Knifedoutofexistece - Dead Man's Eyes.

KNIFEDOUTOFEXISTENCE – Dead Man's Eyes – Cassette/Digital – Outsider Art – 2026.

https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com

https://outsiderart.bigcartel.com

https://knifedoutofexistence.bandcamp.com

 

          1.     Imagined Peace.

          2.     Fills My Lungs Like Liquid.

I have a fond relationship with the work of  knifedoutofexistence, I have seen the project play live many times since it started and reviewed many recordings on here. His other project Playworker is worth investigating too.

Imagined Peace starts with slow rumbling which sounds like a contact microphone shuffling and scraping. Feedback and hissing cut into the sound, once this is all established, everything gradually intensifies. Voice like noises wail in the background making the work feel very haunted, which occurs in a lot of recent knifedoutofexistence recordings, particularly, releases like Gone Is the Shell Garden or Tracing Roots Now Severed. As the tension of the work reaches its' peak and the vocal goes off in the background, the signature style of the project is very evident at the end.

Acoustic guitar notes are plucked, humming sounds exist in the background, it feels like a field recording backing the guitar sounds. The background noise increases to roaring distortion, drones and feedback as the guitar shifts to the background. Unintelligible voice booms over everything and the sound descends into something that is simultaneously heavenly and dark. As this breaks down to abstract sound once the voice and guitar fade, the shift into a kind of resonating lonely space is impressive.

Everything I hear by knifed is great, the project continues to fall further into ghostly new territory while still clearly retaining the core elements of  knifedoutofexistence. The wobbly tightrope of progression always risks a steep, unforgiving fall, yet Dean Lloyd Robinson continues to maintain his balance perfectly.

Nothing and Nobody 2026.

Outsider Art Batch October 2021

Outsider Art, 4 Cassette batch, October 2021.

https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com/

https://outsiderart.bigcartel.com/

Natural Orthodoxy – Industrial Athletes – Cassette/Download – 2021 – OA084

https://outsiderart.bigcartel.com/product/natural-orthodoxy-industrial-athletes

https://naturalorthodoxy.bandcamp.com/

Manchester’s Natural Orthodoxy is one of the newer UK Power Electronics to be producing high quality work, having previously released tapes on Outsider Art, Total Black and Phage Tapes since it began 2017.

Natural Orthodoxy utilizes accelerating drones, clatter and voice samples for ‘Living for The Weekend by Hard Fi Plays In Headphones While Antique Revolver Is Loaded’. These three components play off each other perfectly, there are some impressive, nasty loaded undercurrents buried within this work. However, they pop to the forefront as further revving drone, noise and vocals square up to each other in ‘This Workplace is a family/Terminated Without Severance for Failing to Meet Delivery Quota’, the vocals add real impact to this track.

I am impressed by the ominous drones and sharp frequencies, even more so when I read the title, ‘Coordinated Assassination of Middle-Management Tyrants Across the UK’. What I feel is happening here is PE based on the impact everyday work life has on a person and that is great - the horror of the day job amplified through this work makes me delirious and grateful at the same time. By the time we hit ‘Our Employees are Strictly Forbidden from Urinating In Bottles on the Workshop Floor’ I am impressed at the spite being spat back out at everyday life.

I once read how Power Electronics is ultimately an impotent sound form, this someone’s core feelings made whole – a common occurrence on Outsider Art releases. Listening to this on headphones, I feel empowered and got a good buzz of this release. Natural Orthodoxy continues to go from strength to strength.

Soulsdue – Neon Sucking Caterpillar Mask – Cassette/Download – 2021 – OA085

https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com/album/neon-suckling-caterpillar-mask

Neon Suckling Caterpillar Mask is the debut release from Brighton based project Soulsdue.

This one is interesting, it has immediate parallels to Ritual Chair’s Ashamed release from 2019 through its’ vocal narrative, but those die off well as the spoken dialogue is repeatedly punctuated by different blasts of noise – I am impressed by the contrast as the dialogue is clear and the noise is pure and raw. This is a simple formula, but it is sounds fresh, original and most importantly - very effective. The pure and raw components spark off each other perfectly, I almost feel excitement at what is going to happen next throughout the whole release.

I will summarise this as a piece of work that is Steven Jesse Bernstein level brilliant and I excitedly, truly hope that there will be more to come. This is a brilliant release and one of this year’s best.

Tired Out – DJG & Playworker – Cassette/Download – 2021 – OA086

https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com/album/tired-out

https://danieljgregory.bandcamp.com/

DJG (Daniel J. Gregory) and Playworker’s (Dean Lloyd Robinson) collaboration begins as ominous contrasts of sharp pitched, screeching noise, blasts of distortion and cluttering sounds forming Torn Out. It is as if the three sounds conflict with each other and the speed of this conflict is in a constant state of flux. Shifting away from this, Ripped Out uses high-pitched feedback as its lone intro whilst clutter and humming drones eventually appear in the background.  This uses noise that has a rawness and aggression that is in line with Soulsdue, interweaving links between the different tapes. Sounds take on different meanings as things go quieter and play off in the large sense of space that is formed from doing this. This is a temporary quietness as the sounds explode again and the resulting Cacophony is immense.

Burnt Out feels more in line with wall noise, but it retains a clear definition of each element (feedback, clutter and sharp pitches of noise), I admire the difference between each Out. Space felt through minimal noise returns for the title track Tired Out as the experimentation continues when blasts of feedback, clutter and twanging interrupt. This piece goes through a lot of shifts in sound compared to other thacks.

This work is four tracks of shifting, experimental aggression. This is a strong release of well delivered ideas.

Kuebiko – Hemlock, Fool’s Parsley or Cowbane – Cassette/Download – 2021 – OA087

https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com/album/hemlock-fool-s-parsley-or-cowbane

I have been lucky enough to see this project do some amazing live shows over the last few years. I have a lot of high hopes for Kuebiko and really want this release to be good. Hemlock… is Kuebiko’s second release for Outsider Art.

Experimental playfulness forms as strings and field recordings fill out the sound. As the piano enters the track, it is like rays of sunlight bursting through heavy clouds. Flute, tapping and further field recordings of chatter and conversation blend until noise throws bad vibes over the hope. Untitled Continued has a sound that is more cohesive with drones and vocals. Field recordings of a different environment emerge, but are less defined and piano burst remerges, throwing beauty across the work. As deep rumblings emerge under the piano melody, it is near perfect.

The progression the project has shown is impressive and I am excited to see how this will be translated into a live setting. Funny enough Kuebiko is playing live next week so I will find out. Either way this release is another Gem of 2021.

This batch is the most experimental that I have heard from Outsider Art and easily one of the strongest. It would be hard to pick a best one out of the four as each of them shines in their own unique way. All are well worth getting - support this label. All titles are available from the Big Cartel link above.

Coventry Soul 2021

Gig Review - Knifedoutofexistence, Blackcloudsummoner, Itching, Steckdose, Cites Prepare for Attack, Pale World.

 

Knifedoutofexistence, Blackcloudsummoner, Itching, Steckdose, Cites Prepare for Attack, Pale World.

Birmingham Centrala Space,

Friday 11^th June 2021.

I’d been to Centrala previously to see Tunnels of Ah, Satori and Colosloth play over a year ago, I found it a pleasant venue and it was a good gig. This venue’s reputation as one of the key venues for creative culture in Birmingham is now intact. Centrala has an art gallery, café/bar, book shop and sells music: I was excited at the thought of visiting there again. What I didn’t expect is that this socially distanced gig (my first in well over a year) was that it was held in the upstairs gallery, which was a massive space instead of the downstairs area all acts played in last time round!

The first set was a brief one by Pale World, now this performance set the benchmark high - Joe Parkes was crouched on the floor, hitting and throwing a piece of sheet metal that was contact microphoned up and this created a loud assault. There was feedback added to this and mournful drones that came through as the metal abuse slowed down. It was a simple but incredibly effective set. I have seen a handful of sets over the years that use a minimal amount of gear to strong effect, this did that perfectly. I am a fan for sure now as I have been playing stuff off the Bandcamp since this night.

Pale World.

Steckdose was meant to play next, there were technical issues with his equipment, so Cities Prepare for Attack played second.  This was a surprise I wasn’t expecting, I knew of the name as I have met Andrew Cooke a few times and I was expecting some sort of guitar drone type work. It wasn’t like that. There was a guitar that was amped up, I am usure if there were extra pickups or contact microphones added, but the guitar would be hit with different metal instruments to make different sounds. The clanging ranged from dreamy psychedelic sounds to harsher noise reminiscent of the torture scenes in the Ipcress File film and many moods in-between. This all created complex experimental music - another highlight of the night.

Cities Prepare for Attack.

The Steckdose technical issues were sorted out by this time and his set began. I liked the minimal feel the sound started with – just a slow, pulsating hum that wavered and shifted gradually. There was a constant feeling of intense focus on the sound, the feedback that started to punctuate the sound even further concentrated and controlled. Drones emerged that cut through all of this and built up like an infected storm, the intensity to the sound was consistent as it accelerated, getting busier. There was a sense of purpose and discipline to the intricate details that cut into the storm of noise. Steckdose’s relentless, microscopic eye to detail created a constant tension that gripped the audience. This was by far the tightest set of the night, an exercise in sheer control, this artist knew what they were doing and demonstrated that perfectly.

Steckdose.

I have reviewed Itching several times before. The project is by Henry Davies and has replaced his Nacht Und Nebel project that ran for many years. The Cello was the source for all Nacht und Nebel’s sounds, Cat Purrs are the source for all of Itching’s noise and this started the set - due to the volume of the PA, this really filled the gallery making the audience feel like they were inside a happy cat. The source sound gradually began to distort and crackle adding unease to the happiness. It became something else that became increasingly apocalyptic and fractured as the set evolved. The purr eventually came back and the distortion faded all harmony was restored. I like the continued originality of the source materials; this was a powerful set that demonstrated effective methods that truly delivered solid results.

Itching.

Blackcloudsummoner followed Itching. There was a real element of performance here, the sound was immediately there was an aspect of him being the depressed DJ blasting shards of dark, chaotic weirdness at the still audience, his use of noise was immense, fractured and odd. I liked how he really seemed to get off and react his own cacophony as it grew and filled up the space. It is difficult to clearly describe what went off as the build-up and sounds were very odd (when I repeatedly use the word odd, it is meant as a compliment as there is no one else that sounds like this). Blackcloudsummoner’s set was haunted, very impressive, easily the darkest set of the night and the best performance that I have seen by the project so far - a unique one off.

Blackcloudsummoner.

I have seen Knifedoutofexistence several times in the past and reviewed much of his work – there seems to be constant progression occurring here. The set seemed to start from slow rumbles until sharper sounds began to cut in and take over, this is how the sound intensified. I am always raving about how Dean Lloyd Robinson is the master of burying his vocal behind his noise, so it is still a vocal, but also part of the noise – he did that to the full. At one point he was joined by Richard of Unyielding Love and the two as a duo was impressive. Dean’s vocal became less coherent and noisy at one point, so it was pure noise. A melody then enters the set towards the end and he appeared to sing for a time, before it all broke down to noise and shouting again, this was strong how he just did it, successfully weaving it into the set. Knifedoutofexistence alone is strong, backed by the rise of his label Outsider Art, Llloyd Robinson has surrounded himself by similar thinking Harsh Noise and Power Electronics artists old and new that forms a new chapter in the History of the movement (I am aware there are many chapter’s occurring). This set was an intense, dramatic finale to the end of the night.

Knifedoutofexistence.

Often at these sorts of busy gig line ups there will be a bad act, or someone who isn’t as good as the others – this wasn’t the case here. All six acts were different and strong in their delivery making it one of the best noise gigs that I have ever been to.

Coventry Soul 2021.

Artist Links:

http://centrala-space.org.uk/  

https://outsiderart.bigcartel.com/   

https://knifedoutofexistence.bandcamp.com/

https://blackcloudsummoner.bandcamp.com/music

https://itching.bandcamp.com/

https://paleworld.bandcamp.com/

https://steckdose.bandcamp.com/

Blackcloudsummoner & Pale World.

 

Blackcloudsummoner and Pale World – II – Outsider Art – Cassette/Download – 2020 – OA058

https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com/album/ii

https://paleworld.bandcamp.com/

https://blackcloudsummoner.bandcamp.com/

https://outsiderart.bigcartel.com/

      1.  Ever-Open Door.

      2.  Forced Human Extinction.

      3.  Moon of Abstract Time.

      4.  Slitting the Throat of the World.

II is the second collaboration between Pale World and Blackcloudsummoner, all tracks are collaborative. Ever-Open Door sounds like a soundtrack to another dimension as feedback and echoing clang metal go off. This goes on for a while, creating horrid mental landscapes. Deep drones seem to overwhelm everything as their deep rumble resonates around everything. As this really kicks in the sound is massive with the lead sounds allowed space so that they really create a rich, overlaid atmosphere. As the Ever-Open Door falls back into the distance, what sound like hymns being sung finish everything off.

Forced Human Extinction demonstrates aggressive electronics to produce a ruthless sound. Sounds seem to layer on top of each other when you feel it can’t possibly expand further. Screaming noises are woven into the sonic texture; this is more hellish than the opener. The electronics are very disciplined and effective until piano playing interrupts as if to cut off the chaos.

Moon of Abstract Time demonstrates a determination to out do all that came before it on this tape. The nasty electronics reek of depravation and suffering as noises scream like voices continually. As the track progresses the deep churning sounds stay the same, but the over laying noise seems to get increasingly demented as it warps out. I like the unique nastiness of this work as it erodes itself to an end.

The demented qualities of the sound work to maximum effect as a warped Slitting the Throat of the World drags itself along. As the electronics gain speed the sound grows and intensifies massively into another huge display of negativity. The smaller sounds that exist within the chaos interest me, they are quirky and odd like a lot of Blackcloudsummoner and Pale World noises often are. This is the longest track between the two artists and the twisted language between them really builds and moves throughout.

I am pleased Outsider Art is picking up on a lot of odd, warped variations of Power Electronics like this that are emerging, as releases like this really are amongst the best new work out there today.

Euphoricbullshitvibe 2020.

Ordeal by Roses - City of Forms.

 Ordeal by Roses – City of Forms – MC/CD – Outsider Art 2020.

https://outsiderart.bigcartel.com/

https://ordxxlbxrxsxs.bandcamp.com/

https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com/

Sometimes work comes along that destroys all you knew before as it wires itself to your nervous system, it’s a rare occurrence, but you always know when it has happened. That is my relationship to Ordeal by Roses and after two great tape releases, I nervously approach the debut album - the stakes are high.

As spoken dialogue opens the album and leads us into City of Forms 1- Hostile Architecture I feel as if I am somewhere in between a dream and a soundtrack. Melodic synths and distorted electronics play off each other radiating an intense, hostile beauty. The vocals kick off somewhere within the psychological architecture of sound. Hurt Hostility rises to the forefront as City of Forms 2- Time as a Suture explodes briefly – short, sharp facts expressed through rage and walls of distortion. New ideas in new forms as beats, drones and an intermittent vocal form a circle to make a ritual of pain that is The Mask of a Child.  

The spoken dialogue returns as The Wheel Refuses to Spin (To the Least of my Brothers) and switches to traumatised shouting whilst the drones play out. This combines instrumentation and noise to an impressive degree with both taking the lead at the right time, this happens a lot throughout the album. Knights of Swords (reversed) switches to a direct assault as noises play off each other building a huge blast as it slowly melds together. The vocal gets in on the action and goes off massively, the noise seems to follow this lead. This is a lengthy, sonic tantrum as everything becomes one to express something.

The last City of Forms 3 – Irreconcilable Distance pulls the beauty back into the sound as melodic electronics and distortion work together whilst the vocal gives out one last surge of dialogue. The anger and beauty combine to bring City of Forms to an end

The abstract artwork on the cover compliments and works like the music as it radiates a life. There is darkness and light within the vague forms, what they are or if they are there at all is hard to tell. The artwork and sounds being one happens a lot on Ordeal by Roses releases.

The contrast of light and dark within City of Forms is vast, the synths in the work have a soundtrack like vastness whilst the vocals - noisy and spoken are impressive. On Monday someone will as what I did this weekend, and I will tell them that I experienced the reality of an existence and it was perfect.

ZG 2020.

Outsider Art August 2020 batch of tapes.

Outsider Art – New Batch of tapes.

https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com/

https://outsiderart.bigcartel.com/

Playworker – Vague Recollections.

        1.    Gear Shifts from First to Third.

        2.    Thirtythree

Playworker is a new UK project, a Knifedoutofexistence side project. Gear Shifts from First to Third is minimal, choppy, distorted radio like noise and what appears to be a vocal buried in the background. I like the static shift of this piece, very straight to the point and raw. This piece is impressive as it goes through distinct passages within the track as each collection of lead sounds shift to another.

Thirtythree uses a sharper palette of noise, choppier, more cutting in tone and texture. It breaks down to use a bass crunch in parts, this then adds pattern to the texture as you then have clear contrast. This makes some dramatic shifts in speed as if in overdrive and gains more echo to add more depth to the sound, this comes in as the sound begins to crumble.

Tracks within tracks, minimal, direct palette. This shouldn’t be a “side- project”, it needs continual growth and development for more magic to happen. This is an excellent, challenging release.

Lacrima/Pastoral Abuse – Simple Joy.

        1.    Lacrima – Virgil’s Hand.

        2.    Pastoral Abuse – Only Flesh.

        3.    Pastoral Abuse – White Flower After Death.

        4.    Pastoral Abuse – Pain Gate.

I’m new to Lacrima as heavy, haunted atmospherics lead Virgil’s Hand which quickly intensifies and gets noisy. Once this gets noisy, it has subtle rises in sound that increase the deliveries range. The sharper noises serve as a lead sound within Virgil’s Hand whilst the deeper sounds and distortion serve as a moving landscape in which the act unfolds, as it builds there is an increase of mania within the work. This is a good, solid barrage of Harsh Noise, the sounds are authoritative and controlled. I’d like to see how this solid delivery comes out in live performance. I like this.

I was very impressed by Pastoral Abuses – Cold Hand of Power Release on Invisible City Records recently so before I even play Simple Joy, I expect the highest standards. Straight away the sound is strangled and muffled as the fractured vocal bleeds through. The restraint continues with White Flower After Death, even more so. This is distant, low level noise that works well. Fractured, buried vocals return on Pain Gate, this rises slowly, as it does so the dialogue becomes more intriguing, you are pulled into what is happening. This is an impressive display of noise strangulation; the vocal display is very original and unique - the high standards have been met.

Eros Catheter – Medusa Configuration.

https://pressuredspeech.bandcamp.com/

        1.    Corridors of Heaven.

        2.    Mirtazapine Temple.

        3.    Rose Binding.

        4.    Medusa Configuration.

This one is remarkably interesting; I have just played this in the background, and I would say we have a serious player here. It is noise, but part esoteric in what comes out, mournful and bleak would also be appropriate terms. There are layered, textures of sound that reveal themselves. Some tracks have vocals treated to incoherency within the work, keyboards and synthesisers are used well. Beats eventually come into Rose Binding, which is the most noise track so far, buried vocals bleed out. Eros Catheter throws a few nods out to Coil on this tape, hence the esoteric. Medusa Configuration throws me some Power Electronics by letting the synthesizers radiate whilst ambient sounds and vocal noises occur. As it builds the use of noise becomes rhythmic and intense. This is a long instrumental display of the self.

Medusa Configuration is easily amongst the best releases I have heard so far this year.

Slow Murder – Death to Fascism, Freedom to the People.

https://slowmurder.bandcamp.com/

        1.    Paid in Blood.

        2.    A Litany of Beasts Pt 1.

        3.    A Litany of Beasts Pt 2.

        4.    A Litany of Beasts Pt 3.

        5.    Example.

        6.    Destruction of an Empire.

        7.    Death to Fascism, Freedom to the People.

I’ve been more than impressed by the past work Wales act Slow Murder, they have made an impressive start and this tape does that, a sample of a record playing plays out until an intense display of Harsh Noise kicks in. I say this a lot about this batch, but again we have another high hitter, this is just brutal and massively relevant to the now, they screech impressive vocals and the displays of noise are sharp and harsh. Even when the actions are buried in murk they shine through. I really am taken by the vocals, they are impressively delivered. Like Lacrima I am keen to know, is it this good live, because it’s good. Ace release, Slow Murder is undoubtedly a top tier project.

This batch of tapes demonstrates we have brilliance a plenty in Noise in the UK, I am so happy I decided to throw my focus here.

Dorcus Maximus 2020.

Knifedoutofexistence - Fragility.

Knifedoutofexistence – Fragility – Cassette/Download – Outsider Art – OA040 – 2020.

Outsider Art Bandcamp: https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com

Outsider Art Bigcartel: https://outsiderart.bigcartel.com

Knifedoutofexistence Bandcamp: https://knifedoutofexistence.bandcamp.com

Twitch: https://twitch.tv/knifedoutofexistence

     1.       Work In Progress.

     2.       Better to be Broken than to be Hardened.

     3.       Water Drains Between Stones.

     4.       Joy Rendered Bittersweet.

     5.       Roots Torn and Exposed.

Sound recordings of birds singing, seagulls and water flowing with mild electronics simmering in the background slowly form Work in Progress; it is as if we are being introduced to the artists environment. I don’t want to break this down too much to a track by track review, but there is a lot of Field recordings coupled with muted, broken electronics happening throughout Fragility.

I have seen the project explode live, whilst still really restraining what goes off, there is a tension created to the work that resonates the sound more, here the noise is mostly pushed down a lot, whilst repeated keyboard loops of broken melodies play out. On some occasions the noise is given a bit more room to breathe whereas other times it has far less space to move. However, there is a brief explosion of Power Electronics on Joy Rendered Bittersweet, it isn’t something that is even built up to, it just happens from a build-up of wavering distortion, feedback and echoes into a brief but glorious tantrum.

Bleak, mournful electronics finish the album off. A slow melody with Field Recordings, distortion and echoed vocals reflect further on existence, which Fragility seems to do a lot. This ties the EP together perfectly.

Knifetoutofexistence has now reached full maturity, the last few recordings are the best, there has been consistent improvement and growth. The bar has now been set very high, I believe we will now see real greatness. This is an excellent recording that will be out on April 15^th in limited and regular edition.

Nevis Kretini 2020.

Slow Murder - Warped Skin.

Slow Murder – Warped Skin – Cassette/Download – Outsider Art – 2020.

https://outsiderart.bandcamp.com/album/warped-skin

https://slowmurder.bandcamp.com/

     1.       Stunted.

     2.       Gift of Insomnia.

     3.       0110.

Today I discovered Slow Murder so I am hitting the latest release, Warped Skin on Outsider Art. The cover combines photography and drawing to primitive effect – a depiction of the raw self that is powerful through its simplicity.

Stunted uses the simple repetition of resonating pulsations as a bigger, harder re-introduction of the project. The desolate landscape of sound is reintroduced, and the noise seems massive as it interrupts finding new ways to resonate further each time, this is the artist making sure we see the(m) self in the work – a self-portrait carved in sound. The stripped back simplicity seems to shed skin right down to raw flesh and bone. This build up of noise is compressed and beaten into a rhythm as a static vortex of noise shouts over it. Stunted isn’t Stunted at all, just a bigger, better Slow Murder, less torturous, just a massive assault.

A smaller dialogue of subtle noise is the intro to Gift of Insomnia and what sounds like guitar abuse seems to grow in stature and form a rhythm for howling noise atmospherics to build barren landscapes. This seems to have interludes of torture as the noise becomes hostile through feedback manipulation, I like how the project teases with earlier (release) methods – however Gift of Insomnia is new terrain for the project that has esoteric leanings through frenzied repetition and manipulation of speed and frequency.

Painful sharp tones and farting drones make me dizzy as the noise abuse of Slow Murder takes on bigger, sharper dimensions on 0110. This pulls into bleak atmospherics while the feedback buzzes through, as it rises it becomes aggressive through simple tone manipulation, the farting pulsations are nauseous, the combination rich.

Slow Murder is a subtly aggressive project that seems to thrive when doing this. The self remains amplified and etched into the work, I am again impressed and can’t praise this project enough. I have mentioned the US project Hydra in relation to this in another review and that was an impressive, torturous project, this follows that path to make impressive, solid work each time.

Nevis Kretini – 2020.

Knifeoutofexistence - The Future Grows Beneath My Skin.

Knifedoutofexistence – The Future Grows Beneath My Skin – Outsider Art – Cassette/Download – 2020.

https://outsiderart.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/outsiderartrecords/

I’d observed in the past that Knifedoutofexistence was maturing and starting to develop - that’s where I left it.

On January 2nd after a year of successful batches of tapes, Outsider Art announced Knifed had done a new recording over the last few days of 2019 and was releasing it at the start of 2020. It would be a 2-track tape called ‘The Future Grows Beneath My Skin.

I have always been curious where the name came from, does it reference a personal event/trauma or a desire to rid the self of someone?

Knifedoutofexistence often puts the rage behind the noises that are at the forefront of the sound, it’s quite clever, goes way back before the project ever existed, I’ve seen him do it live and it’s very impressive. However, these two tracks seem to take the distancing and fly with it. Both tracks are very ambient, rich, still noisy, but seem to mourn as bleak electronics and drones take the lead. Feedback and melody are present and sing their song in turn. The tracks add up to a total of 20 minutes that resonate uncertainty and sing the confusion of the present day. I feel there was a minimal set-up used to make these tracks, they were recorded straight on to tape.

Outsider Art has stepped up its game, there have been no end of impressive releases by other projects to a point where I forgot it was the label where Knifedoutofexistence released his own projects. I now must go back and check to see what happened previously as it’s very clear Knifedoutofexistence has stepped up its game. A clear case of less is more.

As this is the first release that I have hit on this year, I feel this cassette has started the year with a bang. Excellent work!

Nevis Kretini 2020.

Nevis Kretini/Choppy Noodles - 2019 Best of list.

Choppy Noodles > Nevis Kretini – Best of 2019.

This has been an amazing year, so many ace releases. Too many names to mention, it was impossible to limit to 10,so here are my 12 favourites.

Rusalka – Base Waters. Absurd Exposition – LP – 2019.

I knew of Rusalka, but this was the first time that I really listened - I reviewed this on first listen. Base Waters shifts through a lot of changes in Sonic Language over two tracks to create an album of powerful conceptualised effect. The sound builds to massive proportions as the language shifts and I am now very aware of this top tier project.

Nacht Und Nebel – Limitations – Self Released Cassette and Download– 2019.

I’ve gradually accumulated a lot of Nacht Und Nebel releases over the years through seeing the project play live. Both live shows and releases are always consistently strong with the project playing with acts like Ramleh, Blackcloudsummoner, Vampyres, Culver and many more over the years. However, this release really does stand out against the others, here the project really ups its game. Sounds are all sourced from a Cello and treated to varying degrees, overlaid to make epic compositions.

Ordeal by Roses – A Petty and Childish Obsession – Outsider Art – Cassette andDownload – 2019.

Both releases by Ordeal by Roses on the Outsider Art label this year have been very strong, I could have picked either of them. I’d call this a stand-alone, outsider project based in Cardiff, Wales that has come from trauma to the self. This took me by surprise, and I see this as a standout project amongst newer artists.

Niku Daruma – She Gets What She Wants – Black Ring Rituals – 2019.

Niku Daruma have been prolific this year, they featured on a lot of great split releases as well as their own. They all do other noise related projects, but this one really stands out. Some of the releases are base raw and work even better and I could pick from a few of their releases. They seem like nice people who turn into hysterical, violent monsters when performing, making amazing Harsh Noise whilst erupting everywhere.

Suffer In April – Pomona. Corde Raide Productions – Cassette – 2019.

I met this guy as he runs a tribute page to another noise artist, we got chatting and he said he had his own project called Suffer in April. The first release Femme Fatale is what I would call forward thinking Power Electronics, in contrast Pomona carries on these methods yet goes elsewhere and radiates immense beauty.

Entre Vifs – Offrande et Partage - Aussaat und Ernte - 2019.

This is a beautifully presented cd that cases the angrier side of Entre Vifs. I liked the previous album Ontologie a lot, but Offrande seems to go to much higher levels of intensity. Entre Vifs use their own self-made instruments to create an elaborate sound that is simultaneously structured and chaotic, yet to me they remain one of the most brutal noise acts of the present day.

Wolvestribe – Understanding the Ecological Role – Aaarrrg.

Wolvestribe came to my attention when a label called Harsh Noise London sent me some of their releases. HNL tend to put different artists on compilations together on recycled audio cassettes – Wolvestribe were part of a 4-way split. I was very impressed and had to investigate further and I was suitably convinced that we have a new heavyweight amongst the newer UK noise crop. Wolvestribe release their own lathe cut 10” records and frequently produce new material that is consistently of a high standard.

Testing Vault – Amnesia Milk. – Looney Tick – 2019.

I’ve followed Testing Vault for over a decade now, the project has changed and shifted gradually – with side projects that experiment in other areas of sound. The output by the project has been consistently strong, but Amnesia Milk seems to take the sound of reeds and drones that have been lurking in recent releases and take a massive leap forward with them to perfect things. Amnesia Milk eclipses Complete Shit Exorcism as the best Testing Vault recording so far.

S.T.A.B. Electronics – Enemy of Pigs – Unrest – 2019.

S.T.A.B. grabbed my attention as a strong modern-day project. On ‘Day of the Male’, the vocals were next level. ‘Mother, Mother, Mother please’ as a repeated opening sample opens Enemy of Pigs, this album is just bleak violence and pushes the project forwards to new levels of intensity and quality. Seeing the project live at the opening party for the release was something I will never forget. This album is strong on every track, a consistent, impressive step up.

Satori – The Braver the Bull, the Better the Bullfight – Outsider Art – 2019.

Outsider art often releases Knifedoutofexistence and does batches of four cassettes, all by different artists. The acts featured are often newer artists on the UK scene, however this time veteran project Satori was featured. It’s a repeated rule in PE that newer artists are where it is really at and older acts are often seen to be not what they were once. When I saw Satori live this year, that wasn’t the case, Dave Kirby was an unnerving presence which made for an effective show. Satori has this distanced rage that I see come through in other Outsider Art acts of the present day such as Ordeal by Roses and Knifedoutofexistence to a point where I see it as being influential. To top it off this cassette is excellent – clear evidence of an older act at the top of its game.

Active Denial – What Dreams are Made Of – Outsider Art – 2019.

Both releases by Active Denial are powerful, but this one is the best one, the sound is stripped down, raw and intense. Horrible noise and ranted sermons of bile. Active Denial are a name to watch as recordings and live performances are amazing. Get both recordings if you can, this was so popular it was gone in the blink of an eye and Research Laboratories reissued it. Thomas Laroche (one half of AD) has a whole bunch of stuff on there that is a whole new nightmare running parallel to this. I’m still not over the Summer of Hate, don’t know if I ever will be – you’re still it.

Detrimental Effect – Your Truth – Tesco – 2019.

I often talk about distanced Power Electronics; this however uses restraint in its sound – the tension that builds up as a result of this on Your Truth is enormous and makes for an effective, powerful release. Noise and samples play off each other, things pushed a hair’s length from their breaking points. This depiction of the lies used in politics and media is the soundtrack of today.

Nevis Kretini 2019.