By Jonny Bakes
It’s not often that I’m lost for words; in fact, I’m pretty sure everyone at ÜRHQ will confirm that I’ve always got something to say. However, today I found myself completely lost for words when I started listening to the concept piece from Kowa Axis, ‘Ones and Threes’. Naturally, as this is something a little on the quirky side, it fell to me to get my teeth stuck into it to find out what lay within this little musical package…
The concept behind ‘Ones and Threes’ is something that definitely attracted my curious nature and set my imagination running. So what is that concept? This a double album with two distinctly different approaches on each disc; the first disc is simply titled ‘Solos’ which is almost self-explanatory, the second is titled ‘Trios’ which is where things get a little bit more complicated as there are no additional personnel involved. In fact, this whole album is the product of one man and his guitar, James Barry, who uses a number of effects and pedals to bring you the auditory experience that is ‘Ones and Threes’. The ‘Trios’ section of the album was created by blending together three independently recorded solo tracks to form an interweaving cacophony of guitar noise.
Now, I know what you may be thinking – “But I thought you were lost for words?”. Well, that’s correct, because after listening to this album I really didn’t know how to describe it and I think there’s a distinct possibility that I didn’t really “get” it. From the very start of ‘Solos’ you’re greeted by a long droning distorted guitar note that feels like it might be building up to something, but what it builds up to is a further six minutes of drawn-out distorted guitar noise which is the entire composition of the first track ‘Imposter’. So, I took a little time to delve into the background of this album and as I expected there was a little note that mentioned Sunn 0))) – Ah. So that’s the kind of thing we’re in for then.
And that’s what you get for this whole album, distorted guitar noise that drones and weaves in an almost hypnotic manner. The distinction between the different tracks is not very pronounced at all and after a while it felt like they blended into one singular wall of noise. The key distinction really was the transition between ‘Solos’ and ‘Trios’ where the noise becomes more intricately crafted and infinitely more complicated as the three unrelated tracks are woven together to form one entity.
Unfortunately, the likes of Sunn 0))) and other such bands have never really been my bag which means that ‘Ones and Threes’ doesn’t really do it for me. But I do know quite a few people who would be all over this and are probably waiting to tell me how wrong and naive I am for not liking this, but here we are! So, yes, if distorted instrumental music with low frequencies and fluid structure is your scene then Kowa Axis is probably on your radar, and if not, you’ll probably dig ‘Ones and Threes’. But I would suggest this is certainly more of an acquired taste and unfortunately not one I’ve acquired yet! But, hey, there’s still time…
- ‘Ones and Threes’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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