Reviews
Various Artists: Experi-MENTAL Compilation 2
Eskaton / Chain D.L.K. (USA)
http://www.chaindlk.com/reviews/?id=6845
"This is a pretty good use of a compilation. According to the labels, 'This compilation showcases some of the acts for the Experi-MENTAL 3 Festival taking place on August 5th through August 7th at Goodbye Blue Monday, in Brooklyn NY. We are trying to raise money through selling this compilation to fund the festival. All donations for this compilation will go toward artist transportation, housing, and food.' On to the music. This is a various artists compilation, which are almost always a mixed bag, so I'll mainly touch on the high points. Some of the standout tracks are 'Justine' by Blue Sausage Infant, who throws down a heavy slab of electronic rumble with some spoken word. 'Cloud' by Richard Lainhart is a nice piece of shimmering drone. 'Blatta Blyad' by Violet brings the harsh noise to the compilation. 'Socrates Speaks' by PAS is just plain weird, but in a good way. 'Friday Night' by Use Other Door was nice minimalist soundscape that makes good use of dynamics and quiet. Some seem to not quite fit, like 'Bubble Wrap' by Carey Burtt, which sounds like it would be quite at home on your local college radio station. 'Experimental' by Black Saturn is kind of an odd rap (although let's face it ' it's still better than most of the 40oz driven crap out there these days). Overall, this sounds like it would be an excellent show (although it has already happened). Still, if you see something like this it is a good reminder to support your local experimental music scene. This disc weighs in at around 58 minutes. "
Jon Ashley / Manchester Music (UK)
http://www.music-dash.co.uk/releases/release.asp?item=7200
"For those unfamiliar with the works of PAS and one Robert L. Pepper, a performer based in Brooklyn NY, let me just start by advising that on an earlier release PAS was claimed to stand for Post Abortion Stress ; after listening to his debut album, I was actually too scared to play the accompanying DVD and film... I’ve had a few albums to tune myself into since then, but this compilation album is no less stark, experimental or strange. This particular cut of 13 tracks is based on (and includes recordings from) a festival weekend held last year featuring 28 acts and curated by PAS and Valerie Kuhne of Prehistoric Horse. Fester contribute some wild, uncoordinated free jazz, whilst Blue Sausage Infant make a sound like Suicide taking on a 10 minute middle eight. Carey Butt then steps into the ring with some strange psychedelic folk pop and crazy rapping (“everyone’s in their bubble, don’t take it personal-lee..”). Richard Lainhart's ambient sounds are surprisingly intriguing, despite the calming monotone structure, whereas the angular arrangements of the Jazzfakers blurs electronica with some contributing acoustic sounds and effects. There’s more electronic magic via Invisible Hand and blatant static noise feedback from Violet, but a surpise is the instrumental rock of The Expanding Man – a kind of DIY Sigur Ros. Black Saturn provide a beat and simple distorted loop with someone chiming a voice over it. PAS make their appearance with more of their experimental electronic music, infused with spaced out sequencing – Use The Other Door revel in sound effects and a few long-pressed notes. The final track by John 3:16 is a great conclusion - a mantra of overlaid delay effects, guitar sounds and distant vocals, it’s a kind of c86, turned inside out. This is an album that certainly lives up to its name in spirit and in the sheer audacity of its sounds... "
The Sound Projector (UK)
http://www.thesoundprojector.com/2011/12/07/sun-dogs
"From late August, another package from Robert Pepper of PAS Records in Brooklyn. Experi-MENTAL Compilation 2 (PAS RECORDS 012) is a joint release with the Alrealon label in the UK, and presents thirteen bands drawn from both labels and the Zeromoon label to boot. From the latter, we have the very fine Blue Sausage Infant and Violet, but from elsewhere there’s Carey Burtt, Richard Lainhart, Fester, Invisible Hand, The Expanding Man, Black Saturn and more. The comp refuses to follow any given “theme”, and it’s a curious mix of aggressive noise, wayward acoustic improvisation, mellow songs, ambient droning, complex synth electronica, electronic music with beats, melodic synth pop, and sullen inert music. It was produced in conjunction with a music festival of the same name in 2011."
Monsieur Delire (Canada)
http://blog.monsieurdelire.com/2011/09/2011-09-22-musica-lontana-red-triojohn.html
"A compilation prepared by PAS and the label Alrealon for the third Experi-MENTAL Festival (2011). The range of styles represented is VERY wide: from pop song to post-rock, from experimental hip-hop to more textural/noise-based music. My ears were particularly drawn to the beat-driven assemblages of the Jazzfakers, The Expanding Man’s post-rock stylings, and the saturated avant-rock of John 3:16..."
Caleidoscoop Webzine (Holland)
http://www.subjectivisten.nl/caleidoscoop/2011/09/the-jazzfakers-two-various-artists-experi-mental-compilation-2.html
"...The collective PAS that I mentioned above plays a central role in the New York experimental music scene. They also organize an annual festival called Experi-MENTAL Fest. During the weekend of August 5th - 7th of this year the third edition was held, with 28 artists present; Experi-MENTAL Compilation CD 2 contains a number of those bands. The album opens with Fester, an electro-acoustic group, followed by the industrial noise project Blue Sausage Infant. Then suddenly singer-songwriter music with indie-rap (Carey Burtt), which again is interspersed with ambient (Richard Lainhart); this is only to show how diverse it all is. Also represented on this versatile compilation are Invisible Hand, Violet, The Expanding Man, Black Saturn, FluiD, Use Other Door, John 3:16, The Jazz Fakers and PAS. Besides the aforementioned genres, they also deliver electronic and tribal music(s), doom-jazz, post rock, dark hip-hop, techno and noise. It offers a beautiful view of contemporary experimental music in New York's kitchen. A great overview document!"
Experi-MENTAL Festival at Goodbye Blue Monday – Brooklyn
HENCEFORTH Records (USA)
http://www.henceforthrecords.com/2011/08/experi-mental-festival-at-goodbye-blue-monday-brooklyn
"This was the first night of a 3 night festival of electronic music curated by Robert Pepper. The first set was performed by Bob Siebert and Darren Bergstein. They used many do-dads, which sounds disrespectful but I have no idea what to call them, maybe electric kalimba, tiny keyboard, a bongo at one point, and what looked like a smart phone. The latter produced piercing sounds. Sigh. I thought the sounds of the overhead subways going by were a positive addition.
Second up was Richard Lainhart. I have heard of him but never seen him perform and I like what he did. He performed on a Buchla synthesizer console. He began by adding one colored cord after another (I counted 24ish). As the cords were added, of course the sounds elevated – drones but highly nuanced and textured. The vibrations caused the snare drum at the back of the stage to rattle away; it was quickly removed. The ending ensued when the cords were removed one at a time until silence.
Third set was Use Other Door with Dzmitry and Vernonica Shykh. They are a talented young couple originally from Belarus, now living in Connecticut (they have a 6 week old baby too). I learned about this Festival from them as we have stayed loosely in touch since we first met when I was living in NY between 2004-2008. It took them awhile to get set up – lots of equipment, all on the floor. One piece was a Roland SH-201. I think you have to be young to do this as squatting over ones gear for 30-40 minutes would not be possible for me. I liked their set but seemed sorta lacking in dynamic range and Dzmitry told me afterwards that some of his equipment wasn’t working.
There were 3 other sets after this, but enough-already. It seemed like this was a time that I could give myself permission to call a car service to whisk me back to Manhattan. Safe and $21.00."
© 2011 PAS and Alrealon Musique
PAS -
ALREALON.CO.UK
