Frownland

You don't like drummers as bandleaders or to be affiliated with other bands that play very different music?

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innerspaceboy

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?

All right. Some of this then. Why is everyone obsessed with forcibly sh*tty production value?

2. What did you think of the opening track?

Not particularly intriguing, but there's some potential so I'll leave it on.

3. What did you think of the next track?

"Primitives" was really more of the same, but "Ex-Ravers" was far more interesting than the previous tracks. It featured a bit more of a freeform structure and had some interesting noise elements. (I'm a tremendous fan of early electroacoustic works.)

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?

Vocals are generally the least interesting thing for me, and I avoid music with vocals more often than not. Still, at least tracks like, "The Sacto Smile" ventured beyond traditional lyricism and used the voice more as a noise instrument than as an element to communicate a narrative.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?

The percussion was certainly intriguing, but for my taste, it's a shame the entire album was produced the way it was.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it?

Still a few interesting things happening with the soundscapes. "Green Bricks" revealed the use of some vintage sampling hardware which is still a bit of fun. It makes me miss early plunderphonics and reminds me that I need to explore Negativland/Oswald/others in greater context.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?

There was little in the way of cohesive lyrics, which suits me splendidly.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?

He's certainly a relentless and highly-skilled percussionist. And there are enough other oddities swarming around it to make it an interesting listen.

9. What did you think of the production?

I've already said it - I rarely enjoy lo-fi recordings. I liked Sebadoh, Dandy Warhols, early Beck albums, and other standard-fare staples of indie music which were mostly produced with sub-par equipment, but the neo-lo-fi scene just seems contrived and inauthentic.

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?

Never heard of the bloke. But I haven't heard much of anything produced after 1996 so all of these recordings are new to me.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?

Not generally. It isn't German and it wasn't produced between 1969 and 1973.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?

About 25 minutes in I found myself enjoying it more and more. "Burner in the Video" had a good groove going and I wouldn't mind giving it another listen.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?

The latter half of the record was more my style, and I will say that it carries well as an album rather than the tracks as individual singles.

14. And the one you liked least?

I won't single out a "worst" track. The album works well cohesively, and each selection adds its own element to the whole.

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?

N/A

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?

I would consider giving a subsequent release a spin. There was definitely enough going on to keep my interest throughout the record.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?

I was surprised. At the outset, I thought, "oh christ, here comes more heavily-clipped lo-fi shoebox music." But the music really kept my attention as the album played on.

18. Did the album end well?

Definitely. There is always a great expectation of an album closer, and "Second Life" was a strong finish. I confess that it ended too quickly - I was hoping for another 10 minutes of it.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?

My perspective with regard to production quality is very limited. I wonder whether or not better production value would help or hurt this album.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?

Like I said - it functioned well as an album, far greater than the sum of its individual tracks.

Another satisfying and eye-opening album. Thanks!

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OccultHawk

I'm not even sure I'm willing to concede this is actually "lo-fi".

Chicagoslaw8

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
i can already tell i will not like this.
2. What did you think of the opening track?
Was not very good, did not enjoy it at all.
3. What did you think of the next track?
the best tracks on this, but still not very good.
4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
not very good, you really cant hear this guys voice at all.
5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
not really.
6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it?
no. it gives me a headache.
7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Hell no.
8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
Track 2 was decent, the rest sounds like someone taking a ****.
9. What did you think of the production?
gave me a brain Aneurysm.
10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
nope, never heard of him.
11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
i like lo-fi, not this.
12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
will never like this type of sound.
13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
Track 2
14. And the one you liked least?
all of it except track 2.
15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
N/A
16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
nope.
17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
yes, i like lo-fi, so i wasn't expecting this to sound like a turd.
18. Did the album end well?
no.
19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
yes, with better production, and if more Tracks were more like track 2, and maybe the last track.
20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
its cohesive if you like this type of loud music, for me, all of it sounds like ****.
1.5/10

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Trollheart

I've found that with drummers who drum (as opposed to the likes of Collins, for instance, who's almost known more as a singer) I tend to find it hard to buy into their musical vision, if you like. I could probably take a drummer working solo but with others in his/her band, but when it's all based around percussion, and in this case, abrasive and intrusive percussion, it's not for me. Probably just me, but as you know, I have already admitted I couldn't tell a good drummer from a bad one, so to have one front and centre is not something I enjoy.

To be fair, given the other abrasive music I've heard - Fantomas, Naked City, Zorn, Beefheart, Merzbow - this was less harsh than usual and I could definitely hear musical ideas, but you know what I'm like with music that jumps around and doesn't really settle down. Not a fan.

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Psy-Fi

I think a lot (but not all) of Bukowski's writing is more comparable to lyrics featuring some of the rough/darker/seedier/uncomfortable sides of life. Certain lyrics by groups like The Doors, Velvet Underground, Zappa/Mothers, and various others remind me of Bukowski (and vice versa) much more than lo-fi production on vocals. Lo-fi type vocals sound like poorly recorded audio crap to me and make me want to skip to the next track. I just find that type of production tedious to listen to in general.

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DwnWthVwls

Did you just compare Bukowski to juggalos?

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Psy-Fi

No.

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Aloysius

Zach Hill - Face Tat

I found this record challenging in a good way. It pushed my mind to places I didn't think it wanted to go, but in the end pretty cool places. Trollheart is right that it bears the hallmark of a drummer - repeating loops with constant slight variations. I notice the same thing listening to fusion albums led by drummers like Trilok Gurtu. For me this wasn't a negative though. Melodies tended to be simple, sometimes nursery rhyme-like, which provided a solid scaffold for very complex use of texture. While I don't always dig his use of distortion on some tracks, On the whole I thought this album was outstanding; I definitely prefer this to both Death Grips and Hella (neither of which left the same impression on me). My only gripe is that I felt he'd said what he wanted to say before the end of the album - pruning it down to 10 tracks would have made the album as a whole more of a story-like cohesive unit.
8/10

Pet_Sounds

I really tried to get into this, but I couldn't—sorry to whoever picked it. The vocals and overall production turned me off. I guess the drumming was neat in spots, though. I feel like at another time, I might be more inclined to dig this, but right now I'm in a rut when it comes to new music. With that in mind, I'll give it a 4/10.

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