SKM-ETR "BFI.01" CD
[BFI]
This one might be labeled an SKM-ETR release, but in reality the Canadian project only takes three live tracks at the end of the disc, everything else consists of various artists remixing SKM-ETR tracks, at times with impressive results. Loss opens up with the "I Can Taste You Already" remix of "Just Another Cunt", drawing out a prominent rhythm and vocals along with subtly musical undercurrents and a grating industrial soundscape that works nicely. Towards the end there's a magnificent break of orchestral synths with a sample over it that really adds a lot to the composition. Azoikum's take on "Gas Blistered Lips" pans back and forth with lots of resonant ambient drones and pulses, bringing in some tactful distortion about two minutes in but maintaining a consistent focus, continuing with similarly manipulated vocals later on (one of the best songs I've heard from Azoikum to date, actually). Next is the "Scene of Slaughter" mix of "Sermon of Vermin", which is the first truly loud and abrasive track of the disc as it comes from The Cherry Point. There's definitely a crisp ring to the pulsing rhythm of the distortion that is atypical of The Cherry Point's original recordings, but the sheer volume of the piece is definitely what one would expect. I'm not familiar with Fanny, but their remix of "Thana.45" brings the volume back down to more of a dark ambient level, flirting with the musical elements of Loss' mix, but going so far as to bring in what basically amounts to a concrete beat here and there, as staggered as it may be - this one definitely sounds very unlike the other contributions. Navicon Torture Technologies' "Raping a Saint" version of "Sainthood" maintains a lot of the original's recognizable traits, such as the dominant choral vocals. I'd say this is one of the more hypnotically repetitive tracks (and I mean that in a good way). Jaymez takes "Human Speed Bumps" into a far more rhythmic direction, not too unlike what Fanny had done with "Thana.45", though stripped down and more minimal, creating its rhythmic side with choppy cuts and a sense of shuffling movement. "Just Another Cunt" is revisited again by Venetian Snares, where not too surprisingly more beats come in, this time thumpier and more dance-ish, per se, granted it's still fucked up and twisted. The final remix is "Sermon on the Mount of Flies", by Sickness, which rivals The Cherry Point in volume, though here there's a far more acerbic bite to the treble and things are much more chaotic and broken apart. It's among the more diverse pieces herein though, shifting between layers of samples, harsh noise, fluctuating ambient textures, and so on. The three live tracks from SKM-ETR closing the disc sound a little on the thick and somewhat muddy side, and are variably well represented as far as replicating their recorded counterparts, but with this type of music that's to be expected. "Gas Blistered Lips" was recorded in September of 2003, with "Human Speed Bumps" and "Sainthood" in January 2004. I'd certainly be curious to see this project perform live based on these three offerings. The black CD-R comes in a slim cardboard slipcase with quality printing on the front and back, as well as two cards inside. The cards include contact information for each contributing artist and a repeating design of the BFI logo. That's about it. Overall this is a strong release. I'm personally not as into the more beat-oriented remixes and would've preferred to hear a few other true noise takes on the material, but there are definitely some winners here, and the opening two tracks really kick off strong. (7/10)
Running time - 62:08, Tracks: 11
[Notable tracks: Loss, Azoikum, Navicon Torture Technologies, Sickness]
SKM-ETR - http://www.skm-etr.com

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