There are labels with low output, and there are labels with high output ... And then there is Love Earth Music. Based in Massachusetts, US, LEM is the brainchild of Steve Davis. Next to releases from himself and several recurrent names, it's also a label where you can expect stuff you didn't know you would like. That is: If you want noise, abrasive sounds, drones, depth and confrontation. Guess what: I do.
The first release of this batch is Steve himself with his +DOG+ project. "X8" is the eighth in the X-series, as I started to call it. From what I learned, there is not really a conceptual approach to these releases, although, in the titles, there is always 'something' to connect the tracks, so this time it's trees. Six tracks range from 3 to 26 minutes, and trees range from a "Palm" to "Eucalyptus". Before you ask: The eucalyptus can be a shrubbery and a tree, so we're good in the conceptual part.
"Pine" is a noisescape of 25 minutes and, as a pine, is based on a solid trunk reaching into the sky. "Oak" is a bit more erratic, with branches all over the place. I even hear the processionary caterpillar infestation there, I think. "Birch" is a bit bleaker in its sound, but with the massiveness of the previous tracks, that's a good buildup to "Maple", which is an almost ambient exercise. "Eucalyptus" starts with a heavy analogue vibe, slowly generating something very minimal, and "Palm" is a sturdy heavy trunky piece of noise. These 'X'-files by +DOG+ are a joy to listen to each time again.
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