Top Noise, Drone, Experimental, & Electronic Releases of 2013

Hey readers, welcome to the second of my posts rounding up the most exciting and enjoyable releases of 2013. This is another catch-all type post, but instead of focusing on things that wouldn't normally appear on my website, this entry is a journey through all of the strange, potentially unclassifiable releases that have graced my ears over the course of the past year. I was initially considering making a list for harsher forms of sonic experimentation and a separate list for mellower stuff or things with roots in other genres, but I realized that I'd be in far too deep if I made a million separate categories, so without further ado, I present the best BM&B approved albums that aren't quite metal, but are entirely worth my readers' time.

25. K11- "Another Temple to the Great Beast 666" (Utech)
From horror to bliss and back, "Another Temple to the Great Beast 666" is an album that (like many here) can't truly be described with words. It's a series of experiences that weave in and out of each other. From subtle sounds of nature, as if one were actually visiting the ruins of an ancient temple, to roaring tones that evoke images of demonic rituals, this album touches on many different areas of noise and drone, keeping things fresh from start to finish.

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24. Machismo- "Severe Disconnect" (Depravity Label)

Easily some of the most static and turbulent noise I've heard, "Severe Disconnect" is like leaving reality behind in a moment of pure fear. If this group isn't out to directly cause harm to the listener, they're certainly skilled at making me think otherwise. Violence embodied. Don't know how this hasn't sold out yet. Get it while you can.

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23. Sunken Cathedral- "Sunken Cathedral" (Black Horizons)
Slow moving, textured drone atmospheres aplenty on this release. It all feels very organic and you can practically feel the moss growing on the ruins of something ancient and sacred. Blissful and mind melting, perhaps both for the same reason.

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22. Trepaneringsritualen- "The Totality of Death" (Malignant Records/Silken Tofu)
As one of the first death industrial projects I ever heard, Trepaneringsritualen has long been a reference point for me when discussing the bleaker side of music. With this two disc set, with each CD being released by a separate label, this project visits new depths that set me on edge in all the ways I needed. It's hard to state how much of an endurance test this release can be at times, but the reward is all the more enjoyable after repeated listens.

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21. Body of Light- "Volonta di Amore" (Chondritic Sound)
Surprisingly beautiful and almost entirely reminiscent of new wave, this tape instantly captured my attention and should do the same for you. My only complaint is that it's far too brief, but as always, that just means it's good for multiple listens in one sitting.

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20. Dylan Ettinger/Goldendust- "The Pale Mare/Truth" (DKA Records)
This split 7" is the first release from fledgling label DKA Records and offers one brief yet engaging track from each artist. Ettinger's side features dense beats, seemingly rooted in rap/hip-hop, which are paired with elegant and simple electronic melodies and heavily warped vocals. Goldendust's side contrasts the almost claustrophobic dance vibe of Ettinger with a hazy, mellow ballad that might seem a bit sleepy at first listen, but proves truly addictive over time.

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19. Brennendes Gehirn & Dorian Williamson- "Rites of the Aethyr" (Antithetic)
This collaborative release surprised me despite my familiarity with Williamson's primary work in drone duo Northumbria. Traveling from entirely welcoming and comforting bass drones to the vast emptiness of the abandoned remnants of once great cities, this release kept me guessing the whole time, and subsequent listens only reinforced the strengths demonstrated here. I hope these two minds meet to collaborate again. Read my review for greater details.

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18. Judas Christ- "American Gulag" (Male Activity)
This one was submitted for review and the name struck me as silly. Then I realized I couldn't stop listening to it. My review should sum up my thoughts on this fantastic offering from this bleak new group.

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17. wet nurse.- "Flux Emission" (Male Activity)
Overwhelmingly depressing power electronics with unconventional structures, if there is such a thing as a conventional structure in noise. One of the albums that convinced me that analog purists sometimes miss out on real gems. Read my full review here.

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16. Waves Crashing Piano Chords & Tanner Garza- "de Sade" (Forever Escaping Boredom)
At times terrifying and others merely disconcerting, this collaboration between two competent noise musicians was one of those tapes that REALLY wasn't long enough. With a mere two tracks of collaboration between these individuals that barely makes the eight minute mark, I can only hope that this is a teaser for some sort of horrifying opus rather than a brief melding of minds. Read my full review for further details.

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15. The Stargazer's Assistant- "Mirrors & Tides, Shivers & Voids" (Utech)
Possibly the most conventionally accessible release on this list, this album has been one of my most heavily played of the year. My thoughts on this 2x10" release can be found over at Hammer Smashed Sound.

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14. The Vomit Arsonist- "An Occasion for Death" (Malignant Records)
The melancholy drone and noise experimentation of The Vomit Arsonist caught me by surprise earlier this year and never really let go. It seems there's no occasion for which this album didn't feel appropriate this year. Read my review and go buy a copy.

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13. Swallowing Bile- "Wojtek" (Sounding Session)
To pick a single Swallowing Bile release and say "this is the one" is hard. This fresh project has already proven to be a powerhouse in the noise and power electronics communities, and "Wojtek" was the first of his albums I obtained this year. It also happened to be the one I've listened to most frequently. It's quite safe to say this is one of the only truly harsh releases I loved enough to include on this list, so if you're curious about more extreme sounds but aren't fully prepared for them, give this tape a listen and see if you're ready.

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12. Breathing Problem- "Reactive Attachment Disorder" (Wohrt Records)
Easily one of the most depressing and fluid power electronics releases of the year, "Reactive Attachment Disorder" was an early find for me and has remained as gripping as the first time I listened. While it's hard to recommend this for everybody, brave fans of the genre will find this tape incredibly rewarding. Read my review for full details.

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11. Crowhurst- "Memory Loss" (Self-Released)
After reviewing Crowhurst's ominous "Death Van" earlier this year, it was a pleasant surprise to find an even more thrilling release from this nebulous entity. What kind of music does Crowhurst perform? It depends on the release. With roots in noise, Crowhurst seems intent on spreading its horrifying little fingers in every direction. "Memory Loss" is some of the most detached yet focused work I've heard from this project to date. Listen and fall in love.

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10. Bodystocking- "Sheer Spidertouch" (Strange Rules)
As with most Strange Rules cassettes, it's rather unlikely this one will surface for purchase at any point in the near future, but I managed to snag a copy with great luck. This rather prolific side project from A Pregnant Light/Colloquial Sound Recordings mastermind is a dense, beautiful industrial endeavor and this (along with many releases on CSR sublabel Locust Leg) has captivated me in a way I may not have initially expected. The motion never stops. The beauty is more than superficial. Keep an eye out for more from Bodystocking, and don't expect it to last long when copies do surface.

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9. Synsophony- "Karmic Existence" (Acephale Winter Productions)
This free digital EP is one of the few releases I was uncertain about placing here rather than in my black metal section. Still, as an absolutely horrifying drone release, this absolutely belongs on this list and is one of the unsung albums of the year that I still can't believe didn't receive more attention. This absolutely deserves to be heard by everybody. Read my review for more information and get ready for a new EP in early 2014.

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8. Herukrat- "Anna Karina" (SVN OKKLT)
This tape is harsh noise wall with a purpose. Focused, obsessive, and in control, Herukrat guides the listener perfectly. My friend Tom at Metallic Imagery described this better than I ever could. Download this sold out cassette and lose your mind.

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7. Jason Hodge- "Hope Has Abandoned Us" (Enemata)
This heartbreaking, pensive cassette has been a frequent companion over the past year. Jason Hodge has released a few tapes this year, each of which has proven to be truly dynamic in its approach to noise. Like any of his works, this album feels fresh and Hodge's commitment to creating something unique is fulfilled through the course of his work. Read my complete review and grab a copy for yourself.

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6. Khfiva- "I" (Male Activity)
Shimmering beauty paired with depressing atmospheres. Khfiva's debut cassette's only weakness is how short it is. Read my complete review here, and visit my friend Tom at Metallic Imagery to download this long sold out gem.

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5. a death cinematic- "corrosions of traveled daydreams" (Tycho Magnetic Anomalies/Simple Box Construction)
As one of the most brilliantly packaged releases of the year, this should instantly appeal to anybody who gets into the visual component of owning music. As one of the most engaging and desolate experimental/drone cassettes released this year, this should have sold out a long time ago, but it hasn't. Get it if you haven't already. Read my complete review for more reasons you need this.

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4. Image of Life- "Weight Loss During Wartime/Walking in the Dark" (Chondritic Sound)
Easily one of the most frequently played 7" records in my collection, this one is two perfect tracks of coldwave brilliance. Whether it's the featured A-side's frantically catchy madness or the plodding gloom of B-side "Walking in the Dark," this one is absolutely amazing. For bonus giggles and enjoyment, slow things down and play it at 33 instead of 45--it gets super dark and totally fun. If only I could find a copy of their full-length cassette, I'd be quite happy.

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3. Tollund Men- "Virbius Abstract" (Nostilevo)
While Tollund Men managed to release two excellent tapes this year (possibly three, depending on the timeliness of the impending Total Black tape/shirt combo), it's safe to say that this one received more play in my house than pretty much the entire Tollund Men discography combined. While my very amateur interview with Neal touched on this release to some degree, I never gave it the proper review it deserves. I can't really put a genre to this music, but it's both melodic and uninviting at the same time. There's a heavy layer of distortion and reverb that seems to eat half the sound coming out, which only makes these four songs more intriguing, as multiple listens yield a deeper understanding of the music contained within. I seriously can't get enough of this tape and I imagine I'll be listening to it frequently well into 2014.

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2. Crown of Cerberus- "With Arms Extended to the Heavens" (Depravity Label)
Early this year I was almost certain that this would be my top album of the year, and I was almost right. The gorgeous A-side contrasts perfectly with the somewhat startling B-side, making for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I wrote a lot of nice words about this tape over at Hammer Smashed Sound, and you should read them if you aren't convinced that you need this in your life simply by its high placement on this list.

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1. Tanner Garza- "Lucid" (Static Reason)
I feel it's almost wrong of me to feature the talented Mr. Garza twice in one list, but I'm doing it out of necessity. In almost direct contrast to the meandering madness of his other release on this list, "Lucid" is one of the warmest, most inviting albums I've had the pleasure of hearing all year. There are so many things I could say about this tape, but I've already said them on Hammer Smashed Sound, and I need not ramble any longer on this huge post.

Xothist- s/t LP (Fallen Empire Records)

Xothist's debut album has been out for a while now, but up until just recently it had only been available on a highly limited cassette from the now defunct Bleak Environment. Thanks to Fallen Empire Records, this album has now seen release on vinyl with a recent remaster and is finally getting the more widespread attention it deserves. As Xothist's sole member is a former member of the indescribable Tollund Men, it's no surprise that the suffocating brand of ambient black metal presented here is unique and highly unorthodox. This album has been a quick seller, so check out my review and then grab a copy quickly, before they vanish entirely.

Each side of this record contains a single track just under twenty-one minutes long, allowing Xothist to slowly craft a dense and precise atmosphere rather than rushing any musical ideas. The heavy electronic elements presented here add a rather uneasy feeling to the music, and the first number of minutes of either side of the record captures the feeling of being hunted down. I'm not sure if Xothist is the predator or if he's conveying his experience as the prey, but it's unsettling regardless. When the electronic tension finally breaks into a cathartic explosion of distorted guitars and vocals, it still feels like there is a smothering element to the music. Everything seems to be either hidden behind a veil of some sort, or perhaps it's even just pushing down heavily on the listener. The feeling of a struggle is apparent in every moment of this recording, whether nearly silent or bursting with energy. The music often pours over at a mid-paced gallop, with electronic chaos exploding in the distance from time to time. While the production allows me to hear most of what's happening, there is an intentional blurring of instruments that creates a more textured and oppressive feeling than many similarly paced black metal albums would attain. When the speed picks up, it still feels pained on an almost cosmic level rather than "evil" as many faster black metal releases seem to strive for. Indeed, Xothist emanates suffering, mechanical disconnection, and universal emptiness far more than evil, hatred, or aggression. While I am not privy to the lyrical content, I'd be quite interested to know what's going on here, as the music is far more compelling and intelligent than the average black metal release.

Copies of this album with patches (pictured immediately above) are in short supply, although regular copies still remain for the time being. If you don't want to be left behind, I recommend making a purchase immediately. It's only $16 and well worth it. As always, Fallen Empire has made this album available as a "pay what you like" download from their bandcamp if you aren't entirely ready for this on vinyl, although I have no idea why you wouldn't want this album in your grubby little hands.

An Interview with Neal of Tollund Men

For the unfamiliar, Tollund Men is an entity that is hard to describe. Terms like minimal synth, post-punk,and darkwave get thrown around, but they really do no justice to the sounds that Tollund Men create. Mixing the fuzzed out bliss more commonly associated with black metal with the synth density and catchy hooks of new wave's darker acts, Tollund Men is a unique and fascinating project that appeals to pretty much everything I love in music. I recently had the opportunity to ask primary creative member Neal a few questions about Tollund Men's fantastic new cassette, his plans for the year to come, and the real story behind the band's name.

BMAB: Does the name of the band come from a personal anthropological interest in the Tollund Man? What was the catalyst for creating Tollund Men?
Neal: The Tollund Men moniker has caused some confusion. Because the project exists on the periphery of certain punk and metal scenes, I've had people assume that I got the name from the "Bog Bodies" series of cassettes primitive USBM duo Bone Awl released during the early-to-mid oughts. While I really love Bone Awl, getting to see them at a dive bar here in Denver around 2009, playing to an almost non-existent crowd and a smattering of irritated regular patrons, the truth is probably far less interesting. I was pursuing an English degree at the time. I was in a pretty standard (if not boring) British Literature course, when I discovered the Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who, not surprisingly, wrote a poem called "The Tollund Man." Heaney's message is socio-political in the end, but there are several themes that really speak to me--the depressing aspects to freedom, ritual meeting life and causing conflict, concepts of transgression and punishment, the past and present meeting in abstract ways. As for the "Men" instead of "Man," I just thought it was funny because I was the only one in the band. But mostly, it's just a name I picked for some shit I had been working on. 

What have been your primary influences as a musician and artist? Are these influences displayed in the upcoming album of covers and the previous covers you’ve already done, or do you try to pick things that would fall slightly outside of your typical style?
Influence is a very tenuous thing in music, especially now. I don't want to be viewed as a band that sounds like it's from the 80s, it just happens that a lot of the music that I like was made in the 80s! But that's one of the reasons I wanted to do this covers album. I wanted people to have a reference point and be able to see how Tollund Men is something new. I wanted to cover bands that listeners could make connections they normally wouldn't, who were maybe viewing it as some kind of darkwave/minimal band or whatever. Maybe it was set into peoples' minds with that first cover of "Goodbye Horses." Either way, I hope that people will hear our cover of a This Kind of Punishment song, or Halo of Flies, or Cybotron, or whatever, and be able to hear how the influences come out in different ways, that it's not just trying to sound like this band or that or this genre or that. I want to create something unique and forward thinking.

Your newest cassette is entitled Virbius Abstract. Is there a particular significance to this name? With the new release and your album of covers coming out soon, do you have tour plans in mind?
Virbius is a Roman forest god. His story is somewhat mixed with the Greek god Hippolytus, but the gist of it is: Virbius rejects the sexual advances of his stepmother, Phaedra. This makes her furious, so she tells his father, Theseus, that he raped her. Theseus spurns him by sending a wild bull to scare the horses of his chariot, dragging Virbius to his death. Each of the songs on the tape are loosely tied into this theme, making it an "Abstract." 
We are planning another small tour to the west coast this summer, probably only a week or two. We're just too fucking poor and nobody really gives a shit. 

What current artists have impressed you the most with their creative output lately?
There is kind of a running joke about how much Kevin and I like Crazy Spirit. But yeah, they're pretty cool. We've never even seen them. When we went on tour last summer, we taped a piece of paper to the front of the keyboard that said "Crazy Spirit Rules." Maybe it was with a "z." Anyway, it was sort of an inside joke. There's this video of the really amazing band Factrix, and on their keyboard is a sticker that says "Flipper Rules." We were thinking we should pay homage to a band like that. It's pretty absurd that we'd be the Factrix and Crazy Spirit would be Flipper in that scenario; it's funny. But we're both into a bunch of stuff. Right now, newer stuff I'm into is like Cut Hands, Circle of Ouroborus, Dominic Fernow stuff, Stare Case, I don't know, just all the cool shit. 

If you had your way, what would the coming year look like for Tollund Men? More albums? Tours? Peace and quiet from nosy writers like myself?

I'm trying to release about eight more things in the coming year or two and compile the singles onto one LP, and hopefully another full length shortly thereafter. We'll see. If anyone wants to hook us up with tour money we'd take it. Thanks to everyone who has supported this project. 

Year End Extravaganza: Non-Metal Albums I Loved in 2012

Today is a day on which I share some tunes I don't normally get to share. While I do spend about 85% of my time listening to ugly, misanthropic, and otherwise dissonant music, I also appreciate songs and artists of most genres. I've compiled a few of the albums that were released this year that I felt were worth listening to more than once or twice. I'm sure I'm forgetting some obvious and awesome albums, and I'm sure I'm not nearly as well equipped to write about this kind of music, but you're going to check out this small handful of albums. You might even enjoy some of it. Don't worry. Nobody will judge you.

Clams Casino- "Instrumental Mixtape 2"
Clams Casino is a producer from New Jersey. I'm not normally a hip-hop connoisseur, but I'm a big fan of electronic music in most of its forms. As an instrumental mixtape, this album collects some of his finest beats and removes the vocal lines that may distract listeners like myself. If you're curious about hip-hop and rap but aren't always fond of the lyrical delivery, this album's a perfect place to start.

Comfort Woman- "Summer Demo"
Comfort Woman is a group I can't really describe that well. The songs are catchy and off-kilter. The vocals are just really raw, but not in the whole harsh black metal way. It's more of a punkish apathy, or just a very open-hearted sort of delivery. This album's just really emotive and addictive for me. I've listened to it a good handful of times since I stumbled across it. Check it out on their bandcamp and download it if you like it.

Endangered Blood- "Live @ Squidco Bootleg"
This band's entry is basically stolen from a BMAB favorite blog, The Static Fanatic. Endangered Blood are a jazz-like quartet featuring Jim Black, Oscar Noriega, Chris Speed, and Trevor Dunn. I don't have quite the vocabulary for what they do, but it's pretty stellar and I can't stop listening to it. I initially grabbed this as a fan of pretty much anything Dunn-related, but this transcends even what I had expected. It's as chaotic as it is soothing. This is everything I wanted it to be and more. Check it out over at The Static Fanatic.

Igorrr- "Hallelujah"
If you aren't yet familiar with Igorrr's schizophrenic brand of breakcore, this album is as good a starting point as any. Focusing heavily on baroque-era sounds, Igorrr also throws in everything from snippets of death metal to choral chants to flamenco style guitar. There's pretty much nowhere this album doesn't go, which would be catastrophic in the hands of a lesser musician, but Igorrr keeps things just focused enough to remain wholly enjoyable from start to finish. This is almost "extreme" enough to put with the metal albums, but is just too left of center to really include with the metal releases.

Kirk Fogg- "2049"
With his new album of intergalactic trance, Kirk Fogg takes us far into the future and on a serious journey. I definitely don't have the vocabulary or experience with the genre to fully explain why this album appeals to me, but there's a sense of true exploration here. The music constantly builds and surges in an empty space that Kirk Fogg has crafted for the listener to live within for the 70-ish minutes of this album. The music's pace is definitely upbeat, but this album feels entirely mellow. The speed of the music feels more like it's pulsing around the listener rather than rushing the listener along. Perhaps my words show how little I understand this music, so it's best to just link you to the free download.

Tollund Men- "Door"
Tollund Men are the kind of group that don't really fit into just one category in my mind. For a project named after one of the most famous bog bodies, this EP is very appropriate. This is dark, fuzzy, distant post-punk or new wave inspired music at its finest. Each of the three tracks excites me from start to finish, leaving me eager to flip the record over and start again. This was purchased as a gift for my partner, but there's no doubt in my mind that we are both equally obsessed with this talented group. Definitely looking forward to more in the year to come.

Trust- "TRST"
In severe contrast with the last album mentioned, Trust appeared out of nowhere this year with a dense, full and slick album of stellar darkwave and electropop perfection. This is probably the most commercially viable album on any list I'll ever make, and I'm completely happy with that. Trust are one of those groups who are so brilliant that I don't mind sharing them with hordes of club kids and bubblegum pop fans. In fact, I hope these guys take over the world. The slightly spooky tones and warm synth flourishes that are scattered throughout this album would definitely be an improvement on most popular music these days. This one will be stuck in your head for weeks, and you won't mind a bit.

Ulver- "Childhood's End"
Yes, this is a cover album. Yes, I'm pretty sure that Ulver is my favorite band ever. Yes, I love them enough to be sure to call them out if this was a complete waste of time. This isn't a complete waste of time. Instead, this album serves as a stellar piece of psychedelic space pop and a shopping list for me to catch up on great music from the 60s and 70s that I hadn't yet heard. While this may not be the best representation for a brand new listener, this is absolutely worthwhile for anybody with an interest in psychedelic music of any nature, or anybody who has listened to and enjoyed any of Ulver's output from the past decade.