Somehow we had not yet covered a Ground Fault CD, so we rectify that with a wallop of a disc in the form of Government Alpha “Sporadic Spectra.” Pure Japanese harsh noise oozes from our speakers, sends us to science fiction futures, and cures Tara’s headache. Heed the opening warning signal and enter the harsh world of Government Alpha.
We had the absolute pleasure to talk with Scott Arford and to dive into his work as Radiosonde and under his own name, as well as his part in the public access show “Fuck TV” and the legendary 7hz venue, studio, and label. In addition we talk zombie movies, static, and the importance of one particular fortune cookie. Another noise history lesson is underway, and you better take notes because there may be a pop up quiz down the line.
Sounds shrouded in mist hover as we discuss “Normal” by Brume. While it’s hard to put this CD into words, we do our best as we talk about split brains, psychological planes, and the places Christian Renou’s work takes us. Fade into its haunted essence and discover new ways for sound to ignite fires.
Whether under the Crawl Unit moniker or his own name, Joe Colley has created his own unique strain of noise since the late ’80s. We were elated to have Colley join us for an in depth conversation about his work—both sonically and visually—his early experimentation, and the feeling of the boundary-free era of ’90s noise. Let the speakers crack and the floorboards creek.
To say we had a blast talking to Richard Ramirez-Matzus Sean Ramirez-Matzus, the core of Black Leather Jesus, would be a criminal understatement. This 2 hour talk could have easily been 10 hours. We get into the early days of Black Leather Jesus and Deadline Recordings, how Richard and Sean got together, our favorite horror movies, and so much more. Time to sharpen your pencils like a knife in a giallo; another noise history lesson is in session.
Damion Romero’s project Speculum Fight rides the American noise railways as we discuss 1997’s “Highball” CD on WIN Records. Damion gave us some background information on this album as well as his equipment and inspiration around this time. Put on your engineer’s cap and enjoy the scenery thru the lens of Speculum Fight.
Are we in the cosmos? Underwater? The jungle? It’s possible we are in all three at the same time with Nord “Electronic Initiation.” Nord is one of the earliest Japanese noise projects, and this brain buster of a CD came almost 20 years into Nord’s existence. Midway through the episode, we got messages from Kimihide Kusafuka, aka K2, aka owner of Kinky Musik Institute, the label that put this CD out. Kusafuka gave us some behind the scenes info on “Electronic Initiation” including one bit of information that changed our whole perception of the album.
Shredding down the sun-drenched modified noise guitar highway we go with Solmania’s “Trembling Tongues.” A very unique Japanese noise project, Solmania delivers some psychedelic overdrive noise. We go through an interview with Masahiko Ohno from Bananafish #9 and and get into his own noise world. Greh pronounces Solmania one way, Tara pronounces it another way, and Mike bounces between the two, which is only fitting when discussing this wild CD of noise madness.
In our first journey to the Netherlands, we encounter the fantastic DMDN “Agonistes 1&2” cassette on G.R.O.S.S. and fall headfirst into its grinding swirl. Sjak Van Bussell, the man that is DMDN, gave us some incredible information behind this tape. He also filled us in on other aspects of his work, including his band THU20, his label Midas Music, and his time touring with Merzbow and the Haters in 1989. Celebrate noise.
It is time for another entry in the Pure series as we dig into one of the more obscure titles under the Pure banner in the form of Rend “Proberta Gerber.” We were able to get in touch with Sean, the man behind Rend, and he provided us with some great information not only on this CD, but also on his work with the Plague in Perspective label. No time like now to dig deep and get washed away by Rend.