Review Summary: More drone. More noise. More awesome.
An album that was originally supposed to be released in 2007, Boris and Merzbow’s sixth collaborative effort is just now seeing the light of day. And at a time when Boris fans are pining for the drone days of yore more than ever, the timing is actually pretty damn good.
The marriage of drone and noise can be a blissful one at times, as this dynamic duo has shown us before, but if either side gets too aggressive, it’s time to file for divorce. Boris and Merzbow have walked that tightrope before and made it to the other side, often with colorful results.
Klatter is no exception. However, the abrasiveness of the hallmark sonic blitzkriegs one has come to expect of the artists separately has been dialed back considerably. Wata and Takeshi turn down the feedback to leave some room for Masami’s electronic tinkering, and Atsuo’s drumming sees a bit of a minimalistic reprieve from his oft punk-tinged percussion. The free-improv-like spaciousness gives each element room to breathe and create an atmosphere from both harmony and discord.
As with 2005’s
04092001, the listener is treated to a fresh approach to a couple Boris standards along with some entirely new material. While structurally “Akuma no Uta” and “Naki Kyoku” may not diverge from the songs Boris fans know and love, they have been re-recorded to amply suit the additions of their fourth member, so to speak. The riffs are there, but much of the aural bite is eschewed in favor of a gentler, more calming aesthetic. Merzbow’s techno-shredding gives the effect of the tracks being deconstructed and ripped apart at the very seams, but the trip to oblivion manages to be a pleasant meander rather than a threatening plunge.
Klatter is Boris doing what they always do - something different, even with some old standards. Merzbow simply offers them the ability to showcase this side that was probably inherent in the group all along, all the while providing some impeccable textures. While not every journey the two entities embark upon together can be labeled as a success, one thing’s for sure: they always make for an interesting listen. While big fans of either party (or both) might be a bit disappointed by the subdued nature of this album, at the end of the day, what we do have is another enjoyable effort by two very unique and innovative artists. Besides, there’s always
Amplifier Worship and
Pulse Demon.
