noise

Noise: Music’s Rebellious Child

Noise music, the audacious offspring of avant-garde experimentation, has been shaking the foundations of music for over a century. Its history is a testament to the human desire to defy expectations and push boundaries.

The Early Days: From Dada to Cage

The seeds of noise were sown in the early 20th century with the rise of Dadaism, an artistic movement that championed absurdity and rejection of conventional norms. Artists like Hugo Ball, with his “Karawane” performance, introduced jarring sounds and spoken word into art, challenging the traditional notion of “music.”

Later, composers like John Cage, inspired by chance and the exploration of silence, further blurred the lines between sound and noise. His iconic “4’33″” piece, consisting of four minutes and 33 seconds of silence, forced audiences to confront the ambient sounds of their surroundings, effectively turning the environment into a musical composition.

The Rise of Industrial & Punk

The 1970s saw the emergence of Industrial music, fueled by the sonic explorations of artists like Throbbing Gristle and Kraftwerk. They used harsh, distorted sounds, found objects, and industrial machinery to create unsettling and uncompromising soundscapes. Industrial music embraced the harshness of the industrial age, rejecting the traditional beauty of music in favor of raw, often disturbing, sonic experiences.

Punk rock, with its raw energy and rebellious spirit, also leaned heavily on the aesthetic of noise. Bands like the Sex Pistols and The Damned used distorted guitars and chaotic rhythms to create a sonic assault that mirrored the frustrations and anxieties of a generation.

The Expanding Spectrum

As noise music evolved, it diversified into countless subgenres:

• Power Electronics: Emphasizing feedback, distortion, and aggressive soundscapes.
• Grindcore: An extreme form of metal characterized by incredibly fast tempos and chaotic, almost unintelligible vocals.
• Drone: Focuses on sustained, often monotonous sounds, creating immersive and hypnotic sonic environments.
• Noise Rock: Blends elements of noise and rock music, with a focus on aggressive, distorted sounds and unconventional songwriting.

Funny Facts and Quirky Characters:

• The “Man” in the White Noise: The iconic industrial musician, Genesis P-Orridge, once claimed to be “The Man” in the White Noise, a mythical figure of indeterminate gender who would become the ultimate expression of non-binary identity.
• The Cramps and their “Lick My Boots” Request: This legendary punk rock band was known for their outrageous stage presence. During a performance, a member of the audience shouted, “Lick my boots!” The band’s lead singer, Lux Interior, without hesitation, jumped off the stage and proceeded to lick the fan’s boots.
• The “Unintentional” Noise Music: In the 1960s, a group of musicians accidentally created a groundbreaking noise track while trying to record a piece of traditional music. Their experiment with feedback and distortion led to the creation of a piece that is still considered a landmark in noise music.

Noise music, with its unconventional sounds and defiant spirit, continues to push the boundaries of what we consider “music”. It challenges our perceptions of beauty, order, and even sound itself. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, its importance in the history of music cannot be denied.