Bleep

Vertical Jamming, Disciples’ new release from the Japanese punk/avant-garde legend Phew, is an expanded edition of a CD that was only previously available on the artist’s 2016 tour. This is a generous offering indeed - the original run of ‘Cheers’ and ‘Encore’ already clocked in at almost an hour, and that barrier is now firmly broken by the addition of the eleven-minute-long ‘Drone’ (please note that, for the cassette version of Vertical Jamming, ‘Drone’ has been included as a downloadable bonus track rather than on the tape itself).

‘Drone’ is, largely, an apt title for this track. Building from a faraway-sounding oscillation, the piece coalesces into a strangely beatific bit of metal machine music, one that comes off almost like a more distorted, industrial version of new age. Around halfway in the track begins to fluctuate, its air of serenity compromised by strange arpeggiated screeching sounds. It is at once beautiful and troubling.

Though ‘Drone’ is a new addition to this Vertical Jamming release, Phew says that ‘Cheers’ and ‘Encore’ are effectively sequels to ‘Drone’. One can hear this when listening back to them - these tracks expand on ‘Drone’s second half, their concrete-like atmospheres flitting between a series of quixotic and alien vignettes. The overall effect makes one think of a sort of bedroom rendering of Einstürzende Neubauten.

Disciples continue their fabulous run of rare treats with a new set of avant-drone from former Aunt Sally vocalist Phew.