Cyclic Defrost Magazine

Erdem Helvacioglu – Wounded Breath (Aucourant Records)

Posted: 24 Apr 2009 05:59 AM PDT

wounded-breath
Erdem Helvacioglu, oft cited as Turkeys leading contemporary exponent of electronic music and experimental guitar, opens Wounded Breath with this guise if only to confound the summation by a movement into a more immersive sound environment. Opening with The end of the World, guitar and processing dissolve and distort into long and layered controlled distortions only to be brought back to a melodic phrasing and under/over played waves of sonic textures feed out and return at variant intensity.

After this stance, the focus moves strictly towards sonic conceptualism, sharp tones, heavily processed sound, manipulated sound recordings that highlight the medium, further treatment moving it to proximity of the device itself. The sense that work in film has opened up the full possibilities of digital electronic environments is strongly conveyed beyond the point of the effectual demands of narrative towards the possible sonic worlds available to be transcribed. That narrative structure dissolves with the movement from the guitar as medium for Helvacioglu opens up a harsh edged sonic concentration. Lead Crystal Marbles, working off recordings of dropping glass marbles, highlights this approach with a gleam as the textures of manipulation change and distort eliciting differing tonal possibilities and interpretations.

Final tracks on the album, Blank mirror and Wounded Breath, are described by Helvacioglu as examinations of 'a man. Blurred image in the mirror' and 'An elderly woman on her death bed', self examination and recollections close to death respectively, leading to representations of the states of being of these two images. Existential examinations described bleakly and with a dry sonic palate laying bare its instrument and carving shards remorselessly from possible worlds may be an apt fit. Although the ability to fit narratives presented with sonic representation except as a general thematic coulouring is somewhat obscured here, if not for the vigor and intensity of the examination. Wounded Breath holding the greater of the ranges of emotional possibilities in these explorations as described by the sculptural approach to electroacousic composition laid down by Helvacioglu.

Innerversitysound

Giallos Flame – Euro Slash 7” + CDR (2600 Recordings)

Posted: 24 Apr 2009 05:28 AM PDT

Giallos Flame - Euro Slash

Giallos Flame is Ron Graham, a man with a penchant for Goblin and Ennio Morricone soundtracks, somehow bringing that vibe to the present. These Italian Giallo and horror soundtrack themes rely on a rock solid foundation of rolling drum breaks, crazed synthesizers, and funk fuelled psychedelia.

Baphomet Records approached him in 2005 to release his self titled debut, later starting his own label, Analog Screams, releasing a 7" and album. J Saul Kane's label, DC Recordings, with its reputation for releasing music to satisfy any beat junky and analogue synth devotee, astounded this reviewer with the Live From Dunwich EP. It seems it wasn't just me sitting up and taking notice, especially after he scored the 2008 movies Black Devil Disco and Psycho Holocaust. His entry in the Grindhouse SXSW Trailer contest, where Hobo With A Shotgun was hand picked by Quinten Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez to be aired with the movie across the USA and Canada. Another album later, a collaboration with Padded Cell, we are now presented with this fine release from UK label 2600 Recordings, a label that is shaping up to be one to watch, thinking outside the square, operating on the fringes, presenting an original musical statement in a lovingly produced package of lush DIY artwork, and they've included a CDR of the tracks on the 7", plus extra's not on the vinyl. This is a forward thinking label, giving the fans something special, but you better snap one up, there's only 250 copies out there.

More please.

Wayne Stronell

Various Production – Trycycle 12” (Various)

Posted: 24 Apr 2009 05:18 AM PDT

Various Production - Trycycle EP

Various Production return with a brutal EP, heading more into grime territory with a distinct electronic glitch edge, and of course as always containing some mouth watering David Bray (Bonesy) artwork.

V.E.X. returns to MC on Ramp, with his razor sharp rhyme delivery, way ahead of his time according to some circles. His past work with Various Production has shown an off the wall style, some truly crazed lyrics, a rare brutality in the UK hip-hop scene. B Side teams with synth arpeggios, this track really bumps. Trycycle has more of the same synth action, but venturing into 8 bit melodies easing the distortion to the fore.

Watch this space, lots more to come from this innovative production team, more mutations, remixes of folk starlets, and marketing their art related products with the growing Misc label.

Wayne Stronell