
Whores Breath - Befoul [Stemms Audio - 2021]Befoul takes in two greyly weathered-to-starkly feasting examples of walled noise from Whore’s Breath. Behind the project is Cincinnati, Ohio based noisemaker David Hilshorst The release appears as a self-released digital download. The cover artwork features a blurred picture of what looks likes a pile of grey and stained clothes, which fits the feel of the two tracks within. First up we have “Untainted”- this slides in at 40.47 mark. The ‘wall’ is built around a central muffled churning ‘n’ sluggishly judder- around this is a selection of subtones taking in gritty swirls, blunt buffetings, and hazed bass hacks. The ‘wall’ creates a nice feeling of weathered battering, with a nicely effective undertone of sleazed numbness in place. Next, we have “Tainted” and this slides in at the 36.17 mark. Here we find a more reduced 'n' stark mixture of distant locked industrial drone, which is topped with a (largely) even flow of grainy pop & slide. Again, there’s a decidedly sleazed and unwell feeling to the track, with it creating in my mind images of grey stained curtains blowing through a raggedly broken window, like flaying pale arms. As the track moves along the bass becomes slightly more ragging as does the static grit, but it largely stays firm in its textural flow/ blend. Befoul is a worthwhile trip into textural noise atmospherics, that’s ribbed and edged with both touches of greyed sleaze and barren unease. It’s great to see Hilshorst developing his take on wall-craft, and I very much look forward to hearing what he does next. If you’d like to check this out for your self-head here      Roger Batty
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