Vanity Productions — Arrangements In Feedback

Here’s a very smart, but very limited package from the dependable Geräuschmanufaktur; it’s most likely long gone too, which is a shame because the 8” is two sides of prime noise. Vanity Productions is Christian Stadsgaard, who can be found in various projects within the Posh Isolation/Denmark axis, and Arrangements In Feedback is a lathe cut disc, and yes, as ever, the sound quality is ‘variable’. Both tracks weigh in at around seven minutes long, and both are titled ‘Arrangements In Feedback.’ As is usual with Geräuschmanufaktur there’s high attention to the artwork and design, and also nicely textured card for the insert, and, as already stated, it’s a short run of a mere 20 copies - though of course the audio is available via Bandcamp.

The first version of ‘Arrangements In Feedback’ sets off with a caustic assault of barrelling bass, cutting in and out of hissy skree. The feedback highlighted in the title manifests itself as a high pitched whine, with Stadsgaard deploying a delay pedal to stutter and mangle noise textures. Later there is a nice passage of oscillating feedback, with shifting noise punching in and out. The second version begins with wind-like noise, feedback squeal, distressed electronics, and more glitching delay shenanigans. Like the first version, the track thunders along at a speedy pace, with brief moments of stasis when Stadsgaard cuts to whining feedback. After a section featuring a burbling synth line, the track ends with a heads down noise charge, underpinned by a hard rumbling bass drone. It’s all really solid.

This is a great disc, and one that begs to be turned over and spun again. I could have happily listened to an album’s worth of similar material. Stadsgaard manages the balancing act of using, if not gear then certainly techniques that are associated with cut-up noise, even electroacoustic music; but rather than sounding remotely ‘shiny’ Arrangements In Feedback is raw and blown out, with individual elements buried in a thick, jagged mass - genuinely noisy, with sections sounding like disintegrating machinery. Surprisingly I found I preferred the lathe to the digital version on Bandcamp - I normally like crispy, sharp noise but the added distortion of the lathe cut heightened the tracks into real maelstroms, whilst remaining detailed and clearly well-crafted. An excellent, recommended release which will require you to go to the Geräuschmanufaktur Bandcamp, or stake out Discogs with crossed finger