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PT9
Aaron Zarzutzki
& Nick Hoffman - OPENING
BAND c10
A. CHICAGO MAKE
SOME NOISE!
B. NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO
PARTY LIKE CHICAGO
Released October 2010
OUT OF PRINT
REVIEWS:
Cassette Gods
NOVEMBER 21, 2010
AARON ZARZUTZKI & NICK HOFFMAN "Opening Band" c10 [Pilgrim Talk]
Opening
Band is the accompanying cassingle to Aaron Zarzutzki's and Nick
Hoffman's full-length clatter platter, the Psychophagi LP also on
Pilgrim Talk.
The two side-long pieces were culled from the same
recordings as the LP but didn't fit on the vinyl. Bite-size morsels are
actually really nice for this sort of thing. I'm not exactly sure what
sorts of materials were used to create this, apparently Zarzutzki's
weapon of choice is some sort of customized/disassembled turntable. I
don't hear any records being played so I imagine Zarzutzki's got other
plans. Hoffman (Veyou, Katchmare, the Pilgrim Talk and Ghost & Son
labels) on the other hand is on the even vaguer outfit of objects and
electronics. The first side titled "Chicago Make Some Noise!" wastes no
time delving into a nightmarish free-improv zone whipping up enormous
noises that sound like dragging a metal shelf across a concrete floor.
After a bit of silence and pitter patter, the boys start in again with
a constant, vibrating sine tone and another heavy freak out sounding
like that shelf being torn apart.
The second side "No One Knows How
to Party like Chicago" starts up with what sounds like a sputtering
upright bass before one of them asks "Are we recording?" "Yeah" "Oh
shit, I didn't know you started." The previous side moved between
moments of silence and extreme volume, high peaks and deep valleys,
while this side features a larger quantity of sounds being made
throughout, some sounding like cymbals or metal pots and others of a
more jagged electronic nature.
I dig that these guys are so rooted
in the acoustic side of electro-acoustic improv, as it comes out more
detailed than the more typical overloaded mixer noise stuff. The duo is
incredibly dynamic, able to navigate nimbly between silence and
frightening loud clatter. I haven't been able to decide whether I
prefer the tape or the record, it usually ends up depending on how much
time I have to listen. Whether you treat the tape as a taster, a
companion piece or its own release, it is a cool piece of work and the
first of what I hope to be many more releases from this new Chicago duo.
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