Ahlzagailzehguh "Tactile Aagnosia" 3
[self-released]
Damn! 25 tracks of harsh noise on a 20-minute 3" CD. That's unexpected! Few of these pieces run more than a minute, and none longer than a minute-and-a-half, so the short bursts of explosive noise actually move along quite nicely, especially because a lot of different sounds are explored throughout. Sure, they're all fairly in your face and aggressive, and lots of distortion is employed, but at the same time, there are different ways to manipulate different tones and styles of distortion. Apparently all of this stuff was created using broken electronic devices, metal, various household objects, effects pedals, and synths. That sounds about right, because there is a certain lo-fi quality to the recording here, and the compositions are fairly minimal as far as layering and such. From straightforward walls of harsh distortion to banging and clanging sounds, to garbled rumbles and caustic treble, there's a little bit of everything, and then some. And it rarely calms down a notch. That's not to say this is like Masonna or Merzbow or anything, it's not, but it's not at all ambient either. I tend to be bothered by tracks that start and end abruptly, as it makes things feel unintentional, and that's something that can be disruptive here. But there are so many tracks that the stuttered beginnings and endings become common enough to work. Limited to just 44 copies, the first seven came in handmade sleeves with melted black/gold wax and glue. This one, like the rest, comes in a small sleeve printed on cream-colored paper with an abstract collage of images on the front and back, and a small xeroxed insert with the song titles inside. Not bad. I like the visual aesthetic and there is a certain feeling to most of the tracks, it's a little boring, but I can appreciate it. I'd be interested to hear longer, more developed works for sure. (6/10)
Running time - 20:39, Tracks: 25
[Notable tracks: Shit Out You're Gone for the Time, Ill-Conceived Offering, Treatment, I See That Face]
Ahlzagailzehguh - http://www.geocities.com/collapsedhole/

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