The year 1994 was such a great year for music but an even better year for noise music. Remember when television was the greatest thing and you could find some random cords and run the audio through distortion pedals? Or when you could screw around with your Dad’s hifi stereo and run his Eagles through distortion pedals. It sounded like eating your own brains. That was something else!
Eventually your flannel shirts and denim jeans changed into black t-shirt and black cargo pants. Your mom asked ”are you ok?” and you screamed back gibberish through a microphone that was connected to a bunch of distortion pedals. Always searching for that perfect atonal (anal) tone.
Well search no further buddy, cause we go down the memory lane of 15 noise albums that turn 30 this year so your mom can listen to them again.
Ninth Massacre “Flesh”
Well-known
figure in the ‘90s American noise scene, Richard Ramirez (his given name) is also the artist behind this masterpiece, cleverly entitled “Flesh.” Songs like “Fucked with Nails” and “Genital Torture Chamber” sound exactly like they sound when said out loud. If you play this through your Bluetooth speaker on the subway, everybody will leave you alone. Or maybe you’ll get a new weird friend. Either way it’s a win win!
C.C.C.C. “Gnosis”
Songs like “Untitled” and “Untitled” are one of the best sing-a-long hits of this beautiful genre. Immerse yourself with the smoothing sounds of Japanese adult actress Mayuko Hino and her ex-husband Hiroshi Hasegawa as they take you through this karaoke hit spree. Just beware, you might like it. Or not. Probably not. This is only for the true noise fans. POSERS NOT ALLOWED.
Unseen Noise Death* / M.I.T.B. : Bastard Noise / Bizarre Uproar “Sources Of Power From Another World”
This threeway split features a more delicate approach to noise but that makes it even more intriguing. If the name of the band is “Unseen Noise Death” it can’t suck, right? Well it does not suck at all. “Panic In Nuclear Power Station” gives you radioactive powers through surgically manic sound waves. Bastard Noise’s “Lesson’s Translation Applied To Man” feels like you are listening to a horse having a seizure in his heavily sedated sleep. It’s one of the most touching noise ballads I have ever listened to. Last but not least, Bizarre Uproar’s “Tidal Wave Audio Disintegration Of Sound” brings back memories of heavily sedated grandma. Life was good back in 94.
Masonna “Like A Vagina T.V.” (VHS)
Masonna has released such classics as “Hate”, “Ejaculation Generater” and “Spectrum Ripper”, but I think it’s safe to say that no studio album compares to Masonna’s live show experience. “Like A Vagina TV” VHS is full of Masonna’s microphone into distortion, into guitar amp signal chain performances that are known to last for 3 minutes. He was the pioneer of short attention span audiences. Masonna would be the perfect act to play at the Vegas Sphere with U2 as the warm up act.
Macronympha “Ultimate Vibrator”
Before “hipster noise,” American noise was living its best days in the ‘90s. This album came in a painted wooden box with artwork and metal wire (or a circuit board) attached to the box itself. Only 15 to 20 of these bad boys were ever made. If you think about what would be the “ultimate vibrator,” it would be Macronympha’s “Ultimate Vibrator.” Good vibes only.
Ophx “O2”
When you start a band, the first releases will be noise hopefully. Some bands stay in the lane, some start doing actual songs. Which sucks. Ophx’s early release will take you to places like “Reservoirs of Infection” and “Oven Run Tongue.” If those names will make you think about eating a fish from an aquarium and vomiting it over your laptop, well it’s probably because they sound exactly like that. All that served with a peachy cover and voilà!
Erik Disorder “Noizturbation”
Erik Disorder’s Noizturbation sounds like ZZ Top’s drummer having horrible withdrawal symptoms and recording them. I am not entirely sure if ZZ Top was a major influence for Erik but whatever it was, this album is a masterpiece.
Mamarracho “Demo #2”
Have I been hit by a car? What the hell is happening? Where is all this noise coming from? Oh nevermind! It’s MAMARRACHO! What happens when you combine drums, noise and voice together? I don’t know but MAMARRACHO’S Demo 2 sounds like you are getting impaled by a moose. Las Tipulas!
Government Alpha “Doze”
Japanese noise musician Yasutoshi Yoshida’s Government Alpha is the only government I want to be a part of. He has a magical talent for making his music sound like he is actually doing something. I have to be honest with you, there are a lot of noise albums where the artist is just outside his studio smoking cigarettes while the record button is on. There is nothing wrong with that, we have all been there. But when President Yoshida takes the stand, we obey.
The Hanatarash “Aids-A-Delic”
Have ever heard of the noise act that destroyed a venue with a bulldozer and the sound from that was the show? Well those guys were The Hanatarash and with their “AIDS-A-Delic” album they went into places no noise artist has ever gone. Well they just did something else than perverse use of distortion pedals. It is actually possible to create a noise album with just basic tape editing techniques. Some might argue they sold out, but let me say this, it’s noise if your mom can’t stand it! Then again everything is noise, just ask Luigi Russolo.
Incapacitants “Ad Neuseum (Edition Mikawa)”
My mom fucking hates this tape. And it’s tough not to blame her. The best way to describe anything on this tape is “abrasive.”
Monde Bruits “Selected Noise Works 93-94”
Monde Bruits’ album “Selected Noise Works 93-94” sounds like when you die in a motorcycle accident and record it. In a twisted noise way Monde Bruits died eventually in a motorcycle accident. This album is his “Black Star,” but made 11 years before dying. Genius!
Aube “E-Power”
If you enjoyed Aube’s relaxing “Luminescence” 1994 VHS, then you probably won’t enjoy this the same way. Even though this is the perfect companion album. Feeling relaxed? Have some “E-Power” champ and start having panic attacks! Aube blasts through this album like Taylor Swift on meta amphetamine. Zero fucks given with a synth on other hand and howling rabid wolf on another.
Sshe Retina Stimulants “Kusa’i”
If you listen to this album in complete darkness, you will hear the voices of ancient cultures screaming to you. They scream “Play it louder!” and as you turn the volume up your neighbor calls the cops. After a delightful night in jail you can go back to my apartment and play it again. This goes on for a few weeks until you end homeless living in your friend’s basement and building an amplifier out of metal junk so you can contact the ancient again.
Merzbow “Venereology”
I don’t know man, there is something in the music of Merzbow that is nowhere else, it’s his unique approach to expression. Or maybe it’s the hamster that died listening to this album or maybe it’s just my tinnitus that blends perfectly with his music? Anyway ‘Venereology” is one of the all time classics of the genre. Album of the year. Grammy winner. Next time you go to the dentist, ask the dear old doctor to play this loud.
My mom gives all of these albums 1 out of 5, just like in 1994!