Tender Pink Movements is a split C20 tape between two artists from the USA; Chefkirk and Somnaphon. Chefkirk is Roger H. Smith and appears to have been active prolifically releasing since 2003, Smith is also active in; Insects with Tits, Mandom and _whALe_pLAtE_. Smith’s Chefkirk Myspace page also advocates Veganism. August Traeger has been active as Somnaphon since 2007; he was active as Phlimm before Somnaphon, and is responsible for the running of the Bicephalic label. The tape is housed in an abstract sleeve with a strong graphic design casing a bright pink cassette.
Chefkirk contributes one long track to his side of Tender Pink Movements called It’s a Winning Cake. This kicks into action with rapid movements of sound that move in between static, crackling and drones. Little cuts of sound erupt to tie sounds together throughout. The overall nature of the sounds used splits between harsh noise and metallic industrial in nature. This functions as a line of sounds that are harsh but not in a wall or continuous assault method but more like a low level of sound that erupts quickly at times to then disappear. At one point everything seems to have stopped and then starts up again with the addition of brief TV samples and field recordings taking prominence before high pitched sounds appear and move around the stereo sphere progressing onto showers of different noises moving from one to the other; again brief and harsh in succession.
It’s a Winning Cake uses recognizable cuts of noise, however they are juxtaposed carefully to communicate an entire passage of sound constructed by noises, passages of silence and smaller joining noises; the rapid rise and fall of the sound is similar the fluctuating levels of the bars on the cover’s abstract artwork.
Somnaphon uses a manipulation technique of hardware and software. Delicate synth sounds begin Spermpuncher before blips of electronic sound begin to cut into the work, at first these seem to function separately; however as the track progresses both meld together smoothly as the keyboard drones turn to harmonies. The keyboards eventually develop into dark 80s sci-fi drones. Harmony continues in the chimes that introduce a brief passage called Rectangle, this serves as calm time before the next track Play. Play is cut up electronics; chips, beeps and clicks of live data, Play increases in tempo using more noises to make a kind of 80’s computer sound attack on the listener. Despite its abrasive leanings the track links to the others through the 80s traces of its sound effects. The track does get nastier as it progresses with louder distorted noises; this then declines as the sounds appear to drown in a foggy blur of muffled sound.
Somnaphon successfully demonstrates three tracks that are different in the range of sounds that they use and the final results serve as impressive contrasts.
Tender Pink Movements has object appeal with its abstract sleeve, subtle design and bright pink cassette. It serves as a strong release for both artists who use 10 minutes of a cassette to produce contrasting works of sound experimentation that make good use of atmospheric sound and in parts; aggressive sound. Both are realized in original and well thought out ways.
Rating: 4/5
Written by: Lazrs4
Label: Bicephalic / Format: C20 / Cat. # BC006
Tracklisting:
Side A
Chefkirk – It’s a Winning Cake
Side B
Somnaphon – Spermpuncher
Somnaphon – Rectangle
Somnaphon – Play
