I'm not trying to argue with you, because I respect your opinion about not liking this, but I swear to god, I honestly really, really like these songs. I REALLY like them. I'm listening to the EP right now! I don't think you're a moron, I don't think you're uncultured, I don't think you don't "get it." I think we just like different music styles, that's all.

I remember reading an article a while ago about one of the guys who founded Mego, and I will never forget that he said something like "I think people who like silence would really enjoy noise," and I think that is so absolutely true. Noise music that covers all sound is very relaxing to me, like silence.

I bring that up because Gantz Graf is like the exact opposite of that. It doesn't cover up outside sounds with a wall of sound -- it is spiky, sometimes piercing, and full of cuts, and it intrudes upon your space. It is immediate. You know how the secretary at your work has the radio on, playing some adult contemporary Sarah McLaughlin stuff (yes, I just looked up the spelling of her name), and after about 25 seconds, you don't even realize it's on anymore, because you've unintentionally put it completely out of your head? This is like the exact opposite. You cannot put it out of your mind. It doesn't blend. It doesn't absorb other sounds, it juts around them. I like that. But again, if you don't, that's cool too, all right?? We don't hate you!

This is the best description of what it's like to come around on this type of music that I've ever read. The four stages you identify are perfectly illustrated and so true. I love that the first listen is so off-putting, but the complexity and obvious care that went into it grabs your attention and brings you back.

You know what I think it is? I think it's the fact that even though the sounds are absolutely insane -- especially the first time through -- it never sounds *random*. You never think that they just threw things together and released it to be difficult. The songs operate entirely out of the common logical structures of music, but there is absolutely logic and structure there nonetheless!

This is far and away my favorite Autechre release, and I've been searching for other electronic music that is this exceptional since I heard the EP more than 5 years ago. If anybody out there has any recommendations, I would greatly appreciate it. I love love love love Kevin Drumm, but his stuff is more monolithic than this, like just a tower of pure sound. Aaron Dilloway's solo stuff is also fantastic, but I want the high fidelity production of something like this.

Anyone have any suggestions???

Gantz Graf is, hands-down, my favorite Autechre recording! Probably not a coincidence, either, but I love the two noise tracks on this release, too.

I don't think anybody's "flawed" or not sophisticated or whatever if they don't like the noise stuff, it's just some people's taste and not for others. No big deal.

That being said, if anyone looks at KTPA1 and 2 as attempts to like, out-Merzbow the actual Merzbow, then I think they might be coming at the songs from the wrong angle. I think RDJ recorded and released them for three main reasons: 1. he really does love Merzbow's work, and he wanted to make something of an homage to him, 2. he also personally loves this type of sound in general, and because he creates what he likes, he created two noise tracks (amongst hundreds of others, I know, I'm sure), and 3. we know he has a sense of humor that is sometimes just very dry, and other times extremely cutting, and so I think he also wanted to just plain mess with some people, fans or not, with these recordings.

I would never knock that, though, because if he wasn't the bastard that he is, I wouldn't love his stuff nearly as much as I do!

Thank you for mentioning VSnares' production values! I think it is one of the most under-appreciated aspects of his work. It is consistently (and I mean when he actually tries) superb.

What everyone always mentions is the speed and complexity of his drumbeats and rhythm patterns, but all of the complicated composition in the world would be meaningless if it was just an indistinct glob of sound. But that is never the case with his work. Instead, the density of the tracks is enhanced by the crystal clarity of each of the parts. Each element is distinct, and very rich.