A schizophrenic evening with Japan's noise maestro and some student solder shut-ins. Switched back and forth (or "phased" as said electrophiles may have put it) between enjoyment and anger, so will have to write two reviews. Like Harvey Dent...which side'll win??? You decide.
But before that just a quick description of De Montfort Uni's new way of allocating places at free concerts. First, do not advertise the show widely, sensible really as you don't want a Uni facility mobbed (although I don't think Merzbow is that much of a draw in the UK). Second get people to ring a number off of the one website advertising the show, then put an answer-phone on the end. Thirdly do not ring people back to let them know if it's OK to come. Finally, see who shows up on the night, leaving one thirties-ish woman with a clipboard to manage a crusty noise-philic bunch (including big skinhead) alone. She was quite scary though so well done her. Anyway we got in as we were "on the list" despite not being made aware of that beforehand. Two reviews follow:
Plain Face
I was really nervous when I saw that everyone in the ensemble had earplugs, I've scoffed at people going to see Sunn o))) and ear-defending, but here it felt like it was me who'd missed a trick. I was half smiling half grimacing throughout, but a lot of it was just fucking painful, like listening to someone tuning a radio, while the dentist drilled away at my own molars and someone played Pong on God's old Atari system...for an hour and a half. Some smug arty twats were doing the deep philosophical head-nodding during the "performance". Man, that's annoying (and inappropriate), other electronics-wiz John Richards was doing it too, but at least had an excuse being part of the show. It hurt and nearly broke my ears. Quite a few people walked out.Defaced Side
This was an experimental journey (hate that use of that word), not intended to be pristine, precise or for general release. It's road testing, trail blazing and exploration. There is a fair element of chance to the sound created, and that makes for some intimacy of a unique shared experience for those present. The volume was pretty high, and that washed some folk away, but the sheer visceral thump and scrape of the sound-scapes made for a real whole body experience that had me grimacing with real pain and smiling with some joy. There were waterfalls, stone monoliths metalwork shops and Frankenstein's lab.
I certainly will remember it for some time (for both reasons), Palmer has his say here liked the "support...none" bit, like you'd need some emotional back-up after the aural trauma.
Looking at my mobile vids again on a pooter, I was surprised that there's a lot more going on - when it's not at ear-crapping volume.
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | April 23, 2008 at 09:00 AM
very myopic review. there was no element of chance involved in the performance (it was written beforehand by john richards and merzbow) AND the girl on he door was only 22 and in my experience, very polite. you've upset her now. don;t become a music journalist or try to chat up girls cos you could get in trouble with the law
Posted by: robin | May 12, 2008 at 01:23 AM
Ah well, them's the vagaries, love to Bruce - Harv.
Posted by: Gilbert | May 12, 2008 at 08:19 AM
That's you told, Gilb. I wonder if Robin likes Snow White? ;)
Posted by: palmer_eldritch | May 12, 2008 at 08:54 AM