Kevin Drumm - Imperial Distortion

Very minimal, yet dense tones from Chicago-based noise/drone musician Kevin Drumm.

This album is a great example of using the most minimal materials to startling effect, as the majority of it is made up of ambient drones. While this may seem excessively simple of the surface, the slightest ripple caused by a change in timbre or tone leads to the texture being altered (un)dramatically. These drones are like slowly moving monoliths, exposed to the elements and changing at an almost unnoticeable pace. The deep and complex textures only reveal themselves more as you give yourself over.


Imperial Distortion

Wraiths - Plaguebearer

Industrial horrors manifested in otherworldly drones. A condensation of pain and paranoia, in noise form.


Plaguebearer

Yellow Swans - Going Places

Seriously slept on this one when it was released last year, and can already say that it would easily rank in the top end of '10 releases.

This, their final release, is a constant struggle of noise against melody. With droning ambient soundscapes of varying textures, the noise serves to break things up further, creating quite a dynamic drone style. Going Places fits somewhere between an accessible and harsh listen; not too left of centre, never too out there, but always intriguing. All too often, artists in this style seem too lazy to do much beyond the genre's supposed 'limitations', as if repetition was the absolute crux of the art form, enabling the lesser creative individual to produce many works with ease. This, on the other hand, shows what can be done when you put a little love into it.


Going Places

The Goslings - Grandeur of Hair

Droning, doomed-out noise rock, with a large emphasis on the noise.

Hypnotic riffs are everywhere, but the few times it goes into more melodic (though still noisy) territory it's just fantastic. Really awesome sound these guys have.


Grandeur of Hair

Maeror Tri - The Beauty of Sadness

As the title suggests, this is beautifully depressing music. Great ambient tracks that are quite substantive.

Easily sits in the top echelon of my infinitesimal ambient collection.


The Beauty of Sadness

Deathprod - Morals and Dogma

Exceptionally well done. Dark soundscapes and noises which subtly envelope you.

Must hear.


Morals and Dogma

Greymachine - Disconnected

Justin Broadrick, the creative force behind Jesu and formerly Godflesh, roped in a couple of dudes to play some tunes, and it just so happens that one of them is Aaron Turner, leader of Isis. Yes, quite a big pairing.

Disconnected is a relentless wall of noise from start to finish. Drone and noise are equally represented, with a backdrop of cold industrial beats, making this one hell of a punishing listen.

Great stuff.


Disconnected