Cut Off the nose to
Spite the Face is a compilation/anthology of rare/limited SHP 3 inches: Sadistic Surgery, Cold Embrace of an Iron Lung, Controlled Sense of
Decay, and Violent Cutting Motion;
an OOP 3LP, Hollow Eyes Behind a Sterile
Mask; and a live performance in Dallas, Texas 2008 and at the Firehouse
Gallery.
Live in Dallas, Texas (2008):
“Sickness and Plague” is one of those power electronic
creations that captures that rolling thunder of distorted bass and heavily
effect ridden, but still almost decipherable vocals, that has both a physically
warm feeling from the electronic fuzz being generated that’s hypnotic yet the
vocals come across like schizophrenic experience.
“Bedsore” is a sonic masterpiece of distortion sculpting and
manipulation. The rhythm underneath sounds like machine motor cycling and
creates this steady pulsing undertow that still manages to pull you with it
even though it’s beneath so many other vibrating components, while the effects
on the vocals sound like a scrambling of radio signals with precise and
deliberate metallic scraping as opposed to electronic interference. Then to top
it all off with this being recorded live, I can’t even imagine how intense the
pressure in the room from the engine running sounds and seismic pulses must
have been, I bet it could make someone feel as if they had a couple of lead
vests resting on their chest.
Violent Cutting Motion
3-inch CD-r (2002):
“Violent Cutting Motion” sounds like an electrical storm,
it’s controlled chaos through surgeon-like precision of piecing together analog
whirrs, screeching subway rails, rhythmic bass surges, some vocals coming
through like a news feed of some disaster that becomes entangled in this
intricate web of frequencies and vibrations.
Controlled Sense of
Decay 3-inch CD-r (2004):
“Untold Atrocities” sounds like a muffled field recording
taken inside a wind tunnel, filtered and tweaked to bring out echoes, details,
and then separate the many layers of sounds. It’s ironically droning and fuzzy,
but simultaneously foreshadowing something morbid occurring in or around the
source and coming closer and closer.
“Trepanation” is one of those iconic power electronic tracks
that brings to mind sexual sadism and serial killers. I have no idea why, but
it has something to do with the specific sounds used because they always make
me think of being in a drugged stupor half conscious in some abandoned
warehouse or factory. The constant buzzing rhythms, the machine-like whirring
and “sawing” tones in the background really do sound like murder tools. “Forced
Plastic Surgery” generates a similar scenario, but with more of the wind tunnel
textures and a static saturated voice coming through the electric field, sort
of like being put on the dissecting table and hearing a subway echo as it
passes above the room.
Sadistic Surgery
3-inch CD-r (2003):
“Catheter (Live in Houston,Texas)” reminds me of the scene in A Clockwork Orange where Alex is
submitted to the electric shock treatment in the straightjacket and helmet full
of electrodes.
“Burning Out Their Eyes” reminds me of the sado power
electronic act Navicon Torture Technologies. The humming and droning electronic
backdrop works almost like an anesthetic as the lighter laser phasing and
static layers form a corrosive acid bath over the entire mix. There’s also a
feeling of electrocution present that reeks of torture and an added burning
sensation.
Cold Embrace of an
Iron Lung 3-inch CD-r (2003):
“ Decayed Angel of Mercy” starts out like a storm on the horizon
complete with thunder and a slowly closing in sense of impending Hell, it’s the
calm before the storm, and what a fucking storm it becomes!!!! Halfway through
the tempest brewing the sonic violence and insanity makes its debut as vocals
of a lunatic preaching doom and despair to all amidst a sonic storm of static
and thunder, the storm has hit and you’re in the eye of it.
“Iron Recluse” is a sonic drone on the surface present and a
consistent buzzing that never gives way, but underneath, buried in rubble is
elements of the explosion responsible for that rubble as it’s muddied and
suffocated into a rhythm beneath the drone.
I was going to cover tracks from each of the components, but
it’s getting to be a hearty task. Every tracks is extremely brilliant and the
textures are almost tangible like you could run your fingers across them,
breathe them in, or be painfully inflicted by them, so trying to cherry pick is
relentless. If you are a SHP fanatic or interested in the power electronics
realm, you cannot justify NOT having heard any SHP, let alone not owning this
piece or it’s original components!!!! This 2xCD is limited to 500 copies so get it quick!!!! Nothing out there that I've ever experienced can capture death and insanity like SHP!!!!!
Great review! Thanks, J. Stillings
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