Experimental Noise Recommendations

There's so much beauty to be found in experimental noise and sound art. I know it's not for everyone, but if you open your mind (and your ears, and your heart) and let go of everything you're conditioned to believe music should be and just LISTEN... noise can be a gloriously captivating thing.

From quiet hushed avant-garde neoclassical minimalism to strange yet intriguing field recordings to sheer walls of earsplitting harsh noise - sound itself as a concept is endlessly fascinating to me. 

Here's a list of great album recommendations for all you noise lovers out there. You will find very little melody in these albums, and the melody you do find you may not find agreeable (lol) but this is undoubtedly incredible music that deserves a lot more love and attention than it gets.

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Laura Cocks - Field Anatomies (2022) 

GENRE : experimental, avant-garde, neoclassical, solo flute

RECORD LABEL : Carrier Records

Laura is an experimental solo flutist from New York and is the executive director of the TAK ensemble. This is her strange and fascinating debut solo album, focusing on the physicality and movements involved with playing the flute, as opposed to the actual notes and melodies. The performances on these songs range from strangled cries and quiet breathy whispers to fierce dissonant crescendos that sounds like someone pushing their entire physical being to the limits. The sounds that form as a result seem to dance between the notes being played, like they have a mind of their own.

These songs were written by a variety of composers to be specifically performed by Laura Cocks, who uses a variety of flutes, balloons, aluminum foil and bits of miscellaneous electronics and hardware to create this cathartic and captivating work of unique avant-garde brilliance.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://lauracocks.bandcamp.com/album/field-anatomies

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The Creeping Man - Opportunistic Cannibal (2022)

GENRE : noise, dark ambient, drone, field recordings

RECORD LABEL : Veinte 33 Records

Dark, creepy and extremely unnerving... this is a horrific yet spellbinding noise album from The Creeping Man. Full of haunting sound collages and field recordings from old movies, ''educational'' documentaries and weird commercials/announcements, mixed in with ominous drones and hypnotic waves of atonal noise...this is a dark twisted noise trip for the willing sufferer. Great stuff.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://veinte33records.bandcamp.com/album/opportunistic-cannibal

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Kate Carr - Resurfacing (2022)

GENRE : field recording, noise, drone, sound design

RECORD LABEL : Flaming Pines

In the middle of winter 2021, the amazingly talented sound artist Kate Carr decided to make a recording of the joiners resurfacing the road outside her London flat. As much as I want to scoff at the absurdity and ridiculousness of the whole idea... it actually makes for a really interesting and strangely hypnotic field recording. In this track you will hear the familiar roadwork sounds of heavy machinery, men yelling, hammers hammering, drills drilling and various other miscellaneous city sounds of varying frequencies and volumes. An absurdly fascinating listening experience.

Why would you listen to almost 18 minutes of roadworks? I don't know. Would I recommend it? Hell yeah! Kate Carr is also the owner of the Flaming Pines record label, which is a great label you should definitely check out if you're into all forms of weird and wonderful noises and experimental sound art.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://flamingpines.bandcamp.com/album/resurfacing

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Wound - Clinomania (2022)

GENRE : experimental, ambient, avant-garde, noise

RECORD LABEL : Wormhole World

Lose yourself in this grey blizzard of wonderful noise. Swirling distortions of abstract melancholy, torment, confusion, anger and despair. Malevolent and sinister, yet introspective and strangely serene. Wound creates these expansive soundscapes using mesmerizing synth pads, heavily-reverbed guitars, IDM-like glitchy electronics, and solemn piano - the chaos roars, the sadness whispers, and the beautiful ambience shimmers and glistens. This is an emotional and captivating atmospheric noise album. 

Stream/Download the album here...

https://wormholeworld.bandcamp.com/album/clinomania

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The Pale Faced Family On The Hill & Oliver Coates - The Pale Faced Family On The Hill (2022)

GENRE : drone, dark ambient, noise, drone metal, Scotland

RECORD LABEL : Line Explorations

This is an interesting collaboration between a bunch of electronic producers and Scottish drone artist Oliver Coates. Recorded in a small church hall on the outskirts of London, this is a unique and esoteric mix of dark ambient electronica music, noisy earsplitting deep cello drones and manipulated weather recordings and vocal samples. The album is haunting,  unnerving and emotional. A dark wonderful unpredictable noise feast.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://olivercoates.bandcamp.com/album/the-pale-faced-family-on-the-hill

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andPlay & Victoria Cheah - A Butterfly On Your Shoulder Into Years And Years To Come (2022)

GENRE : avant-garde, noise, sound art, field recordings, drone

RECORD LABEL : Dinzu Artefacts

Dinzu Artefacts release some of the most interesting field recordings (and visual aesthetics) on the planet, and specialize in limited edition runs of cassette tapes for these releases.

This album is a collaboration between experimental violin/viola duo andPlay and multi-disciplinary composer Victoria Cheah - both based in New York. 

Side A consists of over 17 minutes of pure tension, created by the ebbs and flows of dissonant violin and viola working in tandem, almost as if they're competing towards some unknown finishing line. The result is painful and harsh, yet strangely beautiful and compelling.

Side B is 22 minutes of brutality and catharsis. The screeching and wailing of the strings reflect the torment of the mind, the torture of the spirit and the complexity of human emotions... before a (very) slight sweetness makes its way into sound, right towards the end. The slightest glimpse of sun leaking through a hole in a dungeon wall. A really rewarding album for the close attentive listener.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://dinzuartefacts.bandcamp.com/album/a-butterfly-on-your-shoulder-into-years-and-years-to-come

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Black Ops - Ephemera (2022)

 

GENRE : noise, dark ambient, drone, field recordings, hauntology

RECORD LABEL : Anticipating Nowhere

Deep dark haunting soundscapes... black hypnagogic winds blowing through the recesses of the human brain, finding its way into all the various nooks and crannies. This psychological white noise (or should I say black noise?) is captivating and strangely relaxing, despite having some pretty disturbing moments in there. The intriguing sounds and textures of this album were created by manipulated field recordings. Highly recommended for dark immersive listening.

Anticipating Nowhere is a brilliant little netlabel that specializing in all kinds of experimental noises and hypnotic soundscapes. You should check out their Bandcamp page and their Mixcloud if you're seeking some strange atmospheric aural treats.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://anticipatingnowhere.bandcamp.com/album/ephemere

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Gold - Miserere Mei, Deus (2022)

GENRE : harsh noise, drone, field recordings, electronica

RECORD LABEL : self-released

This is the newest release from the highly prolific noise artist Gold, who also releases music under his alternative moniker Carrion. If you're familiar with either (or both) of these projects, you'll be acquainted with his unapologetically long dark noise pieces and his haunting visual aesthetics.

The tone of this new album is particularly bleak and heavy. It hangs over you like a black cloud that's about to burst and rain down on you with a terrible wrath. The songs are comprised of strange and eerie field recordings of (what I gather to be) seagulls, public gatherings, street noises, radio transmissions, evangelical preachers and... Japanese porn? The field recordings and unsettling atonal static is broken up by fragments of twisted church hymnals and detuned string quartets. Awesome stuff.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://goldnoise.bandcamp.com/album/miserere-mei-deus

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Carrion - Coma (2021)

GENRE : harsh noise, drone, field recordings, dark ambient, industrial

RECORD LABEL : Gates of Hypnos

And here's an album from Gold's alternative moniker Carrion. It's an hour-long descent into the pits of misery, but holy hell it's an enjoyable ride. A hypnotic and haunting whirlwind of noise, subtly accompanied by melancholic melodies that slowly but surely eventually creep their way into the relentlessly bleak soundscape. 

Gates of Hypnos are a record label that specialize in music like this - hypnotic walls of dark noise/drone/ambience to lose yourself in. You should take a browse through their Bandcamp page and find yourself something dark and wonderful to listen to.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://gatesofhypnos.bandcamp.com/album/coma

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SVR - Procession (2022)

GENRE : minimalistic drone, dark ambient, electronic, abstract, sound art

RECORD LABEL : self-released

Here's an album of dark monolithic drone music from Scotland. Ominous and austere, slow and haunting, abstract and slightly unnerving... this music is all about texture and mood. The songs require patience and time to unfold and unravel, but if you allow them to... they will slowly engulf you, and you'll love it.

I also really dig the visual aesthetics of this project. The concrete minimalism goes hand in hand with the music. 

Stream/Download the album here...

https://svrsound.bandcamp.com/album/procession

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Disfigured Robot Child - Psychedelic Pyxicephalus (2022)

GENRE : harsh noise, noise, power electronics, 

RECORD LABEL : MuteAnt Sounds

Oh my God, my fucking ears... listening to this album feels like having a jackhammer drill slowly but surely right through my skull, and penetrate into the pure goo that my brain has become. This music is a relentlessly violent and traumatic assault on the eardrums, and on the heart... yet it's a rather wonderful sonic accomplishment. Fans of Merzbow, Prurient and Cop Funeral will likely enjoy this. Definitely the kind of music to listen to when you find yourself angry, sad and alone. 

Stream/Download the album here...

https://muteantsoundsnetlabel.bandcamp.com/album/psychedelic-pyxicephalus

NEST: A Compilation Supporting Trans Youth and Their Families (No Thank You Recordings 2022)

 

GENRE : experimental, abstract, ambient, field recordings, avant-garde

RECORD LABEL : No Thank You Recordings

No Thank You Recordings have one of the best Bandcamp bios I've ever read - ''a place for ambient/avant-garde/experimental/field recording artists to share pieces they really believe in and to which others have No'' . I love it. 

No Thank You Recordings are an ambient/experimental/field recordings label, and this is their recently released charity compilation to help raise funds to support trans kids and their families through the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund - www.transgenderlegal.org. You can read their full mission statement at the Bandcamp link below...

I must say...the quality of music on this compilation is pretty damn incredible. The compilation consists of 32 tracks of wonderful (mostly) ambient/noise music from artists I've never heard of. There's a huge range of styles and moods throughout the songs, and it never gets boring or predictable.

The songs range from the abstract & atonal to the melodic & dreamy to the disturbing & creepy to the harsh & painful to just all-out weird as f**k... but the album as a whole is a joy to listen to, from beginning to end. There's lots of cool surprises in there, even a couple of pop songs and a vapourwave song!

I highly recommend you check this out. Ideally I'd like to have posted this on Bandcamp Friday...but I was super busy that day, and I wanted to actually listen to the music before writing anything about it.  

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Some of my own personal highlights...

Solo1 - Sunland Drive No.2

The delightful swirling melancholic opening track of the compilation. It's quite Lynchian actually.

Mollbury Medical Research Centre - We Have Established Communication

I did a write-up for the debut MMRC album here a couple of months ago. Very disturbing and unsettling dark ambient/drone music. 

TABBY - Love Processing

A glorious electronic ambient track. It feels like being sucked up into the stars.

Cyparissus - fibi 

Gorgeous birdsong. Sometimes that's all you need to hear.

Infrasubcontra - Verdant Slant

Slow dark cinematic drone music composed from tubas, pedals and synths.

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Stream/Download the compilation here...

https://nothankyourecordings.bandcamp.com/album/nest-a-compilation-supporting-trans-youth-and-their-families

Helen Gillet - Bangkok Silver (2020)

 

GENRE : solo cello, singer-songwriter, jazz, folk, experimental, Belgium,

RECORD LABEL : self-released

Here's a wonderful experimental cello singer-songwriter album that I randomly discovered on Bandcamp. Helen Gillet is a Belgian-born songwriter and surrealist-archaeologist. Her music is a beautiful and interesting mixture of folk, jazz, pop, funk and classical. I found this album to be very enjoyable and impressive, not only for its various musical stylings and superb cello playing - it's also an interesting mix bag of different moods and emotions. Gillet's songs range from introspective and melancholy, to fun and bouncy, to joyful and amusing, to experimental and strange. She sings in two different languages - English and French. I personally don't know which songs are originals and which are covers, but it doesn't really matter because she makes all these songs her own. I particularly love the first two songs.

I really wish she'd sort out the colour design of her Bandcamp page though. All that white text on white background is painful on the eyes, haha!

Stream/Download the album here :

https://helengillet.bandcamp.com/album/bangkok-silver

Autumn Chorus - The Village To The-Vale (2012)

GENRE : alternative rock, post rock, experimental, indie rock

RECORD LABEL : AltrOck Productions

To describe Autumn Chorus as an ''alternative rock band'' is a terrible injustice...yet it's probably the simplest and easiest way to sum up their sound, so I'll stick to it for the time being. Autumn Chorus was a 4-piece British alternative rock band, led by frontman Robbie Wilson who sadly passed away in 2016. 'Village To The-Vale' was their first and last album, and a breathtaking masterpiece that most people will never hear...which I find tragic.

I try to refrain using the word 'epic' these days, because it's such an overused word...but I can't help but describe this particular album as epic. It's powerful and delicate, sweeping and intimate, progressive and melodic, melancholy and sweet....it's a beautiful work of art. Autumn Chorus combines the best elements of post-rock, indie rock, progressive pop and modern classical. Within the sound you will likely identify the post-rock guitar licks of Explosions In The Sky, the high fragile vocal stylings of Radiohead, some of the pastoral lyrical themes of Midlake, and the soaring orchestral majesty of Sigus Ros and Olafar Arnalds. It also features gorgeous guest vocal spots from Swedish singer-songwriter Thomas Feiner, the artist (Robbie's partner) Sephine Llo, and let's not forget their daughter, Constance. 

Even though I never knew Robbie personally, my heart breaks every time I hear this album and think about the fact that he is no longer with us. He was an extremely talented artist and musician, and I'd have loved to have heard more from him. At the very least he left this masterpiece (and a few various singles) behind. For further listening, I also attached these wonderful singles below...

Stream/Download the album here :

https://altrockproductions.bandcamp.com/album/the-village-to-the-vale

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Autumn Chorus - Long Goodby

Autumn Chorus - Snake In The Grass

Thomas Feiner & Fyfe Dangerfield & Autumn Chorus - The Rainbow (TalkTalk cover)

Outcast Tape Infirmary - Hope For Spring (Charity Compilation 2022)

 

GENRE : alternative, indie rock, punk rock, punk, emo, experimental, charity,

RECORD LABEL : Outcast Tape Infirmary

There was a lot of charity compilations released on yesterday's Bandcamp Friday, in support of various different causes. I had a super busy day, so I couldn't keep up with it all myself, unfortunately, but I was able to check out a couple of them and donate. 

Here's an awesome charity compilation from new-ish DIY tape label Outcast Tape Infirmary. See below for info...

(I'm going to do a separate blog post for compilation albums in support of Ukraine)

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100% of all purchases will be donated to Hope For The Day - an organization that provides important resources for mental health issues and suicide prevention. It's no secret that we're all struggling right now, and we all know somebody else who is struggling. There is always hope. There is always someone out there who cares. It's Ok Not To Be Ok. For more info, check out HFTD.org

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The artists who have contributed to this compilation are of no specific genre or style, which makes the whole thing unpredictable and chaotic, and brilliant. It bounces from lo-fi indie folk to emo to abstract electronica to dark ambient to ear-splitting punk rock. It's a great compilation of songs, and it's for a very worthy cause. Give it a blast and please consider donating.

A few personal highlights :

Ali Murray - Dear Evelyn - a stunning electro-acoustic dark atmospheric pop song by sinfully unrecognized Scottish songwriter Ali Murray. I'll be reviewing his new album when it comes out on 17/04/22, which is now available for pre-order.

Jonny Fallout - Dark Space - a breathtaking ethereal electronic pop song by Boston synthwave artist Jonny Fallout. Awesome stuff. Check out his Bandcamp page here.

Frick. - Bike - a cool fun simple lo-fi punk song by a band called .frick that would be right at home on any of the wonderful 90's Epitaph or Fat Wreck Chords compilations. I love it.

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Stream/Download the compilation here :

https://outcasttapes.bandcamp.com/album/hope-for-spring-compilation-22

Cop Funeral - Pain (2021)

 

GENRE : harsh noise, noise, experimental, electronic, industrial

RECORD LABEL : Already Dead Tapes & Records

Cop Funeral is the dark noise music project of Joshua Tabbia, who also runs the quirky and amazing record label Already Dead Tapes & Records. This is his second album, and it's not for the faint of heart. It's dark, brutal, unnerving...and brilliant.

As it states on the Bandcamp page, ''Nothing represented here is the soundtrack to one's daily activities. No, this is what it sounds like to escape the social structure, either by transcending it or destroying it.'' I couldn't agree more. It's bleak and painful, but it's also a cathartic and rewarding listening experience. Even though I would definitely file this under ''harsh noise'', it's definitely not a one-dimensional album...there's strangely calm and tranquil moments throughout. There's even saxophone on one of the songs, and some mellow abstract electronic interludes. Awesome stuff. Fans of Prurient and Merzbow would very likely dig this. 

Stream/Download the album here :

https://alreadydeadtapes.bandcamp.com/album/pain

Monte Burrows - The Concentration of Brown Owls (2016)

 

GENRE : avant-garde, experimental, field recordings, ambient, drone, noise

RECORD LABEL : Dinzu Artefacts

Dinzu Artefacts have some of the most pleasing visual aesthetics of any record label I know. Their cassette tape artworks are simply gorgeous. Musically... ''Dinzu Artefacts is focused on the contemporary art of sound by musicians interested in experimental practices, modern composition, improvised music, noise and field recordings''. I plan on gradually making my way through all their releases in time, but for now let's start than from the beginning...

This album by Monte Burrows was the first release on Dinzu Artefacts. It's an odd but beautiful amalgamation of birdsong, nature sounds, mechanical drones, industrial noises, and even a bit of gorgeous neo-classical piano thrown into the mix. A great release from a great record label. I look forward to investigating more.

Stream/Download the album here : 

https://dinzuartefacts.bandcamp.com/album/the-concentration-of-brown-owls

Dinzu Artefacts :

https://dinzuartefacts.bandcamp.com/

Western Skies Motel - Reflections EP (2014)

 

GENRE : experimental, electro-acoustic, ambient folk, drone, Denmark

RECORD LABEL : Audio Gourmet

Western Skies Motel is the solo music project of Danish multi-instrumentalist Rene Schelbeck, and this is his debut EP, 'Reflections'. I originally discovered Western Skies Motel through the now-defunct music blog Make Your Own Taste, quite a number of years back. I was immediately intrigued by the project name and artwork, and knew I had to check it out. I'm so glad I did...

It's a perfect soundtrack for driving down dark deserted highways at night, seeing all the passing streetlights blur and flicker through the spattering raindrops on your windshield. I used to listen to this EP a lot while driving home from sad lonely night shifts, contemplating my own existence... 

The central focus of the songs is Rene's beautiful lush acoustic Americana-style finger-picking, accompanied by dark metallic drones that create these rich dreamy textures, making the whole thing very tense and atmospheric from start to finish. I'd recommend checking out all his work, but I think this EP is a good starting point. It's a beautiful taster of what's to come.

Stream/Download the EP here : 

https://westernskiesmotel.bandcamp.com/album/reflections

Mollbury Medical Research Centre - The D7 Project (2022)

 

GENRE : experimental, avant-garde, noise, drone, sci-fi, ambient, medical science

RECORD LABEL : self-released

This is one of the most disturbing and unsettling albums I've ever listened to. What scares me most is what's NOT being said here. It's what is possibly implied by the song titles/sounds/atmospheres that really disturb me.

I don't know what Mollbury Medical Research Centre is exactly, and I don't think I want to know... but artistically it's an experimental, avant-garde, dark ambient drone project with all kinds of eerie unsettling futuristic sci-fi soundscapes mixed with creepy field recordings. And it's f**king awesome.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://mollburymedicalresearchcentre.bandcamp.com/album/the-d7-project

Hainbach - Home Stories (2021)

 

GENRE : ambient, cosmic disco, experimental, electronic, techno

RECORD LABEL : Seil Records

I randomly chose this album/artist to listen to while I was investigating the Seil Records Bandcamp page. It was the artwork that did it for me. I was drawn to the satellites. I have a thing about satellites...

Anyway, Heinbach is a music composer/performer based in Berlin, Germany that uses piano, synthesizers, nuclear test equipment (!), magnetic tape and idiophones to create wonderful electro-acoustic ambient music. 'Home Stories' is the only album of his I've listened to so far, and it's a beauty. Clicking play, I was instantly sucked into a sublime sonic soundscape of beautiful swirling ambience, tinkly piano notes and deep bass electronic pulses that constantly shift and change throughout the tracks. It's introspective ambient music that never becomes dull or overly predictable. I'm looking forward to checking out his other works, and more of the Seil Records catalog.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://hainbach.bandcamp.com/album/home-stories

Hakobune - Evergreen/Faraway (2017)

 

GENRE : Japan, ambient, experimental, noise, drone, ethereal

RECORD LABEL : self-released

Hakobune is the musical project of Takahiro Yorifuji from Hyogo, Japan. He making stunning guitar-based ambient music, and has an incredibly large discography. 'Evergreen/Faraway' is the only release of his that I've listened to so far, and it's a killer. Ideal ethereal ambient music for reading, studying, meditating, getting high or just thinking... 

Stream/Download here :

https://hakobune.bandcamp.com/album/evergreen-faraway-2