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v.V. - la55 [zero121v] (2001)

V.'s attempt to record an album of unlistenable music, that somehow ended up being, well, the opposite. Still filled with moments at their attempt to play something like rock with drums and guitar but they are way off the mark. Spastic improv falls into ambient abstractive beauty.


This audio is part of the collection: Zeromoon

Artist/Composer: v.
Date: 2001-00-00 00:00:00
Source: www.zeromoon.com
Keywords: Avantgarde

Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Notes

"“la 55” shows a noisier and less accessible facet of this project. Jeff Surak (hurdy gurdy, etc.) and James Guggino (drums, etc.) penetrate the regions of earth tremors on the periphery of music. 14 pieces divided arithmetically into two halves with regards to a method and intensity of sound, present a broad palette of ways of generating noise. Despite similar methods of deafening, each shows features that the other doesn’t. The core of the first seven tracks is organic clattering of various objects that incite more or less chaotic tumult, set in variable sonic environment, ranging from live electronics, through musique concrete, improve, and sound manipulations to harsh noise. This primal ritual fades with the arrival of the 8th track (meditative, unhurried tolls set against some murmurs – the most intriguing moment in this set), indicating the other part of “la55”. This time there aren’t any pararhythmic elements, just noisy layers drifting between more or less intense pile-ups, erecting multi-storey structures located somewhere midway between ambient and bona fide noise. I must admit the previous incarnation of V. was dearer to both my heart and ears; “la 55” hasn’t retained the aura of the subtle blend of ambient and minimal improve. In the noise terms it’s a good item, but not an outstanding one."

[krzysztof sadza] - Eld Rich Palmer

"Guggino is credited for drums, etc.; Surak for hurdy-gurdy, etc. The keyword here is etc., since V. is far from being a duo of hurdy-gurdy and drums. Found objects and crude electronics actually provide the main instrumentation. A computer or a sampler is also involved, along with a radio, maybe even a droning guitar. The album consists of 14 pieces titled with decreasing numbers, all rather short except for the last one, nine minutes long and split into three "movements" (actually it only fades out and back in twice). Edits are crude, in pure D.I.Y. fashion, but the music is less abrasive than what you might expect. The duo explores an interesting scope of textures, from quiet drones up to thick walls of harsh noise, by way of a certain retro-industrial feel (particularly in track 12, where Laibach and SPK come to mind). The drums do get through occasionally, either very cheaply recorded or consisting of pieces of junk, but Guggino is more eager to work with scrap metal and tin cans. Track 13's pairing of static, harsh noise generated from junk percussion and quiet water bubbles is original and utterly strange. LA55 is by no means an easy listen, but it doesn't pummel you to the ground, either. Some tracks have serious replay value as they slowly reveal their secrets and there is little repetitiveness in the course of the hour the album lasts."

-- François Couture, AllMusic Guide

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Reviewer: xlpp - - March 21, 2009
Subject: right up their alley!
nice!
check out
Dark Vanity Acid, The Big Bang, & Ritual Static.
you sound right up their alley!

email them to jam!

http://shrdictatorship.page.tl