AL - JABR Disinformation Vs. Various Artists [Ash International R.I.P.]

AL-JABR

DISINFORMATION Vs. Various Artists

A compilation based on
Electromagnetic Noise Recordings by Disinformation

1. London's Overthrow -- Evan Parker [13:03]
2. Pandemonium -- Tactile [3:40]
3. Booming Bass -- Jim O'Rourke [2:34]
4. Parabolas -- Simon Fisher Turner [9:19]
5. Raxor -- Mechos [6:22]
6. 'K'h'mkß£#ñp -- Lawrence Casserley [3:54]
7. Synaptic Radio -- T:un[k] Systems [14:23]

     This release is *definitely* noise. There are however many sub-genres to noise, and since I am no expert on noise, I won't try to categorize this work into sub-genres. I will however attempt to give you some insight as to the sounds on this release, and in doing so, perhaps you can decide for yourself if this type of experimental frequency art might interest you. Below, there is more data about this release and DISINFORMATION from Touch Records.
     Evan Parkers work in London's Overthrow, which is quite long [13:03], isn't in the least bit boring for me to listen to. I think this is mainly due to the distinct and unrelenting resonating low frequency pulsing in the background (a bit faster than one's heartbeat). Saxophone has been layered upon the background, presenting a feel toward the exotic Eastern wind trance sound fused with the chaos a touch of jazz. Pandemonium by Tactile is a long crispy rumble with static, reminding me of perhaps something sampled and looped off a microwave dish receiving deep space transmissions as used by NASA. Jim O'Rourke's Booming Bass combines a collage of broken sequences of piercing high pitches, gentle tinkerings of whispy ticks, one sample of what might be a man's voice quietly speaking (Give me that Big, Booming Bass...) in the background, broken rhythms of clanking static, and noisey shifting melody.
    Parbolas by Simon Fisher Turner is a sonic blend of bassy static, high frequency pulses, and rumbling bass in an intermittent excerpt style of progressive drum and bass noise mixtures. Raxor, as presented by Mechos expresses clicking highs and deep bassy lows that remind me of the sounds a Radioactive Detection Machine, and manipulated as wave differentials.
    Lawrence Casserley's 'K'h'mkß£#ñp emits various crunchy reverberating sounds that bring to mind someone playing with different objects in their hand up close to a microphone. T:un[k] Systems, Synaptic Radio uses a low pitch, woofer rumbling, bassy pulses with rather quick shifts in stormy timbre.
     Overall, these noise recordings and sampling wizardry recreates the world of electromagnetics of which we are all too unfamiliar in everyday life. Al-jabr is harsh yet melodic, unusually fluid and resonates the invisible world of electrical interference in which we live.

More Infomation about Disinformation etc.

"For those not familiar with the Disinformation brand name, this project consists of DJing, publishing and live performance with recordings of unusual electromagnetic (ie radio) noise. On AL-JABR itself, rather than creating antiphonal responses to the original source material, the contributors 'equate' the raw material with their own idiosyncratic input; Lawrence Casserley transforms the rhythmic intricacies of how long data noise into a symphony of crushed and shattered slates; Evan Parker's wailing saxophone complements the pulsating drones of the city's power distribution networks, transforming the original 'National Grid', which was recorded live at the Museum of Installation, into 'London's Overthrow', after the apocalyptic visions of the Victorian mystic and arsonist Jonathan Martin.
The noise group Tactile take ultralongwave sub-bass radio noise generated by the TIG welders in sculpture/sound group Oubliette's metal workshop, and recasts them as the ambience of 'Pandemonium' - the infernal underground city engraved by Jonathan Martin's slightly saner brother John. Jim O'Rourke adds uniquely American humour and a rock 'n' roll analogue of National Grid. Simon Fisher Turner twists broadcast data noise into gorgeous rolling melodies. T:un[k] Systems' track 'Synaptic Radio' pitches VLF band radio recordings of interference radiated by electrical storms against pristine lab pure sine waves - a vision of electrical-engineering- as-fine-art created by Disinformation for events at MOI and the South London Gallery. 'Raxor' by Mechos isolates individual lightning strikes and inserts them in a lattice of clicks and low frequency drones, whose deceptive simplicity belies the subtly disorientating effects of their unfolding, twisting rhythms. AL-JABR includes a text by the 17th Century watchmaker Robert Hooke, which suggests that noise has potential use as a diagnostic and can aid scientific investigative methods. If this CD has value beyond its specialised entertainment value, then it also shows that noise, as an artform, can demonstrate real conceptual and technical ingenuity, and can not only express visceral, cathartic intensity (ecstasy/ugliness /beauty/rage) but also explore complex and emotive anthropological and intellectual themes."
Taken from Touch Web Site.