Harsh Noise Wales.

Clydach Electronics – Harsh Noise Wales - 2x cassette – 2026

https://clydachelectronics.bigcartel.com

Track listing – Cassette 1.

1.      Ordeal by Roses.

2.      Insatiable Wound.

Track Listing Cassette 3

1.      H's'T.

2.      Cariad.

I met Ordeal for Roses at a recent Very Friendly event, it was intense and they open this compilation with their first new track to be released in a few years. This begins as fast paced, juddering electronics, drones go off in the background and small screeches drag across the entire work briefly. Mournful Organs suddenly play out in the middle of all as the distortion builds around it, becoming windier and increasingly dense. This is all held together for what seems like a long time. Due to this all I can say is the project's brilliance is still there and very intact.

Insatiable Wound come out using small sounds, subtle noises, slight feedbacks and I immediately take to the way the space is used here. The feedbacks begin to wail slightly and crackle spits over this, all is still subtle and delicate at this point. Wailing high pitched noise splutters out a signal to up the ante slightly, tension rises in the work with each tiny display of shrill noise assault. Bigger sounds erupt, louder, deeper wailing feedback, angrier distortion that scrapes massively. The increase in size, pitch and speed is felt immediately. It is as if they decide to let go and let the sound hit the listener. The wail out at the end is dramatic and impacting. This reminds me that the three times I have seen Slow Murder/Insatiable Wound have been amongst my life’s greatest moments.

H’s'T played a solid set in Nottingham recently and this tape's immediate sound reminds me of that. This guy, at first,  uses a dense, heavy sound that is interrupted by samples and clashing noises. The use of a tonally shifting wall out of which things bounce and emerge is impressive, then he strangulates it for periods of time so noises can go off unbacked. Amazing work, in how he allows the language of the track to constantly morph into new areas with an armada of noises, keeping the restrained wall as a constant to back this and even having the skill to mute it for periods of time. I like this artist’s work.

Cariad demonstrates a cut-up method of working, distorted radio and tv samples play out, but are cut up with crackling and bad tuning so they remain indecipherable and become noise in themselves. Some words emerge in the dialogue, but not enough for the sentence to flow. Choir's play ot with brief passages of music, dialogue splatters over this. There is a whole history of radio type noise like this and this work is a prime example of strong technique and excellent results.

This is a good compilation with two now established acts and two up and coming acts, all at their best. A new chapter in the Wales noise scene emerges. I think this might be available at Negative Output festival as it has sold out from the label. Repress?

Zg 2026