Taken from Cassette Gods Thanks George!

GRASSHOPPER “Kindertotenlieder” c22 (Baked Tapes)

I don’t know if you call it serendipity or ‘the noise scene being tiny’ but just saw these guys played live out here in western mass and really enjoyed it, got a few tapes from Jesse who runs Baked Tapes outta new york and when I got home I said “should listen to some cassette gods jams” and sure enough, top of the damn pile, there’s a tape by these guys. Jammed the tape and, though different from their live set, still really enjoyed it.

Grasshopper is a duo both using trumpet and electronics and though brass / wind instruments have been establishing some pretty solid footing in the ‘noise’ scene the last few years, these guys approach it less from the lineage of free jazz. Well, that’s probably not fair at all but they apply a lot less skronk to their palate amd in some parts there are even suggestions of melody or at least the phrasing is consistent enough that you know there’s a rhyme to their crime and for me it was a great combination. The timbre of a couple of fucked up inharmonious horns mixed with the ‘warmth’ of their electronics (which it seemed was often sourced from their horns) was a solid match.

I’m sort of writing interchangeably about their live show and tape because the cumulative effect was similar though it’s worth mentioning that the tape is a bit more subdued and the listening is a little more long form. Good stuff both on magnetic tape and in yr face, check em out if possible.

Real nice ‘metal’ artwork and lettering printed black on vellum.
Not up on the Baked Tapes site yet, but check back or just write to him!
http://www.thebakeryfloor.com/bt/

and their myspace for some sound clips, etc.
www.myspace.com/karlmalonelarrybird

Tags: baked tapes, grasshopper, review