Yana - Fou

 

Yana – Fou – CD – Aussaat – 2022 – Aussaat 24

https://yanafinland.bandcamp.com/

https://www.discogs.com/label/972977-Aussaat

1.       Jamais Vu.

2.       Trephination.

3.       Mesmerism.

4.       Mantra delire.

5.       Metrazol.

6.       Spectre.

7.       Aphasia.

8.       Diagnosis.

Image from Artist's Bandcamp.

Yana is a noise duo based in Finland, they have been active since 2016. The project has released on labels such as Freak Animal, Total Black and Narcolepsia amongst others. There is little information about the duo online. However, Aussaat seems to find these heavy acts from all over the world and quietly be amassing releases by them over recent years. Will-I-Stasch used to run Cthulhu in the 80s and 90s, they were heavyweight, Aussaat is even more so in that they seem to specialise in modern experimental, Harsh Noise and Power Electronics that performs to high standards.

Haunted noise plays out on Jamais Vu, shuffling, crunching sounds act out in the background. This goes on until a mass of distortion with metal being hit and dropped takes the track’s lead. Spooked drones resonate underneath all of this. The noise is physically pulled to the foreground and the background of the track throughout. A faster, abrasive assault of Harsh Noise goes off over further haunted drones for Trephination. I like the shifts in noise that occur throughout this track, it demonstrates an excellent delivery. The artists handles the speed of the track as it accelerates and gets busier. As with any good noise, the higher pitched sounds can be mistaken for screams as they reach a certain pitch.

The Haunted atmospherics of Mesmerism play out until cluttered noise kicks in as if recorded from a speeding vehicle. What I think Yana does well is bring dark atmosphere into work with ease. When noise kicks off, this is used to add bleak undertones to whatever is occurring. Mesmerism develops and shifts rapidly; the methods and ingredients are always on the move. Mantra delire feels as if you are in a place of worship, bells and chimes fill the sound. What I begin to realise is how this project can really grasp bleakness in a similar way to how Stabat Mors could, the atmospherics here also pull in the methods Cremation Lily did in earlier releases – the combination of both styles makes an impressive experimental sonic spectacle.

Metrazol uses atmospherics combining distortion and field recordings that clash with each other at a rapid speed to form the core assault. As this is altered and tampered with, we get a rapid movement of sound. There are recognisable types of electronic noise used, but the experimentation on other methods keeps it original - I can’t just say a savage display of Harsh Noise from Finland as it is a lot more than that. Further bleak resonating drones collide with distortion and noise on Spectre. It explodes and then dies off; drones and feedback return to allow a further build up of cut up noise to occur. Samples of shouting and screaming really accelerate Aphasia’s intensity. Things go off, events happen from within the noise. Dialogue is sampled on Diagnosis, people talk, scissors cut, humming feedback plays over it. I feel as if I am witnessing something, I am inside the album as it ends.

Finland has a strong reputation in noise. I don’t know who this duo is, but they are brilliant at what they do.

Choppy Noodles 2023.