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Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Terms — Asbestos Mouth
(Skin Graft GR142, 2020, CD / DL)

Terms — All Becomes Indistinct
(Skin Graft GR149, 2023, CD / DL)

Terms — Hoarder of Operations
(Skin Graft GR139, 2020, CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2023-08-22

Asbestos Mouth Cover artAll Becomes Indistinct Cover artHoarder of Operations Cover art

A kaleidoscope is a device that uses mirrors to fragment the light of an image or moving objects, producing complex patterns out of what might normally be recognizable shapes. Once kaleidoscopes entered public awareness, it became possible for artists to create works that looked as if they had been generated by the devices. In some ways, the music of Terms strikes me as being the audio equivalent of this, with live musicians creating music that sounds almost as if it had been created by some kind of fractured reflective process applied to art-punk recordings. The tracks are constructed of bits that could be imagined as riffs and segments of energetic rock tunes, but they’ve been deconstructed and assembled into nearly unrecognizable forms. Guitarist Christopher Trull favors dissonant chords and off-kilter lines punctuated by unconventional noises and unexpected string bends, and he builds these parts into themes that are then used to construct pieces. Drummer Danny Piechocki manages to play along with this madness, with frenetic playing that meshes perfectly with the intricate guitar parts. It’s finished off with bass and additional guitar parts from Trull, along with the occasional guest on violin or saxophone. That is the formula used to create Terms’ music, and it’s capable of generating a stunning variety of sounds and moods. The two comparisons to other groups that seem relevant are Ahleuchatistas and Ruins, so if you’re familiar with those, you’ve got an idea what to expect here. An additional twist to the plot is that the band is a pandemic project which did not initially involve any face-to-face work between the two, though once a semblance of normality resumed, they did venture out to prove that it could be done live. Their debut EP shows that their overall sensibilities were there from the beginning, and the two subsequent full-length albums have shown their aesthetic honing in on a state of manic rapture punctuated by quirky free-form doodling. All Becomes Indistinct more fully realizes their style, though Asbestos Mouth is full of great music as well, and anyone who enjoys this kind of musical madness will want both. Terms will certainly not be everyone’s jam, but I count myself a big fan and eagerly await whatever these eccentric masterminds come up with next.

Filed under: New releases, 2020 releases, 2023 releases

Related artist(s): Terms

More info
http://skingraftrecords.bandcamp.com/album/all-becomes-indistinct

 

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