C2 -- Initial Control -- Control Freak Records

1. wire tap
2. whore
3. d0wn
4. electric chair
5. bad things
6. 3 minutes till midnite
7. flashback
8. sinist3r
9. mine now
10. voyeur
11. exit

Jason Taylor, an accomplished composer in the areas of [experimental] noise, industrial, ambient and percussion, brings us a delightful yet intelligent blend of sounds with C2 off Control Freak Records. I am amazed by the integrity and energy of Jason's work on "Initial Control" which is his first published work to date with C2 and represents an incredible amount of talent as well as a genuine approach with his creative energies and machines.

C2 is an exploration into dark ambient sound scapes, layered noise collages, fast paced industrial-edge chaos and rich percussion. The work is unique in terms of composition and progression which has moved me to listening to this release on a very frequent basis and left me with an inability to pigeonhole C2 into any specific area or equate his work to the likeness of other bands.

The music of C2 would do well at a number of various public events ranging from a rave to a DJ spinning for a dark industrial noise radio show, to a dance club floor. C2 is not recommended for the listener who attaches onself to familiarity, but moreso for those of you who enjoy frequent changes in tempo, rhythm, sampling, sequencing and disruptive sonic mayhem. The distinct tasty deep percussion, abrupt changes with clanking upbeat rhythms and the means by which the composition flows within and between the sections of the piece are the main variables that caught my ear on bad things. whore combines a clear structure in its entirety starting with layers of expansive eerie drone, a simplified synth beat for the first seven minutes, then moves into a faster semi-militant beat still layered on the drone backdrop -- then it picks up with deeper basslines, radiating twisted radio noises, ending the twelve minutes of work in full circle for the listener with a gentle and easy exit, such as it began.

The spooky ambient noise in electric chair, flashback, and exit (a very mantric piece of dronal work), project their dark serious mood on the attentiveness of the listener, while d0wn and voyeur are more involved with bursting hyper-beats, a touch of quiet bass, and background noise with injections of sampled vocals both semi-clear and distant. sinist3r is a straight forward blend of distinct deep bassy beat, hydraulic shuffles and underlying chaos, whereas mine now tends to lean more into experimenting with confusing twisted beats, subtle vocals insisting "you're mine now..." with background layers of noise and subharmony.

The sequencing, sampling and noise forge combinations on wire tap, and 3 minutes till midnight are delicious to the discerning sonic crash and blast enthusiast.

It's a good thing I have other releases to document. I think if I hear this release much more, I would wear it out, reducing its physical presence to a coaster for my coffee cup; I enjoy C2 *that* much!