Unlike some of Jason Anthony Harris' previous work as Public Speaking, Mountainmurals is a conscious attempt at specifically creating a "noise" release. Using only a variety of household objects as sound sources (none of which are obvious), the 11 untitled pieces, or at least discernible segments result in a gamut of sounds, some very different but all exceptionally well executed.
Whatever instrumentation Harris used to make this tape, a recurring theme on the first half is huge, overdriven percussion that almost resembles a gigantic oil drum.The second piece it makes for the primary sound:all big booming noises run through delays and effects to give it a plethora diversity, but never obscuring the original sound.On the fifth composition, the bassy rumbles are paired with thin, skittering noises that have a semblance of structure, but as a whole it is mostly chaotic and messy.
The metallic, junky sound pops up in the first piece too, cut into what sounds like loops and crunchy distortion.An almost melodic bit of what could be guitar (but likely is not) is weaved in and out, giving a swirling atmosphere to an otherwise lurching outburst of noise.The fourth piece mostly has Harris going balls out noise via that genre prominent but always fun feeling of overdriven crunch.Some sort of musical bit is there, but it sounds like the accidental recording of a far off radio playing as a bulldozer crushes through a field of rocks.
The other side of the tape sees Harris staying closer to a traditional noise sound.The penultimate composition especially has him conjuring a huge blast of dissonance.With all of the distortion and overdrive, the sound resembles that of the best Harsh Noise Wall artists.The sixth piece too is largely cacophonous, but not as oppressive or overwhelming.Thin and brittle static and wet reverb result in a spacy, cosmic bit of noise.The following piece as well is erratic and dissonant, being a cut up pastiche of random sounds, but never too aggressive or forceful.
The two piece combination of the eighth and ninth pieces have a different sense entirely, and one that is distinctly dark.The former is all wet noises and what sounds like menacing bowed instruments.Those swells of ugly noise and what resembles far off conversations makes for a decidedly organic, and disturbing bit of sound.The latter is based on what mostly sounds like forward and backward breathing sounds, but inhuman and uncomfortable.Concluding on bass heavy, noise heavy pseudo-melodies, it has a great creepy vibe to it.
Mountainmurals is a far cry from the weirdly idiosyncratic, song oriented pop of Blanton Ravine, my last experience with Jason Anthony Harris' music.This tape is nowhere near as musical as that album, but still bears his mark of unconventional instrumentation and structures.Of course curiosity had me wondering throughout what exactly was used to make these strange sounds, but the ambiguity made these compositions all the more engaging.
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