THE FIVE GREATEST MOMENTS OF 2018, ACCORDING TO S.O.S:
5: Discovering Autechre
If there were ever a more blissful form of muzak, I would like to hear it, for the bleak sounds produced by the Manchester duo is enough to make me welcome death in her comforting embrace. This is the peak of human achievement.
4. Discovering LP5 By Autechre
Never before has the schizophrenic breakdowns of computers sounded so pure and relatable. LP5 is a unique piece in the ae cannon for it is the only recording by the group to imitate, no, improve upon the narrative driven mentality behind guitar-based albums. A true work of beauty.
3. The Release of NTS Sessions 1-4 By Autechre
In true fashion of all great artists, ae made the successful attempt to provoke the listener, the industry, and society with the monstrous release of NTS Sessions 1-4. Quadruple middle fingers in the form of a quadruple album, two for the two beautiful men behind it all. Hopefully within the next few years they will top this 8-hour piece with a 16-hour giant, as both a thank you and as a punishment to all the interviewers that always bring up Max/MSP with them.
2. Spending $15 On An Autechre Poster
Now whenever, ifever I am able to convince a woman to come visit my home, she will be able to tell that I have exquisite taste all-around just by seeing this wonderful print hanging above my bed.
1. Officially Dedicating My Life To AE
My mother cried in my father's arms as I calmly told them that I will leave the home in search for true understanding of the unearthly tones that Sean and Rob mastered for the world to hear. I explained to them how happy I was to leave my job and school to live in the mountains, naked and alone, listening to Tri Repetae on repeat until I die. My father dissaproved and made the attempt to change my mind. "Nah," I says, "I must understand the complexity of these rhythms, and the only technology I will use will be a laptop so that I may self-learn Max/MSP."
I do hope that this list may bring enlightenment to all my readers, and I especially would encourage them to read the sacred texts of the WATMM forums so as they may truly experience the pure ecstasy of ae.
...Oh, and here's the actual "Best of 2018" list:
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Vein - Errorzone
I didn't even bother to bring this up in the review section of the last issue due to the sheer amount of clout and praise this band received this past year. Like holy shit even Melonthany Headtano reviewed this album, and these guys even have publicized beef with .gif from God, so you know they pretty much reached that no man's land between mainstream and underground. That being said, I enjoy this a fair bit and do feel that the praise is mostly deserved. Here's to bringing back frosted tips and wallet chains!
Lucretia - 41.3165, 73.0932 (Blindly I Reach, O' Lord)
This one should come as no surprise seeing how I interviewed them and talked to some extent behind the meaning of this album's unusual title (which, by the way, refers to Shelton, Connecticut, NOT Broadway). This recording refers back to the good ol' days of East Coast metalcore: It's heavy and tastefully mid-fi, with a nice emphasis on the drums in terms of the production department. There's even some nice melodic parts mixed in (i.e. they stopped playing bar chords for a moment to do some cool quick-session solo-ish things like on "William Bailey"). If you're the kind of old head that thinks anything that could be tagged with "-core" sucks and that the days of prime (if you even think they existed) are over, well then go fuck yourself grandpa. For everyone else, give this a listen.
Intercourse - Everything Is Pornography If You Have An Imagination
The more I give this a spin the more I like and respect it. Stylistically sloppy in a forgivable way, Intercourse is rude, disrespectful, and downright mean. Holding absolutely no remorse for shitting on dipshits who deserve it, their vocalists utilizes his mic to record his vocal aneurysms while riffs are thrashed around in quick recession. If you can't tell already I like angry music.
Nihilith - Tragedies Of The Wicked
I've already made my fanboying of this release clear by this point, so I'll try to keep this one short: Nihilth bring monolithic riffs like concrete blocks to the skull. They choose to wallow in the world's misery, bringing the occasional blast beat, tremolo riff, and bass slap with them. Annihilates.
Autechre - NTS Sessions 1-4
I'm going to be real with all of y'all: I've barely begun to absorb the first two "discs" on this release. Here Sean & the Robs bring a somewhat minimalist, droning outlook of the world's end with repetitive beats and screaming pads. I'm pretty fucking bad at describing music that isn't heavy and guitar-based, I will admit, but with the material presented here I can say that it can be simultaneously catchy and dread-inducing. Give it a shot when you have 2 hour gaps of time to waste.
Snitch - Mistakenly Mutilated
Lo-fi grind with like 3 different vocalists at a time: You got the obligatory Spazz-wannabe-motherfucker, the obligatory screamer, and the obligatory powerviolence shouter. Got some catchy parts, got some thrashy parts. Check it.
Crushed!? - Sins Of The Father
I know that it's corny to describe anything as cathartic and "soaring" but this band just fits those descriptions all too well. I feel like this one takes a more direct approach on attacking the world's misery as appose to their previous material, and I do have an extra bit of respect for it due to that. Also dig the cover a lot as well.
Nine Inch Nails - Bad Witch
NIN has always been a band I refused to give attention to simply due to the fact my parents like them, and as well all know parents enjoying a thing automatically makes that thing uncool. Well fast forward to the past year or so and turns out I enjoy NIN. A lot. More specifically their 90's material, surprise, surprise. When I gave this a listen I enjoyed it as well, kinda fades away by the end but with the material that builds up to that point it's all good to me. Somewhat jazzy and spastic at times, very sterile and electronic at others.
(Fuck a major)
Anyways you get what you get, and this is what I offer. I'm going to pretend this post isn't late as hell and that we're not three months into the 12 month rotation, so I'm going to leave in the rest of the generic, optimistic nonsense these sorta end-year lists have at the end and say something like "lets hope this new year brings good tunes" or some shit.
Always and Forever,
S.O.S
No comments:
Post a Comment