I can just imagine David Brenner’s reaction when I send him this review, namely “How did he find out about this one, we didn’t send out any promos!”. Yep, Gridfailure have become of those bands that I actually pay attention to what is going on, as I still haven’t come across anything quite like them. It is like listening to Can at full bore but a Can who have had children with Throbbing Gristle and decided that Art Zoyd are way too melodic, so they are going to go off and create white noise. What is really interesting for me with this set is that we have a 22-minute-long single piece of improvisation from three guys, where as normally Gridfailure is the work of just one man, David Brenner. Tonight, they were playing a benefit, and for this the line-up was effects-soaked accordion from Benjamin Levitt (Megalophobe) and drumming from Richard Muller (Vise Massacre, The Third Kind), while Brenner supplies vocals, samples, noise/effects aura, and additional percussion.
It is chaotic and doesn’t contain quite the same menace as the studio albums but is still something which is incredibly compelling and enthralling. Note, my tastes in music are not the same as everyone else’s, and I do realise that 99% of the music listening public would feel this album is more useful as a weapon of war than to be listened to for pleasure, but for those of us who “get it” then this is quite brilliant. Currently available for “name your price” on Bandcamp, this is another release from Brenner which is well worth investigating.
Rating: 8/10
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Track list:
1. Live Improv At Sun Tiki Studios
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