Awake

Prolific noise-scene veteran Mike Shiflet visited John Kolodij (High Aura'd) at his home studio in Rhode Island in autumn of 2013, and recorded this album during three days of improvised sessions. The album isn't nearly as harsh as much of Shiflet's solo work, and is more in line with High Aura'd's atmospheric guitar-based drone. The duo conjure up vistas through feedback and delay, sometimes drowning out the melodies in distortion. There's a rough edge to it, but it's mostly smooth and tranquil, and the distortion clears out for melancholy, forlorn guitar melodies to poke out during highlight "Demon Haunted World." "Covered Bridge" also stands out for its usage of soothing nature sounds along with its sparse guitar landscapes. The result of this collaboration is a stunning album which nicely strikes a balance between rough and smooth textures. ~ Paul Simpson