Last year, Controlled Bleeding released Larva Lumps and Baby Bumps, a solid return-to-form LP that found the Long Island extreme noise band dabbling in ambient and free-jazz music under the slightly altered moniker 'The Controlled Bleeding.' Their 2016 output saw founding member Paul Lemos (along with new members Chvad SB and Mike Bazini, alongside longtime drummer Tony Meola) pulling together a cacophonic blend of sounds and genres, so it makes sense that these new compositions are perfect remix treatment fodder. And although Controlled Bleeding have brought in an enviable, intriguing and accomplished stable of remixers (including Merzbow, Justin K Broadrick, Monolake and Crowhurst), Carving Songs, the band's 21-track, two-hour-plus remix album, is simply too indulgent and indistinct to lend itself to repeat listens.
After opening with a brand new composition, the surprisingly rhythmic and melodic "TROD (Defiler's Song)," Carving Songs moves from percussion-heavy reworkings ("Carving Song (Monolake Remix)") to cello-led suites ("As Evening Implodes (Barnacles Remix)") to electro explorations ("Swarm (Remix by Justin K Broadrick / Godflesh)") and punk explosions ("The Controlled Bleeding – Perks pt. 1 (Perv Mix)"). But with multiple remixes of identical tracks ("Carving Song" is represented six times) and with the omission of key Larva Lumps tracks, including "Return of the Quiet" and "Trang's Song," the strong material on Carving Songs is severely hampered by poor sequencing and an overall inessential concept.
(Artoffact)After opening with a brand new composition, the surprisingly rhythmic and melodic "TROD (Defiler's Song)," Carving Songs moves from percussion-heavy reworkings ("Carving Song (Monolake Remix)") to cello-led suites ("As Evening Implodes (Barnacles Remix)") to electro explorations ("Swarm (Remix by Justin K Broadrick / Godflesh)") and punk explosions ("The Controlled Bleeding – Perks pt. 1 (Perv Mix)"). But with multiple remixes of identical tracks ("Carving Song" is represented six times) and with the omission of key Larva Lumps tracks, including "Return of the Quiet" and "Trang's Song," the strong material on Carving Songs is severely hampered by poor sequencing and an overall inessential concept.