theNIGHTproduct — I Must Keep A Certain Distance From My Subjects
The release appeared as either a C30 or digital release- with of course a track per side of the tape. The cassette is seemingly presented in a small baggie- with murky & monochrome artwork of an abandoned factory space- this was ltd to ten copies, and there are a few still available. I can’t comment any further on this physical version, as I’m reviewing a digital download of the release.
First up we have “There are those who require witness to their doom” And what we find here is a tight & tense weave of several rapidly buffing ‘n’ billowing tone, which are underlaid by small skipping & fleeting grain textures. These are fed out in fairly even if the manic flow of sound- which I guess brings to mind what might sound like if you were running rapidly down an air tunnel in very loose clothes & face cover. There’s a panicked yet organic feel to the whole thing, that suggests been chased by something or someone, and with the tracks title, it rather suggests a Gallio or slasher type scenario where a victim is been stalked & chased by a seemingly unstoppable killer.
The other track here is “His strange visions and the company which they have led him”- this side is decidedly more shifting & varied in its attack, though we still have a largely rapid buffeting & billow vibe. To start with we find a blend of manically rubbing & purr, underfeed by sudden atmospheric snaps & pops. As we move along we have blends of busy rolling rubs, creasing-at-times violent snaps, and flitting static grain churn. As the track progresses Matzus keeps the mood busy-yet-tense, and at times jarringly atmospheric. If the first ‘wall’ was the chase, this feels more like the slowed-yet- still panicked limp or crawl, as the victim has been injured by its stalker, and is now get randomly stabbed as they try to get away.
To create wall work that is both active & tense, yet atmospheric & at times jumpy is a difficult balance to maintain- but that’s what is managed with I Must Keep A Certain Distance From My Subjects- it's all even more impressive when you put into its creation that it was made in real-time with no edits. Head here to pick up a copy.