Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 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

Dain Daller - The Tirehouse Tapes Vol.1 [Lighten Up Sounds - 2011]

Another colourfully packaged tape on Lighten Up Sounds, with equally colourful contents. The smartly designed and printed inlay, wraps around seven tracks spread across approximately forty-eight minutes. The overall sound of these pieces is scratchy and noisy; though more in a lo-fi sense than in an abrasive one.

The inlay refers to “concrete sounds”, and its entirely possible that there are no “instruments” played here by Dain Daller at all. The vast array of identifiable elements sound like recordings of household items and junk; two excellent examples of this being the use of nails in a tin (giving a nice trashy clatter), and what sounds like the tapping of containers in water (Daller manipulating the containers in the water to achieve melodic patterns). Broadening an interesting, but potentially limiting, palette, the album makes great use of radio and tape to provide more overt melodies and colour. Often using them in the manner of samplers, Daller pushes and pulls the radio/tape sounds using every knob and dial he can. On top of this, he uses the 4-track recorder to alter the pitch and speed of sounds: there are a few instances of “smurf” voices across the tracks. As I said earlier, the overall sound of the tape is somewhat noisy - though not in an aggressive sense; but whilst a fair amount of “The Tirehouse Tapes Vol.1” is brash and gestural, there are several more subdued, subtle passages. The start of “4” is almost electroacoustic in feel, with very stealthy tones; whilst “6” has deteriorating drones and loops, which are strained and haunting. The last track, “7”, begins with a long creepy section of signal interference, coupled with unsettling breathing and slurping sounds. So the tape has a nice interplay between somewhat “droning” and more chaotic, overloaded structures; though it should be pointed out that Daller rarely uses collaging as such to achieve these latter effects - individual sounds are layered and wrapped around each other, not spat out.

This is an interesting tape. Whilst it doesn’t constantly enthral the ear, there are sections - particularly the more minimal passages - which are quite spellbinding. This isn’t to say the other parts of the tape are unengaging, mind; though possibly the 4-track recording doesn’t do the more active, built-up sections full justice - whereas, conversely, I think it aids the more “droning” parts. But, even where the ear wanders slightly, the fact that so few (if any) “instruments” can be detected makes it an interesting listen. Its a very healthy and inspiring approach to take, and one which encourages greater effort and innovation on the part of the artist. The best example of this being “5”, which sees Daller constructing a swaggering funk that brings to mind the work of no-one else but Akufen. “The Tirehouse Tapes Vol.2” will be something to watch out for.

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

Martin P
Latest Reviews

Dain Daller - The Tirehouse Tape...
Another colourfully packaged tape on Lighten Up Sounds, with equally colourful contents. The smartly designed and printed inlay, wraps around seven tracks sp...
270324   Jerzy Skolimowski Collection ...
260324   Latex Choker - Sealed
260324   Occlusion - 59: No Input Wall
260324   Nihil Impvlse - Anabasis
260324   Marta Forsberg - Sjunger För...
260324   The New Boy - The New Boy( Th...
250324   The Stargazer’s Assistant - ...
250324   Liza Lim - Annunciation Trip...
220324   Patrick - Patrick( UHD/ Blu Ray)
220324   Dadawah - Peace And Love
Latest Articles

Sutcliffe No More - Normal Everyd...
Sutcliffe No More are a British two-piece bringing together Kevin Tomkins & Paul Taylor. Formed in 2021, it’s the spin-off project/ next sonic step...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
050523   Bill Morroni - The Trials & ...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom