CoC : Skin Crime - Collection : Review

Skin Crime - _Collection_
(Independent, 1998)
by: Gabriel Sanchez (9 out of 10)

There is that elite circle of Americanoise artists whose outputs can continually rival and even surpass those of their Japanese counterparts, and Skin Crime has proven time after time that they are one of them. This six CD collection brings together Skin Crime's early tape releases on Self Abuse Records along with classic recordings such as _Genital Modification_ and _Whorebutcher_. If that was not enough, also included on this collection are various compilation tracks, the B-Side to their RRR recycled tape, and a new track of Skin Crime recorded live in 1996. The noise Skin Crime produces shifts from atmospheric and structured at points to no holds barred low-end kick backs of pure aural energy. I gave up after listening to the collection straight through twice to find any sort of progression or pattern in the sounds of Skin Crime, for there are none. Skin Crime manages to hit on every area of noise at one time or another during the course of this collection, and truly leave no stone unturned when producing noise that is so compelling that it becomes challenging for other artists in the field to come close to matching it. For those who are willing to drop the $50 on this collection, it is more than well worth the investment in money for the sheer amount of noise one gets back (nearly seven hours worth) and that much of the material on this collection is out of print or extremely obscure. Easily the single best collection of noise in one place put out by any artist in the field today.

Contact: SAR, 26 S. Main St. #277, Concord, NH 03301, USA

(article published 16/1/1999)