Namazu Dantai is a harsh noise wall project from Germany. The person behind it, Sascha Mandler, is also responsible for a couple more harsh noise/power electronics projects - Izanami's Labour Pains and Mazakon Tactics. From what I've seen and heard, it seems that he is one of those persons that you don't hear about everywhere, he is not constantly praised with every release, he's not hated for some reasons in the scene, he just creates noise according to his own vision and that's his strength, I'd say. His creations are associated with Japanese culture and mythology. You can see this if not directly in sound, but in artworks, song titles and so on. This cassette is my first acquaintance of Namazu Dantai. This project is not an exception in HNW scene and its' releases are thrown out only in very limited editions. This cassette is packed in typical (I think I could say that because it's the third release from NVS label where form of packaging is the same) for this label 7" plastic envelope with two sheets of thicker paper and couple of inserts. The cover itself radiates calmness of the night - meditating old man with beard is portrayed on it. Nice. But up till now I'm not sure whether I see solid bonds between sound and visual. But let it be. Material was recorded in October 2009. Violin, cither and electronics were used. Result is a powerful Ramirezque charge of noise when sonic wall does not isolate you in absolute static, but forces you to listen to the sounds with all your ears because constant movement, wars of microworlds are happening in between weaved noise layers and these important accents shows up in hardly audible changes in sound. Both sides of cassette has one long track each. In my opinion, the real nocturnal veil (veils not walls according to Namazu Dantai) is shown on the first side of the cassette - somewhat mystified, fearful vision of the unknown in the world. One massive layer of low sound covers the others like the curtain of the night. That way, impression of static is formed, but if you look deeper, it's not so. Here and there, especially when the track goes towards the end, you can hear clearer episodes of the track. The end of this side is weird. Wall of sound ends, then several seconds of silence and then several more seconds of noise on the right side. That's a nice one for the end. But as for me, I found the second part to be more interesting. If the first side was more meditative, the second one is more open and more aggressive. After some several seconds of rumble in the beginning, it seems that the sound explodes. When it goes from lower to middle frequencies, I get impression of openness and this side suits more for destruction and not for calm listening. Sonic elements are lighter, energizing and not pressing under the massive sound. This track is shorter too than the first one. All in all it is a good release. It should be interesting for HNW fans. Of course, you'll find no surprises in here apart from weird ending of the first side, but who wants to go looking for surprises in HNW? This record suits to enjoy the calmness and existence on this side of veil of darkness. Sometimes it's good not to know what's behind it. It's calmer that way.

Format: CS
Released: 2010
Label: No Visible Scars
Edition: 50