Kalteldur top 10 of 2022
A strange year with its ups and downs. Corona has "turned" into a thing of the past, while a war was going on in Europe at the same time. Either Corona or the war had destroyed the motivation for being creative, lots of great releases needed to be reviewed (as you can guess). As you can see on the so-called top 10 list, then yes... it has been a year of noise rather than industrial or ambient. Re-issues and new releases of various kinds of noise music have been in high demand, and some of those releases need a review... which of course explains why Kalteldur still exists (course!). It has also been a year where a lot of friendly artists (and labels) have reached out to Kalteldur, and for that, I am incredibly thankful! Although the talk is that record reviews are a dying culture, the releases are still being made and the artists & labels still want reviews. Which of course must mean that the interest in obscure electronic music is still there... living and thriving! So let´s get on with it!
Number 10
Kadaver - Micro Death
Fantasy 1
Kadaver´s Micro Death was a relentless mix of abstract ambient noise with atmospheric and angelic harsh noise. Soo much expression in sound and soo little time! A very concentrated and compact mini-album, with a little world inside. If you slowed down this album, you could have it as a double-CD album! A great noise album to represent the year 2022!
Number 9
Black Leather Jesus - Anti
Ominous Recordings
I have said it before, and I will say it again... I LOVE re-issues of older cult releases. This time I had the pleasure of reviewing Anti by Black Leather Jesus. Proto HNW before Vomir or the Rita. I will quote my last words from my original review... since I nailed it!:
"A strangely comforting beast of sheer brutality, perfect background noise for obsessive minds... and perfect textured sound recording for a decent power nap. Keep it simple, less is more and all that."
Greatest re-issue of 2022, and one of the best HNW releases as well!
Sagenheft - Hypnerotomachia
Moonlit Castle Records
A seducing medieval trip into the world of seducing nymphs and satyrs. Or just one of those lovely scenes from that classic Caligula flick! I would dare to say that we need more of this kind of dungeon synth in 2023! An incredible journey that any soundwise escapist would love! A classic dungeon-synth act seeking new ideas, while maintaining the old-school sound! Do seek it out!.
Number 7
Lesser Dog - Tavistock Anthropocene
Danvers State
Classic old-school (post) industrial is still alive and kicking. And Lesser Dog (who were by no means were a Lesser Dog) proved it all with this release! A brutal and nightmarish industrial-ambient album that would even satisfy the fans of power electronics. As mentioned in the original review, take early experimental Test Dept and then the harshness of the Grey Wolves! And yup, it is that good!
Number 6
Jugendwerkhof - Mernscharmierung
Marbre Negre
Actually, the second time around that Jugendwerkhof enters the top 10 of Kalteldur. I will say (and I will say it again!) Jugendwerkhof is one of the best harsh noise acts in Europe as we speak! And this release 100% proves that fact! Lot more sound to it than just harsh noise. Post-industrial scrapyard sounds with tons of apocalyptic noise on top of it. Fans of Mauthausen Orchestra and Incapacitants must check this act out!.
Number 5
Room of Wires - Fever Switch EP
Rednectic
Whoever said that 90s technoid-electronica was dead anyway?! Room of Wires proved w(with their futuristic high-tech EP) that mind-bending electronics were still a thing to look forward to... in the near future that is. This a lovely example of how a utopic cyberpunk-inspired sound aesthetic can thrive in a modern techno/electronica vibe. Do yourself a favor and check up on Room of Wires!
Number 4
Samsuo - You Probably Think It´s The Ocean
Elm Records
Or you would just probably think it´s a bloody masterpiece instead. Samsuo´s release on Elm Records was a breath-taker for sure, not only did it deliver pure and beautiful ambient music but also elements of guitar-based sadcore... not that far away from 4AD in their late 80s period ( Red House Painters, Cocteau Twins ). After the album was done, I was 100% sure that it had entered the top 10 list... so here it is. Seek it out, you will not be disappointed!
Number 3
Schloss Tegal Prezsents Kollektiv - Music From The Sanitorium
Tegal Records
This obscure compilation from the ancient past (made by the minds of Schloss Tegal) not only disturbed us deeply... but also gave us new ideas on how to evolve moody experimental music in the coming future. So what kind of weird experimental stuff did people record back in the cassette days of the 80s? This compilation gives you all the answers you need, and what a trip this is! Best various artists compilation I have heard in years, and what a lovely collection of obscure recordings that hides within... worth exploring!
Number 2
Third Organ - S/T
Abhorrent Creation Tapes
Never been a big fan of Japanoise, but when I heard this one with Third Organ... it completely changed my mind. Well... It´s noise alright BUT! being completely high-tech meets low-bit, imagine a thing between Autechre and Merzbow. Some kind of artificial intelligence is stuck inside an old Atari game, kind of gets me back to Robocop 2... where the mind of that criminal drug addict gets inside that killer robot! This release is a blast...ALL THE WAY!. When a bad trip turns into a good trip, an absolutely relentless release!
Number 1
Don Mandarin - Pekin A Porm / Guided Meditation
Environmental Studies Bathtub Press Collaboration
One of the latest with Don Mandarin. A release that instantly took my mind away to other places. A release that can give the listener an instant touch of the soul behind the act. 100% excentric character/artist creating otherworldly experimental music, with so much much of his own soul trapped within! There are hints of exotic Asian-based world music (Martin Denny fans?), heavy post-punk-inspired dub, real field recordings, harsh noise-ambient, and the sort of back-to-basics feel from an old album by Throbbing Gristle. The album is the bloody works, and I am sure that anyone would approve. Even proud that I was given this opportunity to review this magnificent masterpiece!
