So what happens when you take one free jazz pioneer, one band of noise-metal experimentalists and stick them on a stage together? Well Victo have come up with the answer – everyone’s favourite noisy fellers Wolf Eyes and jazz supremo Anthony Braxton teamed up unannounced at the 2005 Victoriaville Festival last year, and since then all I’ve heard has been whispered words and rumours about the set. There was a cassette tape release shortly after, but selling my mother wasn’t an option, so this cd has been a real excitement and a revelation for me and as soon as it landed on my desk I knew I was in for something rather special. Wolf Eyes are a very important band for me, and this album only goes to show how good they are at what they do. It’s noise, yes indeed, it’s metal, probably, it’s aggressive, angry and sometimes evil, of course – but it’s also incredibly measured and put together with the utmost skill and understanding. I often tell people that there’s noise and then there's noise, there’s amateurish noise and then there’s this – pure visceral abandonment on every level. And what exactly does Braxton add to the proceedings? Well his soprano sax wails and screams drench the waves of white noise and rousing percussive squelches perfectly – it sounds like they were always supposed to be there, and that’s an achievement in itself. Hearing ‘Stabbed in the Face’ (a classic cut from the Burned Mind album) performed live with Braxton’s accompaniment makes me truly sorry I couldn’t have been there to witness this earth shaking meeting of minds. So for us unlucky souls who couldn’t attend, all that’s left for to do is lap up this disc, and lie in wait for Wolf Eyes’ hugely anticipated next album ‘Human Animal’ (take it from me…it’s worth it). Hugely recommended. - Boomkat
