SILKEN TOFU
A platform for experimental music and media, Silken Tofu was created in 2006 as a do-it-yourself label in Belgium to release mainly noise, power-electronics and experimental artists. Most releases come as limited editions of usually 100 copies, in nice small clear DVD cases with intriguing artworks. The artists represented on the label are lesser known names, or side-projects. An interesting opportunity to discover some new ways to your personal self-inflicted audio torture.
Below are brief reviews of some of their latest outputs. For more info and audio samples, visit the label's webpage and Myspace profile at the following addresses:
Website: http://www.silkentofu.org
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/silkentofu
SHIFT
"Bulk"
Silken Tofu / Unrest Productions - 2009
CD - 350 copies
A joint release with UK label Unrest Productions, "Bulk" is the latest output by Swedish noise-maker Shift, who has already more than ten years a career as sound-terrorist behind his back. There are three long tracks on the CD, all exceeding the ten minutes of length and throwing into the listener's face some of the most extreme walls of distortions and sonic horrors you can come across. No vocals, no hint of rhythms, no structure, this is pure noise, erected into a barrier you can't hope to trespass. As much inexorable as the listening experience is, you manage to notice minimal variations into the sound, and, after a while, perhaps find a logic behind this electronic barbarism, especially in "Head".
Like most Shift and Swedish / Finnish noise releases, "Bulk" is aimed to the cultists of the most uncompromising sonic horrors.
- Simon V.
Website: http://www.freewebs.com/shift-work
BELIALIST
"Belialist"
Silken Tofu - 2009
CDr 3" - 100 copies
Belialist is another alias of Boston-based power-electronics and harsh noise-producers Brutophilia and Sewer Goddess. In comparison with them, the three tracks featured on this debut EP are more into disquieting and dark atmospheres, with treated voices speaking in the distance and noise waves that roll into repetitive and hypnotic circular structures. That's what you find on "Ridged Teeth" and "Violation Of The Last Principle", whereas final "Bloated & Sun-Blackened" is more industrial-oriented, with heavy percussions, machinery echoes and filtered vocals, without anyway departing too much from the EP's general profile.
A nice little taste for the less trained ears who want to give a try to the darkest noise realms.
- Simon V.
Website: http://brutophilia.blogspot.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sewergoddess187
TZII
"Individualism EP"
Silken Tofu - 2009
CDr 3" - 100 copies
Tzii comes from France and, apart from being a member of super-underground entities such as Paroxysm Of Anxiety and Solar Skeletons, is also running the Night On Earth label since 2001. "Individualism EP" follows a certain amount of releases on vinyl, mp3 and CDr, and is articulated into two untitled tracks, the first of which quite long. The sound blends hypnotic dark ambient with noise bursts, saturated voices with brutal distortions. Nothing particularly original or groundbreaking, yet well-conceived and undoubtedly effective, especially in the second track.
- Simon V.
Website: http://nightonearth.info
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tzii
SIGILLUM DEI
"I'll Keep You In An Oaken Box, With Velvet For Your Bed"
Silken Tofu - 2008
CDr 3" - 100 copies
One half of Edinburgh noise-drone duo Wraiths, Sigillum Dei is also active as LVTHN and has a few other CDr releases out. This EP with a fascinating title contains one single about 16 minute-long track of pure sepulchral dark ambient, floating and swifting along distant, ghostly melodies and echoes. The perfect soundtracks to underground caves where just pale rays of light manage to get inside, or to buried cities built by forgotten civilizations. A good add to any dark ambient discography.
- Simon V.
Website: http://www.ordo-pestilentia.co.uk
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wraiths
HUMAN LARVAE
"The Odour Of Love"
Silken Tofu - 2008
CDr 3" - 100 copies
With an Hellraiser-like artwork, showing a heart spread open by metal hooks, here comes this new EP by Human Larvae, side-project of young German ear-crusher Broken Diodes. Shortly after the full-length CD released in the US, he delivers twenty new minutes of assault cynically titled "The Odour Of Love". Despite the inexorable harsh noise beginning, the sound eventually evolves into a whirling industrial loop, and finally turns into a disquieting, creeping horror soundtrack, with ravaging vocals and film samples that sound terribly disturbing in the general context.
An interesting catalogue of this promising German noise entity's skills. Not to be missed if you appreciated the debut CD, as well as power-electronics and noise in general.
- Simon V.
Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/brokendiodenoise
