My New Favourite Weapon

This week I managed to stumble upon something that can only be described as audio brilliance.

Before I let you listen though, I should probably warn you, this isn't the audio brilliance that you're probably thinking of, it's no OK Computer, it's no Is This It and it's almost definitely no song by Katy Perry. No, this is something on the other end of the spectrum. It's genius, but in a different kind of way, a much, much darker way. You only break this out when your back is against the wall and you've no other option.

Here's a scenario, your next door neighbours are throwing a party, which is fine at 8 in the evening, but before you know it, it's 1am and the noise is failing to cease, you can hear people talking, gossiping about how work is such a drone lately and how their outfit didn't quite compensate for the weather conditions of the evening. It's making you re-evaluate your life. It's making you realise you had a house with thinner walls.

It's at that moment that you break this out. Turn the your stereo up as loud as it will go and place the speakers at the walls. They'll soon shut up.

Yes, it's a whole album of feedback. You know, the noise audio equipment makes when something's a bit too close to it's amplifier. It's a little bit uncomfortable to say the least. But at times like this it's bloody brilliant.

For those who are wondering who the hell produces an album that is nothing but noise, I'll provide a bit of context. The band are Sonic Youth, a New York based rock band well known for experimentation. Anyway, this album came about when recording one of their many studio albums. The band in the studio above were waking way too much noise, so SY turned all their amps up to 11 and found as many instruments as possible to place against them, just to piss everyone off.

Anyway, you might think it's completely and utterly pointless, but for me, this is amazing. I give you my full permission to use it against anyone who's winding you up, or even anyone you want to annoy. Feedback is a beautiful thing, and more people should get to know it. It's audio brilliance.