Most cacophonic album

[Netlist]

I hereby nominate Cecil Taylor Unit’s ‘Dark to Themselves’.
It’s a live Jazz record from July 1976 at the 17th Yugoslavian Jazz festival in Ljubljana on the Enja label # 2048
One needs a rather open mind and ears...🙂

http://www.enjarecords.com/cd.php?nr=ENJ-2084

/Hugo

 

[AdamThorne]

Well, the most cacophonic that I have is probably DJ Spooky vs. the Freight Elevator Quartet - "file under futurism". I don't like "Bring Me My Mental Health", but I do like "The RCA Mark II Synthesizer". If I'm in just the right mood this album is awsome. If not, it sets my teeth on edge. It sounds like Godzilla breakdancing on a cello factory.

http://www.amazon.com/Futurism-Spoo...0779015-3689227?ie=UTF8&qid=1184186004&sr=8-3

Hmmm wait - another rather extreme venture into cacophany would be Savage Aural Hotbed. They're a local (Twin Cities, MN) percussion ensamble with instruments like grinders, saws, "The Propane-o-phone", and others. And electric bass guitar. During the show they shot sparks out over the audience. Not from pyrotechnics, but from abrasive powertools on metal. During another show I saw they started out behind a big plastic tarp, and progressivly cut through it during the show. I have the album "Cold is the Absence of Heat". I recommend their live shows over their CDs. Bring earplugs.

http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Absence-...3689227?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1184186465&sr=1-4

 

[audio-kraut]

another rather extreme venture into cacophany would be Savage Aural Hotbed. They're a local (Twin Cities, MN) percussion ensamble with instruments like grinders, saws,

why would I pay money for this? I rather go visit a shipyard to get the experience for free - or go to my local machineshop when they are rebuilding an oilrig.

But I guess - there are masochists everywhere

 

[FastEddy]

Rocky Ericson and the 13th Floor Elevators and album of the same name. Austin Texas crash bang rock from the late '60s = almost heavy metal before there was any. ... Considered a collectors' piece by those in the know. (Rumor had it he had his third eye surgically opened.)

 

[TomWaits]

Aphex Twin

You chaps may enjoy exploring Aphex Twin. A true master of cacophony. 😎

Start with something easy like Druks, Richard D. James Album or Selected Ambient and then work your way into the rest...

 

[Cloth Ears]

Anything by Norman Odam ("The Legendary Stardust Cowboy") would qualify.

 

[Nordic]

Alien Sex Fiend's Altered states of america.
Sounds like your head does inside on acid, with everything on loops... kinda nice when I'm in a nostalgic mood though.

 

[audiosteve]

Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed. It is unlistenable.

 

[scudinc]

Sunn 0))) and Boris's "Altar". Feedback and loops and just generally metal things going on.

 

[scott wurcer]

If one expands their listening horizons enough, there are whole genres dedicated to generally cacophonus things. For instance you could start with "The Japanese/American Noise Treaty" (just a sampling).

http://www.discogs.com/release/320130

 

[TomWaits]

Sunn 0))) and Boris's "Altar". Feedback and loops and just generally metal things going on.

Nice. I was put on to the Sunn 0))) a year or so ago. Some of it is REALLY good to listen too. I like the ambient stuff alot but the "metal" stuff ... not so good for me.

Cheers,

Shawn.

 

[ssmith]

Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed. It is unlistenable.

Too bloody right! However, apparently this was one of the favourite albums of Ian Curtis of Joy Division....

Also pretty challenging is some of the solo work spin-offs from Sonic Youth members -- in particular I remember hearing an album by Lee Ranaldo, which was basically 45 minutes of guitar feedback.

 

[Circlotron]

Beijing Opera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYWiQ_RnLWE

 

[cactuscowboy]

Metal Machine Music would certainly rank right at the top for "most cacophonic album". I heard it about 30 years ago and foolishly did not buy it when I had the chance.

I'm now listening to Jandek - Lost Cause. Side two in particular fits right into this cacophonic genre. This LP side is one nineteen minute track entitled "The Electric End". It's some of the most twisted and tortured guitar playing I've heard coupled with erratic, tuneless drumming and 'vocals' that sound like the anguished wailing of a madman. Great stuff, guaranteed to clear the house at the end of a too-long party.

 

[studiotech]

I too throw my vote in for Metal Machine Music, but believe it or not, Pat Metheny has one about as bad called "Zero Tolerance for Silence". We had so many pissed off people at the jazz record store I worked at when that came out! Everyone wanted to return it....

Greg