Black Matter Phantasm - Ter Ack [Self Release - 2017]Ter Ack is a recent two CDR set from French HNW/ ANW project Black Matter Phantasm. This project has been active with-in the euro scene since 2013, & slowly but surely releasing a fairly large body of work. With a discography now moving towards 90 releases, taking in a fair few digital releases, splits, and stand alone physical releases. I’ve followed the project on & off since its beginnings, and I must say in recent years each release I’ve heard from the project has been both worthy in its blend of textures & general wall- enchantment, and Ter Ack is no exception. The release appears in an edition of just 20 copies, and is a self release from the project. The packaging is worth a mention as it’s nicely put-together & quite dark-yet-art in its presentation. Each of the CDR’s features a half label in the centre of the disc, taking in the tracks title repeated in black lettering over a pastel colour back drop( light green for the first disc, and light blue for the second). Each disc comes in its own sealed sleeve with a sticker, taking in the design from the discs. Then the whole thing comes in a glossy, fairly thick & pro-printed folded cover. On the front cover we have close-up picture of a strange birds blue eye, against a black backdrop. And on the back we have a white inverted triangle against a black backdrop with minimal text in blue ink listing the release name & track listing.
The first discs track is “Untitled 482”, and comes in at around the forty five minute mark. The ‘wall’ brings together a tightly spinning ‘n’ droning low-end, with a selection skittering ‘n’ skating smaller textures. The low-end has a deep, yet at times slightly uneven feel to it. With the smaller elements have a fairly rapid, ill-formed, yet persistent feel to them. Together these elements create a ‘wall’ that’s seared & brutal, yet slightly uncertain/wavering around the edges.
The second discs track is called “Untitled 456”, and brings together a bothersome & billowing low-end, with a selection of thinner scratching & juddering tones. The low-end has a hazed-yet-persistently rubbing & grinding feel about it. While the small/ thinner elements bring a nice feeling of detail focus to the whole thing. The entire ‘wall’ is a firm & fixed bit of noise-making, which keeps you perfectly locked in for the just shy of an hour runtime.
Ter Ack is a nicely presented & satisfying release from with-in the French walled-noise scene. With both ‘walls’ utilizing a similar blend of low end, and smaller/ thinner textures, yet each has it’s own identity & character- so they work well as a pair, yet nicely stand alone on their own too.
   Roger Batty
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