DCLXVI "Flesh" CD
[Oubliette]
Here's a lengthy limited edition CD-R (of which only a mere 20 copies exist) from this experimental noise act out of Montana, of all places. The monstrously long "Suffer" (16+ minutes of live material recorded back in August of 2002) starts things off with a barrage of raw harsh noise. It's actually a pretty crisp recording, but I think something about the live aspect is lending an extra edge of ruggedness to the distortion somewhere along the line. There are a few calmer moments, but not many, and not for long! Then it's on to "Circle of Shit", which, after a brief sample of some flies buzzing about, unloads a wall of sizzling harsh noise. No holds barred. It's chaotic, it hurts your ears, it's louder than loud should ever be... and it's about eight minutes long! Admittedly it sounds not unlike the prior track, just with a bit more clarity and definition to the layers involved with the composition - which pretty much sets the tone for most of the release. Not bad, but I could deal with things being a little bit shorter or more diverse. "Asphyxiation" is a bit thicker on the low-end (though some blazing treble does cut through) and uses some loops and decaying distortion that provide more movement, though I also prefer the breathing room that the more minimal structure provides. "Flesh Part 1" is far different, using some spoken female narration amidst howling ambient tones and swirling undercurrents. It's not always easy to make out what's being said, but I can tell it's some sort of twisted and perverse tale, that much is certain. "Flesh Part 2" is the closing track, three songs later, and is another standout in its darker, more thematic, and obviously more ambient leanings. This time around things are much quieter and somewhat muffled, with some orgasmic moaning sounds in the background alongside faintly musical elements and percussive banging. Towards the end some kind of fucked up vocal/sample manipulation starts to come into the foreground for a few seconds, but it's hard to tell what's going on there. The other tracks are not exactly interesting to me. It's more straightforward harsh noise with a solid sound, but not enough variation to make up for the lengthy running times. I'm far more interested in the textured work like "Asphyxiation" or the title tracks. The CD-R comes in a jewel case with artwork that appears to have been printed from a fairly high quality printer. The front cover is definitely of a superior quality than the traycard or the back of the insert for some reason, as the artwork is incredibly smooth and detailed, and there is also some high quality printing on top of the disc, but there is some noticeable pixilation to some of the smaller text. I love the cover art, I must say it looks really professional. All in all this is a good effort, but one that could be much better. The presentation is strong, and variety is demonstrated, but the variety needs to be more evenly balanced and consistent in my opinion. Leaving off the live track might have made this a more effective whole. (6/10)
Running time - 48:34, Tracks: 7
[Notable tracks: Asphyxiation, Flesh Part 1, Flesh Part 2]
Oubliette Records - http://www.oublietterecords.com

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