Noise-Beat America is an introduction to the U.S. noise underground’s anarchic, rowdy, and cacophonous forays into mechanized groove research. Techno convention isn’t challenged—it’s obliterated: Hi-hats surrender to blasts of static; synthesizers bleed distortion; and kicks stutter like malfunctioning jackhammers. Ren Schofield (a.k.a. Container) is often cited as one of the first noise-beat freaks. And while the Rhode Island native’s success certainly has helped give the movement an international profile, a handful of noise-based musicians (Forcefield, VIKI, Unicorn Hard-On, and Pleasurehorse among them) started exploring technoid-sputter as far back as the early ’00s. Be forewarned, intrepid clubbers: This playlist cares nothing for rhythmic flow nor energy management. It’s all about blasting you in the face as haphazardly as possible. Soak it up!
