Music

Rene Hell — Porcelain Opera

Rene Hell — Porcelain Opera (TYPE077)

When
May 2010
Cover of Porcelain Opera by Rene Hell
Artwork: Sasha Wiseman

This is a release on Type Records, the label I co-founded with John Xela. John was responsible for its musical output; I contributed in the first few years on design and running the label. The catalogue is archived here for posterity.

Rene Hell is the latest and possibly greatest moniker of US noisenik Jeff Witscher. With this project we find him focused on synthesized kosmiche sounds — but unlike many of his contemporaries, instead of delving into nostalgia there is something decidedly modern about Witscher's compositions. The bubbling, effervescent synthesizer sequences and percussive patterns seem to twist and turn over each other with a near-techno precision, and at times you might be forgiven for thinking that 'Porcelain Opera' had more in common with Basic Channel than Cluster. This is analogue exploration at its best, and once it digs its rusty talons into you, it refuses to let go.

Made at Type.

Around the same time

Earlier in music: Thomas Köner — Nunatak. Later in music: Thomas Köner — Teimo.