Unicorn Hard-On — Weird Universe

Spectrum Spools presents: Weird Universe, the long overdue full length from Valerie Martino’s Unicorn Hard-On project. Being active in the underground experimental noise scene for a decade now, she has produced a number of cassettes and other micro releases on her own Tangled Hares label and more recently released a split 12” with Container on More Records.

Unicorn Hard-On is generally credited as one of the earliest proponents of technoise, bridging the gap between noise and beats orientated electronic music. I caught several of her sets at this year’s International Noise Conference, which she’s been a consistent performer at, year after year. In addition to her solo act, I also caught her side project Salt Swan and her noise band (along with Rat Bastard) the Laundry Room Squelchers. It was quite a stark contrast to see her slinging amps of blasting noise one night and then making dance beats the next. But it’s that contrast that makes UH-O such an interesting artist. Needles to say I was quite excited to give Weird Universe a spin.

Weird Universe delivers 6 tracks of layer upon layer techno beats, that manage to be highly danceable yet rather chill. Shed are most (if not all) of the noise flourishes found on some of her earlier releases, but what the album lacks in abrasiveness, Weird Universe makes up for it with a new found refinement in sound. The opening track Rock Salt is a veritable see-saw of rhythmic synth, claps, thumping beats, and other sci-fi esque oddities thrown in for good measure. Quizz ups the ante a bit with aggressive percussive beats and some repetitive laser synths in the track’s midsection as some weird zingers and other oddities fling off into the atmosphere. Some processed vocals (possibly?) tease their way out at the tailend. Night Diamond is a pleasant little number focused more melodic keystrokes and quieter moments. The penultimate track Wet Pet layers wiggly, wobbly synthy goodness, thick beats, and 8-bit video game sounds together. It’s hard to decide whether to continue bobbing my head or play Mario Kart. Possibly both. 

I have to admit I love this album quite possibly more than I should. As an old curmudgeon I generally eschew dance music, but Weird Universe is just too damn infectious. I found my head bobbing to and fro the entire album. The collision of weirdo synth sounds and frenetic beats work really well together, and some of the quieter moments show a certain musically often left out of electronic experimental music. Weird Universe goes to show that the 10 years it took to bring this album to fruition was 10 years well spent.