Album Review: 雨宮優子 by Harem Noise Wall
Alright, let’s talk about 雨宮優子 by Harem Noise Wall. Released in 2019, this one’s a gnarly little slice of Harsh Noise Wall (HNW) goodness that’ll either have you vibin’ hard or clutching your ears like, “What even IS this?” Spoiler alert: it’s not for everyone. But hey, if you’re into electronic music that pushes boundaries and makes your brain feel weird, this is worth checking out.
First off, the album’s self-released under their own label—or lack thereof—which gives it that raw, DIY edge. It’s from the US, but honestly, this feels like it could’ve been made anywhere. Noise doesn’t really care about borders, y’know?
Now, onto the tracks. The title track, 雨宮優子, hits you like a wall—literally. It’s unrelenting, abrasive, and kinda beautiful in its chaos. There’s no melody to hum along to, no beat to tap your foot to—it’s just pure sensory overload. But somehow, it works. I remember this track because it feels like staring into a storm. Like, you know it’s dangerous, but you can’t look away. It’s hypnotic in the most messed-up way possible.
Another standout is… well, actually, there’s only one track listed here, so let’s roll with that. But seriously, 雨宮優子 is enough. It’s a full-on experience. You don’t listen to it as much as you endure it. And yeah, that sounds intense, but isn’t that what good noise should do? Make you feel something—even if that something is discomfort?
What sticks with me about this album is how it refuses to play nice. It’s confrontational, messy, and unapologetic. Listening to it feels like stepping into someone else’s fever dream. And honestly? That’s kinda refreshing in a world where everything’s polished to death.
Final thoughts? If you’re looking for background music to chill to, this ain’t it. But if you want something that challenges you and makes you rethink what music can be, give 雨宮優子 a shot. Just maybe don’t play it around your pets—they might stage an intervention.
Oh, and fun fact: after listening to this, I kinda wanna name my future kid 雨宮優子. Or maybe not. Depends on how mad they’d be about having an album of harsh noise named after them.
