A chaotic storm bringing disarray, noise and confusion and leaving more of the same in its wake.
Nonima & Stormfield’s Stratosphere EP is like a chaotic storm bringing disarray, noise and confusion and leaving more of the same in its wake.
“First Light” begins pretty then proceeds into banging noise like engaging in morning sex while construction crews are tearing your street apart outside. It is incoherent and unpleasant, meandering, wanly twaddle. There is nothing worse I think, than a TB303 that sounds like it’s been let off its leash and allowed to squelch out farty bass like your great aunts yappy, ancient and incontinent dachshund. “Distant Thunder” is more coherent but mostly unremarkable, with a kick drum straight out of Autechre’s soundbox and reverb drenched strings like Arovane, Aphex Twin or Boards of Canada. Interesting arpeggio’s like bouncing balls effect warble towards the end of the track. “Point Clouds” begins heavy with distortion and more aimless 303 noodling. “Rolling Thunder” is more of the same, with added banging and bit-reduced 303 noodlings. “Northern Lights” works more orchestral atmospherics, noise and 303 wobblings into a piece that like almost the entire EP goes nowhere.
With a small amount of restraint and guidance this could perhaps be a stronger effort—coming across as stoned bedroom meanderings. Perhaps future endeavors will show some maturation and development. For now, I will hide from this storm.
Stratosphere is available on Combat.
