“No ideas, no change, no development, no entertainment, no remorse.”
Well, that's what Roro Perrot, also known as Vomir, bases his works on. The genre of HNW (Harsh Noise Wall) was predestined to be created by the second harsh noise was created. Isn't it obvious that if hundreds of artists across the globe were creating noise music that eventually it would lead to those few that wanted to see the textures of destructive sound under a microscope? If I may say, that is what HNW is: a dissection and meditation of noise.
In 2004, The Rita had released two albums in particular that shook the world of noise - 'Sea wolf Leviathan' and 'Bodies Bear Traces of Carnal Violence'. The aesthetic had seemed confusing to some while also catching a quick fan base.
The only other well known artist to be performing music on the same page as this was Philip Blankenship, also known as “The Cherry Point” and it wasn't for another two years until Vomir had released his HNW manifesto and infamous 'Smell The Vomit' single.
In September 2006, the label Troniks had released The Rita's 'Thousands of Dead Gods', which completely surprised the world of experimental music. If anyone was against the atonal tinnitus inducing records of a never ending Incapacitants box set, then they would never stand a chance against Sam McKinlay's unbelievably dense wall of sound. I've met fans of the harsh noise genre that will not go down the road of listening to this material. Could it be that hard listening had finally reached a breaking point?
Sam McKinlay's wall sound is definitely different than the other two most well known figures, whom I'll discuss soon. Where as others in the HNW world stick to being wall noise, they're not as harsh as The Rita.. EVER. McKinlay uses such extreme distortion and loudness that isn't as easy to relax to as is to let penetrate you like a razor wire dildo. It's strange when you see him perform live and use such a minimal gear set up, barely turning knobs, but pricesly knowing what they do and how he's going to get that extreme texture that he wants.
While he was recording these albums in Vancouver there was a man all the way in Houston, TX who may have not formed the name behind the genre, but was already performing this form of music. In fact, there are many 'wall noise' releases out there before the three letters came into place (The earliest setting back to the 1996 release 'Life in a Peaceful New World' by Mo Te and 'Family Annihilator' by 666 Volt Battery Noise). Richard Ramirez, member of Black Leather Jesus and pioneer of a thousand other amazing projects, could be the king of textured walls. Not too long ago I stumbled upon a release entitled, Jakarta, which was released in 2003. While it's not full on noise wall style, it does have those basic elements through out the listening experience.
His best works, in my opinion, can be found on the compilation, 'Confessions of a Sex Maniac'. I guess it's not surprising that in 2006, The Rita and Ramirez collaborated to release an EP known as “Feast & Flesh”, which may as well be where some influences of the ANW (Ambient noise wall) genre came into place. The two had eventually started a collaboration project known as, “Vice Wears Black Hose”, which is no surprise based off the Giallo genre that both of them have a heavy interest in. If you have any interest in those, I would definitely recommend parts 3 and 4.
Of course, our good friend Roro Perrot was also changing and influencing the world of experimental music. Although, not as many were convinced with his project due to his nihilist views towards the creation of his sound and some had joked about the idea of a musician with a bag over his head performing extremely long and loud unchanging walls of noise.
May I say, if this isn't already obvious, Vomir was extremely misunderstood in the early days of his releases. While Harsh Noise was finally starting to make it's move on the internet and spark interest in a world of new young avant garde losers, there were tons of people that still had no idea what Harsh Noise Wall was about. A lot of people didn't know who the hell The Rita was. People were still learning about Japanoise, so to randomly come across a live video of Vomir performing would bring responses such as 'hack'. A lot of people didn't believe he had a set up and just used Audacity to make his music, although, this is exactly what his imitators did.
Vomir is an important figurehead in the genre for creating less harsh, but more meditative, calming yet extremely bleak walls. It's extremely easy to get submerged in his recordings and float into the void of it, which may be why he wants all the lights off and a bag over your head during his performance.
His most well known work is no doubt, “Renonce”, which in itself is not only his best, but maybe the best piece of wall noise ever. I only listen to this release on repeat, because I don't want the experience behind it to end.
As Vomir started putting out material fasterr than Masami Akita feeds chickens, thefan basee for this style of music grew rapidly. Netlabels on blogspots, cassette labels, floppy disks, more than a hundred new wall projects.. Everyone and their fucking Grandma was beginning to have a HNW project.
In response, a new wall champion had to be brought to the stage and it couldn't be anymore obvious than a project called “Dead Body Collection”, with clinical track titles and mutilated bodies for album covers. At some point in time, DBC had stopped making HNW and started releasing 'ANW', although he eventually went back to his roots. His live performances feature him in a mask and sometimes playing anatomy dissection videos. I recommend his album, 'Chromosomal Abnormality'.
With all of these releases named after horror films it was a given that something like the project “Burial Ground” would come together. The style isn't truly unique, but I do find it amusing and cozy to listen to while I'm laying on my bed with opiates running through my system. It's also interesting to see that a HNW artist has material released on 8track. You can download an album of his for free below:
http://bleakbliss.blogspot.com/2013/09/burial-ground-omen.html
It's hard to separate the good from the bad now that the genre has received more publicity in the world of experimental music. Where else do you go from these artists? Well, my suggestions are to look for labels that release material by these artists. There's other good artists I could write about – Vasectomy Party, Swallowing Bile, Goat, Sleep Column, Fouke, Anonymous, Is, Ghost... And don't forget Ramirez side projects like An Innocent Young Throat Cutter and Last Rape.
Total Black is probably the best place to buy HNW. I'd also recommend Altar of Waste, Burial Recordings, Urashima, Crystal Lake Tapes, and Forever Escaping Boredom. Should I expand on the last one – FEB released an amazing compilation of HNW artists based on Twin Peaks. That's definitely an album to check out.
For the people who don't understand this form of music, it's... understandable, but for us that do it's our desensitization from reality to become the strangest most alien lifeforms listening to the strangest oddities that sound can provide. I hope you enjoy my write ups and are prepared for more insanity to come.
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p.s. Hey. Maestro writer, d.l., and aficionado/parser of the noisy spectrum of recorded sound is back today to share his tastes and clue us in on some ultra-worthy entries. It's an awesome thing, and now you know. Listen and talk to him, yes? Thanks. And giant thanks to you, D. ** David Ehrenstein, Ah, had you consulted the "woman's" stats, you would have noted his/her versatile status and large dick. Hey, the French, ... you never know what they're going to like and not. What a mysterious bunch. ** Steevee, Hi. As I mentioned to David, when in doubt, check their stats. ** Bill, Hi. PolishMafia was kind of very "me" circa some years back. Or, well, not so many years back. Oh, you. Those profiles were the perfect length. You're so hardcore. Yes, the cooking duo, or the cooking half of he duo, and, well, the non-cooking half too, I guess, were a sparkly find. I thought. Record that voice. Might be a once in a lifetime opportunity. ** Kier, Hi! Oh, ha ha, cool if I accidentally struck gold in my ongoing attempt to explode your name interestingly. The "little' escort made me happy too. Yes, Zac had a rare moment of wanting to wake up his Facebook page yesterday and add chums, and he wanted to usher you inside before his mood turned neglectful again. 'The Color of Pomegranates' is one of my all-time favorites films. Awesome! What is 'Turn Me On, Goddamnit' about? Strangely really good title. That woman who worked on your farm is shocking. 'Soused'! 'Soused' is insanely great, if you ask me. 'Brando' is kind of the 'I Am the Walrus' of this generation or something. And wait 'til you see the video and who directed it. I'm afraid my day ended up being another unexciting one. Grr. But it was okay. What did I do? I worked on the theater piece. I checked in with Zac about the film transfiguring/ compatibility stuff, and I'll finally get to go over and start working with him on it today, which I'm very excited about. I started getting ready for the NYC/Iceland trip, mentally and logistically at least. I downloaded and listened to the new Pharmakon album, which is really great. I got Z. and me tickets to the Halloween makeover event at Le Manoir de Paris haunted house. The Recollects' washing machines, which have been broken for about four months, finally got fixed, which is actually pretty great news if you live here. I agreed to be interviewed for the Spanish edition of Esquire Magazine. I had a nice coffee with artist and fellow residents Scott Treleaven and Paul P, and I think I talked them into changing their upcoming vacation plans from a trip to Morocco to a trip to Japan. Uh, that could be the highlights. I'll try again today. How did Thursday behave towards you? Love, me. ** _Black_Acrylic, Hi, Ben. Oh, thanks for that link. Will listen imminently. Everyone, _Black_Acrylic shares this exciting sounding thing, in his words: 'Wow, this here is a sweet and exhilarating listen - DJ Pierre from Acid House pioneers Phuture tells the story of the creation of Acid Trax from 04:25 onwards. Should you have the time to spare then it's well worth your while.' I don't know if you're a fan of Marc Bell's stuff -- LFO, producing the best Bjork albums, etc. -- , but I'm really sad that he died. He was pretty amazing. BYOB sounds like a super fun thing, I must say. ** Etc etc etc, What a lovely escorts effect. It's funny to me how often people mix-up the slaves and escorts. Goes to show you ... something. How detail oriented I am or something? I have no pull with the Fascist camp that I know of, but if some "in" or opportunity shows itself, I definitely will. The Pharmakon is really good, no? I think she's broadening her thing in a really exciting way. Sure, I love the Boredoms. Who couldn't? I saw them live only once during the peak 'Vision Creation Newsun' era, and whoa! I hope NYC is showing you its wonderful side today. ** Keaton, Wow, that one is especially pretty. Good fucking job, man. That had all of your seduction powers concentrated on my eyes and the sensory things that are connected to them. Everyone, next stop 'Spooks', and you're in for quite a treat. I like that you like that sentence. I don't know why you cry. I know why the potential for crying is there, that's for sure. Horror books like what? Butterscotch, wow, I can taste it. ** Paul Curran, Hi, Paul. Cool, if you find anything, let me know, and if, in my relentless searching, I do, I'll let you know. Deal? Deal! ** Misanthrope, Oh, cool, Panda? sounds like he's doing really, really well! That's so heartening and thrilling! Brilliant guy, that Panda?. Jarod, sure, good old October. Is he good too? Are Panda? and Kyte still in touch? Any news about Joe? I don't know precisely why that freaks you out, but I do in a way, uh, intellectually? Interesting. ** That's it? Okay, so be it. Put on your Damien Ark earphones until further notice. Thank you. See you tomorrow.