All Photos by Deb Frazin
Harry Cloud and Paul Roessler (Gitane Demone Quartet, The Screamers) have collaborated on a new 2-record set specifically written and recorded for artist Tanja London’s sol(e)menace-sculpture audio tour “Ancestral Stress and Trauma” (a part of Jason Watson’s Permadeath residency at Utah Museum of Modern Art). It’s an avant-garde collection of creative, hypnotic and sometimes chaotic instrumental pieces that piques your imaginative faculty from beginning to end.
Permadeath takes you on a kaleidoscopic journey through the human body. It starts off a bit quietly/slowly with “Reproductive”, but don’t let that fool you – it’s just the calm before the spectacular storm that’s about to arrive.
“Ligament” slowly lures you in, then after a couple of minutes, it suddenly breaks free, and spins off into a frantic, deranged ride that eventually sends you spinning straight into the gurgling, spooky, mysterious sounds of “Digestive”. I love the entire album , but my favorite cuts are on the 2nd record. It’s a bit tribal at times, psychedelic in spots, and there are repetitive, steady blasts that make you feel like you’re on a runaway train. The final track (my favorite) “Nervous System” slowly propels us off into the fog with the lush blend of Roessler’s keyboards and Cloud’s stinging-hot guitar licks.
I really enjoyed listening to this brilliant, ambitious album through my earbuds while I took my daily walks (that way I was able to really concentrate on it with no distractions). If you’re a fan of experimental, avant-garde music like I am (Coil, Throbbing Gristle, etc), then I think you’ll enjoy Permadeath as much as I did. I’ve listened to it about 15 times so far, and I can’t wait to listen to it again.
The album and digital download is available for purchase on Bandcamp. There is a limited-edition of 100 red-vinyl 180-gram lps. The records are to be played at 45 rpm, and because the grooves are wide, the sound is mindblowing!
You’ve gotta get Permadeath into your ear holes ASAP!
