TORSTEIN WJIIK - TOADS (CDR by Dim Records)
Dim Records is a new label from The Netherlands, run by Stefan de Turck, also known as Staplefahrer. The second release is by one norwegian Torstein Wjiik and 'Toads' is released in an edition of thirty-three copies. The overall quality leaves room for improvement, both cover and music. Wjiik uses various instruments, such as guitar, vocals, harmonica, bongos but every ends up on the computer for some final treatment. It's clear that Wjiik loves the noise card. Whatever he does, things always seem to end in a bit of noise, with feedback humming around. Usually a piece starts with controlled banging on a guitar for a while, but then over the course of a piece things go louder and louder, with the oddly named 'Bee Queen' as an exception. The title track is a pure field recording piece. I must say I am not entirely convinced by Wjiik music. Sometimes it is just too randomly improvised, and playing around for the noise card, but never reaches the real harshness of say Merzbow. Style-wise Wjiik may fit better in the New Zealand scene, but also there he wouldn't be crowned king. As a start it's quite alright, nevertheless. (FdW)
Address: http://www.dimrecords.tk