- Jamal Moss serves up, in his own words, "NOISE DRONE NON AMBIENT EXPERIMENTAL FCKERY."
- Jamal Moss has never been one for conformity. He hails from a part of house music history that provided a period of "woodshedding" for the next generation of Chicago artists. His journey, emerging as Hieroglyphic Being in the late '90s after coming under the tutelage of Adonis and Steve Poindexter, is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Bargain Basement Discount Poser Ambient Knock Off's Vol 2 is the latest in an archive dump of music that saw limited or no release prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. This collection was recorded in 1999 to VHS (yes, video) master tapes, a common technique for underground producers in the Midwest, particularly in industrial and noise circles.
Moss is known for having some of the best track names, but this collection is different. Numbers and code words that offer no real explanation for their usage are the titles here. Abstract lines and shapes in the artwork suggest a free jazz influence—the cover in some aspects recalls Sun Ra. "MOOG & KORG SPACE ECHOS / GUITAR PEDALS WAS MAIMED IN THE PROCESS," Moss writes of the album, which gives a good idea of what to expect.
Apocalyptic pitch-shifting with no percussion or distinguishable beat make this an interesting take on the realm of drone, ambient and noise. The opening track, "2MASS 1750-00," starts softly, then quickly gives way to complete oscillating madness. "GAMMA PAVONIS" makes use of sweeping tones that would envelop the listener if played over a proper system, with distorted flute-like elements that give this one a more techno-organic, futurist-nature feel. On "GLIESE 190," a gurgling pulse makes liberal use of panning and spatial awareness of different tones. "GLIESE 226" gives a distinct metallic sound that can only be described as alien.
Stretching past the ten-minute mark, "GLIESE 357" goes through several changes, starting out in the harsh aesthetic that permeates the album before getting more palatable over time. Moog patches are crafted in ways that portray an intentional use of broken technology to convey a mood. Theremin-esque sounds give way to sounds reminiscent of Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis on "GLIESE 1123." Another jazz workout with an 8bit vibe is "GLIESE 3146," the shortest and most musical of the collection, the closest thing to a pretty moment one can find.
One of the biggest takeaways from this collection is how it's almost criminal that Hieroglyphic Being isn't more celebrated. He's known as a modern master of Chicago acid and house, but this music is otherworldly, evoking emotional reactions unrelated to hedonistic pleasure.
Tracklist01. 2MASS 1750-00
02. GAMMA PAVONIS
03. GLIESE 190
04. GLIESE 226
05. GLIESE 357
06. GLIESE 1123
07. GLIESE 3135
08. GLIESE 3146
09. GLIESE 3325
10. HD 102365