CoC : Masonna - Frequency LSD : Review

Masonna - _Frequency LSD_
(Alien8 Recordings, 1998)
by: Gabriel Sanchez (9 out of 10)

The cult icon of Japanoise once again makes another proverbial anti-statement with his uniquely harsh blend of screams, feedback, and constantly changing blasts, rumbles and blips of sonic destruction. As always, this release is very much comparable to his lengthy back catalog of material; however, Maso does manage to get across the point that he is far more than a "one trick pony". The main attraction of this release to new and old fans alike is the rather unskilled, though highly interesting (and somewhat comical), use of 60's psychadelia in the warped textures of sound laid out in each track. Despite not being very noticeable at the start of the album, with each successive track the influence becomes stronger and stronger until the final fourteenth track almost sounds unlike everything that one would come to expect from Masonna. Instead of being treated to a barrage of uncontrolled, harsh, and maddening noise, we are treated to lengthy explorations into the joys of warped synthesizer repetition and digitally altered radio frequency loops. After all is said and done, one is easily left with the impression that Maso has abandoned his glorious "roots" and has taken the proverbial next step in his noise sound. Whether this is the case or not remains to be seen. However, it is undeniable that the alteration and inclusion of entirely new sounds for the artist is a successful venture. Slowly but surely, Maso seems to have been able to calm down and "trip out" his sound so well during the album, it almost becomes unnoticeable until the later tracks. With any luck, Maso will take these two distinct styles he has incorporated so beautifully on this disc and further expand on them in the not-so-distant future. This is, thus far in the year, the best noise release put out by any artist and, after just one listen, it's not hard to hear why.

Contact: Alien8 Recordings, P.O. Box 666, Station R

(article published 1/9/1998)

ALBUMS
7/6/1997	A Lewandowski	7	Masonna - Hyper Chaotic