Noise Music

welcomeinjam

So what does everyone think of noise music???? I went through a stage of enjoying it in between songs e.g some of the more hardcore naked city tracks but not being able to listen to pure noise like Merzbow but lately I'm kind of enjoying him as some of the sounds he's created are really interesting

John

I love it. Merzbow I kind of got sick of though, too hit or miss (strange to think of noise like that but that's the way I think of him). Some of the newer, almost beat-orientated stuff is cool but I'd rather check out some other noise acts. Prurient, CCCC, Torturing Nurse, Lasse Marhaug/Jazkamer and Kevin Drumm are all artists I've been into recently. The 4CD box set on No Fun of CCCC stuff is amazing.

Incidently, I read a very good book on the subject a couple of weeks ago. It's called Noise/Music: A History and is by Paul Hegarty. It does pretty much what the title says but it's a bit philosophical so if academic discussions of art theory in relation to noise isn't your thing, steer clear. Personally I highly enjoyed it.

Mantiis

Merzbow is good but can be a bit hard to listen to and some of his stuff can sound the same but, i listen to a band called Lightning Bolt, some of it is be pure noise but nearly all of it has some form of melody in it. Also the drummer is incredibly fast!

Undergod

There was a band called Creation is Crucifixion, had some noise-style experiments along with very noisy hardcore. Besides them and Merzbow, I wouldn't really know much about noise, though to me some of the industrial stuff (Throbbing Gristle, Einsturzende Neubauten) seems very similar to noise.

Rascaduanok

I got into Noise back in 1997 and have had a hardcore love affair with it since. I even went off ‘conventional music’ for a while, but slowly learnt to appreciate it again. Noise, however, to me feels like music pared back to its ultimate essence: pure sound.

I think I’d nominate MASONNA as my favourite, but I also adore Merzbow (mostly his analogue stuff, but some digital albums too like Fantail), C.C.C.C. (first Noise band I got into with their Flash album), Pain Jerk, K2, Macronympha, Lackthrow, Solmania, and a whole host of other artists. Most viscerally exciting music… ever!

John wrote: »

The 4CD box set on No Fun of CCCC stuff is amazing.

What the f…ace? New stuff? Or a collection of their old albums? Either way, I think I need this!

John

It's old live recordings. I think only one track was previously released. It's cracking stuff though.

Rascaduanok

In which case I definitely need this! Out of everything I’ve heard by them I think I still like Rocket Shrine best of all. So dense and multilayered, I can’t get enough of it!

John

Have you got their album Chaos is the Cosmos that came out last year? It's pretty good too.

Rascaduanok

John wrote: »

Have you got their album Chaos is the Cosmos that came out last year? It's pretty good too.

I’ve actually fallen outside of the Noise loop for a few years now. I thought they’d disbanded after Rocket Shrine! I’ll have to hunt that one down that, wow. I know Hasegawa did a load of stuff as Astro, which I quite liked, but didn’t realise any new C.C.C.C. had made it out. Awesome .

EDIT: OK, Cold Spring Records (who released their Flash album) released the one from last year, so I’ve ordered it directly from their site. Wicked, can’t wait!

John

Hope you enjoy it (you should, it's pretty good).

After saying earlier that I'm a bit bored with Merzbow, I just noticed that he'll be playing in Geneva next week while I'm there for a conference. Also on the bill is Keiji Haino so needless to say I'll be there with bells on.

Rascaduanok

John wrote: »

Keiji Haino

My favourite musical artist of all time, bar none. The only living proponent today that I would truly describe as ‘essential’! I envy you, John…

John

I envy myself sometimes! I'll report back here after the event.

markw999

Noise (and the like) that I like:

Pop Culture Rape Victim
Merzbow
Sutcliffe Jugend
Burning Star Core
Daniel Menche

John

That Kikuri gig I mentioned above (Kikuri=Merzbow+Keiji Haino) was savage. About two hours of the best noise I've heard mixed with some very quiet and delicate sounds. It ended in a bit of a mess with Haino having a complete spazz attack and throwing a bottle full force at my face (I didn't deserve it). The complete story soon but here's some photos I took.

Rascaduanok

I’d probably have had a pure orgasm if I’d attended that gig! Sounds like the bizz.

John wrote: »

It ended in a bit of a mess with Haino having a complete spazz attack and throwing a bottle full force at my face

What the flying philadelphian fuck?!? :eek:

John

Basically, after about two hours of awesomeness, Akita and Haino started to quieten down. Akita was playing drums (he's rather excellent, surprisingly) and Haino was singing and playing some strange stringed instrument. Some random guy got on stage and started singing along with Haino through a different microphone. Neither Akita nor Haino seemed to notice and the guy was there for a few minutes.

All of a sudden Haino went mental and squared up to the interloper (who was about twice Haino's height but frightened nonetheless) and security removed the guy. Haino was furious and started screaming in Japanese at Akita (I'm guessing something along the lines of "Why didn't you kick him off the stage? He's ruined everything!") but Akita looked non-plussed and just shrugged. Haino was so angry that he was visibly shaking.

Some smart arse then threw a water bottle (half full) at Haino and hit him in the back. He went from angry to super angry and everything went into slow motion. Haino was screaming and picked up the bottle and launched it at whoever he saw first. Unfortunately as I was sitting on the stage I was the most obvious target and bravely defended those behind me from the bottle by blocking it with my face.

It was a real wtf moment, I didn't know whether to get angry myself and smash some of Haino's gear or just to laugh it off. As it didn't really hurt, I went with laughing it off.

Rascaduanok

Haino rules! I love the mad bastard. I love the fact he looks like a cool old Japanese woman as well…

Akita used to play drums originally, so it doesn’t surprise me he does it well. He plays drums on Hijokaidan’s ‘The Ferocity of Practical Life’ record. I can’t even hear them!

John

I didn't know that. I could certainly hear them that night and he should really be in a metal band.