Marc Benner has been in the noise scene for many years, so I was happy to see this disc in the stack that I would review. He is also known for his project Dead Shall Not Have Died In Vain, as well as being the driving force behind the Oxidation label. He has also begun to release music under his name that seems focused on field recordings. I had previously reviewed “At Times I Struggle to Be Pleasant” on Inner Demons under this moniker and I enjoyed the rawness of it, so I was interested to see how this one compared. The label describes his work thus: “Benner’s sound projects have used decayed media and processed field recordings to render textures of rust and hiss into audio that dissolves before coalescing for listening experiences that feel intimate and uncanny.” Sounds like a good time, so let’s dive in.

“False Beliefs” kicks it off with chaotic, processed field recordings. Clattering metal, overdriven microphone static, and a flute make for an interesting juxtaposition. Next up, “Shutdown” brings in more field recordings with some rhythmic pounding, like a washing machine off balance as someone shells walnuts in front of you. At almost 14 minutes, there is a lot for Benner to play with, and pretty much everything is grist for the field recording mill. Imagine going throughout your day with a microphone turned to maximum gain…. and you have a whole lot of scrap metal that needs to get hosed off and moved. “Interlude” mixes it up with a short track of ever-increasing static noise with radio broadcast snippets and bird noises thrown in. As an interlude, it is excellent and still stands on its own. This is, in some ways, the noisiest thing on the album, but also somehow the most cohesive. “Recovery” closes it down with a minimalist field recording composition that is like listening to one of the other tracks from the room next door with the door closed. The overall feel is subdued and almost peaceful.

Overall, this is firmly on the side of “experimental,” and those who enjoy field recording based music will appreciate this. If you are looking for more noisy stuff, this may not scratch that itch, but it is certainly an interesting listen. This album weighs in at around 31 minutes.