Stress Test - The Rocket Thing GToT-001 (66min. download)

The debut release by the semi-evil triumvirate of drummist Roger Murdock (ex-King Missile, Laurie & the Sighs, Leslie West), bass/guitar guy Dave Rick (ex-Bongwater, King Missile, Phantom Tollbooth) and reel speed artist John Seden (ex-Randomizer, Repulse Kava, Sank Minoot), The Rocket Thing commits cacophony and confluence of carefully constructed career killing caterwauling, paired at times with serene serenades of serendipitous sass. (Meaningless twaddle, yes. But, that's what it sounds like. Really.) The entire affair is largely improvised, yet at times conversations were had, plans were made ...then discarded. (There is one sorta tune, "four words of Death," in the middle of the whole shebang featuring some near-rock guitar).

The Murd commandeers time, swizzle and klonk, displaying every last bit of the influence of some of his heroes, like Buddy Rich and Bradley Field. His drumming and (per)cussin' is a quiet storm or loud sunshine. Dave dishonors the groove, slathering on a water soluble Elmer's bass slurm, unintentionally approximating the neophyte's exploration and decimating of John Paul Jones' deceptive 8th notes driving "The Rover." Seden counters it all with his trademark esoteric and obscure concrete illuminations: Junk shop git-ar filed to within an inch of waning life, static oscillations, collage smears, and rusty knife punctuation, define an artistry unique to Noise, Rock and Noise Rock. 78s, 33s, 8-tracks, reel to reels, tape and more tape, devolve and disintegrate, as does memory and movement. Enjoy the benefit of digital playback, where one is reminded time has neither warped nor stood still.

The Rocket Thing was carefully and lovingly recorded in 16tks on glorious 2" tape by Josh Clarke at Seaside Lounge in Brooklyn. Chris Xefos did the expert mastering at Dogpatch in San Francisco. Official release date December 1, 2010.