ERNESTO DIAZ-INFANTE AND ROTCOD ZZAJJ
Speeches for the Schizoid
Zzajj Productions (CD-r, no catalog number)

MARK KISSINGER, ERNESTO DIAZ-INFANTE AND ROTCOD ZZAJJ
Elements of Surprise
Zzajj Productions (CD-r, no catalog number)

http://users.tn.net/rotcod/cds/htm

Fine examples of good, homemade noise improv; Diaz-Infante on guitars and vox (I think this means voice but it could be another organ) and Zzaj on the Kurzweil 88, Kissinger on “compositions” and prepared guitars.

How is this different from similar noise/sample fare? These works sound as if they were planned, yet inevitable; the nosier sections of “Revolution 9,” say, or the eerie flute segment of “Strawberry Fields.” The voices and samples are audible yet one winds up giving attention to the sound, not the text. These are not just the “Two Virgins” twiddling dials in the studio, although to call this professionally-honed would be both misleading and an insult.

The basic soundworld is similar on both discs: noise rumblings made from guitar (Derek Bailey cloned with drones?), plus samplings from radio and other sources. Radio samples seriously irritate me, but here they either are well-selected or, if random, fate has been kind. Also, they are not used, as in the dark metal genre, to sound foreboding. Add to the mix analog swooshes and rambling lines which create a constantly changing net-like texture.

I like both discs, and Zzaj claims there are at least fourteen more with Diaz-Infante in the wings. Who knows what else he’s got. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rotcod Zzajj, who wrote me of his intent to make “out, strange, different music,” would have a disc just of standards such as “Airegin.”

Be aware that these discs are totally different from Diaz-Infante’s meditative solo piano discs on Pax Records, which are like roadtrips without destination but which give you much time to think; a healthy thing.

Steven H. Koenig

Speeches for the Schizoid:

Track Listing: 1. Speeches for the Schizoid; 2. Blue Smoke and Bass; 3. Slightly Demented Diatribe; 4. Voicemail from Venus; 5. Tourbus Tirade; 6. Messages; 7. Mixed Signals; 8. Hiddenspeak; 9. Mysterious Motions; 10. Now Hear This; 11. Orkin Man On Ludes; 12. Robotic Rantz; 13. Toastmasters In Traction; 14. Conveyance

Personnel: Rotcod Zzaj, Kurzweil PC88; Ernesto Diaz-Infante. prepared guitars, vox

Elements of Surprise:

Track Listing: 1. Antimony Aria; 2. At The Edge of Out; 3. Well Done Magnesium Waffle; 4. Imploded Indentations; 5. Hydragyrum Wordsurf; 6. Palladium Palace; 7. Trace metal Breakfast; 8. Xeonic Excursions; 9. Manganese Attraction

Personnel: Rotcod Zzaj, Kurzweil PC88; Ernesto Diaz-Infante. prepared guitars, vox; Mark Kissinger, compositions, prepared guitars