Thewhitehorse/Planet Shithead — Split
From late last year here’s a C66/ digital download wall noise split bringing together two US walled noise projects. Featured here are Thewhitehorse and Planet Shithead, and each offers up a single side-long track that highlights each project's take on the form.
The half labelled on both sides black cassette comes presented in a gloss double-sided monochrome sleeve- this features pictures of stark rural landscapes, with the back flap featuring a hand-numbered edition. In total this had a pressing of twenty copies, and of this review the label still has copies- drop by here for more info/ buy direct.
On side A we have thewhitehorse track- this is one of the projects of Pittsburgh based Sean E. Matzus (theNIGHTproduct, Black Leather Jesus, last Rape, Thin Mountain). This project is one of his longer running ventures, with releases going back to 2010- in total it has coming on for thirty titles to its name. The track here is entitled “Wild Goose Hunt”- and what we have here is a very densely feasting example of the HWN form. This is built around a constant low-end churning and a slightly rattling static judder. The churn has a nicely muffled and bluntly rubbing quality in it's circling pattern, while the judder has a feeling of starkly crisp-yet-constant descending flow. Together these elements create a rather numbingly thick example of the walled noise form. It's not the fanciest, or most elaborate in its textural make-up, but over the thirty-four and a half minute length, it nicely enchases you in its thick yet stark sonic shell.
Flipping over the tape, we of course half the Planet Shithead track- this is one of the projects of Florida based Joe The Stache( Hoggle, Pig Shrapnel, Extreme Chafing). It’s been active since 2014, and once again releasing coming on for thirty releases- though it is not purely a walled noise project, releasing stuff in other noise sub-genres too. Their track is entitled “(lifeless)”- and what we have here is a sort of galloping sightly industrial walled noise meets atmospherically noise drone track. It starts off with a fading-in blend of rattling knock, grainy hiss, and distant billow. As the track progresses Stanche nicely pulls out these decidedly atmospheric and at times eerier drones, which are surrounded by industrial noise rattle ‘n’ knock and grainy fizzing ‘n’ baying washes. The whole thing has a wonderful feeling of raging, yet haunted unease- and is a great example of the more subtle creepy side of the wall noise form.
In conclusion, this is a worthy split, with both parties severing up a worthy 'wall'. If pushed I’d say I prefer the second side more, as I really enjoy the feeling of seared haunting-ness Stanche creates, through the thewhitehorse offers up a good example encasing stark thickness too.