Music for the Deaf

Style is everything. Especially when you are young and don’t have much of anything, style is integrity. Style is identity.

Generation after generation seeks to find novel forms of expression that fit their own personal vision. In music, this means the creation of new styles and genres.

The latest emerging genre, in direct contrast with the mainstream while gaining a strong fan following and adherents in the American Midwest, has been titled NOISE. This trend may take on many forms and appeal to a divergent audience, but a similar thread can be traced among its adherents—a disgust for commercial marketing and categorization of music, a disregard for traditional understanding of ‘music’, and a more do-it-yourself attitude towards recording and creating band related merchandise as objects of art. Noise bands follow a philosophy similar to John Cage’s, in that anything can be music, with the idea that "There is no noise, only sound." Noise bands impose a broader definition of what music is to encompass more dissonant and painful sound structures. “Noise” musicians remind us that the boundaries that distinguishes music from noise are culturally defined.

I find this area of music very thought provoking and engaging. If you have the opportunity, check out some of the links. A strong start for the noise ‘category’ emerged from the first industrial band Throbbing Gristle’s magical understanding of sound and performing in art galleries and performance art halls. The group was more of a cult than a traditional ‘rock band.’

Japan has a strong collection of noise architects. In such a closed, communal society that enforces conformity, noise artists are a strong break from the surrounding culture. The live performances often involve many taboo-breaking elements, such as mutilation, sadomasochism and totalitarian imagery. One popular Japanese noise duo’s live performance involved the amplified sounds of a vacuum cleaner hose choking on the performer’s erection while the other band member rolled around on the floor screaming incoherently. Japan is home to other big name noise acts including Masonna , Boredoms, and KK Null.

Here in the States, noise bands are often very painful to listen to and damaging to hear live, as they often play at very high decibels (150+). In the Midwest, there has been a blending of noise, punk and avant-garde influences among bands like Metalux, Sunn 0))), and Wolf Eyes.

If anything, check out the hilarious MOTHERS AGAINST NOISE site. Probably a joke, but informative and funny all in the same—MAN (Eric Zimmerman)