Namanax - Cascading Waves Of Electronic Turbulence
1996 Release Records
by Shev

Quick Summary:
Two songs on a 58 minute disc.  That's a lot of freakin' noise.  Especially when the first song on the album, Contaminating Influence, is downright horrid.  Luckily, the more worthy of the two, Cascading Waves Of Electronic Turbulence, is a 47 minute epic opera of fuzzy static and incredible explosions of noise.

Run primarily by Relapse head, Bill Yurkiewicz, this release seems to be themed around a bland, industrial noise with only small breaks in static here and there.  Obviously a difficult listen for the typical dark ambient new age fan, Namanax should appeal to those more into the violent sides of noise...just disregard the first song.

Song Summaries:

1. Contaminating Influence - Doesn't resemble noise so much as it does some twisted version of drum & bass electronica.  To it's credit, Contaminating Influence does start with an explosive entrance, however the song is plagued with lazy and uninspired repetition broken-up after long lengths with only slight changes.  At over eleven minutes long, this is simply a glorified intro.  F
2. Cascading Waves Of Electronic Turbulence - Using a variation of a low-end radioactive hum teamed with a heavily distorted mechanical pumping sound which resembles hundreds of troops goose-stepping in line, Cascading Waves Of Electronic Turbulence's foundation is set.  This is over 47 minutes of inhuman, noisy chaos which is reminiscent of a nuclear power plant exploding.  Although a bit repetitive in parts, this is just plain sick!  A-

Average Song Rating:  C
Overall Album Rating:  B-