Eine Stunde Merzbauten – nESMysl

 

Eine Stunde Merzbauten – nESMysl – 2017 – CD – Napalmed.

http://napalmed.cz/

https://bandzone.cz/merzbauten

 

        1.   HlaSlova (Slabý Text) 

        2.   Svět L.O.M (Volná Improvizace Na Blikající Světlo) 

        3.   Žlivě/Mrdvě V Štúdiu Pon Terex (Neomezující Výrony Bez Nápadu)  

        Žlivě

        Mrdvě

 

This is the sixth Eine Stunde Merzbauten album, of which they made 15 different versions.

A mass of overlaid text forms a dialogue, I don’t understand the language, I presume that it is in Czech. The words ring and talk over each other for a long period of time. After this the second track combines restrained noise and free form drums, the interactions here play out as distortion hums and shifts around the drumming. This gets busier and faster at different times. When the guitar enters, it is also freeform, adding a complexity to the track.

The third track has a more recognisable noise sound as it farts and pulsates along. Raygun type noises shoot at the viewer as if acting like an angry video game. As this gains volume, it uses a warped pulsating beat that dominates the sound, whilst laser sounds go off in the background. This is like broken Techno, a pool of noise with no real form, only held together by lose sounds that stick around. As it melts more, it loses the playfulness, replacing it with a stern delivery – finally finding full form.

This has a lot more of a difficult sound to the other Eine Stunde Merzbauten releases that I have previously heard. The single elements each seem to have their own directions and form very abstract combinations of sound when put together. This is very loose, if you could imagine a Jackson Pollock painting with more space between all the lines in a massive space of movement. It strays far away from the Jazz territory that the E.S.M. album a year before occupied.

I like the formlessness of this album, Eine Stunde Merzbauten continue to be a mystery, breaking down all recognisable comparisons of sound. I may have mentioned this before, but once I get past the name of the project and tune in – there is some sold abstract sound delivered here. Eine Stunde Merzbauten really treats sound as Art, screwing with the form and concept endlessly and if I am honest, I really like this approach to noise.

Army of One 2021.

Eine Stunde Merzbauten – E.S.M.

 

Eine Stunde Merzbauten – E.S.M. – Napalmed – 2016 – CD

http://napalmed.cz/

https://bandzone.cz/merzbauten

 

E.S.M. was released in 2016 and it is the fourth album by Czech improv act Eine Stunde Merzbauten. This was released on their own Napalmed label. There have been nine releases by Eine Stunde since 2014.

This album literally dies into life, it feels as if it is faltering and spluttering everywhere, constantly trying, but never reaching its destination. This changes with Elementary School Mumiases as a saxophone enters the sound and seems to jam along with the noise. It is, at first, funny, but signifies a rise in the sound that drags the album out of its slumber. The track slowly morphs into a hypnotic, slow jazz – making very effective music. The noise vibe gradually builds up and you have an industrial landscape and lone Saxophone playing out, it forms a long, screwy jam that is great to hear. The violence of the sound increases in the latter part of the track to dramatic effect, the saxophone is buried within the chaos.

Restrained tinkering communicates with small humming noises and builds Emen Stahl Moon. After the epic build up of Elementary, this is a welcome relief. The stell percussion and violin seem to pull the feel from something European to Asian – back and forth. I like the dream state that this track builds up to via the use of restraint. The use of noise hum creates a shift to a nightmare state: I like this contrast. Brief passages of music pull the listener around further as the violin re-enters Emen to become the real star of the show.

The pulsating drones that showed up in previous sound, really become prominent on Echte Schlechte Madhausen. Hints of music lie in the distance of the sound, but the noise is the lead here. I like the weirdness of the sound as the Sax comes back. I feel there are strong parallels to Smegma here. Electro Save Mode sees the noise alone return to a dying sound, it tries, it dies.

This is a good album; I have enjoyed it. The Czech take on noise improv remains intriguing. I’d recommend hearing these. Don’t be put off by the band name as the sound is studied, rich and rewarding.

Army of One 2021.

Eine Stunde Merzbauten

Eine Stunde Merzbauten – 7305 – 2014 – CD.

http://napalmed.cz/

https://bandzone.cz/merzbauten

Eine Stunde Merzbauten is a four person Czech noise group formed from the dissolution of Napalmed in 2014 and they have released 8 albums since then.

When I got this, I thought this would be a Jerk-off project, but that is a Czech thing, Uncle Grasha’s Flying Circus appears to be this, but when the albums are played, it is way serious, making recordings that resonate historical depth and pure beauty; this is too, but in a very different way.

Big sounds erupt from my Boombox, it has that group feel like Genocide Organ does. Three tracks are melded into one, all covers apparently, but I wouldn’t know as I don’t know a lot about all three of the bands covered, this works as one track for me. I like the continual improvisation between elements that happens, the different components of noise/sound really do sound very separate; this does have a cold intensity that shows in the sound. The sounds seem in continual communication together, an abstract dialogue. There is a continued disruption and aggravation to the sound as noises begin to argue and interrupt each other.

A murky depth begins to comes through, it isn’t all sharp business as it sinks back to murkiness as the album moves from a big sound and drops in sound that are impressive, this adds suspenseful quiet to the work as tinkering jams punctuate the sparseness, the listener is trapped in freakish atmospherics.  The playful interactions go off for a long time, the dialogue of sound is clear as it isn’t hampered by too many big noises. The sound gradually intensifies and the improvision gets busy again towards the end.

This is effective noise improv and I like it - Czech noise is very intriguing.

Euphoric Bullshit Vibe of the Sonic Deathwish Posse 2020.