Flux Information Sciences - Private/Public
(Young God)
I never much cared for the Swans. Why does that matter? Well, Flux Information
Sciences are on Young God Records, which is owned and operated by Michael Gira,
best known for being that dude from the Swans. Also, Michael Gira, formerly of the
Swans, produced this record. Additionally, the promotional materials consist
entirely of a personal testimonial written by ex-Swan Michael Gira. Finally, Flux
Information Society recreates, to a certain extent, that headache-inducing dull
bludgeon of the earlier Swans records, which featured Michael Gira.
The record cover has this crazy photo of European looking folks in military attire,
including a topless girl with suspenders and a fancy army hat. This, of course, made
me think of one of my favorite films, Isla: She Wolf of the SS. Thus, when I
read former Swan Michael Gira's comment that he likens Flux Information Sciences
to "being beaten up by a sexually enraged, cackling clown," my hopes were high.
But this record is not wickedly titillating or deliciously erotic. Disappointingly, its
music is made by guys named Tristan Bechet and Sebastien Brault (with a guest
appearance by Michael Gira, of the late Swans) and is not something that I can
really get behind, nor does it play to my peculiar fetishistic fixation on being pistol
whipped by buxom Aryans with riding crops.
The music is all blunt rhythms. Tribal drumming and clipped bursts guitar and bass,
supplemented with synthesized grinds and clangs, broken up by silly home taping
experiments. The lyrics are scathing underground denunciations of society, like this
observation of corporations, "Man dies to satisfy/Off the office building he's
falling/Accounts left behind--pityfull[sic]!/Considered a model man on the
ground." It almost makes you want to quit your job and start your own noise art
project with Michael Gira, ex-Swans.
You know, if Michael Gira misses his old band so much, he could always record
some new Swans records.
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