Purely in a (dark) field of its own, yet effortlessly delivered, Viscosity is a detailed foray into deconstructed electronics melded to blackened ambient sheets.
Robotic noise boxes dancing about—all controlled by Jason Goodrich (aka Badrich)—is on display on the recently released 8-track Viscosity. Having been there, done that, Badrich has a bit of history having collaborated with the Pacific Northwest’s always on point Buried In Time imprint (ref. Cascade Data), the UK’s Acre Recordings as well as California’s own Cursed Chimera. Here we are now, Viscosity splatters across the spectrum like a misplaced set of Autechre versus Einoma outtakes that needed a good home. Badrich sets the stage for Technicolor Yawn this time around and elicits an (almost) improvised appeal for terrestrials this side of the Milky Way.
The opening 11-minute opus aptly titled “Biomech Purgatory” is a percussive, thunderous weaving noise running parallel to dark ambient undertones and patched static clips. As audible water-droplets cascade, they also create a narrow trench predominantly covered in rumbling low-end squabbles. This avalanche of sound design neglects time and space as darkness sets in. “Exoskeleton” and “Clabber” appear to be long-lost twins—tumbling beats, disjointed rhythmic pulses and short bursts are enlisted from start to end. The technoid beats, swirling clips, faded melody, scribbling drones and odd time-signatures are in full effect on “Toluca.” Pseudo electro-techno formations on “Slipping” take shape as acidic blurts encompass a rough terrain while “Mechrocosm” builds up its dislocated beatwork and festering rhythmic stabs. The vacant data streams on “Pill Vomit” are a noisy collection—flickering patterns shimmy through a hard stomping beat as it simply fizzles away. “Forbes,” the closing track, is seemingly the most coherent of the lot—light drones and undulating bass bounces off a plasticized ebb and flow tempered only by its sizzling shards fading in the mist.
Purely in a (dark) field of its own, yet effortlessly delivered, Viscosity is a detailed foray into deconstructed electronics melded to blackened ambient sheets.
Viscosity is available on Technicolor Yawn.
