Blacklisters | Coded Marking | Gordian Stimm
The Infinite Hum, Shipley
18th November 2023

The Infinite Hum presents units from Gordian Stimm, Coded Marking and high-performance noise-rock act, Blacklisters. Andy Brown shares his ideas for Louder Than Conflict.

Let’s face it, from November onwards the climate is fairly depressing right here within the North of England; the fixed rain and more and more chilly temperature, virtually urging you to remain at house, shut the blinds and hibernate for the subsequent eight or so months. In case you handle to peel your self off the couch nevertheless, there’s quite a bit to be stated for warming your frostbitten coronary heart with some stay music. Right here’s the place The Infinite Hum is available in. A collective of like-minded music fanatics who host an everyday night time of underground music right here in Shipley. Presently primarily based within the basement of The Beehive pub, it’s an intimate glimpse into the ever-thriving DIY scene. Tonight’s triple header options three acts from Leeds within the type of Gordian Stimm, Coded Marking and Blacklisters. Armed with earplugs and a pint, it’s time to embrace the rejuvenating powers of noise.

The night time begins with a set from Gordian Stimm, a one-woman trans artist with a brilliantly scattershot method. With a laptop computer, a guitar and a microphone, she creates a sonic patchwork of noise with subversive hints of pop. Backed by a sound like a scratched CD caught in an infinite loop, she murmurs into the mic earlier than bursting into an entirely surprising model of You’ll By no means Stroll Alone. Minutes later, she’s unleashing a wall of Boris-worthy guitar fuzz and industrial beats. If punk is all about musical freedom, then that is probably the most punk factor I’ve witnessed in a while. Each bit rolls headlong into the subsequent with barely a nod in the direction of the tyranny of conventional music construction. “It’s barely music, is it?” she says with a smile. Vitality, noise and a wholesome disregard for taking part in by the principles. It’s an exquisite form of chaos.

One minute we’re swallowed by an ocean of oddly enjoyable noise, the subsequent we’re pummelled by a punk music referred to as Dying Is The Time Machine. There’s even a music referred to as Propranolol In The Hand Is Value Two In The Packet. Nothing right here is mundane or predictable. At one level she abandons her guitar to tempo the stage and each motion crackles with catharsis. It might little question drive some individuals up the wall, however to me it’s an absolute thrill. In direction of the tip, she stops her set to voice solidarity with Palestine in addition to the battle towards antisemitism and neo-fascism. In an more and more insane world, it’s encouraging to know that there are artists like Gordian Stimm.

There’s a gear shift with the arrival of tonight’s second act, Coded Marking. The Leeds-based trio specialize in an intensely sweaty, coronary heart racing fashion of Krautrock-indebted post-punk. Zero Sum units the tone with its relentless motorik momentum. Snarling, psychedelic guitar and the singers reverb-soaked howls punctuate the propulsive, locked groove of the rhythm part; bass and drums trapped in an ecstatic, infinite loop of mesmeric minimalism. Heads nod alongside in time as the gang falls into some form of collective hypnotic state. If the Hypnotoad from Futurama had a soundtrack then this may absolutely be it.

The trio play 5 tracks however the entire set seems like a part of one infinite, pulverising tune. Tracks like Predissolve and Fade To Floor bristle with insistent bass traces and a ferocious sense of urgency. The band serve up a set of uncluttered and brutally efficient songs performed with a focussed, unrelenting depth. There’s no refrain or lyrical hook to know onto but it’s a set that actually feels prefer it brings the entire room collectively. Amongst the applause I hear somebody exclaim, “Oh, my god.” My sentiments precisely. The band launched an EP final 12 months, hopefully their subsequent launch isn’t too far-off. An excellent set and a band to keep watch over.

There’s a hearsay going across the venue that tonight’s present would be the final by Leeds-based noise rock heroes, Blacklisters. Whether or not that is true or not, it’s an plain deal with to see the band play within the packed-out, intimate confines of the Beehive’s basement. The final time I noticed them was in 2019, the place they supported a David Yow fronted incarnation of Flipper on the Brudenell Social Membership. Appropriately sufficient, the band’s sound channels the spirit of Yow’s seminal noise-rockers, The Jesus Lizard. Apparently, tonight is the third time the band has performed collectively in two years, the opposite two instances being a few practices earlier within the day. In case you had been anticipating a light-weight present, some well-honed stadium rock and some lighters aloft energy ballads, then you definately could be in for a little bit of a shock.

The set begins with the promise of some viewers participation within the type of a Blacklisters dance routine. Earlier than I can actually image what which may entail (Strictly Come Noise-Rock?), we’re thrown into the primary music. Vocalist Billy Mason-Wooden jogs on the spot, arms flailing as he screams into the microphone like a person possessed. The music known as Clubfoot By Kasabian and as a savvy punter will level out later, Blacklisters sound nothing like Kasabian. Uncooked, repetitive riffs tear into our grateful lugholes because the rhythm part locks right into a pummelling, Shellac-worthy groove. Completely nasty and completely wonderful. By the point they play Implausible Man, the title observe from their newest LP, Mason-Wooden is making his approach into the gang like a cult chief surrounded by devoted followers. It’s so thrilling I can nearly forgive them for not displaying us the dance routine.

The songs are stripped of any pointless flab and delivered with a wholesome dose of near-feral enthusiasm. The vicious, two be aware effectivity of Motivational Speaker and the glucose-loving madness of Sports activities Drinks damn-near rip my face off. Good Man, from the brand new EP Auf Dem Tisch, by some means manages to really feel much more brutal. Why Deny It? then again strips away a few of the noise and delves into sparse, menacing broodiness. “I’m in a continuing state of disappointment” the singer intones over the fats, sweaty bass line. Fortunately, nobody appears disillusioned with tonight’s present. They end with a mangled mess of riffs, noise and unintelligible shouting referred to as I Knock Myself Out. Wonderful. What’s extra, it seems that the band hasn’t performed their final present in any respect. There’s loads extra Blacklisters to come back and perhaps, simply perhaps we’ll get to do this dance routine.

Examine The Infinite Hum HERE.

Discover Gordian Stimm on Bandcamp, Fb and Instagram.

Coded Marking may be discovered on Fb, Instagram and Bandcamp.

Blacklisters are on Instagram, X/ Twitter, Fb and Bandcamp.

Vinyl copies of the most recent Blacklisters album on Bandcamp right here.

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All photographs by Jim Mumby.

All phrases by Andy Brown. You may go to his writer profile and skim extra of his opinions for Louder Than Conflict right here.