Rough v. Slick
5 January, 2013
Today I'm featuring two artists, of lesser and greater obscurity. Couldn't be more diverse in sound, either.
Interlard - Listener beware: Interlard is NOISE. Fuzzy, buzzing, groaning, screeching noise. Melody? Hooks? Lyrics? Pshhh. Tracks can be redundant at times, but certainly not without surprises. If you're going to dip into their latest release, Meanwhile, brace yourself for "Tear Smell" - it opens with a soft, almost Boards of Canada-ish intro, mysterious and unassuming, then explodes into fuzzy oblivion at 1'29", and sustains that aural destruction for 10 minutes before transitioning back into the opening number - but not without some unsettling sounds on top (including the desperate sob at the very end). Then there's the great behemoth of "S & M & A" (don't ask), that lumbers about with fat fuzz, and is spiked by manic and incomprehensible (at least, to me) punk-like screams. Basically, most Interlard tracks thrive on recurring patterns of noise, although one standout track, "Pest Control", could loosely be described as a "feedback jam", built over a bass hum. This is "experimental" in its rawest form. You've been warned. Pay as much or as little as you'd like for Meanwhile, and prepare for SOUND.
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Dementio13 - And now, a complete 180 from basement-lo-fi to the slick and masterful electronica of Dementio13. I've recently listened to El Lizzitzky, and I'm thoroughly impressed. Right at the get-go, he aims to kill with "Sameness", a brilliant showcase of his myriad tricks and effects (especially at 4'09" - prepare for your mind to be blown). But then there's "Phallanx" afterwards, which tones down the synth wizardry and offers some lovely strumming and a warm, melodic bass line - a totally different vibe, and yet no less effective. Then it's another switch-up for a real knockout, "A Faster Product", a true masterpiece of synth engineering. Really, no track on this album lacks in genuine aural artistry, and each one possesses its own distinct character and genius - although, if I had to pick one standout, I'd certainly suggest "Minus", with its wonderfully distant vocals and oh-so-crisp synths. You've just GOT to hear this in headphones - you'll hear the sound dancing all around your earlobes. Like Meanwhile above, El Lizzitzky is a name-your-price album, although it's definitely worth more than zilch!
Update: Dementio13 has actually released a steady stream of LPs throughout the years - including this year's latest marvel, The Last Test. If you enjoyed El Lizzitzky, then you'll totally flip for this one. |