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 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Breaking The Will/Bacul​um - Split [Phage Tapes - 2010]

A very smartly packaged double tape set here, from Phage Tapes; a good example of what can be done without necessarily going to extremes of effort: it’s all in the detail. Both inlays have striking images copied onto light card and the tape artwork is similarly sombre but effective, but the smallest of details makes all the difference: the text for the titles (etc) has been printed onto paper, then ripped up into separate pieces and stuck on to the pictures. When copied, this creates a very nice effect of depth to the artwork; its simple but very effective.

So, the first of the two tapes (both c10’s) is by Breaking The Will, with one track either side. “Wrecked” starts with a sample of what sounds like an American policeman ordering someone about, and then launches into a destroying noise wall; very gritty, very scuzzy. After a few minutes, the wall stops and more dialogue is heard; a few more minutes and some dialogue is looped. After another wall section, the track ends with this looped dialogue repeated once more. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about these interruptions to the wall - initially I certainly wasn’t enamoured of them; but, given the short length of the track, I’ve come to see them as a neat way of making the most of this duration. The track is thus several blasts of raw power - not particularly well-defined or finely textured noise, but undeniably turbulent and visceral. “Revenged” has this same basic mix of elements - a fast rampaging wall plus samples of sound and dialogue - but here, instead of creating gaps in the wall, Breaking The Will buries the samples just under the surface; allowing the two to interact. (To be fair, this does also occur in sections of the first side.) Thus we hear the agitated voices and vehicle sirens being annihilated by the saturation of the scathing wall. Again, its not a wall which particularly concentrates on texture - if nothing else, the samples hinder that reading - but there’s a nice middle frequency fizz alongside the billowing bass drone.

The other tape gives us the squalling noise of Baculum. Four tracks of surging, spluttering skree, which set a fast pace from the off; cutting between tones and textures and constantly breaking into piercing feedback. For most of the time, its a sustained barrage of high-intensity noise; but there are brief passages where this breaks down into more restrained sounds: spitting, stumbling pops and crackles, resonant clipping tones, metallic junk sounds. These are few and far between though: the general atmosphere is dominated by violence and abuse. All four tracks display this same twisting, snapping pace and tone; with sufficient shifts in texture and intensity to starve off any boredom. Buried in this pummelling assault are some shrieking vocals, but these aren’t a central element in the tracks - if anything Baculum may possibly use them too sparingly. But there is a sense of continual exploration - though the emphasis is on harsh battering, not detailed sound construction - and played at a suitably loud volume, this is a savage little tape.

This is a good, solid release, with two good, solid performances. It’s also a very complimentary pairing

Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

Martin P
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