BOB HEAVENS “Higher” C40 (Bob Heavens Records)

Here’s where we don’t know anything. Bob Heavens is a label, and apparently an artist? I don’t know. The tape doesn’t give any indications (other than “produced by Bob Heavens”). It’s on Lather’s Bandcamp page. Let’s assume Ben Myers has something to do with it then.

“Higher.” Judging from the pot leaves on the spine, this is a tape about weed or made under the influence of weed. I would not be surprised either way. (Did you see the band photo on the Lather Sommer Duo tape? Prominent bong.) At times like Woody Guthrie at extremely slow speed and run through the worst speakers on the planet, at times like Soundgarden at slow speed and run through the worst speakers on the planet, “Higher” promises two things: slow speed (for smoking weed to) and terrible speakers (for smoking weed to). The Norelco is Slimer green, for Pete’s sake. The tape shell itself is glitter green. It looks great.

So, are you high? Nice. Get “Higher.”

Bob Heavens

--Ryan

LATHER / DREKKA “Live: Concentration Club” C26 (Bob Heavens)

Lather, Drekka, how do you tell all these experimental artists apart? Luckily, Lather is Drekka and Drekka is Lather, but Drekka’s coming out in the end here, even though they’re sharing this release, and Drekka’s on the A-side. Don’t ask me how that works. Split personality? Maybe.

“Live: Concentration Club” captures Lather “from the first Concentration Club, Cat Head Press, Indianapolis, IN, 12 May 2017,” then flips it around with Drekka and the “final Concentration Club … etc. etc. … 15 JUN 2018,” with each side documenting a day in the life of Concentration Club (initial and final). Drekka plays the room, filling it with a creeping soundtrack of noise bursts and prepared implements, haunting listeners with the vibrations of periphery, the latent sonics that work into your nerves as you explore hidden spaces.

Lather’s all up in your face, though, with white hot drone and blistering accoutrements.

Implements used include: prepared Audion Interlude, plastic bags, heatsinks, metal bowl, Styrofoam, bow, screws, plastic object.

Bob Heavens

--Ryan

LATHER SOMMER DUO “Lather Sommer Duo” (Sygil Records / Bob Heavens)

Adam Sommer (Sommer) and Ben Myers (Lather) duo it up with John Dawson on a smattering of instruments and duties, so is this maybe a duo-point-five? Let’s leave it and instead worry about what’s coming out of our speakers: an amazing racket. Well, a lot of the time. Thunderous tribal rhythms meet industrial blasts, whirled together in a sludge-punk slurry and spat out like wax prog freezing mid-loogie. Deep drifts of sustained noise blanket ear canals before bass becomes flesh and attacks. Bring it back, rewind. Death screech, diabolus in excelsis.

Lather/Sommer shine blacklit when heaving spasms of electric noise rock from contorted bodies, worms writhing with electricity like downed wires. Mutilated improv stretches across unforgiving terrain. Four tracks of terrifying nuclear riffage. Almost three years old now, aged well. Grind along, bang a gong, huff a bong, as if your life depends on scorching the earth and starting over.

Lather

Sommer

Sygil Records

--Ryan

HOT FIGHTER #1 "s/t" (Bob Heavens Records)

Sounds like Delaware's Empty Shapes stepped in on a Royal Trux off-th'-cuff recording session while Jennifer stepped out for a ciggie. It is also apparent that Golden Blossom And Singing Bear were there for the Hot Fighter's hoodoo bash. Side B takes a turn and we get treated to some insightful ballads. God Bless.

https://lather.bandcamp.com/album/hot-fighter-1

-- T Penn