For those who find Melt-Banana a bit too tame, here's Hyper Gal. This Japanese duo's approach to noise is different, and in fact it has shifted from its own previous efforts. This album is more bass-heavy and just plain bandsaw scree.

Hyper Gal Our Hyper (Skin Graft)

What I like is the balance between Kurumi Kadoya's technically brilliant bass melody that pins the needles and the overall menacing percussive and electronic scrawl that generally overwhelms everything in its path. Well, until Koharu Ishida decides to throw in some vocals. Then the noise recedes just enough to allow the chaos to reach full effect.

Ishida isn't a screamer. Her singing is just that, though her rambles rarely advance anywhere. Why are they there? I dunno. They sound cool. And I suppose breaking up the sound of technological annihilation is a good idea every now and again.

Over and over, concerned friends and family ask what it is about noise that makes me blood explode? There's the obvious answer: This stuff is not normal. But also, the live wire sound is impossible to turn off. That energy and spirit of adventure will always satisfy some dark need in my soul. Oh, and if you play it loudly enough, you might drive the neighbor dogs insane. So, you know, win-win. My skin feels alive for the first time in ages.

Jon Worley