Lets Start A War

2017 was a bogusly shit year, but at least it managed to squeeze out a brand new Lace cassette! The One and Only Lace, the one true Lace, fuck what you heard about the rest. Lace is a beloved project to me, I tend to fawn over everything the duo does. This c22 tape, "Reclamation", was released on the new Persona Press label in a run of 60 copies. 

Lace have kept it pretty quite since their excellent 2015 cassette release, "Facade". Both members of the project have been keeping active with other projects (Weston has had an incredible run of Sunken Cheek releases, Valentine still crushes my soul with the V. Sinclair output). But alas, the time has come for the One and Only Lace (or Lace (20) if you're looking on Discogs), to rise up again. The time for reclamation is nigh. Over both sides of this sturdy, little, black shelled cassette, the duo twist and derange the output of those foolish enough to use the name Lace. Smashing it into an unrecognizable state, totally changed, and made their own.  

I was told that this session was a pretty cathartic one; going for more of a free and aggressive approach. It is a bit of a different sounding release, but mainly just with how the duo performs and presents themselves. There's a curious amount of swagger, that I pick up on anyway. Especially on the A-side track, "Let's Start A War". Valentine screaming wildly over rumbling low end crunching and a very anxious and steady dull rhythm hit. Towards the end the vocals go really off the deep end, y'all like some Whitehouse falsetto's? However the quality of Lace's plodding soundscapes, and the completely chilling and sorrowful atmosphere is very much here. The chemistry of this duo is just incredible, sound and style both executed perfectly. Both members are obviously totally on the same wave length. 

This is an excellent first release for the Persona Press label. Once again winning me over with a tidy, and consistent aesthetic and layout. The tape sounds great too, thankfully. 

Hail the one true Lace! Hopefully it won't take 3 years for another release, but if it does I'll accept the wait. 

~VII

Facade

Another new tape from Prime Ruin, and one of my favorite new power electronics tapes at the moment. The latest EP from Lace, a duo comprised of noise makers Weston Czerkies and Valentine Sinclair. A tape simply known as, "Facade". C24 tapes in white shells, limited to 60 copies. 

"Facade", a two song offering, uses it's mere 20+ minute run time with an expert level of efficiency. The dominant A-side title track weaves and segways between a multitude of textures and styles. Opening with the stuttering and distorted samples of human chatter, echoed and quickly layered into a wall of delayed distortion and ambient feedback. Eventually more junk metal sounds and the unmistakable rumble of a spring reverb show up. The lo-fi recording is wonderful, totally complimenting the influence of sounds from the early Broken Flag PE groups and 80's extreme industrial. When the flanged vocals kick in, the track instantly turns twice as menacing, and "Facade" turns into a mean and glaring power electronics track. Rumbles of distortion, squealing microphone feedback peaking everywhere, and abused metal crashes. I'm a sucker for that echoed, waved and flanged vocal effect, and the delivery here is excellent. Patient, controlled, only rising in inflection and volume when they needs to. Groups like Ramleh come to mind for sure. The walls of sound eventually decay and leave only the indecipherable vocal samples that started it up. It's a fantastic track, I've played it twice while writing this. 

The B-side, "Visual Anonymity" , is an instrumental and a great compliment to it's other half. A much more ambient and chilling track, beginning with slow moaning chants, and murky, dark textures. Mic'd up scrapes and dragging sounds claw their way into the mix, and eventually a wall of cold, metal screeches and synth chords has been built up and has you. The different dynamics here are effective, and don't stray too far away from the brutal A-side. Would I have preferred more vocals? Perhaps, but this song is wonderful regardless. 

Very tidy layout and printing on the thick 3-panel Jcard. Prime Ruin does a superb job as always. 

If you're quick, you can still pick up a copy of this tape at PRIME RUIN. Highly recommended!

~VII