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Cabo Boing – Blob On A Grid
4.25.17 by Mike Haley

It’s understandable to wonder, perhaps at length, what alternate plane of existence “Blob On A Grid” leaked from. Surely it wasn’t created in this one. Yet it was, that is precisely Haord Records‘ bag after all. From the totally bugged-out assortment on their “Haord’s Bunchla” compilation to the sugary peculiarity of Macula Dog, Jimmy Sanchez & His Crystal Balls, Jake Tobin, and others, Haord have been turning over rocks in caves and climbing to the top of the tallest truffula trees in search of audio extraordinariness. Their latest disclosure is a dozen bounca-whirl songs from Cabo Boing.

If Mark Mothersbaugh had the gumption he would have made “Blob On A Grid” years ago, and it would have soundtracked many a Pee Wee’s Playhouse episodes. Not a single second of it’s eccentric no-wavery antics wouldn’t cozy right up on Chairry’s fluffy cushion. That is fact, not opinion, and in no way open for debate. In reality it was made by Brian Esser of the synth duo Yip-Yip. If we are being honest with each other, and I think we should, I like it much better that way. Splashy imagination is smudged wall-to-wall, no way cowering in the corner, playing coy, only poking out every now and then. It is on full display – nay – on overload. These tunes are dayglo and chafed from perpetual movement. As each track ends, sometimes in under a minute’s time, quick contortions take place so the next can unload it’s enthusiastic energy. Unabashed friskiness scampers into perplexing modes, all pitched-vocals and jagged electronics jerking in unison, backlit by colorful, dynamic textures ready to tweak at a finger’s snap. Get happy.

The visual presentation is a foolproof manifestation of the audio, one that I mentioned here.  I shan’t bore you any longer with details. You should be buying a copy of this now!

Cassette Label or Weed Strain?
4.20.17 by Mike Haley

For the third year in a row we present the Cassette Label or Weed Strain quiz! Sativa? Indica? Cobalt? Chrome? Try to figure it out by clicking “Start Quiz” and deciding whether the names you see are tape labels or weed strains.

[WpProQuiz 5]

Interlaken – Versaux
4.19.17 by Mike Haley

You may be familiar with Chris Donofrio from his solo work as Reviver, or as a member of the duo Arabian Blade. For his debut cassette under the moniker Interlaken, Donofrio has traded in nightmare crunch for marshmallowy patience. “Versaux,” a C30 which is also the debut release for German label Seil, is glazed over with this newfound ambiance, a slow-swishing liquid of sound.

Side A is the calmer of the two. The handful of tracks that make it up maintain a fleecy flow over their 15 minutes. Cashmere patterns layer and web together with a relaxed consensus. No shimmer or gleam attempts to outdo another. They are all total buds that really want to share space on the magic carpet that is being weaved. Side B leans slightly into a zone of more spirited maneuvers, but remains absolutely chill. It opens with a sound mandala swirling around persevering thumps before offering up a an extra crispy synth fantasy, full of illuminated sequences and bassy, jutting tones. While those two cuts don’t exactly sport the same waxy patina as the earlier songs, they still feel right at home. A foggy, evaporated soundscape, as if someone dubbed a dub of a dub of a slowed down version of the Twin Peaks theme song, takes us out of the Interlaken experience. And here we are, left wanting more.

copies of “Versaux” were dubbed up and available from Seil Records.

Korean Jade – Exotics
4.10.17 by Mike Haley

Cloaked in low-res black & white conceptual imagery, with perhaps a small visual nod to “Pulse Demon” by Merzbow, comes “Exotics.” This seven cut C30ish by Korean Jade acts like a medicated liniment. It’s flexible drones and swerving patterns rub on like a lotion, but with enough coarseness to cause friction and heat when applied. I don’t know who is behind the Korean Jade name, but whether they were going for beauty trapped in crud, or crud trapped in beauty, they got there. Like the artwork, the sounds on “Exotics” also have a low resolution, lending a satisfying matte finish to the overall production. The occasional scaly tail of mutant techno will take a swipe at ya here and there, but it’s bread and butter is synths bending and blinking in a thick fog. Don’t fear! It’s reassuring fog. Not a too scary fog like from that movie The Children I watched when I was far too young.

A white shell with a single black smudge of black paint rounds out the colorless presence of “Exotics,” a more than decent offering of crisp ambiance awash in graininess. Grip one of the 30 copies dubbed from Plush Organics.

Unguent – Simulation Of A Bat Engulfed In Acid
3.30.17 by Mike Haley

I haven’t watched an episode of Fraggle Rock in a few decades, so I had to hit up MuppetWiki for a reminder of what those tiny green worker things were called. My guess was Goobers, but I knew that wasn’t right. Doozers is what they are called. In case you need a refresher, or have never seen Fraggle Rock before, Doozers are an all-work/no-play race of 6″ tall creatures heavily invested in the field of construction. They spend their days building structures out of Doozer Sticks (thin, transparent rods made of radish dust) that the Fraggles can’t control themselves from eating, which is a total dick move when you think about it for a split second.

I bring that up because “Simulation Of A Bat Engulfed In Acid”, the new C40 by Unguent on Refulgent Sepulchre, sounds like it was made by Doozers. Getting past the clear shell, obviously fashioned from Doozer Sticks, the sounds are totally Doozerish. You’re immediately nudged and pricked by a shoveling of pint-sized zaps, most of which existing only to sting your tush then belly flop back into the couch cushions. At times it’s almost a menacing experience, like… Why is this tape doing this to me? Basically a random splurge of circuit shoving that sometimes sounds like the tape is shaving itself into ribbon. The only breather from that pixel blast is when the bloops and screeps gang up to create spurts of gummy patterns; Doozer dance-off’s possibly? I don’t know, but I like it a good deal.

It should be noted that this tape was NOT created by Doozers, but instead a Philadelphian by the name of Lance who also runs Refulgent Sepulchre. Lance was kind enough to make 100 copies of  “Simulation Of A Bat Engulfed In Acid” and a few other killer releases, all available here.