Xdugef – Bosslady

This Cd arrives in a jewel case which is wrapped in "re-sealable sextape", the artwork is in part cut ups from female domination magazines and included with the cd is a single black latex glove. Xdugef is a noise maker from Los Angeles whose work is produced from found sources on the internet, from modified electronic toys and self made devices. There are 17 fairly short tracks, and on one we do hear the boss lady speak - but as elsewhere the whole work is a mix of pulses and beats, glitches and feedback. This has to be one of the most significant pieces I've yet reviewed. If noise contradicts itself by obliterating itself - and here we have that - and the actuality of the fucking up not only of sound but the mechanisms for making sound - which though is doubly inscribed by the whole iconography and ontology of female domination. A reversal of traditional roles yet one which is generally opposed by feminists - an interesting aporia which is the sexual doppelganger of the noise genre. It was Merzbow who famously created the problematic of noise paralleled by the exploitation of female bondage which was "carried" off by the excuse? of being part of an oriental culture- and so art! - the feminist critic becomes racist or tolerates female exploitation, imposes colonial values or allows the pornographic- the music isn't music but noise - yet we are in a double bind as it clearly is just that. Our value judgments flip backwards and forwards like computer logic gates, western logic and the rule of the excluded middle is broken - do we obtain what used to be called freedom? Do I enjoy the kitsch of noise/glitches - fishnets and arse as an intellectual comment - or as is - or both? Perfect. (Jliat) -Reposted with permission