retro-a.k.a.: synaesthesia

ret-s.jpg (18k) retro-a.k.a.: synaesthesia
(Staalplaat - 1999)

Number 17 in Staalplaat's korm plastics introductionary paperbacks series presents the high/low tech sounds of retro-a.k.a.. A roughly-finished product line from an electronic noise factory on another planet, the tracks of synaesthesia are produced in various levels of industrialized sonic abrasiveness.

Gritty digital fallout create an expansively desolate atmosphere in packed in sri-lanka which resonates with rumbling radiance and glitchy roughness. Chasmic voids are spanned by the screeching filaments which criss-cross tatur, backed by echoey ripples, then silence, which is soon ruptured by the brief-yet-blistering electron burst of non-for-give (1:03)

The soundbank of 1st.granular yields a prolonged crawl across the windswept surface of some alien vista, bookended by noisier warbling blasts. Fading in from silence, outz simultaneously captures the essences of a wind blowing across a barren plain, a seismic underwater rumble and radio static. Sounding like a rhythmic bug-zapper, particularly ear-piercing patterns scratch the soundwaves of sonology funk; this is not from the Bootsy Collins' school of "funk".

Machine-like hums and metallic clatters pulse beneath the rough hewn static which is scrawled across logic kontrol. The chaos peaks with delta, an explosively rapid stream of sound fragments, abutting the much more subdued intro of finale bbb; the track converges what sounds like a staple gun, a live wire, assorted drones with random environmental incidents and light buzzes.

retro-a.k.a. delivers synaesthesia, an unfortunately short (35:43) collection of quiet noise, not so much musical as electrical and textural. With assorted approaches and levels, noise fans will find much to enjoy, and those new to the form won't be overburdened. I enjoy the disconnection afforded by this 8.7 electro-industrial package. 8-7.gif
This review posted February 23, 2000

AmbiEntrance © 2000-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).