Vampire Girlfreind/Hana Haruna — Split

Here’s a wall noise spilt bringing together some fairly creative and moody takes on the genre. It features two US projects- Nashville, Tennessee’s Vampire Girlfreind, and Hana Haruna who are from Portland, Oregon.

The digital release takes in four around ten-minute ‘walls’- two from each project. Artwork wise we have a nighttime black & white photo of creepy mansion gates. And the release can be downloaded here   

First up we get the two tracks from Vampire Girlfreind- who have been active since 2021. Releasing around ten or so digital releases to date- and (as far as I can recall) this is my first taster of this project's work. Firstly, we have “Black Tong”- this track is built around a loose slightly knock-bound rumble, which is weaved by rapid-though-thinner jittering tones. I rather enjoyed the mix of the more murky rumble here, and the more rapidly juddering urgency of the other tones- which together create a rewarding blend. The next track is “Crone Drone”- and here we have a decidedly industrial wall noise vibe- as we have a set mid-range machine drone, an even junk-like battering knock, and some sub-tone-like workshop-like billowing. The track has a nice constrictive, yet hope muffling wall.

Moving onto the other side of the split from Hana Haruna- this is one of the projects of long-term HNW/ noise scenester Ken Jamison.  It’s been active since 2018, releasing around one hundred and sixty releases to date. I’ve now reviewed a  few of this project's releases and enjoyed most of what I’ve heard. The first track is entitled “Shinonome Umi”  this brings together a skittering slice,  baying billowing, a muffled bass hovering, and most surprisingly this very subtle harmonic ambient drift. Lastly, we have “Tomiya Risa”- and here things turn a little nastier, with a  very slowly plodding bass tone, skittering rip ‘n’ purr, and steadily descending static downpour. With the whole thing having an almost lumbering electronica feel to its unfold

In finish, this is a most consistent wall noise split- featuring four creatively set walls. I wasn’t aware of Vampire Girlfreind- so will most certainly be checking out more of their stuff, and the tracks Hana Haruna are up to the project's normal good standards.