Maikeru Hitohana cd-r 2002 (16:00)
One of the benefits of this "job" is every once in awhile artists see fit to send me their work. Yes, like many of you I'm inundated with music at any given time - a wall of neglected discs here, stacks of unlistened to discs there - but from the box of freebies often comes the most interesting and challenging surprises. This one is particularly enigmatic: no artist info, no title and no track titles (some e-sleuthing revealed three: "Juunigatsu", "Koutetsukan", "Makugine"). Just a four track, 16 minute CD-R with b/w insert photo of a rocky stream. Ah, but the music is far from tranquil. It's more befitting of an industrial wasteland. Molten masses of overdriven sound are forged to cantankerous rhythmic clangor and glitches. It's blistering and menacing alright but also near melodic and even ambient at times. Hitohana has meticulously placed and shaped the debris into noisy songs. The third track offers the first and last respite by abruptly flipping the on/off switch on the din, deceiving though as discharges continue to erupt and the noise ultimately returns for its revenge. Powerful stuff ...
Where did I get this cd-r? - from Maikeru Hitohana