The Present -‘World I See’ (LoAF Recordings)

*Sigh* I have really, really struggled with this album. I have now played this three times and I have to confess, I like it less and less with each listen.

Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy listening to challenging music. I enjoy the work of noise artists like Merzbow, Yellow Swans and of course, Wolf Eyes; albums this year from the likes of David Grubbs, Hair Police and Fuck Buttons have been challenging but they make for rewarding listens. This on the other hand, seems like the soundtrack to someone going mad.

It’s received plaudits from the likes of Gang Gang Dance, and Panda Bear, people whose work I enjoy too. Whilst it may be trampling on musical boundaries, it’s also trampling on me too. Whilst a track like ‘Stabbed In The Face’ by Wolf Eyes may attack the listener, there’s still something that grabs you. If this is the world they see, then that’s as maybe, but I don’t want it in my head.

*1/2

World I See is out now on LoAF recordings.

Have I been unfair? Stream the album here and make up your own mind.