Big Hole / See Through Buildings - Split [Altar Of Waste - 2015]Here is a two way CDR split between two of the more interesting & creative projects operating with-in the US walled noise/ static noise scene. Each artists offers up a thirty five minute track, and each track is equally nerve- grinding/brain-searing excise in taut static texturing/ wall-craft. First up we have Deaton Texas based Big Hole, and their track is fittingly entitled “Dehumanization”. The track is a fairly nervy yet constantly taut example of intense static texturing; at times it brought to mind the work of The Rita- with the way you get a selection of very tense & controlled noise tones constantly coming towards you in an unstoppable flow. The track is built around a selection of very angular & ugly tones; I’d say these are akin to the sound of failing & corrupted computer drives. On my first few plays though this track just felt a bit too angular & uncomfortable for its own good, with its churning ‘n’ awkwardly juddering structure just too constricting & airless. But as time & plays have gone on I’ve come to appreciate more what’s going on here- sure it’s not a piece I’d put onto get engulfed in, or admire it’s subtle detail, but as awkward & uncomfortable static texturing goes, it’s both fairly original & distinct. Up second we have a track from Detroit, MI See Through Buildings, & Their track is entitled “To What End When The Shuttle Crashers”. After some brief tonal buzzing( which hints back to the corrupted drive sounds of the first track). We move into a textural complex & shifting map of rocket like roasting, taut fan-belt slipping & grinds, tight juddering's, and the occasional mid-to-high range psychedelic noise pull. As the track moves on more creative shifts are added into our searing sonic journey from brooding like honks ‘n’ swoops, onto to grainy accelerations, through mid-to low range harmonic bays ‘n’ stretchers meet rushing static grit showers, and beyond. At times it's almost shifts into more focused & controlled harsh noise territory with a space bound vibe, but to my mind it always stays on the 'wall' side of things. All in all it’s a tautly inventive bit of shifting & at times detailed wall-craft, and of the two here I’d say it was my favourite. So if your on the look-out for wall craft/ static texturing that tries something a little different, yet still damn intense & body pinning this split is well worth checking out. When came to rate this I was a little torn, as I felt this really needed to have 3 & ½ mark…but as we don’t do half’s I’ve gone for four instead. Roger Batty
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