There’s been a rise in sludge techno in the last few years, industrial essences and experimentation, outsider electronics and a touch of Chicago. The boundaries are well and truly blurred. In Paradisum have been blurring those boundaries from day one.
I like music that challenges you. In Paradisum’s output will do just that. Its back catalog is a cacophony of ill-shaped artists; musicians who refuse to adhere to standards and baulk in the face of tradition.
It’s on this sea of individuality that the French label sets sail with a new split series. To open the account come two names I’ve not had much dealing with. December and Kaumwauld. Each artist is given their own side, each offering up two tracks. The former opens with the intense and draining “Behindert.” Percussion is central, a lone rhythm ruminating as darkness stalks and winds whip. Tempos rise but the threat of attack hasn’t diminished. “XY” groans and growls. Strings are pulled and racked as steady drums keep time in this poisoned piece. There’s a psychological undercurrent running through the 12”, an uneasiness and edge. This can nowhere better be heard than in Kaumwald’s “Cormoran.” Pastoral it is not. Instead the offering is a blackened, tar soaked work of guttering music. Definitely not one for before bed. But neither is the brother in arms. “No Ivlo” allows for some stability, a 4/4 pound being the base ground. Despite this solid ground the track is quicksand. Notes echo, bars tugged and torn before being fed to the shredder.
There’s been a rise in sludge techno in the last few years, industrial essences and experimentation, outsider electronics and a touch of Chicago. The boundaries are well and truly blurred. In Paradisum have been blurring those boundaries from day one. Limits are stamped on limits with an iconoclastic spirit and devil may care attitude, an attitude is clear to hear on this latest.
Hald Cuts 1 is available on In Paradisum.
