The three of us got together to go through some 90s mailorder catalogs. We sift through catalogs from three classic distros: Malignant, Artware, and RRR. Comparing and contrasting the differences among them made for a lively noise discussion. Head back in time via invaluable printed matter.
Break the metal mold with Chop Shop “Steel Plate.” A heavy release in every sense, we explore the sonic sculptures of Scott Konzelmann. Two 10″s and a booklet strapped to a sheet of metal, this is one of the great 90s noise packages. Listen and witness physical sounds through visible sources
A new year should only begin with a classic and that’s what we had searing through the speakers with MSBR “Destructive Locomotion (Dedicated to Chizuo Matsumoto)” on Pure. Chizuo Matsumoto was known to the world as Shoko Asahara, the leader of Aum Shinrikyo. This is a noise/true crime episode, in the vein our Murder Series episodes, as we dig into this incredible album as a background to the story of Aum Shinrikyo and Tokyo sarin subway attacks.
background and filters it through the early 90s world of RRR and SSS. Bang on an oxygen tank and slide your fingers along piano strings. Penderecki’s Children indeed.
The Pure series strikes again with Knurl “Nervescrap.” To-the-point noise from north of the border courtesy of this long running project. Get trashy, get junky, and tear metal to shreds. Will you make it across the border? Cranking this CD will certainly help.
The Pure series enters our ears again in the harshest way possible with Dead Body Love “Maximum Dose.” Mike attempts to turn it down, Tara scolds Mike and won’t let him, and Greh runs his girlfriend out of the room. These are all proper reactions to this slice of 90s Italian noise, courtesy of the most important series in noise.
In part two of our discussion with Dominick Fernow, we get into his first months in Providence, leading up to a pilgrimage to Lowell, MA on Halloween 1999. Before leaving for Providence, Dominick tells a story of attempting to book a show for a noise legend in Madison. Grab a walkman and some noise tapes and come along for some more invaluable noise history.
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.
Chris Sienko wowed us with the unknown-to-us RRR Taste Test tape series. In the early 90s, RRR made sampler tapes of items in the RRR catalog. They look amazing. They sound amazing. They are amazing. The tapes send us into a discussion of our early noise explorations, including shows at the Fireside Bowl and the mystery of discovering noise in the 90s.
We are joined by Chris Sienko of As Loud As Possible magazine to discuss the legendary Emil Beaulieau “Anti Performance” cassette from 1991. After having been mentioned on nearly every Noisextra episode, we finally devote an entire episode to the “greatest living noise artist.” Chris dug in extensively to which anti-record is being played when as well as the history behind each record. We also discuss visiting RRR, and all try our own versions of Beaulieau’s dance moves. Straighten your tie, sharpen your record needle, and destroy all music.