Touching Grass - NIXONOISE
Released: January 21
A short, bizarre, and poignant little EP that examines one of the worst men to ever attain the title of President of the United States (though others have certainly surpassed him). Touching Grass takes recordings from Nixon himself and twists them into dark and distorted soundscapes with echo the dark times that were the result of his administration. While most of us are likely not old enough to remember his presidency first hand, it is an interesting piece of work here that views a social and political era through the lens of abstract noise, especially considering we still feel the echoes of it today especially as it is experiencing a resurgence under and equally (if not even more) corrupt president now.
The structure of the EP itself is rather odd and imbalanced. Beginning with the just over two minute “Preserve, Protect and Defend,” it serves as an ominous introduction to the album as well as the historical premise of this EP with the distorted and cacophonous recording of the inauguration in which promises are made that would never be kept. There is then a 30 second track of the harsh noises of a helicopter land in “The Vulture Has Landed” followed by nine minutes of Nixon promising an end to a war that expanded dramatically under his same watch. The album ends with recordings of the corrupt end of his presidency in “Am I Not A Crook” and “Never Be Petty.”
It’s a short but rather interesting listen as Touching Grass takes pains to draw the historical parallels to what we are experiencing now. While I don’t believe it serves as a warning of some kind, I do find the concept quite fascinating. It is well executed as well, imputed a sinister and bleak tone upon a man and a time that was riddled with scandal and racism. It is certainly worth fifteen minutes of your time.
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