What?: The prolific Kang's second album.
Why?: I first saw Kang play violin with Secret Chiefs 3 in 1998 at The Corner in Melbourne. I'd only gone to the gig because I'd heard Trey Spruance (the guitarist from Mr. Bungle) was involved. They were brilliant, and Kang especially impressed taking on almost a front-man role in the live act. During that tour they played a long medley of songs which I later found out included some Kang tracks so I arranged to get some on tape from a friend. Recently I dug through a box of old tapes and was reminded of "7 Nades" and "Theatre Of The Nades", so bought them.
Tell me more!:
Perhaps though I should have listened to the tape first.
Not that there is nothing of worth on this album, but what is there that is good is almost universally ruined, deliberately.
The first track for instance ("theme from 1st NADE") is lovely, like the music behind the opening credits of a 70s movie. Harpsichord, spaghetti western guitar, choir, all ruined by deliberate vinyl noise.
The next five tracks are noise. No other description. Track 6, ("winged head over troubled waters") might be a nice short horn orchestra track over campfire noises, but instead is unlistenable due to what must be deliberate, very high pitched background noise that make my tinnitus effected ears very upset.
Track 8 ("Universal") starts with an interesting discordant set of descending notes, but quickly turns into a violin torture session, for five minutes.
Track 9, "theme from 6th NADE", is again some interesting horn music, again ruined by fake vinyl. Do people buy these albums on vinyl then complain their clean record sounds like crap? I hope so.
Track 10, "extra cry", starts with a great scream, the kind of random-noise I could get into, but ends with someone messing with a guitar chord. Buzz. Buzz.
The album does end well, "The Banishment" is all 70s soundtrack with Japanese narration (again with the vinyl noise) and "living corpses" is an epic guitar solo over orchestra, the perfect end-credits song. It's fantastic.
As an album I've clearly missed the point. It's noisy and not particularly interesting, but there are at least four good songs on here. If you think vinyl noise is "quaint" or whatever the hell, then you might love those tracks. I unfortunately just get angry that good music was destroyed.
2/10 - Mostly for the last track. It would have been 4 without the vinyl noise.
