Czechoslovak No-Input Mixer Compilation

Published May, 2014
by Easterndaze

Is the no-input technique getting so popular in the Czech and Slovak Republics? Definitely not, but this compilation can give you the false impression that this may as well be true. Still, the contributors here are worth your attention and it would be a shame not to mention this release out now on the Czech netlabel Signals from Arkaim. Their output is really fertile, counting more than 25 releases to this date, and with all of the releases are free to download.

Guys with their mixing boards here are quite renowned and cult figures in the Czechoslovak noise underground, including the legendary Napalmed, member of Gurun Gurun Federsel, or the young blood of brother duo Michael Jackson Pollock Five representing the new generation of noise tradition in Czecho/slovakia. Names like Jan Faix, Vojtěch Procházka or Michal Cáb are also quite well known on the scene. It is important to note that the compilation completely ignores the fact that Czechoslovakia ceased to exist in 1993, which is a really nice gesture.

But is it possible to make a compilation from the technique which by itself is really limiting and challenging and will not make you turn it off after 10 minutes of listening? And the answer is yes. Or at least, if it’s in good hands. If I have to pick a favourite track, it would be definitely Count Portmon’s contribution called Magnetic Heads. Despite the general belief that no-input has to be noisy, this is not true when listening to this track. Glitchy soundscapes, which are constantly changing their flow in the mostly high frequency range, are really calm, almost zen-like soundscapes.

Federsel’s v Plumon is hidden beneath huge layers of reverb, creating massive sonic seawaves. Why not use some other tools when the sound source is mixing board? Erroneous Monofolk by the Sherman Brothers is a carefully constructed and composed piece which has lots of thrilling moments and a very precise sound manipulation. But the more abrasive part of compilation also brings forth interesting tracks. Vojtěch Procházka’s Great War is an impressive lecture of sound looping slowly building up into the Pacman on ecstasy.

Napalmed and Garasu have a more standard approach and so is the sound of their contributions, which are possibly the weakest links, yet still somehow satisfying listening full of sudden sound attacks and ear crushing moments.

The purely no-input operational duo Jack Jack contributes with one of their tracks which was released at the end of the last year, and their contribution is crucial, since their project is purely based on the dialogue of two mixing boards.

To sum it up, this is great anthology of the underground Czechoslovak scene with really important and influential names. If you want to know the names in the game, it is quite necessary to go through this list at least even though it is without a question that this kind of music may not appeal to everyone.

by b.arctor