VA - 'Noise Forest'

CSR340LP (6 December 2024)
2LP on green vinyl in matt-laminate gatefold sleeve. Ltd 250 copies.
Barcode: 0641871746491




A classic compilation that emanated out of Osaka, "Noise Forest" brings together a powerhouse of early 90's Japanese noise stalwarts: MERZBOW, C.C.C.C., SOLMANIA, DISLOCATION, MONDE BRUITS, MASONNA, VIOLENT ONSEN GEISHA, and INCAPACITANTS.

The ultimate Japanoise collection, originally released in 1992 on the cult Les Disques Du Soleil label / record store on CD-only, and now impossible to find. Remastered and presented here on deluxe 2LP in matt-laminate gatefold sleeve (first time on vinyl) and new CD edition, all with new artwork.

A forest isn't something normally associated with noise; it brings to mind silence and solitude. However, the ominous cover art here - and the artists within - bring to mind the notorious suicide forest Aokigahara. Despite all tracks falling into the Japanoise genre, the tracks are very diverse, yet every track is so distinct it could only be by that artist.

Double LP on Forest Green in matt-laminate gatefold sleeve. Ltd 250 copies.

"One of the most unique and stand-out noise comps of the 90's" (Noisextra)

Track listing:

A1. Merzbow - 'Travelling' (11:45)
... "One of the most unique and stand-out noise comps of the 90's, this kicks off with one of the great MERZBOW tracks of all time, 'Travelling'... you don't really hear noise like that these days; a strange atmosphere, loops, cut ups... an eerie background but full-blasting noise with a sense of anguish"

A2. C.C.C.C. - 'IMR-32' (8:19)
... "more than any other track, this really fits the cover art. Strangely introspective, with a sci-fi feel; haunting and darkly beautiful"

B1. Solmania - 'Derrick Master Switchback' (8:25)
... "maniacal guitar noise madness - choking, strangulated, shredding, washes of feedback, with a sheet of noise over the whole thing"

B2. Dislocation - 'Empty~On The Move' (9:36)
... "a hyper collage of tumbling, weird and unexpected sounds where you can really hear the tortured instrumentation. More atmospheric than those tracks around it" br>
C1. Monde Bruits - 'Continuum' (8:30)
..."bring us fully back in the zone, agony from the mountain top, recorded at the abandoned Love Hotel. Frantic cut-ups, maniacal mastery, crashing waves of spasming static, like the feeling of electrocution"

C2. Masonna - 'Testicles Candy Pt. 1~13' (5:36)
..."The perfect Masonna track; frantic cut-ups, textures, filter and phaser, classic yells and moans, cutting into the sonic devil. Exciting, insane, with a tape feel... if you're looking for something to listen to that sounds unhinged, this is it"

D1. Violent Onsen Geisha - 'Death Mothership Connection' (8:36)
... "pulls the rug out from under you. It stays in the strange, repetitive old song "Mary Bell (Child From Hell)", with moaning vocals over; sad and playful like a Japanese death cult. Lulled into a false sense of security, it cuts into raw noise; crazed and psychedelic, gritty and grimy"

D2. Incapacitants - 'Automatic Loss Cut' (7:54)
... "This classic Incapacitants track is hot and sizzling; like being in an electrical storm that's building by the minute. With a metallic sound under, there's so much movement, but it stays strangely static. The constant evolution is a steady force"

Mini reviews from Noisextra's 'Noise Forest' special!