Masked Diode - Hardcore Electronics
We have many harsh-noise/Japanoise practitioners from Japan (of course!), but what about acts doing power electronics? Not sure about that, but I do know about this act called Masked Diode, who does it. Been active since 2006 on labels like L. White Records, Waterpower, Kaulter Staub, Cipher Productions, and now with the latest EP called Hardcore Electronics on E.C.T Recordings. A beautiful, limited-edition CDr with a poster and insert. The release comes in a plastic bag, with a fold-out inner sleeve and a graphically printed hard-cardboard CD-tray. It´s a short ride into Japanese power electronics, only 2 two tracks on this little jewel.
The first track (recorded in 2014) is simply called Desert. The sound of a powerful current runs through a circuit, it gets chopped up... stops... and gets back on and with a focused power. I do like the vibrating hum that goes on in the background. Vocals enter the sound, vocals (In Japanese) that bring me back to the vocals of SPK's classic Slogun track, a kind of commanding voice with a touch of aggression. Extra powerful layers of noise quickly ignite the empty vacuum. Lovely, brutal, and crunchy sound!
The second track (recorded in 2016), 体制盲従 [Taiseimoju], starts with a beep, and the sound of thunderous concrete bricks falling and hitting a recording microphone. Excellent vibrated vocals and non-distorted vocals delivering an orgasmic performance. Fans of Con-dom, anyone? Flabbing noise effects, microphone on-the-speaker-distortion, machine-factory alarm (of some sort), and a nuclear-power station getting closer and closer to a complete meltdown.
Hardcore Electronics is hardcore electronics, somewhere between Japanoise and power electronics. It´s good, actually very good in an honest way. Absolutely nothing is spared; you get the full treatment here for just 12 minutes of 100% honest brutality, to the point. Heck, I´m even going to hear it again! Worth spending your hard-earned cash on!
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