Review Summary: 1930 is a spectacular way to continue a career as spectacular as Masami Akita's. Rejoice!
Masami Akita is no stranger to the noise music scene by any means. Akita began to bring about his own brand of noise music in 1979, and since then he's been constantly changing the very foundation his music is built on. For example, the malevolent noise captured on releases like
Pulse Demon and
Venereology would become less aggressive. Beats would be added, and more organization would be notable. However, he again departed the later style and returned back to his roots. Perhaps this experimentation is a byproduct of his prolific nature. In just over thirty years, Akita has composed over three hundred releases, several of which are lengthy noise epics. This unconventional approach to music has given Akita such a high regard in the noise music scene.
1930 only follows suit in terms of consistency and quirkiness.
On this release, mind-jarring changes in styles are evident. Case in point: drones shift sporadically into bursts of noise and augmented by stochasticity. As if
1930 wouldn't be boisterous enough by following this plan, Akita utilizes the “wall-of-sound” technique. This technique is tenacious, and therefore, to most, unaccessible. However, to others,
1930's cantankerous sound will be the finest source of fascination. To these people, every rumbling, chunky soundscape will pique their interest, as every track makes use of these components. “Intro” is fidgety and a perfect example of the impact of subtlety working in favor for
1930. The oscillations of pitch and buzz are spastic, frequent, and relatively short. This combination is present throughout all of
1930, but the self-titled track and “Degradation of Tapes” show said element of this album at its finest. The same rings true for tempo changes, which are just as frequent. The sheer insanity that comes in subsequent event breaks all musical boundaries. Convention is thrown out the window, leaving
1930 as a release that redefines the physical boundaries of music. It is technical, unpredictable, discordant, and intriguing. Not only that, it is a perfect way to continue a career as spectacular as Akita's.
