(((O))) : Wreck and Reference – No Content

Wreck and Reference came together in 2011 and are a Californian two-piece who have armed themselves with drums and a sampler (of limited capabilities). Multi-instrumentalist Felix Skinner and drummer Ignat Frege have set out on No Content (C̶o̶n̶t̶e̶n̶t̶) to create two songs which are both fascinating and indisputably dissimilar to most other genres of music that you may have heard before. The fact there are confines to the instrumentation (no guitar or bass lines) means that the inventiveness of the band is showcased. Without question Wreck and Reference generate more discord in these couple of tracks than most groups can assemble in their entire existence. The closest comparison I could make was to Godflesh, with their nerve jarring, sinew tearing blast of concentrated pure energy, perhaps mingled with a touch of electronic terror as dispensed by bands such as Necro Deathmort. At times the tracks also nod towards Swans proclivity to corrosively plod away and the relentless drive of Neurosis.

This release is a follow-up to Black Cassette and their debut full-length No Youth and with No Content the band shows no great desire to evolve; but that’s not a criticism.

The churning melancholy that is ‘Absurdities and Echoes’, kicks off proceedings. This is full of low echoing pitches which drone and contrast against the iridescent melodic blasts of synth. ‘Abhorrence’, which clocks in at less than three minutes is next and has harsh and more pronounced vocals slowly building as the track proceeds.

In summary, in six minutes Wreck and Reference treat you to at least half a dozen different musical genres full of aural madness and deformed controlled anger. Get yourself over to their Bandcamp site and buy some of their material for whatever you feel is an acceptable amount of money. Also follow them on facebook while you’re at it.