Acoustic Division has never followed one musical line. Since 2010 the Kentucky has released House, Techno, Electro, Synth Wave and Noise alongside some sounds that refuse to be categorized. Keeping with that desire to shrug off any attempt to pigeonhole, AD has two 12”s that are musical worlds apart.
Janet is a new name to the music scene. One track, a weighty one at that, is the offering: Shouldn’t. Looping, circling heady synth disco is the sound from the outset. Cheery chords are layered atop one another, melodies building higher. The break when it finally arrives sidesteps from the main trunk of the track before there is a return back into the sweltering synthlines. The track refuses to quit, rotating and rumbling with wavering levels of intensity for over twelve minutes. “Shouldn’t” comes from that rich analogue tradition of the West Coast of the Netherlands sound, full bodied machine bars sliced with piercing rhythm arrangements.
For the second helping comes fellow Kentuckian, and another new name, Cirkutry. “The Hez” is the first piece of meat in this strange sandwich. And be warned, it is raw. A bludgeoning beat is the introduction before sand and cement are poured onto the machinery. Distortion grinds forth, chords being fist as sounds become ever more guttural. To ease the indigestion some off-centre acidity is introduced, the result being clawing craziness. This is something akin to Jak or John Heckle’s darkest moments. At times falling into outright noise, but there is something in this cursed Industrial wasteland House. Osbourne, in on remix duty, melts some of those extra rough edges. The 7777 and Running Back veteran soothes whilst lending his own brand of darkness with devil dipped strings clawing. Bleary eyed butchery returns with “Bleans.” Coarseness is amplified, speakers splitting under the weight of distortion as all is slashed. Cruel, Orwellian style despotic House. “Guy Calls” closes and is the least serpent tongued track of the EP. Sounds are still fuzzed out, distortion being a feature of the 12”. A final dark stab to bring down the ragged curtain on this musically malformed miscreant.
Janet and Cirkutry aren’t leagues apart, they aren’t even the same sport. Their styles are as disparate as, well, chirpy Electro Disco and rust encrusted Industrial House. Shouldn’t has the potential to fill floors with good humored togetherness. EP 1 has that same ability, but this time cramming clubs with flailing bodies and sweat. Impressive opening to 2014 from the deep South.
Both releases are available on Acoustic Division.
