Sound Holes #2

Just spent a pleasant while listening to a couple of new releases from Scottish independents Sound Holes.
A Snake In The Garden is the solo project of Einfgall member Matt Mayer, who is based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Sound Holes bring us a C23 cassette called "The Shepherds Are Lost, The Sheep Are Scattered". Side A is the sound of rusty wheels rolling back and forth - little toy car wheels whilst an oil drum is beaten methodically, recorded from the inside and catching rusty resonance. An interesting sound that unfortunately changes into all out noise, a harsh wall of grinding noise with beaten pots and pans and it sounds like a poor New Blockaders copy. The New Blockaders (when they get it right) sound as if they are on the edge of collapse. Rupenus is a master at editing noise. A Snake In The Garden is a slight step back from the edge and the sound becomes less urgent. It is a pity as the beginning of the track is interesting. Side B with its Whitehouse microphone to amplifier and junkyard noise is awful. Unlistenable. The tape is limited to 79 copies.
Journey Of Mind is a project from Tidal member Jimmy Billingham. A contrasting barrel of fish to the A Snake In The Garden. "Salt Rubber" is a C20 cassette. Two pieces of fascinating undulating / drifting gentle drone work. "Sea Soar" (ha) is a floating piece to calm to, very akin to the Andreas Brandal cassette "Shipwrecks" that Licht Und Stahl released last year. "Sun Spot" is simply a beautiful piece of music with clever voice manipulation .... this tape is unique and essential, and limited to 71 copies only. Both tapes can be bought from Sound Holes. www.sndhls.com

Pictures.
1: A Snake In the Garden.
2: Journey Of Mind.