Altered Neurological function is a compilation of artists from around the world, some share similarities, some are vastly different. Darth / Nader set the mood to a bleak atmospheric ambience immediately. Darth/Nader is Jared Butler and Cory Thrall, their track ‘Sleeping in Shifts’ is pleasingly dark, and unsettling for its one sudden jolt of noise. That works well, in their being a slap with the build up of ambience, nice touch. Thee mighty Ctephin continue with their usual majestic build up of atmosphere, as a Ctephin fan, they are on full form here with Jupiter Invocation. (Their Thee Dreamtime is a well recommended release) Their occult overtones are compelling and forever developing onwards and upwards; on here they move the discs mood on well into a mystic ambient territory.
Tzesne break in with Fundar La Primera which is a barrage of low level noise which hums and crackles with an overlay of unpleasant tone and samples. Serving as a good control of low level noise to good effect, Fundar breaks up as quickly as it broke in. Mystified contribute a track from their Foiled Again album, Static Surfer pulls back slightly from the full throttle reached by the first three tracks; Static Surfer is one of their more intense tracks and fits in well here.
C_Utter from Spain produce a more tonal drone with damaged voice sampling thrown into the mix. This gradually breaks into a power electronics/noise work out. Texas based Death Trance combine drone with a tunnel like effect, it is a little less full on than some of the previous tracks yet holds the darkness well. Netherlands Kristus Kut creates sound by hitting treated string instruments along with programming on Sinking Into Silent Dreams offers a piece of well executed solemn atmospheric drone that initially feels as if it is nodding to the sci-fi soundtracks of the 70s and 80s. It is punctuated throughout by percussive strings, which takes it well away from being just an exercise in nostalgia.
Swamps up Nostrils’ atmospheres sound like they are from another planet on Herr Probe the low level sound of this track follows through well and continues on a similar level with Flat Effect. Their track Eighth Circle is a strong piece of low level ambient experimentation, with drone and a lot more interesting minor details.
Project Horsed breaks in with an old style industrial/ambient giving an effective combination of drone and looped sounds overlaid with different sounds to good effect and change throughout Sub. Norss is no longer with us, operating now under the name ULv, however their offering Ritueel Bloedvergieten bubbles under the surface at a low level, never rising. Flowers of Flesh and Blood surface immediately with harsh ambience or what I would call Power Electronic Ambience, distortion and unpleasant feedback provide the two main characteristics, with the distortion pulsing and the feedback changing tone, by far the most Altered Neurologically Functioning track on here, slight yet harsh. No share Flowers.. title as Neurological shift champions, they start off sounding in a similar vein to Chrome with feedback threatening to break into riff, yet it never does shifting into an exciting ritualistic intensity, guitars eventually surface, but not how I expected them .No exist in their own territory and don’t use the Chromisms to drop into Skullflower territory, their nearest contemporary being P.A.R.A.
Overall Altered Neurological Function is a wide range of approaches represented in the noise/experimental underground, the album moves along smoothly in its wide range of sounds. The artists all provide strong tracks and they all play off each other well. This is a strong compilation in a slimline DVD case; it sets a high standard for future volumes.
Tuesday, September 15 2009 @ 02:00 AM PDT
Contributed by: Zenon Gradkowski
http://www.heathenharvest.com/article.php?story=2009091406543494
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