TheNIGHTproduct — The Showman
TheNIGHTproduct is one of the projects of respected Pittsburgh based noisemaker Sean E. Matzus. It began in 2012 and has so far put out around six releases. The projects minimal/ moodily nuanced sound is largely captured in real-time, with zero edits, and little equipment/ set-up –focusing on body manipulation as its source. The Showman came in a physical tape edition of fifteen copies, and as of writing the label still has copies left for purchase.
The release takes in two side-long tracks, the first of these is ”It Was All a Nasty Pretence", and it's fairly busy, yet often rather creepy in it’s unfold. At the tracks centre is a mid-ranged rubbing see-sawing tone, which remains fairly constant & fixed through-out. Around this Matzus careful sets out a selection of pops, snaps, rubs and scuttles- these both fill in the textural busyness of the whole thing, as well as creating more than a few damn eerier moments. The most effective of these been sudden twig snaps ‘n’ pops, which at points real make the focused listener jump & get decidedly creeped out.
Next, we have “Claim Me For The Abyss”. Here we find a deeper-more- layered detailed blend of rub 'n' saw, blended with small grain snapping grit pop ‘n’ snap. Again Matzus builds & binds the textures together for the maximum busy yet chilling effect. This time around it’s a little more shifting in its textural patterns, though they're a consistent feel throughout. Once again there is a feel of jarring unease present, and this time this it's largely caused by a distant snapping-pop, which rather sounds like a single gunshot in a quiet & creepy forest.
Both tracks on The Showman are highly skilled examples of the creepy and eerier focused atmospheric wall-craft, with Matzu masterfully selecting the textures for maximum effect. If you’d like to score a copy of the tape before they are all gone head here.