Skintape – Mastoid (EP – Ohm Resistance)
Genre/Influences: Industrial, Experimental, Industrial-Dub.
Format: Digital.
Background/Info: Skintape is an American project set up by Caleb McLaurin. A few works have been already released, but what makes this EP special –and even a bit conceptual, is that all sounds were ‘reconstructed exclusively using audio from Skintape’s ear surgery and ear related hospital visits during the summer of 2020, using hardware samplers and various effects pedals.’
Content: The sound is unique, definitely into Industrial, but also with a real experimental approach. That’s probably because of the concept; the songs are driven by slow, distorted Industrial drum patterns mixed with noise signals, low sound vibrations, repetitive bass lines and some spoken samplings on the last track.
+ + + : The approach and result are original, giving me the impression of Industrial-Dub (especially for the first track). The slow cadence also has something sensual… for so far Industrial music can reflect sensuality. But it’s a creative process, which sounds totally minimalistic.
– – – : I regret the work only features 3 tracks and the opening cut is already a pretty short one, kind of intro.
Conclusion: Skintape is an interesting project exploring further dimensions of Industrial music. I hope to hear more from this.
Best songs: “Eardrum”, “Audiology”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: https://linktr.ee/skintape / www.facebook.com/skintapemusic
Label: www.ohmresistance.net / www.facebook.com/ohmresistance
About Skintape
Skintape is a sound-art project working in sample manipulation and field recording, released through Kurt Gluck’s Ohm Resistance label. “Mastoid” was built entirely from recordings Skintape made during ear surgery and related hospital visits in the summer of 2020, reconstructing medical personnel’s voices and raw surgical sounds using hardware samplers and effects pedals.
The three-track EP was mastered by Badrich and released digitally by Ohm Resistance on 4 December 2020.
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