Genre: Experimental / Noise / Ambience

Split between Bastard Noise and Government Alpha

01 Lucidity
02 Drowning Scorpion
03 Purgative Builets
04 Scary Bird Of Prey
05 Vagot Opro Glints
06 Tabestenl Planet
07 Lost City
08 Winter Sacrifice
09 Iron Mountain

Cometh the hour. Cometh the bastard. And this release is one mother fucking bastard that’s for sure. The crazy thing is that unlike most releases sent in for review I’m not 100% certain who actually released it. Which was only the start of my confusion. Our good friend Bill Henson of http://www.housepig.com Housepig Records sent us this but it doesn’t appear on his release schedule. Instead it appears to have been released by Thumbprint Press, no catalogue number, which is closely associated with Messer’s Wood and Nelson from Bastard Noise. A group formed from The Man is a Bastard. For a comprehensive discography visit http://www.recordhospital.org/mitb.htm and be prepared to be enlightened. Of course our two disruptive influences have joined forces with that other semi legend of all things noise and freaky Mr Yoshida…or Mr Government Alpha as I like to call him. Many is a time when his music has head fucked me in the nicest way possible. Although there was the odd occasion when I could have gleefully strangled him for subjecting me to his evil sonic creations. It also doesn’t help when, beautiful packaging or not, you can’t actually read the song titles half the time. Which happened here. Therefore take them with a pinch of salt as they are probably missing a letter or two. Not that this should spoil your enjoyment of this little platter any. As for the packaging. Well this comes in a custom inked triple fold synthetic paper package with two coloured sticker. All parts enclosed in a heavy gauge polycarbonate sleeve. Did I mention you can order this direct from http://www.thumbprintpress.com for $8.00...plus a further $6.00 if you live outside of the USA? Well I have now. Saves writing that bit in later.

The concept of Resurrection is a fascinating one. Reviving and bringing back to life something already passed. Whether it be flesh as in the religious context or ideas for music tracks as appears on here. Tracks 1 - 6 belong to Government Alpha. If you haven’t heard the Government Alpha experience before then these tracks may come as a bit of a shock to the system. The sheer heart attack of the electronics blasting a path of least resistance straight to the cortex of the brain. If your idea of a fun time is having your hearing mutilated then the music of Government Alpha is for you. The word subtlety doesn’t exit here. This is a no frills no surrender form of music that will alienate all but the most devout of followers of ‘noise’ music. Moving swiftly on…

Bastard Noise on the other hand are a revelation with their three contributions. Whereas I expected to be further thrown back into my seat after the exertions created by Yoshida instead I found their music, for once, to be actually approachable and more in keeping with a ‘Black Ambient / Sludge’ release. The opening 20+ minute opus a slow doom ridden piece of electronics that is probably the best thing I’ve ever heard of theirs. The music being minimal and so faint but with a threatening element throughout. Excellent. This dark ideology is carried on with the next track only they incorporate further elements that include rhythmic phases and invigorating electronic effects that builds slowly to a climatic and dramatic end. They finish on a flourish of further dark soundscaping that is almost calming and reflective in nature. The music countering the storm previously created by Government Alpha.

All told this is a recording of contrasts. The ‘noise’ of Yoshida, who never believes in the word restraint, coupled with the refined dynamics of Bastard Noise. Much as how I appreciate both acts it’s the tracks of Bastard Noise that wins on this release as far as I’m concerned. Which isn’t taking anything away from Government Alpha. At the right time and place the brutality of that music would be most welcome. Worth purchasing for the Bastard Noise tracks alone. Though if you’re a fan of both acts then you can’t go wrong if you purchase this. It would make a welcome addition to any discerning fans collection.