Ben McOsker got into the business of running a label on a whim and now, after more than ten years of operation, Load Records has become one of the preeminent names in noise music. By signing acts like Lightning Bolt, Sightings and Noxagt, McOsker has expanded the notions of noise and helped bring numerous Providence bands to the ears of discerning listeners. Stylus asked Ben to pick a few tracks or albums that he’d been enjoying lately and he responded with a number of possibilities. This is part two of his picks…

Excepter– Vacation, [KA]

I had the curious opportunity to be in New York when Excepter played. The whole show kinda proceeded like a hallucination. Four seemingly unrelated people weave a drug rug of sound that really defines the culture of psyche music beyond the beards of portly record nerds and paisley shirts. On record they combine the Tubby/Scientist effects setup with some other-wordly whispers that massage the cocyx column lovingly. As others have said, this is a thoroughly hard to pin down outfit. Sounds like water. Can’t describe why I like, just that I like. A critical copout? Just another bowl of vanilla ice cream? Just the chemistry that is unpredictable futurecasts. The reasons for Throbbing Gristle’s fascination with Martin Denny are only becoming clear now. And I come from a town that tried to reheat the sound with the “cocktail revolution” of Combustible Edison in the early 90’s. Yes, plenty of time to think about it. Thankfully I don’t have to dress up or talk like I’m at Hefner’s mansion.

[visit Excepter’s website here, buy KA here, read Ryan Hardy’s Stylus review here]

Fat Worm of Error– Feelin’ Fine, [Seven Inch 7”]

Western Massachusetts is a curious land of shopping outlets, farmers, geodesic domes, and tofu factories. This troop of musicians looks like a Macy’s Day parade float on Thanksgiving morning. The sound is thoroughly scattered, with tape loopy stuff hitting un-guitar sounds head-on. You can get all misty eyed about the glory and freedom of the 2000 floor rock scene, or you can teleport to the Flywheel tonite and see some thoroughly lubricated Bill of Rights action from these founding fathers (and mothers). Sometimes I can see the relationship they had to the early 90’s Nuf Sed/Deerhoof axis (looking past the former member’s of thing) sonically; sometimes I say just say shut up and watch the show.

[visit Fat Worm of Error’s website here]

Loop– Fade Out, [Fade Out]

I know I’m busting out all the oldies with this shit, but this band has some awesome smoke ring hoppin’ moves. Unfairly looped in with the whole Spaceman 3, Soup Dragons shoegazer set of the late-80’s, they instead worshipped at the altar of the repeato-riff of Gore and Suicide mixed in for flavor. Of their records, I like most of ‘em, but think Fade Out is the stone cold classic of the bunch. That they eventually folded in to the whole Godflesh/leftfield 90’s Earchache axis makes much sense. My dream is that all rock bands would sound like electronic bands and all electronic bands sound like rock bands. Please don’t make Daft Punk the standards bearer of this paradigm however.

[visit Loop’s website here, buy Fade Out here]