best of 2012 time! been meaning to post this album since it dropped last month - i've all but worn it out on my tape deck in the meantime. it's a breakthrough release from AHEE, who crafts his records using only found/homemade samples without the use of electronics and synths.

side A is a cheeky mash of random sounds featuring glitched out breaks and earworm-y melodies reminiscent of Gaslamp Killer's neck-snapping live stuff. and while it's fun to play spot-the-sample with the lip-smacks of "daiyatoma" or the multi-ethnic strings and lawn sprinklers of "ulklld," what really takes this release over the top is the fucking brutal side B. the tension mounts as the samples get more abrasive/aggressive until finally going supernova during "slyvlrs" and on through the climax of the predictably caustic "dentist." it's maybe the most compelling and evil bit of audio wizardry i've heard in 2012 - quite the feat in what was, generally speaking, a solid year for new music.

that cover art looks like a manatee on steroids

also, i'd recommend springing for the cassette which comes with a neat-o insert where AHEE breaks down how each track was constructed. Xmas gift ideas, yo!