Thar Desert/Hana Haruna — Enoch

Enoch is wall noise split bringing together two thirty-minute examples of the form from two Portland-based projects. One track is cumbersome & weathered, while the second is manically detailed & densely pelting.

The release is a digital download that appears on Portland’s Basement Corner Emissions- which has a good history of putting out walled noise. The cover features a dense grey and black box- overlaid over each other. A simple yet effective bit of artwork. The release can be found here. 

First up we have the track "Behemah" by Thar Desert. This is the first time I’ve heard of this project- they seemingly started in August of 2022- with five other releases to their name. All of the projects work is seemingly themed around the desert. The track featured here is built around a constantly low to mid-range billow- which is topped by a selection of small metallic knocks and scrapes. This track brings to mind such well-defined images of lines of white-robed figures crossing a vast white desert- their baggy robes blowing in the acrid and constant breeze water. Worn metal water flasks are strapped to the side of their camels, and the rider's sliver-tipped robe ties are gently knock against the flasks.

Next, we have  “The Daughters Of Men” from Hana Haruna. The project has been active since 2018- with over one hundred and twenty releases to its name. Behind the project is Ken Jamison, who also runs the internet-based noise label Basement Corner Emissions, as well as been behind a few other projects. This track is constructed around a highly dense & detailed blend of low-end scrape, smaller manically focused scratchers, darting hisses ‘n’ whips, and sub-tone jitter ‘n’ hiss. The track feels like it’s slowly but surely getting more detailed/ manic- though I think this may well be a trick of the ‘wall’ and it’s just all built around very well mixed & balanced fixed.

So in conclusion Enoch is a most worthy split- with both parties offering up two different, but equally compelling 'walls'. I wanted to give this a three & a half mark- but as we only do whole marks, I've gone for a four.