Smegma — 33 1/3

The godfathers of American noise return with an aptly titled offer that celebrates their 33 1/3 years of noisy & puzzling existence. The enclosed sounds are often deeply denser, playful and varied collection of  sample and sound element based tracks, with all manner of instrumental and noise matter weaved in and out of it.

This does'nt sit conformable in either  modern composition, noise, improvisation, rock groove, jazz or messed up easy listening, or dada bent playfulness -but falls somewhere in-between them all.The key thing here above anything as the mock up arcade/ funfair vinyl label cover suggests, is fun. Everything is all cleverly and clearly placed and played but it’s always done in a playful jester like manner, laughing with you and at you. Pulling coins from behind your ear and rabbits out of top hats and doing silly dances in front of you. This is more akin to someone like The Residents take on noise or sound, but I guess that makes sense  as both projects came about in the early 70’s having playful and dada invested hippy minds behind them.

Every track has surprised and sudden turns or elements that appear round each sound Connor. The mixes of sound really bubbling up with the influence of all manner of music craft formed over the last 100 years or so, then it's mushed and tickled and rolled into the Smegma mind set. Like parading lots of different musically forms through a vast funhouse, with halls of mirrors and all manner of  visual and audio trickery. All making a very rewarding and rich sound castle to get lost in.

One for those who enjoy playful imaginative noise and sound horse play. Very much appealing to early Resident fans, fans of  Nurse with Wound's more sample based material. A real treat for the body and soul that will leave you with a silly smile on your face.