[Oni Ayhun Records]

Sometimes you just need to let shit get out of hand. Oni Ayhun seems to understand this perfectly as nearly everything on his fourth record dives right off the deep end. The text accompanying the record on his site discusses both acid and music, but laden with chemical formulas and instructions it’s difficult to decipher. Even the record’s center label is a skewed picture of which might be clearer had I held on to my Avatar 3D glasses. Needless to say, those looking for a return to the melodic stylings of OAR003 should immediately accept that any traces of melody here are accidental: incidents arising unexpectedly from mixing “alkaline component(s), one or more acid salts, and an inert starch.”

With a kick drum as dense as lead and the flash of aluminum hi-hats, the A side takes just about every amelodic sound that could be described as “rough” and throws them all into its fizzing chemical brew. Buzzing feedback, objects being slammed against each other, electrical noise from cables being yanked out and many other noises appear throughout, all seeking to distract you from the groove but instead playing an integral role to the jacking monster Oni’s chemicals have produced. Flip the record over and we’re met with sounds that could be dogs or a particularly out of breath person combined with eerie ringing, glacially slow percussion and dark bass rubs. Although it’s not a killer peak-time cut like the A side, B matches its oddness and locks you into its paranoid, anxious movements. Those who like their records to play it safe will find plenty of those filling stores’ shelves. Me, I’m sticking with Oni the alchemist if only just to see what piece of gold will come out of his laboratory next.