Emptying "Free, Bilateral Movement"Cassette (Crooked Branch Collections, 2022)
Loosely structured around a Zen philosophy that views reality as interconnected but immeasurable, undistinguished but analogous, enduringly nothing, and yet identically everything, the debut release by Emptying delivers two side-long slow burners that fall somewhere between terror and elation, tie dye and despair.
The A side combines what sounds like heavy breathing, with some scattered clunkiness, unpleasant creaking, and a generally disagreeable atmosphere. At some indeterminate point things turn sinister as all of the elements come together to create some sort of alchemical haze, an accidental horror soundtrack complete with screaming, chainsaws, and swirling chaos. The B side is a short simple loop of metal clanging repeated, intersected, and forced back through itself so many times that it eventually implodes into some sort of unhinged geometrical rapture. Heavy influences from Steve Reich and The Haters on this one, and they’re worn well.
Definitely the most psychedelic release on the label so far but would never claim that it will foretell a good trip.
C40 w/ risograph printed j-card. Edition of 50.