FRAG – Disease Vector – self Released – CDR & Download –
2019.
Frag is a project by Tunnels of Āh creator Stephen Burroughs,
it was originally conceived in the early 90s and after a rocky start it was
intended to be kept as a secret, unreleased project. Some old material was
recently released, FRAG kicked back into action and Disease Vector is the first new FRAG material in 25
years.
I like this, it sounds fresh immediately, through its
minimalism and failure or refusal to adhere to today’s common noise sounds and
methods. By use of farty, vibrating sounds the work really gets focussed on its
own repetition through swirling loops of the same sound for long periods of
time. Sometimes elements are juxtaposed sometimes they aren’t just one will just
play off itself: this focus on repetition continues as the overall sound gets more
layered as the album progresses. Some of the blunt less treated tonal frequencies
that underlie the work are strong. As Distortion comes in on Neural Progenitor
Cell onwards, the mixing gets clever and seems keep it broken up and fractured
enough so the work doesn’t lose its identity and become cliched. Despite the
growth in the amount of sounds used, the minimal aspect of the work is
maintained, it also has a cold playfulness to it. The work does have a lot of
twinges of older Power Electronics stylings as it progresses, it has no concern
for the bigger/fuller sound at all and this is refreshing. It also gets very detailed and focussed within itself.
I enjoyed Disease Vector, its stance is refreshing and makes
it a standout project. I do like Cold-Minimal work and this is a solid example
of that. I will investigate Stephen Burroughs other work further - Welcome back FRAG.
Choppy Noodles 2019.
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