Review of Wolf Eyes Completely Wrong/Variations On The Bottomless Pit 2xCD Collection

Wolf Eyes:Completely Wrong/Variations On The Bottomless Pit:AA Records 23/30

Due to a hellish summer cold and the packed conditions of the show I had to bag the show recently here in the Emerald City. but Kurt and I love our Michigan noise boys and tried to bring the party to em in style. Kurt took the bullet and stayed to the end cold and all to catch what he said was a fantastic show. Now though while I did have to cut the evening short Kurt and I (and shortly thereafter Mr. Eric Lanzillotta of Dissonant Plane) put a nice dent in the musical merch bazaar that is the WE enterprise in motion. Several nice scores but the first one I have gotten to check out in a serious way is this monster of a 2xcd set. Design is simple and lovely. Tan 6x6 envelope with titles in corner and an impressionistic drawing by Nate Young that makes me think of a hunter in a second skin of hair and eyes. AA Records handstamped on back and hand numbered (woo hoo got #23). The two discs are in simple black cardstock sleeves with drawings from Nate on one side and simple track information stickers.

But what about the music?

And is another Wolf Eyes review going to change anything?

Hands down one of my top five Wolf Eyes releases! These two discs both recorded in 2009 show the trio off to their best in a variety of ways. Completely Wrong might be one of the most consistent and engaging WE cds I have heard. Solid heavy noise which brings to mind what many might think typical of the boys that quickly starts throwing change ups that make the ears stand up. It sounds as if WE have dug out some of the rhythm generators from the gear closet and start putting them to varied and excellent use throughout the length of the cd in addition to some fine vocal work and guitar and electronic damage. Two Wolves is probably the most WE sounding of the songs and then more percussion and brutal lo fi rhythm work kick in with the Weirder. Two shorter tracks Lurk and Raw Organ are almost like a single in the middle of an album. Both songs atmospheric and throbbing examples of sweet menace. I'll mention the final track Milled Sickness in a few. After that I was wondering what joys the other cd might have for me. Short answer, many! Recorded at what sounds like three improvisation sessions on May 1st, 8th and three tracks from the final session on May 11th. Variations on the Bottomless Pit is a very atmospheric and "live" sounding release that shows a different side to Wolf Eyes. Elements like John's sax or Nates' vocals or Connelly's guitar all serving what are variations on a theme. Since I missed the show I had to go by Kurt's description of a dark, ambient industrial wash of keyboard phrases heavy melodies and a quiter but just as moving experience. This matched up well when Eric namechecked them sounding in ways like an old fave group of mine from San Fran called Factrix. I think Variations is one of the first recorded documents of another interesting sonic shift for the group. Listening to it obsessively as it brings to mind early industial sounds from ritualistic sonic explorers like Bond Bergland et al in Factrix or the unsettling textures of Throbbing Gristle (mercifully not including G's whine). Which makes some sense at the time since San Fran loves TG. Lots of great sax work that avoids overblown skronk attacks in favor of anchoring the vocals and simpler electronic passages. Production and sound are amazingly consistent for three different sessions and are a fine argument that noiseicians have just as much ability to craft pieces as any other group of musicians. More spare in density than usual for WE and sounds great for it letting the elements have distinct voices and themes for the pieces. The reason I waited to mention the last track on Completely Wrong is that I think said song Milled Sickness not only seems to unite these two different approaches in a strong and cohesive sonic grind that might be my favorite Wolf Eyes "song" so far. Released through Nate's AA Records imprint I really hope this one of those Wolf Eyes releases that reappears in a wider format. Representing strong stylistic diversity that reminds you why they can work so well with Anthony Braxton or Smegma.