7″ Clear Vinyl, Diophantine Discs, 2010
www.last.fm/music/Dead+Shall+Not+Have+Died+in+Vain / www.diophantine.net/dysthymia
This clear vinyl 7″ is packed in an oversized box used for the CD’s at Diophantine and, yes, that is a pleasure to the eye, but what is more important is that the sounds you hear make you want more. And in the end that’s what it’s all about.
Side A is by Dead Shall Not Have Died In Vain and is entitled “Nearer My Gxd To Thee (for Albert Davis)”. The title I don’t understand, but the track is a fine piece of field recordings. Some are manipulated, others aren’t. The result is minimal noise/musique concréte with a touch of ambient. Very atmospheric and reminding me a bit of “Armenia” by Einsuerzende Neubauten – without the vocals, that is. The background drones are especially gorgeous. Dead Shall Not Have Died In Vain is Marc Benner, and he has been producing music since about 2005. Until now it’s been mostly tapes and CD-R’s, this being his first vinyl release. I wouldn’t mind hearing more of him, because if this is his style, I definitely see him worthy of releasing pressed CD’s. And that is still the real thing.
Going to the reverse side, Dysthymia is the solo output of the man behind the Diophantine Discs label (so also behind Tapefiend). Just like Dead Shall Not Have Died In Vain, this is his first output on vinyl after several tapes and CD-R’s. Where Marc Benner uses more field recordings as source, it seems that Kyle’s output is based on analog sounds, or at least samples from them, and of course a lot of effects. “Only One Memory Remains” is much more direct and noisy. It should be described as harsh noise, but it has moments where it’s repetition reminds you of power electronics in its raw version.
[8/10]
— Bauke van der Wal