole thing surrounded by a pink frame. So, nothing fancy or terrible arty, but it expresses the themes/ feelings behind this release/track well enough.
The single track here is entitled “I’m Not Okay”, and it runs for one hour and eleven seconds. The ‘wall’ is built around a contracted & compressed mixture of juddering grain pop ‘n’ snap, persistent scarping rip, and muffled-at-points dull squiggle. Together these elements create a nice balance of taut nerve-ness, rewarding detail, and generally compelling focused wall-craft. I really enjoy the way the blunt squiggles go against the grainier textures, so as to create an entrancing blend of insect-like fidgeting and scuttling electro like rip ‘n’ tear. The run-time of this ‘wall’ seemed to speed by, meaning I could easily have played this for twice its length, and still enjoy it.
In finishing Unloved clearly comes from a deeply anxious and troubled place; but Aideen has managed to focus these feelings into a most rewardingly detailed ‘wall’, which does rewards both repeat plays and closer listens. Roger Batty
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