Black Chamber - Schism

Hear The Track Here

As well as being a new name to me, it looks like Black Chamber is also new to Soundclick. Ostensibly billed as Psychedelic Rock, Black Chamber describes himself as an 'avant garde' artist and we all know where that leads so I have to admit to some curiosity prior to hearing the track. Even more so when he cites Throbbing Gristle as being an influence. Although I didn't quite get it at the time, time has shown that Throbbing Gristle were one of the seminal groups in the surreal, disjointed noise with anything in sight approach that spawned today's fairly huge musical presence - and nowhere more so than on Soundclick. SC has a very good cross selection of aural maniacs so it's always good to welcome one more.. Mind you, doesn't sound like a happy lad, a lot of his tracks appear to be about mental illness and madness - at least the ones at the top of the page.

Not a place to look for cheer then?

Schism is a track about 'a relapse into schizophrenia' so on that count, no. Its also probably not the best track to surprise your granny with first thing in the morning either, probably give the old dear a conniption. I played this a time or two through speakers and it certainly made the old dog whizz around the room at a nice clip, which is quite stunning really because I don't even have a dog. So obviously if the name Throbbing Gristle means anything to you, this may indeed pique your interest because it does have echo's back to them. It's also pretty modern sounding (for this kind of music anyway) with a decent production and mix. What it isn't is easy to listen to. There again, that is often the point with material like this.

One big point in Black Chamber's favour is that - like Soundclick's favourite oddball, Pilesar - this musician makes everything you hear and with a guitar even. How retro is that? Having been exposed the the many vagaries of Pilesar and his ilk over the years I have become quite inured to what some might term as 'noise' and indeed there isn't that much in the way of dissonance or noise on this track. Parts of it, strangely enough, reminded me of the Pink Floyd circa The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and Saucerful Of Secrets. Way, way out there and obviously best appreciated with a head full of what they were on at the time of recording. So if you want to hear a guitar used and abused in ways unnatural to man, this is your ticket. Not an easy listen though, so be warned.