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By : Michael Mambrino
4 min read
Hello readers! It’s been a very long time since the last iteration of this series. I have tons of stellar releases on my mind that didn’t make the cut so I ask for forgiveness for the 3-release limit on today’s iteration. Thanks for your attention and let’s get into the excursion.
Common Metals - Staubitz and Waterhouse
From bronze to steel, this album will provide it. Jokes aside, Staubitz and Waterhouse’s Common Metals, comprised primarily of layered and unedited field recordings, truly immerses the listener in organic industrial chaos. The track by track length extends itself skillfully after each recording. This usually would turn my focus away, yet, when listening, I only find myself in full concentration. The duo’s versatility in releases solo and collaboratively is another impressive aspect and hopefully will entice you to listen to Common Metals.
2. A Basement Punks Philosophy - Vomit Dolls
After a year of doing this series, I finally decided to feature a band here. While Vomit Dolls would be categorized in the traditional sense as “some super specific genre of Grindcore,” I think they really push the boundaries of what grindcore is as a whole. Vomit Dolls’s members are Spider on vocals, Mudd on guitar, Razor on bass, and Gaudy on drums. The most present experimental exercise features percussive madman Gaudy hitting snares, toms and cymbals that remind me of the speedier drum and bass / breakcore tracks of underground electronic. The guitar and bass sounds intertwine with each other, presenting maximal distortion and compression pairing perfectly in each track. All the songs combined reach just less than 5 minutes in length. This short EP is definitely worth your listening whether considered truly experimental or not.
3. Unfamiliar Ceilings - Lina Tullgren & Alec Toku Whiting
Unfamiliar Ceilings features Lina Tullgren on violin and Alec Toku Whiting on Koto and bass Koto on tracks “47” and “polly chainsaw,” with Ted Reichman joining on synthesizers and effect pedals on track 3, “every finger an eye”. This is an all around masterful and fully intentional tape. Whether improvised or composed, Unfamiliar Ceilings blurs the already blurring line further. Gothic, concrete and electronic undertones show up throughout this wonderful EP and are always personally appreciated. Definitely give a listen to any or all of these releases, and I’ll see you next Excursion.
—Michael Mambrino
Originally published in-print in Boston Compass Newspaper #152 November 2022
Check out all the art and columns of November's Boston Compass at www.issuu.com/bostoncccompass