A short one…
The Canadian project Level Of Existence is an outfit by Alan Bloor, also known from e.g. Harsh Noise project Knurl, Ambient-oriented outlet Pholde, or the experimental (Harsh) Noise one-man horde Pyrox. Formed in 2020, Level Of Existence signed a deal with No Sides Records for the release of the EP Evils By Indirect Means. The album was recorded live, only using scrap metal and bow (bowed violin / violin with scrap metal may sound better?). Evils By Indirect Means appears on 3” MCD and comes with strange, even disturbing, cover artwork, being a nebulous black and white fragment of, well, I have no idea. Intriguing it is therefore…
Evils By Indirect Means is a one-track experience / experiment, having a total running time of 14:40 minutes. It is noise-distortion, based on harsh-manipulated strings, careful and dearly-loved molestation of violin, an improvisation that transcends normality, concept and comprehension.
The ‘abuse’ of violin(s) comes in interplay with samples, sound-sources, noises and field recorded elements, being canalized into an aural orgy of transcendental - or anti-meditative, if you want to – textures-of-sound. The first half indeed is frenzy, freaky, un-directive and purely improvised in essence. Strings are (ab)used to paint a surreal landscape beyond imagination - and it isn't the most beautiful picture this painting might be based on. As from half of this ‘song’ (yeah, what’s in a word) the elements of Experimental Noise enter. Alienated sound-effects, sampled noises, disturbing scratches and metallic string-molestation especially create an unearthly dimension of aural disturbance, of sonic distortion, of mental craze. It is like entering a glass-splintered dimension, troublesome, uncomfortable, preternatural...
In short… Those trusted with the deranged world of Alan will surely appreciate this sonic mania. If not (yet), be careful, for Evil By Indirect Means might work intoxicative, and therefore also attractive. You might eventually like this stuff…
https://nosidesrecords.bandcamp.com/album/level-of-existence-evils-by-indirect-means