Leech Woman- Uncertainty Device #26573

Artist: Leech Woman
CD Title: Uncertainty Device #26573
Label: Wasp Factory Recordings
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 7/22/04

Leech Woman are pretty noisy to start with, but this collection of remixes brings their signature mix of heavy guitars and metallic percussion to new levels of sonic punishment. Mental Output’s remix of “Tool” and Germseed’s take on “Kincaid,” for example, consist almost entirely of harsh noise and earsplitting feedback, overwhelming all sense of order. Other artists cast Leech Woman in a more electronic light: Total Output infuses “Solid State” with gabber and jungle elements, while Matt Green’s version of “Cardinal” is an almost unbearably brutal excursion into drum ‘n’ bass territory. More experimental ideas get their share of exposure, as well, with the echoed percussion and whispers in Advanced Idea Mechanic’s “Cardinal” remix and the layers of fuzzed-out ambience in Schizoid’s remix of “Knucklehate.” NeedleEye’s mix of “Section 13” comes closer to the original Leech Woman sound and is vaguely reminiscent of Bile or Ministry, but like the other tracks here it’s overwhelmed by distortion and static. The Dark Half stands out from the rest with yet another mix of “Cardinal,” this time pairing the raw-throated shouts of the original with minor-key piano arpeggios and cinematic strings. What holds all of these diverse tracks together as a coherent album, though, is the sheer vitriol that the original versions lend to each of these mixes. Whether it’s the jagged loops of guitar interlaced with the more intellectual techno pieces or the pounding scrap metal assault blaring through the more minimalist offerings, it all comes across as some of the most misanthropic music ever to torture the human ear. Take Ministry at their angriest and cross it with Converter at their most grating, and it still won’t be half this brutal.

Listen with caution, and if you’re as into musical masochism as I am, check out Leech Woman at https://www.leechwoman.com/ and https://www.wasp-factory.com/waspfactory/biog_lw.htm.